Reductions in staff that could prove disastrous for our most vulnerable students. And more. I hope someone on this board or someone's on this board do have a voice that is heard and that you will respond to this community about what matters to it. Our community, and that includes students, parents, teachers, staff, neighbors, friends, everybody, deserves to be centered in the ways our policy and the Illinois Association of School Boards requires. Thank you. Uh I am only going to do two things. One is congratulations to um everyone at the conclusion of their educational journey, whatever that is. Um and to those that are moving on, as Kristen said, to college, trade, year off, or or straight into the job force. Um one part that I do have in the speech that I am honored to be able to kind of be a part of. I always just want to kind of say there's bulldogs everywhere.
>> Any questions on that? >> Mrs. Ferris, >> what do we know about the chemistry of the 2030 class? Or is it what do we know about the chemistry of this class? I don't understand this year's class coming in. >> So, I'll just say um I'm, you know, not working directly in the office. I don't have an exact pulse on the students, but I do know that our um from what was reported to me, our numbers of special education students has um gone up significantly as well as multilingual learners. Um, so those transition meetings are happening and yeah, so it looks like there'll definitely be some changes. So, um, luckily we do have, uh, you know, a lot of support staff and we've already sort of anticipated that we may need an additional special ed teacher or ML teacher. Um, so we're continuing to keep an eye on that so that we make sure that we have the appropriate staffing.
Um my son, like Rob, though this is my son's third graduation that I went to as he worked his way toward law school, and he tells me it's his final one. Um he was telling me a story that he goes, "Oh, I got a funny call the other day." And I said, "Yeah, what what was?" He said, "Well, do you remember blah blah blah?" I can't remember her name right now. And he said, "Kind of sort of." And he says, "Yeah, I only I kind of knew her, but he was like, "Oh, I'm graduating with with her from Colorado Law in Boulder." And so she is a fellow classmate of his that he went on separate journeys through their kind of educational career and ended up in Boulder at the same time, at the same place. He did not know her very well. She did not know him very well, but she took it upon herself to call him to let him know that if he had not already done some things he needed to do about transitioning his license and getting some data that he needed to apply for the bar to start now cuz it could take like 6 months to get and that would be past his deadline for the bar.
questions. >> So, I uh I sent this letter uh to all of our legislators. I I sent a I believe a copy to you on behalf of the school committee and and myself um u outlining why uh a lot wasn't the best uh idea or best solution in uh dealing with the need for more seats. And so, um, I'm hoping there was a a law, there is a bill in, uh, the House and Senate that, uh, we're trying to support that would eliminate the lottery starting next year. So, if we get enough, uh, uh, traction, uh, we could get that passed. That would be good. Um, so, I just wanted to give you an update on that. I also shared this we the retirees had their meeting today. So I shared this with them and asked them to contact the legislators regarding the lottery as well.
Fortunately for him, he had not transferred his license as far She jumped right into I'm going to live in Colorado. My son took about a year into this until he got his in-state tuition and then he got his Colorado driver's license. So, I was just remark that, you know, someone reached out some a fellow classmate from 8 years prior of his last graduation took the time to give him a call to talk about a challenge and an issue that he had and that no matter where you go, I think often times there are bulldogs there that are taking a lot from this world and the space and being able to bring it back to each other. So, uh with that, I will entertain a motion to adjourn. So moved. So moved, Rob. >> Second. Seconded by Aaron. All in favor? Aye. >> Aye. All opposed?
So um anybody you know uh get them to uh reach out to their representatives or senator uh and ask them to uh support this bill that eliminates the lottery for vocational schools.
Any questions? >> Okay, >> Tommy, >> please. >> This letter was sent out already. >> Yes, this was uh sent out to all the legislators. It was emailed to all the legislators. >> Okay. Can you send us a copy of what was sent? I'm not sure I got it by email, but >> this what you >> No, but the email that the email that was sent, the letter that was sent formally by email. If you can forward it to >> I can forward it to you. Okay. >> Yep. >> All set. Uh, graduation update. You want me to just read this, Mr. Lavoy? You want to speak to it? >> Yep, you can read it. >> Graduation details. Class of 2026, Thursday, June 4th, 2026. The rain date will be June 5th at GLTS. Prior to the graduation ceremony, light oerves and refreshments will be served in the Four Winds restaurant from 5 to 5:30.
