Southern Illinois News

Anna Jonesboro Community High School District 81 Board of Education met Jan. 16.

Here is the agenda provided by the board:

The Anna-Jonesboro Community High School held its regular meeting on January 16, 2024. Upon roll call at 6:00 p.m. the following members were present: Mr. Vosburgh, Mr. Houseman, Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Plott, Mr. Mix, and Mr. Bracken.

On motion by Mr. Houseman and seconded by Mr. Bracken to approve the Agenda as written. 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 12/18/2023; approval of closed session minutes; approval of destruction of closed session tapes at least 18 months old; approval of payment for bills and acceptance of financial reports. On roll call, all members present voting yes. Motion carried.

Recognition of visitors and correspondence: Matt Denny, Darryl Adams, Lindsey Sommer, Angi Smith, Denise Goins.

Items of Interest from Teachers: Mrs. Massey and Mrs. Hase are gearing up for the Annual Faculty and Staff week that is set for March 4-9th. Students in Mrs. Massey’s Hospitality Management class are working on setting a theme for the week and making a dinner menu for the party which will be held on Saturday, March 9, 2024 at Starview Winery in the barn. This year's entertainment is the duo called Breeden and Clutts. Mrs. Hase has all the students paired with a faculty and staff member for the secret student/teacher gift exchange. They will find out who their secret student is at a breakfast that Friday where they will get to eat with their student. We are looking forward to some much needed fun that week! As of this week, Ms. Thomas’ classroom library can provide over 1,000 different titles to students. Various books were acquired through student donations, school material funds, and Ms. Thomas’ personal resources. The primary purpose of this classroom library is to provide students with consistent exposure and easy access to a variety of materials for recreational reading. Students in her 9th grade English classes are currently working on a non-fiction book project on books of their choice. Nearly 30 of her students have chosen to use titles from the classroom library. These freshmen will use their chosen books to expand their vocabularies, background knowledge, and practice note taking skills. Congratulations to AJ artist Matti Houseman for being one of only 5 nominated from our southern region for the American Vision Award. Her work will go on to be judged in NYC for the national Scholastic contest.

Principal Detering spoke about failure reports, credit recovery, and discipline.

Superintendent Wright reported on the board email account and mowing bids for the soccer complex.

On motion by Mrs. Johnson and seconded by Mr. Mix for the Board to enter into closed session at 6:36 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) The selection of a person to fill a public office, as defined by the Open Meetings Act, including a vacancy in a public office, when the public body is given power to appoint under law or ordinance, or the discipline, performance or removal of the occupant of a public office, when the public body is given power to remove the occupant under law or ordinance. 5ILCS 120/2 (c)(3) Discussion of minutes of meetings lawfully closed under the Open Meetings Act, whether for the purposes of approval by the body of the minutes or semi-annual review of the minutes as mandated by Section 2.06. 5ILCS 120/2 (c)(14) On roll call, all members present voting yes. Motion carried.

On motion by Mr. Houseman and seconded by Mr. Bracken to return to regular session at 6:48. On roll call, all members present voting yes. Motion carried.

On motion by Mr. Mix and seconded by Mr. Houseman to approve keeping all closed session minutes closed. On roll call, all members present voting yes. Motion carried.

On motion by Mr. Houseman and seconded by Mr. Bracken for the Board to replace current legal counsel with Guin Mundorf, LLC to serve as the District’s legal counsel. On roll call, all members present voting yes. Motion carried.

On motion by Mr. Bracken and seconded by Mr. Mix to approve the overnight trip by the Beta Club to Springfield, IL in March for the State Convention. All members present voting yes. Motion carried.

Discussion regarding Dongola students possibly attending AJCHS next school year.

On motion by Mrs. Johnson and seconded by Mr. Mix for the Board to enter into closed session at 7:13 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)

On motion by Mrs. Johnson and seconded by Mr. Bracken to return to regular session at 10:44. 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 is Tuesday, February 20, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. in the High School Library.

https://aj81.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/January-2024-Minutes.pdf