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School board approves security contract for MS, HS
The Riverton School Board met at 6 p.m. May 10. Scott McClure was not in attendance. They approved the regular and closed session minutes from the April 12 meeting, both
6-0, as well as the treasurer’s, revenue and expenditure reports by the same vote. The prevailing wage ordinance, an annual requirement, was also approved unanimously.
There were two questions on payment of bills, regarding the RSC equipment rental of $1052 and $800 for lighting repair at the HS; these were both necessary expenditures,
and approved 6-0. Bill Geiger, maintenance and grounds director, stated it may cost $5K to completely correct the lighting, as it involves a control board and software in the new
building section.
Under “Communications,” Mrs. Julie Klebe asked the board to consider holding meetings at a different location due to parking availability. The meetings are held at one of the
district’s other buildings when larger crowds are expected, and Paul Nonneman, board president, stated this is something that has come up.
A letter from Phil Pinney to the board was mentioned; he complimented the high school for hosting the Illinois Masonic Academic Bowl recently.
At 6:09 p.m. Julie Timm, Beth Held, Heather Ethell and Jamie Selinger, school district staff, began a presentation on MAP data.This involves reading scores for grade levels K-
10, and the percentage up or down the scores represented. (Students in grades 11 and 12 do not take MAP tests). These were reviewed. It was noted that “expected change”
in score percentage is based on national norms. All of the results were positive. Supt. Mulligan stated the district is “getting a lot better at using data to drive change” and they
will also be looking at results from PLAN, PSAE and ISAT.
Information on reading continued, with predicting, summarizing, connecting, questioning, inferring and imaging, which are all part of the district’s comprehensive strategies in
teaching students to be more effective readers. Activities undertaken in the district’s buildings along these lines were also reviewed. An instructional calendar for 2010-11 has
been developed, as well as goals for FY11, which includes a walk-through training for administrators. Supt. Mulligan mentioned a grant possibility, which will be more
discussed during the June school board meeting. Overall, they are excited about improvements. The presentation concluded at 6:47.
Administrative reports began with the elementary school’s. Mrs. Binegar will return from maternity leave at the end of this month. Mrs. Fraase, assistant principal, stated she
had interviewed candidates and believes Ms. Ashley Pallante should be recommended for the fourth grade position. As far as the Pre-K situation, the state legislature left
without passing a budget, and that continues to hold up position assignments, noted Mulligan. He believes Pre-K will be funded at 75 percent of what it was; it’s in the governor’
s proposal for Illinois schools, but “we’ll see what happens.”
Fred Lamkey, middle school principal, covered the recent open house in his report; it seemed to be well attended.
Chris Koerwitz, transportation director and assistant middle school principal, was asked by Larry Patterson about his transition to Activities/Athletic Director. It’s “going along,”
responded Koerwitz, and reported that he, Joni Marsh and Janice Hamende had recently trained on a software-based program for school event scheduling. It is through Illinois
High School Sports, allows people to sign up for free, and is accessed by typing in a ZIP code, which will allow viewing of everything going on in the district. People can also
sign up to have texts or e-mails sent to them regarding events/games’ cancellations or locations are changed, as a timely way to stay informed.
Bill Lamkey, high school principal, was asked about the part-time math position, which was originally RIF’ed. The numbers of students’ enrolling in algebra indicate it should
be restored, he said. Ms. Baskett inquired about the finals’ schedule, and Lamkey will look at that for next year. The recent honor Mrs. Kennedy (high school science teacher)
received from the VOICE section of The State Journal-Register was also highlighted. Mr. Nonneman would like a congratulatory letter sent to her on behalf of the board.
Lamkey was asked about the Spanish curriculum; students will be tested to see how their knowledge compares with others in the nation. He was also asked about the
possibility of any other foreign languages being offered? There is a teacher who minored somewhat in French, but who is not confident about teaching the language, he said.
However, Lamkey suggested that languages can be taken through Virtual High School courses.
Mike Gum, assistant high school principal, reported on proposed changes to the high school drama and Madrigal offerings during the fall. It’s possible that a variety show
could be produced during the fall; Ms. Stephenich, choir director, is in the process of reviewing these. The results from the recent “perception survey” completed by high school
students will be available for public information next month.
Rick Wagahoff, activities and athletic director, was not in attendance. Supt. Mulligan reported he has talked with Coach Bee about wrestling practices being held at the
elementary school gym; board members seemed to agree with that idea, and Coach Bee likes it as well. Ms. Baskett asked why the sectional track meet, to be held at the
middle school, was not on the district calendar? Lamkey will ask Joni Marsh about it.
Bill Geiger, maintenance and grounds director, stated two bid packets on the district’s security projects had been returned by companies; they were Seico and George Alarm.
After comparing costs for lock systems, cameras and monitoring, there was a difference of $12,000 between those two bidders.
The district’s current building improvement budget was re-reviewed: $88,000, of which $23,000 is to go toward playground expenses and another $20,000 toward parking lot
improvements. This leaves approximately $44,000 for security.
The recommendation is to go with Seico for a mag lock system at the MS, cameras for both the MS and HS and a door monitoring system at the HS, for a total of $44,004. The
board voted later in the meeting.
Geiger presented a list of equipment from the industrial arts room at the high school. This includes saws, mills, lathes, arc welder, crimper, metal rollers, sanders and other
tools, as well as nuts and bolts. It is recommended that a sealed bid auction for each individual item be held, likely on a Saturday morning during the summer. The Board
agreed to advertise the sale with the SJ-R and South County Publications. The district will likely add to the auction overhead projectors no longer used, and sewing machines
from the Home Economics program. A final list of items for auction will be reviewed at the district’s June meeting.
