001to determine its validity and collective negotiating matters between the school board and its employees or their representatives or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees. I will take a motion to come out of close session. >> So moved. >> Second. >> A motion and a second have been heard. Please call the role. Mrs. Patton. >> McMillan. >> I. >> Kelly Black. >> I. >> Blastic. >> I. >> Cosminsky. >> Hi. >> Gerky. >> I. Winski. >> I >> The motion passes. We are in open session. Welcome to our June 15, 2026 uh board meeting. Our mission is to empower students to develop a learner's mindset, demonstrate adaptability, communicate effectively, think critically, and become global citizens. Please call the role. Mrs. And >> board members present this evening, Christine Gerky, Joe Cosminski,
002Melissa Kelly Black, Amanda McMillan, Holly Blastic, and Mark Winski. Okay. Now, please join the board in the pledge of >> allegiance of its nation. Okay. Item four, the public hearing for the 2025 2026 amended budget. The hearing for the amended budget will begin with comments by the administration. Following the administration's comments will be public comment. A sign up form was available to you as you entered. Uh public comment will be made in order the made in order the requests to speak were received and individuals be limited to three minutes. Um if at this time any public comment is only for the amended budget. [clears throat] I don't have any slips for the amended budget. Did anyone wish to speak on that? Okay. So, we'll move on. Sorry, I jumped ahead. We're going to do administration
003comments now. That's >> right. >> Okay. Senate, too. >> No worries. Uh, good evening. Illinois statute allows school districts to amend a budget by the end of the fiscal year, June 30th. Process for the adoption of an amended budget requires at least one public hearing after the amended budget has been budget has made it been available to the public for at least 30 days. This is that required public hearing. We recommend that the board of education approve the resolution that is presented in board docs. Administration followed the following timeline. On May 4th, 2026, uh we requested the board of education established the FY26 amended budget hearing for this evening, June 15th. On May 8th, the district published that notice and placed the amended budget on display, which leads us to this public hearing this evening.
004and then a conditional upon pending board approval. District will file the amended budget with ISBY tomorrow. And no additional changes have been made to the FY2026 amended budget presented to the board on May 4th, 2026. Amendments to the original state budget document are noted and posted in board docs for the public's consumption. Also available in board docs in are information regarding the draft of the resolution recommended the board adopt. the Illinois State Board of Education's state budget form and the original budget and the Illinois State Board of Education state budget form, the amended budget, as well as infographics supporting the expensive fund 60. Later this evening during the uh regular part of the board of education meeting, we'll recommend that the board of education approve the resolution that's presented to you. That concludes the administrator's
005comments this evening. >> Okay. Now, is there anybody who would like to speak about the amended budget? Okay. Uh, next 4.03 is the board of education comments. At this point, um, if any board member has a comment only, um, we can save questions for, uh, when we're done with action. So, any comments on the amended budget from the board? Melissa. >> Um, the first thing I want to address, we brought it up at the last meeting was that the three minute rule, there was a conversation because it has to take vote, that vote would have to be made in public because no votes can be taken behind in closed door meetings. >> Um, it was not. >> No, >> and I have all the agendas going back to that time. So, if I'm wrong, Mr.
006Bridges, could you tell me the date that we voted on it? So we voted on it February 2nd. It was voted 6. We had one board member absent >> and that vote came after the special. >> If you can I have the agenda. So if you'd let me look up February what? >> 2. >> Okay. >> So >> because it would have to be listed on the agenda in order to be voted on. >> I believe we brought it up. I'm trying to remember how we brought it up. I think it was a mo it might have been on the agenda, but it was a motion that was made. We discussed it. We took a vote. >> Item 7.03 action related to board self-evaluation. >> Okay. So for February, >> I'd like to say point
007of question. We're talking about comments for the specific budget, not about the threeminut rule. So I don't see how this I don't see how it pertains. >> Well, I think unless you're going to restrict comments to three minutes, then it you're not then >> Well, right now we can it we would a point of order is is upheld. We will limit it to three minutes because that is what we've been operating on. So you have three minutes to make a comment if you wish. >> You can't do you cannot This is something I get frustrated about. You can't pass a rule without a vote. If you will give me a second to see if it's actually on the agenda. If I'm wrong, I'm happy to concede. >> I But you're using board time to test
008research on something that's not even at at the point of question right now. Right now, we're making public. Would you like to address it later? >> Amendment. I'd like to talk about the actual uh budget um >> agenda item >> we're on. So, we're going to stick with any other comments on 4.03 >> from the board on the amended budget. >> Um here is the agenda for that date and it is not on there. >> Okay. Oh, you're right. So, I take it back. You're absolutely right. But this is why let me just >> Melissa, I'm sorry. We're discussing >> I would like to finish my statement because I would like to say if we don't get testy with each other and if there's a mistake like this and we give each other time to
009look it up, we don't have to get testy. I will concede that. >> Okay. It's you. >> So we don't everything doesn't have to be a battle. It's we don't have to have everything get bad. So okay, fair enough. It's on there. >> Okay. Um, any other comments from the board? Okay. So, at this time, I need a motion to close the public hearing for the 2526 amended budget. >> I make a motion to close the public hearing for the amended budget. >> Second. >> Okay. A motion and a second have been heard. Please call the role. Mrs. Patton. >> Winsky. >> I. >> Gerky. >> I. >> Blastic. >> I. >> McMillan. I >> Cosminsky >> I >> Kelly Black >> I >> Okay, the motion passes. The public hearing for the amended budget
010is closed. Item five, the public hearing for the inner fund transfers. So, we're going to follow the same process except this time I will let Mr. Bridges go first. >> So, we'll start with the intro uh the administrator's comments. Uh, as noted, this public hearing is in regard to interfund transfers from the education, transportation, and operations and maintenance funds to the capital projects fund. Upon the approval of the amended FY budget late this evening, uh, the resolution posted in board docs to fund capital improvement projects previously approved by the board of education needs to be adopted. The administration recommends that the board of education approve resolution number 2606-04 titled resolution of board of education of Neapville Community Unit School District number 203 DuPage and Will Counties, Illinois to transfer monies from the education fund and
011the transportation fund to the operations and maintenance fund pursuant to the provisions of article 17 of the school code of the state of Illinois and to transfer monies from the operations and maintenance fund to the capital projects fund pursuant to section 10050D2 of title 23 of the Illinois administrative code. The FY26 amended budget includes 24 million of fund balance transfers from four district funds to the capital projects fund for the construction related at Neighborville North, Kennedy Junior High School, Jefferson Junior High School, Madison Junior High School, Washington Junior High School and transportation. The resolution uh noted in board docs authorizes such transfer. Other information posted in board docs includes um a resolution to transfer the funds from ED transportation on&m to capital project. This concludes the administration's comments for this public hearing. >> Okay. Thank
