Carbondale Reporter

Carbondale Community High School District 165 Board of Education met April 24.

Here is the agenda provided by the board:

The regular meeting of the Board of Education of School District 165 was held in the cafeteria of Carbondale Community High School, 1301 East Walnut Street, Carbondale, Illinois, on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.

Upon roll call, the following members were present:

Rania Dababneh    Neophansya Robinson

Linda Flowers        Christopher E. Swims (Virtual)

Lana Galan            Julie VanWinkle

Wendell Pohlman

Also present:

Daniel Booth Ryan Thomas

Ray Toliver, Jr. Lena Dierks

President VanWinkle declared a quorum present and the regular meeting of April 24, 2025, was called to order.

Canvass of Votes for April 1, 2025: The Board received the Canvass of Votes for the April 1, 2025, election. The canvass of votes represents official notification to the District of the election of Board of Education members, Rania Dababneh, Wendell Pohlman, Neophansya Robinson and Julie VanWinkle, to serve four-year terms (2025-2029).

Adjourn Current Board of Education Sine Die: Motion by Pohlman, seconded by Robinson, to adjourn the current Board of Education sine die. Roll call: Dababneh, Flowers, Galan, Pohlman, Robinson, Swims and VanWinkle voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Reorganization of Board of Education

Call to Order and Roll Call: Resigning President VanWinkle called the meeting to order and requested a roll call of the members of the Board of Education.

Upon roll call, the following members were present:

Rania Dababneh     Neophansya Robinson

Linda Flowers         Christopher E. Swims (Virtual)

Lana Galan             Julie VanWinkle

Wendell Pohlman

Oath of Office: The re-elected Board of Education members Rania Dababneh, Wendell Pohlman, Neophansya Robinson and Julie VanWinkle stood up and recited the Oath of Office.

Seating of Elected Board of Education Members: The elected Board of Education members Rania Dababneh, Wendell Pohlman, Neophansya Robinson and Julie VanWinkle were officially seated and took office.

Roll Call of New Board of Education: Superintendent Booth requested a roll call of the new Board of Education. The following members were present:

Rania Dababneh     Neophansya Robinson

Linda Flowers         Christopher E. Swims (Virtual)

Lana Galan             Julie VanWinkle

Wendell Pohlman

President Pro Tem: Superintendent Booth served as President Pro Tem for the election of President.

Election of President: Motion by Swims, seconded by Pohlman, to elect Julie VanWinkle Board President to serve a two-year term. Roll call: Flowers, Galan, Pohlman, Robinson, Swims, VanWinkle and Dababneh voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried. President VanWinkle took office.

Member Left Meeting: Christopher Swims left the meeting at 6:10 p.m.

Election of Vice President: Motion by Pohlman, seconded by VanWinkle, to elect Christopher E. Swims as Vice President to serve a two-year term. Roll call: Galan, Pohlman, Robinson, VanWinkle, Dababneh and Flowers voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Member Returns to Meeting: Christopher Swims returned to the meeting at 6:11 p.m. Vice President Christopher Swims took office.

Election of Secretary: Motion by Dababneh, seconded by VanWinkle, to elect Wendell Pohlman Secretary to serve a two-year term. Roll call: Pohlman, Robinson, Swims, VanWinkle, Dababneh, Flowers and Galan voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried. Secretary Pohlman took office.

Appointment of School Treasurer and Recording Secretary: Motion by Flowers, seconded by Dababneh, to appoint Ray Toliver Treasurer and Lucia Kelso Recording Secretary. Roll call: Robinson,

Swims, VanWinkle, Dababneh, Flowers, Galan and Pohlman voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Standing Policies and Existing Contracts of the Board of Education: President VanWinkle stated all standing policies and existing contracts of the Board of Education would remain in force.

Establishment of Regular Board of Education Meeting Calendar: Motion by Dababneh, seconded by Pohlman, to schedule the Board of Education meetings at 6:00 p.m., in the Carbondale Community High

School Cafeteria, 1301 East Walnut Street, Carbondale, Illinois, on the following dates:

Thursday, May 29, 2025

Wednesday, June 18, 2025

Thursday, July 17, 2025

Thursday, August 21, 2025

Thursday, September 25, 2025

Thursday, October 16, 2025

Thursday, November 13, 2025

Thursday, December 18, 2025

Thursday, January 15, 2026

Thursday, February 19, 2026

Thursday, March 19, 2026

Thursday, April 16, 2026

Thursday, May 21, 2026

Thursday, June 18, 2026

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

Appoint Committees: Committees will be appointed by the Board President as needed.

