January 11, 2023 Special Meeting
Call to Order
President Stephanie Guerrero called the special meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Board members present were: Jessica Browning, Lori Campbell, Stephanie Guerrero, Josh Hilbert, Martha Leeper, Jeff Stahl, and Matt Wood.
Administration
Also present: Superintendent Bob Meadows and SVHS Principal Jonathan Field.
Visitors
Visitors present: Jennifer Cramer
Jennifer Cramer addressed the Board regarding residency.
Hearing Officer Appointment
Josh Hilbert moved and Martha Leeper seconded the motion to appoint Stephanie Guerrero as hearing officer for the student discipline hearing. All voted in favor. Motion carried.
Closed Session
Jeff Stahl moved and Josh Hilbert seconded the motion to enter closed session at 5:47 p.m. for the reasons stated on the agenda. Roll call vote: Ayes-Jessica Browning, Lori Campbell, Stephanie Guerrero, Josh Hilbert, Martha Leeper, Jeff Stahl, and Matt Wood. All voted in favor. Motion carried.
Closed Session Adjournment
Matt Wood moved and Lori Campbell seconded the motion to re-enter open session at 6:21 p.m. Roll call vote: Ayes-Jessica Browning, Lori Campbell, Stephanie Guerrero, Josh Hilbert, Martha Leeper, Jeff Stahl, and Matt Wood. All voted in favor. Motion carried.
Closed Session Minutes
Jeff Stahl moved and Jessica Browning seconded the motion to accept the closed session minutes as read in closed session. Roll call vote: Ayes-Jessica Browning, Lori Campbell, Stephanie Guerrero, Josh Hilbert, Martha Leeper, Jeff Stahl, and Matt Wood. All voted in favor. Motion carried.
Student Discipline SV2023-1
Martha Leeper moved and Josh Hilbert seconded the motion to expel Student # SV2023-(1) for one year from January 11, 2023 through the end of the 1st Semester of the 2023-2024 school year. Based on a preponderance of the evidence presented in the expulsion hearing and based on the Board’s determination that the student engaged in egregious conduct, that the student’s continued presence at school poses a threat to school safety of other students and staff and substantially disrupts the operation of the school. The Board further finds that given the severity of the student’s gross misconduct, there are no other appropriate disciplinary interventions available and that the presence of the student at school will foster a culture that the student’s behavior at school is acceptable or tolerated. The expulsion shall be held in abeyance and the student will enroll in an alternative school during the period of his expulsion. If the student complies with the following conditions, the student may request to return to the Sangamon Valley School District at the start of the Second Semester of the 2023-2024 school year:
The parents/guardians sign the agreement to transfer student to the alternative program.
The student attends and obtains passing grades at the alternative school.
The student does not engage in any misconduct or rule violations while attending the alternative school.
Roll call vote: Ayes-Jessica Browning, Lori Campbell, Stephanie Guerrero, Josh Hilbert, Martha Leeper, Jeff Stahl, and Matt Wood. All voted in favor. Motion carried.
Student Discipline SV2023-2
Matt Wood moved and Lori Campbell seconded the motion to expel Student # SV2023-(2) for one year from January 11, 2023 through the end of the 1st Semester of the 2023-2024 school year. Based on a preponderance of the evidence presented in the expulsion hearing and based on the Board’s determination that the student engaged in egregious conduct, that the student’s continued presence at school poses a threat to school safety of other students and staff and substantially disrupts the operation of the school. The Board further finds that given the severity of the student’s gross misconduct, there are no other appropriate disciplinary interventions available and that the presence of the student at school will foster a culture that the student’s behavior at school is acceptable or tolerated. The expulsion shall be held in abeyance and the student will enroll in an alternative school during the period of his expulsion. If the student complies with the following conditions, the student may request to return to the Sangamon Valley School District at the start of the Second Semester of the 2023-2024 school year:
The parents/guardians sign the agreement to transfer student to the alternative program.
The student attends and obtains passing grades at the alternative school.
The student does not engage in any misconduct or rule violations while attending the alternative school.
Roll call vote: Ayes-Jessica Browning, Lori Campbell, Stephanie Guerrero, Josh Hilbert, Martha Leeper, Jeff Stahl, and Matt Wood. All voted in favor. Motion carried.
Residency
Josh Hilbert moved and Jeff Stahl seconded the motion that the Board of Education adopt and approve the residency hearing officer’s findings of fact and finding that Ms. Jennifer Cramer and her children are not legal residents of Sangamon Valley Community Unit School No 9 and were not and have not been residents of the school district at the start of the 2022-2023 school year or any time during the 2022-2023 school year, and therefore shall not be eligible to enroll in the school district or attend classes in the district and shall be charged daily tuition for each day the children attended the school district but were not eligible to do so.
Roll call vote: Ayes-Jessica Browning, Lori Campbell, Stephanie Guerrero, Josh Hilbert, Martha Leeper, Jeff Stahl, and Matt Wood. All voted in favor. Motion carried.
Adjournment
Matt Wood moved and Jessica Browning seconded the motion that the meeting be adjourned at 6:25 p.m. All voted in favor. Motion carried.