5:30 to transport on honored guests to the football field where the graduation march will begin at 5:50. And uh just a question on the guest speaker, will we be having a guest speaker this year? >> No. The they voted not to have a guest speaker this year. the uh comm uh the committee the they they thought uh that that they wanted to try it this year and see if it uh would help with regards to the time that it took to get through the ceremony. >> And who did they suggest to do some speaking? >> Who did Who was that? >> You. >> Oh, I'll lengthen my speech if you want. Only kidding. No. So, >> we're going to keep it short. >> Yes. No, I'll I'll be definitely speaking. >> Thank you. >> Um, just one one thing I want to emphasize is that try to uh be here for 5:00 uh because we only have a half hour and there the uh the uh culinary students and teachers will be preparing uh the light meal in orders and so [clears throat] we won't have all that much time in there.
Uh so uh just uh next year we're going to make it from 4:30 to 5:30 just so we have a little more time but the invitations had already gone out so we stuck with it. So um because they want us to leave head to the field by 5:30 so they can start this the um ceremony well not the ceremony but the march by 5:50. >> Okay. Would you uh want to speak to the uh superintendent's evaluation is next? >> So I gave you you should have a copy. Do they have a >> I think you got a copy of the typical form we have we do for evaluation my my particular evaluation which is due to go through next meeting. I will send you [snorts] by Tuesday uh some uh information or some references, examples of accomplishments for each of those standards. I will email that to you between now and Tuesday.
I wanted to get it done this week, but we've had so many challenges on the on the budget that I spent most of this week, almost every minute, trying to get that budget uh transfers and uh kind of getting people on board uh purchasing the things that need to be purchased. Since our uh director of of of uh finances uh was out last week and this week, I've been kind of filling in for that. So, I um we'll get this to you by next Tuesday. >> I believe that was in everybody's packet. If it wasn't, I can get you a copy. >> Set with that, Mr. Little. >> Yes. >> Uh school comfort dog update. I think Brenda, we own that dog now, don't we? >> What's up? I'm so excited. Highlight of the night. Um, so did want to give you an update. So there was a litter.
They're Australian Labradoodles. They were born on March 30th. The the litter was born on March 30th. We're only getting one. Um, so we were ma matched with our puppy last week. So they do a specific matching when they're looking to have a dog that's trained as a service dog. they have to, you know, look at the dog's temperament and all these different factors before they match them um with a school or a um a police department, anything like that. So, we got matched last week. Um so, our puppy will be ready for pickup um by a trainer on uh May 25th. So, um there's a it's a very detailed, very specific process that um they the puppy has to go through for training to be a service dog. So instead of us picking up the dog on March 25th or May 25th rather, it will be picked up by uh a trainer that will have the the dog for one week.
Um so they do more assessments um and you know make sure that the temperament is is good uh for the for the purpose. So after that week um we will go and pick up the dog from that trainer. They will then go home with the primary handler which is um Deborah Reyes who's one of our school social workers in the guidance department. And then once the puppy has all of the immunizations, everything that they need, they'll start more intensive training at another um training place. It's called Auntie Dog in Tukbury. You might have heard of them. They she trains a lot of police dogs um and school service dogs. So that's that would be ongoing. There's like an intensive puppy camp and different um levels of training to get the dog certified. Um so we expect that the the dog will join us in person here in the fall.
um in September and we're working on a school policy. We found that even um a lot of schools that have a comfort dog, they don't really have a formal policy. So, we're looking on um looking at finalizing that and hopefully we'll bring that to you at the June meeting. And uh without further ado, Mario, if you could bring up the the picture. This is Rio. So, uh Rio. So in in Spanish and Portuguese, Rio means river. So we tried to match the dog with, you know, their look and also the spirit of being a service animal in the guidance department. So he couldn't be any cuter. >> We have one more picture. >> Was he on the lottery? >> Sorry. >> Was he on the lottery? >> Sort of. We he we were just told we were getting that that puppy. So it was kind of a lottery.
