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Chester BOE recognizes LGBTQ group

Posted November 17, 2015 10:00 pm

By Pete Spitler Staff Writer

Chester High School has its newest club and a precedent has been set.

In a 4-1 vote, with board members Dan Colvis and Jamie Eggemeyer voting "present" and board member Troy Clendenin voting "no," the Chester District 139 Board of Education officially recognized Diversity Alliance at Chester High School on Tuesday.

The LGBTQ student-led group is intended to be a group for lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning students in which they can have a safe place to socialize.

It is believed to be the first such group at a public high school in Randolph County.

Sparta High School has a gay-straight alliance, which allows for LGBTQ students and straight students to support each other.

"I am so glad that I have been given this opportunity and I really feel this is a step in the right direction toward making students feel more safe and accepted," said Ashley Wagner, CHS student and Diversity Alliance founder.

Most of the board members cited the Equal Access Act of 1984 as the reasoning behind their decisions.

In September, Board Attorney Barney Mundorf advised the BOE in a two-page memo that under the Act, the district cannot legally prevent the formation of the group.

"Yes, the board is required by law to allow students to initiate and form their own Gay-Straight Alliance club (or similar club)," Mundorf wrote. "Further, if students form such a club, then the district must grant the student-led club equal access to district facilities and on-campus speech rights as other non-sponsored student organizations."

The only limitation is that the BOE is not required to pay a stipend or any compensation to any of the club's adult sponsors.

Prior to voting, Colvis stated the topic was against his personal beliefs and Clendenin responded with an emphatic "no," while saying that he feels it is wrong of the federal government to "force the issue onto school districts."

Interim Superintendent Bill Riley told the Herald Tribune after the meeting that the topic received little discussion during the board's usual executive session.

"Nothing," he said. "We did not go to executive session at all for that, no."

Riley credited Mundorf for "explaining all the laws of the land" during the board's September meeting, which included an executive session to "discuss pending litigation."

"He was telling (the board) what they had a legal right to do and we had taken an oath of office to uphold what the laws are," Riley said.

Riley said the next step for Diversity Alliance is establishing meeting times.

"They're just like every other club," he said. "They can organize and set up a plan with the principal (Dr. Sarah Gass) with acceptable times to meet.

"They have to follow the same rules just like the other clubs do."

The board also spent a significant chunk of the meeting discussing gym availability and the Southern Illinois Volleyball Association (SILVA)'s request to use the new Chester Grade School gym for club team practice on Sundays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Adam Gibbs and SILVA director, and CHS head volleyball coach, Chad Koenegstein spoke to the board in support of the gym's use.

Gibbs also addressed some criticisms he had received about the organization, including that it isn't a Chester-specific club and that it takes away from other sports.

He noted that the majority (40 percent) of the club team players are from Chester, with 20 percent from Steeleville and 10 percent each from Trico and Red Bud.

"You won't find a team that's town-specific," Gibbs said. "There's always a mix."

In regard to the club taking time away from other sports, Gibbs said there is some overlap with girls basketball and softball in the club schedule.

"We make it clear to our girls that school sports come first," Gibbs said. "That includes practices."

The board later approved SILVA's request for a six-month period, with the impression that the organization can return to the board at the conclusion of those six months and renew its request.

During the board presentations portion of the meeting, the board heard from district auditor Bob Moore - who informed the board that the district overspent on the CGS gymnasium project by $640,000.

"It's almost a building built by change order," Moore said.

Moore said the multitude of change orders on the project made it difficult to audit and claimed that the board meeting minutes did not specify which ones were approved and which weren't.

"To me, every change order should be approved in the minutes and most weren't," he said.

Moore said the original cost of the project, made possible through a $4.4 million Illinois Jobs Now! grant from the Capital Development Board, was $4.85 million - with the remaining funds coming from the district.

That amount was later extended to $5.87 million and after change orders were factored in, total cost came to more than $6.5 million at a cost of $2.162 million to the district.

"There were opportunities to expand (the project) and it was done," said Interim District Superintendent Bill Riley, who later brought up that the parking lot had to be resurfaced for $91,000 after excessive rainfall weakened the base underneath.

Moore asked Riley about insurance on the new facility.

"Are they going to insure it for its value? We won't know until January or February," he said.

Prior to the regular meeting, the board held a public hearing regarding a proposed waiver application to allow the district to permit non-resident students of district employees to attend district schools for free.

In explaining the process to the audience, Riley said the waiver would go to the General Assembly for discussion and voting during the spring 2016 session.

If approved, the waiver would take effect in late summer and would be good for five years with an "indefinite number" of renewal options.

"The entire packet, who all spoke at the meetings and anything written would go in (to the application," Riley said. "We'll see what happens from there."

Riley later added that the students will be eligible for IHSA activities and the state aid that comes with every student would be calculated at the Chester rate.

Roundup

• The board set a hearing date of Dec. 15 to determine the 2015 tax levy to be payable in 2016

• The board, after a brief discussion, decided to table an action item relating to reseeding the football field at Chester High School in order to receive more information.

• The board approved surplus inventory as submitted, with sealed bids to be received at its next board meeting.

• The board approved the fiscal year 2015 audit report.

• The board approved the 2016 Board of Education regular meeting dates.

• The board approved a $1,290.14 change order to Brown Electric for additional charges relating to popcorn machine hookup and additional smoke detectors at CGS.

• The board approved submitting the application to the Illinois State Board of Education for the tuition waiver.

• The board approved the first reading of several board policies.

• The board approved Craig Mitchell as CHS assistant softball coach.

• The board approved Jackie Cushman as 5th/6th grade boys basketball coach.

• The board approved Charles Colvis as 5th/6th grade girls basketball coach.

• The board approved Dan Colvis as CHS volunteer softball coach.

• The board approved Billy Belton as 7th/8th grade girls volunteer basketball coach.

• The board approved Shawn Seymore as 6th grade girls volunteer basketball coach.

• The board approved Kody Stueve as 5th grade boy volunteer basketball coach.

• The board approved a resignation request of CHS paraprofessional Annette Draves effective at the end of the 2019-2020 school year, taking advantage of the 6 percent retirement incentive.

• The next regular meeting of the board of education is scheduled for Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. It is open to the public.

Superintendent's Report

• Riley gave an update on the removal of the spilled adhesive that is stuck to the bricks and the parking lot at the rear of CGS. The brick area will be sandblasted and re-tuck pointed, while the affected parking lot area will be seal coated with new striping.

The district has been withholding $58,000 in payments to Baysinger Architects until the mess is cleaned up.

"I've looked at it, architects have been here, (CGS Principal) Mr. (Tim) Lochhead has been here and we feel it is an acceptable plan," Riley said.

On the superintendent search, the board established four dates - Dec. 8, 10, 12 and 14 for the first round of interviews with six candidates for the open position. Dec. 12 and 14 and the preferred dates, with the others as alternates.

"I don't know who these people are," Riley told the board regarding the candidates. "I won't know before you know."

Principals Reports

• CGS Athletic Director/Assistant Principal Dave Kaiser reported to the board on the results of recent parent-teacher conferences, the school's Halloween assembly and $465 raised through the school's "Positive Give Back to the Community" program held on Nov. 10 to benefit Donna Jany, among other topics.

• CHS Principal Dr. Sarah Gass reported to the board on School Counselor Franciene Sabens being recently honored by the ASCA as the state's representative to the 2016 Student Counselor of the Year recognition ceremony at the White House, E-waste Recycling Day, parent-teacher conferences, parking lot safety and a change in tracking attendance numbers at CHS, among other topics.

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