Macon Reporter

Decatur Public School District 61 Board of Education met Aug. 5.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

LOCATION: Keil Administration Building

101 W. Cerro Gordo Street

Decatur, IL 62523

PRESENT: Bill Clevenger, President 

Will Wetzel, Vice President

Kevin Hale 

Devon Joyner

Dr. Karen Lauritzen 

Mark Reynolds

ABSENT: Christina Tyus

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.

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 collective negotiating matters between the Board and representatives of its employees, seconded by Mr. Hale

President Clevenger called for a Roll Call Vote:

Aye: Lauritzen, Hale, Wetzel, Joyner, Reynolds, Clevenger

Nay: None

Absent: Tyus

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

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

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 collective negotiating matters between the Board and representatives of its employees. No action was taken during Closed Executive Session.

President Clevenger led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Superintendent Clark recommended the Board of Education approve the August 05, 2025 Open Session Board Meeting Agenda as presented.

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

Dr. Mike Curry, Chief Operational Officer, noted that there would be a presentation regarding the upcoming auction on energy rates. 

Becky Thompson, a Representative from Nania Energy, presented and shared information on Energy RFP Results & Auction Thresholds (see presentation in Board packet). The upcoming energy contracts (natural gas and electricity) that could be purchased through a third-party were discussed at the July 15, 2025 Board of Education meeting. 

Under the Consent Items, there is a recommendation for the Board of Education to give administration authority to accept electrical rates from the upcoming auction. 

The consensus from the Board of Education was for administration to proceed and make-a-decision after the live auction. 

Superintendent Clark thanked the community for registering their student (s) and reminded those who had not registered that they would not be able to register students on the first day of school as staff will be handling those who had previously registered. 

Superintendent Clark reminded the community of the updates to the following School Board Policies that were uploaded on the District’s website:

a. Policy 7:160 Student Appearance

b. Policy 7:190 Student Behavior

c. Policy 8:30 Visitors to and Conduct on School Property

www.dps61.org ~ Our District ~ Policies

Superintendent Clark reminded the community of the enforcement of the electronic devices policy. Students cannot have electronic devices during class periods, passing periods and/or during the lunch hours. All devices must be put away and/or kept at home. 

Superintendent Clark reminded families to notify their home school (s) if they have moved outside of the District’s boundaries so that the District could send the appropriate records to the student’s new school. You cannot attend DPS if you do not live in DPS boundaries. 

Consent Items

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

A. Minutes: Open/Closed Meetings July 15, 2025

B. Freedom of Information Report

C. Bills

D. Financial Conditions Report (June 2025)

E. Treasurer’s Report (June 2025)

F. Release July Checks Early

G. Annual Agreement (Invoice) between Decatur Public School District 61 and Power School for 2025-2026 School Year

H. Approval/Authority for Administration to Accept Electric Rates in Auction

I. District Safety Hazards Annual Report

J. School Board Policies and Exhibit from PRESS Issue 118

K. Job Descriptions:

a. Director of Buildings and Grounds (update)

b. School Health Services Administrator (update)

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

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

Aye: Hale, Clevenger, Wetzel, Lauritzen, Reynolds, Joyner

Nay: None

Absent: Tyus

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

President Bill Clevenger recommended and moved for the Board of Education to approve the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) Professional Services Agreement and Menu of Services Fee as presented, seconded by Mr. Reynolds. 

Jim Helton and Dr. Carmen Ayala, Representatives from IASB, discussed their process moving forward if the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) Professional Services Agreement and Menu of Services Fee were approved by the Board of Education. If approved, IASB would start the process Wednesday, August 06, 2025. The Board of Education discussed the process and the different focus groups with IASB. 

The consensus from the Board of Education was to add the three (3) additional days for the staff and/or community in-District focus groups at $1,500 per day = $4,500.

If additional services were needed in the future, the Board Members would submit a recommendation to discuss and vote on at a future Open Session meeting. 

IASB would like to have a list of focus group; they plan to start meeting with the selected groups in mid-September. IASB would provide an invitation letter (template) to be sent to the individuals for the focus groups. 

Dr. Mike Curry, Chief Operational Officer, was asked to keep track of the funds spent during this process. 

Base of $10,400 + 3xs $1,500 ($4,500) = $14,900. 

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

Ms. Bradford, Board Secretary noted that it had been motioned and seconded for the Board of Education to approve the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) Professional Services Agreement and Menu of Services Fee in the amount of $14,900 at this time. Motioned by President Clevenger, seconded by Mr. Reynolds.

Aye: Wetzel, Hale, Reynolds, Lauritzen, Clevenger, Joyner

Nay: None

Absent: Tyus

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

Superintendent Clark recommended the Board of Education approve the Employment of Ryan Aikman as an Assistant Principal at Eisenhower High School, effective August 06, 2025 as presented.

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

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

Aye: Clevenger, Lauritzen, Wetzel, Joyner, Hale, Reynolds

Nay: None

Absent: Tyus

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

Superintendent Clark recommended the Board of Education approve the Employment of Kayla McCreary, as an Interim School Health Services Administrator, effective August 06, 2025 as presented.

