So So those are all great things. Um the the best news is we have the high quality curricular material and the professionals that are using it are asking the best questions about writing. They're asking the best questions about um timing and pacing. And so those are really great things. The behavior grant we are um still in the midst of working with conscious discipline for the willing and our coach Katie Aherns. She's doing some virtual calls, coaching calls, and then she's coming back again in person. She'll be at Ottoman March 9th, Prairie Crossing March 10th, and Metton Central March 11th. and her goal this time is to really um to get out with teachers and to model. I know um at Otterbin, Eva Cassaday, the elementary coordinator, worked with the teachers and really tried to get them to talk about what's your toughest time in the day with your students.
you know, that's a lot of hours every week that we'll have freed up to work out there. >> You're a team of three. I mean, that's not that many. So, >> um, so we had I said we had three, uh, that put in quotes. I guess we need to specifically state the the company that we're going to go with. Um, so I need a motion and a second uh for approval on that lawn maintenance >> level >> proposal. Level. Yeah. Level ground LLC. >> And I think you should make the motion. >> Do what? >> I think you ought to be the one make the motion. >> You won't be up here mowing anything. >> I'll make the motion. >> I'll second. >> I have a motion, a second to approve Level Ground LLC as our lawn maintenance uh provider.
Yeah, I didn't do it last year. >> Last year. >> So, it and we have actually rescheduled for April, but we will we plan to do that. And uh the museum also uh is is great because again we get back into those standards. I know I like the mastadon and they have a real birch community there and things like that, but they're all kind of interested. But we really get to connect with state government and occasionally um if one of our state representatives is there, they will actually come and speak to the students and talk to them. And then when they we go through the court, they um really sit right there as if you know there was court session and they always have really good speakers and people that are well support. >> This was a couple years ago. Well, these are kids who I believe were in the eighth grade.
So, I have several students that have used it this year. Um that they just can get on their iPad they don't know. It just looks like they're getting on there. Yeah. >> And so they could get on there and make a report that way. And the you can kind of think about the alert as kind of like clon like there's an alarm off the building, they're going to keep calling until they get a hold of somebody. So, I think that's what we're paying for is more that monitoring that if you have a kiddo that something's happening at home, some, you know, something's happening at night, they've seen something on social media, um, you know, kids will reach out to their friends >> way more quickly than they'll reach out to us. And so, it's just a method of getting information to who it needs to be with more quickly.
So and I think that that's a testament to our students as well. they're they're very there's a very diverse group of interests and so we try to make sure that we have enough uh variety for every student to find something that is interesting to them. So >> I I just thought of another question. So man I tell you what I just think I just lost that question. Oh I'm sure that your students a lot of the college will be paid for because I'm sure they're academically high achievers right when they get in. Have do you guys have conversations with whether it's digness or whomever whoever you work with ascension whomever about them because nowadays you you can't stop say an associate or bachelor's you got to keep going on to get more education to be a nurse as an example about their tuition reimbursement is that something that we're do you have somebody from their HR come in and actually talk about these benefits because I know they're trying to get them in they want them bad but I think that's a valuable thing for our students to know this is my long-term goes my plan now.
The goal here is to build skills for independence so that these students can eventually spend more time with their gened peers. Because these students have more moderate disabilities, some of them are working far below grade level. So in these spaces, we service students with intellectual disabilities, varying levels of developmental delays, autism, down syndrome, behavior disorders, and more. And as you can imagine, this involves a lot of individualized pacing as well as goal setting. And here we measure success in growth, not speed. So what many people don't realize is that there's so much more that goes into this than helping students grow academically. Our staff focuses on academic skills, but they also put significant effort into social development and on everyday problem solving. That just helps the students become more independent and confident in the world around them. Many of these students have limited to no verbal skills, so just getting them to use words to communicate is huge.
