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So I just wanted to thank everyone that has been involved with with the budget and the override discussions. Um it's it you know it's hard to believe that in less than five weeks is is the ballot vote. So, um it's it's been a um it's been a very good discussion I think we've had in general with the public. So, um and that public forum was was really great. So, >> and and the town website has a page now that's dedicated to information about property tax proposition 2 and a half um and has questions and answers from that evening. Um and good information. um a a tax calculator for folks to be able to determine what um the impact of uh the >> override would be on their um property tax bill. >> Yeah, the t the town website is actually really great. Um and you can access it for people who are looking to access it.
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Just go to go to the main ashleymask.com website, go under news, and it's like the first item as sort of like under the news flash. So, um, so thank you to that. Um, just wanted to give a big shout out. This last weekend I was at the LClusion 5K, um, which was an awesome event. Um, congrats to um to Jamie and Stephen Marx and everybody involved in Linlusion um to help raise money to send um uh special needs kids to be able to go to summer camp at um Ashlin Rack. And it's just it's such a great program. Um it allows kids to have onetoone um helpers join them at camp. And I know Kelly Rund is um a big big supporter of of that and has helped them really um get that up and going. So um congratulations to L inclusion. They had over 700 people show up on Sunday.
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Um was awesome. In fact, like I was talking to a large and it's just funny because it's like people from all over, but there's so the the the Ashlin community like came out for these folks. Like there was a group of probably 20 25 educators um and staff from Mendes and and and Warren School and it was just awesome. um whole teams came out like kids teams whether it was like field hockey or um lacrosse I think I saw soccer kids like it was it's just a really great community event so um so and they had the most perfect day for it so I hope they raised a gazillion dollars um so um also just a couple things so Today, um I joined Beth and Katherine for um Michael's uh town manager coffee hour at the senior center. Um which was an was a good experience.
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So we had about like 10 seniors give or take and they asked some really tough questions and um so but it was a good it was a good discussion. Like, you know, it's it's it's funny because, you know, we think that we do a really good job of communication and things like that. And it just made me realize like how much how important it is to to do a lot of outreach to the seniors who really don't utilize the same kind of communication channels that all of us generally assume that everybody does. So, um, so you know, so I'm I'm Thank you for for the two of you for letting me tag along this morning. So, it was good. >> Um, also, um, I know I I was talking about office hours. We >> do. We have to move to go past 10 o'clock because it's 10 o'clock.
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>> Oh my god. >> Sure. Motion to go past 10. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I zero. Okay, we're almost done. Um, so we generally go to we go we do office hours um the first Saturday in in at the month um to coincide with the library book sale. That's what we've been doing the last couple months. Um I would say that I think it's going to be really tough for us to do the May the May one unless >> um Yeah. No, it's it's not even May 5th. It's like May 2nd, I think, because there's so much else going on in the town that day. So, it's greenup day. >> It's a Saturday. >> It's the Renf Fair day. >> It's there's a And there's something else going on, too. Is it opening day for Corner Squad? >> No, no, there's I think it's the AYBs parade day.
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>> It's um the Renf Fair and Greenup. So, there's a lot going on. >> Yeah, there's a lot. >> So, >> I'm thinking we probably like unless I'm not sure how much traffic we're going to get inside the library, but so I just wanted to throw that out there. >> I think that's a good point. I mean, you know, just two of those events I know that I'm going to be at like >> off the hand. So, I mean, I'm sure a lot of folks are going to be really busy busy that day doing stuff. >> How did that all get scheduled at the same time? That's I mean, it's not a bad thing. It's just >> I think Greenup always does the first Saturday >> and then um the Renf Fair I think this is their second year and they coincided with Greenup last year so I >> didn't work out.
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>> Yeah. So, >> so I mean I think people go to Greenup to get their stuff early and then they'll mosey on over to to the Renfair and hopefully it's a really gorgeous day and and you know and >> fingers crossed >> we'll we'll catch all the kiddos going to Grenell. >> Yeah, they didn't >> didn't have >> they ended up they ended up starting at just walked that little area down to the back. Yeah, that's that's not >> No, it's not the parade that we we're used to seeing. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> So, um and then one other thing I just wanted to just um throw out there that's coming up, Earth Day, um which is going to be held um on April 26th at the Corner Spot. Um, so that's being organized by um, Becca Solomon, our conservation uh, agent, and Sam Riley, our sustainability coordinator.
