Southern Illinois News

Anna Community Consolidated School District 37 Board of Education met March 19.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Board Vice President Jim Hammer called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.

Roll Call

                             Present        Absent          Arr. Late

Josh Gooden   __________ ____X_____ __________

Jim Hammer   ____X_____ __________ __________

Pam Needling ____X_____ __________ __________

Cheryl Ligon   ____X_____ __________ __________

Brooke Frank  __________ ____X_____ __________

Collin Crane   ____X_____ __________ __________

Lottie Smith   ____X_____ __________ __________

Superintendent Brent Boren

Principals, Mark Laster, Angela Clay, Rob Lannom

Staff, Anna Rodriguez, Clarissa Ralls, Carla Whitaker

Visitors, Tasheka Gamble, Caleb Baird, Callie Baird

A motion was made by Pam Needling and seconded by Cheryl Ligon to approve the agenda for the meeting. Voice vote. Motion carried.

A motion was made by Pam Needling and seconded by Lottie Smith to approve the consent agenda of the following items: Minutes from the February 20, 2024 Regular Meeting, Financial Reports: Activity Fund, Revolving Fund, Treasurer’s Report, Cafeteria Report, Insurance Report, Approve Bills and Payroll, and approve the 2024-2025 school calendar as presented. Roll call vote: Jim Hammer, yea; Pam Needling, yea; Cheryl Ligon, yea; Collin Crane, yea; Lottie Smith, yea. Motion carried.

Scott Hickam, CPA (Beussink, Hickam & Kochel) presented the District’s annual financial report, which was delayed from December 2023. Mr. Hickam explained the revenues, expenses, and grant processes from the year. The District earned a perfect 4.0 score.

Tasheka Gamble addressed the board concerning ADA compliance on the Davie School playground. Mr. Boren asked her to reach out to him personally and offer input on how we may be able to meet this goal.

Anna Rodriguez presented on behalf of the AEEA. She said that staff and students are all working hard and testing while looking forward to Spring Break. The sound system in the lower gym has been replaced/upgraded. The system is user-friendly. This is very much appreciated and an exciting development. The 7th and 8th grade band and chorus will be attending IGSMA contest on March 22nd. The students have been working hard and are excited.

Mr. Boren discussed the sale of one small bus. The District has 3, which is one too many. The option of trading it in is not lucrative, so Mr. Boren suggests putting Bus 3 out for sealed bids to begin the funds for a white bus. White buses are in high demand and are currently priced over $100,000.

A reduction in force of three positions was discussed. The SEL grant is ending, therefore there will not be funds for the SEL Secretary or SEL Aide positions. One EOC Aide position will end due to one student moving on to the high school level. The people who currently hold those positions will be reassigned within the District.

A motion was made by Jim Hammer and seconded by Cheryl Ligon to renew the photography contract with TD Photography. Voice Vote. Motion carried.

A motion was made by Lottie Smith and seconded by Collin Crane to accept the resignation of Pat Pitts as Head Softball Coach. Voice Vote. Motion carried.

A motion was made by Pam Needling and seconded by Jim Hammer to authorize Mr. Boren to put bus #3 out for a sealed bid. Voice Vote. Motion carried.

A motion was made by Pam Needling and seconded by Lottie Smith to hire Erin Suggs as the 2024-2025 Jr. High Softball Coach. Roll call vote: Jim Hammer, yea; Pam Needling, yea; Cheryl Ligon, yea; Collin Crane, yea; Lottie Smith, yea. Motion carried.

A motion was made by Cheryl Ligon and seconded by Jim Hammer to Reduce in Force the following positions: SEL Aide, SEL Secretary, and one EOC Aide position. Roll call vote: Jim Hammer, yea; Pam Needling, yea; Cheryl Ligon, yea; Collin Crane, yea; Lottie Smith, yea. Motion carried.

A motion was made by Pam Needling and seconded by Lottie Smith to approve the school audit as presented. Roll call vote: Jim Hammer, yea; Pam Needling, yea; Cheryl Ligon, yea; Collin Crane, yea; Lottie Smith, yea. Motion carried.

A motion was made by Cheryl Ligon and seconded by Pam Needling to hire Joel Dallas as a Jr High Special Education Teacher effective April 9, 2024. Roll call vote: Jim Hammer, yea; Pam Needling, yea; Cheryl Ligon, yea; Collin Crane, yea; Lottie Smith, yea. Motion carried.

Superintendent Boren reported that the following projects will be open for bids soon: HVAC, playground, and boiler replacement. Mr. Boren met with Plott Construction to make a plan for moving the playground equipment, which was donated by the City of Anna, from the park to our playground. The window and fence covering project is moving forward. The lower gym audio system has been completely upgraded and the system is fully functional with the purchase of four wireless microphones. This was possible through ESSER funds. The recommended additional equipment will come from 1% funds. We are awaiting quotes for new locker room floors and replacing the hallway tiles at Lincoln. We have paid the earnest money for the property on Hendra Street and expect to close on that property later this month or early April. We will be switching our credit cards to First State Community Bank out of Jackson, MO. This will allow better communication locally and give the District 1% cash back on purchases to be deposited into the District Activities Fund to help with PBIS and student activities. Mr. Boren attended IASA and IASB meetings this month.

Mr. Laster reported the following: Graduation has been set for May 16, 2024 at 7:00pm. IAR testing has begun. Mrs. Biggs is coordinating this. Testing should be complete, with the exception of some SpEd classes, by March 28th. We are still short on substitutes. We did another social media push advertising sub pay rates. Congratulations to this year’s Illinois Principal’s Association Student of the Year winners, Elliot Poulos and Elina Chen! They will be honored at a banquet at the SIU Student Center in April.

School Improvement Update from Mr. Laster:

All three school leadership teams have completed initial data analysis and have begun discussing areas of focus. Areas of focus will eventually result in SMART goals being formed for each school’s plan. We intend to have rough drafts of the goals complete by April 30th. General issues to address include a K-8 ELA student assessment, an annual data dissemination/training plan, an annual state standard dissemination/ training plan, and an annual staff survey. The Lincoln SLT will meet with the AIR group on March 12th to review the needs assessment from

January. Plans are intended to be complete by the end of May. We will meet with the ISBE coach on March 14th.

Mr. Lannom reported that the volleyball team had a successful season. They fell to Goreville at regionals but just barely. The bowling team went to regionals in Carterville on March 9th. Sixth grader Violet Yates qualified for State. Golf and track are getting started. The PTO Spring Fling was a fun time and big success. There were 4 out of school suspensions this month.

Mrs. Clay reported that Kindergarten screenings were held today with 33 students screened. Teachers and staff are already preparing for next year and for the upcoming Parent/Teacher conferences.

A motion was made by Cheryl Ligon and seconded by Collin Crane to enter Executive Session for the purpose of the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1), 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)(1), and student disciplinary cases. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(9) Voice vote. Motion carried.

Board entered Executive Session at 6:41 p.m.

Board returned to Regular Session at 6:59 p.m.

A motion was made by Collin Crane and seconded by Jim Hammer to adjourn at 6:59 p.m. with the next Regular Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. Voice vote. Motion carried.

https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/2796/Anna_CCSD/4197267/March_19__2024_minutes.pdf