Illinois State Board of Education met Jan. 14.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
1. Roll Call
Chair of the Board Dr. Steven Isoye called the meeting to order at 9:01 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.
Dr. Isoye stated that members would consider the participation of Dr. Sherly Chavarria 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. Leak moved that the State Board of Education hereby permit the participation of Dr. Sherly Chavarria via video conference. Dr. Nugent seconded the motion, and it passed by a unanimous roll call vote.
Members Present
Dr. Steven Isoye, Chair of the Board
Dr. Donna Leak, Vice Chair
Dr. Sherly Chavarria, Secretary (virtual)
Dr. James Anderson
Laura Gonzalez
Dr. Judy Hackett
Dr. Patricia Nugent
Members Absent
Dr. Jonah Rice
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
Dr. Michele Morris, Interim Chief Education Officer – Instruction
Jennifer Saba, Chief Education Officer – Operations
Dr. Matt Seaton, Chief Financial Officer
Edobor Efam, Chief Information Officer
Tassi Maton, Chief Internal Audit Officer
Miguel Calderon, Chief Operating Officer
Lindsay Record, Interim Director of Public Relations
Ronda Dawson, Executive Director of Teaching & Learning
Joyce Gronewold, Executive Director of Specialized Instruction
Dr. Christine Paxson, Executive Director of Improvement & Innovation
Dr. Tiffany Burnett, Executive Director of Safe & Healthy Climate
Crystal Strohkirch, Interim Director of Educator Effectiveness
Eileen Turanchik, Director of Budget & Financial Management
Jeffrey Judge, Director of Wellness & Student Care
2. Public Participation
There was no public participation.
3. Resolution | Dr. Sherly Chavarria, ISBE Board Member
Ms. Gonzalez read a resolution for Board Member, Dr. Sherly Chavarria.
Ms. Gonzalez moved that the State Board of Education hereby approves the resolution for Dr. Sherly Chavarria.
Dr. Leak seconded the motion, and it passed by a unanimous roll call vote.
Board members thanked Dr. Chavarria for her commitment to education and for her service on the Board.
4. Closed Session
Dr. Hackett 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. The purchase or lease of real property for the use of the public body, including meetings held for the purpose of discussing whether a particular parcel should be acquired 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(5).
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)).
She further moved that Board members may invite anyone they wish to be included in this closed session. Ms. Gonzalez seconded the motion, and it passed with a unanimous roll call vote.
The open meeting recessed at 9:20 a.m. to go into closed session. The open meeting reconvened at 10:20 a.m.
5. Public Participation
There was no further public participation.
6. Consent Agenda
Chair Isoye reviewed the items under the consent agenda.
Dr. Nugent 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: December 17, 2025
The Illinois State Board of Education hereby approves the December 17, 2025, meeting minutes.
Approvals
* Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million – Approval to Release and Award the Request for Sealed Proposals for the Restraint and Time Out Training Project
The State Board of Education hereby authorizes the state superintendent to release a Request for Sealed Proposals and make an award to a successful bidder in an amount not to exceed $2,801,187 over a three-year period to provide physical restraint, time out, and isolated time out training to educators across the state at no cost to the district or educator.
7. Approval of the Fiscal Year 2027 Kindergarten through 12th Grade Education Budget Recommendation
Dr. Anderson moved that the State Board of Education hereby recommends an FY 2027 General Funds appropriation of $10,893,489,900. I further move that the Illinois State Board of Education hereby authorizes the state superintendent to make changes to the “Other State Funds” and “Federal Funds” recommendations outlined in Exhibit B or for new funding opportunities, as appropriate, until the budget has been enacted.
Dr. Nugent seconded the motion.
The motion passed with a unanimous roll call vote.
8. Announcements and Reports
Superintendent/Senior Staff Announcements
Dr. Sanders talked about the new Lead ISBE program. It is a cohort of six leaders within the agency who want to grow with the organization. He shared this program aligns with the strategic priority of 1.6.2, which was to create internal opportunities for the employees to grow.
Dr. Sanders noted that the Accountability Redesign version 2.0 is out and about, and the first feedback session was scheduled for the next day.
Dr. Sanders thanked Jason Latimer for joining him on his most recent Fireside Chat. He also thanked the Lansing School District 158 for inviting him to spend half a day with them.
There were no senior staff announcements.
Chair of the Board’s Report
Dr. Isoye, on behalf of the Board, thanked Dr. Chavarria for her service as a Board member and wished her well. Member Reports
There were no member reports.
9. Information Items
ISBE Fiscal & Administrative Monthly Reports
Freedom of Information Act Monthly Report
10. Motion for Adjournment
Chair Isoye stated that the next Board meeting will be held on February 19, 2026, in Springfield. He noted that the meeting would be held on a Thursday.
Dr. Chavarria moved to adjourn the January 14, 2026, meeting of the Illinois State Board of Education.
Dr. Hackett seconded the motion, and it passed with a unanimous roll call vote. The meeting adjourned at 10:30 a.m.
https://go.boarddocs.com/il/isbe/Board.nsf/files/DR2PRB65D870/$file/DRAFT%20Plenary%20Minutes%20-%20January%2014%2C%202026.pdf
