So, that way we can be productive. And from that, we would report back to the board after each time we met. Um so, the >> there would be minutes and there would be reports back to the board. Similar to how I've reported back to you on the calendar committee. To me, it's a similar type of committee. They are an advisory group to our calendar. Uh a representative group and they don't vote, they don't, you know, but we bring that back and you take all that into consideration and you make your votes based on that. >> So, a subcommittee of the board wouldn't be able to really do that vision that you have. Like, to say you couldn't have different groups branching out. >> There would be restrictions that would keep us away from being able to do it that way. Um and if, let's say, something came up where we maybe weren't able to meet or we had to move the it just would be a lot more challenging just like it is right now with certain subcommittees.
Because hazing to me is a form of bullying, too. >> You're saying expand that piece to make sure that it's for any complaint, not just specifically to >> Absolutely. >> Okay. Sorry. I didn't understand. The adult may only look at that section and forget about all the other I thought you were referencing that section being the only way in which we had indicated in here how to report a complaint. No, I'm talking specific to the athletics. Like, it's in that section, but I think just given that is a vulnerable space, you would want to like name other things in that space where students might need to report. >> Understood. Yeah. Thank you. Um, I submitted a question. I don't know if you had a chance to to consider it. Um, kind of goes along with attendance. You know, if you have to You have to be in school half day um, in order to participate in after school activities.
And then in the bottom right hand corner the last slide that Dr. uh Boseman showed that shows if in fact the question that we propose is approved by the board and then approved by the public that folks at all three different levels of uh home ownership the 25% level the 75% and then also u $250 somewhere close to the median home will all see an actual decline in their bill on the operating referendum portion of their property tax bill in the future. So our recommendation to you, not not for approval this evening, but for the May and June meetings, is to adopt the question as it is here in front of you this evening. The three areas um in highlighted in yellow are the areas that the board has to make a decision on. The first area we identified wording as close to as possible.
I'm not saying it can't, I just don't know. I don't know if that would be a lot more difficult. Um >> Yeah, I mean, I don't know something. It's it's similar to you know, what sucked up. Honestly. >> I agree. >> with the lack it's almost identical to what they're doing and it's lack of parental engagement. I mean, that's what's really hard in this district. So, >> Sure. >> to get that. Um >> I've got a lot of people who want to be on this team. >> I I mean, I So, that's the next question. So, is this what's the best way to reach more people? That's really the question, right? >> From what the way >> Would be an advisory? >> like advisory. Do you reach more to have the more freedom? Do we see them explain this? >> I think it would be good.
Um, unless it's previously approved by the administration or whatever. Um, what were the So, I think um, what constitutes prior approval? Um, you know, is it possible for students um, to understand what that prior, you know, what what constitutes that prior approval, the the steps a little better. Yeah. Um so, I can speak to this a little bit. So, this was a recommended recommended ad by both of our um high school athletic directors and and at collaboration with our high school principals. Um so, really this was just rooting back to if a student is absent for something that's like valid cause, um which is further defined in our attendance section. So, again, like we can kind of try to incorporate some language that's going to point them back to our attendance section so that they would know what would be constituted as an approved absence.
Well, we had uh listed in the question in 2020. Um that's because we intend to continue into to invest in those topics and it's what the community supported then and so it's funding and maintaining competitive compensation for teachers and staff and maintaining student safety. And then the property tax rate.1560 15.6 cents per $100 of assessed value. That is the tax rate that was approved uh by just over 61% of voters in 2020. And then that number is what generates the maximum levy of the just over 10 million that 10.018 that was only in the first year. Um now while technically the if things change with assessed values over time um we could collect more than that declining you know 9.5 that you saw towards the end. But the maximum that could ever be collected in any year of these eight years would be that that number in the second parenthesis there or the second yellow section of 10.1 million.
>> What format is more impactful in the subject matter area? >> to be advisory cuz you get more input from the community and from parents and more stakeholders. >> That, too. That, too. >> See, I mean, I just I don't know. Obviously, mine's different, right? I have an identified student I'm struggling with. So, I mean, I honestly >> hoc? >> Huh? >> You work for the ad hoc? >> Or not even the ad hoc. I would rather just be a committee of the board. I guess I think you know, it's not a peripheral issue. I mean, this is significant concerns, you know. >> Yeah, that's why I think I feel we should do the advisory cuz of all the extra additive input that we can get in our district. No, No, we have a ad hoc >> We have SEPTA. We have a special education parent advocacy council.
