August 2024 School Board Minutes

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CARBONDALE COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 165, CARBONDALE, ILLINOIS HELD AUGUST 15, 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, August 15, 2024, at 6:00 p.m.

Upon roll call, the following members were present:

Rania Dababneh                     Wendell Pohlman 
Linda Flowers                         Julie VanWinkle    
Lana Galan (Virtual)

The following member was absent:  Christopher Swims

Also present were:     

Daniel Booth                           Lena Dierks 
Ray Toliver, Jr.                       Neophansya Robinson 
Ryan Thomas

President VanWinkle declared a quorum present and the regular meeting of August 15, 2024, was called to order.

Virtual Board Member Computer Issues: Following roll call, Member Galan experienced computer issues that would not allow her to verbally respond via her computer at 6:02 p.m.

Approval of Minutes: A motion by Flowers, seconded by Pohlman, to approve the minutes of the regular meeting and executive session of July 18, 2024. Roll call: Dababneh, Flowers, Pohlman and VanWinkle voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried. Due to a computer issue Member Galan did not vote.

Old Business—None

Appointment of New Board of Education Member: Motion by Flowers, seconded by Dabebneh, to appoint Neophansya Robinson as the new member to the CCHS District 165 Board of Education to complete the unexpired four-year term of Francis Tsung. Roll call: Flowers, Pohlman, VanWinkle and Dababneh voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried. Due to a computer issue Member Galan did not vote.

Seating of New Board of Education Member: Neophansya Robinson read the Oath of Office and took her seat on the Board of Education.

Virtual Board Member Computer Issues Resolved: Member Galan’s computer issues were resolved at 6:05 p.m.

Introduction of New 2024-25 Faculty: Mr. Thomas introduced the new 2024-25 School Resource Officer and faculty to the Board:

Dr. Tyler Chance, Assistant Principal
Marshall Hunt, Assistant Principal 
Maggie Biedermann, Cosmetology Teacher 
Cheryl Drue, Special Education Teacher 
Nicole Feng, Math Teacher 
Olivia Clark-Kittleson, Drivers Education Teacher 
Chelsea McGee, German Teacher 
Levi Milliron, Science Teacher 
Carlie Page, Math Teacher 
Debra Ratliff, Science Teacher 
Karly Williard, Speech Lang. Pathologist/504 Plan Case Manager

Member Answers Roll Call: Member Swims answered roll call at 6:08 p.m.

FOIA Requests—None

Public Comments—None

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

Principal’s Report: Mr. Thomas reported on the first week of school and student enrollment. He said the starting enrollment this year was 300 freshmen, 270 sophomores, 267 juniors, 231 seniors and total enrollment was 1,068 students. Mr. Thomas also reviewed the cell phone policy pilot.

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

Construction Updates

CTE Addition: Great progress has been made. The exterior and interior block walls are almost complete. Once completed, the masons will begin the exterior brick laying and interior clean-up for finishing work. The roof completion and HVAC placement will be next. 

Solar Panels: The building permits are being prepared that will allow the project to begin in September. The expected completion is March 2025.

The District heard from Ameren on the cost of inverters to store the power from the panels and the cost is $366,000.  GRP is going to pay $200,000, there is approximately $14,000 in the contract built for this, and the District will pay about $150,000 for this upgrade.  The initial cost will come from the bond that the District received for the project, and any overage will come from the facilities sales tax fund. Mr. Booth reminded the Board of the funding streams for the project:

The total bond for the project was $3,040,000. The District has spent $1 million towards supplies.

The District will receive $1,761,214 in state rebates over 20 years with $92,258 coming in year one.

The District will receive a $303,525 inverter rebate in year one.

The District will receive a $892,596 federal rebate in year one.

The District will receive a guaranteed power savings of $6,989,546 over 30 years.

