Palestine Community Unit School District 3

The Board of Education approved the agenda and consent agenda. Actions were taken to authorize the Superintendent to seek fuel and trash bids for the 2026-2027 school year and to begin preparations for the 2026-2027 district budget. The 2026-2027 school calendar was formally approved. Personnel actions included the employment of a volunteer assistant track coach, the dismissal of a Jr. High Girls' Basketball Assistant Coach, and the acceptance of resignations for a Jr. High Boys Baseball Head Coach, a Jr. High Boys Baseball Assistant Coach, and a volunteer assistant football coach. The Board also entered into a closed session to discuss personnel and student matters, and addressed the release and destruction of specific closed session minutes.

The document outlines the agendas for two meetings of the Board of Education on the same day. The first session, the Athletic Committee Meeting, included discussions on athletic programming and a needs assessment. The main Regular Meeting agenda covered receiving communications, reports from the Principals and Superintendent, and several action items. Key action items included the consideration of IHSA and IESA Memberships for Fiscal Year 2026, acceptance of a Fuel Bid and a Trash Bid, and employment actions such as hiring a Volunteer Junior High Track Assistant Coach, and several substitute positions (Cook/Custodian). The main meeting also included a Closed Session to discuss personnel matters, evaluations, and student issues, followed by final action items.

The meeting addressed the approval of the agenda. A significant action taken was the unanimous approval of amendments to numerous board policies, including policies numbered 2:120 through 7:340, policy 8:30, policy 8:100, and IDEA Procedures.

The meeting included a presentation of the 2024-2025 Annual Audit and a presentation on Operational Funds Reserve Reduction. Key actions taken were the adoption of the 2025 Tax Levy and the approval of dates for the Grade School and High School graduations. The Board also adopted a resolution directing the Regional Superintendent of Schools for Crawford County, Illinois, to place a question on the March 17, 2026, general primary election ballot regarding imposing a 1% retailers' occupation tax and service occupation tax for school facility purposes, school resource officers, and mental health professionals. Furthermore, the board accepted the lawn care and landscaping bid from Ace Lawn Care.

The meeting agenda included standard procedural items such as the approval of the agenda and consent items covering bills, payroll, and the treasurer's report. Key discussion points involved reports from the Principals and the Superintendent. The main action segment focused on the second reading and approval of numerous district policies across various categories (2:120 through 8:100, and IDEA Procedures). A closed session was scheduled to discuss personnel matters, individual student issues, and negotiations, which included a review of previous closed session minutes from September and October 2025.