SE Illinois News

Harrisburg Community Unit School District 3 Board of Education met Aug. 19.

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 Tuesday, August 19, 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, Mr. Nathan Howton and Mr. Randy Smithpeters.

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

The following Unit #3 staff members were present: Keri Holland, Kyle Brames, Jennifer Irvin, Janet Hughes, and Marj DeNeal.

The following members of the public were present: Ansley Crank, Sydnie Frailey, and Sophia Lin.

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

Mr. Lambert moved and Mr. Dowdy seconded the motion to enter into Executive Session to discuss A. The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees in an educational setting Act. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1).

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 5:09 p.m.

Mr. Dowdy moved and Mr. Smothers seconded the motion to reconvene in open session at 5:30 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 – Marj DeNeal spoke to the Board regarding her research on the life of U.S. Army Private First Class James Oland Rose, a service member who gave the ultimate sacrifice and is buried in an American Battle Monuments Commission. Her work has been published on National History Day’s Silent Hero page.

Mr. Lambert moved and Mr. Howton seconded the motion to approve the minutes of the July 14, 2025 Regular Board Meeting. On a call of the roll, Mr. Lambert, Mr. Smithpeters, Mr. Henshaw, Mr. Howton, and Mr. Smith voted yea. Mr. Dowdy and Mr. Smothers abstained. Motion carried.

Mr. Dowdy moved and Mr. Smothers seconded the motion to approve the minutes of the July 22, 2025 Special Board Meeting. On a call of the roll, Mr. Smithpeters, Mr. Henshaw, Mr. Smothers, Mr. Howton, Mr. Dowdy, and Mr. Smith voted yea. Mr. Lambert abstained. Motion carried.

Mr. Howton 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. Howton 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

▪ The District has been selected to receive a truancy grant for FY 26. This will pay for a licensed professional with a focus on grades 9-12.

BELA – Principal Alesha Allen

▪ Will be hosting 2 students from SIU Early Childhood Education Program for this school year. West Side Primary – Principal Scott Dewar

East Side Intermediate - Principal Amanda Stone

Harrisburg Middle School - Principal Debbie McGowan

▪ Several new students have been enrolled and it is the highest enrollment at the building in a few years. Harrisburg High School - Principal John Crabb

▪ Enrollment numbers are up a little bit from what was projected.

Special Education – Whitney Tripp

Technology, Media, Grants, Curriculum – Natalie Fry

▪ HHS has 7 students participating in the CEO program this year.

Transportation – Andy Fehrenbacher

▪ All of the white buses and silver van have passed the six month inspection and are ready to go for the beginning of the new school year.

The Tentative Budget will be on display at the District Office from 8-3, 411 W. Poplar St.

Superintendent Dixon introduced the Student Board Members, Ansley Crank, Sydnie Frailey, and Sophia Lin. The students recited the Oath of Office.

Mr. Smothers moved and Mr. Dowdy seconded the motion to approve the six month review of Executive Session Minutes. All will remain closed. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

The FY 26 Budget Hearing will be held at the September 16th, 5 p.m. Board Meeting

Mr. Smithpeters moved and Mr. Smothers seconded the motion to approve the Parent and Family Engagement Plan for the District. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Smithpeters moved and Mr. Dowdy seconded the motion to invest 1 million dollars in Certificates of Deposit at Farmers State Bank for six months with an AYP of 4.15%. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Howton moved and Mr. Henshaw seconded the motion to approve the Executive Session minutes of the July 14, 2025 Regular Board Meeting. On a call of the roll, Mr. Henshaw, Mr. Howton, Mr. Lambert, Mr. Smithpeters, and Mr. Smith voted yea. Mr. Dowdy and Mr. Smothers abstained. Motion carried.

Mr. Dowdy moved and Mr. Smothers seconded the motion to approve the Executive Session minutes of the July 22, 2025 Special Board Meeting. On a call of the roll, Mr. Smothers, Mr. Howton, Mr. Dowdy, Mr. Smithpeters, Mr. Henshaw, and Mr. Smith voted yea. Mr. Lambert abstained. Motion carried.

Mr. Lambert moved and Mr. Smothers seconded the motion to approve the retirement of Patricia Gregg effective the end of the 2027-2028 school year. She is eligible for the 6% retirement incentive. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Henshaw moved and Mr. Dowdy seconded the motion to approve the retirement of Tonja Hester effective the end of the 2027-2028 school year. She is eligible for the 6% retirement incentive. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Smothers moved and Mr. Lambert seconded the motion to approve the retirement of Angie Shires, HHS Nurse, effective immediately. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Dowdy moved and Mr. Howton seconded the motion to approve the retirement of Julie Martin effective the end of the 2027-2028 school year. She is eligible for the 6% retirement 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 accept the resignation of Mary Steinsultz-Jones as HHS Cook. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Howton moved and Mr. Smothers seconded the motion to accept the resignation of Jordan Waddle as an East Side Paraprofessional. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

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

Mr. Lambert moved and Mr. Smothers seconded the motion to accept the resignation of Annie Wilson as BELA Paraprofessional. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Lambert moved and Mr. Smothers seconded the motion to employ Marna Ames as East Side Paraprofessional. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Dowdy moved and Mr. Howton seconded the motion to employ Ryan Wilson as Media Tech Aide at HMS (pending certification). On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Henshaw moved and Mr. Lambert seconded the motion to employ Amy Stacey as Director of Food Service (stipend only). 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 Jailyn Shoulders as school nurse. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Smothers moved and Mr. Lambert seconded the motion to approve Noah Boon as an HHS Volunteer Baseball Coach. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Henshaw moved and Mr. Smothers 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.

The meeting adjourned at 6:15 p.m.

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