001Ready, Stacey? Uh, good evening. We'll call the uh special board meeting of July 13, 2021 of the Granite City uh school district to order. Roll call, please. Oh, Stacy here. Vinnie here. Kenobyl here. Currin here. None. McMasters here. And Lspire here. And we will need a motion since uh Zach is not here tonight as our secretary. I'll need a motion to appoint Stephanie tonight as secretary for us. Second. Motion by McMaster, second by roll call. Stacy I. Benny. I Curran. Hi. None. McMaster. Hi. Hi. And would you please rise for the pledge of allegiance followed by a invocation by Reverend Barry Shepard with to these churches 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. Pray
002with me. Father, we're thankful for your goodness to us. We're thankful for the blessings that you give to us, Lord. We're thankful for our city and our town, Lord, and all that we have. We know we're blessed and it's uh because of your hand and we're thankful for that. Lord, help us tonight. Lord, you know the business that needs to transpire and and the discussion that needs to take place. We pray for wisdom. Your word promises if we need wisdom, we can ask you and you give it to us generously. So, we ask for that. Lord, I pray for these that serve that you would encourage them, strengthen them, Lord. Especially if they feel discouraged and feel like things aren't happening. I pray, Lord, they'd be lifted up in their spirits and be encouraged. We
003thank you Lord for our kids Lord a valuable valuable part of our community. We ask your blessing on them. We ask that you would guard them and keep them from danger seen and unseen and help them Lord in the new school year as preparations are being made to uh enter into that time. We thank you Lord for for all the goodness that you've shown to us. We ask you to help us be a people that please you and we pray this in the name of your son. Amen. Amen. Thank you so much. Thank you so much pastor. Thank you all. Good seeing you. Um, at this time, public comment. Any members of the public that wanted to speak this evening? And I would ask just a couple of things if I may. Sure. Welcome. First,
004thank you very much. It's always nice to have somebody. Please, please keep your comments for five minutes or less if you would please. And then uh the board does not have to respond in any way. So this is for information as we're receiving it from you. Sure. But that's totally up the board. And if you could pronounce your name, that would be great. Ary Tyler. Well, I was looking there's a middle name. So I was a little concerned about that one. I could have done Tyler, but yes. I apologize. Sure. Thanks for being here. Thank you very much. Sure. I can start. Okay. Um I my name's Eric Tyler and I just wanted to um thank you guys first for listening to me and I know that being on a board is you know stressful.
005So thank you guys for your service. Um I just think over the last year we have people have lost the ability to see things from another's perspective. So I just ask that you see things from another person's perspective tonight. Here's mine. Um not only am I the parent of an incoming kindergartener, big deal. um but also a teacher in the Belleville 118 school district and I was fortunate enough to be in school the entire year. I teach special education to some of the lowest functioning kids in the whole district. Um they need help in the bathroom. They need help eating, feeding tubes, just um the lowest functioning kids there are. Um it's it was impossible for me to socially distance with them just because I had I had to help them in the bathroom and
006all of their needs needed to be met. Um, by all intents and purposes, they were the most medically vulnerable in the whole district and several did have mask exemptions. Um, I met with each parent to explain this to them and all of them gave me basically the same response that just said whatever you need to um to do as long as my child gets to come to school. And thankfully, I had zero students the whole year that had CO and I was as close to them as you could possibly get. So now I'm in the position of parent. When this all started, my child was only three and not required to wear a mask. He even after he turned four and just recently five, masks are not required for him at most places for children
007that young. He still has never worn one. So, you can imagine my anxiety thinking that he might have to wear one at school. Um, just last just in the last week, he's been to church, gymnastics, jiu-jitsu classes, all in Granite City and no mask requirement for him. Um, and dozens of parents gave me other places that their children all had been in Granite City over the last week. I'm very anxious with the unknown of the upcoming school year. My teacher brain is worried for my son. He has some speech issues and you know, as a teacher, I know kindergarten is the foundation where reading starts. Students need and teachers need to see lips, teeth, tongues when learning letters and letter sounds. And teachers need to hear students appropriately. I don't know how many times I
