001Uh they will be shipped to buildings and ready for students on the first day of the 2526 school year. The total cost is $174,765 for 3558 kits and the average price of the kit is $49 and we'll be using title one funds for this. I feel like this is a good um use of our title one funds. Thank you. What do you say board? So move second. I have a motion and second for school supplies backpacks for the fee of 174 174,765. Any questions or comments? Last year, um, right before school started, I was at one of the big box stores and there was a parent. She had four kids and you could tell that she was struggling financially and she was looking at the school supplies. And I told her, I said, "I don't
002mean to be nosy or intrude, but district 118 is providing school supplies for all the students from K to 12." If you could have seen the look of relief on that mother's face, you just wouldn't believe it. Uh I think it's an excellent idea. It's the first year this past year is when we did K through2. And I will say I've had no requests for school supplies this year. So I think that what we purchased really worked. Um I haven't had a lot of, you know, the principles haven't asked me for school supplies. It's already April. Maybe a few things have come in. So, um, they've been very sufficient and they dropped their prices for us this year. Any other questions or comments? If not, voting on school supplies, $174,765 roll call, please. Elder Park,
003yes. Mrs. Yes. Mrs. Cordon, yes. M. Yes. Mrs. Shel, yes. Miller, yes. Dr. Ashley, yes. Motion passes 70. Thank you very much. Thank you so much. Thank you. Technology summer refresh. Summer time. Summer time. Good evening board. Mr. Hart. Annette Hmel, director of technology. Um this time of year doing summer refresh again. So um we are looking at uh replacing our Chromebooks about 800 Chromebooks this year. Uh we're going to focus on Northridge with the 14 inch going with the larger since um they're like uh our high school. They're on their devices a lot more than the rest of the students. We're also going to replace 175 laptops and 144 desktops for staff and teachers. So the total cost is going to be $847,000 555353. That's total with lease and warranty. Um, title will pay
004$644,595.84, which leaves uh two thou 202,957.69 of local funds out of our budget, which I have already accounted for. Move to approve. Second. Any questions or comments? Yes. Is this um tell us why this is necessary so the community I'm sorry. Uh so yeah, so uh we do a recycle um every four to five years. This is we've kind of moved up our recycle for five years. Basically what happens is the lease ends the u we the software updates the security updates they start to not we're not able to get those done. And so this is very vital for our cyber security as well. So we have keeping up on those updates. We switch out the student the switch not the students the laptops and the Chromebooks. Correct. So our the the Northridge kids will
005be the ones that are focus. So this year Yes. So we decided um a couple years back that we were going to start looking at looking at the 14-inch Chromebooks because right now they're using the 11 inch and so the high school we did all the high school last year and this year we're focusing on Northridge. Okay. And then we'll um as we go to the um South View, South View and then the elementarymentaries, we will decide because I've got some feedback on that that maybe those larger Chromebooks aren't good for the little. So, right now, we're just going to focus those. So, if we can re if some of those Chromebook Chromebooks that the students have are still under warranty, we will recycle those and use those. Yeah, that answered part of the question
006right there. Okay, thank you. Okay, any other questions or comments? Um, refresh is the total then 847 53 553 305. Yeah, that long summer refresh that for that total uh roll call vote, please. Mrs. Corley, yes. Mrs. Trader, yes. Yes. Miller. Yes. Mrs. Holland. Yes. Yes. Dr. Ashton. Yes. Motion passes 70. Thank you. Thank you. Item 11. Motion to consider settlement agreement with Superintendent Dr. Gettis. I would like to move uh to table motion to consider settlement agreement with Superintendent Dr. Gettis. Second. Third. We'll have a second and a third. I have a motion to table this to one. Um to the May 7th meeting. To the May 7th meeting. Yes, sir. Okay. I have a motion to table the meeting to to the motion till the next that's the next meeting then, right? No,
007we have one in one more in April. We have Okay. So, you want to go to two meetings? Yes, sir. Okay. To the May 7th meeting. Um, questions or comments? No. Okay. Roll call vote, please. Mrs. Shider, no. Miss P? Yes. Mrs. Hower? Yes. Pastor Miller? No. Other park? No. Mrs. Corby? Yes. Dr. Ash. No. Okay. Motion fails. Now back to the original motion. So move to consider the settlement agreement with Superintendent Dr. Alicia Gettis. Second. Have a motion. A second. Um questions or comments? Well, yes. I am unequivocally opposed to the separation agreement. We have two law firms, including the attorney that represents this board, strongly tell us, underlined in their statement, they do not recommend our signing this agreement. For the last three years, this has been a divided board. Despite what you've
