So, those were some of the >> Yeah, I'll just There's 1,009 bills proposed that impact education right now. So, it is a lot that the various uh educational advocates that we work with are combing through. Uh myself and my peer superintendents are spending a lot of time uh looking at legislation and trying to understand its impact on our individual school districts right now. So, it is a busy time of the year uh when it comes to LAND and IHSDO and IASA and all of the different groups that support us with this legislation. >> [snorts] >> Okay. Uh I'm going to skip SASED cuz Chris is not here unless you want to provide any updates. >> Uh we have a board meeting this week. It's really the same kinds of things we're having here. Staffing, facilities, those kinds of things [clears throat] are the main topics of discussion right now.
So, is this something that we would want to look at maybe for um obviously in the summer we're not going to have a whole lot of I wouldn't see the community. Yeah, you know your community best if, you know, people are around or not. So, if we're looking at this, then maybe after the school year gets started for the next school year. >> August, yeah. And give it maybe a a decent amount of time so that everybody gets acclimated and then start something like this. Does that Does that make the most sense? Yeah. Okay. And I would get them I mean, they're not official board meetings, right? So, you don't have to calendarize them. I wouldn't I would have them as Amy and a cabinet member maybe or and and then one or two of you um at those, and then, you know, rotating around at different sites.
>> That's how I kind of want everybody on the same table. >> And everyone has to you want to hear everything. >> Yeah let's just talk it out. Let's figure it out. >> Microphones are like huge. >> I mean we can pass around. It's a request and then then you guys can all think I'm crazy and that's fine but that's I will actually be interested here if we get any feedback from people online whether the microphones will pick up because I I do the city stuff online and there are times that it's hard and difficult to hear. So, any any other So, I will So, do you I need to ask a question clarifying Do you want So, you want a work session on a week from Monday? Is that what I'm hearing? A week from tonight. So, what I'm hearing or do you want two weeks from tonight?
All entertain a motion. So moved. Second. Properly moved, Ms. Dunn, and seconded, Ms. Lawrence, for the approval of the common school loan. Any final questions or comments? All right. All in favor of the common school loan approval, say I. I. >> I.
We anticipate doing that concurrently with the third party peer review. I think it'll be easier to provide a comprehensive package addressing all the comments that come in. Um, we did have a question about the timing when you may anticipate the wetland peerreview consultant fees to come in. Um, we did uh the the applicant is amendable to working with GCG in this case. Um, we we think the applicant's okay with that uh first review fee. However, we would request confirmation of additional for the second and third review fees in advance before we proceed. Um I know those those things can fluctuate depending on the initial comment. I think that's a reasonable request. Um we also if the commission would entertain we would like to have a call with them prior to them digging and and starting a detailed assessment. I think it would be useful for Bowler and GCG to get on a call just to discuss the overall project, the history, where we are um and go through some of the storm water and the flood plane and then then allow them to do their review.
Uh last then, Shane. Shane, in support for the Hawaii State Commission status of women, not here. Uh let's see, Christine Andrews. In support, by Zoom. Not on Zoom, Chair. Not on Zoom. Okay. Michael Gollobich. Also in support, on Zoom. Not on Zoom, Chair. Uh Mike Nugent. Zoom. Uh also not on Zoom. Marcella Aholani Boido. Not on Zoom. Okay, then we have one more >> chair. We do have Ms. Marcella on Zoom at the moment. >> Welcome, Marcella. Go ahead. Thank you. Um I want you to know that I submitted my testimony to a person I was just sharing it with a member of the advocacy committee of the National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators. And they asked me for permission to post it on their advocacy page as an example of good advocacy. What this signifies is that my opposition to thinking that a generic training is going to produce competent interpreters and translators is in fact the national point of view of the national profession of interpreters and translators.
And if you're some of those newer generations, like I was doing a little generational research, like uh my generation was the first like pre-post internet. And then the next generation, the millennials, like they always had Wi-Fi and they were the first generation with social media. Gen Z has always had social media and they're the first generation with smartphones. Gen Alpha is what's at the high school now. They're the first ones that have AI and algorithms that drive all the time what they're seeing and what they're viewing. And then Gen Beta is what's you know being born now. They'll be the first generation with those advanced models of AI uh that are completely changing the way the work world looks. So what we need to do is kind of back up and focus on like employability skills and other experiences that are going to help students make wise choices or be better prepared for a myriad set of options in their future.
