Southern Illinois News

Illinois State Board of Education met Sept. 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 9:01 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 seven members attending in person.

Superintendent Dr. Tony Sanders was also in attendance.

Members Present:

Dr. Steven Isoye, Chair of the Board

Dr. Donna Leak, Vice Chair

Dr. Christine Benson, Secretary

Dr. Sherly Chavarria

Roger Eddy

Laura Gonzalez

Dr. Patricia Nugent

Members Absent:

Dr. James Anderson

Dr. Anna Grassellino

Staff Present

Dr. Tony Sanders, State Superintendent

Jo Ireland, Board Services Coordinator

Kim Clarke, Executive Assistant to the State Superintendent

Isabel Schoeman, Special Assistant to the State Superintendent

Kristen Kennedy, Chief Legal Officer

Dr. Kimako Patterson, Chief of Staff

Irma Snopek, Chief Policy and Communications Officer

Dr. Jason Helfer, Chief Education Officer – Instruction (virtual)

Jennifer Saba, Chief Education Officer – Operations

Tassi Maton, Chief Internal Audit Officer

Melissa Oller, Chief Operating Officer

Edobor Efam, Chief Information Officer

Lindsay Record, Press Secretary

Joyce Gronewold, Executive Director of Specialized Instruction

Dr. Ronda Dawson, Executive Director of Teaching and Learning

Emily Fox, Director of Educator Effectiveness

Michael Gum, Director of School Business Services

2. Public Participation

Chair Isoye reminded those in attendance of the Public Participation Policy and the sign-up procedures for today’s meeting.

Jessica Handy, executive director of Stand for Children and facilitator of the Illinois Early Literacy Coalition, spoke on literacy. She thanked the Board members for their work to date on literacy and reflected on the strong engagement of districts with the recently developed Illinois Comprehensive Literacy Plan due to the Board’s advocacy. She stated that the Board can expect encouraging feedback from state and national experts sometime within the next month regarding the literacy work that must be done going forward.

3. Closed Session

Dr. Nugent 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. 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 the Board members may invite anyone they wish to be included in this closed session. Dr. Leak seconded the motion, and it passed with a unanimous roll call vote.

The open meeting recessed at 9:06 a.m. to go into closed session. The open meeting reconvened at 9:37 a.m.

4. Semiannual Review of Closed Session Minutes

Mr. Eddy stated that Pursuant to Section 2.06(d) of the Open Meetings Act, the State Board of Education has reviewed the minutes of its closed sessions for March 13, 2024; April 17, 2024; May 15, 2024; June 12, 2024; and August 14, 2024. He moved that the State Board of Education certifies that the need for confidentiality still exists for all of the closed session minutes for March 13, 2024; April 17, 2024; May 15, 2024; June 12, 2024; and August 14, 2024. These minutes should be approved and remain closed.

Dr. Benson seconded the motion, and it passed with a unanimous roll call vote.

5. Public Participation

There was no further public participation.

6. Consent Agenda

Chair Isoye reviewed the items under the Consent Agenda. There was no discussion.

Dr. Chavarria moved that the State Board of Education hereby approves the Consent Agenda. Ms. Gonzalez seconded the motion, and it passed with a unanimous roll call vote.

The following motions were approved by action taken in the Consent Agenda motion:

Approval of Minutes

Plenary Minutes: August 14, 2024

The Illinois State Board of Education hereby approves the Aug. 14, 2024, meeting minutes.

Approval for Adoption

*Approval of Cut Score for Redesigned World Language: Chinese (Cantonese) Content Exam The State Board of Education hereby approves the following panel-recommended cut scores for the World Language: Chinese (Cantonese) (261) content exam:

35 out of 52, including 7 out of 8 for Presentational Speaking and 6 out of 8 for Presentational Writing.

*Approval of the Fall 2024 Waiver report

The State Board of Education hereby approves all waiver requests, except for the request by Sycamore CUSD 427 in regard to ISBE Rule 23111. Admin. Code 180.500(e). This request from Sycamore CSD 427 is denied because it is a restatement of a requirement in Section 17-2.11 of the School Code (105 ILCS 5/17-2.11] that the district also has requested to be waived. This specific request will be forwarded to the General Assembly for further consideration.

