SE Illinois News

Fairfield Public School District 112 Board of Education met July. 21.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Minutes of the Regular 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, July 21, 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, Amy Sager, Jamie Jones, Trinity Fry, Karen Baker, Rachel Ewing

Members absent: Caleb Higginbotham

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

OTHERS PRESENT: Rhonda Clark, Center Street Principal; April Smith, North Side Principal; MaryBeth Eckleberry, Assistant Principal/Special Education Coordinator

AGENDA #3 – Citizens Non-Agenda Items

AGENDA #4 – Approval of Minutes

4.1 A motion was made by member Jamie Jones that the Regular and Closed Session minutes from the Regular Meeting of the Board of Education held on Monday, June 18, 2025 be approved as prepared and made available to all Board of Education members. The motion was seconded by member Jessica Oliver, and on a roll call vote the following members voted yea:

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

Members absent: Caleb Higginbotham

The President declared the motion passed.

AGENDA #5 – Financial Reports

5.1 Treasurer’s Report – The Treasurer’s Report, dated June 30, 2025 was presented as follows:

Education Fund $1,972,790.32

Building Fund $915,177.09

Debt Services Fund $135,714.57

Transportation Fund $197,055.83

IMRF Fund $504,858.57

Capital Projects $0.00

Working Cash Fund $1,378,709.10

Tort Fund $396,416.22

Fire Prevention/Safety Fund $299,070.33

Total $5,799,792.03

There being no additions or corrections, the President declared the Treasurer’s Report will stand approved as presented.

5.2 Payroll – Member Rachel Ewing made a motion that the salaries for the District for the month of July be approved and ordered paid. The motion was seconded by member Jamie Jones, and on a roll call vote the following members voted yea:

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

Members absent: Caleb Higginbotham

The President declared the motion passed.

5.3 Monthly Bills – Current bills, as listed, were presented for payment. After examination of the listed bills, Jessica Oliver made a motion to approve the bills for payment. The motion was seconded by member Jamie Jones, and on a roll call vote the following members voted yea:

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

Members absent: Caleb Higginbotham

The President declared the motion passed.

AGENDA #6 – Superintendent’s Report

6.1 Revenue to Expense Report

6.2 Food Service Report

6.3 Transportation Report

6.4 FY26 Fuel Bids

6.5 School District Depositories

6.6 Removal of Authorized Signor

6.7 Alternative School Slot Fee

6.8 School Treasurer Bond

6.9 Designation of Individual(s) to develop the tentative budget for FY26

6.10 Threat Assessment Plan

6.11 Review Employee, Coaching, and Transportation Handbooks & Student Handbook Amendments

6.12 First Reading of PRESS Policy 119

6.13 Building Report

6.14 5th & 6th Grade Basketball

AGENDA #7 – Action Items

7.1 A motion was made by member Trinity Fry to accept the fuel bid from Wabash Valley FS for $2.89 Octane (Firm) and $3.428 for Diesel (Firm) for the FY26 school year. The motion was seconded by member Amy Sager, and on a roll call vote the following members voted yea:

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

Members absent: Caleb Higginbotham

The President declared the motion passed.

7.2 A motion was made by member Rachel Ewing to approve FNB and Peoples National Bank as the District Depositories for the FY26 school year. The motion was seconded by member Karen Baker, and on a roll call vote the following members voted yea:

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

Members absent: Caleb Higginbotham

The President declared the motion passed.

7.3 A motion was made by member Amy Sager to remove Joshua Kissen as an Authorized Signor at FNB as presented. The motion was seconded by member Jessica Oliver, and on a roll call vote the following members voted yea:

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

Members absent: Caleb Higginbotham

The President declared the motion passed.

7.4 A motion was made by member Trinity Fry that the Board approve the Alternative School Slot Fee for the FY26 school year in the amount of $7,277.00. The motion was seconded by member Jamie Jones, and on a roll call vote the following members voted yea:

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

Members absent: Caleb Higginbotham

The President declared the motion passed.

7.5 A motion was made by member Rachel Ewing to approve the School Treasurer Bond for the period of July 1, 2025 – July 1, 2026 as presented. The motion was seconded by member Jamie Jones, and on a roll call vote the following members voted yea:

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

Members absent: Caleb Higginbotham

The President declared the motion passed.

7.6 A motion was made by member Jamie Jones to designate Kristina Gardner and Heather Phillips to develop the tentative budget for the 2025 – 2026 fiscal year. The motion was seconded by member Karen Baker, and on a roll call vote the following members voted yea:

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

Members absent: Caleb Higginbotham

The President declared the motion passed.

7.7 A motion was made by member Amy Sager to approve the Threat Assessment Plan as presented. The motion was seconded by member Jamie Jones, and on a roll call vote the following members voted yea:

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

Members absent: Caleb Higginbotham

The President declared the motion passed.