012you. Do does anyone wish to speak on the inner fund transfers? Any public comment on that? Okay, next we'll have any comments from the board of ed. Same thing. It's just a comment at this point. If you have any questions, we'll uh we can ask those later in the meeting. Any comments on the transfers? [clears throat] Melissa, >> I was just I wanted to comment that the transfers um once they go to the capital projects, they will not be able to be transferred back no matter what happens. And my question is I guess my comment is even with these transfers that are coming out of our education fund and transportation. The big one to me is the trans the education. So for services are going to capital. The budget shows that we will still have
013almost I forget it's 37 38 million deficit in our capital projects on our next budget even with this. So, I would like to hear how we're going to then pay for are we going to keep taking money from our uh direct services, our educational fund and filter this into capital projects. And if if you look at our balances, our uh educational fund is getting quite low. So, if this deficit spending continues with the in addition to the 40 million we're going to have next next uh year in the budget, um I don't know where this money is coming from. So, I would like for somebody to answer um how we're going to substain and pay for all these capital projects even after today because I don't see any transfers on the new budget. So where
014is the buddy the money for the deficit going to be paid out of next budget? >> So the question will hold until we get later in the meeting. Do you have any other comments? Any other board member comments? Okay. So at this point I need a motion to close the public hearing for the inner fund transfers. I make a motion to close the hearing public hearing for inner fund transfers. >> Second. >> A motion and a second been heard. Please call the role. Mrs. Patton. >> Cuz I. >> Kelly Black. >> I. >> McMillan. >> I. >> Winsky. >> I. >> Gerky. >> I. >> Blastic. >> I. >> Okay. The motion passes and the public hearing for interfund transfers is closed. Item six. the public hearing for the 2627 budget and we'll start again
015with the administrator comments. >> Okay. I'd like to begin by thanking Mike Francis, our chief financial officer, school business official and business office team including Tracy Angel who's here for all your work and attention to detail response to board and community questions throughout this entire process which has been a little bit more of a challenge than historically has been for April 203. Illinois statute requires the school district to adopt a budget by the end of the first quarter of the fiscal year, which is September 30th. The process for the adoption requires at least one public hearing after the tenative budget has been made made available to the public for at least 30 days. Administration recommends that the board of education approve the proposed resolution which adopts the fiscal year 2027 budget as presented and authorizes
016administration to execute all necessary documents and file the same with all required government agencies. Want to remind the board and the community of our timeline. On May 4, 2026, the tenative budget was presented to the board of education. The board established the fisc year 27 budget hearing for June 15, 2026. On May 8, 2026, the district published the notice and placed the budget on display. Budget workshops were conducted on May 18th, 2026, June 1, 2026. Public hearings held this evening, June 25th, 2026, and an opportunity for additional questions later this evening. Uh pending board action and board approval, the district will file the budget with the state tomorrow. Uh in compliance with public act 102-0895, fund balances year-to- date have been added to the slides from the original board presentation uh for the budget that
017was given on May 4th and that is loaded in board docs. No additional changes have been made uh to the budget presentation. The information posted in board docs includes the budget presentation from May 4th. with that additional slide with the end of uh year-to- date fund balances copy of the budget book in the final form 2027 state budget form draft of a fiscal year 2027 budget resolution fiscal year 2027 certificate of anticipated revenues fiscal year 2027 budget questions that have been asked by the board of education. And a reminder for the community that the board uh in order to uh take its time and thoroughly u review the budget submits questions to me which we then post in board docs. Those questions and answers are posted. Uh all questions that were received today are also
018respon answered. In addition uh the fund 60 infographics. That'll conclude the administration's comments for the fiscal year 2027 budget hearing. >> Okay. Do we have any public comment on the 2627 budget? Any board of education comments on the budget? Again, we'll hold questions until later in the meeting. Joe, I just want to uh make a comment uh one more item uh in terms of dissemination of the budget uh was the citizens finance committee meeting on May 27th and they were uh in favor they were supportive of this budget as well. >> Thank you. Other board comments. >> Melissa, >> again, um I'm a little concerned we're passing a budget with a big deficit that there doesn't show any way that we're going to pay this deficit money off unless we keep taking from our instructional
019funds. We talked about the district put out a notice saying that it was streamlining staff, which means staff are lost. Um, talked about increasing revenues. Is that going to be more taxes? Where is that money? I'm assuming we do all the revenues. We try to maximize those already. There's been no one has said where this money is coming from. And I'm tired of amended budgets. I want an accurate budget upfront. I don't want it amended. I don't want transfers. I think the community and the board should be voting on the actual budget and there should be rationale. And the fact that we haven't really found out how this is doable is is bothersome. >> Other comments from the board? Um just one comment um for me and it's just a general through all of the
020everything budget related is I appreciate the questions that we all send in and the document so that um I know it's a lot of work. I think we're up to like 38 pages or 40 pages. >> That's correct. And questions submitted today have been answered for the board but have not been added to the document. Okay. It's just um it's an opportunity to also see what my colleagues are thinking. So, I appreciate that that document is made available always to the board members, but it is also available to the public. So, I appreciate the business office. It's another part of uh the heavy lift that you guys have this time of year. I need at this time a motion to close the public hearing for the 2627 budget. I move to approve to close the
021public hearing for the 2627 budget. >> Second. >> A motion and a second have been heard. Please call the role. Mrs. Patton. >> Kelly Black. >> I. >> Blastic. >> I. >> Winski. >> I. >> Cuz I. >> McMillan. >> I. >> Gerky. >> I. The motion passes and the public hearing for the uh 2627 budget is closed. Item seven. Good news. >> Okay, we do have a lot of good news to share this evening. In celebration of AAPI Heritage Month, Neighborville 203 co-sponsored the 4th annual Asian Youth Art Exhibit in partnership with the Chinese American Women in Action on May 31st at the 95th Street Library. The event showcased AAPI inspired artwork and musical performances from Nepville 203 and Indian Prairie 204 students. Neighborville Mayor Scott Worley shared opening remarks and local children's book
022author and illustrator Rich Low led a drawing workshop for youth in attendance. The Neighborville Central girls soccer team closed out its season by competing in the state finals against New Trier on June 6th. The game marked the first time since 1995 that the Neapville Central High School girls soccer team competed for the state title. The close match ended with a score of 2 to1 and New took the state title, but the Napil Central High School team capped off their otherwise undefeated season with a state runner-up trophy. Uh the team was also ranked number three in the country for girls soccer by Max Preps the leader in high school sports coverage. Congratulations. And then kind of late breaking news over the weekend, which was after this was all published or board docs. Um shout out to
