Kankakee Times

Kankakee School District 111 Board of Education met Aug. 11.

Here is the agenda provided by the board:

The Board of Education meeting of Kankakee School District No. 111, Kankakee County, Illinois, was held at 6:03 p.m. in the auditorium room at the Lincoln Cultural Center, 240 Warren Ave, Kankakee, IL 60901.

ROLL CALL

Members Present: Suzy Berrones, Board Secretary

Christopher Bohlen, Board President

Jess Gathing, Board Vice President

Susan Lopez

Tracy Verrett (exited at 8:15 pm)

Kathy Yancy-Smith

Members Absent:

Darrell Williams (entered at 6:17 pm)

A quorum was declared present.

Closed Session

At 6:03 pm, a motion was made by Gathing, seconded by Lopez, to go into closed session and discuss:

● The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees, specific individuals who serve as independent contractors in a park, recreational, or educational setting, or specific volunteers of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee, a specific individual who serves as an independent contractor in a park, recreational, or educational setting, or a volunteer of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity. However, a meeting to consider an increase in compensation to a specific employee of a public body that is subject to the Local Government Wage Increase Transparency Act may not be closed and shall be open to the public and posted and held in accordance with [the Open Meetings Act]. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1).

● Litigation, when an action against, affecting or on behalf of the particular public body has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal, or when the public body finds that an action is probable or imminent, in which case the basis for the finding shall be recorded and entered into the minutes of the closed meeting. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11).

The Regular Session was reconvened at 7:11 p.m.

Chris Boheln led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Meeting with the Board was:

Dr. Teresa A. Lance, Superintendent

Dr. Kelly Gilbert, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum

Dr. James Henderson, Interim Assistant Superintendent of People Services

Mr. Harrison Neal, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services

Dr. Patricia Gonzalez, Assistant Superintendent of Student Support & Diverse Programs. Stephanie Markham from the Daily Journal was present.

Superintendent’s Report

❖ Rise & Thrive Wellness

➢ Megan Campbell, Owner of Rise & Thrive, discussed the partnership with Rise & Thrive.

❖ Instruction

➢ Dr. Gilbert discussed the approval of Edmentum, Elevate K-12, the Chicago Metro Math Initiative, and Equal Opportunity School, which needs to be removed. Dr. Gilbert discussed the Professional Development for his school year, registration, physicals, Transportation, Athletic Tryouts, Early childhood programs, and Open House.

❖ Student Services & Diverse Programs

➢ Dr. Gonzalez discussed the students needing physicals and Immunizations, Multilingual and BPAC meetings.

❖ Finance

➢ Mr. Neal discussed the tentative budget and the agenda items.

❖ Personnel

➢ Nothing was presented.

❖ School Readiness

➢ Dr. Lance presented on school readiness, start times,

❖ Safety Preparedness

➢ Mr. Mason presented on safety preparedness.

Public Comments

Name Luke Shepherd

Topic Mr. Shepherd discussed the road to safety, portable classrooms, and issues with the JROTC program and its community involvement.

Consent Agenda

❖ The following Board Minutes were submitted for approval:

➢ Regular Board Minutes July 28, 2025 (Regular Session & Closed Session)

❖ The Regular Bills were presented for approval.

❖ The Payroll & Related Bills were presented for approval.

❖ The Disposal of Surplus Equipment from the Maintenance Department, Steuben, Drivers Education Simulation Modules & Technology Equipment were presented for approval.

❖ The Personnel Items were presented for approval.

A motion was made by Gathing, seconded by Williams, to approve the consent agenda as presented. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES- Berrones, Gathing, Lopez, Williams, Yancy-Smith, and Bohlen. NAYS-none. Motion carried.

Action Items

1. Approval of Contract with Edmentum: APEX Credit Recovery

A motion was made by Gathing, seconded by Williams, to approve the contract with Edmentum: Apex Credit Recovery as presented. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Gathing, Lopez, Williams, Yancy-Smith, Berrones, and Bohlen. NAYS: none. Motion carried.

2. Approval of Contract with Elevate.

A motion was made by Gathing, seconded by Berrones, to approve the contract with Elevate as presented. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Lopez, Williams, Berrones, Gathing, and Bohlen. NAYS: none. Motion carried.

3. Approval of Contract with Equal Opportunity Schools.

The contract with Equal Opportunity Schools was not voted on.

4. Approval to Contract with DLLL-MCMI Coaching & PD.

A motion was made by Gathing, seconded by Berrones, to approve the contract with DLLL-MCMI Coaching PD as presented. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Williams, Yancy-Smith, Berrones, Gathing, Lopez, and Bohlen. NAYS- none. Motion carried.

5. Approval of Contract with TillyUS, LLP to Provide Audit Services for FY 2025, 2206, 2027. A motion was made by Gathing, seconded by Williams, to approve the contract with TillyUS, LLP to provide Audit Services for FY 2025, 2026, and 2027 as presented. ROLL CALL VOTE: Ayes- Williams, Yancy-Smith, Berrones, Gathing, Lopez, and Bohlen. NAYS: none. Motion carried.

6. Approval of Contract with IGS to Provide Electric Service to the District.

A motion was made by Gathing, seconded by Yancy-Smith, to approve the contract with IGS to provide electric service to the district. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES- Yancy-Smith, Berrones, Gathing, Lopez, Williams, and Bohlen. NAYS: none. Motion carried.

7. Approval of Payment to National Fitness Campaign for Outdoor Fitness Center.

A motion was made by Gathing, seconded by Williams, to approve the payment to National Fitness Campaign for the Outdoor Fitness Center as presented. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES- Berrones, Gathing, Lopez, Williams, Yancy-Smith, Berrones, and Bohlen. NAYS: none. Motion carried.

8. Approval of Clerical Employee Handbook

9. Approval of Food Service Employee Handbook.

10. Approval of Transportation Employee Handbook

11. Approval of Custodial Employee Handbook

12. Approval of Maintenance Employee Handbook.

13. Approval of Paraprofessional/ Security Handbook.

14. Approval of Certified Employee Handbook.

A motion was made by Gathing, seconded by Williams, to approve action items 8-14 as presented. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES- Gathing, Lopez, Williams, Yancy-Smith, Berrones, and Bohlen. NAYS: none. Motion carried.

Information & Proposals

1. Previous Bill Run

2. Monthly Report

Old Business

Announcements

Adjourn

At 8:40 p.m., a motion was made by Williams, seconded by Gathing, to adjourn the meeting—all ayes; motion carried.

https://ksd111.community.highbond.com/document/dee06f42-6b4a-496a-b740-bead75a034b3/