The Peoria Public Schools board of education gathered Monday evening for a meeting that stretched well over two hours, marked by a student showcase, a contract debate, and a bittersweet goodbye to outgoing Superintendent Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat.
The evening's most emotionally charged moments came early, courtesy of two middle school students from the Advantage Communications speech and debate program. Marvin Polnitz, a sixth grader at Trewyn Middle School who won the National Speech and Debate Association’s 2025 national champion in humorous interpretation, spoke candidly about his transformation.
"Not long ago, I was a rude and arrogant kid. Teachers were asking Miss Mariella to kick me off the speech team," Polnitz told the board. "Speech basically saved me because being loud and extra isn't a behavior problem, it's a skill. Now, instead of acting out in school, I do it on stage."
He closed with a direct appeal: "I beg you to bring [the program] back this summer and next year. If more kids and schools get the program, then think of the lives you can change."
Seventh grader Philando James of Glen Oak Middle School followed with equal conviction. "Speech and debate changed my life because I was known as the girl with the big mouth. Now I am a speech and debate poet. It gave my personality a definition."
The board approved a one-year, $300,000 contract extension for the program as part of its consent agenda, funded by a donation from Caterpillar, Inc.
Architect contract and procurement policy draw debate
The proposed five-year extension of the district's contract with IDG Architects proved contentious, with one board member raising concerns about approving an open-ended deal before any future projects had been identified. The extension passed 5-2 after a lengthy back-and-forth.
A revision to the district's procurement policy also sparked debate, centered on equity in contracting. Board member Larry Ivory argued the changes — expanding oversight to contracts under $50,000 and requiring quarterly public reporting — were necessary steps toward closing a long-standing gap.
"White males have been getting over 97% of all contracts. That's a problem," he said.
After debate over whether the superintendent's oversight role was being diminished, the board amended the proposed policy to clarify the superintendent’s role before passing it unanimously.
Farewell to Desmoulin-Kherat
The meeting closed on a reflective note as board members honored Desmoulin-Kherat ahead of her retirement. Board member Larry Ivory offered this send-off.
“I hope that the team coming in can live up to what you put together,” he said.
President Gregory Wilson said to Kherat, “in my phone, you're saved under the 'GOAT.'
Jerry Bell takes over as superintendent on July 1. Renee Andrews will become the district's first deputy superintendent.
In other business, the board:
— Removed the interim tag from Ryan McElmurry's role at head coach of the Peoria High School boys basketball team. McElmurry, who previously served as an assistant coach, was named interim head coach in February following Daniel Ruffin's dismissal. Ruffin faces sexual misconduct charges involving two female students.
— Honored 13 students in grades 5-8 as Young Author district winners.
— Recognized Ariana Butler as the 2026 recipient of the Sheila Joy Scholarship, awarded to aspiring educators — particularly single parents — pursuing a teaching career. Butler, a paraprofessional at Trewyn and special education major at Western Illinois University, honored her late grandmother in her remarks: "She used to say, ‘I wonder if one day they will honor me.’ So, today I stand here knowing that through me she is being honored."
— Honored Manual High School's boys basketball team for winning the class 2A state championship, with principal Devon Hawks noting the players will have "their own monuments right there in the school forever."
— Recognized Melvin Ama, a teacher at Dr. Maude Sanders Primary School and part of the district's international teacher program from the Philippines, as Teacher of the Year and Kyle Benefield of Reservoir Gifted Academy with the Meritorious Service award. Lottie Phillips Fiddes of Peoria High School was named Early Career Educator of the Year, with her students delivering tributes in her honor.
— Presented the Remarkable Spirit Award to Amanda Liaromatis of Manual High School, recognizing her leadership in building the district's Algebra 1 initiative from the ground up.
— Recognized outgoing CFO Mick Willis, who is retiring after a decade with the district, for his work for the district.
— Noted that 16 District 150 students will compete in the Scripps Howard Regional Spelling Bee this weekend, with the top finishers advancing to the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.