023Napil Central's boys baseball team who competed in the state finals over the weekend. Unfortunately had a tough weekend. A team of students from April Central have been announced as finalists for the incubator edu 2026 national pitch competition. Incubator and accelerator classes give high school students real world experience in entrepreneurship, culminating the opportunity to present their projects at the business incubator pitch night in May. The winning team this year, Plant Pal, created an innovative plant watering device that wowed judges and pushed them through the semi-finals into the finals. They will present their project at the finals in Chicago on July 8th. Uh good luck to Caitlyn Burke, uh Mani Solanki, Jack Swagert, and Ben Reed. Uh we'd like to share an update to a story we've been following since the fall. Illinois officially has a state
024to be and it's all thanks to eighth graders from Lincoln Junior High. Uh what started as a project in Miss Barbell's science class grew to gain statewide recognition through the Illinois State Board of Education catching the eye of Representative Janet Yangor to work on writing a bill that was then presented to Illinois House of Representatives by students Lisa Danto uh Sopa Sophia Anikodes and Anna Patel. I apologize for that Sophia. The bill officially passed through both the Illinois House and Senate and the black and gold bumblebee has officially been designated as the state bee of Illinois. We couldn't be any prouder of these students and uh teachers who worked to make this possible. Great job. >> Okay, item eight, public comment. We've reached the point in our agenda for public comment. The board of education
025welcomes comments uh from the public at its meeting. Citizens who wish to address the board of education should identify themselves by name. Comments by individuals shall be limited to three minutes. The individuals representing multiple individuals or a group, they shall be allowed to speak for five minutes. The board respectfully requests that speakers refrain from commenting about specific individuals. At this point, I would like to welcome Luke Worly. Good evening, school board. My name is Luke Worley. I'm a lifelong District 203 student through my graduation of Neighborville Central in 2022, deciding then to major in finance at Montana State University where I recently graduated. Upon my time at Central, I joined an investment club called Wall Street Society. This club originated in the mid 90s where a statutory provision of the Illinois school code allowed for
026the establishment of high school investment clubs. Roughly 30 years later, this investment club has run into problems yet to be solved. Over one year ago, a Zoom meeting was held among members of the Wall Street Society Partnership and District 203 staff where we were informed of liabilities to the IRS totaling more than $250,000 in amount we were told is expected to grow. This is compared to the student funded portfolio value of around $100,000. 105 ILCS510-22.29A, the provision allowing this investment club to exist, lays out specific guidelines for how Wall Street Society should have been operating. Over the past three years, serious questions have arose regarding whether or not these safeguards were followed, especially given the penalties of more than $250,000 to the IRS. In November of 2023, I attempted to withdraw my fun my funds
027from the partnership. I was unsuccessful. Again, in September of 2024, still still unsuccessful. It wasn't until then when I found out the district hired a law firm to work with the IRS. The penalties or the reasoning still yet to be shared with the partners until spring of 2025. However, most information was acquired via the Freedom of Information Act, requiring assistance from the public access counselor as the entities hired by the school district were not accommodating to my request for information. Tonight, I'm asking the board to hear this clearly. A more transparent and reliable communication process is needed to optimize and minimize and manage the exposure unexpectedly presented to myself and other members of Wall Street society. The situation involves myself and over 100 former students who contributed their own money to a school sponsored investment
028club. We were told there were IRS liabilities far larger than the value of our portfolio. Yet more than a year after, partners are still left trying to understand what happened, what has been resolved, and what remains unresolved, and who is actually responsible for communicating with us, and especially on behalf of the partnership. This has gone on long enough. A resolution must be reached. I look forward to the school board's response to this issue. Thank you >> on behalf of the board of education. Thank you for those comments. Next is David Gizlac. >> Yes. >> Members of the school board and superintendent Dan Bridges. My name is David Guestlac and I currently have two children attending Highlands Middle School, Elementary School. Earlier today, I sent an email outlining concerns my wife and I had regarding the
029actions of a Highland staff member and administration as they relate to board policy 4165, which is awareness and prevention of child sexual abuse and grooming behaviors. At the heart of those concerns are discrepancies between what was discussed, what was documented, and whether the prospect process worked as we were led to believe. District 30 203 identifies the partnership between students, staff, parents, and the community as a core belief. Parents require trust and trust depends on transparency, accountability, and confidence that concerns involving student safety will be documented, addressed, and handled appropriately. I fully understand that the board will not engage in a question and answer exchange. That said, if for some reason you did not receive a copy of the email I sent today, I have a printed copy for each of you. My priority tonight is
030to confirm that each of you receive communication about my wife and I's unanswered questions to board policy 4165, awareness and prevention of child sexual abuse and grooming behaviors at Highlands Elementary School. However, I have another concern as it relates to this. On May 1st, 2026, my wife began filling out the 2026 2027 online annual update. There she read about board policy 4165, which led to questions about protocols being followed. To bring attention to this, following the protocol listed on the district website, my wife called the complaint manager. On May 5th, 2026, my wife received a call back. However, it was not from the complaint manager. It was from the interim Highlands principal. This was not the person my wife was expecting to receive a phone call from. This left us both wondering, is the complaint
031manager of district 203 the principles of each individual school? Hypothetically, if someone filed a complaint of a school principal to the complaint manager on the district website, would that principal then be calling them back? If you're confused, so am I. I know you can't answer, but I wish you could. Again, having unanswered questions regarding board policy 4165 and now confusion regarding the complaint pro reporting process, we are left with a simple question. If parents who are actively attempting to follow district procedures cannot determine who is responsible for receiving, reviewing and response that >> your time is expired. I'm sorry. Sir, >> sir, Mr. Glech, your time has expired. >> We have received your email and we'll take your your forms. >> Mr. Guestlac, your time has expired. Your time has expired. More importantly, the parents
032of district 203 should never be left questioning whether committed to transparency, accountability, the welfare of students they serve. >> Mr. Gastle, >> is parents are left with a troubling system or protecting itself? In the interest of >> Mr. Gastopy record. >> I do not have any additional slips at this time. Does anyone wish to address the board? Yeah, that's okay. you can come up. Just state your name, please. >> My name is uh Susan Labank and I live on Olympus Drive down from Lincoln School. And I just wanted to inform the district about some activity that occurs on July 4th in the evening. And I don't know if it's going to happen again this July 4th, but for the past couple of years, there's been fireworks exploded on the property of Lincoln Junior High School.
