Rockford Public School District 205 Board of Education met Jan. 20.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
President Carpenter called the meeting to order at 5:07 p.m.
Present: President Paul Carpenter, Vice President Nicole Bennett , Secretary June Stanford, Ms. Tiana McCall, Ms. Denise Pearson (arr. 5:22 p.m.)
Absent: Ms. Kimberly Haley, Ms. Patricia Chavez
Motion by Ms. McCall seconded by Ms. Bennett that the Board hold an executive session to consider the appointment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees; student disciplinary cases; the placement of individual students in special education programs and other matters relating to individual students; collective bargaining matters; security procedures, school building safety and security; the purchase, sale or lease of real property; or other matters provided for pursuant to §2(c) of the Open Meetings Act.
Approved: 4-0-3
The Board was in executive session from 5:08 p.m. to 5:58 p.m.
1. Call to Order – President Paul Carpenter called the regular meeting of the Board of Education to order at 7:03 p.m.
A. Roll Call
Present: President Paul Carpenter, Vice President Nicole Bennett, Secretary June Stanford, Ms. Tiana McCall, Ms. Kimberly Haley, Ms. Pearson
Absent: Ms. Patricia Chavez
Mr. Carpenter thanked Kim Pedersen and Aaron Hill, who produce the Board’s broadcast on Channel 20, and YouTube Live Stream and welcomed Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council member Ruth Sibounheuang from Auburn High School.
B. Pledge of Allegiance
C. Recitation of Mission Statement: The mission of Rockford Public Schools is to collaboratively engage all students in an equitable first-class education for a changing world.
2. Recognitions
A. Recognitions
The following students and staff were recognized for their achievements. The following were selected to participate in the following 2026 Illinois All-State Student Program sponsored by the Illinois Music Education Association. Auburn High School students under the direction of Mr. Peter Finnegan and Ms. Marissa Martinez were Isaiah Ying, Emberleigh Schoensiegel, Ma Bless, and Alayna Knox, All-State Chorus, Benjamin Garner and Samuel Michaels All-State Honors Chorus, Rishi Saligrama and Aleyna Yaylaci, All State Orchestra. Guilford High School students under the direction of Mr. Daniel Walls and Mrs. Courtney Kubacki were Jamar Jordan, All State Chorus, Victor Osorio, All State Honors Orchestra, Emanuel Leon, All-State Band, Jonathon Murpy, All-State Honors Chorus, and Fern Kuntz, Future Music Educator Symposium. Marshall Middle School students under the direction of Mr. Peter Finnegan were Ava Nelson, Shlok Mardini, and Hutson Carlin for Jr. Orchestra. West Middle School students under the direction of Mr. Brian Hildreth and Ms. Jamie Kovatch were Jason Tapp, JR Band and Solarcz Zuk, Jr. Orchestra. Auburn student Benjamin Garner was recognized as the one participant in the Illinois High School Theatre Festivals.
B. Brookview Elementary School Success Presentation Slide Deck – Melanie Dalton
Brookview Elementary School Principal Melanie Dalton presented her update. Brookview has 511 students, 55% low income, 10% mobility, 93% student attendance, 17% chronic absenteeism, 14% with IEPs, 3% homeless, 13% ESL, and 95% teacher retention. Strong S.E.L. support includes behavior intervention specialist, attendance specialist, Title I S.E.L. tutor, Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, and PTO. The sense of belonging is seventy-five percent. Proficiency in 2024-25 for ELA was 6% improvement and 2% improvement in math. Growth in ELA was down six points and nine points in math. The school improvement plan includes S.O.P. learning walks, “double dip” interventions, small group instruction focusing on literacy skills, comprehension, and vocabulary, intervention team focusing on phonetic skills, PLCs strategically using data to drive instructions, professional development active listening, and MTSS data days for every cycle. Successes are increased proficiency on IAR with numeracy and literacy, decreasing phonetic skill groups in grade 3-5, beginning states of enrichment being provided during small group, chronic absenteeism of 17%, resource alignment across the building for literacy and numeracy, and all hands-on deck. Challenges are sustainability of systems and structures with the possibility of losing federal funding, not enough time in the day to address all needs of students, enrichment for students that are proficient, and extreme behaviors. To view the presentation, please click on this link: Brookview.
