CHESTER – The minutes of the February 20, 2025 meeting of the Chester CUSD No. 139 School Districk Board of Education have been released.
CHESTER COMMUNITY UNIT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO.139
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Regular Meeting February 20, 2025
The Board of Education of Chester Community Unit School District No. 139 held a Special Meeting on February 20, 2025, in the High School Juergens Gym. President Debi Caraway called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Malley motioned, Davitz seconded to enter into the executive meeting at 6:01 p.m for the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Davitz, Malley, Fricke, Wolff, Krieg, Coffey Nays: none. Motion carried.
Principal Jeremy Blechle and Assistant Principal Robin Barton entered into executive session at 6:56 p.m. Principal Jeremy Blechle and Assistant Principal Robin Barton left executive session at 7:21 p.m. Davitz motioned, Malley seconded to come out of executive session at 6:43 p.m. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried. Malley motioned, Davitz seconded to enter into regular session at 6:48 p.m. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Davitz, Malley, Fricke, Wolff, Krieg, Coffey Nays: none. Motion carried.
Public Comment
● Lynn Gonzalez -in support of Jamie Ruch resigning
Dr. Kristin Petrowske presented the Pace Framework.
Fricke motioned, Coffey seconded to approve the consent agenda and items as listed. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Coffey, Fricke, Malley, Davitz, Krieg, Nays: none. Motion carried.
● Agenda and items as listed:
● January 16, 2025, Regular and Executive Meeting Minutes and January 21, 2025, Special Meeting Minutes
● Bills in the amount of $566,145.00 and payroll in the amount of $622,021.80;
● Financial reports
Wolff motioned, Krieg seconded to adopt the amended 2024-2025 school calendar as presented. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.
Davitz motioned, Malley seconded to approve the seniority list for certified and non certified employees. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.
Malley motioned, Wolff seconded to approve the graduation date for High School on Sunday, May 18, 2025, and Grade School on Thursday, May 22, 2025. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.
Fricke motioned, Krieg seconded to approve the Kids for Christ program to utilize the Grade School on April 7th, 14th, 28th, and May 5th. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.
Davitz motioned, Malley seconded to approve the April 17, 2025, board meeting date to be moved to April 10, 2025. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.
Malley motioned, Davitz seconded to approve the Appointment of Parent Advisory Committee & Behavioral Intervention Committee as follows, Robyn Korando a Grade School Teacher, Kasi Jany a Grade School Teacher, Paula Ray a High School teacher, Beth Brown a High School teacher, Danielle Conway Grade School Office, Cailee Mueller a High School parent, Jessica Davitz a Grade School parent, Jennifer Cartwright Athletic Director, Jeremy Blechle High School Principal, Tim Blair Grade School Principal, Robin Barton Assistant High School Principal, Kristin Petrowske Assistant Grade School Principal, Kimberly Ketterer Special Education Director, Shirley Stegmann Curriculum Director, Kasey Crook Grade School Social Worker, Cassie Vahling High School Social Worker, Chuck
Fricke a Board Member, James Krieg a Board Member, and Debi Caraway an alternate Board Member. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.
Wolff motioned, Malley seconded to employ Abbey Moist as Grade School Paraprofessional at $17.10/hr effective February 18, 2025. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Davitz, Malley, Fricke, Wolff, Krieg, Coffey Nays: none. Motion carried.
Krieg motioned, Fricke seconded to employ Clayton Andrews as High School Boys Golf coach for the 2024-2025 sports season. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Davitz, Malley, Fricke, Wolff, Krieg, Coffey Nays: none. Motion carried.
Davitz motioned, Malley seconded to employ Jon August as High School Cafeteria personnel at $17.10/hr effective February 18, 2025. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Davitz, Malley, Fricke, Wolff, Krieg, Coffey Nays: none. Motion carried.
Krieg motioned, Wolff seconded to employ Tim Brueggemann as Grade School Head Custodian at $22.70/hr effective March 3, 2025 pending EHR and background check. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Davitz, Malley, Fricke, Wolff, Krieg, Coffey Nays: none. Motion carried.
Malley motioned, Fricke seconded to employ Carrie Eggemeyer as Head Cook at the Chester Early Childhood Center and Summer Meal Program Supervisor personnel at $19.10/hr effective February 24, 2025, pending EHR and background check. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Davitz, Malley, Fricke, Wolff, Krieg, Coffey Nays: none. Motion carried.
Malley motioned, Krieg seconded to employ Rachel Marshall as Chester Early Childhood Center Principal for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school year. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Davitz, Malley, Fricke, Wolff, Krieg, Coffey Nays: none. Motion carried.
Wolff motioned, Davitz seconded to accept Alex Abino as Volunteer Grade School Volleyball coach for the 2024-2025 sports season. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.
Wolff motioned, Davitz seconded to accept Wyatt Ruehling as Volunteer High School Football coach for the 2025-2026 sports season. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried. Malley motioned, Davitz seconded to accept the resignation of Kaleigh Holley, Grade School Paraprofessional, effective February 14, 2025. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Davitz, Malley, Fricke, Wolff, Krieg, Coffey Nays: none. Motion carried.
Davitz motioned, Fricke seconded to accept the resignation of Ricky Casten, Grade School Head Custodian, effective February 3, 2025. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Davitz, Malley, Fricke, Wolff, Krieg, Coffey Nays: none. Motion carried.
Wolff motioned, Fricke seconded to accept the resignation of Kim Linthicum, High School Paraprofessional, effective immediately. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Davitz, Malley, Fricke, Wolff, Krieg, Coffey Nays: none. Motion carried.
Fricke motioned, Coffey seconded to accept the resignation of Jamie Ruch, Grade School Special Education Teacher, effective February 28, 2025. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Davitz, Malley, Fricke, Wolff, Krieg, Coffey Nays: none. Motion carried.
Davitz motioned, Coffey seconded to accept the resignation of Dawnye Appel, High School Teacher, effective the end of the 2024-2025 school year. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Davitz, Malley, Fricke, Wolff, Krieg, Coffey Nays: none. Motion carried.
Davitz motioned, Malley seconded to adjourn the meeting at 8:28 p.m. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried. The next REGULAR MEETING of the Board of Education will be held Wednesday March 19, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. (Executive Session at 6:00 p.m.) in the Chester High School Media Center. 1901 Swanwick Street, Chester, IL 62233