Mt. Pulaski CUSD #23 Board of Education Meeting Summary
May 20, 2026
The Mt. Pulaski CUSD #23 Board of Education met on May 20, 2026, beginning with executive session at 6:01 PM and returning to open session at 7:04 PM. Six board members were present, with one absent.
Public Recognition & Celebrations
Community members Amy Roberts and Wesley Bobell addressed the Board regarding high school P.E. exemption policies and requested reconsideration of exemptions for single-sport participation.
Senior of the Month: Isabella Niccolls was recognized for her involvement in cheerleading, FCCLA, and NHS.
Student-Athlete of the Month: Luke Martin was honored for his participation in baseball, basketball, and FFA, as well as his leadership and competitiveness.
Girls Basketball Honors:
The Board recognized Addison Brown, Alyson Murphy, Elayna Marten, and Coach Ryan McVickers for receiving IBCA All-State honors during the historic girls basketball season.
Consent Agenda Approved
The Board unanimously approved:
Payment of bills
Sales tax revenue reports
April meeting and executive session minutes
Administrative Reports
High School
Charity Woodford received the INB Senior of the Year award.
39 seniors graduated this year.
Summer credit recovery and entrepreneurship workshops are planned.
Grade School
Successful completion of DARE, spring concerts, and Teacher Appreciation Week activities.
The spring book fair generated approximately $5,000.
RTI scheduling for next year has been completed.
Curriculum
Pre-School for All grant submitted.
Upcoming handwriting curriculum training.
Curriculum MAP completion underway.
ACT scores expected by June 1.
Activities
Softball captured a regional championship.
Piper Tyson and Carter Clark qualified for State in discus.
Strong participation in state track and shotgun competitions.
Continued exploration of athletic trainer coverage options.
New MPGS gym floor mock-ups were received.
Unfinished Business
Student Handbook Changes
The Board approved updates to both the high school and grade school handbooks, including:
Allowing non-clear, insulated water bottles
Waiving registration and sports fees
Expanded final exam exemptions for juniors and seniors
Allowing e-readers with downloaded books
The Board chose not to act on the proposed P.E. exemption changes at this time.
Special Education Procedures
The Board adopted updated procedures recommended by the Tri-County Special Education Association to support comprehensive programming for students with disabilities.
New Business
Working Cash Fund Abatement
The Board approved an abatement from the Working Cash Fund to the Education Fund due to increased costs associated with:
Personnel
Special education services
Curriculum and textbooks
Solar project investment
Expanded CTE programming
PRESS Policy Update 121
The Board approved and adopted PRESS Policy Update 121 following committee review.
District Property Procedures
Approved procedures regarding the disposition of district property for transparency purposes.
Strategic Plan Data Update
District leadership shared student growth data tied to the district strategic plan:
Strong math growth across grade levels
Improved collaboration among teachers
Positive MAP assessment trends
Continued focus on reading growth through curriculum improvements
The discussion also included staff morale and the use of survey feedback for continuous improvement.
Veterans Park Seeding Project
The project was tabled due to timing concerns about completing it before Memorial Day. Additional accessibility improvements were discussed, including concrete walkways for ADA access.
2026–2027 Board Meeting Schedule
The Board approved meeting dates, times, and locations for the upcoming school year.
Food Service Survey Review
Survey results showed strong customer service ratings for Organic Life while identifying concerns regarding food quality and variety. Improvement efforts are underway.
Organic Life Contract
The Board approved the district’s 2026–2027 food service contract with Organic Life.
Paraprofessional Handbook
Approved with only minor updates.
Superintendent Contract Extension
The Board approved a contract extension for Superintendent Jason Spang following discussions and agreement between both parties.
Personnel Report
The Board approved:
Several coaching and sponsorship resignations
Hiring of Emily McCubbin and Bridgett Thomas as paraprofessionals for 2026–2027
Collective Bargaining Agreement
Following additional discussion in executive session, the Board approved the collective bargaining agreement for 2026–2029.
Additional Discussion
The Board discussed potentially eliminating the 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony and plans to revisit the topic publicly at the June meeting.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 9:22 PM following unanimous approval.