December BOE Meeting Update

The Mount Pulaski Board of Education met for the December 16th regular meeting at 6:00 PM in the district office located at Mount Pulaski Grade School. All Board members were in attendance and no community members were present to address the Board.

The Board began the meeting by amending the agenda to omit the 3rd and 4th Grade Boys Basketball Position from the agenda due to the fact the district does not employ a basketball coach with this age group. The board then approved the Consent Agenda which included payment of bills, sales tax revenue report, regular board meeting minutes and executive session minutes from November 18th. There were no questions on the Consent Agenda.

Under Reports, Superintendent Lamkey updated the Board on construction and noted that the new construction has really begun to take shape as the masonry work continues to progress. Mr. Lamkey also presented the Board with the superintendent’s evaluation tool and informed them his evaluation was due in January. He commented that he would present his work toward his goals at the January meeting.

In Unfinished Business, the board approved the 2019 Tax Levy with a 7-0 vote. The tax rate, as well as extension funds, will be revealed in the spring by the Logan County Clerk. The Board also approved the district Risk Management Plan 7-0. The Risk Management Plan directs how the district spends revenues levied through Tort.

The first item in New Business was considering the districts support for the City of Mount Pulaski’s TIF district. The TIF district is located in the city’s Northeast corner and includes local businesses such as G Mart, Casey’s, Subway, Dollar General, Inland Tool and the Dairy Bar. A TIF district restricts the school district ability to tax the equalized assessed value (EAV) of property in the district so that businesses can utilize resources to make improvements that benefit the city and school district. The current TIF sunsets this spring, but the City of Mount Pulaski is seeking to extend the TIF an additional 12 years. Superintendent Lamkey answered questions about the TIF before the Board voted 7-0 to support the renewal.

In a recent policy update, state statutes require that each district establish a Threat Assessment Team by February of 2020. An additional requirement is for each school district to have a specific procedure that defines how the district handles a threat. Superintendent Lamkey presented procedures followed by Mount Pulaski Schools which was approved 7-0. On a side note, the district Threat Assessment Team will be in place just after the first of the year.

The next item under New Business was consideration of applying for the Illinois State Board of Education pilot program for Competency Based High Schools. Because of delays in the 2020 pilot program, Mr. Lamkey recommended postponing the decision until more information was available. The Board voted to postpone, 7-0.

Mr. Lamkey also recommended that the Board retain the services of the district auditor, Gorenz & Associates with another 7-0 vote.

The final action item of the evening, prior to Executive Session, was the approval of the Personnel Report. The Board voted 7-0 to approve the resignation of Tara Scattergood and dismissal of Alexis Kuznik. Ms. Kuznik was never able to begin employment due to changes in statutes and she was dismissed on good terms. Tanya Mason was also hired to serve as a bus driver pending her completion of all requirements and Blane Olson was named the Boys 5th and 6th Grade Volunteer Basketball Coach.

The Board entered into Executive Session to discuss the employment of district personnel. The meeting adjourned at approximately 7:27 PM. The next regular meeting will be December 16, 2019.