And for many of our kiddos, myself included now and as a as a little one, um sitting still just didn't work for me. So, and that's okay, right? So, we just need to make sure that we understand and are meeting our kids where they are at. So, this year, um, Dr. Heather, our OT, has continued the conversation talking about neuroirming practices. Um, and this year, we've included some of our staff members, some of our teachers, wide range, lower and upper, um, sharing their, um, their opportunities and what they've implemented in the classroom that have been effective for them. So what neuroirmiring practices and strategies they've used and we found that that is super important hearing staff hearing from their colleagues of what's working um you know really really confirmed and and um really really I think it it helped everyone really understand and we're using those teachers as a go-to to um say hey what what works for you here's what I'm lacking here's where I'm struggling and and we can come together on that.
there's a collaborative conversation about those needs. The needs are recorded. Um, and then what happens at the end of that process, I get a big packet that kind of comes to me to say, "These are all the things that that folks are requesting. Some are absolutely critical because they're service- based or they're legally legally required. Some are I would really love to have this. Yay. Thanks, Ken." That means Cara Pompiano is is home clicking on permissions. Um and so we go through and it you know it's pretty all-consuming process. um you know the the people are behind closed doors for weeks on end uh to develop out the the project the process um in terms of the ask and you know we this year you know many years I've been here a long time so the the the budget process looked like um don't ask for too much you know like that was the conversation uh what do you absolutely need this year we said tell us you know if you could change things if you can get you know make improvements in your building what would that look like and what what would you need to kind of pull that off?
I mean, we've always done a per family charge, but let's just say $5 a kid. Right now, we're averaging about 60 kids a day. You're bringing in $300 a day times five days, which we don't get 60 kids all the days. Okay. So, it's $1,500 a week. We we were paying our staff and we're low our pay. That's one of the things we'll be working to increase in our request from council. I think it's 2 an hour. So again, three staff and repairs get $12 an hour. Plus, I get a director's. I mean, we're not going to make enough off these to pay for all that. So, plus whatever we need in supplies, so on and so forth. So, there would have to be if we don't get a grant, there's going to have to be a financial commitment from the district or we're just going to have to say we don't have after school program in the future.
But those were just some of the concerns we were working through in our head that we wanted to make sure you guys were aware of. Um, for that facility request for the next two years cycle. We did ask them um whenever they scheduled it to schedule it in the afternoon. Um that way it give us a little bit of time to get things cleaned up if we were hosting a game the night before or something like that. Um so >> they're more they're more than happy to work with us. However, >> are they an amen? >> They are an a certain You guys think of any other concerns with that at all? >> Now, have you talked to them about that? If we can't play on Friday, if we got to play on Saturday or something of that sort, >> we've talked about that, just not in detail because we don't know how that'll pan out.
Make sure you remind them how much um we appreciate their efforts and their work and the best they can do. Um and we'll celebrate that. Um board clerk, any messages for the families? Um, again, just want to say thank you and um reiterate what Ruben said. Make sure that the kids are here on time and especially for the testing dates. Um, and we appreciate everything you do as a family and all the support that you give the children or the students. Thank you. >> You can join the Special Olympics. They're going to be this Friday, right? And we also are warriors is posted the schedule. We get into the final bracket be there to support. They need us. Having said that, Tam and thank you. You're welcome to stay for the next five hours for the meeting or we're going to take a little break.
Should have brought my water with me. Um, getting to know the kids, getting to know the families. No, I'm good. I'll make it. Um, and really building those actual relationships, those personal relationships, you know, being a mentor, being a role model, having that chance to be a positive influence. And I think that's I think I'm speaking for for all of us that that's really the highlight for us. I got to say, you guys are amazing. What a wonderful example you are. These kids, you don't know when they grow up and become adults how much you've impacted their lives. >> I appreciate that. We We hope so. You don't know, but we hope so. >> You do. Not only that, some kids don't have a very good insight of what a police officer really is. >> And you're reaching out to them and saying, "I'm here.
For many students, before school is the only time they are free to voluntarily participate in extracurriculars. By limiting what clubs are allowed to participate is disproportionately affecting students with their afterchool obligations and reducing their opportunity for extracurricular involvement. Student voice, leadership, and civic engagement are values Stephvenson proudly supports and Club America leaders are working hard to obtain. By ensuring consistent access to meeting times, we would be strengthening those values and allow more students the opportunity to participate. Thank you for your time and consideration. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Anyone else? >> Hello, my name is James Satinsky. I live in Long Grove. Um, so as a student athlete at Stevenson High School, as a member and leader of Stevenson's Club America, I request you to allow us to meet in the mornings so that students athletes like myself may participate in the club. By not allowing Club America to meet in the mornings, majority of athletes will not have an equal opportunity to participate in our club.