3. Petitions and Communications
Mr. Carpenter read the guidelines.
• Teodora Johnson spoke of winter sports and her concerns whether there is a work stoppage.
• Rick Pearson spoke of parents sending him messages of good work.
• Kyle Wolf spoke of transparency.
• Ann Rundall commented on the recent conversation regarding EIAs and expulsions.
• Najlia Denwiddie spoke of connections with teachers in the District.
• Tyler Krieter spoke of his concerns with ICE.
• Courtney Kubacki advocated for teachers and students
• Sara Dady commented on the District’s policy.
• Christina Magee spoke of the need for an agreement.
• Rick Elston spoke of student achievement as the most important focus then of the contract.
• Jennifer Deacon commented on the inadequate security measure at Auburn Pods.
• Christina Magee spoke of the REA contract.
• Teresa Hill spoke of the need for an ICE policy.
• Matt Green spoke of the REA contract..
• Dani Parrotte thanked members for listening and not being respected.
4. Report and *Action on Items that Proceeded through the Planning and Development Committee
A. DMG PRISM
Simone Carpenter of DGM reviewed the presentation with Board members beginning with the initiative inventory phase goals. Challenges included which programs improve student outcomes, which programs are being implemented incorrectly, and which programs are an ineffective use of funds. The definition of an initiative is an investment in people, programs, or processes that is intended to meet a specific goal and that is outside of day-to-day operations. They should meet the following criteria: strategic, purposeful, invested in, and if it is managed by central office or managed and funded through building-level discretionary funds. The number of initiatives, the cost information and principal impact inventory were reviewed. The total known cost of ongoing initiatives is $187.4M, 33% of the total FY25 expenditures. Systems recommendations include aligning and coordinating efforts across departments and establishing a process for decision making. To view the presentation, please click on this link: DMG PRISM.
B. *Resolution providing for the issue of not to exceed $50,000,000 General Obligation Limited Tax School Bonds, Series 2026A, for the purpose of increasing the Working Cash Fund, providing for the levy of a direct annual tax to pay the principal and interest on said bonds, and authorizing the execution of a Bond Purchase Agreement with Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated.
Motion by Ms. Stanford seconded by Ms. Pearson to approve item 4B, Resolution providing for the issue of not to exceed $50,000,000 General Obligation Limited Tax School Bonds, Series 2026A, for the purpose of increasing the Working Cash Fund, providing for the levy of a direct annual tax to pay the principal and interest on said bonds, and authorizing the execution of a Bond Purchase Agreement with Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated.
Yeas: Ms. Pearson, Ms. McCall, Ms. Bennett, Mr. Carpenter, Ms. Haley, Ms. Stanford
Absent: Ms. Chaves
Approved: 6-0-1
C. *Resolution providing for the issue of not to exceed $10,000,000 General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2026B, for the purpose of altering and reconstructing school buildings and purchasing and installing equipment therein for fire prevention and safety, energy conservation and school security purposes and refunding certain outstanding bonds, providing for the levy of a direct annual tax sufficient to pay the principal and interest on said bonds, and authorizing the execution of a Bond Purchase Agreement with Stifel, Nicolaus & Company Incorporated.
Motion by Ms. Pearson seconded by Ms. Haley to approve item 4C, Resolution providing for the issue of not to exceed $10,000,000 General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2026B, for the purpose of altering and reconstructing school buildings and purchasing and installing equipment therein for fire prevention and safety, energy conservation and school security purposes and refunding certain outstanding bonds, providing for the levy of a direct annual tax sufficient to pay the principal and interest on said bonds, and authorizing the execution of a Bond Purchase Agreement with Stifel, Nicolaus & Company Incorporated.
