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, December 21, 2020. Board members present were Mr. Gordon Millsap, Mr. Jon Fulton, Mrs. Mandy Rieman, Mrs. Holly Farley, Mrs. Mindy Street and Mr. Jason Kuhl.
Members absent: Mr. Bill Meinhart.
All votes are considered unanimous unless otherwise noted.
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.
The regular meeting was temporarily adjourned to convene the 2020 Tax Levy Public Hearing at 6:32pm. The board heard testimony from Andy Pullen regarding the tax levy. Mr. Pullen provided the district debt information that he and Mr. Earnest created for the presentation. The Board adjourned the levy hearing to convene to the regular meeting at 6:43pm.
Under the Superintendent’s report:
The Unit Office will be closed December 23 through January 3.
Jennifer Bales, Special Education Coordinator presented Pre-K Teacher Jamie Sandschafer with the 2020 Gold Circle of Quality Designation Award. Mrs. Sandschafer has been in our district as a Pre-K Teacher since August 2005.
Jason Kuhl and Mr. Johnson reported on building updates. The Sunrise Community Center has been rezoned to SR2.
The District is no longer pursuing the working cash fund bonds. A group of Jasper County voters went door to door with a petition resulting in 753 signatures. The next step is to put a District referendum on the April 6, 2021 consolidated ballot (school board election).
Mr. Johnson presented Mandy Rieman with a certificate for once again 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. Jerry L. Jed Earnest via chat on Zoom, addressed
concerns he had with the building project and bonding process.
There were 2 FOIA requests this month.
One from Andy Pullen requesting a list of all current bonds, loans, tax levies and the payment schedule of each bond and loan. A request from Jerry L. Jed Earnest for videos of the October 2020 and November 2020 board meetings, all invoices, PO’s and check registers for Farnsworth, Holland Construction and PMA Financials for the past three years and all check registers and PO’s for the past 12 months.
Approval of the consent agenda:
Regular and closed session minutes from November 16, 2020,
Bills and Payroll,
Presentment of monthly financial reports,
Destruction of closed session recording for October 18, 2018,
Donation of a $150 to FFA from Suncoast Credit Union Re: Ronald R Smith or Christine K Smith, 2008 Yamaha Electric Piano at Newton Elementary as surplus.
Approval of First Reading of PRESS Policy Updates & 5 Year Review.
Approval of 2020 Tax Levy as presented.
The board and Mr. Johnson discussed adding a referendum question to the April 6, 2021 Consolidated Election ballot. The language for the question will need to be approved at the January 18, 2021 board meeting. This will give all Jasper County residents the opportunity to have a say in the proposed
building project and financing options.
Approval of an ERCA Intergovernmental Agreement. ERCA stands for Effingham Regional Career
Academy, this agreement involves 14 school districts in the area to operate specialized Career and Technical Education “CTE” programs for students who need and can benefit from such technical training, the program is through Lake Land College.
Discussion on revisions to Remote Learning requirements effective January 1, 2021. Add a Remote Plan Day for teachers on Tuesday, January 5, 2021. Which means all staff and students will return to school on Wednesday, January 6, 2021. Dismissal schedules stay the same as the first half of FY21’. Remote Learning Option Starting January 1, 2021 – A Medical release must be presented to the respective main office of which the student attends. (A doctor’s note is the required method for a Remote Learning
Medical Release). The district will notify the public in the near future of the revised requirements of remote learning via Teacher Ease.
Approval of the resignation of Kristin Dallmier, nurse at JCJH/NCHS effective December 23, 2020 and the retirement of JoAnn Wade, bus driver effective December 31, 2020.
Approval of a maternity leave of absence for 2 nd Grade teacher Kristie Finley for four weeks after the birth of the baby.
Approval of a leave of absence for 5th grade teacher Kelly Althoff beginning January 4, 2021 and returning in August 2021.
The board went into executive session at 7:51pm 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 8:36pm.
Approval to advertise for a part-time social emotional learning coach and an elementary
teacher/elementary substitute teacher.
Approval to grant Mr. Johnson hiring authority through January 18, 2021.
Meeting adjourned at 8:37pm. Next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, January 18, 2021 at
6:30pm at the Board Office.
