Southern Illinois News

Pope County Community Unit School District 1 Board of Education met May 15.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by President Aly and the following members were present: Fatheree, Kizziar, Schuchardt, Hogg, Simmons, and Aly. Jeffords was absent.

A motion was made by Schuchardt and seconded by Kizziar to approve the agenda. Roll call vote: all ayes.

Motion was made by Schuchardt and seconded by Fatheree to approve the consent agenda including the following: 1) Approve Minutes of Board Meetings on 4/22/2025; 2) Approve Closed Session Minutes; 3) Approve Bills for Payment; 4) Accept Financial Reports; and 5) Approve resignations of Krysta Graves, Pep Club and Jessica Bevis, JH Student Council. Roll call vote: all ayes.

Under Administrative reports, Mrs. Allen reported the following: 1) Student Involvement/Sports: a) May 2: Two students qualified for State in Track & Field; Creighton Slavin (8th grade) – hurdles and Ryder Arnold (7th grade) – discus; b) May 10: Creighton Slavin placed 2nd in State with hurdles; 2) Assemblies/Activities/Projects: a) April/May Appreciation Days: Bus Driver Appreciation, Administrative Assistants, Principals, Lunch Heroes, Teacher Appreciation, School Nurse and School Speech Pathologists; b) May 1: 8th grade incentive trip (bowling/pizza/DQ); May 2: PTO Fun Day; May 5-9: Teacher Appreciation Week; May 6: PTO recognized April & May Students of the Month; May 8: 8th grade graduation w/ parade and dance afterwards; May 10: Student Council dance; May 14: Friendly Farms donated pizza/popcorn/DQ to the top selling class – Mrs. Hungate’s 4th grade class; May 20: 2nd Semester Incentive Drawing for PK-2; May 21: 3-5 grade incentive trip (bowling/pizza/DQ/park); May 21 or 22: Pre-K picnic; May 22, 28 or 29: 6/7 grade will go to Dixon Springs between; May 23: Talent show, K-7; May 23: Parent sponsored 8th grade trip to STL; May 27: Kindergarten graduation @ 9:00 AM; May 28: 3rd grade was invited to the library to see “Awesome Animals”; May 28: Safari Dental; May 30: Last attendance day; and 3) Current enrollment 306 as of May 2025 compared to 311 as of May 2023/24.

Mr. Graves reported the following: 1) Senior Awards and Scholarship Day was held May 1; 2) Choir visited Golden Circle and performed; 3) Teacher Appreciation Week was celebrated last week. Snacks and food was brought to them from local businesses and individuals throughout the week. The teachers were very appreciative; 4) Graduation for the Class of 2025 was held on May 9; 5) Cyrus Hogg and Grayson Fritch (4th) as well as Drake and Brayden Taylor (6th) qualified for Sectionals today at Crab Orchard Lake; 6) With approval, the spring incentive trip is Friday May 23 to Venture River in Eddyville KY; 7) Softball starts Regionals May 20th at Goreville, game time is 4pm; 8) Baseball will host the Regional this year here. Games dates are: May 21, 22, & 24; 9) Underclassmen semester exams will be May 27-May 28; and 10) Enrollment: 143.

Mr. Fritch reported the following: 1) Last day of school for students is now May 30th. The State did not approve our Act of God day we had for sickness; 2) Would like to thank both principals for the graduation ceremonies and all the work that goes in to make them a special time for our students and their families. “Thank you” goes out to our retirees, Ms. Black and Mrs Reed, especially Mrs. Reed. She has spent 30+ years, her whole career, serving our students and we greatly appreciate her dedication to our students and the district; 3) Septic system project will be finishing up around the 22nd or 23rd. The part we have been waiting on has finally shipped. They will finish up with the sodding and the project will be complete.

Motion to enter executive session for the purpose of personnel performance, procedures, and employment was made by Hogg and seconded by Simmons. Roll call vote: all ayes. Board entered at 7:20 pm.

Motion to return to regular session was made by Schuchardt and seconded by Fatheree. Roll call vote: all ayes. Board returned at 8:41 pm.

Under New Business, Mr. Fritch distributed a handout of budget highlights. He explained the funds in each account line. There were many projects this year that effected the budget, which calls for the amendments to the budget. With no further questions, a motion to have a Public Hearing on the 2024-2025 amended budget on June 17, 2025 at 6:45 pm was made by Simmons and seconded by Kizziar. Roll call vote: all ayes.

Motion to authorize Superintendent to prepare 2025-2026 budget was made by Hogg and seconded by Kizziar. Roll call vote: all ayes.

Mr. Fritch distributed copies of the teacher contract with changes highlighted. This contract has been approved by the teachers. After some discussion, a motion to approve Teacher Contract for 2024-25 SY as presented was made by Fatheree and seconded by Simmons. Roll call vote: Fatheree, Kizziar, Simmon, Aly; all ayes, Schuchardt and Hogg abstained, motion carried.

Motion to renew IASB annual membership was made by Schuchardt and seconded by Hogg. Roll call vote: all ayes.

Motion to approve out-of-state trip on Friday, May 23, 2025 for Mr. Graves to take incentive trip to Venture River Water Park in Eddyville, KY was made by Simmons and seconded by Fatheree. Roll call vote: all ayes.

Motion to approve out-of-state trip on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 for Mrs. Wilson and Mr. Swinford to take students to the St. Louis Zoo with Adventure Experience pending bus driver/transportation was made by Kizziar and seconded by Schuchardt. Roll call vote: all ayes.

Motion to approve overnight trip on June 10-12, 2025 to Springfield, IL for the FFA State Convention was made by Simmons and seconded by Hogg. Roll call vote: all ayes.

Under Employment, there were no applicants to hire at this time.

Motion to post for HS Social Studies Teacher, JH Special Ed Aide, Individual Aides, Sub Bus Drivers, Van Driver/Individual Aide was made by Kizziar and seconded by Schuchardt. Roll call vote: all ayes.

Under Old Business, Mr. Fritch discussed the door replacement project. He distributed a new revised bid sheet without the double doors at the high school. This bid is more in line with the funds we have to spend on this project. Motion to accept revised best final offer from Zeller Construction was made by Schuchardt and seconded by Hogg. Roll call vote: all ayes.

Under Other School Business, Member Schuchardt asked about the older HVAC units and if there was a replacement plan for those units. Mr. Fritch stated they will get replaced as they stop working and become too expensive to repair.

With no further business to be discussed, a motion to adjourn meeting until the next regular scheduled meeting to be held on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at 7:00 pm in the J.H. Hobbs Memorial Library with a Public Hearing on the 2025-26 Amended Budget beginning at 6:45 pm was made by Kizziar and seconded by Schuchardt.

Meeting adjourned at 9:18 pm.

https://content.myconnectsuite.com/api/documents/0355cd0946d34dfdbf854453fbe143dc.pdf