>> Go ahead. Right now we we're we've had 100% successful. Great. Okay. >> Um >> so we started first year we had 17. Uh now we're at 25. Next year we're looking to maybe bump to 35 uh because we've had so many applicants. Um >> limited just by space at this point or structure. >> It's space. Yeah, it's space. So the the classroom on site there can only hold so many kids and then do so safely obviously. And you know it's it's a space constraint. So we're looking to expand that. And then also we've got other buildings obviously that we're we're trying to figure out how we can make this work. But it's been an evolution. I mean if you would have looked back at 2022 2023 what it's going to look like today. Um again I to me it has exceeded all of our expectations just in terms of the engagement with the kids.
All right. So this year we've really been preparing and meeting as a whole building level admin. Um our guidance groups have been meeting to make sure that we're ready for this. We weren't really sure what those different things were going to be, but we wanted to make sure that we had things in place. So, we've been focusing on our K12 attendance all year long. Um, our elementarymentaries have really been working on their intentionality during a win to help our students with those deficit skills. Um, seventh grade, our high school guidance team has already completed a seventh grade grab plan for them. And so when in the spring like mid April, middle to late April, they're going to work with those seventh graders on that to get that done. Um we already have high school credit courses in eighth grade. Um once a student goes into high school, they are asked to identify two different diplomaals to work toward.
So, we just did round one. Round two will occur in May. If they can come to summer school as mandated, they can have a third opportunity to take that IREAD test. So, there will be three chances to pass that test and move on to fourth grade. That's great to know. Thank you. Very powerful people. This board is the your professional educators, your principals. Meet with those families individually who are in jeopardy of that. So, if they're going to be retained, they're meeting with them in the meeting process. Okay. That's a requirement. We require that of all of our principals today. That's a great policy. Do you have a couple of additional questions? Um in the past, the we offered summer schooling that was not dedicated to students who were part Mhm. maybe just do as well as we hoped on standardized testing. Uh could one of you on that Could you mention maybe Dr.
>> Uh, what I described is the manufacturer's recommendations. Um, it is some of them supply their own um, double-sided tape or singlesided sealant tape, but yeah, it's right out of their recommendations. >> Okay. So, they have a procedure and you'll follow that procedure to to do Okay, fine. I just wanted to make sure that because I know like like a liner over a hazardous waste site, it it's a different process. They I believe they use like an ultrasonic welder to actually weld the liner so that it's um essentially becomes one piece and not two pieces glued together. >> Yeah. um for a hazardous material that might be required for >> for storm water. Um >> the double the sealant tape, you know, this isn't like scotch tape like this. It's a, >> you know, 4 inch thick. You don't want to touch this with your bare hands.
Um that putting aside I also love hearing about restorative justice. Um at one point I was teaching in the elementary school in Cole Rain. All of those little children were very involved in restorative justice and we had to have that at the middle school back a long time ago when it was actually um a junior high setting. Um I was hired by the city of Greenfield to teach a little young either David was either fifth or sixth grade. He was an IEP child. Brilliant. I went to his small apartment. his mother rem um stayed in the apartment while I was tutoring him in all of his subjects. Um it's my understanding, the way I recollect it, is that maybe there was a lawsuit from the mother to the school system and so that might be one of the reasons, but he also had some tremendous behavior issues which toned were toned down with me working with him one-on-one.
And and I think with without criticizing anyone else, our Dean is fairly new. And so the Dean has an approach that he believes can help Hawaii, can help our Kiki, can help our future um by addressing nutrition. Nutrition, I agree. Um I We grew up eating canned goods, Spam and eggs for dinner. Um but we've got to address this and we think this may be approach. Understand that that budgets are tight and it is something we appreciate you hearing it, Senator, because this is this is a conversation that I don't think we're having now. We're having a lot of food security conversations, right? But to add in the nutrition component, which is critically important, and and how the agriculture can play a role in that, also. I think that's at least a conversation that we're happy to have at this point. The outcomes of of this program, it will be long-term.
As admin prepare for the new master schedules to coordinate full day kindergarten, I'm asking you please ensure our schedules actually follow the law. It appears that retraining might be necessary for teachers and administration who continue to disregard the law. And on a good note, I want to applaud Bavia for their progressive post during Women's History Month. As a woman who grew up in this community, raising two daughters in this community, it is important for our family to know that not everyone looks or acts like we do. Not every family looks the same as ours. And when Betavia posted that post, it showed that there are other people out there in the world that may not look the same. And it's really important for our kids as they grow in this unprecedented times that they're supported and they feel loved and accepted no matter what. So, I applaud you for that post and I hope to see more welcoming posts throughout the month.
