Following is a summary of minutes of a regular meeting of the Board of Education of Jasper County Community Unit School District No. 1 held in the office of the Board of Education by virtual zoom/or in person due to COVID 19, on Monday, November 16, 2020. Board members present were Mr. Gordon Millsap, Mr. Jon Fulton, Mrs. Mandy Rieman, Mrs. Holly Farley, Mr. Bill Meinhart and Mr. Jason Kuhl.
Members absent: Mrs. Mindy Street.
All votes are considered unanimous unless otherwise noted.
Jon Fulton opened the meeting with a prayer for our students, staff and community in these unusual trying times.
Gordon Millsap called the meeting to order.
Gordon provided instructions on how to comment or provide questions for the upcoming Recognition of
Guests and Public Comments, guests may submit questions or statements to be read aloud during this time by utilizing the chat button on the zoom meeting.
Agenda was adopted.
Under the Superintendent’s report:
November/December Dates:
November 26-29 – Thanksgiving Vacation (There will not be a one hour early dismissal on Wednesday,
November 25 since the schools are already being dismissed early due to COVID/remote learning)
December 21 – Board meeting at 6:30pm
December 23-January 3 – Christmas Vacation
January 4 – Teachers Institute
January 5 – Students Return – School Resumes
Congratulations to Pre-K Teacher Jamie Sandschafer for once again receiving the Gold Circle of Quality
Designation for Pre-K. Our students and community are blessed to have Mrs. Sandschafer steering the
ship for their future.
Bill Meinhart and Jason Kuhl reported on the status of the Sunrise Community Center as well as other
building updates.
Congratulations to Board Member Mandy Rieman on being recognized as a Master School Board
Member through IASB. This is the 7 th year she has received this honor.
Gordon asked for guests and public comments. Tammy Probst, representing football parents, spoke of
their complaints regarding a 7 on 7 practice and how the administration handled the situation.
Andy Pullen spoke and presented the board with a handout regarding financials.
There were no FOIA requests this month.
Approval of the consent agenda:
Regular and closed session minutes from October 19, 2020,
Bills and Payroll,
Presentment of monthly financial reports,
Destruction of closed session recording for September 18, 2018,
Donation of a full pallet of water from Peoples State Bank,
Technology items declared as surplus.
Presentation and approval of a resolution for tentative tax levy for the coming fiscal year. The District
will conduct a Truth in Taxation meeting on December 21.
Approval of a mowing contract with Griffith’s Lawn Care. Ayes: Rieman, Millsap, Farley, Meinhart
Fulton. Nays: None. Abstain: Kuhl
Approval of a resolution providing for the issue of not to exceed $20,000,000 of debt certificates to be
issued by the District for the purpose of additions to and altering, repairing and equipping school
buildings and facilities and improving school sites. Between retiring bonds and allocation of CFST
(County School Facility Tax 1% sales tax) funds toward abatement, this should lead to no tax increase as
a direct result of the projects these funds would cover. Ayes: Millsap, Farley, Meinhart, Kuhl, Rieman.
Nays: Fulton.
Approval of a resolution of intent to issue not to exceed $300,000 of working cash fund bonds and
directing that notice of such intent be published in the manner provided by law.
Approval of Financial Advisory Agreement with PMA Securities. This is necessary since the account has
been inactive for a while.
Approval of First Amendment to financial Advisory Agreement with PMA Securities to update some
wording.
Discussion with no action at this time regarding continuing Winter Sports for FY21. The IHSA Board have
invited representatives of the Governor’s office and the State Board of Education in hopes of coming up
with a plan that would allow play. We will know more after this meeting which is scheduled for
Thursday, November 19 th .
Approval of Farnsworth Additional Services Agreement No. 9 in regards to 1401 Clayton Avenue as
future Early Childhood Center, update masterplan document for Newton Elementary and update floor
plan for NCHS/JCJH.
The board went into executive session at 7:57pm for 5 ILCS 120/2 ( c ) ( 1 ) – To consider information
Regarding Appointment, Employment or Dismissal of Individual Employees.
Approval to return to open session at 8:29pm.
Meeting adjourned at 8:30pm. Next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 21, 2020 at
6:30pm at the Board Office.
