Carbondale Elementary School District #95 Board of Education met Nov. 13.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
A regular meeting of the Carbondale Elementary School District No. 95 was held on Thursday, November 13, 2025, at 6:00 PM at The John Major Learning Center, 1150 E. Grand Avenue, Carbondale, IL 62901.
1. Roll Call:
Upon roll call, the following members were present:
Ms. Catherine Field, Vice President
Ms. Imani McHenry, Secretary
Dr. Renada Greer
Mr. Marshall Hunt
Mr. John Major
Ms. Tangela Oliver
Administrators present:
Ms. Janice Pavelonis, Superintendent
Ms. Janiece Blake, Chief School Business Official
2. EXECUTIVE SESSION 6:14 PM
Roll Call:
Ms. Catherine Field, Vice President
Ms. Imani McHenry, Secretary
Dr. Renada Greer
Mr. Marshall Hunt
Mr. John Major
Ms. Tangela Oliver
Major moved, seconded by Oliver to enter Executive Session at 6:14 PM for the purpose of discussing performance, evaluation and compensation of specific personnel matters, matters relating to student discipline, matters relating to collective bargaining, matters relating to pending litigation. No decisions were made, and no votes were taken.
Roll Call Vote:
Yes votes: Field, Hunt, Major, Greer, McHenry, Oliver
No votes: None
Absent: Cawthon
Motion carried.
Executive Session adjourned at 7:30 PM.
Voice Vote:
Yes votes: Field, Greer, McHenry, Major, Hunt, Oliver
No: None
Absent: Cawthon
Motion carried.
3. Public Comments
Margaret Chambers spoke on behalf of CESPA president Leatreasa Lilly Madison regarding student behaviors and safety conditions in the schools.
Megan Batteau spoke on her safety concerns, observations, and joys at the middles school as a parent, teacher, community member, and graduate.
4. Approval of Agenda
Greer moved, seconded by Major, Recommend approving the Agenda.
Roll Call Vote:
Yes votes: Field, Greer, McHenry, Hunt, Major, Oliver
No votes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Cawthon
Motion carried.
5. Consent Agenda Items
Hunt moved, seconded by Greer, Recommend approving Consent Agenda Items, 5.1 Minutes, 5.2-Financial Reports and 5.3-Communications
Roll Call Vote
Yes votes: Field, Greer, Hunt, Major, McHenry, Oliver
No votes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Cawthon
Motion carried.
5.1 Minutes
5.11 Regular – October 23, 2025
5.12 Executive – October 23, 2025
5.2 Financial Reports
5.21 Approval of Bills
5.22 Treasurer’s Report
5.23 Revenue Report
5.24 Expenditure Report
5.25 Activity Fund Reports
5.3 Communications
5.31 FOIA – None
5.32 Donations – None
6. Committee Reports COMMITTEE REPORTS 6.1 6.11 Communication Report
President’s Remarks – No Report
6.2 Committee Reports
6.21 Behavioral Interventions Committee – No Report
6.22 Building and Transportation Committee – No Report
6.23 Parent-Teacher Advisory Committee – No Report
6.24 Policy Committee – No Report
6. Administrative Staff Reports
6.31 Assistant Superintendent of Student Services – Brooke Kensler No Report
6.32 Chief School Business Official – Janiece Blake
• FY25 Tax Levy – The tentative levy must be available for 30 days and a public hearing must be held before its adoption, similar to how we handle the district budget. The final action on the tax levy will occur during the December meeting, but I wanted to give a few highlights as, I don’t expect it to change between now and December’s meeting. The district’s levy increase is set at 4.99% over the previous year’s extension. I would also like to note that Jackson County is a tax capped county. This means that annual increases in property tax extensions are limited to the lesser of 5% or CPI. The CPI rate used for this levy year is 2.90%. So even though we are statutorily allowed to ask for 4.99% increase, we will receive less than that. Additionally, all of the numbers used to calculate the tentative levy are estimates. I receive estimates from the county on assessed valuations that are used to estimate the tax levy. The tentative levy is what I like to call the best educated guess.
• Building and Transportation Committee – Committee members will be contacted regarding setting a meeting mid-December. This will give me an opportunity to report out on the status of all of the construction in-progress, upcoming construction, including continuing the conversation around a new modular at Thomas school, and the Parrish playground renovations.
• Business Office – The business office continue to press forward with initiatives to make the business operations more efficient and streamlined, and I’d like to give a quick shoutout to Mr. Clark-Stokes, as he’s been involved in assisting with these efforts. Having him as the director of Data has been an immeasurable benefit, thus far, and the business office staff looks forward to building upon and improving the systems we have in place.
6.33 Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instructions – Michelle Martin
No Report
6.34 Superintendent – Janice Pavelonis
• Jackson County Mass Transit – A MOU is on tonight’s agenda for approval to provide monthly transportation passes at a discounted rate for district families and staff.
• Triple I Conference – Conference information was provided to Board members that are attending the conference.
