Grundy Reporter

Illinois State Board of Education Finance and Audit Committee of the Whole met Aug. 12.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

1. Roll Call

Finance and Audit Committee of the Whole Minutes August 12, 2025

Committee Chair Dr. Patricia Nugent brought the meeting to order at 2:01 p.m. Roll call was taken. A quorum was present, with five members attending in person. State Superintendent Dr. Tony Sanders also was in attendance.

Chair Nugent stated that members would consider the participation of Dr. Jonah Rice via video conference due to employment purposes. In accordance with the bylaws of the Illinois State Board of Education, the Board may permit a member to participate by other means if they cannot physically attend a meeting because of employment purposes.

Dr. Chavarria moved that the State Board of Education permit the participation of Dr. Jonah Rice via video conference. Dr. Isoye seconded the motion, and it passed by a unanimous roll call vote.

Members Present

Committee Chair Dr. Patricia Nugent

Dr. Steven Isoye

Dr. Sherly Chavarria

Laura Gonzalez

Dr. Judy Hackett

Dr. Jonah Rice (virtual)

Members Absent

Dr. Donna Leak

Dr. James Anderson

Staff Present

Dr. Tony Sanders, State Superintendent

Kim Clarke, Executive Assistant to the State Superintendent

Jo Ireland, Board Services Coordinator

Kristen Kennedy, Chief Legal Officer

Dr. Kimako Patterson, Chief of Staff

Dr. Matt Seaton, Chief Financial Officer

Dr. Jason Helfer, Chief Education Officer – Instruction

Jennifer Saba, Chief Education Officer – Operations

Tassi Maton, Chief Internal Audit Officer

Edobor Efam, Chief Information Officer

Irma Snopek, Chief Policy and Communications Officer

Miguel Calderon, Chief Operating Officer

Dr. Ronda Dawson, Executive Director Teaching & Learning

Joyce Gronewold, Executive Director Specialized Instruction

Rae Clementz, Executive Director Data, Accountability & Assessment

Dr. Christine Paxson, Executive Director Improvement & Innovation

Dr. Tiffany Burnett, Executive Director Safe & Healthy Climate

Eileen Turanchik, Director Budget & Financial Management

Jeffrey Judge, Director Wellness & Student Care

Dr. Deshonda Daniels-Wright, Director ROE/ISC

Alicia Lynch-Deatherage, Interim Director Early Childhood Development

Dr. Erica Thieman, Director CTE

Emily Fox, Director Educator Effectiveness

Kirsten Parr, Director Standards & Instruction

2. Public Participation

There was no public participation.

3. Approval of Minutes: June 11, 2025

Ms. Gonzalez moved that the Finance and Audit Committee of the Whole hereby approve the June 11, 2025, meeting minutes. Dr. Hackett seconded the motion, and it passed by a unanimous roll call vote.

4. Discussion

A. Budget Hearings FY 2027

Chief Financial Officer Matt Seaton and Director of Budget & Financial Management Eileen Turanchik led the discussion. Ms. Turanchik provided updates on how they have streamlined the process for submitting funding requests and for signing up to speak at one of the budget hearings. Both of these processes will be on the ISBE website. Ms. Turanchik stated the proposed dates for the budget hearings were September 30 from 4-7 p.m. in person, and October 16 from 1-4 p.m. and October 21 from 4-7 p.m. would be virtual. Dr. Seaton stated that the number of funding requests received by the agency has almost doubled.. He reminded everybody listening that a written request for a budget proposal carries as much weight as testifying in person.

Dr. Sanders said that in addition to the state financial pressure, there’s also federal pressure on funding streams, in addition to the impact of the reduction in Medicaid. He noted that the agency is headed into more perilous times budgetarily.

Dr. Chavarria thanked them for the handout and for including the results of the survey in terms of satisfaction of the experience and she thinks it is important for people to know that the Board and agency read the survey results. Dr. Chavarria asked what the timeline was for sharing the hearing dates sooner than last year. Dr. Seaton said that this was the first time to address the committee since there as not a July Board meeting. The Finance Department is ready to post the dates if the committee is in agreement.

