August 2023 School Board Meeting Minutes

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CARBONDALE COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 165, CARBONDALE, ILLINOIS HELD AUGUST 17, 2023 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, August 17, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. 

Upon roll call, the following members were present:

Rania Dababneh         Christopher Swims 
Linda Flowers             Julie VanWinkle       

The following members were absent:

Lana Galan                 Francis Tsung 
Wendell Pohlman

Also present were:     

Daniel Booth               Ryan Thomas   
Ray Toliver, Jr.           Ethan Graham

President VanWinkle declared a quorum present and the regular meeting of August 17, 2023, was called to order.

Secretary Pro Tem: Linda Flowers served as Secretary Pro Tem in Wendell Pohlman’s absence.

Approval of Minutes: A motion by Swims, seconded by Dababneh, to approve the minutes of the regular meeting and executive session of July 20, 2023. Roll call: Dababneh, Flowers, Swims and VanWinkle voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Old Business: None

Introduction of New 2023-24 Faculty: Mr. Thomas introduced the new 2023-24 faculty to the Board: 
Tommy Holder, Student Support Specialist 
Robin Hughes, Special Education Teacher 
Kaylin Wilson, Science Teacher

FOIA Requests: None

Public Comments: None

Payment of Bills: Motion by Swims, seconded by Dababneh, to pay the remaining bills for the month of July 2023; and, those available for payment for the month of August 2023. Roll call: Flowers, Swims, VanWinkle and Dababneh voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

ESSER III Grant Expenditures: The Board received an update on the ESSER III Grant expenditures for their information.

Principal’s Report: Mr. Thomas reported on the first week of school: 
·Freshman Orientation: 225 Students Attended 
·Total Enrollment: 1055 
  9th Grade: 289 
10th Grade: 281 
11th Grade: 243 
12th Grade: 242 
·Attendance Rate: 92%  
·Open House: 150+ Families in Attendance; 400+ Individuals in Attendance

Superintendent’s Report: Mr. Booth reviewed the Superintendent’s Report for the Board:

Construction Updates
1. Walnut Street entry interior will be completed by Labor Day. The exterior work will begin around the same time. The exterior of this will remain closed. 
2. The C-Wing staircase project began on July 10 and will be completed by Labor Day. 
3. The exterior structural steel (Health Life Safety Project) on the gym area and Giant City Road awning have been painted and new light fixtures have been installed under the awning. 
4. The kitchen floor epoxy (Health Life Safety Project) project began the first week of July and was completed the first week of August. 
5. The H-Hallway sound cloud project was completed the first week of August. 
6. The CTE addition project will be bid in September and be brought to the Board in October for approval.

Foundation Black and White Ball
The District has received approximately $60,000 in sponsorships for the Black and White Ball being held on August 26, 2023. Ten of the 12 inductees will be in attendance to receive their awards and be recognized. The goal is to net $50,000 from the event.

Strategic Planning Progress Updates
October: The Board approves KPI’s and targets. 
February: Update the Board on progress of KPI’s and targets. 
June: Present end of year report on strategic plan progress. 
July: Superintendent Evaluation

Solar Panels
At the June Board meeting GRP Performance Contracting presented on the addition of solar panels and a representative from Stifel Public Finance presented on how the District could pay for the project using a combination of debt certificates and state and federal rebates. The Board discussed additional questions and had discussion at the July Board of Education meeting.

Mr. Booth provided answers to the questions that were asked at the July Board meeting. He advised that GRP could bring sample panels to the Administrative Center for viewing by Board members as needed. He said GRP was in the process of beginning a job at the Carbondale Elementary School District and will have products to share with the Board as examples. He said he would continue the solar panel discussion to the September Board meeting when more Board members are present.

Tentative Budget for Public Display Presentation of the 2023-24: Ray Toliver reviewed the tentative 2023-24 Budget for the Board. Motion by Flowers, seconded by Swims, to receive the tentative budget for the 2023-24 school year, place it on display for the public at the district office, the high school office, and the Carbondale Public Library, and to hold a public hearing on Thursday, September 21, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. in the high school cafeteria.  Roll call: Swims, VanWinkle, Dababneh and Flowers voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Approval of 2023 August Graduates: Motion by Swims, seconded by Flowers, to approve the following students for official graduation on August 17, 2023: Jeremy Brown, Clayton Buser, Brianna Colcord, Skylar Crane, Alaina Crayton, Ayanna Dunklin, Mehki Dunklin, Zachary Finstad, Kaylie Helms, Damian Hicks, Winter Jarrett, Essence Johnson, Morgan Juarez, Natalie Knight, Makala Lester, Faith Pryor, Carmella, Cali Roy and Alexis Wyatt. Roll call: VanWinkle, Dababneh, Flowers and Swims voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

2023-24 District Succession of Authority Plan: Motion by Swims, seconded by Flowers, to approve the 2023-24 District Succession of Authority Plan as presented. Roll call: Dababneh, Flowers, Swims and VanWinkle voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

2023-24 Annual ANCRA DCFS Mandated Reporting for Board Members: Per Board Policy 5:90, the Board annually receives the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting information, making each individual Board member aware that per the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act (ANCRA), they are a mandated reporter of any allegation of abuse or neglect raised to a Board member during an open or closed Board meeting that a student is an abused child as defined in ANCRA, direct or cause the Board to direct the Superintendent or other equivalent school administrator to comply with ANCRA’s requirements concerning the reporting of child abuse.