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And they've got a whole mess of things like a whole like I got a map. So, um, I'm I'm excited. I'm excited to to be there at Corner Spot. And that's like our first that's the first real event for the season. So, um, so that's the 26th on Saturday. >> I'm not kidding. >> Either am I. >> All right. And that's all for me. >> Thank you. >> Had a busy time, >> which is fine. Um, a lot of the things you folks have already said, um, I will skip over. Um, but I had the opportunity to meet a group of gentlemen up at the uh community center. Uh, they call themselves the dull dull l men's club. Uh, the average age is 75. And uh, boy, I'll tell you, they're not dull in any way, shape, and form. They asked a lot of great questions.
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They asked a lot about the override and their concerns about everything and anything that came to the override. One thing I did find surprising was that they all were supportive. They all were supportive because they had grandchildren of their own that go to the schools and you know they lived here in Ashland for a number of years. Their children went to school here. They got great educations and they want to make sure that this tradition continues and there wasn't one that didn't say you know I I just I just can't do it. They were very supportive of it. So if that's any indication that that's a good thing all from different various parts of town and whatever and economic standards. So I was I was very pleased with that and we had we had a very nice discussion very lively discussion as a matter of fact on some other matters.
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uh they were concerned about the 40bs. Uh they wanted to make sure that maybe the legislature can change. I said that's never going to happen because that's it affects the inner cities more than anybody else. Um and then um yesterday we had the pleasure of having a a lunchon for the volunteers of the community center and food pantry over there and they were phenomenal. It was absolutely one of the best meals I've had in quite some time. And it's part of their culinary uh arts program. And it's all done by the children, all the students there. And and the two chefs, one of them being Antonio Marice, homeboy. And u boy, they they put on a great great great food. It was it was a lot of fun. It was a lot of fun. And they had the opportunity. That's what I had that were happening or weren't going to happen.
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Um, and with that, um, that's it. Oh, we already mentioned the BAA. One quick thing about the BAA marathon lunchon breakfast, I should say, this Saturday. These are the runners that run for our BAA funds. And a lot of people may not know that. So, we support them as they support us over over the years. So a lot of the programs that new folks apply for a grant, these are this is their sweat and blood that provide their their money. So I just want to make sure and give them kudos and congratulations for their efforts because without them we don't we don't have these programs. So with that I would be happy to support a a motion to adjurnn. There a second. >> I'll second. >> Go ahead. >> All those in favor? >> I. That's 401 absent. And u I hope Yander and Rich are having a great time.
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>> Yeah. So we are meeting we are meeting on the 29th which isn't our usual meeting date because usually we're first and third Wednesdays. >> Um but because of the holiday on the 1 of April we we're we're going to have a a meeting on the fifth Wednesday. So before town meeting. So >> so that that'll be good. So we can get a lot of the uh stuff done. Okay. Thank you. Good night.
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Welcome to CHS podcast. I'm with Lucas and Alex. We're going to talk about Market Day. Yes. We are. Uh, so what's being sold? Um, there are a lot of things that are being sold. Um, there's cake pops, uh, there's wings. Um, someone's making a stew, they're making someone else make mac and cheese. Um, I'm trying to think what else is there. Um, I want to say someone's making cookies, something like that. Um, I think that's it, really. Or at least that I know of. Oh, and burgers, burgers. People are making burgers. Uh, where and when is it being? Uh, Market Day will be on the, uh, in the cafeteria on April 23rd of 2026. 2026. Thank god it's not 2027, or else we would have to wait a while. >> Yeah. Uh, what did you sell, uh, last semester, last year, for both of you?
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2026 and roll call. Board member Paul Darling. Here. Board member Robert Hart. >> Here. Board member Hugh Flight Jr. Here. Board member David Armsdorf. Absent. Board member K- Kevin Cox. Absent. >> 2026 and roll call. Uh for staff Mike Lemieux. Present. Michael Redman. Present. Mary Penix. Present. Julia Harvey, present and Stephen Kakowski. Present. We have a quorum. All right, thank you. The first item on the agenda is public commentary. General, are there any on public commentary? >> [snorts] >> Uh the second item on the agenda is the approval of the minutes from the October 16th, 2025 meeting. Do we have any comments on those? A motion for approval. So moved. Second. Those in favor? Aye. Aye. Those are passed. Um appeals, actions and show cause hearing. We have one item on the agenda today and that's uh BBA 26002 appeal for 1620 Hillridge Boulevard. And so I'm going to give a little summary of what the process is.
