Prairie State Wire

Illinois State Board of Education met Aug. 14.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

1. ROLL CALL 

Chair of the Board Dr. Steven Isoye called the meeting to order at 9 a.m. 

Chair Isoye announced that the Board meeting was being audio-cast live over the internet  and video recorded.  

Chair Isoye asked the clerk to call the roll. A quorum was present with seven members  attending in person. Superintendent Dr. Tony Sanders was also in attendance.  

Members Present: 

 Dr. Steven Isoye, Chair of the Board 

 Dr. Donna Leak, Vice Chair 

 Dr. Christine Benson, Secretary 

 Dr. James Anderson 

 Roger Eddy 

 Laura Gonzalez 

 Dr. Patricia Nugent 

Members Absent: 

 Dr. Sherly Chavarria 

 Dr. Anna Grassellino 

Staff Present 

 Dr. Tony Sanders, State Superintendent  

 Jo Ireland, Board Services Coordinator  

 Kim Clarke, Executive Assistant to the State Superintendent 

 Isabel Schoeman, Special Assistant to the State Superintendent 

 Kristen Kennedy, Chief Legal Officer 

 Dr. Kimako Patterson, Chief of Staff 

 Irma Snopek, Chief Policy and Communications Officer 

 Dr. Jason Helfer, Chief Education Officer – Instruction (virtual) 

 Jennifer Saba, Chief Education Officer – Operations 

 Tassi Maton, Chief Internal Audit Officer  

 Melissa Oller, Chief Operating Officer 

 Edobor Efam, Chief Information Officer 

 Ann Whalen, Chief Advisor to Early Childhood Transition 

 Tom Bazan, Director of Budget and Financial Management 

 Dr. Tiffany Burnett, Executive Director of Safe and Healthy Climate (virtual) 

 Madan Damodaran, Director of Software Solutions 

 Donna Schroeder, Supervisor of Software Solutions 

2. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Chair Isoye reminded those in attendance of the Public Participation Policy and the signup procedures for today’s meeting. 

Kaleb Smith, director of the Madison County CTE System, spoke on behalf of the group Invest CTE on the benefits of Career and Technical Education (CTE) funding. He thanked the Board members for the previous funding they have provided for CTE and shared that this funding has gone to creating a middle school virtual reality program in his region. He drew the Board’s attention to provided materials showing a graduation rate increase of 9- 14% for students who participate in at least two CTE programs and a $22 return on investment for every dollar invested in CTE programming. He requested an additional $10 million in state funding to continue this momentum and $25 million to expand and renovate existing career centers. 

Cynthia Riseman Lund, legislative director at Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT), and Dr. John Burkey, executive director at Large Unit District Association, spoke on the topic of assessment. Dr. Burkey recalled ISBE’s partnership with the Center for Assessment a Draft—Pending Approval few years ago, a consulting group that provided several recommendations on assessment, some of which have yet to be reviewed or implemented. Both Dr. Burkey and Ms. Riseman Lund advocated for the serious consideration of every recommendation provided by the Center for Assessment, with the goal of keeping testing to a minimum while also meeting federal requirements. Ms. Riseman Lund drew specific attention to the recommendation of a collaborative effort between practitioners, students, and families to develop a theory of action in Illinois and hoped that a previously postponed meeting on this subject would be rescheduled soon. She emphasized that IFT is of the belief that no additional assessment procurements should be issued before the consideration of the Center for Assessment’s recommendations.

Ashly Giddens, a concerned parent, spoke on safety issues pertaining to the detention basin at the Heather Hill Elementary School in Flossmoor. She described the basin as surrounding 70% of the elementary school and measuring 20 feet deep, 745 feet in length, and 330 feet in width. She expressed worry that a space that was once used for recreation for the children is now a safety hazard and conveyed complaints made by upset residents. She stated that a child was found in the construction site and feared others would be at risk during the upcoming school year. She finally queried whether the basin project was permitted to proceed in this area because conflict of interest procedures were not followed when allowing the mayor’s husband to vote on the issue as a member of the school board. 

