The Ball-Chatham Board of Education met for its regularly scheduled meeting at the District Office in Chatham, IL on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.
The following is a summation of the items discussed and those that were approved, as well as links to those items in the Board packet.
2. OPEN SESSION
2.1 Call Meeting to Order- Board Vice President Laura Calderon called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm.
2.2 Pledge of Allegiance- All stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.
2.3 Roll Call - Roll call was taken and Bryant, Calderon, Murphy, Phipps, Rediger, and Strahle were present, Saunders was absent. Superintendent, Dr. Becca Lamon was also present.
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
3.1 Approval of Agenda- Board member Rediger moved to approve the agenda for the regular meeting of March 27, 2024, with the amendment to add a student recognition for Boys Swimming. Upon said motion, Strahle seconded. Vice President Calderon called for a vote. All members present voted “yes”.
3.2 Action Items from Closed Session- The Vice President called for a motion to approve the closed session minutes and action items from February 28, 2024. Rediger moved for the approval of the closed session minutes from February 28, 2024. Upon said motion, Bryant seconded. Vice President Calderon called for a vote. All board members present voted “yes”.
4. COMMUNICATIONS
4.1 Recognition of Chatham Chargers Junior and High School Basketball Team
Our Chatham Chargers Junior Team and High School Teams both won their Special Olympics Basketball State Championships at Illinois State University. The Junior Team was represented by Deandre (DJ) Price Jr., Ty Glossop, Hannah Anderson, Jorgia Trello, Carter Vass, Hunter Vass. The High School Team was represented by Justin Misialek, Caleb Furr, Ayden Kieffer, Orlando Johnson, Kaci Smith, Jazman Caufield, Eli Hobson, and Manager, Lucas Homa.
Coaches for both teams are Dawn Williams, Dawn Homa, and Scott Hobson.
Students that were also recognized for Basketball Skills include Laurie Bignami 2nd Place, Kevin Han 4th Place, Seth Honn 2nd Place, Hunter Hughes 5th Place, Calla Ihnen 2nd Place, Emma Kimsey 2nd Place, Anthony Paluska 2nd Place, Soarin Weems 1st Place.
Skills Coaches for the students are Elise Caruso, Anna Honn, Emma Kern and Taylor Sweeting. The Special Olympics Athletic Director for the Chatham Chargers is Diane Vanderkooy.
4.2 National Honor Society Scholarship Semifinalist- The Board recognized Maya Tolentino, a high school senior at Glenwood High School and member of NHS, who has been selected as an NHS Scholarship semifinalist.
ADDED ITEM - Recognition of GHS Swimmer - The Board recognized Caitlyn Moody, Athletic Director to announce High School State Qualifier Xavier Try for the 50 M Freestyle.
4.3 Recognition of Middle School Wrestlers The Board recognized the Glenwood Middle School State qualifiers for the IESA 43rd annual Boys State Wrestling Tournament held at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. The State Qualifiers were Ryan Pelzek, 7th grade, Cooper Clarke, 8th grade, IESA AA State Champion, Eli Britton, 8th grade, Pierce Helm 7th grade, IESA AA 6th place and Head Coach - Joe Wail.
4.4 Recognition of GHS Wrestling Team The Board recognized the 2A IHSA State Wrestling Championship Tournament Individual State Qualifiers & Placers -Girls Kadi Wilbern, Freshman and Jenna Tuxhorn, Sophomore 4th Place. Also, the students that were Individual State Qualifiers & Placers -Boys included Tyler Clark, Junior, Drew Davis, Senior IHSA 2A State Runner-Up, Bradley Dollus, Senior, John Ben Meduena, Senior IHSA 2A 4th Place, Braxton Warren, Senior, Justin Hay, Senior, Max Wiezorek, Junior IHSA 2A 5th Place and Cody Moss, Sophomore.
The team Head Coach - Jerod Bruner and the IHSA 2A Dual Team 3rd Place members include Tyler Clarke, Jaxon Ferguson, Owen Ottino, AJ Williams, Drew Moffitt, Drew Davis, Bradley Dollus, John Ben Maduena, Ray Maduena, Anny Williams, Larson Nestar, Julian Rammelkamp, Braxton Warren, Elijah Smith, Maizon Milestone, Justin Hay, Maximus Wiezorek, Mason Streb, Cody Moss, Omar Alkhayyat, and Eli Moss.
4.5 Recognition of Girls GHS Basketball Team The Board recognized IHSA 3A State Runner-Up Girl's Basketball Team led by Head Coach Alyssa Riley and the team including Ava Bobb, Makenna Yeager (IBCA Third Team All-State Selection), Reagan Littrell, Katelyn Lehnen, Alexis Neumann (IBCA Third Team All-State Selection), Makaela Diamond, Rowann Law, Carley Hawkins, Macy Martynowski, Hope Gilmore, Greta Lopp, Layne Matthew, and Manager, Carsyn Hanken.
