001Call a meeting of the Granite City School Board uh to order on June 22nd, 2021. Roll call, please. Stacy here. Vinnie here. Kenogal here. Curran here. None here. McMasters here. Wilms here. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. We'll stand for the pledge of allegiance and afterward invitation by pastor Wilc to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. God, I thank you so much for the opportunity to uh be here this evening and I thank you for the men and women who lead and serve our school district. God, I pray that tonight you would give them wisdom to lead well and to make decisions that are in the best interest of our district and for all
002who are a part of it. Uh we just ask that you would keep your hand and continue to bless us. In your name we pray. Amen. Amen. Thank you, Pastor Wilson. Appreciate it. Okay. Uh, first item on the agenda is public comment. Tom, am I supposed to read this whole thing? Uh, just instead of reading this, the board has a policy that if there is someone here to discuss public comment. Law allows the taxing district, school district in this case to limit public comment to 30 minutes total because there is other school district business. 20 minutes for any particular subject. But with that being said, if there is any public comment, I think that's what we're at that part of that agenda to entertain that. Now, we have any public comment here tonight? Anybody want
003to say anything? Okay, we'll move on. And nobody No, I didn't get any. We put it on the web page on the out there to try to get to have public comment as people respond. Very good. Thank you very much. Um, next item I have on the agenda, the board of education would like to recognize Chase. Would you like to take over? I would love to take over. You can all come, right? Do they play as much in this, right? dragging you to things and making sure uniforms were clean and making sure homework was done. I will say that I've seen Chase since we were fortunate enough this year to actually have some senior events and recognition and honors things. Um, there wasn't one where Chase wasn't there. I want to say that first. So,
004and his parents uh have been there and supported him too. And I just want to say he was named to the 55th annual St. Louis Post Dispatch scholar athlete team in May. Chase was a three sport student athlete. Soccer, football, tennis. Did I get them all? Yeah. Okay. And is the son of John and Tara Tara? Okay. Bashard. He's a member also of the National Honors Society, secondary honors program, homecoming court, and received the 2021 Illinois's Principal Association Outstanding Student and School Citizen Award. He earned the principal's trophy at graduation as well as being named Suma Kum Laad. Chase is headed to Webster University in the fall to play both soccer and tennis and maintain your grades and major in premed. So, wonder why you're here tonight. I really want to say good luck to
005you, but I don't think you need luck. Obviously, you've heard that. So, I can't wait to see everything else you've accomplished. And we present this to you as the board of education is all your accomplishments and how proud we are of you. Awesome. [Applause] Thank you. Great job. Congratulations. Well done. Can't wait to see all the stuff. Thanks. I have just one question for you. What's your favorite sport with all soccer? Yeah, that's definitely I like tennis. was mine. So, thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you for coming. Thank you. Appreciate it. Yeah, he's pretty amazing. Oh my goodness. All right, item number five on the agenda. Approval of the minutes of our regular meeting from June 9th. I'm sorry, 8th, 2021. Second. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Vinnie, I. Kenogal. I. Curran. Hi.
006None. I. McMasters. Hi. Stacy. Hi. Winsmmer. Hi. Item number six, the consent agenda. Mr. President, the board. The consent agenda contains items that are repetitive and routine in nature. Any member of the any member may make a motion to approve the consent agenda or to request any of the items be moved to section seven for individual discussion and consideration. At this point we have a bill list that has been attached for your perusal beforehand and a request from the greater Madison County Federation of Labor AFL Cao requesting permission to allow various Gy school bands and two other groups to participate in the Labor Day parade. Your recommendation is second motion and a second. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Kenogal. Hi. Kurrin. Hi. None. I McMasters. Hi. Stacy. Hi. Vinnie. Hi. Wilms. Hi. Resolution. We have
007a consideration of items removed. We don't have any. So is the All right. Next item on the agenda, resolution to the property tax. No, that's not it. Okay. That's right. All right. Uh item number eight, recommendations and communications resources. Yep. Mr. President of the board. It is recommended that the following retirements and reserations be accepted. Christine Douglas, math teacher high school retirement effective end of the 2425 school year. So move second. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Curran. Hi. None. I. McMasters. Hi. Stacy. I. Vinnie. Hi. Kenogal. Hi. Winsmar. Hi. Item 8B, request for leave of absence. Mr. President, the board is recommended that the following leaves be approved. Emily Perkins, occupational therapy assistant, effective 81621 to 1222. So, any discussion? Roll call, please. None. I McMasters. Hi, Stacy. Hi, Vinnie. Hi, Kenobyl. Hi, Curran. Hi,
008Wilms. 8 C is extracurricular resignation for the 2122 school year. Mr. President, the board, you receive detailed information about this item below. Administration is prepared to make recommendations or hold for discussion in executive session. We are recommending that the following extracurricular resation be accepted. Mr. Charles Down. [Laughter] Yeah, I thought I think I heard a second there. Did you get those? Yeah. Motion by Stacy, second by Thank you very much. Any discussion other than why? No, I already asked that. It's not that interesting. Uh department head's going to meet first hour uh this coming this coming school year and that's when we need two band directors in the room. So rather than rather than uh hamstring the new assistant, I decided to resign. McMasters Stacy Hi Vinnie. Hi Kenogal. Hi Karin. Hi. None. I Wsmire
009I with regrets. Item 8 D extracurricular recommendation for Grant City High School for the 2122 school year. Um, Mr. President, the board, you have received information about this. The administration is recommending the following extracurricular for approval. Um, I think it means four to accept your voices. The sponsor has just resigned. Mrs. Mr. Parker, do you want to kind of explain this one a little bit since we kind of just got this? That is correct. We had a recommend yesterday, so we need to remove that from the list. Yes, it's on third page. Approval is recommended. Approve with the exception of Yes. I did that. Good motion. Thank you. Second motion by Erica. Very nice motion by the way. Any discussion? Roll call please. Stacy I. Vinnie. Hi. Kenogal. Hi. Curran. Hi. None. I McMasters. Hi.
