Carbondale Reporter

Carbondale Elementary School District #95 Board of Education met Dec. 19.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

A regular meeting of the Carbondale Elementary School District No. 95 was held on Thursday, December 19, 2024, 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, President

Ms. Markida Roper, Vice President

Mr. Corey Cawthon, Secretary

Dr. Renada Greer

Ms. Imani McHenry

Ms. Stacye Saunders

Ms. Aimee Wigfall

Administrators present:

Ms. Janice Pavelonis, Superintendent

Ms. Janiece Blake, Chief School Business Official

Ms. Michelle Martin, Director of Data Reporting and Programs

Ms. Brooke Kensler, Director of Special Education

2. EXECUTIVE SESSION 6:00 PM

Roll Call:

Ms. Catherine Field, President

Ms. Markida Roper, Vice President

Mr. Corey Cawthon, Secretary

Dr. Renada Greer

Ms. Imani McHenry

Ms. Stacye Saunders

Ms. Amy Wigfall

McHenry moved, seconded by Saunders to enter Executive Session at 6:00 PM for the purpose of discussing performance, evaluation and compensation of specific personnel matters, matters relating to student discipline, matters relating to collective bargaining, and matters relating to pending litigation. No decisions were made, and no votes were taken.

Roll Call Vote:

Yes votes: Field, Saunders, Roper, Cawthon, Wigfall, Greer, McHenry

No votes: None

Absent: None

Motion carried.

Executive Session adjourned at 6:20 PM.

Voice Vote:

Yes votes: Saunders, Field, Roper, Greer, Wigfall, McHenry

No: None

Absent: Cawthon

Motion carried.

Public Hearing on FY25 Tax Levy

Public Hearing on FY25 Tax Levy started at 7:04pm. Janiece Blake, CSBO reviewed the fund balances as of November 30, 2024. The CPI this year is down 3.4%. Even though we are asking for 4.99%, we will still be limited to the lesser of CPI. The total levy request for the 2024 tax year is $17,047,526.

The tax rate for this year is estimated to come in at 4.237% down from 4.528% that was last year’s extended tax rate.

Motion to adjourn hearing by Saunders, seconded by Wigfall to adjourn at 7:07pm.

Roll Call Vote:

Yes votes: Field, Saunders, Greer, McHenry, Wigfall, Roper

No votes: None

Abstain: None

Absent: Cawthon

Motion carried.

3. Public Comments - None

4. Approval of Agenda

Saunders moved, seconded by Wigfall, Recommend approving the Agenda.

Roll Call Vote:

Yes votes: Field, Saunders, Greer, McHenry, Wigfall, Roper

No votes: None

Abstain: None

Absent: Cawthon

Motion carried.

5. Consent Agenda Items

Wigfall moved, seconded by Saunders, Recommend approving Consent Agenda Items, 5.1 Minutes, 5.2-Financial Reports and 5.3-Communications

Roll Call Vote

Yes votes: Field, Saunders, Greer, Roper, Wigfall, McHenry

No votes: None

Abstain: None

Absent: Cawthon

Motion carried.

5.1 Minutes

5.11 Regular – November 14, 2024

5.12 Executive – November 14, 2024

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

6.1 6.11 Communication Report

President’s Remarks – Catherine Field

President Field commented on the great job the students and staff did at the Lewis School Winter Concert.

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

6.25 Public Relations Committee - No Report

6.26 Fundraising Development Committee - No Report

6.3 Administrative Staff Reports

6.31 Chief School Business Official – Janiece Blake

• Abatement Resolutions

• Audit Report for FY24

• Custodial Staffing

6.32 Building Principals – Parrish, Thomas, Lewis, and CMS

• Each Principal gave highlights on things and events that has transpired in their building during the first two quarters of the school year.

6.33 Superintendent Report – Janice Pavelonis

• Shout Out to Brad Isom for Custodial Interviews.

• Director of Data Posting – Position will start July 1 and be funded through the Community Schooling Grant.

• American Institute for Research Agreement – The State Department gives the district money to have a needs assessment done through this company.

• Open positions at Thomas School are due to upcoming retirements. The interventionist positions will be filled internally which will open up teacher positions for the 2025-26 school year.

• Superintendent Pavelonis accepted an appointment to the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce Board.

• Community Schooling Grant – Reviewed the handout that was included in the board packet.

6.4 Faculty Council Report – No Report

7. Old Business

7.1 Action on Tax Levy Resolution

Saunders moved, seconded by Wigfall, Recommend approval of the Resolution to file the Tax Levy for the 2024 tax year less than 105% of the prior year’s tax extension.