Supt. Mulligan stated there will be one or two Building Committee meetings this month to review district projects. There is also a meeting this week with Johnson Controls on
AC/heating equipment that is “bleeding the district.”
Supt. Mulligan’s report included “Race to the Top,” which is a federally funded program for schools. Illinois did apply, but was not initially approved; it was generally thought
this was due to approximately only 40 percent of total districts in the state signing a memorandum of understanding. After board members discussed reapplying, it was
recommended to again sign a “memorandum of understanding,” which is due to the ISBE by May 24. If the state receives funding, the district has 90 days to determine if the
funding levels are worth the effort of implementing the federally-mandated changes. Supt. Mulligan noted if funding is enough, it could be put toward “stem programs” at the
high school, such as agriculture, energy or health sciences.
At 7:45 Paul Nonneman, board president, addressed members on previous discussions at past meetings and what happened at the special board meeting last May:
“I firmly believe that what happened at those meetings are dictating the cutting of Mr. Wagahoff’s position. There are topics that intertwined; I don’t think I can discuss one
without the other two. Those are what has become known as the ‘straw incident’ and then the discussion of the girls basketball shootout. The ‘straw incident,’ as you recall,
was a decision of a 4-3 vote allowing students involved in the incident to participate in the graduation ceremony. I think that has been the most important decision that directly a
full year later is a driving force in many of the decisions that have been made since in regards to school board actions. I think, in my opinion, Mr. Klebe, Mrs. Moore and Ms.
Baskett have had a hard time putting that decision behind them. To be perfectly honest with you, I think a year later that is one of the determining factors today. I guess I don’t
know if Mr. Klebe was trying to be a really good board member that evening or he thought his vote would be so important to not have the kids walk that he spent four hours on
the phone from Chicago listening to the meeting. I don’t think that I have ever seen, at least until the next incident, three board members so angry at a decision made by the
board in all the time that I have served. So the ‘straw incident’ has been a driving force for the direction of this school district, or lack thereof.
“The second incident which is driving decisions, I think, is the discussion of the girls basketball shootout date. That decision as you recall, in my opinion, led to time being
wasted month after month over one issue. I don’t think that I can sum up any better than when Mr. Koger said at the November meeting while being questioned by Mr. Klebe, Mr.
Koger responded, ‘I’ll be honest with you, I don’t understand how an issue like this gets here. When I look at it, and I voted for every one of you, I thought to myself being brought
up? We pay Bill Lamkey and Mr. Wagahoff and Mr. Mulligan, and this is such a small issue, why make it a big issue., Very well said Mr. Koger, but as it turns out it is this issue
which I think is also driving some of the decisions made.”
Nonneman continued: “If I recall correctly some board members tried for four or five months to discredit me, their frustration grew with each failure to get me, that led and was
the contributing factor in cutting Mr. Wagahoff’s position. Month after month of reading statements about how bad I am, and I didn’t respond to any of their talk for three reasons:
I didn’t want to go down to their level; everything I thought they were saying wasn’t true anyway, so why respond; and we were already wasting enough time month after month,
so I didn’t want to waste any more. Someone asked me during that period ‘When are you people going to start doing the job that we elected you to do?’ Amen. Let me say first
that nothing I said to Ms. Stephenich was ever about her; I wasn’t even talking to her. Anything I said in regards to this issue never had anything at all to do with girls basketball,
never had anything to do with the Madrigals. I think some people understand that, I think they understood that then, and I guess some didn’t and some still don’t.”
Nonneman further stated: “I think Mrs. Klebe, and I’m paraphrasing here because I don’t have the exact quote, said it doesn’t even seem like Mr. Nonneman is even talking to
Ms. Stephenich.’ Very good perception on your part. Maybe she didn’t have the time, but I think now Ms. Stephenich understands that and I think Ms. Stephenich is cool with the
whole deal, and I think she always has been. As I said before this whole thing had nothing to do Madrigals or basketball, it had to do with what I thought was the right thing, and
more importantly protecting Riverton students which is hopefully our top priority. I was hired years ago as a coach and teacher; I was replacing a coach who was a wild man,
and when I interviewed the principal asked me, ‘What is your behavior like on the bench?’ and I responded ‘I’m pretty calm. The one thing I will always do is protect my players.’
The one thing I will always do as a board member is protect students of this district. So, all of my statements dealt with the protection of Riverton students. I simply felt that
changing the date of the shootout would hurt the Riverton girls basketball team and I was determined not to let that happen. Mrs. Klebe, I’m sorry, but I did think you wanted to
change the date. You later said you didn’t, and I became confused when Mr. Klebe later motioned to change the date of the shootout, and by making that motion and Mrs. Moore
seconding it and both voting for it, in my opinion, were voting to hurt Riverton students. If that’s not the case, at a minimum they were choosing one group of Riverton students
over another, and I chose not to do that.
“I never said one thing negative about the Madrigals; I never suggested changing anything except perhaps having Madrigals in the new auditorium. I’m quoting Mr. Klebe from
the December 14 board meeting when he asked me what he called rhetorical questions: ‘Is it me, do you not like me? Do you take this dislike for me out on Ms. Stephenich? I’
m trying to understand all this.’”
Nonneman then said, I would like to use the same words and ask Mr. Klebe a rhetorical question: ‘Is it me? Do you not like me? Did you take this dislike for me out on Mr.
Wagahoff? I’m trying to understand all this.