033It's on the east side at the basketball court, and it happens between about 9 and 10:00 on July 4th. And I called last year about it that it might happen. And I spoke to a building manager and he said that, you know, he I guess would alert the police, but it did happen last year and I drove past the school and people bring out their lawn chairs to watch it. Now, these are fireworks that are sort of in between what Neapville uh uses and, you know, fireworks you might explode on your driveway on the street. These are very large fireworks. and I have um observed groups of teens um in the back of the school. I don't know if it'll happen again this July 4th, but there must be somebody in the neighborhood that perhaps
034organizes this. So, I just want to let you know that the liability to the school district if someone gets hurt with these fireworks on school property, you know, might be something to consider. >> Thank you for your comments. >> Okay. So, if you could look into that or >> I don't know what else to do. There may be nobody there this July 4th, but then again, they may be out again on school property. >> Thank you so much. Any other public comment? As a reminder, because the questions raised in public comment addressed address district operational matters, the board has designated our superintendent as the spokesperson for the district as our designate to respond to public comment and he will apprise the board of education accordingly. This will conclude our public comment period. Item nine, monthly
035reports. The monthly reports have been loaded for board member review. Um Melissa, do you have questions? >> Yes. >> Which item specifically? >> Okay. >> I had a question. It says that on fund balances it says for working cash uh just over four million. However, when I look at our current budget book, um I don't see the 4 million and I didn't see it in the amended budget. Where where is that money? Where is that accounted for? You're trying to find the the current April 30th fund balance of 4 million in the current budget book. >> Well, >> I'm not sure what the question is. >> What I have a concern, what I don't understand is we have the general levy. So, we have the revenue each year of the just over 1 million. what
036I and so we would have that amount in there, but it shows that we started with a fund balance of 2925. Um, but in the budget book, but where are we getting 4 million? >> 2925 plus the million173 equals 4,98,000. I don't see that in the amended budget or in our budget book. >> I'm not sure what you're trying to reconcile. >> Well, what I I'm not understanding of how where that 4 million I don't see it in the amended budget and I don't see it in the budget book. Because [clears throat] if you recall from the previous agenda item about the amended budget and the transfers, one of the transfers that the board is going to be um um approving this evening is a trans is an abatement of the working cash fund. The
037budget book, page 53 of the of the page you're referring to >> in is titled the amended FY26 budget. So that includes the amendments that are already been uh discussed in in um with the school board. >> Okay. But >> the the treasury report does not reflect that because that amended budget has not yet been adopted. But even with that, we wouldn't have four million in the working cash. >> I don't see that as the starting. What did the fund start out with? >> Well, that start fund started out with let's let's focus on on the fund balance summary. The Treasury report with the number that >> No, not the Treasury report in in our budget book. >> No, no. The T the the four million is from the Treasury report. But where is that
038reflected in our budget book? And in the amended budget, >> if you Okay, let's let's let's Okay, then I'm going to focus on page 53 of the budget book. If you look at the fund balance in the first column, the FY25 actual, the number at the bottom, it says what? >> You have that. Okay. So, that goes and it adds to >> Uhhuh. >> Okay. And then we move on to revenue. The year-to- date revenue is a million1 173. The budget the budget was a million1 194. >> Okay. >> And then the amended budget has a has a transfer out of 2,925,000. >> Okay. So, we're keeping in the original. >> That's not reflected on this treasury report because this is only through April 30th. That has not been adopted yet by the school board.
039It's hopefully it'll be adopted later this evening. Okay, thank you for explaining that to me. Um, I had one other question. >> Time. >> Joe, did you have a You're good. Okay. Okay. Item any other uh questions on 9.01? >> Um, >> item 9.02, investments. Any questions from the board? Melissa? Um so my question on the investments if the district is simultaneously discussing operating deficits, staffing reductions and transfers between funds, then the board should understand whether a portfolio with an average maturity of around 2031s and holdings that exceed to two 2040. Is that correctly aligned with our our future cash flow needs and financial plans? >> Yeah, we're at this time we're not concerned with our long-term portfolio and cash flow needs. >> Why? >> Because we don't have any concerns with cash flow at
040this point. >> Okay. But the question is when you invest and our funds are dwindling uh especially if you look at that our education anyways why do we have holdings that extend so late because if we withdraw early do we have penalties withdrawals like why and where is the money this is the ed form fund is this or this is all never mind. So why are we doing such long-term and not keeping it in investments that are more readily available? The district does have a a very large portfolio of of more liquid investments that we manage uh on a payroll by payroll, accounts payable by accounts payable basis that goes out three months, 12 months and so on to hit each of those priority each of those um obligations. The long-term portfolio was created, I
041believe, in 2016 um by the school board to uh to take advantage of some longerterm interest rates in the marketplace. Uh the fund balances that you might be uh confused by are deferring early taxes. So the cash balance is typically higher than the fund balance as projected in our annual financial report. So, >> which is why we don't have any concerns with cash at this time. >> So, this is for the education fund, but our education fund is getting low. We might need this money. How are we adapting or changing to accommodate this? >> We're going to have to balance the budget moving forward on an annual basis. >> But you don't magically balance it. How how this is how we do it. This is the conversation starts now. We've been discussing that with the
042school board for for many months, if not the last couple years, as to why we're going to need to balance the direct operational revenue with the direct annual operational expenditures moving forward so there's not a continued degradation of the fund balances. >> But that's not reflected. >> Unless if that doesn't happen, then we may have some issues with our long-term portfolio. >> But it's not projected to happen based on the the continuing deficit spending. We're coming out of the next budget with 40 million another deficit. So where is that money coming from? >> That money is being spent from the capital projects. >> It doesn't matter where it's spent from. It has to be paid off. Just like >> I'm not sure I can help anyone. I was going to say >> Okay. So let
043me just say this. That money >> Can I address that question for you? >> No, I'd like to finish my statement. Mr. Bridges, I don't interrupt you. I >> You interrupt everybody. >> Melissa. Melissa. >> He's going to answer or attempt to answer. So, I'm allowing Mr. Bridges a minute here. >> I I'm just going to once again, our operational deficit is just under $4 million. We've discussed this adnauseium in multiple board of education meetings and as the board will recall, the board initially directed the administration to completely balance the budget and we had projected a 12.5 million deficit. On March 16th, the board of education redirected the administration to address staffing costs through attrition only, no reduction in force. In order to get to that, [clears throat] we've I mean to do that, following
044that direction from the board, we've reduced the projected deficit that has been given to the board of education most recently back in November and then again in February from that 12 a.5 to to under $4 million. and we will continue to take steps at the direction of the board of education to do that. >> I just want to clarify that they very much impact each other because we are taking and transferring funds tonight out of other funds because the capital projects according to the budget book for the amended budget and for next year we're only having 1.4 million. If we're gonna have almost 40 million in deficit spending in the capital budgets, it's not even going to be covered next year. A majority of that's from capital. Where is that money coming from if we
