Uh they start that AP track there. So, for our grades 9, 10, and some 11th graders we're recommending that you place on public display. It's out there already. Hopefully, you give me permission. Uh but it would be it's Savvas. Um it's a company that we've not worked with before, but the team went through an extensive process of looking not only what does align with the Illinois comprehensive literacy plan, but what aligns with what our students are experiencing in terms of their literacy instruction in K through 8. So, this is the team's recommendation. They've been doing a field test um since second semester. It is very rigorous, very rigorous. Like the teachers are like, "My kids are struggling." They but they're like, "My kids are growing." And I to me that's the greatest testament of this. So, this would be something that I bring back to the month to you for adoption and then we would start the implementation process for this next school year.
It's kind of exciting to see like all of these things aligned in in school time, a relatively short period of time, but at the direction of the strategic plan. I've only actually seen it one other time in my career where this kind of happened in this like concerted effort and like every one of my team members and all of our teachers have really pitched in to make this really successful.
Any questions for Dr. Newkirk? No questions? Then I will entertain a motion to place Savvas My Perspectives on display for a period of 1 month in accordance with Board of Education policy. Moved. Motion by Raquel. Second. Second by Danielle. Cindy, please lead us in a roll call vote. Rolando? Yes. Gonzalez-Thomas? Yes. Gilbert? Yes. Slyger? Yes. Swizeky? Yes. 10.7 Approval of BHS percussion equipment purchase. Tom, would you lead us in this discussion? Yep. So, this is a uh purchase um based on the memo, you can see it's a cycling out of equipment. Um there was a board member question that asked about um is there the ability to sell some of this old equipment? And they are evaluating that option. And then um if that is the case, they would follow our business office procedures when these kinds of things would happen. But, they do know some of this stuff needs to be probably replaced now.
That's it. Any questions? No questions. Then I will end Oh, do we have a question? >> No. I said Then I will entertain a motion to approve the purchase for use in the 2026-2027 school year. So moved. Motion by Katie. Second. Second by Raquel. Cindy, will you lead us in a roll call vote, please? Slyger? Yes. Rolando? Yes. Gonzalez-Thomas? Yes. Gilbert? Yes. Swizeky? Yes. 10.8 Approval of board meeting dates for 2026-2027. Tom? Um so, we uh last meeting shared a draft of the calendar dates. Um just a reminder, uh these dates are important um just for our some business functions that are critical to the district such as payroll, paying the bills. So, that's why there's a a limited option. They usually put these on the back end of the month, so that there's time for our departments to process what they need to do.
To get things out. So, yeah, I I if there if there's no concern here, then these are the dates that we would say let's move forward. And we did remove the April special/regular meeting, so one point.
Any questions on those dates? All right, then I will entertain a motion to approve the 2026-2027 meeting dates as presented. So moved. Moved by Rob. Second. Seconded by Raquel. Cindy, lead us in a roll call vote, please. Susicki? Yes. Slyker? Yes. Kelber? Yes. Gonzalez-Thomas? Arlandu? Yes. All right, we're on the board comments. We'll lead off with our superintendent, Mr. Tom Kim. Tom, do you have anything Just a few brief comments to round out tonight. I just wanted to say to all of our students, uh, they're probably not watching our board meeting, although some may be now. Um, uh, uh, that I want everybody to stay focused. We're wrapping up the year. There's a lot of testing going on, board, and I I shared that with you in my update. It's a lot of testing tomorrow. Good luck to our juniors. Go Bulldogs. Nail that ACT.
Let's go. Um, we got AP testing on the horizon. Kids are in K finishing map testing. All right, let's go. Good numbers. They've worked hard all year. Um, secondly, as Drew Ray mentioned earlier, in a couple of weeks we'll be, uh, you know, recognizing and lifting our teachers across the district. All educators, you know, cuz there there's other positions as well. And just super proud of the work that's happening across the district, um, and the work that they do day in and day out to support our kids, um, and just do what we do in this district. So, very, very proud of that. Um, and then the last thing, it's so busy. You're seeing a lot of invitations, a lot of emails about different events. It's exciting time. This is our why. And our biggest why will come on May 20th when we are all together to see our kids graduate from BHS.
So, that's all I have. All right, thank you, Mr. Kim. Who wants to lead off today? Kristen's not in her usual position, so Now I'm looking at you, Rob, if you want to start. Or if anyone else wants to get us going. No, I'll I'll start. Um so, I'll be brief. Um just um I had an opportunity couple fun things I guess I had an opportunity to go to incubator um event. Uh I think it was at the end of March. Tony was there. Aaron was there as well. Uh my big takeaway besides, you know, the the kids obviously presenting or talking about their their programs uh or their projects that they're working on. Um was able to talk to quite a few of the community members. Uh a lot of them um no longer kids in the school district, but it was nice to see that they were still engaged um in, you know, a school program like that.
Um and uh so, uh I think it's it was a takeaway for me that uh you know, there's a lot of community out there that they may not have kids in the schools anymore, but they're still very interested in, you know, that this school district be successful and um they're interested in the students and what they're up to, so. Um and then another fun thing just this past Sunday night um many of us on this table I won't reveal how people placed, but we were at the um uh music buffs um uh fundraiser and it was a trivia night, so there was a little competition Um I I want to thank Aaron actually invited me to join his his group uh at that event, but it was it was fun and a good turnout, I think. A really good turnout. And um had a great time, so at event.