“Secondly, two people wrote letters to the editor and they were not even at the meeting. Had Mrs. Klebe and Mrs. Zara simply given an opinion that would have been fine, but for
them to try to describe what happened when they weren’t even there has to be second-hand information and it had to come from someone who was there. Still not satisfied, I
guess they wanted to get me out as president, so they voted to change the term and the next step was to get the very unethical idea of passing a letter among some or all of the
other board members to get me to resign. I never saw the letter, I was informed of it later on. Whoever originated that letter should know how unethical that was. But that didn’t
work, so the next step was to get a written opinion from the district’s attorney, at cost, about any recourse they might have to get me. He responded in writing that there was no
legalities in getting me kicked off the board and he stated unequivocally that it was his answer and would remain his answer. That wasn’t good enough. The next step was to
have the attorney attend the next board meeting. He gave us the exact same answer he’d given us in writing and ‘no, Mr. Paul Kocis, in your letter to the editor’ this was not a
‘pro bono’ gesture on the part of the attorney. His visit, giving the exact same answers that he had in writing, cost the school district $1,000.”
Nonneman continued, “So still not satisfied they voted to change the term of office for school board officers from two to one year, hoping they could at least get me out as
president. They were informed it could be changed to one year but it would not affect my term because when I was elected it was two years. The end result was the obvious
frustration that still this didn’t work. So by now I’m sure people are saying Nonneman’s crazy, what an egomaniac he must be thinking this is all about him. It’s as plain as the
nose on my face that it is. If we can’t get him, let’s get his friend. When x and x equals something, I’ll ignore it. But when x plus x plus x plus x equals something, I think it
becomes the truth. There is just one issue that I would like to clean up that was said to me or about me during the four month process of attacking me. This statement is not
true but I think it goes a long way toward understanding differences among board members, and I think, Ms. Baskett, it goes a little way toward explaining our different
philosophies. I quote from the December 17 Riverton Register which would have been from the December 14 board meeting: ‘Also during the high school graduation
ceremony Mr. Nonneman gave a congratulatory statement to one of the students involved in the disciplinary issue’ that is in reference to the straw incident, ‘that was the only
congratulatory statement he gave to any student during the ceremony.’ I don’t think, Ms. Baskett, you were standing next to me to hear what I was saying to any of the other
students, and secondly by your own words, he was ‘the only one I congratulated’ and if it was about the straw incident, why wouldn’t I have congratulated all of them not just
one? The biggest issue, Ms. Baskett, was indeed I was congratulating that student because of a story that Mr. Bill Lamkey told. You might have missed it, I don’t know. This
student at the end of his junior year had all but given up. It appeared there was very little chance he would graduate, but he really applied himself over the first semester and he
redoubled his efforts during the second semester to make graduation. So I’m afraid my fist pump was to congratulate him on all he had accomplished against big odds, not
your idea that I was congratulating him for the straw incident.
“Why did I tell you all of this? Very simply it’s to show you that in my opinion your cutting Mr. Wagahoff’s position has absolutely nothing to do with him, it has to do with getting
back at me. If we can’t get Nonneman, let’s get his friend. Quoting Mrs. Klebe from the December 17 Riverton Register, ‘Imagine how wonderful it would feel to see the board
do the right thing.’”
Nonneman continued: “Maybe I’m completely wrong, I probably am. Some people will think I’ve made any enemy or two after tonight, but I don’t think so. I guess someone, and
really it only could be me, had to eventually stand up for the school district and community, so be it. Anarchy will only occur when good people do nothing. We need board
members who make decisions for the correct reasons. I don’t really know why Mr. McClure voted the way he did; I will give him the benefit of the doubt that it was for the correct
reasons. But Mrs. Moore and Mr. Klebe and Ms. Baskett, I’m convinced, that the vote by you was aimed at me for the reasons I’ve previously stated. The three of you didn’t cut
an administrator, you fired the school board president’s friend. I would guarantee you in my own mind without a doubt that if Mr. Wagahoff had stood up at last month’s meeting
and said ‘Hey, look, I love my job so much in Riverton, and I love this district so much that I will do the job next year for free” I’m sure that the three of you would have cut him
anyway. I will not apologize for being Mr. Wagahoff’s friend, but I need to apologize to him that because he is my friend, I apparently have cost him his job. Let’s face facts, Mr.
Wagahoff is not an administrator; he hasn’t been for two years. You can spin it anyway you want to, but when you try to tell people you’re cutting an administrator by cutting Mr.
Wagahoff, that simply is not true. He was paid as an administrator three years ago, and he retired, his job and salary were cut in half. Dr. Mulligan recommended initially we cut
Mr. Wagahoff but changed his mind and recommended to cut his hours, paying him approximately $20,000 a year. That is less than one-third of any administrator’s salary; then
Dr. Mulligan changed his mind again and recommended cutting the position. Why, I have no idea. I guarantee to anyone that Mr. Wagahoff would have given us $75,000 job
performance. Dr. Mulligan, I’ve heard you say many times that $15-18-20,000 is not a lot of money. I don’t know why it is here. Mrs. Moore, I think you were the biggest pusher
on the board to cut an administrator after we’d cut teachers, and that’s fine. Well, I say then, let’s cut an administrator. Come on, I dare us. They are all here but Mrs. Binegar, let’
s cut one. Who do we want it to be? But I think we’ll hide behind the charade of cutting Mr. Wagahoff and telling everyone that we cut an administrator. If you are doing this to
appease the teachers, if I were a teacher in this school district I would be livid that the school board is doing what they say they are. If I were a member of this community, I
would be angry, which I am a member of the community and I am angry that we are making decisions that I’m afraid we are later going to regret. Everyone I see, people in
Springfield, referees, people from other school districts, administrators from other school districts, are just shaking their heads in disbelief. It’s literally almost comical. At least
one person, if not more, has said to me before I could even say anything to them, ‘They were out to get you, weren’t they? This has nothing to do with Mr. Wagahoff.’ Some
people will say ‘You weren’t concerned with the other cuts, only when your friend got cut.’ No, all those pain me; we’re literally changed people’s lives, and I didn’t have to do it
once, but twice. As the chairman of the board of control at CACC, I had the option of doing it again. Those cuts were made for the reasons stated, which I believed to be true.
