January 2021 School Board Meeting Minutes

January 21, 2021 and January 28, 2021 Board of Education Meeting Minutes

Link to Recording of January 21, 2021 Board of Education:

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/3ZkVhWe6-msoWdnXwSrNfAdrwa8XOXCdH2l0dKRdOYb7yGgVSRCithnEz9vCwDdp.C4vx2GSVdDIzbbf2 

Passcode: *q=x6Epj

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CARBONDALE COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 165, CARBONDALE, ILLINOIS HELD JANUARY 21, 2021

The regular meeting of the Board of Education of School District 165 was held in the Cafeteria of Carbondale Community High School, 1301 East Walnut Street, Carbondale, Illinois, on Thursday, January 21, 2021, at 6:00 p.m.

Upon roll call, the following members were present:

Linda Flowers                         Francis Tsung
Lana Galan                             Julie VanWinkle
Joe Hudgins                            Brian Woodard
Christopher Swims

Also present were:

Stephen Murphy                     Justin Merriman
Donna Fager                           Tim Buss 
Ryan Thomas                         

President Woodard declared a quorum present and the regular meeting of January 21, 2021, was called to order.

Approval of Minutes: Motion by Swims, seconded by Flowers, to approve the minutes of the regular scheduled meeting and executive session of December 17, 2020. Roll call: Flowers, Galan, Hudgins, Swims, Tsung, VanWinkle and Woodard voted yes.  Nay, none. Motion carried.

Old Business—None

Public Comments—None

FOIA Requests: The Board received a listing of the 2020-21 FOIA Requests received to date.

Payment of Bills: Motion by Flowers, seconded by Hudgins, to pay the remaining bills for the month of December 2020; and, those available for payment for the month of January 2021. Roll call:  Galan, Hudgins, Swims, Tsung, VanWinkle, Woodard and Flowers voted yes. Nay, none.  Motion carried.

Principal’s Report—No Report

Superintendent’s Report: Mr. Murphy reported on the following:

Vaccines and Health Metrics
He expressed the district’s appreciation for the Jackson County Health Department for their work in vaccine distribution.  He said at least 50% of CCHS employees were vaccinated that day at the Banterra Center, and that most of them had their second-dose appointments scheduled for the first week in March.

He said positivity rates were falling both in Jackson County (6.4%) and the Region (5.3%). He said our Region has moved out of the Tier mitigations and back up to Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan, allowing restaurants and other businesses to open at limited capacity.

Member Tsung asked if we were going to require employees to tell us if they were vaccinated or not.  Mr. Murphy said that he would have to check with HIPAA to see if the regulations allow that.

IHSA
He said because of the region’s health metrics, low-risk winter sports (bowling, dance, cheer) could begin immediately. He said it appeared volleyball and boys soccer seasons would begin on March 1. Basketball could begin limited workouts but cannot play. The IHSA has a meeting on January 27, where they will announce more information on athletic seasons for the remainder of the year.

Second Semester Start
He said there has been an average attendance of 215 students per day since January 11. A total of 343 parents had selected in-person and 576 had selected remote learning for their students. He said they were monitoring attendance and grades at the beginning of the semester and were making an effort to reach out quickly to families so that students would get off to a good start.

He said they have allowed all students to attend four days per week and have made technological efforts in the classroom to improve “face-to-face” interaction. He said other than some microphone adjustments on the first day, all the feedback had been positive from the parents of both remote and in-person learners.

He said he believed everyone agrees on one thing – if we offer our students/parents a remote option with the ability to zoom into class, they will take it. He said the question is how long we should continue to do so.  

He said his recommendation would be to not make any major changes until the beginning of fourth quarter. He said they were currently working on food service layouts that would allow for students to each lunch if we returned to a regular school day from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. He said the question remains what quality of remote instruction would be offered.

Following discussion by the Board and input from CCHSEA President Justin Merriman, the consensus was to begin in-person learning on March 15, 2021, with the students attending 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.  Wednesday would continue to be an asynchronous day.  It was agreed that Remote Learning should continue to remain an option, but with the burden being placed on the students rather the teachers.

Omnibus Education Bill
He announced an omnibus education bill was passed by both the Illinois House and Senate last week and was waiting the Governor’s signature. He said new Social Studies standards and accelerated placement rules are coming. He said the biggest challenge for high schools appears to be a two-year world language graduation requirement, but that does not appear to be in effect until 2028. He said we would likely have to hire two additional teachers to meet the requirement, and enrollment in other electives would suffer.

He said legislation impacting school resource officers did not appear to have any legs. He said law enforcement in general was impacted by separate legislation.

He said at the Federal level, a second round of stimulus was coming. He said it will likely be used for summer school programs, and to continue to bridge the digital divide.  

Member Swims: Member Swims left the meeting at 6:40 p.m. and returned at 6:42 p.m.

Carbondale Fire Department: The Carbondale Fire Department interrupted the meeting at 6:58 p.m. They had received a call from someone reporting a possible fire at the high school.  There was no fire.

2021 Annual "Love Your Heart” Contest: Mr. Murphy advised that due to the COVID pandemic the 2021 Annual “Love Your Heart” Contest drawing for a free personal leave day would be cancelled this year.

