Macon Reporter

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

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

PRESENT: Bill Clevenger, President Jason Dion, Vice President  Mark Reynolds Al Scheider  Will Wetzel 

ABSENT: Alana Banks and Kevin Collins-Brown 

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

President Clevenger called the meeting to order at 5:00 PM. 

Call for Closed Executive Session 

President Clevenger called the meeting to order and moved into Closed Executive Session to discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees of the public body and the purchase or lease of real property for use of the public body, seconded by Vice President Dion. 

President Clevenger called for a Roll Call Vote: 

Aye: Reynolds, Wetzel, Clevenger, Dion, Scheider 

Nay: None 

Absent: Banks and Collins-Brown 

Roll Call Vote: 5 Aye, 0 Nay, 2 Absent 

Returned to Open Session 

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

Open Session Continued 

President Clevenger noted that the Board of Education had been in Closed Executive Session to discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees of the public body and the purchase or lease of real property for use of the public body. No action was taken during Closed Executive Session.

Pledge of Allegiance Junior Board Members

President Clevenger led the Pledge of Allegiance. 

President Clevenger administered the “oath of office” to two Junior Board Members: 

• Eisenhower High School – Emmersyn Walton 

• MacArthur High School – Lily Rinchiuso 

These students will serve as advocates for their student bodies for the 2024-2025 school year. Please note: There will be one other student sworn in at a future Board of Education meeting.

Approval of Agenda, October 22, 2024 

Superintendent Clark recommended the Board of Education approve the October 22, 2024 Open Session Board Meeting Agenda as presented. 

Mr. Scheider moved to approve the recommendation, seconded by Mr. Reynolds. All were in favor.

District Highlight 

Rida Ellis, Principal at American Dreamer STEM Academy (ADSA), shared information regarding student enrollment and attendance, staff, student academic growth and family involvement at ADMS (See attached ppt from the 10/22 Open Session Board Packet). Ms. Ellis extended an invitation to male volunteers throughout the community to assist with the initiative “take flight.” This initiative is to inspire students to “take flight” through reading. If interested, please contact ADSA at 217 362-3381.

Public Participation

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. 

For our listening audience, please note that during any Board of Education meeting and public participation, Board Members do NOT respond and/or comment to public comments; all comments are referred to administration. Furthermore, the Board refrains from referring to specific students or staff members by name, and requests that public commenters refrain from doing so as well. The request that you omit names was made to protect you from allegations of libel or slander or from violations of the Illinois School Student Records Act. It was not intended to shield an employee from criticism. 

Sam Mills, President of DEA, spoke to the Board and thanked everyone for starting the process at Dennis Lab School and thanked the administrative staff and teachers at American Dreamer STEM Academy for their continued hard work. Mr. Mills noted that the Strategic Plan group talked about strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats; he felt the biggest threat was the vacancy issue. The teacher shortages are real and affects the District on a daily basis, however, we were making steps. Would the Strategic Plan bring teachers to Decatur? If you are interested in working together to address state lawmakers, Mr. Mills was willing to meet to discuss. Solutions are needed for the vacancy issues. 

Ashley Robinson, Teacher at Muffley Elementary, spoke to the Board in regards to the teacher shortages and how it affected her school and the students; there was an issue with consistency at the beginning of the year. Ms. Robinson asked to work together in order to find a solution so that students would receive a quality education. She extended an invitation to the Board members to visit Muffley Elementary School.

Board Discussion 

Dr. Mike Curry, Chief Operational Officer, thanked Val Talley, Safety and Security Administrator, for his representation of the District in a nation-wide security zoom for K-12. 

Dr. Mike Curry presented information regarding the finances for District 61 (See attached ppt from the 10/22 Open Session Board Packet). The bids for the solar panels were now closed. The Board of Education discussed the EAV and administration’s recommendation. 

Dr. Curry asked for guidance on uploading the truth in taxation information on our webpage 30 days prior to the hearing; it’s required by law to be in the newspaper no less than 7 days, but no more than 14 days before the next meeting. This would be considered a public notice of the hearing. 

The consensus from the Board of Education was for administration to move forward and upload the truth in taxation information early and keep the date of December 10, 2024. The Board of Education would like to keep the District’s options open. 

Dr. Curry asked for guidance on a municipal advisor; the Board members would like to have further conversations with the municipal advisor in the room. 

Superintendent Clark presented information regarding the Roadmap 2030, Strategic Planning and Master Facilities Plan for DPS 61, (See attached ppt from the 10/22 Open Session Board Packet). 

Vice President Dion, noted that all of the materials from the meetings were and will be uploaded to the District’s website as follows: www.dps61.or/roadmap2030 

Vice President Dion and Mr. Wetzel are on the Strategic Planning Committee and they each shared their thoughts regarding the first meeting. 

Ashley Grayned, Executive Director of Innovative Programs and Strategic Planning, spoke on transparency and how the information would be available with honest feedback. There will be some community stakeholder meetings and/or sub committee meetings in the future; this would give others the opportunity to engage. 

Dr. Jay Marino, Assistant Superintendent of Support Services, noted that the outside facilitator from Green Associates, Steve Chassee, has an expertise in community engagement and will continue to assist the team. There will be public forums, in the future, that would give opportunities for the entire community to engage and provide feedback. These could include be in-person, webinar/virtual, survey and/or a platform with a moderator. The public would be invited to weigh in on the process. There are a series of steps to follow as the process unfolds. 

