March 2024 School Board Meeting Minutes

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CARBONDALE COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 165, CARBONDALE, ILLINOIS HELD MARCH 21, 2024

The regular meeting of the Board of Education of School District 165 was held in the cafeteria of Carbondale Community High School, 1301 East Walnut Street, Carbondale, Illinois, on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at 6:00 p.m.

Upon roll call, the following members were present:

Rania Dababneh            Christopher Swims 
Linda Flowers                Julie VanWinkle 
Wendell Pohlman

The following members were absent:

Lana Galan                    Francis Tsung

Also present were:

Daniel Booth                  Ryan Thomas 
Ray Toliver, Jr.              Dallas Terry

President VanWinkle declared a quorum present and the regular meeting of March 21, 2024, was called to order. 

Approval of Minutes: Motion by Flowers, seconded by Pohlman, to approve the minutes of the regular meeting and executive session of February 15, 2024.  Roll call: Dababneh, Flowers, Pohlman, Swims and VanWinkle voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Old Business: None

Public Comments: None

Chamber of Commerce Citizens of the Year: Drs. Linda and Carl Flowers were named Citizens of the Year by the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce.

FOIA Requests: The Board received a listing of the 2023-24 FOIA requests received to date.

Payment of Bills: Motion by Pohlman, seconded by Swims, to pay the remaining bills for the month of February 2024; and, those available for payment for the month of March 2024. Roll call: Flowers, Pohlman, Swims, VanWinkle, and Dababneh voted yes.  Nay, none. motion carried.

ESSER III Grant Expend.:  The Board received an update on the ESSER III Grant expenditures.

Principal’s Report: Mr. Thomas reviewed his principal’s report for the Board.

●Fourth Quarter began on March 19, 20224.

●Class meetings were held regarding grades, attendance, discipline and tardies.

●Student Achievements

--  William Huggins placed 2nd & 3rd at the IHSA State Swim Meet (50m, 100m freestyle)

--   DeCarl Payne is the all-time leader in basketball 3pt. makes. He beat Justin Dentmon’s record.

--   Science Fair: 26 Students qualified for the State Science Fair

--   Chemistry Olympiad: 9 Student competed; 4 Students won scholarship money; Bill Xu and Owen Watts will compete in the National Chemistry Olympiad.

●Scholar Bowl placed 4th at the IHSA State Tournament 

-- The team has 23 straight regional championships.

-- They beat Rockford, Auburn and Macomb.

-- They have six top four finishes at the State Tournament since 2002.

--   Faculty sponsors include Sharon Lorinskas, Brenda Berg, Judy Major and Clyde Hurley.

--  Sharon Lorinskas will be inducted into the 2024 IHSSBCA Hall of Fame.

-- Team Members: Nathan Ziegler, Dillon Robertson, Clark Anderson, Daniel Pitafi, Theodor Martin, Ryan Dai and Bill Xu

Member Answers Roll Call: Member Galan answered roll call at 6:12 p.m.

Superintendent’s Report: Mr. Booth gave the following updates to the Board:

1.  CTE Addition - Berry Concrete is doing site work preparation and footings are being poured. 

2.  No new updates on solar panels.  Bond funds have been acquired and materials have been ordered. The tentative project start date is July.

3.  A Building Grounds Committee meeting is planned for April 15 to discuss the project list and next steps for our facilities.  An update will be given at the April meeting.

4.  Second semester parent/teacher conference will be held on March 25, and 27, 2024. 80 Parents have made appointments.

5.  Juniors currently take the SAT. Next year they will begin taking the ACT. This change occurred because ACT was the lowest bidder in the ISBE procurement process.

6.  ABC’s Good Morning American Program has asked CCHS to be a part of their Eclipse news coverage on April 8, 2024. Approximately 30-40 students will participate.

Board Data Update Reports: The Board received the following update reports:

1.  February Student Attendance Report 
2.  February Terrier Tutoring Student Attendance Report

Strategic Plan Report—None

Bids and Quotes—None

2023-24 Calendar MOU Between CCHSEA and CCHS Board of Education: Motion by Swims, seconded by Flowers, to approve the 2023-24 Calendar Memorandum of Understanding between the CCHSEA and the CCHS Board of Education as presented.  Roll call: Galan, Pohlman, Swims, VanWinkle, Dababneh and Flowers voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

2023-24 Amended School Calendar: Motion by Swims, seconded by Flowers, to approve the 2023-24 Amended School Calendar as presented.  Roll call: Pohlman, Swims, VanWinkle, Dababneh, Flowers and Galan voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

2024-25 School Calendar: Motion by Galan, seconded by Dababneh, to approve the 2024-25 School Calendar as presented.  Roll call: Swims, VanWinkle, Dababneh, Flowers, Galan and Pohlman voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

