Carbondale Reporter

Carbondale Community High School District 165 Board of Education met July. 16

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The regular rescheduled 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 Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.

Upon roll call, the following members were present:

Rania Dababneh      Neophansya Robinson

Lana Galan              Christopher E. Swims

The following members were absent:

Linda Flowers          Julie VanWinkle

Also present were:

Daniel Booth            Ryan Thomas

Ray Toliver, Jr.          Lena Dierks

President Pro Tem: Vice President Christopher E. Swims served as President Pro Tem in Julie VanWinkle’s absence.

Secretary Pro Tem: Member Rania Dababneh served as Secretary Pro Tem in Wendell Pohlman’s absence.

President Pro Tem Swims declared a quorum present and the regular rescheduled meeting of July 16, 2025, was called to order.

Public Hearing:

Concerning the Intent of the Board of Education to Sell $3,200,000 Working Cash Bonds for the Purpose of Increasing the District’s Working Cash Fund: President Pro Tem Swims opened the public hearing to receive public comments concerning the intent of the Board of Education to sell $3,200,000 Working Cash Bonds for the purpose of increasing the District’s Working Cash Fund. There were no comments.

Motion by Galan, seconded by Robinson, to close the public hearing on the intent of the Board of Education to sell $3,200,000 Working Cash Bonds for the purpose of increasing the District’s Working Cash Fund. Roll call: Dababneh, Galan, Robinson and Swims voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Approval of Minutes: Motion by Robinson, seconded by Dababneh, to approve the minutes of the regular scheduled meeting June 18, 2025. Roll call: Galan, Robinson, Swims and Dababneh voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Old Business: None

Public Comments: None

Recognition of Student and Teacher Achievements and Correspondence: None

FOIA Requests: The Board received a listing of the 2024-25 and 2025-26 FOIA requests received to date in their Board packet.

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

Principal’s Report: None

Superintendent’s Report: None

2025-26 Revisions to Student- Parent-Teacher Handbook and Student-Athlete Handbook: Motion by Galan, seconded by Robinson, to approve the 2025-26 revisions to the Student-Parent-Teacher Handbook and the Student-Athlete Handbook as presented. Roll call: Swims, Dababneh, Galan and Robinson voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

2025-26 Carbondale Caring Program Free Personal Leave Day Initiative: Motion by Dababneh, seconded by Galan, to approve the 2025-26 Community Carbondale Caring Community Program Free Personal Leave Day Initiative as presented. Roll call: Dababneh, Galan, Robinson and Swims voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Bids/Quotes: None

2025-26 Vendors: Motion by Galan, seconded by Dababneh, to approve the 2025-26 vendors that generate revenue more than $1,000.00 as presented: Pepsi MidAmerica. Roll call: Galan, Robinson, Swims and Dababneh voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

2025-26 Field Trips: Motion by Dababneh, seconded by Robinson, to approve the 2025-26 field trips that are out of state/or over $500.00 as presented. Roll call: Robinson, Swims, Dababneh and Galan voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Semi-Annual Review of Unopened Executive Session Minutes: Motion by Galan, seconded by Robinson, to approve the semi-annual review of the unopened executive session minutes as presented. Roll call: Swims, Dababneh, Galan and Robinson voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

IASB PRESS Issue 119 Board Policy Manual Updates—First Reading: The Board received IASB PRESS Issue 119 Board Policy Manual updates for first reading. Final adoption of IASB PRESS Issue 119 will occur at the August 21, 2025, Board of Education meeting.

2025-26 Centerstone Memorandum of Understanding: Motion by Galan, seconded by Dababneh, to approve the 2025-26 Memorandum of Understanding between Carbondale Community High School District 165 and Centerstone as presented. Roll call: Dababneh, Galan, Robinson and Swims voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Resolution Declaring the Intention to Issue $3,200,000 Working Cash Funds Bonds for the Purpose of Increasing the District’s Working Cash Fund, and Directing that Notice of such Intention be Published in the Manner Provided by Law: Motion by Robinson, seconded by Dababneh, to approve the Resolution Declaring the Intention to Issue $3,200,000 Working Cash Funds Bonds for the Purpose of Increasing the District’s Working Cash Fund, and Directing that Notice of such Intention be Published in the Manner Provided by Law. Roll call: Galan, Robinson, Swims and Dababneh voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Resignations/Retirements: Motion by Dababneh, seconded by Galan, to accept the following resignations:

a. Chloe Baez, Rebound Parent Educator, effective July 4, 2025.

b. Jake Brantley, Hall Monitor, effective July 16, 2025.