008been told, there is no transparency. I'm certain you've noted the phrase the majority of the board. Quite simply, there have been four members of the board making decisions, often without even consulting the other members that have also been duly elected to represent you. Please know that this has been addressed many times, but some of us have been left out of the conversations and decisions. The agreement to be voted on is not in the best interest of the school district, the community, and our students who ultimately will pay the price for the cost of this agreement. It also leaves the new board a burden that will be timeconsuming and potentially not potentially it definitely will be a financial burden. It also does not address or resolve the issue of the previous superintendent's job abandonment. Such good
009things have been happening in our district under the leadership of Mr. Hart. It's time to move on and keep moving forward. You have my sincerest apology that this situation occurred and lacks an equitable solution. I have serious concerns regarding the school board's potential liability. As the board votes in favor of the proposed settlement agreement, our board attorney has clearly advised against signing this agreement and the attorneys from Hler have provided detailed written guidance outlining why it would be inadvisable to disregard that council. I do not believe the board president is currently making decisions that reflect the best interest of our district. I am also deeply concerned that if this matter is not handled in a fair and transparent manner, we will risk losing valued employees, which would further harm this district. I want to state
010I clearly do not support this settlement. I once again formally request a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding this issue. I urge that any major decisions, including this one, be paused until the newly elected school board is seated on May 7th. With the current board's term ending soon, it is inappropriate and irresponsible to take actions that could have lasting negative impacts in our district. Why would we not listen to our attorneys? Why is our attorney not present this evening? How much are we talking on the settlement amount? I have specifically asked in detail the bottom dollar line and I have yet to receive that. So I do not know how much money we are talking about at this moment and that was an email to our board attorney. Thank you. Um being on the board
011for a short while, Mrs. Cor and I came in at the same time and I must agree there are times that things have occurred at the meetings uh where only they needed the four votes and it's always the same four people. Um, I'm a reasonably intelligent person and if our attorneys for which we are paying money for tell us not to rush to judgment, not to settle because all the information has not been provided. Um, we've not heard the final judgment from TRS which is a big part of a possible development. So, I concur with uh two of my board members that we certainly should tap this. Thank you. I am um I'm extremely concerned um for the well-being of our district, for the for the financial responsibility for the district, for our students, and
012for our staff. Um, and I'm there's there's a lot. I just wish that we could I wish we could say everything to everyone. I wish we could. Um, at some point it comes down to for me in part um the best worst option. There's there's and we have got to be financially responsible. Um and we cannot allow our our we just cannot allow our um students to suffer with um potential. You're looking at there is a potential for um litigation. There's a potential for litigation massive in either direction. And um and my personal opinion is the my opinion is the potential of not moving forward is a far greater risk to the district. It is and we could disagree on that. I mean we could disagree on that and I wish that everyone had all
013the same information and we can we can disagree on that. Um but that that is a that is a big concern for my for for me to lay that in the seat of the next board. Um in addition um a couple of things. The um Dr. Gettis was not placed on paid leave pursuant to an investigation. Um she wasn't. she was placed on play paid leave um in order to um because the the the community, the district, the staff really wanted an interim superintendent and Mr. Hart's been doing a great job. Grateful for you. Um but there was no there's a process for placing someone on paid leave pursuant to an investigation. And if you if you place them on paid leave and then do an investigation on the back end, um it's it's improper.
