McLean County Times

McLean County Unit School District 5 Board of Education met July 16.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

A McLean County Unit District No. 5 Board of Education meeting was held Wednesday, July 16, 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

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

2. ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION (6:00p.m.)

At 6:02 pm Gozur moved and Mainieri 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)(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: Adams, Gozur, Mainieri, Pyle, Roser, Williams. Nays: None. Motion carried.

3. RECESS

At 6:28 pm the board recessed to public session

4. RETURN TO PUBLIC SESSION

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

Roll Call: Ayes: Adams, 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, Clerk of the Board Emily Sargent.

5. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

6. FOCUS ON STUDENTS AND GOOD NEWS REPORTS

A Good News - Bloomington Career Academy Skills USA

Kevin Schaffer recognized various students who competed in the Skills USA competition. Six students competed in June at the national level in Atlanta, GA.

7. SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS

Dr. Weikle said it is hard to believe but the start of the 2025-26 school year is just one month away. With that we want to help ensure every student is ready to learn on the first day of school. A critical part of that is our partnership with the Back to School Alliance. They'll be hosting a drive-through school supply distribution on August 7, from 10 am-5 pm, at the State Farm South parking garage. To participate, families need to be enrolled in Unit 5, have up to date immunizations and qualify for free or reduced price lunch. New this year, we are transitioning away from paper invitations. Instead, families will receive a Google Form by email one week before the event. Once completed, the form will generate a digital ticket to be shown upon arrival. This change not only helps reduce costs, but also allows us to better collect and manage event data. High School students can contact the Counseling Office at their school to receive needed supplies.

Last month, Dr. Weikle mentioned that the O & M department is tackling over 144 projects this summer. She is happy to report that approximately 82% of the projects are finished or close to completion. Some of the larger projects handled by outside vendors are also progressing well including the NCHS roof which is 70% completed, the CJHS roof which is 40% completed and she has been told it will be done by the time students arrive. Meanwhile our IT department has switched out 450 certified staff laptops, upgraded network switches and four schools, and have installed 80% of the new interactive smart panels in almost all of our K-12 classrooms. The train-the-trainer program continues to ensure staff are fully prepared and supported for the start of the new school year. She is excited for all of the updates that are taking place this summer as they all will support enhanced learning environments and tools for students and staff.

Unit 5 is still looking to fill some key positions for the 2025-26 school year. We have several paraeducator (teaching assistant) and special education teaching positions available. If you are interested or know of someone who may be interested please have them apply. Unit 5 will be hosting a walk-in job fair this Friday, July 18, from 10-4 at the district office.

Finally, she said she hopes our students, families, and staff are able to squeeze in some more fun and relaxation before the start of the school year.

8. PUBLIC COMMENTS

-Julie Hagler. Topic: Policy Enforcement

-Sheree Jones. Topic: Freedom School

-Tamekia Bailey. Topic: Freedom School

-Devon Barnes. Topic: Freedom School

-Cassidy Roop. Topic: Freedom School

9. REPORTS

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

B Field Trips/Overnight Trips

Dr. Weikle shared three overnight trip requests.

-NCWHS - LA Sound of Summer Music Festival

-NCWHS/NCHS - IL Music Conference/Ensemble

-NCWHS/NCHS - Bands of America lowa Regional Championships

10. ACTION

A Approve School Bus Purchase

Gozur moved and Pyle seconded to Approve School Bus Purchase.

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

B Approve Purchase of Gym Floor Materials and Installation at Parkside Junior High School From Cushings' Commercial Carpet, Inc., Utilizing Sourcewell Contract Number 031022-GER

Gozur moved and Adams seconded to Approve Purchase of Gym Floor Materials and Installation at Parkside Junior High School From Cushings' Commercial Carpet, Inc., Utilizing Sourcewell Contract Number 031022-GER.

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

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 06.18.25 Regular Minutes

2 06.18.25 Closed Minutes

3 07.09.25 Special Session Regular Minutes

4 07.09.25 Closed Minutes

B Personnel Matters

C Payment of Bills and Payrolls

D Approve Finance Department Reports

1 May 2025 Financial Statements

E Approve Board Policies, Administrative Procedures, and Exhibits

1 Section 4: Operational Services

a. Policy 4.15 Identity Protection

2 Section 5: Personnel

a. Policy 5.10 Equal Employment Opportunity

b. Policy 5.20 Workplace Harassment Prohibited

c. Policy 5.60 Expenses

3 Section 7: Students

a. Policy 7.10 Equal Educational Opportunities

b. Policy 7.180 Prevention of and Response to Bullying, Intimidation, and Harassment

c. Policy 7.20 Harassment of Students Prohibited

d. Policy 7.185 Teen Dating Violence Prohibited

e. Policy 7.200 Suspension Procedures

f. Policy 7.210 Expulsion Procedures

F Approve Dust Mop Bid for 2025-2028

G Appoint M. Curt Richardson as Expulsion Hearing and Suspension Review Officer for the District for 2025-2026 School Year

H Approve Resolution of the Board of Education Community Unit School District No. 5, McLean and Woodford Counties, Illinois Authorizing Interfund Loans From Fund Reserves to Other Funds

I Approve Resolution of the Board of Education Community Unit School District No. 5, McLean and Woodford Counties, Illinois Authorizing Interfund Loans From Working Cash Fund to Other Funds

J Resolution of the Board of Education of Community Unit School District No. 5, McLean and Woodford Counties, Illinois, Determining Need for Sidewalk, Playground, Parking Lot, or School Bus Turnaround Repairs Pursuant to 105 ILCS 5/17-2.11(e)

K Approve Agreement for Certified Athletic Trainer Services between OSF Multi-Specialty Group and McLean County Unit District No. 5

L Approve Schedule B Adjustments

M Approve 25-26 School Improvement Plans

N Student Activity Fund Establishments

O Student Activity Fund Dissolutions

Gozur moved and Pyle seconded to accept the consent agenda as presented.

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

12. BOARD REPRESENTATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING REPORTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS AND COMMENTS

-Pyle echoed the sentiments that were shared tonight regarding Freedom School.

Gozur congratulated all those that attended Freedom School. He went on to share how excited some of the staff are regarding the Smart panels.

-Mainieri said he is excited to learn more about Freedom School. He praised the O and M department for all their hardwork this summer.

-Roser shared that the McLean County Regional Planning Committee is proposing new roads which will provide more acces to our schools and families and various other projects.

-Adams highlighted the Freedom School finale as a great event. There will be a Community Engagemet Committee meeting on august 5th.

-Williams thanked Mainieri for applying and receiving a scholarship for the Joint Annual Conference. He thanked Dr. Weikle for a successful academic year. He praised Dr. Shelvin for her work with the Freedom School. He welcomed the new administrators for the upcoming school year.

13. ADJOURNMENT

The Board adjourned at 7:28 pm.

https://meetings.boardbook.org/Documents/CustomMinutesForMeeting/1482?meeting=698277