[4:41]Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. We're ready to begin this afternoon's special board meeting. Sergeant at arms, has the lobby been cleared? Yes. Thank you. At this time we request all electronic devices be turned off or put in silent mode. The order of business is to call to order. And I'm pleased to welcome you to the April 1st, 2026, School Board special meeting. The time is 1:01 p.m. And this meeting is called to order. We would like to take this opportunity to remind the members of the public of the district's mission, which is to ensure each student achieves his or her highest personal potential and the district's vision to be a world-class system. This afternoon's agenda includes public comment, one item under board business, and three items under good of the order business. Board members, is there a motion to approve the agenda? I'll make a motion to approve the agenda as read. Mr. makes a motion. I'll second. And Ms. Langford Fleming seconds. Please record your vote. The motion carries 7-0.
[6:20]The next item on our agenda is public comment. Attorney Quick, please address the item of public comment or do we have any signed up for public comment? Uh, there's no one signed up for public comment at this time. Thank you, so we can go past that. Our board business today is discussion of the interview timeline. As you know, we are scheduled to do interviews starting tomorrow, but several have come to me and said that they felt we actually only have three candidates at this time, that they could go ahead and make a decision possibly today. But I wanted to open that up for discussion, uh, if anyone would like to make a comment or discussion. Ms. Jordan? Well, I, to me, this is not against anybody that has applied, but to me we had a process in place. And for, when you just made mention of people coming to you and saying they could already um, decide today on who that would be. Does oppose a problem as far as I'm concerned because I know even at the last time when we had the uh, board attorneys, many of you were not here, and it was on our one-on-ones that we really decided on who that individual would be, because I assumed people did have thoughts in mind of who they thought would be the best when it came to reading everything. But then when it actually had the one, the opportunity to speak to the individuals, I think a lot of us at that time changed our mind and then we went up getting the attorney that we had. So to me to to to ask people to go through this process and for us not to afford them the opportunity to to be heard from us, I think to me that's a that's an issue because who are we if we're not going to stand by what we are saying we're doing? Okay. Thank you. Any other comments, Mr. Ribble? Yeah, I have a comment. I I think to move forward with an interview process when we have somebody that's already been in in the position a good number of years. He has a lot of intellectual knowledge and I'm talking, I'm referring to Rob Dodik. I I think it would be a falsehood to interview folks on the pretenses that we're going to be considering them and wasting their time and wasting our time. I I don't think there's a need to do that. So, those are my thoughts. Mr. Fisher, then Mr. Gilly. Thank you, chair. I'm going to ask a question through you to uh, our attorney here. Sorry, I had to think for a second. Um, Mr. Attorney, is there any legal, I guess, repercussions or is there anything out of the ordinary if we do not proceed with any interviews based on the process? Are we are there any legal issues with the process if we don't go ahead with the interviews? No, as long as, no, it's uh, I mean, as long as the decision's made for, you know, not for improper purposes, but I mean if if the collective will of the of the board is, you know, we're we're there's somebody, one of the applicants stands head above, head and shoulders above the rest and and that's who we want. I think you can can modify your process and say, you know, we're we're happy to start engaging, um, negotiations with the with that person. Thank you, Mr. Quick. Uh, Mr. Chairman, may I continue with comment? Yes. Thank you, sir. I agree, um, with Mr. Ribble, I don't believe we should in this instance go forward with interviews. Um, I would be supporting that position for Mr. Dodig, uh, just the base of knowledge he has within school law, especially, I think it's so tremendous and such a tremendous asset to not only this board and this district. His service he's done this, he's done this job not just this, but he's done it before. Um, he's actually been a seamless fit with what we've had up here and been able to just step up and pick up right away. Um, as I said, I mean, I've outside of this, I'm probably the only one in here that has actually hired attorneys before and he he checks the box for everything for me. And uh, I'm saying that both as an attorney, as a board and a board member. So, uh, I I think this should be a no-brainer, I guess is the best way to say it. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Giovanelli. I would agree. I don't think it's necessary to spend the time, uh, to interview, um, anyone at this point when we have a candidate that stands above, um, all of the applicants, um, right now he's doing the job as interim and I think he's the most qualified and experienced, and he would have had my vote anyways, and I would be, you know, I'm going to be very honest that he would have my vote and here we are today. Why would we schedule meetings and so forth and and do that to to other individuals that could could be applying for something else and, you know, and live, you know, that opportunity for them to look at other places when we have someone doing the job. Thank you. Thank you. Any other comments? I'll make a motion.