Um at this time, we're happy to answer any questions you might have. I have one quick check question. I have two actually, but the first one is really the harder one. Check in check out, could you give me a just a brief summary of what that is? Yeah. Mhm. Check in check out is our tier two um supports, where students have the opportunity to build relationships with uh staff throughout the day. Each about half hour to 40 minutes, students can check in with a teacher based on our school wide goals, being respectful, responsible, and safe. Um and they get a rating based on how many reminders they got throughout that 40-minute, 30-minute time period, and it's just a way for students to make that connection with staff and reflect on their behavior in a meaningful way throughout the day. Very good. Thank you. And a positive is it really creates so many additional touch points between students and staff, where sometimes students might get attention for what we might call like an unexpected behavior or a negative behavior, but check in check out really allows staff to celebrate all of the moments through the day where students are making positive choices and are meeting behavior expectations, which isn't always highlighted.
Um, we've been working I know I I think every year I've been with you I've been kind of highlighting how our growth has been in our EL um, support for students and this is a real highlight uh, that we're proud of and to be able to offer that going into next year. Um, let's see. In science, we've just seen some shifts um, moving around. I think the big highlight there is going to be AP chemistry. Requests are way up in AP chemistry as well um, moving into next year. Um, in social studies, I know last year we went to AP psych being a full year class and we were wondering how that was going to work out. So, I'm happy to report that we're going to continue with four sections going into next year. So, that um, moving to a full year course uh, didn't have any negative impact.
And whereas the board of education has determined that the employment of teachers listed on exhibit 1 will not be renewed and they shall be honorably dismissed at the end of the 2025 2026 school term and not employed for the 2026 2027 school term pursuant to section 24-11 of the school code of Illinois 105 ILCS 524-11. Now therefore be resolved by the board of education of Kerry Community Consolidated School District number 26, Mckenry and Lake County, Illinois as follows. Section one, that the teachers listed on exhibit one are hereby honorably dismissed effective at uh the end of the 25206 school term and not employed as teachers during the school district for in the school district uh for the 2026 2027 school term. Section two, that the president and secretary of the board of education are hereby authorized and directed to give each teacher written notice of non-renewal in the form of the attached uh in the form attached hereto as exhibit 2 and incorporated herein by this reference by certified mail return receipt requested by April 15, 2026.
The rough total for this cost for our first adoption, there are 42 students that have signed up for this course. That is two sections. So, we'll have one classroom set and we will have the 42 electronic licenses on top of the 30 textbooks. Comes to $5,566.21. Okay. And I will continue to stay updated on those numbers with the vendor. The second textbook is our high school AP American Government book. Hopefully I have these in order. Uh this is for our AP courses. And we have roughly, I think, 199 kids signed up next year for this. Uh three sets of uh textbooks for our teachers. Uh e uh e-books as well for this a six-year Oh, and both of these are for Okay. Sorry, I need to slow down. This book is only for one year. And I want to explain why. The Spanish for heritage speakers being it's the first year of the roll-out we have identified those 42 students.
So this is a this is this is a gamecher in my opinion and I think maybe we can even take it a step even further trying to get to the one year olds and the two-year-olds in some capacity. >> Mr. Brown, you are right. So when we look at your kindergarten readiness scores, we know our students are coming in already behind. And when we take that back into our three and four year year olds into the pre-K programs, think about even when they get to those prek programs, >> they're behind already as well. We are start we're seeing that >> the parent education piece is key, right? We need to start reaching our students early, but first our parents don't know what they don't know. So teaching them those milestones, those are key. Absolutely. >> But then remembering that the research is very clear that until our students have social emotional skills and self-regulation skills, the academics are not going to be solidified.
We only had one this year that was over two years old, so just to approve to void that and deposit the funds back into the account. So was that in there any indication on why the USB access is not doing that? >> [laughter] >> I was thinking the same thing. You don't want our money? [laughter] Yeah, yeah, wasn't it just like $5? >> [laughter] >> I'll make a motion to approve the old outstanding checks. I'll second. Get a motion and a second to consider approval of all outstanding checks. All all in favor signify by saying I. I. I. I. All opposed, same sign. >> [clears throat] >> Motion carries. Uh comments, do we have any public comments for non-agenda items? There was none. >> [cough] >> Okay. >> [snorts] >> Any board or superintendent questions, comments? I don't have any. No. I'm just happy with the way the construction's going.
