October 2024 Board Minutes
October 15, 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 October 15, 2024 at 6:30 PM in the Winchester High School Home Economics classroom.
President Steve Moore called the meeting to order with the following members answering roll call: Thad Walker, Bill Jacquot, Shanna Eddinger, Eric Peterson, and Steve Moore. Trista Freeman and Aaron Littig were absent. Also attending were Superintendent Kevin Blankenship, WGS Principal Jessica Crawford, WGS Assistant Principal Nick ZuHone, WHS Principal Denny Vortman and Administrative Assistant Becky Lashmett.
MINUTES / FINANCIALS
Jacquot motioned, with a second from Eddinger, to approve the minutes of the September 10, 2024 regular meeting. Roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Peterson, yea: and Moore, yea; there being five yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Walker motioned, with a second by Peterson to approve the financial report and bills to be paid. Roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Peterson, yea: and Moore, yea; there being five yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
ADMINISTRATORS REPORTS
Administrators reported on student recognitions, activities, activities and upcoming events. Superintendent Blankenship announced the audit report would be presented in the November meeting, as well as recommendations for the School Maintenance Grant.
VEREGY PRESENTATION - WHS RENOVATIONS
Representatives from Veregy, the performance contractor selected for the renovations at WHS presented a synopsis of potential projects. Along with the four core projects (HVAC, ADA, Commons/Home Ec, Gym Locker rooms), they provided pricing for additional energy conservation measures including a) interior bathroom remodeling including water heating and softener systems, b) renovation of the existing visiting football team locker rooms including a guest restroom, officials locker room and a concession stand area, and c) new windows throughout. The high estimate of all items, including an elevator, is $12,800,000, with the potential of an Inflation Reduction Act rebate of $2,480,000; bringing net cost to $10,320,000. If a chair lift system is installed in lieu of an elevator - there would be a savings of $1.1 million.
Pricing was provided per project, to allow the Board to decide priorities, timeframe and budget. Funding could be through the sale of bonds, HLS amendment, or a referendum. The Board will take action in November to decide scope and funding.
PRESS POLICY UPDATES
Walker motioned to waive the second reading and adopt revised PRESS polices from their 115 and 116 Issues. Peterson seconded the motion and roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Peterson, yea: and Moore, yea; there being five yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
CLOSED MINUTES
Walker motioned, with a second from Eddinger, to make public the closed session minutes from January through June, 2024, and to destroy verbatim recordings from 2004 through 2017. Roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Peterson, yea: and Moore, yea; there being five yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
WHS ACTIVITY ACCOUNT
Walker motioned to approve the addition of a House System activity account at WHS, and Peterson seconded the motion. Roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Peterson, yea: and Moore, yea; there being five yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
BASKETBALL TRIP
Eddinger motioned to approve the request of the high school girls and boys basketball teams to miss a day of school and take an overnight trip to Indiana for special competitions. Walker seconded the motion and roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Peterson, yea: and Moore, yea; there being five 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 there were none.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Jacquot motioned at 8:40 PM to enter into closed session. Eddinger seconded the motion and roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Peterson, yea: and Moore, yea; there being five yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Eddinger motioned, with a second from Jacquot, to return to open session at 9:07 PM. Roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Peterson, yea: and Moore, yea; there being five yeas and no nays, the motion passed. President Moore announced the purpose of the executive session was for personnel matters and student discipline.
PERSONNEL ACTION
Jacquot motioned, with a second from Walker, to employ Betty Kinsey as noon supervisor and to approve Katie Engelbrecht as volunteer WGS cheer coach. Roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Peterson, yea: and Moore, yea; there being five yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
ANNOUNCEMENTS / ADJOURNMENT
President Moore announced the November 12th meeting would be held in the WHS Home Ec room due to an athletic event scheduling error. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:13 PM.
