Rockford Sun

Rockford Public School District 205 Board of Education met Oct. 17.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Board Secretary Stanford called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.

Present: President Denise Pearson, Secretary June Stanford, Ms. Nicole Bennett, Ms. Kim Haley, Mr. Paul Carpenter (arr. 5:02 p.m.), Mr. Grant Schubert

Absent: Vice President Tiana McCall

Motion by Ms. Stanford 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: 5-0-2

The Board was in executive session from 5:01 p.m. to 6:54 p.m.

1. Call to Order – President Denise Pearson called the regular meeting of the Board of Education to order at 7:05 p.m.

A. Roll Call

Present: President Denise Pearson, Secretary June Stanford, Ms. Nicole Bennet, Ms. Kim Haley, Mr. Paul Carpenter, Mr. Grant Schubert

Absent: Vice President Tiana McCall

Ms. Pearson thanked Kim Pedersen who produces the Board’s broadcast on Channel 20, and YouTube Live. She welcomed Superintendent’s Student Advisory Representative Tre’Vonte Green 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. Proclamation

A. Principals Week – October 15-21, 2023

Board President Pearson thanked Rockford Public Schools principals for the work they do, and expressed her appreciation for all they do.

3. Petitions & Communications

Ms. Pearson read the guidelines.

• Ricky Naylor spoke in opposition to the Intergovernmental Agreement with the Rockford Police Department.

• John Tac Brantlee commented on an incident where a staff member was too slow in their response.

• Nina Giannangeli spoke of the importance of closing the literacy score gaps between Caucasian and African American students.

Motion by Ms. Bennett seconded by Ms. Stanford to recess for ten minutes.

Yeas: Ms. Pearson, Mr. Schubert, Ms. Bennett, Mr. Carpenter, Ms. Haley, Ms. Stanford

Absent: Ms. McCall

Approved: 6-0-1

The board took a ten minute break beginning at 7:15 p.m.

Motion by Ms. Stanford seconded by Ms. Bennett to reconvene at 7:25 p.m.

Approved by voice vote.

4. Report and *Action on Items that Proceeded through the Governance Committee

A. *Board Policy 7.60 Students; Residence

Motion by Ms. Stanford seconded by Ms. Haley to approve item 4A, Board Policy 7.60 Students; Residence. Yeas: Mr. Schubert, Mr. Carpenter, Ms. Haley, Ms. Stanford

Nays: Ms. Pearson, Ms. Bennett

Absent: Ms. McCall

Approved: 4-2-1

B. *Board Policy 7.270 Administering Medicines to Students

Motion by Ms. Stanford seconded by Ms. Haley to approve item 4B, Board Policy 7.279 Administering Medicines to Students.

Yeas: Mr. Carpenter, Ms. Haley, Ms. Stanford, Ms. Pearson, Mr. Schubert, Ms. Bennett

Absent: Ms. McCall

Approved: 6-0-1

C. IASB Resolutions – Discussion only

Ms. Pearson spoke of the Delegate Assembly at the upcoming Joint Conference. Delegates will vote on the resolutions presented. If anyone wishes to represent the District, please e-mail Attorney Hoadley.

5. *Consent Agenda – Performance and Monitoring Committee

A. Payroll

B. Accounts Payable

C. Purchase Orders

D. Contract Purchase Orders

E. Air Travel

F. Monthly Cash and Investment Report – August 2023 – Jamie Murray, CPA, Executive Director of Finance

G. ESSER – RPS Managed Work Change Order

H. RPS Managed Work Change Order

I. RFP 24-08 Contract Management Software

J. IFB 24-14 Guilford H.S. Roof Replacement

K. IFB 24-15 Roof Replacement at Conklin E.s., Lathrop E.S., and Whitehead E.S.

L. GSF Custodial Services Contract Amendment - Michael Phillips, Chief Operations Officer

M. Recurring Contract Hagney Architects, Auburn High School Field House Locker Room Design - Michael Phillips, Chief Operations Officer

N. Recurring Contract Fehr Graham Summerdale Parking Lot Replacement - Michael Phillips, Chief Operations Officer

O. Recurring Contract Larson and Darby Group, Administration Parking Lot Replacement and Building Water Infiltration Design - Michael Phillips, Chief Operations Officer

P. Recurring Contract Fehr Graham, East and Jefferson Field Turf Field and Track Design - Michael Phillips, Chief Operations Officer

Q. Recurring Contract Belles Firm of Architecture, Swanson, and Wyeth Stadium Renovations

R. Contract Amendments for College and Career Education Center - Michael Phillips, Chief Operations Officer

S. Partnership for Resilience - Dr. Morgan Gallagher on behalf of Constance Lane Elementary

T. Huron Learning Partner - Dr. Heather Psaltis on behalf of Kennedy Middle School

U. Teacher Professional Learning: Amplify

Motion by Ms. Bennet seconded by Ms. Stanford to approve Consent items, Performance and Monitoring Committee not pulled.

Comments included items M, N, O, P, and Q qualified as recurring as they were preapproved projects. These were approved in an early RFQ process. Ms. Pearson called for the vote.

Yeas: Ms. Haley, Ms. Stanford, Ms. Pearson, Mr. Schubert, Ms. Bennett, Mr. Carpenter

Absent: Ms. McCall

Approved: 6-0-1

6. *Consent Items – Planning Committee

A. Navigate 360 Districtwide Virtual Alice Training

Motion by Ms. Stanford seconded by Ms. Bennett to approve Planning Committee Consent items not pulled.

