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, February 22, 2021. Meeting was rescheduled from Monday,
February 15, 2021 at 6:30 pm due to 10 inches of snow. Board members present were Mr. Gordon
Millsap, Mr. Jon Fulton, Mrs. Mandy Rieman, Mrs. Holly Farley, Mrs. Mindy Street, Mr. Bill Meinhart and
Mr. Jason Kuhl. Members absent: None.
All votes are considered unanimous unless otherwise noted.
Gordon Millsap called the meeting to order.
Agenda was adopted.
Under the Superintendent’s report:
Board Member Bill Meinhart along with Board Member Jason Kuhl presented a proposed building
project update, they gave each board member a printout. 6 th grade moving to the high school is not
going to happen instead lst grade will move to the Early Childhood Center along with the Pre-K and
Kindergarten. Elevator at the JCJH/NCHS. Gym with seating for 600-800 people at the JCJH, this will
look a lot like T-Town’s new gym. Thanks to both of these gentlemen for all the time they have put in
this building project.
Mrs. Probst gave a presentation on the district’s school report card. Each school has a curriculum goal,
Ste. Marie will be doing a 2 week reading incentive program, they will be featuring the book Nerdy Birdy
which has the following themes – friendship, inclusiveness and kindness. Newton Elementary would like
to review the reading/ELA curriculum next year. JCJH are looking to split up ELA/History next year and
teach life skills all year to all students and NCHS will be reviewing sociology textbooks for next year and
gathering data on the vocational department. The after school tutoring program that began the middle
of January 2021 has been very beneficial so far. Overall grades have improved due to the extra time, the
number of missing assignments have deceased and overall grades have improved. We are still waiting to
see if we will be granted assessment waivers this year. April will be a busy month for testing if we are
required to administer assessments this Spring.
There were no guests and public comments.
There was 1 FOIA request from IRTA asking for a list of teachers who are retiring at the end of this
school year. This is an annual FOIA request with each school district in the State of Illinois.
Approval of the consent agenda:
Regular and closed session minutes from January 19, 2021,
Bills and Payroll,
Presentment of monthly financial reports,
Destruction of closed session recording for December 20, 2018,
Volunteers: Riley Zumbahlen, Brooklyn Herman and Reise Wyatt as track volunteers at JCJH/NCHS this
school year and Matt and Amy Tarr as bass fishing team volunteers this school year,
Donation of $850 from Schumacher Orthodontics of Effingham for Smiles for Schools Program 2020, this
will be split between Ste. Marie Elementary, Newton Elementary, Jasper County Junior High, Newton
Community High School and St. Thomas Grade School for end of the year activities.
$250 donation from Ray Diel for FFA.
Final reading of Board Policy 4:42 Operational Services: Sales Tax Usage and Related Debt Service
Abatements.
Approval of Task Order Number 10 with Farnsworth Group to prepare updated floor plans at the future
Early Childhood Center, conceptual HVAC plans for the proposed system that shows major equipment
layouts and HVAC service zones at Newton Elementary, prepare updated building floor plan based on
revised district priorities list at JCJH/NCHS.
Approval of Resolution for TRS Supplemental Savings Plan Employer Participation Agreement (this is a
new requirement from TRS). The role of employers is to allow their employees to participate in the SSP if
they so choose, employers must adopt the SSP Employer Participation Agreement provided by TRS and
must withdraw the applicable contributions from participating members’ paychecks. This is a new
457(b) deferred compensation plan adopted by the Employer for its Employees effective March 1, 2021.
This is not a district matching program. TRS members and employers will be provided additional
information about the SSP as 2021 move forward.
Approval of the resignation of Emily Flach as NCHS history teacher/Cheer Coach effective the end of the
2020-2021 school year. The resignation of Randy Chapman as a part time bus driver effective February
12, 2021. The resignation of Norma Swisher as part time NCHS art teacher effective the end of the
2020-2021 school year. The resignation of Jody Dhom as Newton Elementary lunchroom supervisor
effective at the end of the 2020-2021 school year. If you see these folks around, please thank them for
their many years of service to our district. You are much appreciated.
Approval to hire Megan McClard as a NCHS History Teacher to start with the 2021-2022 school year.
She will be filling Mr. Finkbiner’s position, Megan has been our full time sub at NCHS/JCJH this year.
Approval to move Curt McCoy from a part time bus driver to a full time bus driver effective immediately
as he will be filling Randy Chapman’s part time route.
Approval to advertise for a NCHS History Teacher, a District Counselor and a NCHS Art Teacher all to
begin the 2021-2022 school year.
The board went into executive session at 7:24pm for 5 ILCS 120/2 ( c ) ( 1 ) – To consider information
Regarding Appointment, Employment or Dismissal of Individual Employees, 5 ILCS 120/2/ ( c ) (5)
Purchase or lease of real property and 5 ILCS 120/2 ( c ) (10) – To Discuss matter relating to individual
students.
Approval to return to open session at 8:25pm.
Meeting adjourned at 8:27pm. Next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 15, 2021 at
6:30pm at the Board Office.
