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Jacksonville School District #117 Board of Education moves into closed session after reporter objects
Summary
At its Oct. 16 committee meeting, the Jacksonville School District #117 Board of Education approved an amended agenda, heard a Jacksonville Journal Courier reporter object to adjourning into closed session, then voted to enter closed session citing Illinois law; the board returned to open session and adjourned at 6:49 p.m.
Jacksonville School District #117’s Board of Education Committee met Oct. 16, 2024, and voted to adjourn into closed session after a brief exchange with a local reporter. The meeting began at 6:30 p.m.; the board recorded roll call, approved an amended agenda and then heard a member of the press raise an objection before moving into closed session.
Ben Singson, a reporter with the Jacksonville Journal Courier, "wants to make it known and for the record that the Jacksonville Journal Courier objects to the Board of Education adjourning to a closed session meeting," the minutes state. President Beard responded that "the Board of Education is granted this time for Closed Session by Illinois statutes," and the board then voted to go into closed session at 6:33 p.m. The motion to adjourn to closed session was made by Mrs. Wilson and seconded by Mrs. Stewart; the minutes record Yea votes by Wilson, Stewart, Trace, Lonergan, Leonard and Beard and no nays.
The closed-session motion cited the Open Meetings Act provisions authorizing closed deliberations on personnel matters, collective bargaining, student disciplinary cases and pending or probable litigation (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1), (2), (9) and (11)). The board returned to open session at 6:49 p.m. after the closed session; the return motion was made by Mr. Lonergan, seconded by Mrs. Wilson, and the meeting was then formally adjourned at 6:49 p.m.
The session’s minutes list members present at roll call as Mr. Beard, Mr. Lonergan, Mr. Pool, Mrs. Stewart, Mrs. Trace and Mrs. Wilson; Mrs. Leonard arrived at 6:31 p.m. Administrative staff in attendance included Superintendent Steve Ptacek, Assistant Superintendent Matt Moore, Director of Curriculum and Instruction Kelly Zoellner, Director of Human Resources Tami Stice, Director of Special Services Barbie Davidsmeyer, Chief Financial Officer Rick Cunningham and Recording Secretary Jenn Lacey.
No departmental reports were given at the committee meeting; the minutes record "Nothing to report." The record shows the board followed the procedural steps required by the Open Meetings Act when voting to enter closed session and that a member of the news media explicitly objected to that decision.
