Wabash District #348 November Board Agenda

WABASH COMMUNITY UNIT SCHOOLS BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING

MT. CARMEL GRADE SCHOOL LIBRARY

Monday, November 14, 2022

Regular Board Meeting- 7:00 P.M.

Agenda

1. Call to order / Roll call

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Consent Agenda

a. Board Minutes i. October 17, 2022 Regular Meeting

b. Monthly Bills

c. Financial Reports

d. Correspondence

e. Administrative Reports

4. Visitors

a. Kim Mandrell and Senior Band Students

b. Coach Syreeta Willis and Senior Volleyball Athletes

5. Superintendent’s Comments

6. Public Comments

7. Executive Session pursuant to Section 2(c)(1) of the Open Meetings Act: “The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees”.

8. New Business

a. Tax Levy 2022 Payable in 2023

b. FY23 School Maintenance Grant

c. Resolution declaring the intention to issue $2,200,000 Working Cash Fund Bonds of the District for the purpose of increasing the Working Cash Fund of the District, and directing that notice of such intention be published in the manner provided by law.

d. Employment of Personnel

9. Adjournment

City Cracking Down On Ordinance Violations

Mt. Carmel City Attorney Brady Waldroup reported to the city council recently that he has met with city manager Ryan Turner and public works director Mike Gidcumb regarding ordinance violations around the city. Waldroup said a number of dangerous and unsafe structures were identified and the interested parties are being contacted to make sure the property is brought up to code and made safe. Other ordinance violations that don’t require court action have also been identified according to Waldroup. Notices are being sent to the violators with hopes the issue is rectified before the city has to take further action.   

Wabash County Public Defender Announces Retirement

Wabash County will soon need a new public defender. James Lane, who has been the public defender the last several years, is retiring at the end of this month. Lane served in a part-time capacity, but one of the provisions of Illinois’ new Safe-T Act that goes into effect January 1st, Wabash County, and all other counties in the state, will have to have a full-time public defender. Plus, the public defender must be accessible seven days a week. At Monday’s county commissioner meeting, state’s attorney Kelli Storckman indicated the topic may be brought up at next week’s recessed commissioner meeting which is set for Monday at 4pm. 

Veterans Day Observances Planned

Tomorrow is Veterans Day, which is a federal holiday. All banks, post offices, Wabash County Courthouse, and Mt. Carmel City Hall, and most other government offices will be closed.

The Wabash County Veterans Day observance is set for 11 tomorrow morning at the VFW with Army veteran Dean Bromm the featured speaker.

Also tomorrow, Canadian Consul General Aaron Annable and Lt. Colonel Rob Christie of the Royal Canadian Air Force will be in Mt. Carmel tomorrow for a wreath laying ceremony at Rose Hill Cemetery. The wreath will be placed on the grave of Captain Bellenden Hutcheson at 10am. Captain Hutcheson is a recipient of the Victoria Cross for his service in the Canadian armed forces during World War 1 and a son of Mt. Carmel. Consul General Annable will be in Mt. Carmel tomorrow to honor Captain Hutcheson on Veterans Day for his service to Canada.  

County Board Holds Short Election Eve Meeting

Wabash County Commissioners held a brief election eve meeting yesterday afternoon. In addition to approving bills to be paid, commissioners acted on just a couple of items.

The first was approving a request from the Wabash County Chamber of Commerce for $1,000 from the county’s hotel-motel tax for next month’s Christmas parade and other scheduled Christmas activities. In addition, up to another $500 was approved to pay for out of town marching bands that may appear in the parade.

The other approval was for a special use permit liquor license from Rosati’s for the WVC Foundation Crystal Ball scheduled for March 18th.

Yesterday’s meeting was recessed until next Monday at 4pm at which time the county’s budget will be presented for the first time. The county’s fiscal year ends November 30th and the proposed budget must be on public display at least 14 days before that date.

Canadian Official To Lay Wreath Friday At Rose Hill Cemetery

The Consulate General of Canada in Chicago is inviting the Wabash County community to join Consul General Aaron Annable and Lt. Col. Rob Christie, Royal Canadian Air Force  by laying of a wreath on Captain Bellenden Hutcheson grave on Friday November 11th at 10am in Rose Hill Cemetery in Mt.Carmel, IL .

Captain Bellenden Hutcheson, recipient of the Victoria Cross for his service in the Canadian armed forces during WWI and a son of Mt. Carmel. Consul General Annable would like to honor Captain Hutcheson on Veterans Day for his service to Canada. Everyone is invited to attend.

Election Day Is Tuesday; Illinois Polls Open 6am-7pm

THE SEEMINGLY NEVER-ENDING CAMPAIGN SEASON FINALLY ENDS TOMORROW WITH ELECTION DAY. POLLS IN ILLINOIS WILL BE OPEN FROM 6AM TO 7PM. THE WABASH COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE WILL BE OPEN TODAY FOR ONE LAST DAY OF EARLY VOTING IF YOU CAN’T MAKE IT TO THE POLLS TOMORROW. NO REASON IS NECESSARY TO VOTE EARLY.

LOCALLY, THERE ARE NO CONTESTED LOCAL RACES FOR COUNTY CLERK, SHERIFF, AND TREASURER. AFTER TOMORROW’S ELECTION, COUNTY CLERK JANET WILL WILL BE THE LONE DEMOCRATIC OFFICE HOLDER IN WABASH COUNTY. DEMOCRATIC COUNTY TREASURER BEVERLY MCBRIDE IS RETIRING AND THE ONLY CANDIDATE ON THE BALLOT TO REPLACE HER IS REPUBLICAN ANGELA BREWSTER.

ALSO, A REMINDER THAT TOMORROW IS A STATE HOLIDAY IN ILLINOIS AS ALL STATE OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED AND THAT MEANS THERE’S NO SCHOOL TOMORROW IN WABASH COUNTY SCHOOLS.

 

ILLINOIS STATE POLICE MAKES ARRESTS AFTER THREATS AT PANA HIGH SCHOOL

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 4 has arrested two juveniles for threats of violence at Pana High School.

 On Wednesday, November 2, 2022, ISP DCI Zone 4 responded to Pana High School after school officials were notified of a threatening message in a bathroom stall.  On Thursday, November 3, 2022, a second threatening message was found in a bathroom stall.  The second message was separate from the threat found the previous day.

 After a thorough investigation, ISP identified two separate juveniles believed to be responsible for each of the unrelated threatening messages.  Christian County States Attorney Wes Poggenpohl has approved one count of Disorderly Conduct Threat of Violence, a Class 4 Felony, for each of the juvenile suspects. 

 ISP takes threats of school violence seriously and individuals found responsible for making such threats will be held accountable for their actions.  ISP thanks Pana High School, Pana Police Department, Christian County Sheriff’s Office, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Illinois Secretary of State Police, Pana Fire & EMS, Echo Response EMS, and all other involved police and fire departments for their quick response to ensure the safety of Pana High School students.

 No further information will be released concerning the identities of the subjects since they are juveniles.

Last Day For Chamber Banquet Reservations

The business event of the year is coming up on Tuesday night, November 15th as the Wabash County Chamber of Commerce host its’ annual banquet. 2022 marks the 75th anniversary for the chamber and executive director Lesley Hipsher says this year’s banquet will be special for a couple of reasons…

 

In addition to the business of the year, the Retail Merchants Committee will also hand out its’ employee of the year award. This year’s chamber banquet will be held at the Anderson Building at the Mabel Courter Youth Center.