Minutes of the Regular Meeting of November 19, 2014
The Board of Education of Community Unit School District No. 1, Coles and Cumberland Counties,
Illinois met in regular session on Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at the Administration Building – 410
West Polk Avenue, Charleston, Illinois 61920
At 6:30 p.m., President Miller called the meeting to order and asked for roll call.
The following board members were present:
Ron Miller, President
Jason Coe, Vice President
Brenda Coffey, Secretary
Kelly Miller, Treasurer
Scott Clarke
Susan Daniels
Charles Jarrell
The following staff members were present:
Jim Littleford, Superintendent
Todd Vilardo, Assistant Superintendent
David Kuetemeyer, Financial Consultant
Visitors 120 and 1 Member of the Press
Mr. Littleford reviewed Addendum items to the board book which included:
V. B. 1 Financial Reports
Provided is a copy of ‘Summary of Cash in Bank and Investments’
At the time of printing the board book, numbers were not available in the Education Fund.
Amounts in the IMRF fund were adjusted upon balancing the Education Fund.
VII. Consent Agenda New Business
D. Gifted Sick Leave Days
Recommendation to grant gifted sick leave days to CHS Special Education teacher.
VIII. Consent Agenda New Business: Retirement
Recommendation to accept retirement request from CHS Special Education teacher, end of
2018-19 school year.
Under Focus on Students and Good News Reports, Mr. Littleford complimented the artwork provided
by the Ashmore and Mark Twain Elementary School students. Mandy White is the art teacher.
Artwork Display provided by Ashmore and Mark Twain Elementary School student. Mandy White, art
teacher.
Charleston High School – Girls Golf Team
The CHS Girls’ Golf Team finished undefeated in the regular season, won the Apollo Conference
championship, Regional championship, and placed 7th at the state finals. Sophomore Lauren Chappell
won the class ‘A’ IHSA State Championship for the second year in a row. Team members: Abby
Youngblood, Morgan Sherwood, Lauren Chappell, Ally O’Dell, Aislinn Parish, and Haley Walker.
Coaches: Deb Landsaw, Randy Harpster, and Stan Adkins. Other team members present to support their
team included: Abby Lodgston, Martha Todd, Kaitlyn Coffey, Jenna Durham and Bailey Taylor
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Charleston High School - Girls’ Tennis Team – for advancing to the state finals. Team members:
Haley Cooley, Megan Flight, Kaylin Albin, and Eva Bacon. Head Coach: Amy Harrington and
Volunteer Assistant Coach: Patti Hicks
Charleston High School – Boys’ and Girls’ Cross Country Team
The girls’ team won the Apollo Conference championship and the boys’ team placed second. The boys’
team placed 17th and the girls’ team placed 19th at the state finals in Peoria. Grace Oetting placed 10th and
was named All-State. Boys’ team members that advanced to the state finals: Ross Osterday, Colton Bell,
Joe McKirahan, Val Walker, Kendall Oliver, Jonah Moore, Clayton Redden, Ryan Chambers, and Nick
Oakley. Girls’ team members that advanced to the state finals: Grace Oetting, Sheridan Noll, Hope
Griffin, Julia Griffin, Megan Woodruff, Sabrina Ryan, and Savannah Stowell. Head Coach: Derick
Landrus and Volunteer Assistant Coach: John McInerney
Officer Marlon Williams of the Charleston Police Department for service as a juvenile detective in
our school community. Officer Williams has fostered strong, positive relationships with students,
parents, and staff.
Charleston Board of Education – the State of Illinois has proclaimed November 15 as School Board
Members Day. Our students benefit daily from the dedication and commitment to public education of our
school board members. Mr. Littleford, extended a big THANK YOU to Ron Miller, Jason Coe, Brenda
Coffey, Kelly Miller, Scott Clarke, Susan Daniels, Charles Jarrell.
Under Public Comments, President Miller asked if there were any requests or written communications
to the Board of Education.
Mr. Littleford reported that the district had not received a Freedom of Information request this month.
President Miller welcomed the audience and announced that three people had signed up under public
comments. He stated this was an opportunity to address the Board on matters germane to the school
district and individual comments to the Board would be limited to 5 minutes. If there are multiple
individuals who would like to address the Board on the same topic, the Board would entertain a
spokesperson and acknowledge for the record that their comment is made on behalf of multiple
individuals. He emphasized, the Board had a full agenda to cover after public comments, and asked for
their cooperation in moving through public comments civilly and efficiently.