008during the day when I was asking students to pull their masks down just because I couldn't understand them. I know I'm speaking from the perspective of a kindergarten parent, but this goes across all grade levels. Um, especially for students with speech issues and reading deficits. If your mind is already made up, then I I recommend that we follow all of the CD CDC guidelines, not just those pertaining to CO. Some of the breakfasts served at school contain more sugar than recommended for an entire day. 60 minutes of physical activities is the minimum recommendation for children. So let's bring back health and PE and get give these kids a healthy foundation. One in five stu or one in five students about 20% of kids face childhood obesity which leads to obesity in adulthood which can lead
009to diabetes and other heart problems. Please think of this from the perspective of a parent and and let us decide what is best for our kids. I'm begging you to make masks optional, especially for these little ones. I have so much pride in Granite City. Just ask my Belleville co-workers. They will tell you. Um and I hope my son can have a great experience like I did. So, thank you guys for listening. Thank you so much. One comment just I'm a mother of he's going into kindergarten this year, too. Sure. So, So, right there. Maybe they'll be in the same class. Yeah. My great niece, we signed her up for kindergarten. She lives with us. Oh, great. So, yes, my son is very excited. So, all right, thank you so much. Thank you guys. Thank
010you for listening. Thank you. All right. Um, any other public comment? Moving forward. Item number five, minutes, approval of the June 22nd, 2021 meeting. Second. What do you got, Stephanie? Erica, second by Bill. We race for every motion. Got it. Be ready. Roll call, please. Roll call. Benny, I Curran. Hi. Uh, McMasters. Hi. Hi. Stacy. Hi. Item number six, consent agenda. And what we have on there is the bill list. second by any comment roll. Um Stacy, hi Venny. Hi hi Curin. Hi, McMasters. Hi. Hi. And item number seven, no I'm sorry. Item number eight, uh, recommendation of communications human resources. Item A, send the recommendation of the GCA HS math teacher. Yes, Mr. President, the board, you receive information about this item. The administration is prepared to recommend or hold discussion executive session about
011this due to work. You decline the offer of the 2122 math teacher grants high school. The administration has requested rescending the recommendation. Second motion by Eric, second by Erica. Any discussion? Roll call. Stacy. I. Lenny. Hi. No. Hi. Curin. Hi. McMasters. Hi. Hi. Item 8B, employment of two sixth grade teachers for the 2122 school year. Mr. President, the board received detailed information about this item below. The administration is prepared to make recommendations for discussion in executive session. Due to the movement of Sharon to a title position and to a fifth grade position, the tier one committee recommended the following candidates for a tier two interview. And we are recommending the following two candidates, Tori Brookshire and Eric. We need a motion for each one separately. Tory Bureot by Linda. Second by Talon. Any any discussion?
012Roll call, please. McMasters. Hi. Meer. Hi. Stacy. Hi. Benny. Hi. Canal. Hi. And current. Hi. And we'll need a a motion also for Eric second. There's a second Benny. Hi. Hi. Currin. Hi. McMasters. Hi. And hi. Item 8 C. Appointment of the Superior High School 7th grade science teacher and STEM teacher for the 2122 school year. These are also two. Tom. Yes. Mr. President of the board due to the movement of Dian Mo to position STEM class the tier one interview consisting of Mike Derry recommended following candidates for tier two for the science position. Recommendation by administration is for Brian Towner for the science position. Second by Linda second by Eric. Any discussion? Roll call. Start with McMasters. Let's go with McMasters. Hi Ler. Hi Stacy. Hi Benny. Hi Kenogal. Hi and Curry. Hi. We
013are also recommending the following candidate for vising carbon. So move. Give that one to Erica. I just did. Okay. Any discussion? Roll call. Hi. Erica Stacy. Hi. Benny. Hi. Hi. Curran. Hi. Emasters. And item number 8D, employment of Kulage Junior High School ESL bilingual teacher and a Spanish teacher. Same situation. Um, we received information about this item below. Mr. President, the board. The administration is prepared to make recommendations or hold discussion due to creation of elective classes of coolage in the vacancy or ESL department. The two following candidates are recommended. ESL recommendation is Mary. Second by Eric, second by Erica. Any discussion? Roll call. Stacy. Hi. Benny. Hi. Kenobi. Currin. Hi. McMasters. Love second position is for seventh grade Spanish and the recommendation is Jesse Mesa. So move second motion by Erica second by Linda.
