Pope County Community Unit School District 1 Board of Education met Aug. 17.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
Meeting was called to order at 7:02 pm by Vice President Wallace and the following members were present: Jeffords, Kizziar, Schuchardt, Hogg, Wallace; Simmons and Aly were absent.
Motion was made by Schuchardt and seconded by Hogg to approve the agenda. Roll call vote: all ayes.
Motion was made by Hogg and seconded by Kizziar to approve the consent agenda including the following: 1) Approve Minutes of Board Meetings on 7/20/2023; 2) Approve Closed Session Minutes; 3) Approve Bills for Payment; 4) Accept Financial Reports; and 5) Accept resignation of Patricia Thompson as High School Scholar Bowl Sponsor. Mr. Fritch mentioned some bills that were out of the ordinary. With no further comments, roll call vote: all ayes.
Under Administrative reports, Mrs. Allen reported the following: 1) Student Involvement/Sports; a) JH Baseball and softball seasons are underway. Softball 8th grade recognition is scheduled for September 11. Baseball 8th grade recognition is scheduled for September 14; b) JH Cross Country is still looking for a coach; 2) Assemblies/Activities/Projects; a) Back to School registration went well. Katrina Snell and local churches, Shotgun Eddy’s and Mrs. Brown donated back to school supplies; b) Teachers and students seem to be transitioning into the school year well; c) SEL Grant has awarded the Primary/Intermediate Year 2 $1,000 grant, Jr. High Year 1 $2,000 grant. Our action plan will focus on: i) improving staff morale, (1) weekly drawings, 3 winners per week, $5 each, (2) staff retreat, (3) continue moral pal; ii) Increasing knowledge of becoming a Trauma Informed School; (1) Two hour in-service was provided on August 9; iii) Promote a culture of positive feedback; (1) student/staff shout outs in the classroom and hallways; vi) Bi-weekly and semester prize incentives based on positive behavior; d) SAVVAS math training was provided to K-5 teachers on August 10; e) In the process of scheduling
Jason Olson and Jerry Suits to talk with students in grades 6-8 to discuss the ramifications of making inappropriate comments/threats to other students/staff; and 3) 2023-24 Elementary/Jr High school enrollment as of August 17 is 302 students.
Mr. Graves reported the following: 1) Registration was held and went well. A special thanks to Ms. Tresa and those that helped. We would also like to thank the local churches for the school supplies; 2) The baseball team, cross country team, and our volleyball team have begun practicing. Volleyball and Cross Country season kicks off at the end of this month while baseball is set to start in September; 3) CPR Training for coaches has been completed; 4) Ms. Sheyann Broadway has scholarship information out for Seniors already to begin working on them, as well as military recruiters scheduled to come in. She is also planning a couple trips to job fairs in the near future. She is doing a great job; 5) We are currently offering 10 classes that are dual credit courses. This year a student will graduate with an associate’s degree along with their diploma; 6) Credit recovery will be offered again this year after school starting at the end of the month; 7) We will be having department meetings on our 2 pm dismissal days to work on curriculum, standards, and goals; and 8) Enrollment is 172.
Mr. Fritch reported the following: 1) 2016 white Dodge Caravan has been purchased for the use of transporting students to Norris City. Kevin Graham is driving the boys and Amy Cain is driving the girls and one boy. This was more cost effective than driving a school bus; 2) The school year is up and running and going good. Shout out to the secretaries, principals, teacher, and all the staff for a great start of the year. Jeffords asked if all the buses have cameras and if we should have cameras on the vans as well. Mr. Fritch stated most buses have cameras and the vans do not. He will have Gary Roper look in to cameras for the vans, cost and installation.
Motion to enter closed session for the purpose of discussion of personnel performance, procedures, and employment was made by Hogg and seconded by Kizziar. Roll call vote: all ayes. Board entered closed session at 7:29 pm.
Motion to return to regular session was made by Kizziar and seconded by Jeffords. Roll call vote: all ayes. Board returned at 8:39 pm.
Mr. Fritch distributed a budget summary of the FY 24 and discussed key areas of the budget. The Education fund is in the negative due to putting CCPRT funds in the transportation fund and the new staff positions, three new individual aides and another Ag teacher, that were added. Without the CCPRT funds, the transportation fund would also be in the negative with three new buses coming. Operations and Maintenance was hit hard with the replacement of older HVAC units in both buildings. Working Cash may need to be abolished in to Operations and Maintenance to help fund the septic project. Special Education is costing around 1 million to operate, which is more than the operation of the high school alone. With some questions and discussion by the members, a motion to approve and display the tentative FY 2024 budget was made by Schuchardt and seconded by Kizziar. Roll call vote: all ayes.
Motion to approve September 21, 2023 at 6:45 pm for a Public Hearing for adoption of the FY 2023-2024 Budget was made by Kizziar and seconded by Hogg. Roll call vote: all ayes.
Mr. Fritch distributed a copy of the proposed Policy 7:60 for employees’ children to attend school with no tuition. Mr. Fritch explained the law has changed and each local Board has to adopt a policy to allow the tuition waiver. Motion to adopt Policy 7:60 – Employees Children Tuition Waiver as presented was made by Hogg and seconded by Kizziar. Roll call vote: all ayes.
Motion to hire McKenzie Swinford as individual aide was made by Jeffords and seconded by Kizziar. Roll call vote: all ayes.
Motion to hire Kirstin Asbury as individual aide was made by Kizziar and seconded by Jeffords. Roll call vote: all ayes.
Motion to hire Sandra Lamb as individual aide was made by Kizziar and seconded by Jeffords. Roll call vote: all ayes.
Motion to hire Abby Clanton as Jr. High Cross Country Coach was made by Schuchardt and seconded by Kizziar . Roll call vote: all ayes.
Motion to approve Marley Staats as volunteer high school cheerleading assistant coach was made by Jeffords and seconded by Kizziar. Roll call vote: all ayes.
Motion to approve Lacey Barnhill as volunteer Jr. High baseball assistant coach was made by Jeffords and seconded by Kizziar. Roll call vote: all ayes.
Motion to post for High School Scholar Bowl Sponsor was made by Hogg and seconded by Jeffords. Roll call vote: all ayes.
Under Old Business, Member Kizziar stated he had spoken with D&D and their main concern was the placement of the solar panels and the outdated electric stations at the high school and elementary. They proposed we contact the electric company to have both stations and lines replaced/updated before the solar panels can be installed. The current stations and lines are not adequate.
Under Other School Business, Member Wallace stated the Building Committee had met on August 9th and completed a walk-through of both building compiling a list of improvements and repairs. This list has been turned over to Mr. Fritch. The committee will be meeting again soon.
Member Jeffords stated she had been in contact with Wesley Graphics regarding the repairs for the high school sign on the gym. He needs pictures of the piece that blew off for an estimate of repairs and reinstallation. Jeffords also asked about Hometown Heroes and if it will continue. Mr. Graves stated there was a scheduling conflict with the class and a lack of teachers to help with the project. They hope to start it again in the future and maybe even add a Junior Hometown Heroes in the Junior High at some point.
With no further business to be discussed, a motion was made by Schuchardt and seconded by Jeffords to adjourn the meeting until the next meeting to be held on
Thursday, September 21, 2023 at 7:00 pm with a Public Hearing beginning at 6:45 pm in the J.H. Hobbs Memorial Library. All members present voted aye.
Meeting adjourned at 9:15 pm.
https://cdnsm5-ss6.sharpschool.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_2554242/File/Board%20Minutes/Aug%2017%202023.pdf
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