Shelly Carson

The Board of Education meeting included the administration of the oath of office to a new student board member. The board approved a memorandum of understanding with the Robert Young Center for Community Mental Health for the 2025-2026 school year. Discussions included facility updates such as sodding, new doors and ADA lift installations, track project progress, and roof projects. Additionally, the board authorized the purchase of a property at 1405 11th Street for $200,000 with the intent to demolish it.

The Board of Education held a session focusing on professional development regarding communication and community engagement tactics. The board addressed a clerical error in the consent agenda, which was subsequently amended and approved. Discussions also included the importance of board member roles in governance and strategies for effective community interaction, representation, and stakeholder communication.

The meeting featured a school spotlight highlighting the Parent Mentor program at Logan Elementary, including discussions on its history, impact on student learning, small group instruction, and community-building events like outdoor carnivals and reading challenges. The board also reviewed the annual Illinois School Report Card for the 2022-2023 school year, covering student enrollment, demographic changes, free and reduced lunch population increases, and concerns regarding chronic absenteeism.

The committee discussed potential safety-related changes to parade routes for the upcoming homecoming event, reviewed student support programs including a parent mentor program and classroom soft-start initiatives at Logan Elementary, and received a presentation on the proposed 2025-2026 school year budget, which outlines projected increases in staffing, utilities, and capital projects. Additionally, the committee reviewed the sources and data used for establishing PACE goals for the upcoming academic year, encompassing both quantitative academic performance metrics and qualitative feedback from staff, students, and community members.

The meeting featured a presentation on the student-led Book Buddies program, which aims to enhance literacy and provide support for elementary school students. There was a special recognition segment for staff who completed an alternative route to licensure program. Additionally, the Board discussed the Willard Elementary ML Ambassadors program, which pairs multilingual students with ambassadors to assist with their transition and integration into the school environment.