Minutes of the Regular Meeting of September 17, 2014
The Board of Education of Community Unit School District No. 1, Coles and Cumberland Counties, Illinois
met in regular session on Wednesday, September 17, 2014 at the Administration Building – 410 West Polk
Avenue, Charleston, Illinois 61920
At 6:43pm, President Miller called the meeting to order and asked for roll call.
The following 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 for Curriculum & Instruction
David Kuetemeyer, Financial Consultant
Visitors 14 and 1 Member of the Press
Mr. Littleford reviewed Addendum items to the board book which included:
For the Public Hearing on FY15 Budget
Revised copy of the 2014-15 Budget Summary and Budget Line items
Revised Regular Board Meeting Agenda
VII. Consent New Business Appointment/Employment
Resignation – CMS 8th Grade Girls’ Track Coach
Employment – CHS Special Education Paraprofessional – ED Transition Room
Employment – CHS 2nd Shift Custodian
Employment – CMS 8th Grade Girls’ & 8th Grade Boys’ Track Coaches
Under Public Staff Comments, President Miller asked if there were any requests or written
communications to the Board of Education. No requests were received.
Mr. Littleford reported the District received a Freedom of Information Request from Reed Construction Data
requesting bid tabulations for construction of the new concession building to be located on the CUSD #1 All
Sports Complex. The FOIA request was honored by the district.
Consent Agenda: President Miller asked if there were requests from the Board of Education to remove any
of the consent agenda items or addendum items for discussion. There were no requests from the Board of
Education.
Mr. Littleford reviewed the items under Consent Agenda.
IV. Consent Agenda: Standard Items
A.
Approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of August 20, 2014.
B.1 Approve the bills and payrolls for the month of August 2014.
B.2 Approve the Activity Fund Reports for the attendance centers, period ending August 2014.
RegularMeetingMinutesof9/17/2014
Page1
V. Consent Agenda: New Business
A. Approve the ‘2014-15 Applications for Recognition of Schools’ for Community Unit School
District No. 1 to be submitted to the Illinois State Board of Education.
B. Approve the 2014-15 Administrator and Certified Teacher Salary Compensation Report to be
posted on the school district website and submitted to the Illinois State Board of Education by
October 1, 2014.
VI. Consent Agenda: Employment
 Accept a letter of resignation from Lori Morton as a paraprofessional at Charleston High
School, effective 9/10/14.
 Accept a letter of resignation from Kyle Sims as a paraprofessional at Charleston High
School, effective 9/12/14.
 Accept a letter of resignation from Phil Glosser as the Head Girls’ Track Coach at
Charleston High School, effective immediately.
 Accept a letter of resignation from Matt Feldhake as the Freshmen boys’ Basketball Coach
and Assistant Girls’ Track Coach at Charleston High School, effective immediately.
 Grant a Family Medical Leave to Haley Pearce, paraprofessional at Ashmore Elementary
School.
 Approve the reassignment of Jean Butler into the position as a program paraprofessional
serving as an interventionist, APEX supervisor, and AER/Detention supervisor at Charleston
High School, effective 9/15/14.
 Approve the employment of Kimberly Lemmon-Rich as a full time Title 1 paraprofessional
at Jefferson Elementary School, beginning with the 2014-15 school year. Employment
contingent upon the continued educational needs of the students and receipt for all
information required for employment.
 Approve the employment of Richard Nicholson as a full time special education
paraprofessional for student #06858 at Jefferson Elementary School, effective 8/29/14.
Employment contingent upon the continued educational needs of the student and receipt for
all information required for employment.
 Approve the employment of Kelby Cox as a full time special education paraprofessional for
student #81295 at Mark Twain Elementary School, effective 8/11/14. Employment
contingent upon the continued educational needs of the student and receipt for all
information required for employment.
 Approve the following individuals to serve as volunteer coaches at Charleston High School
for the 2014-15 school year, contingent upon the receipt of all paperwork required for
employment.
Nick Niemerg
Speech
Josh Magee
Speech
Aaron Nance
Speech
Austin Mejdrich
Speech
Mario McCart
Speech
Breanna Way
Cheer
Haley Sparks
Girls’ Basketball
Matt Feldhake
Boys’ Basketball
 Approve the employment of Angie Buescher as the 7th grade volleyball coach at Charleston
Middle School during the 2014-15 school year.
 Approve the list of substitutes for Community Unit School District No. 1, effective August
12 - September 8, 2014.
