Rockford Sun

Rockford Public School District 205 Board of Education met Jan. 24.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

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

Present: President Jude Makulec, Vice President Tim Rollins, Secretary June Stanford, Ms. Denise Pearson, Ms. Kimberly Haley

Absent: Ms. Tiana McCall, Mr. David Seigel

Motion by Ms. Pearson seconded by Mr. Rollins 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 5:01 p.m. to 6:41 p.m.

1. Call to Order – President Jude Makulec called the regular meeting of the Board of Education to order at 7:00 p.m.

A. Roll Call

Present: President Jude Makulec, Vice President Tim Rollins, Secretary June Stanford, Ms. Denise Pearson, Ms. Kimberly Haley, Mr. David Seigel (via Zoom)

Absent: Ms. McCall

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. Recognitions

A. Recognitions

The following students and staff were recognized for their accomplishments.

Eisenhower Girls’ Basketball Team - qualified for the IESA State Tournament

Players

Olivia DeShazo

Lilly Robinson

Baylee Sandine

Dyani Gonzalez

Hannah Jordan

Alica Adams

Harmony Danforth

Audrey Burhans

Casey Mann

Timia Staten

Jessica Mocbeichel

2023 Golden Apple Award finalists from RPS 205

Emily Daub, Ellis Elementary School, kindergarten

Jelena Holcomb, STEAM Academy at Haskell, Kindergarten

Kimberlee Malmberg, Washington Elementary, 3rd Grade

Whitney Mohr, Rolling Green Elementary, Special Education

Kimberly Plaster, Galapagos Charter School, 3rd Grade

Lisa Robinson, Rolling Green Elementary, Kindergarten

Jennifer Rowe, Whitehead Elementary, 4th Grade

Mallori Sage, Whitehead Elementary, 3rd Grade

Amie Walker, Henry Bloom Elementary, Kindergarten

Addie Wilson, Thurgood Marshall, 2nd Grade

Latest NIU Principal Cohort Graduates

Aleshia Johns

Daniela Boer

Desiree Wrightsel

John Cornacchia

Laura Greier

Jill Silvest Mulligan

Talvi Bendele

Gary Griffin

Josh Rollins

Mellissa Douglas

Ayla Pecskowski

Sherri Ferguson

3. Petitions & Communications

Mrs. Makulec read the guidelines.

• Ricky Naylor spoke of the leadership structure and the return on investment of paid administrators.

• Scott Jensen commented on staff excellence the late Don May, Guilford’s swim coach.

• Nina Giannangeli spoke of the need to hire more teachers and staff of color.

• Lynn Montoya spoke of the need to add a crossing guard at West Middle School.

• Fannie Owens commented on the need to hire more teachers of color.

• John Tac Brantley told of his need for help in repairing his van so that he can continue helping District students.

4. Board President’s Announcements and Report and *Action on items that Proceeded through Governance Committee

A. Student Code of Conduct Update

Mrs. Heidi Dettman, Executive Director of Academics, reviewed the Student Code of Conduct process with Board members. The process begins with the internal team, then is followed by two open community meetings, one with a bilingual team, and ending with the Parent and Community Advisory meeting. Open community meetings are scheduled for February 15 and February 21, 2023, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Please click on the link to view the revision process: Student Code of Conduct Update.

5. *Consent Agenda – Performance and Monitoring Committee

A. Payroll

B. Accounts Payable

C. Purchase Orders

D. Air Travel

E. Construction Pay Request Log

F. RFP 23-08 Digital Fingerprint Equipment

G. ESSER – RPS Managed Work Change Order

H. IFB 23-16 HVAC Upgrades at Whitehead, Welsh, Montessori, Brookview, Jefferson, Rollins Green & Summerdale Schools

I. 2023-2024 Revised Academic Calendar & 2024-2025 Academic Calendar – Morgan Gallagher, Chief of Schools – pulled by Mrs. Makulec

6. *Consent Items – Governance Committee

A. Meeting Minutes: 01-10-23

B. Contract Purchase Orders

C. Freedom of Information Log

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

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

Absent: Ms. McCall

Approved: 6-0-1

Motion by Mr. Rollins seconded by Mrs. Makulec to approve Consent item pulled 5I, Revised Academic Calendar & 2024-2025 Academic Calendar.

Mrs. Dettman provided an update to Board members regarding aligning District calendars to the Head Start Program. Monthly meetings continue with Head Start and an update will follow next month. Mrs. Makulec called for the vote.

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

Absent: Ms. McCall

Approved: 6-0-1

7. *Closed Session Consent Items

A. HR Report & Addendum

8. *Closed Session Consent Items Student Discipline – Suspension Appeals and Expulsions

A. H0030X-23 – The expulsion is held in abeyance contingent upon an expulsion in abeyance agreement for the remainder of 2022-2023 school year through the second trimester of the 2023-2024 school year.

