LP Board Update -- March 16, 2022

During its Regular Board Meeting held on Wednesday, March 16, 2022 the Board of Education accomplished the following items.

  1. Approved the minutes of the February 23, 2022 Regular Meeting and the March 3, 2022 Emergency Meeting.
  2. Sparks presented the President’s Report, sharing that the Board gave Dr. Wrobleski an exemplary report in his annual evaluation.
  3. Jordyn McCoy and Allie Legrenzi presented the Student Ambassadors Report.
  4. The Renaissance Leadership Team recognized the Board of Education members for their efforts to support the students and staff of LPHS.
  5. Recognized state-qualifying student athletes and musicians: boys and girls bowling (Ethan Picco, Cameron Perra, Melveena Jordan, Christine Ricci, Annalise Ricci, Olivia Weber, Maria Pawlak, Isabella Weber, and Makenzie Hamilton) boys swimming (Joe Ovanic and Ryan Nelson), band and choir (Elisabeth Kamke, Ella Ware, Gabrielle Mosley, Shea Rathburn, Nora Maier, and Grace Eitutis), and wrestling (Connor Lorden) along with their coaches/teachers (Randy Gunia, Joe Zokal, Scott Blessman, Rob McNally, Matthew Butler, Jeremy Stevens, Mark Lorden, Hunter Holdcraft, Nolan Keeney, Matt Rebholz, Scott Weber and Jim McCabe).
  6. Approved monthly LP and ACC bills and financial statements.
  7. Received correspondence from the family of Mr. Dennis O’Keefe and the LP Foundation.
  8. Received TIF reimbursements from City of Peru -TIF II ($44,441.78), TIF III ($6,408.85), and TIF IV ($17,306.39) for a total of $68,157.02.
  9. Lynch presented the Programs Committee Report
  10. Sarver presented the Building & Grounds Committee Report
  11. Merboth presented the Finance Committee Report
  12. Wrobleski presented the Superintendent’s Report, sharing information on bringing the fun back to school for the remainder of the school year, all students returning to the Commons for lunch, FOIA requests, and the efforts of Mrs. Whalen to prepare for the FY ’23 Budget.
  13. Cushing presented the Principal’s Report, sharing information on recent and upcoming student celebrations that have been returning to normal formats and work by the SEL interventionist to develop specialized support groups for students.
  14. Le presented the Athletics & Activities Report, sharing information on winter sports accomplishments and beginning spring sports and activities.
  15. Mentgen presented the Director of the ACC Report, sharing information on the ACC Student of the Month, the search for a new aviation instructor, student attendance goals and an upcoming tiny house project.
  16. Baker presented the Director of Communication Report, sharing information on recent Communication Office activities, ticket sales for the upcoming spring musical, the LPHS Alumni Directory project, and the upcoming L-P Foundation Trivia Night on April 23.
  17. Approved awarding Valor Technologies the contract for the HLS #81 Main Academic Building Tunnel Project Asbestos Abatement Project for $55,000.00
  18. Approved awarding the Spear Corporation the contract for the Swimming Pool Equipment Replacement East Gymnasium Project contract for $91,931
  19. Approved awarding Liebhart Construction the contract for the Herbolsheimer Alumni Room Renovation Project contract for $126,555 (Base Bid A – Alumni Room Renovation: $113,000 and Alternate Bid No. 1 – Ceiling Mounted Projector and Drop-Down Screen: $13,555)
  20. Approved submitting HLS Amendment #83 – Main Building for Boiler House Masonry Restoration – $258,000
  21. Approved the Statement of Completion for Main Academic Building Amendment #79 (Locker Room Renovation)
  22. Approved the Statement of Completion for Main Academic Building Amendment #80 (Locker Room Renovation Additional Funding Request)
  23. Approved the Application for Occupancy for the East Gymnasium Amendment #18 (Lift Replacement)
  24. Approved the Statement of Completion for the East Gym Amendment #18 (Lift Replacement)
  25. Approved adopting the TRS Supplemental Savings Plan Resolution
  26. Approved the L-P Rugby Club Program Proposal
  27. Approved the 2022 Band Trip Proposal to New Orleans on June 27, 2022 thru July 1, 2022
  28. Approved the Hillmann Pediatric Therapy, P.C. Contract for the 2022-2023 school year
  29. Approved the 2021-2022 Intergovernmental Agreement with the City of LaSalle on the usage of the Rotary Park Baseball Field
  30. Approved the following appointments:
    1. Mr. Fidel Lopez, Volunteer Assistant Girls’ Soccer Coach, effective for the 2021-2022 school year
    2. Mr. Nick McGee, Volunteer Boys’ Track and Field Coach, effective for the 2021-2022 school year
    3. Mr. David Spudic, Volunteer Rugby Coach, effective for the 2021-2022 school year
    4. Mr. Fran Baker, Volunteer Rugby Coach, effective for the 2021-2022 school year
    5. Mr. Troy Terzick, Volunteer Rugby Coach, effective for the 2021-2022 school year