Under the Addendum:
 Contingent upon finding a suitable replacement, accept a letter of resignation from Brenda
Foster from her extra-curricular assignment as the 8th grade girls’ track coach at Charleston
Middle School, effective for the 2014-15 school year.
RegularMeetingMinutesof9/17/2014
Page2



Approve the employment of Melvin Himes as a full time special education paraprofessional
in the ED Transition room at Charleston High School, effective 9/22/14. Employment
contingent upon the continued educational needs of the student and receipt of all information
required for employment.
Approve the employment of David Fulk as a full time custodian (2nd shift) at Charleston
High School, effective 9/22/2014. Employment contingent upon the receipt of all
information required for employment.
Approve the following individuals listed a track coaches at Charleston Middle School during
the 2014-15 school year. Employment contingent upon the receipt of information required
for employment.
Abigail Schmitz
8th Grade Girls’ Track Coach
Bart Bielski
8th Grade Boys’ Track Coach
President Miller recommended that the Board of Education approve items under IV through VII inclusive on
the Consent Agenda and in the addendum. Mr. Jarrell moved and Mr. Coe seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Jarrell, Coe, Clarke, Daniels, K. Miller, Coffey, R. Miller
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
Under the Superintendent’s Report, Mr. Littleford presented the 2014-2015 sixth day enrollment statistics
to the Board of Education. The statistics revealed an increase of 74 students from last year.
CHS Girl’s Holiday Basketball Tournament
Charleston High School Athletic Director Jim Wood provided a brief update on planning for the 2014
Charleston Girl’s Holiday Basketball Tournament. He reported that the Trojan Booster Club would remain
the head financial backer for the tournament. The ten teams will play in a ‘pool play’ tournament and come
from the following districts: Charleston, Effingham, Paris, Rantoul, Taylorville, Urbana, Chicago Orr,
Eisenhower, Danville, and Putnam Co. The tournament will be held at the high school on Friday, December
26, Saturday, December 27 and Monday, December 29.
Parent/Teacher Conference Dates/Times
Mr. Littleford announced that parent/teacher conference dates have been scheduled for October 23 - 24,
2014. On Thursday, October 23 there will be a half day of student attendance and on Friday, October 24, no
student attendance. A Memorandum of Understanding was approved by the Board of Education at the
regular board meeting on May 21, 2014 and Charleston Education Association. The parties agreed that the
2014-15 Professional Negotiations Agreement, Article XI (Teaching Conditions and Staff Facilities),
Sections H- Parent/Teacher Conferences and Workshop Days be adjusted as below for the 2014-15 school
year.
“For only the 2014-15 school year, the calendar will be developed to have a Thursday morning
student attendance; Thursday afternoon no student or teacher attendance to be followed by evening
parent/teacher conferences for elementary and middle school teachers. High school teachers will
have professional development on Thursday afternoon. Parent/teacher conferences will be held
Friday morning and afternoon with no student attendance. The days will be used for the preparation
of and for parent/teacher conferences by elementary and middle school teachers or inservice work by
the senior high school. One half day will be offered in the spring for K-6 parent/teacher
conferences.”
April 2015 School Board Election
Mr. Littleford reported that the school board election will be held on April 7, 2015. Four seats on the
Charleston CUSD #1 Board of Education will be up for election, three seats will be elected from
Congressional Township 12N Range 9E and one seat in the remaining Congressional Townships. Recent
RegularMeetingMinutesof9/17/2014
Page3
legislation has significantly changed school election procedures. The school board secretary is no longer the
local election authority for the 2015 school board elections. However, the secretary is still the local election
authority for public policy questions and referenda. The first day that prospective candidates may circulate
nominating petitions for signatures is Tuesday, September 23, 2014. Monday, December 15 is the first day
that candidates may file nominating papers and Wednesday, December 22 is the last day to file nominating
petitions with the Coles County Clerk. Information regarding the 2015 School Board Election can be
obtained with the election officials in the County Clerk’s office at 348-0523 or 348-0524.
