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 cafeteria of Newton Community High School by virtual
zoom/or in person due to COVID 19, on Monday, June 15, 2020. Board members present were Mr.
Gordon Millsap, Mr. Jon Fulton, Mrs. Mandy Rieman, Mrs. Mindy Street, Mr. Bill Meinhart and, Mr.
Jason Kuhl. Members absent: Mrs. Holly Farley.
All votes are considered unanimous unless otherwise noted.
Gordon Millsap called the meeting to order.
The agenda was corrected for item I. in New Business, should read starting the Fall of 2021 not 2022.
Gordon provided instructions on how to comment or provide questions for the upcoming Item IV
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, Mr. Johnson reported to the board the recommendation from the
Curriculum Committee to purchase Math In Focus 2020 series for K-5 grades and renew 6-8 grades,
grades 6-8 piloted this series during the 2019-2020 school year and plan to continue on with the series
as well, thus bringing continuity and alignment. He gave an update on school reopening in 2020-21,
hopefully we will get a recommendation from ISBE in the next week or so. The district has a 30 member
internal advisory group with 8 sub committees, they will meet 3 times before July 3 to have a master
plan and be ready when school can reopen.
Gordon asked for guests and public comments. Mitch Bierman and Josie Angel, both past graduates of
Newton Community High School asked to speak on racial differences. They ask that the district ban
confederate flags on school property, to not tolerate hate and for minority students to not feel
intimated/uncomfortable by white students.
Mr. Johnson read the following statement:
“It is stated policy of the Board of Education to ensure that all students receive equal educational
opportunities without regard to color, race, nationality, religion, sex, sexual orientation, ancestry, age
physical or mental disability, homeless status or immigration status. Accordingly, the Board of Education
will not tolerate discrimination, in any form based on the color of a student’s skin or, for that matter, on
the basis of any protected category.”
Approval of the consent agenda:
Regular and closed session minutes from May 18, 2020,
Bills and Payroll,
Presentment of monthly financial reports,
Destruction of closed session recording for May 17, 2018,
Abby Stone as a volunteer at NCHS to help with the Cross Country team starting with the 2020-2021
season,
Donation in memory of Tim Bergbower to FFA for $515,
Donation to JCJH from the City Treasurer for Reading Rocks – $150, Student Council – $200, Jasper
County Youth Theater – $250, Music Department – $300 and STEAM Lab – $150,
Donation to Newton Elementary from the City Treasurer for Strong Girls Program – $400, 5 th Grade
Science Class – $500 and 5 th Grade English Language Arts Class – $200
Approval of final reading and adoption of policy updates.
Approval of the Renewal for SchoolInsight and TeacherEase for the 2020-2021 school year, this is our
student management system.
Approval of the Technology Lease Purchase Agreement through Dieterich Bank.
Approval of surplus technology equipment to recycle or donate.
Approval of a three year Soccer Field Rental Renewal Contract.
Approval of Intergovernmental Agreement with (SIPC) Schools of Illinois Public Cooperative.
Approval of the Yellow Folder Software Agreement, this is a program to make our personnel records,
special education records, etc. digitized.
Approval of the Atlantic Research Agreement for assistance in the development of a five-year strategic
plan for the district along with a two day board session with the goal of creating framework for the
strategic plan. Also assistance to have instructional and curriculum coaching in the areas of ELA, math,
science, social studies and special education at JCJH.
Approval of changes to the NCHS and JCJH Athletic Handbook for 2020-2021.
Approval to offer a Theater Class starting Fall of 2021 at NCHS. This class will allow students to learn
about rehearsals, choreography, stage presentation, stage makeup and perform a musical or play which
will be their final for the class. The Pops Concert that is usually performed in the Fall will move to the
Spring semester. A Spring Musical will also be held that year as normal.
Approval to purchase Math In Focus Curriculum 2020 series for K-5 grades and renewal for 6-8 grades.
Approval of a software BETA Agreement with Transom at no cost to the district. The program will take
behavioral, attendance and grading data from the district and develop software for the district to
improve instruction and interventions for students.
Approval of reducing the Senior Citizen’s athletic gate fee from $4 to $3 for the upcoming school year.
Approval of a resolution to abate working cash fund and a transfer of $150,000 from that fund to the
Transportation Fund.
Approval of the resignation of Gail Turner as the NCHS Yearbook sponsor effective immediately.
Approval to advertise for a NCHS yearbook sponsor, a full time substitute teacher for the JH/HS and a
full time substitute teacher for SME/NE to start with the 2020-2021 school year also a part time
administrator for SME to start July 1, 2020 or as soon as possible.
The board went into executive session at 7:26pm for 5 ILCS 120/2 ( c ) ( 1 ) – To consider information
Regarding Appointment, Employment or Dismissal of Individual Employees and 5 ILCS 120/2 ( C ) ( 5 )
Purchase of lease of real property.
Approval to return to open session at 8:07pm.
Meeting adjourned at 8:08pm.
Next meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 20, 2020 at 6:30pm at the Board Office.
