SE Illinois News

Fairfield Public School District 112 Board of Education met May 12.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Special Board of Education Meeting

Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Board of Education of Fairfield Public School District No. 112, Wayne County, Illinois, held in the District Board Room, 200 West Center, Fairfield, Illinois, on Monday, May 12, 2025.

AGENDA #1 – Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 6:00 P.M. by President Amy Sager, who directed the Secretary to call the roll.

AGENDA #2 – Roll Call

The Secretary called the roll and the following members answered to their names as called and were found to be present:

Jessica Oliver, Jason McCulley, Amy Sager, Brandon Berghaus, Jamie Jones, Caleb Higginbotham

Members absent: Erica Burris

There being a quorum present, the President declared the Board of Education to be in session for the transaction of business.

OTHERS PRESENT: April Smith, North Side School Principal; Rhonda Clark, Center Street School Principal; Karen Baker, Citizen; Rachel Ewing, Citizen

AGENDA #3 – Citizen’s Non-Agenda Items

AGENDA #4 – Approval of Minutes

4.1 A motion was made by member Jason McCulley that the Board of Education minutes for the Regular and Closed Session Meeting held Tuesday, April 22, 2025 be approved as prepared and made available to all Board of Education members. The motion was seconded by member Caleb Higginbotham, and on a roll call vote the following members voted yea:

Jessica Oliver, Jason McCulley, Amy Sager, Brandon Berghaus, Jamie Jones, Caleb Higginbotham

Members absent: Erica Burris

The President declared the motion passed.

4.2 A motion was made by member Jason McCulley that the Special Board of Education minutes for the Regular and Closed Session Meeting held Friday, May 9, 2025 be approved as prepared and made available to all Board of Education members. The motion was seconded by member Brandon Berghaus, and on a roll call vote the following members voted yea:

Jessica Oliver, Jason McCulley, Amy Sager, Brandon Berghaus, Jamie Jones, Caleb Higginbotha

Members absent: Erica Burris

The President declared the motion passed.

AGENDA #5 – Seat New Board Members

5.1 A motion was made by member Jason McCulley to proclaim the results of the April 1, 2025 election and to elect the following members of the Board of Education: Karen Baker, Trinity Fry and Rachel Ewing. The motion was seconded by member Jessica Oliver, and on a roll call vote the following members voted yea:

Jessica Oliver, Jason McCulley, Amy Sager, Brandon Berghaus, Jamie Jones, Caleb Higginbotham

Members absent: Erica Burris

The President declared the motion passed.

5.2 Seat New Board Members

5.3 Lead All Elected Board Members in the Oath of Office.

AGENDA #6 – Adjourn Sine Die (Indefinitely) – A motion was made by member Jason McCulley to adjourn sine die since there was no further business to conduct before this board. The motion was seconded by member Jessica Oliver, and on a roll call vote the following members voted yea:

Jessica Oliver, Jason McCulley, Amy Sager, Brandon Berghaus, Jamie Jones, Caleb Higginbotham

Members absent: Erica Burris

The President declared the motion passed.

*Trinity Fry joined meeting by ZOOM at 6:07 pm

AGENDA #7 – Selection of Officers Pro Tem

7.1 A motion was made by member Jamie Jones to elect Amy Sager as President Pro Tem. The motion was seconded by member Jessica Oliver. There were no other nominations for President Pro Tem.

7.2 A motion was made by member Jamie Jones to elect Jessica Oliver as Secretary Pro Tem. The motion was seconded by member Caleb Higginbotham. There were no other nominations for Secretary Pro Tem.

AGENDA #8 – Call Meeting to Order by President Pro Tem – The meeting was called to order at 6:14 P.M. by President Pro Tem, who directed the Secretary Pro Tem to call the roll.

AGENDA #9 – The Secretary Pro Tem call the roll and the following members answered to their names as called and were found to be present:

Amy Sager, Jamie Jones, Karen Baker, Trinity Fry*, Rachel Ewing, Caleb Higginbotham, Jessica Oliver

Members absent: None

There being a quorum present, the President declared the Board of Education to be in session for the transaction of business.

AGENDA #10 – Resolution Regarding Terms of Offices – A motion was made by member Caleb Higginbotham to approve the terms of office as a two-year period through the next school board member election for the President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The motion was seconded by member Jamie Jones, and on a roll call vote the following members voted yea:

Amy Sager, Jamie Jones, Karen Baker, Trinity Fry*, Rachel Ewing, Caleb Higginbotham, Jessica Oliver

Members absent: None

The President Pro-tem declared the motion passed.

AGENDA #11 – Election of Officers

11.1 A motion was made by member Jamie Jones to nominate member Amy Sager as President of the Board. The motion was seconded by member Jessica Oliver. There were no other nominations for President.

11.2 A motion was made by member Jessica Oliver to nominate Jamie Jones as Vice-President of the Board. The motion was seconded by member Amy Sager. There were no other nominations for Vice-President.

11.3 A motion was made by member Jamie Jones to nominate Jessica Oliver as Secretary of the Board. The motion was seconded by member Caleb Higginbotham. There were no other nominations for Secretary.

11.4 A motion was made by member Amy Sager to appoint Heather Phillips as Treasurer of the Board. The motion was seconded by member Jamie Jones.

AGENDA #12 – Set Remaining Dates/Locations for Regular Board Meetings – A motion was made by member Caleb Higginbotham to set the remaining FY25 and the FY26 Board Meeting Dates as presented. The motion was seconded by member Jamie Jones, and on a roll call vote the following members voted yea:

Amy Sager, Jamie Jones, Karen Baker, Trinity Fry*, Rachel Ewing, Caleb Higginbotham, Jessica Oliver

Members absent: None

The President declared the motion passed.

AGENDA #13 – Closed Session to Discuss Information Regarding Appointment, Employment, Retirement or Dismissal of an Employee, Labor Relations, Collective Negotiations, Litigation, Public Office Vacancy and Student Discipline (5ILCS 120/2a)

13.1 A motion was made by member Amy Sager that the Board enter Closed Session at 6:19 P.M. The motion was seconded by member Jessica Oliver, and on a roll call vote the following members voted yea:

Amy Sager, Jamie Jones, Karen Baker, Trinity Fry*, Rachel Ewing, Caleb Higginbotham, Jessica Oliver

Members absent: None

The President declared the motion passed.

*Trinity Fry left ZOOM meeting at 6:21 PM.

13.2 A motion was made by member Caleb Higginbotham that the Board end the Closed Session at 6:39 P.M. The motion was seconded by member Jamie Jones, and on a roll call vote the following members voted yea:

Amy Sager, Jamie Jones, Karen Baker, Rachel Ewing, Caleb Higginbotham, Jessica Oliver

Members absent: Trinity Fry

The President declared the motion passed.

AGENDA #14 – Action Items

14.1 A motion was made by member Caleb Higginbotham to accept the resignation of Eric Stewart as Assistant Baseball Coach. The motion was seconded by member Jamie Jones, and on a roll call vote the following members yea:

Amy Sager, Jamie Jones, Karen Baker, Rachel Ewing, Caleb Higginbotham, Jessica Oliver

Members absent: Trinity Fry

The President declared the motion passed.

AGENDA #15 – Informational Items

AGENDA #16 – Adjournment – A motion was made by member Rachel Ewing that the meeting adjourn at 6:42 P.M. The motion was seconded by member Caleb Higginbotham, and on a roll call vote the following members voted yea:

Amy Sager, Jamie Jones, Karen Baker, Rachel Ewing, Caleb Higginbotham, Jessica Oliver

Members absent: Trinity Fry

The President declared the motion passed.

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