6.4 Faculty Council Report – Megan Tate reported on behalf of Jennifer Burke, President
• There was not a meeting with Michelle Martin this month due to no curriculum concerns.
• Staff are encouraged to continue to use FreshDesk to report any cleaning concerns.
• Student behavior concerns have been a constant discussion for the last 2 months. Ms. Tate gave several examples of incidents that continue to disrupt the learning environment and creates safety issues with staff getting injured.
• Teachers feel they are under pressure to have students show learning growth on state testing, but they are unable to until extreme behaviors are under control so teachers can teach.
• Teachers feel appropriate consequences need to be put into place for extreme behaviors. The current consequences are not matching the severity of the behaviors.
• The teachers are inviting board members to come into the buildings and see what is going on.
7. Old Business – None
8. New Business
8.1 Action on Classified Personnel
8.11 Action on Resignations
Oliver moved, seconded by Greer, Recommend approving the resignation of Jeremesha Nelson as a Student Supervisory Aide at Lewis School effective November 4, 2025.
Voice Vote
Yes votes: Field, Greer, Hunt, Major, McHenry, Oliver
No votes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Cawthon
Motion carried.
8.12 Employment of Paraprofessionals
Greer moved, seconded by Oliver, Recommend approving the employment of Tavion Walker as a Student Supervisory Aide at Lewis School effective the 2025-2026 school year, pending a clear CBI.
Roll Call Vote
Yes votes: Field, Greer, Hunt, Major, McHenry, Oliver
No votes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Cawthon
Motion carried.
8.13 Employment of After School Paraprofessionals
McHenry moved, seconded by Greer, Recommend approving the employment of the following paraprofessionals/classified staff to work the after school program for the 2025-2026 school year.
Parrish School
Andrea Robles – retroactive effective November 3, 2025
Lewis School
Ashlyn Fox – retroactive effective November 10, 2025
Roll Call Vote
Yes votes: Field, Greer, Hunt, Major, McHenry, Oliver
No votes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Cawthon
Motion carried.
8.14 Action on Technology Coordinator Stipend
Major moved, seconded by Greer, Recommend approving an annual stipend for Blake Ryan in the amount of $8,500 for managing district-wide media and communications.
Roll Call Vote
Yes votes: Field, Greer, Hunt, Major, McHenry, Oliver
No votes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Cawthon
Motion carried.
8.2 Action on Certified Personnel
8.21 Action on Resignations – None
8.22 Employment of CES95 Faculty – None
8.23 Employment of Special Assignments – None
8.24 Employment of After School Tutors
Greer moved, seconded by McHenry, Recommend approving the employment of Angela Mausey as a Tutor in the After School Program retroactive effective November 10, 2025 for the 2025-2026 school year.
Roll Call Vote
Yes votes: Field, Greer, Hunt, Major, McHenry, Oliver
No votes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Cawthon
Motion carried.
8.3 Action on Tentative Tax Levy Resolution
Oliver moved, seconded by Greer, Recommend approval of the tentative resolution to file a Tax Levy for the 2025 tax year for less than 5% of the prior year’s tax extension.
Roll Call Vote
Yes votes: Field, Greer, Hunt, Major, McHenry, Oliver
No votes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Cawthon
Motion carried.
8.4 Action on Jackson County Mass Transit Memorandum of Understanding
Greer moved, seconded by McHenry, Recommend approving the memorandum of understanding between Jackson County Mass Transit and Carbondale Elementary School District 95 for the purpose of providing discounted monthly transit passes to employees or students of District 95 in the amount of $10 per pass.
Roll Call Vote
Yes votes: Field, Greer, Hunt, Major, McHenry, Oliver
No votes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Cawthon
Motion carried.
9. Next Scheduled Meetings:
9.1 *Thursday, December 18, 2025
Regular Board Meeting (OPEN TO THE PUBLIC)
The John Major Learning Center
CES95 Administrative Center
1150 E. Grand Avenue, Suite 2
Carbondale, IL 62901
6:00 PM
6:05 PM Motion and Roll Call Vote to go into Executive Session (CLOSED) for the purpose of discussing matters relating to the performance, evaluation and compensation of specific personnel, matters relating to student discipline, matters relating to collective bargaining, and matters relating to pending litigation.
7:00 PM Public Hearing on FY26 Tax Levy
7:05 PM Reconvene Regular Board Meeting Public Session (OPEN TO THE PUBLIC)
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Policy Committee Meeting
CES95 Administrative Center
1150 E. Grand Avenue
Carbondale, IL 62901
5:30 PM
*Not A Fourth Thursday
10. Public Comments – None PUBLIC COMMENTS 11. Adjournment
McHenry moved, seconded by Greer, Recommend Adjournment at 8:08 PM.
Voice Vote:
Yes votes: Hunt, Major, Field, Greer, McHenry, Oliver
No votes: None
Absent: Cawthon
Motion carried.
https://4.files.edl.io/46b2/12/19/25/115849-4302615a-f5ea-4606-8e52-17296bca3241.pdf
