Southern Illinois News

Illinois State Board of Education East St. Louis Financial Oversight Panel met Oct. 23.

Here are the minutes provided by the panel:

Chair Jackie Settles called the meeting to order at 12:01 p.m.

Members Present

Jeff Collier, Jessie Granger, Jackie Settles, Dr. Debra Moore, Sister Julia Huiskamp

Members Absent

ISBE / District Staff Members / Others Present

Superintendent Arthur Culver, Interim Chief HR Officer Valencia Hawkins, Chief of Schools Keisa Garrett, Chief Academic Officer Jennifer Brumback, Chief School Business Official (CSBO) Delfaye Jason, Director of Maintenance, Operations & Risk Management Joseph Haskell.

Attorney Garrett Hoerner participated via Zoom.

Prayer

Member Collier led the prayer.

Adoption of Agenda

Member Collier moved, with a second by Member Granger, for the adoption of the Agenda giving the Oversight Panel Chair discretion to take agenda items out of order. The motion carried on a roll call vote. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0

Public Comments

No Public Comments.

Recognitions

Administration publicly congratulated the following recipients:

NAACP Honors Students as Rising Stars

On October 8, 2023, two East St. Louis School District 189 students received the distinguished Rising Star Awards from the East St. Louis Chapter of NAACP. The honorees included William Campbell, third grade student at Paul Laurence Dunbar Elementary School, and Elijah O’Neal, eighth grade student at Mason/Clark Middle School. Congratulations to both of these young scholars.

Teacher to Receive 2023 Excellence in Education Award

The St. Louis American Foundation will honor Briana Morales, English Language Arts Teacher at Gordon Bush Alternative Center, at the 36th Annual Salute to Excellence in Education Gala and Awards ceremony on Saturday, November 4, 2023. She is among the eight Excellence in Education awardees and will each receive a $500 educator grant. Morales is also the 2023 Illinois Teacher of the Year.

Staff Member Receives 2023 School Social Work Heart Award

Catrice Johnson, Social Worker at Gordon Bush Alternative Center, is being recognized by Dynamic Educators First with the 2023 School Social Work Heart Award. She is being honored because of her selfless commitment in nurturing young minds, fostering resilience, and creating a positive impact on the lives of the students she serves and the community she works in. Catrice also leads the monthly Flyers Feeding Families food pantry that serves the community.

Presentation

Jobs for America Graduates

LaRhonda Coleman, JAG Education Specialist at Gordon Bush Alternative, provided an overview of the program and the benefits for students. Student-led presentation by Jayanti Gomiller and Loriahna Green. Gordon Bush Alternative School implements the JAG program for high school students to help prepare them for career and post-secondary success. Jayanti and Loriahna spoke about the JAG mission and history, purpose, and the skills students learn while in the program.

JAG is a pilot program that began in the District in 2019 and serves 6th-12th grade students. JAG serves underprivileged students and First Generation College bound youth. The program follows the student for a year after graduation assisting with college applications and job resumes. The students will attend a Leadership Conference on November 2nd, and hopefully compete nationally in December in Washington DC.

Panel member asked what the acronym for JAG is.

•  Jobs for Americas Graduates.

Panel member asked how many students are enrolled

•  25 this year, 28 last year, and 35 the year before.

Report of the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council (SSAC)

Superintendent Culver indicated that the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council meetings were held in September. The next meetings will be held in November.

Report of the Superintendent

Superintendent Culver provided a brief update about enrollment.

•  Although housing projects are down, enrollment is still increasing. The District is12 students from 4800. 70 more students than this time last year.

Panel member asked what you attribute to the high enrollment numbers.

•  Students are enrolling from all over the country.

Panel member asked about classroom attendance.

•  This area needs to be strengthened. As a District attendance is 80%

Panel member asked about the lockdown at the high school.

•  Yes. There was a soft lockdown at the high school because of a fight that occurred the day before in the cafeteria involving about 19 students. 16 were arrested. To prevent escalation, and because three administrators would be out on Friday, administration extended the lockdown. There were no issues reported while on lockdown.

Panel member asked how many security guards are at the high school.

•  12 right now, with two being board approved and a Security Supervisor being hired this month.

District Buildings & Grounds (B&G) Report

Director Joseph Haskell provided an update on the Buildings & Grounds ongoing tasks.

•  Scoreboard at the stadium is installed. Technology will be doing training on Friday to prepare for the playoff game on Saturday.

•  Working towards partial occupancy for the locker rooms. The remainder of the gym will open in a few weeks. No exact date.

•  Going from building to building meeting with principals to address needs, concerns, and cleanliness especially at the high school.

•  District wide HVAC projects are continuing and pre construction meetings are being held to begin stadium renovations and tennis courts.

District Finance Report

CSBO Delfaye Jason provided a brief update on the Comparative Analysis Finance Report

•  Revenue was $42 million compared to $40 million last year.

•  Expenditures $19 million compared to $17 million last year.

•  Received 28% of the revenue expected and spent 12% of what’s expected back in session.

Panel member asked if the District has any pools of funds to benefit from high interest rates.

•  CARES funds are reimbursable. If any money is in excess, it is at PMA or in CDs that mature every six months.

Panel member asked about the District’s banking services.

•  The District banks with US Bank, Regions and Lindell. An RFP for a new bank will go out soon as the District has banked with the same company for quite some time.