7. Discussion & Approval

A. Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million – Approval to Award a Sole Source Grant to Regional Office of Education 48 for Costs Associated with Operational Expenses

Director of School Business Services Michael Gum discussed this item.

There were no additional questions from Board members on this item.

Dr. Benson moved that the State Board of Education hereby authorizes the state superintendent to award a sole source grant to Regional Office of Education 48 for costs associated with operational expenses. The total award over one year will not exceed $1.75 million.

Dr. Leak seconded the motion. The motion passed with a unanimous roll call vote.

8. Announcements and Reports

Superintendent/Senior Staff Announcements

Superintendent Sanders thanked those who volunteered at last month’s Illinois State Fair, especially Facility Management employee Mark Young, who attended every day.

He shared that with schools back in session, individuals in the field have expressed to him a feeling of normalcy for the first time in a few years. Superintendent Sanders said he has been able to connect with these individuals via his visit to Pontiac to meet with all superintendents in Senator Tom Bennett’s district; his meeting with the Board of Directors of the Illinois Association of School Boards in Normal; and school visits to Edinburg CUSD 4, Oak Lawn School District 229, and the Philip J. Rock Center and School. He also connected with U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona at Chicago Access Living during Dr. Cardona’s recent Back to School Bus Tour.

Superintendent Sanders encouraged those who did not attend to watch his recent fireside chat with Sal Khan on artificial intelligence and how teachers can use the technology to improve instruction.

Finally, Superintendent Sanders acknowledged the recent passing of his father, former Illinois State Superintendent of Education Ted Sanders.

There were no senior staff announcements.

Chair of the Board’s Report

a. Appointment of Committee Chairpersons – Illinois State Board of Education Bylaws Article VI(A)1 (as needed)

i. Finance and Audit Committee of the Whole

Chair Isoye thanked Dr. Benson for her many years of service as chair of the Finance and Audit Committee and explained that he would like the next chair of the committee to participate in the entire budget process for fiscal year 2026. As such, he welcomed Dr. Nugent to the role and thanked her for chairing the committee meeting on Sept. 18. Dr. Nugent and Dr. Benson will work together to ensure a smooth transition in committee leadership.

ii. Education Policy Planning Committee of the Whole

Chair Isoye stated that Dr. Leak will continue to chair the Education Policy Planning Committee. b. NASBE Conference Voting Delegate and Nominations

Chair Isoye reminded the Board that the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) Conference will take place in October. He shared that here are two positions that will be voted on for which the nominee is running unopposed, including the position he is pursuing. He stated that he plans to attend the voting delegate meeting and asked that Dr. Leak be the representative to sign off on the vote for the two positions.

Chair Isoye informed the Board that Dr. Nugent is being honored with Bradley University’s most prestigious award, the Francis C. Mergen Award for Public Service. She will receive the award at the university’s Founders Day Convocation.

Chair Isoye ended his report by thanking the ISBE staff who worked on preparation for the Board retreat. He expressed that the retreat was a success, and he is excited for the future.

Member Reports

Dr. Nugent thanked the ISBE staff for their hard working after recently hearing updates from Chief of Staff Kimako Patterson on the ISBE Strategic Plan. She stated she is proud of the collaborative effort by staff to serve the children of Illinois.

Dr. Leak said she felt renewed energy after the Sept. 18 retreat and shared her pride in the sustainability of the Board as experienced Board members transition out of the organization and new members transition in. She said she has witnessed a conscious effort to maintain consistent expectations for Board members and put systems in place to ensure thoughtful engagement with the field.

9. Information Items

ISBE Fiscal & Administrative Monthly Reports

Freedom of Information Act Monthly Report

ISBE Quarterly Staff Demographics Report

10. Motion for Adjournment

Dr. Isoye announced that the next Board meeting will be held on Oct. 16, 2024.

Dr. Leak moved to adjourn the Sept. 19, 2024, meeting of the Illinois State Board of Education. Mr. Eddy seconded the motion, and it passed with a unanimous roll call vote. The meeting adjourned at 9:52 a.m.

https://go.boarddocs.com/il/isbe/Board.nsf/files/DA5PUT665962/$file/DRAFT%20Plenary%20Minutes%20-%20September%2019%2C%202024.pdf