Approval of Minutes: Motion by Pohlman, seconded by Dababneh, to approve the minutes of the regular meeting and executive session of March 20, 2025. Roll call: VanWinkle, Dababneh, Flowers, Galan, Pohlman, Robinson and Swims voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Old Business: No old business.

Public Comments: No public comments.

Scholar Bowl Team Recognition: The Scholar Bowl Team along with team sponsors, Sharon Lorinskas and Clyde Hurley, were recognized by the Board for their undefeated season. They were presented with Board of Education recognition glasses.

Jarrod Ritter Recognition: Data Manager/CTE Assistant, Jarrod Ritter, was recognized by the Board for his work in transitioning to the new CCHS website. Mr. Ritter reviewed the new website for the Board. He was presented with a Board of Education recognition glass.

FOIA Requests: The Board received a listing of the 2024-25 FOIA requests received to date.

Payment of Bills: Motion by Swims, seconded by Flowers, to pay the remaining bills for the month of March 2025; and, those available for payment for the month of April 2025. Roll call: Dababneh, Flowers, Galan, Pohlman, Robinson, Swims and VanWinkle voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Principal’s Report: Mr. Thomas reported on the current activities occurring on campus.

Superintendent’s Report: No report.

March Board Data Reports: The Board received the March Student Attendance Report and March Terrier Tutoring Student Attendance Report.

2025 Board of Education Student Artwork Purchase Award: Motion by Dababneh, seconded by Pohlman, to approve the annual student artwork purchase award ($200) as presented. Roll call: Flowers. Galan, Pohlman, Robinson, Swims, VanWinkle and Dababneh voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Request to Solicit Bids for 2025-26 Milk and Bread Products: Motion by Pohlman, seconded by Dababneh to solicit bids for milk and bread products for the 2025-26 school year as presented. Roll call: Galan, Pohlman, Robinson, Swims, VanWinkle, Dababneh and Flowers voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Presentation of 2024-25 Amended Budget for Public Display: Ray Toliver, Jr. reviewed the 2024-25 Amended Budget for the Board.

Motion by Pohlman, seconded by Dababneh, to receive the amended budget for the 2024-25 school year, place it on display for the public at the district office, the high school office, and the Carbondale Public Library, and to hold a public hearing on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in the high school cafeteria. Roll call: Pohlman, Robinson, Swims, VanWinkle, Dababneh, Flowers and Galan voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

2025-26 School Calendar: Motion by Robinson, seconded by Flowers, to approve the 2025-26 School Calendar as presented. Roll call: Robinson, Swims, VanWinkle, Dababneh, Flowers, Galan and Pohlman voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

South Seven Conference Addition: Motion by Pohlman, seconded by Swims, to admit Highland CUSD #5 into the South Seven Conference beginning in the 2025-26 school year as presented. Roll call: Swims, VanWinkle, Dababneh, Flowers, Galan, Pohlman and Robinson voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

2025-26 COPE Safe Schools Program Intergovernmental Agreement: Motion by Swims, seconded by Robinson, to approve the 2025-26 COPE Safe Schools Program Intergovernmental Agreement as presented. Roll call: VanWinkle, Dababneh, Flowers, Galan, Pohlman, Robinson and Swims voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

2025-26 Annual Project SOAR Alternative Educational Intergovernmental Agreement: Motion by Swims, seconded by Dababneh, to approve the 2025-26 Annual Project SOAR Alternative Educational Program Intergovernmental Agreement as presented. Roll call: Dababneh, Flowers, Galan, Pohlman, Robinson, Swims and VanWinkle voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Resolution Directing the School Treasurer to Transfer Funds from the O & M Fund to the DS Fund: Motion by Robinson, seconded by Dababneh, to approve the Resolution Directing the School Treasurer to Transfer Funds from the Operations and Maintenance Fund to the Debt Service Fund in the amount of $70,243.75. Roll call: Flowers, Galan, Pohlman, Robinson, Swims, VanWinkle and Dababneh voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