Also, top 10 finishers. Tyler Anderson, sophomore. He's a very good bowler. He also bowled a 300 once, >> which I saw. It was really cool at a bowling meet. and Matt uh P. He was also a he was also a sophomore. Also a very good bowler. That was Matt also a very good bowler. 20th place at the bull invite. High eighth place at high school by TJ K. He was he's a freshman. He got two 6ix9ine which is very good. And two sectional qualifiers Matt P and Kaden S. Two very good sophomores that I knew that very good bowlers. And Kaden Kaden missed qualifying for state by 59 pins at the sectionals. So we bowled awesome, averaged about a 210 and didn't quite make it. That's how good you have to be. >> Um, kind of like Allan said, we did beat Downer's Grove South, which was very nice for bragging rights for the first year.
>> Correct. >> Thank you. Are there any uh plans or thoughts of moving away from the ingenuity uh model and having actual live teachers again? >> Um we are currently discussing that we have been the last couple years. Um we uh are not ready yet to explore other learning platforms but that is a conversation we've been having internally. Okay, thank [clears throat] you very much. I >> thank you. >> Yeah, thank you. >> I think that the the the naming of the for forward thinking in terms of what the board uh the team has done is very helpful and I'm glad that you named that for the board. We recognize that this is there were a lot of new folks last year and that also included opportunities for those pain points. So now this is really exciting news to know [clears throat] 6.1 superintendent's comments.
Um and I echo what everyone has already said. All of you are such good speakers and kind and have just been so welcoming. So, way to go. Keep that up. Molly, did you know there's another published author in this building? >> Mrs. Taylor also published a wonder, wonderful book about autism and it tells a story about her daughter. So, just a little plug. She's another resource for you. And I hope that I see your book at Barnes & Noble. I love that you love snails. That is so awesome. Again, thinking ahead, the perseverance you've shown, not knowing where to start. So, you went to your resources and you brainstormed and you made a to-do list, which I love a to-do list. So, and you also have a really good teacher sponsor over here with Mrs. Howard. So, keep up the good work. Um, the National Junior Honor Society, you're wearing many, many hats at your age.
Is it lining up to go out to recess? Is it the bathroom break? Is it coming back in after lunch? And then what are some strategies or techniques that Katie can help with? So on that day, will actually do it and they can watch um a different way of um working with students and um behaviors and um so as you can see the focus there regulation we're still working on regulation the five steps focused attention practices and wish wells um also we're very excited Dr. Lori Dulttus um who is the guru of neuroscience and education. She is coming for in-person visits. She'll be at Otteran in the morning on March 18th and Benton Central in the afternoon. And then she'll be at prayer crossing all day on March 19th. And our focus with her is just reviewing the basics, understanding neuroanatomy to regulate behavior and calm the brain and how we move forward as neuroscience educators.
Any questions on this proposal at all? No questions. All in favor? >> I I uh none opposed. Uh next item, review and approval of ECA assistant baseball coach Trace Hammer. I need a motion and a second to approve Trace Hammer as an assistant uh baseball coach. >> I'll make a motion to approve the assistant baseball coach. >> I have a second. >> I have a motion to second.
Now, I was thinking my class at the time was Mr. Leon was one of my partners. When we were going to the state house and we saw the governor getting up from a table, they were having a meeting. I told my student wave at him because that's our governor. We saw I said he came out and he said, "Where are you from?" And when I said deli, he said, "Well, I know where that is." So, he brought us in to his office and he talked to the kids for a long time. a guide so they were a little upset because she had a schedule and they are pretty distinct to the kids and nobody used to do that. So that was quite an experience for our half of our students. They didn't have the museum at that time but that was kind of a fun thing that they got to do and they get to go in and sit in the the different branches and learn about our government and how it works.
>> There's a long list of stuff that we can put in there. Suicide If one of my friends is thinking about suicide, I put that report in. So, it's not just a threat situation. There's a lot of things in it. >> Is the app is that something that we can push out for all the kids that school owns automatically. So, it will be there. >> Yeah. Push. >> Sure. Johnny could probably put that on the iPad. >> That' be a question though. on this. Does this only pertain to during school hours, classroom stuff >> or is this for like sporting events? Say during sometimes we have things. >> It can be any 24 hours a day. So like on the weekends, it can be that they hear something or talk about something. Um it can be that they hear something that's going to happen at the basketball game.