045only are getting 1.4 time? Any other comments from the board? Item 9.03, the insurance report. Questions from the board? Melissa? Um again this month we have that our dispers dispersements dis sorry dispersements uh exceed our receipts. This is an ongoing problem. Um when and how will this be solved? The insurance committee has been it meets typically once a month um with our um insurance consultant firm. And that committee is currently looking at plan design changes and premium increases that will go into effect uh January 1st of 2027. Those change plan design changes and proposed premium increases will come to the school board uh in August of this summer >> for approval. >> So you don't know how you're solving it. You're saying you're talking about solving it. >> It's disrespectful, >> Melissa. No, I it's
046I'm clarifying the insurance committee has the insurance committee has made very specific uh has or consultant has given very specific changes to plan design to help address uh cost and bringing costs and revenue back in alignment with each other. That's done two different ways. One is by reducing or slowing down cost which are which will be done with plan design changes. In the second, as I mentioned earlier in my statement, as the um the there will be a um also um premium increases for both the board and the employees that will come to the school board for approval in August that will take effect in January of 2027. >> So, there'll be premium increases. um will any of this um and reducing the cost of the plan will this impact our employees as far as
047are we going to be making >> we're getting way ahead of ourselves here in terms of talking about any changes the committee has to meet and as is our normal practice the administration will bring to the board of education in August a recommendation regarding plan changes that the board will then consider the second meeting in August and ultimately it is the board's decision. This is a committee that makes a recommendation. So that is an agenda item that the board will be asked to address and deal with in August as we always do. >> Since this is ongoing, what accommodations have been made in the budget to support this? >> I'm not sure what you mean by the word accommodations. How how what kind of accommodations could be How are we going to pay if this
048continues? How are we going to pay for this for these that were the dispersements are higher? Where is that money coming from? >> The insurance the insurance cash still has a cash balance on the if you if you focus on the insurance report. >> That's the agenda item that we're discussing here, which is just the monthly insurance report for the month of April 30th, 2026. >> There is still an ending month balance at the bottom of that uh of that report. And how much is that? I >> I'm looking at the Are you looking at the report? >> Which report are you looking at? >> I'm looking at the agenda item that we're discussing, which is 9.03, the insurance report. >> End of month balance is 5.6 million. >> That's correct. I just was just
049want to make sure that you were looking at the right report because you asked me what the number was. >> That's not a lot of money. If the difference that's like the difference that's less than the difference we had this month between the two. >> So obviously the money can't come from. >> Can you can you des can you show me those three two numbers that you just are referencing to to say there was over a $5 million difference? >> It says end of the month balance the very last >> end of the month balance 5.5 million. And and you you just stated that this month alone we had a deficit of more than that. >> No, I said the difference >> the difference between revenues and expenditures was more than $5.5 million. Correct. Can
050you show me what numbers that you're referring to? >> I'm looking at total receipts and total dispersements. >> That's not for the month, that's for the year. YTD stands for yearto date. >> Oh, okay. So, do we Okay. So, that's year to date. But still, if we keep having this because I believe we've been having these discrepancies that's been creeping up. Do we have Ari is this been allotted for in the budget? >> Again, I'm not sure. Are you talking about the FY26 budget or the FY27 budget? I'm not sure what your point. >> The budget we're going to we're set to approve today. The 27. The other one that's left that's >> point of order. This is a report not a discussion on the >> vote. Point is up. Point of order is upheld.
051Um any other comments on the insurance report? Item 9.04 the budget report. Any comments, questions? Okay. Item 10. >> Oh, sorry, Melissa. Um, this is I just wanted to point out what I tried to point out last week, but my time got shut off, so I have to be very selective. Is that the support services for the business department are twice for top 10 year-toate um expenses. Number one is regular programs. Number two is support services for business support. The special education remedial programs is half that amount. and the supports for pupils is a third of that amount. Um the support services and I compared it with 204 and our are higher. Um I guess I'm kind of surprised that the business support services don't go directly to services that support our students. Why are
052our B business support services so high? Okay. I I think we addressed this last month at the same uh for the same report. You're referring to the expense dashboard that uh is labeled uh as a as a one-page document >> in board docs >> and says support services in a business is which is the second largest top 10 expenditures year to date. What that is simply is a summary of number one this is all funds. So, and according to the state board of education, support service businesses encompasses lots of different things, not just the business department. I would be very concerned, as I mentioned last month, if my department was spending this kind of funds. That is not the case. The support service business uh function area of the state board of education encompasses every
053expenditure in the operation and maintenance fund. So that's every custodial salary and benefits and all the capital projects that we do on a maintenance basis on an annual basis in the operation and maintenance fund. It also includes every expenditure in the transportation fund. So every bus every employee in the transportation area is also in this function area. It also includes every expenditure in the capital projects fund. And as we've discussed many times already this evening that there are a number of capital projects going on and every expenditure that's uh funds comes out of fund 60 comes out of that function area of the state board of education which is labeled support services business. The smallest area that's also uh support services business is the business office. that would be also included as well as uh
054the cafeteria expenses are also lo loaded in there. So all the support services again operation and maintenance, transportation, food service, capital projects, all of those things added together because this is all funds make up that value. >> Again I'm I'm pointing out how much more is spent versus this direct student services. The other question, the next question I have is tyrant alternative and optional programs is in our top 10. It's almost 7 million and it's going to be higher ever next year. Where are these funds going and why is it in our top 10 of expenses? >> That would I would have to look into this deeper because I'm not 100% sure of all of these expenses. But this would be for private facility uh therapeutic day school cost for school students that are placed
055in private facilities outside of the school district would be the majority of that expenditure >> and that's one of our biggest growing if you look at the budget one of the biggest growing. So, I go back and wonder how many students and how much are we paying per student for that? And why aren't the services offered in our district? But compared to 204 and other comparable school districts, given the amount of students we have, we have a large alternative uh programs. So, why are are we not? And then I would love if I'm wrong to get the data. I did the data, but if the district wants to, but why we're one of our top 10 expenses for entire school is going paying for other schools to educate our students. >> Thank you. I'm done.
