It just didn't work out because we still have to pay back that money and if we didn't have the funds coming, there's no way we could have done it. It was a good it was a good idea. Um we've also looked at different grants. I know Mark is actively always looking at grant. I forward you a ton of emails and stuff and we just never qualify for any of them because we're a tier four school district. So, we never qualify for anything. Um, I shouldn't say never. We do qualify for some things. I know you guys get some monies for some grants, but the big ones, the ones that don't make a dent, uh, we're unfortunately not eligible for those. >> So, that's part of the story, right? when it goes out, if there is a referendum component or when people call up and say, "Well, what the heck, you know, that is, you know, we we decide, do we want to handle this as a messaging thing and let people know in advance what's happening or why or do you wait till afterwards and that's decisions to be made as we move forward through this process?" >> Mark, you would agree with this statement too, right?
like we can't let a summer pass us where no work has been done. >> Correct. >> I mean, the way Mark explained to me, if I'm summarizing correctly, one, we're allowing projects that we could have done cheaper to get more expensive. And then two, points of failure, right? We we run the risk of something failing the next school year then if we don't address it. >> Correct. I'm sorry. >> I mean, the reality is, in my opinion, this is like a non-quest that has to be asked, >> right? >> Yeah. I think we have to move forward at least in the next meeting and keep the options open. >> People probably aren't going to like the $155 a year or whatever it works out as, but people will like it even less if their kids are in school and something terrible happens and they don't have heat or, >> you know, I >> Oh, yeah.
the district I mean tried twice for a referendum and community spoke and so we've been just dealing with what we >> can do and so this is a direct result of that in my in my opinion just personally this is a direct result of that and so it's >> it's the only option we have >> that's true >> huh >> that's not your opinion that's true >> okay I didn't want to >> it's the math >> right exactly exactly >> um yeah and and so we had a quick conversation when they first introduced me to the issue with the pipes at at JBN. I was like, "So, if it's offline, what are we talking? A week, a month, two months?" And we talked it could be months, right? >> Weeks. >> In the winter months, let's hope not, >> right? Because that's when it's worse.
>> Well, if you don't have heat in a building, there's a whole host of factors that happen. Everything starts freezing. >> Everything gets worse. to Kristen your point like it's like >> all right so we're gonna create an A and B schedule and everyone's going over to Hooverwood you know a two split day SK I I don't know I mean you have to start thinking like what are we going to do that happens so >> not to sound apocalyptic >> well there's a logic to say if you say no now and that happens how will you feel now that you couldn't make the decision now >> if you're like Fine. Then you can make a certain decision one way. Like boy, I be kicking myself. >> That's probably a good hint of how you should vote. But not today because this is just for discussion.
It's just discussion. >> Feels kind of heady, but yeah, you don't have to decide today. >> Good for that. >> Yes. >> All right. Uh last item of 10 point. Thank you, Mark. >> Thank you, Josh. Last item is board self evaluation. So, I asked Tom to put this on here because it's about the time where we start trying to figure out when we can get together, if we want to get together. Um, I think there's been a lot of growth and a lot of changes, you know, in the board. Um, and I think it'd be a good opportunity for us to get together and to talk about it. So, I guess my first question is, does anybody have any objection to figuring out a time to go do that? >> So, this is the same we're proposing kind of the same process, which is Laura Martinez because they're one of the only that can do this in a kind of a closed session and an orchestrated response.
Um, two things I would like to get your opinion on amending is one I would like to be a little bit more of a targeted approach of it. So like maybe have Laura um dig into kind of some of our meetings and talk about some things she saw or didn't see. Like we're all at this point relatively, you know, comfortable. We've been in our seats for a couple of years. You know, we we're no longer newbies as it were one year, but I don't think you get to be a newbie anymore. >> You don't look that old. trial by fire, Kristen. Um, and and have her come in and just kind of let us all know kind of where we're sitting and everything else. Um, the other thing I would, if that's fine for that, the thing I would like to also is, um, when we last, and I've seen it every time Laura's been here, is sometimes you ask a question that has some sort of legal implication or evaluation of the law, and she can't answer the question, >> right?
and she will say you should talk to your legal counsel. I would like to recommend we have our legal counsel in the meeting with us >> for no other reason just to we you know talk through the issues there and and and work through that and we've met with Justin a couple of times and I'd like to potentially put Justin on the table for that. So thoughts? I'm good with that. I think it'll help be a very constructive meeting because then Justin and Laura can work together on as well, you know, and crafting how it looks. Is there ISB is good, but they're kind of boilerplate for what they go over. Okay. So, we'll start trying to figure out dates. We'll reach out to Laura and Justin and then work through the next steps on that. Planning a date where we're all around. Um, and I think that's it for our general discussion items.
