Southern Illinois News

Alden-Hebron School District 19 Board of Education met April 16.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:.

President Smith called the meeting of the Board of Education of Alden-Hebron Community Consolidated Unit School District #19 to order at 7:00pm.

Roll Call

PRESENT: Mrs. Smith, Mr. Winkelman, Mr. Madsen, Mr. Misiek, Mr. Eskridge, Mr. Berg, Mrs. Johnson

ABSENT: None

ALSO PRESENT: Tiffany Elswick-Superintendent, Katie Beck-SSC, Eric Slocum-ES Principal, Aaron Butler-MS/HS Principal, Gary Stephan-B&G Coordinator, Mandi Ford – District Secretary, Deanna VanderPal- District Secretary, Nick Ciccotosto, Ray Stalker, Jonathan Mindham-VOH Trustee, Nicolette DeCicco, Nathan Murrin

Correspondence

• FOIA from Mike Powers from Local Union 265 seeking information about construction and maintenance work planned and our HVAC contract with Helm. This was satisfied March 20th.

• 5 FOIA’s received between March 23rd and March 31st from an unknown sender requesting financial data from 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020, and 2021. This was satisfied on March 31st by referring them to ISBE financial archives.

• FOIA received from Sarah Taylor Lopez requesting a hiring date of an employee. Satisfied April 2nd.

• FOIA received from David Arvayo, Painters District Council No. 30 – asking for recent paint purchases and a list of future painting and drywall projects. This was satisfied on April 10th.

COMMUNICATIONS

Public Comments

None

Staff Comments

None

Board Comments

Mr. Eskridge thanked everyone who voted during the election and encouraged everyone to come out to the spring fling on Saturday April 19th. He also thanked the custodial staff for making the school look wonderful for the all-star game. Mr. Winkleman encouraged everyone to come and support the student athletes for their spring sports

CONSENT AGENDA

The following were reviewed under the consent agenda.

*A. Approval of March 19, 2025 Regular & Executive Meeting Minutes

*B. Recap of March 2025 Expenditures

*C. Treasurer’s Report for March 2025

*D. Approval of Current Invoices & Payroll

*E. Approval to re-employ Auditor—Eder, Casella, & Co.

*F. Regional Safe Schools Program

*G. Personnel Report

Mr. Misiek moved; Mr. Winkelman seconded to approve the Consent Agenda, items A – F. Ayes: Mrs. Smith, Mr. Winkelman, Mr. Madsen, Mr. Misiek, Mr. Eskridge, Mr. Berg, Mrs. Johnson Nays: None

Absent: None

Motion Carried

*G. Personnel Report

Mr. Eskridge moved; Mr. Winkleman seconded the amended Personnel Report. Ayes: Mrs. Smith, Mr. Winkelman, Mr. Madsen, Mr. Misiek, Mr. Eskridge, Mr. Berg, Mrs. Johnson Nays: None

Absent: None

Motion Carried

BUSINESS

ADMINISTRATION

Superintendent – as presented

Mrs. Elswick added:

• Encouraged everyone to go to the Spring Fling.

• Stop the bleed training scheduled

• Providence vineyard for reunification spot

• Rooms app update. Going well so far as a soft launch with a few technical glitches that we are working through.

• Board Evaluations would be scheduled for early July. Mrs. Johnson would like it as early as possible, Mrs. Elswick gave the dates that were open.

• The handbook was looked through with open campus being discussed and limiting underclassmen from being in vehicles with upper classmen, even if they are siblings. Mr. Eskridge also brought up the dress code and asked for a definition of “appropriate” and suggested adding a definitive measurement to clothing, as well as male athletes keeping their shirts on during and after practice. Mrs. Elswick provided copies of dress codes from other school districts in our area, showing that ours was similar. Mrs. Johnson stated that there were other things to be worrying about.

• Mr. Eskridge asked about homework for elementary students. Mr. Slocum stated that students are given minimal homework, and asks parents to read to their children.

• Mrs. Elswick had further explained a question about Physical Education Exemption, stating that a student may only be exempt from gym class should it be impeding their ability to graduate, or to take higher level courses.

