Lori Chalmers

The agenda for this meeting includes initial procedural items such as the call to order, roll call, prayer, and adoption of the agenda, along with provisions for public comments. Key reports scheduled include updates from the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council, the Superintendent, the District Building & Grounds Director, the Chief School Business Official, and a representative from ISBE. The panel plans to enter Executive Session to discuss matters including employee issues, collective negotiating, property acquisition, security procedures, litigation, and discussion/review of closed meeting minutes, before reconvening to Open Session. Informational reports from the Buildings and Grounds, Joint Curriculum & Policy, and Finance Committees are slated. The agenda also covers approval of financial items from a previous Board of Education meeting, including Treasurer's Reports, Board Bills totaling several million dollars for various categories (payroll, credit cards, A/P), payment for legal services, approval for emergency gym floor replacement at East St. Louis Sr. High School, and approval of professional development and field trip requests. Action agenda approvals include personnel reports, curriculum items, the East St Louis School District 189 Deficit Reduction Plan, and a resolution concerning the intention to issue Working Cash Fund Bonds not to exceed $29,000,000.

The agenda for the meeting included key reports and discussions. Reports were scheduled from the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council, Superintendent Arthur Culver, the Director of Buildings & Grounds, and the Chief School Business Official regarding district finance. Specific presentations involved the ESTL 189 Capital Projects and an overview discussion on Bond Borrowing Options. An ISBE report was also scheduled. The agenda provided for an Executive Session to discuss matters including employee management, collective negotiating, property acquisition, security procedures, litigation, and closed meeting minutes review, followed by a return to open session. Items for approval included consent agenda items from the January 21, 2026 Board of Education meeting, such as various finance reports, approval of legal service invoices, and several donated items for students. Major action items involved the approval of personnel reports and curriculum actions, and the approval of bid packages for the CTE Building Expansion project at a cost of $17,197,627.00.

The meeting began with roll call and prayer, followed by the affirmation of the agenda, which included granting the board president discretion to alter item order. Recognitions were presented, including awards for two staff members (Mia Thomas and Katrice Johnson) and highlights of recent successes for various student athletes and teams across football, bowling, and cross country, as well as middle school students who qualified for state competition. The board then received a financial audit overview from Baker Tilly, which reported an unmodified audit opinion for Fiscal Year 2025. Key financial findings included significant decreases in fund balances across major operating funds, totaling a $15.5 million decrease in the General Fund balance. The auditor noted that the 2025 Annual Financial Report triggered a deficit reduction plan requirement. Two material audit adjustments were discussed, primarily related to the accounts payable balance and the incorrect fund recording of state transportation grant funding. Following the financial review, the principal of Lincoln Middle School provided an update, noting the school's designation as 'Intensive' and outlining goals for improvement focusing on climate/culture, attendance reduction (aiming to lower chronic absenteeism from 51.5% to 45%), and increasing student performance quintiles in NWA math and reading assessments. Implementation plans included launching a new PBIS initiative, monitoring attendance daily, and revising the master schedule to increase instructional time from 55 to 75 minutes per period.

This document serves as a public notice for an upcoming Regular Meeting of the Financial Oversight Panel of East St. Louis School District Number 189. A closed session is scheduled to occur during the meeting to address specific items permitted under the Illinois Open Meeting Act, including employee matters, collective negotiating issues, property transactions, security procedures, litigation, and review of closed meeting minutes.

Key discussions and actions for this meeting included the presentation of the ESTL 189 FY2025 Audit by Baker Tilly, reports from the Superintendent and the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council, and a District Building & Grounds Report. The agenda included an Executive Session to discuss matters such as employee actions, collective negotiating, property acquisition, security procedures, litigation, and closed meeting minutes review. Open session items covered committee reports and several consent agenda items, such as the approval of financial reports, including Treasurer's Report, Board Bills totaling $3,909,618.56, and payroll of $7,676,096.68 for November. Approvals also covered legal services payments, an Intergovernmental Agreement with Venice School District #3, a lease extension for Bluffview Headstart, approval of donations (Thanksgiving meals and toys for students), renewal of medical/dental/vision insurance, and professional development requests. Action agenda items included approval of Personnel Reports and Curriculum Action Items.