BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING

4 Tuesday, October 14, 2025 BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING East St. Louis School District 189 1005 State Street East St. Louis, IL 62201 5:00 p.m. URL: http://www.boarddocs.com/il/est189/Board.nsf 1. CALL TO ORDER Subject A. Roll Call Meeting Oct 14, 2025 - BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING Category 1. CALL TO ORDER Type Procedural The meeting will be called to order by the Board President. File Attachments 2. PRAYER Subject A. Prayer Meeting Oct 14, 2025 - BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING Category 2. PRAYER Type File Attachments 3. PLEDGE Subject A. Pledge of Allegiance Meeting Oct 14, 2025 - BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING Category 3. PLEDGE Type File Attachments 4. ADOPTION OF AGENDA Subject A. Adoption of Agenda giving the Board President discretion to take items out of order or in Executive Session Meeting Oct 14, 2025 - BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING Category 4. ADOPTION OF AGENDA Type Action, Procedural Recommended Action Motion to approve the agenda. File Attachments 5. RECOGNITIONS Subject A. Recognitions Meeting Oct 14, 2025 - BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING Category 5. RECOGNITIONS Type Information, Recognition District Preschools Earn Gold Circle of Quality Recognition The Vivian Adams Early Childhood Center and Dr. Katie Harper Wright Preschool programs have once again earned the Gold Circle of Quality – the highest distinction awarded by ExceleRate Illinois , the state’s quality recognition and improvement system for early learning and development. This recognition is not new to our schools. Both Vivian Adams and Dr. Katie Harper Wright have maintained the Gold Circle of Quality designation across multiple years, demonstrating an enduring commitment to excellence in early learning. Achieving this honor requires meeting rigorous statewide standards and successfully completing a comprehensive review and monitoring process. Being recognized at this level reflects the high quality of teaching, supportive learning environments, strong family and community partnerships, and the expertise and leadership of our early childhood educators. We proudly celebrate the outstanding staff and leaders of Vivian Adams and Dr. Katie Harper Wright, who continue to set the standard for early childhood education in our region. Record Year for National Honor Society Inductions at East St. Louis Senior High We proudly recognize the outstanding achievements of 33 students from East St. Louis Senior High School who were recently inducted into the National Honor Society (NHS). This year marks an exciting milestone, as the school celebrates its largest NHS chapter in recent history. These scholars exemplify the core values of scholarship, leadership, service, and character. Each student has earned, and many have exceeded, the required 3.5 cumulative GPA, demonstrating strong academic dedication and perseverance. Beyond the classroom, these students shine in a wide range of extracurricular activities, including BETA Club, band, basketball, cheerleading, football, wrestling, and more. Their involvement reflects the spirit, discipline and community pride that define East St. Louis Senior High School. We commend these students for their academic excellence, integrity, and commitment to service. We look forward to witnessing their continued success and leadership. High School Beta Club Members Qualify for Nationals The Beta Club from East St. Louis Senior High School excelled at the Regional Leadership Summit held at Southeast Missouri State University in late September. Competing against clubs from Missouri, Mississippi, and Illinois, students showcased their leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills across a series of judged events. A team of six of our outstanding scholars delivered an exceptional performance and earned a coveted spot at Nationals in the Collaboration Connections category! The Collaboration Connections challenge puts teams’ teamwork, creativity, problem-solving, and leadership to the test. Students must think critically, communicate effectively, and respond to real-time challenges using only the materials provided. In short — it’s all about brainpower, collaboration, and quick thinking, and our Beta scholars delivered in every way. We are incredibly proud of their hard work, dedication, and