January 2023

OLMC School Board Meeting

January 17, 2023

 

Present: Jason Swann, Fr. Mark Reyling, Dr. Amanda Brazis, Liz Lively, Scott Stefan, Liz Isler, Maria Deaton, Sarah Hagler, Dr. Josua Miksanek, Marlyn Cairatti, Kent Ingersoll, Catalina Huerta, Jamie Burris, and Mary Bondioli

 Dr. Brazis called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. Fr. Mark led the board in prayer.

 School Committee Report:

·         Kent Ingersoll reported that there were still a number of raffle tickets out. Tickets will be sold at all        the Masses this weekend and people are still being encouraged to sell more. When asked, Kent said        about $19,000 has been deposited so far. Although far from the goal of $60,000, the profit already           surpasses the profit from calendar sales last year.

·         Mardi Gras will be February 21^st. The meal will be dine in, carry out, and delivery within a limited        number of miles.

·         Catholic Schools Week will kick off with a Children’s Mass at 11:00 on Sunday, January 29^th.

·         May 19^th is the golf scramble.

Principal’s Report:

·         Spring semester is going well. The teachers are doing a great job.

·         The Empower Illinois Sunset was not removed so it will remain in place until July,2024.

·         The new 4^th grade teacher, Claire Borbath, is working out well. She is highly motivated and has no        concerns about getting the class caught up to where they should be by the end of the year.

·          The Accreditation “in school” date has been rescheduled for March 30. The Handbook has been            approved and Jason believes all documentation has been completed.

·         A parish/school inquiry e-mail address has been set up: parishinquiry4OLMC @olmcschool.net

·         Thursday, January 19^th is 8^th grade night for basketball.

·         March 23^rd, 5:30 -6:30p.m. will be Kindergarten Round-up.

Marlyn Cairatti moved to change the title of the School Board By-Laws from Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Regional School. The motion was approved.

Dr. Miksanek said a parent had contacted him regarding too little time allowed for changing of classes in the Jr. High, The principal indicated that the time is more controlled than last year but believes it is ample time. The parent is welcome to call him if there is a specific problem regarding this student.

Liz Lively mentioned that several sub committees of the School Board had been set up last year. She wondered whether those committees were meeting and whether new board members had been put on those committees. She mentioned that the Mission Effectiveness Committee has been meeting regularly and had been involved in several parish events in the past year with the purpose of bringing parishioners together. Jason indicated that reestablishing committees is on his agenda for the coming months.

Maria Deaton commented that the Soft Lock Down that was necessary recently had been communicated well to the parents. She thought it would be a good idea to again inform parents of the difference between a Soft Lock Down vs a Hard Lock Down as some had questioned her about that. Jason agreed to do that and also commented that the teachers did an amazing job of continuing to move forward with their class activities in such a way that the students were not aware of the potential situation.

Liz Lively moved to approve the December minutes. Motion was approved.

 

Pastor’s Report:

·         Father’s retreat went well.

·         The Mass server training with 4^th graders will be starting soon.

·         February 9, 6:00 p.m. will be the Parent Meeting for students scheduled to receive Reconciliation           and First Communion this spring. First Reconciliation will be March 9 at 6:00.

·         January 28/29^th there will be a TEC Retreat in Cabrini.

·         Fr. Brian Barker is on sabbatical until May 16^th.

·         February 3^rd will be Blessing of the Throats after the All-School’s Mass.

·         February 4-5 Girl Scouts will be selling cookies after Masses.

·         June 3^rd will be Fr. Mark’s Jubilee Mass at 4:00.

·         Father brought up a point for the board to think about. “When someone new moves into our area,           how do they know we (parish and school) are here?” Brief comments followed indicating the St.           Mary School signs need to be replaced, new signs needed at the entrances to Herrin, brochures               and/or window decals to be distributed.

Jason indicated that a Strategic Marketing Plan for our school will be presented at the February meeting for comments.

 Also, the Principal Evaluation forms will be given out at the February meeting.

 Next meeting will be THURSDAY, February 16^th.

 Fr. Mark led the board in the Our Father.

 Liz Issler moved to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned.

 Mary Bondioli

December 2022

 OLMC School Board Meeting

December 20, 2022

Present: Jason Swann, Fr. Mark Reyling, Dr. Amanda Brazis, Leigh Bedokis-Gusta, Barry Vesciglio-VanAcker, Liz Isler, Maria Deaton, Sarah Hagler, Scott Stefan, Dr. Josua Miksanek, Kent Ingersoll, Catalina Huerta, Jamie Burris, and Mary Bondioli

The meeting was called to order at 6:10 p.m. by Dr. Brazis. Fr. Mark led the board in prayer.

