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Chester BOE tables Cohen Complex agreement

Posted August 20, 2015 11:00 pm

By Pete Spitler Staff Writer

The intergovernmental agreement between the Chester District 139 Board of Education and the City of Chester is not quite ready.

During the BOE's meeting last Thursday, Interim Superintendent Bill Riley said the district's attorney, Barney Mundorf, and City Attorney Jeff Kerkhover are still working out the details.

Riley said Kerkhover had a concern about a previous Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant.

In 2010, the Chester City Council approved an OSLAD grant committee recommendation for sports lighting at the complex's softball fields.

The agreement, which would see the school district "lease" the Cohen Complex so that it can use sales tax funds on an infield renovation project at four fields, was tabled last week and was scheduled to be discussed during a special meeting of the board on Thursday.

In other action, the board approved a $1,400 "course fee" from Chester Country Club so that Chester High School's golf teams can use the facility during the school year.

Technology Coordinator Rich Clasen updated the board on the network infrastructure updates, which he said were 70 percent complete and would require two more weeks to finish.

"No major failures, but several problems," he said. "Most of them are small and can be easily fixed."

Clasen cited the Chester Grade School gym construction, new personnel, new intercom system and 30 new computers as reasons for the problems.

Chester High School Athletic Director Mike Coffey was unable to attend the meeting, but his report stated 160 CHS students - roughly half the student body - are participating in fall sports.

Riley requested that new CGS Athletic Director Dave Kaiser also attend future meetings and provide his own report.

CGS Principal Tim Lochhead gave his report, which included the responses he has received from parents and students regarding the new terrazzo, office and cafeteria.

"It was unbelievable to see their faces," he said. "It was a 'wow.'"

A date of the formal grand opening of the gym is still to be announced.

"The final coat of paint in the gym was put on (Thursday) with a second coat (Friday)," he said. "They'll let it cure for a week and then the bleachers will be put in.

"It's still TBA on the grand opening due to any problems putting the bleachers in."

Lochhead also said the new bell and intercom systems are still a work in progress. Students had their first day of school last Thursday.

"Some rooms worked, others didn't," Lochhead said, referring to the intercom system.

CHS Principal Dr. Sarah Gass said she hopes the board will allow Freshman Academy to return to a three or four-day event next year.

The event was scaled back to two days this year due to several new teachers at the high school.

Gass said a survey of students who attended the academy showed a 100 percent recommendation to future CHS freshmen. She added that 47 percent of the students said their favorite presentation was on internet safety.

In his superintendent's report, Riley said renovation of the science rooms at both CHS and CGS is at the top of the district's wish list of improvements.

A pre-bid meeting will be held in December, with a bid meeting in January. Work is expected to start in June of next year.

Riley said the district's snowplow, a 1988 model year truck, needs to be replaced and said it was a good decision for the district to handle snow removal itself rather than contract it out.

A matter that wasn't on the agenda, but approved, was a motion to approve a stipend for the district executive secretary and the district accounts/payroll administrator in the amount of $100 each pay period until June 30, 2016.

There are 24 pay periods during the fiscal year, making the total amount $2,400 each. After the meeting, President Mitch Hammel explained the board's reasoning to the media.

"There may be weeks Bill or Rick (Goodman) may be in the office one day, two days, three days a week," Hammel said, citing the 100-day limit for the two interim superintendents. "Basically right now, we have four interim superintendents in the office counting the two secretaries because they're going to have to be running the office.

"We had talked with (former Superintendent) Chris Diddlebock, myself and Bill and we decided we needed to compensate the two women for this. We came up with $100 per pay period for one year."

Hammel said the district is paying $100,000 combined for Riley and Goodman, while saving $40,000 from Diddlebock's resignation.

"We figured we'd take that $4,800 from what we're saving from Chris's salary," Hammel said. "Therefore, we're still saving the district $35,000."

Hammel said the $40,000 will be put back in next year as the district will have a full-time superintendent.

"We can't get rid of all that money because come next year when we hire a new superintendent, we may need to pay a new superintendent a little bit more," he said.

Roundup:

The BOE reviewed and approved the past six months of executive session minutes.

The BOE approved Kids Community Bible Study Group's request for use of the CGS cafeteria on Mondays after school from Oct. 19 through Nov. 16.

The BOE approved the advertisement of basketball backboards as surplus inventory, with a silent auction to take place.

The BOE approved the 2015-16 tentative district budget to be placed on file for public inspection. A budget hearing date of Sept. 24 was set.

The BOE accepted a bread bid from Bimbo Bakeries for $1.75 per package for whole grain white bread and whole grain wheat bread. The bid includes $1.97 per package for whole grain wheat hamburger buns, $2.62 per package for whole grain wheat hot dog buns and $1.97 for Italian steak rolls.

The BOE approved an agreement with Chester Chrysler Center for a driver's education vehicle at $389 per month.

The BOE approved Dale Wahl as CGS volunteer assistant softball coach.

The BOE approved Mark Surman as CGS volunteer assistant softball coach.

The BOE approved employing Denise Andrews as bus monitor/aide for two and a quarter hours per day on the morning PEP bus at $9 per hour.

The BOE approved employing Lucy Phillips as bus monitor/aide for two and a quarter hours on the afternoon PEP bus at $9 per hour.

The BOE approved employing Christa Howie as 12-month CGS secretary at $12.48 per hour starting Aug. 31.

The BOE approved a 2.38 percent salary increase for non-certified personnel.

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