MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CARBONDALE COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 165, CARBONDALE, ILLINOIS HELD NOVEMBER 14, 2024
The regular meeting of the Board of Education of School District 165 was held in the Carbondale Community High School Cafeteria, 1301 East Walnut Street, Carbondale, Illinois, on Thursday, November 14, 2024, at 6:00 p.m.
Upon roll call, the following members were present:
Rania Dababneh Neophansya Robinson
Linda Flowers Christopher E. Swims
Lana Galan Julie VanWinkle
Wendell Pohlman
Also present were:
Daniel Booth Ryan Thomas
Ray Toliver, Jr. Lena Dierks
Approval of Minutes: Motion by Pohlman, seconded by Dababneh, to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of October 17, 2024. Roll call: Dababneh, Flowers, Galan, Pohlman, Robinson, Swim and VanWinkle voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.
Old Business—None
Public Comments—None
Recognition of Student and Teacher Achievements: The Board recognized the following students and teachers for their recent achievements. They were given engraved Board of Education recognition glasses.
Eislee Moore
She helped the Tennis Team finish top 10 in the State for the first time ever. She was named First Team IHSTCA All-State in singles. She qualified for sectionals in Cross Country with a 15th place finishing time of 20 minutes, 51.12 seconds after returning from the state tennis tournament, competing in seven tennis matches in a 30-hour span prior to returning for Cross Country. She is also a 4.127 student at CCHS academically. The Board congratulated her and Coaches Mike Butler, Greg Storm and Jason Perry for their work as Terriers.
Braden Cumming and Josh Taylor, Directors of “Puffs” Along with the Head Actors of the Production
Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic is a 2015 original comedy play by New York—based playwright Matt Cox. The play is a parody of the Harry Potter book series by J.K. Rowling, but from the perspective of the “Puffs”; that is, members of the Hogwarts house, Hufflepuff. The following cast members were recognized at the meeting: Josh Ramirez, Austin Judd, Simone Prozesky, Mira Chandler, Connor Gilbrandse, Abigail Walker and Aron Yeager.
School Board Members Day 2024: In honor of School Board Members Day on November 15, 2024, Mr. Booth presented each of the Board members with a Board of Education recognition glass and certificate honoring them for their dedicated leadership in education and continuing service to the children of this community.
FOIA Requests: The Board received a listing of the FOIA Requests received to date.
Payment of Bills: Motion by Flowers, seconded by Dababneh, to pay the remaining bills for the month of October 2024; and, those available for payment for the month of November 2024. Roll call: Flowers, Galan, Pohlman, Robinson, Swims, VanWinkle and Dababneh voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.
Principal’s Report: Mr. Thomas reported on the November activities occurring on campus.
Superintendent’s Report: Mr. Booth reviewed his Superintendent’s Report for the Board.
Construction Updates
1. CTE Addition: The Cosmetology class will be moving in over Thanksgiving and preparations are being made to start classes in the area after the holiday break. The Open House date is still to be determined.
2. Solar Panels Project: The project began October 1 with a completion timeline of six months.
3. Science Department: Architect Paul Lunsford is working on bid documents for the Science Department. Once the bids are received, discussion will follow on how to fund the project.
Athletic Strategic Planning
The Athletic Strategic Plan Team met on Friday, October 25, and participated in a Vision Retreat. The team reviewed information from the data retreat to discuss the future vision of athletics at CCHS by finalizing the SWOT Analysis with feedback from stakeholders. This work included drafting a vision, mission, and motto for the department that will be reviewed at the next meeting. The team will also discuss long range goals at the January 6 meeting. The Board received drafts of the work completed that will be finalized at the next meeting.
CCHS Education Foundation
The Board received nomination forms for the Hall of Service and Hall of Achievement. The Foundation is accepting nominations until January 15, 2025.
The Foundation has begun planning for the 2025 Black and White Ball and Hall of Service/Hall of Achievement induction. The event will be held on August 23, 2025.
Strategic Planning Progress
The following updates will be given to the Board on the strategic plan:
November: Report Card Review
January/February: Update the Board on progress of KPI’s and Targets.
June: Share the end of year report on strategic plan progress.
July: Superintendent Evaluation
October Student Attendance Reports: The Board received the October Student Attendance Reports.
2024-25 District Fall Enrollment Recap: Mr. Booth reviewed the 2024-25 District Fall Enrollment Recap memo for the Board. Student enrollment was 1,053 on October 1.
2024-25 Class-Size/Loading Report: Lena Dierks reviewed the 2024-25 Class-Size/Loading Report for the Board.
2024 School Report Card Review: Lena Dierks did a PowerPoint presentation for the Board on the 2024 School Report Card.
Member Leaves and Returns to Meeting: Member Swims left the meeting at 7:47 p.m. and returned at 7:49 p.m.
2025-26 Curriculum Proposals: Motion by Swims, seconded by Robinson, to approve the 2025-26 curriculum proposals for Cosmetology 2 and Welding 4 as presented. Roll call: Galan, Pohlman, Robinson, Swims, VanWinkle, Dababneh and Flowers voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.
Request to Solicit District Liability Insurance Bids: Motion by Swims, seconded by Robinson, to solicit bids for district liability insurance as presented. Roll call: Pohlman, Robinson, Swims, VanWinkle, Dababneh, Flowers and Galan voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.
