SE Illinois News

Community Unit School District #201 Board of Education met April 22.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Board of Education 

CALL TO ORDER 

On April 22, 2025 at 6:41 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, 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 

Vice-President Hoover led the Assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES 

April 8, 2025 

Motion by Ms. Steketee, second by Mr. Hevia, to approve the minutes of the April 8, 2025, regular meeting of the Board of Education; as presented. 

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

Motion Carried.

April 8, 2025 Closed Minutes 

Motion by Ms. Radogno, second by Mr. Marren, to approve the minutes of the closed session of the April 8, 2025, regular meeting of the Board of Education, as presented. 

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

Motion Carried.

PUBLIC COMMENT 

Staff Recognition

Public comment given Gina Allen. 

The Board recognized retirees and the recipients of the Those Who Excel Awards.

CLOSED SESSION 

The Board did not need to enter closed session at this time.

PROCEDURAL

1. Presentation of Election Results 

Results for the April 1, 2025 Election have been posted in Board Docs, and became official April 22, 2025.

2. Oath of Office for New Board Members

Leah Conover, Jessica Radogno, Kevin Marren, Lauren Zekiri were sworn in by President Hoover.

MOTION TO ADJOURN SIN DINE 

Motion by Mr. Hevia, second by Ms. Radogno, to adourn the meeting sin dine at 7:25 p.m.

CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL 

Roll Call

Dr. Hoover called to order the meeting of at 7:26 p.m. 

Members Present: Adina Hoover, Jessica Radogno, Carlos Hevia, Lauren Zekiri, Kevin Marren, Leah Conover

PROCEDURAL/ACTION ITEMS

1. Election of Officers 

Motion by Mr. Marren, second by Mr. Hevia, to name Leah Conover as Board of Education President for a two-year term. 

Ayes: Marren, Conover, Radogno, Zekiri, Hevia, Hoover Nays: None. 

Motion Carried. 

Motion by Ms. Radogno, second by Mr. Marren, to name Carlos Hevia as Board of Education President for a two-year term. 

Ayes: Conover, Radogno, Zekiri, Hevia, Hoover, Marren Nays: None. 

Motion Carried. 

Motion by Mr. Marren, second by Ms. Conover, to name Jessica Radogno as Board of Education Secretary for a two-year term. 

Ayes: Radogno, Zekiri, Hevia, Hoover, Marren, Conover Nays: None. 

Motion Carried.

2. Appointment of Board Committee 

The Board signed up for committees to serve on for the upcoming school year. The Board members signed up for the following: 

Strategic: Leah Conover and Lauren Zekiri 

Facilities: Leah Conover, Carlos Hevia, Adina Hoover, Jessica Radogno, Lauren Zekiri 

Finance: Leah Conover, Kevin Marren, Jessica Radogno Policy: Kevin Marren 

Public Relations: Leah Conover, Adina Hoover, Jessica Radogno

3. Establishment of Board Meeting Dates, Times, and Places

Motion by Leah Conover, second by Mr. Marren, that the regular meetings of the Community Unit School District 201 Board of Education be held as identified on the Notice Schedule of Regular Meetings of the Board of Education of Community Unit School District 201, as presented. 

Ayes: Zekiri, Hevia, Hoover, Marren, Conove. Radogno Nays: None. 

Motion Carried.

4. Appointment of IASB Representative 

Motion by Leah Conover, second by Carlos Hevia, to approve the appointment of Kevin Marren as Community Unit School District 201’s Illinois Association of School Boards Delegate. 

Ayes: Heiva, Hoover, Marren, Conover, Radogno, Zekiri Nays: None. 

Motion Carried.

CLOSED SESSION 

Motion by Leah Conover, second by Kevin Marren, to enter closed session to discuss personnel issues, student discipline, and superintendent evaluation, and review of closed session minutes. 

Ayes: Hevia, Marren, Zekiri, Conover, Hoover, Radogno Nays: None 

Motion Carried. 

The Board entered closed session at 8:00 p.m. 

The Board returned to open session at 9:20 p.m.

CONSENT AGENDA 

Motion by Ms. Radogno, second by Mr. Hevia, to approve the consent agenda as presented: 

1. Personnel Recommendations: 

● Ronald O’Connor, CSBO 

● Stephanie Just, Assistant Principal, Manning 

● Bradi Campbell, Superintendent Intern 

● Jessica Vizcarra, 4/5th Grade Dual Language Math 

● Megan Velle, Special Education Teacher, Miller 

2. Approval of April 2025 Expenditure Report 

3. Ratification of march 2025 Regular Payroll 

Ayes: Marren, Zekiri, Conover, Hoover, Radogno, Hevia Nays: None. 

