April 2022 School Board Meeting Minutes

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CARBONDALE COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 165, CARBONDALE, ILLINOIS HELD APRIL 21, 2022

The regular scheduled meeting of the Board of Education of School District 165 was held in the cafeteria of Carbondale Community High School, 1301 East Walnut Street, Carbondale, Illinois, on Thursday, April 21, 2022, at 6:00 p.m.

Upon roll call, the following members were present:

Linda Flowers                         Christopher Swims (Remote) 
Wendell Pohlman                   Julie VanWinkle 
Steven Sabens

The following members were absent:

Lana Galan                             Francis Tsung

Also present:

Daniel Booth                           Ryan Thomas 
Ray Toliver, Jr.                       Ethan Graham

President Sabens declared a quorum present and the regular meeting of April 21, 2022, was called to order.

Approval of Minutes: Motion by Flowers, seconded by VanWinkle, to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of March 17, 2022. Roll call: Flowers, Pohlman, Sabens, Swims and VanWinkle voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Public Comments—None

Old Business—None

CCHS Science Students Advance to State Science Fair: Over 50 students participated in the regional science fair at SIUC. Thirty-one students were selected to compete in the state science fair competition to be held on April 23, 2022, in Peoria, IL.  

FOIA Requests: The Board received a listing of the 2021-22 FOIA requests received to date.

Payment of Bills: Motion by Flowers, seconded by Pohlman, to pay the remaining bills for the month of March 2022; and, those available for payment for the month of April 2022. Roll call: Pohlman, Sabens, Swims, VanWinkle and Flowers voted yes. Nay, none.  Motion carried.

ESSER II and ESSER III Grant Expenditures: The Board received an update on the ESSER II Grant and ESSER III Grant expenditures.

Principal’s Report:  Mr. Thomas reported on the following:

Future Business Leaders of America competed at the State Competition in Springfield. CCHS had 14 students qualify for Nationals this summer in Chicago.

   Yoonseo Jung: Public Speaking 
  Grace Park: Sales Presentation and Who’s Who in FBLA 
  Sydney Davis: Word Processing 
  First Place in their divisions; State Champions 
  
Ms. Christi McGee was recognized as FBLA Advisor of the Year

CCHS Senior Alex Brown has been named a National Medal Winner in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. This places him in the top one percent of all entries nationwide.  

CCHS Seniors Brandon Scott-Rivers and Lily Bishop were recognized at the Illinois Principals Association Recognition Dinner. 

History Fair State Qualifiers: Jackson Connelly, Cooper Brown, Amira Alkhatim, Jay Lee, Michelle Wang, Julie Oberg Emmarie Doolen, McKenna Hickey, Faith Loyd, Alex Pohlman, Rose Hou, and Annaken Rogers

WYSE (World Youth in Science & Engineering) took Fourth Place at State and Second Place in Physics, Math and English. 

Superintendent’s Report: Mr. Booth reviewed his Superintendent’s Report for the Board:

Quarantine and Isolation data April 10-16, 2022:

Students
Isolation: 0 
Quarantine: 0

Faculty and Staff
Isolation: 1 
Quarantine: 0

Historical Data
February 27-April 16: Total number of isolations and quarantines = 1

First Semester Totals
Positive Cases: 52 
Quarantines: 60

Totals for the Year
Positive Cases: 194 
Quarantines: 109 

COVID-19 Paid Administrative Leave Days – Act was signed by Governor on April 5, 2022: An employee may use COVID-19 paid administrative leave days either because the employee was restricted from being on school district property or the employee took sick leave to care for his/her/their child, who was unable to attend elementary or secondary school (Act does not allow for reinstatement of days for children that attend daycare), because the employee or the employee’s child had:

1. a confirmed positive COVID-19 diagnosis from a PCR test (or other molecular amplification diagnostic test),

2. a probable COVID-19 diagnosis via an antigen diagnostic test,

3. been in close contact with a person who has a confirmed case of COVID-19 and is required to be excluded from the school, or

4. been required by the school or school district policy to be excluded from school district property due to COVID-19 symptoms.

