Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley Community Unified School District 5 Board of Education met June 17.
Here is the minutes provided by the board:
The Board of Education of Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley Community Unit School District #5 met in regular session on Monday, June 17, 2019, at 6:15 p.m. in the GCMS Board Room located at 307 N Sangamon Avenue, Gibson City. The board was called to order by Board President Josh Johnson. Roll was called with board members Whitehouse, Elder, Young, Friday, Tucker-Davis and Leonard in attendance. Also present were: FCSEC Director Jesse McFarling, Ross Brown with the Ford County Record, GCMS Education Association President Susan Riley, School Board Secretary Lori Kristensen and District Superintendent Jeremy Darnell.
Absent: Building Principals are not required to attend summer board meetings while school is not in session.
The meeting started with the Pledge of Allegiance being recited by all present.
Recognition of Visitors :
Travis Duley, PBL HS Principal
A motion to go into executive session was made by board member Young and seconded by board member Whitehouse at 6:16 p.m. Motion carried by roll call with all board members present voting yes for the purpose of discussing matters pertaining to the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the district including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee or against legal counsel for the District to determine its validity 5ILCS 120/2(c)(1). Motion was carried by roll call, with all members present voting yes.
Litigation, when an action against, affecting or on behalf of the particular District has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal, or when the District finds that an action is probable or imminent, in which case the basis for the finding shall be recorded and entered into the closed meeting minutes. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11).
Student disciplinary cases. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(9).
Discussion of lawfully closed meeting minutes, whether for the purposes of approval by the body of the minutes or semi-annual review of the minutes as mandated by Section 2.06. 5ILCS 120/2(c)(21).
A motion to return to open session was made by board member Whitehouse and seconded by board member Tucker-Davis at 6:24 p.m. Motion carried by voice vote, with all board members present voting yes.
Action Items to Consider From Executive Session
Accept Requests for:
Motion to hire Brittany Shreffler as literacy teacher for GCMS School District on step 12 MA for the 2019-2020 school year. Motion was made by board member Whitehouse seconded by board member Young. Motion carried by roll call with all members present voting yes.
Motion to approve the following volunteers for the 2019-2020 school year as volunteer coaches. Motion was made by board member Friday seconded by board member Leonard. Motion carried by roll call with all members present voting yes.
Football: Brandon Luttrell and Kip Rutledge
Baseball: Mark Berry and Mike Schwenk
Dance: Ann Young
Motion to hire Cheryl Cokeley as a cook for GCMS School District on step 3 for 3 hours per day for the 2019-2020 school year. M otion was made by board member Whitehouse and seconded by board member Tucker-Davis. Motion carried by roll call with all members present voting yes.
Motion to hire Payton Kean, Liam Killian, Skyler Funk, and Brodie Doman as summer maintenance workers for summer 2019 at a rate of $10 per hour. Motion was made by board member Tucker-Davis seconded by board member Leonard. Motion carried by roll call with all members present voting yes.
Motion to accept the resignation of Bethany Rodrigues as a paraprofessional for the GCMS School District effective immediately with thanks for service. Motion was made by board member Young seconded by board member Whitehouse. Motion carried by roll call with all members present voting yes.
Motion to accept the resignation of Tammy Zehr as the elementary school office assistant effective immediately with thanks for service. Motion was made by board member Leonard seconded by board member Tucker-Davis. Motion carried by voice vote with all members present voting yes.
Motion to hire Sarah Abner as an elementary school teacher for GCMS School District on step 6 BA for the 2019-2020 school year. Motion was made by board member Leonard seconded by board member Young. Motion carried by roll call with all members present voting yes.
Motion to hire Joshua Hinkley as middle school special education teacher for GCMS School District on step 6 BA for the 2019-2020 school year. Motion was made by board member Tucker-Davis seconded by board member Whitehouse. Motion carried by roll call with all members present voting yes.
Additional Agenda Items :
None
Consent Agenda
GCMS Accounts Payable bills approved were $571,034.68
Education fund $320,129.24
Building fund $49,886.07
Debt Service fund $0.00
Transportation fund $73,509.82
IMRF/FICA fund $26,814.83
Capital Projects fund $0.00
W/C $0.00
TORT $25,681.14
F/HLS $75,013.58
GCMS Payrolls approved were $417,151.42
Education fund $365,439.94
Building fund $18,485.13
Transportation fund $1,143.80
TORT $32,082.55
FCSEC Accounts Payable bills approved were $66,379.49
Education fund $64,399.61
Building fund $136.46
IMRF/FICA Fund $1,843.42
FCSEC Payrolls approved were $36,822.19 all in the Education fund
Financial/treasurer's report on behalf of the GCMS District and the FCSEC, Lunch Report, the summary of investment report on behalf of the GCMS District and the FCSEC, and the destruction of executive session tapes through the end of December 2018.
