Ball-Chatham Community Unit School District 5

The board meeting included several recognition segments for school teams, including the wrestling team's state performance, girls' high school basketball team's history-making season, the academic challenge team, and students receiving Scholastic Writing Awards. The board approved the consent business items, personnel consent agenda items, and a statewide waiver for Title I funding. Furthermore, the board reviewed and approved the adoption of new English language arts curriculum resources for kindergarten through sixth grade, noting this was a teacher-led decision-making process.

The meeting included the approval of the agenda for January 28th and the approval of closed session minutes from December 17th, 2025. A significant portion of the meeting involved discussions and subsequent approvals for the Ball Elementary School (BES) HVAC replacement project, awarded to SM Wilson Company. The base bid approval was for $4,707,500, covering approximately two-thirds of the building, including classrooms, library, music/arts wing, and main office. Three optional alternates were also approved separately: Alternate One ($394,200) for DOAS units and makeup air equipment in the base bid area; Alternate Two ($397,485) covering the cafeteria area rooftop units; and Alternate Three ($312,075) covering HVAC for the southwest special education wing. The board also held a second reading and approved new press policies and received a presentation on the GMS Kindness Wall initiative aimed at promoting kindness, discouraging bullying among middle school students, and fostering community encouragement.

Key discussions during the board meeting included the approval of an altered agenda, with the removal of an item concerning employee termination. Recognition was given to CACC Students of the Month for October and November. A science teacher expressed concerns regarding a change in the high school course book during the citizens' opportunity to speak segment. Consent agenda items covered standard reports, treasurer reports, foyer requests, and personnel matters (resignations, new hires, terminations, leaves of absences). A Truth in Taxation hearing was held, concluding with the adoption of the 2025 tax levy. New business featured presentations on curriculum book changes from the high, middle, and intermediate schools, approval for out-of-state travel for the middle school choir and band to Six Flags in Missouri, acceptance of a donation from GES, and the first reading of new policies. The board also approved a resolution to move forward with a $110 million referendum concerning facility improvements, scheduled for a March 17th election. Communications included a presentation from Ball Elementary staff regarding their belonging program. Another citizen spoke in support of Ball Elementary at the end of the meeting.

The meeting included roll call confirmation and an amendment to the agenda to remove a closed session item concerning employee termination. Action items included the approval of closed session minutes from November 19, 2025, and the approval to keep the semiannual review of closed session minutes confidential. The board recognized CACC Students of the Month for October and November 2025. Following a citizen opportunity for visitors where no one signed up, discussions focused on New Business regarding GHS course book changes. Key changes involved making Personal Finance a senior-only graduation requirement and aligning Physical Science and Biology 1 with middle school curriculum. A significant point of discussion was the proposal to move the AP Chemistry course offering from an annual to an every-other-year schedule, which drew concerns regarding limiting high-achieving students' options. The consent agenda covered approvals for various minutes (facilities and grounds, regular board meeting, policy, finance, joint public hearing), treasury reports, district payable reports, and personnel actions (resignations, new hires, retirements, transfers, leaves of absence, reclassifications). Finally, the board held and closed a Truth and Taxation Hearing and adopted the 2025 tax levy.

The meeting included roll call and approval of the agenda. The board approved the closed session meeting minutes from January 28th, 2026. Key discussion items included recognition for CAC students of the month and an NHS scholarship semi-finalist receiving a $3,200 scholarship. Art students were recognized for various Scholastic Arts awards, including gold keys, silver keys, and honorable mentions across multiple media, with one student receiving multiple portfolio awards. Recognition was also given to ATJG test medalists. The board discussed and approved a revision to the GMS course book language regarding awarding credit for geometry, Spanish, or algebra taken at the middle school level, to comply with new state law concerning grade reporting. Additionally, the board approved the bid for the B.E.S.T. roof project, totaling $1,240,189 for various hallways of the building. Finally, a presentation was given regarding the G.E.S. building philosophy centered around 'Heart Up, Mind Up' concepts, detailing how counselors guide students through emotional regulation and problem-solving skills.