Employees on COVID-19 paid administrative leave will receive their regular rate of pay. Under the Act, only those employees who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and participate in any COVID-19 testing program adopted by the school district, to the extent participation by individuals who are fully vaccinated is required, are eligible to receive paid administrative leave days. “Fully vaccinated against COVID-19” under the statute means two weeks have passed since the final dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.  To be eligible to receive COVID-19 paid administrative leave, employees must be fully vaccinated by May 11, 2022.  

Construction Updates:  HVAC updates in C, D, and gymnasium were completed over spring break.  This was a 1.2-million-dollar project that is being paid for out of ESSER II monies.

Baseball is about 99% done.  Still working on a couple punch list items but the field is being used.  Will update Board on final costs after final invoice.

Contracts have been signed for boiler work and it will begin in May.

Contractors continue to value engineer the weight room/storage area, maintenance shed addition, and the cafeteria. Contracts should be signed in late April or early May.  

Carbondale Park District Lease Agreement: CCHS owns a random plot of land adjacent to Attucks Park. We have long-term (25 year) lease agreement with the Park District. The long-term lease will expire on May 31, 2022, and discussions have begun with the Park District to either sell, give, or trade services with them to take over the land. CCHS has no use for the land, and believed it would be wise to pass it on to CPD.  

2022 Board of Education Student Artwork Purchase Award: Motion by Flowers, seconded by Pohlman, to approve the annual student artwork purchase award ($200) as presented.  Roll call:  Pohlman, Sabens, Swims, VanWinkle and Flowers voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Permission to Solicit Bids for 2022-23 Milk and Bread Products: Motion by Pohlman, seconded by VanWinkle, to solicit bids for 2022-23 milk and bread products as presented. Roll call: Sabens, Swims, VanWinkle, Flowers and Pohlman voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried. 

Permission to Solicit Bids for Tennis Court Resurfacing: Motion by VanWinkle, seconded by Swims, to solicit bids for tennis court resurfacing as presented. Roll call: Swims, VanWinkle, Flowers, Pohlman and Sabens voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried. 

Rejection of Yearbook Publication Bids: Motion by Pohlman, seconded by VanWinkle, to acknowledge receipt of the bids received for the three-year yearbook publication; and, to reject the bids as presented.  Roll call: VanWinkle, Flowers, Pohlman, Sabens and Swims voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

2022-23 Yearbook Publication Contract: Motion by Pohlman, seconded by VanWinkle, to approve the 2022-23 yearbook publication contract with Balfour Yearbooks in the amount of $18,900.00 as presented. Roll call: VanWinkle, Flowers, Pohlman, Sabens and Swims voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Presentation of 2021-22 Amended Budget for Public Display: Ray Toliver reviewed the 2021-22 amended budget for the Board. Motion by Flowers, seconded by VanWinkle, to receive the amended budget for the 2021-22 school year, place it on display for the public at the district office, the high school office, and the Carbondale Public Library, and to hold a public hearing on Thursday, June 16, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. in the high school cafeteria. Roll call: Flowers, Pohlman, Sabens, Swims and VanWinkle voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

2021-22 Amended School Calendar: Motion by Flowers, seconded by VanWinkle, to approve the 2021-22 Amended Amended School Calendar as presented. Roll call: Galan, Pohlman, Sabens, Swims, VanWinkle and Flowers voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried. 

2022-23 Annual COPE Safe Schools Program Intergovernmental Agreement: Motion by Pohlman, seconded by VanWinkle, to approve the 2022-23 Annual Intergovernmental Agreement for School Districts Jackson-Perry Regional Office of Education COPE Safe Schools Program as presented. Roll call: Pohlman, Sabens, Swims, VanWinkle and Flowers.  Nay, none. Motion carried.