Approve Field Trips for:
| GCMS Baseball Team | Myrtle Beach, SC | Spring Break 2020 |
| Amount | From | Designation |
| None |
● GCMS Bike Racks for the City of Gibson during the Summer 2019
● Gibson City Youth Baseball for the softball fields in June 2019
Approve the minutes of the GCMS Regular and Executive Session Minutes of the May 20, 2019 meeting as presented.
Motion to accept the consent agenda as presented in the board packet. Motion was made by board member Young seconded by board member Tucker-Davis. Motion carried by roll call with all members present voting yes.
Advisory Reports:
Policy : Members - Janna Friday and Miranda Leonard
Motion to accept policies: 2:20, 2:40, 2:50, 2:60, 2:250, 4:30, 4:100, 4:110, 4:150, 4:160, 4:190 (new), 5:10, 5:250, 5:330, 6:15, 6:65, 6:185, 7:185, 8:95
Motion was made by board member Leonard seconded by board member Whitehouse. Motion carried by roll call with all members present voting yes.
Building, Grounds, and Transportation: Members - Adam Elder & Tyler Young No Report
Personnel and Finance: Members - Josh Johnson and Phil Whitehouse Report by Member Whitehouse
Finance:
In lieu of the retirement of a crossing guard, the Personnel and Finance committee recommended to approve an expenditure of $25,000 for four-way traffic lights at the corner of Sangamon & 15th Streets for continual crossing supports. The traffic lights will assist with PE classes crossing every day to walk to the weight room as well. This will be a one time capital expense while the City of Gibson will manage the upkeep and maintenance of the traffic light.
The GCMS FY19 budget is on pace to end with a positive balance. More details will be shared at the July board meeting.
Personnel:
The committee recommended the creation of a district position for dual language support. This new position will support the 19 students in the district who speak english as a second language. At the July board meeting, the committee will make a recommendation for a new position to support these students and families and provide a job description and compensation recommendation.
The Personnel and Finance committee will also make a recommendation for 3-5 paraprofessional new hires for the 2019-2020 school year. Two of these positions are new based on IEP needs.
The FCSEC tentative budget was heard tonight at 6:00 p.m. with the hearing on August 19 at 6:00 p.m.
The GCMS tentative budget will be presented in August with the hearing on September 23 at 6:00 p.m.
Strategy and Enrichment: Members – Josh Johnson & Emily Tucker-Davis No Report
Building Administration Reports:
Principal's Reports:
High School Principal, Chris Garard
No Report
Middle School Principal, Kyle Bielfeldt
May Students of the Month
6th Grade – Elizabeth Giroux
7th Grade – Kalynn Little
8th Grade – Korah Palumbo
8th Grade Award Winners
Jeff Elder Award – Madisyn McCreary
Jeff Hanson Award – Austin Corry
Ray Kroc Award – Dakota Duvall
American Legion Honorable Mention – Korah Palumbo and Kale Bauer
American Legion Award Winners – Katherine Steindinger and Connor Ray
8th Grade Perfect Attendance
Olivia Hawthorne
Kellie Koss
Matthew McCarty
Korah Palumbo
Kallen Robertson
Elsie Sizemore
Ian Slaughter
Rylee Stephens
8th Grade High Honor Roll All Four Quarters
Alexis Cliff
Rylie Cline
Austin Corry
Kadence Crowley
McKenna Crowley
Jena Cseve
Rylan DeFries
Dakota Duvall
Martise Evans
Kellan Fanson
Emily Fehr
Keegan Frashier
Nicholas Giroux
Cecelia Goodin
Baillie Halcomb
Olivia Hawthorne
Karah Jones
Seth Kollross
Kellie Koss
Mason Kutemeier
Madison McCreary
Jillian Meece
Korah Palumbo
Connor Ray
Kallen Robertson
Elsie Sizemore
Katherine Steidinger
Rylee Stephens
Erin Stroh
Lily Vance
Emily Vaughn
Aubrey Williams
Kendyl Wright
IESA Scholar Attitude Award Competitors
Emily Fehr
Madison McCreary
Korah Palumbo
Katie Steidinger – School representative
Twin County Conference Scholar Athletes
Ty Harden
Olivia Hawthorne
Elizza Koester
Kyra Lockhart
Chase Minion
Elementary Principal, Justin Kean
No Report
Special Education Director, Jesse McFarling
The Ford County Special Education Cooperative Executive Council met Thursday, June 11, 2019 at the GCMS District Office. It as the first meeting for GCMS Board Member Emily Tucker-Davis and the last meeting for ROE#9 Regional Superintendent Jane Quinlan.