Roll Call Vote

Yes votes: Field, Saunders, Greer, Roper, Wigfall, McHenry

No votes: None

Abstain: None

Absent: Cawthon

Motion carried.

8. New Business

8.1 Action on Classified Personnel

8.11 Action on Resignations

Greer moved, seconded by Wigfall, Recommend accepting the resignation of Ashley White, Cook’s Helper at Carbondale Middle School effective December 2, 2024, Clarissa Hill, Instructional Aide at Parrish School effective December 16, 2024, and Sylvia Harrington, Instructional Aide at Lewis School effective December 20, 2024.

Roll Call Vote

Yes votes: Field, Saunders, Greer, Roper, Wigfall, McHenry

No votes: None

Abstain: None

Absent: Cawthon

Motion carried.

8.12 Employment of Paraprofessionals

Saunders moved, seconded by Wigfall, Recommend approving the employment of following paraprofessionals effective the 2024-2025 school year, pending licensure and a clear CBI.

Janiyah Weston – Instructional Aide at Parrish School

Tony Walls – Instructional Aide at Carbondale Middle School

Corbin Blessing – Student Supervisory Aide at Parrish School

Roll Call Vote

Yes votes: Field, Saunders, Greer, Roper, Wigfall, McHenry

No votes: None

Abstain: None

Absent: Cawthon

Motion carried.

8.13 Employment of Custodial Staff

Greer moved, seconded by Saunders, Recommend approving the employment of the following custodial staff effective the 2024-2025 school year, pending a clear CBI:

Parrish School

Keitra Ellington, Kimberly Ellington, Nicole Williams, and Yawen Wu

Thomas School

Zachery Green, Corbin Greene, and Desione Elliott

Lewis School

Jarvis Wright, Jeannie Hutcherson, and Ariel Matyi

Carbondale Middle School

Troy Harris, Anthony St. Ange, James Ingram, Larry Page, and Thomas Pierre-Louis

Central Office

William Baize

Roll Call Vote

Yes votes: Field, Saunders, Greer, Roper, Wigfall, McHenry

No votes: None

Abstain: None

Absent: Cawthon

Motion carried.

8.14 Employment of Cook’s Helper

Saunders moved, seconded by Wigfall, Recommend approving the employment of Rosa Martinez Salguero as a Cook’s Helper at Carbondale Middle School effective the 2024-2025 school year.

Roll Call Vote

Yes votes: Field, Saunders, Greer, Roper, Wigfall, McHenry

No votes: None

Abstain: None

Absent: Cawthon

Motion carried.

8.15 Employment of After School Paraprofessional

Wigfall moved, seconded by Saunders, Recommend approving the following employment of the following paraprofessional to work the after school program for the 2024-2025 school year.

Verissa Frierson – Carbondale Middle School

Roll Call Vote

Yes votes: Field, Saunders, Greer, Roper, Wigfall, McHenry

No votes: None

Abstain: None

Absent: Cawthon

Motion carried.

8.16 Action on Employment of Classified Substitutes

Saunders moved, seconded by Greer, Recommend the employment of Siham Touza to be placed on the classified substitute list as a substitute aide to be used on an as needed basis effective the 2024-2025 school year.

Roll Call Vote

Yes votes: Field, Saunders, Greer, Roper, Wigfall, McHenry

No votes: None

Abstain: None

Absent: Cawthon

Motion carried.

8.2 Action on Certified Personnel

8.21 Action on Resignation

Greer moved, seconded by Saunders, Recommend accepting the resignation of Jessica Jones as a Kindergarten Teacher at Parrish School effective the end of the 2024-2025 school year and Loren Gebbia, Kindergarten Teacher at Parrish School effective the end of the 2024-2025 school year.

Voice Vote

Yes votes: Field, Saunders, Greer, Roper, Wigfall, McHenry

No votes: None

Abstain: None

Absent: Cawthon

Motion carried.

8.22 Employment of CES95 Faculty

Roper moved, seconded by Saunders, Recommend the employment of the following certified staff effective the 2024-2025 school year, pending a clear CBI:

Taylor Bundren – Kindergarten Teacher at Parrish School

Roll Call Vote

Yes votes: Field, Saunders, Greer, Roper, Wigfall, McHenry

No votes: None

Abstain: None

Absent: Cawthon

Motion carried.

8.23 Employment of Special Assignments

Saunders moved, seconded by Wigfall, Recommend approving the employment of the following special assignments for the 2024-2025 school year.

Carbondale Middle School

Kori Hannah – Assistant Girls Volleyball Coach, pending a clear CBI

Roll Call Vote

Yes votes: Field, Saunders, Greer, Roper, Wigfall, McHenry

No votes: None

Abstain: None

Absent: Cawthon

Motion carried.

