CHESTER – The Chester CUSD No. 139 Board of Education held a Public Hearing June 18, 2026 in the Chester Early Childhood Center.
President Debi Caraway called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance
Public Comment
- None
Fricke motioned, Ebers seconded to conduct a public hearing on Chester School District No. 139 Amended Budget for the 2025-2026 school year and adopt the FY26 Amended Budget of Chester School District No. 139 as presented.
Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Davitz, Fricke, Krieg, Ebers. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Fricke motioned, Ebers seconded to adjourn the public hearing at 7:02 p.m. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Davitz, Fricke, Krieg, Ebers. Nays: none. Motion carried.
The next REGULAR MEETING of the Board of Education will be held Thursday July 16, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. in the Chester Community High School Juergens Gym located at 1901 Swanwick Street, Chester, IL 62233.
The Chester CUSD No. 139 Board of Education held a Regular Meeting on June 18, 2026 in the Chester Early Childhood Center.
Debi Caraway called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Krieg motioned, Davitz seconded to enter into the executive meeting at 6:00 p.m for the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body. Roll call vote. Ayes: Fricke, Caraway, Davitz, Ebers, Krieg, Nays: none. Motion carried. Ebers motioned, Davitz seconded to adjourn the executive meeting at 6:56 p.m. Roll call vote. Ayes: Fricke, Caraway, Davitz, Ebers, Krieg, Nays: none. Motion carried. Davitz motioned, Coffey seconded to recess into the regular session at 6:57 p.m. Roll call vote. Ayes: Fricke, Caraway, Davitz, Ebers, Krieg, Nays: none. Motion carried.
Fricke motioned, Ebers seconded to enter into the public hearing at 7:01 p.m. Roll call vote. Ayes: Fricke, Caraway, Davitz, Ebers, Krieg, Nays: none. Motion carried.
Davitz motioned, Coffey seconded to enter into the regular session at 7:03 p.m. Roll call vote. Ayes: Fricke, Caraway, Davitz, Ebers, Krieg, Nays: none. Motion carried.
Public Comment
- None
Board Correspondence
- None
Krieg motioned, Wolff seconded to approve the consent agenda and items as listed. Roll call vote. Ayes: Coffey, Fricke, Caraway, Wolff, Davitz, Ebers, Krieg, Nays: none. Motion carried.
Agenda and items as listed:
- Approve May 21, 2026 Regular and Executive board meeting minutes
- Bills in the amount of $426,424.07 and payroll in the amount of $647,361.82
- Financial reports
Athletic Director Report
CHS Boys Track – State Qualifiers: – 4×100 m relay- Gabe Coffman, Donnie Sabo, TaShawn Palacio, Danny Worley – 4×200 m relay- Gabe Coffman, Donnie Sabo, TaShawn Palacio, Danny Worley – 4×400 m relay- Gabe Coffman, TaShawn Palacio, Danny Worley, Ryker Hoffman – 400 m dash- Gabe Coffman – 200 m dash- Donnie Sabo – Long Jump-Danny Worley – State Results – The 4×200 m relay team made finals and place 8th in State,
1A Track & Field Baseball – Illinois Cahokia All Conference Team- Trayton Peters and Ethan Colvis – SIBCA All Star player selections- Trayton Peters, Ethan Colvis and Alex Bechle Softball – Illinois Cahokia All Conference Team- Lexie Mott and Camryn Wolff
Other – Priscilla Martinez will be taking over as CGS AD in July
Free Sport Physicals are July 18th 8-11:00 am
Spring Awards Night – Girls and Boys Track Wednesday June 17th 6:00 @ CGS Cafe
Baseball Wednesday June 17th 7:15 at CGS Cafeteria
Softball Tuesday June 23rd 6:00 at CGS Cafeteria
CGS Boys basketball, CHS volleyball, boys and girls basketball, dance and cheer are all conducting open gyms at the CGS gym this summer
High School Principal
- 53 Seniors went on a senior trip with some staff members to Six Flags St. Louis
- All exams have been completed, grades finalized and posted, and honor roll published for the 2026 school year
- Three major construction zones have started in the high school and progress is being made on window and tuckpointing as well as the new HVAC system installation
- Graduation was held in Colbert Gym on May 17th
Grade School Principal
- The Handbook Committee has met twice this summer to review and revise the Grade School Handbook
- Summer School is off to a strong start. We have 10 students enrolled in our Summer Enrichment Program as well as 8 students in our Summer ELL Program
- The administration is in the final stages of developing the master schedule for the upcoming academic year
Early Childhood Principal
- Enrollment for next year ○ Pre-K: 62 students/80 max ○ EC: 11 students/20 max with 5 students transitioning from Early Intervention from September to December ○ Total: 73 students
- Submitted our new grant applications through EUNA. Both have been accepted for continuation for FY27.
