Southern Illinois News

Massac County Unit School District #1 Board of Education met April 28.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

A Regular Meeting of the Board of Education of Massac County Unit School District No. 1, Massac County, Illinois, was called to order in the BoardRoom of the Massac County Unit 1 Board Office, located at 2939 Old Marion Rd, Metropolis, IL, in said District at 6:30 PM by Mr. Don Koch.

Upon a roll call, the following members answered present:

Present: Harvey Baxter

Jeff Brugger

Patrick Howell

Don Koch

Jennifer Larrison

John Willis

Also Present: Jason Hayes, Superintendent

Tom Walker, Director of Technology

Jamey Mitchell, Business Manager

Kristin Rousseau, Supt/Board Secretary

Absent: Mark Souders

Public Comment/Invited Guests:

None

A motion was made by Brugger and seconded by Willis to approve the consent agenda consisting of Minutes/Treasurer’s Report/Bills/Payroll. Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Koch, Larrison, and Willis voted yes. Motion carried.

A motion was made by Willis and seconded by Howell to approve the County Clerk’s tabulation of five elected School Board members: Harvey Baxter, Jeff Brugger, Don Koch, and Jennifer Larrison for four year terms and Patrick Howell for two year terms. Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Koch, Larrison, and Willis voted yes. Motion carried.

With a motion from Brugger and seconded by Larrison the Board voted to adjourn at 5:32 PM. Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Koch, Larrison, and Willis voted yes. Motion carried.

Seating of the Newly Elected Board Members: Harvey Baxter, Jeff Brugger, Patrick Howell, Don Koch, and Jennifer Larrison were sworn in by Board Secretary Kristin Rousseau.

Selection of ProTempore Officer:

Mr. Hayes called for nominations. Larrison nominated Don Koch, Larrison seconded. No other nominations were brought forward. Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Koch, Larrison, and Willis voted yes. Motion carried.

Nomination of Officers:

ProTempre Officer Don Koch called for nominations for Board President. Larrison nominated Mark Souders, Baxter seconded. No other nominations were brought forward. Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Koch, Larrison, and Willis voted yes. Motion carried.

Nomination of Officers:

ProTempre Officer Don Koch called for nominations for Board Vice President. Larrison nominated Don Koch, Willis seconded. No other nominations were brought forward. Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Koch, Larrison, and Willis voted yes. Motion carried.

Nomination of Officers:

Board Vice President Don Koch called for nominations for Board Treasurer. Willis nominated Jamey Mitchell, Brugger seconded. No other nominations were brought forward. Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Koch, Larrison, and Willis voted yes. Motion carried.

Nomination of Officers:

Board Vice President Don Koch called for nominations for Board Secretary. Brugger nominated Kristin Rousseau, Larrison seconded. No other nominations were brought forward. Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Koch, Larrison, and Willis voted yes. Motion carried.

A motion was made by Willis and seconded by Brugger to continue with the current Regular Board Meeting schedule of every fourth Monday at 6:30 PM in the BoardRoom of the Board Office, 2939 Old Marion Rd. Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Koch, Larrison, and Willis voted yes. Motion carried.

A motion was made by Howell and seconded by Larrison to Adopt the existing Board Policies. Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Koch, Larrison, and Willis voted yes. Motion carried.

At 5:44 PM with a motion from Brugger and a second from Willis, the Board voted to go to Closed Session to consider information relative to employment, appointment, or dismissal of specific employees or officers, collective negotiating matters between employers and their employees or representatives; to discuss litigation – probable, imminent, pending or file. Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Koch, Larrison, and Willis voted yes. Motion carried.

At 6:30 PM the Board returned to Open Session.

Superintendent’s Report

A. MJHS representatives presented in favor of changing the Junior High School’s mascot to the Patriots.

B. SRO Research

C. Revenue/Expenditures

D. MCHS/MJHS Parking Lot update

E. New Website/App

F. Upcoming dates

Unfinished Business:

New Business:

With a motion from Brugger and a second from Baxter the Board voted to Approve the Consolidated District Plan (required for all federal grants). Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Koch, Larrison, and Willis voted yes. Motion carried.

