Board Honors State Champion Trap Team
The Mt. Pulaski CUSD 23 Board of Education called their regular meeting to order on
June 17, 2024 at 6:00 PM in the MPGS Learning Center, all school board members were in attendance except for Mr. Wilham.
The Board entered Executive Session to discuss the employment and evaluation of staff, compensation of staff and purchase of property. The Board returned to open session at 7:00 PM. The Board returned to Executive Session at the end of the general meeting to finish discussion items.
There were no visitors requesting to speak during the Recognition of Public.
The Board’s first business was to conduct a hearing for the transfer of funds from the Education Fund to Operations and Maintenance and finally to the Capital Fund. These transfers move reserves from the Education Fund ultimately to the Capital Fund to pay for the $1.5 million in renovation costs at the high school and future expenses incurred in the renovation and construction of a track/soccer field at Veterans Park. No one from the public had questions during the hearing.
Next, the Board held a hearing to amend the FY2024 Budget. The district office amends the budget each year to create a clearer picture of how money was received and spent during the school year. The largest change in the budget will be reflected in the transfer of funds from the Education Fund to the Operations and Maintenance Fund and finally landing in the Capital Fund. There were no questions addressed in this hearing either.
The first action item was the approval of the Consent Agenda, which included minutes of the regular May 20th meeting, bills, and sales tax revenues. The Board approved the Consent Agenda 6-0.
A new feature on the Board Agenda is the Good News item. This item has been implemented to recognize the accomplishments of the school district and the students and staff that make them possible. This month focused on the Hilltop shotgun sports which recently was crowned Trap Champions in the state of Illinois and Runner-Up in Skeet. Coach Mott spoke about the team’s season and the dominance they displayed in the state tournaments. All of the competitors and coaches were recognized for their great success this spring and received resolutions from the Board to commemorate their accomplishments!
Under Reports, Superintendent Lamkey recapped his Superintendent report and answered questions from the Board. He informed the Board that renovations at the high school were on schedule and looking good to start the school year without delay. The second item was a report on the IASB Abe Lincoln Spring Dinner Meeting. Four board members (Cowan, Mott, Wilham, and Brown) attended the meeting with Mr. Spang at the end of May. The focus of the meeting was brainstorming how to get more school districts involved in governance. The fall dinner meeting is slated to take place in New Berlin.
With no unfinished business, the Board moved on to New Business. The first two action items moved $3,000,000 from the Education Fund to the Building and Maintenance Fund and finally to the Capital Fund. As previously explained, this transfer of money will allow for $3,000,000 in capital improvements to the district, which include renovations at the high school and improvements to the track, soccer field, and baseball fields at the newly purchased Veterans Park. It should be noted that none of these improvements to the school district have required any additional local funding. In fact, these improvements are taking place while local taxes have decreased over the last five years. The two separate motions passed 6-0.
Next, the Board approved the amended FY2024 budget with a 6-0 vote. The primary changes to the budget included the previously approved transfer of funds to the Capital Fund.
Mr. Spang took the next opportunity to speak to the Board about the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). Last summer, state legislatures approved a measure that allows school districts to feed students for free, but the government did not appropriate funding to support the measure. Mr. Spang explained CEP and recommended that the school not become involved until funding is made available by the state.
Mr. Lamkey next presented the FY2025 Capital Projects List, which consists of one item: improvements at Veterans Park. While the district is in the planning process for improvements at the grade school, they will look to begin work that will build a track and soccer field at the newly acquired Veterans Park. Work could begin as early as this fall to begin improving the amenities at the park. The motion passed 6-0.
The Board then approved a series of handbooks which included the MPGS Faculty Handbook, the MPHS Faculty Handbook, and the MPCUSD23 Paraprofessional Handbook. These handbooks had minor changes and are designed to guide employees to understand their responsibilities in day-to-day activities. Each handbook was individually approved with a 6-0 vote.
The Board then considered approving the PERA Handbook. This is a mandated handbook that involves collaboration between administrators, MPEA and teachers to design guidelines for the evaluation of licensed staff. After being presented a summary of the changes, the Board approved the handbook 6-0.