Ms. Gonzalez thanked them for sharing the feedback that was received. She appreciated the clarification that a written funding request was just as important as testifying in front of the Board.

Dr. Nugent asked if the huge increase with online applications from 2025 to 2026 had an impact on the Finance Department staff. Dr. Seaton said yes; there was much more material for support staff to review and the staff will have a planning meeting to prepare for another volume of material to sort through. He assured the Board it will get done. Dr. Nugent noted the survey results in regard to the in-person hearing not being favorable and asked what could be done to make the experience better. Dr. Seaton said that a lot of participants would like to interact and have discussions with the committee about budget topics, but the structure of the hearing is to listen and don’t engage in conversations.

5. Discussion & Approval

Dr. Nugent reminded everyone that the majority of the items up for Discussion & Approval this month were member initiatives. Dr. Sanders further explained that member initiatives are funding that is put into the budget specifically at the request of a member of the General Assembly for a specific purpose. He further said that when items with member initiative dollars are brought to the Board, ISBE serves as the flow through agent for that because it is education related. The Board does not have discretion over the funds, it is money the agency takes in and hands off to those entities with the parameters that were given by the General Assembly and they are statutorily mandated.

A. Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million – Approval to Release and Award a Sole Source Grant to After School Matters

Director of Wellness & Student Care Jeffrey Judge discussed this item.

Dr. Chavarria asked for clarification on the funding. Dr. Sanders confirmed that the requested amount was $6 million but the appropriated amount was $12 million.

Dr. Nugent asked if it might be possible to have a short presentation from someone in the After School Matters program at the November meeting to share the success through the last 34 years. She also added that maybe they could include students who could speak about the program.

B. Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million – Approval of After-School Grant Program Pursuant to Part 268 Rules Director of Wellness & Student Care Jeffrey Judge discussed this item.

Dr. Chavarria asked if the additional $10 million dollars was allocated for the non-district portion. Ms. Saba confirmed that was correct.

C. Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million – Approval to Release and Award a Sole Source Grant to the Alternative Schools Network

Director of ROE/ISC Deshonda Daniels-Wright discussed this item.

Dr. Nugent asked if she could provide information on how the department will monitor the effectiveness of the grant in a future Board update.

D. Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million – Approval of Grant Award for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Program

Chief Education Officer of Instruction Dr. Jason Helfer presented this item.

Dr. Nugent thanked Dr. Helfer for providing the information regarding the process and growth. She noted that the counties with partial coverage are in large metropolitan areas and asked if they will remain that way due to the extent of the populations it’s serving. Dr. Helfer will look into that and get an accurate response.

Dr. Chavarria asked about the participation rate across other states compared to Illinois and the goal or percentage that should be seen over time. Dr. Helfer will ask for data from the Dollywood Foundation to provide to the Board.

Dr. Sanders asked at what percentage Dolly Parton would come to visit the state. Dr. Helfer said he is unsure of the percentage, but will find out.

E. Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million – Approval of Sole Source Grant to Valley View Itinerant Services for Children with Developmental Delays and Disabilities

Interim Director of Early Childhood Alicia Lynch-Deatherage discussed this item.

Dr. Nugent stated that there was an appropriation of $2.5 million but it was amended to $1.25 million, according to Valley View and the grant sponsors. She asked if Ms. Deatherage knew why. Ms. Gronewold said that Valley View communicated they wanted to be financially responsible and that $1.25 million would be sufficient to sustain the program for this year.

F. Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million – Approval to Release and Award a Sole Source Grant to YouthBuild Director of CTE Dr. Erica Thieman discussed this item.

Dr. Chavarria asked if participating students attend an alternative school and the YouthBuild program, and if the funding includes the cost of the alternative school. Dr. Thieman answered “Yes” and stated there was no cost to the participants. Dr. Chavarria asked if the funding was going to the alternative school. Dr. Thieman replied that it depends on which program and the needs. She said they use the funding a few different ways, but it typically covers salaries of teachers and people that are overseeing the construction site and could cover materials, as well. Additionally, the 15 programs that are supported through this grant typically also have funding from other sources. Dr. Chavarria asked if there was an enrollment goal as it may help the Board to have a better understanding of the picture of the investment. Dr. Thieman will talk with YouthBuild and get back to the Board with an answer.

