Following is a summary of minutes of a regular meeting of the Board of Education of Jasper County Community Unit School District No. 1 held on Monday, September 22nd, 2025 in the office of the Board of Education. Board members present were Mr. Brady Shull, Mr. David Blecha, Mrs. Jackie Schackmann, Mrs. Mandy Rieman, Mr. Evan Semple and Mrs. Mandi Utley. Board members absent were Mrs. Nichole Mulvey.
All votes are considered unanimous unless otherwise noted.
The tentative budget has been on display the past 30 days at the district office. There were no public comments or public testimony. Mr. Joe Sornberger presented the FY 26 Budget. Overall, the district ended the fiscal year in good standing with revenues exceeding budgeted numbers and expenditures less than predicted with a surplus in the Education Fund and Operation & Maintenance Funds. The budget for FY 26 looks to balance in the Operation/Maintenance Fund and Transportation Fund. At this time, the Education Fund looks to be in a deficit. The District will monitor revenues and expenditures in the Education Fund in hopes of finishing without a deficit.
Approval to adjourn the FY 26 Budget Hearing meeting at 6:23 p.m.
Mandy Rieman called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
Approval to Adopt the Agenda.
Mandy asked for Recognition of Guests and Public Comments. Rochele Koebele expressed her concerns with cell phones in schools.
The District received six FOIA requests from Owen Wang, starbridgbyte.com, SmartProcure and Data Research partners.
Approval of Consent Agenda as presented.
Regular Minutes from August 18, 2025,
Lain Burgener, Kyson Bradley and Gunner James as a volunteer coaches for Bass Fishing,
Courtney Klier as a volunteer for the 6th Grade FCA Program,
Bills and Payroll,
Presentment of monthly financial reports,
Pallet of Greased Lightning cleaner from Evapco,
$1,000 from Barlow Lock & Security to sponsor the football scoreboard,
$1,000 from Peoples State Bank to sponsor the football scoreboard,
$400 from Rauch’s Jewelry to sponsor the football scoreboard,
$400 from Personal Reality to sponsor the football scoreboard,
$800 from Expert Collision to sponsor the football scoreboard,
$250 from Newton Athletic Boosters for the golf cart battery,
$800 from Newton Athletic Boosters for the soccer HUDL camera,
$350 from Midwest Tractor to the NCHS Cheerleaders to purchase parade items,
$250 form Pilson Auto Center to the NCHS Cheerleaders to purchase parade items,
$1,000 from Whitetails Unlimited to Bass Fishing,
$2,000 anonymous donation to the Soccer Program,
$980.87 from the Orell Farley Grant to 6th Grade ELA,
$500 from the Orell Farley Grant to NES for behavior and Reading rewards,
$500 from the Orell Farley Grant to the 6th Grade Leadership Team,
$999 from the Orell Farley Grant to the Strong Girls & Strong Boys Program,
$999 from the Maxine Spitler Grant to the Strong Girls & Boys Program,
$456 from First Baptist Church to overdue lunch balances,
$80 from Lori Haack to general education classrooms,
Report Card envelopes from Dairy Queen in Newton, IL to Newton Elementary School.
Second Reading of Press Policy Updates-UnChanged
4:120 Food Services
6:310 High School Credit for Non-District Experiences; Course Substitutions; Re-Entering Students
Second Reading of Press Policy Updates-Changed
2:20 Board Member Oath and Conduct
4:180 Pandemic Preparedness; Management; and Recovery
7:140 Search and Seizure
Second Reading of Press Policy Updates-Five Year Review
1:10 School District Legal Status
1:20 District Organization, Operations, and Cooperative Agreements
1:30 School District Philosophy
2:10 School District Governance
2:130 Board-Superintendent Relationship
2:240 Board Policy Development
3:30 Chain of Command
4:50 Payment Procedures
4:55 Use of Credit and Procurement Cards
7:40 Nonpublic School Students, Including Parochial and Home School Students
7:300 Extracurricular Athletics
7:325 Student Fundraising Activities
8:80 Gifts to the District
Approval of the Second Reading of Press Policies from Press Plus.
Under the Superintendent’s Report, Mr. Sornberger discussed projects that the District is finishing up from this summer. This includes the Newton Elementary School metal roofing project. An Invitation to Bid Notice has been posted for the NES Building Addition project. Bids for the project will be due in October.
Approval of the FY 26 Budget.
Approval of the Chorus Trip for the Summer of 2026 to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
Approval to enter executive session at 6:45 p.m. for 5 ILCS 120/2 (c) (1) – To Consider Information Regarding Appointment, Employment, Compensation, Performance or Dismissal of Individual
Approval to return to open session at 7:53 p.m.
Approval to accept the resignations from Taylor Francis as a District Bus Driver effective September 17th, 2025, Gabrielle Lyell as a NES Special Education Teacher effective September 19th, 2025 and Kelly Thomann as the JCJH Assistant Volleyball Coach.
Approval to hire David Murphy as the District Groundskeeper and Paul Clark as a District Bus Driver to start immediately.
Approval to advertise for a NES Special Education Teacher and a JCJH Assistant Volleyball Coach. Ayes: Semple, Utley, Shull, Blecha, Schackmann, Rieman. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at 8:01 p.m. Next regular board meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 20th, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. at the Board of Education Office located at 1401 Clayton Avenue.