8.24 Employment of After School Tutors - None

8.25 Action on Director of Data Posting

Greer moved, Saunders seconded, Recommend approving the posting for employment of the Director of Data effective the 2025-2026 school year.

Roll Call Vote

Yes votes: Field, Saunders, Greer, Roper, Wigfall, McHenry

No votes: None

Abstain: None

Absent: Cawthon

Motion carried.

8.26 Action on Revised Notification of Retirement

Greer moved, seconded by Saunders, Recommend approving the revised retirement notification of Sheila James to retire at the end of the 2024-2025 school year. This action will amend her original notification submitted in 2021 to retire at the end of the 2026-2027 school year.

Roll Call Vote

Yes votes: Field, Saunders, Greer, Roper, Wigfall, McHenry

No votes: None

Abstain: None

Absent: Cawthon

Motion carried.

8.27 Action on Notification of Retirement

Wigfall moved, seconded by Saunders, Recommend approving the notification of retirement from Maria Jessup to retire at the end of the 2029- 2030 school year and to be placed on the retirement compensation salary schedule determined by the CES95 and CEA Contract effective the 2025- 2026 school year.

Roll Call Vote

Yes votes: Field, Saunders, Greer, Roper, Wigfall, McHenry

No votes: None

Abstain: None

Absent: Cawthon

Motion carried.

8.28 Action on Maternity Leave Request

Greer moved, seconded by Wigfall, Recommend approving the maternity leave request for Loren Gebbia to start on or around March 17, 2025 through the end of the 2024-2025 school year.

Voice Vote

Yes votes: Field, Saunders, Greer, Roper, Wigfall, McHenry

No votes: None

Abstain: None

Absent: Cawthon

Motion carried.

8.3 Action on Resolution Abating Taxes

Saunders moved, seconded by McHenry, Recommend approving the taxes heretofore levied for the year 2024 to pay debt service on the Taxable General Obligation School Bonds (Alternate Revenue Source), Series 2021, of School District Number 95, Jackson County, Illinois.

Roll Call Vote

Yes votes: Field, Saunders, Greer, Roper, Wigfall, McHenry

No votes: None

Abstain: None

Absent: Cawthon

Motion carried.

8.4 Action on American Institutes for Research Agreement

Greer moved, seconded by Saunders, Recommend approving a grant funded limited contract with American Institutes for Research for the delivery of a school level needs assessment for school improvement planning mandated by the Illinois State Board of Education in the amount of $80,180 at Parrish and Thomas School for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Roll Call Vote

Yes votes: Field, Saunders, Greer, Roper, Wigfall, McHenry

No votes: None

Abstain: None

Absent: Cawthon

Motion carried.

8.5 Action on Memorandum of Understanding between Carbondale Elementary School District 95 and Stress & Trauma Treatment Center

McHenry moved, seconded by Greer, Recommend approving the Memorandum of Understanding between Carbondale Elementary School District 95 and Stress & Trauma Treatment Center to establish the terms and conditions under which the parties will collaborate in the Community Schools initiative for (1) academic year.

Roll Call Vote

Yes votes: Field, Saunders, Greer, Roper, Wigfall, McHenry

No votes: None

Abstain: None

Absent: Cawthon

Motion carried.

8.6 Action on Audit Report

Wigfall moved, seconded by Saunders, Recommend approving the audit report as presented.

Roll Call Vote

Yes votes: Field, Saunders, Greer, Roper, Wigfall, McHenry

No votes: None

Abstain: None

Absent: Cawthon

Motion carried.

9 Next Scheduled Meetings:

9.1 Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Policy Committee Meeting

CES95 Administrative Center

1150 E. Grand Avenue, Suite 2

Carbondale, IL 62901

5:30 PM

Wednesday, January 22, 2025

Behavioral Interventions Committee Meeting

CES95 Administrative Center

1150 E. Grand Avenue, Suite 2

Carbondale, IL 62901

4:00 PM

Thursday, January 23, 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 FY25 Tax Levy

7:05 PM Reconvene Regular Board Meeting Public Session (OPEN TO THE PUBLIC)

Thursday,January 30, 2025

Building and Transportation Committee Meeting

CES95 Administrative Center

1150 E. Grand Avenue, Suite 2

Carbondale, IL 62901

5:00 PM

10. Public Comments - None

11. Adjournment

Saunders moved, seconded by Wigfall, Recommend Adjournment at 8:16 PM.

Voice Vote:

Yes votes: Saunders, Field, Wigfall, Roper, Greer, McHenry

No votes: None

Absent: Cawthon

Motion carried.

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