Kankakee Times

Grant Park Community Unit School District No. 6 Board met Aug. 23.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

A regular meeting of the Grant Park Community Unit School District No. 6 Board of Education, Kankakee County, State of Illinois, was held in the Middle School Gymnasium.

The meeting was called to order by President Markland at 6:00 p.m. and the pledge of allegiance was recited.

Members present: Vicki Gawlinski

Christine Horn

Jerry Loitz

Tim Markland

Dave Marshalek

Shari Ohm

Hollie O’Nions

Members absent: none

Also present: Dr. John Palan, Superintendent

Ms. Tracy Planeta, ES Principal

Mr. Matt Maxwell, MS/HS Principal

Mrs. Crystal Johnson, Special Needs Coordinator

Mr. John Fester, District Attorney

Mrs. Sue Anderson, Recording Secretary

Audience of 62

APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA:

Motion was made by J. Loitz, seconded by D. Marshalek, to approve the consent agenda as follows:

1. Minutes of the regular board meeting of July, 2021.

2. Financial Reports for July, 2021.

3. Direction to pay the August vendor bills in the amount of $191,117.22.

4. Approval of the July payroll in the amount of $260,266.61.

5. To accept the resignations of Nancy Marcotte, ES Cafeteria and Nichole Lindquist as MS Special Needs Instructor.

6. To approve Carly Ford as Instructional Aide ($13.40 per hour, no TRS), Samantha Greenholt as Long-Term Sub ($131 per day), Joe Bravo ($13.04 per hour), Amy Bettenhausen as ES Cook ($12.50 per hour), Melissa Daniel as MS Cold Prep/Cashier, Eli Karstensen as ES Dishwasher (both $11.00 per hour), and Crystal VonAlven as ES Special Needs Teacher ($56,149).

7. To approve the Kankakee Area Special Education Cooperative Budget (Fiscal ’22) as presented.

8. Approval of the 2021-22 Mentor(s) and updated EC/Sponsor List as presented.

9. Approval of the Title I Consolidated District Plan

Roll Call: J. Loitz – yes; D. Marshalek – yes; V. Gawlinski - yes; C. Horn – yes; S. Ohm - yes; H. O’Nions - yes; and T. Markland – yes. Motion carried unanimously.

AUDIENCE TO PERSON’S SCHEDULED IN ADVANCE: The following parents and community members spoke at the meeting: Katie Casey, Mary Ekhoff, Doug Gore, Kristie/Nick Gore, Joelle Schneider, Clint Shilling, Nick McGraw and Kristi Wick. The consensus among the speakers was opposition to the Governor mandated mask mandate for all Illinois schools. They all expressed their concern for children wearing masks all day and would like the school board to reconsider making masks optional. Attorney Fester spoke afterwards regarding the legal/monetary ramifications for going against the mandate including losing state and federal funding, recognition status and possible revocation of teacher licenses’.

ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORTS: The administrators’ reports are attached. Dr. Maxwell added the senior parking spaces are all painted and the dual-credit classes with ONU start next week.

Superintendent: Dr. Palan’s report included:

1. ESSER III Funds are planned for the end of September and will be around $425,000.

2. The 2021 Audit was positive and the final report will be presented at the September or October meeting.

3. Supply inventory update – technology items that still have not arrived are STEM lab items and Promethean boards.

4. Enrollment has increased by about 24 students, mostly in the ES, since last year.

PRESENTATION OF TENTATIVE ANNUAL 2021-2022 BUDGET:

Dr. Palan reviewed the overall budget, as well as a review of the individual projected fund balances. The tentative budget is balanced at $5,879,120. The Transportation Fund is the only fund that shows a deficit but is offset by a surplus in Working Cash. Motion was made by S. Ohm, seconded by V. Gawlinski, to accept the tentative annual 2021-22 budget and place it on display in the district office for a minimum of thirty days. Roll Call: S. Ohm – yes; V. Gawlinski - yes; C. Horn - yes; J. Loitz – yes; D. Marshalek - yes; H. O’Nions - yes; and T. Markland - yes. Motion carried unanimously.

BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS:

President: Mr. Markland thanked everyone in the audience who participated in the meeting and also the staff that was in attendance.

Building and Grounds: The new GP lighted sign should arrive in one to two weeks. 

Technology: No report

Kankakee Area Special Education Co-op: No report, meeting will be held later this week. 

Kankakee Area Career Center: Area fire districts were represented at the last meeting to discuss adding EMT Training at the Career Center, possibly next year. Local departments are all in urgent need of more EMTs.

IASB-Three Rivers Division: No report

Chamber of Commerce: No report

Student Representatives: Not in attendance

Board Communications: None

COMMUNITY FORUM AND OTHER: There were no comments or questions from the audience.

ADJOURN:

Motion was made by J. Loitz, seconded by C. Horn, at 7:10 p.m. to adjourn. Voice vote, all yes. Motion carried unanimously.

https://grantparkdragons.org/documents/board/board-minutes/2020-21/boe_minutes_august_23_2021.pdf