Illinois State Board of Education met Feb. 19.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
1. Roll Call
Chair of the Board Dr. Steven Isoye called the meeting to order at 9:02 a.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 six members attending in person. Superintendent Dr. Tony Sanders also was in attendance.
Members Present
Dr. Steven Isoye, Chair of the Board
Dr. Donna Leak, Vice Chair
Laura Gonzalez, Secretary
Dr. James Anderson
Luvia Moreno
Dr. Patricia Nugent
Dr. Jonah Rice
Members Absent
Dr. Judy Hackett
Staff Present
Dr. Tony Sanders, State Superintendent
Kim Clarke, Executive Assistant to the State Superintendent
Jo Ireland, Board Services Coordinator
Dr. Kimako Patterson, Chief of Staff
Kristen Kennedy, Chief Legal Officer
Tassi Maton, Chief Internal Audit Officer
Dr. Matt Seaton, Chief Financial Officer
Cynthia Lund, Chief Governmental Relations Officer
Miguel Calderon, Chief Operating Officer
Dr. Jason Helfer, Special Advisor to the State Superintendent
Dr. Michele Morris, Interim Chief Education Officer – Instruction
Jennifer Saba, Chief Education Officer – Operations
Edobor Efam, Chief Information Officer
Dr. Christine Paxson, Executive Director of Improvement & Innovation
Dr. Ronda Dawson, Executive Director of Teaching & Learning
Joyce Gronewold, Executive Director of Specialized Instruction
Dr. Nikki Combs, Director of School/District Improvement
Dr. Erica Thieman, Director of CTE
Kirsten Parr, Director of Standards & Instruction
2. Swearing-In of Board Member(s)/Roll Call (as needed)
Chair Isoye welcomed Luvia Moreno as a newly appointed member of the State Board of Education. Chief Legal Officer Kristen Kennedy administered the ceremonial oath of office for Ms. Moreno. Roll call was taken, and a quorum was present with seven members.
3. Public Participation
Erika Mendez with Latino Policy Forum spoke on the topic of ESSA accountability. She asked the Board to make refinements in the plan regarding chronic absenteeism.
Perla Santoyo with Advance Illinois spoke about the accountability redesign. She thanked ISBE staff and leadership for the thoughtfulness put into the redesign process. Ms. Santoyo spoke about targeted refinement of subgroup accountability and the integrity of exemplary designation.
Josh Kaufmann, executive director of Teach Plus Illinois, shared some perspectives of Illinois educators regarding the proposed accountability system. He shared the primary concern was around subgroup accountability.
Hal Woods, the chief of policy at Kids First Chicago, spoke on the topic of the accountability redesign. He thanked the ISBE staff and leadership for their effort to create a clear profile of performance and to build a system that reflects the strengths of different schools that families can understand and believe in.
4. Presentations
A. Illinois CTE: Career-Connected Learning Gaining Momentum
Director of CTE Dr. Erica Thieman presented on career and technical education (CTE). She shared that there had been tremendous growth in CTE during the 2024-25 school year and work-based learning had increased. Dr. Thieman stated that even in the face of declining enrollment among high school students in Illinois, they are still seeing growth in CTE. Five students from Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) introduced themselves and answered questions regarding their involvement with CTSOs and CTE programs. The students shared how their experiences with the CTE program impacted their future career aspirations.
Board members expressed their awe and appreciation of the students for their presentation and for speaking at the Board meeting and sharing about their successes with the CTE program.
B. Numeracy Plan Update: Draft 2
Executive Director of Teaching & Learning Dr. Ronda Dawson and Director of Standards & Instruction Kirsten Parr presented on the ongoing development of the Illinois Comprehensive Numeracy Plan. Dr. Dawson stated the needs assessment was customized to address three specific stakeholder groups to emphasize the intentionality around receiving feedback from a diverse cross-section from the math educator community. She shared about steps in the drafting of the initial plan, which had occurred in August with the assembly of 28 panelists from Illinois universities, professors, superintendents, principals, and teachers. Dr. Dawson spoke about how the ISBE team had traveled across the state to begin their listening tours to gather public comment, noting over 400 participants in their in person sessions. She spoke about the vision and purpose of the plan and how it speaks to the six components of numeracy and the three goals of the plan.
Ms. Parr continued with the presentation talking about the specific revisions to Draft 2. She shared that Draft 2 would go live that day, and they will gather feedback before presenting the final plan to the Board in June. They will be offering in-person and virtual options for educators, partners, and stakeholders to give feedback on this draft of the plan. Dr. Sanders noted that when they started the numeracy plan, it was not in the Strategic Plan. He thanked the team for all the time they put in it and for their work gathering feedback.
Board members thanked the presenters and team and expressed their appreciation for including so many voices in putting together a well-developed numeracy plan.
5. Closed Session
Dr. Rice 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. 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. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(2).
C. 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)).
He further moved that Board members may invite anyone they wish to be included in this closed session. Dr. Nugent seconded the motion, and it passed with a unanimous roll call vote.
The open meeting recessed at 10:18 a.m. to go into closed session. The open meeting reconvened at 11:00 a.m.
