May 21, 2025 at 6:30 PM - Regular Board Meeting

Call to Order 

Pledge of Allegiance

Roll Call

Declaration of Quorum

Presentation - Girls Soccer Conference Champions
Mr. Ryan Skendzel

Audiences:
       Persons wishing to address the Board of Education are expected to follow School Board Policy 2:230

Approval of Minutes

April 9, 2025 - Regular Board Meeting Minutes

April 9, 2025 - Regular Board Meeting - Executive Session 

April 23, 2025 - Special Reorganization After Elections Meeting Minutes

April 23, 2025 - Special Reorganization After Elections Meeting - Executive Session

May 5, 2025 - Special Board Meeting Minutes

May 5, 2025 - Special Board Meeting - Executive Session

President’s Report - Dr. Jennifer Grenier

 Discussion/Action - Approval of Consent Agenda/Personnel Report

Accounts Payable/Imprest 

April

Financial Report and Monthly Payroll

March

April

Discussion/Action - Approval for 2025-2027 Board Committees

Discussion/Action - Approval for Independent Law Firm Engagement Agreement

Informational - A.E.R.O. Update
Mrs. Diane Ponce

Informational - Any board members interested in making a personal contribution to an Argo Higher Education Foundation Golf Outing tee sponsorship, please contact Claudia Gonzalez by May 23, 2025

Informational — 2025 Joint Annual Conference of IASB/ IASA/ IASBO - Illinois Association of School Boards/ Illinois Association of School Administrators/ Illinois Association of School Business Officials, November 21-23, 2025. If interested in attending, please contact Claudia Gonzalez by June 2, 2025.

Interim Superintendent's Report - Dr. Brandon Cotter

 Discussion/Action - Approval to adjourn to Executive Session for the purposes of discussing:

The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee to determine its validity. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1)

Collective Bargaining - Collective negotiating matters and deliberations concerning salary schedules. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(2).

Discussion/Action - Approval for SY 2025-2026 Administrator and At-Will Merit Pay

Discussion/Action - Approval for the SY 2025-2026 IHSA Membership

Information — FOIA 

Dr. Heather Siegel-Hickman (4/8/25)

• A copy of the FOIA request submitted by Karen Brown that is referenced in the agenda for the April 9, 2025 Regular Board Meeting. This includes the original FOIA request, any and all correspondence between Karen Brown and any representative(s) of the district related to that request, the “revised” request dated March 20, 2025, any documents produced as a result of the request, and any and all other correspondence related to this request
• Any and all communication between and/or among any member(s) or representative(s) of the district—including school board members—and Karen Brown during the time period from January 1, 2025 through April 9, 2025. This request includes, but is not limited to, emails, text messages, phone records, and any other form of communication or documentation.

Jamie Jimenez (4/9/25)

• Copy of all emails sent and received for board member, Miguel Vasquez, at mvasquez@argohs.net from the following dates December 1 - April 8

Jamie Jimenez (4/9/25)

• Any publicly available employment files/records for Athletic Secretary Lauren Vasquez

Jamie Jimenez (4/9/25)

• Current contract for Superintendent William Toulios

Mark Karge

• Epoch transactions for 2023 totaling $2,550

Amy Hanson (4/12/25)

• All communication between superintendent, administrators, and Esteban Carrillo, Vickie McAlpine (Support Staff Union Executive Board) concerning “district communications specialist,” “Tracy Tough” and anything related to this role.

Jamie Jimenez (4/14/25)

• List (or database) of all payrolled employees for March 2025

Jamie Jimenez (4/14/25)

• Receipts of any financial transactions (or expenditures) made by William Toulios for Epoch and/or Epoch associated line items from the years 2023, 2024, and 2025.

Jamie Jimenez (4/14/25)
 

• Receipts of any financial transactions (or expenditures) made by William Toulios for Slushy and Slushy associated line items from the years 2023, 2024, and 2025.

Monica Dzierzega (4/15/25)

• Credit card charges for Dr. Toulios for 2021

Andrew Schroedter/WGN News (4/16/25)

• Credit card statement for August 2023
• Correspondence to/from credit card company concerning fraudulent charges

David Giuliani/Patch (4/17/25)

• Documentation on the board's decision to place Superintendent William Toulios on "paid administrative reassignment." This request includes the vote on the issue.
• The board's correspondence alerting Mr. Toulios of his new status.
• Any record showing that Mr. Toulios has been disconnected from the school's computer network or email since he was placed on  "paid administrative reassignment."

