Not a Bears fan. So there said it um plus I don't want to pay those taxes. Um leg I started that with with reiterating the steps of the legislative process. The reason I put that in there is because, you know, the people are our state senate members and our state house members, they get a lot of bad raps, a lot, but they had to consider 653 bills, a short session. That's that's a lot to put in your head to make an honest evaluation. But that process it goes through is a good indication of checks and balances which is so important for government.
Happy to answer any questions that you may have. >> Originally had a question. I'm not sure if you answered it your setup for this, but um how do we measure if this is working? >> How would we measure if this was working moving forward? >> Are there benchmarks that we look at um testing or or whatever the case may be where we can adjust um where the instruction is going? >> Yes. Um so there are a few ways we do that. Um we think about that through the lens of program evaluation. So there are some elements we look at with we're thinking about like um how's it working for our teachers right now. So we do a lot of walkthroughs where we're seeing how instruction is happening. We're talking to students about the work they're doing. What are they learning? Um we also have surveys that we're we're sending out.
>> Well, no, I'll take full responsibility, but I know it's out of order and I do apologize. Uh but just ask if we could approve that for the for the record, please. >> So that was listed in with all the handbooks. So, does it need to be approved separately or not? >> Well, that's what I'm >> That's a great question. I just want to verify and make sure that Mrs. Kitchen is still here and went through a lot of work in her committee and just want to make sure it was in there. >> Whatever is appropriate, whatever needs to be approved. >> I would guess that it does not need to be reone. >> I mean, it's it's >> Mr. Wy is your curls are your toes curling back there? included. >> It was part it's >> we didn't state it. We said student handbooks, but we didn't say anything about high ability.
Ken seconds. >> Thank you. >> Chris Espinosa. >> I. >> Ken Dawson. >> Hi. >> April Fein. I >> Michael Riskey. >> I >> Casten. >> Hi, >> Katie Courtourtney. >> Hi. >> And Don Rener. >> I motion carries. >> Thank you. >> Item nine, any old business? >> No. >> Item 10, any new business? >> No, >> Julie. Uh, second reception of visitors. Do we have any slips? >> No, sir. >> Thank you. Um, communications and announcements. Um, Cara, can we get a report on lend? >> Are we not voting on that one, too? Is that were we supposed to? >> Uh, we did that. We We did that. We did that. Okay. Okay. Um, our next meeting is Friday. So, um, we will have an update after Friday's meeting. >> They're busy in Springfield. >> My whole week is sitting in on >> conversations around legislation, so Okay.
So did you have any questions on any of that part try to again I was unable to attend the state state house day which I really enjoy but educational bills just highlighted I think I highlighted 10 of them. I'm not going to go through 10 of those because some of those bills are inactive. Kind of gave up on that even moving from one chamber to another or getting any kind of approval. But on the on the second page there, u state bill, excuse me, Senate Bill 78, this is this is a little different. advances a bell-to-bell band requiring phones and smartwatches to be locked away for the entire day. That is getting movement. It's been referred to from the Senate to the House Ed. And they only have a very short time here to get this completed. So, I think you're going to see a lot of movement on these bills or no movement on these bills this week or perhaps these bills be tacked on to another bill.
And in addition to that, something we've done in the past and would continue to do is we have frequent empathy interviews and focus groups. So, we're meeting with groups of people to talk through um what are some of the pain points right now? What are things we need to consider or or supplement to improve? Um on the other side of that, we're also always looking to see throughout the year, how are students responding to the curriculum? Um are we seeing we give a cadence in grades K2, we have some other assessments that we're giving in intermediate grades. Do we see that students are successful with this? Is there a specific area where we may see that there needs to be further need? Um, and a lot of times what we'll see is is alignment between what we're seeing in classrooms and what we're hearing from teachers and what we're seeing in student data.
So, uh that was left off. So, if that's included and we're good, I'm I'm good. I just want to make sure it was >> I mean I'm more than happy to >> Yeah, I I hear him. Uh okay. What we're going to do is uh just to make sure we are covered, I will entertain a motion reference the high ability handbook um request. >> Or do you want me to just amend my original motion to add it? >> At this point, let's do a new motion. >> Looking at the way it's recommended for the action. I think it was all that was included >> and it's listed there. >> It's and it's listed. >> It's it's in the list of things that are listed with the student handbooks. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> If we need to do it again next month, we're here. That's true.
