East St. Louis SD 189 board approves omnibus package including SIUE renewal, places two students in alternative school

The East St. Louis School District 189 Board of Education on May 21, 2025 approved an omnibus set of action items that included renewing an agreement with Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE); awarding a qualified bid to Barcom Security for intrusion and fire alarm services under RFB 1303; approving a workers' compensation settlement; and placing two students in the district's Bush Alternative program for disciplinary reasons.

Board members voted on a single omnibus motion moved by Willie Ray and seconded by Walter Hood. A roll-call vote recorded affirmative votes from Remi Dane, Walter Hood, Timothy Lockett, Roy Mickens, Willie Ray, Latonya Sales and Latoya Mosley; the motion passed unanimously.

The omnibus package was read into the record as agenda item number 062525 and encompassed action items 12a–12e, 13a, 14a, and 15a–15d. The security contract award referenced RFB 1303; the workers' compensation item was listed as a settlement agreement; and student discipline action 12e specified placing two students in an alternative school setting, including a reference to student number 88917507 for weapons possession, bullying, extreme defiance and threats to staff as stated in the meeting packet.

Board members moved into and out of executive session earlier in the meeting. The board cited multiple statutory justifications for closed session on the record, including "1 22 c 1" (employment/discipline), "1 22 c 2" (negotiations), "1 22 c 5" (property/lease/purchase), "1 22 c 8" (security procedures), "1 22 c 9" (student discipline) and "1 22 c 11" (litigation) among others; no substantive executive-session discussion was disclosed in open session.

Other approved items recorded in the omnibus vote included the May 2025 financial report (13a); personnel committee items and addenda (14a); buildings and grounds report and an addendum waiving the Use of Facilities fee for Toys for Tots (15a); curriculum committee reports and addenda (15b); policy readings (15c); and the finance committee report and addendum (15d). The board scheduled its next regular meeting for July 15, 2025.

The meeting packet and the board's roll-call record are the only sources in the public record for the specific contract and discipline language approved at the meeting. The board did not discuss the substance of contract negotiations or the details of executive-session deliberations during open session.