Carbondale Reporter

Carbondale Community High School District 165 Board of Education met Nov. 9.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The regular 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, November 9, 2023, at 6:00 p.m.

Upon roll call, the following members were present:

Linda Flowers               Christopher Swims

Lana Galan (Virtual)     Julie VanWinkle

Wendell Pohlman

The following members were absent:

Rania Dababneh          Francis Tsung

Also present were:

Daniel Booth                 Ethan Graham

Ray Toliver, Jr.              Lena Dierks

Ryan Thomas

Approval of Minutes: Motion by Swims, seconded by Flowers, to approve the minutes of the regular scheduled meeting of October 19, 2023. Roll call: Flowers, Galan, Pohlman, Swims and VanWinkle voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Old Business—None

Public Comments—None

FOIA Requests: The Board received a listing of the FOIA Requests received to date.

Payment of Bills: Motion by Flowers, seconded by Pohlman, to pay the remaining bills for the month of October 2023; and, those available for payment for the month of November 2023. Roll call: Galan, Pohlman, Swims, Tsung, VanWinkle and Flowers voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

ESSER III Grant Expenditures: The Board received an update on the ESSER III Grant expenditures.

Principal’s Report: Mr. Thomas reported that Motivational Speaker, Anthony Willis, did a presentation for students on November 8, 2024. He said the auditorium was packed to capacity, and that his message was very well received by the students. He said that the interest and response by the students was so great, that they were planning to bring him back again so that more students could hear his message.

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

Construction Updates

1. The Walnut Street entry interior is 90% completed. Progress is being made on the exterior, and the project is on time.

2. The C-Wing staircase is complete. The painting of the stairs will be done this week and the project will be completed.

3. The CTE addition project was approved in September and the contracts have been signed, and the site work has begun.

4. Once the CTE project is in progress, the Building and Grounds Committee will meet to share future project possibilities with the Board of Education.

Solar Panels

Stifel took the bonds to market on October 31, 2023, to be sold and everything went smoothly.

The final total cost of the bonds, with official interest rates and fees, was $3,054,985.80.

The first payment of $333,192.19 will be due on December 1, 2024, and the last payment will be made in 2034.

The contract for GRP was negotiated by our District Attorney, and signed on Friday, October 28, 2023, before the bond sale. The project should be completed within 12 months, giving the District ample time to realize savings and receive rebates prior to the first payment being made.

Strategic Planning Progress

The following updates will be given to the Board:

November: Report Card Review

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

Board Member Leaves Meeting: Member Galan left the meeting at 6:30 p.m.

October Student Attendance Report: The Board received the October Student Attendance Report.

August-October Terrier Tutoring Student Attendance Report: The Board received the August-October Terrier Tutoring Student Attendance Report.

2023-24 District Fall Enrollment Recap and Class-Size/Loading Report: Ethan Graham reviewed the 2023-24 District Fall Enrollment Recap Memo and Class-Size/Loading Report for the Board.

2023 School Report Card Review: Ethan Graham did a PowerPoint presentation for the Board on the 2023 School Report Card. Mr. Booth commended Mr. Graham on his presentation.

2024-25 Curriculum Proposals: Motion by Swims, seconded by Flowers, to approve the 2024-25 curriculum proposals as presented:

Four new courses: Cosmetology 1, Welding 2, Welding 3, and Advanced Financial Algebra.

Two updates to existing courses: Honors/AP Pre-Calculus and Forensics.

Three new courses taught simultaneously with existing courses: Heritage Spanish 2, Advanced Sculpture and Photo Studio.

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

Bids and Quotes—None

Member Leaves Meeting: Member Swims left the meeting at 7:36 p.m.

Member Returns to Meeting: Member Swims returned to the meeting at 7:38 p.m.

2023 Tax Levy Resolution: Motion by Pohlman, seconded by Swims, to approve the Resolution Regarding the Estimated Amounts Necessary To Be Levied For The Year 2023; and, to post a notice as per the Truth in Taxation Law for a hearing to be held prior to the December 14, 2023, meeting. Roll call: Swims, VanWinkle, Flowers and Pohlman voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried. Final adoption of the 2023 Tax Levy will occur at the December 14, 2023, Board of Education meeting.

2023-24 Revised Intergovernmental Agreement for School Districts-Alexander-Jackson-Perry-Pulaski-Union Regional Office of Education COPE/Safe School Program: Motion by Swims, seconded by Flowers, to approve the 2023-24 Revised Annual Intergovernmental Agreement for School Districts Jackson-Perry-Pulaski-Union Regional Office of Education COPE/Safe Schools Program for 2023-2024. Roll call: VanWinkle, Flowers, Pohlman and Swims voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

2023-24 Revised Intergovernmental Agreement for School Districts Alexander-Jackson-Perry-Pulaski-Union Regional Office of Education Project SOAR Alternative Education Program: Motion by Swims, seconded by Pohlman, to approve the 2023-24 Revised Intergovernmental Agreement for School Districts Alexander-Jackson-Perry-Pulaski-Union Regional Office of Education Project SOAR Alternative Education Program. Roll call: Flowers, Pohlman, Swims and VanWinkle voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

2023-24 Field Trip: Motion by Swims, seconded by Pohlman, to approve the following 2023-24 field trip that is out-of-state/over $500: Key Club National Convention: Atlanta, GA. Roll call: Pohlman, Swims, VanWinkle and Flowers voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Closing of District Offices During Winter Break 2023-24: Motion by Flowers, seconded by Pohlman, to approve the closure of all district offices during Winter Break 2023-24 as presented. Roll call: Swims, VanWinkle, Flowers and Pohlman voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Resignations/Retirements: Motion by Swims, seconded by Pohlman, to accept the resignation of Cody Tracy (Rebound employee) effective October 31, 2023, as presented. Roll call: VanWinkle, Flowers, Pohlman and Swims voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Employment of 2023-24 Extra-Duty Personnel: Motion by Swims, seconded by Pohlman, to employ the following 2023-24 extra-duty personnel as presented:

Boys Golf Coach: Wendell Wheeler $4,669.00

Winter Weight Room Supervisor: Mykel Gary $2,235.00

Spring Weight Room Supervisor: Tommy Holder $2,235.00

Assistant Wrestling Coach: Jared Ragan $5,255.00; Kolbi Caffey $2,755.00; Aron Taylor $750.00; Dennis Ragan $1,750.00

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

2023-24 Volunteers: Motion by Swims, seconded by Pohlman, to approve the following volunteer as presented: Anthony Wheatley: Boys/Girls Bowling Coach Volunteer. Roll call: Pohlman, Swims, VanWinkle and Flowers voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

For Your Information Items:

2023 IASB Joint Annual Conference: November 17-19, 2023

Next Board Meeting: Thursday, December 14, 2023

Mr. Booths advised the Board that parent attendance at the recent Parent-Teacher Conferences was up this year compared to last year. Parent attendance in 2022-23 was 16%. Parent attendance in 2023-24 was 17.3%.

Executive Session: Motion by Flowers, seconded by Pohlman, to go into executive session to discuss information regarding the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees (5ILCS 20/2(c)(1)); and, to adjourn the board of Education Meeting immediately following the executive session. Roll call: Swims, VanWinkle, Flowers and Pohlman voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

The public portion of the meeting recessed at 7:50 p.m. The executive session convened at 7:55 p.m. The executive session adjourned at 8:44 p.m.

Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.

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