Chambana Sun

Heritage Community Unit School District No. 8 Board of Education met June 15.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

The Board of Education of Heritage Community Unit School District No. 8 met at 7:00 p.m. for a regular meeting. President Lannon called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Members in attendance: Ashbrook, Benschneider, Elmore, Lannon, Montgomery, Tate, Wells.

Also in attendance: Tom Davis, Corey White, Kristi Sanders, Justin Lee, Ron Bergmeier, Laura Benschneider.

No Public Comments.

No HEA Report.

Motion by Montgomery, second by Elmore to approve the minutes of May 18, 2020. Motion carried, 6 Ayes, 1 Abstain.

Motion by Benschneider second by Tate to approve the bills, including the supplemental bills, as presented. Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote, 7 Ayes.

Motion by Ashbrook, second by Montgomery to approve the remaining financial reports as presented. Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote, 7 Ayes.

Motion by Lannon, second by Ashbrook to approve the resignation of Lauren Hopper, HS Student Council, and Darci Struck, VGH Basketball Cheer. Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote, 7 Ayes.

Motion by Elmore, second by Benschneider to approve all 2020-2021 school and athletic fees with no increase from 2019-2020. Lunch Pricing final determination by state calculation prior to start of school year. Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote, 7 Ayes.

Motion by Ashbrook, second by Tate to approve the board meeting dates as proposed for the 2020-2021 school year with final publication on Heritage District Web Site. Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote, 7 Ayes.

Motion by Lannon, second by Benschneider to approve the transfers of $13,840.02 from Working Cash Fund to the Education Fund for technology expenses for 4/4/2020-6/15/2020, $503.71 from Education Fund to Transportation Fund to cover fuel expense for driver education vehicle for FY20, and $2,264.61 from Building and Operations Fund to Transportation Fund to cover fuel expense for maintenance vehicles for FY20. Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote, 7 Ayes.

No action taken on Report #50.

No Principal Reports.

State Budget and School Funding Update - Tom Davis passed around the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 State Budget Highlights for the board to review. Evidence Based Funding (EBF) calculations are complete. Heritage should not see much change in compensation from last Fiscal Year.

Local Property Tax Update – Districts are still waiting on payments through the end of June 30. All necessary paperwork on our end is complete, the delay seems to be at the Treasurer Office. Some adjustments may need to be made in Bookkeeping to account for the late payments.

CARES ESSER Grant Update – Application is submitted. Thus far, 330 of 800 districts have applied for the Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief Grant (ESSER) which is awarded under Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security

Act (CARES). Grant funds are for the purpose of providing States with funding to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The guidelines on the grant are quite broad, allowing for use in many areas and can be used throughout the entire school year.

Speech Services Contract Renewals for 2020-2021: Pam Tate for Heritage K-12 and contract renewal with Health

Services Jill Kellner for Pre-K Spectrum.

Summer maintenance and Construction updates are as follows with Maintenance Grant approved for $50,000 matching funds.

-Homer boys locker room – Maintenance Grant Fund

-Homer Drop Off and Bus Circle Fencing – Homer TIF Grant and Tort Fund

-Parking lot repairs and surfacing – 1% or Maintenance Grant Fund

-High School Main Entrance Repairs – Tort Fund

-Classroom Updates continue (Floors, Ceiling, Lighting) – 1% and Maintenance Fund

-HS Greenhouse – State AG and State Construction Grant Fund

-Wood Floor Gym Waxing (done) – Maintenance Grant Fund

-Homer window theme treatments (to match HS) – 1%

IHSA return to play update: Both Football and Volleyball have begun summer workouts following the strict Phase 1 guidelines put out by IHSA. Basketball summer workouts are still to be determined and may need to wait for Phase 2 in light of some of the IHSA restrictions.

HS Sports Discussion: IHSA Basketball tournament will be coming back to Champaign.

A healthy discussion regarding the Co-op with Villa Grove Sports was held in light of the recent removal of Baseball, Boys Basketball, and Girls Basketball from Villa Grove Board following the current contract. The Board decided to seek input from parents and students regarding the Co-op with emphases on football, track, cross country and golf.

Meeting topics for July and August will include HEA Negotiations, Start of School year (should know more in July), handbook updates (waiting on ISBE guidelines), annual audit July 2020, Budget for FY21, end of year reporting and transportation report.

Registration dates will be August 5th and 6th with limited contact. Registration packets (cost covered by CARES Grant) will be mailed in July. Kindergarten and new students make begin making appointments for registration beginning July 13.

HEA contract negations are under way. The next meeting is Tuesday, June 16.

Under Other, Kimberly and Courtney discussed the valuable information available from ISBE on the current COVID-19 issues at hand. The webinars are very informative including one with discussions from a panel of lawyers and another with the State Superintendent. Both Courtney and Kimberly encouraged all board members to take the time to view the webinars.

November 3 will be considered a Holiday, meaning no school and no make-up of days missed, for this year only.

Motion by Tate, second by Benschneider to go into executive session to discuss collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives, or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees. 5 ILCS 120/2(C)(4). Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote, 7 Ayes.

Motion by Ashbrook, second by Elmore to return to open session. Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote. 7 Ayes.

Returned to open session at 9:37 p.m.

Motion by Benschneider, second by Lannon to adjourn the meeting. With all members in agreement, the meeting adjourned at 9:41 p.m.

https://heritage8.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Board2020.pdf