[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6081908,"mediaKeyId","2941164-7b9802492abf6d3b79d98f798b4c7627","parentId",2941164,"title","Votes at a glance: Decatur SD 61 board approves consent items, expulsions, personnel and program renewals","audioSeconds",453,"startMs",6808000,"endMs",7261000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2941164-7b9802492abf6d3b79d98f798b4c7627&start=6808&end=7261","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2941164-7b9802492abf6d3b79d98f798b4c7627/thumbnail_6808000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6081908/Illinois/Votes-at-a-glance-Decatur-SD-61-board-approves-consent-items-expulsions-personnel-and-program-renewals","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6081908-72a79fbf07030c5a7d50abdb3be06ccf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170173&Signature=dJwAt0O0xlBEY7sLuN28iES5YbyfPSIvXhq4mYRbrr7leta9B46V4vSvG7lsLraZCX-Ieh58Ye~zYLY7YfF12LY5s4OxyNhFp3Dpz8uvS55HvgQPAnXHiGzwPy7z1Y6mZgJ9fr6uFJSJC37V9pzHI9Bm9~UGuwYeEuj1VcoNVJIksPIK6itJahBlGS-I0BuWDwYfZMCbntPaI52zy6zmBpcy2JzxkTLhpHIlIqH7ncZFFnKpBvTnMHrf2RcmzAcq9gJygo7srmioBgXBMxihxpau5VXKGHUbSWduVrSIwA8YExli1Op0OcUkwfTYvnE2oYl4EzKjYrMsg9Ymqqr7LA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Decatur SD 61","date","2025-04-10T06:58:07.817Z","article","At its April 15 meeting, the Decatur Public School District 61 Board of Education approved multiple consent and roll-call items. Discussion on many items was brief; the board recorded roll-call votes for each action listed below.

Summary of roll-call outcomes (motions carried unless noted):

- Consent calendar (minutes, FOIA report, bills, IESA/IHSA memberships for Eisenhower and MacArthur): Motion carried, roll-call 5–0 (2 absent).

- Expulsion: Student 2425-0020 — Board authorized issuance of a decision consistent with a hearing officer’s report and expelled the student through the first semester of the 2026–27 school year with return allowed after winter break of 2026–27; recorded vote 4 ayes, 0 nays, 1 abstain, 2 absent (motion carried). (Motion text referenced hearing officer findings.)

- Expulsion: Student 2425-0021 — Board authorized issuance of a decision consistent with the hearing officer’s report and expelled the student through the first semester of the 2026–27 school year with return after winter break of 2026–27; recorded vote 4 ayes, 0 nays, 1 abstain, 2 absent (motion carried).

- Expulsion: Student 2425-0022 — Board authorized issuance of a decision consistent with the hearing officer’s report and expelled the student through the first semester of the 2026–27 school year with return after winter break of 2026–27; recorded vote 5 ayes, 0 nays, 2 absent (motion carried).

- Personnel action items (human resources memo): Motion carried, roll-call 5–0 (2 absent).

- Superintendent compensation (2024–25 and 2025–26 school years): Motion carried, roll-call 4 ayes, 1 nay, 2 absent (motion carried). One board member stated they felt appropriate procedures for developing the contract had not been followed.

- Final calendar for the 2024–25 school year (confirming last student attendance day, May 22): Motion carried, roll-call 5–0 (2 absent).

- Increase teacher-ready program slots from 25 to 50: Motion carried, roll-call 5–0 (2 absent).

- Approve handwriting curriculum “Learning Without Tears” (printing and cursive): Motion carried, roll-call 5–0 (2 absent).

- FastBridge (DIBELS-like assessment) renewal: Motion carried, roll-call 4 ayes, 1 nay, 2 absent. One board member expressed concern about overtesting and voted no.

- District consolidated plan (state-required plan to enable Title submissions): Motion carried, roll-call 5–0 (2 absent). Board members clarified this is not the district’s Roadmap 2030 strategic plan.

