Beecher School Board Issues Suspension, Formal Notice to Remedy to Employee

Article Summary: The Beecher Board of Education has taken formal disciplinary action against district employee Jessica Carter, unanimously approving a resolution for an unpaid suspension and a “Third Issuance of a Notice to Remedy.” This action represents a significant step in the district’s formal process for addressing employee performance or conduct issues.

Beecher Board of Education Key Points:

• The board voted 7-0 to approve a resolution authorizing disciplinary action against employee Jessica Carter.

• The action includes an unpaid suspension and the issuance of a third “Notice to Remedy.”

• A Notice to Remedy is a formal document outlining specific deficiencies and required corrective actions an employee must take.

• The specifics of the conduct leading to the disciplinary action were not discussed in open session.

BEECHER, IL – The Beecher Board of Education unanimously approved a resolution for disciplinary action against an employee, Jessica Carter, during its public meeting on May 14. The motion, a significant personnel matter, authorizes a “Third Issuance of a Notice to Remedy and unpaid suspension.”

The motion was made by board Secretary Brandy Flores and seconded by member Adriana Diachenko. It passed with a 7-0 roll call vote, with President Ashley Belt and members Stacy Mazurek, Dr. Marie Hansel, Amanda Hanson, and Ashley Fluechtling joining Flores and Diachenko in favor.

A “Notice to Remedy” is a formal step in Illinois public school districts for addressing employee conduct or performance that the district deems unsatisfactory. It legally requires the board to provide a written warning that specifies the causes which, if not corrected, could lead to dismissal. The notice typically provides a set timeframe for the employee to demonstrate satisfactory improvement in the areas of concern.

The mention of this being the “Third Issuance” suggests a documented history of performance issues that have been formally addressed by the district on at least two prior occasions.

Details regarding the specific reasons for the suspension and the Notice to Remedy were not disclosed during the open portion of the meeting. Such matters are typically discussed by school boards in executive session to protect the privacy of the employee, as permitted by the Illinois Open Meetings Act. The board held a nearly one-hour executive session earlier in the evening to discuss personnel and potential litigation.

The board’s public vote formalizes the decision made during the closed session, making the disciplinary action part of the official public record. The district has not released further information on the length of the unpaid suspension or the specific contents of the notice.