Minutes of June 12, 2025

Draft minutes
July 12, 2025, Board Meeting

Meeting called to order by Kevin Riley at 12:05 pm

Members Present: Kevin Riley, Carl Hermanns, David Berliner, Ruben Alajandro, Toba Cohen-Dunning, Martha Bruckner, Maria Armstrong, Martin Brooks, Matt Krise, Jimmy Minichello, Tobin Novasio, Theresa Rouse, Jerry Thacker, Ray Sanchez, Louis Wool, and Jack McKay

  1. Minutes of March 4, 2025.

Motion by Carl Hermanns, seconded by Ray Sanchez to approve the Minutes of March 4, 2025.  Passed.

  1. Financial Report

Motion by Motion by Jerry Thacker, seconded Carl Hermanns, that the financial report be accepted.  Passed.

  1. Extension of the Interim Director’s term

Extension of the Interim Director’s term extend until a suitable replacement is found.

Motion by Martin Brooks, seconded by David Berliner to extend the Interim Director’s term until a suitable replacement is found. Passed.

  1. Appointment of New Board Member

Motion by Martin Brooks, seconded by Carl Hermanns, that Michael Simeck, Superintendent in Deerfield 109 (IL), be appointed to serve a three-year term.  Passed.

  1. Discussion on Recruitment and Retention.

The following volunteered to serve on a special committee to develop a recruitment and retention strategy to be presented at the July 17th special meeting: Jeanne Collins-Deweese, Carl Hermanns. Maria Armstrong, Martha Bruckner, Toba Cohen-Dunning, Matt Krise, Jimmy Minichello, Tobin Navasio, Kevin Riley, and Jack McKay. (Date and time to be determined.)

  1. Brief Discussion on the following topics:
    1. Annual Yearbook publication of Democracy in Public Education
    2. Benefits of being a member of the Horace Mann League
    3. Presentations at state and national conferences on the League’s work
    4. Restructuring of the Board of Directors
    5. Balance remaining to pay off the debt of the Democracy Conference
    6. Classification of the membership by position
    7. Timeline for selecting a new Executive Director
    8. Possibility of an Annual Luncheon at AASA’s Convention
    9. Affiliations with like-minded educational associations
  2. Adjournment

Motion by Maria Armstrong, seconded by Carl Hermanns, that the meeting be adjourned.

  1. Next meeting of the HML Board of Directors is set for Thursday, July 24, 2025, at 12:30 pm, Eastern.

Respectfully submitted by Jack McKay.