010W. Hi. Item 8E. Employment of COVID renewal and innovation coordinator for the 2122 school year. Mr. President, the board we have received detailed information about this item. The administration is prepared to make recommendations. discussion in executive session. Um the tier one committee consisting of Stephanie Kim Parker, Mickey Watkins, Christa and he recommended the following candidate for tier 2 interview with Stephanie and Mickey Wins board of education the exception of this um one of our people declined to interview because he took a job but we initially recommended Mr. Steve Matis for this position this grant funed position. So second I'll get it to my motion and a second. Any discussion? And thank you all for sitting in on that interview. I was not able to make it but I understand it was just very very good.
011Very impressive. Thank you. Looking forward to having Steve in that position. Roll call, please. Vinnie, hi. Kenogal. I Curran. Hi. None. I McMasters. Hi. Stacy. Hi. Woman. And item 8F, certified and classified substitutes. Thank you. Okay. You have received detailed information about this item. The administration is prepared to make recommendations. It is recommended the following applicants be board approved as substitutes for the 2021 and 2122 school year. Certified Tom Gibbons and Caitlyn Hansen. So move. I know. Second. Yay. Thank you. Great. Motion and a second. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Kenobal. I. Curran. Hi. None. I. McMasters. Hi. Stacy. I. Vinnie. Hi. Wilms. Hi. Item number nine is old business policy 350 AP4 regarding residency. Is it is it allowed Tom? I'm just going to ask uh to make a motion to put this off
012for a period of months. Uh we are not hiring. We have admin principles through next school year. It is not an emergency that we do that. Uh I think the I had so many over 200 emails and so many of the community really felt it was rushed. In no way was this rushed. The board has talked about it many times. We've talked about it publicly, but I also know we have a new mayor that's intending some new initiatives. I it it seems like we're almost shooting him in the foot by changing some things when he's also dealing with some things on his end. Is it possible to not make a decision on this and put it off with a motion for six or seven months and come back to it? Yeah, under Robert's rules of
013order. A motion to table would require that we bring it back at the next meeting in July. We have a motion to indefinitely postpone. Well, then that takes precedence and then that way it can be post indefinitely postponed until the board feels it's ready to be brought back up. Until the board's ready to bring it back up. Can I make that motion then? Can I if I can get a second? I I would like to say so. I I do not want this to go on and on and on. I would like to have us have a firm footing on this particular policy. and we have talked about it and thought about it and we do have we have had community contacting us. Uh we've had other ways that they have tried to talk about
014it among themselves. I would like to see us not delay this any longer. Now, I'm for setting it back to the next meeting in July. That's fine. I don't see any urgency though to you, Linda. We're not hiring the next school year. We have our principles. We're not hiring new admin. We are hiring an administ. That gives us an opportunity. We don't have anyone to take the place of Mr. Matis. Okay. No one to take the place. See, I disagree. We have a list of 30 people. She didn't mean that. She meant the post. We have people. We have a list of qualified people. Right. There there's a list of people, right? We don't know who. I don't know. I think I So we have a motion and a second so we can discuss now.