Dr. Nugent asked if some of the programs had a different emphasis or goals and if that was why their percentages were lower. Dr. Thieman will get more details about specific programs and provide an update to the Board.

G. Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million – Approval to Release and Award a Sole Source Grant to the Illinois Education Association

Director of Educator Effectiveness Emily Fox discussed this item.

Ms. Gonzalez expressed her appreciation for the program and has seen the benefit it has provided to educators.

Dr. Chavarria asked for additional details about how the mentoring and virtual coaching program will be evaluated externally. Ms. Fox will share a report with the Board from the external evaluator that has more data points beyond what was shared.

Dr. Nugent asked about the decrease in the number of teachers from fiscal year 2024 to 2025 and what may have caused this. Ms. Fox shared that IEA had stated that the uncertainty around the program’s availability of funding for FY 2026 negatively impacted participation. The program had previously been funded through ESSER and those funds are no longer available.

Dr. Sanders said that with ESSER funds running out and the late liquidation, that some teachers experienced late payments. He extended his appreciation to the teachers that participated last year and asked them to return this year. He also noted that it would be state funded this year.

Dr. Isoye asked if the Board could get information regionally to understand how spread out the program has been and to see how it reaches urban or rural areas. Ms. Fox will provide that information, which will include content area and grade level.

Dr. Chavarria asked if Digital Promise is considering the format and if anything is gained or lost by a virtual coaching program.

Dr. Hackett asked if the participants also have mentoring with the district that they work with outside of the program. Ms. Gonzalez shared that they have a district-level building mentor, in addition to the virtual coach.

H. Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million – Approval of Sole Source Grant to the Southwest Organizing Project Parent Mentor Program

Director of Standards and Instruction Kirsten Parr discussed this item.

Dr. Chavarria asked about the impact of this program in terms of student outcomes, student engagement, attendance, and other things like that. Ms. Parr stated they have looked into it and do not yet have that information available. She shared that the funding in the past impacted the Ladders program, which is now supported by a grant through the Illinois Department of Human Services. Ms. Parr noted the data itself is really showing a positive impact on schools, but she will look into further data that’s available and provide that to the Board in the future.

Dr. Nugent asked about the 50 additional Illinois public schools noted and how likely they will participate in the grant. Ms. Parr stated that it is an application process, and the additional funding is anticipated to support seven new community partner organizations, which would then increase the number of schools they’ll be able to serve.

6. Internal Audit Updates

Chief Internal Audit Officer Tassi Maton led this discussion.

A. Current Audits and Forthcoming Reports

I. FY 2023 Statewide Single Audit

II. FY 2024 Statewide Single Audit

III. FY 2025 Statewide Single Audit

IV. FY 2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) Statewide Audit

Chief Internal Audit Officer Tassi Maton led this discussion on external audits. She stated the FY 2023 statewide single audit report had not been released in July. She hopes to have an update at the September meeting. Testing continues with the FY 2024 single audit and they have begun test work on the FY 2025 statewide single audit. She noted it was an unprecedented point in time where there are three open statewide single audits but hopefully not for long. Ms. Maton stated the FY 2025 ACFR was underway as expected.

7. New Business: Items for the Next Agenda

There was no discussion on this item.

8. Next Meeting: September 16, 2025

Dr. Nugent noted that the September 16 Finance and Audit Committee of the Whole Meeting will begin at 9 a.m., followed by the EPP meeting and then the Board retreat.

9. Adjourn

Dr. Hackett moved to adjourn the meeting. Dr. Isoye seconded the motion, and it passed by a unanimous roll call vote. Chair Nugent adjourned the committee at 3:10 p.m.

https://www.isbe.net/Documents_Board_Meetings/20250812-FA-Minutes.pdf