Board Meeting Summary:
During its Regular Board Meeting held on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 the Board of Education accomplished the following items.
1. Approved the minutes of the February 15, 2023 Regular Meeting and the March 7, 2023 Special Meeting.
2. Recognized the state-qualifying members of the girls bowling and boys and girls wrestling programs for their accomplishments. The Board also recognized Mrs. Kelly Liebhart for her phenomenal efforts supporting students in the ELL and AP Spanish programs.
3. The Special Education Division was spotlighted with Mrs. Goy sharing information on the Reading Plus program.
4. During public comment, LaSalle County Clerk Jennifer Ebner shared information on a program to allow students to serve as election judges.
5. Approved monthly L-P, ACC bills, payroll, and financial statements.
6. Received correspondence from Mr. Gerald Walter and family and the LaSalle Police Department’s Administrative Sergeant, Mr. Brian Zebron.
7. Received TIF Reimbursements from City of Peru for $31,640.19.
8. Mr. Sparks presented the President’s Report, sharing the Superintendent’s Evaluation. He shared his appreciation for Dr. Wrobleski’s hard work.
9. Dr. Wrobleski presented the Building and Grounds Committee Report.
10. Mr. Merboth presented the Finance Committee Report.
11. Dr. Wrobleski presented the Superintendent’s Report, sharing on the ROE Excellence in Education recipients, Sherrie Kurtz, Jason Miller, Andrea Eichelkraut, Cristina Sarabia, retirees Ed Yoder and Theresa Wolfe, and retiring Board President Tony Sparks, Mrs. Cushing’s recent opportunity to speak to aspiring principals, recent state-wide scholarships earned by Mrs. Cushing and Mr. Gibson, a recent FOIA request.
12. Mrs. Cushing presented the Principal’s Report, sharing information on the high scholarship ceremony, the upcoming Honor Society induction ceremony, the sophomore Career Fair, preparing for summer school, division budget planning, and starting a Conversations & Cookies with Mrs. Cushing program.
13. Mr. Kuziel presented the Athletics & Activities Report, sharing information on recent athletic program accomplishments, the start of spring sport seasons, and activity updates.
14. Mr. Mentgen presented the ACC Director’s Report, sharing information on the ACC Students of the Month, developing further relationships with community businesses, initial enrollment figures, continued classroom involvement from Nucor, and a recent study on parent expectations of schools.
15. Mr. Baker presented the Director of Communication Report, sharing information on recent Communication Office activities, including the recent Sports Complex Ground-breaking ceremony and upcoming musical.
16. Approved the Hillman Pediatric Therapy, P.C. contract for the 2023-2024 school year
17. Approved hiring Vissering Construction Co., Streator, IL, for the Nurses’ Office Renovation for $380,700
18. Approved hiring Byrne & Jones Sports Construction, St. Louis, MO via the TIPS Purchasing Cooperative for tennis court repairs for $801,000 pending a mutually agreeable contract
19. Approved hiring Abel Plus Services, Inc., Gilbert, IL for the Dolan Building – 2nd Floor tile asbestos abatement project for $24,800
20. Approved purchasing a 2016 Genie GS-3232 scissor lift from MH Equipment, Ottawa, IL for $23,990
21. Approved the 2023-2024 School Fees
22. Approved letting bids for the L-P Athletic Sports Complex Support Buildings (Concession Stand, Press Box, Storage, and Bathroom Addition to the Soccer Building)
23. Approved establishing a Field Trip Activity Account
24. Approved the following retirements:
i. Mrs. Gladys Ramey, World Language Teacher, effective the conclusion of the 2027-2028 school year
25. Approved the following resignations:
i. Dr. Jens Soderholm, Assistant Boys’ Basketball Coach, effective March 1, 2023
ii. Mr. Zachary Zrust, Part-Time Teacher for Illinois Valley Entrepreneurial Opportunities (IVEO) Program, effective the conclusion of the 2022-2023 school year
iii. Mrs. Cassie Graham, Assistant Volleyball Coach, effective March 10, 2023
iv. Mrs. Betsy Sobin, Reading Specialist, effective the conclusion of the 2022-2023 school year
v. Mr. James Cherveny, Head Boys’ Basketball Coach, effective March 10, 2023
vi. Mr. Randy Koehler, Assistant Boys’ Basketball Coach, effective March 12, 2023
vii. Mr. John Riva, Assistant Boys’ Basketball Coach, effective March 13, 2023
26. Approved the following appointments:
i. Mr. Dan Burkart, Assistant Girls’ Track Coach, effective for the 2022-2023 school year (replaces Mr. Noah Hancock)
ii. Mr. Matt Rebholz, Volunteer Assistant Girls’ Track Coach, effective for the 2022-2023 school year
iii. Mr. Edgar Esquivel, Volunteer Assistant Girls’ Soccer Coach, effective for the 2022-2023 school year
iv. Mr. Burney Wilkie, Hallway Security, effective April 11, 2023 (new position)
27. Approved the following probationary certified staff reappointments for the 2023-2024 school year:
i. Part-time status:
1. Mrs. Robbyn Partain, ACC Fire Science Teacher
2. Mr. Zachary Koesler, ACC Computer Repair/Intro to Programming Teacher
ii. First-year probationary teachers to be rehired as second-year probationary teachers:
1. Mrs. Alyssa McCauley, English Teacher
2. Mr. William Shalter, English Teacher
3. Mrs. Natalie Verucchi, Music-Choir Director
4. Mr. Alex Popidinski, Science Teacher
5. Mr. Dan Burkart, Science Teacher
6. Mr. Brent Thomas, Special Education Teacher
iii. Second-year probationary teachers to be rehired as third-year probationary teachers:
1. Mr. Cameron Mignone, Physical Education/Health Teacher
2. Mrs. Jennifer Scoma, Family & Consumer Science Teacher
3. Mr. Aaron Beale, Mathematics Teacher
4. Mrs. Ericka Tomminello, Special Education Teacher
5. Mrs. Rebecca Fredericksen, Special Education Teacher
6. Mrs. Maria (Mollie) Taylor, Special Education Teacher
7. Ms. Julia May, Special Education Teacher
8. Ms. Madeline Piller, Science Teacher (1.5 year)
9. Mr. Brandon Placher, High School Counselor (1.5 year)
iv. Third-year probationary teachers to be rehired as fourth-year probationary teachers:
1. Mrs. Julie Jenkins, Art Teacher
2. Mrs. Brenda Carbajal, Spanish Teacher
3. Mr. Jeremy Stevens, Band Director
28. Approved granting tenure to the following fourth-year teachers:
i. Mrs. Addie Kostellic, English Teacher
ii. Mr. Andrew Nelson, Social Science Teacher
iii. Mrs. Megan Mahaffey, School Social Worker
iv. Mrs. Carol Navarro, Science Teacher
v. Mrs. Lori Johnson, ACC Early Childhood Teacher
vi. Mr. Scott Blessman, Physical Education Teacher
29. Approved rehiring the following administrative positions for the 2023-2024 school year:
i. Mrs. Ingrid Cushing, Principal
ii. Mr. Michael Kuziel, Athletic Director
iii. Mrs. April Eutis, Associate Principal for Student Support Services
iv. Mr. Chris Gibson, Associate Principal for Teaching and Learning
30. Approved the following staff reduction-in-force for the 2023-2024 school year:
i. Mrs. Katherine Baker, STEP Job Coach, due to financial consideration
ii. Ms. Kristen Derix, Title I Reading Para-Professional, due to financial consideration
iii. Mr. Connor Soenksen, Title I Math Para-Professional, due to financial consideration
iv. Mrs. Nicole Kowalczyk, SEL Interventionist, due to financial considerations
v. Mrs. Shelby Knickerbocker, School Nurse, due to financial considerations
vi. Mr. Matthew Lambert, Permanent Substitute Teacher, due to financial considerations
vii. Ms. Paige Scoma, Permanent Substitute Teacher, due to financial considerations
viii. Ms. Quince Weber, Permanent Substitute Teacher, due to financial considerations
31. Approved staffing recommendation based on 2023-2024 student enrollment and extracurricular openings
32. Approved reviewing and retaining the Executive Closed Session minutes for February 15, 2023 Regular Meeting and March 7, 2023 Special meeting
33. Approved destructing verbatim audio records from Executive Session held prior to October 1, 2021, per the Illinois Open Meetings Act, 5 ILCS 120
i. Regular Meeting Minutes, September 22, 2021,
ii. Special Meeting Minutes, September 30, 2021
34. Approved opening recommended sections of the following closed minutes as part of the semi-annual review
i. January 20, 2021
ii. February 1, 2021 Special Meeting
iii. February 17, 2021
iv. March 4, 2021 Special Meeting
v. March 11, 2021 Special Meeting
vi. March 17, 2021
vii. April 21, 2021
viii. May 19, 2021
ix. June 23, 2021
x. August 18, 2021
xi. September 22, 2021
xii. September 30, 2021 Special Meeting
xiii. October 6, 2021 Special Meeting
xiv. October 20, 2021
xv. November 17, 2021
xvi. December 15, 2021
xvii. January 12, 2022 Special Meeting
xviii. January 19, 2022
xix. February 6, 2022 Emergency Meeting
xx. February 23, 2022
xxi. March 16, 2022
xxii. April 20, 2022
xxiii. May 9, 2022 Special Meeting
xxiv. May 18, 2022
xxv. June 22, 2022
xxvi. July 25, 2022 Special Meeting
xxvii. August 24, 2022
xxviii. September 28, 2022
xxix. October 19, 2022
xxx. November 16, 2022
xxxi. December 1, 2022 Special Meeting
xxxii. December 21, 2022