    6. Ms. Morgan Sarber, Volunteer Color Guard Sponsor, effective for the 2021-2022 school year
  31. Approved the following resignations:
    1. Mr. William Myers, Paraprofessional, effective the conclusion of the 2021-2022 school year
    2. Mr. Hollis Vickery, Head Girls’ Basketball Coach, effective the conclusion of the 2021-2022 school year
    3. Mr. Matthew Butler, Choral Director, effective the conclusion of the 2021-2022 school year
  32. Approved the following probationary certified staff reappointments for the 2022-2023 school year:
    1. Part-time status:
      1. Robbyn Partain, ACC Fire Science Teacher
      2. Zachary Koesler, ACC Computer Repair/Intro to Programming Teacher
      3. Zachary Zrust, Illinois Valley Entrepreneurial Opportunities (IVEO)
    2. First-year probationary teachers to be rehired as second-year probationary teachers:
      1. Cameron Mignone, Physical Ed/Health Teacher
      2. Jennifer Scoma, Family & Consumer Science Teacher
      3. Aaron Beale, Mathematics Teacher
      4. Ericka Tomminello, Special Ed Teacher
      5. Rebecca Fredericksen, Special Ed Teacher
      6. Maria (Mollie) Taylor, Special Ed Teacher
      7. Nicole Kowalczyk, Social-Emotional Learning Interventionist (SEL)
      8. Julia May, Special Ed Teacher
      9. Madeline Piller, Science Teacher (.5 year)
      10. Brandon Placher, High School Counselor (.5 year)
    3. Second-year probationary teachers to be rehired as third-year probationary teachers:
      1. Julie Jenkins, Art Teacher
      2. Brenda Carbajal, Spanish Teacher
      3. Jeremy Stevens, Band Director
      4. Betsy Sobin, Reading Specialist
    4. Third-year probationary teachers to be rehired as fourth-year probationary teachers:
      1. Addie Kostellic, English Teacher
      2. Andrew Nelson, Social Science Teacher
      3. Megan Mahaffey, School Social Worker
      4. Carol Navarro, Science Teacher
      5. Lori Johnson, ACC Child Care Teacher
      6. Scott Blessman, Physical Education Teacher
    5. Approved granting tenure to the following fourth-year teachers:
      1. Ms. Abigail Moskalewicz, Special Education Teacher (4.5 years)
      2. Mr. Patrick Goy, Physical Education Teacher
      3. Mrs. Michele Pacheco, School Social Worker
      4. Mrs. Meghan Barnes, Special Education Teacher
      5. Mr. Andrew Wiercinski, ACC/CTE Teacher
      6. Mrs. Lynne Pohar, ACC Health Occupations Teacher
      7. Mr. David Spudic, School Counselor
      8. Mrs. Carrie Christman, Physical Education Teacher
    6. Approved rehiring the following positions for the 2022-2023 school year:
      1. Mrs. Ingrid Cushing, Principal
      2. Mr. Dan Le, Athletic Director
      3. Mrs. April Eutis, Associate Principal for Student Support Services
      4. Mr. Chris Gibson, Associate Principal for Teaching and Learning
      5. Mr. Brian Shaver, Dean of Students
      6. Mrs. Lori Whalen, Business Manager
      7. Mr. Tim Tomminello, Director of Building and Grounds
      8. Mrs. Amy Williams, Director of Technology
      9. Mr. Scott Leonard, Technology Technician
      10. Mr. Russ Anderson, Help Desk Technician
      11. Mr. Matt Baker, Director of Communications
      12. Mrs. Marsha Anderson, Cafeteria Director
      13. Mrs. Sue Brooker, AAP Coordinator
      14. Mr. Jason Miller, part-time Activities Director
    7. Approved the following staff reduction-in-force for the 2022-2023 school year:
      1. Mrs. Katherine Baker, STEP Job Coach, due to financial consideration
      2. Ms. Kristen Koukol, Title I Reading ParaProfessional, due to financial consideration
    8. Approved hiring the summer 2022 buildings and ground temporary workers
    9. Approved the maternity leave request from Mrs. Nicole Kowalczyk (Social-Emotional Learning Interventionist) from approximately August 29, 2022, through the end of the first semester of 2022-2023. Will use accumulated sick days and Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) concurrently
    10. Approved the Varsity Baseball Team to participate in the Metro East Kickoff Invitational Tournament held in Southern Illinois on March 18th and 19th, 2022 with an overnight stay. The trip will be funded by the Booster Club
    11. Approved reviewing and retaining executive/closed session minutes of February 23, 2022 Rescheduled Regular meeting
    12. Approved the destruction of verbatim audio records from executive sessions held prior to October 1, 2020 per the Illinois Open Meetings Act, 5 ILCS 120 (August 19, 2020, September 8, 2020, and September 23, 2020)
    13. Approved the reassignment of Mr. Brian Shaver from Dean of Students to Associate Principal for School Safety, effective July 1, 2022 for the 2022-2023 school year (replaces Mr. Adam Kueltzo)
    14. Approved the appointment of Mrs. Beth Milby, ala carte line (3), effective March 17, 2022 (replaces Mrs. Jennifer Andrews)
    15. Approved a property tax appeal settlement agreement with Kohl’s.