015I don't think we have a second. So it's not going anywhere. I think so we can discuss now. Yes. Um I think I'm kind of in the middle. Um I personally do not feel that this needs to be delayed. In my view, it's been delayed for decades. It's been something that's not rushed. It's been a topic of conversation, but ultimately people have not voted on it or addressed it. It's been pushed and pushed and pushed and pushed. No disrespect to prior boards, but that's what's happened. Now, that being said, I understand people I mean, I personally don't think it's going to do any good. It's not going to make a difference to push it back, but if it makes people feel better about that, that's fine. However, I do not feel comfortable with waiting six
016or seven months because that takes us up to January or February when we should have already hired for the 2022 2023 school year. So, I'm not comfortable with that part of it. I think this needs to be addressed. Make it happen or not in the next I mean I I like the next month or so. I think it can go another month perhaps. But I mean we should be posting no no later than September. No later than September really. The the only thing is we have the only real argument about lifting this is the argument we can't get qualified people. That's the only real argument that I see that that means anything to me. If on the other hand, we started our search much earlier, not where we're going to need somebody next month, but
017much much earlier, if we expanded the geography of our search, possibly even used a head hunting organization, expand state to state. If we did all those things first and we couldn't find qualified candidates, then I could go to the community very easily and say, "We have to change it. We can't get qualified people." Yeah. But we don't know that we've done all those things and we've spent started early enough, expanded the geography of our search wide enough and at that point then because I'm not ready to say Granite City is such an undesirable community. We can't ask somebody to come and live here. I'm not saying and I'm not ready to say that. So, and the reason they won't come here is that's the thinking. But I think they would come here. We have a
018very desirable community. But I think we have to start earlier, expand our geography. If then we can't get to qualified candidates, the point is well taken. And I wouldn't even argue. I'd say let's drop the residency. Yeah. I one clarification that's not like I clearly I've I've been very vocal in support of this. I mean, we all live here. We love our community. But my rationale is not because our community is not good enough for her because if it weren't, I wouldn't live here. I wouldn't have chosen to return. My rationale is that we do well to expand and to deepen our pool to make sure that we're finding the very best. I don't even know if this is appropriate or not, but how many people applied for the CO position? how many was left
019standing. We lucked out that Steve Matthysse was our guy and I don't know how long we started the search and how early we started the search and how wide we made those things. You can it would be very easy for me to say you can expand it the world if you're not recruiting the correct way and starting early and everything else, you're still going to lose out on candidates because they're going to be accepting other jobs and everything else because we wait too late. Yeah, we have to do it early. That's my that's that's the biggest objection I have to this because I'm fine with waiting, but we go through all of that. How many retirements do we have coming up for the following year? There's some major positions that need to be filled for
0202022, 2023. And I don't want us to be looking in January like, oh, okay, well, now we should now we'll start. Yeah. Now, now we'll start because we would have done a search by then. I understand having that, but there has to be some kind of middle ground for that because I don't want to put us in a bind where then I mean that's my whole reason for pushing this. One of the things that we've talked about is the recruitment situation. We need to have active aggressive recruitment and that's part of that month those months uh that we're talking about. Let's see what happens when we start getting active recruitment. Yeah. Well, nothing says you can't start recruiting right now. I mean, really, we should regardless of whether there's a residency or not a residency,
021you can start recruiting today. And if we start now and we do expand that geographical search and we pinpoint people who are in areas that don't make six figures as an administrator or close to it, you know, it it varies, but we all know what they make. um then it's an easy you know a lot of people move every day to go work somewhere else you know they have to cross the country now they may not have such a defined place they have to live but they they'll cross the country to move and I know it's not pleasant to uproot your family and move into another community but if you go after administrator in another community in another state that's making 60 65 grand a year say hey if you come to us you might
022make 40 grand more that could change some ideas and I don't think we've done that I think it could but it I als I mean my concern with that too is then rarely do you uproot your family for one job like where do you only apply for one job? So they're going to look in the area as well, right? And then when you have we're offering, you know, we have a position but then five, six, seven others around us also do it and they don't have a residency requirement, where's someone going to be more inclined to apply and accept a job? There's also the opinion restricting they've chosen me. they've you know they may want to come here in that case and if we can also push the community and get rid of the the
023perception I we all know this yeah the perception but my view on that like I fully support the mayor on that I'm doing my part as a citizen to do that but it is not the burden of the children of Granite City to revitalize the town it's not this is something we've never even tried no I'm not saying don't try either but what I'm saying is we have to be thinking we can't just push it off another six months because when we do that we will suffer for that. Erica, one of the things I would like to say though when you say we're not responsible for revitalizing the community, we are not. Our responsibility is to the school district and to our children. Thank you. But you can't separate the community they grow up and
024live in from the education they're getting either. We are tied together. There is a very unique partnership. They grow up in this community and keeping this a vital healthy community is very important. Absolutely. And we can say, well, we're going to get those ACT scores up a point and a half. That's amazing. But are we going to shoot some initiatives to revitalize our community in the foot by telling good highpaying people they don't have to live in our community? They can all live on the hill and just come down here and then spend their money up there and they can be part of that community. But they already I don't think we benefit the community our kids grow up in that way either. No, I don't. But I'm not talking about finding highquality administrators to
