South West Illinois News

Aledo Community Unit School District 201 Board of Education met May 13.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

CALL TO ORDER 

On May 13, 2025 at 6:58 p.m. President Conover called to order the regular meeting of the Community Unit School District 201 Board of Education.

Roll Call 

Members Present: Leah Conover, Carlos Hevia, Jessica Radogno, Adina Hoover, Kevin Marren, Lauren Zekiri 

Members Absent: None.

Also present: Superintendent Jack Baldermann, and the Superintendent’s Administrative Assistant, Shannon Cossairt.

Pledge of Allegiance 

President Conover led the Assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.

ACTION ITEM

Suspend Policy 2:70 Procedures and Appoint Candidate From Election To Fill Board Vacancy

Motion by Mr. Marren, second by Mr. Hevia, to temporarily suspend Board Policy 2:70’s procedures for Board vacancies and to appoint Angela Stekette to fill the Board’s vacant seats through the April 2027 election. 

Ayes: Hoover, Zekiri, Radogno, Hevia, Marren, Conover Nays: None. 

Motion Carried.

RECOGNITION 

Superintendent Baldermann was recognized as a finalist for the 2024 Innovative Superintendent of the Year in Illinois by Sibme.

CLOSED SESSION

Motion by Ms. Radogno, second by Mr. Hevia, to enter closed session to discuss personnel issues, student discipline, superintendent evaluation, and collective bargaining. 

Ayes: Hoover, Zekiri, Radogno, Hevia, Marren, Conover Nays: None 

Motion Carried. 

The Board entered closed session at 7:06 p.m. 

The Board returned to open session at 7:33 p.m.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

March 18, 2025

Motion by Mr. Hevia, second by Mr. Hevia, to approve the minutes of the March 18, regular meeting of the Board of Education; as presented. 

Ayes: Hoover, Zekiri, Radogno, Hevia, Marren, Conover Nays: None. 

Motion Carried.

March 18, 2025 Closed Minutes

Motion by Dr. Hoover, second by Ms. Zekiri, to approve the minutes of the closed session of the March 18, 2025, regular meeting of the Board of Education, as presented. 

Ayes: Hoover, Zekiri, Radogno, Hevia, Marren, Conover Nays: None. 

Motion Carried.

PUBLIC COMMENT 

Public comment given by Judy Wilson.

CONSENT AGENDA

Motion by Mr. Hevia, second by Mr. Marren, to approve the consent agenda as presented: 

1. Personnel Recommendations: 

● Ross Crane WHS French Teacher/Academic 

Support 

● Zachary Lessentien - WJHS -SPED 

● Carol Saba - Elementary Summer School 

● Robert Locklear - Elementary Summer School 

● Stephen Davis - Elementary Summer School TA

 ● Kelly Iovinelli - Elementary Summer School TA 

● Rebecca Hamilton - Elementary Summer School TA 

● Sarah Goodpaster - Elementary Summer school TA 

● Calib Sica- Temp. Summer Crew Mainitenance and Grounds 

2. Approval of April 2025 Expenditure Report 

3. Ratification of April 2025 Regular Payroll 

Ayes: Zekiri, Radogno, Hevia, Marren, Conover, Hoover Nays: None. 

Motion carried.

INFORMATION and DISCUSSION

1. Proposed Student Handbook Revisions Reading

Adam Kordalewski, Assistant Principal, WHS, discussed the changes being made to the handbook. CUSD 201 has purchased the Model Student Handbook from IPA. Currently there are multiple handbooks, one per grade level building (high school, junior high, elementary). The model IPA handbook is aligned with school code and policy and would create one handbook for the District. Each building would be able to modify information where necessary in the handbook. Since this is a work in progress, when it is complete we will have a handbook committee meeting and share out with the Board for approval.

2. Monthly Financial Statements for April 2025

Dr. John Gibson, Interim CSBO, gave the Board an update on revenue and expenditures through April 2025. Documents have been attached in BoardDocs for the Community to see.

3. TIF Update 

Dr. Gibson gave the Board a brief update on the TIF. In April the Village hosted a meeting regarding the TIF. To date the District has received about one million from the TIF but has not spent any of it.

