Sesser-Valier Community Unit School District 196 Board of Education met Jan. 12.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
CALL TO ORDER
A regular meeting of the Board of Education of Sesser-Valier Community Unit School District No. 196 was held in the High School Library at 6:00 PM on Monday, January 12, 2026. The meeting was called to order by Vice President Packer.
ROLL CALL
Secretary Zimbro called the roll with the following result:
Members Present: Dilliner, Kelly, Kirk, Lance, Packer, Rounds
Members Absent: Garner
Staff Present: J. Henry, N. Page, K. Jones, L. Zimbro, B. Gunter, R. Payne, B. Harland
Visitors Present: None
PUBLIC COMMENT & CORRESPONDENCE
None
REPORTS
SVEA: R. Payne provided a handout to board members highlighting events and activities teachers have participated in over the month. Payne noted that it is School Board Appreciation month and thanked members on behalf of the union for their service.
LABORERS’ LOCAL 773: No report.
CUSTODIAL & MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR: No report.
K-8 PRINCIPAL: Mr. Jones, Elementary/JH Principal, presented information regarding the following to the board: Trust fund, upcoming events, and recent activities.
H.S. PRINCIPAL: Mrs. Page, HS Principal, presented information regarding the following to the board: Trust fund, recent events, and upcoming activities.
SUPERINTENDENT: Mr. Henry, Superintendent, presented the following information to the
board:
1. The consent agenda for this month’s meeting includes the following additional item(s):
• Approval/display of revised board policies (1st Reading)
• Approval of Fiscal Year 2026 School Maintenance Program Grant (postponed- removed from consent agenda)
2. The Board’s Policy Committee is slated to meet immediately following the January regular board meeting to review/consider board policy revisions. This cycle’s proposed policy revisions include 40 policies included in one (1) PRESS issue. After review, the Committee will recommend final adoption of this round of policy revisions in February, 2026.
3. Late last week, Mr. Henry received notice from Security Alarm, our facility access and security video vendor, that the company that provides hardware/software for our existing key fob entry system has gone out of business unexpectedly. As a result, the district may need to do an unexpected replacement project on that system. Mr. Henry is working to schedule an onsite appointment with a Security Alarm representative to gather our options.
4. District Architect Paul Lunsford is working on a detailed schedule for the Summer, 2026, gym remodeling project. They are working to coordinate/optimize the various pieces of the project so that the different trades don’t conflict with each other.
As soon as they are able after this year’s graduation ceremonies, our crew will start removing items from the walls in preparation for painting. Mr. Henry expects the bleacher demolition to start soon thereafter. They are hoping that all work is complete by the end of July, 2026.
5. Superintendent Henry included four (4) recent Freedom of Information Act requests and the District’s response to those inquiries.
CONSENT AGENDA
A motion was made by Rounds and seconded by Lance approving the minutes of the previous meeting: December 8, 2025 (Regular Board Meeting); December 8, 2025 (Truth-in-Taxation Hearing); December 8, 2025 (Fire Prevention & Safety Tax Levy Public Hearing); Treasurer’s report; the bills in the amount of $362,391.33 and salaries in the amount of $459,355.11; and approval and display of revised board policies (1st reading), as presented.
Roll call voting was as follows:
Yeas: Dilliner, Kelly, Kirk, Lance, Packer, Rounds
Nays: None
There being six (6) yeas and zero (0) nays, the vice president declared that the motion carried.
OLD BUSINESS
None
APPROVAL OF BOARD SURVEY: A motion was made by Kirk and seconded by Kelly to approve a board survey of District employees, as presented.
Voting was as follows: All voted yea. There being six (6) yeas and zero (0) nays, the vice president declared the motion carried.
STATUS OF CLOSED SESSION MINUTES AND/OR DESTRUCTION OF CLOSED SESSION VERBATIM RECORD AUDIO RECORDINGS: A motion was made by Lance and seconded by Dilliner to keep all closed session minutes closed to the public and to authorize the district superintendent to destroy the verbatim closed session records (audio recordings) for the following closed session meetings: January 8, 2024; February 12, 2024; March 11, 2024; April 15, 2024; April 18, 2024; May 13, 2024; June 17, 2024.
Voting was as follows: All voted yea. There being six (6) yeas and zero (0) nays, the vice president declared the motion carried.
CLOSED SESSION: At 6:20 PM, a motion was made by Rounds and seconded by Kelly to enter into closed session for the purpose of discussing the following exceptions to the Open Meetings Act:
a) The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees of the public body (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1), as amended by P.A. 93-57)
b) Collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives, or deliberations concerning the salary schedules for one or more classes of employees (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(2)
Roll call voting was as follows:
Yeas: Kelly, Kirk, Lance, Packer, Rounds, Dilliner
Nays: None
There being six (6) yeas and zero (0) nays, the vice president declared that the motion carried.
RECONVENE FROM CLOSED SESSION: At 7:24 PM, a motion was made by Rounds and seconded by Dilliner to reconvene from closed session.
Voting was as follows: All voted yea. There being six (6) yeas and zero (0) nays, the vice president declared the motion carried.
PERSONNEL (NEW BUSINESS)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF EMPLOYEE RESIGNATION(S) AND/OR RETIREMENT(S): A motion was made by Lance and seconded by Kirk to acknowledge the following employee resignation(s)/retirement(s):
Special Education Teacher: Penny Webb (effective at the end of 2029-2030 school year) Special Education Teacher: Beth Bischoff (effective at the end of 2028-2029 school year)
Voting was as follows: All voted yea. There being six (6) yeas and zero (0) nays, the vice president declared the motion carried.
APPROVAL OF VOLUNTEER EXTRACURRICULAR COACH(ES) AND/OR SPONSOR(S) (MANDRELL, CAMILLE): A motion was made by Rounds and seconded by Kelly to approve the following volunteer assistant coach(es) and/or sponsor(s).
SVHS Drama Club/School Play Sponsor: Camille Mandrell
Voting was as follows: All voted yea. There being six (6) yeas and zero (0) nays, the vice president declared that the motion carried.
OTHER BUSINESS:
None
ADJOURNMENT: A motion was made by Kelly and seconded by Dilliner to adjourn.
Voting was as follows: All voted yea. There being six (6) yeas and zero (0) nays, the vice president declared the motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 7:26 PM.
CERTIFICATION OF MINUTES
The above-listed account of the regular meeting of the Board of Education of Sesser-Valier Community Unit School District No. 196, held on Monday, January 12, 2026, at 6:00 PM, is, to the best of my knowledge, a true and accurate account of the aforementioned meeting.
https://cdnsm5-ss2.sharpschool.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_5786889/File/Henry/FY26%20Board%20Meetings/Jan%2012,%202026,%20BdMtgMin.pdf
