Gardner-South Wilmington High School #73 Board of Education met Jan. 21.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
CALL TO ORDER: The regular meeting of the Gardner-So. Wilmington High School Board of Education, Counties of Grundy and Kankakee, IL was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by President, Mrs. Terry Schultz.
ROLL CALL: Members present: Ashley, Biros, Schultz and Wepprecht. Also in attendance was Superintendent Mrs. Sue Avery and Interim Principal Dr. Patrick Halloran. All members were present “in person.”
PUBLIC COMMENT: None at tonight’s meeting.
APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA: Mrs. Wepprecht motioned and seconded by Mrs. Biros to approve the meeting minutes for the month of December: (December 17, 2025 Tax Levy minutes, Regular Meeting minutes and Closed Session minutes) and bills for the month of January and payroll for the month of December and Financial Reports for the month of December.
AYES: Ashley, Biros, Schultz and Wepprecht.
MOTION CARRIED: 4-0.
INFORMATIONAL AND DISCUSSION ITEMS:
Principal’s Report: Dr. Patrick Halloran, Interim Principal, reported on the following: • Mon, Jan 5th was a Teacher Institute Day. Our teachers started the day with breakfast at Coal City High School, followed by a Keynote Speaker Presentation. In the afternoon they were back at GSW for group sessions.
• Hall of Fame Night – Fri, Jan. 16. Inductees this year were Scott Halpin and The Sandeno Family – Tami Hansen, Ken Sandeno & the late Todd Sandeno. We had a great crowd for the ceremony and it was well deserved.
• Teacher Evaluations – will be completed by February. There are six non-tenured and three tenured teachers being evaluated this school year.
Director’s Report:
Mrs. Chris Ruddy, Director of Student Services, discussed the following:
• Semester 1 Report Cards were mailed out after Winter Break on Jan 6th. This year they showed both weighted and non-weighted GPAs.
• Registration for GAVC classes is happening now. Feb 15 is the date our student list needs to be sent to GAVC.
• Registration for GSW classes will start in March.
• New RTI process – starting 2nd semester. We will pull grades every Monday morning at 9:30 AM. The D/F list of students will attend RTI for Math, English and Science. Teachers will work with these students during the 5th hour Learning Lab to get their grades up. Students with good grades will receive an incentive – Fun Fridays – which will be open-gyms, Just Dance sessions, and other fun alternatives during 5th hour Learning Lab. Grades are already going up. Students want to participate in the Fun Friday events!
• ACT test – GSW High School has been approved as a testing site – both Saturday and Sunday dates (Feb. 14 & Feb. 15) this year.
Mrs. Crystal Aukland, Athletic Director, submitted her report on-line to board members:
• Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony – Fri, Jan. 16
• Senior Nights:
o Girls’ Basketball – Tues, Jan. 20
o Wrestling – Thurs, Jan. 22
o Boys’ Basketball, Band, Color Guard – Fri, Jan. 23
• Spiritline Team qualified for state for both of their routines
• Special Honoree Night – new event this year – held during the home girls’ basketball game on Tues, Jan. 13th. The basketball player ceremony started at 5:25 PM before the game. The Spiritline Ceremony was held at halftime. There was a special performance by the GSW HS Spiritline team and Honoree recognitions.
• Michael Wollgast Night – Wed, Feb. 18th boys’ basketball game vs. Dwight
• Wrestling Meet on Thurs, Jan. 22nd will be held at GSW High School. Senior Night for our two GSW Seniors – Gavin Bafia & Aubree Stein.
• Softball and Baseball will be starting up soon. The teams will be having open gyms and using the weight room.
• Game Changer App was ordered for both Baseball and Softball teams. Our coaches will use iPads during games to enter stats.
• The Scholastic Bowl Team and Chess Team are doing well this year.
• The Math Team is at the RVC Conference in Grant Park tonight – hoping for their 13th consecutive win!
• Working on next year’s sports schedules. Athletic Directors are trying to even out home and away games.