014Any discussion roll call let's go to Benny. Hi Iran. Hi McMasters. Hi Wilspire. Hi Stacy. Hi. Item 8E, employment of the Granite City High School art, audio, video, technology, and communications teacher for the 2122 school year. Uh, Mr. President, the board, the detailed information has come about this item, and we are prepared to make recommendations to the creation of an arts, audiovisisual, technology, and communications position at the high school. Uh, the committees are recommending the following candidate. Uh, Amy Penel Davis. So, second motion by Bill, second by Any discussion? I would really commend our superintendent for moving this really creating a position here. I think we desperately needed for our whole finalist program. Yes, absolutely. This is so forward thinking. I just want to commend you for that. I think we have a great We're
015really lucky to to have her on staff, so I'm thrilled. So, roll call. Benny. Hi. Fin. Hi, Curran. Hi, McMasters. Hi, GMer. Hi, Stacy. Hi. Item 8F, employment of the Granite City High School assistant principal for the 21-22 school year. We will hold this for executive session. Item 8G, employment of certified and classified substitutes for the 2122 school year. Mr. President, the board, there is information below about this item. We prepared to make recommendations. Uh, the following applicants Board approved the substitutes for the 2122 school year. Classified William Bright, Christina Prices, and Samuel Shepard. Hooray. Wonderful. Second by Eric by any discussion other than Thank you very much. I know. Roll call, please. Curran. Hi. Mcasters. Hi. Hi. Stacy. I item 8H policies interview and hiring process. So last uh time we had a discussion
016and and kind of carried that a little bit in the policy meeting today but coming out of the policy meeting last time was on anymore 22nd. June 22nd. Thank you. June 22nd, uh recommendation was made at that time and the policy is is in front of us for adding a superintendent to participate in a lot of the hiring process in the future. Linda, is there anything as head of the policy committee you want to add to that? No, I I'm just I'm just so pleased that we made this decision because it's essential that our superintendent and the the skill and she has a skill and ability to recognize the talent we're looking for and this is included under policy 5383 hiring and I think we've got some changes to come on this hiring policy in
017the future additionally. Yes. But we want to get this in place now right tonight. Exactly. And I'll entertain a motion for approval. Yes. Very good. Motion by Eric, seconded by Linda. Any additional discussion here? Roll call. McMasters. Hi. Meer. Hi. Stacy. Hi. Venny. Hi. Kenobyl. Hi. And Karn. Hi. No more old business tonight. New business. Uh item 10 a local 98 tenative agreement. I think that we had a a really pleasant negotiations. I'm really happy that we were able to satisfy everybody. I think that what most people wanted to uh to sign the agreement. It looks good from both sides. I think everybody four year agreement. That's that's very we agreed to a four year that really u makes it stable for the district. I think it's a really good sign that we're working together
018to be able to entertain a motion for move. Second motion by Erica, second by any additional discussion call McMasters. Hi LP. Hi Stacy. Epstein Benny. Hi Kenogal. Hi and K. Hi. Item 10B, sewage softball proposal for the 2122 school year. Mr. President, Mr. President of the board, there has been some interest in developing a program at the junior high for girls softball. Um we have added these types of theater programs at the coolage. At this point I think we did um cross country, football and baseball in the last three years. So there is a a request to try to start the junior high softball proposal. I had uh Mr. Dew give me some costs associated. We have a procedure where for the first three years of a program beginning that the coach volunteers their time
019to see if we have enough interest students for that sport to to validate and to warrant it to continue after that three years. In that process, there are costs associated with each of these though. Um you know there are costs for athletes and activity fees. There are um equipment, uniforms, officials, um buses, transportation, those types of things are all still things we will have to pay out in those three years um just without the coaching fees. and those are provided to you. That information that thank you Mr. Dep for providing to me is included in this um packet. So I would like to entertain any any questions or discussion on this. No, it's great. I say I think it looks great. My my question would be is there any look at at running a club
020program that's more along the line of a volunteer setup where it doesn't get into sip at some point to coaches and and a requirement and we feel like you know it's an obligation at that point that um and I'm not talking about just softball I'm talking about all the programs too is there something there and any maybe sports we don't have today field hockey that we used to have lacrosse things like that that we can start from a club perspective that does not put a drain on the the school. Um and and I realize that you know it sounds like well three years down the road that's it's all volunteer till then but it's a becomes a requirement at that point we start paying siphons and and the program starts to get a little more
