Johnston City Community Unit School District 1 Board of Education met Feb. 19.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
The Board of Education of the Johnston City Community Unit School District No. 1 met at a regular Board meeting held on February 19, 2026, with Closed Session beginning at 5:31 p.m. and Regular Session beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the Unit Office, 1113 Grand Avenue, Johnston City, IL. President Chris Cullum called the meeting to order and asked the clerk for the attendance roll call.
ROLL CALL
Present: Chad Barras, Jimmy Dean, John Etherton, Patti Martin, and Chris Cullum Absent: Randy McIntosh and John Van
Motion made by Chad Barras and seconded by Jimmy Dean to approve the consent agenda consisting of the following:
A. Approval of Regular and Closed Session Minutes of the 1/15/26 Regular Meeting and the Regular Session Minutes of the 1/29/26 Special Meeting
B. Approval of Treasurer’s Report
Voting Aye: Barras, Dean, Etherton, Martin, and Cullum
Motion Carried.
Motion made by Patti Martin and seconded by Chad Barras to approve the bills for payment.
Voting Aye: Barras, Etherton, Martin, and Cullum
Abstaining: Dean
Motion Carried.
Steve Sims, Architechniques, presented construction updates to the Board. The District Maintenance Grant FY26: Jefferson School Flooring Project and District Maintenance Grant FY25: Jefferson School Drainage Project are ready to solicit for bids. The bid submission deadline will be April 9, 2026 and with the bids being awarded on April 16, 2026. The projects will have a completion deadline of August 2026.
Motion made by Jimmy Dean and seconded by John Etherton to authorize the solicitation of bids for the District Maintenance Grant FY26: Jefferson School Flooring Project.
Voting Aye: Barras, Dean, Etherton, Martin, and Cullum
Motion Carried.
Motion made by Chad Barras and seconded by John Etherton to authorize the solicitation of bids for the District Maintenance Grant FY25: Jefferson School Drainage Project.
Voting Aye: Barras, Dean, Etherton, Martin, and Cullum
Motion Carried.
Motion made by John Etherton and seconded by Patti Martin to approve the JCCUSD #1/ROE #21 FY27 ALOP Intergovernmental Agreement including the Senior Plus Program as presented.
Voting Aye: Barras, Dean, Etherton, Martin, and Cullum
Motion Carried.
Motion made by John Etherton and seconded by Chad Barras to approve the Futiva Contract as presented.
Voting Aye: Barras, Dean, Etherton, Martin, and Cullum
Motion Carried.
Motion made by Jimmy Dean and seconded by Patti Martin to set the High School Graduation on Friday, May 15, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. with a makeup date on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. and to set 8th Grade Promotion on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. with a makeup date on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
Voting Aye: Barras, Dean, Etherton, Martin, and Cullum
Motion Carried.
Motion made by John Etherton and seconded by Patti Martin to approve weighted grades for the high school.
Voting Aye: Barras, Dean, Etherton, Martin, and Cullum
Motion Carried.
Motion made by Chad Barras and seconded by John Etherton to approve the overnight trip for the High School Math Team to the ICTM State Competition in Normal, IL April 17, 2026 – April 18, 2026 (pending qualification) and the out of state trip for the High School Art Club to the St. Louis Art Museum and Botanical Garden in St. Louis, MO on May 1, 2026.
Voting Aye: Barras, Dean, Etherton, Martin, and Cullum
Motion Carried.
Mr. Pietrantoni informed the Board the District received FOIA requests from CT Mills, SmartProcure, and SunlightAccess.
Motion made by John Etherton and seconded by Patti Martin to accept the resignations of Lindsey Bush as High School Assistant Principal and IHSA Athletic Director effective June 30, 2026 and Deloris Diane Stella as a Bus Monitor.
Voting Aye: Barras, Dean, Etherton, Martin, and Cullum
Motion Carried.
Motion made by Chad Barras and seconded by Patti Martin to approve the continuation of the teacher initiated reciprocal voluntary transfer of McKinley Carver to a 4th Grade Teacher and Renee Fort to a Student Support Teacher at Lincoln School.
Voting Aye: Barras, Dean, Etherton, Martin, and Cullum
Motion Carried.
Motion made by Chad Barras and seconded by John Etherton to accept the bid of Jennifer Willis as the Washington Middle School Building Secretary and to employ Jennifer Lewis as a Bus Driver and Billy Brayfield as the Assistant High School Baseball Coach.
Voting Aye: Barras, Dean, Etherton, Martin, and Cullum
Motion Carried.
Motion made by Jimmy Dean and seconded by Patti Martin to approve Brett Bradley, Brian Chaney, Devan Miner, Austin Todd, and Charlie Zeigler as Volunteer Assistant High School Baseball Coaches.
Voting Aye: Barras, Dean, Etherton, Martin, and Cullum
Motion Carried.
Motion made by Chad Barras and seconded by Patti Martin to post the Washington Middle School Assistant Secretary, High School Assistant Principal, and IHSA Athletic Director positions.
Voting Aye: Barras, Dean, Etherton, Martin, and Cullum
Motion Carried.
Mr. Pietrantoni and Mrs. Armes informed the Board about the Washington Middle School Student Council’s one day in-state trip on Friday, May 1, 2026.
Mr. Pietrantoni informed the Board that there is an ISBE Accountability Redesign Proposal that will have an impact on the ISBE School Report Card. The redesign could affect the designations of the schools.
Mr. Pietrantoni updated the Board on the funding in the Governor’s Budget Address:
• EBF funding is at $9,200,000.00 which is an increase of $305,000,000.00.
• Mandatory Categorical funding is at the same level as the previous year.
• Regular transportation reimbursement will be funded at 75% and special education transportation will be funded at 60%.
The 5essential survey has been released for parents and students to complete.
Mr. Pietrantoni informed the Board that Marion Family Dentistry has hired a CNA student. The hiring is the first time ever for the CNA program. Also, Deaconess has also created a pilot program for respiratory therapy and we have a student participating in the program
Motion made by Chad Barras and seconded by Jimmy Dean to adjourn the meeting at 6:27p.m.
Voting Aye: Barras, Dean, Etherton, Martin, and Cullum
Motion Carried.
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