One plan was to try to house five classrooms outside of North in another place, and that would be extremely disruptive and very difficult, especially for a full day year. But, it's also the other idea is to see if we can do it still in house, but extremely uncomfortable. And, you know, we're going to have to work to highly support. So, even though we pitched that today, it doesn't mean that's necessarily what's happening. But, thinking of bussing children for their first experience for full day in another environment, trying to feed them in a school that's already probably flooded. We've never fed kindergarteners. And we haven't part of our specials routine. All of this stuff that we're weighing together, and we would sure love to not have to be in this position, but it's just a fact of life. Um for perspective, because of soil and everything at North, it's like a 3-ft foundation.
>> April or Katie, do you have anything to report on the foundation? >> Uh no, we haven't met since our last update. We have a meeting this Wednesday. >> Ken, anything to report on IASB? >> Uh IASB advocacy day is in Springfield on March 20th. It should be a great opportunity for people to see different um speakers, seminars, um network with the legislator members. Uh so, that's a great opportunity. Also, we're talking about the different bills. There's a bill being proposed um to create a new pathway for paraprofessionals who are on temporary licenses to get permanent licenses once their temporary one um expires. So, that is an initiative that ISBE strongly supporting because there is a um severe shortage of paraprofessionals throughout the state of Illinois. >> I think that was heard in committee today and made it out of committee. So. >> Great. Great.
And certainly you've got the buildings. It's not like you have a lot of community centers and places like that, but if there are opportunities to um you know, if there are places that you know where people hang out uh to go, you know, those are It's not bad to do those, too. And even if it they're at local churches [clears throat] and different things like that, those are okay cuz sometimes those are some places where people might Hey, you know what? You're going to get a crowd of people who will show up there. Um if it's at the schools, then that's great, too, but know that sometimes people feel a little intimidated um coming in and talking to schools, so, you know, you all know best cuz you live here. Where are those places where people hang and where you're going to get um a good showing, a good good turnout.
We have two weeks till spring break. I don't know what I'm hearing. Okay, it doesn't have to be the 23rd. Yeah, yeah, it could be something that week. Something that week by after Wednesday. Right? Wednesday or after, yeah. So, how about how about a week? >> [snorts] >> Are you back for the 30th? I would be back on the 30th, yes, we can. So, how does that work? 30th, that's fine. That's [clears throat] up to you guys or we could do like next Thursday. If we could If we could do the 30th for Jason to be here. Okay. That'd be over spring break. That's your guys' spring break. That's fine. Ours starts the 3rd. Oh, you're good. Okay. Yeah, that's good for me. That's fine. Okay. Can I ask how you're going to get this information out to the people? What do you mean? For the public work session?
Any opposed? The eyes have it. Thank you, board. 4.4, approval of cancellation of outstanding checks. Mr. Miles. Thank you, Madam President. At this time, I recommend that the board approve the cancellation of outstanding checks as presented. I'll entertain a motion. So moved. Seconded. Properly moved, Ms. Dunn, and seconded, Dr. Mulholland. Any other questions or comments on the approval of the cancellation of outstanding checks? All right. All in favor, I. I.
We think it basically a working session with them we think would be useful a short call go through that material. Um we've also received mass DP comments. Uh their general comment was similar to staff comments on the flood storage and the incremental for the lower elevations and uh we'll continue to work with you on that. We'll provide the data. Um and then we'll entertain the peer review and we'll work through that with the teams to hopefully reach a satisfactory conclusion on that matter. Um in summary I I believe that covers it. I don't know if you have anything else to add to John. I think that's a high level review of everything. Wanted to keep it as short as we could.