014There's no no due process. And I'm very concerned about our liability with that situation. I'm very concerned and I've been I've been concerned about due process issues since my very beginning with this district. Um there's a number of things and I am happy to to point them out to people. Um, Dr. Gettis was um I I disagree with Miss Hollerin about her um the her um way of saying that it was job abandonment. Dr. Gettis um did not abandon her job. She was given permission to work remotely. She was given permission to work remotely because of safety issues. And for those of you who are kind of laughing in the gallery, that's that's I don't know that gives me pause. Um there was a um there was a and I'll just I heard it so
015I can say it for myself. Um there was a threat made to this building that and it was a very angry unhinged person that called to threaten Dr. get us. And then a second call came and threatened women in authority who were and they were it was a it was a very upsetting call and and um there's a foyer out for it. There's a lot of foyas out so I invite y'all to take a look or take a listen. But I listened to that and I knew that I sat next to her up here and I remember thinking, "Wow, if someone came in in a gun, could could they shoot through here?" I was literally afraid when I listened to that and I was and I thought, you know, there is a danger and I
016really believed that. And that was during the timing. It was afterwards, but that was during the timing where she was given permission to work um to work at a distance. And people could disagree. Some people may not have been worried about it, but I was. I was and what I noticed was that after she was gone and I was concerned for the people here in the building but after she was gone it stopped you know we didn't have the same kind of threats so what so in my mind it was safer for her to work at a distance that was what I believed and we might disagree intelligent people can disagree but that is truly what I believed so I cannot say that it was job abandonment not in my mind um And so and
017in my mind that's just not an issue that that we can can go after her for. But my son was strangled and still expected to go to school every single day and you your staff didn't have the decency to call me spend that money on more SRO's in the buildings keeping our students safe is a woman who's already over $600,000. Okay. I would like to respond um that I have great confidence in you, Chief Yates, and the work that you did investigating all of those things, all of them. Um I have read your reports and um you left nothing undone. And that confidence tells me that the direction that we need to go uh is to uh finally make a decision about her. Um I also think when you want to talk about due process,
018okay, I'm all for that. So why are you all opposed to tableabling this until we have further information? Mr. Uh chair, I move for the previous question. Okay. Which simply means there there's no more debate. You either vote it up or down. True. But you have to vote on that. So no, you have to vote on to you're calling the question is what you're doing. Yes. Okay. But the person that that motion is a votable issue. There's no debate on calling the question, but it has to be again like tableing a motion. You have to vote on it. And if there's if you're if the votes up, then you will vote immediately. Okay? Since he called that, we have to entertain that motion. So, let me tell you what we're going to vote on here.
019We're going to have a roll call vote. And if you agree with his motion, which is I want to vote immediately, you will end all debate and you will go right to the motion. Okay? Second. Any questions by the board? Any everyone understand? Is there a second? You have to have a second. Oh, a second. No, it does not have to be second. He's just calling the question. Anyone can call the question at any time and it is not a does not have to have a second to the motion. It's a it's a it's it's a parliamentary procedure to end debate. Okay. How many? Twothirds. Okay, question. I think it's a simple majority, but that's okay. I I'll debate that. I've seen majority, but that that's okay. Uh, roll call vote, please. If you vote
020yes, you end the debate immediately. If you vote no, we will continue to debate. Mrs. No. Miss, no. Mrs. No. Pastor Miller. Yes. Park. Yes. Mr. No. Dr. No. We'll continue debate. I like the idea of of of of voting immediately, but when there's more debate that needs to happen and more discussion that needs to happen, I do not like to limit debate. Okay? So, well, here, let me say this. You the board have been hassling this thing out for the last four months, going over the same routine. Somewhere along the line, you got to say enough is enough. And we're talking about moving forward. Let's move forward. That's that's the whole point. Okay. I would just like some questions answered before I'm comfortable moving on. Pastor Miller, we haven't heard from you yet. We
021have u decided to vote. I just wanted to say that um I think it's unfair uh the accusations against Dr. get us uh been here with this board some of you for 10 years and Dr. get us had been there for 10 years and she received a letter or note of some sort from the Ku Klux Clan and this is what started her concerns about her safety, her sons and her mother. And as it was stated already that we agreed to let her work remotely. I don't know how much of this community even are aware of the accomplishments of this district in the last 10 years under the leadership of Dr. Giddis. She and her leadership helped us with the high school, all new windows, air conditioning. She helped us when it was discovered that
022there was a mold issue. As much as there was sentimentals, desires to keep that building, Dr. Getis insisted that we get our staff and our students out of that building. Dr. G, Dr. Giddis assists that as much as we have so much history with Garfield School, there was another safety issue with the sewer system that we get our staff and our students out. With the leadership of Dr. hit us. We have no one in Vermillion County as a child psychiatrist and we have so many of our students that are struggling with mental issues and with the help of Dr. Giddis. She recruited Dr. Mahome who has her practice in Chicago but because Dr. Giddis requested her She comes once a month on Saturday to diagnose our students and get them the proper help that they