They were done in the best interests of everyone. If Mr. Wagahoff were cut because of job performance, that would have been something else. But I don’t think, in my opinion
and many other people’s opinion, not too many do their job better than Mr. Wagahoff. I’ve always said when I was teaching, I wanted students to respect my authority, not fear it.
Those are the best teachers. The best bosses and employers are those who are respected and respect their employees.”
Nonneman then noted: “So now we have to have a big meeting to divide up Mr. Wagahoff’s duties. Did he really do all this and actually more? And for $20,000 and not
disrupting almost every other administrator in the district, we could still have had him. It doesn’t make much sense. Mr. Koerwitz, I see at the top of this sheet that you will be
officially called the athletic director. Please do not take this as an affront to you, but I am the board president and I have to implement board policy. And I’m sure you will do a
great job in this regard. But I will bet that Dr. Mulligan has failed to inform you that as an administrator/athletic director, you will be required to reside in the Riverton school
district (Mulligan said Tuesday he is looking to see if there was an actual motion passed to that effect, though discussion has been held requiring principals, the superintendent
and athletic director to live in district; it is not expressly written in the policy manual).
“In closing, I hope that Mr. Wagahoff takes solace and comfort from maybe these four or five things. Number one, it appears to me it will take seven people to replace him.
Two, I think Mr. Wagahoff should be proud of all that he’s done for this school district and the community of Riverton. Three, all of us should know that he enjoyed his job as
much as anyone ever. Fourth, I think Mr. Wagahoff knows that he has the respect of his peers that his life’s profession as much as anyone I’ve ever known. And five, I would
selfishly hope, and this is very important, that Mr. Wagahoff knows, and yes indeed Mr. Klebe, Mr. Wagahoff is my buddy.”
At 8:08 p.m., Nonneman gave up the floor to Dr. Mulligan.
Supt. Mulligan asked if anyone else had questions regarding the restructuring of the AD position? No one spoke, and they began to move on. Ms. Baskett stated, “I don’t think
we should move on until we’ve had a chance to say what we would like to say.” Mr. Nonneman responded “I would caution you, if you’re going to discuss personnel . . .” Ms.
Baskett said “No, we’re not going to discuss personnel.” Nonneman: “I guess go ahead.” Ms. Baskett began “You’re making a lot of assumptions which is showing what an a--
you are.”
“Please do not talk like that, I didn’t talk like that” was Nonneman’s response.
Baskett replied: “You are talking about things that had nothing to do with the decision. When I voted, it had nothing to do with you. And the fact that you think it does shows how
arrogant you are. You and I have our differences, those do not fall out on anybody else. Let’s be clear. You tried to make it a personal issue and it never was. It was about a
position, and I was very up front about it. If I cannot save a part-time math job that I feel is very important and if there is another way of saving money and that one happened to
be brought up, then that’s what I voted for. Make all the assumptions you want, you are dead wrong. You’re doing your friend a disservice by thinking he was cut because of
you. He was not. Mr. Wagahoff is a very fine individual and no one would stoop that low.”
Mrs. Cuffle called a point of order, as the board needed to finish its decisions at this meeting. Mr. Nonneman said his Robert’s Rules of Order book was at home, but all
seemed to be in agreement and board members did move on.
“Consider Approval of Student Fee Schedule” for 2010-11 resulted in the following: increase event admission by another $1; high school student parking permits will be $20
per school year; a driver’s education fee of $50. Supt. Mulligan recommended not to increase lunch prices nor school registration fees yet, but “if there is no salvation from the
state,” the district will look at those two fees again. The activities’ lists for the MS and HS were updated; Mrs. Galligan, board secretary, apologized those were not current.
Those fees will remain $25 and $50, respectively. All the changes were approved 6-0.
Approval of the security bid from Seico was 6-0. The “Approval of Position Statement for Sales Tax Revenue” was next discussed. This is part of a county-wide tax referendum
to be put on the ballot. (District #186 also recently passed this). This was approved 6-0 as well.
The board voted at 8:29 to go into closed session, and after a break, they began closed discussions at 8:39. They returned to open session at 9:19 p.m.
“Personnel Report” - The board voted to retain Kristie Kepler as a 3/7 time high school math teacher; Ashley Pallante as fourth grade teacher, and denied Lynn Kopatz the
retirement incentive, all by a 6-0 vote (the contract requires a letter to be submitted by Feb. 1 and the letter was not submitted on time, according to Mulligan).
Announcements: Pam Cuffle said there will be a fundraiser for the Goff family on June 13 at the Riverton Eagles Club. It was nice of Aramark to donate mostacciolli for the
event.
The school board dinner will be skipped this year, due to the budget. Larry Patterson made the suggestion that for the future, perhaps it should be every other year, or an
election year cycle.
Under “Other,” Mrs. Moore apologized to Mrs. Klebe that certain things had been directed toward her during the meeting. She would like for everyone to attend meetings and
feel welcome.
Supt. Mulligan handed out to board members revised documents on coaches. This will be discussed at the June meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 9:24 p.m.