The following individuals spoke in support of Brian Halsey to continue in the extra-curricular position as
the Head Football Coach for Charleston High School.
Heather Seaton
Maggie Wheatley
Brady Wambach
President Miller asked if anyone else would like to address the Board of Education. The following
individuals spoke in support of Brian Halsey to continue as the Head Football Coach.
Christine Parkison
Trey Ryan
Tina Leonard
Wendy Varda
Larry Roberts
John Pogue
Jordan Mirick
Chad Harrison
At 7:18pm, President Miller recommended that the Board of Education adjourn into closed session to
consider information regarding appointment, employment, compensation, and discipline of specific
employees of the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee to
determine its validity. 5 ILCS 120/2/(c)(1)
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Mr. Coe moved and Dr. Clarke seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Coe, Clarke, Daniels, Jarrell, K. Miller, Coffey, R. Miller
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
President Miller announced that action would follow closed session.
At 9:30pm, Dr. Clarke made a motion to reconvene from closed session. Mrs. Daniels seconded the
motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Clarke, Daniels, Coe, Jarrell, K. Miller, Coffey, R. Miller
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
Based upon the recommendation of Charleston High School Principal Trevor Doughty, it was the
recommendation of the superintendent that the Board of Education not renew Brian Halsey as the
Charleston High School Head Football Coach for the 2015-2016 school year, effective immediately.
Mrs. Miller moved and Mr. Miller seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: K. Miller, R. Miller, Clarke, Coe, Daniels, Coffey
NAY: none
Abstain: Jarrell
Motion carried
President Miller stated this was a very tough decision and he thanked Mr. Halsey for his years of service
to the CHS football program.
Moving to Consent Agenda items, President Miller asked if there were any requests from the Board of
Education to remove any of the consent agenda items or addendum items for discussion. Hearing none,
Mr. Littleford reviewed the items under Consent Agenda.
IV. Consent Agenda: Standard Items
A. Approve the minutes of the Regular Board Meeting of October 15, 2014.
B. Approve the bills and payrolls for the month of October 2014.
C. Approve the Activity Fund Accounts for the CUSD #1 attendance centers, period ending
October 2014.
VI. Consent Agenda: New Business
A. Grant permission for the students listed in a memorandum from Principal Trevor Doughty to
graduate from Charleston High School at the end of first semester of the 2014-2015 school year.
B. Declare the referenced inventory from the Charleston High School Soccer program as surplus and
available to donate to the Trojan Booster Club.
C. Adopt the revised Memorandum of Understanding between the Charleston Education
Association, IEA/NEA and Charleston Board of Education in reference to Article XVI, (Leaves),
Section A – Sick Leave, Paragraph 3 and Section B – Paid Personal Leave, per the Final Solution
of Group Consensus during Interest Based Bargaining on May 2, 2013.
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VII. Consent Agenda: Employment
Accept a letter of resignation from Kim Ferguson as the Head Cheerleading Coach at Charleston
High School, effective at the end of the 2014-15 school year.
Accept a letter of resignation from Scott Bennett as the Color Guard Coach at Charleston High
School, effective December 31, 2014.
Consistent with board policies, grant an unpaid leave of absence to Jeannine Giffin, a
paraprofessional at Charleston High School.
Consistent with board policies, grant a Family Medical Leave to Michele McDaniel, Media
Specialist at Carl Sandburg Elementary School.
Consistent with board policies, grant a Family Medical Leave to Meagan Taylor, classroom
teacher at Carl Sandburg Elementary School.
Consistent with board policies, grant an intermittent Family Medical Leave to Andrea Doty, a
secretary at Carl Sandburg Elementary School.
Approve the transfer of Jeannine Giffin from her current 1:1 paraprofessional position for student
#03024 into the position as a program paraprofessional at Charleston High School, effective
October 27, 2014.
Approve the employment of Frances Murray as a full time special education 1:1 paraprofessional
for student #03024 at Charleston High School, effective December 1, 2014. This employment
was contingent upon the continued educational needs of the student and receipt of all information
required for employment.
Approve the employment of Meghan Kegeris as a full time Title One paraprofessional at Mark
Twain Elementary School, effective November 3, 2014. This employment was contingent upon
the continued educational needs of the student and receipt of all information required for
employment.
Approve the employment of DeAnna McGrath as a full time special education 1:1
paraprofessional for student #81500 at Mark Twain Elementary School, effective November 14,
2014. This employment was contingent upon the continued educational needs of the student and
receipt of all information required for employment.