- Lamar digital billboard renewal (marketing/teacher recruitment): Motion carried, roll-call 4 ayes, 1 nay, 2 absent. Board members asked about referral-source tracking for hires; communications staff reported 15 applicants in one month listed marketing as their referral.

- Personnel termination (Decatur Educational Support Personnel Association employee Natasha Cobb): Motion carried, roll-call 3 ayes, 2 nays, 2 absent.

The board recessed into a closed executive session during the meeting for employee-discipline hearings and collective-bargaining matters and reconvened to complete votes and adjourn.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","BOE Meeting 04/08/25","oneSentenceSummary","The Decatur Public School District 61 Board of Education approved multiple consent and action items including consent calendar, three expulsions, personnel actions, superintendent compensation, calendar finalization, program renewals and one employee termination.","taxTitle","Decatur SD 61, School Boards, Illinois","taxId",38365,"location","Illinois","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6081913,"Decatur SD 61 ramps career pathways, industry certifications and summer programs; vouchers near 1,300",143,5038000,5181000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2941164-7b9802492abf6d3b79d98f798b4c7627&start=5038&end=5181","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2941164-7b9802492abf6d3b79d98f798b4c7627/thumbnail_5038000.jpg","/articles/6081913/Illinois/Decatur-SD-61-ramps-career-pathways-industry-certifications-and-summer-programs-vouchers-near-1300","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6081913-b96323dcec0465f6fadf8d8255ca2d0d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170173&Signature=ngftBcMk1FQwIV2f-oI3zAI-pAw8zStMuL8aGnjqasos7tKnvROnwlGATJYFIsZaB-UrRml0Kk-XHDFcY7htfgFLQsdBR1rSkZmXFFYMOO-30JNKFlEi1D94OJzdg9eBvnukHpZ~LoOt95ln9gkZd3vuw4lf-ccgpBRUh8XcGl9eGiqEqIY0gaaUUTDZ51BxVWCe5zvj97zqmObdGsPmL8rBB9xtaftNqisoJKUfzaJRHB1gVkJltwF9NkaYC4ep6oYCIswLHVy00CRYIdebX3GhAybufvOSoOs0Du2OoSSXa56nhaoy5XpTOO3Tg0mgVKQslVOjtUAlStUkFPo6MA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Decatur Public School District 61 administrators told the board the district is expanding career and technical education (CTE) pathways, reporting a sharp year-over-year increase in industry certifications, and pursuing strategies to boost graduation rates by improving freshmen-on-track measures.

Dr. Robinson, speaking for the Department of Teaching and Learning, said the district has increased CTE industry certifications and added new College and Career Pathways Endorsements. “We started the year with one career pathway endorsement,” Dr. Robinson said. “We now have four,” adding agriculture, welding and digital business to previously offered programs and noting 326 certifications recorded so far this school year with a projection near 360 by year-end.

Dr. Robinson emphasized freshmen-on-track as a priority metric. She reported Eisenhower High School’s freshmen-on-track rate at 76 percent (63 students deficient in credits) and MacArthur High School at 85 percent (43 students deficient), and she described targeted counselor and cohort meetings to increase credit accumulation and reduce failures. “A student on track at the end of ninth grade is four times more likely to graduate than a student who is off track,” she said.

The district also outlined summer-school offerings designed to focus on foundational literacy and math. The K–5 summer program will serve roughly 89–90 students identified as candidates for retention or scoring in the lowest national percentiles; each grade will have one certified teacher and at least one teaching assistant, with additional aides as needed. Central academic work will focus on phonics, literacy and math using small-group instruction and science-of-reading-based approaches, plus in-school field experiences and a field trip to the Decatur Zoo.

Maria Robertson, the district’s director of communications and public relations, updated the board on the community summer sign-up event and resource fair held at MacArthur High School. Robertson said parents preverified 1,042 students in the two weeks prior to the event, 214 students were verified on-site, and 405 vouchers were picked up at the event; in total the district issued 1,291 vouchers for summer programs and hosted more than 600 students at the fair. Voucher increments of $10 and $25 were issued so families could combine amounts across multiple programs, and partner organizations were encouraged to offer reading- and math-focused activities.

