Prairie State Wire

Illinois State Board of Education, Ensuring Success in School Task Force met May 29.

Here are the minutes provided by the task force:

Ensuring Success in School Task Force members present: 

● Tai Basurto, Chicago Public Schools (arrived 10:25)  

● Madeleine Behr, Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation  

● Sean Black, Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault  

● Maryam Brotine, Illinois Association of School Boards  

● Jennifer Garrison, Vandalia CUSD 203  

● Kim Hefner, Riverside School District 96 

● Brenda Huber, Illinois School Psychologists Association  

● Melissa McCutchen, Carterville High School 

● Krish Mohip, Illinois State Board of Education 

● Nancy Mullen, Youth Outlook 

● Maria Robles Sinkule, Addison School District 4  

● Vince Walsh-Rock, Illinois School Counselor Association  

Ensuring Success in School Task Force members absent:  

● Courtney Akins, New Moms 

● Verda Bhatti, Between Friends 

● Kimberly Lightford, State Senator, 4th District 

● Kim Mangiaracino, Children’s Advocacy Centers of Illinois 

● Anna Moeller, State Representative, 43rd District 

● Jerrilyn Parker, West Harvey-Dixmoor School District 147  

● Scherherazade Tillet, A Long Walk Home  

● Jil Tracy, State Senator, 47th District 

ISBE Staff present: 

● Julia Strehlow, Social/Emotional Learning Lead  

● Dawn Frison-Cook, Staff Facilitator/Assistant to the Chief Education Officer – Operations 

Guests Present: 

• Porshé Garner, A Long Walk Home  

Chair: Krish Mohip  

Vice Chair: Jerrilyn Parker 

I. Welcome/Roll Call 

Mr. Mohip called the meeting to order at 10:16 a.m. After welcoming the members, he asked for a roll  call vote. A voice roll call vote was taken: 

Ms. Akins, NO RESPONSE 

Ms. Basurto, NO RESPONSE  

Ms. Behr, PRESENT 

Ms. Bhatti, NO RESPONSE  

Mr. Black, HERE 

Ms. Brotine, HERE  

Ms. Garrison, HERE  

Ms. Hefner, PRESENT  

Ms. Huber, PRESENT 

Sen. Lightford, NO RESPONSE 

Ms. Mangiaracino, HERE 

Ms. McCutchen, NO RESPONSE  

Rep. Moeller, NO REPONSE 

Mr. Mohip, HERE 

Mx. Mullen, PRESENT 

Ms. Parker, NO RESPONSE  

Ms. Robles Sinkule, HERE  

Ms. Tillet, NO RESPONSE  

Sen. Tracy, NO RESPONSE  

Mr. Walsh-Rock, HERE 

Quorum was established. 

II. Public Participation 

There were no members of the public who spoke. III. Approval of Minutes 

Mr. Mohip asked for a motion to approve the minutes from the March 20, 2024, and January 23, 2024, task force meetings, as well as the minutes from the March 1, 2024, and February 16, 2024, Educator and  Staff Training Subcommittee meetings. Ms. Hefner made the motion to approve the minutes. Ms. Brotine seconded the motion. A voice roll call vote was taken: 

Ms. Behr, YES 

Mr. Black, YES 

 Ms. Brotine, YES 

 Ms. Garrison, YES 

 Ms. Hefner, YES 

Ms. Huber, YES 

The motion passed. 

Ms. McCutchen, YES 

Mr. Mohip, YES 

Mx. Mullen, YES 

Ms. Robles Sinkule, YES 

Mr. Walsh-Rock, YES 

IV. Recap of Prior Meeting Discussion  

There was no discussion.  

V. Discussion of Policies, Procedure, and Recommendations 

In reviewing the task force report via PowerPoint, Ms. Strehlow said the report is not fully designed graphically, but will be prior to its submission. She also reviewed the table of contents, the  background, and population data sections.  

After going over the research section, Ms. Strehlow highlighted the four required model policies submitted by subcommittees; guidance; recommendations; and agreements from the Public Acts that  cover training, confidentiality, and the complaint resolution process.  

After Ms. Strehlow went over the report, there wasn’t any discussion regarding the policies,  procedures, and recommendations by task force members. 

VI. Review and Approval of Final Task Force Report 

Mr. Mohip asked for a motion and a second to accept the report; he also asked if there were any  discussion prior to the vote. Ms. Hefner said that she believes the report is comprehensive and she  doesn’t have any concerns. Mr. Mohip said that it was a pleasure working with everyone and appreciates  the extra time that was put into this.  

Mr. Walsh-Rock made the motion. Ms. Hefner seconded the motion. A voice roll call vote was taken:  

Ms. Behr, YES 

Mr. Black, YES 

Ms. Brotine, YES 

Ms. Garrison, YES 

Ms. Hefner, YES 

Ms. Huber, YES 

The motion passed.  

VII. Task Force Next Steps 

Ms. McCutchen, YES 

Mr. Mohip, YES 

Mx. Mullen, YES 

Ms. Robles Sinkule, YES 

Mr. Walsh-Rock, YES 

Mr. Mohip said the report will be made into final form to share with the state superintendent prior to its  transmittal to the General Assembly before the June 30 deadline. He said that once the report is filed, this task force will be dissolved. After thanking everyone for their work on this task force, Mr. Mohip said this  task force is about everyone coming together, putting differences aside, and thinking what is best for the  children. He also said while no one hears about this work that’s being done, teachers, principals, and  students will feel its impact.  

Ms. Hefner asked if there will be other opportunities to be involved in this work in the future. Ms.  Strehlow suggested to look at the State Board of Education’s Strategic Plan. She said there are a number of related items in the plan that require consultation with stakeholders. She also said outside this task  force, there are a lot of opportunities for collaboration.  

VIII. Future Meeting Date – June 5, 2024 

Mr. Mohip said this meeting date that was held just in case it was needed in order to vote on the final  report. Since the report was voted on, he said this meeting will be deleted.  

IX. New Business 

There was no new business discussed.  

X. Adjournment 

Mr. Mohip asked for a motion to adjourn. Ms. Hefner made the motion to adjourn. Ms. Behr seconded  the motion. A voice roll call vote was taken: 

Ms. Basurto, YES 

Ms. Behr, YES 

Mr. Black, YES  

Ms. Brotine, YES  

Ms. Hefner, YES  

Ms. Huber, YES 

Ms. McCutchen, YES 

Mr. Mohip, YES 

Mx. Mullen, YES 

Ms. Robles Sinkule, YES  

Mr. Walsh-Rock, YES 

The meeting adjourned at 10:36 a.m.

https://www.isbe.net/Documents_ESSTaskForce/052924-Minutes.pdf