Mt. Zion School Board: First Reading of Handbooks held at June meeting

The monthly meeting of the Mt. Zion Community Unit School District #3 Board of Education was called to order by President Jeffrey Sams called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. on June 2, 2025.
Board members present were: Jeffrey Sams, Eric Law, Michelle Shumaker, Kyle Janvrin, Regan Deering, and Kent Newton.

ADMINISTRATION PRESENT:

Administration present consisted of: Dr. Travis R. Roundcount, Superintendent of Schools; Brian Rhoades, Associate Superintendent; Justin Johnson, Mt. Zion High School Principal; Julie Marquardt, Mt. Zion Jr. High School Principal; Randy Thacker,

Mt. Zion Intermediate School Principal; Rob Prange, Athletic Director; and Billy Rockey, Curriculum and Technology Director.

The Pledge of Allegiance was cited by those present and led by Jeffrey Sams.

Michelle Shumaker introduced a motion to approve the Regular and Executive Meeting minutes of May 5, 2025. Seconded: Kyle Janvrin. Roll Call: Michelle Shumaker, Kyle Janvrin, Eric Law, Jeffrey Sams, Regan Deering, and Kent Newton, yea. Motion carried: 6-0.

SEATING OF NEW MEMBER

Michelle Shumaker introduced a motion to appoint Dr. Courtney Gaine Cuddy to the Mt. Zion Board of Education. Seconded: Eric Law. Roll Call: Michelle Shumaker, Kyle Janvrin, Eric Law, Jeffrey Sams, Kent Newton, and Regan Deering, yea. Motion carried 6-0.

Visitor Communication:

• Shane Mendenall spoke asking for homeschooled kids to be allowed to participate in school sports and activities.

Staff Communications:

Dr Roundcount: Announced that the boy’s baseball and girls’ softball teams won their Regionals, the high school track team had students make it to state, and Mt Zion had students participate in the Special Olympics.

Gave updates on school improvements; the JH/HS science lab renovation just began and should be finished around the 1 st week of August.

Turf fields are being planned for the summer of 2026.

Gym floors are being refinished.

Kent Newton: Attended Project Grad as a volunteer and wanted to acknowledge it being such a great program for the students

Jeffrey Sams: Referred back to Visitor Communications and asked for clarification regarding the subject of homeschoolers being allowed to participate in school sports and activities.

GENERAL DISCUSSION

Michelle Shumaker: Read two thank you cards.

Regan Deering: Mentioned that she would like a discussion regarding the participation of biological athletes in their respective sports and those sports that allow co-ed participation. *Regan Deering: Mentioned checking other schools’ policies. Dr

Roundcount mentioned that he would check with the attorney.

Kyle Janvrin: Acknowledge the schools track coaches and mentioned how lucky the school is to have them.

He also questioned the possibility of not having a spring break starting with the 2026-2027 calendar. *Discussion was had regarding the 2026-2027 calendar and the pros and cons of having a spring break vs not having a spring break. This will be brought back to the board for the July 8 meeting.

FIRST READING OF THE STAFF AND FACULTY HANDBOOK

Kent Newton presented a motion that the attached District-Wide 2025-2026 Educational Support Staff and Faculty Handbooks be approved as First Reading. Seconded: Kyle Janvrin. Roll Call: Kyle Janvrin, Eric Law, Jeffrey Sams, Dr. Courtney Gaine Cuddy, Regan Deering, Kent Newton, and Michelle Shumaker, yea. Motion carried 7-0.

FIRST READING OF THE 2025-26 DISTRICT HANDBOOK CHANGES

Regan Deering presented a motion that the First Reading of the Mt. Zion School District Handbook be approved. Several board members shared their opinions or preference that homeschool enrollment be only one hour. Seconded: Kent Newton. Roll Call: Eric Law, Jeffrey Sams, Dr. Courtney Gaine Cuddy, yea. Motion carried 7-0.