Motion carried.

INFORMATION and DISCUSSION

1. WHS Schedule Change for 25-26 School Year

At the April 8, 2025, CUSD 201 Board meeting, Dr. Weck presented changes to the high school schedule to start in the 25-26 school year. To recap the change, the high school would no longer have early dismissal on Wednesday afternoons. The Board will be voting on this later in the meeting.

2. Summer School 2025 

Dr. Carla Braun shared with the Board the offerings the District will have for summer school this year.

3. 2025-2026 Student Fees 

The Board has not increased fees in at least two years. The Board asked about the fees. The Board will be voting on student fees later in the meeting.

4. Board Member Resignation 

Whitney Rogers has submitted her resignation to the Board. The Board will need to appoint someone to finish out her term. The time frame to fill is 60 days. The Board is in a unique position coming off the heels of an election and could suspend policy 2:70 temporarily to appoint the next individual from the ballot. Going in order of from the election of those who received the most votes to ask them to fill the vacancy. If they choose not to accept, the Board will post the opening and hold special meetings.

5. Transportation Fees 

Over the past couple of years transportation fees has been discussed. The Board has decided they will not be imposing any transportation fees for the 25-26 school year.

ACTION ITEMS

1. Board Action on Closed Session Minutes As

Motion by Ms. Radogno, second by Mr. Marren, to approve the Board action on closed session minutes, as presented. 

Ayes: Zekiri, Conover, Hoover, Radogno, Hevia, Marren Nays: None 

Motion Carried.

2. Destruction of Verbatim Closed Session Minutes

Motion by Ms. Zekiri, second by Ms. Hoover, to approve the destruction of the verbatim closed session minutes from March 1, 2023 through August 30, 205. 

Ayes: Conover, Hoover, Radogno, Hevia, Marren. Zekiri Nays: None 

Motion Carried.

3. Approval of WHS Schedule Change for 25-26 School Year

Motion by Mr. Hevia, second by Dr. Hoover, to approve the changes to Westmont High School Schedule, as presented. 

Ayes: Radogno, Hevia, Marren, Zekiri, Conover, Hoover Nays: None 

Motion Carried

4. Approval of Linewize Content Filtering Contract

Motion by Mr. Hevia, second by Mr. Marren, to approve the three year contract with Linewize in the amount of $49,530.00, as presented. 

Ayes: Hevia, Marren, Zekiri, Conover, Hoover Radogno Nays: None.

Motion Carried.

5. Approval of Summer School Plans for Summer 2025

Motion by Ms. Radogno, second by Mr. Marren, to approve the 2025 Summer School plans, as presented. 

Ayes: Zekiri, Conover, Hoover, Radogno, Hevia, Marren Nays: None. 

Motion Carried.

6. Approval of Consolidated Plan for Title Grants

Motion by Dr. Hoover, second by Mr. Hevia, to approve the Consolidated District Plan for Title Grants, as presented. 

Ayes: Conover, Hoover, Radogno, Hevia, Marren, Zekiri Nays: None. 

Motion Carried.

7. Approval of Title I School-Wide Waiver

Motion by Ms. Radogno, second by Mr. Marren, to approve the Title I school-wide waivers for Miller, Manning, and Westmont Junior High School, as presented. 

Ayes: Hoover, Radogno, Hevia, Marren Zekiri, Conover Nays: None. 

Motion Carried.

SUPERINTENDENT REPORT

Communication 

Mr. Baldermann shared how the District is working on ways to decrease the budget..

FOIA Request 

Recent FOIA requests are attached in BoardDocs.

BOARD REPORTS 

The Board would like to remind everyone of the Listening Sessions the District will be hosting on May 19, June 17, and July 15.

CLOSED SESSION 

Not at this time.

PUBLIC COMMENT 

No public comment.

FUTURE MEETING AND EVENTS

Cultural Family Showcase 

April 25, 6:00 p.m. 

WHS

Elementary PTO Meeting 

May 6, 6:30 p.m. 

BPAC Meeting 

May 8, 6:00 p.m. 

MA Spring Formal 

May 9, 4:00 p.m. 

Manning 

CUSD 201 Board Meeting 

May 13, 6:30 p.m. 

Westmont Village Hall

COMMUNICATIONS 

None at this time.

ADJOURNMENT 

Motion by Ms. Radogno, second Ms. Zekiri, to adjourn the April 22, 2025, regular meeting of the Board of Education at 10:09 p.m. 

Motion unanimously passed.

https://go.boarddocs.com/il/cusd201/Board.nsf/files/DGLRCT6D6356/$file/4.22.25%20Regular%20Minutes.pdf