Approve the employment of the following individuals in the extra-curricular assignments at
Charleston High school during the 2014-15 school year, contingent upon the receipt of all
required paperwork.
Justin Tomaska
Head Girls’ Track Coach
Kyle Fitzgerald
Assistant Boys’ Track Coach
Kaj Holm
Assistant Girls’ Track Coach
Approve the following individuals to serve a volunteer coaches at Charleston High School during
the 2014-15 school year.
Jamel Johnson
Boys’ Basketball Coach
Will Provin
Wrestling Coach
Luke Fisher
Wrestling Coach
Michelle Schultz
Wrestling Coach
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Approve the list of substitutes/volunteers for Community Unit School District No. 1, effective
October 7 – November 7, 2014.
Addendum:
Grant 283 (two hundred eighty-three) gifted sick leave days to Paula Gordon, CHS Special
Education teacher.
Accept a letter of retirement from Paula Gordon, CHS Special Education teacher, effective at the
end of the 2018-2019 school year.
President Miller recommended that the Board of Education approve items under V through VIII inclusive
on the Consent Agenda and in the Addendum. Mr. Coe moved and Dr. Clarke seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Coe, Clarke, Daniels, Jarrell, K. Miller, Coffey, R. Miller
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
Superintendent’s Report
First Student Transportation Services/Location Manager Transition
Mr. Littleford reported that Charleston First Student Terminal Manager Bob Force would soon be
transferring to a new location with First Student Transportation Services. Mr. Force was in attendance to
address the Board of Education regarding the impending transition period until a new administrator is
assigned.
Mr. Force stated that in May of 2013 he accepted this position as the First Student Terminal Manager and
it was more than a job. His goal was to give the best service as possible for transportation and make a
difference, he was committed to doing the job correctly and to regain trust. He felt he always had
outpouring support from First Student Transportation and Charleston CUSD #1. He stated First Student
was looking for a quality candidate to continue and wanted to make sure the right person was selected for
the position. Mr. Force said that he would train the new person and would remain in Charleston for
approximately 2 – 4 weeks. He thanked the Board of Education and CUSD #1 Administrative team for
their continued support.
2014 Adequate Yearly Progress/Annual Report on Student Performance
Assistant Superintendent Todd Vilardo provided a report to the Board of Education at the regular board
meeting held on October 15 regarding student performance and an Illinois ‘At-a-Glance’ Report Card.
Since then, the Illinois State Board of Education has released additional data on student performance
through the new online and interactive Illinois Report Card. Mr. Vilardo and CUSD #1 building
principals will present additional information to the Board of Education on how we are using the data to
continually improve.
Through a power point presentation, Assistant Superintendent Todd Vilardo and CUSD #1 building
principals, Rob Ulm, Kristen Holly, Brad Oakley, Chad Burgett, and Trevor Doughty presented the
Highlights and Positives, Challenges, and Next Steps for the CUSD #1 Elementary Schools, Middle
School and High School, (power point presentation provided in official board book).
2015-2016 CUSD #1 Budget Calendar
Financial Consultant, David Kuetemeyer presented the Budget Calendar for the 2015-2016 school year.
The calendar is used as a guide for the District to remain in compliance.
Mr. Coe moved and Dr. Clarke seconded a motion that the Superintendent’s Report was received by the
Board of Education.
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On roll call vote:
AYE: Coe, Clarke, Daniels, Jarrell, K. Miller, Coffey, R. Miller
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
At 10:23pm, President Miller recommended that the Board of Education adjourn into closed session to
consider information regarding appointment, employment, compensation, and discipline of specific
employees of the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee to
determine its validity. 5 ILCS 120/2/(c)(1)
Collective negotiating matters between the District and its employees or their representatives, or deliberations
concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees. 5 ILCS 120/2/(c)(2)
Mr. Coe moved and Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Coe, Daniels, Clarke, Jarrell, K. Miller, Coffey, R. Miller
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
At 11:05pm, Mrs. Miller made a motion to reconvene from closed session. Dr. Clarke seconded the
motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: K. Miller, Clarke, Coe, Daniels, Jarrell, Coffey, R. Miller
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
At 11:06pm, Mr. Coe made a motion to adjourn from the board meeting. Mrs. Daniels seconded the
motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Coe, Daniels, Clarke, Jarrell, K. Miller, Coffey, R. Miller
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
Ronald L. Miller
President, Board of Education
Brenda L. Coffey
Secretary, Board of Education
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