MS/HS Principal Report – as presented

ES Principal– as presented

SSC Report— as presented

Mrs. Beck added:

• Social work update at the Middle School high school, stated that there were no interruptions in service to the students, with video conferencing. Mrs. Beck also mentioned that students were receptive to the new system.

• She then talked about a new Elementary Social worker starting April 21st, being in person 3 days a week and able to service all students during those three days.

• There will also be an additional preschool screening in July.

FINANCE

Business Manager Report--as presented

PHYSICAL STRUCTURES/MAINTENANCE – as presented

Mr. Stephan added:

• Spring Break work went well.

• The Health Life Safety report came up with no violations at the Elementary school, and one violation at the Middle/High School. The violation has since been fixed. Mrs. Elswick thanked Mr. Stephan for his hard work.

MUSIC/ARTS

Nicolette DeCicco talked about:

• This years theater achievements with three sold out shows, and thanked everyone who came out to support the drama department.

• She talked about the future of the program, mentioning that she would like to add a summer program to bring it to three productions a year.

• She highlighted the relationship between theater work and academic benefits, social-emotional growth, and career readiness.

• She asked the board to consider how much goes into a production for budget

VILLAGE

Mr. Mindham discussed the most recent Village of Hebron Board meeting:

• Lawn care service through B&B Lawn care was approved.

• The intergovernmental agreement between the village and McHenry county Sheriff’s department was extended two months.

ALDEN TOWNSHIP

Mr. Madsen attended the Alden Township meeting . Items discussed:

• Business as usual

• Timeline for completion of the pipeline from O’Brien Road to Hartland

HEBRON TOWNSHIP

Mr. Eskridge attended the Hebron Township meeting. Items discussed:

• Business as usual

• Annual budget was approved

• There will be a referendum in 2026

• Bridge repairs are started.

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

None

COMMUNICATIONS

Public Comments

None

Staff Comments

• Mr. Slocum thanked Nicolette for all of her hard work from a parent standpoint.

• Mr. Murrin mentioned adding English electives that would work with the drama productions and seeing the writing growth with his students.

Board Comments

Mr. Misiek thanked the drama club, the coaches, and the voters for coming out in April.

Executive Session

Mr. Eskridge moved; Mr. Winkleman seconded to move into executive session at 8:00 pm for the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees; student disciplinary cases.

Ayes: Mrs. Smith, Mr. Winkelman, Mr. Madsen, Mr. Misiek, Mr. Eskridge, Mr. Berg, Mrs. Johnson

Nays: None

Absent: None

Motion Carried

Return to open session at 9:27pm

Actions as a result of Executive Session:

Mr. Misiek moved; Mr. Eskridge seconded to approve 2025-2026 staffing as presented.

Ayes: Mrs. Smith, Mr. Winkelman, Mr. Madsen, Mr. Misiek, Mr. Eskridge, Mr. Berg, Mrs. Johnson

Nays: None

Absent: None

Motion Carried

Mr. Eskridge moved; Mr. Winkleman seconded to approve 2025-2026 non-certified staff raises as presented.

Ayes: Mrs. Smith, Mr. Winkelman, Mr. Madsen, Mr. Misiek, Mr. Eskridge, Mr. Berg, Mrs. Johnson

Nays: None

Absent: None

Motion Carried

Mrs. Johnson moved; Mr. Winkleman seconded to approve the proposal for lock-in rates for fuel for FY26 from Blue Petroleum—diesel=$3.17/gallon; regular=$2.91/gallon.

Ayes: Mrs. Smith, Mr. Winkelman, Mr. Madsen, Mr. Misiek, Mr. Eskridge, Mr. Berg, Mrs. Johnson

Nays: None

Absent: None

Motion Carried

Adjournment

Mr. Eskridge moved; Mr. Berg seconded to adjourn the meeting at 9:29 pm.

Motion Carried

https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/860/Alden_Hebron_School_District_19/5638873/4-16-2025_minutes.pdf