We base ourselves on the passing tests of ability as interpreters and translators. Generic trainings are useful in teaching ethics and procedure, but they don't produce people who are actually competent to do this kind of very important work. So, I want you to know that I didn't actually intend to have my testimony go national, but that's what's going to happen. Um both my previous testimony and the testimony that I have submitted today to this committee. So, the reason I chose to comment rather than to oppose is because I do um sit in with the Hawaii Coalition on Immigrant Rights, and I have great respect and aloha for the work that they do. I've known Amy Agbayani probably longer than she or I would care to admit, but let's just say that it's in decades. And I have great respect and aloha for her, too. But, I think it's really important for us to understand what's real and what's not.
Um kind of the old option two had some pitfalls where students might not explore deeply in their career area. They're good at math and science. So, mom and dad have always said I should be an engineer. And pretty soon I spent four years at a very expensive engineering school, and I have no idea if I really like this or want to do this. Um, and we kind of believe that's not a great model to find out at the end when you have to pay that bill that it's not for you. uh kind of that last subset was like we first started having a career counselor at BHS maybe five or six years ago for our students that don't graduate and have postsecary as kind of like their like I'm going to college right away. We really want to have better options for them other than just exiting for like a fast food or a retail entry level position.
So, like the school basically is 3 ft higher than the rest of the school. And it's just part of it. So, that's just an enormous undertaking. And I think what kind of sums it up for me is things that are out of our control, which is weather, resources, and permits. Resources are in place. This morning, you couldn't have told me they'd been out there working, but they did find a way after they wiped the snow off of everything. We get rocking and rolling on everything. So, uh permits is, you know, we're just kind of messed up. We need Hopefully, tomorrow morning we'll get the call and and then we'll see if they work. So, but it's we want to make sure to say that again to the board that it's just something that we've been, you know, tracking for months trying to get out. So, we have several plans, but I think this one uh it's going to come down to seeing if it has to be done.
Yeah. >> I have nothing to report on my uh position as liaison to the Village of Downers Grove. >> Okay. Uh upcoming board meetings. Um next board meeting [clears throat] will be April 6th, 2026. Uh actually, that's been That one's canceled. >> Canceled. >> Yeah. >> Mhm. >> Um so, our next board meeting will be April 20th, 2026, our monthly business meeting here at the ASC at 6:30 p.m. Item number 14, closed session. Um can I get a motion from the Board of Education to go into closed 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 Mosley Car seconds. >> Thank you. Ken Dawson. >> Aye. >> Car Casten. >> Aye. >> Edie Courtney. >> Aye. >> April Fiene. >> Aye. >> And Dan Renner. >> Aye.
You don't need You don't need like 100 people. You don't want that necessarily, but getting a good 20, you know, 30 people is a nice engagement. That's all for me. All right. So, something that we'll discuss then in a few board meetings again, I'm guessing, just to set it all up. Okay. All right. Next, we're moving on to agenda items for our April meeting. Right now, we have down the policy manual adoption and the textbook adoptions that we heard about um tonight. Is there anything else? Ryan, I'm not sure if this is necessarily an agenda for item for the April meeting, but we just got an email today about a IASB workshop called Board Readiness for a Superintendent Transition. Um wondering if that's um something that might be of interest to us. I just looking at it right now, it just says contact the outreach director to learn more.
We will post it in the paper and on social media. Yeah. It'll be on the on the website. It'll be posted on social media. Is there any way you can send notes home to the to the children? Or I mean, parents parents that don't have a job where they use their email address don't check them. We'll send it out on school messenger. We'll do that too. That'll work. What time on the 30th? We'll do 5:30. >> as normal. >> 5:00 p.m. >> What is that okay? Sorry, assumptions. >> At this location. It's always public meeting. We have sorry getting it out there like we put it on social we put it on yeah we do what we can do. We can't afford mailers we can't send all those things out. So. >> People do still read the newspaper. >> Yeah, it's posted in the paper.
Any opposed? All right. The cancellation of the outstanding checks has been approved. 4.5, approval of request for RFP for custodial services. Dr. Nesbitt. Thank you, Madam President. At this time, we request your permission to publish the RFP as presented for custodial services. I'll entertain a motion for the approval. So moved. Second. Properly moved, Ms. Puckett, and seconded, Ms. Dunn. Any other questions or comments? All right. All in favor of the approval for the RFP for custodial services, say I. I. >> I.