2024-25 IHSA Membership Renewal: Motion by Galan, seconded by Dababneh, to continue membership in the Illinois High School Association for the 2024-25 school year. Roll call: VanWinkle, Dababneh, Flowers, Galan, Pohlman and Swims voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Cross-Categorical Classroom and Special Education Teacher Position: Motion by Swims, seconded by Pohlman, to approve an additional cross-categorical special education classroom to replace the current Tri-County Special Education Reach classroom, and to post a Special Education Teacher position. Roll call: Dababneh, Flowers, Galan, Pohlman, Swims and VanWinkle voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Educational Affiliation Agreement between SIU-C and CCHS District 165: Motion by Swims, seconded by Flowers, to approve the Educational Affiliation Agreement between SIU-Carbondale and CCHS District 165 (March 8, 2024-March 8, 2029) as presented.  Roll call: Flowers, Galan, Pohlman, Swims, VanWinkle and Dababneh voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Support Staff June Insurance Coverage: Motion by Swims, seconded by Flowers, for approval to pay the insurance premium for aide and monitor personnel for the month of June 2024 as presented.  Roll call: Galan, Pohlman, Swims, VanWinkle, Dababneh and Flowers voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Resignations/Retirements: Motion by Pohlman, seconded by Swims, to accept the resignations/retirements of the following personnel as presented:  

1.  Resignation of Kaylin Wilson (Science Teacher) effective at the end of the 2023-24 school year. 
2.  Retirement of Laurie Rendleman (Attendance Office Secretary) effective July 1, 2024. 

Roll call: Pohlman, Swims, VanWinkle, Dababneh, Flowers and Galan voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Employment of 2023-24 Extra-Duty Personnel: Motion by Pohlman, seconded by Dababneh, to employ the following 2023-24 extra-duty personnel as presented: Assistant Boys/Girls Track Coach: Marissa Ivory $2,000.00. Roll call: Swims, VanWinkle, Dababneh, Flowers, Galan and Pohlman voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

2023-24 Volunteers: Motion by Pohlman, seconded by Galan, to approve the following 2023-24 volunteers as presented:

JaJuan Blankenship: Volunteer Mentor 
Keith Marcell Honey: Volunteer Mentor 
Lenorris Hughes: Volunteer Mentor 
Michael Peterson: Volunteer Mentor 
Stephen Robinson, Jr.: Volunteer Mentor 
Cyrus Tate: Volunteer Mentor 
James Karayannis: Volunteer Baseball Coach 

Roll call: VanWinkle, Dababneh, Flowers, Galan, Pohlman and Swims voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

2023-24 Personnel to be Notified of Honorable Dismissal: Motion by Galan, seconded by Pohlman, to honorably dismiss at the end of the 2023-24 school year, or current grant period, or current contract, the following personnel as presented, due to a discontinuance of services:

Temporary Faculty: Sandy Brown

Part-time Faculty: Zachary Clark

Rebound Grant Personnel: Chloe Baez, Lisa Britt, Stephanie Brown, Denise Diliberto, Matthew Duckworth, Quentoria Hudson, Jefferey Miller, Charmonique Rogers, Penny Smith, Sandra Snowden, Nikolas Szczepanik and Katherine Valliant. Roll call: Dababneh, Flowers, Galan, Pohlman, Swims and VanWinkle voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried. 

2024-25 Administrative and Professional Support Personnel Employment Contracts: Motion by Flowers, seconded by Dababneh to approve the following 2024-25 annual administrative and professional support personnel employment contracts as presented:

Terica Doyle, Assistant Principal 
Ethan Graham, Associate Principal/Curriculum Director 
Michael Green, Maintenance Director 
Mandy McKee, Special Education Director 
Gwen Poore, Athletic Director 
Ryan Thomas, Principal 
Ray Toliver Jr., Chief School Business Official 
Joseph Williams, Assistant Principal

Roll call: Flowers, Galan, Pohlman, Swims, VanWinkle and Dababneh voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

2024-25 Re-Employment of Tenured and Non-Tenured Faculty and Educational Support, Cafeteria, Maintenance, Aide and Monitor Personnel: Motion by Swims, seconded by Pohlman, to re-employ the following tenured and non-tenured faculty and educational support, cafeteria, maintenance, aide and monitor personnel for the 2024-25 school year as presented:

