• School Board

     
    School Board Officers
    President:  Beth Nolan                                 Vice President:  Courtney Carson
    Secretary:  Melissa Bradford (ex officio)      Treasurer:           Dr. Todd Covault (ex officio)
     
    Members of the public may obtain information regarding school board activities, FOIA requests, and other board information by contacting:
     
    Melissa Bradford, Board Secretary
    Keil Administration Building
    101 West Cerro Gordo St.
    Decatur, Illinois  62523

    Phone: (217) 362-3011
    Click here to Email the Board Secretary     
     
    Board Secretary office hours are Monday - Friday, 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM.
     
    Dr. Todd Covault
    Chief Operational Officer and Treasurer
    101 West Cerro Gordo St.
    Decatur, Illinois 62523

    Phone: (217) 362-3021
    Click here to Email Todd Covault   
     

    Board of Education Calendar for June 2019 - June 2020 

    At the April 14, 2020 meeting of the Board of Education, the Board approved holding the regular Board of Education meetings at 6:30 PM on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, unless otherwise noted (see Key below dates). All meetings, unless otherwise noted, will be held in the Board of Education Room at the Keil Administration Building, 101 West Cerro Gordo, Decatur, Illinois.

    Board Meeting Dates 
     

    2020-2021 School Year

    Key
    **July 07, 2020 * ONLY One Board Meeting in that Month
    **July 21, 2020 ** Meetings on first and third Tuesday
    **August 04, 2020 *** Meetings on first and fourth Tuesday
    ** August 18, 2020  
    September 08, 2020  
    September 22, 2020  
    October 13, 2020  
    October 27, 2020  
    **November 04, 2020  
    **November 17, 2020  
    *December 08, 2020  
    December 15, 2020 (Special Work Session)  
    January 12, 2021  
    January 26, 2021  
    February 09, 2021  
    February 23, 2021  
    March 09, 2021  
    March 23, 2021  
    April 13, 2021  
    April 27, 2021  
    May 11, 2021  
    May 25, 2021  

     

    From Your School Board:
    The Decatur Public Schools Board of Education is made up of seven volunteer members. These Board members are elected by voters of the Decatur School District and represent the community by overseeing the operation of the school system. The Decatur Board of Education recognizes that the taxpayers, parents and students of Decatur have bestowed a high level of trust in us. We are focused on improving student achievement, demonstrating financial accountability and being open to the community and staff. 
     
    We’ve set clear, ambitious academic goals, and have made a commitment to being fiscally responsible. We will ensure we use the money in our schools to provide a quality education to every student. We thank the voters of Decatur for the support they’ve shown the Decatur Public School District. Educating our children is the responsibility of the entire community, and we thank you for your effort. The joy of watching a child learn is a gift to each of us.

    Strategic Plan Mission:
    The Mission of Decatur Public Schools, the destination district of our community, is to unlock students' unique and limitless potential to achieve their personal aspirations as fully prepared, contributing citizens in a global society through learning experiences distinguished by:
    • commitment to the whole person resulting in student growth and confidence
    • relevant, innovative, personalized academic pathways that promote passion and pride
    • a learning environment that fosters curiosity and the thirst for achievement and discovery
    • a culture of diversity, adaptability, and resilience
    • meaningful and lasting relationships
    • extraordinary school and community connections
     
    Board of Education Core Values:
    Engaged ~ Collaborate ~ Inclusive ~ Excellence ~ Citizenship ~ Innovation
     
    nolan
    Beth Nolan
    President
    Phone: (217) 422-9500
    Click here to Email Beth Nolan  
      
     carson
    Courtney Carson 
    Vice President
    Phone: (217) 520-0389
     briscoe
    Kendall Briscoe
    Board Member
    Phone: (217) 454-5340
    Click here to Email Kendall Briscoe 
     
     
     creighton
                   
    Beth Creighton
    Board Member
    Phone: (217) 521-1479
    Click here to Email Beth Creighton
     
     
    Regan Lewis   
     
    Regan Lewis
    Board Member
    Phone: (217) 454-8000
    Click here to Email Regan Lewis
     
