And if I can leave you with anything is just to keep that in mind that we all want what's best for the kids and that's why we're here. That's why we sacrifice all the time that we do. Um and I urge you to keep that in mind and the new people too that we may have differences. Um when I first got on the board and I think you guys we were like seven mind seven people just with the same mind. We all got along. We we knew exactly what everybody was thinking. Boy, we knew what Gaspar was thinking every time, you know, and it's changed, but we still all have one goal in mind. And so, just kind of keep thinking that way, if that makes sense. Um, the other thing I wanted to say, and it's gotten better over the years, I think, but when I'm out in the community, I've always had people tell me or say things they they don't trust the administration.
They have problems with they don't, you know, there's something wrong in the school. They don't believe what's going on or they don't trust people, what they say, what they hear. I am here to tell you that in the 12 years I have been here, I have never heard anyone say anything untoward, anything nefarious, nothing. I have had a positive experience with everyone. And if I ever saw anything that I didn't believe was proper going on, you know, I would be the first one to stand up and start yelling and screaming. You know me. Um, so I just It's always bothered me when we get emails about people complaining things aren't going this way, they're not doing the right thing. Everyone works towards the same common goal and I think that's important. So I wish everyone the best, good luck, but like I said, everybody here does it for the kids.
So thank you. Thank you, Sue. All right, I will entertain a motion to adjourn seen die, which basically means temporarily. So moved. So moved by Sue, second by R.J. Oh, I killed you, didn't it? So moved by Sue, second by R.J. All in favor? I opposed. It is now 8:35 p.m.
The meeting is adjourned. We'll take a 5minute break and move right into our special reign. saying goodbye is tough. Yeah, it's tough. Did I get demoted? I got demoted. We lost the pay for pay cut. Yeah, big pay cut. All right. This is the regular script. Oh, yeah. All right. Um, is everybody ready? I'm a little nervous now. You should be the one that's doing all this. Okay. Um, let me get my script. Hang on a second. It's harder than it looks, isn't it, sir? Oh, take it easy. Take it easy. All right. Here we [Applause] go. All right. Uh, it is now 20:44 or 8:44 p.m. April 22nd, uh, 2025. And I call this special meeting for the reorganization of the board of education to order. Our very first order of business before we can call the role is to swear in our new and returning board members as elected in the April 1st consolidated election.
So, if we could all uh come join me at the front of the audience for your swearing in. I think it's just I thought it was everybody gets no just you guys. So, the camera will be there. So just kind of cameras there. Okay. Um if you just repeat after me. I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of member of the board of education of the school district. swear that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of member of the board of education of the school district in accordance with the constitution of the United States, the constitution of the state of Illinois and the laws of the state of Illinois to the best of my ability. Constitution of the United States of the state of Illinois and the laws of the state of Illinois to the best of my ability.
I further swear that I shall respect taxpayer interest by serving as a faithful protector of the school district's assets. I shall respect taxpayer interest by serving as a faithful protector of the school district's assets. I shall encourage and respect the free expression of opinion by my fellow board members and others who seek a hearing before the board while respecting the privacy of students and employees. I shall encourage and respect the free expression of opinion by my fellow board members and others who seek ad while respecting the privacy of students and employees. I shall recognize that a board member has no legal authority as an individual and that decisions can be made only by a majority vote at a public board meeting. I shall recognize that a board member has no legal authority as an individual and that decisions can be made by a majority vote at a public court meeting.
I shall abide by majority decisions of the board while retaining the right to seek changes in such decisions through ethical and constructive channels. I shall abide by majority decisions of the board while retaining the right to seek changes in such decisions ethical and constructive channels. As part of the board of education, I shall accept the responsibility for my role in the equitable and quality education of every student in the school district. As part of the board of education, I shall accept the responsibility for my role in the equitable and quality education of every student in the school district. I shall foster with the board extensive participation of the community, formulate goals, define outcomes, and set the course for BPS 101. I shall foster with the board extensive participation from the community, formulate goals, define outcomes, and set the course for VPS 101. I shall assist in establishing a structure and an environment designed to ensure all students have the opportunity to attain their maximum potential through a sound organizational framework.
