School District U-46
Elgin, Illinois
October 19, 2015
The Regular Meeting of the Board of Education was called to order at 5:20 p.m. at the
Educational Services, Room 140, Center, 355 East Chicago Street, Elgin, Illinois. The following
Board Members answered roll call: Traci O’Neal Ellis, Cody Holt, Sue Kerr, Veronica Noland,
Jeanette Ward, and Donna Smith. Mr. Costello was not present at this time.
After roll call was taken, President Smith requested a motion to move into Closed Session to
discuss Individual Student Disciplinary Matters (Suspensions & Expulsions); Pending, Probable
or Imminent Litigation; Information regarding the Discipline, Performance, Appointment,
Employment or Reclassification of an Employee; Acquisition or Sale of Real Property;
Collective Negotiating Matters Between the School Board and its Employees; Review of Closed
Session Minutes; and Individual Student Matters. The motion was made by Mrs. O’Neal Ellis,
second by Ms. Kerr. Upon roll call, yes votes: Mrs. O’Neal Ellis, Mr. Holt, Ms. Kerr, Ms.
Noland, and Mrs. Smith. Present: Mrs. Ward. The motion carried by a vote of 5-1-0. Mr.
Costello was not present for the vote. At 6:53 p.m., the meeting reconvened into Open Session.
The Business Session began at 7:17 p.m. Present for the Business Session of the Meeting were
the same Board Members listed in the first paragraph above. Also present was Student Board
Member Allison Holloway. Board Member Costello joined the meeting at 7:30 p.m. via
telephone with the agreement of all Board Members present. Mr. Costello was unable to be
physically present due to employment reasons. Also present were Chief Executive Officer Tony
Sanders, Interim Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Arndt, Jeff King, Miguel Rodriguez, Steve Burger,
Dr. Suzanne Johnson, Dr. Terri Lozier, Melanie Meidel, Ron Raglin, Dr. Ushma Shah, Randal
Ellison, Mary Fergus, John Heiderscheidt, Bruce Phelps, Claudie Phillips, Rickey Sparks, and
Craig Williams. Media representative Seth Hancock of the Examiner was also present, as well as
other Administrators, guests, and visitors. Student Board Member Holloway led the recitation of
the Pledge of Allegiance.
A moment of silence was held in honor of two U-46 students, Adnan Azeemullah, a student at
Bartlett High School, and Bryanna Picasso, a student at Illinois Park.
1. Comments from the Audience
John Kraft spoke about what he feels are violations of the Open Meetings Act. He also feels
that Board Members have a right to listen to any and all closed session recordings.
Kirk Allen spoke about what he also feels are violations of the Open Meetings Act. He also
has serious concerns with the personal use of P-Cards.
Nancy Blondin spoke about her concerns with the proposed boundary change scenarios
regarding Nature Ridge Elementary School. She feels that there are other options without
disrupting over 300 students.
Courtney Piekarz also spoke about her concerns with the proposed boundary change
scenarios regarding Nature Ridge Elementary School. She feels that enrollment at Nature
Ridge is on the decline and there is no need to change the boundaries.

 Rick Newton spoke about his concerns with comments made by Board Members at the last
Board Meeting regarding the request to listen to closed session recordings. He feels that these
comments show that the Board does not recognize inappropriate discussion. He also feels
that there are two sides to this Board and one side always gets its way.
Frank Napolitano spoke about his concerns with not allowing Board Member Ward to listen
to the closed session meeting recording of the January 25, 2014 Meeting. He also feels that
Board Members have a right to listen to any and all closed session recordings.
Art Pierscionek spoke about his concerns with not allowing a Board Member to listen to
closed session recordings. He has written a letter to the Kane County State’s Attorney asking
him to look at Obstruction of Justice charges against all the Board Members that voted
against allowing Mrs. Ward access to the closed session recordings of the January 25, 2014
Meeting. He also stated that Ms. Noland was not included in that letter but if she votes
against the motion tonight he would be adding her name to the list.
2. Consent Agenda
a. Minutes of Board Meeting - September 28, 2015
b. Minutes of Board Meeting - October 5, 2015
c. Itemized Bills – October 19, 2015
d. Personnel Report and Workers' Compensation Cases – October 19, 2015
e. Bid - Business Services - District-Wide Copier Paper
f. Proposal - IS - Infrastructure Design, Project Management and E-Rate Consulting
Motion by Ms. Kerr, second by Mrs. O’Neal Ellis, to approve the Consent Agenda items
A, B, C, D, E, and F as presented. Upon roll call, yes votes: Mr. Costello, Mrs. O’Neal
Ellis, Mr. Holt, Ms. Kerr, Mrs. Ward, and Mrs. Smith. Present: Ms. Noland. No votes: 0.
The motion carried by a vote of 6-1-0.
3. Discussion/Action
a. Request to Listen to the Audio Recording of the January 25, 2014 Special Board Meeting
Pursuant to Board Policy #2.201, Board of Education Member Ward requested to listen
to the audio recording of the January 25, 2014 Special Board Meeting. The audio
recording of the May 13, 2013 Special Board Meeting has been destroyed.
Motion by Mrs. Ward, second by Mr. Holt, to approve the request to listen to the audio
recording of the January 25, 2014 Special Board Meeting as presented. Upon roll call,
yes votes: Mr. Costello, Mr. Holt, and Mrs. Ward. No votes: Mrs. O’Neal Ellis, Ms. Kerr,
Ms. Noland, and Mrs. Smith. The motion was denied by a vote of 4-3.
b. Request to Listen to Audio Recording of the May 4, 2015 Closed Session Board Meeting
Pursuant to Board Policy #2.201, Board of Education Member Ward requested to listen
to the audio recording of the May 4, 2015 Closed Session Board Meeting.
Motion by Mrs. Ward, second by Mr. Holt, to approve the request to listen to audio
recording of the May 4, 2015 Closed Session Board Meeting.