Ending: District leaders said they will report summer-school growth outcomes after the program and will continue expanding CTE pathways and industry partnerships to improve postsecondary and workforce outcomes.","District officials reported gains in career and technical education certifications and freshmen-on-track metrics and described planned summer programming; communications staff said the district issued 1,291 summer-program vouchers during a recent resource fair.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6081918,"U.S. Department of Education rescinds ESSER liquidation extension; Decatur SD 61 faces potential $1.9M shift",124,2705000,2829000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2941164-7b9802492abf6d3b79d98f798b4c7627&start=2705&end=2829","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2941164-7b9802492abf6d3b79d98f798b4c7627/thumbnail_2705000.jpg","/articles/6081918/Illinois/US-Department-of-Education-rescinds-ESSER-liquidation-extension-Decatur-SD-61-faces-potential-19M-shift","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6081918-1d77fb6588c063ba096283b40acf285c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170173&Signature=EKMVICA3ajsWuK94K9udJIRUgK5BwJof2eS70cZA3DTzUga5Qq811X7CPR3t2HpmYuNL2I8j00Jl9O-YakdKuRqi2RoqLh-oHoeY4kCbV8ktJ-8ePS0oQxvvhPXTEXalJG0KkfTlvJtHTFKtF1zhwjw~9wX3oAmFs2fkAYp7Mas9v99iLGNMoqR~ELdTBwTF7IzzqJfoMt2uXfU1APAhrgxCOmuKI~qvZhGe-~rXHmcHCymIeLIpET-rztiJB2kmRfcl1u1cCacYhjiGWF6nYHbdUw1DINKgRsjdtK8tpuAYk8htglov3XB0d-29oFEyaS~2khyO7zfXiaK9k7X5LA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Decatur Public School District 61 administrators told the board that the U.S. Department of Education modified a previously granted liquidation extension for American Rescue Plan (ESSER) funds, potentially forcing the district to move approximately $1,900,000 into its general fund.

Dr. Curry, a district administrator, told the board that the department sent a letter dated March 28, 2025, notifying the district and other recipients that the period to liquidate obligations under the Education Stabilization Fund had been amended to end March 28, 2025. The letter, Dr. Curry said, stated that the Department of Education had reconsidered earlier discretionary approvals and concluded the extension was no longer warranted.

Dr. Curry told the board, “the revocation of this waiver could result and likely will result in the district having to shift $1,900,000 into the general fund.” He said the district had acted in good faith after the waiver was originally approved and that several large projects were delayed by weather and logistics rather than inaction.

District staff explained possible next steps: depending on fund-balance positions, obligated amounts could be shifted from Fund 60 or Fund 10, and the district would likely need to present an amended budget in May if funds are moved out of Fund 10. Dr. Curry said the state of Illinois (through ISBE) indicated it may try to negotiate an extension on behalf of the districts affected; the district is prepared to submit paperwork if the state does not act.

The board asked about legal or lobbying options; Dr. Curry said the district had not yet reached out to its federal legislative delegation but was ready to do so and that the Illinois State Board of Education may pursue a collective petition. No formal board vote was taken on the item during the meeting.