And I think I will leave it at that. Um happy Arab American Heritage Month. Um I think we have a perfect storm on May 5th with uh Taco Tuesday, Cinco de Mayo, National uh Teacher Appreciation Day. Might be some call offs on the 6th, but Um and then I just hope everyone has a safe and uh prosperous spring break. Definitely. Um I I want to thank everyone who did come to uh to talk today. I to speak today to to us. Um I know it's not always easy, especially as staff members, parents. I mean, you just have a variety of people. Um They are using their voices and um on that same level, we will talk more about the student uh student board member applications, but we got in I think 14 14 15 14. Um and I'm reading through those. I just I know I say this time after time, but I'm just always so amazed at the voices of our students.
The ability I just some of their emotional maturity, some of their ability to just kind of like have this foresight into what they have hopes for and like for not just themselves, their peers and it's really really amazing. I don't know how in the world we're going to narrow it down. I mean, student ambassadors was hard too and I don't know. There's just such a desire to to represent their peers and um I'm just grateful that at this point we do have that ability to offer for Um and I'm just excited to see where it goes, um, and I'm just grateful for every student. And we had a small, like a really quick turnaround time. So, the fact that we got that many in, it shows that there is a desire uh, for students to have more of a voice in decision-making, in the decision-making process of of how everything affects them.
Um, and then speaking with Rob, I wanted to hit on, like I I I listened to the podcast, and I did receive my mailer, like where it had, you know, as as far as like what's happening in Batavia. So, I I I do see that there's this this kind of like just turning of like, you know, there really are a lot of people in the community who do care what's going on, and I think that I'm really excited to see what happens with some of these reach-outs and um, I don't know, just hopefully more people are just feeling like they're they're looped in, and that they are part of these kids' lives. I just That's really exciting. So, I'm I'm happy to hear that they were at the incubator and everything, so. Other than that, I don't I don't think I have any plans. Please be safe.
Um, we'll talk. Uh, I am going to be a broken record and say thank you to Danielle and Rob for the student board member possibilities. I was reading through them last night. I stayed up too late reading. I couldn't stop. I couldn't stop reading them. They're so good. And I am so excited. I I was like, yes, you. Yes, you. Yes, you. Like I want all of them to be on the but they were so good. They were so And I'm just so impressed with the kids that submitted, um, and just so grateful for They just gave me a whole lot of hope last night. So, I just I'm very excited for the student board members program. So, that's all for me for this month. Okay. Uh, I also want to thank Rob and Danielle for their hard work, and Holly as well on that.
Like getting that many applications in that short span is Yes. very exciting, and I'm excited to see that program up and running running next year. Uh, Alec, well, Mr. Orlando, I've had a chance to really participate in a lot of cool events at the incubator. I'll take credit for us losing on Sunday night. I picked the wrong musical. Um there was a art festival, I'm saying it wrong, at the high school where we had every drama, music, uh painting, sculpture. Amazing. I think I got a sticker here I got from there. So, yeah, it's just this time of year like your cup overflows. You feel like you could go to something every night. And every time I go, it's just like I'm just blown away by these kids and also the teachers and community members supporting them cuz like as Mr. Orlando said, it's kind of amazing how many people don't have an active student at BPS 101 that are engaged and invested in those students' success.
So, it's really uplifting. A couple other things, uh ACT tomorrow, my son's taking it. I know that's on the minds of a lot of parents. Prom is this week, uh this Saturday. It's a exciting night, also a nervous night when those kids are out. I want to thank everyone who's working post prom at Funway. I'll be there slowing the kids down as they pull into the parking lot, making sure they get there and get home safely. So, thank you to all the volunteers in the community that supports that effort so our kids after prom have a safe place to commiserate and enjoy the evening. I always look forward to that night. And then I'll just be selfish for one moment. Before I came to the board meeting tonight, my son's a new member of the track team and he set a personal record >> All right.
in the shot book shot put. I had to leave before he threw the discus. Yes, he set a personal record in discus. So, good job, Jake. Keep well. And uh that will conclude my comments for tonight. So, now we are not concluding the meeting. We are going into closed session again pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2C10 to dis- to discuss other matters related to individual students. Uh The board Would I have to read this part where we'll we'll come back for action or can we go right to this? You can just go there, but there will be no action. All right. The time is now 9:45 p.m. and I will entertain a motion to move to a closed session as allowed under the Open Meetings Act for the purposes purpose of exceptions 5 ILCS 120 /2c10. So moved. Moved by Raquel. Second. Seconded by Mr. Orlando.
I do that at your place. You just tell me. First time ever. >> Yep. All right, we'll go ahead and hold this meeting to order. Uh, first item on the agenda as agenda is approval of the agenda to approve the agenda as presented. >> I'll second by Allison, second by Josh. All those in favor say I. >> I.
Less than a minute, guys. Less than one minute. >> Miss, are you ready? What's up, guys? We are here at the 2026 Cast Film Festival. I'm here with Robbie >> and I'm here with Mia. >> And we are here to provide you guys with a live special interviews of all the producers and basically the backgrounds before we get started. Yeah, you're looking at a really great show. You got 15 amazing films. Like, you're not going to want to miss it. You're at home right now sitting on your couch. You better be watching this or you're missing out. And you still have time. Go ahead, get off your couch, start running, and get to the CHS doors, pay $10 for a ticket, and see it live in person. Just like that. There he goes. This should be you. >> And yeah, basically, we're your host for today's live.
You'd think after being together five or six times now, I would remember remember this part, but a month in between is a long time. All right, everybody hear me? Okay. Okay. So, here we are. Can you believe it? I just was saying we're about to approach the what I call the 90 days of May. Uh there it's close, but it's oh so far away. Say hi, Ally. Um, so it is our final day together and we've got some big uh work in front of us, but I'm excited and I hope you all all are as well. Um, but before we get started, I am going to turn it over to our superintendent uh man to share some updates with you all before we get into our usual reviewing of norms and guard rails and things because I know he's got to leave here shortly. So, Mr.