August 24, 2026 at 6:30 PM - Regular School Board Meeting

1. CALL TO ORDER - Debbie Lowman, President

2. ROLL CALL - Nena Cox, Secretary

3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

4. VISITORS AND CORRESPONDENCE (Audience Participation)

4.I. Student Council Report - Anderson Moser, President

4.II. Other

5. REPORTS

5.I. PFK Report - Amanda Cline, President

5.II. Board President's Report - Debbie Lowman

5.III. Finance Summary Report - Review of 2026-2027 (FY27) Tentative Budget - Dr. Matt Gordon

5.IV. Principal/Athletic Director's Report - Nick Beard

5.V. Board Committee Reports - Dr. Matt Gordon

5.VI. Enrollment Report - Dr. Matt Gordon

6. CONSENT AGENDA

6.I. Approve Minutes 

6.I.A. Approve Minutes - Board of Education - Regular Meeting - July 27, 2026

6.I.B. Approve Minutes - PERA Committee - August 12, 2026

6.I.C. Approve Minutes - SB 7 RIF Committee - August 12, 2026

6.II. Approve Treasurer's Reports Ending July 31, 2026

6.III. Approve Financial Report Ending July 31, 2026

6.IV. Approve Activity Fund Report Ending July 31, 2026

6.V. Approve Bills for August 2026

6.VI. Authorize Superintendent to Let Snow Removal Bid - 2026-2027 School Year

7. ACTION ITEMS

7.I. Approve Student Council - Overnight Lock-in - September 4-5,  2026

7.II. Approve District's Financial Investment Plan - Purchase of 13-Week Treasury Bills

7.III. Employment Items

7.III.A. Approve  Employment - Jessi Schneider - Speech Team Coach - 2026-2027 School Year

7.III.B. Approve Employment - Vivian Harper - Yearbook - 2026-2027 School Year

7.III.C. Approve Employment - Ashley Byers - Paraprofessional (2 or 3 days a week) - 2026-2027 School Year - Retroactively to August 14, 2026

7.III.D. Approve Employment - Tiffany Martin - Paraprofessional -2026-2027 School Year

8. DISCUSSION ITEMS

8.I. Staffing - 2026-2027 School Year - Update

8.II. Transportation - Update

8.III. Softball and Baseball Fields - Update

8.IV. Annual Board of Education/Staff Holiday Dinner 2026 - Planning

8.V. Cross Country Co-op - South Pekin and Rankin - Addition of a School to the Co-op

8.VI. Policy Committee Meeting (PRESS Issue #122)- September 14, 2026 - 5:00 p.m. 

8.VII. Technology Committee Meeting - November 30, 2026 - 4:30 p.m. 

8.VIII. Building and Grounds Committee Meeting - December 14, 2026 - 5:15 p.m.

8.IX. Consolidated Election - First Tuesday in April - April 6, 2027 - Board of Education Candidate Information

8.X. Other

9. INFORMATION ITEMS

9.I. Special Board of Education Meeting - Self Evaluation - IASB - August 31, 2026 - 5:00 p.m. 

9.II. Public Budget Hearing - 2026-2027 (FY27) - Original Budget - September 28, 2026 - 6:30 p.m. 

9.III. Carissa Bennett - Letter of Resignation - Paraprofessional

9.IV. Other

10. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION (2nd Session)

10.I. Other

11. EXECUTIVE SESSION

11.I. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1) The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees, specific individuals who serve as independent contractors in a park, recreational, or educational setting, or specific volunteers of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee, a specific individual who serves as an independent contractor in a park, recreational, or educational setting, or a volunteer of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity.

11.II. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(9) Student disciplinary cases.

11.III. 5 ILCS120/2(c)(10) The placement of individual students in special education programs and other matters relating to individual students.

11.IV. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(21) Discussion of minutes of meetings lawfully closed under this Act, whether for purposes of approval by the body of minutes or semi-annual review of the minutes as mandated by Section 2.06.

12. ACTION FOLLOWING EXECUTIVE SESSION

12.I. Approve Executive Session Minutes - Regular Board Meeting - July 27, 2026

13. ADJOURNMENT
The next regularly scheduled meeting will be Monday, September 28, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. 

Rankin School District #98 "Our School is a Great Place to Learn"

Mission: Empowering all students to reach their maximum potential and become productive, respectful, responsible, and well-rounded citizens.  

Vision: Building the foundation of the future by engaging youth through rigorous and diverse educational opportunities.