Jamie Jimenez (amended request) (4/21/25)

• Copy of all e-mails sent and received for board member, Miguel Vasquez, at mvasquez@argohs.net for the following dates: December 1-31, 2024 and March 1-April 1, 2024

TimKroc2@protonmail.com (4/22/25)

• Employee files, payroll records, and payment recipts for Mayra Ortiz, Janet Caprio, and Carol McGowan for February and March 2025

Margaret Maerz (4/22/25)
 

• Board of Education Closed Session Minutes from March 1, 2025 to the present. Please provide these minutes in full, to the extent permitted by law, including any portions that have been approved for public release.
• A complete copy of the Equity Survey results administered during the 2024-2025 school year by the Equity Committee and/or Director of Equity at Argo Community High School. This request includes any summary reports, raw data (with personally identifiable information redacted if necessary), analyses, and documentation related to distributing and collecting the survey and its results.
• The Notice to Remedy issued to Dr. Heather Siegel-Hickman, including any and all attachments, addendums, or supplemental documents referenced in or accompanying the notice.
• Any and all documents relating to Ms. Jacqueline Almeida, including but not limited to, the timeline presented to the Board of Education during the public meeting on March 19, 2025.

James Linton (4/24/25)

• A fully executed copy of the Superintendent's current contract dated July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2028, since the one uploaded on the district website does not contain signatures.
• Also, a copy of District 217 School Board meeting minutes discussing the approval of the Superintendent's current contract dated July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2028.

Michael Ayele (4/24/25)

• The basis for this records request are [1] the decision of former President Ronald Reagan to commemorate the month of April 1983 as National Child Abuse Prevention Month; [ii] [2] the decision of the State of Illinois to outlaw the corporal punishment of children in private and public schools beginning January 01^st 2025, approximately 42 (forty two) years after former President Ronald Reagan commemorated the month of April 1983 as National Child Abuse Prevention Month. [iii]

George Zorbas (4/25/25)

• Title One grant expenditure detail report from Pam Young from 2021-2023 for all teachers' and administrators' professional development registrations and travel

George Zorbas (4/25/25)

• Credit card statements for John Dagres, assistant principal, from 2021-current

George Zorbas (4/25/25)

• Credit card statements for Dr. Brandon Cotter for 2021 - present

George Zorbas (4/25/25)

• Credit card statement and school business leave/registrations for Nicole Wasko from 2021-present along with expenditures and reimbursements

Luz Rangel Raymond (4/26/25)

• Any and all FOIAs submitted by Dr. Heather Hickman prior to her separation from Argo and all responses

George Zorbas (4/27/25)

• Credit card statements and school business leave/registrations for Mr. Brian Grider from 2021-2023 when he was assistant principal of student services along with any IDEA Grant expenditure/reimbursements specifically for travel and or professional Development

George Zorbas (4/27/25)

• All personnel files, investigation documentation and disciplinary documents given to the board of education per the previous employee Cassandra Vazquez Linton’s dismissal. 

maniati@aol.com (4/28/25)

• Requesting the 2020-2021 all district p-card holders statements.  This includes every card holders statement from 7.1.2020 to 6.30.2021. 

maniati@aol.com (4/28/25)

• Requesting the 2022-2023 all district p-card holders statements.  This includes every card holders statement from 7.1.2022 to 6.30.2023.  

maniati@aol.com (4/28/25)

• Requesting the 2021-2022 all district p-card holders statements.  This includes every card holders statement from 7.1.2021 to 6.30.2022. 

David Giuliani - Patch (4/30/25)

• Any subpeonas pertaining to Dr. Toulios' credit card investigation

James Linton (5/2/25) - withdrawn 5/5/25

• A copy of the School District 217's policy on the permissible uses, limits, and reporting requirements for the district's e-procurement cards that was in place prior to April 2024.