021expensive obviously. So that would be my question is is could something like this be looked at for softball, right? And the stipens um can run anywhere from $5 to $8,000 for two coaches. So there is a there is a substantive expense and we have added three. We're looking into and then the and I think that the the club situation I know different districts have that. I have not entertained that. I think that's interesting to if that's a possibility. I know that um I'm pretty sure Edwardsville has one for volleyball and I think has one. I'm not sure. I would have to look into all that. Sure, but that is an option. My question would be around equity then like I mean we're going to get competitive sports. What separates the work of future sports versus
022a good question. Great question and I guess I've seen it at other places where it is club for a period of time when you're starting out a new sport. Um Now, is anything equitable about what's been done in the past and that they rolled right into a a program, but hockey technically still? Yeah. Well, there you go. But I would I would argue that we have to pay insurance for Okay. For all this might be a discussion for further down the road, but I would argue that for title n reasons, if you have a baseball that's paid, you should have a softball that's paid and vice versa. you know, like and I love the idea of programs. We want to see that but I do get the I get like the cost saving me because
023we want our kids to be able to play all the sports. So, I understand that. I just And it starts here's my fear is that if we don't at least have this discussion because what if there's a new let's just I'll pick one lacrosse and and you've got 20 or 30 people that want to play lacrosse in one particular year and then it doesn't make it in that third year. guaranteed that we've got to now start the program and go through the process. I think instead of having it stand on its own merit for maybe five or six years and then what is it? I do think softball's different. I don't I wouldn't consider softball in the same category as like a lacrosse or a fieldhouse because I think well even pasta side I think
024that softball has proven that it's an established sport. Like we're not I don't I don't I don't suspect that we would ever run a drought of people wanting to play softball. I would have thought the same, but when I went to school here, they did that too and it's no longer here. Is this is this something we're trying we're looking after this? Well, right. We could start it for this year. We are looking to go into this a we are have um met with a company who has done a facilities budgeting right to finish a functional facilities plan for our sports complex. So we have some interest in because right now softball has to play at the park which is not ideal uh at all and trying to find time for do they play at
025different seasons times junior high and high school the junior high plays in the fall the high school play in the spring so there wouldn't be competition at least for that I I wanted to ask you that so I think that that's important um you know it's just you know be nice to be able to to maybe introduce that to when we have a field because that's definitely one of our first priorities I hope said a lot about because they're not finished with their with their plan. But that is something that we are enter we are entertaining because I want to see some proactive information and planning when it comes to our sports entire sports complex not just for one sport so we can actually look at where those are going to go, how we can
026um address them, how we can provide facilities uh for everybody at those different sporting events. So I I think at that point we're just you know it's we've added them. I love the theater programs. It seems really obvious on the surface that this is a great idea, but there are costs involved long term. And I do have to acknowledge that. I mean, that's my job is to make sure everyone knows that there's still insurance, that there's still coaching, and there's all these other issues and officials um that we have to do every year for that three years as well. I just would feel remiss if I did not mention that. Appreciate that. So, what's the pleasure of the board this evening? I move to approve. Great. Second. I have a motion by Erica, second by
027Talon. Any additional discussion? Okay. Stacy. Hi. Vinnie. Hi. Canal. Hi. Curran. Hi. McMasters. Hi. Hi. Thank you. Great job. I'm trying to get it all done. Got it. Got it. You appreciate it. Okay. I can multitask. Item number 11A. We have Freedom of Information Act request. Uh Mr. President, the board. Uh we received two requests on the Freedom Information Act during the period of June 16th, 2021 through July 2nd, 2021. The first request was received on June 16th from Jeffrey Kasma from Academic Suppliers. He requested the following information: W9 forms and a tax exemplary. The second request was received on June 17, 2021 from Christian Sarametis from Tuskany Strategy. He requested the following information. Contract purchase order form and all items associated with PO number 21260, purchase of curriculum associates I administration handled all of
028these requests and that should be for information. I think I appreciate you handling those. Thank you very much. And that takes us to executive session uh exceptions noted under 5CS120-2 open meetings. This would be the appointment, appointment, compensation, discipline, performance or disposal of specific employees of public body 2C1. So move to session. Thank you. Second by Linda. All those in favor. The time is 6:32.