Macon Reporter

Decatur Public School District 61 Board of Education met Nov. 11.

Here is the agenda provided by the board:

CALL TO ORDER

CALL FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION

The Board of Education will meet in Closed Executive Session to conduct a student discipline/expulsion hearing, an employee discipline hearing, and discuss pending litigation.

Roll Call

2.0 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

3.0 APPROVAL OF AGENDA NOVEMBER 11, 2025

4.0 DISTRICT HIGHLIGHTS

• Celebration of School Board Member Day, November 15, 2025!

Thank you, School Board Members, for volunteering your service and commitment to the students, staff, families and the Decatur community!

The Decatur Public School District 61 Board of Education:

Bill Clevenger, President, Will Wetzel, Vice President, Kevin Hale, Devon Joyner, Dr. Karen Lauritzen, Mark Reynolds, Christina Tyus

• 55th Annual Decatur Turkey Tournament at Stephen Decatur Middle School • Ellsworth Dansby Jr. Magnet School

5.0 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

• 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.

6.0 BOARD DISCUSSION

7.0 REPORTS FROM ADMINISTRATION

A. New Graduation Requirements and School Board Policy 6:300 Graduation Requirements (update)

B. Designation Report

C. Tentative Estimated Tax Levy 2025, Paid in 2026

8.0 CONSENT ITEMS

A. Minutes: Open/Closed Session Meetings October 28, 2025

B. Freedom of Information Report

C. Bills

D. School Board Policy 6:300 Graduation Requirements (update)

9.0 ROLL CALL ACTION ITEMS

A. Vote on Potential Student 2526-0002 Expulsion

B. Consideration and Action on a Possible Suspension and/or Dismissal of a School Security Employee

C. Personnel Action Items

D. Tentative Estimated Tax Levy 2025, Paid in 2026

E. Macon-Piatt Special Education District FY25 Annual Audit

F. Decatur Public School District 61 FY25 Annual Audit

10.0 ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

David Lee Shepherd, who passed away Thursday, October 23, 2025. Mr. Shepherd was the father of Duane Shepherd, Maintenance Employee in Decatur Public Schools.

11.0 IMPORTANT DATES

November 12 District-wide Half Day of School for ALL Students

– Please check with your home school regarding the release time

14 Interim Progress Reports

24 – 25 NO School for Students

– District Offices are OPEN

25 – 26 and 28 – 29 Annual Turkey Tournament at Stephen Decatur Middle School

26 Veteran’s Day Holiday Observed in DPS 61

– No School and District Offices are Closed

 27 – 28 Thanksgiving Holidays

– No School and District Offices are Closed

Please note: Due to upcoming holiday, there is only one regular Board of Education meeting in the month of December 2025, which is the third Tuesday, December 16, 2025.

NEXT MEETING

The public portion of the next regular meeting of the Board of Education will be at 6:30 PM, Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at the Keil Administration Building.

12.0 ADJOURNMENT

https://www.dps61.org/cms/lib/IL50010903/Centricity/Domain/30/November%2011%202025%20Open%20Session%20Packet2%20-%20Web.pdf