I shall assist in establishing a structure and an environment designed to ensure all students have the opportunity to maintain their maximum potential through a sound organizational framework. I shall strive to ensure a continuous assessment of student achievement and all conditions affecting the education of our children in compliance with state law. I shall strive to ensure a continuous assessment of student achievement and all conditions affecting the education of our children in compiance with state law. I shall serve as education's key advocate on behalf of students in our community schools to advance the vision for potato school district. I shall serve as education advocate of students and our community schools to advance the vision for school district. and I shall strive to work together with the district superintendent to lead the school district toward fulfilling the vision the board has created, fostering excellence for every student in the areas of academic skills, knowledge, citizenship, and personal development.
And I strive to work together with the district superintendent to lead the school district toward fulfilling the vision board, fostering excellence for every student areas of skills, college, citizenship, and personal development. Congratulations. [Applause] [Music] All right. Um, okay. All right. To move forward from here, Cindy, would you please call the role? Rolandu here. Kristen Garos here. Raquel Gonzalez Thomas present. Aaron Kilberg present. Craig Meadows present. Danielle Sligger present. Katie Swiki present. Okay. Um, oh, just messed up this computer. The role of the board president is to run the meeting as one of the president's primary responsibilities and we are currently without a board president. This is the reorganization meeting. In order to launch this meeting, someone must be selected as the temporary president and temporary secretary. Therefore, I would like to entertain a motion to appoint Tom Kim as president prom and Cindy Rodriguez as secretary prom.
So moved. Second. All right. Motion by Rob Alandu and second by Katie Swiki. Okay. Thank you. Go. All right. Uh for this we can do a voice vote. So all in favor I I All opposed. Okay. Um Holly and Cindy, do we have any public comments? Yes, we do. Okay. Great. Welcome to the meeting of the board of education. If anyone wishes to address the board this evening, please see our recording secretary to submit a form for addressing the board. Please put your full name and address on the board on the form. In general, the board will not answer questions or engage in a dialogue during public comment. This does not mean we do not take your concerns or comments seriously. The board values active community participation in the district's endeavors and encourages people to engage with the district using the appropriate channels and systems designed with your input in mind.
Board members are not involved in the day-to-day operations of the district and cannot engage in district business individually. If you have specific questions or would like to further engage with the district, you may submit your questions using the link on the website and the appropriate staff member will communicate with you. Our BPS 101 communications manager, Holly Deman, will now explain the procedures for public comment and call up the speakers. Thank you. We have one public speaker, Chris Low. Will you please approach the podium?
Uh you'll have three minutes to speak. I will show a threeminut timer up on the board and we ask that you address everyone in the room with respect and civility. Thank you.
Good evening board members, superintendent, staff, and community. As a former board member and as a parent and advocate, I want to first congratulate our newly sworn in members. Your election represents progress and with it the community's mandate for change. To our returning members, the clock is ticking. When I was on this board over two years ago, our board and district committed to addressing systemic inequalities. Yet, a year after passing a strategic plan, we still lack the dashboard to track pro progress. Marginalized students, black, latinex, LGBTQ plus, disabled, and others cannot afford delays masked as caution or concern for causing more harm. Their trauma is not theoretical. It is daily documented and demands action. I know this work is hard. I served eight years fighting to move this district from denial to accountability. Progress requires four things. A clear goal, resources with authority, a deadline, and the fortitude to enforce all three.
I believe you now have the majority to deliver this. The community stands ready to support you with expertise, labor, and even funding. But we will not te to tolerate weaponized incompetence or performative allyship. Leadership is not about saying the right words. It's about dismantling barriers even when it's politically or socially uncomfortable. To Mr. Kim, you were hired to lead, not plate. One of the most important reasons I supported your hiring was because you pledged to confront injustice. We need you to act like it. To senior staff, resisting change, adapt or please step aside. To the board, use your power. Reject the glacial pace of progress that keeps failing students. And to the community, hold them accountable. Pack these meetings. Demand transparency. Transparency. Our kids' lives depend on it. While we are here to help, our patience has run out. The time for excuses is over.
