Along with that are the opportunities for family engagement and for, you know, culturally responsive family engagement opportunities that are meaningful for these families. I know Kristen on a number of occasions welcomes the families of um our ML learners in for a coffee night and will bring them into the classroom, let them see some of the materials, have conversations with them. Sometimes she's testing out different translation tools that, you know, she's found. And at times we've offered different resources for different ESL programs through adult education and, you know, in our partnership with Longford to, you know, support the parents um as well. So, it's we recognize that there's still room for growth, especially when we think about the number of families that it might not be an identified multilingual learner, but they are speaking a language other than English at home that we can be, you know, ensuring our communication is successful for.
>> Yep. >> Congratulations. You won with just the three. >> Great job. Thank you so much. Okay. All right. Next. Okay. Next up, we have Dianara Roland Garcia. Um, Dianara has worked with Mrs. Kelly and Miss Manialardi as well, as well as Molly Hill. Miss Hill is here tonight, too, supporting her um in special education. And I think Mrs. Kelly is going to start. >> Sure. >> In Spanish. >> Sounds fantastic. Okay, we'll continue. Hi everyone. Okay. Student success story award. Multilingual learning programmade independenc Mexicip Valentina group. resilience. I can share in English for us. >> I don't know who to face. I'll just corner >> Yeah. >> that way store. >> Hi everybody. Hi Okay. Dianara Roman Garcia. What a gem. Today, our student services and special education team is so excited to celebrate Dianara as the recipient of the student success story award.
So, we have to be mindful of that. >> Well, especially parents at home as well because if you're allowing your kids to use chat chat GPT or any of the other tools that are outside of the district walls of what we're doing to protect you, you typically don't have that in your homes too to protect your family. So be cautious, be careful, and and know that if you're allowing them to use the AI at home or if you are, you're giving your data to help their models learn. So just be careful. >> Thank you. >> And it's part of that that I'm pleased that we're doing so much um AI literacy even even for the really younger kids. I think it's important to get out there and let them know about it is as soon as they start using computer really >> and check it check the AI results.
Um, other than college and career readiness, um, the college and career center is continuing to help students with their post-secary planning, whether that be scholarships, applications, um, and kind of getting their financial aid figured out. um and also their housing applications. I know I'm stressed about that, Roina. Me, too. Me, too. >> Um but other than that, senior updates, um it's a really important stretch of the year. I think it's a time of celebration, but it's also a time of decision-m. Um decision day is May 1st. I know a lot of people are counting down um the date, but it's exciting and there's a lot of emotion in the air with seniors realizing their time at District 99 is coming is kind of coming to a close. So, other than that, um prom and ticketing updates. So, prom is not this Saturday, but next Saturday.
So, that that's my hesitation. I would probably pause that. Um I have been in contact with Dr. Ketchatori about the timing of all of this, so she's aware, too, that that would be the expectation. Um so, I again, I would wait and not do anything in board policy and make sure that's going to be that Friday is going to work cuz it's going to be tight and just make sure that's all set. But, um I wouldn't update board policy just so we don't run a foul if we do need to add something and we need the 48 hours. I understand, and I like this this conversation because we're looking at it from two completely different perspectives. So, I appreciate you sharing that. Um again, I do think a year heads-up would be fair. That's kind of where I'm at. Have the next board decide. Thank you.
Uh any questions on that? >> [clears throat] >> We did have a breakdown of all three companies. >> [clears throat] >> All in favor, signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries.
Neighboring school district just let us sit for 30 days and they got [clears throat] and they didn't have to sell. And I would have no intention, I want to be clear, I would have no intention, I would not direct this board to to go anywhere near selling >> So if we use the classroom for storage or the gymnasium for extracurriculars, that would meet that criteria. >> Uh the gymnasium does extracurriculars don't count but storage does and we have done some We have storage in a lot of different places. I don't think we'd have any trouble with the 50% of that building, I really don't. >> But we would still have access to use >> Still have access Still have access to the gym. >> It just doesn't access to go that 50%. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> Yeah yeah yeah yeah. Yes, sorry. >> So I'm just just being clear like so we on the 27th we just have a meeting to vote.
