Sesser-Valier board unanimously expels student for two years following closed disciplinary hearing

The Sesser-Valier Community Unit School District No. 196 Board of Education voted unanimously on March 17, 2026, to expel Student SV2026-HS1 for two calendar years, beginning 12:01 AM on March 19, 2026, and ending 11:59 PM on March 18, 2028. The decision followed a special meeting convened at 6:00 PM in the high school conference room and two closed-session deliberations on student disciplinary matters under the Open Meetings Act exception for student disciplinary cases (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(9)).

Trustee Packer moved, and Trustee Dilliner seconded, "to adopt a Resolution Authorizing Student Disciplinary Action, as presented, to expel Student SV2026-HS1 for a period of two (2) calendar years, commencing at 12:01 AM on March 19, 2026, and ending at 11:59 PM on March 18, 2028." The motion passed on a roll-call vote of six yeas and zero nays (Dilliner, Garner, Kelly, Kirk, Lance, Packer). Earlier in the meeting Trustee Packer and Trustee Kirk had moved and seconded a separate motion finding that the student "violated school rules by gross disobedience and misconduct under circumstances so related to the school program so as to warrant discipline," which the board also approved unanimously.

Board President Shane Garner presided over the special meeting after the board voted to appoint him to preside over the discipline hearing. The minutes record that no public comment or correspondence was offered at the meeting. The meeting adjourned at 7:35 PM and the minutes were certified in the record.