McLean County Times

McLean County Unit School District 5 Board of Education met May 21.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

A McLean County Unit District No. 5 Board of Education meeting was held Wednesday, May 21, 2025, beginning at - 6:30pm (Sign up for public comments will be open from 5:15pm - 6:15pm) at the Normal West High School, 501 N Parkside Rd, Normal, IL 61761.

1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL

2. Members present: Kentrica Coleman, Stan Gozur, Patrick Mainieri, Kelly Pyle, Amy Roser, Alex Williams. Members absent: Mark Adams.

3. ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION (5:45p.m.)

At 5:45 pm, Gozur moved and Coleman seconded to adjourn to closed session to discuss the following matter according to the exceptions provided in the Open Meetings Act and specified as follows:

•2(c)(1) The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity and

•2(c)(2) Collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives, or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees

and

•2(c)(11) 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.

Roll Call: Ayes: Coleman, Gozur, Mainieri, Pyle, Roser, Williams. Nays: None. Motion carried.

Also present: Superintendent Dr. Kristen Weikle, Assistant Superintendent Michelle Lamboley, Chief Financial Officer Martin Hickman, Director of Human Resources Heather Rogers, Executive Director of Operations Joe Adelman, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Dr. Kristal Shelvin, Director of Communications/Community Relations Dayna Brown, Director of Safety and Security Shane Hill, Director of Special Education Carrie Chapmen, Principal of Parkside Junior High School Sarah Crowder, and Clerk of the Board Emily Sargent.

4. RECESS

At 6:26 pm the Board recessed to public session.

5. RETURN TO PUBLIC SESSION

At 6:32 pm Gozur moved and Coleman seconded to return to public session.

Roll Call: Ayes: Coleman, Gozur, Mainieri, Pyle, Roser, Williams. Nays: None. Motion carried.

6. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

7. FOCUS ON STUDENTS AND GOOD NEWS REPORTS

A Good News - Beyond the Books

Michelle Lamboley introduced the two board members from Beyond the Books Grant and various winners. There was $63,775 awarded in grants. The Beyond the Box winner was from CJHS. Othere winners from CJHS, NCHS, Carlock, Fox Creek, Northpoint, etc. These grant winners will use their dollars awarded to enhance and enrich student learning.

B Good News - PJHS Girls Cross Country

Eric Hadden presented the two students and coaches from the PJHS girls cross country team that were state qualifiers.

8. SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS

Weikle thanked the teacher and staff that came tonight to discuss their grants they were awareded by the Beyond the Books.

This weekend will be graduation for NCHS and NCWHS. She congratulated all those graduating and transition to their next step.

This summer educators across the district will participate in over 40 task forces. Our maintenance team will be busy with facilities updates like roofing and lighting updates, pavement work, etc.

She appreciated all the retirees that came to the Unit office to sign up as a substitute teacher. Collectively, they have served for 3,000 years.

She recognized Melanie Aslinger as the new Associate Director of Special Education. She was a will be returning to Unit 5 from DMAC school district. She also recognized Maggie Dolan as the Assistant Director of Special Education. She previously worked in Peoria School District.

She closed her comments by wishing students stadd, and families and safe and fun summer.

9. PUBLIC COMMENTS

Claire Zimmerman. Topic: Cell Phone Bans

Kailey Peterson. Topic: Cell Phone Bans

Amy Reiman. Topic: Cell Phone Bans

Remy Gerard. Topic: Cell Phone Bans

Casey Peterson. Topic: Cell Phone Bans

Dr. Sara Piotrowski. Topic: Cell Phone Bans

10. REPORTS

A Amended Budget FY25

Marty Hickman discussed the amended budget for FY25. She went over the budget process throughout the year. He went over some highlights that have been previously discussed at the Finance Committee meetings throughout the year.

B 1st Reading 2025-2026 Early Learning, Elementary, Junior High, and High School Handbooks

Dr. Caffey discussed the transition from 4 handbooks to 1. It was a goal of this process to provide the same information to all students and staff across the district in hopes to promote unity and cohearance.

