May 2024 Board Minutes
May 14, 2024
The Board of Education, Community Unit School District No. 1, 149 South Elm Street, Winchester, Illinois counties of Scott, Morgan and Greene, met in regular session on Tuesday May 14, 2024 at 6:30 PM in the Winchester Elementary School gymnasium.
President Steve Moore called the meeting to order with the following members answering roll call: Thad Walker, Bill Jacquot, Shanna Eddinger, Eric Peterson, Aaron Littig and Steve Moore. Trista Freeman was absent. Also attending were Superintendent Kevin Blankenship, WGS Principal Jessica Crawford, WHS Principal Denny Vortman, and Administrative Assistant Becky Lashmett.
MINUTES / FINANCIALS
Littig motioned, with a second from Peterson, to approve the minutes of the April 11, 2024 regular meeting. Roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Peterson yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being six yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Walker motioned, with a second from Eddinger, to approve the financial reports and bills to be paid. Roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Peterson yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being six yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
ADMINISTRATORS REPORTS
The building principals provided an update on year end activities and student accomplishments. Superintendent Blankenship provided a legislative update and reported on a possible property annexation from the North Greene district.
BUILDING COMMITTEE REPORT
After hosting four community forums which resulted in a general consensus to construct a new high school building, Superintendent Blankenship said the next step in the process would be to engage a consultant to perform an in-depth community survey. Collecting more information would afford the Board a better understanding of community opinions based upon the option of constructing a new high school building on the district’s farmland located south of the elementary school.
Walker motioned to proceed with the next step of gathering community input via consulting firm Creative Entourage. Peterson seconded the motion and roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Peterson yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being six yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
POLICY AND HANDBOOK CHANGES
After a first reading in April, Eddinger motioned to approve the proposed changes and updates to PRESS policies and student handbooks. Littig seconded the motion and roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Peterson yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being six yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
CURRICULUM PURCHASE
Eddinger motioned, with a second from Walker, to approve the purchase of a new Health curriculum for grades 6-12 for a cost of $6,652.95. Roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Peterson yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being six yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
FY24 BUDGET AMENDMENT
A tentative amendment to the current year budget was presented and placed on display for public viewing. Presiden Moore announced a public hearing, to be followed by a vote, will be conducted at the June 11th meeting.
STREET REPAIRS
Jacquot motioned to approve bids for repairs and resurfacing to Elm Street from Walker Avenue around the WGS circle drive: Smith Cold Milling $7,862; IVP $40,915 and City of Winchester $21,000. Peterson seconded the motion and roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Peterson yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being six yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUESTS / PUBLIC COMMENTS
President Moore asked the status of Freedom of Information requests, and Superintendent Blankenship reported there were none.
President Moore then asked for questions or comments from the audience, and a group of farmland owners were present to address the proposed high school project. Several spoke - all in opposition to the project, with some urging the Board to re-consider simple remodeling (ADA compliance, HVAC, asbestos removal and locker rooms / restrooms). They stressed the economic burden such a large project places upon farmland owners.
The Board / Administration assured the group this next step was to gauge community support and no decision would be made until after the results are presented. If the results are indicative that a referendum for a new building would not pass, the Board would change its direction.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Jacquot motioned at 8:25 PM to enter into closed session. Littig seconded the motion and roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Peterson yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being six yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Littig motioned, with a second from Eddinger, to return to open session at 9:06 PM. Roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Peterson yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being six yeas and no nays, the motion passed. President Moore announced the purpose of the executive session was for student discipline, collective bargaining and personnel matters.
PERSONNEL ACTION
Eddinger motioned, with a second from Walker to accept the retirement of Jeannie Fearneyhough / Pre-K teacher and resignation of Kaitlin Holder / GS softball coach. Roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Peterson yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being six yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Jacqot motioned, with a second from Eddinger to employ teachers: Anastasia Wigger / K-12 Art, Madison McAuliffe / HS PE, Chad Suhre / Auto, Sara Ogden / Pre-K and Riannan Neff / 4th grade. Roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Peterson yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being six yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Walker motioned, with a second from Eddinger, to approve a newly negotiated three year collective bargaining agreement with the union representing teachers. Roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Peterson yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being six yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
ANNOUNCEMENTS / ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:08 PM.