excellence and look forward to cheering them on as they represent East St. Louis Senior High School and School District 189 at the National Beta Club Convention, June 16–20, 2026, in Nashville, Tennessee. File Attachments 6. APPROVAL OF BOARD MEETING MINUTES Subject A. Motion to Approve Minutes of the September 16, 2025 Public Hearing/Special Meeting & the September 16, 2025 Regular Board Meeting Meeting Oct 14, 2025 - BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING Category 6. APPROVAL OF BOARD MEETING MINUTES Type Action, Minutes Recommended Action Motion to approve the Board meeting minutes as presented. The Board will approve the minutes as presented. The minutes will be made public within ten days of Board approval. File Attachments 7. PRESENTATIONS / REPORTS Subject A. Presentations/Reports Meeting Oct 14, 2025 - BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING Category 7. PRESENTATIONS / REPORTS Type Information, Report File Attachments 8. PUBLIC COMMENTS Subject A. Public Comments - A request to speak form must be submitted 30 minutes prior to the time the meeting is scheduled to convene Meeting Oct 14, 2025 - BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING Category 8. PUBLIC COMMENTS Type Procedural The Board of Education will hear comments from individuals who have requested to address the Board. A request to speak form must be submitted 30 minutes prior to the time the meeting is scheduled to convene. File Attachments 9. EXECUTIVE SESSION Subject A. Motion to Move to Executive Session to consider one or more of the following reasons: (120/2(c)(1) Employee appointments, employments, compensation, discipline, performance, dismissals or dismissal of specific employees, complaints; 120/2(c)(2) Negotiations; 120/2(c)(5) Property Acquisition/Lease/Purchase; 120/2(c)(8) Emergency Security Procedures; 120/2(c)(9) Student Discipline; 120/2(c)(11) Actual/Potential Litigation; 120/2(c)(16) Self-evaluation, practices and procedures or professional ethics when meeting with a representative of a statewide association of which the public body is a member; 120/2(c)(21) Closed Meeting Minutes Discussion/Review) Meeting Oct 14, 2025 - BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING Category 9. EXECUTIVE SESSION Type Action Recommended Action Motion to move to Executive Session to consider one or more of the reasons listed below. A closed session in accordance with the Illinois Open Meeting Act (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1) will be necessary to consider one or more of the following subjects including, but not limited to: 120/2(c)(1) Employee appointments, employments, compensation, discipline, performance, dismissals or dismissal of specific employees, complaints 120/2(c)(2) Negotiations 120/2(c)(5) Property Acquisition/Lease/Purchase 120/2(c)(8) Emergency Security Procedures 120/2(c)(9) Student Discipline 120/2(c)(11) Actual/Potential Litigation 120/2(c)(16) Self-evaluation, practices and procedures or professional ethics when meeting with a representative of a statewide association of which the public body is a member 120/2(c)(21) Closed Meeting Minutes Discussion/Review Click here to read the applicable Illinois Statute File Attachments 10. OPEN SESSION Subject A. Reconvene in Open Session for possible action on items discussed in Executive Session Meeting Oct 14, 2025 - BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING Category 10. OPEN SESSION Type Information File Attachments 11. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT(S) Subject A. Update - Projects & Activities Meeting Oct 14, 2025 - BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING Category 11. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT(S) Type Information, Report File Attachments Subject B. Report - FOIA Requests Meeting Oct 14, 2025 - BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING Category 11. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT(S) Type Information, Report 11 B. FOIA Requests October 7, 2025 TO: Arthur Culver, Superintendent/East St. Louis Board of Education FROM: Dr. Valencia Martin - Hawkins, Chief Human Resources Officer/ FOIA Officer RE: Request for Records under F.O.I.A. The Freedom of Information requests processed for August 2025 – October 2025 are as follows: August 19, 2025 Ms. Long Information Director of Public Data Research requested the following: Request access to and copy of listing of all East St. Louis SD 189 All current employees' names, All current employees' job titles, The employment start dates of all current employees. A response was provided in accordance with the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) August 25, 2025 Ms. Katie Mostris Research Analyst of Amalgamated Transit Union, AFL-CIO/SLC requested the following: Copies of all correspondence to/from employee of East St. Louis District #189 to/from the following 4 email address: S.Allen@illinois-central.com , V.Hall@illinois-central.com , M.Dotson@illinois-central.com , S.Warma@illinois-central.com between 10/1/2024 to present. A response was provided in accordance with the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) September 8, 2025 Mr. Owen Wang of the Lake County Gazette requested the following: Copies of the contracts for all school principals in the district who will start the upcoming school year. Copies of all active teacher contracts/collective bargaining agreements. A response was provided in accordance with the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) September 8, 2025 Mr. Owen Wang of the Lake County Gazette requested the following: Names of all graduates from your middle schools for the completed school year with the following fields: Name Destination High School A response was provided in accordance with the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) September 18, 2025 Mr. Justin Wenig of Starjump requested the following: All contracts (and/or Master Service Agreements with all associated purchase orders) that are in effect or have been in effect in the last 3 years with any of the following vendors with which you have a relationship: Edgenuity (Imagine Learning), Edmentum/Apex Learning I am requesting existing, already maintained electronic records (without copying, scanning, or printing). A response was provided in accordance with the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) File Attachments FOIA Requests_October 2025 BOE Mtg.doc (78 KB) 12. ACTION AGENDA Subject A. Consider Approval to Read All Resolutions by Reading of Heading Only Meeting Oct 14, 2025 - BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING Category 12. ACTION AGENDA Type Action, Discussion Recommended Action Motion to approve the Superintendent's recommendation File Attachments Subject B. Consider Approval of Resolution Authorizing the Sale of Certain Unnecessary Real Estate Meeting Oct 14, 2025 - BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING Category 12. ACTION AGENDA Type Action, Discussion Recommended Action Motion to approve the Superintendent's recommendation File Attachments Subject C. Consider Approval of the Distributed Energy Resource Agreement with Voltus for Demand Response Capacity Payments to be paid to the District at the Rate of $45,000 per MwH Meeting Oct 14, 2025 - BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING Category 12. ACTION AGENDA Type Action, Discussion Recommended Action Motion to approve the Superintendent's recommendation 9F. Consider the Distributed Energy Resource Agreement with Voltus for Demand Response Capacity Payments to be paid to the District at the Rate of $45,000 per MwH. Potential Revenue: $58,000 File Attachments 9F. Distributed Energy Resource with ESTL189 - Voltus US DER Agreement-MISO LMR (686ff29f81) (version 2).pdf (950 KB) Subject D. Consider Approval of Worker's Compensation Settlement Agreement(s) Meeting Oct 14, 2025 - BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING Category 12. ACTION AGENDA Type Action, Discussion Recommended Action Motion to approve the settlement agreement(s) as presented. File Attachments 13. PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL REPORT Subject A. Consider Approval of Financial Report for the Month of September 2025 Meeting Oct 14, 2025 - BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING Category 13. PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL REPORT Type Action, Discussion, Report Recommended Action Motion to approve Financial Report as presented. 