That may warrant the ability to still participate in an athletic event if that absence is warranted. So, whether that you know, if we think about valid cause, um some of the uh one of the examples we were talking about earlier is if a student goes, you know, leaves school to go vote, right? That's something that if they're waiting in a voting line for, you know, several hours and happen to miss a half day, we don't want to penalize them for that. That is considered cause under the Illinois State Board of Education for an excused absence. We would want to make sure that they are able to still participate in that athletic event. However, if a student is absent, if it's an unexcused absence, that is something that historically our our schools have not allowed them to participate. So, um just going back to that number six, um for those of you who are following along, it's on page 76.
I know you've we've had training on the question and and you've seen uh seen it often, but happy to answer any questions before we bring you that final recommendation in May. Thank you, Dr. Phillips. As we continue with the meeting, we allow the opportunity for public comments. This comes uh during every board meeting before the board makes decisions. We finished hearing reports and we are moving into decision making mode. So, it's the right time to look for comments of individuals and delegations. For those folks that are signed up to make comments this evening, we have three reminders. Uh, number one, there's a threeminut timer here that will count down.
>> Right. >> it. We've had it for years. It's not driving change. You know what I mean? Their voices aren't heard. So, I mean, you sat there. What was there? Five people? Three of them were on the board. I mean, that's the reality of what we have. So, you know, everybody comes forward, everybody, you know, has good intentions, wants to get involved. There's a ton of stuff that needs to be addressed, right? Um and I just I don't know. I just worry about it. I mean, you guys are going to you know, the majority are going to do what they're going to do, but I just don't think it's an adequate solution at this time. >> I I can share right now of the parent and guardians um that filled out the form, educators and staff, as well as community members, it's of those three groups, it's a pretty even split.
Um we can definitely clarify that language and point them back to that attendance uh procedure. Yeah, I think I I specifically talked about like a mental health day, you know, um you know, like uh to me they should be able to still go to their, you know, like that might not be what they're trying to get away from. You know. So, I think that we can go back and make sure that we're specific in how they would uh seek that prior approval or at least put some footnote in there to be able to do that. Uh we'll work with our athletic directors to make sure that we understand how that needs to be worded in there. Um and that it does say valid cause. Um, I I want to be mindful of a student that misses a day versus multiple days or the day of the the competing event, what that looks like.
Uh, we'd ask that you fit your comments to three minutes or less. All comments should be respectful. And we would ask uh that no names be used, no names of students, no names of teachers or staff would be used during the public comments. Um in the order that folks signed up this evening to make comments, I'm going to call Monica Federly to come to the podium. >> Evening. Not a great evening, but you know, we're here. Um, uh, my name is Monica Federley. I'd like to humbly offer my service for the district 6 school board position. Uh, my husband Doug and I moved here 24 years, 23 years ago. And one of my first questions uh first phone calls I made when we considered to come considered coming to Columbus was to somebody in the BCSSC school system because even though my daughter was only one at the time that was the most important thing about coming to Columbus for me.
It's about the pie is 33.3% all around, pretty much. And so, that's that's a good sign, and there are 33 people who actually want to be a part of this, and we only have seats for 12. So, So, the interest is high. The interest is high. And the interest is high from all three groups, right? It's it's equally high. So, that's a very positive. I look at this as a very positive. >> That's fantastic. >> um No, I I agree that that I guess would would the participation be any different from with the ability of those three different groups and those people to participate? >> with the advisor. >> Why? In ad hoc >> Cuz you can't people can't speak on a sub-committee, as we learned. So >> Well >> Right, in ad hoc I would have to put it out as we are we are going to focus on this one topic.