2025-2029 Substantive Agreement and Professional Agreement Between District 165 Board of Education and CCHSEA: Motion by Robinson, seconded by Pohlman, to approve the 2025-2029 (2025-26, 2026-27, 2027-28 and 2028-29) Substantive Agreement and Professional Agreement Between District 165 Board of Education and CCHSEA as presented. Roll call: Galan, Pohlman, Robinson, Swims, VanWinkle, Dababneh and Flowers voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

2025-29 Educational Support Staff Wage/Salary Package: Motion by Flowers, seconded by Dababneh, to approve the 2025-29 (2025-26, 2026-27, 2027-28 and 2028-29) Educational Support Staff Wage/ Salary Educational Support Staff Wage/Package as presented. Roll call: Pohlman, Robinson, Swims, VanWinkle, Dababneh, Flowers and Galan voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Resignations/Retirements: Motion by Pohlman, seconded by Dababneh, to accept the resignations/retirements of the following personnel as presented:

a. Resignation of Keith Keipp (Maintenance Painter) effective April 11, 2025.

b. Resignation of Taylor Hughes (Teacher Aide) effective April 11, 2025.

c. Resignation of Debra Ratliff (Science Teacher) effective at the end of the 2024-25 school year.

d. Resignation of Dana Cox-Lipe (Career and Technical Education Teacher) effective at the end of the 2024-25 school year.

e. Resignation of Margarita Acosta (Cook) effective April 24, 2025.

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

Employment of 2024-25 Extra-Duty Personnel: No employments.

2025-26 Administrative and Professional Support Employment Contracts: Motion by Robinson, seconded by Pohlman, to approve the following 2025-26 annual administrative and professional support personnel employment contracts as presented:

Tyler Chance, Assistant Principal

Lena Dierks, Dean of Students

Terica Doyle, Assistant Principal

Michael Green, Maintenance Director

Marshall Hunt, Assistant Principal

Mandy McKee, Special Education Director

Gwen Poore, Athletic Director

Ryan Thomas, Principal

Ray Toliver Jr., Chief School Business Official

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

Employment of 2025-26 Personnel: Motion by Swims, seconded by Pohlman, to employ the following 2025-26 personnel as presented:

Temporary Math Teacher: Employ Sandy Stanley, as a full-time temporary Mathematics Teacher for the 2025-26 school year; for not more than 120 days at a prorated per day rate of $530.86 which coincides with her placement on the 2025-26 Teacher Salary Schedule, Line 22, Column MA/MS+24.

Speech Pathologist/504 Case Manager: Employ Karly Williard as a full-time Speech Pathologist/504 Case Manager for the 2025-26 school year. Ms. Williard’s education and experience will place her at Line 0.5, Column MA/MS, on the 2025-26 Teacher Salary Schedule.

Spanish Teacher: Employ Joanna Blair as a full-time Spanish Teacher for the 2025-26 school year. Ms. Blair’s education and experience will place her at Line 9, Column BA/BS+12, on the 2025-26 Teacher Salary Schedule.

Extra-Duty Personnel:

Head Boys Basketball Coach: Tommy Holder $10,222.00

Girls Golf Coach: Marialice Jenkins $4,809.00

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

2024-25 Volunteers: No volunteers.

For Your Information Items:

Awards Night: May 1, 2025, 6:00 p.m., Carbondale Civic Center

Graduation: May 17, 2024, 3:00 p.m., at the Banterra Center

Next Board of Education Meeting: Thursday, May 29, 2025

Executive Session: Motion by Swims, seconded by Dababneh, to go into executive session to discuss information regarding the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees, collective bargaining matters (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1)(2)); and, to adjourn the Board meeting at the conclusion of the executive session. Roll call: Dababneh, Flowers, Galan, Pohlman, Robinson, Swims and VanWinkle voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

The meeting recessed at 7:06 p.m. The executive session convened at 7:17 p.m. The executive session adjourned at 8:37 p.m.

Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 8:38 p.m.

https://www.cchs165.jacksn.k12.il.us/board-of-education/april-2025