Request to Solicit Track Replacement Bids: Motion by Pohlman, seconded by Robinson, to solicit track replacement bids as presented. Roll call: Robinson, Swims, VanWinkle, Dababneh, Flowers, Galan and Pohlman voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.
2024 Tax Levy Resolution: Ray Toliver Jr. did a PowerPoint presentation on the 2024 Tax Levy.
Motion by Flowers, seconded by Pohlman, to approve the Resolution Regarding the Estimated Amounts Necessary to Be Levied for The Year 2024. Roll call: Swims, VanWinkle, Dababneh, Flowers, Galan, Pohlman and Robinson voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried. Final adoption of the 2024 Tax Levy will occur at the December 19, 2024, Board of Education meeting.
Closing of District Offices During Winter Break: Motion by Swims, seconded by Dababneh, to approve the closure of all district offices during Winter Break 2024-25 as presented. Roll call: VanWinkle, Dababneh, Flowers, Galan, Pohlman, Robinson and Swims voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.
IASB PRESS Issue 116 Board Policy Manual Updates: Motion by Pohlman, seconded by Swims, to approve the IASB PRESS Issue 116 Board Policy Manual updates as presented. Roll call: Dababneh, Flowers, Galan, Pohlman, Robinson, Swims and VanWinkle voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.
Resolution Directing the School Treasurer to Transfer Funds from the Operations and Maintenance Fund to the Debt Service Fund: Motion by Pohlman, seconded by Dababneh, to approve the Resolution Directing the School Treasurer to Transfer Funds from the Operations and Maintenance Fund to the Debt Service Fund in the amount of $333,342.19, as presented. Roll call: Flowers, Galan, Pohlman, Robinson, Swims, VanWinkle and Dababneh voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.
Carbondale TIF District #1 Extension Request: Motion by Flowers, seconded by Swims, to write a letter of support as a taxing body for the City of Carbondale’s request to extend the TIF District #1 by 12 years, to extend it to 2039 as presented. Roll call: Galan, Pohlman, Robinson, Swims, VanWinkle, Dababneh and Flowers voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.
Resignation: Motion by Pohlman, seconded by Galan, to accept the resignation of Westerly Loyd (Attendance Office Secretary) effective November 22, 2024, as presented. Roll call: Pohlman, Robinson, Swims, VanWinkle, Dababneh, Flowers and Galan voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.
Employment of 2024-25 Science Teacher: Motion by Swims, seconded by Pohlman, to employ Fayth Smith pending receipt of her Illinois Professional Educator License, as a full-time Science Teacher for the remainder of the 2024-25 school year. Ms. Smith’s education and experience will place her at Line 0, Column MA/MS on the 2024-25 Teacher Salary Schedule. Roll call: Robinson, Swims, VanWinkle, Dababneh, Flowers, Galan and Pohlman voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.
Employment of 2024-25 Extra-Duty Personnel: Motion by Pohlman, seconded by Dababneh, to employ the following 2024-25 extra-duty personnel as presented:
Assist. Boys Basketball Coaches: Tommy Holder $5,000.00, Greg Storm $5,000.00, Lafiet McDade $4,000.00 and Kobe Lewis-Moss $3,508.00
Asst. Wrestling Coaches: Kolbi Caffey $5,255.00, Mykel Gary $4,255.00 and Brenden Banz $1,000.00
Winter Weight Room Supervisor: Mike Butler $2,335.00
Roll call: Swims, VanWinkle, Dababneh, Flowers, Galan, Pohlman and Robinson voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.
Employment of 2024-25 Rebound Personnel: Motion by Galan, seconded by Robinson, to retroactively employ the following 2024-25 Rebound grant employee as presented, continent 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 October 21, 2024-June 30, 2025: Jeleania Fields, Rebound HSE/IET Facilitator--$21.00/Hour @ 35 Hours/Week. Roll call: VanWinkle, Dababneh, Flowers, Galan, Pohlman, Robinson and Swims voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.
Employment of Hall Monitor: Motion by Pohlman, seconded by Debabneh, to employ Marialice Jenkins as a Hall Monitor at the rate of $15.00 per hour for the 2024-25 school year. Roll call: Dababneh, Flowers, Galan, Pohlman, Robinson, Swims and VanWinkle voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.
2024-25 Volunteers: Motion by Galan, seconded by Robinson, to approve the following 2024-25 volunteers as presented:
Ayo Oyetunji, Volunteer Wrestling Coach
Dennis Ragan, Volunteer Wrestling Coach
Jared Ragan, Volunteer Wrestling Coach
Aiden Taylor, Volunteer Wrestling Coach
Unree Westley, Volunteer Boys Basketball Coach
Roll call: Flowers, Galan, Pohlman, Robinson, Swims, VanWinkle and Dababneh oted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.
For Your Information Items:
2024 IASB Joint Annual Conference: November 22-24, 2024
Next Board Meeting: Thursday, December 19, 2024
Executive Session: Motion by Dababneh, seconded by Robinson, to go into executive session to discuss information regarding the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees, and collective negotiating matters (5 ILCS 20/2(c)(1)(2)); and, to adjourn the Board of Education Meeting at the conclusion of the executive session. Roll call: Galan, Pohlman, Robinson, Swims, VanWinkle, Dababneh and Flowers voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried. The executive session convened at 8:39 p.m. and adjourned at 9:37 p.m.
Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 9:38 p.m.
Minutes Approved: December 19, 2024