Sara Rose

The strategic plan for South Central Schools outlines key objectives and goals across five main pillars: Curriculum, Finances, Buildings & Grounds, Transportation, and Technology. The plan aims to enhance curriculum alignment, offerings, and professional development; ensure fiscal responsibility, resource allocation, and staffing; maintain and improve facilities, safety, and cleanliness; optimize transportation efficiency and safety; and advance technology integration, communication, and staff training.

The South Central Community Unit School District #401 Board of Education held a public hearing to discuss the amended 2024-2025 budget. The floor was opened for questions and discussion, but none were raised.

The meeting included discussions and actions on various topics, such as approving the payment of bills and the Treasurer's Report. The amended budget for fiscal year 2024-2025 was approved. Changes to the student and extra-curricular handbook were approved, including adding social suspensions and cellphone policy changes. The board discussed the unit office roof repair, the middle school electric panel replacement project, and the elementary school roof proposal. They also discussed future plans to purchase a bus to replace the one that burned in April 2025. The board approved a leave of absence request and hired a support staff employee and a certified employee. They also appointed an assistant volleyball coach and approved a volunteer band assistant. Additionally, they approved a co-assistant girls' softball coach. The board accepted the resignation from the Head Track & Field Coach for South Central Middle School and approved pay rates for sports officials. The two-year contract between the South Central School Board of Education and South Central Federation of Support Personnel, Local #6393 was ratified. Raises for the Non-Union Education Support Personnel (ESP) were approved, as well as starting Pay Scale for Support Staff and Substitute Teachers pay rates. The board approved contracts for multiple administrators and rehired several paid coaches for South Central High School and Middle School. The IESA Renewal Application for Cooperative Team Sponsorship between South Central Middle School and St. Peter Lutheran School was approved.

The meeting included recognizing a bus driver for her quick thinking during a bus fire. The board discussed historical fund balances, approved the Treasurer's Report for April 2025, and approved membership dues renewal with the Illinois Association of School Boards. The 2024-2025 tentative amended budget was presented, and the renewal of the district treasurer's bond was tabled. The board appointed a member to the Kaskaskia Special Education District #801 Board and engaged an audit firm for the annual independent audit. Food bids were approved, and the first reading of school board policy revisions was conducted. Reports were given by the elementary and high school principals, and the superintendent reported on student attendance at the National FBLA Leadership Conference and ongoing work on the elementary school roof bid. The board accepted letters of resignation from certified employees and approved a web tech for the middle school and volunteer bass fishing coaches for the high school.

The board approved the payment of bills and the Treasurer's Report. They also approved a fuel bid from The Equity, as well as food, milk, and bread bids from Kohl Wholesale, Stark Distributing Co., and Bimbo Bakeries USA, respectively. Additionally, the board approved the first reading of the June 2019 school board policy revisions and the purchases of school buses. Changes to the Extra-Curricular Handbook were also approved. The superintendent provided an overview of anticipated state and federal revenues and updates on facility improvements. The board then moved to a closed session to discuss personnel matters, after which they approved the closed session minutes and hired several support staff employees. Finally, a medical leave of absence was approved.