The Riverton School Board met at 6 p.m. May 10. Scott McClure was not in attendance. They approved the regular and closed session minutes from the April 12 meeting, both
6-0, as well as the treasurer’s, revenue and expenditure reports by the same vote. The prevailing wage ordinance, an annual requirement, was also approved unanimously.
There were two questions on payment of bills, regarding the RSC equipment rental of $1052 and $800 for lighting repair at the HS; these were both necessary expenditures,
and approved 6-0. Bill Geiger, maintenance and grounds director, stated it may cost $5K to completely correct the lighting, as it involves a control board and software in the new
building section.
Under “Communications,” Mrs. Julie Klebe asked the board to consider holding meetings at a different location due to parking availability. The meetings are held at one of the
district’s other buildings when larger crowds are expected, and Paul Nonneman, board president, stated this is something that has come up.
A letter from Phil Pinney to the board was mentioned; he complimented the high school for hosting the Illinois Masonic Academic Bowl recently.
At 6:09 p.m. Julie Timm, Beth Held, Heather Ethell and Jamie Selinger, school district staff, began a presentation on MAP data.This involves reading scores for grade levels K-
10, and the percentage up or down the scores represented. (Students in grades 11 and 12 do not take MAP tests). These were reviewed. It was noted that “expected change”
in score percentage is based on national norms. All of the results were positive. Supt. Mulligan stated the district is “getting a lot better at using data to drive change” and they
will also be looking at results from PLAN, PSAE and ISAT.
Information on reading continued, with predicting, summarizing, connecting, questioning, inferring and imaging, which are all part of the district’s comprehensive strategies in
teaching students to be more effective readers. Activities undertaken in the district’s buildings along these lines were also reviewed. An instructional calendar for 2010-11 has
been developed, as well as goals for FY11, which includes a walk-through training for administrators. Supt. Mulligan mentioned a grant possibility, which will be more
discussed during the June school board meeting. Overall, they are excited about improvements. The presentation concluded at 6:47.
Administrative reports began with the elementary school’s. Mrs. Binegar will return from maternity leave at the end of this month. Mrs. Fraase, assistant principal, stated she
had interviewed candidates and believes Ms. Ashley Pallante should be recommended for the fourth grade position. As far as the Pre-K situation, the state legislature left
without passing a budget, and that continues to hold up position assignments, noted Mulligan. He believes Pre-K will be funded at 75 percent of what it was; it’s in the governor’
s proposal for Illinois schools, but “we’ll see what happens.”
Fred Lamkey, middle school principal, covered the recent open house in his report; it seemed to be well attended.
Chris Koerwitz, transportation director and assistant middle school principal, was asked by Larry Patterson about his transition to Activities/Athletic Director. It’s “going along,”
responded Koerwitz, and reported that he, Joni Marsh and Janice Hamende had recently trained on a software-based program for school event scheduling. It is through Illinois
High School Sports, allows people to sign up for free, and is accessed by typing in a ZIP code, which will allow viewing of everything going on in the district. People can also
sign up to have texts or e-mails sent to them regarding events/games’ cancellations or locations are changed, as a timely way to stay informed.
Bill Lamkey, high school principal, was asked about the part-time math position, which was originally RIF’ed. The numbers of students’ enrolling in algebra indicate it should
be restored, he said. Ms. Baskett inquired about the finals’ schedule, and Lamkey will look at that for next year. The recent honor Mrs. Kennedy (high school science teacher)
received from the VOICE section of The State Journal-Register was also highlighted. Mr. Nonneman would like a congratulatory letter sent to her on behalf of the board.
Lamkey was asked about the Spanish curriculum; students will be tested to see how their knowledge compares with others in the nation. He was also asked about the
possibility of any other foreign languages being offered? There is a teacher who minored somewhat in French, but who is not confident about teaching the language, he said.
However, Lamkey suggested that languages can be taken through Virtual High School courses.
Mike Gum, assistant high school principal, reported on proposed changes to the high school drama and Madrigal offerings during the fall. It’s possible that a variety show
could be produced during the fall; Ms. Stephenich, choir director, is in the process of reviewing these. The results from the recent “perception survey” completed by high school
students will be available for public information next month.
Rick Wagahoff, activities and athletic director, was not in attendance. Supt. Mulligan reported he has talked with Coach Bee about wrestling practices being held at the
elementary school gym; board members seemed to agree with that idea, and Coach Bee likes it as well. Ms. Baskett asked why the sectional track meet, to be held at the
middle school, was not on the district calendar? Lamkey will ask Joni Marsh about it.
Bill Geiger, maintenance and grounds director, stated two bid packets on the district’s security projects had been returned by companies; they were Seico and George Alarm.
After comparing costs for lock systems, cameras and monitoring, there was a difference of $12,000 between those two bidders.
The district’s current building improvement budget was re-reviewed: $88,000, of which $23,000 is to go toward playground expenses and another $20,000 toward parking lot
improvements. This leaves approximately $44,000 for security.
The recommendation is to go with Seico for a mag lock system at the MS, cameras for both the MS and HS and a door monitoring system at the HS, for a total of $44,004. The
board voted later in the meeting.
Geiger presented a list of equipment from the industrial arts room at the high school. This includes saws, mills, lathes, arc welder, crimper, metal rollers, sanders and other
tools, as well as nuts and bolts. It is recommended that a sealed bid auction for each individual item be held, likely on a Saturday morning during the summer. The Board
agreed to advertise the sale with the SJ-R and South County Publications. The district will likely add to the auction overhead projectors no longer used, and sewing machines
from the Home Economics program. A final list of items for auction will be reviewed at the district’s June meeting.
