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Tuesday, July 15, 2025

Rockford Public School District 205 Board of Education met Jan. 10

Rockford Public School District 205 Board of Education met Jan. 10.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

President Jude Makulec called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.

Administration Building Tuesday, January 10, 2023

Present: President Jude Makulec, Vice President Tim Rollins, Secretary June Stanford, Ms. Denise Pearson, Ms. Tiana McCall (arr. 5:44 p.m.), Ms. Kimberly Haley (arr. 5:04 p.m.), Mr. David Seigel

Absent: None

Motion by Mr. Rollins seconded by Mr. Seigel 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: 5-0-2

The Board was in executive session from 5:02 p.m. to 6:49 p.m.

1. Call to Order – President Jude Makulec called the regular meeting of the Board of Education to order at 7:02 p.m.

A. Roll Call

Present: President Jude Makulec, Vice President Tim Rollins, Secretary June Stanford, Ms. Denise Pearson, Ms. Tiana McCall, Ms. Kimberly Haley, Mr. David Seigel

Absent: None

Mrs. Makulec thanked Conner Childers who produces the Board’s broadcast on Channel 20, and YouTube Live. Mr. Rollins welcomed Superintendent’s Student Advisory Representative Jozlyn Mahnesmith from East High School.

B. Pledge of Allegiance

C. Recitation of Mission Statement: The Mission of Rockford Public School is to collaboratively engage all students in a first-class education for a changing world.

2. Celebrating RPS205

A. Brookview Elementary School

Brookview school shared with Board members their celebration of Veterans Day. The celebration included students, staff, and veterans. The day began with an assembly and gave students the opportunity to learn about Veteran’s Day. Recognition of veterans took place, fourth and fifth graders sang a Veteran’s Day song, and the assembly ended by playing “TAPS.” Please click on this link to view the presentation. Brookview Veteran's Day.

3. Petitions & Communications

Mrs. Makulec read the guidelines.

• Catina Barnett spoke of the MOU for bus drivers and nutrition services employees, expressing concerns with upholding it as many are retiring.

• Ricky Naylor spoke of the District’s demographics and lack of diversity in administrative staff.

• Betsy DeGunther spoke of research correlation between the success of minority students and the number of minority teachers and administrators in schools.

• Nina Giannangeli acknowledged the Board’s efforts in hiring diverse staff and the need to develop a policy to recruit them.

• John Ekberg spoke of veterans who served as Board members, and of his appreciation for former member Mike Connor, who answered calls, embraced the academy model, and was an advocate of justice and fairness.

• John Tac Brantley gave an update to Board members of his efforts to help children, and asked for donations for children to attend Disney on Ice.

4. Report and *Action on items that Proceeded through the Planning Committee

A. *ForeFront Power, Behind the Meter Solar Purchase Agreement – Michael Phillips, Chief Operations Officer, Greg Brown, Chief Financial Officer

Motion by Mr. Rollins seconded by Ms. McCall to approve item 4A, ForeFront Power, Behind the Meter Solar Purchase Agreement.

The agreement allows placement of panels in alternate areas. Prior to installation, roofs on designated buildings will be replaced. Mrs. Makulec called for the vote.

Approved: Unanimously

B. *Master Library Facilities Space Scheduling Software – Catherine Ellis, Director of Operations, Michael Phillips, Chief Operations Officer

Motion by Mr. Seigel seconded by Mr. Rollins to approve item 4B, Master Library Facilities Space Scheduling Software.

Approved: Unanimously

5. Board President’s Announcements and Report and *Action on Items that proceeded through the Governance Committee

A. *Board Policy 6.300 Instruction; Graduation Requirements

Motion by Mr. Rollins seconded by Mr. Seigel to approve item 5A, Board Policy 6.300 Instruction; Graduation Requirements.