>> Um >> thousand dogs wanted to come. Yeah. So, you know, as we mentioned before, he really um you know, will impact the the staff um both the staff and the students um reducing stress, anxiety, and just helping to create a positive um school climate. So, we're very excited and um uh Deborah Reyes has done a ton of work on this. Um you know, it it really has been a lot a lot more than I expected even, but she's been great. Um very diligent, detail oriented. Um, so she's been amazing and um, we both wanted to thank you for the support um, for this because this certainly wouldn't have happened without your approval and support. >> Will this dog be trained locally? >> Yeah. >> It's for the whole community. >> Will this dog be trained locally? Is the trainer? >> Yes. So, the first trainer is in Marramac, New Hampshire, and then after that it goes to the trainer in Tukbury.
>> Yeah. >> Thank you for the update. >> All right. That's the new school logo. Helps people days for days. >> Reports of the committee. I see none. Old business, I see none. >> New business is none. Tabled matters. We're none. >> Okay. >> Uh personnel considerations report. Um staff from beginning. Jessica Nanva, math instructor, effective June 20th 22nd, 2026. Austin Pora, HVAC instructor, effective June 30th, 2026. Leaves of absences, I see none. Retirements: Susan Amano, director of grants and workforce development, effective August 21st, 2026. Appointments are none. Job postings. Um, there was one added. I will put it on at the end. Um, you can ask the question, Mr. Lavoy. What's the question? Okay. Uh, first one. Athletic liaison $30,000 stipened year round 10,000 worth being funded through the current equipment manager stipen it's a new position city attached I'd like to vote on these uh separately one at a time please can I get a motion on that one >> question please for athletic liaison is on.
>> Yeah. >> What's the purpose? >> Uh if you look at the job description highlights, uh the the purpose is to support the uh athletic director with a lot of uh activities and duties. Since that our athletic program is continuing to grow, there are more buses, more kids, more scheduling. It's been uh becoming more and more of a a a large uh [clears throat] task to continue to deal with particularly the athletic athletic activities which happen after school. Uh this uh which goes beyond the regular school day uh responsibility as athletic director working with his staff as an administrator. So, um it was requested um to have this self uh support person which I think will um uh be utilized in a way that'll uh give the director more time to focus on uh quality and more time to work with both other schools with scheduling and getting things done in a timely manner.
>> Yeah, thank you for the background. Um, I mean, I asked So, it's a $30,000 type and I I saw there's a certain hours and and when it would be happening. I mean, I'm This brings me up recollection in terms of when we talked about the expansion of this department, we had, if I, if I remembering correctly, we had hired an equipment manager who was handling all of that. um which was also full-time. So I don't know if there's anyone in that position. >> This person person is the equipment manager. So part of the job responsibility is continuing in that role. So for that that's included that's part of the 30,000. So uh so it's basically an additional 20,000 to do other take on other responsibilities. Um so if you can see um below some of the responsibilities that person will be taking on uh that are additional beyond the uh support of the equipment >> as uh in so if you look at at the other uh bulleted responsibilities of the job there are numerous responsibilities and it's a minimum [clears throat] of 3 hours a day 15 hours of for for the additional uh pay.
>> Yeah. Yeah. No, I appreciate again the background. Um I mean based on what I heard, this is I mean it's an existing position. This is just a stipen to that position. So it's not a new position. >> It's an expand it's an expanded row to the position. More responsibility. So thus more funding, more money. >> So there's a there's a person existing person in that existing position. Yes. >> So this would be a stipen for that position >> given that individual. >> Yeah. An additional stipen but this will be posted this exist the person in the job now has to reapply for this new it's a new job new title so anyone can apply for this. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Just for clarification Mr. Lavoy we're coming up with 20,000. The athletic director's budget covers 10,000 of it, >> right? >> So, you're asking for 20,000, not the 30,000.
>> Well, it's increasing Yeah, it's increasing the budget by 20,000. >> The athletic budget. >> We get a motion. >> Wait, >> I'm sorry. Do you have a question? >> What What is in place now? Is there an assistant athletic director? We have a trainer that does some of that work during the day, but all the problem with the [clears throat] situation with the trainer is that she also oversees rentals and facilities and so that's taking more and more of her time. And >> I mean that's separate I would think trainer >> that's a separate job but that's the only other support that the director of >> didn't we like a year ago we hired some people for like the fields and I thought it was somebody inside also helping. >> So the fields that's the p the field person who oversees the rental and the managing of everybody that uses the field any problems or issues is the athletic trainer.