Yeas: Ms. McCall, Ms. Bennett, Mr. Carpenter, Ms. Haley, Ms. Stanford, Ms. Pearson
Absent: Ms. Chavez
Approved: 6-0-1
D. *Resolution for Property Transfer to the Rockford Park District at Beyer Early Childhood Center Motion by Ms. Pearson seconded by Ms. McCall to approve item 4D, Resolution for Property Transfer to the Rockford Park District at Beyer Early Childhood Center.
Yeas: Ms. Bennett, Mr. Carpenter, Ms. Haley, Ms. Stanford, Ms. Pearson, Ms. McCall
Absent: Ms. Chavez
Approved: 6-0-1
E. ELA Resource Carnegie Learning Lenses – Marshall MS
Motion by Ms. Haley seconded by Ms. McCall to approve item 4E, ELA Resource Carnegie Learning Lenses. Yeas: Mr. Carpenter, Ms. Haley, Ms. Stanford, Ms. Pearson, Ms. McCall, Ms. Bennett
Absent: Ms. Chavez
Approved: 6-0-1
5. Consent Agenda – Planning and Development Committee
A. IFB No. 26-14 West M.S. Site Logistics
B. Recurring Contract – Constellation NewEnergy Utilities Contract – pulled by Administration
Motion by Ms. Pearson seconded by Ms. Stanford to approve Consent item 5B, Planning and Development Committee. Yeas: Ms. Haley, Ms. Stanford, Ms. Pearson, Ms. McCall, Ms. Bennett, Mr. Carpenter
Absent: Ms. Chavez
Approved: 6-0-1
6. Consent Agenda – Performance and Monitoring
A. Payroll
B. Accounts Payable
C. Purchase Orders
D. Contract Purchase Orders
E. Air Travel – January 20, 2025
F. Monthly Cash and Investment Report – November 2025 – Jamie Murray, CPA, Executive Director of Finance
G. Financial Results: November 2025 – Ms. Jamie Murray, CPA, Executive Director of Finance
H. RPS Managed Change Order Logs
I. IFB No. 116-28 Diesel Fuel
J. Student Activity Fund Management
K. Rockford Park District Lunch/Recess Partnership Proposal – Washington Elementary
L. Ianna Natonova – Independent SLP Contractor – Christan Slater, Executive Director of Special Education
M. Presence Learning Addendum – Christan Schrader, Executive Director of Special Education
N. Palma Multilingual Solutions Professional Development – Johanna Poncio Jordan
O. Formative Professional Learning
Motion by Ms. McCall seconded by Ms. Pearson to approve Consent items not pulled in section 5, Performance and Monitoring.
Yeas: Ms. Stanford, Ms. Pearson, Ms. McCall, Ms. Bennett, Mr. Carpenter, Ms. Haley
Absent: Ms. Chavez
Approved: 6-0-1
7. Report and *Action on Items that Proceeded through the Governance Committee
A. Revisions to Board Policy 4.10, Fiscal and Business Management
Motion by Ms. Pearson seconded by Ms. Bennett to approve item 7A, Revisions to Board Policy 4.10, Fiscal and Business Management.
Yeas: Ms. Pearson, Ms. McCall, Ms. Bennett, Mr. Carpenter, Ms. Haley, Ms. Stanford
Absent: Ms. Chavez
Approved: 6-0-1
B. Revisions to Board Policy 4.30, Revenue and Investments
Motion by Ms. Stanford seconded by Ms. Pearson to approve item 7B, Revisions to Board Policy 4.30, Revenue and Investments.
