SE Illinois News

Community Unit School District #201 Board of Education met Jan. 28.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

CALL TO ORDER

On January 28, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. President Hoover called to order the regular meeting of the Community Unit School District 201 Board of Education.

Roll Call

Members Present: Adina Hoover, Whitney Rogers, Jessica Radogno, Carlos Hevia, Angela Steketee, Kevin Marren, Leah Conover

Members Absent: None

Also present: Superintendent Jack Baldermann , and the Superintendent’s Administrative Assistant, Shannon Cossairt.

Pledge of Allegiance

President Hoover led the Assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.

CLOSED SESSION

Motion by Mr. Hevia, second by Ms. Rogers, to enter closed session to discuss Personnel Issues, Student Discipline, Sale or Lease of Real Property and Potential Litigation

Ayes: Radogno, Rogers, Hevia, Marren, Steketee, Conover, Hoover Nays: None.

Motion Carried

The Board entered closed session at 6:31 p.m.

The Board returned to open session at 7:18 p.m.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

January 14, 2025

Motion by Mr. Hevia, second by Mr. Marren, to approve the minutes of the January 14, 2025, regular meeting of the Board of Education, as presented.

Ayes: Radogno, Rogers, Hevia, Marren, Steketee, Conover, Hoover Nays: None.

Motion Carried.

January 14, 2025 - Closed

Motion by Ms. Rogers, second by Mr. Marren, to approve the minutes of the closed session of the January 14, 2025, regular meeting of the Board of Education, as presented.

Ayes: Radogno, Rogers, Hevia, Marren, Steketee, Conover, Hoover

Nays: None

Motion Carried.

PUBLIC COMMENT

No Public Comment.

CONSENT AGENDA

Motion by Ms. Conover, second by Mr. Marren, to approve the consent agenda as presented:

1. Personnel Recommendations:

● Rebecca Welgarz - Long Term Sub

● Resignations

2. Approval of January 2025 Expenditure Report

3. Ratification of December 2024 Regular Payroll

4. Approval of Donation from Rotary Club for Westmont High School

Ayes: Rogers, Hevia, Marren, Steketee, Conover, Hoover, Radogno Nays: None.

Motion carried.

INFORMATION and DISCUSSION

Hackbrush Trust Recipients Presentation

In December 20109 Westmont High School was the recipient of a very generous donation from Charles and Jerrilyn Hackbrush through the Hackbrush Family Trust. A committee has been formed and is led by WHS teachers, Jamie Mahmoud and Lorrie Erazmus. This past year the committee has been accepting and reviewing applications from WHS staff to utilize funds from the Hackbrush account. This past fall the applications from Sue Ellen Jacobs, Alison Biedermann, and Leann Philgren were accepted. The recipients attended the meeting to explain to the Board how they will be utilizing the funds. Ms. Jacobs was unable to attend due to illness, but Ms. Mahmoud explained that Ms. Jacobs will be purchasing a large format printer. Ms. Biedermann shared with the Board the Fine Arts Department at WHS will be purchasing a piano. Ms. Philgren’s application was to put together a sensory room at the high school. The Hackbrush Committee and this years recipients are so grateful for this generous donation to afford the high school these opportunities.

Elementary Location Update

The CUSD 201 Board discussed the Location Committee’s recommendation. Joe Papanicholas, with Nicholas Construction and Rob Wroble from Legat Architects were on hand to answer questions from the Board. The Board unanimously agreed with the Location Committee’s recommendation and have the intention of pursuing the Blackhawk location. The Board discussed with Mr. Wroble and Mr. Papanicholas the timelines of bidding, construction projects and when we can start pursuing renderings. There is a cost to the renderings so the Board would like to have more information on options. Mr. Wroble discussed different groups the District can start assembling as we start to work through the process.

Presentation of Monthly Financial Statements - December 2024

This discussion has been tabled at this time.

Policy First Reading

Prior to the Board meeting tonight the Policy Committee met to discuss policy updates from the Districts subscription to Press. The policy updates are attached in BoardDocs and are being presented tonight for a first reading. The Committee discusses all the listed policies along with making a change to policy 5:185 to be updated to reflect all three collective bargaining agreements. Policy changes are included in BoardDocs.

ACTION ITEMS

Approval of Contract with Transformational Business Services, LLC, for Interim CSBO

Motion by Ms. Steketee, second by Ms. Conover, to approve the contract with Transformational Business SErvices, LLC, to act as an interim CSBO for 2024-2025 fiscal year, as presented.

Ayes: Rogers, Hevia, Marren, Steketee, Conover, Hoover, Radogno Nays: None

Motion Carried.

SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT

Communication

Superintendent Baldermann would like to thank Lindsay Pietrzak and Jayda James for their years of service with the District.

FOIA Request

None.

BOARD REPORTS

Leach Conover wants to remind the Board that the Cub Scout troop will be coming in before the February 11, 2025 meeting to meet the Board. Ms. Steketee announced that the Boosters will be hosting their big event on February 7, 2025. This is one of the biggest fundraisers for the Boosters.

PUBLIC COMMENT

None at this time.

FUTURE MEETING AND EVENTS

Future Sentinels Night - Varsity Boys/Girls Basketball Game February 6, 6:00 pm

Westmont High School

Boys Basketball and WHS Athletic Hall of Fame Induction February 7, 4:30 pm

Westmont High School

CUSD 201 Regular Meeting of the Board of Education February 11, 6:30 pm

Village Hall

CLOSED SESSION

Not needed at this time.

COMMUNICATIONS

None at this time.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Ms. Conover, second by Ms. Steketee, to adjourn the January 28, 2025, regular meeting of the Board of Education at 8:29 p.m.

Motion unanimously passed.

https://go.boarddocs.com/il/cusd201/Board.nsf/files/DDKTGC77271C/$file/1.28.25%20Regular%20Minutese.pdf