Southern Illinois News

Massac County Unit School District #1 Board of Education met July. 21.

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. Mark Souders. 

Upon a roll call, the following members answered present: 

Present: Harvey Baxter 

Jeff Brugger 

Patrick Howell 

Don Koch 

Jennifer Larrison 

Mark Souders 

John Willis 

Also Present: Jason Hayes, Superintendent 

Tom Walker, Director of Technology 

Jamey Mitchell, Business Manager 

 Kristin Rousseau, Supt/Board Secretary 

Absent: 

Public Comment/Invited Guests: 

None 

At 6:31 PM with a motion from Howell and a second from Brugger, 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, Willis, and Souders voted yes. Motion carried. 

At 7:16 PM the Board returned to Open Session. 

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

Superintendent’s Report 

A. Revenue/Expenditures 

B. Online Registration 

C. MES Roof replacement update 

D. MJHS Gym completed 

E. Federal funding cuts 

F. Handbook changes 

Unfinished Business: 

New Business: 

With a motion from Larrison and a second from Willis the Board voted to Accept the 2025/2026 Elementary Handbook. Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Koch, Larrison, Willis, and Souders voted yes. Motion carried. 

With a motion from Baxter and a second from Koch the Board voted to Approve the 2025/2026 High School Handbook. Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Koch, Larrison, Willis, and Souders voted yes. Motion carried. 

With a motion from Koch and a second from Howell the Board voted to Approve the six month review of the executive session minutes and to keep them closed. Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Larrison, and Willis voted yes. Koch and Souders voted No. Motion carried. 

With a motion from Brugger and a second from Willis the Board voted to Designate Banterra Bank as Depository of Student Activity Funds and other District funds for 2025/2026. Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Larrison, and Willis voted yes. Koch and Souders voted No. Motion carried. 

With a motion from Howell and a second from Larrison the Board voted to Extend the authority to the administration to hire temporary substitutes for the district. Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Larrison, and Willis voted yes. Koch and Souders voted No. Motion carried. 

With a motion from Baxter and a second from Brugger the Board voted to Designate the following as Student Activity Fund Managers: 

i. High School-Parker Windhorst 

ii. Junior High School-Laura Hayes 

iii. Metropolis Elementary School-JR Conkle 

iv. Franklin/Jefferson-Candace Armstrong 

v. Brookport/Unity-Brooke Durham 

Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Larrison, and Willis voted yes. Koch and Souders voted No. Motion carried. 

With a motion from Larrison and a second from Willis the Board voted to Designate Superintendent Jason Hayes as the chief investment officer and Title I Coordinator. Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Larrison, and Willis voted yes. Koch and Souders voted No. Motion carried.

With a motion from Baxter and a second from Brugger the Board voted to Designate Thomas Walker as the District Liaison to homeless children. Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Larrison, and Willis voted yes. Koch and Souders voted No. Motion carried. 

With a motion from Brugger and a second from Howell the Board voted to Approve the following order of succession if the Superintendent is unable to act. 

i. Parker Windhorst 

ii. JR Conkle 

Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Larrison, and Willis voted yes. Koch and Souders voted No. Motion carried. 

Personnel: 

With a motion from Larrison and a second from Koch the Board voted to Approve the Retirement of Lori Stephens-Franklin Elementary Teacher (June 2028). Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Koch, Larrison, Willis, and Souders voted yes. Motion carried. 

With a motion from Koch and a second from Larrison the Board voted to Approve the Hiring of T’Erricka Rush-MES 6th Grade Teacher. Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Koch, Larrison, Willis, and Souders voted yes. Motion carried. 

With a motion from Koch and a second from Larrison the Board voted to Approve the Hiring of Miranda Burton-Brookport Pre-K Teacher. Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Koch, Larrison, Willis, and Souders voted yes. Motion carried. 

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

With a motion from Baxter and a second from Howell the Board voted to Approve the Hiring of Jarelle Johnson-MCHS assistant coach, ½ stipend. Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Koch, Larrison, Willis, and Souders voted yes. Motion carried. 

With a motion from Larrison and a second from Koch the Board voted to Approve the Hiring of Rylan Quinn-MCHS assistant football coach, ½ stipend. Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Koch, Larrison, Willis, and Souders voted yes. Motion carried. 

With a motion from Howell and a second from Brugger the Board voted to Approve Gracyn McBride as a volunteer for MJHS softball. Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Koch, Larrison, Willis, and Souders voted yes. Motion carried. 

With a motion from Koch and a second from Willis the Board voted to Approve the Retirement Contract for Jamey Mitchell as presented. Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Koch, Larrison, Willis, and Souders voted yes. Motion carried. 

With a motion from Larrison and a second from Howell the Board voted to Approve the Contract for Cynthia Robinson. Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Koch, Larrison, Willis, and Souders voted yes. Motion carried.

With a motion from Larrison and a second from Brugger the Board voted to adjourn at 7:34 PM.  Roll call: Baxter, Brugger, Howell, Koch, Larrison, Willis, and Souders voted yes. Motion carried. 

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