Miguel Larios (5/3/35)

• Requesting an electronic copy of an investigation report authored by ACHS principal Brandon Cotter and HR Director Greg Dietz related to Heather Siegel-Hickman dated 4.11.24

Maniati@aol.com (5/3/25) - Duplicate (already fulfilled)

• Requesting the 2021-2022 all district p-card holders' statements. This includes every card holder's statement from 7.1.21 - 6.30.22

Amy Hanson (5/5 25) - Amended

• Any e-mails to/from Dr. Toulios and to/from principal, any assistant principal, Vickie McAlpine/Esteban Carrillo concerning the District Communications Specialist role from March 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024, including the job description and benefits.

James Linton (5/7/25)

• A copy of School District 217 Board of Education's annual evaluation reports of the Superintendent from July 1, 2021 through July 1, 2023, proving that all performance goals have been achieved and student academic performance improved, as identified in EXHIBIT A, attached to the Superintendent's contract.

Abbas Khan (5/8/25)

• Purchasing records from 1/1/22 to date

Dr. Heather Siegel-Hickman (5/12/25)

•  A copy of the FOIA request that prompted an email to me (Heather Siegel-Hickman, Ed.D.) on Monday, May 6, 2025 (email below). This includes the original FOIA request, any and all correspondence between the requester and any representative(s) of the district related to that request, any documents produced as a result of the request, and any and all other correspondence related to this request.
• A copy of the FOIA request that prompted an email to me (Heather Siegel-Hickman, Ed.D.) on Monday, May 12, 2025 (email below). This includes the original FOIA request, any and all correspondence between the requester and any representative(s) of the district related to that request, any documents produced as a result of the request, and any and all other correspondence related to this request.
• The document titled "Karen Brown FOIA - 3.19.25.pdf" sent to Ms. Karen Brown on March 19, 2025 at 3:39PM. This file was sent as an attachment to an email to Ms. Brown from foia@argohs.net on March 19, 2025. The body of the email to Ms. Brown stated: "Attached please find a response to your FOIA dated March 15, 2025." This document was not included in the response to my FOIA dated Tuesday, April 8, 2025, but it was referenced in the responsive documents I received.  

Information - Board Committee Minutes 

Finance Committee — April 9, 2025

Human Resource Director's Report - Mr. Greg Dietz

Policies to Review - First Reading

Draft Updates - New

7:255 - Students Who Are Parents, Expectant Parents, or Victims of Domestic or Sexual Assault

Draft Updates

2:120-E2 Exhibit - Website Listing of Development and Training Completed by Board Members
2:240-E2 Exhibit - Developing Local Policy
2:260 - Uniform Grievance Procedure
4:15 - Identity Protection
4:80 - Accounting and Audits
4:130-E Exhibit - Free and Reduced-Price Food Services; Meal Change Notifications
5:10 - Equal Employment Opportunity and Minority Recruitment
5:20 - Workplace Harassment Prohibited
5:60 - Regulation of Employee Expenses
5:100 Staff Development Program
6:150 - Home and Hospital Instruction
6:235 - Access to Electronic Networks
6:250 - Community Resource Persons and Volunteers
7:10 - Equal Educational Opportunities
7:10-E Exhibit - Equal Educational Opportunities Within the School Community
7:20 - Harassment of Students Prohibited
7:60 - Residence
7:70 - Attendance and Truancy
7:180 - Prevention of and Response to Bullying, Intimidation, and Harassment
7:185 - Teen Dating Violence Prohibited
7:190 - Student Behavior
7:200 - Suspension Procedures
7:210 - Expulsion Procedures
7:250 - Student Support Services
7:270 - Administering Medicine to Students
7:315 - Restrictions on Publications; High Schools
7:340 - Student Records

Draft Updates - Rewritten

2:70-E Exhibit - Checklist for Filling Board Vacancies by Appointment
2:220-E2 Exhibit - Motion to Adjourn Closed Meeting
2:240-E1 Exhibit - PRESS Issue Updates
2:265 - Title IX Grievance Procedure
3:40-E Exhibit - Checklist for the Superintendent Employment Contract Negotiation Process