Mrs. Daniels moved and Mr. Jarrell seconded a motion that the Superintendent’s Report was received by the
Board of Education.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Daniels, Jarrell, Clarke, K. Miller, Coe, Daniels, Jarrell, Coffey, R. Miller
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
Under Old Business: Adopt 2013-2014 CUSD #1 Budget
The superintendent recommended that the Board of Education adopt by resolution the 2014-15 budget for
Community Unit School District No. 1. Dr. Clarke moved and Mr. Coe seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Clarke, Coe, Daniels, Jarrell, K. Miller, Coffey, R. Miller
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
Adopt Revised Proposed School Board Policies
It was recommended by the superintendent that the Board of Education adopt revised Board Policy 2:30
School District Elections and Board Policy 2:110, Qualifications, Term, and Duties of Board Officers,
as presented on second reading. Mr. Jarrell moved and Dr. Clarke seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Jarrell, Clarke, Coe, Daniels, K. Miller, Coffey, R. Miller
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
Recommended Action New Business:
Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Charleston and CUSD #1
On April 16, 2014, the Board of Education approved a proposal for the Trojan Booster Club to build a new
concession stand/restroom/storage facility on the CUSD #1 All-Sports Complex at no monetary cost to the
district. This venture has enlisted a cooperative spirit between the Trojan Booster Club, Charleston
Charitable Foundation, City of Charleston, and CUSD #1.
The City of Charleston utilizes CUSD #1 for its recreational programs, including softball fields, baseball
fields, and gymnasiums. An Inter-Governmental Agreement between Charleston CUSD #1 and the City of
Charleston will allow the City to provide labor, equipment, and certain materials for the project. Materials
provided are not to exceed $22,000. This intergovernmental agreement allows for a joint undertaking of two
units of governments to work together to provide considerable benefits for the public. Upon completion of
the project, it is understood that Charleston CUSD #1 will be responsible for any maintenance and capital
upgrades.
It was the recommendation of the superintendent that the Board of Education approve an Intergovernmental
Agreement Between the City of Charleston and Board of Education of Charleston Community Unit School
RegularMeetingMinutesof9/17/2014
Page4
District No. 1 for the Concession Stand/Restroom/Storage Building Project. Dr. Clarke moved and 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
Award Bid Proposal/Concession Building – All Sports Complex
Mr. Littleford reported that the UpChurch Group prepared bid specifications for the concession
stand/restroom/storage building project and a public bid opening took place at 2:00pm on Wednesday,
August 20, 2014. The district received one bid proposal from Kinney Construction, Inc., in the amount of
$173,550, which was rejected by the Board of Education because the amount exceeded the available funding
for the project. Officials from the Trojan Booster Club, City of Charleston, The Upchurch Group, and
CUSD #1 met on August 21, 2014 to further discuss the scope of the project. The UpChurch Group revised
the bid specifications for the project and a public bid opening took place at 10:00am on Wednesday,
September 10, 2014.
The City of Charleston utilizes CUSD #1 for its recreational programs, including softball fields, baseball
fields, and gymnasiums. An Inter-Governmental Agreement between Charleston CUSD #1 and the City of
Charleston will allow the City to provide labor, equipment, and certain materials for the project. Materials
provided are not to exceed $22,000. Charleston CUSD #1 will act as the General Contractor.
It was the recommendation of the superintendent that the Board of Education approve the recommendation
from The UpChurch Group and award concession stand/restroom/storage facility contracts to the following
subcontractors:
Structural Work: Ebinger Construction Company with a total structural bid of $10,000.
Mechanical Work: LD Mechanical with a total mechanical bid of $10,000.
Electrical Work: Commercial Electric with a total electrical bid of $34,126.
Mr. Jarrell moved and Mrs. Miller seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Jarrell, K. Miller, Clarke, Coe, Daniels, Coffey, R. Miller
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
At 7:03pm, President Miller recommended that the Board of Education adjourn into closed session to
consider information regarding appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or
dismissal of specific employees of the District or legal counsel for the District, including hearing testimony
on a complaint lodged against an employee or against legal counsel for the District 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 ILCS120/2/(c)(2)
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
RegularMeetingMinutesof9/17/2014
Page5
At 7:45pm, Dr. Clarke made a motion to reconvene from closed session. Mr. Coe seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Clarke, Coe, Daniels, Jarrell, K. Miller, Coffey, R. Miller
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
At 7:46pm Dr. Clarke moved to adjourn from the board meeting. Mr. Coe seconded the motion.
On roll call:
AYE: Clarke, Coe, Daniels, Jarrell, K. Miller, Coffey, R. Miller
NAY: none
Motion carried
Ronald L. Miller
President, Board of Education
Brenda L. Coffey
Secretary, Board of Education
RegularMeetingMinutesof9/17/2014
Page6