So if coaches wanted to send messages out to their kids it can go direct through the the app. They go right back. I mean it's it's similar in that remind feature that used to have in text and but you it doesn't show your phone. So again, you don't have to give out your personal phone numbers and so there's from some some safety aspects of it, too, for our staff so they're not just putting their personal phone numbers out to the world, you know what I mean? Um I think that piece is a really a nice feature, too. So. So it's another option but we haven't determined if Yeah, I mean I would like everybody to just go to for all communication. I mean obviously we talked about Mike in there because of scheduling and things like that but yeah. I move we approve the communications platform Parent Square.
And you might notice um a need there for us to address um some of our teachers' concerns that are still feeling a little bit uncomfortable around communicating with our ML families. So, that's another area of need that we are going to be addressing as one of our goals, making sure that everybody has the tools, resources necessary, and that we can make um spaces available so that they can be as comfortable as possible when we're communicating with them. And then my concern is that at [clears throat] times ML students could be misinterpreted by a teacher and put into a trap for special education. So, I mean that's something that we really have to be. That is definitely one of the things that we are looking at especially at the elementary level, the difference between language supports and SRBI support for academic needs. Sometimes when we have students that are SLIFE students or students with limited interrupted formal education, they might qualify for both language supports and academic supports, but we are working really hard to make sure that those are two separate tracks because that is what they are and making sure that we're normed and calibrated around that.
We are honored to share a glimpse into her experience and all the reasons this recognition is so incredibly welldeserved. Throughout her time at Stevenson High School, Dionara has grown into a confident, thoughtful, and determined young woman who consistently puts forth her best efforts and seeks out supports when needed. Her growth reflects steady and meaningful progress. Through supports such as our multilingual learning program, academic literacy, and study skills, she built a strong foundation, developed independence and self-awareness, and through her hard work, successfully exited both the multilingual learning program and academic literacy. These experiences served as stepping stones that have helped her move forward with confidence. As she grew, Dionara began to more fully embrace all that Stevenson has to offer. Through her involvement in the Latin American Student Organization, she found opportunities to celebrate her culture while building community with others. Her participation in World's Fair, where she performed two cultural dances, was a powerful moment, especially for those who remember her as a more reserved freshman.
It's not always accurate. I'd say probably 50% of the time it is not accurate. >> Thank you. Thank you very much. Next, we have K8 English language arts resource recommendation and pilot over overview. Mr. Hering, >> I am pleased to turn this over to Mrs. Samuel, our assistant superintendent for instructional services, and to Dr. Fogerty, our director of curriculum. All right. Oops. Can we hear me? Okay. All right. Good evening, Board of Education. Dr. Amade. I am joined tonight by our director of curriculum, Dr. Julie Pogerty, and some of our fabulous teachers. I think they all came here tonight just to support our new literacy resources. Um, we want to give you an update on our literacy journey. Um, and exciting news, share some information about new resources we've selected for implementation next year. All right. So, as you know, our goal is to improve literacy outcomes for every single one of our students here in district 62.
Um, the five-star ticketing site has been super uh has been working really well and seniors, it's just a link that Mr. Marand Dole has been sending and it's been working really well honestly, especially with the guest forms too. I know I'm bringing a guest and it was super easy to get that form um filled out, get a signature, put into student activities. Shout out to Miss Mamula for doing probably 300 um forms a day, but you know, it's been a really easy process. Other than that, athletics also have been in full swing, whether that be girls soccer, boys volleyball, which currently have a perfect record. Fingers crossed they're playing tonight. I had to skip the game, but um they um other than that, and boys baseball, track and field, and then girls lacrosse. These programs are bringing a lot of energy, school spirit, and student engagement right now.
I'm I'm going to echo Ms. Potter's sentiments about the waiting a year uh with Dr. Ketchatori and the new admin uh coming in, they could set the tone and set the culture and they could find out they could give us a suggestion as to what may work best for them. Um I would also encourage us to to discern a little bit more about the the one-day whole meeting idea. I think that's worth exploring as well. Um it may be a longer night, but I think to have the time to really dive deeper into some of these issues on top of some other benefits like we'd only have Mr. Fitzsimmons here once every month. Um and that the that year would be the reason we would do it, but like there I mean, there's some expenses related with that as well in setup. Um And so, I think I would really like to discuss further uh if we're going to wait this year uh having that COW board combined one longer night meeting.