Yes. What did I forget? >> What did I Oh, four. Oh, board meeting dates. >> Tom, those are our proposed dates. Uh, Cindy has ran it past uh the cabinet team, looked at other calendars. Um, most of them are to the reciprocal date of where, you know, it falls on the third Tuesday of the month. Uh, there's a couple of months we had to make an adjustment due to the way the calendar falls, but those are your dates. Um, >> we usually try to get them approved April, Cindy. >> Right. >> So, we have >> Yeah. So, we can start posting for next year's calendar already if you want to take a look. just discussion, but uh what we'd like to get this on the agenda for action at the April board meeting so you can all approve your meeting dates. >> Sound good? >> So, if anybody has any adjustments?
>> Yeah. One big change, we are removing the April special kind of it's not a special board meeting when you call out in a year in advance, but uh that a that meeting we have in early early April. That's usually our honorable dismissal process. uh we're removing that and we're going to uh try and make sure everything's done within the March regular board meeting. So >> also May 25th >> you should mention >> yeah it doesn't fall on the we did decide to go with the third Tuesday. So that these all fall on the third Tuesday with the exception of the May 25th one because the third Tuesday is graduation. >> Right. >> Appreciate it. It's not for slim pickings around here if that's the case. >> Yep. >> Okay. All right. >> All right. Superintendent's comments. >> Well, Tom, you holding in our hands meeting.
>> All I'm going to say is uh just as always much gratitude to our administrators in the district, to our teachers and staff. Um we have a lot of good things heading in a really good direction right now. Um, despite tonight sounded like really gloomy with our financial forecasting and cable project, it's all good. We we're going to get this figured out and continue to um maintain our facilities so that all the teaching and learning that's happening in our buildings continues to go in the right direction. So, I just wanted to say thank you to everybody for that. And then, uh, lastly, I just hope everyone has a wonderful spring break. That's it. >> Board comments, anyone? I'm looking at anyone but Kristen right now. >> You can start in the middle sometime. And >> Erin, go ahead. >> Oh, I elaminated myself. You >> bring it up.
>> Uh, I'll be very brief. I'll say just thank you for all the presentations. We had a lot of very in-depth information presented tonight. So, thank you for those presentations. I want to thank uh Danielle and Rob for their work on the student board member. That was excellent. And uh again, I want to wish everyone a safe spring break. And I know from experience that once we get from back from spring break, it's sort of like we hit like put it in fifth gear because everything starts going really fast and the next thing you know we're at Northern for commencement. So, uh to those senior parents, just I hope they hold on tight and enjoy every minute. >> Oh yeah, have a great spring break. Um, shout out to Holly for her help with the student board member uh project and uh for her all support she's already given and her continued support.
Um, yeah, and that's it. Thanks. >> Uh, thanks to Rob and Danielle for the work on the student. It's exciting. It's exciting to get those student voices here and I thank you for it was a lot of work. Thank you. Uh, I was just going to talk about some events I went to. I went to the BPN parent uh, resource fair, which was amazing. Um, 60 over 60 vendors. I had to park across the street because there were so many people in the parking lot. There might have been other activities going on, but there were a lot of people there. Um, and it was, you know, everything from like mental health support, job skills training, parent coaching, education, speech therapy. It was, it's really impressive the I mean, there must be a lot of work that goes into planning that. So, bravo to everyone that's involved in organizing it.
Uh, and then I took my son to the college career and wellness fair, uh, which was also great. He's a freshman, so it's a little early, but I thought it was good to have him start thinking about, you know, what's important to him, what kind of questions he could ask in the future. Um, there were over 200 colleges, businesses, and wellness partners. Uh, it was hosted by West Aurora, Battavia, and Yorkville. Um, my alma mater was there, which was very exciting because it's very small. It's not it's not always everywhere. Uh, but I talked to the guy and he asked what school my son went to. He said Betavia and he was like, "Oh, Paige Buddles. She's great." So, yay for Paige in Betavia. Uh, and then Rock the Runway, which was mentioned earlier, was amazing. I am I've been to it a few times.
