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Decatur SD 61 board approves multiple hires, contracts and facility projects
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Summary
At its April 28 meeting the Decatur Public School District 61 Board of Education ratified several personnel hires, renewed transportation and service contracts, and approved multiple facility and technology items. Key votes included ratifications of special-education appointments and approval of Wold Architects to lead a facilities master plan.
The Decatur Public School District 61 Board of Education on April 28 approved a slate of personnel, contracts and facilities projects that administration said are needed to implement the district’s strategic priorities.
Among the personnel votes, the board ratified contracts for Jessica Carlisle and Lindsay Hale as Macon Piatt special education administrators for 2026–27 and approved principal and assistant-principal hires across the district, including Angela Jones at the alternative education program, Gina Outerbridge at Dennis Lab School, Henry Walker at Johns Hill Magnet School, Lasonya Reed at Dennis Lab and Libby Kirkland as assistant principal at Johns Hill. The board approved those appointments in roll-call votes; most motions carried unanimously among members present, though the Henry Walker appointment carried 3–2 with two trustees absent.
The board also approved several operational contracts and programs. Trustees renewed a one-year contract with Alltown Bus Company, extending pupil-transportation services for another year, and approved an extension of a WillScot office-trainer contract. The board authorized distribution of MacBooks to Prep Academy students and approved an international teacher professional-development and coaching contract covering the 2026–27 and 2027–28 school years.
Facilities approvals included asphalt and repaving work at Hope Academy, Stephen Decatur Middle School and Running Reds Drive (a road-repaving project described by staff as a cost-shared effort with the park district). The board also approved Wold Architects and Engineers as the vendor to lead the facilities portion of the district’s strategic plan and gave administration consensus to negotiate scope and financial terms before returning with a formal recommendation.
Transportation director (district) said the district has held Alltown to higher performance standards and "I've seen growth in that" in communication and management over the past two-and-a-half years, recommending the renewal.
Votes at a glance (selected items): - Ratify contract for Jessica Carlisle, Macon Piatt special-education administrator (motion carried, 5 ayes, 0 nay, 2 absent). - Ratify contract for Lindsay Hale, Macon Piatt special-education administrator (motion carried, 5 ayes, 0 nay, 2 absent). - Approve Angela Jones, principal, Decatur alternative education program (motion carried, 5 ayes, 0 nay, 2 absent). - Approve Gina Outerbridge, principal, Dennis Lab School (motion carried, 5 ayes, 0 nay, 2 absent). - Approve Henry Walker, principal, Johns Hill Magnet School (motion carried, 3 ayes, 2 nay, 2 absent). - Renew Alltown Bus Company contract for one year (motion carried, 5 ayes, 0 nay, 2 absent). - Approve Wold Architects and Engineers for the facilities portion of the strategic plan (motion carried, 5 ayes, 0 nay, 2 absent). - Approve WillScot office-trainer contract extension (motion carried, unanimous among members present).
Administration said more detailed scope and financial documents will return to the board for several of the contracts and the Wold Architects engagement. The next regular public meeting was announced for 6:30 p.m. on May 12, 2026, at the Kyle Administration Building.
