The Ball-Chatham Board of Education met for its regularly scheduled meeting at the District Office in Chatham, IL on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
The following is a summation of the items discussed and those that were approved.
1. CLOSED SESSION
1.1 Adjournment from Regular Session to Closed Session
1.2 Topics of Closed Session
1.3 Closed Session Minutes [5 ILCS 120/2(c)(21)]
1.4 Adjournment from Closed Session to Regular Session
2. OPEN SESSION
2.1 Call Meeting to Order- Board President Saunders called the meeting to order at 6:33pm.
2.2 Pledge of Allegiance- All stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.
2.3 Roll Call- Roll call was taken and Bryant, Calderon, Murphy, Phipps, Rediger and Saunders were present, Strahle was absent. Superintendent, Dr. Lamon was also present.
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
3.1 Approval of Agenda- Board member Murphy moved to approve the agenda for the regular meeting, May 22, 2024. Upon said motion being seconded by Rediger, President Saunders called for a vote. All members present voted “yes”.
4. COMMUNICATIONS
4.1 Recognition of GHS and GMS Track & Field State Qualifiers- President Saunders called the GHS Girls Track and Field team members up to the front of the room. Coach Mike Garber summarized the accomplishments including several Indoor and Outdoor records that were broken. The Glenwood High School Girls Track and Field team competed in the 3A State Meet at Eastern Illinois University last weekend. The team scored 38 points for a 4th place finish overall with three athletes qualifying for finals and scoring team points in five events. Katelyn Lehnen, Junior: 100 Meter Dash - State Champion (11.69 seconds), 400 Meter Dash - State Champion (54.81 seconds), 200 Meter Dash - 4th Place, All-State Honors. Reese Wolfe, Junior: Pole Vault - State Champion (3.80 m). Natalie Alexander, Senior: 300 Meter Hurdles - 8th Place, All-State Honors. Other State Qualifiers: 4 x 400m - Natalie Alexander, Ali Londrigan, Lydia Gurnsey, Katelyn Lehnen, Reese Wolfe, Ally (Alexandra) Knudson, Ava Hamrick, Preslie Daley. 4 x 800m - Sophie Rentmeister, Ashlyn Chopra, Lydia Gurnsey, Ali Londrigan, Rachael Behrens, Ally (Alexandra) Knudson, Addie (Adelyn) Hamrick, Brenna Sloman. 800m - Ali Londrigan
Coach Max Wollet introduced the GMS Girls Track and Field State Qualifiers. Allison Broaddus - 8th grade: 800m, 1600m. Madison Hackett - 7th grade: Discus. Lillian Prehn - 7th grade: 800m, 1600m. Sri (Srinidhi) Seenivasan - 7th grade: Pole Vault. 8th Grade 4 x 100m Relay: Jayanna Mitrione, Noelle Nesit, Lyla Badman, Justice Moore, Raniyah Veal. 8th Grade 4X100 Relay: Jayanna Mitrione, Noelle Nesit, Lyla Badman, Justice Moore, Raniyah Veal, Katie (Katelyn) Phelps. 8th Grade 4 x 200m Relay: Audri Brown, Grace Atkinson, Allison Broaddus, Demi Matthew, Mia Thomas. 7th Grade 4 x 400m Relay: Lillian Prehn, Greta Gummerman, Tess Mather, Emery Olson, Mazie Moss. 8th Grade 4 x 400m Relay Grace Atkinson, Demi Matthew, Allison Broaddus, Mia Thomas, Keira Gorrie, Gracyn Moss.
Coach Max Wollet also introduced GMS Boys Track and Field State Qualifiers. Ari Anderson - 8th grade: 400m, 800m.Gage Atkinson - 8th grade: 1600m.Jax Barton - 7th grade: 800m, 1600m.Jake (Jacob) Koester - 7th grade: Pole Vault.Jake (Jacob) Ray - 8th grade: Pole Vault.Hudson Schneider - 8th grade: 800m.Finn (Finnley) Try - 8th grade: Pole Vault.Oliver Verenski - 7th grade: Discus.Jaxson Wix - 8th grade: High Jump.Clayton Zettler - 8th grade: 400m.7th Grade 4 x 100m Relay: Sean Walker-Knight, Cole Patterson, Brody Doan, Noah Lichtenberger, Cooper Lewis.8th Grade 4 x 100m Relay: Austin Keck, Malik Banks, Luke Deweese, Alexander Jones, Aiden Veach.7th Grade 4 x 200m Relay: Jax Barton, Aaron Link, Regan Aten, Caden Woodrum, Geno Didonato, Case Burk.8th Grade 4 x 200m Relay: Jaxson. Wix, Brayden Owen, Ari Anderson, Clayton Zettler, Ethan Davis.7th Grade 4 x 400m Relay: Jax Barton, Aaron Link, Cooper Lewis, Brody Doan, Cole Patterson.8th Grade 4 x 400m Relay: Ari Anderson, Clayton Zettler, Hudson Schneider, Austin Keck, Liam Domahoski.
