Southern Illinois News

Anna Community Consolidated School District 37 Board of Education met Sept. 17.

Here is the agenda provided by the board:

Board President Josh Gooden 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, Carla Whitaker, Josh Shearer 

Visitors, Alison Smith 

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

A motion was made by Josh Gooden and seconded by Cheryl Ligon to approve the consent agenda of the following items: Minutes of the August 20, 2024, Regular Meeting, Financial Reports: Activity Fund, Revolving Fund, Treasurer’s Report, Cafeteria Report, Insurance Report, Approve Bills and Payroll. Second viewing ofthe proposed policy changes and review that include: Draft Updates: 2:270 Discrimination and Harassment on the basis of race, color, and national origin prohibited, 2:40 Board Member Qualifications, 2:50 Board Member Term of Office, 2:60 Board Member Removal from office, 2:70 Vacancies on the School Board- Filling Vacancies, 2:80 Board member oath of conduct, 2: 125 Board Member Compensation; expenses, 2: 140 Communication to and from the board, 2:150 Committees, 2: 160 Board Attorney, 2:250 Access to district public records. 2:260 Uniform grievance procedure,2:265 Title IX grievance procedure,2:270 E Exhibit Checklist for filling Board Vacancies by appointment, 2:80 E Board member code of conduct, 2: 140 E Guidance for board member communication including email use, 2: 160 E Checklist for selecting a board attorney, 2:220 E5 Semiannual review of closes minutes, Review and monitoring of the following policies: 3:10 Goals and Objectives3 :40 E checklist for the superintendent employment contract negotiation process, 4:15 Identity Protection, 4:20 fund balances, 4:40 incurring Debt4:55 use of credit and procurement cards, 4:70 Resource, 4:80 Accounting and audit, 4:1 10 transportation, 4:190 targeted school violence prevention program, 5:10 equal employment opportunity and minority recruitment 5:20 Workplace harassment prohibited, 5:100 Staff Development program, 5:35 compliance with the fair labor standards act, 5:40 Communicable and chronic infectious disease, 5:130 responsibilities concerning internal information, 5:170 Copyright, 5:180 temporary illness 0r temporary incapacity 5:200 Terms and conditions of employment and dismissal, 5:230 

Maintaining student discipline, 5:285 Drug and alcohol testing for school bus and commercial vehicle drivers, 5:290 Employment and termination and suspensions, 5:300 schedules and employment year, 6: lO educational philosophy and objectives, 6:40 Curriculum Development, 6:1 10 Programs for students at risk of academic failure, 6: 140 Education of homeless children, 6: l 50 home and hospital instruction, 6: 190 extracurricular and co-curricular activities, 6:210 lnstruct6i0nal materials,6:240 Field trips, 6:270 Guidance, 7:10 Equal Education opportunities, 7:20 Harassment of Students Prohibited, 7: 170 Vandalism, 7: 180 Prevention of and response to bullying, intimidation, and Harassment, 7: 10 E equal opportunities within the school, 8:25 Advertising and distributing materials in schools provided by non-school related entities, 8:70 Accommodating individuals with disabilities, 8:95 Parental Involvement. Roll call vote. Josh Gooden, yea; Jim Hammer, yea; Pam Needling, yea; Cheryl Ligon, yea. Motion carried. 

Josh Shearer reported on behalf of the AEEA that the window films and fence wraps look great. The math and reading teachers are happy with the new curriculum. 

Keystone Electric representatives were present via video conference and presented their proposal for off-site solar electricity. They answered questions from the board, including the land parcel size needed (20-25 acres). The land must be within the Ameren utility district. Ten percent of the energy produced would go to the school district resulting in more than a 50% savings to the district. 

Ameren recently conducted an energy audit for the district. The school has enough rooftop space for our solar panels. This raises questions for Ryan Dodd regarding solar vs wind power, structural integrity, and more. The board would like to explore all options. 

The board directed Mr. Boren to advertise an open board seat for appointment and four open seats for the November election. 

Centerstone would like to offer free online counseling services to Anna CCSD #37 students and families. They would hire and provide a proctor to work inside the school to coordinate counseling. 

Concerns have been voiced regarding heat-related issues for athletics. The administration was asked to look into SIJHSAA standards and possibly purchase heat stress trackers. 

A motion was made by Cheryl Ligon and seconded by Jim Hammer to approve the FY 25 school budget as presented. Roll call vote. Josh Gooden, yea; Jim Hammer, yea; Pam Needling, yea; Cheryl Ligon, yea. Motion carried. 