Barbara Karstrom, a resident of the Heather Hill neighborhood, spoke on concerns regarding the Heather Hill Elementary School detention basin. She shared that she was one of many residents who signed petitions and engaged in protests against the detention area being placed only 40 feet from the playground of the elementary school., She stated that prior administrations had considered alternative sites for the detention basin, but the SD 161 board approved the initiative on school grounds through a forced revote under the name of the Flossmoor Road Viaduct Project, excluding mention of the elementary school. Ms. Karstrom expressed her belief that this site not only endangers children but decreases the quality of their education. 

Crystal Cleggett, parent and community member of the Heather Hill neighborhood, spoke on finding an elementary-aged child in the Heather Hill detention basin construction site. She submitted pictures of the incident, which occurred on the evening of Aug. 12, via email to Board Services Coordinator Jo Ireland. Ms. Ireland forwarded these materials to the Board. She recounted seeing numerous pieces of dangerous construction equipment within the site when the child was found, and she stated she was only able to find the child because she lives within 1,200 feet of the basin. She expressed concern over the number of easily accessible points of entry to the detention basin and lack of safety precautions in place.

3. RECOGNITIONS

The Board recognized 2023 Illinois Teacher of the Year Briana Morales from Gordon Bush Alternative Center in East St. Louis School District 189. Chair Isoye invited Ms. Morales to speak on her accomplishments during her state-funded, yearlong sabbatical. Ms. Morales shared a presentation on her journey to nearly 100 educational institutions over the past year, where she was able to gather stories from educators and challenge them to consider impactful questions. Her accomplishments over the past year were numerous. Superintendent Sanders expressed the Board’s pride in Ms. Morales. Chair Isoye shared his excitement for Ms. Morales’ future. 

The Board then recognized 2024 Teacher of the Year Dr. Rachael Mahmood from Georgetown Elementary School in Indian Prairie Community Unit School District 204. Chair Isoye invited Dr. Mahmood to share about her goals for her upcoming sabbatical. She spoke on her hopes to collect stories of belonging in education and compile what she learns into a dataset containing insights from thousands of educators, families, students, and others in the school ecosystem. She conveyed her plans to host at least 50 world cafes, spaces in which to share these stories of belonging. Chair Isoye congratulated Dr. Mahmood and encouraged those listening to use the Illinois Teacher of the Year Appearance Request Form to ask her to speak at their school.

4. CLOSED SESSION

Dr. Nugent moved that the State Board of Education go into closed session for the following exception items: 

A. The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees, specific individuals who serve as independent contractors in a park, recreational, or educational setting, or specific volunteers of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee, a specific individual who serves as an independent contractor in a park, recreational, or educational setting, or a volunteer of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity. However, a meeting to consider an increase in compensation to a specific employee of a public body that is subject to the Local Government Wage Increase Transparency Act may not be closed and shall be open to the public and posted and held in accordance with this Act. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1) 

B. Litigation, when an action against, affecting or on behalf of the particular public body has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal, or when the public body finds that an action is probable or imminent, in which case the basis for the finding shall be recorded and entered into the minutes of the closed meeting. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11) 

She further moved that the Board members may invite anyone they wish to be included in this closed session. 

Dr. Benson seconded the motion, and it passed with a unanimous roll call vote. 

The open meeting recessed at 9:40 a.m. to go into closed session. The open meeting reconvened at 10:02 a.m. 

5. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION 

There was no further public participation.

6. CONSENT AGENDA 

Chair Isoye reviewed the items under the Consent Agenda. There was no discussion. Dr.

Leak issued a reminder that these items have been discussed previously by the Board.

Dr. Benson moved that the State Board of Education hereby approves the Consent Agenda.

Ms. Gonzalez seconded the motion, and it passed with a unanimous roll call vote.

The following motions were approved by action taken in the Consent Agenda motion:

Approval of Minutes

Plenary Minutes: June 12, 2024

The Illinois State Board of Education hereby approves the June 12, 2024, meeting minutes.

Approval for Adoption

*Approval for Adoption – Part 1 (Public Schools Evaluation, Recognition and Supervision) Opioid Antagonists, Parental Approval

The State Board of Education hereby authorizes the state superintendent to submit the proposed rulemaking for Part 1 to the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) for second notice. Further, the Board authorizes the state superintendent of education to make such technical and non-substantive changes as the state superintendent may deem necessary in response to suggestions or objections of JCAR.   

Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million 

*Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million – Approval of Learning Technology Center Intergovernmental Agreement Renewal 

The State Board of Education hereby authorizes the state superintendent to renew the intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with Champaign and Ford Counties Regional Office of Education 9 to administer the Learning Technology Center for fiscal year 2025 for an amount not to exceed $2 million. 

*Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million – Approval for Two Developers for Educator Effectiveness Applications 

The State Board of Education hereby authorizes the state superintendent of education to order against the state’s Joint Purchase Master Contract via the Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology’s Technology Operations Professional Services program to obtain the services of two software developers to assist in the development and maintenance of existing and future applications as they pertain to projects related to the Educator Effectiveness Department. 

*Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million – Approval of a Grant to Teach Plus Illinois to Administer the Affinity Groups Program 

The State Board of Education hereby authorizes the state superintendent of education to award a grant not to exceed $1 million in FY 2025 to Teach Plus Illinois to administer a statewide system of affinity groups. 

*Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million – Approval of Upward Budget Amendment – Qualified Language Interpreters Training 

The State Board of Education hereby authorizes the state superintendent of education to authorize an upward amendment of a total of $261,996 over the next three fiscal years (FY 2025-FY 2027) to the Qualified Language Interpreters Training Intergovernmental Agreement with the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. This will increase the total IGA from $5,028,537 to $5,320,533 over the life of the IGA. Due to the high demand for trainings, this additional funding will increase the number of training sessions provided to the field each semester.

7.A DISCUSSION & APPROVAL | CONTRACTS & GRANTS OVER $1 MILLION – APPROVAL OF YOUTHBUILD ILLINOIS GRANT

Chief Education Officer of Instruction Dr. Jason Helfer discussed this item. 

Dr. Helfer provided follow up to questions from previous discussion of this item. Dr. Leak asked previously about expansion plans for this program, and Dr. Helfer was able to share that there were two expansion sites in FY 2024. He promised to share updates on intent for expansion under the FY 2025 grant once he had them. He also promised to forward the YouthBuild Illinois annual report upon completion. 

There were no additional questions from Board members. Dr. Leak thanked Dr. Helfer for investigating her earlier questions. 

Dr. Leak moved that the State Board of Education hereby authorizes the state superintendent to award a sole source grant to YouthBuild Illinois in the amount of $5.5 million for FY 2025. 

Dr. Anderson seconded the motion. The motion passed with a unanimous roll call vote.

7.B DISCUSSION & APPROVAL | CONTRACTS & GRANTS OVER $1 MILLION – APPROVAL OF INVITATION FOR BID – SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS/SPECIAL EDUCATION SYSTEMS – ONE BUSINESS ANALYST, ONE DEVELOPER

Supervisor of Software Solutions Donna Schroeder and Director of Software Solutions Madan Damodaran discussed this item. 

There were no additional questions from Board members on this item. 

Dr. Anderson moved that the State Board of Education hereby authorizes the state superintendent to increase the Jan. 24, 2024, authorization of $1.89 million by $112,000 for a revised total of $2.004 million to award a contract to acquire the services of one business analyst and one developer to assist in the development and maintenance of existing and future applications as they pertain to the collection and organization of the state’s special education data. The initial term of the contract will begin upon execution and extend through June 30, 2027. There will be one possible two-year renewal contingent upon sufficient appropriation and satisfactory contractor performance in each preceding contract year. The contract total costs, including renewals, will not exceed $2.004 million. 

Dr. Leak seconded the motion. The motion passed with a unanimous roll call vote. 

7.C DISCUSSION & APPROVAL | CONTRACTS AND GRANTS OVER $1 MILLION – APPROVAL OF SOLE SOURCE GRANT TO AFTER SCHOOL MATTERS

Executive Director of Safe and Healthy Climate Dr. Tiffany Burnett discussed this item. 

Dr. Leak reiterated that there is a million dollar increase in funding as a part of state appropriations. There were no additional questions from Board members on this item. 

Ms. Gonzalez moved that the State Board of Education hereby authorizes the state superintendent to award a sole source grant to After School Matters to provide out-ofschool opportunities to teens in Chicago. The estimated total cost of the grant will not exceed $6 million in FY 2025 with a term ending June 30, 2025, unless extended. 

