Grundy Reporter

Illinois State Board of Education met Jan 31.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

ROLL CALL

Chair of the Board Steven Isoye called the meeting to order at 10:02 a.m.

Chair Isoye announced that the Board meeting was being audio-cast live over the internet and video recorded.

Chair Isoye asked the clerk to call the roll. A quorum was present with seven members attending. State Superintendent Dr. Carmen I. Ayala was also in attendance.

Members Present:

Dr. Steven Isoye, Chair of the Board

Dr. Donna Leak, Vice Chair

Jaime Guzman, Secretary

Dr. Christine Benson

Roger Eddy

Dr. Anna Grassellino

Dr. Nike Vieille

Members Absent:

None

SWEARING-IN OF BOARD MEMBERS

Dr. Grassellino was unable to attend in person due to employment purposes. Mr. Eddy moved for the Board to permit her to participate via phone. Dr. Benson seconded the motion, and it passed by a unanimous roll call vote.

Mr. Guzman was unable to attend in person due to employment purposes. Dr. Vieille moved for the Board to permit him to participate via phone. Mr. Eddy seconded the motion, and it passed by a unanimous roll call vote.

Dr. Leak was unable to attend in person due to employment purposes. Dr. Benson moved for the Board to permit her to participate via phone. Dr. Vieille seconded the motion, and it passed by a unanimous roll call vote.

Chair Isoye introduced two newly appointed Board members, Dr. James D. Anderson and Dr. Patricia Nugent.

Legal Officer Jeremy Duffy administered the ceremonial oath of office for Dr. Anderson. He swore to uphold his responsibilities as a member of the Illinois State Board of Education.

Mr. Duffy administered the ceremonial oath of office for Dr. Nugent. She swore to uphold her responsibilities as a member of the Illinois State Board of Education.

Chair Isoye welcomed Dr. Anderson and Dr. Nugent to the Board.

Chair Isoye asked the clerk to call the roll. A quorum was present with nine members. Dr. Leak, Mr. Guzman, and Dr. Grassellino attended via video conference, and all other members were physically present. No members were absent.

Members Present:

Dr. Steven Isoye, Chair of the Board

Dr. Donna Leak, Vice Chair

Jaime Guzman, Secretary

Dr. James Anderson

Dr. Christine Benson

Roger Eddy

Dr. Anna Grassellino

Dr. Patricia Nugent

Dr. Nike Vieille

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Chair Isoye reminded those in attendance of the Public Participation Policy and the sign-up procedures for today’s meeting.

Dr. John Burkey, executive director of the Large Unit District Association (LUDA), shared appreciations. He thanked outgoing Board members for their service, particularly Susie Morrison for collaboration with LUDA on key initiatives. He thanked Dr. Ayala for her work over the past four years, navigating all the challenges with collaboration in mind. He shared his excitement to work with the new Board members and the new state superintendent, and to collaborate to advance education goals.

RECOGNITION OF STATE SUPERINTENDENT DR. CARMEN I. AYALA

Chair Isoye welcomed Deputy Governor Martin Torres.

Mr. Torres spoke on Dr. Ayala’s achievements as state superintendent and presented a ceremonial proclamation from Governor JB Pritzker recognizing her work. He thanked her for her leadership in addressing the challenges of the pandemic and her dedicated effort to address the needs of students. He applauded her work in helping grow student achievement and in launching the Equity Journey Continuum.

CLOSED SESSION Mr. Eddy moved that the State Board of Education go into closed session for the following exception item:

A. 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 this Act. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1)

He further moved that Board members may invite anyone they wish to be included in this closed session.

Dr. Vieille seconded the motion, and it passed by a unanimous roll call vote.

The open meeting recessed at 10:19 a.m. to go into closed session. The open meeting reconvened at 10:42 a.m.

SWEARING-IN AND APPOINTMENT OF THE INTERIM STATE SUPERINTENDENT

Chair Isoye welcomed and congratulated interim state superintendent, Krish Mohip.

Mr. Duffy administered the ceremonial oath of office. Mr. Mohip swore to uphold the responsibilities of interim state superintendent.

Dr. Vieille move that the State Board of Education, pursuant to Article 1A-4 of the Illinois School Code regarding powers and duties of the Board, hereby appoint Krish Mohip as interim Illinois state superintendent of education effective February 1, 2023, at a per diem salary equivalent to $250,000 per year, until such time as a permanent Illinois state superintendent of education begins.

Dr. Benson seconded the motion, and it passed by a unanimous roll call vote.

SWEARING-IN OF THE PERMANENT STATE SUPERINTENDENT

Steve introduced Dr. Tony Sanders, the incoming permanent state superintendent.

APPROVE APPOINTMENT OF THE PERMANENT STATE SUPERINTENDENT AND STATE SUPERINTENDENT’S CONTRACT

Mr. Duffy administered the ceremonial oath of office. Dr. Sanders swore to uphold the duties of state superintendent of Illinois.

Mr. Eddy moved that the State Board of Education, pursuant to Article 1A-4 of the Illinois School Code regarding powers and duties of the Board, hereby appoint Dr. Tony Sanders as Illinois state superintendent of education effective February 23, 2023 pursuant to a performance-based contract, which shall include the duties, powers, and responsibilities of the state superintendent as well as the goals and indicators of student performance and academic improvement used to measure his performance and effectiveness.

He further moved that the Board authorizes its chairman and/or his designee, with the advice of the Board’s general counsel, to negotiate such a performance-based contract and present it to the Board for its approval at the February 2023 meeting.

Dr. Benson seconded the motion, and it passed by a unanimous roll call vote.

Chair Isoye welcomed Dr. Sanders to ISBE and into the role of state superintendent.

CHAIRPERSON TO APPOINT NOMINATING COMMITTEE FOR BOARD OFFICERS – ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION BYLAWS ARTICLE IV(A)4

Chair Isoye named Mr. Eddy and Dr. Benson to serve with him on the Nominating Committee for Board vice chair and secretary. He said that nominations would be submitted for Board consideration, that nominations would also be accepted from the floor on that day, and that election of these positions would take place at the upcoming regular February meeting, per Board bylaws.

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REPORTS

Superintendent/Senior Staff Announcements

Dr. Ayala extended her thanks to everyone.

Chair of the Board’s Report

Chair Isoye thanked Board members for ensuring they could attend the meeting, and once again welcomed new Board members. He congratulated Mr. Mohip and Dr. Sanders on their appointments.

He thanked Board Service Coordinator Kirsten Parr for her service in the role and congratulated her on future work at ISBE. He thanked Dr. Ayala for her service as state superintendent.

Member Reports

There were no announcements.

MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT

Dr. Grassellino moved to adjourn the January 31, 2023, special meeting of the Illinois State Board of Education.

Mr. Eddy seconded the motion, and it passed by a unanimous roll call vote. The meeting adjourned at 10:55 a.m.

https://www.isbe.net/Documents_Board_Meetings/20230131-agenda.pdf