- MRP/Impact Grant closed on June 15 and subcontracts submissions will be at the end of summer for next year. We could submit for up to $75,000 for FY27.
Superintendent Governance:
❖ Summer Meal Program: We are averaging about 550 each pick-up day. Remember, pickup days are Tuesday and Friday, except on holidays.
❖ Meetings: Chamber, Rotary, Perando, admin meetings, and Elevate.
❖ SUMMER SCHOOL: Summer school, ELL Summer School, Summer Enrichment for GS & HS. Budget/Finance:
❖ Amending grants. Building and Grounds
❖ Projects: ➢ I meet weekly with contractors for updates.
- Windows & Tuckpointing: Phase 2 of the windows and tuckpointing project is now being initiated.
- Media Center: Work is nearing completion. Still trying to match the flooring in the boys’ locker room under the Media Center.
- HVAC: Kickoff meeting with GRP set for April 23. They did some evening work the last two weeks. Start construction on Monday, May 18.
- Playground: Playground equipment to be delivered June 15. General:
❖ Custodians participated in training by PSIC, the insurance company, on June 1, as they do every year. Fricke motioned, Davitz seconded to conduct second reading and approve the Grade School/ECC and High School handbooks. Roll call vote. Ayes: Fricke, Caraway, Davitz, Ebers, Krieg, Nays: none.
Motion carried. Ebers motioned, Davitz seconded to appoint Charles Fricke to Perando’s Representative Assembly. Roll call vote. Ayes: Fricke, Caraway, Davitz, Ebers, Krieg, Nays: none. Motion carried.
Fricke motioned, Ebers seconded to approve Chester CUSD #139’s Insurance Renewal for July 1, 2026. Roll call vote. Ayes: Fricke, Caraway, Davitz, Ebers, Krieg, Nays: none. Motion carried.
Davitz motioned, Ebers seconded to conduct the first reading of the 2026-27 Employee Handbook. Roll call vote. Ayes: Fricke, Caraway, Davitz, Ebers, Krieg, Nays: none. Motion carried.
Fricke motioned, Krieg seconded to approve the Consolidated District Plan for FY 26-27. Roll call vote. Ayes: Fricke, Caraway, Davitz, Ebers, Krieg, Nays: none. Motion carried.
Davitz motioned, Ebers seconded to discuss and approve Adrenaline Raise 365 Fundraiser for High School Football Team 26-27 SY. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Davitz, Ebers, Krieg, Nays: Fricke. Motion carried.
Davitz motioned, Ebers seconded to approve the Facility Use form for Abraham Lloyd Gymnastics to provide tumbling to Jr. High and High School Cheerleaders at $25/athlete in the Juergens Gym on Tuesdays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Roll call vote. Ayes: Fricke, Caraway, Davitz, Ebers, Krieg, Nays: none. Motion carried.
Davitz motioned, Fricke seconded to approve board meeting dates from June 2026 to July 2027. Roll call vote. Ayes: Fricke, Caraway, Davitz, Ebers, Krieg, Nays: none. Motion carried.
Davitz motioned, Ebers seconded to approve the resignation of Reese Chandler as High School Assistant Volleyball coach effective May 27, 2026. Roll call vote. Ayes: Fricke, Caraway, Davitz, Ebers, Krieg, Nays: none. Motion carried.
Davitz motioned, Ebers seconded to approve the resignation of Natalie Becker as Grade School Assistant Volleyball coach effective May 21, 2026. Roll call vote. Ayes: Fricke, Caraway, Davitz, Ebers, Krieg, Nays: none. Motion carried.