Construction projects on the horizon:

a.  Science Wing Addition: $4-$5 million dollars 
b.  Replacement of Track: $200,000-$400,000 
c.  Updating Soccer Accessibility: $100,000-$200,000

Strategic Plan Progress
October: Board approves updated KPI’s and Targets 
November: Report Card Review 
January/February: Progress Update on KPI’s and Targets 
June: End-of-Year Report on Strategic Plan Progress 
July: Superintendent Evaluation

Member Leaves Meeting: Member Swims left the meeting at 7:06 p.m.

Bids/Quotes—None

Member Returns to Meeting: Member Swims returned to the meeting at 7:10 p.m.

IASB PRESS Issue 115 Board Policy Manual Updates—Second Reading/Adoption: Motion by Pohlman, seconded by Robinson, to approve the IASB PRESS Issue 115 Board Policy Manual updates as presented. First reading of IASB PRESS Issue 115 Board Policy Manual updates occurred at the July 18, 2024, Board meeting. Roll call: Pohlman, Robinson, Swims, VanWinkle, Dababneh, Flowers and Galan voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Approval of 2024 August Graduates: Motion by Swims, seconded by Dababneh, to approve the following students for official graduation on August 15, 2024: Muhammad Akoud, Gabriel Bloodworth, Kennedy Carter, Issac Garcia, Carter Hencke, James Jarvis, Tucker Sharp, Jarod Smith and Haylie Swenson. Roll call:  Robinson, Swims, VanWinkle, Dababneh and Flowers voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

2024-25 District Succession of Authority Plan: Motion by Pohlman, seconded by Swims, to approve the 2024-25 District Succession of Authority Plan as presented. Roll call: Swims, VanWinkle, Dababneh, Flowers, Galan, Pohlman and Robinson voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

2024-25 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.

FY24 PA 96-0434/PA 97-0609 Compensation Report: The Board received the FY24 PA 96-0434/PA 97-0609 Compensation Report for their information.

FY24 Administrator/Teacher/Teacher Aide Salary and Benefits Report: The Board received the FY24 Administrator/Teacher/Teacher Aide Salary and Benefits Report for their information.

2024-25 Jackson/Perry Regional Delivery System Intergovernmental Agreement: Motion by Robinson, seconded by Dababneh, to approve the 2024-25 Intergovernmental Agreement to Participate in the Jackson/Perry Regional Delivery System as presented. Roll call: VanWinkle, Dababneh, Flowers, Galan, Pohlman, Robinson and Swims voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Gym Scoreboard: Motion by Pohlman, seconded by Dababneh, for approval to a purchase gym scoreboard in the amount of $121,400 as presented. Roll call: Dababneh, Flowers, Galan, Pohlman, Robinson, Swims and VanWinkle voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Banterra Bank CD: Motion by Pohlman, seconded by Dababneh, for approval to deposit the $125k donation received from Gibson Consulting through the Facilities Naming Committee, into a Certificate of Deposit at the Banterra Bank as presented.  Roll call: Flowers, Galan, Pohlman, Robinson, Swims and VanWinkle voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Rebound Air Conditioning Unit: Motion by Swims, seconded by Dababneh, for approval to purchase an air conditioning unit for the Rebound building through the TIPS Cooperative in the amount of $84,2400 as presented.  Roll call: Galan, Pohlman, Robinson, Swims, VanWinkle, Dababneh and Flowers voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

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

Resignations/Retirements: Motion by Swims, seconded by Dababneh, to accept the following resignations/ retirements as presented:  Resignation of Alejandro Ruiz (Spanish teacher) effective July 19, 2024. Roll call: Robinson, Swims, VanWinkle, Dababneh, Flowers, Galan and Pohlman voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Employment of Personnel

2024-25 Part-Time ESL Teacher: Motion by Pohlman, seconded by Swims, to retroactively employ Sharon Lorinskas effective August 12, 2024, as a part-time (1/6-time) ESL Teacher for the 2024-25 school year. Ms. Lorinskas’ education and experience will place her at Line 19, Column MA/MS+12 prorated on the 2024-25 Teacher Salary Schedule. Roll call: Swims, VanWinkle, Dababneh, Flowers, Galan, Pohlman and Robinson voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

