Decatur SD 61 board upholds three expulsions, approves personnel and facilities actions and hears updates on vacancies and strategic plan

The Decatur Public Schools Board of Education voted Jan. 28 to authorize expulsions of three students following hearing officer recommendations, approved a slate of personnel actions and facility projects, and heard extended reports on staffing shortages and the district's strategic-plan outreach.

The board voted 4-2 (one member absent) to expel student 2425-0017 for the remainder of the 2024-25 school year and all of 2025-26 with no stay for alternative education; the student may return to their home school the first day of the 2026-27 school year. The board took the same action 4-2 (one absent) on student 2425-0018. On student 2425-0019 the board voted to expel with a stay for alternative placement (vote result: five in favor, one abstention, one absent). The expulsions were presented on the record as consistent with the hearing officers' reports.

The board also approved several personnel and operational actions, including: - One-day suspensions without pay each for custodial employees Amanda Francis and Shantia Elsley (approved unanimously by the members present). - A three-day suspension without pay for school security officer Brian Hart (approved unanimously by the members present). - Ratification of the termination of a Macon Pyatt Special Education District paraprofessional, effective Jan. 29, 2025 (approved unanimously by the members present). - Approval of the personnel action items prepared by the human resources department, which included the hire of a recruitment and retention specialist, Katherine Rollon, effective Feb. 3, 2025 (approved unanimously by the members present). - Approval to purchase network equipment to connect DPS to…