023need. Under the leadership of Dr. hit us. We have a grow your own program now where many districts around this country are desperate for teachers. And so Dr. get us helped put in place a grow your own program where we as a district pay for our high school graduates to go to Eastern University and obtain their degree and then make a commitment to come back to district 118 for five years. We have 40 that will be graduating this summer and that will be coming back to work in district 118. We have a medical clinic because of the leadership of Dr. get us so that our students have opportunity to have medical care right in the high school because of the leadership of Dr. Giddens. We survived the pandemic. As difficult as it was, she helped
024guide us through. She made available when our children could not be at school to get free food from McDonald's. Since Dr. Get us has been here. Our children get free breakfast, free lunch because their level of income could not support their parents making sure that they had food. All the improvements to all of our buildings, all of the new additions has been under the leadership of Dr. Giddis. District 118 North. Now the former call hospital is now a part of our ability to possibly take care of our students that are I think the one to the three year age and there's a long waiting list for these students through the leadership of Dr. get us. She above and beyond her requirements set and counseledled many of our students to stay in school not to do
025the terrible situation we just had at North Ridge. She sit and pleaded with their parents to do everything they could to get their students to cooperate with our staff. She worked extremely hard for 10 years for district 118. And so something frightened her, something scared her, something made her feel unsafe. And because of that, she is [Music] now only thought of as some person that we need to do whatever we can to take away whatever rights that she has for herself. as well as her children and her mother. As an African-Amean, I live every day with concerns of baby being killed for no other reason than the skin that I live in. People don't know me, but because of my skin, there are people still to this day hate me and others that look like
026me without a cause. So yes, it may not be a serious concern of some of you that you can be threatened and your family can be threatened, but I am aware Dr. to get us has been fully committed to District 118. And these are just some of the things that makes me consider trying to let her no longer be afraid, frightened, mental challenges that may not affect anybody in this room, but it has affected her and her family. Dr. Okay. It's been brought up that she was given permission to work remotely by this board. I do not know when that occurred and please tell me when we voted on her in open session to work remotely. The last time we tal touched on her working, it was for her to return to the building. That's
027the last time we discussed her in open session in that manner. And I keep hearing that the board gave her permission to work remotely. Did I miss that? The vote was to have her return to the building. We weren't allowed to give a date. I do remember that clearly that we to my knowledge never told her in open session that we approved her working remotely. So when did we do that? Well, there was a [Music] um order of protection and during the um during that time period, Dr. um Ashton as I understand it was he said yes, you know, absolutely. And no, in the middle of a in the middle of an emergency with that it's okay for the board to make for the for Dr. Ashton to make a decision and and it's okay.
028It was deemed unfounded by the Dambo PD by the FBI. We paid to have a security assessment done of this building which I have yet to see and I was told it said the same thing. We all agreed for her to come back to work in the building. We did not give her I will give you that. We did not give her a date because I was not allowed to give her a date. But we never voted in open session for her to work remotely and that was after it was unfounded. The reason that the word immediately was not included in that was because we there was a majority of the people that knew that there was still a fear for her safety, right? And then so but it wasn't you weren't allowed. It's it's
029that a majority of the board knew believed that she was in fear for her safety and so we didn't want her coming back to work here while there was still a fear for her safety. But we told her she had to. We as a board in open session told her she had to come back to work and it was unfounded by by the Danville PD and by the FBI. But you're telling us that we we approved that and I'm telling you we did not approve. that we voted to have her come back to work on. We made a statement. We made We made a statement. Okay. It was a statement we voted on. Yeah. Yes. It was a statement. You wanted to do that because I knew that if I because I'm sorry then I'm
030sorry if that is a sticking if if that's the point to you then I would have re put out a motion. I'm serious. And clarified that for you and revoted it. Does the board want her to go to work? I mean, come back to work or not come back to work and with the seven votes in place and I would have that done, but we've had this discussion in close session. We did have this discussion. And if it didn't get transferred to open session, then that's probably my fault. Okay. But there's a far distance between requesting her to come back to work. The majority of us said that we wanted her to come back to work and giving her permission to stay away. We wanted her to come back to work. But yeah, we did