056>> Okay. Any other questions on 9.04? Okay, [clears throat] we have now reached the business portion of our meeting. As a reminder to the community, the board understands and has affirmed through our board agreements that is each individual member's responsibility to prepare for each meeting. Board members have also agreed that avoiding no surprises is paramount in displaying respect for all district administration and the community and the community. In the spirit of no surprises, the board has tasked itself to send questions in advance of each meeting to the superintendent. This practice allows the superintendent to provide the best possible answer for the community. And additionally, it allows for maximum efficiency during the community's meeting. Those same submitted questions may also be asked in open session along with new ones that may arise during discussions. Mrs. Patton,
057what time was the email sent advising the board that board docs was loaded and ready for review? Emails were sent and delivery confirmed on Thursday, June 11th at 4 PM and no emails bounced back. >> Thank you, Mr. Bridges. Did you receive questions from the board members in advance of the meeting? >> I did. All seven board members. >> Okay. Thank you. One other item. Holly is our timer tonight. And um just as a reminder for the community, it was voted on February 2nd that we would implement the threeminut rule. It was a six to nothing vote. One board member was absent and that came out of our self-evaluation on January 22nd. Thanks for doing this, Holly. Okay. Item 10, action by consent, Mark. [laughter] >> Thank you, Christine. Um, is there anything uh anyone
058wants to pull? >> Yes, Melissa. Actually, it'd be easier to just if you can keep on the consent uh 1002 1006 and then have the rest of them pulled. >> Yeah. >> Have all the rest. >> I need to separate out um June 1st minutes and 10.03 and 10.04. I was absent. >> Okay. [clears throat] So, I had the opportunity to do bills and claims this month with uh uh Michelle Swopee, and again, she was super helpful. So, I appreciate that. Um, so I want to go ahead and uh move that we have an approval of warrant number 1075887 through 107 6402 and warrant number totaling 33,871,4.76 for the period of May 19th 2026 to June 15 2026. And in 10 10.02 and 10.06. >> Oh yes. In 10.02 and 10.06. >> Not with bills
059and claims separate. >> I said to keep 10 I said to just keep 1002 and 1006. >> Right. So that's part of consent. So we're going to vote on 01 02 and 06 right now. >> No, not 1001 separate. >> Yes. So all of the items are being pulled then? >> No, except for the ones I said to keep 100 102 1006. Keep those. So that would mean that we pull 1001, which is bills and claims. >> Okay. So we're going to just vote right now. We need uh Mark made the motion >> for 10.01. >> Yep. >> I need a second. >> Do we have a second? >> Oh. Oh, sorry. >> Okay. Uh, any questions or comments on bills and claims? Okay. Please call the role. Mrs. Patton. >> Gerie. >> I. >>
060Blastic. >> I. >> Cuzinsky. >> I. >> Winsky. >> I. >> McMillan. >> I. >> Kelly Black. >> Nay. >> Okay. The motion passes. Item 10.02, adoption of personnel report. [clears throat] Okay. Go ahead. >> So, I want to make the motion to approve uh by consent 10.02 and 10.06. >> Second. >> Okay. A motion and a second have been heard. Please call the role. Mrs. Patton. >> McMillan. >> I. >> Cosminsky. >> I. >> Kelly Black. >> I. >> Blastic. >> Hi. >> Winsky. >> I. >> Gerky. >> I. The motion passes. Item 10.03. 3 board meeting minutes. >> So, we want to split out uh 518 2026 and 6012026. So, I'll make a motion to approve board meeting minutes 518 2026. >> Can we take actually we can take 03 and 04 together?
061Correct. If we separate them. >> Okay. So, we'll do we'll do um board meeting minutes and close board meeting minutes for May 18th, 2026. Second. >> A motion and a second have been heard. Any uh call the role. Mrs. Patton. >> McMillan. >> I. >> Blastic. >> I. >> Gerky. >> I. >> Winsky. >> I. >> Kelly Black. >> N. >> Kosinsky. >> I. >> Okay. The motion passes. >> Okay. Make a motion to approve board minutes and close board minutes for June 1st, 2026. >> Second. A motion. and a second have been heard. Please call the role. Miss Oh, oh, sorry, Melissa. >> I would like to make note for the record that there was an issue on um the June 1st meeting. So, I followed the board policy which states that a board
062member can listen to the recording of the meeting and I sent the request. Um, and Mr. Kush has denied my request to listen the recording. However, according to board policy, I'm allowed to listen to it and according to board policies on what the the responsibilities the board president does not have the ability to deny a board member from listening to the closed door minutes. I'm seeing an ongoing trend um of PE I have concerns about uh board Mr. Kush overstretching his authority. So I would like for to listen to those board meetings. Is there a reason I can't? >> Point of order. That's not uh part of the We're we're discussing >> we're discussing minutes from last meeting. The minutes this decision was made since last meeting. >> Closed door for June 1st, which is
063the meeting, the May 18th meeting. Well, anyways, I'll do that to new agenda item. That's fine. >> Okay. So, I've heard a motion and a second. Um, please call the Any other questions? Um >> I just to go on with this again, I'm going to reiterate. >> This is the minutes that we're discussing. >> Yes, we're doing the minutes. >> We're not discussing any. >> Are we discussing closed door minutes? >> All we're voting is if we're going to approve the minutes or not. >> Okay. And I can make a comment for and this is for June 1st. >> Okay. But overall, I'm going to reassert that we do not give enough detail for board members to go back and understand what was really said. >> Okay. [clears throat] >> We just we just cite
064the exemptions under the OMA act. Thank you. Okay, we've heard a motion and a second. Please call the role. Mrs. Patton >> McMillan I. >> Blastic. >> Ebstein. >> Winsky. >> I. >> Kelly Black. >> Nay. >> Cosminsky. >> I. >> Gerky. >> I. >> The motion passes. Item 10.05. >> Yeah. I'd like to make a motion for action by consent for property casualty and workers comp insurance. >> Second. >> A motion and a second have been heard. Any questions or comments, Melissa? >> Yes. >> Click contract, we should by back last January should have voted. So if we were going to stop the click agreement does our liability. Um so there is no way a board member could vote no tonight because we would have in two weeks no liability and we don't have
065another board meeting before that. So this is another situation where the vote is taken to press the hands of the board. We should vote when there's not a penalty back in January. The board should vote on this. The other thing is I would like to know why we had an increase um in the board liability. It says that the actuary increased it. What caused that increase? >> Is that a question? >> Yeah. If somebody could answer and say what happened that our rates >> in the in the memo um it does explain that the whole click program had an uh experience a significant uptake uptick in liability claims. That is true uh cooperativewide and it's also true of district 203. This is based on experience our experience over the last 12 months. >> Yeah. So
066what did we have that increased our individual up 20%. Or 19%. What what claims did we have? Was it what claims did we have that increased it that much? >> What I I don't >> It's a very big swing. So if we're going to approve this, I want to know why are we going to spend this much more? What is this based on this this 19%. >> It's based Mike answered the question. It's based on an uptick. >> So what were those upticks? Is I'm asking what were they? Why did the actuary say we were more of a risk? There must have been more claims. And what were the claims? >> I I I'm not I don't have the claims in front of me. There are many claims that the district is involved in and
