Grundy Reporter

Gardner-South Wilmington High School #73 Board met Aug. 18.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT: Principal, Mr. John Engelman, reported on the following: 

• Update on first few days = Our first day went extremely well and we are off to a great start. Mr. Engelman has already met with 3 grade levels to go over rules and discuss expectations for the school year. He will meet with the remaining class tomorrow. 

DIRECTOR’S REPORT: Athletic Director, Mr. John Engelman, reported on the following: 

• IHSA update – As of now, masks are mandatory for indoor sports, which includes participants, coaches and fans. Fans are allowed for sporting events at all area schools. GSW will also have concessions this school year for our home games. 

BUILDING AND GROUNDS REPORT: Mr. Josh DeLong presented the following: 

• Café / kitchen update – We are just waiting on the finishing touches. The new café tables, restaurant style garbage cans and kitchen appliances are still on back-order. A special “thank you” to Wally Debelak for all of his hard work in the café & kitchen this summer and to Adam Leigh for running the summer crew again this year. 

• Baseball field/scoreboard update – After the Fall baseball season, work will begin on the field. We plan to bring in 20 tons of dirt to build the field back up, square up the infield lines, etc. We are also looking into either fixing/repairing the existing scoreboard or purchasing a new one. The scoreboard will be ready for the Spring 2022 baseball season. 

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT: Mr. DeLong presented on the following:  

• Return to School Plan – Mr. DeLong stated that he is very pleased with how the public, our parents and  students have handled the start of the school year. All students were compliant in regards to the mandatory mask mandate. 

• Mr. Delong attended the Illinois State Board of Education board meeting today, Aug. 18 at 10 am. He attended this meeting on our district's behalf to voice our displeasure with the lack of local control coming from ISBE. While the mask mandate is the biggest and newest mandate coming from ISBE there are several others concerns that continue to come from the State Board of Education that are an effort to undermine local control. 

• Use of ESSR Funds – GSW received $57,000 from the ESSR II and spend the money this year on custodial services and benefits, air purifiers for every classroom, new cafeteria tables and a new van. We also received money from the ESSR III fund. This money is to be spent over 3-years. We used this money for after school tutoring and to hire a paraprofessional. We are also needing to purchase 40 new chromebooks and a few new benches for our garden area in the front of the building. 

• Reunion – Panther Palooza being held at the Gardner American Legion on Saturday, September 11. They have asked to use our school parking lot and will shuttle people back and forth from the Legion building. We are going to open up our building from 12 noon until 3 PM for tours. We will also have GSW items and memorabilia for Silent Auction and extra yearbooks for sale ranging from the 1960s to  2020. 

• FY 2022 Tentative Budget Presentation – Mr. DeLong reviewed the “tentative budget” stating a projected deficit of $465,000. A majority of this is coming from special education and special education transportation. The Budget Hearing will be held next month on Wed, September 22 at 7:00 PM, before our Regular Monthly meeting.

ACTION ITEMS: 

• Accept Dallas Hensley Resignation as part-time Custodian 

• Hire Devin Tjelle as part-time Custodian 

• Affirm the purchase of a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica from Bill Walsh of Streator for $22,500 

• Approve the first reading of job descriptions for Custodial and Kitchen positions 

• Approve the first reading of Press Policy Update 107 

• Approve the changes to the Non-Certified employees contracts regarding paid holidays language 

• Public Hearing for the FY2022 Budget on September 22, 2021 at 7:00 PM 

• Regular September board meeting date change, change from September 15 to September 22, 2021 

• Approve the Horton Group’s Bid for Blue Cross/Blue Shield Insurance at an increase of 5% over last year. 

• Approve the termination of a Non-Certified staff member

https://www.gswhs73.org/vimages/shared/vnews/stories/53b4271773d6c/August%2018,%202021%20Board%20Briefs.pdf