031want her to come back to work. That's right. We did. And how long ago was that, doc? Months. Months ago. And she still did not honor that. And I don't remember though. I don't remember the statement being if you don't come back to work, you're fired. Well, did I miss that somewhere? I'm I'm I'm telling you I don't remember that. That's why I'm going. That's the implication that goes out to you. Now, here's public. Okay, which is there's a lot watching at the moment, too. Um um we're not that is still reporting. It is still working. Okay. So, they can watch it later. Okay. the meeting closed session where we had an attorney on Zoom and we discussed the implications of Dr. Gettis not being at work and we took a vote and agreed that
032she was to be informed that she is to return to work physically. Excuse me. has for months she had been working from home except that there's really no accountability. Uh can I just clarify one thing? Yes, you can. Thank you. We did not vote in closed session. We cannot vote in close session. However, however, we asked for a consensus and we got a consensus of opinion. She can't take that. And the attorney said that she Thank you. needs to be told. And we were under the impression when we left that she would be told by uh I think it was a couple of days. [Music] Um but that did not happen and nor did she return to work. Now, there is a couple I've heard a lot of things this evening and I retired in
0332009, but that doesn't mean that I can't hear or see. Uh when Canon, where I was a principal five years, was closed. Canon was the last neighborhood school. The only buses they had was furry child and one small special grade class. So when they closed Canon, those students, and I know for a fact for four weeks did not attend school because they were not provided transportation. And the reason why it was a neighborhood school is for economic reasons. A number of parents did not have transportation. So they could go to Laur Lee or the Big Brothers Big Sisters or Boys and Girls Club rather pardon, pardon me. But they had to find their own way. So it was four weeks because I kept track every day. So we did not honor and support the parents
034or students of Canon Elementary School. I just want to make that point. Thank you. I would also just like to say again to you, Mrs. Pay, the health of those teachers, those students. As a board, we decided it was so much more important that they would not spend another day in that building because of health concerns. it was uh necessary. It wasn't convenient. It didn't just all things fall in place immediately, but it was out of concern for the health of those students and our staff, but they didn't go to school. I understand the closing. I understand that. I worked there for five years. I understand. I know the building. I know all the little nooks and crannies, but that was not my point. My point was we did not serve our students because they
035did not go to school for four weeks. I know exactly when they went to what is now Mark Deman. And if they had they did not have the financial means or transportation nor but if they ended up with a health issue being in that building I'm not talking about going back to cannon. I'm talking about transporting those students to East Park or any other school so they can be uh educated and for four weeks they were not. Yeah. Well, I'm not going to say it wasn't. Well, I I know that it was I'm understanding that it still was a concern for the health of those students. Sure. And the teachers. Okay. Anyone? I'm finished. Okay. Thank you. Can we get a final cost of the settlement amount? Excuse me. The final cost of the settle
036amount that we're voting on. I could I can get you the number. I mean, we can add it up from here if I mean, I won't have a number. I'm sorry. I do not have the exact number and I won't probably say it because until the agreement comes out, I'm not going to probably release that. Is that be TRS penalty? Do we know the final about the TRS penalty? Do we have that for I don't know if there will be a TRS penalty. There may not be a TRS penalty. That's not what the attorneys said to us and well to you actually even um the attorneys floated the number $95,000 at least at least in TRS penalties that we pay. Those are some of the unanswered questions and concerns that I have that we're moving
037forward without answering those things. We're just looking the other way and just say, "Well, it all work out." Well, it's going to work out on you. And I didn't think we can approve this settlement unless it was subject to legal and TRS approval. That's what our attorneys are telling us. So I review. Yeah. I do not How are we But they've reviewed. Uhuh. That's not right. Give me a minute. I'll find it. Well, go back to the last motion. But tonight, which doesn't make any difference because tonight is consideration of it and those two stipulations are not in it. Let me May I can I say a few things now? Can I just can I just rebut that for just one minute? This is in the legal uh thing that that you received today. Uh
038again, um I listened to the board's vote and it was to approve the settlement quote subject to legal and TRS review. If TRS review and legal review either were not completed or resulted in recommendations against approval, there's a risk that signing the settlement without a further public vote could be viewed as exceeding the president's authority, particularly as to an action of such significance and subject to public scrutiny. But that's why we're having a vote now because what that reason that was generated which I told you before was if we went ahead I'm not even I'm sorry I I don't I that's the thing you out and I don't really want to do that. I have no interest in that. The reason why we're here this evening, let's let's go to number one. Is if you
039remember, we've already approved the settlement. Right folks, we this has been done before at a previous board meeting and we've gone through this and we have we've heard the same feedback and or different people or whatever else and we've gone through the debate and we had approved this before. Okay. So your your question should be then why are we doing this this evening and the reason why is it has been amended. It has been changed and the change is in our favor because we wanted to make a stipulation that if there is a TRS penalty which is the retirement system for want to know about TR everybody in the room pretty well knows what TRS though because if you're a teacher you know um if there is a TRS penalty how do we handle that