067uh it's not one specific claim that caused that. It would be multiple claims. >> Okay. So, it says the schoolboard legal liability loss fund. My concern for bringing this up is that the legal firm and the lawyer we use is currently my understanding or court documents in a lawsuit for malpractice with another school district um for giving advice. Okay. I allegedly giving advice that cost the school district a lot of money. Um, >> what is the I I don't understand how this pertains to the item that we're discussing. >> We have to use Okay, that's a good question. We have to use this attorney because they we can only use attorneys approved through the click contract. So, Robin Schwarz, we have to use them or one of the other attorneys. So, I have concerns if
068our legal liability as a school board's going up and another hensale has a lawsuit going. It gives me big concerns about using click and using that legal firm and using that attorney. >> Are we going to discuss that? >> Are there any other questions from the board on this? >> Amanda, >> this is a question I said in advance. Um, but if you could please clarify what are the advantages for us as a school district of being part of the click despite the increase in rates for this year. >> Yeah, I did answer that in the in the board question. So, I'll just refer to that document if you don't mind if it makes more sense. Uh, those were your questions. What advantages are there being part of click and what insurance category saw the
069largest cost increase in the past year? My answer was in four parts uh in terms of the advantages of being a click is the risk pooling versus financial volatility. Property casualty claims such as catastrophic property damage or major liability lawsuits can be unpredictable and extremely expensive. By participating in a cooperative, the district pools its risk with other members. This shields the district from the potentially devastating financial impact of a single large event which is the primary risk associated with self-funding. The second point I said was breadth of coverage. The market analysis conducted in the spring of 2024 indicated that the scope and breadth of coverage provided by click was unmatched by other solicited insurance providers is often challenging for a single entity to obtain the same depth of liability and property limits independently. Uh the
070third um piece I mentioned was the infrastructure and legal support. Click manages the complex infrastructure required for property and casualty programs including claims processing, litigation strategies, and dispute resolution. If the district were to self-fund these categories, it would need to absorb the cost of hiring or contracting legal counsel, third party administrators, and claim management services which are already built into the cooperative model. And then finally, uh the fourth point I had was competitive pricing. While self-unding eliminates premium payments, uh it creates an ongoing liability for claim payments and um and administrative costs. Click negotiates coverage at scale leveraging the buying power power of a cooperative cooperative to achieve rates that are difficult for an individual district to replicate. Um, and then the I also included the the the pricing sheet which is also in the
071in the board docs that is very detailed in terms of the types of coverage we have and it includes uh the current year pricing and then the increase pricing for next year on a line by line basis uh is all outlined in that in the in that document. >> Thank you Mr. Francis. That was a very thorough explanation. I appreciate it. Okay, I heard a motion and a second. Um, call the role. Mrs. Patton, please. >> Gerky, >> I. >> Kazminsky, >> I. >> McMillan, >> I. >> Winsky, >> I. >> Kelly Black, >> nay. >> Blastic. >> I. >> The motion passes. Item 11, communications. 11.01, written communications are loaded for review. 11.02, Board of Education reports. Are there any reports from board members on something they've done relating to their assignments? >> Yeah,
072I say it's quiet time of year. Oh, Mark, go ahead. Sorry. >> Yeah, no worries. Thank you, Christine. Uh, yes, I had the um had the opportunity to uh attend Prairie Elementary where they do the walk with Charlie. Uh this is the third uh year that they're doing it. And uh Charlie is a student at uh Prairie Elementary who was diagnosed when he was in kindergarten uh with a very rare pediatric disease uh called Baton disease CLN1. Um and the Walk with Charlie is an opportunity to raise funds and bring the community together to support Charlie and his family. Uh so it's a a wonderful event. And also uh this year uh Joanne Laernerna who uh was his um uh kindergarten teacher and has continued to stay in touch with Charlie and his family and
073help support him uh was recognized by the family for all the great work that she has done. So um it's really great to see not only the um Prairie Elementary School community but also the neighbors and district 203 at large come out and support Charlie and his family. >> Thanks Mark. Okay. Um, president's report. Oh. Oh, it's a slow time of year. Go ahead, [laughter] Amanda. Oh, yeah. You do have something. >> All right. Um, I had the opportunity to attend a um a board leadership uh uh academy um training this past Saturday um here in Neapville. And I found it to be really enlightening. It really just talked about, you know, best practices of how to run effective board meetings and thinking about h um how to enhance cohesion of boards through different [clears
074throat] leadership opportunities and also great networking. One of the things I found I found really helpful that I I passed around to each of you is they spend a good part of the amount of time just talking about parliamentary procedures uh for board members and different things that you can say to kind of move the meeting forward um and kind of stay on task and uh you know honestly I didn't know some of these uh terms myself and so I was like they gave us a great little cheat sheet and so I thought I would share with each of you you know so for example earlier today I was um mentioning something like um uh sorry uh I moved uh never mind I talked about point of question is what I was trying to say
075or point um going back to like what is the actual agenda item that we're talking about um so and then with each of these motions there's uh some of them require a second some of them allow a debate some of them require votes some of them do not um and so it just kind of clarifies that so I thought it'd be helpful for us to all have um and yeah so thank you for allowing me the opportunity to participate. >> Thank you for the report. Okay, item 11.03 uh president's report. So um I wanted to usually it's just a report but um I wanted to have the opportunity for the board to have a discussion. Um, one of the changes the district has been looking at to help with expenses is how uh different staff
076members travel for conferences and and professional learning. So, we've been receiving emails over the last couple weeks that triple eye registration is open. Um, COSBA's federal advocacy registration is open. And so this felt like a good time to just kind of get an idea from the board on how we want to look at our own professional learning and the travel that goes with it. So um and make sure that we're aligned with what we're um asking staff to do also. So I will um open it up if there's um ideas. Um I will just say just to start the conversation um triple I has always been our main source of learning our one big opportunity um each year as board members we don't travel very much um so I mean I think attending uh having
077a presence at at both triple I and the COSBA federal advocacy one that one specifically aligns with our own professional learning. And then the advocacy conference, I think definitely aligns with how we're trying to make sure we're fully funded based on the the promises we've received. Um I know IASB brought back their um advocacy day in Springfield. In the past, it had been an every other year deal. Um and I think that is also that one is um very low cost though. Um but regardless um I think the federal ad cosmos federal advocacy the state advocacy day align with where we're trying to make sure we're fully funded and then triple I is definitely our our biggest opportunity for professional learning. So that's just a starting point for our conversation. It's just my opinion. Um,
