Charleston Community Unit School District No. 1 Board Education met Thursday, Jan. 12.
The regularly scheduled board meeting is 6:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month at Central Office, 410 West Polk Street.
Here the minutes as provided by Charleston CUSD No. 1:
Minutes of the Special Meeting of January 12, 2017
The Board of Education of Community Unit School District No. 1, Coles and Cumberland Counties, Illinois met in special session on Thursday, January 12, 2017 at the Administration Building – 410 West Polk Avenue, Charleston, Illinois 61920 At 6:00pm, President Miller called the meeting to order and asked for roll call.
The following members were present:
Ron Miller, President
Charles Jarrell, Vice President
Susan Daniels, Secretary
Jason Coe
Kevin Oakley
The following members were absent:
Kelly Miller, Treasurer
Scott Clarke
The following staff members were present:
Jim Littleford, Superintendent
Todd Vilardo, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction
Trevor Doughty, CHS Principal
Tim Keefe, CHS Assistant Principal
Visitors 0 and 0 Members of the Press
The purpose of the special meeting was to hold a disciplinary hearing on student #08021. The student and parents/guardians were not in attendance.
Mr. Jarrell moved and Mr. Oakley seconded the motion to appoint President Miller as presiding officer for student discipline hearing.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Jarrell, Oakley, Coe, Daniels, R. Miller
NAY: none Abstain: none
Motion carried
At 6:03pm, President Miller recommended that the Board of Education adjourn into closed session to hear testimony regarding a student disciplinary case pursuant to the Open Meetings Act –
5 ILCS 120/2(c)(9). Mr. Jarrell moved and Mr. Oakley seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Jarrell, Oakley, Coe, Daniels, Miller
NAY: none Abstain: none
Motion carried
At 6:18pm, Mr. Jarrell made a motion to reconvene from closed session. Mr. Oakley seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Jarrell, Oakley, Coe, Daniels, R. Miller
NAY: none Abstain: none
Motion carried
Back in open session, President Miller made a motion and moved that student #08021 be found to have committed an act of gross disobedience or misconduct such that an expulsion of a period of time not to exceed two calendar years is justified by the evidence. Mr. Oakley seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: R. Miller, Oakley, Coe, Jarrell, Daniels
NAY: none Abstain: none
Motion carried
At 6:19pm, President Miller moved that the Board of Education reconvene in closed session pursuant to the Illinois Open Meetings Act to determine what, if any, discipline might be appropriate. Mr. Jarrell seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: R. Miller, Jarrell, Coe, Oakley, Daniels
NAY: none Abstain: none
Motion carried
At 6:49pm, President Miller recommended that the Board of Education reconvene from closed session.
Mr. Jarrell moved and Mr. Oakley seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Jarrell, Oakley, Coe, Daniels, R. Miller
NAY: none Abstain: none
Motion carried
Back in open session, President Miller made a motion and moved that the Board of Education ratify the suspension of student #08021 and that student #08021 be expelled from Charleston High School for the remainder of the 2016-2017 school year, all of the 2017-2018 school year, and for the first semester of the 2018-2019 school year. In addition, the Board of Education would hold the expulsion in abeyance for the express purpose of permitting student #08021 to attend the Bridges Safe Schools Alternative Education Program for the duration of the expulsion. If student #08021 completes the terms of the instruction at Bridges successfully, the student would be eligible to return to Charleston High School for the second semester of the 2018-2019 school year. Due to the severity of the disciplinary infraction committed by student #08021, this student will not be allowed to attend any Charleston High School events on or off campus during the remainder of the 2016-2017 school year, all of the 2017-2018 school year, and for the first semester of the 2018-2019 school year.
Mr. Littleford provided rational detailing the specific reasons why removing student #08021 from the learning environment was in the best interest of the school.
The Board of Education believes removing student #08021 from the learning environment is in the best interest of the school. Specific reasons include a past history which includes:
1) Drinking alcohol and driving without a driver’s license on the school campus with other students in the vehicle.
2) Wrecking a vehicle on campus and injuring other students and causing property damage to CUSD #1 grounds.
3) Sporadic school attendance.
4) Failing grades.
5) Bringing a pellet pistol (look alike real gun) to school on the bus along with a knife, small razor blade, CO2 canisters for the gun, extra pellets and a lighter.
6) Possessing those items on school grounds.
7) Putting students on the bus and at school at a safety risk.
8) Disrespect to the AER Supervisor.
Mr. Littleford stated that the duration rationale allows student #08021 to attend an Alternative School:
- to receive instruction in a smaller setting.
- to gain credits to allow graduation at the end of the 2018-2019 first semester.
- to ensure the safety of the student and other students.
- to ensure the safety of staff.
President Miller made a motion and moved that the Board of Education accept the rational provided detailing specific reasons why removing student #08021 from the learning environment was in the best interest of the school district. Mr. Oakley seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: R. Miller, Oakley, Coe, Jarrell, Daniels
NAY: none Abstain: none
Motion carried
President Miller stated that this would conclude the disciplinary case for student #08021.
At 6:53pm, Mr. Jarrell moved and Mr. Oakley seconded the motion to adjourn from the Special Board Meeting.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Jarrell, Oakley, Coe, Daniels, R. Miller
NAY: none Abstain: none
Motion carried
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