Supt. Mulligan stated there will be one or two Building Committee meetings this month to review district projects. There is also a meeting this week with Johnson Controls on
AC/heating equipment that is “bleeding the district.”
Supt. Mulligan’s report included “Race to the Top,” which is a federally funded program for schools. Illinois did apply, but was not initially approved; it was generally thought
this was due to approximately only 40 percent of total districts in the state signing a memorandum of understanding. After board members discussed reapplying, it was
recommended to again sign a “memorandum of understanding,” which is due to the ISBE by May 24. If the state receives funding, the district has 90 days to determine if the
funding levels are worth the effort of implementing the federally-mandated changes. Supt. Mulligan noted if funding is enough, it could be put toward “stem programs” at the
high school, such as agriculture, energy or health sciences.
At 7:45 Paul Nonneman, board president, addressed members on previous discussions at past meetings and what happened at the special board meeting last May:
“I firmly believe that what happened at those meetings are dictating the cutting of Mr. Wagahoff’s position. There are topics that intertwined; I don’t think I can discuss one
without the other two. Those are what has become known as the ‘straw incident’ and then the discussion of the girls basketball shootout. The ‘straw incident,’ as you recall,
was a decision of a 4-3 vote allowing students involved in the incident to participate in the graduation ceremony. I think that has been the most important decision that directly a
full year later is a driving force in many of the decisions that have been made since in regards to school board actions. I think, in my opinion, Mr. Klebe, Mrs. Moore and Ms.
Baskett have had a hard time putting that decision behind them. To be perfectly honest with you, I think a year later that is one of the determining factors today. I guess I don’t
know if Mr. Klebe was trying to be a really good board member that evening or he thought his vote would be so important to not have the kids walk that he spent four hours on
the phone from Chicago listening to the meeting. I don’t think that I have ever seen, at least until the next incident, three board members so angry at a decision made by the
board in all the time that I have served. So the ‘straw incident’ has been a driving force for the direction of this school district, or lack thereof.
“The second incident which is driving decisions, I think, is the discussion of the girls basketball shootout date. That decision as you recall, in my opinion, led to time being
wasted month after month over one issue. I don’t think that I can sum up any better than when Mr. Koger said at the November meeting while being questioned by Mr. Klebe, Mr.
Koger responded, ‘I’ll be honest with you, I don’t understand how an issue like this gets here. When I look at it, and I voted for every one of you, I thought to myself being brought
up? We pay Bill Lamkey and Mr. Wagahoff and Mr. Mulligan, and this is such a small issue, why make it a big issue., Very well said Mr. Koger, but as it turns out it is this issue
which I think is also driving some of the decisions made.”
Nonneman continued: “If I recall correctly some board members tried for four or five months to discredit me, their frustration grew with each failure to get me, that led and was
the contributing factor in cutting Mr. Wagahoff’s position. Month after month of reading statements about how bad I am, and I didn’t respond to any of their talk for three reasons:
I didn’t want to go down to their level; everything I thought they were saying wasn’t true anyway, so why respond; and we were already wasting enough time month after month,
so I didn’t want to waste any more. Someone asked me during that period ‘When are you people going to start doing the job that we elected you to do?’ Amen. Let me say first
that nothing I said to Ms. Stephenich was ever about her; I wasn’t even talking to her. Anything I said in regards to this issue never had anything at all to do with girls basketball,
never had anything to do with the Madrigals. I think some people understand that, I think they understood that then, and I guess some didn’t and some still don’t.”
Nonneman further stated: “I think Mrs. Klebe, and I’m paraphrasing here because I don’t have the exact quote, said it doesn’t even seem like Mr. Nonneman is even talking to
Ms. Stephenich.’ Very good perception on your part. Maybe she didn’t have the time, but I think now Ms. Stephenich understands that and I think Ms. Stephenich is cool with the
whole deal, and I think she always has been. As I said before this whole thing had nothing to do Madrigals or basketball, it had to do with what I thought was the right thing, and
more importantly protecting Riverton students which is hopefully our top priority. I was hired years ago as a coach and teacher; I was replacing a coach who was a wild man,
and when I interviewed the principal asked me, ‘What is your behavior like on the bench?’ and I responded ‘I’m pretty calm. The one thing I will always do is protect my players.’
The one thing I will always do as a board member is protect students of this district. So, all of my statements dealt with the protection of Riverton students. I simply felt that
changing the date of the shootout would hurt the Riverton girls basketball team and I was determined not to let that happen. Mrs. Klebe, I’m sorry, but I did think you wanted to
change the date. You later said you didn’t, and I became confused when Mr. Klebe later motioned to change the date of the shootout, and by making that motion and Mrs. Moore
seconding it and both voting for it, in my opinion, were voting to hurt Riverton students. If that’s not the case, at a minimum they were choosing one group of Riverton students
over another, and I chose not to do that.
“I never said one thing negative about the Madrigals; I never suggested changing anything except perhaps having Madrigals in the new auditorium. I’m quoting Mr. Klebe from
the December 14 board meeting when he asked me what he called rhetorical questions: ‘Is it me, do you not like me? Do you take this dislike for me out on Ms. Stephenich? I’
m trying to understand all this.’”
Nonneman then said, I would like to use the same words and ask Mr. Klebe a rhetorical question: ‘Is it me? Do you not like me? Did you take this dislike for me out on Mr.
Wagahoff? I’m trying to understand all this.