Yeas: Ms. Stanford, Ms. Pearson, Mr. Schubert, Ms. Bennett, Mr. Carpenter, Ms. Haley

Absent: Ms. McCall

Approved: 6-0-1

7. * Consent Items – Governance Committee

A. Meeting Minutes: 09-19-23

B. Notice of Public Hearing eLearning Plan – Heidi Dettman, Chief of Schools

C. Fee Waiver – YWCA Northern Illinois – Literacy Council ESL Adult Education Classes, Catherine Ellis, Director of Operations

D. Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) – EOPA (Bilingual Translators/Parent Initiative Support Professionals Educators)

E. IGA – Property Tax Refund Program

F. Worker’s Compensation Settlement Agreement - JC

G. Freedom of Information Long

Motion by Ms. Stanford seconded by Mr. Schubert to approve Governance Committee Consent items not pulled. Yeas: Ms. Pearson, Mr. Schubert, Ms. Bennett, Mr. Carpenter, Ms. Haley, Ms. Stanford

Absent: Ms. McCall

Approved: 6-0-1

8. *Closed Session Consent Items

A. Residency Resolution – Student X

B. Appointment of Anika McGee as 10 Month Assistant Principal assigned to Auburn High School

C. Appointment of Robert Walton as 10 Month Assistant Principal assigned to RESA Middle School

D. Appointment of Terence Brown as 12 Month Special Education Program Administrator assigned to the Administration Building

E. Appointment of Melissa Wolf as 12 Month Fine Arts Director assigned to the Administration Building

F. HR Organizational Report & Addendum

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

A. H0001X-24 – the expulsion is held in abeyance contingent upon an Expulsion in Abeyance Agreement for the remainder of the 23-24 school year through the first semester of the 24-25 school year, which can be terminated earlier based upon the conditions set for the in the EIA.

B. H0002X-24 – expelled for the remainder of the 23-24 school year through the first semester of the 24-25 school year.

C. H0003X-24 – expelled for the remainder of the 23-24 school year.

D. H0005X-24 – the expulsion is held in abeyance contingent upon an Expulsion in Abeyance Agreement for the remainder of the 23-24 school year through the first semester of the 24-25 school year, which can be terminated earlier based upon the conditions set for the in the EIA.

E. H0007X-24 – the expulsion is held in abeyance contingent upon an Expulsion in Abeyance Agreement for the remainder of the 23-24 school year through the first semester of the 24-25 school year.

10. *Closed Session Consent Items Student Discipline – EIAs

A. D0001-24 – pulled by Ms. Bennett

B. H0004-24

C. H0006-24

D. H0008-24

E. H0009-24

F. P0003-24

G. P0004-24

H. P0005-24

I. P0006-24

J. P0007-24

K. P0008-24

L. P0009-24

M. P0010-24

N. P0011-24

O. P0012-24

P. P0013-24

Q. P0014-24

R. P0015-24 – pulled by Ms. Bennett

S. P0016-24

T. P0017-24

Motion by Ms. Stanford seconded by Mr. Carpenter to approve Closed Session Consent items not pulled.

Yeas: Mr. Schubert, Ms. Bennett, Mr. Carpenter, Ms. Haley, Ms. Stanford, Ms. Pearson

Absent: Ms. McCall

Approved: 6-0-1

Motion by Ms. Stanford seconded by Ms. Bennett to approve Closed Session Consent items pulled, Student Discipline EIAs 10A, D0001-24 and 10R, P0015-24.

Yeas: Mr. Carpenter, Ms. Haley, Ms. Stanford, Ms. Pearson, Mr. Schubert

Abstain: Ms. Bennett

Absent: Ms. McCall

Approved: 5-1-1

11. Superintendent’s Update

A. Superintendent’s Report – Dr. Jarrett

Dr. Jarrett ceded his time to Superintendent Student Advisory Council representative Tre’Vonte Green. Tre’Vonte spoke of his first year being a member, and how it means a lot to him. He is a lifelong RPS 205 student and commented on benefiting from the many educational field trips. He also spoke of how good a job Auburn does with outreach and experience.

Superintendent Student Advisory Council members will serve as VIP tour guides at the Expo Academy, October 18, 2023.

12. Board Member Comments

• Ms. Stanford thanked Board and Cabinet members for participating in the Board Retreat.

• Ms. Bennett commented on her touring Sub District D, and thanked Dr. Gallagher for arranging these visits.

• Ms. Haley attended Donuts at Hillmans and appreciated the welcome she received from staff members and Ms. Kloss.

• Ms. Pearson recognized Whitehead Elementary School for their outstanding family night. The community connection is appreciated by members. She thanked Ms. Stanford and Ms. Bennett for their awesome job at the Board retreat and that it was outstanding. She thanked community members for their patience as members had a brief break at the beginning of the meeting.

13. Other Business/New Business Agenda Recommendations

Motion by Ms. Stanford seconded by Mr. Schubert to adjourn.

Adjournment: 7:49 p.m.

https://go.boarddocs.com/il/rps205/Board.nsf/files/CXLKTB51EB9E/$file/bm2023-10-17.pdf