Murphysboro CUSD 186 board approves tax resolution for bonds, endorses Illinois Vision 2030 and clears personnel actions

The Murphysboro CUSD 186 Board of Education approved a group of financial and personnel items at its regular meeting, including a resolution to levy taxes to repay outstanding general obligation school bonds, authorization to seek insurance quotes, a resolution supporting Illinois Vision 2030, and several employment and personnel actions.

The board approved a resolution described in the meeting as “to make taxes for general obligation school bonds 2017, 2019 and 2020” and said the district will use facility sales tax proceeds to pay the bonds over time. A board member explained this is an annual administrative step “until we get these three bonds paid off.” The motion passed on a roll call with all members recorded as voting yes.

The board also authorized district business staff to obtain quotes for property-liability and workers’ compensation insurance, with the district seeking renewal numbers by June. The motion to obtain quotes was approved unanimously.

On policy and statewide advocacy, the board adopted a resolution endorsing Illinois Vision 2030, a statewide education initiative the board said addresses teacher recruitment and retention and teacher-retirement structures. The resolution was approved unanimously.

Personnel and athletics: the board approved a slate of volunteer and part-time coaching assignments and personnel postings. Approved were Jeremy Marshall, Tarek Swinson and Derek Beard as volunteer track coaches for Murphysboro High School and Jan Switzman and Addison Osmond as split (50/50) assistant track coaches at Murphysboro Middle School. The board also approved posting for a full-time speech-language pathologist for the 2025–26 school year.

Tri-County Special Education item: after a closed-session discussion, the board approved issuing a remedial warning for a Tri-County Special Education employee; the board voted on the resolution in open session and recorded aye votes from members present.

Communications and personnel notices: the board accepted and recorded several staff leave and retirement notices as part of communications, and moved to approve them. Items read into the record and approved by motion included: - Alexa Ross: notice of intent to take board‑approved maternity leave, anticipated delivery March 23, 2025, and anticipated return at the start of the 2025–26 school year (dates could change); - Multiple staff retirement/resignation notices with specified tentative retirement years or dates: Michelle Carter (requested delay of retirement to avoid TRS cap issues), Amy Carr (resignation/retirement effective end of 2027–28), Denise Brown (retirement effective June 2029), Kim Cook (planned retirement in 2028), Julie Gail (retirement effective July 31, 2029), Stacy Hickam (retirement after 2028–29). Each of those communications was placed on the record and approved by motion.

All listed motions in open session passed by voice vote or roll call with board members recorded as voting yes unless otherwise noted in the transcript.

Votes at a glance: - Resolution to levy taxes to pay GO school bonds (2017, 2019, 2020): approved (unanimous). Referenced payment source: facility sales tax. - Authorization to obtain quotes for property-liability and workers’ compensation insurance: approved (unanimous); renewal numbers targeted by June. - Resolution in support of Illinois Vision 2030: approved (unanimous). - Volunteer track coaches (MHS): Jeremy Marshall, Tarek Swinson, Derek Beard — approved (unanimous). - MMS assistant track coaches (50/50): Jan Switzman and Addison Osmond — approved (unanimous). - Remedial warning: Tri-County Special Education employee (specifics discussed in closed session): board approved issuance of remedial warning (vote recorded in open session as yes by members present). - Posting for full-time speech-language pathologist (2025–26): approved (unanimous). - Communications (leave and retirement notices listed above): approved (voice votes recorded as aye).

No financial totals for bond debt or the facility sales tax allocation were given in the meeting transcript. The board announced it will repeat the tax resolution annually while the bonds remain outstanding.

Authority cited during the meeting included Board policy 2.230 (public comment) and the Open Meetings Act cited for the closed‑session justification, at 5 ILCS 120/2(c) (appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees).