001The board of education held Tuesday, January 27th, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. in the unit office conference room, 500 North 10th Street, Heron, Illinois, 62948. If everybody would please rise for the pledge of allegiance. [snorts] I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Mrs. Hastings, if you would please call roll. >> John Hutchinson >> here. >> Indy Miller >> here. >> Kelly Green >> here. >> Steve Young >> here. Bradley >> here. >> Steve Robinson >> here. >> At this time, we'll recognize anyone who wishes to address the board. been recognized that person should give their name before making their comments. Statements are asked to be limited to five minutes in duration.
002Would anybody like to address the board at this time? [snorts] Not. We will move on to the consent agenda agenda. Need a motion, a second, and a roll call vote to accept and approve the items listed and not extracted from the consent agenda presented on January 27th, 2026. >> So, Cindy Miller, >> yes. John Hutchinson, >> yes. Kelly Green, >> yes. >> Bradley, >> yes. >> Steve Robinson, >> yes. >> Steve Young, >> yes. >> Seeing no old business, we're going to move forward to special reports. Um, student [snorts] faculty recognition. We're very proud to recognize the accomplishments of all the students and faculty at Heron Unit 4. Mr. Wilson and I will be recognizing those individuals again via social media. Moving on to the budget report. >> Right. Real quick on a mid-year budget
003report, I just want to put a few of the big funds in front of you to show where we're at as of December 31st. Um the ED fund, which is our largest fund uh for our finances. Um it is running right at 50/50. That's where you want to be at midyear. If you can be ahead a little bit, great. Um but we are running 50/50 on the ed fund. That's about a 30 million of our $38 million budget this year. [snorts] So we're in good shape there. uh the O andM operations and maintenance fund. We are running a little bit um ahead on our budget with expenses, but that's not uncommon. We pay for some things early in the school year that then last us throughout the entire school year. So, in our O andM
004fund right now, we've got about 30% of that budget left. It's nothing scary. There's nothing over and out of the ordinary there. Uh it just looks funny on December 31 [snorts] to have more expenses through, but again, we purchased some stuff up front that lasts us the entire school year. Transportation, another one, our third big fund. Um, we are running in good shape on the transportation fund. Uh, just ahead a little bit on the budget. Got about 53% of the budget remaining. So, um, in good shape there on transportation on the year. So, all in all, uh, on budget, we're where we expected to be. Um, that's the good news. Bad news is it was a deficit budget. And so, we're still looking at some places maybe where we can get a little bit of
005money back. Um, I didn't include all of our funds, account funds here. So, um, just the three biggest ones that we operate out of. And that's just a quick snapshot. Overall budget, we're running right about where we should be. >> Any questions for Mr. Wilson on the budget? >> Not. Moving forward to new business. Um, we need a motion, a second, and a roll call vote to approve the addition to the high school handbook. >> Kelly Green. >> Yes. >> Sydney Miller. >> Yes. >> S Robinson. Yes. >> Brad Ley. >> Yes. >> D Young. >> Yes. >> John Hutchson. >> Yes. I have a question. Do we have a [snorts] breathalyzer? >> I don't understand. >> We'll have one calibrated by the city. >> What's the policy now? >> It [clears throat] it'll be
006it's what was presented to you basically. I mean before tonight we didn't have a policy. So, um I've spoken with Chief Doris and he said that they would provide a breathalyzer with the officer who would be at the events. >> Is it just if you >> what's the word I'm looking for? >> If you suspect >> No, we [clears throat] have a policy lined out where there be a lottery of random and also for tickets. It's got a systematic piece in place and then there also is a suspicion piece as well. >> Okay. So there they as laid out there um in that policy in step three or four I don't remember exactly >> three thank you uh exactly how that will work but it will [snorts] be calibrated the >> excellent idea >> breath
007will be calibrated by the police >> who's going to enforce that policy >> enforce the policy as far as how it's being >> personnel at the high school >> yeah our administrators >> administrators will be doing it >> yeah the police can't do that part You're going to be trained in how to use this equipment. >> Correct. We'll have the police right there with us as they do it, too. >> Any other discussion or >> question? >> Well, go ahead, Jeff. >> My thought is basically for homecoming dance and prom. If we end up in a situation where we're at an event and we suspect that opens the door for us to at least be able to go that direction. Whereas prior to this, we didn't have that as an option. And to be clear,
008this takes effect next school year or this school year. I hope this >> ordering in now. >> Okay. >> Sometimes we have they have to sign off or whatever, but >> no, we're putting it in place now. This will be communicated now. >> I have another question. You said that the police will not be doing this. This is going to be done by an administrator. >> We're going to be the ones who are basically doing they're going to be with us, will they? >> They can't do it. Steve, >> who can't? The police can't do it because it's our event. That's law. This this policy was developed by our attorneys. This wasn't something that we came up with. >> But you guys will be trained to >> Mhm. >> Have you been yet or? >>
009Not yet. No. >> Okay. >> First, we wanted to see whether the policy was going to get past you guys. Okay. And then now that we're at that point, that will be the next thing for >> No, I think it's an excellent idea. >> Will this also be used at in school hours, too, if you suspect a student has a problem? I I don't see a reason why >> we've already Yeah. In situations where we suspect someone's intoxicated at school, we we run that process. This is taken care of in the extracurricular events again, which is lined out in the policy. Um I don't have in front of me because my computer just went there, but that it's it lines out step by-step detail who's doing it, how they're doing it, who's receiving it, what's
010the system for putting it in place. Um and it takes care of that. So, [snorts] um it it is pretty clear in here how that's all going to work out. And then any any penalties associated with this that >> anything that goes back to our student handling. Right. >> Any other discussion with regard to the breath policy. >> Okay. Moving on. Need a motion, a second, and a roll call vote to approve the 2026 high school graduation date for Saturday, May 9th, 2026 at 5:00 pm. >> So move. >> Second. >> Steve Young. >> Yes. Bradley, >> yes. >> John Hudchinson, >> yes. >> Robinson, >> yes. >> Kelly Green, >> yes. >> Denny Miller, >> yes. >> Need a motion, a second and a roll call vote to close a meeting in accordance with
011section 122A of the Open Meetings Act citing the following exceptions as contained in section 122C. To discuss student disciplinary cases, adopt closed minutes, discuss appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance evaluation, and dismissal of specific employees. and to discuss litigation. >> Did we miss one high school graduation? >> Already did it. >> That was included. [snorts] >> Steve Robinson, >> yes. >> Steve Young, >> yes. >> John Hutchinson, >> yes. >> Sydney Miller, >> yes. Kelly Green, >> yes. Bradley, >> yes. Reconvene to open session. >> Second. >> Robinson. >> Yes. >> John. >> Yes. >> Bradley. >> Yes. >> Miller. >> Yes. Need a motion, a second, and a roll call vote to adopt the closed minutes of the meeting held December 16th, 2025. >> Bradley. Yes. >> Dington. >> Yes. >> John Hudson. [snorts] >>
012Yes. >> Bill Green. >> Yes. >> Miller. >> Yes. [snorts] >> I need a motion, a second, a roll call vote to approve the following personnel recommendations as presented for retirement. Katrina >> ID. [snorts] Thank you so much. Intent to retire at the end of 2029 2030 school year. Tracy Rididgeway to intent for the intent to retire at the end of the 2025 2026 school year. for maternity leave. Brianna Charlotte with her leave starting March 2026. Resignation, Britney Thompson as a business teacher for the high school, and Sarah Diesson as a reading aid for North Side Primary Center. For employment, Gregory Kent as a cook for the high school, Brianna Charlotte as a cook for the junior high school, and Adam Harrison as an assistant boys tennis coach for the high school. Vacancies to be
013posted, librarian for North Side Primary Center and a reading aid for North Side Primary Center. [cough and clears throat] John Hutchinson, >> yes. [snorts] >> Sydney Miller, >> yes. >> Kelly Green, >> yes. >> Steve Young, >> yes. >> Robinson, >> yes. >> Need a motion, a second, and a roll call vote to accept the superintendent evaluation as presented. >> Second. >> Sydney Miller. >> Yes. [snorts] >> Yes. >> Green. >> Yes. >> Robinson, >> yes. >> Mr. Wilson, you have something to add? >> Yeah. One last comment, just uh thanks Mike Lince and his guys. They've done a great job getting our lots cleared, our sidewalks cleared. I thought the city did a really good job getting our main streets cleared, too. So, uh you know, our intent was to be in school tomorrow.
014They pushed really hard at my request and did a great job getting stuff cleared. There's a ton of snow they piled and pushed last couple days out in the cold. So, thanks to those guys and everything they've done. Sandy and Marian out at the bus garage. um they have been working hard to make sure the buses are starting, getting their things ready to go. We were all ready to go for tomorrow. Um no one else in the area wanted to play, so we're not going to go tomorrow, but thanks to those guys for their hard work. Really appreciate it. >> Thank you everybody. Everybody be safe. Um, [snorts] having all of that been said, need a motion, a second, and a roll call vote to adjourn until the next regular meeting of the board of
015education scheduled for Tuesday, February 24th, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. in the unit office conference room, 500 North 10th Street, Heron, Illinois, 62948. >> Second, >> yes. >> Sydney Miller, yes. Robinson, >> yes. Brad Ley, yes. Steve Young, yes. Yes.