South West Illinois News

Aledo Community Unit School District 201 Board met Feb. 13.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

CALL TO ORDER

On February 13, 2024 at 6:14 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, Whitney Rogers, Jessica Radogno, Carlos Hevia, Angela Steketee, Kevin Marren, and Leah Conover

Members absent: None

Also present: Superintendent Jack Baldermann, Business Manager, Anthony Ruelli, the Superintendent’s Administrative Assistant, Shannon Cossairt.

Pledge of Allegiance

Adina Hoover led the Assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.

CLOSED SESSION

Motion by Ms. Conover, second by Ms. Radogno, to enter closed session to discuss personnel issues, student discipline, and collective bargaining.

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

Motion Carries.

The Board entered closed session at 6:15 p.m.

The Board returned to open session at 7:14 p.m.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

February 13, 2024

Motion by Mr. Hevia second by Mr. Marren, to approve the minutes of the January 23, 2024, regular meeting of the Board of Education, as presented.

Ayes: Radogno, Marren, Steketee, Conover, Radogno, Hevia, Hoover, Rogers

Nays: None.

Motion Carried.

February 13, 2024 - Closed

Motion by Ms. Coover, second by Ms. Steketee, to approve the minutes of the closed session of the January 23, 2024, regular meeting of the Board of Education, as presented.

Ayes: Radogno, Marren, Steketee, Conover, Hevia, Hoover, Rogers

Nays: None

Motion Carried.

PUBLIC COMMENT

No public comment at this time.

CONSENT AGENDA

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

1. Personnel Recommendations:

a. Peggy Barrett - Senior High Frosh/Soph Softball Coach

b. Josh Ott - Senior High Varsity Softball Coach

c. Resignations

d. Retirees

2. Student Tour Requests - WHS and WJHS

Ayes: Marren, Steketee, Conover, Radogno, Hevia, Hoover, Rogers

Nays: None.

Motion carried.

INFORMATION and DISCUSSION

Facility Planning Consulting Presentations

This item will be discussed later in the meeting.

Policy Committee Report

The Policy Committee met on January 29, 2024 to review the updates in policy issued by Press. Press is a subscription service through the IASB that provides school district an online resource for sample policies which include the legal rationale and legal references supporting the policy. Policies are aligned with Illinois School Code. The policies are being presented tonight for a first review and will be presented again at the February 27, 2024 meeting for a second review and approval.

Equity Work - Presentation Author Brian Butler Visit on February 21, 2024

Superintendent Baldermann is pleased to announce that Mr. Brian Butler, author of the book Every Student Deserves a Gifted Education, will present to all the buildings on February 21, 2024, and then again to the staff in the afternoon. Parents should have received an email to sign up to attend one of the presentations.

Monthly Financials - January

Anthony Ruelli, Business Manager, gave the Board an update on the financials for January 2024. His presentation included a review of revenue and expenditures. All documents are available for review in BoardDocs.

ACTION ITEMS

Approval of WESPA Contract Motion by Mr. Hevia, second by Ms. Conover, to approve the agreement between the Westmont Education Support Personnel

Association and the Board of Education of Community Unit School District 201 for the period beginning July 1, 2024 and ending June 30, 2028, as presented.

Ayes: Conover, Radogno, Marren, Hevia Hover, Rogers, Steketee

Nays: None.

Motion Carried.

SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT

Communication Superintendent Baldermann would like to share that the WESPA contract was done in a timely fashion and they did not need to use any attorneys. It speaks highly of the union, administration and all those involved. He would also like to recognize all our teachers working tirelessly to make better than the anticipated progress.

A big shout out to our sports teams for their success: cheerleading at the junior high, wrestling at the high school and junior high, the chess team, and girls' basketball.

Superintendent Baldermann read a letter from Ms. Quattrone to the Board regarding the Illinois Reads event.

FOIA Request FOIA Requests are attached in BoardDocs.

INFORMATION and DISCUSSION

The Board returned to the discussion item on the agenda: Facility Planning Consultant Presentations.

Facility Planning Consultant Presentations

The Board had requested information on consulting firms that would work with the District and Community to best put together a plan on what everyone would like to see moving forward. The consulting firms would be putting together the various forms of communication and scheduling meetings to best see how the Board should move forward should they decide to go with a referendum.

Mr. Ruelli met with seven different consulting groups and has brought two to the Board tonight to present. At the February 27, 2024 meeting the Board will vote on a consulting firm.

The following gave a brief presentation for their company:

● Collin Corbett, EO Sullivan

● Jennifer Volk, Creative Entourage

BOARD REPORTS The Board returned to the Board Reports on the agenda. Angela Steketee gave a shoutout about the Realtor Fair. It was ahuge success.

Carlos Hevia would like to give a shoutout to BPAC.

PUBLIC COMMENT No public comment at this time.

FUTURE MEETINGS AND EVENTSIncoming 9th Grade Student Night

February 15, 6:30 pm

Westmont High School

PTO Dance - Manning/ Miller

February 16, 6:00 pm

Westmont High School

No School - Presidents' Day

February 19

Westmont High School Musical - Freaky Friday

February 23 and 24, 7:00 pm

Westmont High School

PR Committee Meeting

February 26, 6:00 pm

South School

CUSD 201 Board Meeting

February 27, 6:00 pm

South School

STEM Night

February 28, 6:00 pm

Westmont High School

CLOSED SESSION Not needed at this time.

COMMUNICATIONS None at this time.

ADJOURNMENT Motion by Ms. Radogno, second by Ms. Conover, to adjourn the February 13, 2024, regular meeting of the Board of Education at 8:47 p.m.

Motion unanimously passed.

https://go.boarddocs.com/il/cusd201/Board.nsf/files/D2QLTT5825B0/$file/2.13.24%20Regular%20Minutes.pdf