Action Items from the meeting:
● The board approved the tentative FY20 budget. The budget hearing will be before the August 17 GCMS Board of Education meeting.
● The board approved the outside contracts for Occupational Therapy and Physical
Therapy with Health Services and Easter Seals.
● The board approved the updated eligibility criteria for deafness, hearing impaired, and vision impaired.
● The board approved the 2019-2020 contract for the FCSEC staff.
May Fund Balance: $731,846.26
Beginning of the year Fund Balance: $398,220.62
Curriculum Director, Erin Nuss
No Report
Superintendent’s Report
Notification of the completion of all required safety drills.
Superintendent Darnell reported to the board that safety drills for all three district building were completed for the 2019-2019 school year.
GCMS Risk Management Plan
The risk management team met on June 4 to review and make adjustments to the risk management plan for 2019-2020. These adjustments had not been made since 2012. Motion to approve the updated GCMS Risk Management Plan as presented. Motion was made by board member Whitehouse seconded by board member Tucker-Davis. Motion carried by roll call with all members present voting yes.
GCMS Crisis Management Plan
Superintendent Darnell reported that the Crisis Management Team (GCMS Administrators, Gibson City Chief of Police, Ford County Sheriff, Gibson City Fire Chief, Ford County Emergency Management, Gibson Area Hospital, Director of Maintenance, Director of Food Service, and Director of Transportation) met in June to coordinate a plan on how the district manages a crisis. Darnell thanked the community leaders for their continued partnership with GCMS School District. Motion to approve the GCMS Crisis Management Plan as presented. Motion was made by board member Elder seconded by board member Young. Motion carried by roll call with all members present voting yes.
GCMS Amended Budget
Motion to approve the GCMS Amended Budget as presented. Motion was made by board member Whitehouse seconded by board member Tucker-Davis. Motion carried by roll call with all members present voting yes.
GCMS Middle School Elevator Repair
Motion to hire Kone Care to complete the required Health Life Safety repair to the GCMs Middle School elevator for a total cost of $46,110. Motion was made by board member Whitehouse seconded by board member Young. Motion carried by roll call with all members present voting yes.
Annual Trash, Milk and Bread Bids
Mr. Darnell reported there would be a 5% increase this year from Area Disposal. Last year Area Disposal stayed flat with the bid, therefore an increase was expected. Motion to approve Area Disposal as the trash collection vendor for GCMS School District for the 2019-2020 school year. Motion was made by board member Friday seconded by board member Leonard. Motion carried by roll call with all members present voting yes.
Motion to approve Aunt Millie’s Bakeries as the bread vendor for GCMS School District for the 2019-2020 school year. M otion was made by board member Young seconded by board member Whitehouse. Motion carried by roll call with all members present voting yes.
Motion to approve Prairie Farms as the dairy product vendor for GCMS School District for the 2019-2020 school year. M otion was made by board member Young seconded by board member Whitehouse. Motion carried by roll call with all members present voting yes.
Bushue Consulting Renewal
Motion to approve the three year contract with Bushue HR Inc. as presented. Motion was made by board member Whitehouse seconded by board member Leonard. Motion carried by roll call with all members present voting yes.
Property Casualty and Liability Insurance Renewal
Mr. Darnell reported that the district’s property insurance went up by 9% despite having zero claims and shared that the cost of doing business is certainly not decreasing. Motion to approve the GCMS Property Casualty and Liability insurance renewal as presented. Motion was made by board member Tucker-Davis seconded by board member Whitehouse. Motion carried by roll call with all members present voting yes.
Current openings available
● Elementary School - Paraprofessionals (number of openings TBD) and 3rd grade teacher
● High School - Boys Golf Coach, Dance Coach
A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by board member Friday and seconded by board member Whitehouse at 6:51 p.m. Motion carried by voice vote, with all members present voting yes.
https://www.gcmsk12.org/Downloads/6_17_2019%20BOE%20meeting%20minutes.pdf
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