1F. Approval of the Comparative Analysis/Financial Report for the month ending September 2025 Approval of the Monthly Finance Department Reports: Part A - Cash Reconciliation Detail. Included in Cash Account Funds on Worksheet. Approval of Part B - Necessary Expenditures Approval of US Credit Card - Expenditures Approval of Part B - Wire Transfers Approval of the Journal Entry Form Direct Energy Electric. Approval of the Construction Payments Approval of Workers Compensation Claims Approval of Part C - Miscellaneous Cash Receipts Approval of Part D - Athletic, Admissions, Concessions & Game Guarantee. Approval of Part E - Money Returned from Expense Checks & Miscellaneous Payments Approval of Part F - Projected Open Accounts Payable (Unrestricted) Approval of Part H - Payroll (Overtime Pay) Approval of Part I - Funded Program Claims File Attachments 1F. Finance Report 10.7.25.pdf (1,406 KB) 14. PERSONNEL Subject A. Consider Approval of the Personnel Report Meeting Oct 14, 2025 - BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING Category 14. PERSONNEL Type Action, Discussion, Report Recommended Action Motion to approve the Personnel Report & addendum as presented. File Attachments 15. REPORT OF BOARD COMMITTEES Subject A. Consider Approval of the Buildings & Grounds Committee Report Meeting Oct 14, 2025 - BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING Category 15. REPORT OF BOARD COMMITTEES Type Action, Discussion, Report File Attachments 1BG OCT 1 .pdf (770 KB) 2BG. Use of Premise-Sigma Ghamma Rho Youth Symposium 10.14.26.pdf (1,252 KB) Subject B. Consider Approval of the Curriculum Committee Report Meeting Oct 14, 2025 - BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING Category 15. REPORT OF BOARD COMMITTEES Type Action, Discussion, Report Recommended Action Motion to approve the Curriculum Committee Report as presented. Attachments: 2.A. & 3.A. Curriculum Committee Reports 5.A. Professional Development Requests 6.A. Field Trip Requests 7.A. Action Requests & Attachments Referrals to Finance Committee: The following referrals are included in the Finance Committee Report. 5.A. Professional Development Requests 6.A. Field Trip Requests 7.A. Action Requests File Attachments 2A_3A_Curriculum Reports_10.02.25.pdf (922 KB) 5A_Report_Curric Prof Dev_10.02.25.pdf (278 KB) 6A Report_Curric Field Trip Reqs_10.02.25.pdf (14 KB) 7A Report_Curric Action Items_10.02.25.pdf (9 KB) 7A. 1 Contract - Dr. Carla Lewis Longley.pdf (1,001 KB) 7A. 2 Agreement - Gateway Region YMCA.pdf (682 KB) 7A. 3 Participation Agreement - St. Louis Univ.-Rising Teachers.pdf (1,116 KB) 7A. 4 Agreement - Teacher Ready-Univ West FL.pdf (666 KB) 7A. 5 Agreement - SWIC-Practicum Placements in our Schools.pdf (500 KB) 7A. 6 EMT Transportation 2025-2026.pdf (1,064 KB) 7A. 7 Contract - Imagine Learning.pdf (283 KB) 7A.8 Contract - Renaissance Learning-Sr. Thea Bowman.pdf (550 KB) 7A.9 Contract - Sp Ed Systems, INC-Menta Academy.pdf (355 KB) 7A.10 Contract - CRISIS GO-Sr. Thea Bowman.pdf (686 KB) Subject C. Consider Approval of the Finance Committee Report Meeting Oct 14, 2025 - BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING Category 15. REPORT OF BOARD COMMITTEES Type Action, Discussion, Report Recommended Action Motion to approve the Finance Committee Report as presented. 1F. Consider approval of the Comparative Analysis/Financial Report for the month ending September 2025. 2F. Consider approval of payment to Becker, Hoerner, & Ysursa P.C. invoices for services rendered for the month of September 2025. Cost: $TBD Funding Source: District 3F. Consider approval of accepting a qualified bid from Culinary Depot to Purchase Food Service Equipment for East St. Louis Sr. High School. Cost: $71,006.74 Funding Source: District . 4F. Consider approval to purchase 1 table (10 banquet tickets) for the East St. Louis Branch JJK Foundation Banquet on October 24, 2025. Cost: $5,000.00 Funding Source: District 5F. Consider approval to accept a donation of 7 chess sets, duffle bags, 2 stopwatches, rubber bracelets, and a chess manual from Jerricha Griffin. Estimated Value: $75.00 6F. Consider a pproval of annual fundraisers for school-student activities for the 2025-2026 school year for CTE students of East St Louis Sr. High School. 7F. (Previously Approved Sept. 2025) (Clarify Name of Donor) Consider approval of a donation from Castagna Vanguard Charitable Foundation to the ESLHS Band for the Arkansas Pine Bluff Homecoming Battle of High School Bands from October 10-12, 2025. Estimated Value: $26,112.00 8F. Consider approval to accept a donation in support of the careers of CTE students for resources and supplies from Occidental Chemical Corp (OXY). Estimated Value: $2,000.00 9F. Consider the Distributed Energy Resource Agreement with Voltus for Demand Response Capacity Payments to be paid to the District at the Rate of $45,000 per MwH. Potential Revenue: $58,000 Addendum 10.8.25 10F. Consider Approval of Resolution Authorizing the Sale of Certain Unnecessary Real Estate. 