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

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

Aye: Wetzel, Joyner, Clevenger, Lauritzen, Reynolds, Hale

Nay: None

Absent: Tyus

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

Superintendent Clark recommended the Board of Education approve the Three-year (3) Lease Agreement between Decatur Public School District #61 and the Regional Office of Education #39 as presented.

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

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

Aye: Lauritzen, Hale, Reynolds, Joyner, Clevenger, Wetzel

Nay: None

Absent: Tyus

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

Superintendent Clark recommended the Board of Education approve the Waste Management Contract for 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 as presented.

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

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

Aye: Reynolds, Hale, Wetzel, Clevenger, Joyner, Lauritzen

Nay: None

Absent: Tyus

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

Superintendent Clark recommended the Board of Education approve the Contract Agreement between Decatur Public School District #61 and the Macon County Mental Health Board for FY26 as presented. 

Mr. Reynolds moved to approve the recommendation, seconded by Dr. Lauritzen. 

Eldon Conn, Assistant Superintendent of Support Services, noted that this yearly agreement was for funding for three (3) of our Behavioral Interventionist; counselors require a different degree/license.

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

Aye: Hale, Clevenger, Wetzel, Lauritzen, Reynolds, Joyner

Nay: None

Absent: Tyus

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

Superintendent Clark recommended the Board of Education approve the Crowdstrike Annual Renewal as presented.

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

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

Aye: Lauritzen, Hale, Reynolds, Joyner, Clevenger, Wetzel

Nay: None

Absent: Tyus

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

Superintendent Clark recommended the Board of Education approve the 7 Mindsets One-Year (1) Renewal Agreement as presented. 

Dr. Lauritzen moved to approve the recommendation, seconded by Mr. Wetzel. 

Mr. Reynolds asked for an explanation of the item. Dr. Larry Gray, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching & Learning, noted that 7 Mindsets were used for social emotional learning. This item sets the tone when students share their social emotional well-being. During the August 19, 2025 Board of Education meeting, there will be a brief presentation from our students who attended the 7 Mindsets conference. This is taught in K-12 grades and every student is exposed to the lessons. 

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

Aye: Clevenger, Lauritzen, Wetzel, Joyner, Hale, Reynolds

Nay: None

Absent: Tyus

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

Superintendent Clark recommended the Board of Education approve the Payment to Northern Illinois University for Providing Professional Development and Programming to American Dreamer STEM Academy during the 2024-2025 School Year as presented. 

Dr. Lauritzen moved to approve the recommendation, seconded by Mr. Joyner. 

Dr. Mike Curry, Chief Operational Officer, noted that the contract was entered before Ellsworth Dansby Jr. Magnet School was open, but it was for the Dansby staff members. 

Superintendent Clark noted that the professional development was used to help strengthen the fundamentals and skillsets that were STEM based for students.

Dr. Curry noted that the funds were grant related. Mary Brady, Director of Teaching & Learning-Elementary, also noted that the funds came from the Title I School Improvement Grant, which linked to their School Improvement Plan.

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

Aye: Joyner, Clevenger, Lauritzen, Hale, Reynolds, Wetzel

Nay: None

Absent: Tyus

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

Superintendent Clark recommended the Board of Education approve to Ratify/Adopt the July 01, 2025- June 30, 2028 Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Decatur Public School District #61 Board of Education and the Decatur Federation of Teaching Assistants (DFTA) Local #4324, Illinois Federation of Teachers American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO as presented. 

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

Monica Wilks, Director of Human Resources, and Michelle Mitchell, President of DFTA, presented information on this item (see presentation in Board packet). Mrs. Mitchell expressed her gratitude for the new contract and the hard work from both teams. 

This contract was ratified by DFTA with a 99% approval on June 28, 2025.

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

Aye: Wetzel, Hale, Reynolds, Lauritzen, Clevenger, Joyner

Nay: None

Absent: Tyus

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

Announcements

The Board of Education and Administration sends condolences to the families of: 

Martin C. Cadmus, who passed away Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Mr. Cadmus was the father of Kathleen Horath, Director of Macon-Piatt Special Education District. 

Brian S. Briggs, who passed away Saturday, July 26, 2025. Mr. Briggs was the husband of Neola K. Briggs, Classified Staff Secretary in the Human Resources Department, and father of Zachary Briggs, Student Interventionist Behavior Specialist at Stephen Decatur Middle School.

NEXT MEETING 

The public portion of the next regular meeting of the Board of Education will be at 6:30 PM, Tuesday, August 19, 2025 at the Keil Administration Building

Please Note: The Board of Education meetings in August 2025 will be the first (5th) and third (19th) Tuesdays. 

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

Board adjourned at 7:29 PM.

https://www.dps61.org/cms/lib/IL50010903/Centricity/Domain/30/August%2019%202025%20Open%20Session%20Packet3-Web.pdf