4.6 Citizens- Opportunity for Visitors to Address the School Board Concerning any Agenda Topic- There were no visitors to recognize.
5. CONSENT ITEMS
5.1 Adoption of Consent Agenda Items- Vice President Calderon called for the adoption of the Consent Agenda. Strahle moved to adopt the Consent Agenda presented before the Board. Upon said motion, Bryant seconded. Vice President Calderon called for a vote. All members voted “yes”.
5.2 Minutes of Regular Board Meeting, February 28, 2024
5.3 Minutes of Facilities and Grounds Committee Meeting, March 13, 2024
5.4 Minutes of Finance Committee Meeting, March 19, 2024
5.5 Minutes of Policy Committee Meeting, March 5, 2024
5.6 Minutes of DEI Committee Meeting, March 5, 2024
5.7 Treasurer/Financial Report
5.8 School District Accounts Payable
5.9 School Activity Account Reports
5.10 FOIA Requests
5.11 Approval of Schoolwide Waivers
6. PERSONNEL CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS
6.1 Adoption of Consent Personnel Agenda Items- Vice President Calderon called for a motion for the Personnel Consent Agenda items. Murphy moved to approve the Personnel Consent Agenda. Upon said motion, Strahle seconded. Vice President Calderon called for a vote. All members voted “yes”.
6.2 Resignations
6.3 New Hires
6.4 Retirements
6.5 Transfers
6.6 Leaves of Absence
7. PERSONNEL ACTION AGENDA ITEMS
7.1 Honorable Dismissal of PreK-6 Team Leaders and 7-12 Department Coordinators- Vice President Calderon called for a motion for the Personnel Action Agenda Items. Phipps moved to approve the Personnel Action Agenda Item. Upon said motion, Rediger seconded. Vice President Calderon called for a vote. All members voted “yes”.
7.2 Dismissal- Vice President Calderon called for a vote for the Dismissal of an employee. Phipps moved to approve the dismissal of the employee. Upon said motion, Rediger seconded. Vice President Calderon called for a vote. All members voted “yes”.
8. NEW BUSINESS
8.1 Bid for Glenwood Middle School Press Box Replacement Mike Dobbs, Maintenance Director presented the bid for the Press Box Replacement Project to Midwest Construction and Consulting Services LLC. from Girard, Illinois. Midwest Construction is a division of Schwartz Construction. They performed the door replacement project at GHS and GMS. The overall cost of the project is estimated at $231,157.00 which includes all architectural fees and a 5% contingency to cover any unforeseen conditions. The project is scheduled to begin in May 2024 with a projected substantial completion date of August 2, 2024. Vice President Calderon asked for a motion to approve the bid presented for the Glenwood Middle School Press Box Replacement. Murphy moved to approve the bid for the Glenwood Middle School Press Box Replacement. Upon said motion, Phipps seconded. Vice President Calderon called for a vote. All members voted “yes”.
8.2 Renew IHSA membership- Vice President Calderon asked for the Board to approve the renewal of the membership in the Illinois High School Association, and to adopt and abide by the Constitution, By-laws, Terms and Conditions, and Administrative Procedures, Guidelines and Policies of the Illinois High School Association for the year of July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. Vice President Calderon asked for the motion to renew IHSA Membership. Bryant moved to approve the IHSA Membership renewal. Upon said motion, Strahle seconded. Vice President Calderon called for a vote. All members voted “yes”.
8.3 Approval of Out-of-State Student Travel for Speech and Debate- Vice President Calderon asked for the Board to approve the out-of-state travel for Speech and Debate which will be held at Bellevue, Nebraska and DesMoines, Iowa respectively. Ana Swaner, Mackenzie Jones, Adriana Clevenger, Samuel Emrick, Layne Rude, and Khamai-yah Ros have qualified for the NIETOC speech tournament that is to be held May 10-12, 2024 in Bellevue, Nebraska. The travel dates will be Thursday, May 9, and return on Sunday, May 12. Two students, Ana Swaner and Oliver Wood-Morris have qualified for the National Tournament hosted by the National Speech and Debate Association to be held June 16-21 in Des Moines, Iowa. Travel dates will depart on Saturday, June 15, 2024, and return on Sunday, June 22, 2024. This is the ninth time we have had qualifiers for this prestigious tournament.
Vice President Calderon asked for a motion to approve the out-of-state travel to Nebraska and Iowa for Speech and Debate. Strahle moved to approve the travel out of state for students in Speech and Debate. Upon said motion, Phipps seconded. Vice President Calderon called for a vote. All members voted “yes”.
