McLean County Times

Dwight Common School District 232 Board met Feb. 9.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Board President Tim Henson called the meeting to order at 6:06 p.m. 

PRESENT: Kevin Berta; Tim Henson; Joel Sandeno; Eric Scheuer; Max Sulzberger; Paul Warner 

ABSENT: Susan Legner 

Also in attendance: Dr. Richard Jancek, Superintendent; Deb Conroy, Secretary; Andy Pittenger, Principal; Cathy Ferguson, AD 

PUBLIC COMMENT 

Michele Peterson was in attendance to further discuss mask mandates. 

REPORT OF BOARD COMMITTEES OR REPRESENTATIVES 

Mr. Pittenger reported that the January Students of the Month are as follows: 

Fr - Emerson Peters 

So - Njomza Asllani 

Jr - Emelia Eitenmiller 

Sr - Rachel Heath 

Also Winter Ball will be held on Saturday, February 26th. 

Ms. Ferguson reported that GS 8th Grade Basketball Coach Joe Stevenson will be honored for his retirement after coaching for 25 years at half-time of this Friday’s JV basketball game. She also reported that we now have 18 girls signed up for Softball so she will be looking to add some JV games to the schedule. And finally she noted that they had the drug dogs in the building yesterday for a sweep and nothing was found. The administration would like to start having them come more often due to some issues with students and continued vaping in student restrooms. 

Dr. Jancek reported that there were some people upset about the parking lot conditions after the recent snow and ice storm. He met with Jack Connor this afternoon and they discussed this issue. They will approach the Village about spreading more salt for us during heavy storms. Dr. Jancek would also like to close the campus when we are predicted to have 4 inches of snow or more so the Maintenance crew does not have to deal with additional traffic on the property when they are trying to remove snow. They may also investigate purchasing other snow removal equipment that may be used to get down to the concrete or asphalt to remove the ice, or talking to a snow removal company that has that type of equipment and hire them when needed.

FINANCIAL REPORTS 

Dr. Jancek reported that the state owes the district $12,186.48 in late mandated categorical payments for the 2021 school year; and $4,199.50 for the 2022 school year. 

CONSENT AGENDA 

Items for consideration on this month’s Consent Agenda are as follows: 

1) Minutes (January 12, 2022 Regular Board Meeting) 

2) Bills 

3) Affirm Employment, Teri Kennedy, Substitute Teacher 

4) Approve Volunteer, Tom Leonard, Softball Coach 

5) Accept Sabbatical, Anna Oelschlager, Cross Country Coach 

6) Approve Employment, Larry Lane, 1-year Cross Country Coach 

7) Accept Resignation, Chuck Trainor, Softball Coach 

8) Approve Employment, Deb Snyder, Substitute Teacher 

Moved by Berta, seconded by Sandeno, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Roll call. All voted aye. Motion carried. 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS 

Dr. Jancek held the second reading of IASB PRESS Plus Policy Update recommendations and requested final approval of all with the exception of Policy 6:60, Curriculum Content. 

Moved by Sulzberger, seconded by Scheuer, to approve the PRESS Plus Policy Updates as presented. Roll call. All voted aye. Motion carried. 

The discussion on HVAC Issues and Recommendations was tabled until the March Board meeting, as the engineer and representative from A&R were not available this evening. 

NEW BUSINESS 

Band Teacher Eric Hall was in attendance to request that the district begin looking at purchasing new band uniforms within the next 2 years. He reported that in the past couple of years they have had to piece together uniforms in sizes that they did not have, using some of the excess uniforms that they have available. He noted that they can get through next year that way again, but if they ran into the same situation again, they would have no extra uniforms. He has designed a new uniform and requested a sample to bring to the Board. The new uniforms would have multiple pieces making them adjustable for different temperatures, and would be machine washable, making them more affordable by not having to be dry cleaned. He estimates a cost of nearly $600 per uniform by next year. He will bring the sample back to a future board meeting and the administration will begin budgeting for new uniforms in next year’s budget. 

Dr. Jancek reported that LCSSU will need to get a new HVAC system this year. They have estimated the overall cost to be $1,400,000 and divided by the enrollments of all of the school districts that make up LCSSU, it would cost the HS $66,325 if paid in a one-time payment ($33,163 if paid over 2 years). Dr. Jancek recommends that the Board pay the full amount in one year and use 1% sales tax money to do so. The district is allowed to use Fund 60 funds on this project since it is part of a cooperative agreement.

Moved by Berta, seconded by Scheuer, to adjourn the meeting at 6:41p.m. Roll call. All voted aye. Motion carried. 

 https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/1898728/HS_Bd_Min_02.09.22.pdf