Tenured Faculty:  Daron Absher, Mark Albertini, Jessica Anderson, Chris Apple, Pamela Barr, Dawn Bassett, Brenda Berg, Erik Berrey, Michelle Buchheit, Leigh Burton, Charles Buss, Michael Butler, Justin Dennis, Lena Dierks, Aimee Ellis, Betsy Geiselman, Linaya Germann, Katie Zamora-Godinez, Kasey Paris Green, Andrew Gwinup, Scott Hankey, Jeff Hansen, Eric Hanson, Crystal Harsy, Tracy Hill, Clyde Hurley, Brandi Jones, Meredith Jones, Jennifer Kennedy, Krystal Kill, Caitlyn Klaybor, Brenda Krutzinger, Bryan Lee, Melise Lopez, Rasheeda Love, Judy Major, Cara Manczynski, Stacie Massie, Christi McGee, Justin Merriman, Donald Moberley, Carrie Mueller, Leslie Neitzer, Melanie Nelson, Matthew Peck, Jason Perry, Kyle Povolish, Amy Prudencio, Jessica Pyatt, Jane Rendon, Erin Sagaskie, Tracie Shackles, Greg Storm, Dawn Taylor, Joshua Taylor, Dallas Terry, Greg Townsend and Mark Woodside

Non-Tenured Faculty
Faculty Completing 4th Year towards Tenure: Lindsey Sears and Shannon Simmons

Faculty Completing 3rd Year towards Tenure: Garrick Haywood and Lyndsey Walls

Faculty Completing 2nd Year towards Tenure: Alyssa Garza, Haley Karayiannis, Dana Cox-Lipe, Susan Murphy, Melinda Pierson, Kamen Rosado, DeAndre Smith and Katrina Wood

Faculty Completing 1st Year towards Tenure: Robin Hughes and Levin Biedermann

Educational Support Personnel:  Fatima Calmese, Mindy Clark, LeAnne Gaydos, Michelle Gleim, Protean Greer, Verlena Greer, Crystal Hicks, Lucia Kelso, Kelly Lannom, Michelle Lewis, Westerly Loyd, Clint Mifflin, Amy Morse, Sian Person, Jarrod Ritter, Katherine Vieceli, Rena Weller and Matthew Young 

Restorative Practices and Student Support Specialist PersonnelJimi Bradley and Tommy Holder

Aides: Maggie Biedermann, Jacara Brisco, Toni Carter, Braden Cummins, Paul Decker, Denise Dyer, Jesse Krutsinger, Lafiet McDade, DeAnne Miller, Jessica Sergeev, Heather Taylor and Angelina Zanfardino

Monitors: Mykel Gary, Marialice Jenkins, Kobe Lewis-Moss, Andrew Smith and Kevin Stamp

Cafeteria Personnel: Jaqueline Acosta, Jerry Broski, Samantha Broski, Gregory Donahue, Zipporah Gibbs, Sabrina Gordon, Aubrey Hines and Heather Hines

Maintenance Personnel: Eric Fowler, Thor Hadfield, Mike Heern and Keith Keipp

Roll call: Galan, Pohlman, Swims, VanWinkle, Dababneh and Flowers voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried. 

Employment of 2024-25 Licensed Personnel:

Drivers Education Teacher: Motion by Swims, seconded by Dababneh, to employ Olivia Clark-Kittleson as a full-time Drivers Education Teacher for the 2024-25 school year pending receipt of her Illinois Professional Educator License. Ms. Clark-Kittleson’s education and experience will place her at Line 0, Column MA/MS+12 on the 2024-25 Teacher Salary Schedule.  Roll call: Pohlman, Swims, VanWinkle, Dababneh, Flowers and Galan voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

School Counselor: Motion by Pohlman, seconded by Dababneh, to employ Angelique Moeller as a full-time School Counselor for the 2024-25 school year.  Ms. Moeller’s education and experience will place her at line 7.5, Column MA/MS on the 2024-25 Teacher Salary Schedule. Roll call: Swims, VanWinkle, Dababneh, Flowers, Galan and Pohlman voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Assistant Principal: Motion by Galan, seconded by Dababneh, to employ Marshall Hunt as an Assistant Principal, a 10.5-month position, for the 2024-25 school year, with a salary of $90,000.00.  Roll call: VanWinkle, Dababneh, Flowers, Galan, Pohlman and Swims voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

For Your Information Items:
The 2024 Top Ten Academic Student Recognition Program is Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. in the gymnasium.

The next Board of Education Meeting is Thursday, April 18, 2024, at 6:00 p.m.

The 2024 IASB Constitution and Position Statement was included in the Board Members’ packets.

Executive Session: Motion by Pohlman, seconded by Dababneh, to go into executive session to discuss information regarding the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1)); and, to adjourn the Board of Education meeting immediately following the executive session. Roll call: Dababneh, Flowers, Galan, Pohlman, Swims and VanWinkle voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried. The meeting recessed at 7:14 p.m. The executive session convened at 7:25 p.m. The executive session adjourned at 9:16 p.m.

Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 9:17 p.m.

Minutes Approved: April 18, 2024