“Secondly, two people wrote letters to the editor and they were not even at the meeting. Had Mrs. Klebe and Mrs. Zara simply given an opinion that would have been fine, but for
them to try to describe what happened when they weren’t even there has to be second-hand information and it had to come from someone who was there. Still not satisfied, I
guess they wanted to get me out as president, so they voted to change the term and the next step was to get the very unethical idea of passing a letter among some or all of the
other board members to get me to resign. I never saw the letter, I was informed of it later on. Whoever originated that letter should know how unethical that was. But that didn’t
work, so the next step was to get a written opinion from the district’s attorney, at cost, about any recourse they might have to get me. He responded in writing that there was no
legalities in getting me kicked off the board and he stated unequivocally that it was his answer and would remain his answer. That wasn’t good enough. The next step was to
have the attorney attend the next board meeting. He gave us the exact same answer he’d given us in writing and ‘no, Mr. Paul Kocis, in your letter to the editor’ this was not a
‘pro bono’ gesture on the part of the attorney. His visit, giving the exact same answers that he had in writing, cost the school district $1,000.”
Nonneman continued, “So still not satisfied they voted to change the term of office for school board officers from two to one year, hoping they could at least get me out as
president. They were informed it could be changed to one year but it would not affect my term because when I was elected it was two years. The end result was the obvious
frustration that still this didn’t work. So by now I’m sure people are saying Nonneman’s crazy, what an egomaniac he must be thinking this is all about him. It’s as plain as the
nose on my face that it is. If we can’t get him, let’s get his friend. When x and x equals something, I’ll ignore it. But when x plus x plus x plus x equals something, I think it
becomes the truth. There is just one issue that I would like to clean up that was said to me or about me during the four month process of attacking me. This statement is not
true but I think it goes a long way toward understanding differences among board members, and I think, Ms. Baskett, it goes a little way toward explaining our different
philosophies. I quote from the December 17 Riverton Register which would have been from the December 14 board meeting: ‘Also during the high school graduation
ceremony Mr. Nonneman gave a congratulatory statement to one of the students involved in the disciplinary issue’ that is in reference to the straw incident, ‘that was the only
congratulatory statement he gave to any student during the ceremony.’ I don’t think, Ms. Baskett, you were standing next to me to hear what I was saying to any of the other
students, and secondly by your own words, he was ‘the only one I congratulated’ and if it was about the straw incident, why wouldn’t I have congratulated all of them not just
one? The biggest issue, Ms. Baskett, was indeed I was congratulating that student because of a story that Mr. Bill Lamkey told. You might have missed it, I don’t know. This
student at the end of his junior year had all but given up. It appeared there was very little chance he would graduate, but he really applied himself over the first semester and he
redoubled his efforts during the second semester to make graduation. So I’m afraid my fist pump was to congratulate him on all he had accomplished against big odds, not
your idea that I was congratulating him for the straw incident.
“Why did I tell you all of this? Very simply it’s to show you that in my opinion your cutting Mr. Wagahoff’s position has absolutely nothing to do with him, it has to do with getting
back at me. If we can’t get Nonneman, let’s get his friend. Quoting Mrs. Klebe from the December 17 Riverton Register, ‘Imagine how wonderful it would feel to see the board
do the right thing.’”
Nonneman continued: “Maybe I’m completely wrong, I probably am. Some people will think I’ve made any enemy or two after tonight, but I don’t think so. I guess someone, and
really it only could be me, had to eventually stand up for the school district and community, so be it. Anarchy will only occur when good people do nothing. We need board
members who make decisions for the correct reasons. I don’t really know why Mr. McClure voted the way he did; I will give him the benefit of the doubt that it was for the correct
reasons. But Mrs. Moore and Mr. Klebe and Ms. Baskett, I’m convinced, that the vote by you was aimed at me for the reasons I’ve previously stated. The three of you didn’t cut
an administrator, you fired the school board president’s friend. I would guarantee you in my own mind without a doubt that if Mr. Wagahoff had stood up at last month’s meeting
and said ‘Hey, look, I love my job so much in Riverton, and I love this district so much that I will do the job next year for free” I’m sure that the three of you would have cut him
anyway. I will not apologize for being Mr. Wagahoff’s friend, but I need to apologize to him that because he is my friend, I apparently have cost him his job. Let’s face facts, Mr.
Wagahoff is not an administrator; he hasn’t been for two years. You can spin it anyway you want to, but when you try to tell people you’re cutting an administrator by cutting Mr.
Wagahoff, that simply is not true. He was paid as an administrator three years ago, and he retired, his job and salary were cut in half. Dr. Mulligan recommended initially we cut
Mr. Wagahoff but changed his mind and recommended to cut his hours, paying him approximately $20,000 a year. That is less than one-third of any administrator’s salary; then
Dr. Mulligan changed his mind again and recommended cutting the position. Why, I have no idea. I guarantee to anyone that Mr. Wagahoff would have given us $75,000 job
performance. Dr. Mulligan, I’ve heard you say many times that $15-18-20,000 is not a lot of money. I don’t know why it is here. Mrs. Moore, I think you were the biggest pusher
on the board to cut an administrator after we’d cut teachers, and that’s fine. Well, I say then, let’s cut an administrator. Come on, I dare us. They are all here but Mrs. Binegar, let’
s cut one. Who do we want it to be? But I think we’ll hide behind the charade of cutting Mr. Wagahoff and telling everyone that we cut an administrator. If you are doing this to
appease the teachers, if I were a teacher in this school district I would be livid that the school board is doing what they say they are. If I were a member of this community, I
would be angry, which I am a member of the community and I am angry that we are making decisions that I’m afraid we are later going to regret. Everyone I see, people in
Springfield, referees, people from other school districts, administrators from other school districts, are just shaking their heads in disbelief. It’s literally almost comical. At least
one person, if not more, has said to me before I could even say anything to them, ‘They were out to get you, weren’t they? This has nothing to do with Mr. Wagahoff.’ Some
people will say ‘You weren’t concerned with the other cuts, only when your friend got cut.’ No, all those pain me; we’re literally changed people’s lives, and I didn’t have to do it
once, but twice. As the chairman of the board of control at CACC, I had the option of doing it again. Those cuts were made for the reasons stated, which I believed to be true.