025raise test scores. I'm talking about finding people that can be assets to our community without living in our community. Trauma informed instructors, people that have experience teaching children of a wide diversity of backgrounds, both learning, racial, ethnic, religious. So far, we have amazing people on all our staff. We have wonderful administrators. We have wonderful principles. So, if we start earlier, expand our search and we can still get the people. Is there any reason to really say you don't need to be part of our community and live here? I only see that if we can't get the people and we've tried that. Yeah. Then I could go right to the community and say we don't have a choice whether you like it or not. We don't have a choice. We have to get the best for
026our kids. Yeah. I I'm on again I'm on board with that. But I'm not on board with putting next year off. So So where's the middle ground I guess is what I'm So I'm going to tell you we tal we talked about recruitment, right? I'm going to tell you that I am a person who was recruited by one guy in our department, right? I didn't apply anywhere else. I had he not recruited me, I would still be a Kokia policeman living in Cahokia. Um, you know, I came here, approved my family, pulled my kids out of school and everything else and brought them here. So, I think recruitment can make a difference and how we recruit. Um, I mean, I know I'm not a teacher coming here, right? Uh, but as a policeman, that's what
027happened to me. And you went through the same kind of thing. I mean, I was uprooting your family to I uprooted my family and and and came here, you know. Um, so I mean, recruitment and that was all because of one guy. They sent me something saying, "Hey, we're about to, you know, we're about to take applications." And I by no means had I wasn't even looking to go anywhere. Um, and thankfully, you know, he did that because it was like a six-month process. I mean, be becoming a policeman is not like becoming a teacher, getting hired as a teacher. I mean, it's a monthsl long process. Uh, so I mean, so I I think the right recruitment can make a difference, too. That's the reason I think we need to wait and give and
028and try. It's something that apparent that we're not trying right now. See, I cut you off. I'm sorry. No, I No, I know I did. I didn't I mean, I just I think it's worth seeing if it works. It doesn't work. Okay, we have a I'm in favor of that, but where do we say when do we make the determination it didn't work? That's right. That's my question. I think for me, I mean, a lot of this stuff isn't mutually exclusive. If we're looking at our hiring policy as a as a whole, residency should be a part of that. So, yeah, we should we should start earlier. We should uh find different ways to recruit, but maybe as part of that package is also taking a look at the residency. I think even if we
029did, which we should do and we can do better as far as recruiting um and widening our applicant pool, if we still have the residency requirement, I still think we're going to be limiting oursel from applicants regardless of what we do because there's going to be people who are qualified that just for whatever reason, and we don't have to take offense to it necessarily, but maybe they don't want to move their family at that stage, but they'd still be a good person for the job. So, I think that, you know, if we're going to look at all of our hiring policies, residency should be a part of that. And so I think we could I mean we could try it and you know maybe it would change the world and we would you know find
030a ton of applicants but I still just I think we need to do it all all together and look at and part of that is residency. Um and you know Bill mentioned the mayor's plan is and you know I think the mayor himself would tell you that's not going to be a four or five month thing. You know that's this is a long-term project that you know that I believe in that the community believes in but it's not going to be something that happens. So, if we're taking that into account, we might be looking at pushing this off for two to three years. And I I don't know if I'm willing to do that. Um, I wanted to ask uh Stephanie and maybe maybe even Jim if wait let's say we have an opening at
031the end of next school year. Ideally, when do we want to start that hiring process? Like the beginning of second semester. And I just so for everybody's information, we post all teachers and administrators are aware of the Illinois State Job Bank. I would say 95% plus people look on those and school websites continually if they're looking for positions. Um the IPA sponsors went to all administrators and educators know about those sites. We publish on those as we can start as early as December or January. I think that's a great time to start looking at that. But those are out there. We do that all the time. Those are posted. We could maybe extend our posting times. I do think that that would be something I would would like to see. Um, we did LinkedIn for
032another position. I think there's Monster. There's a lot of other sites, but most educators, I think anybody would agree that those are the majority of the sites that they go to for positions. Do we do like college job fairs and stuff like that? We up until I got here with COVID. So, I did one recently uh online with SIU because and I went to and I did an online one with UMSIL, but there haven't been the availability. I don't know if they've done them prior to this. Jim, do you know if they've done any of those prior to this? Yes, we did do job fairs previously. One of the situations, and Dennis touched on a little bit in the policy meeting, uh, one of the situations we ran into with job fairs was we were
033competing with districts that were able to offer people positions either contingent or upon ratification from their board of education. So the goods pandits they stick out in these job fairs. It happens. They do provide interviewing rooms and there were districts there that would interview and offer people positions. I uh ran the job fair for SIU because I was in teaching and learning two years ago and there that is exactly right. There are people whether they're supposed to or not. Mr. schooling they would at least uh initially offer positions. They would interview they would ask for rooms or they would do it just right behind where their table was. Uh there is definitely people who recruiting. We have private schools recruiting at those too. They're they can they're allowed to come in, but uh um we