With a motion from Howell and a second from Brugger the Board voted to move forward with the posting of the SRO positions as presented as well as budgeting for 50% ($55,000) of the estimated cost. Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Koch, Larrison, and Willis voted yes. Motion carried.

With a motion from Brugger and a second from Willis the Board voted to change the Massac Junior High School mascot from the Trojans to the Patriots. Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Koch, Larrison, and Willis voted yes. Motion carried.

With a motion from Larrison and a second from Willis the Board voted to Approve the final proposal for the parking lot maintenance for MJHS and MCHS from Asphalt Maintenance and Penninger. Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Koch, Larrison, and Willis voted yes. Motion carried.

With a motion from Howell and a second from Brugger the Board voted to Approve the MCHS volleyball overnight trip to Branson, MO July 28-30. Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Koch, Larrison, and Willis voted yes. Motion carried.

First reading of Board Policy updates: 2:260, 2:265, 4:15, 4:80, 5:10, 5:20, 5:60, 5:100, 6:150, 6:235, 7:10, 7:20, 7:60, 7:70, 7:180, 7:185, 7:190, 7:200, 7:210, 7:250, 7:255, 7:270, 7:310, 7:315, 7:340, & 8:30 (Linked Online)

With a motion from Baxter and seconded by Willis the Board voted to Move the May Regular Board Meeting to May 19, 2025 due to Memorial Day. Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Koch, Larrison, and Willis voted yes. Motion carried.

Personnel:

With a motion from Larrison and a second from Brugger the Board voted to Approve the Resignation of Brenna Hopkins-MES 6th Grade ELA. Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Koch, Larrison, and Willis voted yes. Motion carried.

With a motion from Baxter and a second from Larrison the Board voted to Approve the Hiring of Kaitlyn Williams-MES Cross Categorical Special Education. Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Koch, Larrison, and Willis voted yes. Motion carried.

With a motion from Larrison and a second from Willis the Board voted to Approve the Hiring of Kayler Wright-MCHS CNA/Nursing Instructor. Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Koch, Larrison, and Willis voted yes. Motion carried.

With a motion from Howell and a second from Brugger the Board voted to Approve the Hiring of Mendy Harris-MCHS Business Teacher. Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Koch, Larrison, and Willis voted yes. Motion carried.

With a motion from Brugger and a second from Willis the Board voted to Approve the Hiring of Molly Stratmeyer-MCHS Senior Class Sponsor for the 2025/2026 School Year, Jake Glass-MJHS Assistant Baseball Coach, Emily Wilke-MJHS Basketball 7th Grade Coach. Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Koch, Larrison, and Willis voted yes. Motion carried.

With a motion from Baxter and a second from Larrison the Board voted to Approve the Hiring of Savannah Welch-MES Custodian. Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Koch, Larrison, and Willis voted yes. Motion carried.

With a motion from Larrison and a second from Howell the Board voted to Approve the Rehiring of all MJHS Extra Duty Positions except those previously posted. Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Koch, Larrison, and Willis voted yes. Motion carried.

With a motion from Brugger and a second from Willis the Board voted to Approve the Rehiring of all MCHS Extra Duty Positions except those previously posted. Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Koch, Larrison, and Willis voted yes. Motion carried.

With a motion from Baxter and a second from Brugger the Board voted to Approve the Leave of Absence for Lana Horman-requested for the remainder of the school year. Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Koch, Larrison, and Willis voted yes. Motion carried.

With a motion from Brugger and a second from Howell the Board voted to Approve Josie Walker as a MJHS Golf Volunteer. Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Koch, Larrison, and Willis voted yes. Motion carried.

With a motion from Brugger and a second from Larrison the Board voted to adjourn at 7:02 PM. Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Koch, Larrison, and Willis voted yes. Motion carried.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1tx7rbkiRBn25vNaopg60KzhjuF2muc3G