RL Sohol was awarded the bid for the construction of a concessions and storage building at Coal City Middle School and the renovations of the maintenance buildings at Coal City High School and Intermediate School at a total cost of $2, 089,000.
Board members approved the purchase of scoreboards for the middle and high schools from Daktronics at a cost of $740,868.
Trotter Enterprises was selected for the demolition of the former district office on Biama Street at a cost of $34,485.
Advertising guidelines were presented to and approved by the Board. Additionally, members were presented with a draft of tiered sponsorship levels for their review.
At the recommendation of Jason Smith, the chief school business official, the Board approved entering into a builder’s risk policy at the cost of $9,200. The policy was secured as required additional insurance related to the large scale construction projects underway within the district.
The Board approved the status of the existing Hazardous Busing Area as presented and submission of the certification to the State Board of Education and Illinois Department of Transportation.
As required, the Board approved filing the quarterly drop out report with the Regional Office of Education for the quarter ending March 13.
Renewed membership in the Illinois High School Association [IHSA] was approved, as was continued membership in the Illinois Elementary School Association [IESA]. There is no cost for membership with the IHSA and IESA membership comes at a cost of $1,225 for the 2024-2025 school year.
The Board had a first reading on over 65 revised district policies.
Superintendent Chris Spencer provided the Board with a staffing update for the 2024-2025 school year.
Due to the current shortage of candidates in certain employment areas, the Superintendent, following consultation with the Board president and vice president, is authorized to offer employment contracts until July 2.
Resignations were accepted from substitute teacher Charissa Dehler effective March 22 and high school physical education teacher Rachel Novak effective May 29.
Pending satisfactory completion of all state requirements, the Board approved the employment of Kathryn Drey, eighth grade English/language arts teacher at the Middle School; Rebecca Himes, seventh grade English/language arts teacher at the Middle School; Brittany LeFevre, physical education teacher at the high school; Alicia Matusiak, business education teacher at the high school, and Todd Painter, kindergarten teacher at the Early Childhood Center for the 2024-2025 school year.
Employee transfers were approved for Jill Duffy from kindergarten teacher at the Early Childhood Center to first grade teacher at the Elementary School for one year; Joe Micetich from math teacher to industrial arts teacher at the high school; Jennifer Munsterman from middle school English/language arts at the Middle School to fourth grade teacher at the Intermediate School for one year; Kristen Srunga from reading specialist to first grade teacher at at the Early Childhood Center, and Tricia Togliatti from first grade teacher to reading specialist at the Early Childhood Center.
A 21-day leave request at the start of the 2024-2025 school year was accepted from middle school teacher Andrew Brimm.
Extra-curricular assignments were approved for Emily Halliday, sophomore girls basketball coach; Thomas Purcell, assistant freshman football coach; Alicia Matusiak, freshman volleyball coach, and Amber Ryle, football cheerleading sponsor.
The Board approved the starting support staff salary, as well as granted a 4 percent salary increase for support staff returning for the 2024-2025 school year. Support staff includes classroom and one-on-one aides, secretaries, health aides, library aides, food service and tech staff.
The Board recognized the Coal City Middle School Seventh Grade Volleyball team on its second place finish in the IESA Class 4A State Finals, members of the Coal City High School Wrestling Team that advanced to the Individual and Dual Team State Finals and the eight Coal City Middle School wrestlers that advanced to the IESA State Tournament.