Bids and Quotes—None

IASB PRESS Issue 106 Board Policy Manual Updates-Second Reading/Adoption: Motion by Flowers, seconded by Swims, to approve the IASB PRESS Issue 106 Board Policy Manual updates as presented.  Roll call: Hudgins, Swims, Tsung, VanWinkle, Woodard, Flowers and Galan voted yes. Nay, none. 

2021 Negotiations Operating Rules and Tentative Time Frame: Motion by Swims, seconded by Hudgins, to approve the 2021 Negotiating Operating Rules and the tentative meeting date for negotiations on February 27, 2021, as presented.  Roll call: Swims, Tsung, VanWinkle, Woodard, Flowers, Galan and Hudgins voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

2020-21 Revised School Calendar Second Semester: Mr. Murphy reviewed the revised 2020-21 School Calendar Second Semester for the Board:

Monday, January 4, 2021:  Full Day Teacher Institute
Tuesday, January 5, 2021–Friday, January 8, 2021:  No School
Monday, January 11, 2021: School Resumes
Monday, January 18, 2021: Martin Luther King Birthday; No School
Friday, February 12, 2021:  Half-Day Inservice, Topics TBD
Monday, February 15, 2021: President’s Day; No School
Friday, March 5, 2021: Half-Day Inservice, Topics TBD
Monday, March 8, 2021-Friday, March 12, 2021: Spring Break; No School
Friday, April 2, 2021: Friday before Easter; No School
Monday, April 5, 2021: Monday after Easter; No School
Friday, April 16, 2021: Half-Day School Improvement; Articulation
Monday, May 31, 2021: Memorial Day; No School
*Tuesday, June 1, 2021: Last Day Student Attendance (No snow/emergency days)
*Wednesday, June 2, 2021: Last Day Teacher Institute
*Up to five snow/emergency days may still be added.

Updates to Terrier Care Agreement and School Nurse Job Description: Motion by VanWinkle, seconded by Galan, to approve the Addendum to School-Based Health Center Agreement Between Shawnee Health Services and The Board of Education of Carbondale Community High School District No. 165 as presented.  Roll call: VanWinkle, Woodard, Flowers, Galan, Hudgins and Swims voted yes. Member Tsung voted present. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Resignations/Retirements: Motion by Swims, seconded by Hudgins, to approve the following resignations/ retirements as presented: 

a. Resignation of Erinn Murphy (College & Career Counselor) effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year.

b. Resignation of Jessica Sergeev (Teacher Aide) effective January 22, 2021.

Roll call: VanWinkle, Woodard, Flowers, Galan, Hudgins, Swims and Tsung voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Employment of 2020-21 Extended-Time Personnel: Motion by Flowers, seconded by Tsung, to employ the following 2020-21extended-time personnel as presented: Certified Nursing Assistant Clinical Instructor: Hannah Nelson--Rate of pay is $22.33 per hour; with a maximum of 90 hours. Roll call:  Woodard, Flowers, Galan, Hudgins, Swims, Tsung and VanWinkle voted yes. Nay, none.  Motion carried.

2020-21 Volunteers—None

For Your Information Items: The February Board of Education Meeting is Thursday, February 18, 2021, at 6:00 p.m.

Executive Session: Motion by Galan, seconded by Tsung, to go into executive session to discuss information regarding the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees and collective negotiating matters (5 ILCS 20/2(c)(1)(2)); and, to adjourn the Board of Education Meeting immediately following the executive session.  Roll call: Flowers, Galan, Hudgins, Swims, Tsung, VanWinkle and Woodard voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Mr. Murphy announced there would be no action following the executive session and that the public portion of the meeting would adjourn immediately following it.

The public portion of the meeting recessed at 7:16 p.m. The executive session convened at 7:28 p.m. The executive session adjourned at 9:05 p.m.

Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 9:06 p.m.

MINUTES APPROVED: FEBRUARY 18, 2021


*************************************************************************************************
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CARBONDALE COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 165, CARBONDALE, ILLINOIS HELD JANUARY 28, 2021

The special meeting of the Board of Education of School District 165 was held in the Media Center of Carbondale Community High School, 1301 East Walnut Street, Carbondale, Illinois, on Thursday, January 28, 2021, at 5:45 p.m.

Upon roll call, the following members were present:

Linda Flowers                         Francis Tsung
Lana Galan                             Julie VanWinkle
Joe Hudgins                            Brian Woodard
Christopher Swims

Also present:  Stephen Murphy                                             

President Woodard declared a quorum present and the special meeting of January 28, 2021, was called to order.

Executive Session: Motion by Woodard, seconded by Galan, to go into executive session to discuss information regarding the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees and collective negotiating matters (5 ILCS 20/2(c)(1)). Roll call: Flowers, Galan, Hudgins, Swims, Tsung, VanWinkle and Woodard voted yes.  Nay, none. Motion carried.

The executive session convened at 5:46 p.m. The executive session adjourned, and the public portion of the meeting reconvened at 9:40 p.m.

Public Comments: None

Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 9:41 p.m.

MINUTES APPROVED: February 18, 2021