The next four items attended to the increase in salary of Educational Support Personnel, administrators and Instructional Coaches. The district has battled in recent years to increase the wages of ESP staff to a place where the district can maintain current employees and attract new staff. The district gave all office assistants, paraprofessionals, custodians and Mt. Pulaski kitchen staff a raise of $4/hour to bring starting district salaries to $20/hour. Any ESP staff who is near retirement earned 6% raises to avoid any penalties upon their retirement. Principals, Activities Director, District Bookkeeper, Transportation Supervisor, Instructional Coaches, Bus Drivers and Building and Grounds Supervisors received a 5% raise. The Board approved the pay increases by a 6-0 vote.
The final action item of the evening was the Personnel Report. The Board considered the following employment items:
Accept the resignation of Trent Kavelman as District Activities Director
Accept the resignation of Joel Washko as MPGS Social Studies Teacher and MPHS Baseball Coach
Accept the resignation of Allie Olson as Full-Time Substitute Teacher
Accept the resignation of Hannah Bauser as MPGS Paraprofessional
Accept the resignation of Cullen Tyson as MPGS Paraprofessional
Approve Allison Duffy as MPGS Teacher
Approve Leah Peirantoni as MPGS Transitional Kindergarten Teacher
Approve Trent Kavelman as MPGS Social Studies Teacher
Approve Jamie Anderson as MPGS Girls Basketball Coach
Approve Ryan Deibert as MPHS Boys Basketball Coach
Approve Ryan McVickers as MPHS Girls Basketball Coach
Approve MPGS Building Leadership Team: Jessica Awe, Ashley Burgard, Lindsey Ford, Katie Gisinger, Jenna Kloba, Mindy Switzer and Carly Powell
Approve MPHS Building Leadership Team: Michael Copley, Ryan Deibert, Jamie Selinger, Linda Smith and Wyatt Waterkotte
Approve MPGS Mentors: Ashley Burgard, Jenna Kloba and Carly Powell
Approve MPHS Mentor: Krissy Mercer
Approve Parent Educator and Screening Coordinator Stipends for Ashley Burgard
The Board approved the Personnel Report 4-2.
Items of Information: President Cowan thanked Mr. Lamkey for his 5 years of service as the superintendent of the district. Mr. Lamkey reciprocated the sentiment as he is retiring after 35 years in the field of education.
Athletics - Mr. Kavelman
MPGS
Summer basketball open gyms have been taking place for boys and girls with a high number of student-athletes participating.
MPHS
SKEET STATE CHAMPS - 2024
SPORTING CLAY CHAMPS - 2024
TRAP - CLASS 2A - RUNNER UP - 2024
SKEET INDIVIDUALS
CLAY LEONARD 2ND PLACE
JAMESON LOWE 4TH PLACE
SPORTING CLAY INDIVIDUALS
HAWKEN CLAMPET 4TH PLACE
TRAP INDIVIDUALS
ALEC MARTIN 4TH PLACE
Boys & Girls Basketball are participating in summer leagues. We are hosting a few games for each.
High School - Mrs. Fricke
NWEA Map Conference June 27-29: Linda Smith, Michael Copley, Jamie Selinger, Donna Koehler will be attending
FCCLA Nationals in Seattle on June 28
Online registration will open July 1 on TeacherEase.
Annual safety review meeting on July 25
CPI Training on July 30
Office reopens to the public on Wednesday, July 31 - 8am to 3pm
New Teacher Onboarding on August 1
Chromebook pickup for Grades 10, 11, 12 - Monday, August 12, from 2pm until 6pm, and Tuesday, August 13, from 5:30pm until 8:00pm
Freshman Bootcamp - Tuesday, August 13 - 5:30pm until 8:00pm - Freshmen will get their chromebooks at this time, rotate through “need to know” stations, practice schedules and locker combinations, and get lockers stocked.
Grade School - Mrs. Lora
NWEA Map Conference June 27-29
Online registration will open July 1 on TeacherEase.
SRP Meeting July 25 @ 9:00 am
CPI Training July 30
Office reopens to the public on Wednesday, July 31 - 8am to 3pm
New teacher orientation August 1st
The meeting adjourned at 8:24 PM. The next regular meeting will be held at 6:00 PM on July 17, 2024 in the MPGS Learning Center.