Mr. Wetzel noted the following: 

1) He was using his cell phone to view the packet because his iPad had died; he was not sending text messages. 

2) Due to work obligation, he will not be able to attend the next Strategic Planning meeting on November 13th . 

3) He, along with Vice President Dion, attended the Old King Orchards Community Center meeting to discuss the neighborhoods and a strategic plan to help address the community needs in the following areas: Neighborhood United, GM Square, Torrence Park and Old King’s Orchard). The funds are coming from R3 “renewreinvest-revitalize.” He encouraged his colleagues to review the information that was sent, on his behalf, from Ms. Bradford. He also encouraged them to note their strategic plan. These meetings are open to the public and he would let us know when the next meeting is scheduled.

Consent Items

Superintendent Clark recommended the Board of Education approve the Consent Items as presented, which included:

A. Minutes: Open/Closed Meetings October 08, 2024 and Special Open/Closed Meetings October 17, 2024

B. Financial Conditions Report

C. Treasurer’s Report

D. School Board Policies from Issue 115

Mr. Scheider moved to approve the recommendation, seconded by Mr. Reynolds.

Hearing no questions, President Clevenger called for a Roll Call Vote:

Aye: Wetzel, Scheider, Clevenger, Dion, Reynolds

Nay: None

Absent: Banks and Collins-Brown

Roll Call Vote: 5 Aye, 0 Nay, 2 Absent 

Personnel Action Items 

Superintendent Clark recommended the Board of Education approve the Personnel Action Items listed in the Memo from Monica Wilks, Director of Human Resources, and the Human Resources Department, as presented. 

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

Aye: Clevenger, Reynolds, Dion, Scheider, Wetzel 

Nay: None 

Absent: Banks and Collins-Brown 

Roll Call Vote: 5 Aye, 0 Nay, 2 Absent 

Employment of an Assistant Principal

Superintendent Clark recommended the Board of Education approve the Employment of Dr. Khari Grant as an Assistant Principal at Eisenhower High School as presented. 

Mr. Reynolds moved to approve the recommendation, seconded by Mr. Scheider.

Hearing no questions, President Clevenger called for a Roll Call Vote:

Aye: Scheider, Reynolds, Wetzel, Clevenger, Dion

Nay: None

Absent: Banks and Collins-Brown

Roll Call Vote: 5 Aye, 0 Nay, 2 Absent 

FY25 and FY26 Administrators Salary Schedules 

Superintendent Clark recommended the Board of Education approve the FY25 and FY26 Administrators Salary Schedules as presented.

Mr. Scheider moved to approve the recommendation, seconded by Mr. Reynolds.

Hearing no questions, President Clevenger called for a Roll Call Vote:

Aye: Scheider, Wetzel, Clevenger, Reynolds, Dion

Nay: None

Absent: Banks and Collins-Brown

Roll Call Vote: 5 Aye, 0 Nay, 2 Absent

FY25 and FY26 Administrative Support Salary Schedules 

Superintendent Clark recommended the Board of Education approve the FY25 andFY26 Administrative Support Salary Schedules as presented.

Mr. Reynolds moved to approve the recommendation, seconded by Mr. Scheider.

Hearing no questions, President Clevenger called for a Roll Call Vote:

Aye: Wetzel, Scheider, Clevenger, Dion, Reynolds

Nay: None

Absent: Banks and Collins-Brown

Roll Call Vote: 5 Aye, 0 Nay, 2 Absent

Portable Office Trailer Lease for Dennis Lab School 

Superintendent Clark recommended the Board of Education approve the Portable Office Trailer Lease for Dennis Lab School as presented.

Mr. Scheider moved to approve the recommendation, seconded by Mr. Wetzel.

Hearing no questions, President Clevenger called for a Roll Call Vote:

Aye: Clevenger, Dion, Reynolds, Wetzel, Scheider

Nay: None

Absent: Banks and Collins-Brown

Roll Call Vote: 5 Aye, 0 Nay, 2 Absent 

Important Dates

October 23 Decatur Public Schools Job Fair

– 1:00PM to 5:00PM, Keil Administration Building

November 05 Election Day

– NO School and District Offices are Closed

 13 District-wide Half Day of School for ALL Students

– Please check with your home school regarding the release time

 11 Interim Progress Reports

 11 Veteran’s Day Holiday

– Full Day of School for ALL Students

 25 – 26 NO School for Students

– District Offices are OPEN

26 – 27 and 29 – 30 Annual Turkey Tournament at Stephen Decatur Middle School

 27 Veteran’s Day Holiday Observed in DPS 61

– No School and District Offices are Closed

 28 – 29 Thanksgiving Holidays

– No School and District Offices are Closed

Please note: Due to upcoming holiday, there is only one Board of Education meeting in the month of November 2024, which is Tuesday, November 12, 2024. 

NEXT MEETING 

The public portion of the next regular meeting of the Board of Education will be at 6:30 PM, Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at the Keil Administration Building.

Adjournment

President Clevenger asked for a motion to adjourn. Mr. Reynolds moved, seconded by Vice President Dion. All were in favor. 

https://www.dps61.org/cms/lib/IL50010903/Centricity/Domain/30/November%2012%202024%20Open%20Session%20Packet2%20-%20Web.pdf