>> Yeah. Do you Okay, that's your update. >> There's a lot going on. Yeah, there's a lot going on. >> Okay. Um, Chris, can we get a update on Sasset, please? Uh they have begun um recruiting for their 2027 uh school year. Um setting their strategic plan. Um I'm blanking on there was something else I was supposed to remember. >> It's been a long week already. Um any uh >> working on staffing and locations for next school year leases? >> Yes. Yeah, the leases were a topic of conversation primarily. Um >> yeah. >> Uh April Katie, any report on the ed at Foundation? >> Uh we met last week. Um there is some changing of the guard with the board as um Julia's stepping down as president. >> Um so there will be I believe to be hearing some new names and new um positions being filled.
tucked away somewhere. But that that's a big change we have here in Crown Point where u as an example kids would bring their phones in and those are locked up for the entire school day. Not build the bell from the class period, bell the bell from the start of school to the end of school. That's a change. Not sure if that's going to happen. It's getting some movement in there. >> Mr. Vassor, can I jump in and provide a little bit of an update? we heard even this morning uh from Terry Stradlin. So it looks like the language in that is going to continue to have that bell-to-bell ban. What's not going to be in there is before they were talking about kids having to check those in and having administrators take them. The pouches were like 25 to 30 bucks a piece and the cost for that.
We can make adjustments from there. >> Other questions, Dr. G. >> Thank you very much. Appreciate you. >> Um, I think our next four items uh are be handled by Dr. Underwood. Education operations. >> Good evening, President Duckworth, members of the board, and Dr. Hoover. Again, we have January month end items for you this evening. The education and operations monthly review as of January 31st. The education fund expended 9.73% leaving a remaining balance of 40,667,513. The operations fund expended at 9.83% 83% leaving a balance of $22,544,3594554. Summary of cash balances by fund. This report provides current cash balances as of January 31st. Debt service, education, exempt debt service and operations funds. Expenditure ledger summary report. This is report provides uh an analysis of expenditures by both function and object code. And revenue ledger summary. This outlines revenue received as of January 31st for the education operations debt service and exempt debt service funds.
>> Did you want to say something, Mr. Wy? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> And board, I would say our board notes will reflect that it was listed and this was discussed. Okay. >> Thank you. >> Yep. >> Thank you. Thank you for your help, Mr. Wy. >> Before we move on, I completely missed this and I want to go back to this. As part of the consent agenda, we approved the retirements and I just want to call out those teachers and the classified staff. Um there's some very good names on there that this corporation is losing to retirement. Um I'm not going to name names, but just as a whole, there's a lot of individuals that are retiring and there's a lot of experience that are going to be walking out the door into the walking out the door at the end of the year that I want to make sure that we give them their due and and acknowledge them.
They also have a new secretary. Um, and we just had some good conversations around fundraising and different ways to get um, support to our students and um, just kind of overall like just talked about the differences that they've seen over the past few years with where help can be given and how more help is needed going forward. So, um, it was just really good to be able to to sit and talk and and hear some ideas and try to find ways to get that foundation maybe out into the community more. So, I look forward to seeing what what's to come. >> Thank you. >> Uh, Ken, any update from IASB? >> Nothing uh specific since our division meeting which was very very well and um Dr. Tony Sanders was there speaking and did a Q&A open-ended Q&A which was very wellreceived. Um there's definitely a commitment on part of the governor towards investing and continuing to invest in education.
So, what we really believe is going to end up happening with that is there's going to continue to be that same thought process of not during passing periods or lunch even, but it has to be in a locker locked up. Um, we think that there may even end up being flexibility that students have to have them in their backpacks and turned off. One of the challenges are now smart glasses are a thing um where it can connect right to cellular data but also to the internet which in my mind brings up all kinds of testing situations and concerns for state testing um AP testing all of the other testing to go on. They're actually writing prescriptions for some of those now as well. So um there's a lot of challenges out there that go with this. It's not just as easy as saying kids should never have a vote.