The time for courage is now. Let us get to work together. Thank you. [Applause] That was the last application. Okay. Thank you. Um we have action items which are to fill four positions of officers on the board. Three of them are elected and the first position we would like to fill is board president. The most immediate responsibility a board president does is to preside over the board meetings. They look over the agenda and there are a whole host of responsibilities that are listed in the board policy that they fulfill. If you would like to nominate yourself or someone else, please say so. Now, I would like to nominate uh Craig Meadows for president. Y are there any other nominations? The window for nomination for board president has closed. Given that there is only one candidate that has been nominated, uh we may proceed by declaring that that person is present if they are accepting and we will do it by a roll call vote.
Do you accept the nomination? I accept the nomination. Okay. Cindy, would you please do a roll call? Arandu? Yes. Gerals? Yes. Gonzalez Thomas? Yes. Kilberg? Yes. Meadows? Yes. All right. The next I guess I got to take over now. My time is done. Your time is done. The next officer position will be elected is board vice president. The board vice president fills in when the board president is absent and fulfills other responsible responsibility as noted in board policy. I will open the window for board vice president. So if you would like to nominate yourself or another person, you may do so now. I would like to nominate Aaron Kilberg for vice president. Has a moment to think about anybody else? All right, the window for nomination for board vice president has closed. Since there is only one uh person nominated for that, should he be willing to accept it?
We can do a roll call vote. Do you accept? I accept. All right, Sydney, please lead us in a roll call vote. Susiki, yes. Sligger, yes. Meadows, yes. Kilberg, yes. Gonzalez Thomas, yes. Yes. Arandu, yes. All right. Thank you. All right. The last officer position we fill is board secretary. As indicated in board policy, the board secretary makes all makes sure all of the documents are prepared, minutes are accurate, and is the official signer of decisions that the board has made. I will open up the window for board secretary. So if you would like to nominate yourself or another person, you may do it now. I'd like to nominate Katie Smith. Okay. I was gonna nominate myself. Got a friend. Sorry. Sorry. All right. Hearing no other nominations at this point in time. The window has closed for the secret nomination window for nomination for board secretary is closed as there is only one if you would like to accept since you're going to nominate yourself.
I accept. All right. Thank you. We can do a roll call vote. Cindy, please lead a roll call vote. Gilbert. Yes. Gonzalez Thomas. Yes. Garos. Yes. Harlandu. Yes. Swiki. Yes. Sligger. Yes. Meadows. Yes. All right. Item 5.4. Appoint treasurer. There's one more officer. The position of board treasurer is a specific office where the treasurer must be able to compile monthly financial records and and they must be properly bonded. The board is able to appoint a non board member to fill this office and is historically this has board has appointed the CFO as treasurer. With that, I would like to entertain a motion to appoint Dr.
Tony and Glaciy as a treasure of the board of education unless there's any questions first. Tony doesn't get to ask to comment. Notice I don't have to ask if he accepts. All right. I will entertain a motion to appoint Dr. Tony and Glacia as the treasurer of the board of education. So move. So moved by Danielle. Second. Second by Raquel. All in favor? I I All opposed. All right. Thank you very much. Congratulations to all those that have agreed to get a pay raise. Yes. Yeah. No. Good luck. All right. Item 6.1, times and dates for regular and some special board meetings. So, the last vote that this board has to take tonight is to set the regular dates for the board of education as well as some special meeting dates. It is required by board policy that every spring the board sets the dates and times at the regular board meetings for the next fiscal year.
This is done so that in full transparency everyone knows when the meetings will be held. The way this calendar is put together is due to the district's operational needs this coming year. A Tuesday after the 19th of the month is the regularly scheduled in the draft dates. So it is the first Tuesday after the 19th. This allows our finance department to meet deadlines such as payrolls and bills. While it might not land after that date, we try to be as close as possible. I would like to mention that the meetings seem to land on the third Tuesday of the month, but that is not the guideline we father whether that is it is after or near the 19th of the month. And if you find a way to get Outlook to tell you how to do that, please let me know. I haven't figured it out yet.