4.2 Citizens- Opportunity for Visitors to Address the School Board Concerning any Agenda Topic- Emily Miller spoke to support her positive thoughts in support of the teachers of Ball-Chatham CUSD5. Several community members spoke in support of a student on the agenda for expulsion. Mr. Greg Sronce spoke on behalf of the student and asked other to speak as well. Trystin Decatoire spoke as a character witness. Brandy Lane asked that the Board consider the student's age while handling the discipline issue. AJ Ferguson spoke as a character witness knowing that this student has been through some stuff. Jacob Roof Jr. spoke of the student being addressed in the agenda as a 16-year-old teenager making a stupid mistake. Finally, Dr. Bryan Taylor asked that the Board consider a punishment that would be considered an addition rather than subtraction.
5. ITEMS FROM CLOSED SESSION
5.1 Action Items from Closed Session- President Saunders called for a motion to approve the closed session minutes and action items from April 24, 2024. Calderon moved to approve the closed session minutes from April 24, 2024. Upon said motion being seconded by Rediger, President Saunders called for a vote. All board members voted “yes”.
5.2 Student Discipline from Closed Session- President Saunders called for a motion to approve the action from the closed session that the discipline of Student A be upheld, and the student be expelled from BCSD for violation of the law and BCSD policies. Phipps moved that the discipline action be upheld. Upon said motion being seconded by Rediger, President Saunders called for a vote. All board members voted “yes”.
6. CONSENT ITEMS
6.1 Adoption of Consent Agenda Items- President Saunders called for the adoption of the Consent Agenda. Bryant moved to adopt the Consent agenda. Upon said motion, Rediger seconded the motion. President Saunders called for a vote. All members voted “yes”.
6.2 Minutes of Regular Board Meeting, April 24, 2024
6.3 Minutes of Facilities and Grounds Committee Meeting, May 8, 2024
6.4 Minutes of Finance Committee Meeting, May 14, 2024
6.5 Treasurer/Financial Report
6.6 School District Accounts Payable
6.7 School Activity Account Reports
6.8 Finalize 2023-24 Calendar
6.9 FOIA Requests
6.10 Approval of Consolidated District Plan
7. PERSONNEL CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS
7.1 Adoption of Consent Personnel Agenda Items- President Saunders called for a motion for the Personnel Consent Agenda items. Calderon moved to adopt the Consent Personnel Agenda. Upon said motion, Bryant seconded. President Saunders called for a vote. All present voted “yes”.
7.2 Resignations
7.3 New Hires
7.4 Retirements
7.5 Transfers
7.6 Contract Addendum
7.7 Leaves of Absence
8. NEW BUSINESS
8.1 2024-2025 SY Out of State Travel- President Saunders called for a motion to approve the out of state travel for the Glenwood High School Show Choir. Calderon moved to approve the out of state travel permission. Upon said motion, Murphy seconded. President Saunders called for the vote. All present voted “yes”.
8.2 Approval of IESA memberships- President Saunders called for a motion to approve the IESA memberships for GIS and GMS for the 2024-25 SY. Murphy moved to approve the IESA memberships. Upon said motion, Calderon seconded. President Saunders called for the vote. All present voted “yes”.
8.3 Approval of Student Handbooks for the 2024/25 SY-Ben Kwedar addressed the board with the recommendations for the approval of Student Handbooks for 2024-25 SY. The assistant principals of the school levels were represented in the audience. Mr. Kwedar shared with the board that the language was aligned to make sense across all grade levels. There were some minor changes, for example the policy in regard to AI, Heelys, and parking fees. Calderon inquired about the summary to review. The changes were highlighted in the final drafts. President Saunders called for a motion to approve the building and district Student Handbooks for the 2024-25 SY. Rediger moved to approve the Student Handbooks for 2024-25 SY. Upon said motion, Murphy seconded. President Saunders called for the vote. All present voted “yes”.
8.4 9-12 English Resource Adoption- Jen Farnsworth presented the board with a recommendation to purchase some the 9-12 English Curriculum Resource. President Saunders called for a motion to approve the noted 9-12 English Resource recommendations. Murphy moved that the board approve the 9-12 English Curriculum Resource recommendations as presented by Jen Farnsworth. Upon said motion, Bryant seconded. President Saunders called for a vote. All present voted “yes”.
8.5 Select Board Representatives for Board Committees- President Saunders shared the board members selected for the following committees:
FINANCE- Phipps and Murphy
POLICY – Calderon and Strahle
CACC- Rediger
FACILITY/GROUND- Phipps and Bryant
DEI- Rediger and Calderon
DIVISION REP- Strahle
IASB DELEGATE- Strahle
PTAC- Rediger and Murphy
9. COMMUNICATIONS
9.1 Future Board Meeting Dates / Dates for 2023/2024 SY
9.2 Citizens - Opportunity for Visitors to Address the School Board Concerning Any Topic- Deborah Rupright spoke to the board regarding the challenges in the classrooms on behalf of the teachers. She indicated that seasoned teachers are finding it difficult and shared her thoughts on staff retention, compensation, class size, prep time and insurance. Mary Meisner asked when the Special Education report will be shared during a board meeting and President Saunders responded to Ms. Meisner that she would receive an email with the rescheduled information. Erin Lowery spoke as a parent and former employee. She showed support for the teachers and addressed her thoughts about teacher burnout and teacher irreplaceability.
10. ADJOURNMENT
10.1 Adjournment of Regular Meeting- President Saunders called for a motion to adjourn. Phipps moved to adjourn, upon said motion Rediger seconded. All present voted “yes”.
Meeting adjourned at 7:18PM