I'm always so impressed with the creations and the set and the lighting and everything that these students put into it. Um, so thanks to the organizers of all these events. Um they help our students find their passions and help them prepare for life after school and not just academically. Uh so when I I sat at Rock the Runway with my daughter and there was a group of students next to us and obviously one of their friends was one of the designers because she walked out and they just went crazy. They were cheering for her and I just thought about how amazing it must have been for her like to it's it's got to be a little frightening to create something and then walk out onto the stage by yourself at the BFAC to show an entire audience but then to have like your people there cheering you on.
Um, and it made me think, um, that is what I hope that all of the students at our schools get to experience is a place where they feel supported and cheered for, whether it's Rock the Runway or an athletic team or a music group or joining a new club or just trying to be their true selves. Um, I want every all of our students to feel that support. Um, and I'm here to cheer every single student on and I think given the support we saw today from our community, our community is ready to do that, too. So, it's just another heartwarming moment for me. >> Yeah, sure. Um, sorry, sorry, my voice is kind of going. Um, okay. What do I want to talk about? No. Um, Holly, I love everything that you brought to us about the communications. Um, I'm really excited about that.
I think I've so many conversations I've been in community. So much of it has to do with whether it's failure of referendums or just like the inability to understand one group of the other that that generational gap, right? And this just sounds like such an amazing way. The question is always like how do we bridge that and to hear the park districts trying it out. You're working on it. I'm so excited about that. It's something I think that is seriously missing in Betavia. And I think the more that youth understand, you know, the generations before them and then the opposite way, the more buyin everyone has, the more support we have talking about supportive community. So, I'm excited for that. Um, great job on that already and I'm I'm really excited for that. Um, and speaking of support, um, of course tonight, um, I obviously definitely want to touch on, um, tonight because, uh, I mean, I I think I can, it's obvious where my support stands.
And I took the oath of this position to support every single student in Betavia. Doesn't matter how they identify, what family they come from. It does not matter. And every bit that I have ever seen posted from BPS is educational in some way. It is educating people on what different types of barriers have been broken, what different types of obstacles, what different types of successes there are. And just as we heard really loudly and we've we've gotten so many emails, so many people saw themselves, so many kids saw themselves, so many just alumni, so many different people were just like, you know, I really really appreciate that. And so it is Betavia. It doesn't need to come from people who are from Betavia to be representative of the Bavian community. So, I just really want to encourage that we continue to remember that we are a public school district and we all very much look different, come from different backgrounds and when we don't do that, it causes direct harm and trauma.
And I was really really, you know, when I sat with this, it's um, you know, ACEs is when we talk about like some really big life issues that happen. And one of the biggest things and we've heard it from different people is what makes the biggest impact for people who have sustained harm and trauma and it's community. It's community like that is what can reverse it. And you heard different people actually talk to percentages of it. And so I just really want to be clear that I took this position to ensure that our kids have the accessibility to go to school no matter what their background is that they are safe that they are representative. they're represented and that they feel like they belong. So, I just I'm really it was really encouraging to see a community come together, rally together. It always is. Um so, I just wanted to share that.
Um you know, I just I think it's really important for us to remember that. Um I think that's all my voice is going to allow for right now. But I think yeah, just I'm always coming back to community. So I appreciate again what you're doing and just that that other part of it. So thank you. Uh similarly I would like to thank the community for showing up tonight. Um Holly, I hope you felt the support in the room. Um really appreciate all the work that you're doing. I just happy spring break. Happy Women's History Month. Trans women are women and all children belong in BPS11. I will not belabor all the points but only one. Thank you Robin and Danielle. It's a lot of work and that's something that really kind of started as a board idea that a couple of you have championed and I appreciate you continuing to move forward and understanding that board action is a once a month decision and it takes time.
So I appreciate you sticking with it and we're getting to a point now I'm really excited to see how that develops in the future. So thank you for your time. I will say thank you to everybody that showed up today and I very much appreciate everyone staying that that kept it positive and kept it constructive. Um for those that were able to do that and I appreciate it. So um with that I will entertain a motion to adjurnn unless I forgot anything else. Cindy, I'm good. Okay. Entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> So moved by Danielle. >> Second by Katie. >> All in favor? I >> I opposed. >> It is now 10:59. >> That under the wire.