Galesburg Reporter

Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 Board of Education met Aug. 8

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Call to Order: President Arvanitis called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.

Board of Education Members

Present – Mrs. Athena Arvanitis, President; Mrs. Elizabeth Hosler, Vice-President; Mrs. Courtenae Trautmann, Secretary; Mrs. Kelly Asseff; Mrs. Kara Caforio; Mr. Jim Collins

Absent –Dr. Kelly Henry

President Arvanitis stated 6 board members present, 1 board member absent, a quorum is present.

Administration

Present - Dr. Keisha Campbell, Superintendent

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

Public Comments

Public comments revolved around the following topics: Support for all teachers and specific teacher; FERPA, board policy and student private information; Opposition to book banning; Teachers and administration need to work together.        

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.

Closed Session

President Arvanitis asked for a motion to adjourn to closed session at 5:48 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;

AND Collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives, or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(2)

Mrs. Trautmann moved and Mrs. Caforio seconded the motion. ROLL CALL VOTE: Mrs. Trautmann, Mrs. Caforio, Mrs. Asseff, Mrs. Hosler, Mr. Collins, and Mrs. Arvanitis voted aye. Motion carried. Dr. Henry was absent.

Reconvene to Open Session

The Board adjourned from closed session at 8:52 p.m. and reconvened to open session.

Agenda Action Items

Adoption of Resolution Approving Notice to Remedy

President Arvanitis stated that after numerous meetings with a tenured teacher and the teacher’s union representatives, including two closed session hearings with the Board of Education, the Board has reached a consensus to issue a notice to remedy to the teacher. The notice is limited to the release of confidential information about a student in connection with the teacher’s responses on social media to posts by the student’s parent. In taking this action, it is the focus of the Board to protect the confidentiality of student information in accordance with state and federal law and Board of Education policy. Although it encourages and expects social media participants to be truthful and respectful, the Board does not intend to engage in social media controversies.  The Board has reached a consensus to issue a notice of remedy to a teacher. A notice of remedy is a notice to a tenure teacher from the Board of Education to address certain conduct issues and to meet certain expectations going forward.  

President Arvanitis asked for a motion to adopt the Resolution Authorizing Notice to Remedy substantially in the form presented by the Superintendent. Mrs. Trautmann moved and Mrs. Caforio seconded the motion. ROLL CALL VOTE: Mrs. Trautmann, Mrs. Caforio, Mr. Collins, Mrs. Hosler, Mrs. Asseff, and Mrs. Arvanitis voted aye. Motion carried. Dr. Henry was absent.

Withdrawal of Disciplinary Action

President Arvanitis stated that the action just taken by the Board with respect to the notice of remedy will replace the previous disciplinary action previous delivered by the administration.

President Arvanitis asked for a motion to withdraw the one-day suspension without pay of the employee named in the minutes of the immediately preceding closed session, to restore the lost day of pay for such employee and to authorize the Superintendent to document this action in such employees personnel file and with the Elmhurst Teachers Council.

Mrs. Hosler moved and Mrs. Caforio seconded the motion. ROLL CALL VOTE: Mrs. Hosler, Mrs. Caforio, Mrs. Trautmann, Mrs. Asseff, Mr. Collins, and Mrs. Arvanitis voted aye. Motion carried. Dr. Henry was absent.

President Arvanitis stated that the Board and the Administration have made significant efforts to support teachers. To continue these efforts, the Board looks forward to future conversations where representatives of the Board of Education and the District Administration can hear the Elmhurst Teachers’ Council (ETC) leadership’s ideas for ways to enhance support for all teachers. Thank you.

Upcoming Meetings

 - August 22, 2023 Board of Education Meeting at 7:00 p.m. - District 205 Center, Rooms 215, 216

 - September 6, 2023 Policy Committee Meeting at 5:30 p.m. - District 205 Center, Rooms 215, and 216

Adjournment - End of Meeting: The meeting was adjourned at 9:03 p.m.

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