Amboy Community Unit School District #272 Board of Education met Dec. 16.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
President Jones called the regular meeting of the Board of Education to order at 7:00 p.m. All board members were present. Also present were Joshua Nichols, Yvonne Vicks, Aubrey Burke, Kathleen Russell, Jenni Shafer, Andy Shaw, Janet Crownhart, Andrew Full, Joyce Schamberger, and Jenny Apple.
President Jones opened the public hearing regarding the 2021 Tax Levy. Superintendent Nichols presented the tentative tax levy at the November meeting but went over a few of the percentages again. The levy proposes a 4.99% increase over last year’s extension. Local property taxes represent 77% of the district’s revenue. Because of the ESSER funding this year, federal dollars will be roughly 14% and state funding will be 9% of the estimated revenue. There were no questions or comments from the public or board.
A motion was made by Pratt and seconded by Payne to adopt the Resolution for the 2021 Tax Levy, as presented. Motion carried unanimously upon roll call.
A motion was made by Pratt and seconded by Payne to direct the Board Secretary to file the Certificate of Tax Levy. Motion carried unanimously upon roll call.
A motion was made by Pratt and seconded by Payne to direct the Board President and Board Secretary to file the Certificate of Compliance for the Truth-In-Taxation Act. Motion carried unanimously upon roll call.
A motion was made by Pratt and seconded by Payne to close the public hearing on the 2021 Tax Levy. Motion carried unanimously upon roll call.
The floor was opened to comments from the public. Andy Shaw, Lee-Ogle County Enterprise Zone Administrator, shared information on the property tax abatement qualifications and schedule. Joyce Schamberger, Kathleen Russell, and Jenni Shafer presented the Central School RtI Reading and Math Winter Data.
A motion was made by Leffelman and seconded by White to approve the following Consent Agenda item(s):
▪ Minutes of the November 16, 2021, open & closed regular board meetings;
▪ To keep all executive session minutes from April 22, 2021 through September 23, 2021, closed to the public; and
▪ Delete audio recordings dated June 18, 2020.
Motion carried unanimously upon roll call.
Superintendent Nichols reviewed the financial reports. For revenue, the district has received 81% of the anticipated amount for the year and $219,913 in sales tax. For expenses, 51% has been used. The operating fund’s expenditures are where they were anticipated with roughly 42% of the school year completed.
A motion was made by Payne and seconded by White to approve the current expenditures and payroll, as presented. Motion carried unanimously upon roll call.
Principals, Janet Crownhart, Andrew Full, and Joyce Schamberger shared information from their reports on curriculum and school improvement, PBIS, RtI, school activities, and building activities. Schamberger announced that 1,396 canned goods were received at Central. President Jones asked Mrs. Schamberger why the Central School Winter Concert was cancelled. Social distancing couldn’t have been met with the amount of people that would have attended, therefore, it was postponed.
For his Superintendent report, Nichols discussed: 1) how far the building project has come from a year ago 2) state approved the waiver that allows for all full-time staff to bring their kids to the district tuition-free 3) test score data is now available on the Illinois Report Card website 4) water damage in the library.
A motion was made by Leffelman and seconded by Powers to approve the Illinois Association of School Boards policy revisions, as presented. Motion carried unanimously upon roll call.
A motion was made by Payne and seconded by Stenzel to adopt the resolution abating the taxes heretofore levied for the year 2021 to pay debt service on the General Obligation School Bonds (Alternate Revenue Source), Series 2019A, of the District, as presented. These taxes need to be abated since we will be using sales tax dollars to pay for these bonds. Motion carried unanimously upon roll call.
A motion was made by Leffelman and seconded by Pratt to adopt the resolution that sets a public hearing for January 20, 2022, 7:00 p.m., at the Junior High School to discuss transfer of funds, as presented. This allows us to transfer the sales tax funds from capital projects to debt service to cover the abated taxes. Motion carried unanimously upon roll call.
A motion was made by Powers and seconded by Pratt to accept the invitation by the Rock River Valley Conference to join the conference for 5th-8th grade boys basketball, girls basketball, and volleyball. Andrew Full handed out information on the conference and shared the benefits of joining. This starts the 2022-2023 school year. Motion carried unanimously upon roll call.
A motion was made by Payne and seconded by Leffelman to accept the bid from Rockford Structures Construction, Machesney Park, IL, for the outdoor classroom building at Central School, as presented. Motion carried unanimously upon roll call.
At 8:09 p.m., a motion was made by Payne and seconded by Pratt to move to executive session for the purpose of discussion of appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees, specific individuals who serve as independent contractors in a park, recreational, or educational setting, or specific volunteers of the public body; collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives; and student discipline. Motion carried unanimously upon roll call.
Mandy Powers left between open and closed meetings.
At 9:45 p.m., a motion was made by Stenzel and seconded by Leffelman to return to open session. Motion carried unanimously upon roll call.
A motion was made by Leffelman and seconded by Pratt to increase the daily sub rate of pay to $120.00 and the long-term daily sub rate of pay to $173.00 starting January 1, 2022. Motion carried unanimously upon roll call.
A motion was made by Payne and seconded by White to approve the suspensions of students 12-16-21-1 through 12-16-21-19, as presented. Motion carried unanimously upon roll call.
A motion was made by Leffelman and seconded by Payne to accept and approve the following: resignation of Kelsey Smothers as Paraprofessional at the Junior High, effective December 17, 2021; employment of Kade Bennett as 8th Grade ELA Teacher, effective January 3, 2022; employment of Robbie Riley as Assistant Transportation Director, effective December 20, 2021; employment of Shelli Bump as Cafeteria Cook, effective December 13, 2021; and employment of Terry Bonnell as Bus Driver. Motion carried unanimously upon roll call.
President Jones announced upcoming date: Regular Board Meeting - Thursday, January 20, 2022 - Junior High School - 7:00 p.m.
There being no further business to bring before the Board, a motion was made by Stenzel and seconded by White to adjourn the meeting at 9:46 p.m. Motion carried unanimously upon roll call.
https://meetings.boardbook.org/Documents/CustomMinutesForMeeting/1276?meeting=509207
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