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 on Monday, June 21,
2021. Board members present were Mr. Gordon Millsap, Mrs. Mandy Rieman, Mrs. Holly Farley, Mr. Bill
Meinhart, Mr. Jason Kuhl, and Mr. Brady Shull. Members absent: Mr. Jerry L. Jed Earnest.
All votes are considered unanimous unless otherwise noted.
Gordon Millsap called the meeting to order.
Agenda was approved as presented.
Under the Superintendent’s report:
Bill Meinhart updated the board of the District’s Goals and Objectives. Bill engaged the administrators
in this process. They developed a mission strategic objective concept, made sub teams and will meet
again this week along with Brady Shull. The target is to come to the board by August with the results.
Mr. Johnson provided an update on 1% sales tax revenue:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1IRhS9Jbda0_qWM9YmDorbuwVmkFqd04l4AilzavvBv0/edit?u
sp=sharing
Academic Status Update
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1baa4E2Cyi3xFVN59AephzjhF275khZcsAn2gqBizrco/edit?usp=
sharing
Mr. Johnson also provided information on the initial application for ESSER II (federal grant). Money is
currently being budgeted for the Social Emotional Director Salary and Benefits, Custodian Salaries and
Benefits, supplies to sanitize and disinfect schools, PPE for staff and students (gloves, masks, automatic
dispensers, regular dispensers, thermometers, etc.), technology, HVAC project for Newton Elementary,
JCJH, and NCHS, and replace building camera system district-wide. This grant will be amended many
times prior to the last date to have used this money for our students and facilities.
Gordon asked for Recognition of Guests and Public Comments. There were none.
There were 2 FOIA requests and 2 PAC rulings which have been closed with no findings.
Approval of the consent agenda:
Regular and Closed Minutes for May 17, 2021,
Bills and Payroll,
Presentment of monthly financial reports,
Destruction of closed session recording for April 29, 2019,
Andrea Cleaver and Megan McClard as JCJH softball volunteers starting with the 2021-2022 season,
$427.75 Donation from First National Bank of Olney from their debit card program,
$112 from Newton Athletic Boosters for 8 th Grade Girls Track Sectional Championship shirts,
$250 from Mary Lybarger (in Memory of Jeff Nicholas from his children and grandchildren for NCHS Bass
Fishing Team),
$350 for Effingham summer tournament NCHS Girls Basketball, $600 for two summer tournaments in
Vandalia (one Varsity and One JV), Benton Shootout and Pana Shootout for NCHS Boys Basketball, $525
for two summer tournaments in Fairfield and a tournament in Springfield for NCHS Volleyball,
Declare surplus technology equipment to recycle or donate.
Approval of the renewal of SchoolInsight/TeacherEase for the 2021-2022 school year. This is the yearly
renewal for the student management program.
Technology Lease Purchase Agreement was tabled until the July meeting.
Approval of the Atlantic Research Agreements – this is for Professional Development and Instructional
Onsite Coaching from Andy Parker. Atlantic Research is a Learning Partnership that began with the JH
lowest school designation back in 2018 – 2019. Since that time our scores / student’s achievement has
been on the rise and we are proud of our staff, administration and students for these results. Atlantic
Research serves our district in many ways, such as onsite instructional guidance for the upcoming school
year.
Approval proposal from the administration as presented with the exception of removing #3 from the
proposal – and follow the current language for that item as the language is currently written in NCHS
Athletic Handbooks.
Approval of the Athletic Trainer contract with Sarah Bush Lincoln Health System pending our school legal
opinion. This will be an approximate cost of $12,000 annually. The previous Athletic Trainer agreement
with Carle Hospital was a free service, but we were notified this service would no longer be provided at
no charge to the district.
Approval of the Workers Compensation renewal with Star Insurance Company effective July 1, 2021
through June 30, 2022. This represents a slight increase in cost from FY21’.
Approval of the Property and Casualty renewal with Prairie State Insurance Cooperative (PSIC) effective
July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. This represents a slight increase in cost from FY21’.
Approval to increase athletic officials pay starting with the 2021-2022 school year. Proposal was
provided from Athletic Director Craig Carr and JCJH/NCHS Principal Beth Probst. Total cost increase over
next two years was estimated at just over $3,000.00.
Approval to approve the annual Embarras River Basin Agency Head Start Agreement for the 2021-2022
school year.
Approval of the COVID check in procedures beginning August 2021. Mandy Rieman abstained. Motion
carried 5-0 (1 abstained & 1 absent). Items approved are:
Schedule –Regular school day, same schedule as pre‐pandemic
Remote learning – No remote learning to be offered
Masks – Masks will be optional for teachers and students. If Jasper County covid metrics worsen, this
may be revisited.
Social distancing – Desk spacing to be maximized, same as 2020‐21 school year.
Vaccination status – No plans to gather vaccination status for students/staff
Morning check‐in procedures (school wize app) – Eliminate
Bus check‐in sheet – Eliminate
Quarantine due to close contact – If a student tests positive for COVID, they will be quarantined per
IDPH rules at the discretion of the Jasper County Health Department. The Jasper County Health
Department will perform contact tracing and quarantine of students will only be required at the
direction of the health department.
Extra‐curricular activities – Sports, band, chorus, other – No restrictions
Spectators at extra curricular activities – No limitations on maximum spectators and no restrictions (ie,
masks optional)
Summer activities – Same requirements as proposed for the Fall 2021 school year effective
immediately.
Note: The district should closely monitor COVID 19 cases in Jasper County and the surrounding area. If
community spread becomes an issue, the district will adjust this plan as deemed necessary.
Approval of the resignation of Andrea Cleaver as JCJH Softball Assistant Coach and Doug Finkbiner
(retired from JCCU1 effective at the end of the 2020-2021 school year) as NCHS Scholar Bowl Coach both
due immediately.
Approval of the retirement of Jean Ochs as NE Cook effective June 1, 2021. Jean has been a cook in the
School District for 31 years.
Approval to hire Brandon Collins as the NCHS/JCJH full-time substitute teacher to start with the 2021-
2022 school year.
Approval to hire Troy Bierman as the JCJH Baseball Head Coach and Jamie Martin as NE Yearbook
Sponsor both to start with the 2021-2022 school year.
Approval to hire:
David Fritschle as Part Time District Maintenance starting June 7, 2021,
Kevin Stanley as Summer Custodial Help/Painting/Etc. starting June 7, 2021,
Cali Johnson as Summer Custodial Help/Painting/Etc. starting June 1, 2021
Robert Boyd as Summer Custodial Help/Painting/Etc. starting June 14, 2021
Suzie McCann as One on One aide for a student in summer school,
Joe Winter as NE night custodian starting July 1, 2021,
Lindsay Goebel as NCHS/JCJH nurse starting with the 2021-2022 school year,
Natalie Shull as a paraprofessional starting with the 2021-2022 school year.
Approval to advertise for a Special Education Teacher and a NCHS Scholastic Bowl Coach both to start
with the 2021-2022 school year.
The board went into executive session at 8:23pm 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 9:30pm.
Meeting adjourned at 9:31 pm.
Next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 19, 2021 at 6:30pm at the Board Office.