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Good morning West Chicago, I'm Alex. I'm Jason. I'm Keely. And I'm Nia and I'm captain of LifeSmarts. A lot of people don't know what LifeSmarts is, but it's like a skill-based, knowledge-based competition. And today we're going to see if people are smarter than a LifeSmarter. >> [music] >> Good morning West Chicago, I'm here with >> Cody. Are you smarter than a LifeSmarter, little guy? Probably not. Do tell. What does the USDA stand for? United States dietary association. The United States Department of Agriculture. That's like close enough. I got the first No, it's not. Good morning West Chicago, I'm Keely and I'm here with >> Mason. Mason, are you smarter than a LifeSmarter? Maybe. Okay, the question is, where do all UV rays originate from? The atmosphere like the ozone layer. No. Where do they come from? The sun. Oh! All right, West Chicago, I'm Jason.
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Hi, I am Dr. Erin Stalbaum, and I'm honored to be the incoming superintendent of Center Grove Community School Corporation. As a lifelong educator, resident of Center Grove, and parent to three sons in our schools, I know firsthand the value of a Center Grove education. My connection to Center Grove spans generations. My mother graduated from Center Grove High School in 1977 where she served as editor of the school newspaper, The Trojaneer. Today, my husband and I are proud to call ourselves a Center Grove family. We credit this community with shaping and developing the young men our three sons are becoming. They are currently receiving an exceptional education at Center Grove High School, Center Grove Middle School North, and Sugar Grove Elementary School. I have spent my career in education because I believe in what exceptional schools can do for students and the community. Center Grove is a corporation with a dedicated staff and invested families.
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of introducing our new superintendent and discussing the contract. So, our first order of business is the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Our next order of business is the adoption of the agenda.
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And we have straight from the track Andra Valleta. If you'll come up. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Stay up here, Andra. All our kids are so busy. It's a good thing. Our next order of business is adoption of the agenda. Do I have any comments, motions? I move that the agenda for the April 16th, 2026 board meeting be adopted as presented. I second. Thank you, Mrs. And second was Amy. Thank you. All those in favor, say I. I. All those opposed? Motion passes 5-1. Uh under recognitions tonight, our first one is CG spotlight, Center Grove High School. Mrs. McMahon. All right. Would Andra come up this side? It's my pleasure tonight to introduce our student spotlight, Andra Valleta. Andra is a graduating senior and will leave quite an impact on CGHS.
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Good evening. [laughter] Um, welcome to this evening. Tonight is a work session. There is no court action, just discussion. Um, today is Thursday, April 16th, 2026. >> Thanks, Val. Appreciate that. And we have a special guest with us this evening. Jerry McGiven is with us as we have the new updated demographic study that uh I believe it's an update from 2021. So, a lot has changed since then. So, it's great to have Jerry here in the flesh. I think in 2021 with CO being >> Yeah. >> so close. I think you were remote with us in the cafeteria at the high school the last time we heard from was the case. So, it's >> good to have you here. >> Thank you, sir. >> So, I'll turn it over to you, sir. >> Thank you. [clears throat] >> Meeting starts at 6. I go on at 601.
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Okay. Thank you. Okay. All right. Well, welcome to a beautiful Thursday afternoon. We're excited to have the call over here at Ashland High School. WACA is once again broadcasting Ashland Youth Sports. We have the Ashland versus Dedham. Um myself Brian Side, I'm joined with good friend, colleague, play-by-play, coach, golf coach, more lacrosse coach, too. Uh Kevin McGinnis. Kevin, how you doing, sir? I'm doing great. Looking forward to this game. We're going to have a good battle here tonight. Dedham comes in with a five and one record. Ashland at three and three. Both teams have have a couple of opponents in common and they've had similar results. So, there's [music] no reason to think this won't be a a very competitive and close game. Yeah, I think let's see if we can get a couple of these [music] things in before the announcement, but And we'll we'll we'll continue after the announcements.
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