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 Motion by Mrs. Ward, second by Mr. Holt, to amend the motion to read: the request to
listen to the audio recording of the May 4, 2015 Closed Session Board Meeting for all
Board members. Upon roll call, yes votes: Mr. Costello, Mrs. O’Neal Ellis, Mr. Holt, Ms.
Kerr, Ms. Noland, Mrs. Ward, and Mrs. Smith. The motion carried by a vote of 7-0.
Motion by Ms. Noland, second by Mrs. Ward, to approve the request to listen to the
audio recording of the May 4, 2015 Closed Session Board Meeting for all Board
members. Upon roll call, yes votes: Mr. Costello, Mrs. O’Neal Ellis, Mr. Holt, Ms. Kerr,
Ms. Noland, Mrs. Ward, and Mrs. Smith. No votes: 0. The motion carried by a vote of 70.
4. Other Business – Board Member and CEO Update
Mr. Sanders thanked staff that presented at the last Citizens’ Advisory Council (CAC)
meeting on bullying. He also attended the opening of the Gail Borden Library’s Manufacture
Your Future event.
Mrs. Smith attended the Franczek Radelet Law Conference with Mr. Sanders and Ms. Kerr
and it was really good. She would encourage all of the Board to attend next year.
Ms. Noland attended the Boys and Girls Club Gala and it was a great event.
Mrs. Ward apologized for not being able to attend the Streamwood National Honor Society
Induction event.
Ms. Holloway attended the first CEO Student Advisory meeting and it went really well.
5. Other Business - CAC Update
Larry Bury presented an update on the CAC. The last meeting on bullying was very well
attended. CAC thanked all who participated. There will be a related discussion on January
14, 2016. There are several committee meetings scheduled for this week. The next General
CAC meeting will be on November 12, 2015 where the E & F Committee Boundary Report
will be presented for consideration and voting.
6. Other Business - Individual Student Matters
a. Student A
Motion by Mrs. O’Neal Ellis, second by Ms. Kerr, to accept Administration’s
recommendation to expel Student A for two semesters during the 2015-2016 school year.
Upon roll call, yes votes: Mr. Costello, Mrs. O’Neal Ellis, Mr. Holt, Ms. Kerr, Ms.
Noland, Mrs. Ward and Mrs. Smith. No votes: 0. The motion carried by a vote of 7-0.
b. Student B
Administration requested to hold on this item to consider additional options for this
student.
c. Student C
Administration requested to hold on this item to consider additional options for this
student.
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 7. Other Business – Mr. Sanders
a. September 30, 2015 Enrollments
Due to an error on the report, Administration requested this item be put on the November
2, 2015 meeting agenda.
8. Work Session Items – Mr. Sanders
a. Report to the Membership - 2015 IASB Delegate Assembly
Administration recommended the same position as the IASB Resolutions Committee.
Mrs. Smith said she would represent the School Board at the IASB Delegate Assembly if
no other Board member was available.
9. Work Session - Bids/Proposals
a. Bid - Food Service - Pre-Packaged Meals / Emergency & Alternative Meal Service
Mr. Sparks, Director of Business Services, and Mrs. Phillips, Director of Food &
Nutrition Services, presented the bid. Administration recommended award of the sole bid
meeting specifications to Preferred Meal Systems for the sum of $133,430.00, with the
option to rollover for an additional two years, and requests authorization for District
administration to execute related documents. This expenditure will be charged to the
Food & Nutrition Fund.
b. Bid - IS - Title I Additional Computer Equipment Purchase
Mr. Sparks, Director of Business Services, Dr. Johnson, Assistant Superintendent of
Teaching & Learning, and Mr. Williams, Director of Information Services, presented the
proposal. Administration recommended approval of the purchase from Heartland
Business Systems in the amount of $49,980.00. This expenditure will be charged to the
Education Fund and paid with Title I grant funds.
10.

Adjournment
Motion by Mrs. Ward, second by Ms. Noland, to adjourn the Regular Board Meeting of
October 19, 2015 at 8:23 p.m. Upon roll call, yes votes: Mr. Costello, Mrs. O’Neal Ellis,
Mr. Holt, Ms. Kerr, Ms. Noland, Mrs. Ward, and Mrs. Smith. No votes: 0. The motion
carried by a vote of 7-0.

Approved this

President

16th

day of

November

Secretary

4

, 2015.