If we can, if we're able to, we can pay off the lease at the three-year mark without penalty and that would save in some interest. So, the worst-case scenario, um, well, and they should last us about 10 to 15 years. So, even if we say 10, that's our worst-case scenario, um, we would see about 9,035 dollars per season with those ones. Just the financials for you guys. >> What's the total cost with the interest? >> The total cost is $90,354. That's if we were if we couldn't pay it off early. >> Right for all of the six years. >> Yes. >> Alan, what are we Go ahead, Don. I'm sorry. >> So, we are getting I'm just reading here one scoreboard for the gym, jumbo screen or a video board, and then a soccer scoreboard. >> Yeah. >> And that's all figured. So, that's all in the 79 >> Correct.
Last week was the PSAT. We took that test. Tomorrow we will begin checkpoint three. Um, and I do want to say that uh, give some shout outs to Mrs. Perry and Mrs. Barnett for working doing interventions with our students who either didn't pass or maybe were approaching. Uh, they call it coded in red and yellow and those students they've done a two-week intensive uh, intervention with those students and they've been seeing great progress in that. Um, so I think we're we're well on our our way to improving those math and language arts scores. The success that they're having at the elementary at least I think it will bode well for us in the in the coming years. Yeah. Awesome. Yeah, it's it's certainly testing season in the spring and I know I know Mrs. Unger especially loves state testing and she just gets really excited about it and just wishes we could have more.
Um the rate of completion uh the certification that these kids are getting and then the exposure just for their career development. >> And then lastly because this is so fantastic what you're doing. What's the criteria to get in? >> Basically, they'll have to go through and apply. So, we're based out of Southern Indiana Career and Technical Center. So, when they apply for the programs, they can apply and then based on uh all the representatives from Amcor will actually interview the students and so they go through, interview the students, they pick it based on a rubric, attendance, uh you know, GPA, different things of that nature and then select the students from that. So it's beyond just EBSC students since it's coming from site. >> No, it's just EBSC with sick tech. Yeah. And like he said, so it is an interview process. Um you know, our team sits down with the kids.
That way we know that what they want to do in freshman year is different a lot of the times in junior year. That way they're covered and they don't lose any time of having to kind of detour off of their path because they want a new path. um our high school PLC's and working on um identifying student credit approval, making sure our students are on track to graduate on time. Uh this year was the first year we administered the PSAT 8, 9th, 8th grade. So they'll be taking it in 8th grade, 9th, 10th, and then 11th to help prepare them for that SHT in 11th grade, but also give us that longitudinal data to track the growth over time. And then um as a high school, we are also looking student opportunities for that work. So, we have had a lot of things in place and now we know the rules of the game.
House Brown? Maybe this is a question for you, I think. Um it Could you explain the shift in rationale for the program because um I know many families have a I've availed myself of that to make sure our eight-year-old is actually engaged some in the day as well. So, can you explain why why the shift? The focus now on summer school is remediation. Um Before, we've had various models of summer learning. Um you might recall we used to have Jumpstart, which was a get-ahead. This is purely remediation at the elementary level. Any exceptions would be made through the principal. So, if a family has a question about whether or not they should have been invited, they can uh contact their principal directly and he or she can speak with them. Can we have some flexibility there to allow students to maybe who are struggling with reading, maybe who are on the cusp?
>> Um sealant tape. >> Yeah. >> And like I said, it either goes between the two overlaps or goes on like the seam there and the seam under here. >> Okay. And there's no folding of it. >> Uh it's overlapped at least six inches. and but not and then fold it back on. >> No, I think having it just two two clean sections on top of each other is the cleanest way to do that. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. That's it. >> Anyone else from the commission like to ask a question? Anyone online? Bill or Gabe?
The good news is as a special needs child, I got him into Newton school. He sat at the computer. He was in the library by the end of all of the time that I was spending all of the time in his tiny little apartment with his mother being present. There was also a younger sister. Um, but he was brilliant. He just had special needs. Um, and I know that she wanted to have him continue to progress in like a summer school setting. So, I'm had a number of experiences in special needs classroom over the years and unfortunately if they have to be driven out somewhere to get their needs met, you know, we all know that no child left behind is kind of where we're coming from and we do have a lot of special needs kids, especially postcoid. Um, and sometimes it's just behavior and sometimes it's something much more serious.