FUND WARRANTS

Michelle Shumaker presented a motion to approve payment of the enclosed list of Fund Warrants, Quick Pays, and Athletic Imprest. Seconded: Eric Law. Roll Call: Jeffrey Sams, Dr. Courtney Gaine Cuddy, Regan Deering, Kent Newton, Michelle Shumaker, Kyle Janvrin, and Eric Law, yea. Motion carried 7-0.

FINANCIAL
TREASURER’S REPORTS –

Eric Law introduced a motion that the presented Financial Treasurer’s Report be accepted and filed for audit. Seconded: Michelle Shumaker. Roll Call: Dr. Courtney Gaine Cuddy, Regan Deering, Kent Newton, Michelle Shumaker, Kyle Janvrin, Eric Law, and Jeffrey Sams, yea. Motion carried 7-0.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

There was no Executive Session.

APPROVE EMPLOYMENT OF CERTIFIED & NON-CERTIFIED EMPLOYEES

Michelle Shumaker presented a motion to approve the employment of certified and non-certified employees pending a drug test and background check for new employees. Seconded: Eric Law. Roll Call: Michelle Shumaker, Kyle Janvrin, Eric Law, Jeffrey Sams, Dr. Courtney Gaine Cuddy, Regan Deering, and Kent Newton, Yea. Motion carried 7-0.

Employment: Peyton Moreau (Mt. Zion High School) Assistant Football Coach effective June 11, 2025.

Sub Teachers: Judy Enis, Chloe Cable, Andrew Hardin, Ashton Summers (Effective with the first day worked.)

ACCEPT RESIGNATION OF CERTIFIED & NON-CERTIFIED EMPLOYEES

Kyle Janvrin presented a motion to accept the resignation of certified and non-certified employees. Seconded: Michelle Shumaker. Roll Call: Kyle Janvrin, Eric Law, Jeffrey Sams, Dr. Courtney Gaine Cuddy, Regan Deering, Kent Newton, and Michelle Shumaker, Yea. Motion carried 7-0.

Resignations: Taylor Hayward (MZHS – ASPIRE Teaching Assistant – Effective May 29, 2025); Diane Shehorn (Food Service Assistant – Effective end of 2024-2025 school year), Kathleen Black, (MZJH – JH Assistant Boys Track Coach, JH Asst Cross

Country Coach – Effective end of the 2024-2025 season); Rachael Connelly (McGaughey Elementary and Mt. Zion Grade School – Speech Pathologist – Effective end of the 2024-2025 school year); Amy Grove (McGaughey Elementary – Library Assistant – Effective May 29, 2025)

ACCEPT RETIREMENT OF CERTIFIED & NON-CERTIFIED EMPLOYEES

Eric Law presented a motion to accept the retirement of certified and non-certified employees. Seconded: Regan Deering. Roll Call: Eric Law, Jeffrey Sams, Dr. Courtney Gaine Cuddy, Regan Deering, Kent Newton, Michelle Shumaker, and Kyle Janvrin Yea. Motion carried 7-0.

Retirement: Lolita Copeland (MZ Transportation – Bus Driver – Effective August 5, 2025); Cynthia Overlot (MZ Transportation – Bus Driver – Effective August 5, 2025)

NEXT REGULAR MEETING

Jeffrey Sams announced that the Monday, June 10, 2025, Board meeting is cancelled. The next regular meeting of the Board of Education, will be held July 8, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. at the Mt. Zion C.U.S.D. #3 District Office,1595 W. Main St., Mt. Zion, IL 62549.

ADJOURNMENT

Regan Deering introduced a motion to adjourn the Board of Education Meeting at 9:07 p.m. Seconded: Kent Newton. Roll Call: Kent Newton, Michelle Shumaker, Kyle Janvrin, Eric Law, Jeffrey Sams, Regan Deering, and Dr. Courtney Gaine Cuddy, yea. Motion carried 7-0.