2024-25 Extra-Duty/Extended-Time Personnel: Motion by Swims, seconded by Dababneh, to employ the following 2024-25 Extra-Duty/Extended-Time Personnel as presented:

Extra-Duty
Junior Class Sponsor and Assistant Sponsor: Michelle Lewis, $3,502.00 and Rasheeda Love $3,502.00Title I Coordinator: Terri Goodin $4,669.00
K-Pop Dance Team: Fatima Calmese $368.00 
Imagination-in-Motion Club Sponsor: Crystal Harsy $368.00 
Key Club Sponsor: Jessica Sergeeve $1,751.00 and LeeAnne Gaydos $1,751.00 
Minority Student Advisory Council: Jim Bradley $1,085.00 
Assistant Girls Tennis Coach: Tom Brooke $550.00, Lena Dierks $550.00 and Ellen Burton $1,235.00

Extended-Time
Behind-the-Wheel Driver Education Instruction: Kim Wheeler 
Lunch Hour Supervision: Maggie Biedermann 
After School Supervision: Dawn Bassett

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

Teacher Aide and Hall Monitor Personnel: Motion by Pohlman, seconded by Swims, to employ Arielle Beck, pending receipt of her Illinois Professional Educator License, as a Cosmetology Teacher Aide, at the rate of $15.00 per hour for the 2024-25 school year. Roll call: Dababneh, Flowers, Galan, Pohlman, Robinson, Swims and VanWinkle voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Cooks: Motion by Swims, seconded by Dababneh, to employ the following cooks at the rate of $15.15 per hour for the 2024-25 school year: Autumnrose Anderson and Juliana Mitchell. Roll call: Flowers, Galan, Pohlman, Robinson, VanWinkle and Dababneh voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Employment of 2024-25 Rebound Grant Personnel

Rebound Liaison: Motion by Swims, seconded by Dababneh, to retroactively employ Marissa Ivory effective August 1, 2024, as a Rebound Liaison for the 2024-25 school year. Employment is contingent upon receipt of adequate grant funding and timely receipt of those funds. The rate of pay will be $21.00/hour @ 35 hours/week for 215 days, with reduced hours during the summer session. Roll call: Galan, Pohlman, Robinson, Swims, VanWinkle, Dababneh and Flowers vote yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Distance Learning & Restorative Practice Facilitator: Motion by Pohlman, seconded by Swims, to retroactively employ Danielle Jerolds effective August 12, 2024, as a Rebound Distance Learning & Restorative Practice Facilitator for the 2024-25 school year. Employment is contingent upon receipt of adequate grant funding and timely receipt of those funds. The rate of pay will be $21.00/hour @ 35 hours/week, with reduced hours during the summer session. Roll call: Pohlman, Robinson, Swims, VanWinkle, Dababneh, Flowers and Galan voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

2024-25 Volunteers: Motion by Swims, seconded by Dababneh, to approve the following 2024-25 Volunteers as presented.

Mollie Jarrett: Cheerleading Coach Volunteer 
Cory Newman: Boys/Girls Tennis Coach Volunteer 
Travis Walczynski: Girls Gymnastic Coach Volunteer 
Unree Westley: Boys Basketball Coach Volunteer 
James Austin: Football Coach Volunteer 
Marty Vaughn: Bass Fishing Boat Captain Volunteer 
Madison Belcher: Girls Golf Coach Volunteer

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

For Your Information Items
Annual School Meet & Greet: 4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m., Tuesday, August 20, 2024

Bob Brewer Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet: 6:00 p.m., Saturday, August 31, 2024, at the Carbondale Civic Center

Next Board of Education Meeting: 6:00 p.m., Thursday, September 19, 2024

Executive Session—None       

Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 8:02 p.m.

Minutes Approved: September 19, 2024