Bellwood School District 88 Board of Education met Jan. 6.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by the Board President, Ms. Arredondo
2. ROLL CALL
Present: President Ms. Arredondo, and Board Members: Eubanks, Clark-Smith, Day-Fox, Hill, Eubanks, Thornton
Absent: Ms. Mendez
Also Present: Superintendent Dr. Stockton, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Mr. Anderson, Director of Teaching and Learning Dr. Hamlin, Executive Assistant Mrs. Walton, Attorney Miller and Directors, Principals, Assistant Principals and Coordinators
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Board President led the audience into the Pledge of Allegiance.
4. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION
None
5. A motion was made by Mrs. Day-Fox, seconded by Mr. Hill, to approve the Bill List in the amount of $860,822.95 as presented.
VOTE: AYES: Mrs. Day-Fox, Ms. Arredondo, Mr. Thornton Mrs. Clark-Smith, Ms. Eubanks, Mr. Hill
NAYS: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
ABSENT: 1 Ms. Mendez
MOTION CARRIED
6. A motion was made by Mr. Thornton, seconded by Ms. Eubanks, to approve the ratification of the poll vote taken on December 16, 2025, regarding the facility issue at Thurgood Marshall School, approving JSR to replace sump pumps in the amount of $34,800.00.
VOTE: AYES: Mrs. Day-Fox, Ms. Arredondo, Mr. Thornton Mrs. Clark-Smith, Ms. Eubanks, Mr. Hill
NAYS: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
ABSENT: 1 Ms. Mendez
MOTION CARRIED
7. A motion was made by Mr. Thornton, seconded by Mr. Hill, to approve the agreement between Learn Well and Bellwood School District 88, whereby Learn Well will provide Hospital Tutoring services for the 2025-2026 school year, and the District will compensate Learn Well in the amount of $1,500.00 per month.
VOTE: AYES: 6 Mrs. Day-Fox, Ms. Arredondo, Mr. Thornton Mrs. Clark-Smith, Ms. Eubanks, Mr. Hill
NAYS: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
ABSENT: 1 Ms. Mendez
MOTION CARRIED
8. A motion was made by Mrs. Day-Fox, seconded by Ms. Eubanks, to approve ratification of the emergency poll vote authorizing emergency remediation work at Grant Primary School related to flood damage, including asbestos abatement. The cost of the emergency work, in the amount of $198,844.11, will be funded through the District’s insurance carrier.
VOTE: AYES: 6 Mrs. Day-Fox, Ms. Arredondo, Mr. Thornton Mrs. Clark-Smith, Ms. Eubanks, Mr. Hill
NAYS: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
ABSENT: 1 Ms. Mendez
MOTION CARRIED
9. CLOSED SESSION
A motion was made by Mrs. Day-Fox, seconded by Ms. Eubanks, that the Board will go into closed session at 6:53 p.m. for the purpose of discussion of:
Appointment, employment, compensation, performance, discipline or dismissal of certain employees, contractors or volunteers of the district, or legal counsel of the District, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee, contractor, volunteer or legal counsel of the District; Pending or threatened litigation; Collective bargaining matters; student matters; and
VOTE: AYES: 6 Mrs. Day-Fox, Ms. Arredondo, Mr. Thornton Mrs. Clark-Smith, Ms. Eubanks, Mr. Hill
NAYS: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
ABSENT: 1 Ms. Mendez
MOTION CARRIED
10. BOARD RECONVENED TO REGULAR SESSION
A motion was made by Mrs. Day-Fox, second by Mr. Thornton, to reconvene the regular session at 8:02 p.m.
VOTE: AYES: 6 Mrs. Day-Fox, Ms. Arredondo, Mr. Thornton Mrs. Clark-Smith, Ms. Eubanks, Mr. Hill
NAYS: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
ABSENT: 1 Ms. Mendez
MOTION CARRIED
11. CONSIDER CONSENT AGENDA VOICE VOTE ITEMS AND ROLL CALL
AGENDA ITEMS
A motion was made by Ms. Eubanks, seconded by Mrs. Clark-Smith, to approve agenda items (A-B) as presented in executive session.
A. ACTION REGARDING PERSONNEL
Certified Staff – Employment
A1A. Ayala, Jasmine
Grant Elementary School
Fifth Grade Teacher
BA Step 0
$47,000.00
Effective: January 7, 2026
Certified Staff – Registration
A2A. Gilbert, Mark
Lincoln Elementary School
Special Education Instructional Teacher Effective: January 4, 2026
Certified Staff – Lane Change
Early Childhood Center – Grant Primary Bilingual/ESL Pre-K Teacher
АЗА. Salazar, Josefina
BA to BA+15
Classified Staff – Retirement
A4A. Swilley-Gardner, Jill
McKinley Elementary School Secretary
A4B. McFadden, Anita
Certified Staff – FMLA
Peterson, Kathy
Effective: January 2, 2026
Administrative Service Center
Human Resource Information Specialist Effective: January 5, 2026
Roosevelt Middle School
Eighth Grade Science Teacher
FMLA
December 15, 2025 – February 2, 2026
Marshall, Sequoia
Lincoln Elementary School
Third Grade Teacher
FMLA
February 9, 2026 – May 8, 2026
Kilgore, Sarah
Administrative Service Center
Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and Talent Development FMLA
December 17, 2025 – January 4, 2026
Classified Staff – FMLA
Rusike, Jeninne
Administrative Service Center
Director of Human Resources Intermittent
November 25, 2025 – June 30, 2026
Sanchez, Marlen
Early Childhood Center – Lincoln Primary
Pre-K Teacher Assistant – ESL/Bilingual
FMLA
January 5, 2026 – April 8, 2026
McFadden, Anita
Administrative Service Center
Human Resources Information Specialist
Intermittent
October 15, 2025 – April 15, 2026
Rice, Lisa
Marshall Elementary School
Registered Nurse
Intermittent
December 15, 2025 – June 30, 2026
Minutes
1. Regular Board Meeting – December 2, 2025
VOTE: AYES: 6 Mrs. Day-Fox, Ms. Arredondo, Mr. Thornton Mrs. Clark-Smith, Ms. Eubanks, Mr. Hill
NAYS: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
ABSENT: 1 Ms. Mendez
MOTION CARRIED
12. A motion was made by Mr. Thornton, seconded by Mr. Hill to approve the three (3) day suspension of employee # 04440 as discussed in closed session.
VOTE: AYES: 4 Mrs. Day-Fox, Ms. Arredondo, Mr. Thornton Ms. Eubanks
NAYS: 0
ABSTAIN: 2 Mr. Hill, Mrs. Clark-Smith
ABSENT: 1 Ms. Mendez
MOTION CARRIED
13. Informational
FOIA Request
14. New Business
None
15. Unfinished Business
None
16. ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Ms. Eubanks, seconded by Mrs. Clark-Smith, to adjourn the Regular Board Meeting at 8:05 p.m. with a voice vote all in favor Aye or Nay.
The Ayes have it, meeting adjourned.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1N19r2Rslx8ZJkCnpRvDZb3ffDjg4JMy0
