South West Illinois News

Chester Community Unit School District 139 Board of Education met March 19.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The Board of Education of Chester Community Unit School District No. 139 held a Regular Meeting on March 19, 2025, in the High School Media Center. President Debi Caraway called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.

Davitz motioned, Krieg seconded to enter into the executive meeting at 5:30 p.m for the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Davitz, Malley, Fricke, Wolff, Krieg, Coffey Nays: none. Motion carried.

Superintendent Kimberly Briggs did not enter executive session until 7:03 p.m.

Davitz motioned, Malley seconded to recess executive session at 7:29 p.m. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.

Malley motioned, Davitz seconded to enter into regular session at 7:33 p.m. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Davitz, Malley, Fricke, Wolff, Krieg, Coffey Nays: none. Motion carried.

Public Comment

● Stephanie Sabo - She expressed concerns about the possible loss of funding with the U.S. Department of Education Closing

Presentation by Josh Meyer from Solar Connect

Fricke motioned, Coffey seconded to approve the consent agenda and items as listed. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Coffey, Fricke, Malley, Davitz, Krieg, Wolff, Nays: none. Motion carried.

● Agenda and items as listed:

● February 20, 2025 Regular and Executive meeting minutes

● Bills in the amount of $387,263.63 and payroll in the amount of $628,757.66

● Financial reports

Wolff motioned, Coffey seconded to approve the equipment proposal with Roy Walker Communications in the amount of $13,956.00. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Davitz, Malley, Fricke, Wolff, Krieg, Coffey Nays: none. Motion carried.

Davitz motioned, Krieg seconded to approve an HSA account for Earth Day. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.

Fricke motioned, Coffey seconded to approve the request of facility use for Chester Memorial Hospital to utilize Colbert Gymnasium as an alternate location on April 11, 2025, for “Fun Run Walk” pending weather conditions. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.

Wolff motioned, Malley seconded to approve the Hazardous Transportation Resolution. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.

Malley motioned, Davitz seconded to approve the employment of Armada Venus as Grade School Paraprofessional at $17.10/hr effective March 4, 2025 pending EHR and background check. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Davitz, Malley, Fricke, Wolff, Krieg, Coffey Nays: none. Motion carried.

Malley motioned, Davitz seconded to approve the employment of Michael Stefani as Grade School Head Custodian at $22.70/hr pending EHR and background check. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Davitz, Malley, Fricke, Wolff, Krieg, Coffey Nays: none. Motion carried.

Fricke motioned, Malley seconded to approve the employment of Madison Hasemeyer as Grade School Elementary Teacher for the 2025-26 school year pending EHR and background check. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Davitz, Malley, Fricke, Wolff, Krieg, Coffey Nays: none. Motion carried.

Davitz motioned, Wolff seconded to approve the employment of Sophie Miller as Grade School Elementary Teacher for the 2025-26 school year pending EHR and background check. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Davitz, Malley, Fricke, Wolff, Krieg, Coffey Nays: none. Motion carried.

Davitz motioned, Krieg seconded to approve the employment of Tonya Rodemich as Grade School Elementary Teacher for the 2025-26 school year pending EHR and background check. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Davitz, Malley, Fricke, Wolff, Krieg, Coffey Nays: none. Motion carried.

Fricke motioned, Davitz seconded to approve the employment of Caleb Strauss as High School Physical Education Teacher for the 2025-26 school year pending EHR and background check. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Davitz, Malley, Fricke, Wolff, Krieg, Coffey Nays: none. Motion carried.

Wolff motioned, Malley seconded to approve the employment of Logan Doll as Grade School Physical Education Teacher for the 2025-26 school year pending EHR and background check. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Davitz, Malley, Fricke, Wolff, Krieg, Coffey Nays: none. Motion carried.

Davitz motioned, Krieg seconded to approve the employment of Wyatt Ruehling as High School Social Studies Teacher for the 2025-26 school year pending EHR and background check. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Davitz, Malley, Fricke, Wolff, Krieg, Coffey Nays: none. Motion carried.

Malley motioned, Coffey seconded to approve the employment of Meg Smith as Jr.High Art Teacher for the 2025-26 school year pending EHR and background check. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Davitz, Malley, Fricke, Wolff, Krieg, Coffey Nays: none. Motion carried.

Malley motioned, Davitz seconded to approve the employment of Samual Higgerson as High School Student Services Director for the 2025-26 school year pending EHR and background check. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Davitz, Malley, Fricke, Wolff, Krieg, Coffey Nays: none. Motion carried.

Malley motioned, Krieg seconded to approve the employment of Xavier Tullis as High School English Teacher for the 2025-26 school year pending EHR and background check. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Davitz, Malley, Fricke, Wolff, Krieg, Coffey Nays: none. Motion carried.

Fricke motioned, Malley seconded to approve the reassignment of Priscilla Martinez from 1st grade Teacher to 3rd grade Teacher. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.

Malley motioned, Coffey seconded to approve the reassignment of Lindsey Hargis from 1st grade Teacher to Pre-K Teacher. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.

Malley motioned, Fricke seconded to approve the reassignment of Rebecca Gielow from 3rd grade Teacher to Pre-K Teacher. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.

Malley motioned, Wolff seconded to approve the reassignment of Jenny Krantz from Jr. High Art Teacher to Pre-K Teacher. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.

Malley motioned, Wolff seconded to approve the employment of Kimberly Briggs Superintendent with a 5 year contract from 2025-30. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Davitz, Malley, Wolff, Krieg, Nays: Fricke, Coffey Motion carried.

Malley motioned, Davitz seconded to accept Carrie Lutman as High School Softball volunteer coach. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.

Davitz motioned, Krieg seconded to accept Katelyn Shinabargar as Grade School Golf volunteer coach. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.

Malley motioned, Coffey seconded to approve the resignation of Sara Hammel a High School Teacher effective the end of the 2024-25 school year. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.

Malley motioned, Krieg seconded to approve the resignation of Stephanie Kennedy a Grade School Teacher effective the end of the 2024-25 school year. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.

Malley motioned, Fricke seconded to approve the resignation of Armada Venus a Grade School Paraprofessional effective March 10, 2025. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.

Malley motioned, Coffey seconded to approve the resignation of Karson Colvis a Grade School Teacher and High School Cheerleading coach effective the end of the 2024-25 school year. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.

Malley motioned, Coffey seconded to approve resending Tim Brueggeman’s Head Custodian job officer retroactively on February 21, 2025. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.

Malley motioned, Davitz seconded to accept the letter of intent to retire from Lila Zeiger a High School Teacher for the end of the 2024-25 school year. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.

Malley motioned, Wolff seconded to approve the FMLA request for Kasey Crook a Grade School Social Worker beginning March 21, 2025 through June 2, 2025. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.

Malley motioned, Krieg seconded to approve the FMLA request for Tina Clark a High School Cafeteria personnel beginning February 28, 2025 through May 29, 2025. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.

Malley motioned, Krieg seconded to recess the regular meeting at 8:12pm Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.

Davitz motioned, Malley seconded to go back into closed session at 8:15 p.m. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.

Davitz motioned, Malley seconded to end closed sessions and go back into regular session at 9:42 p.m. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.

Wolff motioned, Malley seconded to adjourn regular meeting at 9:43 p.m. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.

https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/3096/CCSD/5529443/March_19__2025_Board_Minutes.pdf