11F. Consider Approval of the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) Between Venice School District #3 and East St. Louis School District 189 for Venice Students (grades 9-12) to Attend East St. Louis Senior High School for 2025-2026 School Year. 12F. Consider Approval of the Bluffview Headstart Lease Extension from June 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026 at a cost of $12,000 paid in two installments. First payment: June 1, 2025 $6,000.00 Second payment: January 1, 2026 $6,000.00 Buildings & Ground Referrals 1BG. B&G Report Use of Premise Request(s) 2BG. Consider a request from Alpha Upsilon Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. to use East St. Louis Sr. High School on Saturday, March 14, 2026, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the 30th Annual Youth Symposium and Operation BigBookBag. Fee: $ 7,051.00 (requesting waiver of fees) Curriculum Committee Referrals 5.A. Professional Development Requests 6.A. Field Trip Requests 7.A. Action Requests 1. Consider the approval of Dr. Carla Lewis-Longley, DDS to provide dental services to Dunbar Elementary School. Cost: $0 2. Consider approval of agreement with Gateway Region YMCA Community Development for youth development and STEAM programming to students at James Avant Elementary School. Cost: $0 3. Consider approval of an internship agreement with Saint Louis University for non-certified district employees to participate in the Rising Teachers program. Cost: $0 4. Consider approval of an internship agreement with Teacher Ready at the University of West Florida for a student teaching placement in our schools. Cost: $0 5. Consider approval of an affiliation agreement with Southwestern Illinois College for education practicum placements in our schools. Cost: $0 6. Consider approval of EMT to provide transportation services to district transitional students. Cost: $55,714.00 Funding Source: Title I 7. Consider approval of a contract with Imagine Learning to provide courseware licenses for credit recovery efforts and drivers education courses at SIUE Charter School. Cost: $15,200.00 Funding Source: Title I 8. Consider approval of a contract with Renaissance Learning for providing products & educational licenses at Sr. Thea Bowman Catholic School. Cost: $3,149.38 Funding Source: Title I, Title IV 9. Consider approval of a contract with Special Education Systems, INC to provide transportation services to special education students at Menta Academy. Cost: (Not to exceed) $150,000 Funding Source: District 10. Consider approval of a contract with CRISIS GO for access to their crisis preparation platform for staff at Sr. Thea Bowman Catholic School. Cost: $1,995.00 Funding Source: Title IV File Attachments 1F. Finance Report 10.7.25.pdf (1,406 KB) 3F. Culinary Depot Bid 10.7.25.pdf (8,717 KB) 4F. 2025_JJK Save The Date Flyer_Sponsorship_Levels_08_14.pdf (8,334 KB) 5F. Donation Chess.pdf (702 KB) 6F. CTE Fundraiser.pdf (675 KB) 7F. Donation Vanguard Charitable Foundation ESLSHS Battle of Band. 9.11.25 (1).pdf (1,948 KB) 8F. Donation OXY CTE Careers 10.7.25.pdf (746 KB) 9F. Distributed Energy Resource with ESTL189 - Voltus US DER Agreement-MISO LMR (686ff29f81) (version 2).pdf (950 KB) 2BG. Use of Premise-Sigma Ghamma Rho Youth Symposium 10.14.26.pdf (1,252 KB) 6A Report_Curric Field Trip Reqs_10.02.25.pdf (14 KB) 5A_Report_Curric Prof Dev_10.02.25.pdf (278 KB) 16. OLD BUSINESS Subject A. Old Business Meeting Oct 14, 2025 - BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING Category 16. OLD BUSINESS Type Discussion, Information File Attachments 17. NEW BUSINESS Subject A. New Business Meeting Oct 14, 2025 - BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING Category 17. NEW BUSINESS Type Discussion, Information File Attachments 18. ANNOUNCEMENTS Subject A. Regular Board Meetings: November 17, 2025; December 16, 2025; January 20, 2026; February 17, 2026; March 17, 2026; April 21, 2026; May 20, 2026; June 16, 2026 Meeting Oct 14, 2025 - BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING Category 18. ANNOUNCEMENTS Type Information File Attachments 19. ADJOURNMENT Subject A. Motion to adjourn the meeting. Meeting Oct 14, 2025 - BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING Category 19. ADJOURNMENT Type Action Recommended Action Motion to Adjourn the meeting. File Attachments