034haven't always been a part of those those things, but I am avid about making sure we have people at those fair. Is there Mr. School, you'll be able to answer this. Is there anything that stops us from doing a job fair and interviewing people there? That's why I went maybe you can't maybe you can't say you're going to be hired but if you did like take the people the tier like the tier one or the whole tier you know or you know what have you to the job fair and I think you can you can do that you just can't promise you cannot promise a job that's what I suggested have you sign anything and I don't think I would want that either because I think when you properly vet people like I mean just
035because they give a great interview doesn't mean that they're going to be a good fit to build and We hire people at the library based on yes, you're going to be hired, but uh we we hire at the library based on contingent upon background check. Sure. Uh drug test and a health and fitness. We'll write that. But I'm saying like the other part like where they can meet some teachers like a building administrator should have an interview and meet with teachers or teachers should be teaching lessons. All right, I'm going to rain it back in. I don't think there's a very very healthy discussion. Um we do have I guess a couple things I'm hearing. Um, one is is probably no later than January, December, January time frame. We ought to be hiring. I think
036I'm hearing also, can we start a little bit earlier back to September time frame and start this process? U, but we do have a motion and a second on the floor for postponing this discuss or postponing maybe September. We don't actually give a date until the board takes it up and and we can ask Stephanie aside then just to go ahead and mark it on the calendar for the September board meeting that we would take this back up again at that time. But she could report back what kind of success she's having that. Absolutely. Based on based on So the other was is there the opportunity for Mr. Parker to start earlier in the process now to see what there is in in that process for trying to fill some of those expected vacancies at
037the end of next school year. So what's the actual motion say? The motion is to suspend this to pick it up again and we'll take recommendations from the superintendent from her efforts. We need to pick this up again or or maybe not. But I I think that's why we have her. She could give us an honest open evaluation of this is not working or we're doing okay and the second was by Eric I believe it was the first Bill had a very good discussion roll call please Curran I none I McMasters I Stacy I Vinnie no Kenogal I'd like to say I'm sorry. One was I 62. I had to vote my just to clarify. I had to vote my conscience on that, but I fully support what we're doing now because I know it
038passes regardless of my vote. Very good. All right. Uh, next order of business item number 10, new business. Uh, item A, Microsoft license. Uh, Mr. President of the board uh authorization is requested to renew the Microsoft license for the 2122 school year with Acropolis. This contract includes the Microsoft Windows operating systems, Microsoft Server, Microsoft Office, SQL, and Microsoft SharePoint. The software is used by all staff members. Uh this also used on all servers for all processes including but not limited to items such as payroll, phone, Skyward, HVAC controls, human resources, and staff and student network access. The support agreement is being budgeted for the 2122 school year at a cost of 52,37858 and approval is recommended. Moved second. Motion by Erica, second by Bill Okay, any discussion? Doesn't Microsoft have enough money already? Yeah, really
039standard purchase, right? None. I McMasters. Hi Stacy. I Vinnie. Hi Kenogal. Hi Karn. Hi Lunac. I item 10B finance personnel system renewal upgrade. Mr. President, the board um authorization is requested to renew this agreement for the 2122 school year with Tyler Technologies for the Infinite Visions finance personnel system. As with many of our software packages, an annual support agreement is required for all updates, including statemandated changes and technical support. With this renewal, we are migrating to a hosted solution. The renewal has been budgeted for the 2122 school year at a cost of $96,4 approval is recommended. This is actually what runs all of our so all of our personnel. Second motion by Bill, second by Eric. Any discussion? Roll call, please. McMasters, I. Stacy, I Vinnie, hi. Kenobyl, I. Karen, hi. None. I WSMER, I.
040Item 10 C, designation of depositories. Yes. Uh, Mr. President, the board attaches a resolution designating depositories for the Granite City School District. This resolution should be filed each year so the district's administration may deposit and or invest district funds with and through a variety of institutions to obtain the highest monetary return on all district investments consistent with investments authorized by law. It is re recommended that the board adopt the resolutions authorizing the investment of district funds in region one funds as presented and authorize the necessary signatures. So move second motion and a second. Any discussion? Roll call. Stacy I. Vinnie. I. Canovyl I. Kern. Hi. None. I. McMasters. Hi. WMA. Hi. Item 10 D. And uh item E is actually a kind of a an exhibit to this with the lease actually the amendment to
041the agreement. But item 10D is a resolution authorizing the amendment to the lease of real estate known as the high school baseball diamond pursuant to chapter 105s by 510 2211. So do you want to do do you want to speak to explain what this is? Yes. Uh brief briefly back in 2011 we were the district was approached by AT&T with regard to placement of a cell tower and the ideal location was at the uh baseball field and if we all have been by the baseball field third base light pole is the cell tower and that the school code allows for the lease to go out only 25 years. It cannot be past that. In 2011, we entered a lease with AT&T for 25 years. An initial 10-year lease term uh was on that lease, and
042AT&T paid the initial 10-year lease payment in one payment of $84,000. With that, the board of education decided to put replace all the old wooden posts that house the uh lights for the baseball field because they were becoming worn. And there was a we had the safety inspector say there were an issue of having those breaks. So the board approved that. That lease also contained three five-year extensions. Since that time um well now the 10-year lease is in the initial term is expiring September of this year. That cell E18 uh lease was sold to Octagan Towers which is now known as Barracuda LLC. They have approached us about putting in additional an additional 10-year term and we have basically have five five year extensions on the original term. In the original lease, these lease extensions