040is that the full responsibility of the and I'm not going to go too far into this because again this is an a a contract with an employee and I can't talk about too much more of this. Okay? But I have to explain why we are here this evening. So we put a we added a negotiation point where we address that situation that was not in the first agreement that we had already approved. Okay. So that that's why we have to come back this evening and approve the amended settlement. Okay. either we approve it or we don't approve it. Okay, but there are no stipulations after that. There were stipulations. What she was saying was it had to be reviewed by TRS and it had to have a legal review and there are no stipulations. If
041this is voted on tonight, that's it. Okay. The first one had those stipulations on it because we had already we were going to approve it before it before everybody else looked at it. So it could be in the holding tank ready to go ready to be able to approve finally if everything checked out. Okay. But as I said we change the agreement. If we change the agreement I can't can't sign that agreement because that would be null and void. that's not the agreement that you have. So, we have to come back this evening and ask for approval of the amended agreement. Okay. Now, a couple other things that I would like to say um because I heard a lot of things tonight and some of them I obviously don't agree with. Um which I'm I'm
042just going to leave it at that. I'm I'm going uh transparency. You all these words that are going on. I'm gonna probably disagree with some of these things, which you would probably expect me to do. Um, but we don't need to go through the whole laundry list of it because that's that's petty and doesn't need to be done. Okay. Uh, just a couple points I want to make. If you don't if we don't approve a settlement, okay, where are you? Okay. And, uh, to those who want to t wanted to table the motion, I said, why are you rushing into this? which I've heard a lot and I said this has been going on since and I was talking to my wife about this and I said since November and she goes no it's been
043going on since September or October the whole thing but we really talked about settlement from November on and we've been working on this since then this is probably with in the previous discussion also so this isn't something that we're just rushing into we've had ample time when we hear call for invest investigations if there was something nefarious, if there was something really terrible, and I talked to the attorney today. I said, uh, given the attorney the ability to go through all Dr. Gettis' email, said, "You you find anything there?" No, I haven't found anything in you had since November till now. Okay. And I'm going for all the the people that say, "Well, that's there's something there. what you know and then uh what is it? It should be a little more apparent. I can
044argue the other side to say, "Well, you need to do the investigation to find that out." Okay, I understand that. Understand that. And you can investigate. You're going to have a new board. And I I'm not being physicious, but investigate. I mean, no one's saying not to. Go ahead. But why why is the settlement why is this a thing for now? Okay. Why is it an okay idea? Because the idea is it a good idea. The that's the other thing is when people asked about it, it said do I like it? No. I wish there was no reason for a settlement. Okay, that's number one. I wish I wish this whole thing never occurred. I wish we didn't go have to go through this process. But now that we are here and we've worked this
045long to get this far to make a settlement, it appears when you weigh all the considerations, I mean, what's best for the district? Okay. And people go, well, not to pay all the money. I said the potential litigation is what I have to look at. And if I can if I can limit exposure for your district in the future and limit that exposure, I think that's a really positive thing to do. Okay. What is the monetary worth to it? You that's a question that everybody has to answer to themselves. Okay. So, you're gonna we're going to argue this for years. Okay. But I have to look out for the well-being of of the district. It's in our control right now with this board that has been working on this for this many months. Okay. To
046go, oh, just wait till, which my wife would likes that idea. She said, just wait to wait till the next board comes in. We have been the people that are the most knowledgeable of the last situation. You may not like that, okay? And I'm sure many of you don't. However, we've been working on this and not quickly. We've been trying to do it carefully. And tell me, I tell the story. I was on the phone with the uh New Year's Eve, Christmas Eve with the attorneys. We've been working very hard on this. Um it it's a difficult decision to make. It is not something that goes that someone I expect people to slap you on the back and go, "Yes, that was a great decision." Because there's a negative either way because if we don't
047do it, there's a whole set of consequences that could happen. If we do do the settlement, it limits some of those consequences, but it costs money to do so. Okay? And and makes a lot of people mad. It's actually a tough decision to do the settlement. It's an easy decision to go wash my hands and just let it go and let the next board do it. That's an easy decision to me. I don't know how you decide on a house. This isn't a discussion. This I'm sorry. You had your point. You've had your time. It is not a discussion time. It's time. Understood. Thank you. I appreciate that too. Thank you for not arguing. Okay. I truly do. Um, so I have other points. You don't need to hear. Okay. Those were the major ones.