ISBE Report

No Report.

Executive Session

Chair Settles asked for a motion to enter Executive Session in accordance with the Illinois Open Meeting Act (5 ILCS 120/2(c)) to consider one or more of the following subjects: 120/2(c)(1) Employee appointments, employments, compensation, discipline, performance, dismissals or dismissal of specific employees, and complaints; 120/2(c)(2) Collective Negotiating Matters; 120/2(c)(5) Property Acquisition/Lease/Purchase; 120/2(c)(8) Security Procedures; 120/2(c)(11) Litigation; 120/2(c)(21) Closed Meeting Minutes Discussion/Review.

Member Granger moved, with a second by Member Collier, to convene into Executive Session at 12:40 p.m. The motion carried on a roll call vote. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0

Open Session

The FOP reconvened into Open Session at 12:50 p.m. with a motion from Member Collier and a second by Member Moore. The motion carried on a roll call vote. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0

14. A. Regular Meeting of September 25, 2023

Superintendent Culver asked for a motion to approve the FOP Regular Meeting Minutes of September 25, 2023.

Member Collier moved, with a second by Member Moore, to approve the FOP Regular Meeting Minutes of August 21, 2023. The motion carried on a roll call vote. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0

15. Approval of Consent Agenda Items (October 2023 Board of Education Meeting) Superintendent Culver asked for a motion to approve Consent Agenda Items 15.A. through 15.M.

Member Collier moved, with a second by Member Moore, to approve Consent Agenda Items 15.A. through 15.M. The motion carried on a roll call vote. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0

15. A Part B - H - Part B - Board Bills $20,325,961.16, Payroll $7,115,864.59, Credit Card $65,958.06, Payroll Wire Transfers $643,102.58, A/P EFT's $1,933.25, W/C Claims $48,672.80, Part C Miscellaneous Cash Receipts $195,307.06, Part D Athletics $8,141, Part E Monies Returned and Miscellaneous Payments $0, Part F Open A/P $1,933.25, and Part H Overtime $22,221.09, for Month of September

15. B. Payment of Invoices for Legal Services from Becker, Hoerner & Ysursa, P.C. for the Month of August 2023. Amount: $8,561.17

15. C. Approval of annual fundraisers for the 2023-2024 school year for East Saint Louis Senior

High School for school student activities.

15. D. Acceptance of a donation of school supplies for teachers and students from CSL Plasma. Estimated Value: $485

15. E. Acceptance of a donation of book bags and supplies to two local schools on November 6, 2023 for students from Sigma Gamma Rho-Alpha Upsilon Sigma ESTL Chapter. Estimated Value: $400

15. F. Acceptance of a donation of toiletries and a carpet runner for the high school from Class of 1973. Estimated Value: $300

15. G. Acceptance of a donation of Ameren Energy Kits for a 5th grade presentation from Ameren. Estimated Value: $16,000

15. H. Acceptance of a donation of uniform shirts for Mason Clark Middle School from Lessie Bates. Estimated Value: $200

15. I. Acceptance of a donation of 200 new winter coats for students at Katie Wright Elementary School and 200 new winter coats for students at Wyvette Younge School of Excellence from Stifel. Estimated Value: $8,000

15. J. Approval of a qualified bid from Belleville Fencing to repair/replace/install fencing at Lincoln Middle School as specified in RFB9260. Cost: $22,675

15. K. Approval of a qualified bid from Belleville Fencing to repair/replace/install fencing at Mason Clark Middle School as specified in RFB9260 (alt.). Cost: $17,480

15. L. Professional Development Requests and Addendums. Approximate Cost: $395,936.69

15. M. Field Trip Requests and Addendums. Approximate Cost: $4,450.14 16. APPROVAL OF ACTION AGENDA ITEMS (October 2023 Board of Education Meeting)

Superintendent Culver asked for a motion to approve by omnibus vote Action Items 16.A, 16.B, 16.C, 16.D, and 16.E.

Member Collier moved, with a second by Member Granger, to approve the Superintendent’s recommendation. The motion carried on a roll call vote. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0

Superintendent Culver asked for a motion to approve the following:

16. A. Approval of Personnel Report/Addendums & Contracts.

16. B. Approval of Curriculum Action Items 7.A List and Addendums. Approximate Cost: $1,299,403

16. C. Approval to enter into a renewal agreement with QFB Energy for the purchase of electricity for the period October 2023 through December 2026.

16. D. Approval of Architectural Services Agreement with Farnsworth Group for Renovations of the auditorium, stadium and tennis courts at East St. Louis Senior High School in amount approved by the District Superintendent and form approved by the District’s Attorney.

16. E. Approval of Worker's Compensation Settlement Agreement(s).

Member Collier moved, with a second by Member Granger, to approve the Superintendent’s recommendation. The motion carried on a roll call vote. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0

17. OLD BUSINESS

No old business.

18. NEW BUSINESS

No new business.

19. ANNOUNCEMENTS

Next Financial Oversight Panel Meeting: November 27, 2023 at 12:00 p.m.

20. A. ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, Member Collier moved, with a second by Member Granger, to adjourn the meeting at 1:01 p.m. The motion carried on a roll call. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0

https://www.isbe.net/Documents_Finance_ESL/102323-Minutes.pdf