Sometimes we have events that are on the weekends and they have to miss on a Friday, right? Are they still eligible then? Um, sometimes it happens to be a Friday night football game in the in in the uh the individual's gone that Friday. So, are they still able to participate? So, um it is important when we look at attendance, um but we understand valid cause or pre-approval. Um, that's something we're going to have to work on with our athletic directors to make sure that our coaches are on the same page, um that we can be consistent. Uh, and and we can come back with that information. I appreciate that. >> Yeah, and I think the one of the things that I really appreciate about your presentation this evening is moving the thinking around stakeholder and being um getting feedback from our focus groups and interest groups.
Um uh we educated all three of our children in this system and just had a phenomenal experience. Uh three for three you might say. Um, uh, we've been very blessed by teachers and just so many great opportunities for our kids. Um, I was a former science teacher. There were so many nice science things tonight, by the way. Um, and, uh, um, I've always been really passionate about education. I've been in the schools volunteering for 20 of the 24 years we've been here. Um it would be my privilege to continue to serve uh BCSC um in this capacity uh as a school board member. Thank you. In addition, we have u Barbara Jones signed up to make comments this evening. >> Good evening. I hope you're all doing well. I'm Barb Jones. I am blessed to be a member of this community. I'm a parent of two children and also a physician at CR.
>> Right. >> And then when we are done we are done, right? It dissolves. It it it dissolves after that. That's what an ad hoc literally means. So >> understood. >> So, we didn't we didn't even vote on that when we voted on ad hoc. We didn't even say there was one topic that we really wanted researched or investigated or addressed. We I heard I heard a general there's a lot of areas in special education that we need to improve, and so we need voices from the community, from families, and from staff to be able to be inserted into those improvement efforts to ensure that all of our all people and groups are represented. And so that's why I think I put it out this way. >> And so can but my I guess my question is can those 12 we have 12 spots, right?
So, that's a huge win and progress when we think about moving towards more equitable practices and learning around the process. So, getting the voices of those on the front line and who are most affected. So, when you look at work around racial equity progress, I would say that the disparity in dis- particularly in discipline tends to be always a concern, right? So, how do we reduce that disparity? So, in this instance, I think in your work mirrored just that focus of trying to lift that lens. One thing I would propose is that you also go to students directly, right? So, you have you have our student board of education that says that. You also have other opportunities when students um for students who are in various support groups. Who are those? What How do we get their voices into here? Who are most impacted? What's motivating them?
I've dedicated my life to listening closely to people and understanding different perspectives and finding solutions to difficult problems that are actually really good outcomes. And I believe that our schools work if we all work together on things we all agree are important. We know that strong academics are important, safe environments are important, and making sure that we have pathways so every student succeeds. So, I'm here to respectfully announce that I'm interested in um being the school board member for district 2. I would lead with a thoughtful and balanced approach. I want to make sure that education is a top priority and that we continue to build on the amazing successes that we already have done. I look forward to being a team member that is focused on creating the brightest future for all of our children and that ensures that we have an environment that students and staff are thriving and that BCSC is the school corporation that everyone chooses to be a part of.
Would >> we created. >> Or yeah, would [laughter] would we have 12 spots on a on an actual committee? >> No. >> You could, but you it just have to function differently. That's the only thing. >> I guess my And I you know, I I don't I've not been involved in the special ed process or in a school system per se. I guess from my point of view, we are we are going and and going to be looking for significant funding in this area, right? It's a focus area of the community. It's a focus area of the district. It's a focus area why we brought in you with lots of great ideas. So, to me, this is just my personal opinion. I mean, I would want a more structured, confined methodology of discussion, planning, and proposal for those areas to the board. Just Just my personal thought on that.
Um, you know, I think one of the areas There are there are opportunities here. So, I know you'll think about that and and engage them as you think about what has been brought up around chronic absenteeism. And you got 1,700 responses. Cool. Cool. Kudos to you all. But we're not done. Like, I mean, we have we have so much more um uh that we can continue to evolve with, right? Uh around the stakeholder voice, um equitable practices, you know, this isn't we didn't sit in a room and say, "Hey, let's make these changes." You know, the two of us. We did try to get out there um and in front of those groups and those spaces. Um and we want to continue to do so, whether it's, you know, using short videos, whether it's using that podcast format, whether it's um being able to get into those spaces and talk with our administrators and our staff about mindset uh and look at the data and understand what the root causes for some of these things.