Southern Illinois News

Anna Community Consolidated School District 37 Board of Education met December 13.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Board President Josh Gooden called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m.

Roll Call

                             Present         Absent        Arr. Late

Josh Gooden   ____X_____ __________ __________

Jim Hammer    ____X_____ __________ __________

Pam Needling  ____X_____ __________ __________

Cheryl Ligon    ____X_____ __________ left at 5:48

Brooke Frank   ____X_____ __________ __________

Collin Crane     ____X_____ __________ __________

Lottie Smith      ____X_____ __________ __________

Superintendent Brent Boren

Principals, Mark Laster, Angela Clay, Rob Lannom

Staff, Jenny Hall

Visitors, Angela Madura, Shari Sweeny-Sadowski, Linda LaFoon, Alison Smith

A motion was made by Jim Hammer and seconded by Pam Needling to approve the agenda for the meeting. Voice vote. Motion carried.

Alison Smith addressed the Board regarding the social media post from Josh Gooden, and the absence of a released statement. Ms. Smith asks the Board to call for Mr. Gooden’s resignation.

Shari Sweeny-Sadowski spoke of her personal experience with Mr. Gooden and social media. Ms. Sweeny-Sadowski presented the Board with printouts of Mr. Gooden’s social media posts specifically regarding herself, as well as private messages between Mr. Gooden and herself.

Linda LaFoon addressed the Board specifically regarding the issue of transgenderism being called a mental illness by Mr. Gooden.

Angela Madura spoke about the regional and national attention Mr. Gooden’s social media post has garnered for District #37 and Anna as a community. Ms. Madura voiced concern for the reputation and perception of the local community, including lost revenue, business and employment opportunities stemming from past and present misconceptions.

A motion was made by Cheryl Ligon and seconded by Pam Needling to enter Executive Session for the purpose of litigation, when an action, 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) Voice vote. Motion carried.

Board entered Executive Session at 4:54 p.m.

Board returned to Regular Session at 6:15 p.m.

A motion was made by Lottie Smith and seconded by Pam Needling to adjourn at 6:16 p.m. with the next Regular Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. Voice vote. Motion carried.

https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/2796/Anna_CCSD/3836626/December_13__2023_minutes.pdf