048Uh, it's a very tough decision and I'm sure a lot of people will be unhappy either way. I I could vote either way on this. We'll see. With all due respect, Mr. President, you know exactly what our attorneys have found. And that's all I'm going to say about that. That you know exactly what they have found. and for you to allude that. Okay. Anything else? No, nothing good. Okay. Voting on settlement. Dr. Gett settlement. Roll call vote, please. So, a yes vote means what? And a no vote means what? A yes means you agree to the settlement. The settlement that and again just because we vote yes this evening. The settlement needs to be signed. Okay. And what you don't know other particulars on this is that you don't need a majority. And not everybody
049had to sign yay on this. I just I don't know if the board's aware of this because they read it they would. Um uh not everybody has to sign yay on it, but it needs to be signed and it needs to be signed by Dr. Gatis and agreed to which I don't know if she'll sign it. Okay. I really I don't maybe you do, but uh that's when it would take it would take effect. So, we're voting on the settlement. Yes, we approve it. No, you don't. Or you're in opposition to it. Roll call vote. Any any other questions? Everyone's aware how we're going to vote. What we're voting on. Okay. Roll call vote, please. Mr. Absolutely not. No. Yes. No. Pastor Miller. Yes. Mrs. Absolutely not. Absolutely yes. Dr. Yes. Motion passes. 43formational items.
050Do you have any? We have Mr. Brett first and then I do have one graduation or uh no cell phones, right? Even better. Um yeah. Um, so I'll just here to make the board and our new incoming board members aware of some impending legislation. Um, I'm a and then I do feel compelled. I need to state uh the perspective of myself, the administrative team in the high school very briefly. So I will just read and then get out of the way. Um, so on Thursday, March 6th, Governor JB Pritsker joined Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton, teachers, school administrators, and municipal officials to propose a classroom cell phone ban in schools across Illinois, which is Senate Bill 2427, which would require all school boards to adopt policies prohibiting the use of wireless communication devices during instructional time.