2022-23 Annual Project SOAR Alternative Educ. Program Intergovernmental Agreement: Motion by Pohlman, seconded by VanWinkle, to approve the 2022-23 Annual Intergovernmental Agreement for School Districts Regional Office of Education Education #30 Project SOAR Alternative Educational Program as presented. Roll call: Sabens, Swims, VanWinkle, Flowers and Pohlman voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Resolution for the Disposal of Surplus Property (Photo Enlargers): Motion by VanWinkle, seconded by Pohlman, to adopt the Resolution for the Disposal of Surplus Property (photo enlargers) as presented. Roll call: Swims, VanWinkle, Flowers, Pohlman and Sabens voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried. 

School Attorney Engagement Letter:  Motion by VanWinkle, seconded by Flowers, to engage with Kriha Boucek Law Firm as District legal counsel on an as needed basis per the engagement letter as presented.  Roll call: VanWinkle, Flowers, Pohlman, Sabens and Swims voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Terrier Times Memorandum of Understanding: Motion by VanWinkle, seconded by Flowers, to approve the Memorandum of Understanding with the CCHSEA to implement the Terrier Time activity period for the 2022-23 school year as presented. Roll call: VanWinkle, Flowers, Pohlman, Sabens and Swims voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Resignations/Retirements: Motion by VanWinkle, seconded by Swims, to accept the resignations/retirements of the following personnel as presented: 

a. Resignation of Jared Ragan (Hall Monitor) effective April 6, 2022.

b. Resignation of Leila Kassim (Hall Monitor) effective June 30, 2022.

c. Retirement of Pamela Barr (Special Education Teacher) effective at the end of the 2024-25 school year pending certification of her 32 years of service by the Teacher Retirement System. If the TRS does not certify her 32 years of service, she will retire at the end of the 2025-26 school year.

d. Resignation of Arthur Martinez (Maintenance Technician) effective April 12, 2022.                                                 

e. Resignation of Kameilah Amaya-Allen (English Teacher) effective at the end of the 2021-22 school year.

Roll call: Flowers, Pohlman, Sabens, Swims, and VanWinkle voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Employment of Special Education Teacher: Motion by VanWinkle, seconded by Pohlman, to employ Susan Murphy as a full-time Special Education Teacher for the 2022-23 school year. Ms. Murphy’s education and experience will place her at Line 22, Column MA/MS on the Teacher Salary Schedule.  Roll call: Pohlman, Sabens, Swims, VanWinkle and Flowers voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Employment of Mathematics Teacher: Motion by Pohlman, seconded by VanWinkle, to employ Kamen Rosado as a full-time Mathematics Teacher for the 2022-23 school year. Mr. Rosado’s education and experience will place him at Line 0.5, Column BA/BS on the Teacher Salary Schedule.  Roll call: Pohlman, Sabens, Swims, VanWinkle and Flowers voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Employment of Family and Consumer Science Teacher: Motion by Pohlman, seconded by VanWinkle, to employ Dana Cox-Lipe as a full-time Family and Consumer Science Teacher for the 2022-23 school year. Ms. Cox-Lipe’s education and experience will place her at Line 8, Column MA/MS on the Teacher Salary Schedule. Roll call: Sabens, Swims, VanWinkle, Flowers and Pohlman voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

2021-22 Volunteers—None

Amend 2022-23 Assistant Principal Employment Contract: Motion by VanWinkle, seconded by Swims, to amend the 2022-23 Assistant Principal Employment Contract for Alejandro Ruiz as presented. Roll call: Swims, VanWinkle, Flowers, Pohlman and Sabens voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Executive Session—None

Closing Comments: Secretary Flowers asked if there was a process or policy that could be established regarding Public Comments during a Board meeting whereby the public would submit their comments prior to the meeting, so that if a Board member perceived the comments to be inappropriate they could not allow them to comment at the meeting. Following discussion, Mr. Booth advised he would contact the District attorney for a legal opinion on the matter.

For Your Information Items
Awards Night Ceremony: Thursday, May 5, 2022, at 6:00 p.m., at the Carbondale Civic Center 
CCHS Graduation Ceremony: Saturday, May 14, 2022, at 3:00 p.m., at the SIU Banterra Center 
Next Board of Education Meeting: Thursday, May 19, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. 
Superintendent Evaluations are due May 1, 2022, for discussion at the May Board of Education Meeting.

Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.

POSTED: May 20, 2022