NORMAL – Normal’s Unit 5 School Board approved a proposed restructuring of administrative staff at its regular meeting at the district office on Feb. 27.
The district will add four new positions: Director of Operations, New Construction Coordinator, Director of Human Resources For Training, and Financial Analyst.
The new positions came at the suggestion of consultants from Bloomington-based Custom Training Services, who conducted interviews with 55 district staff members in November.
In addition to findings presented to the district by CTS, sexual misconduct allegations brought against a former Unit 5 teacher, Jon White, prompted the review of how the district screens new hires.
White has pleaded guilty to abusing two girls while teaching at Unit 5 in 2004 and 2005. He has also pleaded guilty to abusing nine more girls after he left Unit 5 to teach in Urbana until he was arrested in January 2007.
Unit 5 District Superintendent Gary Niehaus brought the proposed staff changes to the board after he received CTS’ findings.
“We have an obligation to students, staff, parents, and, in light of the Jon White situation, (an obligation to) faculty,” Niehaus said. “We have to work harder on screening (potential new employees).”
The board voted 6-1 to approve the administrative changes proposed with board member Mark Pritchett voted against the recommendation.
Pritchett said that while he was throwing his support behind Unit 5’s need to make such changes, he was concerned about whether the district could handle the financial costs involved.
“I struggle with where the finances (to pay for the changes) are going to come from,” Pritchett said after the meeting.
Pritchett said Unit 5 could potentially need to hire new teachers as well as new hires for the four proposed new jobs. He said he “does not totally understand” where revenue for hiring new teachers and making the new administrative positions a reality will come from.
Contract With Insurance Consultant Approved: Board members unanimously approved a three-year contract worth $58,800 with Bushue Human Resources, Inc., based in Effingham. The firm will handle bids for insurance needs of the district, explained Niehaus.
Bushue’s first assignment will be to accept and analyze bids from insurance companies for the district’s property and casualty insurance needs. That bill will be due on July 1.
Van Gundy Insurance, based in Normal, handles Unit 5’s workers’ compensation claims. Niehaus said money to pay Bushue Human Resources, Inc. will come out of the district’s Education fund.
Preparations For Portable Classrooms Approved: With portable classrooms coming to Grove, Northpoint, and Prairieland Elementary Schools, board members approved electrical and other needed work to be done to get the temporary facilities ready.
Board members unanimously approved paying $52,650 to Bloomington-based Illinois Prairie Electric, Inc. and $102,110 to Peoria-based Bishop Brothers Construction for installation of the temporary facilities.
In January, the board unanimously approved the purchase of four modular classroom units for Grove, Northpoint, and Prairieland Elementary Schools. Each structure has two classrooms per unit. At that time, John Pye, Assistant Superintendent of Operations and Human Resources, told the board the lease agreed to with Jim’s Mobile Offices, based in Marion, Ill., will run for three years at a cost to Unit 5 of $28,000.
Board Member Briggs Thanked: Board members thanked veteran board member Gail Ann Briggs for her efforts in getting the district’s $96.7 million construction referendum passed in early February.
Three of the four members of the committee which spearheaded a campaign to get the referendum passed – Catherine Bean, Steve Watts, and Carl Teichman – thanking her for her efforts, presenting her with a plaque commemorating her efforts. The fourth member of the committee, Sally Pyne, was unable to attend the meeting.
Briggs was, at first, speechless, but emotional as she accepted the honor. She first mouthed a “thank you” then publicly thanked the committee for the honor.
Briggs told board members she based the success of the referendum’s passage on being “a superb effort on the part of a lot of people. I appreciate the confidence people had in my working with an outstanding team.”
Briggs, who has been a board member since first being elected in 1977, was visibly moved with the presentation.
Following the meeting, Briggs said that, as results of the vote were coming in on election night, she got wind of the possibility of her being honored for her efforts regarding the campaign.
She said she told Niehaus that her participation on behalf of the referendum was done in a volunteer capacity, and not as an official school board member.
Unit 5 Approaching A Milestone: During the meeting’s closing comments, Briggs announced that Unit 5 would be approaching a milestone on July 1, by turning 60 years old.