Ending: The district said it will monitor the state’s effort to seek an extension, remain ready to submit documentation, and likely present a budget amendment in May if federal guidance does not change.","District staff told the board the U.S. Department of Education amended and effectively revoked a previously granted liquidation extension for ESSER/ARP funds, setting the liquidation deadline at March 28, 2025 and creating a possible $1.9 million impact to district funds.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6081923,"Parents tell Decatur SD 61 board their children lack consistent teachers, seek district-union talks",195,2411000,2606000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2941164-7b9802492abf6d3b79d98f798b4c7627&start=2411&end=2606","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2941164-7b9802492abf6d3b79d98f798b4c7627/thumbnail_2411000.jpg","/articles/6081923/Illinois/Parents-tell-Decatur-SD-61-board-their-children-lack-consistent-teachers-seek-district-union-talks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6081923-8ef8ec1e43ad6e052e6a72e39ff93cc1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170173&Signature=aoogCjPYXPh6IkVERYLw4rAHO8Sgj3oy584nNHgcds8gECekDU1rbum~Woc~tcIa~srF0HTcqy5Kt7ohiGJmNT8rK3aYnLuJxGVlS2FZK7BRL7TTNCl5JXB9VhQM1pc7rlWAAMfJEamX~Bgm-Y39JQoXdJDhts2xqAcaL~~tJAHYLDZ2iZuQ~sHN1TZnL6eW4SKRSPCzbO54Rg7yILVKpF5TDw3FPyYcfNS4dXXRR2s89loFlHaHGzo-p7Dvwy2usNYFKiI6--GMffmmhYlnIzjFflw18~LOPXBFnFoxnowk3DRL~1-q6TNwybQPO9-QFbAkQLLkEGEhGHoTd3v1aA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several parents addressed the Decatur Public School District 61 Board of Education during public participation on April 15, saying their children have spent large portions of the school year without a permanent classroom teacher.

At the meeting, Abby Steele, a parent, told the board, “My daughter has now started her fourth quarter without a teacher, which also means her fourth quarter of having minimal instruction.” Steele said families in one class of 19 students had made repeated attempts—phone calls, emails and in-person meetings—to resolve the issue and that at least one family removed their child from the school because of the instability.

Steele said four families had documented outreach to district and building administrators totaling at least 75 attempted contacts, and that she had been told conflicting explanations: that the staffing pattern was directed by the building administrator, that it was a union issue, or that it was otherwise “out of your hands.” She said the union had told families it was willing to meet with district leadership.

Angel Sprague, a parent of a fourth grader at Montessori Academy for Peace, said her son had been taught mainly by substitutes and often floated to other classrooms. “Most of the time when he's floated to other classrooms, it is either rooms below his grade level, band class, or PE,” Sprague told the board. “Most of the time he's at school, it feels like he's being babysat versus getting an education.”

Kaisha Mackins, another Montessori parent, said her daughter has not had a permanent classroom teacher all year and has received little communication from school leadership. Mackins said she had requested a parent-teacher conference in January and again in March and had not had a conference as of the board meeting. She quoted a substitute who told students, “I'm just a sub. I don't technically need to be here,” and said that remark alarmed parents.

Board members acknowledged the remarks and discussed possible next steps at the meeting. One board member said the repeated complaints over multiple meetings “break my heart” and urged the district to explore broader access to qualified substitutes and other options. Another board member noted the union had indicated willingness to meet and encouraged coordinated talks between the district and union leadership.

District staff did not announce a specific remedy at the meeting. Parents told the board they remain willing to propose classroom reassignments—merging or splitting classes to provide stable instruction—but said such changes had not been implemented because district administrators and the union had not yet reached agreement.

The parents’ comments were recorded during the public participation portion of the meeting; the board’s formal business continued afterward. The matter remains under discussion, and families said they will continue to seek district and union engagement to obtain consistent classroom staffing.

Ending: Board members said they would follow up with administration; parents said they will continue to seek meetings with both district and union representatives to pursue classroom-level solutions.","Several parents told the Decatur Public School District 61 board that elementary classes have been run without an assigned teacher this year, describing frequent substitutes, minimal instruction and repeated attempts to reach district and union leaders.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Decatur SD 61 board approves consent items, expulsions, personnel and program renewals

Decatur SD 61 ramps career pathways, industry certifications and summer programs; vouchers near 1,300

U.S. Department of Education rescinds ESSER liquidation extension; Decatur SD 61 faces potential $1.9M shift

Parents tell Decatur SD 61 board their children lack consistent teachers, seek district-union talks