Board Approves Alternative School
The Mt. Pulaski CUSD 23 Board of Education called their regular meeting to order on June 21, 2023 at 6:00 PM in the MPGS Learning Center. All members but Mrs. Combs were present.
In the first order of business, the Board went into executive session to discuss the purchase of property, collective bargaining and employment of staff. The Board returned to the regular session at 7:12PM.
Upon its return, the Board conducted an Amended Budget Hearing on the FY2023 Budget. There were two adjustments performed on the budget, one was the movement of funds from the Education Fund to the Capital Projects Fund to cover costs incurred with the grade school and high school paving projects from last fall. The other adjustment moved funds from the Capital Projects Fund to the Bond and Interest Fund to cover the costs of the district’s alternate bond and abatement of taxes approved by the Board in December. With no questions for requests from the public, the Amended Budget Hearing was adjourned.
The Board once again called the regular meeting to order and heard from two community members during Recognition of the Public.
The first action item was the approval of the Consent Agenda. Superintendent Lamkey reported that there were no questions to the district office concerning bills and that the sales tax revenues once again topped $31,000 for February. The Board approved the Consent Agenda 6-0.
Under Reports, Mr. Lamkey took questions on his report and spoke of a FOIA request by Local Labs on all bills connected to Lurie Children’s Hospital.
In Unfinished Business, the Board considered a request from Hartem to co-op high school golf. Hartem has only one golfer for the upcoming season and shares the same home course with the MPHS Golf Team. After a discussion about athletic co-operatives, the Board approved the co-op 6-0.
The first item under New Business was the adoption of the Amended Budget. The motion carried 6-0.
Next, the Board discussed the district’s involvement in the creation of a Logan County alternative school called the Abraham Lincoln Academy. Four years ago, the district participated in the Salt Creek Academy in Fancy Prairie, but it closed its doors at the end of the 2019 school year. Since then, the school district has been paying out of district tuition to Safe School in Springfield when the need would arise for a student to attend an alternative setting. The seven Logan County school districts and Clinton have been in discussion this spring on considering a Logan County alternative. The Abraham Lincoln Academy will be located in Lincoln at the Dugan Center, which was previously the Lincoln Elementary School. All seven county schools and Clinton plan to participate in the academy. Advantages in participating include a cost savings, shorter transportation time for students, the participating districts having more control over curriculum and student well-being. Lincoln Elementary School District 27 will be the host and the remaining 7 districts will work in an advisory capacity. The Board approved the agreement 6-0.
The Illinois State School Code requires all Board professional development to have a pre- approved expense projection prior to attending a training. The Board approved expenses to attend the Joint Annual Conference in Chicago in November. Expenses include lodging, conference registration fees, transportation and a Board dinner. Costs for all members to attend the conference are expected to be just over $12,000 for the four day event. The Board approved the expenses 6-0.
In late May, the Mt. Pulaski Education Association (MPEA) and the Board tentatively approved a new three year contract that runs through the 2026 school year. The MPEA ratified the contract on May 26th. Highlights of the contract include 4% raises, an increase in health insurance stipend and the addition of expense allowances for staff. The Board adopted the contract with a 6-0 vote.
One responsibility of the Board each year is to approve the administrative order of succession. The addition of a full-time Activity Director changed the succession. In the absence of a principal in either building would result in newly hired AD, Trent Kavelman, to be second in command in either building. In the situation both principals are not in district, Mr. Lamkey also steps in. The plan was approved 6-0.
The next three items involved staff handbooks. The handbooks are designed to set clear expectations and provide guidance for staff members in their day to day lives as employees. There were no major changes to the handbooks which were approved 6-0 by the Board.
The same rising prices and recent jumps in inflation have also affected the district's lunch programs. The district’s meal prices have remained the same since the 2013 school year. All breakfast prices and high school lunch prices will remain the same as they lie above current costs per meal. Grade School lunch prices per meal are 42 cents below the costs to serve a meal. The district’s goal is to provide low cost nutritional meals to all students. A spring survey of central Illinois school districts revealed that even with this price increase at the grade school, all Mt. Pulaski meal prices remained below average. After some discussion, the Board opted to to maintain its current prices.
The retirement of MPHS Drivers Education and Health Teacher Pat Walsh left the district with the task of replacing his position. Drivers Education and Health are two difficult positions to fill, especially in the time of teacher shortages. Mrs. Fricke found a strong, qualified replacement for Drivers Education, Pat, but he is not licensed in Heath. Mrs. Fricke explained to the Board that while we are still looking for a Health teacher, it is unlikely we will fill the void as it is only part-time. In the meantime, MPHS has an online curriculum that will be supervised by a licensed high school staff member. That teacher will also provide instructional assistance to students taking the online program. The district will also look to fill the position with a Health Teacher at the first availability.
Superintendent Lamkey has surveyed salaries for Educational Support Staff (ESP) and found that Mt. Pulaski Schools salaries are well below average. Last year, the district took steps to increase ESP salaries, but the district remained in the bottom half of salaries and often very near the bottom. In an effort to retain and attract ESP employees, the district raised starting salaries to $16/hour and also raised current employees salaries to correspond to this raise. This Board feels this bump in salary is needed as the district continues to hire and retain highly qualified employees to work with our students. The increase passed 6-0.
The last action item under New Business was the principal's salary increases for FY2024. Each principal has a three year contract and will receive a 5% raise for the upcoming school year. The Board approved the pay increase 6-0.
Next on the docket was the Personnel Report, which was approved 6-0 containing 8 hires and 1 resignation.
Hires
Tricia Campbell as MPHS Business and Computer Applications Teacher
Linda Smith as MPHS National Honor Society Sponsor
Tim MIlligan as MPHS Volunteer Assistant Baseball Coach
Mackenzi Chandler, Summer Eskew, Ethan Payne, Becky Clarke and Mark Graue as Summer Custodians
Resignations
Michelle Clark as MPHS Prom Sponsor.
The Board then entered Executive Session once again to discuss employment of staff. After the Executive Session, the meeting was adjourned with no further action being taken. The next regular meeting will be held on Monday, July 17, 2023 at 7:00 PM in the MPGS Learning Center.