They were done in the best interests of everyone. If Mr. Wagahoff were cut because of job performance, that would have been something else. But I don’t think, in my opinion
and many other people’s opinion, not too many do their job better than Mr. Wagahoff. I’ve always said when I was teaching, I wanted students to respect my authority, not fear it.
Those are the best teachers. The best bosses and employers are those who are respected and respect their employees.”
Nonneman then noted: “So now we have to have a big meeting to divide up Mr. Wagahoff’s duties. Did he really do all this and actually more? And for $20,000 and not
disrupting almost every other administrator in the district, we could still have had him. It doesn’t make much sense. Mr. Koerwitz, I see at the top of this sheet that you will be
officially called the athletic director. Please do not take this as an affront to you, but I am the board president and I have to implement board policy. And I’m sure you will do a
great job in this regard. But I will bet that Dr. Mulligan has failed to inform you that as an administrator/athletic director, you will be required to reside in the Riverton school
district (Mulligan said Tuesday he is looking to see if there was an actual motion passed to that effect, though discussion has been held requiring principals, the superintendent
and athletic director to live in district; it is not expressly written in the policy manual).
“In closing, I hope that Mr. Wagahoff takes solace and comfort from maybe these four or five things. Number one, it appears to me it will take seven people to replace him.
Two, I think Mr. Wagahoff should be proud of all that he’s done for this school district and the community of Riverton. Three, all of us should know that he enjoyed his job as
much as anyone ever. Fourth, I think Mr. Wagahoff knows that he has the respect of his peers that his life’s profession as much as anyone I’ve ever known. And five, I would
selfishly hope, and this is very important, that Mr. Wagahoff knows, and yes indeed Mr. Klebe, Mr. Wagahoff is my buddy.”
At 8:08 p.m., Nonneman gave up the floor to Dr. Mulligan.
Supt. Mulligan asked if anyone else had questions regarding the restructuring of the AD position? No one spoke, and they began to move on. Ms. Baskett stated, “I don’t think
we should move on until we’ve had a chance to say what we would like to say.” Mr. Nonneman responded “I would caution you, if you’re going to discuss personnel . . .” Ms.
Baskett said “No, we’re not going to discuss personnel.” Nonneman: “I guess go ahead.” Ms. Baskett began “You’re making a lot of assumptions which is showing what an a--
you are.”
“Please do not talk like that, I didn’t talk like that” was Nonneman’s response.
Baskett replied: “You are talking about things that had nothing to do with the decision. When I voted, it had nothing to do with you. And the fact that you think it does shows how
arrogant you are. You and I have our differences, those do not fall out on anybody else. Let’s be clear. You tried to make it a personal issue and it never was. It was about a
position, and I was very up front about it. If I cannot save a part-time math job that I feel is very important and if there is another way of saving money and that one happened to
be brought up, then that’s what I voted for. Make all the assumptions you want, you are dead wrong. You’re doing your friend a disservice by thinking he was cut because of
you. He was not. Mr. Wagahoff is a very fine individual and no one would stoop that low.”
Mrs. Cuffle called a point of order, as the board needed to finish its decisions at this meeting. Mr. Nonneman said his Robert’s Rules of Order book was at home, but all
seemed to be in agreement and board members did move on.
“Consider Approval of Student Fee Schedule” for 2010-11 resulted in the following: increase event admission by another $1; high school student parking permits will be $20
per school year; a driver’s education fee of $50. Supt. Mulligan recommended not to increase lunch prices nor school registration fees yet, but “if there is no salvation from the
state,” the district will look at those two fees again. The activities’ lists for the MS and HS were updated; Mrs. Galligan, board secretary, apologized those were not current.
Those fees will remain $25 and $50, respectively. All the changes were approved 6-0.
Approval of the security bid from Seico was 6-0. The “Approval of Position Statement for Sales Tax Revenue” was next discussed. This is part of a county-wide tax referendum
to be put on the ballot. (District #186 also recently passed this). This was approved 6-0 as well.
The board voted at 8:29 to go into closed session, and after a break, they began closed discussions at 8:39. They returned to open session at 9:19 p.m.
“Personnel Report” - The board voted to retain Kristie Kepler as a 3/7 time high school math teacher; Ashley Pallante as fourth grade teacher, and denied Lynn Kopatz the
retirement incentive, all by a 6-0 vote (the contract requires a letter to be submitted by Feb. 1 and the letter was not submitted on time, according to Mulligan).
Announcements: Pam Cuffle said there will be a fundraiser for the Goff family on June 13 at the Riverton Eagles Club. It was nice of Aramark to donate mostacciolli for the
event.
The school board dinner will be skipped this year, due to the budget. Larry Patterson made the suggestion that for the future, perhaps it should be every other year, or an
election year cycle.
Under “Other,” Mrs. Moore apologized to Mrs. Klebe that certain things had been directed toward her during the meeting. She would like for everyone to attend meetings and
feel welcome.
Supt. Mulligan handed out to board members revised documents on coaches. This will be discussed at the June meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 9:24 p.m.
Issue Date: May 13, 2010