043have a set amount like $970 per month or a little over 11,000 and that amount increases 3% each year. So what this resolution is is extending the lease back to 25 years for the new lease holder under the same terms and conditions of the old one with the with the 3% increasing over the 25 years. So Dennis, I did figure out and I was a little short, but over the next 25 years that will pay on about $415,000. Uh, and one of the things Dennis asked me about, and I'm glad that he did, is are we getting a bang for our buck with regard to the current market rate for cell tower leases? And back then, at the time, it was in my opinion because we negotiated fairly aggressively with a AT&T. However, we are
044locked into that original 2010 agreement. So that what this one does is basically gives the back end 10 year two fiveyear extensions on the term to give them 25 years again but under the same terms and conditions of the 2010 original lease. If there's any questions, I'll feel. So, so the extension of the 10 years, I know it's it's hard to tell who's talking because we have Anyway, um the extension is you're saying that's still a good deal for us. Yeah. And in today's market? Yeah. I mean, we are, you know, I we tried and Stephanie and I when Stephanie we were first approached, we tried to go out 25 years and get all these payments 400 and some thousand up in what's known as present cash value. And Mr. Guber, who was the agent
045for Octagon Tower, says no, I only have authority to go out and keep the existing lease terms in there. If not, we're just that we will just exercise the three fiveyear terms under the original lease. So, so that's our choice. We either keep the current terms at 3% each year or we let them do the uh run out the three fiveyear terms and go to the market 15 years from now. But I I I you know I it's uh I think in the last year 25 they're paying 20 between 25 and $26,000 a year for that for that lease. Okay. And and again the area that's being leased in Dennis, you know, it's not a big area. I mean it's probably if you the area that Mr. Mitchell's sitting in probably double that size. You
046know, as we all have been by there's a fence around it. That is the least premises. Okay. Thank you. I'll make motion. Thank you. Second. Second by Bill Tom. Thank you for the discussion there on the introduction of that. So a motion and a second. Any more discussion? Roll call. Vinnie. Hi. Canal. I. Curran. I. None. I. McMasters. Hi. Stacy. I. Wasach. I. And Dennis. One other item. The board does have to sign this particular resolution. And the reason why I did is it came to me. These leases such as this do get recorded at the recorder of deeds either in the form of the original release or a memorandum of the lease. And that's why the board has to sign. Perfect. Okay. Thank you, Tom. Appreciate that. So, please, please, please do not leave
047tonight before you sign this document. Okay. Otherwise, we'll have to hunt you down. So, uh item E again was an exhibit to item D. So, no action there. Item uh 10F, resolution to property tax appeal board. Tom, you want to Again, this is another warehouse uh that uh the Granite City Community Unit School District jurisdiction shares with the Edwardsville School District as well as the city of Edville to intervene at the property tax appeal board. U we do have our appraisal coming in this week which will apply to this. So, it's just the formality of me being able to talk with the property tax appeal board and get involved with that one. All right. So, second motion had a second. Any discussion and I would like to say thank you Tom for the other ones
048that you've been intervening in because I think you've done a great job on them. So, appreciate that. Thank you so much. Roll call please. Curran. Hi. None. I McMasters. Stacy. I Vinnie I Henogal I WSME I item 10G thespian club uh Mr. President of the board we are looking to reinstate the Thesians club at GCHS it was a part of our GCSHs um extracurricular for years I'm not sure I asked Mr. tow today but didn't hear back about when they stopped meeting. Um but I know that it was in effect I know through the 80s and the 90s. Um we had someone there that was interested. The students were very interested. We had I think almost 20 uh students involved. The the club honors those students who excel in theater and drama. It can be
049all forms of theater and drama. It doesn't have to mean they're in a play. mean they're part of a children's um acting or any any type of of theater or TV production or anything that they do. Um the club sponsor is a voluntary position for three years. So uh we have a large amount of student interest in this. So approval is recommended. So move second. That didn't take long. As part of discussion, I just want to say like I was I I went to the the production that they had and I just adored it and so not only that they started I mean maybe it was a little presumptuous to them but they were already inducting members into their group and it was just an honor to hear the dedication and commitment that the children
050had had children teenagers now but I still call them children. Um so I think this is fantastic. Melissa Kimell and Amy Pel, the the time and dedication that they put in uh to with these kids and with these productions this year. We are really incredibly fortunate to have them in this community. And for me personally as a citizen, it just felt really great to be back in our audience and watching this production. It was great, wasn't it? They did a wonderful job. Did a lot of time. They truly did. Very good. Any other discussion? And we appreciate the volunteer efforts there as well. Fantastic. Uh, we have a motion to second. Roll call, please. There. None. I. McMasters. Hi. Stacy. I. Vinnie. Hi. Kenogal. I. Curran. Hi. Wilms. Hi. Item 10. H. Trust agreement with
051UC Bank. Um, Zach, do you want Mr. Sherry, are you there? Would you like to address this, [Music] Mr.? Yeah. This is this is just simply because we cannot hold. This is money that has been spent already. It's the paychecks. It just the we take it off our books, put it in a separate account. Busy bank transfers it into the payroll account on each payday. Yep. Okay. So, approval. I have a motion. It has been standard operating procedure since I have been in the job and before. Second. Thank you, Mr. Sh. And it's an annual thing. Is that correct? Yes. I do have a motion and a second. Did you get that one? Yep. Okay. Very good. Roll call, please. McMasters. Hi, Stacy. I Vinnie. Hi, Kenogal. I Curran. Hi. None. I Wolsmire. I item
05210. I We got a lot of items on. I know you're going to run out of edit letters. Lot of good stuff happening. Okay. A new high school beginning audiovisisual production CTE course. Miss Camp. Yes, honest president of the board. The beginning audiovisisual production course provides students with the basic knowledge and skills necessary for television, video, film or radio production. It includes also camera operation using graphics, visuals, lighting, audio techniques, editing, production principles, and career opportunities that are typically topics covered within the course. Moving an additional course we're asking to be added to the fine arts curriculum. um this we we need this particular course. We have a huge amount of interest in it first of all, but also um I know that Miss Petrol is here too and trying to fill positions that students
