Southern Illinois News

Anna Community Consolidated School District 37 Board of Education met May 8.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Board President Josh Gooden called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.

Roll Call

                           Present          Absent         Arr. Late

Josh Gooden  ____X_____ __________ __________

Jim Hammer   ____X_____ __________ __________

Cheryl Ligon   ____X_____ __________ __________

Lottie Smith    ____X_____ __________ __________

Collin Crane   ____X_____ __________ __________

Brent Sims     __________ ____X_____ __________

Superintendent, Brent Boren

Principals, Mark Laster, Angela Clay, Rob Lannom

Staff, Carla Whitaker

Visitors, William Watson

A motion was made by Jim Hammer and seconded by Collin Crane to approve the agenda for the meeting. Voice vote. Motion carried.

Reorganization of the Board of Education

A motion was made by Cheryl Ligon and seconded by Jim Hammer to approve the April 1, 2025 election results. Voice vote. Motion carried.

The oath of office was administered to Josh Gooden, Lottie Smith, and Alison Smith. Roll call of the new board was taken with the following members:

                           Present           Absent

Josh Gooden  ____X_____ __________

Jim Hammer   ____X_____ __________

Cheryl Ligon   ____X_____ __________

Lottie Smith    ____X_____ __________

Collin Crane   ____X_____ __________

Brent Sims     __________ ____X_____

Alison Smith  ____X_____ __________

Community member Willie Watson highly praised Mrs. Becky Lannom. Mrs. Lannom excels in communication and respect for the children and their parents. The Watson family is thankful for Mrs. Lannom and her impact on their son Tyler.

A motion was made by Cheryl Ligon and seconded by Lottie Smith to approve Brent Boren as President Pro Tem. Voice vote. Motion carried.

A motion was made by Josh Gooden and seconded by Cheryl Ligon to approve Carla Whitaker as Secretary Pro Tem. Voice vote. Motion carried.

President Pro Tem Brent Boren asked for nominations for Board President to serve a two-year term. Nominations were: Josh Gooden. Roll call vote. Josh Gooden, abstain; Jim Hammer, yea; Cheryl Ligon, yea; Lottie Smith, yea; Collin Crane, yea; Alison Smith, yea. Motion carried.

President Pro Tem Brent Boren declared Josh Gooden as Board President to serve a two-year term.

Board President Josh Gooden asked for nominations for Vice President to serve a two-year term. Nominations were: Jim Hammer. Roll call vote. Josh Gooden, yea; Jim Hammer, abstain; Cheryl Ligon, yea; Lottie Smith, yea; Collin Crane, yea; Alison Smith, yea. Motion carried.

Board President Josh Gooden declared Jim Hammer as Vice President to serve a two-year term.

Board President Josh Gooden asked for nominations for Board Secretary to serve a two-year term. Nominations were: Cheryl Ligon. Roll call vote. Josh Gooden, yea; Jim Hammer, yea; Cheryl Ligon, abstain; Lottie Smith, yea; Collin Crane, yea; Alison Smith, yea. Motion carried.

Board President Josh Gooden declared Cheryl Ligon as Board Secretary to serve a two-year term.

A motion was made by Jim Hammer and seconded by Josh Gooden to set the dates, times, and locations for regular meetings as the third Tuesday of each month, at 5:30pm, in the media center. Voice vote. Motion carried.

Board Policy Committee will consist of the following members: Jim Hammer and Josh Gooden. Voice vote. Motion carried.

Parent –Teacher Advisory Committee will consist of the following members: Alison Smith and Josh Gooden. Voice vote. Motion carried.

Behavioral Interventions Committee will consist of the following members: Lottie Smith and Brent Sims. Voice vote. Motion carried.

A motion was made by Collin Crane and seconded by Jim Hammer to approve the purchase of the property at 105 Warren St. for $16,000. Roll call vote. Josh Gooden, yea; Jim Hammer, yea; Cheryl Ligon, yea; Lottie Smith, yea; Collin Crane, yea; Alison Smith, yea. Motion carried.

A motion was made by Jim Hammer and seconded by Josh Gooden to enter into Executive for the purpose of the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against and employee of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(3), the selection of a person to fill public offices, as defined in 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. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(3), and collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives or deliberations converning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(2). Voice vote. Motion failed.

A motion was made by Cheryl Ligon and seconded by Josh Gooden to accept the resignation of Rebecca Yates, effective at the end of the 2024-2025 school year. Voice vote. Motion carried.

A motion was made by Alison Smith and seconded by Jim Hammer to appoint Brent Sims to a two-year term position on the Board of Education. Roll call vote. Josh Gooden, yea; Jim Hammer, yea; Cheryl Ligon, yea; Lottie Smith, yea; Collin Crane, yea; Alison Smith, yea. Motion carried.

A motion was made by Josh Gooden and seconded by Lottie Smith to adjourn at 6:00 p.m. with the next regular meeting scheduled for May 20, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. Voice vote. Motion carried.

https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/2796/Anna_CCSD/5673567/May_8__2025_special_mtg_minutes.pdf