7.8.1 A motion was made by member Jamie Jones to approve the Employee, Coaches, and Transportation Handbooks as presented. The motion was seconded by member Trinity Fry, and on a roll call vote the following members voted yea:

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

Members absent: Caleb Higginbotham

The President declared the motion passed.

7.8.2 A motion was made by member Jamie Jones to amend the Student Handbook as presented. The motion was seconded by member Trinity Fry, and on a roll call vote the following members voted yea:

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

Members absent: Caleb Higginbotham

The President declared the motion passed.

AGENDA #8 – Principals’ Reports

8.1 Center Street

• We have 44 students who still need to register. We have 11 new students. If all of these students’ register, we will have 308, which is 3 less than our enrollment last year.

• We are having our new parapro/teacher orientation this Friday.

• I will go to Frontier this Thursday for a joint PaCE program meeting with everyone in the area. PaCE is Postsecondary and Career Exploration for grades 6 - 12. This is a new state requirement.

• Band camp is going on this week and next week.

• Baseball and softball tryouts will be held on Aug. 1st.

• We are having our book fair the first week of school, Aug. 11th – 15th. Parents/grandparents will be able to attend during sneak peek on the 12th from 4:00 – 6:00.

• Our fall sport parent meeting will follow sneak peek on the 12th at 6:00.

• Beta Club is sponsoring a back to school swim on Thursday, Aug. 14th from 5:00 -8:00. 5:00 - 6:15 will be 4th - 5th grades, 6:30 - 8:00 is 6th - 8th grades. We are also going to have a pork burger sale to raise funds for Dalton Workman that evening.

8.2 North Side

• Upcoming Dates:

o IPA Leadership Conference 22nd - 23rd in Bloomington, Illinois

o New Hire Orientation, Friday, July 25th

o Safety Care Re-certifications Tuesday, July 29th

o Admin. Academy, Friday, August 1st

o Sneak Peek- 4:00 – 6:00 Tuesday, August 12th

• Preschool Volunteer Program

• 2024-25 End-of-year Renaissance Data

• IAR Data- Still pending

AGENDA #9 – Board Members Request/Report

AGENDA #10 – 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)

10.1 A motion was made by member Jamie Jones that the Board enter Closed Session at the hour of 7:41 P.M. The motion was seconded by Karen Baker, and on a roll call vote the following members voted yea:

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

Members absent: Caleb Higginbotham

The President declared the motion passed.

10.2 A motion was made by member Jamie Jones that the Board end the Closed Session at the hour of 8:05 P.M. The motion was seconded by member Trinity Fry, and on a roll call vote the following members voted yea:

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

Members absent: Caleb Higginbotham

The President declared the motion passed.

AGENDA #11 – Action Items

11.1 A motion was made by member Trinity Fry to accept the resignation Nichole Brach as paraprofessional. The motion was seconded by member Rachel Ewing, and on a roll call vote the following members voted yea:

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

Members absent: Caleb Higginbotham

The President declared the motion passed.

11.2 A motion was made by member Jamie Jones to accept the resignation of Robert Morse II as bus driver. The motion was seconded by member Trinity Fry, and on a roll call vote the following members voted yea:

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

Members absent: Caleb Higginbotham

The President declared the motion passed.

11.3.1 A motion was made by member Jamie Jones to hire Taryn Litaker as paraprofessional. The motion was seconded by member Rachel Ewing, and on a roll call vote the following members voted yea:

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

Members absent: Caleb Higginbotham

The President declared the motion passed.

11.3.2 A motion was made by member Rachel Ewing to hire Sarah Scott as paraprofessional. The motion was seconded by member Karen Baker, and on a roll call vote the following members voted yea:

Trinity Fry, Karen Baker, Rachel Ewing

The following members voted no:

Jamie Jones, Amy Sager, Jessica Oliver

Members absent: Caleb Higginbotham

The President declared the motion failed.

11.3.3 A motion was made by member Rachel Ewing to hire Deanna Downen as paraprofessional pending background screening results. The motion was seconded by member Jamie Jones, and on a roll call vote the following members voted yea:

Jessica Oliver, Jamie Jones, Trinity Fry, Karen Baker, Rachel Ewing

Members abstaining: Amy Sager

Members absent: Caleb Higginbotham

The President declared the motion passed.

11.4 A motion was made by member Trinity Fry to hire Tony Oliver as 8th Grade Boys’ Basketball Coach pending background screening results. The motion was seconded by member Jamie Jones, and on a roll call vote the following members voted yea:

Amy Sager, Jamie Jones, Trinity Fry, Karen Baker, Rachel Ewing

Member abstaining: Jessica Oliver

Members absent: Caleb Higginbotham

The President declared the motion passed.

AGENDA #12 – Informational Items

AGENDA #13 – Adjournment – A motion was made by member Jamie Jones that the meeting adjourn at 8:09 P.M. The motion was seconded by member Jessica Oliver, and on a roll call vote the following members voted yea:

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

Members absent: Caleb Higginbotham

The President declared the motion passed.

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