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

Employment of 2025-26 Extra-Duty Personnel: Motion by Galan, seconded by Dababneh, to employ the following 2025-26 extra-duty personnel as presented:

Family Career & Community Leaders of America: Rasheeda Love $559.00 and Catherine Jerrells $559.00

Speech Team: Vanessa Sneed $5,712.00 and Jayden Touchette $5,712.00

Assistant Football Coaches: Carl Franks $2,000.00 (increase in stipend), Ben Campos $4,850.00, Kevin Stamp $4,850.00, Jimi Bradley $4,850.00, Phen Grant $4,850.00, Tremel Truitt $3,400.00, Jake Brantley $2,400.00, Obadiah Mims $2,200.00, Caleb Belcher $3,550.00, DeAndre Smith $3,000.00

Assistant Girls Tennis Coach: Ellen Burton $1,800.00

Assistant Competitive Cheerleading Coach: Mollie Jarrett $2,405.00

Band Director: Rachel Norton $10,222.00

Drill Team Director: Jessica Clark $1,118.00

Assistant Band Directors (Stipends TBD): Lorie Trexler, Kristin Demos, Keaton Jones and Justin Laux

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

Employment of Bilingual/ESL Teacher: Motion by Robinson, seconded by Dababneh, to employ Eugenia Tomas as a full-time Bilingual/ESL Teacher for the 2025-26 school year. Ms. Tomas’ education and experience will place her at Line 0, Column BA/BS on the 2025-26 Teacher Salary Schedule. Roll call: Dababneh, Galan, Robinson and Swims voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Employment of 2025-26 Music and Band Teacher: Motion by Robinson, seconded by Galan, to employ Rachel Norton as a full-time Music and Band Teacher for the 2025-26 school year. Ms. Norton’s education and experience will place her at Line 4, Column BA/BS, on the 2025-26 Teacher Salary Schedule. Roll call: Galan, Robinson, Swims and Dababneh voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Employment of Teacher Aides: Motion by Robinson, seconded by Dababneh, to employ the following teacher aides at the rate of $16.25 per hour for the 2025-26 school year:

Cory Williamson

TeeKae Kelly*

*Pending receipt of her Illinois Paraprofessional License.

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

Dissolution of Cooks Union and Transition to District Oversight: Motion by Galan, seconded by Robinson, to transition the cafeteria personnel to district oversight following the dissolution of the Cooks Union on July 1, 2025. As part of the transition, the District will provide 100% employer-paid single health insurance coverage for these employees during the FY26 school year in the amount of $893.32, and up to $950 for single coverage through FY29 school year. The FY26 hourly rate of pay will be:

Head Cook: T’Neesha Jefro $25.05

Cook: Jerry Broski $17.39

Cook: Greg Donahue $18.20

Cook: Sabrina Gordon $16.64

Cook: TBN $16.25

Cook: TBN $16.25

Cook: TBN $16.25

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

Employment of 2025-26 Rebound Grant Personnel: Motion by Dababneh, seconded by Robinson, to employ the 2025-26 Rebound grant personnel as presented, contingent upon adequate grant funding and timely receipt of those funds. The hours will be reduced during the summer or until adequate student enrollment is achieved. The employment period will be July 1, 2025 – June 31, 2026.

Chloe Baez, Parent Educator: 37.5 Hours/Week @ $22.22/Hour (Employment effective July 16, 2025.)

Stephanie Brown, Parent Educator/PI Supervisor: 37.5 Hours/Week @ $30.02/Hour

Denise Dilberto, Social Studies Facilitator: 35 Hours/Week @ $24.18/Hour

Matt Duckworth, Guidance: 37.5 Hours/Week @ $28.24/Hour

Jelenia Fields, HSE/IET Facilitator: 35 Hours/Week @ $21.00/Hour

Quentoria Hudson, English Facilitator: 35 Hours/Week @ $21.60/Hour

Marissa Ivory, ASP/Student Support: 35 Hours/Week @ $21.00/Hour

Danielle Jerolds, Restorative/Distance: 35 Hours/Week and $21.00/ Hour

Penny Smith, Math Facilitator: 35 Hours/Week @ $22.22/Hour

Sandra Snowden, Rebound Director: 40 Hours/Week @ $40.78/Hour

Katie Valliant, Parent Educator: 37.5 Hours/Week @ $25.55/Hour

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

2025-26 Volunteers: Motion by Robinson, seconded by Galan, to approve Katherine Kuntz as a Volunteer Dance Coach for the 2025-26 school year as presented. Roll call: Galan, Robinson, Swims and Dababneh voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

For Your Information Items:

Annual Back to School Kick-Off Luncheon:

Annual Back to School Kick-Off Luncheon: 12:00 p.m., Monday, August 11, 2025, in the cafeteria.

August Board Meeting: August Board Meeting: 6:00 p.m., Thursday, August 21, 2025

Executive Session: None

Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 6:31 p.m.

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