Review and Monitoring

2:50 - Board Member Term of Office
2:60 - Board Member Removal from Office
2:80 - Board Member Oath and Conduct
2:80-E Exhibit - Board Member Code of Conduct
2:125-E1 - Board Member Expense Reimbursement Form
2:125-E2 Exhibit - Board Member Estimated Expense Approval Form
2:140 - Communications To and From the Board
2:140-E Exhibit - Guidance for Board Member Communications, Including E-Mail Use
2:150 - Committees
2:160 - Board Attorney
2:250 - Access to District Public Records
4:20 - Fund Balance
4:40 - Incurring Debt
4:55 - Use of Credit and Procurement Cards
4:110 - Transportation
5:35 - Compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act
5:40 - Communicable and Chronic Infectious Disease
5:60-E1 Exhibit - Employee Expense Reimbursement Form
5:60-E2 Exhibit - Employee Estimated Expense Approval Form
5:170 - Copyright
5:180 - Temporary Illness or Temporary Incapacity
5:290 - Resignation, Retirement, and Involuntary Separation
5:310 - Overtime Compensation/Compensatory Time-Off
6:10 - Educational Philosophy and Objectives
6:40 - Curriculum Development
6:110 - Programs for Students At Risk of Academic Failure and/or Dropping Out of School and Graduation Incentives Program
6:130 - Program for the Gifted
6:190 - Extracurricular and Co-Curricular Activities
6:210 - Instructional Materials
6:240 - Field Trips
7:170 - Vandalism
7:275 - Orders to Forgo Life-Sustaining Treatment
8:25 - Advertising and Distributing materials in Schools Provided by Non-School-Related Entities
8:70 - Accommodating Individuals with Disabilities
8:95 Parental Involvement

Principal’s Report – Dr. Brandon Cotter

Information - Upcoming Events

Assistant Principals' Report - 

Mr. John Dagres - Teaching & Learning

Ms. Nicole Wasko - Student Experiences and Community Engagement

Ms. Bijal Patel - Student Services

Mr. Nick Simov - IT

Discussion/Action - Approval for Faculty and Staff Devices Procurement

Mr. Gary Nothnagel - Buildings & Grounds

Informational - Contruction and Projects Update

Assistant Superintendent for Finance – Dr. Joseph Rojek

Discussion/Action - Approval for Resolution #24-25-R14 Authorizing the Preparation and Publication of the 2025-2026 Tentative Budget

Discussion/Action - Approval for Supplemental Health Insurance Offerings to Employees for the 2025-2026 School Year

Discussion/Action - Approval for Change Order #1 for the Cafeteria Vestibule Project

Discussion/Action - Approval for the Baseball Field Drainage Project

Discussion/Action - Approval for Pitch & Putt Golf Hill Project for Argo Golf Team

Informational - IPRF Workers' Comp Audit

Correspondence

Information

"Argo High School Worker Tells Off Bosses About Spending"
Patch
April 11, 2025

"$105K-A-Year Argo Official Works Remotely, Part-Time"
Patch
April 11, 2025

"Adult-site Charges on Argo Superintendent's Card Uncovered Through FOIA"
Southwest Regional Publishing
April 13, 2025

"Breaking News: Toulios Out as Superintendent"
Southwest Regional Publishing
April 16, 2025

"Adult-Site Charges Found on Argo Superintendent's Card"
Desplaines Valley News
April 17, 2025

"Argo Superintendent Put on Leave Over Spending"
Patch
April 17, 2025

"Argo Students Advocate for More Career Education"
Desplaines Valley News

"Argo Art Students Awarded $1.2 Million in Scholarships"
Desplaines Valley News
April 17, 2025
 

"Argo Board to Mop Up Violation of Open Meetings Act"
Patch
April 23, 2025

"Toulios Out as Argo Superintendent"
Desplaines Valley News
April 24, 2025

"Mike Clark's Top 5s"
Desplaines Valley News
April 24, 2025

"Argo Superintendent May Sue School Board: Lawyer"
Patch
April 24, 2025

"State Investigates Argo Leader's Spending"
Patch
April 28, 2025

"Superintendent Reported for Credit Card Misuse"
Southwest Messenger Press
April 29, 2025

"Argo Board President Vows Transparent Financial Investigation"
Desplaines Valley News
May 9, 2025

Unfinished Business

New Business

Adjournment