July 28, 2025 at 6:30 PM - Regular School Board Meeting

1. CALL TO ORDER - Debbie Lowman, President

2. ROLL CALL - Nena Cox, Secretary

3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

4. VISITORS AND CORRESPONDENCE (Audience Participation)

4.I. Student Council Report - IAJHSC State Convention 2025

4.II. Other

5. REPORTS

5.I. Board President's Report - Debbie Lowman

5.II. Finance Reports - Summary of 2024-2025 (FY25) & Review of 2025-2026 (FY26) Tentative Budget - Dr. Matt Gordon

5.III. Board Committee Reports - Dr. Matt Gordon

5.IV. Projected Enrollment - 2025-2026 School Year - Report - Dr. Matt Gordon

5.V. Facilities Report - Summer 2025 - Update - Ron Uselton

6. CONSENT AGENDA

6.I. Approve Minutes - Board of Education - Regular Meeting - June 23, 2025

6.II. Approve Treasurer's Reports Ending June 30, 2025

6.III. Approve Financial Report Ending June 30, 2025

6.IV. Approve Activity Fund Report Ending June 30, 2025

6.V. Approve Bills - July 2025

6.VI. Approve EIS Administrator and Teacher Salary and Benefits Report - 2024-2025 School Year

7. ACTION ITEMS

7.I. Approve District Consolidated Plan (ISBE Title Grants)

7.II. Approve Financial Investment Plan via Purchase of 13-Week Treasury Bills

7.III. Approve Memorandum of Understanding - Rankin Association of Teachers - Rankin Board of Education - Additional Track and Field Assistant Coaching Position - 2025-2026 School Year

7.IV. Approve the Establishment of the District Health Insurance Committee per Rankin Association of Teachers Agreement

7.V. Approve 2nd Reading/Adoption - Policies - PRESS ISSUE #118 - April 2025 - Excluding 6:310 and 7:315
2:260 Uniform Grievance Procedure (updated)
2:265 Title IX Grievance Procedure (updated)
4:15 Identify Protection (updated)
4:80 Accounting and Audits (updated)
4:120 Food Services (reviewed)
5:10 Equal Employment Opportunity and Minority Recruitment (updated)
5:20 Workplace Harassment Prohibited (updated)
5:60 Expenses (updated)
5:100 Staff Development Program (updated)
6:150 Home and Hospital Instruction (updated)
6:235 Access to Electronic Networks (updated)
7:10 Equal Educational Opportunities (updated)
7:20 Harassment of Students Prohibited (updated)
7:50 School Admissions and Student Transfers To and From Non-District Schools (reviewed)
7:60 Residence (updated)
7:70 Attendance and Truancy (updated)
7:180 Prevention of and Response to Bullying, Intimidation, and Harassment (updated)
7:185 Teen Dating Violence Prohibited (updated)
7:190 Student Behavior (updated)
7:200 Suspension Procedures (updated)
7:210 Expulsion Procedures (updated)
7:250 Student Support Services (updated)
7:255 Students Who are Parents, Expectant Parents, or Victims of Domestic or Sexual Violence (new)
7:270 Administering Medicines to Students (updated) 
7:310 Restrictions on Publications; Elementary Schools (updated)
7:340 Student Records (updated)
8:30 Visitors to and Conduct on School Property (updated)

8. DISCUSSION ITEMS

8.I. Staffing - 2025-2026 School Year - Update

8.II. Building Improvements Projects (Solar Power and Track Repair) - Update

8.III. Preparation for Bid - Transportation Services - 2026-2027 School Year - Update

8.IV. Board of Education Members - Required Trainings - Update

8.V. Other

9. INFORMATION ITEMS

9.I. Facilities - Annual Inspection Report - ROE #53 - 2024-2025 School Year

9.II. Dustin Hyatt - Letter of Resignation - Full-Time - Music-Band-Chorus Teacher / Substitute Teacher 

9.III. 2025-2026 School Year - "One Family, Many Strengths!" - Opening Day - August 14, 2025 - Go Rebels! 

9.IV. Public Budget Hearing - 2025-2026 (FY26) - Original Budget - September 22, 2025 - 6:30 p.m. 

9.V. Other

10. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION (2nd Session)

10.I. Other

11. EXECUTIVE SESSION

11.I. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1) 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.

11.II. 5 ILCS120/2(c)(10) The placement of individual students in special education programs and other matters relating to individual students.

11.III. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(21) Discussion of minutes of meetings lawfully closed under this Act, whether for purposes of approval by the body of minutes or semi-annual review of the minutes as mandated by Section 2.06.

12. ACTION FOLLOWING EXECUTIVE SESSION

12.I. Approve Executive Session Minutes - Regular Board Meeting - July 28, 2025

12.II. Personnel

12.II.A. Approve Paraprofessional Job Description and Evaluation Template - Updated 

12.II.B. Approve Paraprofessional / Library Aide Job Description and Evaluation Tool - Updated

12.II.C. Approve Kathryn Vietzen's Leave of Absence Request

12.II.D. Approve Employment - Stephanie Leichtenberg - Long-Term Substitute 

12.II.E. Approve Employment - Courtney Farwell - Full-Time - Music-Band-Chorus Teacher / Substitute Teacher - 2025-2026 School Year

12.II.F. Approve Employment - Khristie Brooks - Paraprofessional - 2025-2026 School Year

12.II.G. Approve Employment - Caroleen Harper - Paraprofessional - 2025-2026 School Year

12.II.H. Approve Employment - Ashley Byers - Paraprofessional -  2025-2026 School Year (Average of 2 Days per Week) 

12.II.I. Approve Employment - Cynthia Fitzanko - Paraprofessional - 2025-2026 School Year (Average of 1.5 Days Spread Over 3 Days per Week)

12.III. Consideration of Student Tuition Requests - 2025-2026 School Year

12.IV. Consideration of Release - Executive Session Minutes - Six Month Review

12.V. Consideration of Destruction - Executive Session Electronic Recordings - 18 Months or Older

13. ADJOURNMENT
The next regularly scheduled meeting will be Monday, August 25, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. 

Rankin School District #98 "Our School is a Great Place to Learn"

Mission: Empowering all students to reach their maximum potential and become productive, respectful, responsible, and well-rounded citizens.  

Vision: Building the foundation of the future by engaging youth through rigorous and diverse educational opportunities.