SE Illinois News

Fairfield Community High School District 225 Board of Education met March 20.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The Board of Education of Fairfield Community High School District #225 met in the study hall for regular session on Thursday, March 20, 2025 at 6:00 P.M. The following members answered to roll call:

Barbre, Eddie Present McGehee, Gayle Present Carter, Jeremy Absent Smothers, Derek Present Carter, Nate Absent Rush, Matt Present King, Kim Absent

Also in attendance were: Robert D. Wells, II, Superintendent, Tiffany Lyons, Principal; Rhonda Buchanan; Jarrod Pruitt, Wayne County Press; Katie White, Jessica Oliver, Melanie Hill, Mariah Vaughan, Mason Hill, Jacob Maguire, RJ Jackson and Nora Oliver.

Motion by Derek Smothers, seconded by Eddie Barbre to approve consent agenda Items A, B, D, E which include the prior month’s board minutes, special meeting board minutes and monthly financial report.

Smothers, Derek Yea; King, Kim Absent; Barbre, Eddie Yea; McGehee, Gayle Yea; Carter, Jeremy Absent; Rush, Matt Nay; Carter, Nate Absent

Motion carried.

Motion by Derek Smothers, seconded by Eddie Barbe to approve the agenda item of approval of the 10-year Life Health Safety Survey as item E under New Business.

Smothers. Derek Yea; King, Kim Absent; Barbre, Eddie Yea; McGehee, Gayle Yea; Carter, Jeremy Absent; Rush, Matt Yea; Carter, Nate Absent

Motion carried.

Kim King arrived at 6:11 P.M.

Motion by Derek Smothers, seconded by Kim King to approve the renewal of the IHSA membership for FY2026.

Smothers, Derek Yea; Carter, Nate Absent; King, Kim Yea; McGehee. Gayle Yea; Barbre, Eddie Yea; Rush, Matt Yea; Carter, Jeremy Absent

Motion carried.

Motion by Gayle McGehee, seconded by Eddie Barbre to approve the renewal of the Catastrophic Insurance with Gallagher Student Health & Special Risk for FY2026 at a cost of $1,390.

McGehee, Gayle Yea; Carter, Nate Absent; Barbre, Eddie Yea; King, Kim Yea; Smothers, Derek Yea; Rush, Matt Yea; Carter, Jeremy Absent

Motion carried.

Motion by Eddie Barbre, seconded by Derek Smothers to approve the purchase of a used minibus from Midwest Transit Equipment for $89,955 beginning July 1, 2025.

Barbre, Eddie Yea; King, Kim Yea; Smothers, Derek Yea; McGehee, Gayle Yea; Carter, Jeremy Absent; Rush, Matt Yea; Carter, Nate Absent

Motion carried.

Motion by Derek Smothers, seconded by Gayle McGehee to approve the purchase of Transfinder Bus Routing Software for $10,495 with $1,000 down payment and balance due beginning July 1, 2025.

Smothers, Derek Yea; Carter, Nate Absent; McGehee, Gayle Yea; King, Kim Yea; Barbre, Eddie Yea; Rush, Matt Yea; Carter, Jeremy Absent

Motion carried.

Motion by Derek Smothers, seconded by Kim King to convene to executive session at 7:06 P.M. for the discussion of information regarding appointment, employment, retirement or dismissal of an employee, collective negotiating matter between the public body and its employees and placement of individual student in special education programs and other matters relating to individual students.

Smothers, Derek Yea; Carter, Nate Absent; King, Kim Yea; McGehee, Gayle Yea; Barbre, Eddie Yea; Rush, Matt Yea; Carter, Jeremy Absent

Motion carried.

Nate Carter arrived at 7:35 P.M. and Derek Smothers left at 8:35 P.M.

Motion by Kim King, seconded by Gayle McGehee to reconvene from executive session at 8:40 P.M.

King, Kim Yea; Carter, Jeremy Absent; McGehee, Gayle Yea; Carter, Nate Yea; Smothers, Derek Absent; Rush, Matt Yea; Barbre, Eddie Yea

Motion carried.

Motion by Kim King, seconded by Nate Carter to re-hire Macie Clark as a long-term substitute.

King, Kim Yea; Barbre, Eddie Yea; Carter, Nate Yea; Carter, Jeremy Absent; McGehee, Gayle Yea; Rush, Matt Yea; Smothers, Derek Absent

Motion carried.

Motion by Nate Carter, seconded by Gayle McGehee to re-hire Tiffany Lyons as Principal granting her a 4% salary increase.

Carter, Nate Yea; Barbre, Eddie Yea; McGehee, Gayle Yea; Carter, Jeremy Absent; King, Kim Yea; Rush, Matt Yea; Smothers, Derek Absent

Motion carried.

Motion Gayle McGehee seconded by Eddie Barbre to accept the revised retirement resignation of Nina Dunn.

McGehee, Gayle Yea; Carter, Nate Yea; Barbre, Eddie Yea; King, Kim Yea; Smothers, Derek Absent; Rush, Matt Yea; Carter, Jeremy Absent

Motion carried.

Motion by Nate Carter, seconded by Kim King to re-hire first year teachers Kristi Anderson, Peyton Bates, Roberta Biggs, Hayden McDuffee, Jay Simpson and Mariah Vaughan.

Carter, Nate Yea; Barbre, Eddie Yea; King, Kim Yea; Carter, Jeremy Absent; McGehee, Gayle Yea; Rush, Matt Yea; Smothers, Derek Absent

Motion carried.

Motion by Gayle McGehee, seconded by Eddie Barbre to re-hire second year teachers Jon Lafikes and Chasity Suddarth.

McGehee, Gayle Yea; Carter, Nate Yea; Barbre, Eddie Yea; King, Kim Yea; Smothers, Derek Absent; Rush, Matt Yea; Carter, Jeremy Absent

Motion carried.

Motion by Nate Carter, seconded by Gayle McGehee to re-hire and grant tenure to Cody Bailey, Shelby Benskin and Meghan Pearce.

Carter, Nate Yea; Barbre, Eddie Yea; McGehee, Gayle Yea; Carter, Jeremy Absent; King, Kim Yea; Rush, Matt Yea; Smothers, Derek Absent

Motion carried.

Agenda Item 10E Consideration and/or Action on Placing an Addendum to the Current Collective Bargaining Agreement died for a lack of a motion.

Motion by Nate Carter, seconded by Gayle McGehee to adjourn the meeting at 8:45 P.M.

Carter, Nate Yea; Barbre, Eddie Yea; McGehee, Gayle Yea; Carter, Jeremy Absent; King, Kim Yea; Rush, Matt Yea; Smothers, Derek Absent

Motion carried.

The undersigned Secretary and President of the Board of Education of Fairfield Community High School District #225 approve and hereby sign the above minutes.