8.4 Approval of District Office furniture purchase- Vice President Calderon called Mike Dobbs, Maintenance Director, up to present the bid for District Office furniture purchase to Illini Supply from Forsyth Illinois. The overall cost of the project is $79,940.70 which includes freight, delivery and installation. Their proposal includes one brand of equipment which carries a lifetime warranty and all repairs are conducted in-house rather than subcontracted out. Vice President Calderon asked for a motion to approve the bid for District Office furniture purchase from Illini Supply. Rediger moved to approve the bid for District Office furniture from Illini Supply. Upon said motion, Murphy seconded. Vice President Calderon called for a vote. All members voted “yes”.
8.5 Approval of Bid for Playground Equipment- Mike Dobbs, Maintenance Director, also presented to the Board the approval and awarding of the bid for the GIS and CES Playground Replacement project to R.D. Lawrence Construction Co. The overall cost of the project is $1,306,260 which includes a 5% contingency and all architectural fees. The project is scheduled to begin May 27, 2024, with a substantial completion date of August 2, 2024. R.D. Lawrence is the same contractor that replaced the playground at Ball Elementary in 2020. Vice President Calderon asked for a motion to approve the GIS and CES Playground Replacement bid to R.D. Lawrence Construction Co. Phipps moved to approve the GIS and CES Playground Replacement bid to R.D. Lawrence Construction Co. Upon said motion, Strahle seconded. Vice President Calderon called for a vote. All members voted “yes”.
8.6 Second Reading and Adoption of PRESS Policies and District Reviewed Policies- Vice President Calderon asked for the Board to approve the Adoption of the PRESS Policies and District Reviewed Policies that were provided as a second reading. Bryant moved to approve the adoption of the PRESS Policies and District Reviewed Policies that were presented in the second reading. Upon said motion, Rediger seconded. Vice President Calderon called for a vote. All members voted “yes”.
8.7 First Reading of PRESS Policies- Vice President Calderon called attention to the first reading of the PRESS Policies listed in the agenda for review and information.
9. COMMUNICATIONS
9.1 Food Service Department Annual Overview- Chad Martel, Food Director, presented the annual review of the food service department. The high school food service is self-funded. The other schools all receive funding and abide by the guidelines established by these funding sources. There were some new initiatives presented this year including Try it Tuesdays, Friday Favorites, and Vegan options. The ISBE review was favorable.
9.2 Technology Department Annual Overview- Josh Mulvaney, Technology Director, presented the annual review of the technology department. The presentation provided information regarding the replacement of and acquisition of technology inventory. Installing network switches will improve connectivity throughout the district buildings. Also, cyber security is an important area that the district maintains and various departments are working on a crisis plan to have in place if the need arises.
9.3 CES Presentation on I-Ready Implementation- CES Principal Steve Rembusch introduced the I-Ready implementation and its impact on the students at CES. He called up four teachers to share the various implementations and impact they have seen in their students over the two past assessments and in anticipation of more growth for the next assessment as well.
9.4 Future Board Meeting Dates / Dates for 2023/2024 SY- Vice President Calderon shared the following future dates for the Board.
Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at 4:00 PM Facilities and Grounds Meeting - District Office
Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at 5:00 PM - Negotiations Prep - District Office
Monday, April 15, 2024 at 5:30 PM - Negotiations Prep - District Office
Tuesday, April 16, 2024 at 4:00 PM Finance Committee Meeting - District Office
Thursday, April 18, 2024 at 5:30 PM - Negotiations - GHS
Friday, April 19, 2024 at 5:30 PM - Negotiations - GHS
Saturday, April 20, 2024 at 9:00 Am - Negotiations - GHS
Sunday, April 21, 2024 at 10:00 Am - Negotiations- GHS
Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at 6:30 PM (Open Session) - Regular Board of Education Meeting - District Office
9.5 Citizens - Opportunity for Visitors to Address the School Board Concerning Any Topic- Vice President Calderon called Allison McCue who had filled out a request to address the board. Ms McCue shared about the importance of small class sizes. This is valuable to students and staff.
Vice President Calderon asked if anyone else wanted to speak that did not sign up for the opportunity and Julie McCallister also addressed the Board speaking of the importance of small class sizes.
10. ADJOURNMENT
10.1 Adjournment of Regular Meeting- Vice President Calderon asked for a motion to adjourn. Rediger moved to adjourn the meeting. Upon said motion, Phipps seconded. Vice President Calderon called for a vote. All members voted “yes”. Adjourned at 8:09 PM
Thank You,
BCSD5 Admin