Prairie State Wire

Illinois State Board of Education met Sept. 18.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

1. Roll Call

Chair of the Board Dr. Steven Isoye called the meeting to order at 12:03 p.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. Sherly Chavarria

Roger Eddy

Laura Gonzalez

Dr. Patricia Nugent

Members Absent

Dr. James Anderson

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

Lindsay Record, Press Secretary

2. Public Participation

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

Robert Ferriell, head of Student and Business Services at the Capital Area Career Center in Springfield, spoke on Career and Technical Education (CTE) funding. He first thanked Board members for their continued and increased support of CTE in recent years and shared examples of the positive impact their support has had on students’ lives. He then expressed a need for capital improvements in CTE facilities and requested a $25 million line item to address this need. 

3. Closed Session 

Ms. Gonzalez 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.

Mr. Eddy seconded the motion, and it passed with a unanimous roll call vote.

The open meeting recessed at 12:10 p.m. to go into closed session. The open meeting reconvened at 4:32 p.m.

4. Board Self-Evaluation Discussion

The Board conducted a self-evaluation discussion during closed session.

5. Superintendent’s Evaluation

The superintendent’s evaluation took place during closed session.

6. Motion for Adjournment

Dr. Nugent moved to adjourn the Sept. 18, 2024, meeting of the Illinois State Board of Education.

Ms. Gonzalez seconded the motion, and it passed with a unanimous roll call vote. The meeting adjourned at 4:32 p.m.

https://go.boarddocs.com/il/isbe/Board.nsf/files/DA5PUM66548A/$file/DRAFT%20Plenary%20Minutes%20-%20September%2018%2C%202024.pdf