Galesburg Reporter

Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 Board of Education met March 6

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Call to Order: President Caforio called the meeting to order at 5:31 p.m.

Board of Education Members

Present – Mrs. Kara Caforio, President; Mr. Chris Kocinski, Vice-President; Mrs. Courtenae Trautmann, Secretary; Mrs. Athena Arvanitis; Mr. Jim Collins; Mrs. Elizabeth Hosler; Mrs. Karen Stuefen

Absent – none

President Caforio stated there are 7 board members present, a quorum is present.

Administration

Present - Dr. Keisha Campbell, Superintendent; Mrs. Tonya Daniels, Exec. Dir. Communications; Dr. Scott Grens, Associate Superintendent; Mr. Rudy Gomez, Exec. Dir. Technology; Ms. Kerry Leuschel, Exec. Dir. Secondary Ed; Mrs. Katie Lyons, Exec. Dir. Elementary Ed; Mr. Luke Pavone, Asst. Supt. Human Resources; Dr. Kevin Rubenstein, Asst. Supt. Student Services; Mr. Chris Whelton, Asst. Supt. Finance & Operations

Absent - none

Pledge of Allegiance: Board members led those present in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

Public Comments: There were no public comments.

Per board policy 2:230, it is not the Board’s practice to directly engage in discussion, ask, or answer questions with the individuals addressing the Board during public comment.

Agenda Action Items

Approval of Sandburg Middle School Principal

Dr. Campbell stated that my administrative team and I launched an inclusive and thorough search to find the next principal for Sandburg Middle School after the announcement of Principal Fehenbacher’s retirement. We set out to make sure we were creating an opportunity to bring in top talent that would ensure continued student growth and success, the rigorous multi-stepped process began. Once again, community input was incorporated into the process in multiple ways, including a community survey and several parent, student, and staff focus groups. All in-person candidates presented a 10-minute data overview and priority presentation before engaging in a standard questioning interview session, in which questions were aligned to feedback received from community members.

Mr. Louis is an educator with over 20 years of experience serving high school, middle school and elementary students in various roles ranging from a science and social studies teacher, team leader, PLC trainer and facilitator, to assistant principal and currently, principal. In each role, Mr. Louis has routinely demonstrated the ability to build extraordinary relationships, develop the capacity of others with implementing data-driven approaches to achieve success. Throughout all 1 of 1 interviews, Mr. Louis approached all questions with a student-centered approach and the ability to develop others toward common goals as a community.

As part of the interview committee, Mrs. Arvanitis thanked the administration and stated is was not an easy pathway. She was most by impressed by his immediate connection to students and look forward to all the great things. Mrs. Caforio commented that his passion for middle school came out, along with his sensitivity to both student and staff needs in helping get excellent outcomes. They board welcomed Mr. Louis.

President Caforio asked for a motion to approve the recommendation for Sandburg Middle School principal, as presented. Mrs. Hosler moved and Mrs. Arvanitis seconded the motion. ROLL CALL VOTE: Mrs. Hosler, Mrs. Arvanitis, Mrs. Trautmann, Mr. Collins, Mrs. Stuefen, Mr. Kocinski, and Mrs. Caforio voted aye. Motion carried.

Mr. Louis indicated he is honored to be selected and thanked the Board for this opportunity. He stated as he enters this new position, he looks forward to partnering with the greater Sandburg community to ensure future success.

Upcoming Meetings

- March 7, 2023 Finance & Operation Committee Meeting at 5:30 p.m. - District 205 Center, Rms 215 & 216

- March 13, 2023 Policy Committee Meeting at 5:30 p.m. - District 205 Center, Rooms 215, and 216

- March 21, 2023 Board of Education Meeting at 7:00 p.m. - District 205 Center, Rooms 215, & 216

Closed Session

President Caforio asked for a motion to adjourn to closed session at 5:41 p.m to discuss matters relating to The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity, 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1); Mrs. Trautmann moved and Mrs. Hosler seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL VOTE: Mrs. Trautmann, Mrs. Hosler, Mr. Kocinski, Mrs. Stuefen, Mrs. Arvanitis, Mr. Collins, and Mrs. Caforio voted aye. Motion carried.

President Caforio indicated there will be no action taken and will adjourn after closed session.

Adjournment - End of Meeting: The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 p.m.

We certify this document as the correct minutes of the special meeting of the Elmhurst CUSD 205 Board of Education held on March 6, 2023.

https://go.boarddocs.com/il/elmhurst/Board.nsf/Public#