The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

West Central Looks At COVID Numbers

At the Tuesday, November 17, West Central board meeting Superintendent Markey presented the board with updated COVID related numbers in West Central Schools, Henderson County, Region 2 and a recommendation from the Henderson County Health Department to close the buildings through the holidays.

At this time, West Central will remain in person using the same schedule that has been followed since the beginning of 2nd quarter. Administration will continue to monitor the numbers and report those numbers back to the board.

Superintendent Markey and Athletic Director Shane Tucker presented the board with information regarding the plans of schools who are on the West Central basketball game schedule to proceed with the upcoming FY21 basketball season.

All schools, including Lincoln Trail Conference Schools, plan to adhere by the IDPH guidelines. After some discussion, the West Central Board of Education directed the West Central administration to also adhere by the IDPH guidelines as well as Illinois' Tier 3 mitigations.

West Central will be prepared to move forward with athletics as soon as the IDPH guidelines permit.

The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Board President Jodi Arnold. A Zoom link to join the meeting was also offered to the community and provided on the agenda.

Under Good News Items the following items were highlighted:

• West Central High School Physical Education teacher, Tom Williams, has had a book published. The title of the book is The Heart of Honor "Bonds Forged", and it is available for purchase on Amazon.
• The West Central School District thanked Security Savings Bank for their donation to the West Central Education Foundation.
• The crops on the West Central farm did not yield well. Darryl Lenz was able to make an insurance claim for the loss.
• Board Member Sarah Bigger thanked Mr. Kirby and his team for their work in making the drop off procedure in the mornings at the WCHS more organized and safer.

The board approved the Consent Agenda. Items approved under the Consent Agenda included the following:

• The minutes of the October 21, 2020, Regular Meeting, and
• The October 2020 bills, October 2020 building Activity Account Reports, the October 2020 Treasurer's Report, and review of the District Financial Report.

The board approved and adopted the following Board policies on 2nd reading as presented:

Policy 2:260 - Uniform Grievance Procedure; Policy 2:265 - Title IX Sexual Harassment Grievance Procedure (NEW); Policy 5:10 - Equal Employment Opportunity and Minority Recruitment; Policy 5:20 - Workplace Harassment Prohibited; Policy 5:100 - Staff Development Program; Policy 5:220 - Substitute Teachers; Policy 7:10 - Equal Educational Opportunities; Policy 7:20 Harassment of Students Prohibited; Policy 7:180 - Prevention of and Response to Bullying, Intimidation, and Harassment; Policy 7:185 - Teen Dating and Violence Prohibited.

The board approved a Tentative 2020 Tax Levy as presented. This year's tentative tax levy calls for an extension amount of $6,421,157 which is an increase over the 2019 levy extension amount of 4.97%. The Tentative 2020 Tax Levy is now on display in the District Office. The board will vote to approve the Final 2020 Tax Levy at the December 16, 2020, board meeting.

In other business the board:

• heard a report from West Central School Nurse Paige Torrance regarding updated COVID related numbers. The following chart shows the COVID numbers as of November 17, 2020:
• reviewed and heard reports from the building principals as well as a Technology Report from Mrs. Frakes and Mr. Alexander and Special Education Report from Shaila Ayer.
• discussed the sale of the District's FCC lease to T-Mobile. Board Member Schaley, Board Member Lumbeck and Superintendent Markey met with a representative from T-Mobile to discuss a possible sale. After presenting the board with an update from that meeting and some discussion, the board approved granting Brendan Schaley, Steve Lumbeck, and Paula Markey authority to negotiate with T-Mobile the sale of the District's FCC license. The final sale agreement will be brought to the board for final approval.
• approved the 2020 District and School Report Cards as presented. They will now be put on display on our district website.
• approved a request to make recommended adjustments to the organization of the WCHS Activity Account as presented.

The board took the following action in regards to personnel:

• approved a maternity leave for Amanda Leng as presented,
• accepted the resignation of Tyler Klossing as the WCMS 6th Grade Girls' Basketball Coach as presented and with thanks for his service to the district,
• accepted the resignation of Clinton Stimpson as the WCMS Assistant Baseball Coach as presented and with thanks for his service to the District.

The next regularly scheduled meeting will be Wednesday, December 16, in the West Central Elementary cafeteria.

All board members except Mike Lenahan were present at roll call. Also present were Superintendent Markey, WCHS Principal Jason Kirby, WCMS Principal Joe Peters, WCES Principal Kathy Lafary, WCES Assistant Principal Andrea Freiden, School Psychologist Shaila Ayer, School Nurse Paige Torrance, IT Wade Alexander, Music Teachers Matt Stewart and Danna Cory, and WCES Teacher Nikki Mills. Approximately 41 participants joined via Zoom.

The board adjourned their meeting at 6:49 p.m.