Davitz motioned, Ebers seconded to approve the resignation of Kathy Diemert as High School Paraprofessional effective June 15, 2026. Roll call vote. Ayes: Fricke, Caraway, Davitz, Ebers, Krieg, Nays: none. Motion carried.
Davitz motioned, Ebers seconded to approve the resignation of Courtney Hecht as Grade School Softball coach effective June 18, 2026. Roll call vote. Ayes: Fricke, Caraway, Davitz, Ebers, Krieg, Nays: none. Motion carried.
Fricke motioned, Ebers seconded to accept the Grade School and High School volunteers for the Fall/Winter 2026-27 sports season as listed. Roll call vote. Ayes: Fricke, Caraway, Davitz, Ebers, Krieg, Nays: none. Motion carried.
Davitz motioned, Ebers seconded to approve to employ Grade School and High School coaches for the Fall/Winter 2026-27 sports season as listed. Roll call vote. Ayes: Fricke, Caraway, Davitz, Ebers, Krieg, Nays: none. Motion carried.
Davitz motioned, Fricke seconded to accept Alyssa Seymour as Volunteer High School Basketball coach for the 2026-27 sports season. Roll call vote. Ayes: Fricke, Caraway, Davitz, Ebers, Krieg, Nays: none. Motion carried.
Fricke motioned, Krieg seconded to approve Emma Eggemeyer as High School Assistant Cheerleading coach for the 2026-27 sports season. Roll call vote. Ayes: Fricke, Caraway, Davitz, Ebers, Krieg, Nays: none. Motion carried.
Fricke motioned, Ebers seconded to approve the retirement of Kim Gross, Early Childhood Center Paraprofessional effective October 16, 2026. Roll call vote. Ayes: Fricke, Caraway, Davitz, Ebers, Krieg, Nays: none. Motion carried.
Fricke motioned, Ebers seconded to approve to employ Brittney Lloyd as Grade School Paraprofessional at $18.50/hr pending all employment requirements including EHR and background check. Roll call vote. Ayes: Fricke, Caraway, Davitz, Ebers, Krieg, Nays: none. Motion carried.
Fricke motioned, Ebers seconded to approve to employ Rylee Courtney as High School SEL Coordinator pending all employment requirements including EHR and background check. Roll call vote. Ayes: Fricke, Caraway, Davitz, Ebers, Krieg, Nays: none. Motion carried.
Ebers motioned, Fricke seconded to approve to employ Lisa Davison as High School ESL/FACS Instructor pending all employment requirements including EHR and background check. Roll call vote. Ayes: Fricke, Caraway, Davitz, Ebers, Krieg, Nays: none. Motion carried.
Ebers motioned, Fricke seconded to approve to reassign Adrianne Kern from High School FACS Teacher to High School Special Education/FACS Teacher. Roll call vote. Ayes: Fricke, Caraway, Davitz, Ebers, Krieg, Nays: none. Motion carried.
Davitz motioned, Krieg seconded to approve to reassign Cassandra Hays from High School ELL Teacher to High School Special Education/ELL Teacher. Roll call vote. Ayes: Fricke, Caraway, Davitz, Ebers, Krieg, Nays: none. Motion carried.
Fricke motioned, Ebers seconded to approve the resignation of Becky Thompson, Grade School Special Education Teacher effective June 15, 2026. Roll call vote. Ayes: Fricke, Caraway, Davitz, Ebers, Krieg, Nays: none. Motion carried.
Fricke motioned, Davitz seconded to approve to employ Leon Richardson as Assistant Grade School Principal for the 2026-27 school year. Roll call vote. Ayes: Fricke, Caraway, Davitz, Ebers, Krieg, Nays: none. Motion carried.
Davitz motioned, Fricke seconded to adjourn the regular meeting at 7:35 p.m. Roll call vote. Ayes: Fricke, Caraway, Davitz, Ebers, Krieg, Nays: none. Motion carried.
The next REGULAR MEETING of the Board of Education will be held Thursday July 16, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. in the Chester Early Childhood Center Board Room located at 2319 Old Plank Road, Chester, IL 62233