MINUTES OF THE REGULAR RESCHEDULED MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CARBONDALE COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 165, CARBONDALE, ILLINOIS HELD DECEMBER 14, 2023
The regular rescheduled meeting of the Board of Education of School District 165 was held in the Carbondale Community High School Cafeteria, 1301 East Walnut Street, Carbondale, Illinois, on Thursday, December 14, 2023, at 6:00 p.m.
Upon roll call, the following members were present:
Rania Dababneh Christopher Swims
Linda Flowers Francis Tsung
Lana Galan Julie VanWinkle
The following member was absent: Wendell Pohlman
Also present were:
Daniel Booth Ethan Graham
Ray Toliver, Jr. Lena Dierks
Ryan Thomas
Secretary Pro Tem: Member Flowers served as Secretary Pro Tem in Wendell Pohlman’s absence.
2023 Tax Levy Public Hearing: President VanWinkle opened the public hearing to receive public comments on the 2023 Tax Levy. There were no comments.
Motion by Swims, seconded by Tsung, to close the public hearing on the 2023 Tax Levy. Roll call: Dababneh, Flowers, Galan, Swims, Tsung and VanWinkle voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.
Approval of Minutes: Motion by Swims, seconded by Tsung, to approve the minutes of the regular scheduled meeting of November 9, 2023. Roll call: Flowers, Galan, Swims, Tsung, VanWinkle and Dababneh voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.
Old Business—None
Public Comments—None
FOIA Requests: The Board received a listing of the 2023-24 FOIA Requests received to date.
Payment of Bills: Motion by Flowers, seconded by Swims, to pay the remaining bills for the month of November 2023; and, those available for payment for the month of December 2023. Roll call: Galan, Swims, Tsung, VanWinkle, Dababneh and Flowers 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 following:
Java Jamboree/Low Tardy Party: November 2 and 3
--Qualifications: 3 or Fewer total tardies during the 1st Quarter
--695 Eligible Students
Terrier Fest: December 8
--Qualifications:
--85% Attendance
--5 or Less Referrals
--No more than 1 ISS
--No OSS/ASP
--No Social Suspension
--Freshmen: 211 Student Eligible
--Sophomores: 198 Students Eligible
--Juniors: 196 Students Eligible
--Seniors: 180 Student Eligible
--785 Students met all requirements to attend Terrier Fest.
Illinois State Scholars
--30 Students were named Illinois State Scholars.
Superintendent’s Report: Mr. Booth reviewed his Superintendent’s Report for the Board.
Construction Updates:
1. The Walnut Street entry will open in January.
2. The C-wing staircase project is substantially completed.
3. The CTE addition project was approved in September. The contracts are signed, and the work has begun.
4. Once the CTE project is off the ground, the Building and Grounds Committee will meet to share future project possibilities with the Board of Education. One of the major concerns that continues to arise is winter season practice space.
Solar Panels Update:
The Bonds were received on December 4. A payment of nearly$900,000 was paid to GRP to obtain materials. Once the materials arrive a timeline for completion will be made.
Job Postings:
The following positions were posted in December: 1) Science Teacher, 2) Math Teacher, 3) School Counselor, 4) Driver Education Teacher, 5) Spanish Teacher, 6) part-time Cosmetology Teacher, and part-time Speech Language Pathologist. In the coming months a new application software program will be used to update the hiring processes. The Goal 3 Team has been working on this over the last year.
Strategic Planning Progress:
February: Update the Board on progress of KPI’s and Targets.
June: Share end of year report on the Strategic Plan progress.
July: Superintendent Evaluation
Member Left Meeting: Member Swims left the meeting at 6:22 p.m.
Member Returned to Meeting: Member Swims returned to the meeting at 6:24 p.m.
Board Data Update Reports: The Board received the following data update reports for their information:
November Student Attendance Report
November Terrier Tutoring Student Attendance Report
Bids and Quotes—None
2023 Tax Levy: Motion by Flowers, seconded by Swims, to approve the following:
1. Adopt the Resolution of CCHS District 165 Levy for Special Education Purposes.
2. Adopt the 2023 Tax Levy Resolution, including the 2023 Certificate of Tax Levy, with permission to file the levy in Jackson and Williamson Counties.
3. Adopt the Certificate Regarding In applicability of the Truth-In-Taxation Law.
4. Adopt the “PTELL” Resolution, including Exhibit A, Request To Clerk Regarding Reduction of 2023 Tax Extension Pursuant to PTELL, with permission to file with the county clerks of Jackson and Williamson Counties.
Roll call: Swims, Tsung, VanWinkle, Dababneh, Flowers and Galan voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.
Semi-Annual Review of Executive Closed Session Minutes: Motion by Swims, seconded by Tsung, to approve the semi-annual review of the closed executive session minutes as presented. Roll call: Tsung, VanWinkle, Dababneh, Flowers, Galan and Swims voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.
IASB PRESS Issue 113 Board Policy Manual Updates—First Reading: The Board received IASB PRESS Issue 113 Board Policy Manual updates for first reading. The second reading/adoption of the IASB PRESS Issue 113 Board Policy Updates will occur at the January 18, 2024, Board of Education meeting.
Mr. Booth reviewed the policy updates for the Board, and Board discussion focused on two specific updates:
Board Policy 7:60, Residence
--105 ILCS 5/10-20.12a, amended by P.A. 103-111, permits boards to adopt a policy to waive non-resident tuition if the student is the child of a district employee. Previously, districts had to submit a waiver application to ISBE for this purpose.
--CCHS currently has a five-year waiver in effect through the 2024-25 school year.
--CCHS has five students enrolled through the waiver.
Member Flowers said she was concerned these students were taking opportunities away from students who were residents. She asked for data on the classes and extra-curricular activities the students were involved in. She also asked if the district employees using the waiver were participating more in afterschool extra-curricular activities. She asked for data on that information too.
Member Dababneh said she was very much in favor of allowing the children of district employees to attend CCHS. She said SIU, Unity Point School and Giant City School have policies. She said she felt it was a good way to show appreciation to district employees for their service to the district.
Member Tsung said they needed a balanced view when looking at data. He said they needed to look at data from both sides of the topic. He asked if the District received funding for the students attending. Mr. Booth said yes, the District did receive funding. Dr. Tsung said they should look at how much funding the District receives for the students versus how much the District receives if they were tuition paying students.
Mr. Booth said he would gather the data and send it to the Board members. He said at the January meeting he will present two motions:
1. Motion to adopt the updated Board Policy 7:60 as presented.
2. Motion to continue using the five-year waiver application process.
Board Policy 7:160, Student Appearance
--105 ILCS 5/10-22.25b, amended by P.A. 103-463, requires districts to permit students to wear or accessorize their graduation attire with items associated with their cultural, ethnic, or religious identity, or another category protected by the Ill. Human Rights Act.
Following discussion by the Board, it was decided to put guidelines and constraints in place before the graduation ceremony in May.
Resignations/Retirements: Motion by Flowers, seconded by Swims, to accept the following resignations/retirements as presented:
a. Resignation of Scott Lambert (Teacher Aide) effective November 17, 2023.
b. Resignation of Alexandria Bassett (German Teacher) effective at the end of the 2023-24 school year.
Roll call: Tsung, VanWinkle, Dababneh, Flowers, Galan, and Swims voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.
Employment of Hall Monitor: Motion by Swims, seconded by Galan, to employ Stephen Grant as a Hall Monitor pending receipt of his Illinois Professional Educator License, effective January 4, 2024, at the rate of $14.61 per hour for the 2023-24 school year. Roll call: VanWinkle, Dababneh, Flowers, Galan, Swims and Tsung voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.
Employment of 2023-24 Extra-Duty Personnel: Motion by Tsung, seconded by Swims, to employ the following 2023-24 extra-duty personnel as presented: Assistant Softball Coaches: Haley Karayannis $2,500.00, Lindsey Sears $1,500.00, Karly Williard $2,500.00, Olivia Clark-Kittleson $504.00. Roll call: Dababneh, Flowers, Galan, Swims, Tsung and VanWinkle voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.
Employment of 2024-25 Spanish Teacher: Motion by Swims, seconded by Dababneh, to employ Alejandro Ruiz as a full-time Spanish Teacher for the 2024-25 school year. Mr. Ruiz’s education and experience will place him at Line 22, Column MA/MS+24 on the 2024-25 Teacher Salary Schedule. Roll call: Flowers, Galan, Swims, Tsung, VanWinkle and Dababneh voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.
Employment of 2023-24 Rebound Grant Personnel: Motion by Tsung, 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:
Quentoria Hudson, English Learning Facilitator
--Employment Period: December 11, 2023-July 31, 2024
--40 Hours per week at $20.00 per hour.
Roll call: Galan, Swims, Tsung, VanWinkle, Dababneh and Flowers voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.
2023-24 Volunteers: Motion by Swims, seconded by Flowers, to approve the following 2023-24 volunteers:
Unree Westley, Assistant Boys Basketball Coach Volunteer
Kelly Higgins, Assistant Softball Coach Volunteer
Roll call: Swims, Tsung, VanWinkle, Dababneh, Flowers and Galan voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.
For Your Information Items:
District offices will be closed Friday, December 22, 2023, through Wednesday, January 3, 2023, for Winter Break.
The next Board of Education meeting will be Thursday, January 18, 2024, at 6:00 p.m.
Executive Session: Motion by Swims, seconded by Tsung, 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: Tsung, VanWinkle, Dababneh, Flowers, Galan and Swims voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.
Meeting Recessed: The meeting recessed at 7:00 p.m.
Executive Session Convenes: The executive session convened at 7:08 p.m.
Executive Session Adjourns: The executive session adjourned at 7:49 p.m.
Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.
MINUTES APPROVED: January 18, 2024