CWC Unit Five School Board Meeting
Rod Wright, representing UNICOM-A.R.C. addressed the board for half an hour about a strategy for coordinating a community agreement/communication program to gather and evaluate input from the community concerning facility improvements and renovations to Lincoln, Jefferson and Washington Schools on construction of a new PreK-6 or PreK-8 school building. UNICOM has worked with other communities in the state on school renovations. The plan would include putting together a task force and presenting a report to the board by the end of the year, then possible putting a measure on the ballot next year.
The board approved entering into an agreement for renewal of a school resource officer with the City of Carmi and the Police Department for the 2019-2020 school year. The district’s share of the costs would increase about $1,900 for the term of the contract. Carmi Police Chief Jason Carter said the department has received a very positive responsive and it has worked out well for both the school district and police department and has freed up their officer’s time.
They accepted a proposal from Sonitrol Security to install a new security camera system at the junior/senior high school at a price of $43,360.65 and install cameras in the office lobby areas at Lincoln, Jefferson, Washington and Brownsville Schools at a cost of $2,660. Funding will be paid for with one percent sale tax revenue and potential donations from local donors.
The transportation committee decided to continue the lease purchase of two regular route school buses from Midwest Bus Sales for two years at $30,261 each per year.
Aslo approved was reinstating athletic transportation to away athletic events for students grade seven and eight now that funding has stabilized.
Committee appointments for board members were approved.
Revenues for April totaled $1,126,968, including $62,724 from the one percent sales tax.
In the superintendent’s report, Brad Lee said member schools of the Egyptian Trust will see an average increase of six percent in employee health insurance costs, based on the district’s previous two and half year’ loss rate history. Unit 5 will see an 11% increase beginning September 1st. The increase in premiums ranged from 2.75 to 13.5%.
And Lee congratulated school social worker Leanett Lovell for being awarded the 2019 Kiwanis Educator of the Year.
Dr. Amy Dixon gave a curriculum update for the district. She said they will upgrade math classes and revamp geography classes at the high school level and are looking into changes of the curriculum at the junior high and elementary school levels.
In other business, the 2019-2020 school calendar and open house, inservice and parent/teacher conference dates were approved.
They accepted the lowest bids on break, paper and pest control.
Renewed membership in the IASB was approved with dues totaling about $3,900 for this year.
The board approved the resignations of Jana Delong as a special education classroom aide at Jefferson School, Darrell Nelson as a building custodian at Washington School, Patricia Myers as head cook at the Junior/Senior High School, Justin Simmons as 5th grade girl’s basketball coach, Lora O”Daniel as High School Assistant Softball Coach and Jara Mitchell as Carmi-White County Business/Computer Education Teacher and Inter-related Cooperative Occupational Teacher Coordinator .
And they approved a $2,000 donation from an unknown donor to the Unit 5 District as well as $1,127 to Brownsville School.
The board went into closed session at 8:09 PM.