One of the strategies is to make the handbook more appealing and digitally accessible. This allows for videos and animations to be embedded. This will also allow the district to see how many people have viewed the handbook, for how long, and how many people have downloaded the handbook.

C 1st Reading of Board Policies, Administrative Procedures and Exhibits

1 Section 2: Board of Education

a. Policy 2.260 Uniform Grievance Procedure

2 Section 4: Operational Services

a. Policy 4.80 Accounting and Audits

3 Section 5: Personnel

a. Policy 5.100 Staff Development Program

b. Policy 5.330 Vacation, Holidays, and Leaves

4 Section 7: Students

a. Policy 7.190 Student Behavior

D Requests for Information Pursuant to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act The District has received and processed the following requests for information:

1 FOIA 05.21.25

E Field Trips/Overnight Trips

Dr. Weikle shared two overnight trip requests.

NCHS FBLA

NCHS ISA Boys Wrestling Tournament

11. CONSENT AGENDA

Weikle reviewed and recommended the following consent agenda items for approval.

A Approval of Minutes

Minutes are not released for public viewing until approved by the Board of Education

1 Regular Minutes 04.16.25

2 Special Session Regular Minutes 04.28.25

B Personnel Matters

C Payment of Bills and Payrolls

1 Bills & Payroll Reports

D Approve Finance Department Reports

1 March 2025 Financial Statements

E Approve Board Policies, Administrative Procedures, and Exhibits

1 Section 6: Instruction

a. Policy 6.150 Home and Hospital Instruction

2 Section 8: Community Relations

a. Policy 8.30 Visitors to and Conduct on School Property

b. Exhibit 8.30-E1 Letter to Parent Regarding Visits to School by Child Sex Offenders

c. Exhibit 8.30-E2 Child Sex Offender's Request for Permission to Visit School Property

d. Exhibit 8.30-E3 Informing Parents About Offender Community Notification Laws

F Approve Requests for Authorization to Use Fire Prevention and Safety Funds

1 NCHS Amendment #42

2 NCHS Amendment #43

3 NCWHS Amendment #65

4 NCWHS Amendment #66

5 Prairieland Amendment #17

G Approve Consolidated District Plan

H Approve Warehouse Freezer Bid Recommendation of Award

| Student Activity Fund Dissolution

Gozur moved and Coleman seconded to approve the consent agenda as presented.

Roll Call: Ayes: Coleman, Gozur, Mainieri, Pyle, Roser, Williams. Nays: None. Motion carried.

12. BOARD REPRESENTATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING REPORTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS AND COMMENTS

Coleman thanked all those that were recognized tonight. She congratulated all those that will graduate from high school this weekend. She closed her comments with wish a safe and enjoyable summer for staff.

Pyle she recognized all the retirees and staff that reached years of service milestones. She wished all those retireeing the best in their next chapter. She congratulated all the Beyond the Grant winners and those that are graduating this summer.

Gozur thanked all those that worked on planning the Unit 5 Foundation 5K run. He thanked all those that were honored at the Staff Appreciation event as well as congratulated those that will graduate this weekend.

Roser echoed her fellow board members sentiments regarding the 5K run and Beyond the Books grant winners.

Mainieri thanked his fellow board members for acclaimating him to the board. He mentioned he looks forward to graduation this weekend and wished staff and students a great summer.

Williams encouraged his fellow board members to register for the IASB Cornbelt event. He also encouraged the public to attend the last Food Mobile event on June 14th. He congratulated all those honored at the Staff appreciation event this past week and said he looks forward to grad

13. ADJOURNMENT

The Board adjourned at 8:06 pm

Alex Williams, Board of Education President Community Unit School District No. 5 McLean and Woodford Counties, Illinois

https://meetings.boardbook.org/Documents/CustomMinutesForMeeting/1482?meeting=689631