    Oakes
     
    Dan Oakes
    Board Member
    Phone: (217) 358-4467
    Click here to Email Dan Oakes
     

     

     

     

     

     

     
     
    Andrew Taylor
     
    Andrew Taylor
    Board Member
    Phone: (217) 619-6621
    Click here to Email Andrew Taylor
    		        
     

     

    Click here to obtain BOE training document


    Business Meetings
    Meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:30 PM at the Keil Administration Building, 101 W. Cerro Gordo Street. In the months of August 2019 and November 2019, the meetings will be held on the first and third Tuesday. In the month of December 2019, there is only one meeting. In the month of March 2020, the meetings will be held on the first and fourth Tuesday. The Open Session agenda and explanatory documents are uploaded to the District's website www.dps61.org on Friday before the Tuesday meeting. Copies of the agenda are available at the meeting.
     

    Committee Meetings

    Some matters require long deliberation, so these items may be considered at a committee meeting, when agendas are shorter and more discussion time is available. These items may then be placed on the agenda of a regular meeting when action can be taken. The Board of Education welcomes community members to join the District by serving on committees. If you are interested in doing so, please contact your local school, or the Superintendent's Office at 217 362-3010.
     

    Executive Sessions

    The Board’s business and committee meetings are open to the public. The law allows the Board to go into Closed Executive Sessions for such reasons as legal action, collective bargaining, real estate transactions and personnel matters. 
     

    Public Participation in Board Meetings

    The School Board encourages and appreciates citizen interest in meetings of the Board of Education. There is a place at the beginning of the agenda especially set aside to hear comments from visitors. Persons wishing to address the Board of Education may make written requests to the Superintendent in advance of the regular meeting or by a phone call to the Board Secretary, Melissa Bradford at 217 362-3011, or by indicating their name and topic they wish to address on the visitor sign-up book located next to the lectern before the meeting begins. The speaker should give his/her name, address, and limit his/her comments to three (3) minutes. The Board asks that courtesy and respect to others be shown. The use of specific individuals’ names, slanderous or derogatory comments about anyone cannot be permitted. The Board President has the right and may declare out of order a speaker and terminate any remarks which are not relevant or which has been previously addressed on the same subject.

     

    Specific Issues Raised at Board Meetings

    If issues raised during Public Participation require answers to questions, gathering information, or further discussion, the Board of Education may refer the matter to the Superintendent. They may also set a later time to meet with constituents. Whenever possible, you are encouraged to seek information or action first from the teacher or principal. Going directly to the source of the problem will, in many cases, clear up misunderstandings and bring the desired result. If the issue cannot be resolved at the school level, please contact Central Office and/or the Superintendent's Office. The Board encourages citizen and staff input through participation on a variety of committees each year.
     

    Preparation for the Meeting

    The Superintendent and Board President develop the agenda. Board Members receive copies of agendas and explanatory documents the Friday before the Tuesday's meeting.
     
    Board Representatives on Standing Committees:
    Finance Committee - Beth Nolan 
    Discipline Action Committee - Courtney Carson and Beth Creighton
    Schedule B - Beth Creighton  
    Decatur Public Schools Foundation - Beth Nolan  
    Insurance - Beth Nolan
     

    Meeting Agendas

    Agendas for regular meetings may include the following items:
    • Call to order - Opening of the meeting by the Board President
    • Pledge of Allegiance
    • Approval of Meeting Agenda
    • Public Participation
    • Board of Education Discussion - Informational Items
    • Superintendent Reports - Informational Items 
    • Approval of Roll Call Action Items 
    • Approval of Consent Items 
    • Other Informational Items 
    • Adjournment

     

    Board Election

    In Decatur, Board members are elected at large, rather than by sub-district, so each member represents the entire school district. They are elected at a non-partisan election held every other year at the same time as consolidated elections usually on the 2nd Tuesday in April, unless the date covers Passover, and then it is moved to the next Tuesday. Board members are uncompensated, and do not maintain offices at the Keil Administrative Building. Their major responsibility is to establish District Policies for all district operations such as curriculum, personnel, facilities, and finance. They delegate the execution of these Policies to the District Administration.