South Central Reporter

Germantown School District 60 Board of Education met March 12.

Here is the agenda provided by the board:

Meeting called to order by President Lee Deerhake at 7:00 p.m. with the following members present: Terry Biggs, Andrea Linders, Nicole Peters, Ashley Winter and Lee Deerhake. Also in attendance: Superintendent Robin Becker, Board Secretary Leigh Ann Arentsen, Assistant Principal Trisha Weekley, SEL/RtI/Special Education Coordinator Kristine Beer and Teacher Representative Rachel Poettker. Board member Jessica Hemker entered the meeting at 7:05pm.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all in attendance.

Motion (2024/25-104) to approve the agenda was made by Mrs. Peters with a second by Mr. Biggs. Motion carried (5-0).

Assistant Principal Report - Mrs. Weekley:

● Mrs. Weekley announced that the February Students of the Month were Kameron Kohnen and Kaitlyn Gebke.

● Mrs. Weekley highlighted a new program being developed at GES called Jumpstart to Junior High. This program entails facilitating activities at the end of the 2024-25 school year that serve to expose our fourth grade students to what a day in the life of a junior high student looks like. More details on this program will be shared at the April meeting.

● Mrs. Weekley wrapped up her report with an update on IAR goal setting. Prior to the start of IAR testing, the teachers worked with the students to identify goals and rewards for reaching their goals. This activity serves to give the students some ownership in the goal setting process and motivation to do their best.

RtI/SEL/Special Education Coordinator - Kristine Beer:

● Mrs. Beer gave an update on the recent SEL Family Night. The event was a huge success with over 100 people in attendance. Activities centered on the theme ‘responsible decision-making’. The SEL Squad did a fantastic job of coordinating and facilitating the activities.

● Mrs. Beer shared a personnel change involving an individual care aide transitioning into a temporary new role, providing RtI support to our K-4 students. This adjustment allows us to maximize her strengths and continue supporting students effectively during this time of transition.

● Mrs. Beer gave a short update on the Girls on the Run Program. This is the second year for the program at GES. It has gotten off to a good start with fourteen girls participating.

Superintendent Report - Mrs. Becker:

● Gym Update – We have been working on a Fiscal Year 2024 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) sub-application grant proposal which was recently submitted to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. The deadline for IEMA to submit to the Federal Emergency Management Agency is April 18. The proposed project includes a gymnasium designed as a FEMA-compliant safe room which would provide a reinforced, life-sustaining shelter capable of withstanding extreme wind events. Another potential solution to closing the funding gap for the new gym was discussed, involving the donation of a prefabricated building. The school would utilize the structure as the gym’s shell and take responsibility for completing the project, with an agreement to host select volleyball activities in the facility.

● FY 26 Education Funding - There is lots of uncertainty on what funding is going to look like for the upcoming fiscal year. While an increase in evidence-based funding is being proposed, it is anticipated that proration levels for mandated categoricals will decrease significantly which would result in a loss in funding. In addition, the school district has been informed that it no longer qualifies for Title I and Title IV grant funding due to updated census data reflecting changes in the community’s economic demographics.

● Technology Update - Superintendent Becker proposed adopting a phased 1:1 Chromebook plan, beginning with the fifth-grade class in the 2025-26 school year and gradually expanding each year until all junior high classes are included. As part of this program, each fifth-grade student would receive a new Chromebook and carrying case, which they would use throughout their junior high years. Upon graduation, students would keep their Chromebook and case. To support this initiative, an annual technology fee would be implemented to help sustain and maintain the program.

● 2024-25 Strategic Plan Update - Superintendent Becker shared an update on the progress made towards the goals outlined in the 2024-25 Strategic Plan. She highlighted progress and identified areas where additional time will be needed to meet the goals.

● Dual Role of a Superintendent & Principal - Superintendent Becker provided an overview of the responsibilities associated with the superintendent and principal roles, explaining the distinct duties of each. She discussed the challenges of serving in a dual role and how time is allocated to manage both positions.

IASB Liaison Report:

● During the IASB Liaison Report, Mrs. Winter highlighted the upcoming election and emphasized the importance of developing a plan to support newly seated board members, ensuring a smooth and successful transition into their new roles.

Motion (2024/25-105) to approve Items of Consent as follows was made by Mrs. Hemker with a second by Mrs. Linders. Roll call vote showed the following: Biggs, aye; Hemker, aye; Linders, aye; Peters, aye; Winter, aye and Deerhake, aye.

Items of Consent:

1. Approve Minutes of February 12, 2025

2. Approve Bills/Payroll for March 2025

3. Review of Closed Session Minutes for Public Release – August 2024

4. Approve Destruction of Verbatim Recording of August 2023

5. Approve Financial Reports for February 2025

a. Budget

b. Balance Sheet

c. Fund Balance

d. Bulldog Activity

New Business

Motion (2024/25-106) to approve 2025-26 School Calendar was made by Mrs. Linders with a second by Mrs. Winter. Motion carried (6-0).

Motion (2024/25-107) to set Eighth Grade Graduation for Tuesday, May 13, 2024 was made by Mrs. Peters with a second by Mrs. Hemker. Motion carried (6-0).

Motion (2024/25-108) to enter Closed Session at 8:07 p.m. to discuss the Appointment, Employment, Evaluation, or Dismissal of Employees was made by Mrs. Linders with a second by Mrs. Winter. Motion carried (6-0).

Motion (2024/25-109) to return to Open Session at 9:01 p.m. was made by Mrs. Peters with a second by Mrs. Winter. Motion carried (6-0).

Motion (2024/25-110) to re-employ Tenured Certified Teachers: Jerica Conner, Angie Garren, Tiffany Graham, Hillary Kurtz, Kelsey Peppenhorst, Cheri Markwell, Chad Rakers and Trisha Weekley was made by Mrs. Hemker with a second by Mrs. Peters. Roll call vote showed the following: Hemker, aye; Linders, aye; Peters, aye; Winter, aye; Biggs, aye and Deerhake, aye.

Motion (2024/25-111) to re-employ Non-Tenured Certified Teachers: Charles Abney, Olivia Antonacci, Dawn Becker, Kristine Beer, Lindsey Goestenkors, Carrie Hall, Susan Knapp, Katie Mense, Rachael Poettker, Grace Reuter, Kayla Rutz, Bethany Vides, Rose Wilken and Bryan Winterbottom was made by Mrs. Linders with a second by Mrs. Winter. Roll call vote showed the following: Linders, aye; Peters, aye; Winter, aye; Biggs, aye; Hemker, aye and Deerhake, aye.

Motion (2024/25-112) to re-employ Non-Certified Staff members: Gerard Albers, Leigh Ann Arentsen, Bethany Basse, Carl Diesen, Meghan Felts, LaDawn Gebke, Craig Huegen, Peggy Karlovsky, Deanna Kehder, Angie Krebs, Denis Lakenburges, Cathy Meskil, Loni Middendorff, Craig Oertal, Jordyn Robke, Brad Schroeder, Frank Schroeder, Kayla Sutton, April Tolan and Jamie Wilburn and was made by Mrs. Hemker with a second by Mrs. Peters. Roll call vote showed the following: Peters, aye; Winter, aye; Biggs, aye; Hemker, aye; Linders, aye and Deerhake, aye.

Motion (2024/25-113) to adjourn the meeting at 9:03 p.m. was made by Mrs. Linders with a second by Mr. Biggs. Motion carried (6-0).

https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/2239/gesdil/5525601/031225_Minutes.pdf