Southern Illinois News

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

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The Anna-Jonesboro Community High School held a Budget Meeting on December 16, 2024. Upon roll call at 5:46 p.m. the following members were present: Mr. Vosburgh, Mr. Houseman, Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Plott, Mr. Mix, and Mr. Mays.

Public Hearing for Proposed Property Tax Increase for 2025.

Public Comments: None

On motion by Mr. Houseman and seconded by Mr. Mix to adjourn the Budget Meeting at 5:55 p.m. On roll call, all members present voting yes. Motion carried.

The Anna-Jonesboro Community High School held its regular meeting on December 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. Mays.

On motion by Mr. Houseman and seconded by Mrs. Johnson approve the Agenda as written. All members present voting yes. Motion carried.

On motion by Mr. Houseman and seconded by Mr. Vosburgh to approve the Consent Agenda which contained the following items: approval of board minutes on 11/12/24; approval of closed session minutes; approval of payment for bills, acceptance of financial reports. On roll call, all members present voting yes. Motion carried.

Recognition of visitors and correspondence: Sasha Cureton- Beussink, Hey, Roe, & Stroder, LLC – Andrea Witthoft- SCC

Items of Interest from Student Council: Good Evening AJ Board members, administration, and guests. My name is Lucas Tehandon and I am the Junior Representative of Student Council. I am also here with Jaylen Althoff who is the Secretary for Student Council. Student Council has organized a fun “12 Days of Christmas” event. Every day students can dress up to the daily theme and students are encouraged to bring items for students who receive a weekly bag of food and personal items. We are planning on sending home at least 20 boxes full of food and personal hygiene items. Special thanks to Mrs. Misener for having a competition between classes for a donut party. They donated 1447 items! We also donated our Wildcat blankets to be sent home in the boxes along with buying socks and candy. Student Council Officers have been busy wrapping presents for Delta Theta Tau who bought for 13 area students for Christmas. We also delivered Christmas cards to the Veteran’s home in Anna. We were able to give every Staff and Faculty member JAM for the holidays. Our next blood drive will be February 11th. Please consider signing up at redcross.org to give blood. We hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Items of Interest from Teachers: The 2025 spring production of “Grease: The School Edition” has been cast! We were so happy to have 25 talented students audition. While rehearsals will officially start the week we return from Winter Break, Stage Crew has already been meeting three times a week and are hard at work creating awesome sets. We look forward to a great season and cannot wait to see the final production in March! The Student Services Department hosted a FAFSA workshop on December 12th. Around 30 students and their families were able to complete the FAFSA during that time. They will host more workshops during spring semester. We were proud to receive Gold status from the state for our over 85% FAFSA completion last year, one of only four schools in Southern Illinois to earn that award. FAFSA completion helps all students, as it provides a pathway for free certification in vocational programs like welding and cosmetology as well as university degrees. Mrs. Sawyer and Ms. Webb have been busy coordinating with various agencies and community groups to buy winter clothes and Christmas gifts for students in need. 34 students will either receive warm clothing or Christmas gifts through various programs or fundraising efforts. In response to a new mandate from ISBE, Ms. Charicata will be participating in a graduate level course through the University of Illinois to become a certified interpreter for special education services. Once completed, this certification will allow her to not only interpret for AJ Spanish-speaking families, but also any other schools in the ROE #30 region as needed. Finally, the Student Services Department is beginning preparations for the 25-26 school year. To address complications from last year, 8th grade families will register online in January. Letters containing all of the information that typically goes out to 8th grade parents in February will be mailed instead this week. These letters contain instructions for registration, information about freshman placement and classes, and information about AJ programs, opportunities, and extracurricular. Mrs. Miller will be coordinating with the feeder schools regarding communication with the 8th grade families and a date for the annual 8th grade visit. Mrs. Massey’s Textile Occupation class is working on repairing the lettering on the score table in the gym. Today we put ANNA-JONESBORO back up. The Culinary Arts class catered the Alumni night for the wrestling team last week. The Art Club held its annual Christmas party in the cafeteria on December 12th. Students brought food, played games and filled two large bags with toys for Marlee Smith’s toy drive. Marlee provides gifts for the critically ill children at Cardinal Glennon Hospital and local kids as well. There is a donation box in the principal’s office and other locations in our area.

Curriculum Director Finders presented on course offerings for 2025-2026 and ACT testing,

Principal Rice spoke about upcoming dates, attendance and A.I. breakdown.

Superintendent Detering reported on the School Program Maintenance Grant, soccer complex update, lower gym heat, Art/Spanish positions, and Superintendents evaluation.

On motion by Mr. Vosburgh and seconded by Mr. Houseman for the Board to enter into closed session at 7:06 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) Student disciplinary case 5ILCS 120/2 (c)(9) On roll call, all members present voting yes. Motion carried.

On motion by Mrs. Johnson and seconded by Mr. Vosburgh to return to regular session at 9:07. On roll call, all members present voting yes. Motion carried.

On motion by Mr. Houseman and seconded by Mrs. Johnson to approve the Certificate of Tax Levy. On roll call, all members present voting yes. Motion carried.

Annual Statement of Affairs.

Operating Funds Report.

1st Reading of Board Policy Updates.

On motion by Mr. Mays and seconded by Mr. Mix to adjourn the Regular Meeting at 9:19 p.m. On roll call, all members present voting yes. Motion carried.

Next regularly scheduled meeting is Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. in the High School Library.

https://aj81.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Dec-Minutes.docx