Southern Illinois News

Illinois State Board of Education, Ensuring Success in School Task Force met May 29.

Here are the minutes provided by the task force:

Ensuring Success in School Task Force members present:

● Tai Basurto, Chicago Public Schools (arrived 10:25)

● Madeleine Behr, Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation

● Sean Black, Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault

● Maryam Brotine, Illinois Association of School Boards

● Jennifer Garrison, Vandalia CUSD 203

● Kim Hefner, Riverside School District 96

● Brenda Huber, Illinois School Psychologists Association

● Melissa McCutchen, Carterville High School

● Krish Mohip, Illinois State Board of Education

● Nancy Mullen, Youth Outlook

● Maria Robles Sinkule, Addison School District 4

● Vince Walsh-Rock, Illinois School Counselor Association

Ensuring Success in School Task Force members absent:

● Courtney Akins, New Moms

● Verda Bhatti, Between Friends

● Kimberly Lightford, State Senator, 4th District

● Kim Mangiaracino, Children’s Advocacy Centers of Illinois

● Anna Moeller, State Representative, 43rd District

● Jerrilyn Parker, West Harvey-Dixmoor School District 147

● Scherherazade Tillet, A Long Walk Home

● Jil Tracy, State Senator, 47th District

ISBE Staff present:

● Julia Strehlow, Social/Emotional Learning Lead

● Dawn Frison-Cook, Staff Facilitator/Assistant to the Chief Education Officer – Operations

Guests Present:

• Porshé Garner, A Long Walk Home

Chair: Krish Mohip

Vice Chair: Jerrilyn Parker

I. Welcome/Roll Call

Mr. Mohip called the meeting to order at 10:16 a.m. After welcoming the members, he asked for a roll call vote. A voice roll call vote was taken:

Ms. Akins, NO RESPONSE

Ms. Basurto, NO RESPONSE

Ms. Behr, PRESENT

Ms. Bhatti, NO RESPONSE

Mr. Black, HERE

Ms. Brotine, HERE

Ms. Garrison, HERE

Ms. Hefner, PRESENT

Ms. Huber, PRESENT

Sen. Lightford, NO RESPONSE

Ms. Mangiaracino, HERE

Ms. McCutchen, NO RESPONSE

Rep. Moeller, NO REPONSE

Mr. Mohip, HERE

Mx. Mullen, PRESENT

Ms. Parker, NO RESPONSE

Ms. Robles Sinkule, HERE

Ms. Tillet, NO RESPONSE

Sen. Tracy, NO RESPONSE

Mr. Walsh-Rock, HERE

Quorum was established.

II. Public Participation

There were no members of the public who spoke.

III. Approval of Minutes

Mr. Mohip asked for a motion to approve the minutes from the March 20, 2024, and January 23, 2024, task force meetings, as well as the minutes from the March 1, 2024, and February 16, 2024, Educator and Staff Training Subcommittee meetings. Ms. Hefner made the motion to approve the minutes. Ms. Brotine seconded the motion. A voice roll call vote was taken:

Ms. Behr, YES

Mr. Black, YES

Ms. Brotine, YES

Ms. Garrison, YES

Ms. Hefner, YES

Ms. Huber, YES

Ms. McCutchen, YES

Mr. Mohip, YES

Mx. Mullen, YES

Ms. Robles Sinkule, YES

Mr. Walsh-Rock, YES

The motion passed.

IV. Recap of Prior Meeting Discussion There was no discussion.

V. Discussion of Policies, Procedure, and Recommendations

In reviewing the task force report via PowerPoint, Ms. Strehlow said the report is not fully designed graphically, but will be prior to its submission. She also reviewed the table of contents, the background, and population data sections.

After going over the research section, Ms. Strehlow highlighted the four required model policies submitted by subcommittees; guidance; recommendations; and agreements from the Public Acts that cover training, confidentiality, and the complaint resolution process.

After Ms. Strehlow went over the report, there wasn’t any discussion regarding the policies, procedures, and recommendations by task force members.

VI. Review and Approval of Final Task Force Report

Mr. Mohip asked for a motion and a second to accept the report; he also asked if there were any discussion prior to the vote. Ms. Hefner said that she believes the report is comprehensive and she doesn’t have any concerns. Mr. Mohip said that it was a pleasure working with everyone and appreciates the extra time that was put into this.

Mr. Walsh-Rock made the motion. Ms. Hefner seconded the motion. A voice roll call vote was taken:

Ms. Behr, YES

Mr. Black, YES

Ms. Brotine, YES

Ms. Garrison, YES

Ms. Hefner, YES

Ms. Huber, YES

Ms. McCutchen, YES

Mr. Mohip, YES

Mx. Mullen, YES

Ms. Robles Sinkule, YES

Mr. Walsh-Rock, YES

The motion passed.

VII. Task Force Next Steps

Mr. Mohip said the report will be made into final form to share with the state superintendent prior to its transmittal to the General Assembly before the June 30 deadline. He said that once the report is filed, this task force will be dissolved. After thanking everyone for their work on this task force, Mr. Mohip said this task force is about everyone coming together, putting differences aside, and thinking what is best for the children. He also said while no one hears about this work that’s being done, teachers, principals, and students will feel its impact.

Ms. Hefner asked if there will be other opportunities to be involved in this work in the future. Ms. Strehlow suggested to look at the State Board of Education’s Strategic Plan. She said there are a number of related items in the plan that require consultation with stakeholders. She also said outside this task force, there are a lot of opportunities for collaboration.

VIII. Future Meeting Date – June 5, 2024

Mr. Mohip said this meeting date that was held just in case it was needed in order to vote on the final report. Since the report was voted on, he said this meeting will be deleted.

IX. New Business

There was no new business discussed.

X. Adjournment

Mr. Mohip asked for a motion to adjourn. Ms. Hefner made the motion to adjourn. Ms. Behr seconded the motion. A voice roll call vote was taken:

Ms. Basurto, YES

Ms. Behr, YES

Mr. Black, YES

Ms. Brotine, YES

Ms. Hefner, YES

Ms. Huber, YES

Ms. McCutchen, YES

Mr. Mohip, YES

Mx. Mullen, YES

Ms. Robles Sinkule, YES

Mr. Walsh-Rock, YES

The meeting adjourned at 10:36 a.m.

https://www.isbe.net/Documents_ESSTaskForce/052924-Minutes.pdf