4. Board Meeting Topic Calendar

The Board reviewed the topic calendar for the upcoming year. They would like to see more committee meetings, maybe line up with events happening at the buildings.

5. Board Portal Software 

The District currently uses BoardDocs as its online portal for Board meetings. In September, the cost is going to double and the system will be migrating to its new platform, Diligent. This would be a good time to to see if there is another software the District may want to use.

6. Student Fees 

The Board has decided not to increase fees for the 2025-2026 school year.

ACTION ITEMS

1. Approval of Contract with Construction Manager

Motion by Ms. Steketee, second by Dr. Hoover, to approve the contract with Nicholas and Associates, Construction Manager, as presented. 

Ayes: Radogno, Hevia, Marren, Conover, Hoover, Zekiri Nays: None 

Motion Carried.

2. Approval of Contract with Architect 

This Item has been tabled.

3. Approval of 2025-2026 Student Fees 

Motion by Ms. Radogno, second by Marren, to approve the student fees for fiscal year 2025-2026, as presented. 

Ayes: Marren, Conover, Hoover, Zekiri, Radogno, Hevia Nays: None 

Motion Carried

4. Approval of 2025-2026 Administrator Contracts

Motion by Mr. Marren, second by Dr. Hoover, to approve the 2025-2026 administrator contracts for the following administrators: Tiffanie Torrisi, Adam Kordalewski, and Samantha Sinovich. 

Ayes: Conover, Hoover, Zekrii, Radogno, Hevia, Marren Nays: None

Motion Carried

5. Approval of Multi-Year Contracts for Administrators

Motion by Ms. Zekiri, second by Mr. Marren, to approve the multi-year contracts for the following administrators: Carla Braun, Edith Courington, Mike Lipinski, and Amy Quattrone, as presented. 

Ayes: Marren, Conover, Hoover, Zekiri, Radogno, Hevia Nays: None 

Motion Carried

6. Approval of Resolution Approving Proposed Amendments to the DWC 

Intergovernmental Agreement

Motion by Dr. Hoover, second by Ms. Zekiri, to approve the proposed amendments to the DWC Intergovernmental Agreement, as presented. 

Ayes: Hoover, Zekiri, Radogno, Hevia, Marren Conover Nays: None 

Motion Carried

7. Approval of SASED Lease Agreement 

Motion by Dr, Hoover, second by Mr. Marren, to approve the lease agreement between SASED and Community Unit School District 201 for the 2025-2026 school year, as presented. 

Ayes: Zekiri, Radogno, Hevia, Hoover, Marren Conover 

Nays: None

Motion Carried

8. Approval of the Authority for Additional May 2025 Expenditures

Motion by Mr. Hevia, second by Ms. Zekiri, to to authorize and direct the treasurer to pay any bills received in May 2025 that have been budgeted for the 2025 fiscal year. 

Ayes: Radogno, Zekiri, Hevia, Marren, Conover, Hoover Nays: None 

Motion Carried

SUPERINTENDENT REPORT

Communication 

Superintendent Baldermann is proud of all our students graduating next week. He reported that prom went very well. On May 19th the District will be hosting the AP Conference.

FOIA Request 

Recent FOIA requests are attached in BoardDocs.

BOARD REPORTS 

The Board reported that all the end of year events have been very nice, including the picnic at Miller and concerts.

PUBLIC COMMENT 

Public comment given by Dana Hajak.

FUTURE MEETING AND EVENTS

WHS Graduation 

May 20, 7:00 pm 

WHS 

WJHS Graduation 

May 22, 7:00 pm 

WHS 

Last day of School 

May 23 

PLC Dismissal Times 

CUSD 201 Regular Board Meeting 

June 17, 6:30 pm 

Village Hall

CLOSED SESSION 

Not needed at this time.

COMMUNICATIONS 

None at this time.

ADJOURNMENT 

Motion by Mr. Hevia, second Ms. Zekiri,, to adjourn the May 13, 2025, regular meeting of the Board of Education at 8:39 p.m. 

Motion unanimously passed.

https://go.boarddocs.com/il/cusd201/Board.nsf/files/DHKP3E62A27D/$file/5.13.25%20Regular%20Minutes.pdf