REGULAR MEETING
November 15, 2016
7:00 p.m.
The Regular Meeting of the PORTACommunityUnitSchool District #202,
Board of Education, Petersburg, Illinois was held in the Superintendent’s Office at the
Jr.-Sr. High School on November 15, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. President Churchill called the meeting
to order. Upon a call of the roll the following members were found to be present: Bettis,
Bumgardner, Burris, Churchill, Kuehl, Reincke and Smith. Also present were Matthew Brue,
Superintendent; Darren Hartry, High School Principal; and Megan Kruse, Junior High Secretary
and Administrative Intern. Amy McMahan, Jr-Sr High Assistant Principal arrived later.
CONSENT AGENDA
Member Kuehl made a motion to adopt the Consent Agenda as presented.
Member Reincke seconded the motion. All members present voted AYE. President
Churchill declared the motion carried.
LETTERS & COMMUNICATIONS
Nothing to report on.
RECOGNITION OF PERSONS PRESENT
No one from the public was present. President Churchill acknowledged Megan, Darren
and Amy.
OLD BUSINESS
None to report
NEW BUSINESS
PROPOSED LEVY REVIEWED
Superintendent Brue spoke to the Board and everyone present regarding the proposed tax
Levy. The District is currently looking at a 2.9% increase in the EAV over last year.
REPLACEMENT OF THE SCHOOL MARQUEE APPROVED
Member Bettis made a motion to approve the replacement bid of the Jr-Sr High marquee
as presented. Member Kuehl seconded the motion. Upon a call of the roll the following
members voted AYE: Bettis, Bumgardner, Burris, Churchill, Kuehl, Reincke, and Smith. NAY:
None. President Churchill declared the motion carried.
QUARTERLY DISTRICT POLICY UPDATES SET FOR REVIEW
Superintendent Brue spoke to the Board regarding the quarterly district policy updates
that was sent in their Board packets. These updates are placed for one month to review and will
be approved at December’s board meeting.
PORTA DISTRICT WORK PLAN REVIEWED
The District board members and Mr. Brue have been working with the Illinois State
Board of Education for the last several months to put together a District Work Plan that can be
utilized as a publication pamphlet to disseminate for informational purposes. The Board had
some changes that they wanted made to the packet before it is released for printing. Mr. Brue
will continue to work on these changes and report back when they are complete.
APPROVE DISTRICT CHECK SIGNERS
Member Burris made a motion to approve the listing of District Check Signers as
presented. Member Bettis seconded the motion. All members present voted AYE. President
Churchill declared the motion carried.
SUPERINTEDENT’S REPORT
Mr. Brue reported to the Board about the recent storm damage that was brought on by the
bad wind storm that hit a few weeks ago. Major electrical work had to be done in the gym area
and affected the intercom system, the pool dehumidifier and ventilation system as well as
damage to the school marquee.
Mr. Brue also gave a report to the Board about an informational meeting he held recently
for anyone interested in becoming a paraprofessional. Paraprofessionals (classroom aides and
individual aides) now have to be certain licensing requirements and this meeting was set to
enlighten those interested on the steps that need to be taken to be considered for the position.
PRINCIPAL’S REPORTS
Megan Kruse, junior high secretary and administrative intern, gave a report to the Board
regarding bullying. She worked closely with Eric Kesler, PORTA Central principal, doing a
survey of students, teachers, and parents. She gave them an overview of what she had sent out in
the survey and then reported to them on the results of the survey. She was pleasantly surprised at
the results and was also impressed at how well the school and staff handle bullying and
encouraged them to continue moving in such a positive direction.
Amy McMahan, junior-senior high assistant principal, reported on the annual Veteran’s
Day assembly held here at the school. Once again, it was very well attended and enjoyed by not
only the student body and staff, but the public that chose to attend.
CLOSED SESSION
Member Kuehl made a motion to go into Closed Session. Member Bettis seconded
the motion. Upon a call of the roll the following members voted AYE: Bettis, Bumgardner,
Burris, Churchill, Kuehl, Reincke, and Smith. NAY: None. President Churchill declared
the motion carried.
Member Kuehl made a motion to come out of Closed Session. Member Smith
seconded the motion. Upon a call of the roll the following members voted AYE: Bettis,
Bumgardner, Burris, Churchill, Kuehl, Reincke, and Smith. NAY: None. President
Churchill declared the motion carried.
ACTIONS AS A RESULT OF CLOSED SESSION
RESIGNATION OF STACEY SCHAFER
Member Bumgardner made a motion to accept the resignation of Stacey Schafer as High
School Poms Coach effective immediately. Member Reincke seconded the motion. All
members present voted AYE. President Churchill declared the motion carried.
TRANSFER CARMEN JACKSON TO TITLE I AIDE
Member Smith made a motion to transfer Carmen Jackson to a Title I aide at Petersburg
Elementary as soon as the position is vacated. Member Bettis seconded the motion. All
members present voted AYE. President Churchill declared the motion carried.
EMPLOY LUKE STANDLEY AS ASSISTANT WRESTLING COACH
Member Burris made a motion to employ Luke Standley as an Assistant Wrestling
Coach. Member Reincke seconded the motion. All members present voted AYE. President
Churchill declared the motion carried.
TRANSFER AMY MCMAHAN TO HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL JULY 1, 2017
Member Kuehl made a motion to transfer Amy McMahan to High School Principal
effective July 1, 2017. Member Burris seconded the motion. All members present voted AYE.
President Churchill declared the motion carried.
STUDENT SUSPENSIONS UPHELD
Member Bettis made a motion to uphold the student suspensions as presented.
Member Bumgardner seconded the motion. All members present voted AYE. President
Churchill declared the motion carried.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE APPROVED
Member Smith made a motion to approve a leave of absence for Shelbie Wilson as
presented. Member Bettis seconded the motion. All members present voted AYE. President
Churchill declared the motion carried.
ADDITIONAL BUSINESS
President Churchill stated that it was time to begin the process of the Superintendent’s
evaluation. She asked that the evaluation committee start thinking about a time to meet to
discuss Mr. Brue’s goals and evaluation.
ADJOURN
Member Bumgardner made a motion to adjourn. Member Smith seconded the
motion. All members present voted AYE. President Churchill declared the meeting
adjourned.______
Secretary, Board of Education
Approved by:
______
President, Board of Education