Macon Reporter

Decatur Public School District 61 Board of Education met Feb. 22.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

PRESENT: Bill Clevenger, President

Jason Dion, Vice President

Alana Banks

Mark Reynolds

Al Scheider

Will Wetzel

ABSENT: Kevin Collins-Brown

STAFF: Superintendent Dr. Rochelle Clark, Board Secretary Melissa Bradford, Attorney Luke Freeney and others

President Clevenger called the meeting to order at 4:00 PM.

President Clevenger called the meeting to order and moved into Closed Executive Session to conduct student discipline/expulsions hearings and discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees of the public body, seconded by Vice President Dion.

President Clevenger called for a Roll Call Vote:

Aye: Reynolds, Wetzel, Scheider, Banks, Clevenger, Dion

Nay: None

Absent: Kevin Collins-Brown

Roll Call Vote: 6 Aye, 0 Nay, 1 Absent

President Clevenger moved to return to Open Session, seconded by Mr. Scheider. All were in favor.

President Clevenger noted that the Board of Education had been in Closed Executive Information Session to conduct student discipline/expulsion hearings and discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees of the public body. No action was taken during Closed Executive Session.

President Clevenger led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Superintendent Clark recommended the Board approve the February 22, 2024 Special Open Session Board Meeting Agenda as presented.

Mr. Wetzel moved to approve the recommendation, seconded by Vice President Dion. All were in favor.

President Clevenger noted that during Public Participation, the Board of Education asked for the following:

• Identify oneself and be brief.

• Comments should be limited to 3 minutes.

• Any public comments submitted to the Board Secretary will be included in the record.

No one signed up and/or requested to speak.

For the listening audience, we are going to move Board Discussion after the Roll Call Action Items.

Superintendent Clark recommended the Board of Education “authorize the issuance of a decision in the expulsion case for Student #2324-0028 consistent with the findings from the Hearing Officer’s Report, and that Student #2324-0028 be expelled from the Decatur Public School District, all events, property and activities of the District for the REMAINDER of the 2023-2024 school year and ALL of the 2024-2025 school year, with NO stay for alternative education. Please note: Student #2324-0028 can return to the home school on the first day of school of the 2025- 2026 school year. Parents will be notified of the date for the first day of school once the calendar for the 2025-2026 school year is approved. Parents will also be notified of other educational options available for Student #2324-0028 during the expulsion period.

Ms. Banks moved to approve the recommendation, seconded by Vice President Dion. Hearing no questions, President Clevenger called for a Roll Call Vote:

Aye: Dion, Scheider, Banks, Reynolds, Wetzel, Clevenger

Nay: None

Absent: Collins-Brown

Roll Call Vote: 6 Aye, 0 Nay, 1 Absent

Superintendent Clark recommended the Board of Education “authorize the issuance of a decision in the expulsion case for Student #2324-0029 consistent with the findings from the Hearing Officer’s Report, and that Student #2324-0029 be expelled from the Decatur Public School District, all events, property and activities of the District for the REMAINDER of the 2023-2024 school year and ALL of the 2024-2025 school year, with NO stay for alternative education. Please note: Student #2324-0029 can return to the home school on the first day of school of the 2025- 2026 school year. Parents will be notified of the date for the first day of school once the calendar for the 2025-2026 school year is approved. Parents will also be notified of other educational options available for Student #2324-0029 during the expulsion period.

Ms. Banks moved to approve the recommendation, seconded by Mr. Reynolds. Hearing no questions, President Clevenger called for a Roll Call Vote:

Aye: Wetzel, Reynolds, Clevenger, Dion, Scheider, Banks

Nay: None

Absent: Collins-Brown

Roll Call Vote: 6 Aye, 0 Nay, 1 Absent

Superintendent Clark recommended the Board of Education “authorize the issuance of a decision in the expulsion case for Student #2324-0030 consistent with the findings from the Hearing Officer’s Report, and that Student #2324-0030 be expelled from the Decatur Public School District, all events, property and activities of the District for the REMAINDER of the 2023-2024 school year and ALL of the 2024-2025 school year, with NO stay for alternative education. Please note: Student #2324-0030 can return to the home school on the first day of school of the 2025- 2026 school year. Parents will be notified of the date for the first day of school once the calendar for the 2025-2026 school year is approved. Parents will also be notified of other educational options available for Student #2324-0030 during the expulsion period.

Ms. Banks moved to approve the recommendation, seconded by Mr. Reynolds. Hearing no questions, President Clevenger called for a Roll Call Vote: Aye: Banks, Scheider, Wetzel, Reynolds, Dion, Clevenger

Nay: None

Absent: Collins-Brown

Roll Call Vote: 6 Aye, 0 Nay, 1 Absent

Superintendent Clark recommended the Board of Education “authorize the issuance of a decision in the expulsion case for Student #2324-0031 consistent with the findings from the Hearing Officer’s Report, and that Student #2324-0031 be expelled from the Decatur Public School District, all events, property and activities of the District for the REMAINDER of the 2023-2024 school year and ALL of the 2024-2025 school year, with NO stay for alternative education. Please note: Student #2324-0031 can return to the home school on the first day of school of the 2025- 2026 school year. Parents will be notified of the date for the first day of school once the calendar for the 2025-2026 school year is approved. Parents will also be notified of other educational options available for Student #2324-0031 during the expulsion period.

Ms. Banks moved to approve the recommendation, seconded by Vice President Dion. Hearing no questions, President Clevenger called for a Roll Call Vote: Aye: Scheider, Banks, Clevenger, Wetzel, Dion, Reynolds

Nay: None

Absent: Collins-Brown

Roll Call Vote: 6 Aye, 0 Nay, 1 Absent

President Clevenger asked Attorney Luke Freeney to present information on proposed TIFs (Tax Increment Financing) from the city of Decatur and its possible impacts towards the school district.

The equalized assessed value (EAV) property within the TIF would be frozen. The duration of a TIF could be 23 years. The school district would get the same revenue off of a particular property for the duration of the TIF. Any increase in EAV during the TIF or the increment gain, is segregated and those funds would go to the city of Decatur to pay for development projects within the TIF; development could be a number of things. At the end of the TIF, the EAV should be much higher. School districts were frustrated with TIF because of the 23 years of frozen revenue within the TIF.

The city of Decatur has to post a notice if they move forward with a TIF or TIFs.

The Board of Education discussed their views on a possible TIF or TIFs from the city of Decatur with Attorney Freeney and the impact it could cause on the school district. They were not sure of the city of Decatur’s purpose of a TIF or TIFs.

The Board of Education would like for Superintendent Clark to continue conversations with the city of Decatur regarding their purpose and to keep them informed of their next steps. Hopefully, an agreement would be proposed that would benefit both as it related to fairness and equity.

IMPORTANT DATES

February 29 Principal for a Day

March 04 Casimir Pulaski Holiday – SCHOOL IS IN SESSION

06 Decatur Public Schools Career Expo

– 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at MacArthur High School

NEXT MEETING

The public portion of the next regular meeting of the Board of Education will be at 6:30 PM, Tuesday, February 27, 2024 at the Keil Administration Building.

Please note: Due to Spring Break Week, the March Board meetings are the first (5th) and the third (19th) Tuesdays.

President Clevenger asked for a motion to adjourn. Mr. Reynolds motioned, seconded by Ms. Banks. All were in favorhttps://www.dps61.org/cms/lib/IL50010903/Centricity/Domain/30/March%2005%202024%20Open%20Session%20Packet3%20-%20Web.pdf