• NFHS – sports app – we receive a profit from the company for using.
• Winter Sports will be scheduling their Awards Nights
• Weight Room Supervisor for after-school.
Building and Grounds Report: Mrs. Avery reported on:
• We will be starting the bid process for the HVAC Project for this summer. Heating and cooling for the gym area.
• Athletic Boosters is looking at moving the baseball batting cages to the outside of the fence along the 3rd base line.
• 3rd floor classroom –-the room walls were repaired and painted over Winter Break by our GSW custodial and maintenance crew. Great job to Wally Debelak and the team!
Superintendent’s Report: Mrs. Sue Avery discussed the following:
• Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony was held on Friday night, Jan. 16th
• Michael Wollgast Night – Wed, Feb. 18th– Boys’ Home Basketball game vs. Dwight
• Software Conversion is going well.
• Remove SLO’s from the Teacher Evaluation Tool – a majority of the schools are removing this.
• Grundy County Cooperative will be interviewing and hiring a new Assistant Director to replace the existing one who will be retiring.
BOE Members Reports: None at tonight’s meeting.
ACTION ITEMS:
RESIGNATION OF THE ASSISTANT SPIRITLINE COACH: Mrs. Wepprecht motioned and seconded by Mrs. Ashley to accept the Resignation of the Assistant Spiritline Coach – Mrs. Crystal Aukland.
AYES: Ashley, Biros, Schultz and Wepprecht.
MOTION CARRIED: 4-0.
APPROVE TO MOVE THE FEBRUARY BOARD MEETING FROM THE 18TH TO THE 17TH: Mrs. Wepprecht motioned and seconded by Mrs. Biros to approve to move the February Board Meeting from the 18th to the 17th.
AYES: Ashley, Biros, Schultz and Wepprecht.
MOTION CARRIED: 4-0.
DESTRUCTION OF CLOSED SESSION AUDIO RECORDINGS 18-MONTHS AND OLDER: Mrs. Ashley motioned and seconded by Mrs. Wepprecht to approve the destruction of Closed Session Audio Recordings 18-months and older.
AYES: Ashley, Biros, Schultz and Wepprecht.
MOTION CARRIED: 4-0.
OPENING OF BOARD OF EDUCATION CLOSED SESSION MINUTES FROM JANUARY 2025 – DECEMBER 2025: Mrs. Wepprecht motioned and seconded by Mrs. Biros to approve the opening of Board of Education Closed Session Minutes from January 2025 – December 2025.
AYES: Ashley, Biros, Schultz and Wepprecht.
MOTION CARRIED: 4-0.
UPDATE BOARD POLICY 2:125 TO REFLECT THE STATUTORY MAXIMUM OF $1,000 FOR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS TO BE COMPENSATED FOR SERVICE TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND COMMUNITY : Mrs. Wepprcht motioned and seconded by Mrs. Ashley to update Board Policy 2:125 to reflect the statutory maximum of $1,000 for school board members to be compensated for service to the school district and community. AYES: Ashley, Schultz and Wepprecht.
ABSTAIN: Biros
MOTION CARRIED: 3-0.
REMOVE STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (SLO’S) FROM THE TEACHER EVALUATION TOOL: Mrs. Ashley motioned and seconded by Mrs. Wepprecht to remove Student Learning Outcomes (SLO’s) from the Teacher Evaluation Tool.
AYES: Ashley, Biros, Schultz and Wepprecht.
MOTION CARRIED: 4-0.
OTHER(s): None at tonight’s meeting.
ADJOURNMENT: Mrs. Wepprecht motioned and seconded by Mrs. Biros to adjourn the meeting at 7:32 PM.
AYES: Ashley, Biros, Schultz and Wepprecht.
MOTION CARRIED: 4-0.
https://www.gswhs73.org/vimages/shared/vnews/stories/53b4271773d6c/January%2021,%202026%20Regular%20Meeting.pdf