School Committee Report – Kent Ingersoll said the raffle tickets have been sent home and will be sold through January 13^th. Initially, it was reported the tickets would be sold until March 3^rd but the date has been changed so as to not interfere with Mardi Gras fundraising.

Principal’s Report:

·         “We made it!” through the first half of the school year.

·         The Empower Illinois Act passed the legislative session in Springfield but is likely to come up again in the “lame duck” session at the end of the year. Some public-school unions and lobbyists are not in favor of the program.

·         Ms. Casey will not be returning to our school next semester. A new 4^th grade teacher has been hired. She is Claire Borbath from northern Illinois who does have experience at this grade level. An announcement will be sent to parents after Christmas.

·         Jason also asked that the board keep things discussed at the board meeting low until the meeting minutes are posted.

Leigh motioned to approve the November minutes, seconded by Scott Stefan and the motion was approved.

Jason requested approval of the Absenteeism and Truancy Policy which had been sent to board members prior to the meeting. This policy is required by the ISBE and is uniform in the diocesan schools. Liz Isler motioned to accept the policy and Maria Deaton seconded. The motion was approved and will be part of the handbook in the future.

Pastor’s Report:

·         Fr. Mark made it through all six classes of confessions.

·         Father will be on a Diocesan Retreat the first week of January.

·         Catholic Schools Week will be the last week of January going into February.

·         An Anniversary Dinner is being planned for February 18^th after the 5:30 p.m. Mass.

·         Repairs of the gym roof have been scheduled to begin soon.

·         Plans are to tuckpoint the gym ceiling in 2024.

The next board meeting will be January 24^th at 6:00 p.m.

Leigh Gusta motioned to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Maria Deaton.

Jason expressed appreciation to the board members for their service. Thanks was also expressed to Dr. Brazis for providing dinner from Louie’s P&R.

Mary Bondioli

November 2022

 OLMC School Board Meeting

November 15, 2022

Present: Jason Swann, Fr. Mark Reyling, Dr. Amanda Brazis, Liz Lively, Mary Bondioli, Liz Isler, Maria Deaton, Sarah Hagler, Marlyn Cairatti, Jamie Burris, and Kent Ingersoll. Absent: Leigh Bedokis- Gusta, Barry Vesciglio-VanAcker, Scott Stefan, Dr. Josua Miksansek, and Catalina Huerta.

The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Dr. Brazis. Fr. Mark led the board in prayer.

School Committee report by Kent Ingersoll:

·        OLMC raffle tickets will go home next week and be sold until March 3^rd. The prize drawing will be held at the first fish fry.

·        Mardi Gras committee will start meeting next week. Plans are to create some new games and ideas, some with older students in mind.

·        This is the last year that Liz Bokerman will chair the Dinner Auction committee so a volunteer will be needed for that position for next year.

·        If the raffle is very successful, it is hoped that in the future, only three major fundraisers would be needed - cash raffle, Mardi Gras, and the Dinner Auction.

Principal’s Report:

·        The school, especially the Junior High, has been hit hard by the flu.

·          Sister Paulette is out on retreat this week.

·        There are still lingering 4^th grade issues to be addressed later.

·        Overall, the morale of the school and faculty is good.

·        The official date for accreditation has been set for March 7^th.   Visitors will be in the school all that day. Faculty is working on curriculum mapping and checking that all student files are complete and accurate. If at the time of the accreditation report, there are any discrepancies to be addressed, there is a time period allowed to rectify any issues.

·        The FACTS letters did go out and at this time there is only one family not in compliance and the principal is working with them currently.

Liz Isler moved to approve the October 18^th board meeting minutes. Liz Lively seconded and the motion was approved.

Pastor’s Report:

·        Mass on Thanksgiving Day will be at 8:00 a.m. Participants are asked to bring food for the Herrin Pantry as their offering.

·        Advent will begin on November 27^th.

·        Feast of the Immaculate Conception is December 8^th with an 8:30 Mass that morning and 5:30 Mass the evening before.

·        There will be an Advent Penance Service at 2:00 on December 11 at Holy Spirit Church (Carterville) with three priests available for Reconciliation. (The Lenten Penance Service will be in Herrin.)

·        Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass will be on December 12^th.

·        On December 18^th there will be a Carol Sing-a-long at the church at 2:00 with the church choir leading and all invited to sing-a-long.

·        Christmas masses will be at 5:30 and 10 p.m. on Christmas Eve and 10:00 on Christmas Day in Herrin.

·        Bishop McGovern has asked Fr. Mark to consider getting his Canon Law Degree. This would involve four years of classes and work, much of it on line, and then probably an assignment in the Belleville area when completed.

The next School Board meeting is scheduled for 6:00 on December 20^th. Location will be determined later.

Fr. Mark led the board in a closing prayer.

The meeting was adjourned.

Principal Swann requested the board meet in Executive session.