Southern Illinois News

Illinois State Board of Education, North Chicago Independent Authority met May 8.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

1. Call to Order / Roll Call

(Time: 6:15pm) Mrs. King called the meeting to order, members present: King, Johnson Jones, Riley, Gonzalez

2. Moment of Silence/Pledge of Allegiance

3. Motion to Approve Meeting Agenda as Presented

(Time: 6:16pm) Motioned by Johnson Jones, second by Gonzalez. Passed 4-0

4. Audience Participation:

(Time: 6:18pm) Reverend Abrams - Thanked Mrs. King for all of the work she has done and he is excited as a community member to see the new board members serving and helping to continue this transition.

(Time: 6:22pm) Rayon Edwards - Congratulated the new board members, suggesting appointing one of the elected board members to sit as Vice Chair / President. Stated that most of the people that work in the district don’t live in the community. Suggest that employees need to engage in the community. He had asked if there was training for incoming and he was told there was not and then later found out there was. He is looking forward to the iA working with the new board members.

(Time: 6:26pm) Alderman Coleman - Spoke on behalf of the City of North Chicago thanking the board for the effort they have put in and respecting the board for the process. Stated that you can see the improvement throughout the district in the schools and financially he thanked Dr. Price and stated this is a transition that he is excited to see. He is looking forward to seeing everyone work together and he thanked Dr. Price for coming to the NC City Council meetings.

(Time: 6:29pm) Alderman Evans - Thanked everyone for coming out and congratulated everyone that was elected. He represents the third ward and the new elected board member Mrs. Collins resides in his ward. Thank you to Mrs. King and Dr. Price.

(Time: 6:30pm) Mayor Rockingham - Addressed Mrs. King, Dr. Price, and Board members echoing what the North Chicago Council said before him. It is a privilege to work with the NCCUSD and to the newly elected you have a job to do and part of that is to keep the kids of the school district in mind. Thank you to Mrs. King and Dr. Price for moving the district forward and making sure that the children receive the best education possible.

5. Election Results

A. The Board of Education reviews the Lake County Clerk’s Report of Election Results from the April 1, 2025 (Time: 6:33pm) Mrs. King read the election results to the audience

Non-Partisan Election

Today we report the winners from the April 1, 2025 Non-Partisan Election as reported by the Lake County Clerk and accept the following results for the Office of North Chicago School District 187 Board of Education Independent Authority Board Members for a four-year full term:

● Veronica Lynn Collins – Elected 663

● Thomas Coleman – Elected 509

● Gerald Coleman – Elected 558

6. Oath of Office: Mrs. King will provide the oath of office to the newly elected board members.

(Time: 6:34pm) Mrs. King gave the Oath of Office to the newly elected board members in the following order: Gerald Coleman, Thomas Coleman, and Veronica Lynn Collins. Once their oath was taken each member was asked to take their seat on the board.

7. Roll Call of New 2026 Board of Education

(Time: 6:43pm) all members present

● Mrs. Dora King - Chairperson

● Mr. Gerald Coleman

● Mr. Thomas Coleman

● Mrs. Veronica Lynn Collins

● Ms. Amalia Gonzalez

● Dr. Sylvia Johnson Jones

● Mrs. Sylvia Riley

8. Reorganization of the Board of Education - Election of Board Officers

A. Action – (IA) Call for nominations for the position of Vice-President

Thomas Coleman nominated Veronica Lynn Collins

Sylvia Riley nominated Dr. Sylvia Johnson Jones

Roll call vote for the position of Board Vice President

(Time: 6:55pm) T Coleman, G Coleman, and V L Collins voted for Veronica Lynn Collins S Riley, D King, A Gonzalez and S Johnson Jones voted for Dr. Sylvia Johnson Jones

Final vote count - Dr. Sylvia Johnson Jones (4) and Veronica Lynn Collins (3) Passed 4-3

Dr. Sylvia Johnson Jones - Vice-President

B. Action – (IA) Call for nominations for the position of Board Secretary

Dr. Sylvia Johnson Jones nominated Felicia McCarthy

MEETING OF THE INDEPENDENT AUTHORITY AND THE FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT PANEL

Roll call vote for the position of Board Secretary

(Time: 6:57pm) D King, G Coleman, T Coleman, S Riley, S Johnson Jones, A Ganzalez voted Yes - V L Collins voted Abstain for Felicia McCarthy

Final vote count - Yes (6) and Abstain (1) Passed 6-1

Felicia McCarthy - Board Secretary

C. Action – (IA) Call for nominations for the position of Recording Secretary, if needed

Roll call for votes for the position of Recording Secretary, if needed

Mrs. King announced there is no need for Recording Secretary since we have a Board Secretary D. Action - (IA) Call for the nominations for the position of Board Treasurer

Amalia Gonzalez nominated Gregory Volan

Roll call vote for the position of Board Treasurer

(Time: 6:59pm) D King, S Riley, S Johnson Jones, A Ganzalez voted Yes - T Coleman voted No - V L Collins and G Coleman voted Abstain for Gregory Volan

Final vote count - Yes (4), No (1) and Abstain (2) Passed 4-3

Greg Volan - Board Treasurer

9. New Business – Discussion/Action

A. Action – (IA) Approval of 2025 - 2026 School Year Board Meeting Dates

(Time: 7:03pm) Motioned by Johnson Jones, second by G Coleman. Passed 6-1 (V L Collins - Abstain)

10. Board President Statement and Meeting Reminders

● May 27, 2025 - 6:00 pm - NCCHS Auditorium - IA/FOP Board Meeting

● June 24, 2025 - 6:00 pm - NCCHS Studio 187 - IA/FOP Board Meeting

11. Adjourn

(Time: 7:04pm) Motioned by G Coleman, second by Johnson Jones. Applied Roll Call Vote

https://www.isbe.net/Documents_Finance_NCIA/050825-Minutes.pdf