A motion was made by Josh Gooden and seconded by Pam Needling to approve the purchase of the 201 6 Ford T250 Micro Bird l4—passenger activity bus from Southern Bus and Mobility for $55,173.00. Roll call vote. Josh Gooden, yea; Jim Hammer, yea; Pam Needling, yea; Cheryl Ligon, yea. Motion carried. 

A motion was made by Pam Needling and seconded by Cheryl Ligon to accept Kevin Reynolds as a volunteer boys’ basketball coach. Voice vote. Motion carried.

A motion was made by Josh Gooden and seconded by Jim Hammer t0 accept Adam Henderson as a volunteer boys’ basketball coach. Voice vote. Motion carried. 

A motion was made by Cheryl Ligon and seconded by Pam Needling to accept Ayden Dillrnan as a volunteer boys’ basketball coach. Voice vote. Motion carried. 

A motion was made by Jim Hammer and seconded by Josh Gooden t0 accept the resignation of Brooke Frank from the Anna CCSD #37 School Board. Roll call vote. Josh Gooden, yea; Jim Hammer, yea; Pam Needling, yea; Cheryl Ligon, yea. Motion carried. 

A motion was made by Pam Needling and seconded by Cheryl Ligon to approve the utilization of free services provided by Centerstone. Voice vote. Motion carried. 

Principal Laster reported on after-school tutoring, which will begin on September 23rd. There are 14 tutoring groups with a total of approximately 7O students and 17 tutors (K-8). The annual law enforcement drill was held on August 23rd. An active shooter and lock-down/off-campus evacuation was practiced. As part of the school improvement plan, we have 13 on-demand trainings we are offering teachers between now and March. Due to the lack of substitutes, they are being offered after hours with a $30/hour stipend, paid from the school improvement grant. Our annual first responder meeting is scheduled for October 3rd. We will have representatives from local agencies to review our crisis management plan. Mr. Laster and Mrs. Clay met with Chrissy Wiggs from ROE 21 on September 11th to look at curriculum alignment and professional learning community models. These will both be key next steps in our school improvement process. 

Congratulations to Mr. Josh Shearer! He will be recognized on October 18‘“ in Bloomington as a Distinguished Member of the Illinois Art Education Association. This is a big honor for a well deserving Mr. Shearer. Well done. 

Mrs. Clay reported numbers for Back to School at Lincoln are in at 484 participants this year. The PTO is doing great things and have plans for Donuts with Grownups on October 8th and 10th. Kindergarten Reading Night is set for October l“. 

Mr. Lannom reports that baseball and softball are both having great seasons. Baseball will play for first place in conference at Cobden on Wednesday. Softball will play the second round on Wednesday at Egyptian. Baseball has a record of 1 1-2 and softball has a record of 15-2 currently. Cross Country had Kelly Smith place lSt and Raelynn Bigham place 2nd at SIU. At the AJ meet, Kelly placed 3rd and Raelynn placed S‘h. Anna State Bank has donated a tent for Cross Country. That is very much appreciated. The marching band placed 2nd at the Cache River Parade and 3rd at the Applefest with the color guard earning Outstanding Auxiliary. Without a local bowling alley, the bowling team is in question for this year. There were three in-school suspensions and three out-of-school suspensions for the month of September. 

Technology Coordinator Shari Biggs informed the board of how the E-rate funds are being spend this school year; hardware from Optimus Technology Company and broadband management and support from Novacom.

A motion was made by Cheryl Ligon and seconded by Jim Hammer 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 0f the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity. 5 ILCS l20/2(c)(l), 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)(2), student disciplinary cases. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(9), the selection of a person to fill a public office as defined in the Open Meetings Act, including a vacancy in a public office, when the public body is given the power to appoint under law or ordinance, or the discipline, performance, or removal of the occupant 0f a public office when the public body is given the power to remove the occupant under law or ordinance. 5 ILCS l20/2(c)(3). Voice vote. Motion carried. 

Board entered Executive Session at 6:58 p.m. 

Board returned to Regular Session at 7:20 p.m. 

A motion was made by Pam Needling and seconded by Josh Gooden to approve the August 20, 2024 Executive Session minutes. Roll call vote. Josh Gooden, yea; Jim Hammer, yea; Pam Needling, yea; Cheryl Ligon, yea. Motion carried. 

A motion was made by Jim Hammer and seconded by Pam Needling to adjourn at 7:21 p.m. with the next Regular Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, October 15, 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/4932685/September_17__2024_minutes.pdf