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 Board of Education offices, Monday, March 16, 2020.
Board members present were Mr. Gordon Millsap, Mr. Jon Fulton, Mrs. Mandy Rieman, Mrs. Mindy
Street, Mr. Bill Meinhart, and Mrs. Holly Farley. Members absent: Mr. Jason Kuhl.
All votes are considered unanimous unless otherwise noted.
Gordon Millsap called the meeting to order.
The agenda was adopted as presented.
Under the superintendent’s report, Bill Meinhart gave a building committee update. An update of the
2020 Property Tax Relief Grant – Our adjusted operating tax rate was below the rate necessary to
qualify for the grant in FY2020.
Gordon asked for guests and public comments. There were none.
Approval of the consent agenda:
Regular and closed session minutes from February 17, 2020,
Bills and Payroll,
Presentment of monthly financial reports,
Destruction of closed session recording for March 15, 2018,
Lucinda Lewis and Monica Lutz as volunteers at Newton Elementary,
Donations from Athletic Booster Club with many thanks to:
$11,099 from Eagle for Life for Equipment and Software for JH/HS STEAM Lab,
$2,800 from an anonymous donor for a new soundboard for the NCHS auditorium,
$50 from Gywn Wilson for FFA,
$500 from Pork Producers for FFA and
$540 for a replacement net for the baseball mobile batting cage and $661.10 for replacement baseball
and softball pants (yearly donation) from the Newton Athletic Boosters.
Approval to rehire administrators for the 2020-2021 school year;
Beth Probst as 7-12 Principal
Ryan Klier as 7-12 Assistant Principal/7-8 Athletic Director
Jessica Guzman as Newton Elementary Principal
Katy Conder as Ste. Marie Elementary Principal and K-12 Director of Social Services and
Jennifer Bales as Special Education Coordinator
Approval of the IHSA 2020-2021 school term renewal.
Approval of the 2020-2021 school calendar with Wednesday, August 12, 2020 as a teacher’s institute
and first day of student attendance being Thursday, August 13, 2020. Last day for students will be
Thursday, May 20, 2021 with a teacher’s institute on Friday, May 21, 2021.
Approval of ESET antivirus renewal.
Approval of the in-tact floor tile removal at Newton Elementary bid. The bid was awarded to KAM
Services from Mattoon, this was the only bid received.
Approval of NCHS Counselor Lauren Fowler request for reduction in days from 185 to 180 starting with
the 2020-2021 school year.
Approval to hire Tim Bower as the NCHS girls’ assistant track coach for the 2019-2020 school year.
Approval to hire Kyle Klier as the JCJH head baseball coach for the 2020-2021 school year and his
resignation as JCJH Cross Country Coach effective immediately.
Approval of a maternity leave request from May 3 through June 30, 2020 for Jennifer Bales, Special
Education Coordinator, she will return July 1, 2020.
Approval of the resignation of Kathy Johnson as Principal at Ste. Marie Elementary effective June 30,
2020.
Approval of the resignation of Aubrey Hunt, NCHS English Teacher effective at the conclusion of the
2019-2020 school year.
Approval of the resignation of Tom Matson as a special education bus driver effective March 27, 2020.
Approval to advertise for an Assistant Principal at Newton Elementary to start with the 2020-2021
school year.
Approval to advertise for an English Teacher at Newton Community High School to start with the 2020-
2021 school year.
The board went into executive session at 7:04pm 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 ) (9) – Individual Student Matters.
Approval to return to open session at 7:12pm.
Meeting adjourned at 7:12pm.
