Grundy Reporter

Illinois State Board of Education met Sept. 17.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Draft—Pending Approval

1. Roll Call

Chair of the Board Dr. Steven Isoye called the meeting to order at 9 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 in person. Superintendent Dr. Tony Sanders also was in attendance.

Chair Isoye stated that members would consider the participation of Dr. Sherly Chavarria 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.

Ms. Gonzalez moved that the State Board of Education permit the participation of Dr. Sherly Chavarria via video conference. Dr. Hackett seconded the motion, and it passed by a unanimous roll call vote.

Members Present

Dr. Steven Isoye, Chair of the Board

Dr. Donna Leak, Vice Chair

Dr. Sherly Chavarria, Secretary (virtual)

Dr. James Anderson

Laura Gonzalez

Dr. Judy Hackett

Dr. Patricia Nugent

Dr. Jonah Rice

Staff Present

Dr. Tony Sanders, State Superintendent

Kim Clarke, Executive Assistant to the State Superintendent

Jo Ireland, Board Services Coordinator

Dr. Kimako Patterson, Chief of Staff

Kristen Kennedy, Chief Legal Officer

Dr. Jason Helfer, Chief Education Officer – Instruction

Jennifer Saba, Chief Education Officer – Operations

Dr. Matt Seaton, Chief Financial Officer

Tassi Maton, Chief Internal Audit Officer

Irma Snopek, Chief Policy and Communications Officer

Miguel Calderon, Chief Operating Officer

Jeffrey Judge, Director of Wellness & Student Care

Lindsay Record, Supervisor of Public Relations

Ellen Garrity, Principal Consultant of Wellness & Student Care

Sarah Moorehead, Consultant of Wellness & Student Care

2. Public Participation

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

Jessica Handy, a facilitator with the Illinois Early Literacy Coalition spoke on the topic of proficiency cut scores. She asked that the Board prioritize literacy with the budget and focus on communication to parents and communities around the new cut scores. Ms. Handy asked for a greater level of transparency in how the information is presented to the public.

Adam Seaney, Director of the Galesburg Area Vocational Center (GAVC), spoke to advocate for the continued additional CTE funding for FY 2027 by requesting a 10% increase in the CTEI operating line. He shared that the GAVC enrollment has increased 73.8% over the last five years. Mr. Seaney advocated for $5.93 million to expand access to career and technical education, modernize and standardize equipment, and to support equity in the workforce.

Dr. Isoye thanked everyone for being there and participating in public comment.

3. Presentation

A. Student Advisory Council Introductions

Director of Wellness and Student Care Jeffrey Judge and Principal Consultant Ellen Garrity provided a background on the Student Advisory Council and introduced members. Students shared their names, high schools, year in school, how long they had been on the council, and their college or career aspirations.

Dr. Sanders told the students that he looked forward to working with them this year. He also expressed his appreciation to the ISBE team for all of their work in convening the students together.

4. Closed Session

Dr. Hackett moved that the State Board of Education go into closed session for the following exception items:

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)).

B. Litigation, when an action against, affecting or on behalf of the particular public body has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal, or when the public body finds that an action is probable or imminent, in which case the basis for the finding shall be recorded and entered into the minutes of the closed meeting (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11)).

She further moved that Board members may invite anyone they wish to be included in this closed session. Dr. Rice seconded the motion, and it passed with a unanimous roll call vote.

The open meeting recessed at 9:24 a.m. to go into closed session. The open meeting reconvened at 9:33 a.m.

5. Semiannual Review of Closed Session Minutes

Dr. Nugent stated pursuant to Section 2.06(d) of the Open Meetings Act, the State Board of Education has reviewed the minutes of its closed sessions for March 12, 2025; April 16, 2025; May 14, 2025; June 11, 2025; and August 13, 2025. She moved that the State Board of Education certifies that the need for confidentiality still exists for all of the closed session minutes for March 12, 2025; April 16, 2025; May 14, 2025; June 11, 2025; and August 13, 2025. These minutes should be approved and remain closed.

Dr. Hackett seconded the motion, and it passed with a unanimous roll call vote.

6. Public Participation

There was no further public participation.

7. Consent Agenda

Chair Isoye reviewed the items under the consent agenda.

Dr. Leak moved that the State Board of Education hereby approve the consent agenda.

Ms. Gonzalez seconded the motion, and it passed with a unanimous roll call vote.

The following motions were approved by action taken in the consent agenda:

Approval of Minutes

*Plenary Minutes: August 13, 2025

The Illinois State Board of Education hereby approves the August 13, 2025, meeting minutes.

Approvals

*Approval for Publication – Part 600 (Enrollment of Payment for Nonresident Students at the Philip J. Rock Center and School) Per Diem Rates and Reports

The State Board of Education hereby authorizes the solicitation of public comment on the proposed rulemaking for: Part 600 (Enrollment of and Payment for Nonresident Students at the Philip J. Rock Center and School), including publication of the proposed rules in the Illinois Register to elicit public comment.

*Approval of the Fall 2025 Waiver Report

The State Board of Education hereby approves the submission of the Fall 2025 Waiver Report to the General Assembly.

8. Announcements and Reports

Superintendent/Senior Staff Announcements

Dr. Sanders thanked all the ISBE staff and Board members who participated and volunteered their time to serve at during the Illinois State Fair and representing the agency in front of the public. In addition, he thanked staff for attending the Du Quoin State Fair and gave a special recognition to ISBE staff member Mark Young for going above and beyond during both state fairs. Dr. Sanders shared about schools he and ISBE cabinet members have visited and thanked the districts who hosted them. He thanked the Board for doing its self-evaluation the day prior during the Board Retreat.

There were no senior staff announcements.

Chair of the Board’s Report

Dr. Isoye shared how wonderful it was to see how visible Dr. Sanders and his cabinet member are in schools and thanked them for visiting with the administrators, teachers, and students. He thanked Dr. Leak for hosting the governor, and Dr. Sanders for one of those visits. Dr. Isoye thanked the ROEs for hosting a wonderful reception the night before and congratulated Dr. Sanders and Dr. Patterson on receiving awards at the event. He thanked Board members for their participation in the Board Retreat.

Member Reports

Dr. Leak shared about the National Association of School Boards of Education annual conference and encouraged Board members to attend and connect with other states, Guam, and Puerto Rico to hear about what is happening across the country. Dr. Leak commended everyone involved in the set up and participation of the school visit with Dr. Sanders and Governor Pritzker. She shared that the school visits are so meaningful and productive and puts a face to who ISBE is and what they do.

9. Information Items

ISBE Fiscal & Administrative Monthly Reports

Freedom of Information Act Monthly Report

10. Motion for Adjournment

Chair Isoye stated that the next Board meeting will be held on October 15, 2025, in Flossmoor. Dr. Anderson moved to adjourn the September 17, 2025, meeting of the Illinois State Board of Education. Dr. Hackett seconded the motion, and it passed with a unanimous roll call vote. The meeting adjourned at 9:48 a.m.

https://go.boarddocs.com/il/isbe/Board.nsf/files/DM4TTQ78E5A4/$file/DRAFT%20Plenary%20Minutes%20-%20September%2017%2C%202025.pdf