Approved: Unanimously

6. *Consent Agenda – Performance and Monitoring Committee

A. Payroll

B. Accounts Payable

C. Purchase Orders

D. Air Travel

E. Monthly Cash and Investment Report – November 2022 – Jamie Murray, CPA, Executive Director of Finance

F. Financial Results: November 2022 – Ms. Jamie Murray, CPA, Executive Director of Finance

G. Construction Pay Request Log – Special Check Run (12/30/22)

H. Construction Pay Request Log

I. RFP 23-08 Digital Fingerprint Equipment

J. IFB 23-15 HVAC Upgrades at Hillman, McIntosh, Gregory & Nashold Schools

K. IFB 23-29 Asbestos Abatement at Froberg, Auburn, Wes View & Fairview Schools

L. IFB 23-36 Security Vestibules at Kennedy, Marshall, Eisenhower, and West Schools

M. 2023-2024 Academic Calendar – Morgan Gallagher, Chief of Schools – pulled by Ms. McCall

N. Salary Increase for RPS 2-5 Substitute Teachers Employed Through Kelly Services – pulled by Mr. Seigel 7.

*Consent Items – Planning Committee

A. Antwon Harris Group – ARP/ESSER

8. *Consent Items – Governance Committee

A. Meeting Minutes: 11-29-22 – corrected, 12/10/22 – Board Member Retreat, 12/13/22

B. Closed Session Minutes Release

C. Contract Purchase Orders

D. Freedom of Information Log

Motion by Mr. Rollins seconded by Mr. Seigel to approve Consent items not pulled.

Approved: Unanimously

Motion by Mr. Seigel seconded by Ms. Pearson to approve Consent item pulled 6M, 2023-2024 Academic Calendar.

Administration was asked if the District had resolved the academic calendar issue with Head Start. Conversations have started but are not resolved. The shared partnership will continue. As the 2024-2025 Academic calendar was on the item’s title, it will be presented at the January 24, 2023, meeting. Discussion continued to delay the approval. Motion by Ms. Pearson seconded by Ms. McCall to table approval of the 2023-2024 Academic calendar to the January 24, 2023, meeting.

More discussion followed regarding delaying the vote with Board and Administration voicing concerns. Mrs. Makulec called for the vote on the motion to table.

Yeas: Ms. Haley, Ms. Pearson, Ms. McCall

Nays: Ms. Stanford, Mr. Rollins, Mrs. Makulec, Mr. Seigel

Motion Failed: 3-4-0

Mrs. Makulec called for the vote on the original motion.

Yeas: Mr. Seigel, Ms. Haley, Ms. Stanford, Mr. Rollins, Mrs. Makulec

Nays: Ms. Pearson, Ms. McCall

Approved: 5-0-2

Motion by Ms. McCall seconded by Mr. Seigel to approve Consent item pulled 6N, Salary Increase for RPS 205 Substitute Teachers Employed Through Kelly Services.

Administration was asked if sign-on bonuses or hiring incentives can be added. Dr. Brown and Mr. Zediker will meet and bring additional strategies to Board members. Mrs. Makulec called for the vote.

Approved: Unanimously

9. *Closed Session Consent Items

A. Appointment of Megan McNeill as 12 Month Staff Attorney assigned to the Administration Building B. HR Report & Addendum

10. *Closed Session Consent Items Student Discipline – EIAs

A. B0002-23

B. B0006-23

C. B0007-23

D. B0008-23

E. D0005-23

F. H0025-23

G. H0026-23

H. H0027-23

I. H0028-23

J. H0029-23

K. P0060-23

L. P0061-23

M. P0062-23

N. P0064-23

O. P0065-23

P. P0066-23

Q. P0067-23

R. P0068-23

S. P0069-23

T. P0070-23

U. P0071-23

V. P0072-23

W. P0073-23

X. P0074-23

Motion by Ms. Pearson seconded by Mr. Seigel to approve Closed Session Consent items not pulled. Approved: Unanimously

11. Superintendent’s Update

A. Superintendent’s Report – Dr. Jarrett

B. Tier II and Tier III AROI

Dr. Jarrett reviewed the past Tier III AROI (Academic Return on Investment) which included Reading Horizons and Freshman Academy. These were studied and regular updates were made to the Board. The proposed list for the upcoming Tier III includes Integrated Math, Decentralized Credit Recovery, Focus Skills (middle school writing/reading), and Model Academy (comparison of model academy with the three that are not succeeding.) Tier II PDSA updates are covered in the Superintendent’s Update, and Tier I PDSAs are managed through budgets. Mrs. Makulec encouraged members to review the list and add any they felt was important. Dr. Jarrett will return with more information at the next meeting. To view the list, please click on this link: 2023-2024 Draft PDSA List. 12. Board Member Comments

There were no comments.

Action Steps include:

Head Start Solution

Substitute Incentive

13. Adjournment

Motion by Ms. Pearson second by Mr. Seigel to adjourn.

Adjournment: 8:18 p.m.

https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1676490861/rps205com/djkzltkhmh5pyryio4ea/bm2023-01-10.pdf

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