Martinsville Board Hires Five, Accepts Coach’s Resignation After Closed Session

Martinsville Board of Education | August 20, 2026

Article Summary: Following a 53-minute closed session, the Martinsville Community Unit School District #C-3 Board of Education on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, approved five hires for the 2026-27 school year and accepted a junior high volunteer coach’s resignation, with one board member abstaining on that vote.

Staffing Actions Key Points:

Kambry Price was hired as a 1:1 aide for the 2026-2027 school year on a 7-0 vote.

Tobin Morrison was hired as JH softball volunteer coach for 2026-2027; Zeb Chrysler and Jessica Taylor-Ludington were hired as substitute bus drivers; Ed Wilson was hired as substitute custodian. All passed 7-0.

The board accepted the resignation of Eian Luken as JH baseball volunteer coach 6-0, with board member Kannmacher abstaining and no reason recorded.

All five staffing votes, plus the superintendent’s retirement acceptance, were taken between 7:26 p.m. and adjournment at 7:32 p.m.

MARTINSVILLE — The Martinsville Community Unit School District #C-3 Board of Education on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, filled five staff and volunteer coaching positions and accepted one resignation, acting in rapid succession after returning from a closed session that ran from 6:33 p.m. to 7:26 p.m.

The board first voted 7-0 to hire Kambry Price as a 1:1 aide for the 2026-2027 school year, on a motion by board member Wilhoit seconded by board member Hollingsworth. Price had been recognized earlier in the same meeting under the agenda’s Student/School Success item, which listed “Kambry Price 1:1 Aide, Ashley Sanders PK Teacher.” The minutes do not state what the recognition was for or how it related to the later hiring vote.

Next, on a motion by board member Maxwell seconded by board member Parcel, the board voted 7-0 to hire Tobin Morrison as JH softball volunteer coach for the 2026-2027 school year.

The board then voted 7-0 to hire Zeb Chrysler and Jessica Taylor-Ludington as substitute bus drivers, on a motion by Parcel seconded by Wilhoit, and 7-0 to hire Ed Wilson as substitute custodian, on a motion by President Connelly seconded by board member Baird. The minutes record no salaries, hourly rates, start dates or assigned buildings for any of the five positions.

One Abstention on Coaching Resignation

The one vote of the evening that was not unanimous came on a motion by Maxwell, seconded by Parcel, to accept the resignation of Eian Luken as JH baseball volunteer coach. Baird, Connelly, Hollingsworth, Maxwell, Parcel and Wilhoit voted yes; Kannmacher abstained. The minutes record the result as “MOTION CARRIED” and give no reason for the abstention and no discussion of the resignation. No replacement for the position was acted on at the meeting.

The board closed its personnel business with a 7-0 vote accepting a retirement letter from Superintendent Robert Waggoner effective June 30, 2027, covered separately in this package.

The meeting agenda listed the closed session as covering collective bargaining matters and the appointment, employment, resignation, compensation, discipline, performance, evaluation, retirement or dismissal of specific employees, as well as possible litigation and the purchase or lease of real property. Illinois public bodies may not take formal action in closed session, and the minutes reflect that pattern here: each personnel item was voted on in open session by recorded roll call after the board reconvened. The minutes contain no account of what was discussed behind closed doors, and no action on real property appears anywhere in the record.

The board adjourned at 7:32 p.m. on a motion by Parcel seconded by Wilhoit, approved 7-0. Its next meeting is set for Sept. 24.