Carbondale Reporter

Unity Point Community Consolidated School District 140 Board met April 17.

Here is the agenda provided by the board:

The regular meeting of the Unity Point Board of Education was called to order at 6:08 p.m. by the President, Amanda Pangrazio, with the following members present: Morteza Daneshdoost, Elizabeth Mackenbach, Amanda Pangrazio, Courtney O’Dell, Brent Pease and Sylvia Thoms. Others present were: Dr. Lori James-Gross, Michelle Brown, Griffin Groves and Mary Beth Goff.

Morteza Daneshdoost made a motion, seconded by Elizabeth Mackenbach to approve the Agenda as amended to include Employment Concerns under Executive Session. Motion carried 6-0 with all voting yea.

Elizabeth Mackenbach made the motion, seconded by Courtney O’Dell to approve the minutes of the March 20, 2025 Regular Meeting Minutes as presented, copy attached. Motion carried 6-0 with all voting yea.

Sylvia Thoms made the motion, seconded by Elizabeth Mackenbach to approve the minutes of the March 26, 2025 Special Meeting Minutes as presented, copy attached. Motion carried 6-0 with all voting yea.

Sylvia Thoms made the motion, seconded by Elizabeth Mackenbach to approve the minutes of the March 31, 2025 Special Meeting Minutes as presented, copy attached. Motion carried 6-0 with all voting yea.

Morteza Daneshdoost made the motion, seconded by Elizabeth Mackenbach to approve the following Consent Agenda items:

- Approval of Bills

- Presentation of Financial Reports

- Jackson County SFST April Distribution

- Approval of 3-Year Engagement Letter with Kemper CPA Group

- Correspondence

- Letter Requesting Approval of Movement on the Salary Schedule, Jennifer Payne

- Letter of Resignation, Hanem Shehab, P/T EL Teacher

- Thank You Card from Sara Sellers

Motion carried 6-0 with all voting yea.

Amanda Pangrazio recognized guests and visitors who were present.

Public Comments:

None.

END OF PUBLIC COMMENTS

Michelle Brown, Business Manager, reviewed the District’s revenue and expenditures for the 3rd Quarter of FY25 as well as provided an update on the Working Cash Bond and Facility Sales Tax projected expenditures.

Morteza Daneshdoost made the motion, seconded by Brent Pease to approve the Intergovernmental Agreement with ROE 30 Alternative School Programs for the 2025-2026 school year. Motion carried 6-0 with all voting yea.

Sylvia Thoms made the motion, seconded by Morteza Daneshdoost to enter into Executive Session at 6:38 p.m. to consider the appointment, employment, compensation, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the pubic body and to consider matters of collective bargaining. Motion carried 6-0 with all voting yea.

Morteza Daneshdoost made the motion, seconded by Sylvia Thoms to enter into Regular Session at 7:39 p.m. Motion carried 6-0 with all voting yea.

Sylvia Thoms made the motion, seconded by Elizabeth Mackenbach to approve the minutes from the April 17, 2025 Executive Session. Motion carried 6-0 with all voting yea.

Dr. Lori James-Gross, Superintendent, Mary Beth Goff, Principal for Instruction and Griffin Groves, Dean of Students, provided the following Administrative Updates:

1. Enrollment Figures (as of 4/11/25)

2. 2025-2026 Online Registration Process Update

3. Monthly Behavior Data/Suspension Report

4. Continuous School Improvement Update

- Approval of FY25 Literacy Plan

- Approval of FY26 Consolidated District Plan – TABLED

5. 2025-2026 Kidz Klub Proposed Rate Increase

6. Student Awards and Recognition

7. Employment of Personnel for the 2025-2026 School Year

Elizabeth Mackenbach made the motion, seconded by Morteza Daneshdoost to approve the 2025-2026 and 2026- 2027 proposed Kidz Klub rate increases. Motion carried 6-0 with all voting yea.

Morteza Daneshdoost made the motion, seconded by Elizabeth Mackenbach to employ the following personnel for the 2025-2026 school year:

Grant accelerated tenure to the following faculty:

1. Margaret Stafford – PreK Teacher

2. Amanda Carsrud – Kindergarten Teacher

3. Lynette Winters – Resource/Kindergarten Teacher

4. Lisa Janssen – Art Teacher

5. Marta Gonzales – Social Worker

Employ the following non-tenured teachers for their 4th year:

1. Sumitha McCauley – Social Worker

2. Mary Terpinitz – Jr. High Special Education

Employ the following non-tenured teachers for their 3rd year:

1. Nikki Rosenthal – PreK Teacher

2. Jeff Mason – 7/8 Social Studies Teacher

3. Mona Shehada – EL Teacher

4. Hunter Denny – Reading/Math Interventionist

5. Jennifer Payne – Special Education Teacher

Employ the following non-tenured teachers for their 2nd year:

1. Adriana Valdez – PreK Teacher

2. Natasha Riddle – PreK Teacher

3. Linda Sudano – Kindergarten Teacher

4. Lindsey Bridgewater – 1st Grade Teacher

5. Denise Dyer – 1st Grade Teacher

6. Maci Wagley – 1st Grade Teacher

7. Marah Laramore – Multiage Teacher

8. Christina Spain – 2nd Grade Teacher

9. Alex Renier – 3rd Grade Teacher

10. Rachel Gregson – 5th Grade PE Teacher

11. Stephanie Parton – Media Specialist

12. Susan Livingston – K-4 Technology Teacher

13. Jennifer Lee – K-4 Music Teacher

14. Naylin Ronchetto – Resource Teacher

15. Kathryn Rhoads – Resource Teacher

16. Libby McKinzie – Speech & Language Pathologist

Votes were as follows: Morteza Daneshdoost – yea; Elizabeth Mackenbach – yea; Amanda Pangrazio – yea; Courtney O’Dell – abstain; Brent Pease – abstain; Sylvia Thoms – yea. Motion carried 4-0-2.

Morteza Daneshdoost made the motion, seconded by Brent Pease to approve the contract and the addendum to the contract for the new Superintendent, Dr. Yaa Appiah-McNulty. Motion carried 6-0 with all voting yea.

Morteza Daneshdoost made the motion, seconded by Elizabeth Mackenbach to approve the administrator contracts for Mary Beth Goff, Principal for Instruction and Griffin Groves, Dean of Students for the 2025-2026 school year. Motion carried 6-0 with all voting yea.

Morteza Daneshdoost made the motion, seconded by Elizabeth Mackenbach to employ the following individuals immediately:

1. Jerry Cochran – Building & Grounds Maintenance Supervisor

Motion carried 6-0 with all voting yea.

Morteza Daneshdoost made the motion, seconded by Elizabeth Mackenbach to schedule a special board meeting for May 5th at 5:30 p.m. to seat new members, organize the board by electing its officers and set a time and place for the regular meetings. Motion carried 6-0 with all voting yea.

Admin Remarks – End of Year Events and Reminders

1. End of Year Events and Reminders

2. 8th Grade Graduation Roster

Board Remarks – Carbondale Jr. Sports received a grant and is pushing out info to families.

Morteza Daneshdoost made the motion, seconded by Elizabeth Mackenbach to adjourn the meeting at 8:24 p.m. Motion carried 6-0 with all voting yea.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RoAbgVB7Dgow131IdVS4CHE2tYKGHIIs/view