South West Illinois News

Sparta Community Unit School District 140 Board of Education met April 30.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The special meeting was called order at 5:00 p.m. by Board President Angela Craig and upon the roll being called, Angela Craig and the following members of the Board of Education answered present: Jennifer Allard, Mekalia Cooper, Ryan Pillers, Heather Price and Rob Soderlund. Absent: Corey Rheinecker. Others present were: Superintendent Chris Miesner; Recording Secretary Tina Witherby; Board Member-Elect Christine Ledendecker; and a member of the staff.

Board President Angela Craig led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mrs. Craig announced the results of the April 1, 2025, election. They were: Mekalia Cooper 293 votes; Christine Ledendecker 355 votes; Ryan Pillers 419 votes; and Gordon Williams 281 votes. Therefore, Ryan Pillers, Christine Ledendecker and Mekalia Cooper were the newly-elected members with four-year terms. Mrs. Craig presented the oath of office to the newly-elected board members.

Upon roll being called, the following Board of Education members answered present: Jennifer Allard, Mekalia Cooper, Christine Ledendecker, Ryan Pillers, Heather Price, Rob Soderlund and Angela Craig. Absent: none.

Mrs. Craig appointed Mr. Miesner as President ProTem of the Board.

For the office of the President of the Board of Education, Rob Soderlund nominated Angela Craig.

With Mrs. Craig being the only candidate nominated for the office of President, Mrs. Craig was elected by acclamation as President of the Board of Education for a two-year term until April 2027.

The newly-elected President took over for Mr. Miesner at this time.

For the office of Vice President of the Board of Education, Mekalia Cooper nominated Jennifer Allard. With Ms. Allard being the only candidate nominated for the office of Vice President, Ms. Allard was elected by acclamation as Vice President of the Board of Education for a two-year term until April 2027.

For the office of Secretary of the Board of Education, Jennifer Allard nominated Mekalia Cooper. With Ms. Cooper being the only candidate nominated for the office of Secretary, Ms. Cooper was elected by acclamation as the Secretary of the Board of Education for a two-year term until April 2027.

For the office of Board Treasurer of the Board of Education, Jennifer Allard nominated Ryan Pillers. With Mr. Pillers being the only candidate nominated for the office of Board Treasurer, Mr. Pillers was elected by acclamation as Board Treasurer of the Board of Education for a two-year term until April 2027.

The following committees were appointed until April 2027:

Finance/Personnel: Jennifer Allard and Ryan Pillers

Building & Grounds: Christine Ledendecker and Rob Soderlund

Policy: Mekalia Cooper and Heather Price

A discussion was held regarding moving the regular meeting dates from the second Thursday of the month to the second Monday of the month. The motion was tabled to compare the dates at the next regular meeting.

Rob Soderlund moved, Heather Price seconded to enter into closed session at 5:16 p.m. to discuss items related to the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body and collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives, or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees. Roll call vote. Yeas: Soderlund, Price, Allard, Cooper, Ledendecker, Pillers and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Rob Soderlund moved, Jennifer Allard seconded to come out of closed session at 5:45 p.m. Roll call vote. Yeas: Soderlund, Allard, Cooper, Ledendecker, Pillers, Price and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Heather Price seconded to approve Don Lanier as the Dramatic Production Technical Director at Sparta High School for the 2024-2025 school year, subject to and contingent upon successful completion of a criminal history background check and employment history review. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Price, Cooper, Ledendecker, Pillers, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Mekalia Cooper moved, Jennifer Allard seconded to employ Jenny Scott as a Full-Time Teacher for the District with 10 years of experience for the 2025-2026 school year, subject to and contingent upon successful completion of a criminal history background check, employment history review, physical and drug screening, along with proper licensure. Roll call vote. Yeas: Cooper, Allard, Ledendecker, Pillers, Price, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Rob Soderlund moved, Heather Price seconded to adjourn the meeting at 5:46 p.m. Roll call vote: Yeas: Soderlund, Price, Allard, Cooper, Ledendecker, Pillers and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

https://www.sparta140.org/_files/ugd/c42bd2_89f3fbb906e5422ca471379a05f843be.docx?dn=043025sp%20minutes.docx