051That would include any wireless device such as cell phones, laptops, tablets, and gaming devices that can provide voice messaging or other data communication between two or more parties. However, it would not include schoolisssued devices or devices that students are required to possess or use for educational purposes. Uh the district policies would at minimum provide the use of those devices during instructional time, but the policies would also have to allow exceptions that allow students to use them during emergencies or in response to an imminent threat to someone's health or safety or if necessary for IEP goals. The bill has cleared the Senate. We're watching it carefully as it will go into effect uh for the 2025 2026 school year if voted on. Um, state superintendent Dr. Tony Sanders says, "We fully support this legislation to limit
052cell phone use in schools because it creates more focused, engaging, and supportive environment." Um, yes, similar legislation has been adopted already by nine states. 15 states in the District of Columbia have this proposed legislation uh in their state legislatures currently. Um while yes, we would need to revisit our policy um if this goes into law, which I think it will. Um and schools are operating and districts are operating from the standpoint that it will. Uh from my perspective, this is far less a policy discussion than an enforcement discussion that this will necessitate. I think the method of enforcement is very key and very important. Frankly, um, a growing part of this conversation, um, is, uh, you're seeing a rise in schools going to a tool called Yonder pouches. These are cases that students carry with
053them. Phones go in the pouch upon entry to the building. They are magnetically locked upon entry and magnetically unlocked when students leave school. schools in our area, Herbana Middle School and Poria public schools, uh, grades Ashley and Poria, grades 7 through 12, utilize Yonder pouches and have reported success after some inevitable and early transition pains. Uh, we also have a district or a school in our building that doesn't allow cell phones and I think it works pretty well. Um, and I think uh, Miss Campbell would be in the future open to speaking on the positives of that. I want to share a couple other things. Um when our students or when our teachers show the student news, many of them will supplement it with a program called CNN 10. This is a uh objective information
054only current events newscast for students to be updated on what's going on in the world. Uh this week they actually highlighted the positive impact of yonder pouches at a high school in Arlington, Virginia. As I watched the focus group, one student stated, "It was hard at first, but I actually realized I was addicted." Another student said, "On the first day in chemistry, I kept reaching for my pouch and realized I couldn't. So, all I could do was sit and listen to the teacher." I am publicly stating my position that this is a strategy we seriously need to consider. Um, even absent of the legislation being passed, if it does not pass, to me, it's the best path forward. Enforcing and curbing something as pervasive as cell phones has um necessitates a strategy like this, in
055my opinion, if we're going to be successful. Um, one of our deans who's sitting in the back with permission um in collaboration with Mr. heart disseminated a survey um to the staff in the district uh as part of a graduate school class she's in. Um teachers are were asked on a scale of 1 to 10 to please rate uh the challenge that cell phones pose to them in the classroom. The average rating at the high school is an 8.3 out of 10. Um I see the constant never-ending battle and demoralizing impact curbing cell phone use in school has on the DHS staff. Uh, we need a strategy like Yonder Bags to truly reset the culture over time. Without it, we are asking our teachers to engage in a never-ending challenge, an eventual exclusionary discipline, which
056myself nor any of the staff want. Um, I'm fearful of this unless we look at tools such as yonder bags, uh, both to come into compliance with this impending legislation. Um, I actually think our policy isn't too far off um from meeting the legal responsibility, but I think we need to reset the culture around cell phones and Yandere allows us to do that. It's important though that I do acknowledge other perspectives. It would not be fair of me to stand here and only promote one perspective. I want to be clear, I'm not blaming the students. Uh the students are simply growing up and operating in a world we created for them. So, this isn't on them. Um, the most anecdotal concern I hear to something like yonder bags is what are we doing in cases
057of emergencies? That's a very real concern. It does need to be talked about. Um, and even the convenience it is to text your child like an update or a change in the daily plans or something like that. And I do understand that now that I have a child in school. Um, but honestly, I think this is something that we need. Um, and I'm gonna close with a response of a teacher on on the survey that I think really frames my position and the position of the teachers. Um, and if you knew this teacher's name, um, I think you would all know who he is. And, uh, any parent who's had a child in this in this teacher's class would probably rave about this teacher. I know they would. He said, "My father asked me what
058the number one problem in our school is." I said, "Cell phones?" He said, "I thought you would say that." He asked me, "Why don't they get rid of phones?" I said, "I don't know. It would solve a lot of problems. I don't think there is a punishment in place or one that that we could create that would actually impact phone use." Hence why I think we need to look at something like Yonder. I think viewing phones from the point of view that it can be dealt with through consequences is the wrong approach. I agree with that. That's me interjecting there. It's a connection issue. A phone in a teenager's hand in a classroom drives disconnection. It disconnects them from learning, their peers, their teachers, and their surroundings. We have to view it as how we
059can get students to reconnect. I believe getting phones out of schools is the answer. Go visit an elementary school where phones have not become part of the daily culture. You will see connection. You will see learning. You will see engagement. There are still problems, but teachers are able to manage those problems. What you won't see is people with their headphones on looking at their phone and not paying attention to their environment. Um I do want to add um it's very important that we get parent voice on this. Um and um we do have Viking round table April 29th at 6 PM. That will be the topic of discussion. So parents I invite you to attend. Thank you. Hello. Good evening. I'm looking at you and I'm appalled. Where? Where am I? I'm appalled. Not at
060the staff, the students. I'm appalled at the parenting that's happening. in our community, in our district.