2023-24 Concussion Oversight Team: Motion by Swims, seconded by Flowers, to approve the 2023-24 Concussion Oversight Team as presented. Roll call: Flowers, Swims, VanWinkle and Dababneh voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

FY23 PA 96-0434/PA 97-0609 Compensation Report: The Board received the FY23 PA 96-0434/PA 97-0609 Compensation Report for their information.

FY23 Administrator/Teacher/ Teacher Aide Salary and Benefits Report: The Board received the FY23 Administrator/Teacher/Teacher Aide Salary and Benefits Report for their information.

IASB PRESS Issue 112 Board Policy Manual Updates—Second Reading/Adoption: Motion by Flowers, seconded by Swims, to approve the IASB PRESS Issue 112 Board Policy Manual updates as presented.  First reading of IASB PRESS Issue 112 Board Policy Manual updates occurred at the July 20, 2023, Board meeting.  Roll call: Swims, VanWinkle, Dababneh and Flowers voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

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

a. Resignation of Christine Berger (Cook) effective July 20, 2023. 
b. Resignation of Brittany DeVantier (Counseling Department Secretary) effective August 15, 2023. 
c. Resignation of Mariann Wright (Teacher Aide) effective August 31, 2023.

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

Employment of 2023-24 Temporary School Counselor: Motion by Flowers, seconded by Dababneh, to retroactively employ Sandra Brown, as a temporary School Counselor for the 2023-24 school year, for no more than 120 days at a rate of $508.11 per day, which coincides with her placement on the 2023-24 Teacher Salary Schedule, Line 22, Column MA/MS+24. Roll call: Dababneh, Flowers, Swims and VanWinkle voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Employment of 2023-24 Career Education Teacher: Motion by Swims, seconded by Flowers, to retroactively employ Zachary Clark, as a part-time (4/6-time) Career Education Teacher. Mr. Clark’s education and experience will place him at Line 0, Column BA/BS, on the 2023-24 Teacher Salary Schedule. Roll call: Flowers, Swims, VanWinkle and Dababneh voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Employment of 2023-24 Extra- Duty/Extended-Time Personnel: Motion by Swims, seconded by Flowers, to employ the following 2023-24 extra-duty/extended-time personnel as presented:

Extra-Duty Personnel
Sophomore Class Sponsor: Kaylin Wilson $368.00 
Junior Class Sponsors: Rasheeda Love $3,502.00 and Michelle Lewis $3,502.00 
K-Pop Dance Club Sponsor: Kaylin Wilson $368.00 
Assistant Boys Basketball Coaches: Greg Storm $5,000.00, Tommy Holder $5,000.00, Kobi Lewis-Moss $3,508.00 
Assistant Volleyball Coach: Angelina Zanfardino $5,255.00 
Assistant Girls Basketball Coaches: Jeff Hansen $4,500.00, Jimi Bradley $4,000.00, Rasheeda Love $3,172.00

Extended-Time Personnel
After-School Detention Supervisor: Dawn Bassett $3,960.00 
Roll call:  Swims, VanWinkle, Dababneh and Flowers voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Employment of Hall Monitor and Teacher Aide Personnel: Motion by Swims, seconded by Flowers, to employ the following hall monitor and teacher aide personnel at the rate of $14.61 per hour for the 2023-24 school year as presented:

Angelina Zanfardino: Teacher Aide-- Employment retroactive to August 14, 2023. 
Halston Lewis: Hall Monitor--Employment pending receipt of Illinois Paraprofessional Educator License.

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

Employment of 2023-24 Rebound Grant Personnel: Motion by Swims, seconded by Dababneh, to retroactively employ the following 2023-24 Rebound grant personnel contingent upon adequate grant funding and timely receipt of those funds as presented:

Nikolas Szczepanik 
-- Learning Facilitator: High School Equivalency, Bridge and ICAPS 
-- Employment Period: August 7, 2023-July 31, 2024. 
-- 40 Hours per week at $20.00 per hour. 

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

Volunteers: None

2023-2028 Superintendent Employment Contract Extension: Motion by Flowers, seconded by Swims, to approve the 2023-2028 Superintendent Employment Contract Extension effective July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2028, per the terms contained in the employment contract as presented. Roll call: Flowers, Swims, VanWinkle and Dababneh voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

For Your Information Items

Foundation Black & White Ball: 5:30 p.m., Saturday, August 26, 2023, at the SIU Student Center Ballrooms.

Next Board of Education Meeting: 6:00 p.m., Thursday, September 21, 2023.       

CCHS Class of 1970 Fundraiser: 4:30 p.m., Sunday, September 17, 2023, at the First Christian Church.

Executive Session: None

Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 7:17 p.m.

Minutes Approved: September 21, 2023