SE Illinois News

Harrisburg Community Unit School District 3 Board of Education met Jan. 21.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The regular meeting of the Board of Education of Harrisburg Community Unit School District #3, Saline County, Illinois, was held at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, as announced by posted public notice and by mail. The following members of the Board were present: Mr. Billy Smith, Mr. Ryan Lambert, Mr. Jonathan Russell, Mr. Steve Smothers, and Mr. Nathan Howton. Mr. Brandon Henshaw, and Mr. Kevin Dowdy were absent.

The following administrators were present: Dr. Amy Dixon, Scott Dewar, Natalie Fry, Pam Rizkallah, Brady Mayer, Debbie McGowan, Alesha Allen, Lana Bell, Amanda Stone, and Elizabeth Dawe. The following Unit #3 staff members were present: Keri Holland, Russell Hunt, Kyle Brames, and Jennifer Irvin. The following members of the public were present: Randy Smithpeters and Krystal Pankey.

With a quorum of the members of the Board being present, President Smith called the meeting to order and declared the Board to be in session for the transaction of business.

President Smith led the Board, staff and attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mr. Lambert moved and Mr. Smothers seconded the motion to enter into Executive Session to discuss: A. The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees and those working as independent contractors. Act. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1).

Upon a call of the President for a vote to be taken, it was determined the results of said motion carried. Board entered into Closed Session at 5:04 p.m.

Mr. Lambert moved and Mr. Smothers seconded the motion to reconvene in open session at 6:32 p.m. Upon a call of the President for a voice vote to be taken, it was determined the results of said motion carried.

Public Comment – Randy Smithpeters thanked all who were involved in the recognition of the 2013 basketball team. It was greatly appreciated.

Mr. Lambert moved and Mr. Russell seconded the motion to approve the minutes of the December 17, 2024 Regular Board Meeting. On a call of the roll, Mr. Russell, Mr. Howton, Mr. Lambert, and Mr. Smith voted yea. Mr. Smothers abstained. Motion carried.

Mr. Smothers moved and Mr. Howton seconded the motion to approve the Bills Due and Payable. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Russell moved and Mr. Smothers seconded the motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Lambert moved and Mr. Smothers seconded the motion to approve the Expenditure and Revenue Reports. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

The Board of Education reviewed the monthly Activity Fund Summaries from each building.

RECOGNITION OF DISTRICT 3 SUCCESSES

Superintendent – Dr. Amy Dixon

▪ HMS has been named as one of the top middle schools in Illinois by US News and World Report. BELA – Principal Alesha Allen

West Side Primary – Principal Scott Dewar

East Side Intermediate - Principal Amanda Stone

Harrisburg Middle School - Principal Debbie McGowan

Harrisburg High School - Principal John Crabb

▪ There was a record low number of students who are considered high risk for grades the first semester. Special Education – Brady Mayer

Technology, Media, Grants, Curriculum – Natalie Fry

▪ Recruitment efforts for the CEO Program have started in hopes to have more representation from HHS. Transportation – Andy Fehrenbacher

▪ All buses and van have passed the required six-month inspections.

There was no Unfinished Business.

Ag Biology at HHS was TABLED.

Mr. Lambert moved and Mr. Howton seconded the motion to approve the HMS completion ceremony for May 19, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. at Davenport Gym. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Russell moved and Mr. Smothers seconded the motion to approve the Resolution in support of Illinois Vision 2030. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Lambert moved and Mr. Smothers seconded the motion to approve the Remedy Design Addendum. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Russell moved and Mr. Lambert seconded the motion to approve the Executive Session minutes of the December 17, 2024 Regular Board Meeting. On a call of the roll, Mr. Lambert, Mr. Russell, Mr. Howton, and Mr. Smith voted yea. Mr. Smothers abstained. Motion carried.

Mr. Smothers moved and Mr. Howton seconded the motion to approve the amended retirement letter of LaNette Proctor to retire at the end of the school year (May 2025). On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Howton moved and Mr. Smothers seconded the motion to approve the amended retirement letter of Melissa Belt to retire at the end of the school year (May 2025). On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Lambert moved and Mr. Smothers seconded the motion to approve the resignations of the following EOC Aides. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

▪ Jamie Santana

▪ Timothy Leonberger

▪ Jayln Ellison

Mr. Smothers moved and Mr. Howton seconded the motion to approve the resignation of Jordan Baxter as Girls Head Soccer Coach. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Lambert moved and Mr. Smothers seconded the motion to approve the resignation of Hannah Bartok as Girls Assistant Soccer Coach. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Howton moved and Mr. Russell seconded the motion to reassign Kristy Trusty to District Technology Coordinator Assistant for the 2025-2026 school year. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Russell moved and Mr. Howton seconded the motion to employ the following EOC Aides. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

▪ Meygan Whatley – West Side

▪ Michele Hastings - BELA

Mr. Smothers moved and Mr. Lambert seconded the motion to re-enter into Executive Session to continue with the discussion from earlier. Upon a call of the President for a vote to be taken, it was determined the results of said motion carried.

Board re-entered into Closed Session at 6:52 p.m.

Mr. Russell moved and Mr. Howton seconded the motion to reconvene in open session at 7:19 p.m. Upon a call of the President for a voice vote to be taken, it was determined the results of said motion carried.

Mr. Lambert moved and Mr. Smothers seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting. Upon a call of the President for a voice vote to be taken, it was determined the result of said motion carried.

The meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m.

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