CUSD 300 board approves expulsions, staff dismissals and multiple contract renewals; amends agenda

The Community Unit School District 300 Board of Education on April 8, 2025 approved a set of formal actions including a student expulsion, two non‑renewals of non‑tenured teachers, the consent‑agenda package of contracts and procurement items, and a motion permitting a board member to attend remotely under state law.

The board voted to expel “Student Number 5” for the remainder of the 2024–25 school year and the 2025–26 school year under the Illinois School Code (105 ILCS 5/10‑22.6). The board’s motion says the student may return at the start of the second semester of 2025–26 if the student completes a drug‑counseling program; the cited misconduct in the resolution includes using or possessing tobacco/nicotine products (including e‑cigarettes), alcohol, illegal drugs or controlled substances, drug paraphernalia, and other conduct that “may reasonably be considered to endanger the health or safety of students, staff, or school property.” The roll call vote on the expulsion recorded six ayes and no nays.

The board also adopted two personnel resolutions concerning non‑tenured teachers. One resolution determined the elimination of a 0.6 FTE German teaching position as a programmatic change in high‑school world language programming and directed an honorable dismissal effective at the close of the 2024–25 school term; the resolution as read at the meeting did not clearly state the employee’s full name on the public audio (name not specified in the public record excerpt). A separate resolution notified Christina Garcia Rodriguez that she will not be reemployed and is dismissed effective at the end of the 2024–25 school term. Both personnel resolutions passed on roll call votes recorded as six ayes and no nays.

The board approved its consent agenda by roll call; that package included disposal and treasurer reports, donation report, door‑hardware bid, athletic training contract extension, CTE cosmetology contract extension, design and engineering services approval for Dundee Crown High School, education‑services contract renewals, an online learning contract renewal, an RTU replacement at Jacobs High School, technology‑service renewals, a schematic‑design task order for Parkview, student private‑placement renewals for 2025–26, and the Freedom of Information Act report. The consent motion passed on a recorded vote shown as six ayes and no nays.

Earlier in the meeting the board amended and approved the agenda (the amended agenda removed the fiscal‑year 2025–26 budget requests item and an intergovernmental agreement item for Recreation Drive) in a roll call vote recorded as seven ayes and no nays.

Other formal items approved included a motion under 5 ILCS (Open Meetings Act) to permit Board Member Emmanuel Thomas to attend the meeting remotely; that motion passed on roll call 6–0. The board also voted to approve out‑of‑district student travel (vote recorded 6–0) and adjourned following a 6–0 roll call.

The board conducted a closed session during the meeting under multiple enumerated purposes identified on the record, including matters related to appointment/employment, collective bargaining, litigation, student disciplinary cases and school security; the motion to enter closed session passed on roll call 6–0.

Votes at a glance - Motion to allow Board Member Emmanuel Thomas to attend remotely under 5 ILCS (Open Meetings Act): approved, roll call 6–0. - Amended agenda (removing FY26 budget requests and Recreation Drive IGA): approved, roll call 7–0. - Consent agenda (multiple contracts, reports, and procurement items listed above): approved, roll call 6–0. - Student discipline — Expel Student No. 5 under 105 ILCS 5/10‑22.6 for remainder of 2024–25 and 2025–26; conditional return permitted after completion of drug counseling: approved, roll call 6–0. - Resolution to honorably dismiss a non‑tenured teacher due to elimination of a 0.6 FTE German position (employee name not specified in public audio excerpt): approved, roll call 6–0. - Resolution to dismiss non‑tenured teacher Christina Garcia Rodriguez (not reemployed): approved, roll call 6–0. - Approval of out‑of‑district student travel: approved, roll call 6–0. - Motion to enter closed session for enumerated purposes (employment, bargaining, litigation, student discipline, security): approved, roll call 6–0. - Motion to adjourn: approved, roll call 6–0.

The board’s recorded roll calls show unanimous votes for each formal action as listed above; no motions failed and no recorded abstentions were reported in the public audio excerpt. Where the meeting audio did not identify a mover or seconder by name, the public roll call and outcome are reported as recorded. The board did not take additional public action on the intra‑district transfer requests discussed during public participation; those comments were referred to administration for follow up.