053want to be a part of and want to be a part of those electives and we've had to reduce class sizes in some of the other areas that were sort of absorbent in nature. So, we're really looking forward to adding this and being able to offer it uh with the CT uh position as well. So approval is strongly recommended. So moving I tell you it's such forward thinking of our superintendent to bring these kind of programs for kids. I'm just thrilled. Second and for a little bit of conversation too. I think it's a big deal because my bachelor's degree is in masscom radio and TV radio TV film and um a lot of this stuff even if you don't go into those industries now video production and audio production all that like people think oh
054radio well yeah that's podcasting right you know I mean it's all the same thing it all feeds into you know it's there's so many jobs now that require some level of video editing or tik tocking make millions on Tik Tok just had the 180 the podcasting. Actually, I'm glad you said that. That's actually something that we were wanting to do. Everybody put as a part of that. I think that would be really interesting for kids maybe even to do one with that class. I thought I talked to people about that. I think that that would be an amazing opportunity for us to give the students a voice after that as well. Do you have a motion and a second that correct? Roll call. Stacy, I. Vinnie, I can. Curran. Hi, Nun. I McMasters I All
055right. Item 11A, Freedom of Information Act requests. Mr. President, the board, we've received one request under the Freedom of Information Act during the period of June 2nd, 21 through June 15, 21. June 2nd, 21, Zoe Yelson, data acquisition specialist at Smart Procure, requested the following information. Any and all purchasing records from 2121 to current. The request was handled by the administration. Information and item 11B. Uh, Mr. President, board, the division of rehabilitative services path summer pathway initiative um is something the state of Illinois is doing in response to CO. What I'd like to do is have our special ed executive director Nikki Watkins give a little brief explanation of this. So, she's right here. I can stay here. Yes, you can stand up. Hi, thank you for having me tonight. Um, so the Granite City
056School District has been a longtime participant in the STEP program, which is the secondary transition experience program. Um, that serves students with disabilities with regard to obtaining employability skills um as well as connecting them with agencies to help them along after graduation. um the division of rehab services provides the funding for us to provide those services. With last year being a COVID year, these services didn't quite look the same as what they normally would have. Um and DRS recognized this and has offered an opportunity for us to obtain additional funds to be able to provide additional services for our students this summer. So we're just trying to bridge the gap between last school year and the start of this school year by supporting these students additionally with these services. So these students will be coming
057to school or participating virtually on their preference. Um and they are going to participate in activities in the areas of job exploration and counseling, workbased learning experiences, counseling on post-secary education, workplace readiness training and instruction and self- advocacy. um our current STEP coordinator, Kelly Hutchings, um has applied for and obtained these additional funds um to provide those services. And while this offer was made to all of the districts in the state of Illinois who participate in this step program, um I am very proud to say that the Granite City School District is the only school district in Madison County to have applied for and received these funds to provide these services for our students. And Kelly was a big part of that. Kelly Hutchings was a huge instrumental part in that. That's fantastic. So appreciate
058her efforts and your efforts in this is a really the STEM program is wonderful transition program for kids. So we're really lucky to be able to offer that to our students and to have such proactive people and staff. Okay. Thank you so much. Thank you very much. We just wanted to report on that. Very excited. Yeah, that's great. That is great. All right. Item 11 C, May 21, uh, activity account report. There for information. Item D is the May 2021 GCHS activity fund statement. If there's questions on any of these, please let me know. Item 11E is the May 2021 GCHS bank reconciliation statement. Item F is the May 2021 GCHS memorial funds. Any questions on any of those? And I will say Linda and I talked with Zach in the past. I think going
059forward we want to kind of start taking a look at some of that and see if we can't do some consolidation. There's a lot of work out there for the staff in order to keep all of those accounts separate. So we have some alternative ideas that we would like to bring to the board. Absolutely. All right. Item 11g. Uh Linda, you have Yeah. I uh had with all the discussion that we've had regarding the administration uh complexity and and what we are talking about in terms of uh getting the best and the brightest uh in terms of our of our principles and administrators. I didn't want to lose back the fact that we have uh some some really outstanding teachers and this is kind of a um a recognition of them but also my own
060personal experience as a former teacher. Um I wanted to first recognize our classroom teachers for the work that they do every day. Those who studied to become teachers during my college years believed that we could make a positive difference in the lives of children that we could inspire and motivate uh students to achieve in school and that view hasn't changed today. There are just many more serious challenges than in my earlier years of teaching. Uh many of us had a teacher or teachers that changed our lives. Uh they believed in us. They showed us that they valued us in the classroom. And for me, that was my English literature teacher in high school who wanted us to give our opinion of the characters and the historical setting and the contrasting the similarity and differences between
061the era we were reading about and the the present that we lived in at that time. He challenged us to think more deeply. He always acknowledged our reasoning even if it differed from popular critics of poetry or literature. He never criticized, but rather led us through a process of examining our thoughts and our arguments. He made the characters in these novels real, and the classroom was exciting for me. He encouraged me one day to enter a writing contest, and I won an ink pen. But most importantly, raising my hand to answer questions in an English literature class every day was a major turning point for someone as shy as I was in those days. Suddenly, I became a new me, someone I didn't recognize and who I really liked. I enjoyed poetry and the classics.