[12:43]I'll second. Yeah. I'm motion to make, um, Rob Dodic, the, uh, from interim superintendent to School Board superintendent. Let me, I'm giving you a new job. I apologize. Um, interim Board Attorney, School Board Attorney to School Board Attorney.
[13:16]And engage in negotiations.
[13:40]And in in negotiations. Thank you. Mr. Fisher. I'll second that motion. Okay. Motion's been made by Mr. Giannelli and seconded by Mr. Fisher. Any discussion? Yes, Mr. Langford Fleming. I just want to put it on record that I couldn't agree more than I believe that this is a great, um, like you said, a seamless transaction. Um, I've had amazing one-on-ones and conversation consistent with, um, Mr. Dodik, which hasn't been the experience I had prior to. So I just want to say thank you for stepping into those shoes and you've done a great job, you and the team. That's all. Great. Yes, Mr. Jordan. And I want to put on record that he is not being chosen because we have three and one dropped out because he is the right person for this job. Yes, thank you. Well stated. All right. Uh, this will be a roll call vote. Mr. Fisher. Aye. Mr. Jelli. Aye. Mr. Ribble. Aye. Mr. Jordan. Aye. Mr. Langford Fleming. Aye. Mr. Chano. Aye. Oh, let me think about it. I and I am an I. Motion carries 7-0. Congratulations, Mr. Doik. We will enter into negotiation.
[15:10]All right. Um, I'll get with Attorney Quick and we'll enter into negotiations. I think that's the best way to do it. We sort of have a tentative contract already. I would, Mr. Chair, I would just ask for, um, uh, formal confirmation from the, uh, from the board that the appointing you as the liaison, that would Yes. Mr. Fisher. Yes, I'd like to uh, make a motion to approve that uh, Mr. Parsons entered negotiations um, with Mr. Dodig to be the uh, permanent school board attorney and if he needs any assistance, obviously, Mr. Quick. I'll second. All right. Motion made and second, any discussion?
[15:53]Saying none, now the roll call vote. Mr. Fisher. Aye. Mr. Gilly. Yes. Mr. Ribble. Aye. Mr. Jordan. Aye. Mr. Langford Fleming. Aye. Mr. Chano. Aye. And I am an I. All right. Okay, we'll move on to the good of the order other business. Does anyone have any, uh, comments or reports? Mr. Fisher. Just uh, congratulations again to Mr. Dodig and please get back to work.
[16:24]Mr. Giovanelli. Yes, congratulations and thank you. Mr. Ribble. Well deserved. Mr. Jordan. I don't have to tell you. Congratulations. All right. Ms. Langford Fleming. Congratulations and thank you for your service to this community and to this board. Thank you. Chano. I hope you know what you're doing. No kidding. Congratulations, excited to have you again. It's been, I've had the same experience with the with the transfer with everything that's gone on. Um, you've been great, so thank you so much. Looking forward to it. And I'm excited because with a operation that's large, we need a solid, steady person and the legal department there for the board. So we're glad to have you on. Dr. Carlin, do you have any comments? Yes, sir, I do. Um, Mr. Dodik, congratulations. Uh, you and I have worked together in many, many capacities, uh, throughout this district and both of our times. And I just want to let you know that it it is fantastic. I am so happy for you. I'm happy for us. I'm happy for the school board. Um, you are true blue. You are a wonderful human being and a wonderful attorney. And I just think we are very blessed to have you. So congratulations. All right. Uh, the next scheduled meeting of the board is Tuesday. Attorney Quick, do you have any comments? You didn't actually right down here, but technically you are. I mean, just thank you all for having me, you know, congratulations again to to Mr. Dodig. I I think you guys are are getting a superstar. Um, it's always a pleasure being out here. I I love being out here in Lee County, so thank you for having me. Mr. Fisher. Just for housekeeping purposes, chair, are the interviews scheduled tomorrow cancelled? They will be. I got a nod out there. Thank you.
[18:20]Okay, on Tuesday, April 14th, there will be a board workshop at 1:00 p.m. followed by board action meeting at 6:00 p.m. At this point, having no other business to come before the body and seem no objection, this meeting is adjourned. The time is 1:14 p.m. Thank you.