6. Public Participation
There was no further public participation.
7. Consent Agenda
Chair Isoye reviewed the items under the consent agenda.
Ms. Gonzalez moved that the State Board of Education hereby approve the consent agenda. Dr. Leak seconded the motion, and it passed with a unanimous roll call vote.
The following motions were approved by action taken in the consent agenda:
Approval of Minutes
*Plenary Minutes: January 14, 2026
The Illinois State Board of Education hereby approves the January 14, 2026, meeting minutes.
Approvals
* Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million – Approval of FY 2026 Upwardly Amended Continuation School Improvement Grants
The State Board of Education hereby authorizes the state superintendent to release FY 2026 Continuation School Improvement Grant allocations in excess of $1 million from Title I, Part A, Section 1003 funds to the following five districts: Galesburg CUSD 205, Murphysboro CUSD 186, Streator ESD 44, CUSD 300, and Mount Vernon SD 80.
*Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million – Approval of Contract for Electronic Grants Management System (eGMS) Upgrades
The State Board of Education hereby authorizes ISBE to award $3,942,105 for MTW Solutions for an initial five year contract with the option for a renewal term of five years for the Electronic Grants Management System upgrades.
*Approval of the Spring 2026 Waiver Report
The state superintendent recommends that the State Board of Education approve submission of the Spring 2026 Waiver Report to the General Assembly.
*Approval of the FY 2027 Board Meeting Calendar
The State Board of Education hereby approves the FY 2027 dates for State Board of Education meetings.
8. Election of Board Officers – Illinois State Board of Education Bylaws Article IV(A)3 (as needed)
Dr. Leak moved that the Illinois State Board of Education elect Laura Gonzalez as Secretary.
Dr. Isoye asked if there were any nominations from the floor for Secretary.
Dr. Nugent moved to close the nominations. Dr. Rice seconded the motion. The motion passed with a unanimous roll call vote.
Dr. Rice seconded the motion to elect Laura Gonzalez as Secretary. The motion passed with a unanimous roll call vote.
9. Announcements and Reports
Superintendent/Senior Staff Announcements
Dr. Sanders clarified a couple of concerns brought to the Board during the public comment portion of the meeting. He stated that the proposed accountability system will align to both federal requirements and the state’s values. He also shared that federal law dictates how chronic absenteeism is calculated and therefore, it cannot be changed. Dr. Sanders noted that federal law requires monitoring and reporting of graduation rates and that it is required to be a part of the accountability system. He further shared that the criterion reference system being built will not have 9th Grade on Track as it will mirror the graduation rate that is included in the system. School districts will still report on 9th Grade on Track. The third point he addressed was about concerns about a school having a student group in the developing band but still having access to the exemplary designation. Dr. Sanders said he will review with the ISBE team and find out more about the concern brought forward. He shared that the final version of the accountability system will be posted publicly on March 3 on the ISBE website for 30 days, pursuant to federal law. It will be brought to the Board for final adoption in April.
Dr. Sanders thanked Dr. Matt Seaton, Jeremy Mehochko, and Jen Saba for participating on the School Code Mandate Reduction Council. He shared that they had their first Artificial Intelligence Task Force meeting and thanked Dr. Helfer for his assistance in crafting the guidance for the state on artificial intelligence. He welcomed ISBE’s new chief of governmental relations, Cynthia Lund.
Lastly, Dr. Sanders shared about a few events he attended. He spoke at the University of Illinois Springfield Educational Leadership Forum and the Will County Regional Office of Education Superintendent’s Breakfast, and attended, along with Dr. Patterson, the Illinois Association of School Boards DuPage division meeting.
There were no senior staff announcements.
Chair of the Board’s Report
Dr. Isoye stated he had an opportunity to meet with LEAD, the leadership cohort within ISBE. He thanked the team for allowing him to present to them. Dr. Isoye shared dates for the ISBE Student Summit, the cohort reception for all of the regional teachers of the year, Bilingual Parents Summit, and the annual Those Who Excel and Teacher of the Year banquet.
Dr. Isoye congratulated Ms. Moreno and welcome her to the Board.
Member Reports
Dr. Nugent shared she will be attending the Rural Education Advisory Council meeting and will be representing Illinois on the Math Improvement Learning and Action group at the National Association of School Boards of Education.
Dr. Leak honored African-American History Month. She acknowledged all of the school districts doing celebrations and focusing on those who’ve contributed to American society across the board and in particular this month. Dr. Leak gave reverence and honor to the passing of Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson and the work that he did for schools, for the fight for equality, and for young people in particular.
10. Information Items
ISBE Fiscal & Administrative Monthly Reports
Freedom of Information Act Monthly Report
11. Motion for Adjournment
Chair Isoye stated that the next Board meeting will be held on March 11, 2026, in Moline.
Dr. Anderson moved to adjourn the February 19, 2026, 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 11:22 a.m.Â
https://go.boarddocs.com/il/isbe/Board.nsf/files/DRPU7P7AB34B/$file/7.A%20DRAFT%20Plenary%20Minutes%20-%20February%2019%2C%202026.pdf