Oh, any opposed? Sorry. >> [laughter] >> E5 consider approval of new job descriptions. Can I get a motion for that, please? I'll make a motion to consider approval of new job descriptions. I'll second. Motion and a second.
Is that just determining the uh determining Wolf Lake or is that also for the referendum? >> I I think that's up to you folks. We can have a one one item agenda, two item agenda. What I'm hearing Brian ask for is a is a work session. >> All right, so that or is the other question I would have is I see a few people over at the last public meeting we had. Do do the people who were here feel like it would be good to have another one of those meetings or do we need to get together and do some communicating? I mean, I think I see a few of you were here and I don't know that another one of those public meetings without us really getting into it or something like it right here. I don't know that that's going to give us the answer.
Second. Moved by Katie, seconded by Bryce to approve uh Parent Square as our communications platform. Any more discussion? Proceed to vote. All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion passes 6-0. Item D, consideration and approval for the building lease for WCCC Wildcat >> Wildcat Creek Career Cooperative. >> Yeah. So, yeah. I wouldn't have had to create in there. That's all right. So, um So, in in on Wednesday, we had the draft lease. You guys now have the final lease in front of you. Again, this is the Wildcat Creek Career Cooperative. Say that five times fast. Um is all four county school districts for CTE programming. And so, a huge feature there for for our students to build up attend a lot of different programming, especially with graduation pathways and all the different things credentials value and there's a lot of CTE funding that's tied to those things as well.
And over the years, too, I think our office, the curriculum, and PPS have really worked together to talk about what kinds of things need to be in an IEP for a student who is special education, but also has an ML needs. And I know from being on the other end of the phone that that middle school does an exceptional job in making sure that that's not not happening. And I think it's both Azra, myself, and Kevin can speak to the conversations that we have with elementary teachers and principals about ML students who are on track coming up because teachers get worried that oh, the student's not getting it. Oh, no, they they let let us come into the classroom and show you what's observed. Let's show you all the things that they're doing that tell us about their cognition. This is a is a language issue, right?
That willingness to step outside of her comfort zone and share her voice reflects a deep sense of courage and self-belief. Dianara also brings something truly special to the Stevenson community. She is kind, gentle, and deeply thoughtful in her interactions with others. In spaces like our support group, Beu, she leads by example, offering meaningful feedback, listening with care, and helping others to feel seen and valued. She has built strong, lasting friendships, and has found joy and self-expression through her engagement in the art curriculum, further enriching her high school experience. Another meaningful part of Dianara's experience has been her growing confidence in her future. What may have once felt uncertain has become a space where she now recognizes her own potential. She has taken initiative, asked important questions, and advocated for herself in ways that have helped turned her goals into reality. As her team, we feel incredibly fortunate to have supported Dionara along the way.
And we are doing that by building our teachers knowledge and understanding of reading development. You see our reading rope, which really talks about um we've been referencing throughout the year to think about what is all required to create skilled readers. um and also making some key instructional shifts in the classroom to support our students. And it's been quite a journey. Uh as you know, um we've been on this journey for about a year and a half now. Um started with forming a a new variation of our literacy leadership committee where we um really went in and examined our current practices, learned about current research. Um we've also our team, our teachers, our administrators, our principles have been doing intensive extensive learning um about structured literacy. Um, and then finally, because we know that literacy development starts at a very, very young age, we've been working hard with our administrators and staff at the um at the early learning center to not only improve their learning and understanding, but also make sure that we are increasing that alignment.
Other than that, April 29 is senior awards, 700 p.m. I have May 1st for college decisions day, which is super exciting. Um May 2nd is prom, May 5th is cap and gown distribution. And then there's other days um within May. But you know, there's been really great communication with the student activities office and administration um with kind of keeping up to date with those dates and es especially when it comes to graduation um and picking up your cap and gown, ordering everything. It's been really organized and I'm really impressed. Um so those bigger takeaways are clearer systems, stronger expectations, and more student ownership. um high excitement around athletics, activities and senior milestones and students feel supported but they also understand that accountability matters. Overall tone right now is positive, motivated and forward thinking. Thank you. >> Okay. Item five, approval of minutes. Can I get a motion from the board of education to approve the minutes of the March 16th, 2026 monthly business meeting, the March 16th, 2026 closed meeting, and the March 25th, 2026 special meeting with action item.