Yeas: Ms. McCall, Ms. Bennett, Mr. Carpenter, Ms. Haley, Ms. Stanford, Ms. Pearson
Absent: Ms. Chavez
Approved: 6-0-1
C. Revisions to Board Policy 4.80, Accounting and Audits
Motion by Ms. Haley seconded by Ms. Pearson to approve item 7C, Revisions to Board Policy 4.80, Accounting and Audits
Yeas: Ms. Bennett, Mr. Carpenter, Ms. Haley, Ms. Stanford, Ms. Pearson, Ms. McCall
Absent: Ms. Chavez
Approved: 6-0-1
D. Revisions to Board Policy 5.10, Equal Employment Opportunity and Minority Recruitment
Motion by Ms. Bennett seconded by Ms. Haley to approve item 7D, Revisions to Board Policy 5.10, Equal Employment Opportunity and Minority Recruitment
Yeas: Mr. Carpenter, Ms. Haley, Ms. Stanford, Ms. Pearson, Ms. McCall, Ms. Bennett
Absent: Ms. Chavez
Approved: 6-0-1
E. Revisions to Board Policy 7.150, Third Party Access to Students and Student Information
Motion by Ms. Pearson seconded by Ms. Stanford to approve item 7E, Revisions to Board Policy 7.150, Third Party Access to Students and Student Information.
The Safe School for All act defines law enforcement agent to include federal, state, or local law enforcement authorized to arrest or detain individuals or manage the custody of detained individuals for law enforcement purpose including immigration enforcement. Law enforcement agent does not include resource officer. This was confirmed by General Counsel who stated the District aligns its policy with the statute. Mr. Carpenter called for the vote.
Yeas: Ms. Haley, Ms. Stanford, Ms. Pearson, Ms. McCall, Ms. Bennett, Mr. Carpenter
Absent: Ms. Chavez
Approved: 6-0-1
F. Revision to the Board Calendar
Motion by Ms. Bennett seconded by Ms. Pearson to approve item 7F, Revision to Board Calendar, changing the March 17, 2026, date to March 24, 2026, due to the Illinois Primary scheduled for March 17, 2026.
Yeas: Ms. Stanford, Ms. Pearson, Ms. McCall, Ms. Bennett, Mr. Carpenter, Ms. Haley
Absent: Ms. Chavez
Approved: 6-0-1
8. *Consent Agenda – Governance Committee
A. Meeting Minutes: 12-16-2025
B. Freedom of Information Log
Motion by Ms. Pearson seconded by Ms. Stanford to approve Consent items not pulled in section 8, Governance Committee. Yeas: Ms. Pearson, Ms. McCall, Ms. Bennett, Mr. Carpenter, Ms. Haley, Ms. Stanford
Absent: Ms. Chavez
Approved: 6-0-1
9. *Closed Session Consent Items
A. Appointment of Natalie Erwin as Assistant Principal assigned to Whitehead Elementary School
B. HR Organizational Report
Motion by Ms. Pearson seconded by Ms. Bennett to approve items not pulled in section 9, Closed Session Consent. Yeas: Ms. McCall, Ms. Bennett, Mr. Carpenter, Ms. Haley, Ms. Stanford, Ms. Bennett
Absent: Ms. Chavez
Approved: 6-0-1
10. Closed Session Consent Items Student Discipline – Suspension Appeals and Expulsion
A. D0002X-26 – expelled for the remainder of the 2025-2026 school year through the first semester of the 2026-2027 school year.