Dr. Benson seconded the motion. The motion passed with a unanimous roll call vote.

7.D DISCUSSION & APPROVAL | CONTRACTS & GRANTS OVER $1 MILLION – APPROVAL OF DOLLY PARTON IMAGINATION LIBRARY PROGRAM 

Dr. Helfer discussed this item.

Dr. Helfer provided updates on questions previously asked about this item. He corrected his response from the Aug. 13 Finance and Audit Committee to state that if a county does not have a partner with an executed memorandum of understanding with the Dollywood Foundation, then children and families residing in that county are unable to participate in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Program. He additionally clarified the definition of full statewide implementation of the program, which is that every county in the state has an executed memorandum of understanding so that all children up to the age of 5 and their families have access to the program. He answered Mr. Eddy’s earlier question about the cost per book in this program, which is $1 per child per book in a statewide program. Dr. Helfer finally answered a question on data security and stated that the Dolly Parton Imagination Library uses the general data protection regulation protocol. Under this protocol, all children are scrubbed from their database after turning 5 years old and county programs can run reports on the aggregate level but cannot include individual child information. He concluded with a reminder that this is only the second year of statewide implementation, and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library typical timeframe of full state implementation is four to five years.

Dr. Nugent thanked Dr. Helfer for this information and expressed her appreciation for the work done within this program so far. Dr. Leak thanked 

Dr. Helfer for his answers to the Board’s earlier questions and expressed the Board’s support for this initiative, as well as her admiration for the statewide cost of $1 per child per book. 

Mr. Eddy moved that the State Board of Education hereby authorizes entering a sole source grant with the Dollywood Foundation in the amount of $3.512 million in order to provide registration access to every child aged 0-5 in Illinois so they can receive a free, age-appropriate book each month. The initial term of the grant will begin July 1, 2024, and extend through June 30, 2025. 

Dr. Nugent seconded the motion. The motion passed with a unanimous roll call vote.

7.E DISCUSSION & APPROVAL | CONTRACTS & GRANTS OVER $1 MILLION – APPROVAL OF VALLEY VIEW ITINERANT SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS AND DISABILITIES 

This item was pulled from the agenda.

8. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REPORTS 

Superintendent/Senior Staff Announcements 

Dr. Sanders reminded everyone that many of Illinois’ school districts are opening this week and welcomed everyone to a new school year. He also thanked all ISBE staff who volunteered at the Illinois State Fair for the past week and encouraged anyone listening to come to the fair and say hello. He promoted an ongoing campaign for teacher recruitment called “The Answer Is Teaching” in which individuals can enter their information online to receive information on how to become a teacher in the state of Illinois. He encouraged Board members to promote the campaign on social media as well. 

There were no senior staff announcements. 

Chair of the Board’s Report 

Chair Isoye welcomed everyone back to a new school year and congratulated the school districts for reopening. He reminded Board members to fill out a self-evaluation sent via email and requested their in-person presence at the September Board meeting and retreat. He also thanked the volunteers for their work at the State Fair. 

Member Reports 

Dr. Benson reported as chair of the nominating committee of the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) that Dr. Isoye was nominated as central region chair to serve on the NASBE Board of Directors. His nomination will be voted on in October. Dr. Leak acknowledged Dr. Benson for her excellent tenure as president of NASBE and thanked her on behalf of the state of Illinois. Dr. Leak acknowledged her school district for opening this week and praised her team for overseeing that process while she is serving the state. Dr. Gonzalez thanked anyone who worked over the summer to make the upcoming school year a success. 

9. INFORMATION ITEMS ISBE 

Fiscal & Administrative Monthly Reports 

Freedom of Information Act Monthly Report 

10. MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT 

Dr. Isoye announced that the next Board meeting will be held on Sept. 19, 2024. 

Ms. Gonzalez moved to adjourn the Aug. 14, 2024, meeting of the Illinois State Board of Education. 

Dr. Anderson seconded the motion, and it passed with a unanimous roll call vote. The meeting adjourned at 10:29 a.m. 

https://go.boarddocs.com/il/isbe/Board.nsf/files/D8TM9659FD23/$file/DRAFT%20Plenary%20Minutes%20-%20August%2014%2C%202024.pdf