SE Illinois News

Harrisburg Community Unit School District 3 Board of Education met April 24.

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 Thursday, April 24, 2025, as announced by posted public notice and by mail. The following members of the Board were present: Mr. Billy Smith, Mr. Kevin Dowdy, Mr. Ryan Lambert, Mr. Brandon Henshaw, Mr. Steve Smothers, and Mr. Randy Smithpeters. Mr. Nathan Howton was absent.

The following administrators were present: Dr. Amy Dixon, Scott Dewar, Natalie Fry, Brady Mayer, Debbie McGowan, John Crabb, Alesha Allen, Lana Bell, Amanda Stone, Elizabeth Dawe, Jason Varner, and Andy Fehrenbacher.

The following Unit #3 staff members were present: Keri Holland, Russell Hunt, Kyle Brames, Jennifer Irvin, Kyle McGowan, Greg Davis, and Karen West.

The following members of the public were present: Ashton Hawk Stanley, Karsyn Davis, East Side Students.

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

Mrs. West and East Side Student Council student leaders demonstrated for the Board their morning announcements presentation.

Mr. Dowdy 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).

B. Collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees.

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 5:14 p.m.

Mr. Smothers moved and Mr. Lambert seconded the motion to reconvene in open session at 6:06 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 – none.

Mr. Dowdy moved and Mr. Henshaw seconded the motion to approve the minutes of the March 18, 2025 Regular Board Meeting. On a call of the roll, Mr. Dowdy, Mr. Lambert, Mr. Smithpeters, Mr. Henshaw, and Mr. Smith voted yea. Mr. Smothers abstained. Motion carried.

Mr. Smothers moved and Mr. Lambert 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. Dowdy 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. Smothers moved and Mr. Dowdy 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

▪ Harrisburg Unit 3 hosted the county CEO recognition breakfast. It was an honor to celebrate their successes.

BELA – Principal Alesha Allen

West Side Primary – Principal Scott Dewar

▪ Thanked all the people who took time to read to the students at the Celebrity Reader event. East Side Intermediate - Principal Amanda Stone

Harrisburg Middle School - Principal Debbie McGowan

Harrisburg High School - Principal John Crabb

Special Education – Brady Mayer

▪ Meetings have started with the buildings to evaluate Special Education numbers for the next school year, teaching assignments, and caseloads.

Technology, Media, Grants, Curriculum – Natalie Fry

▪ Continuing to renew curriculum for next school year, spend grant funds and complete end of year grant reporting.

Transportation – Andy Fehrenbacher

There was no Unfinished Business.

Mr. Dowdy moved and Mr. Smothers seconded the motion to approve the FY 26 Budget preparation. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Dowdy moved and Mr. Smothers seconded the motion to approve the Temporary Spending July 1 until the FY 26 budget is approved. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Henshaw moved and Mr. Smothers seconded the motion to approve the HEA Contract July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2027. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Lambert moved and Mr. Dowdy seconded the motion to accept the low bid from HE Mitchell for the CTE Building Phase II – Interior Build-Out. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Dowdy moved and Mr. Smothers seconded the motion to obtain bids to repair and/or replace the HMS Rubber Roof. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Dowdy moved and Mr. Lambert seconded the motion to name the HMS weight room building after Kyle McGowan. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Henshaw moved and Mr. Dowdy seconded the motion to name the Davenport Gym floor at HHS after Randy Smithpeters. On a call of the roll, Mr. Dowdy, Mr. Lambert, Mr. Henshaw, Mr. Smothers, and Mr. Smith voted yea. Mr. Smithpeters abstained. Motion carried.

Mr. Lambert moved and Mr. Henshaw seconded the motion to allow our currently employed aides to continue being paid (as an aide) during their student teaching for FY 26, if they agree to continue to contribute to their aide duties. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Discontinuing the district’s hospital indemnity plan was TABLED for further discussion.

Mr. Lambert moved and Mr. Henshaw seconded the motion to approve the Executive Session minutes of the March 18, 2025 Regular Board Meeting. On a call of the roll, Mr. Henshaw, Mr. Dowdy, Mr. Lambert, and Mr. Smith voted yea. Mr. Smithpeters and Mr. Smothers abstained. Motion carried.

Mr. Lambert moved and Mr. Smothers seconded the motion to approve the retirement of Vickie Smith, Paraprofessional at West Side, effective end of the 27-28 school year. She will be eligible for the 6% incentive. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Dowdy moved and Mr. Smothers seconded the motion to approve the retirement of Scott Isaacs effective October 1, 2026. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Henshaw moved and Mr. Lambert seconded the motion to approve the retirement of Marsha Byas, effective end of the 27-28 school year. She will be eligible for the 6% incentive. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Smothers moved and Mr. Henshaw seconded the motion to accept the resignations of Taryn Dewar, HS Science Teacher, effective end of the 24-25 school year. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Lambert moved and Mr. Dowdy seconded the motion to accept the resignation of Stephanie Widener as EOC Aide. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Lambert moved and Mr. Dowdy seconded the motion to accept the resignation of Emily Evans Wells as HMS Nurse. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Smothers moved and Mr. Dowdy seconded the motion to approve the Maternity Leave request of Jordan Case beginning May 15, 2025 through the end of the 24-25 school year. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Dowdy moved and Mr. Lambert seconded the motion to approve the Maternity Leave request of Emma McGowan beginning August 25, 2025 for 12 weeks, then an extended unpaid leave until March 2, 2026. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Dowdy moved and Mr. Smothers seconded the motion to reassign Laura Bradley to Grade 2 General Education Teacher. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Lambert moved and Mr. Smithpeters seconded the motion to employ Will Gibbs as Grade K/1/2 Special Education Teacher at West Side. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Smothers moved and Mr. Henshaw seconded the motion to employ Emma Pappenfuss as HS Social Science Teacher. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Dowdy moved and Mr. Smothers seconded the motion to employ Lindsey Atkins as HS Social Science Teacher, pending licensure. On a call of the roll, Mr. Dowdy, Mr. Lambert, Mr. Smithpeters, Mr. Smothers, and Mr. Smith voted yea. Mr. Henshaw abstained. Motion carried.

Mr. Dowdy moved and Mr. Henshaw seconded the motion to employ Melissa Sullivan as full day P.E. Aide at East Side. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Smothers moved and Mr. Henshaw seconded the motion to employ David Kotter and Jasmine Boswell as EOC Aides at West Side. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Dowdy moved and Mr. Lambert seconded the motion to employ Whitney Tripp as Special Education Coordinator. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Lambert moved and Mr. Dowdy 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.

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