Happy to answer >> questions for excuse me. >> Thank you, sir. >> All right, that moves us into continued business. Dr. Hoover. >> Sure. I would like to start. First, I want to thank the board for the renewal of our um curricular resources tonight. This is it's more than a purchasing decision. It's important to make sure that teachers have what they need and students have what they need. So, these things are expensive, but it's well worth it. To that end, also thinking about um Bethany Goth just came up and thinking about the process to go to get another uh ELA curriculum. Teachers, lots of them participated in this test drive. They gave their time and expertise to make sure that we have something that they believe in that's user friendly, that's standards aligned, that we believe will move outcomes for kids. So again, it's it's really expensive monetarily.
Uh so board, if you haven't had a chance, please look through that. You'll you'll recognize the names on there, but they all deserve uh a moment for recognition. Um and I know I can't wait till the end of the year because some of these people I want to thank them for the years of service they've done and there's going to be some big shoes that some some schools are going to have to fill to to take care of that. So just want to call them out uh special about that because as I was reading through that list, I'm like, "Oh, no, they can't retire." No, they can't retire. So uh just know that both both on the the teacher side and on the classified staff side uh there are some very good people that have given a lot of years of service to this corporation and I don't want to downplay that.
So we'll be waiting to see what comes out of Springfield and what those numbers look like going forward. >> Okay. And then uh small update on the um liaison between uh the village downers grove. Um just looking for opportunities to collaborate between our respective um districts. Um I I know right now the village is looking for um commissioning art projects within our community and um Mike Davenport reached out to me about whether or not any D99 students might be interested in doing that. I pass it on to Hank and Hank had already had a conversation with Dave Fieldman about potentially collaborating in that regard to potentially have some of our students participate in some of those uh public art expositions. So, um just continue to look for opportunities for us to collaborate on certain projects >> and I shared that information with our art our fine arts departments as well.
There's all kinds of other things that go with it. But so it'll be real interesting. It goes back to Senator Ross now who wrote the bill to see if he's willing to accept the changes that have come about in the Senate and now the House. Um he could pull it all together, but most likely we're going to get some version of it that'll be a lot less restrictive as far as what locked up or secured means as as often happens. Absolutely right. Thank you for that. Number five, Senate Bill 182. This would be a touchy subject of course statewide. This bill defines male and female. State law stricts the use of restrooms in schools requiring their alignment assigned sex at birth. That has moved from the Senate. It's been referred to the House. >> Mr. ambassador. They another update that that's been dropped. >> Oh, thank you.
It's a big time commitment, but having been in buildings and talked to teachers, this was really um a change that was needed for us. So, I'm grateful for the recommendation that came forward tonight and thankful for the teachers and administrators and their leadership making that recommendation. And then lastly tonight, I do want to take a moment to recognize um the passing of Jane Burnernhard. She was a North grad. Uh taught at North for I think 40 years. Um lots of involvement in fine arts. She was a math teacher but also did things for the band for the start of the Musketss. You would go to a show at North and she was running the house. She was the assigning seats and ushering people in. Just a huge supporter of that school and even last week was subbing at North High School. So she's a retiree that stayed involved throughout her throughout her retirement.
I think it's very important and I want to thank them again for their years of service here for the corporation. >> Thank you Mr. Wall and it's you're exactly right. >> Anything further? >> Yes. I would like to thank Mrs. Babcock for being here. It's so refreshing to have you here. We feel whole again and for your not only your expertise, your level of expertise, but your experience because folks, not everybody can do this. That's for sure. And also to Mr. Wall for his level of interest and expertise, not only in finance, but in legislation. You're such an asset for us. Thank you, Ryan. And thank you, Mrs. Babcock. >> Thank you, Mrs. Miller. Anybody else? Okay, we're going to move on to H1 superintendent search update. I'm just going to read a brief statement. Uh bring everybody up to date as where we're at.
You know, I would like to say our fine arts department, both schools are really phenomenal and the work that our students are creating is really amazing. So, anything that gives another venue to get them out into the community is fantastic. >> Okay. Uh upcoming board meetings. Um, our next meeting will be March 2nd, 2026 for a workshop meeting here at the ASC at 6:30 p.m. Followed later in the month for March 16th, 2026 for our monthly business meeting at 6:30 p.m. also here at the ASC. Um, our final item for business going into close session. Can I get a motion from the board of education to go into close session for open meetings act exception number one for personnel and open meetings act exception number two for collective negotiating matters. >> So moved. Second >> Ken moves April seconds. >> Ken Dawson. >> Hi. >> April Fein.