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, May 18th, 2026 in the office of the Board of Education. Board members present were Mr. Brady Shull, Mrs. Jackie Schackmann, Mrs. Mandy Rieman, Mr. Evan Semple, Mrs. Nichole Mulvey and Mrs. Mandi Utley. Board members absent were Mr. David Blecha.
All votes are considered unanimous unless otherwise noted.
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. There were none.
The District received three FOIA Requests. FOIA request #1, from Data Branch USA, requested all executed contracts, agreements, purchase orders and related procurement documents for products or services purchased from Primex, American Time and/or Sapling for the period of January 1, 2021 to present. FOIA request #2, from Data Branch USA, requested all executed contracts, agreements, purchase orders and related procurement documents for products or services purchased from Blackboard Inc., Finalsite, DMX, Funds for Learning, E-Rate Consulting, N-Able, Raptor Technologies, and/or CSM Consulting for the period of January 1, 2021 to the present. FOIA request #3, from Data Branch USA, requested all executed contracts, agreements, purchase orders and related procurement documents for products or services purchased from Absolute Software, Incident IQ, Hazel Health, Brandon Industries, CSM Consulting and Funds For Learning for the period of January 1, 2021 to present.
Approval of Consent Agenda as presented.
Regular Minutes and Closed Session Minutes from April 20, 2026,
Bills and Payroll,
Presentment of monthly financial reports,
Tony Karras and John Lidy as Volunteer NCHS Assistant Football Coaches,
Torrey Wolf as a Volunteer JCJH Softball Coach for the 2026-2027 season,
$2,000 Anonymous donation to the NCHS Volleyball Team,
$2,000 Anonymous donation to the NCHS Soccer Team,
$2,000 Anonymous donation to the NCHS Football Team,
$2,000 Anonymous donation to the NCHS Girls Cross Country Team,
$2,000 Anonymous donation to the NCHS Boys Cross Country Team,
$109.50 from the Newton Athletic Booster Club for a shot put for girls track,
$500 from the Jasper County Coon Hunters Association for the NCHS FFA Chapter,
$7,798.81 from parents, churches and community businesses for Post Prom,
$200 from Ruth Kerner for student lunch accounts,
$250 from the First Presbyterian Church for student lunch accounts,
Declare list of various technology items as surplus,
Declare a list of various items and books from SME as surplus,
First Reading of First Reading of Press Policy Updates-UnChanged
2:265 Title IX Grievance Procedure
4:40 Incuring Debt
7:20 Harassment of Students Prohibited
7:100 Health, Eye, and Dental Examinations; Immunizations; and Exclusion of Students
7:240 Conduct Code for Participants in Extracurricular Activities
7:280 Communicable and Chronic Infectious Diseases
First Reading of Press Policy Updates-Changed
2:200 Types of School Board Meetings
2:220 School Board Meeting Procedures
2:250 Access to District Public Records
2:260 Uniform Grievance Procedures
4:165 Awareness and Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and Grooming
5:30 Hiring Criteria
5:50 Drug and Alcohol-Free Workplace, E-Cigarette, Tobacco, and Cannabis Prohibition
5:250 Leaves of Absence
5:330 Sick Days, Vacation, Holidays, and Leaves
6:50 School Wellness
6:65 Student Social and Emotional Development
6:100 Using Animal in the Educational Program
6:145 Migrant Students
6:170 Title I Programs
6:180 Extended Instructional Programs
6:220 Bring Your Own Technology Program
7:50 School Admissions and Student Transfers To and From Non-District Schools
7:185 Teen Dating Violence Prohibited
7:220 Bus Conduct
7:230 Misconduct by Student with Disabilities
7:260 Exemption from Physical Education
7:300 Extracurricular Athletics
8:90 Parent Organizations and Booster Clubs
Under the Superintendent’s Report, the Board of Education discussed the amended FY 26 Budget. The amended budget for FY 26 looks to balance the Operation/Maintenance Fund. The Transportation Fund is the fund with the greatest concern as the State of Illinois continues to prorate funding for transportation. In the original budget, the District was to balance in the Transportation Fund. This is still a possibility, but more likely will be a deficit. At this time, the Education Fund looks to be in a deficit and our hope is that the District may balance.
Approval to establish a Budget Hearing for the FY 26 Amended Budget on June 22, 2026 at 6:20 p.m.
Approval of Handbook changes for Newton Community High School, Jasper County Junior High, Newton Elementary School, and Saint Marie Elementary for the 2026-2027 School Year.
Approval of Bid for NCHS Plumbing/Bathroom Project via Health Life Safety Work with Grunloh Construction, Inc for $447,000.
Approval of Bid for NES Air Conditioner/Mini Splits Project for 1999 Addition with KCH Mechanical, Inc. for $152,286.
Approval to enter executive session at 7:40 p.m. for 1.5 ILCS 120/2 (c) (1) – To Consider Information Regarding Appointment, Employment, Compensation, Performance or Dismissal of Individual Employees; 1.5 ILCS 120/2(c)(2) – Collective Bargaining matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees; 1.5ILCS 120/2(c)(11) – To discuss matters of possible or pending litigation.
Approval to return to open session at 8:47 p.m.
Approval of a Contract with the JCEA for the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 School Years.
Approval to accept the letter of retirement from Jeena Kinder as a NES Title Teacher effective at the end of the 2028-2029 School Year.
Approval to accept the resignation from Jacqueline Brant as a JCJH Life Skills Teacher effective at the end of the 2025-2026 School Year.
Approval to accept the letter of retirement from Terri Wolf as a SME Pre-K Paraprofessional effective at the end of the 2025-2026 School Year; and resignation from Karen Kerner as NES Paraprofessional at the end of the 2025-2026 school year.
Approval to hire Kaci Goforth as a NES School Counselor for the 2026-2027 School Year.
Approval to hire Jack Kinkade as an Assistant Football Coach for half stipend pay amount and Tony Rodriguez as an Assistant Football Coach for half stipend pay amount.
Approval to hire Tim Bower as a IT Department Summer Worker and Nathan Smith as a Maintenance Summer Worker.
Approval of a Maternity Leave of Absence for Cynthia Boldrey, NES 4th Grade Teacher, beginning on August 11th, 2026 and returning on September 23rd, 2026; and a Maternity Leave of Absence for Brooklyn Herman, NES 2nd Grade Teacher, beginning on August 10th through October 27th, half days beginning on October 28th through November 1st, then return to full days on November 2nd.
Approval to advertise for a JCJH Art Teacher Position.
Meeting adjourned at 8:59 p.m. Next regular board meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 22nd , 2026 at 6:30 p.m. at the Board of Education Office located at 1401 Clayton Avenue.
