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, July 19,
2021. Board members present were Mr. Gordon Millsap, Mrs. Mandy Rieman, Mrs. Holly Farley, Mr. Bill
Meinhart, Mr. Jerry L. Jed Earnest, Mr. Jason Kuhl, and Mr. Brady Shull. Members absent: None.
All votes are considered unanimous unless otherwise noted.
Gordon Millsap called the meeting to order.
Agenda was approved as presented.
There was 1 FOIA request from Andy Pullen requesting the published agenda and approved minutes of
all Board of Education meetings including but not limited to, all regular meetings, all special meetings
and all committee meetings from July 1 st , 2016 to the present date.
Gordon asked for Recognition of Guests and Public Comments. Terry Milliman spoke of her concern
regarding critical race theory being taught in public schools. Gordon read an email from Buffy Brooks
regarding allowing homeschool students to participate in extra curricular/sports activities in the school
district.
Approval of the consent agenda:
Regular and Closed Minutes for June 21, 2021,
Bills and Payroll and Activity Accounts
Presentment of monthly financial reports,
Destruction of closed session recording for May 20, 2019,
Volunteers: Cody Beam, Kimberlin Michels, Amber Russell, Emma Kidwell, and Addy O’Dell for JCJH
Softball, Allen Hartke for NCHS yearbook, Nate Meinhart and Bo Dee Steber for NCHS Football starting
with the 2021-2022 season,
$7,500 Donation from the Maxine Spitler Foundation for NCHS Chorus/Musical,
$225 to NCHS Baseball for regional champ t-shirts from the Athletic Boosters,
$246 from the First National Bank of Olney for NCHS General Activity Account,
$2,000 for the R.E.A.D. program to purchase individual books for students in grades K-3 for the FY22
school year from the Maxine Spitler Foundation,
2021-2022 Faculty, Classified, Administrator, Title I Parent, Pre-K, Athletic and Volunteer Handbooks,
Newton Elementary Student Handbook and Extra Curricular Compact,
Declare surplus freezers at Ste. Marie Elementary, we will offer a sealed bid process for them.
Discussion and approval of salary proposal on the following groups of JCCU#1 employee’s pay rates; bus
drivers, bus chaperones, paraprofessionals, secretaries, cooks, custodians, lunchroom supervisors
crossing guard, substitute paraprofessionals, substitute bus drivers, substitute cooks, substitute
secretaries, effective July 1, 2021.
Approval of the 2021-2022 school calendar with ISBE. First day is a teacher’s institute on Wednesday,
August 11, 2021 and last day is a teacher’s institute on Thursday, May 19, 2022.
Approval of Dual Credit with IECC moving from Frontier to Olney Central College. IECC is restructuring
and moving Newton Community High School from Frontier to OCC. There will be a cost for dual credit
classes moving forward initiated from the colleges.
Approval of the annual Technology Lease Purchase Agreement with Dieterich Bank.
Due to the lack of school bus drivers and subs, discussion was held and approved to purchase two used
activity buses at $19,000 each to be paid by ESSER II grant. These buses will hold 15 students and 1
driver. We will be asking coaches and sponsors to help out and drive these activity buses.
Discussion and approval of a K-6 after school program to be paid by ESSER III. The program will be
Monday through Thursday 3:15 – 4:30pm at the Early Childhood Center formerly Sunrise Youth Center.
See attached sheet for additional information. Program will begin once the facility has been approved
for usage by the ROE and ISBE.
Approval of the resignation of Kim Runde as JCJH Yearbook Sponsor effective immediately, Katy Conder
as Social Services Director effective July 29, 2021. After several meetings with administration, our
consultants, etc., I feel it is our best interest to not seek someone to fill this position for FY22 – but look
at possibly filling it in FY23 and the retirement of Stacey Williams as Newton Elementary 2 nd Grade
Teacher effective 2023-2024 – (Three Year Early Retirement Incentive Plan with irrevocable intent to
retire).
Approval to hire Morgan Lidy as a Resource Teacher
