Prairie State Wire

Illinois State Board of Education Finance and Audit Committee of the Whole met May 13.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

1. Roll Call

Committee Chair Dr. Patricia Nugent brought the meeting to order at 2 p.m. Roll call was taken. A quorum was present, with five members attending in person. State Superintendent Dr. Tony Sanders also was in attendance.

Chair Nugent stated that members would consider the participation of Laura Gonzalez via video conference due to employment purposes. In accordance with the bylaws of the Illinois State Board of Education, the Board may permit a member to participate by other means if they cannot physically attend a meeting because of employment purposes.

Dr. Donna Leak moved that the State Board of Education permit the participation of Ms. Gonzalez via video conference. Dr. Steven Isoye seconded the motion, and it passed by a unanimous roll call vote.

Members Present

Committee Chair Dr. Patricia Nugent

Dr. Steven Isoye

Dr. Donna Leak

Dr. Sherly Chavarria

Laura Gonzalez (virtual)

Dr. Jonah Rice

Members Absent

Dr. James Anderson

Staff Present

Dr. Tony Sanders, State Superintendent

Kim Clarke, Executive Assistant to the State Superintendent

Jo Ireland, Board Services Coordinator

Isabel Schoeman, Special Assistant to the State Superintendent

Kristen Kennedy, Chief Legal Officer

Dr. Kimako Patterson, Chief of Staff

Dr. Matt Seaton, Chief Financial Officer

Dr. Jason Helfer, Chief Education Officer – Instruction

Jennifer Saba, Chief Education Officer – Operations

Tassi Maton, Chief Internal Audit Officer

Edobor Efam, Chief Information Officer

Irma Snopek, Chief Policy and Communications Officer

Miguel Calderon, Chief Operating Officer

Dr. Nikki Combs, Director of School/District Improvement

Dr. Ronda Dawson, Executive Director of Teaching and Learning

Joyce Gronewold, Executive Director of Specialized Instruction

Jeffrey Judge, Director of Wellness and Student Care

Rae Clementz, Executive Director of Data, Assessment adn Accountability

Kirsten Parr, Director of Standards and Instruction

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

Nick Heckel, Supervisor of School/District Improvement (virtual)

Dr. Christine Paxson, Executive Director of Improvement and Innovation

2. Public Participation

There was no public participation.

3. Approval of Minutes: April 15, 2025

Dr. Chavarria moved that the Finance and Audit Committee of the Whole hereby approve the April 15, 2025, meeting minutes. Dr. Rice seconded the motion, and it passed by a unanimous roll call vote.

4. Superintendent’s Consent Agenda – May 14, 2025

Chair Nugent reviewed the items on the consent agenda. Dr. Leak said she was happy to see the item titled “Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million – Approval of an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Regional Office of Education 9 for the Illinois Learning Technology Center” moving forward. She additionally reminded those listening that the Board recognizes that many items on the consent agenda rely on federal funds and that the Board will continue to monitor the availability of those funds. Dr. Chavarria thanked ISBE staff for providing additional information in the Board memos in response to questions asked by Board members during last month’s meeting. Chair Nugent asked if approvals of fiscal year 2026 Continuation School Improvement Grants at different times throughout the year depend on when submissions for those grants are received. Dr. Combs answered that these grants are approved for four-year cohorts, so while additional schools will be receiving these grants in FY 2026, the Board has already approved grants over $1 million for those districts during their four-year grant period. Dr. Nugent asked if grants approved in February 2025, November 2024, and May 2024 were applicable to FY 2025 or FY 2026. Dr. Combs said that those grants will continue to be over $1 million for FY 2026, but the Board already approved those grants over a four-year grant term that encompasses FY 2026. She clarified that the item the Board will approve at the next day’s Board meeting is for 10 districts that are receiving grants over $1 million for the first time.

5. Discussion & Approval

A. Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million – Approval of 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant Upward Amendments

Director of Wellness and Student Care Jeffrey Judge discussed this item.

Dr. Leak thanked Mr. Judge for the report breakdown because it was very comprehensive and provided demographic information. Dr. Chavarria asked what prompted the upward amendment and whether it was due to grantees declining funding. Chief of Staff Dr. Kimako Patterson said that typically each year there are grantees that let their funding lapse, so ISBE must do an upward amendment so that the funding is not lost and returned to the federal government. Dr. Chavarria thanked her for her response, and Dr. Sanders confirmed the upward amendment is due to underspending. Dr. Nugent asked for confirmation that there was not a grant cohort in 2024. Dr. Patterson confirmed that is correct. Chief Education Officer -- Operations Jennifer Saba said there was no new competition run in 2024.

B. Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million – Approval of Grant Agreement for the Illinois Elevating Special Educators Network Project

Director of Specialized Instruction Joyce Gronewold discussed this item. Dr. Leak wondered if this item is not affected by executive orders freezing funding because it is an extension. Dr. Sanders said it has not yet been affected. Dr. Chavarria expressed appreciation for the section in the memo provided to the Board discussing deliverables and relevancy. Dr. Nugent asked if the 4,096 full-time equivalent teacher vacancies mentioned in the memo is a total or specific to special education teachers. Ms. Gronewold said she would have to check and return with an answer.

6. Internal Audit Updates

Chief Internal Audit Officer Tassi Maton led this discussion. She informed the Board that there are no new updates regarding the FY 2023 Statewide Single Audit but emphasized that external auditors are not waiting on any information from ISBE. She continued that the FY20 24 Statewide Single audit also is still in progress, adding that auditors are substantially complete with their work with ISBE, but completion is dependent on the completion of the FY 2023 Statewide Single Audit. She then shared that the FY 2023/24 Compliance Examination has concluded and the Office of the Auditor General released the final report on May 6. She reminded the Board members that this item will be on the consent agenda for their acceptance the next day and stated that she was happy to answer questions in closed session. She noted that the 2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report is underway. ISBE has received a few preliminary questions from the auditors but expects more after FY 2025 concludes. Chair Nugent mentioned that she met with Ms. Maton last month, and their goal is to meet quarterly. Dr. Leak thanked Ms. Maton

and her team. Dr. Nugent said that findings from the FY 2023/24 Compliance Examination will be discussed the following day during the Board meeting closed session.

7. Closed Session (as needed)

A closed session was not necessary.

8. New Business: Items for the Next Agenda

There were no new items for the next agenda.

9. Next Meeting: June 11, 2025

Dr. Nugent reminded the Board that the next Finance and Audit Committee Meeting of the Whole will take place on June 11 rather than June 10 due to quorum issues. The meeting will be followed by the Education Policy Planning Committee Meeting of the Whole and then the main ISBE Board meeting.

10. Adjourn

Dr. Rice moved to adjourn the meeting. Dr. Isoye seconded the motion, and it passed by a unanimous roll call vote. Chair Nugent adjourned the committee at 2:23 p.m.

https://www.isbe.net/Documents_Board_Meetings/20250513-FA-Minutes.pdf