B. B0007X-26 – expelled for the remainder of the 2025-2026 school year through the entire 2026-2027 school year Motion by Ms. Pearson seconded by Ms. Stanford to approve items not pulled in section 10, Closed Session Consent Items Student Discipline – Suspension Appeals and Expulsions
Yeas: Ms. Bennett, Mr. Carpenter, Ms. Haley, Ms. Stanford, Ms. Pearson, Ms. McCall
Absent: Ms. Chavez
Approved: 6-0-1
11. Closed Session Consent Items Student Discipline – EIAs
A. P0020-26
B. P0021-26
C. P0034-26
D. P0045-26
E. P0047-26
F. T0003-26
Motion by Ms. Pearson seconded by Ms. Stanford to approve items not pulled in section 11, Closed Session Consent Items Student Discipline – EIAs
Yeas: Mr. Carpenter, Ms. Haley, Ms. Stanford, Ms. Pearson, Ms. McCall, Ms. Bennett
Absent: Ms. Chavez
Approved: 6-0-1
12. Superintendent’s Update
Dr. Jarrett ceded his time to Superintendent Student Advisory Council member Ruth Sibounheuang from Auburn High School. Ruth introduced herself to members. She spoke of the Committee of the Whole meeting; she heard about expulsions and communication of how there is a population of parents that cannot read and write. As a student growing up with immigrant parents, she translated a lot to her parents. RPS 205 always helped with communication understanding her parents didn’t speak English as their first language and provided translators for parent teacher conferences, which she appreciated. She has a younger brother ten years younger than her, and his school sends home letters in Lao which is hers and her family’s language. She spoke of her appreciation of how the District sends e-mails in a different language. She wanted everyone to understand that RPS 205 understands immigrant parents and how they don’t know English and how the District adapts to that.
13. Board Member Comments/Other Business/New Business/Agenda Recommendations
Ms. Pearson spoke of Martin Luther King, Jr. day on January 19, 2026, and the respect she has for all the work he did, and his leadership skill. Being in a leadership role is not an easy task, and she spoke of appreciating his strategy, his method of communication, his ability and approach for getting things done. She also spoke of her appreciation for multi-cultural individuals that supported the work and his movement. She was able to see that same reflection as when she attended the Dr. King celebrations. She highlighted the Yes Club for the work they did, and it was wonderful to see the representation. She gave special thanks to Pastor Maurice West, Sr., who is the president of the Rockford Ministers Fellowship. At the eleventh hour, they allowed Ms. Pearson three minutes to speak. She spoke of her passion regarding the District’s absentee rate and took the opportunity to express the concern and desire for collaboration with churches adopting schools. Members learned at the Committee of the Whole meeting at Riverdahl, that the District provides one hundred percent of the transportation and the school has an absenteeism rate for forty-eight percent. This revealed there is a greater problem, and it needs to be addressed as a community. Ms. Pearson made this plea, the work isn’t over, but she appreciated the Rockford Ministers Fellowship and the leadership of Pastor Maurice West, Sr., allowing her that time to speak. Ms. Pearson had the opportunity to visit the Rockford Park District board meeting. At the meeting, they honored Ms. Marva Brown with the Harkins Foundation, who has done enormous work with the park district. She had an opportunity to speak “on the other side” which she liked. She thanked the board for their hard work and the District’s partnership with them, and the work they have done with McIntosh. Mr. Lamont Jones took some District students to the Chicago Bears game. Mr. Jones is close with the NFL and giving these children exposure to something they wouldn’t have. Ms. Pearson also thanked Ms. Dalton for the work that has been done at Brookview and her appreciation and acknowledgement of Chief Human Resources Officer Tucona Crowder for her work in human resources.
Ms. Stanford reminded parents that Wednesday, January 21, 2026, is the last listening session for Student Code of Conduct. This will be at East High School.
Ms. McCall piggy-backed over what Ms. Pearson stated and gave a shout-out to number 5. Her niece played at that flag football game. Ms. McCall attended Donuts and Grownups at Kennedy Middle School, which was fun. She also spoke of attending an event in February at McIntosh Elementary School, Sneaker Ball. She reminded everyone as long as everyone invites her, she will attend as her calendar allows.
Ms. Bennett reminded everyone her full-time job is supervising clinicians in neighboring school districts. There have been many students struggling, there have been deaths in other districts regarding mental health and reminded students and parents they can call 988 anytime to get resources. She also asked to share this information with as many people as possible. Mr. Carpenter thanked Ms. Pearson for her eloquent request for collaboration with faith groups. He spoke of feeling it was effective.
14. Adjournment
Motion by Ms. Pearson seconded by Ms. Stanford to adjourn.
Adjournment: 9:10 p.m.
https://www.rps205.com/documents/board-of-education/meeting-minutes/2026-meeting-minutes/23913056