B. H0031X-23 - The expulsion is held in abeyance contingent upon an Expulsion in Abeyance Agreement for the remainder of 2022-2023 school year through the second trimester of the 2023-2024 school year.

C. H0033X-23 – Expelled for the remainder of the 2022-2023 school year through the entire 2023-2024 school year. – pulled by Ms. Pearson

D. H0034X-23 - The expulsion is held in abeyance contingent upon an Expulsion in Abeyance Agreement for the remainder of 2022-2023 school year through the entire 2023-2024 school year.

E. H0035X-23 - Expelled for the remainder of the 2022-2023 school year through the entire 2023-2024 school year. – pulled by Ms. Pearson

F. H0036X-23 - The expulsion is held in abeyance contingent upon an Expulsion in Abeyance Agreement for the remainder of 2022-2023 school year through the entire 2023-2024 school year.

G. H0042X-23 – The expulsion is held in abeyance contingent upon an Expulsion in Abeyance Agreement for the remainder of 2022-2023 school year through the entire 2023-2024 school year, which can be changed to a zoned school EIA upon the successful completion of the ReFresh Program.

H. H0043X-23 - The expulsion is held in abeyance contingent upon an Expulsion in Abeyance Agreement for the remainder of 2022-2023 school year through the first semester 2023-2024 school year.

9. *Closed Session Consent Items Student Discipline – EIAs

A. B0009-23

B. D0006-23

C. H0037-23

D. H0038-23

E. H0039-23

F. H0040-23

G. H0044-23

H. H0045-23

I. P0063-23

J. P0075-23

K. P0076-23

L. P0077-23

M. P0078-23

N. P0079-23

O. P0080-23

P. P0081-23 – pulled by Ms. Haley

Q. P0082-23

R. P0083-23

S. P0084-23

T. P0085-23

U. P0086-23

V. P0087-23

W. P0088-23

X. P0089-23

Y. P0090-23

Z. P0091-23

AA. P0092-23

BB. P0093-23

CC. P0094-23

DD. P0095-23

EE. P0096-23

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

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

Abstain: Mr. Seigel

Absent: Ms. McCall

Approved: 5-1-1

Motion by Mr. Rollins seconded by Mr. Seigel to approve Closed Session Consent items pulled, H0033X23 and H0035X23.

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

Nays: Ms. Haley, Ms. Pearson

Abstain: Mr. Seigel

Absent: Ms. McCall

Approved: 3-2-1-1

Motion by Mr. Rollins seconded by Ms. Stanford to approve Closed Session Consent item pulled 9P, P0081-23.

Yeas: Ms. Stanford, Ms. Pearson, Mr. Rollins, Mrs. Makulec

Nays: Ms. Haley

Abstain: Mr. Seigel

Absent: Ms. McCall

Approved: 4-1-1-1

10. Superintendent’s Update

A. Superintendent’s Report – Dr. Jarrett

Dr. Jarrett spoke of discussion over the next six months. Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle, and High School students will be identified in interventions to ensure they receive high quality learning opportunities. He then ceded the floor to Jozlyn Mahnesmith for her comments.

Jozlyn began her comments and spoke of two items that interested her. The first was the solar panel project, and the second was graduation requirements. She spoke of how these would affect her younger sisters, younger friends, and overall students and the community. She commented on understanding solar power, but not how it would be installed. She spoke of the installation of pipes at East High School, and how temperature cords were severed causing classrooms to become extremely hot. She felt it was a great project for other schools. She felt adding a computer class to graduation requirements was a great idea as technology is a big part of her life and future students. She also felt the computer class will help those interested in engineering or indecisive of what they wish to follow. She thanked Board members for allowing her to speak, expressing it was an honor to sit in the meetings. 11. Board Member Comments

• Ms. Pearson offered a friendly reminder to everyone who represents RPS 205 in any capacity that customer service is elementary. No matter where anyone goes, whether it is a school or the Welcome Center, it is important for each person excellent service. It is nice to be nice.

• Mr. Seigel thanked Jozlyn for being at the Board meeting. He commented on the students sitting through two long meetings, ending with the opportunity to speak at a shorter meeting. These students have been in school for the day, and then attend long meetings. Their insights are valuable to the Board.

Action Steps include:

Ms. Pearson asked for a discussion of the history of the District’s mission, possibly amending or adding to the statement.

12. Adjournment

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

Adjournment: 7:56 p.m.

https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1676490861/rps205com/wvrgxjvrw2qbhgewzmhk/bm2023-01-24.pdf