062I loved the class and I always came prepared. I often thought that he must have had a teacher who inspired him as well. Not all of this narrative resonates with with possibly everyone, but I think most will agree that this profession is demanding, all-consuming, and for the most of us, definitely fulfilling. But there are challenges every day. Many children come to school unprepared for the structure of a classroom. High mobility rates among families make it difficult for some students to retain what they've learned from school to school. And they have difficulty making and keeping friends. Without school friends, many students feel like outsiders and become sad and often depressed. Teachers who have a love for teaching and have developed proven skills in the classroom over a number of years, who have learned successful engagement with
063parents, may decide to move on to administration. The majority, however, seem to choose, as my board member friend Erica mentioned last meeting, may choose to stay at the first point of contact, the classroom. The majority seem to do that first. Having shown that they qualify to be highly successful instructor instructional leaders, a teacher should encourage should be encouraged to apply. And if a student is fortunate enough to be in that building to have that teacher who has the support of the and encouragement of a proven instructional leader, then that student may choose education as their calling as I did. Imagine a school district that grows their own teachers because they had classroom experiences that were meaningful and lasting. Thank you, Linda. Thank you very much. Very nice. And it and it definitely isn't the same
064in the classroom today as it was. Yeah. But you know there are still yeah there are still people don't realize how important it is that teacher and and the effect that that person has on children and how it can change their life uh be a special place for them to go and for in in my situation changed how I participated in the classroom and I think classroom participation is absolutely absolutely essential and we're hoping to see more of that when our kids get back in August. And teacher inspiration is more important today than ever. Oh my goodness. Thank you. Yes, absolutely. And I I want to say that our teachers have really worked extremely hard. I couldn't say more. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. Thank you so much. Uh item 12, executive session. Uh
065we do not have executive session scheduled for tonight. Uh item 13 is executive session minutes from the June 8th, 2021 meeting. And do we has everybody had a chance to look at those? Not yet. Yes. Okay. Very good. Need to be approved. Yes, they need second. Motion in a second. Roll call, please. There I none. I McMasters Stacy I Vinnie Hi Kenobyl I and item 14 is setting the agenda uh actually for our next school board meeting but also we're going to be holding a special board meeting in advance of that regularly scheduled meeting can we anybody want to throw out some dates check board meeting on that other body prepared to do that I could even do the third I'm good every I've got the 30th every day though. I will be everywhere for
066the hiring. Yes, I will be gone from the 5th through the 9th. I'm actually going to We need to make sure Parker and have everybody ready. Okay. The first I mean, what are we trying like Parker can tuck that up tonight? I can try to uh just get a hold of everybody just, you know. Um I'm looking at Uh, we could send you all our open dates and then you could look at that and and I would love to try to get somewhere between like if we can't do um the 28th or the second and we're looking at the week of the 12th. You say the 28th. Well, I mean I can do the 28th, the 29th, and the second. I'll be out of town next week. And I learned from my open meeting training.
067Yes. You have to be like physically incompet like you can't be on vacation. I know. I'll be happy to zoom. I learned that from my Good job. Good job. Uh well, what if we just totally Is the 13th too late? Cuz that would be like that would be our the regular Tuesday that we would have Is that good? What date? 13th July. July 13th. July 13th. Yep. Happened to be free that whole day. We can have a Zoom meeting if it's easier, too. That's okay. an open meetings act as well check. So if we need to do that just let me know. I'm available all day now is available everybody but good 28th and the second they're fine with the time the good zoom I can do any of those I at least 13 gives
068us time to make sure we've got the um assistant principal position in the bag as well. Yep. Yep. Gives you a little extra time. Do we want to set a time for that evening? Six. Are they six o'clock? They would be six o' we'll be at six o'clock normally now on the board meeting. Y so I think six o'clock sounds great. We got them. All good. That will be that will be that evening the agenda for that night will be interviews. I will say that like Eric spoke this is an unusual situation. We would normally not have this many hires with co and with grant money. Those were things that had to be it was a different and we voted in negotiations to add some position. So that there, you know, normally this wouldn't we
069end up having so much before now. I know Mr. Parker always posts them way early in this semester for the purpose, Mr. Parker, if I'm correct, of trying to get teachers early before they've made commitments at other school districts. Correct. That's correct. We usually start in December trying to get the December grads locked in as well as those that will be graduating in spring before they start taking other jobs. Just so everybody knew that is generally our the way we handle things. But the other agenda item for that night then would also be the res excuse me not residency policy hiring interview and hiring policy. Thank you. Sorry for the folks that agenda and then I think that's got that locked up. So good everybody good for that uh be the 13th at 6 o'clock
070and then the regular meeting will be the 27th. Anything for that agenda? What time do you want the policy meeting that night? Oh yeah, we could do it 5:30. 5:30 5:30 would be good. Okay. All right. Thank you for asking that. Yep. Good reminder. All right. Nothing yet for the agenda for the 27th. I'm trying to get ahead. With that, I will ask for a motion to move. All in favor? All in favor? I. Very good. Thank you all so much. Build.