Anna Jonesboro Community High School District 81 Board of Education met Dec. 15.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
The Public Hearing for Proposed Property Tax for 2026 of the AJCHS District #81 Board of Education was called to order by President Angela Johnson at 6:03 on December 15, 2025. Upon roll call, the following members were present: Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Plott, Mr. Houseman, Mr. Massey, Mr. Leek, and Mr. Johnson.
Public Hearing for Proposed Tax Increase for 2026.
On motion by Mr. Houseman and seconded by Mr. Johnson to adjourn the Public Hearing at 6:13 p.m. On roll call, all members present voting yes. Motion carried.
The Anna-Jonesboro Community High School held its regular meeting on December 15, 2025. Upon roll call at 6:14 p.m. the following members were present: Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Plott, Mr. Houseman, Mr. Massey, Mr. Leek, Mr. Johnson, and Mr. Mix arrived at 6:15.
On motion by Mr. Housman and seconded by Mr. Johnson to approve the Agenda as presented. All members present voting yes. Motion carried.
On motion by Mr. Houseman and seconded by Mr. Mix to approve the Consent Agenda which contained the following items: approval of board minutes on 11/17/2025; approval of closed session minutes; approval of payment for bills, acceptance of financial reports. On roll call, all members present voting yes. Motion carried.
On motion by Mr. Johnson and seconded by Mr. Houseman for the Board to enter into closed session at 6:18 p.m. for the following reasons (1) Student disciplinary cases. 5ILCS 120/2 (c)(9). On roll call, all members present voting yes. Motion carried.
On motion by Mr. Johnson and seconded by Mrs. Plott to return to regular session at 6:57 p.m. On roll call, all members present voting yes. Motion carried.
Recognition of visitors and correspondence, Public Comments: Parker Johnson – Solar on Earth and Ryan Dodd – Dodd Architects.
Items from Student Council: On December 8 Student Council shopped for four local children for Christmas. We delivered packages to the VFW last Friday. Throughout the month of December, Student Council collected food and hygiene supplies through the 12 days of Christmas. Products will be divided into bags/boxes to send home at the end of the week with students in our building. For those who donated items, we will do a drawing for 2- $50 gift certificates. On Wednesday, faculty and staff will be delivered a special holiday treat from the student council.
Items from Teachers: Art and Music hosted “Fine Arts Night” on Tuesday, December 9. An art show featuring work from Miss Burkhardt’s classes began at 6:00 in Union Hall Lobby, and the Choir and Band concert featuring Mrs. Followell’s students was in the auditorium at 7:15. The Brain Games team competed at the regional competition at John A Logan. One team, consisting of Maxwell Ruddick, Jaylyn Althoff, Zoe Weir, and Gabe Morey, placed 4th overall. And placing first overall were Drue Teske, Grayson Garner, Josh Binversie, and Sailor Waters. Both teams will advance to the next round of competition in April. The Ag mechanics classes have been busy with our tractor. We have it running and driving and are waiting on getting the hood and fenders back from Wright Brothers and Rods Towing who is donating a professional paint job as a donation for these parts! Once we get those back, the tractor will be able to be fully reassembled and we can start selling our raffle tickets in the spring. We also have been offering winter tire inflation to all the staff as a thank you for everything they do. All a staff member has to do is send an email that they have a low tire and students from the mechanics class will take our portable tire inflator and top them off for them right in their parking spot! The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) released this year’s Illinois State Scholars, who are selected by ISAC based on GPA, test scores, and class rank, which ISAC calculates on their end. This year we were honored to have 14 students selected – more than we’ve ever had before. We’d like to congratulate Jay Althoff, Adam Clark, Jordan Gentry, Maggie Gooden, Alexis Houseman, Grant Lingle, Aidan McFadden, Mariel McGrath, Ethan Plott, Raelynn Sadler, T.J. Taylor, Drue Teske, Edwin Thompson, and Kayleigh Wheaton on their achievement. Mrs. Massey’s Culinary Arts class was asked to do a community outreach project with Delta Theta Tau and help make their annual cheeseballs. They made almost 700 cheeseballs for the DTT sisters. English IV students in Ms. Thomas’ class have been working to stage scenes from Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Students worked in groups led by student directors to plan and put on performances of key scenes from the first two acts of the play, including attention to costumes, props, and set. All students were tasked with analyzing their respective character’s motivations and social standing in the play to help them make deliberate acting choices that contribute to the larger themes in the text. This project is the first time that many of these students have participated in theater, and they have largely enjoyed the experience and reported that the project has helped them connect more deeply with the text. Many thanks to Brad Stamp, who came to class as a guest speaker to discuss theater history and stagecraft.
Mr. Finders spoke about Saluki Start Program and School Report Card Data Comparison. Ms. Stevens had a report on Special Education Audit, MTSS, and Enrollment Updates.
Principal Rice spoke about Upcoming Dates, Attendance, AI, Spring Schedules, SIU Saluki Start Program, Leadership Team Meeting, PERA Committee, Semester Exams and Exemption Policy, Discipline Data, and Boys Basketball Christmas Tournament Schedule.
Superintendent Detering reported on Weight Room Improvements, Weight Training Class, Flock Cameras, and the School Logo.
On motion by Mr. Johnson and seconded by Mr. Houseman for the Board to enter into closed session at 8:52 p.m. for the following reasons (1) the purpose of appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employee 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 to determine its validity. 5ILCS 120/2(c)(1) Student disciplinary cases. 5ILCS 120/2 (c)(9). On roll call, all members present voting yes. Motion carried.
On motion by Mr. Johnson and seconded by Mrs. Plott to return to regular session at 10:57 p.m. On roll call, all members present voting yes. Motion carried.
On motion by Mr. Johnson and seconded by Mr. Massey to approve Certificate of Tax Levy. On roll call, all members present voting yes. Motion carried.
On motion by Mr. Houseman and seconded by Mrs. Johnson to approve School Board Policy Updates – Issue 120. On roll call, all members present voting yes. Motion carried.
On motion by Mr. Houseman and seconded by Mr. Johnson to approve Resolution to Dismiss a Third Year Probationary Teacher at the end of the 2025-2025 school year. On roll call, all members present voting yes. Motion carried.
On motion by Mr. Massey and seconded by Mrs. Plott to approve Memorandum of Understanding – Saluki Start Dual Enrollment. On roll call, all members present voting yes. Motion carried.
On motion by Mr. Johnson and seconded by Mr. Houseman to approve the Wrestling and Spring Coaches as presented: Assistant Wrestling Coaches: Assistant Wrestling Coach – Mike Delashmutt, Volunteer Wrestling Coach – Drew Sadler. Baseball: Volunteer Assistant Coaches – John Meirndorf, Andy Sullens, Tom Wright. Softball: Head Coach – Rodney Seip, Assistant Coach – Erin Suggs, Volunteer Assistant Coach– Brad Hoehner. Track: Head Coach – Matt Denny, Assistant Coach – Andy Bundren, Kyle Kueker, Volunteer Assistant Coaches – Michael Eudy, Amy Fitzgerald-Wilson. Soccer: Head Coach – Chelsea Reinier, Assistant Coach – Elle (Basler) Mobley, Volunteer – Jaycee Pender. On roll call, all members present voting yes. Motion carried.
On motion by Mr. Houseman and seconded by Mrs. Plott to adjourn the Regular Meeting at 11:04 p.m. On roll call, all members present voting yes. Motion carried.
Next regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. in the High School Library.
https://aj81.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Dec-2025-Minutes.pdf