078but I'd be happy to hear um from from each of my colleagues. Amanda, go ahead. >> Um, I I'm really glad we're bringing this up. I think it is something that as a board we also have to set an example for what we're asking of others. Um, personally, I've had the opportunity to attend COSBA, uh, the Federal Advocacy Conference, and [clears throat] as a board, when we first decided to attend, we had set up this precedent of having two members attend and having one person repeat to kind of mentor the new person. Um, I really feel like, uh, that could be one area where we could save cost and just send one person. I really don't think it's necessary to send two people. It's nice. Um and it definitely gave us a little bit more
079comfort in our advocacy. Um but you know that would be one area that I would look I still think it's important to represent but I don't necessarily think we need to. And then for triple I think um we should all attend. I think it's very very important for professional development. It's also networking and um and staff bonding or or uh board member bonding. I think where the u extra cost that we can maybe look at is our overnight stays. Um, you know, we uh, you know, can we're about a 45 minute train ride. Well, probably you have to take an Uber or something as well there or parking or whatever. Um, and some of the days do start really early and go late. Um, so maybe um, you know, kind of reducing to like prioritizing
080one overnight if necessary type of thing I think would be reasonable versus you know, the full conference um, time. Um, so that's what I uh would propose. I don't know how others feel. >> Melissa, >> well, I would go back. I know we had a discussion about everyone within their term being able to do maybe one cause doing each conference once. Um, so I think it would be nice to prioritize the attendance um for members that haven't been to these conferences. Um, and that we a lot of times we send the same people. and maybe the more veteran people, it might be nice to send people that haven't been to these before to prioritize that. As far as the triple I goes, um I think we should all go. I think that being informed, you
081see the decisions we're making here today. I think to skimp on having the people that are making the big decisions, the final step in the highest step in our school district to not have them as educated as possible seems to go against having an educational system. So, I think we we should have people go and be able to attend the conferences. And I understand that the overnights, however, I will also say that um I I paid for my old Cosmo before, but the overnights for people to stay overnight for us to do that. We do all this work. It's a lot of work to to pay for a couple nights overnight for board members so that we can attend these conferences and be informed, I think is extremely a good investment. That's where I would
082stand. Joe. >> Yeah. So, uh I I agree that the advocacy uh conference is a a very necessary one both the Springfield and and the federal um especially in light of um you know [snorts] the funding that's been flat at the state level and threatened cuts at the federal level. I think we still we need to send people um to those uh conferences um or or uh advocacy days um in terms of the uh you know like Cosmo National Meeting and some of the other um uh more distant um schoolboard conferences. Uh you know I I don't I think that's an area to cut uh this year. Um, you know, I I've not gone to one of those, but I am not going to go to a national meeting um next year. Um, you know,
083uh, so I I I think, uh, you know, that that's an area that there there's more learning that can be done, but Triple I does a great job of professional development. Um, and I don't feel like I'm really going to miss a lot um, if I don't go to like the National COP or something along those lines. Um so the the triple I think is um a really important one for us. Um and the DUP page uh division uh dinners which are are fairly low cost are um important for us um to network to to get some professional development uh locally. Um I I agree with Amanda that maybe limiting ourselves to one night that Saturday morning tends to be a pretty early one. Um so uh you know having a night of of choice
084um would be um beneficial. Um but I I think uh you know if we kind of limit ourselves to that that would be a reasonable um you know kind of uh compromise. >> Uh Mark go ahead. >> Yeah thank you Christine. Um on on Cosba I haven't really been involved but I mean what Amanda has recommended I think makes sense if we've just been sending two people because of the process we had but it's not a necessity I think that would be a good opportunity uh for the triple I went for the first time last year I did find it extremely helpful um but I do agree that we can find ways to reduce the cost of attending the conference by maybe limiting ing the number of nights, maybe uh doing other things. Uh but
085I do think that it is important as a board uh that we continue to stay educated uh and knowledgeable about what's going on uh and be able to work with other districts to find out what they're doing because I think there is a value in that. So I would very much um uh look at not if we should go or not but how can we reduce cost related to uh this particular event >> Holly right sorry slow to raise my hand with the timer set um I agree about triple I um I do however think we should not be paying overnights many our community commute to Chicago all the time um I think it's reasonable to reimburse mileage up you know at the federal rate and do a pdium for the day um if events
086go into the evening include dinner. Um, but there's no reason to pay for overnights. Um, absolutely. I'm not as interested in COSBA. I think we are more effective in advocacy meeting with our legislature legislators, which they're very accessible and we could do here in district. Um, when you add flights, hotels in Washington DC, I think that's too expensive at this time and I think our advocacy is better locally. Um, but definitely keep the du page gener doing registration mileage per DM at the federal rate. um and keep it very reasonable right now which allows all of us to get to triple eye all of us to do du page. Um the only thing I would consider is if the delegate assembly perhaps if it started to be earlier in the morning where someone would the
087delegate would need to stay overnight in a hotel for the delegate but the rest of us commuting just like everybody else and getting up mileage and pium. >> Melissa >> I just want to clarify when I was talking about Kazba I agree with you. I don't think when we go and we advocate that's something we can do from here. Um that's not adding necessarily to our knowledge. That's those are conversations that we could have here. So when I talked about COSBA being important having been to a COSBA national conference um you know imagine triple I just Illinois now imagine it you know 50 states. So that's to me that is again goes with educating. So I would When I say COSBA, I think it should be the national and I think that's a worthy investment.
088>> Dan, can you just kind of give some insight like how you're doing it with st like just anything kind of help frame it a little bit more for us? >> Yeah, so essentially what I would say is we've eliminated or or significantly reduced non-essential travel and I think that's the discussion that has to be had. So non-essential for example would be implementation of a new curriculum um that requires training at a certain place for the effect for the instructors to effectively do that. uh fulfilling contractual obligations that the district has already committed to. Um leadership at the national level and whatever um local more local um is um yes that's part of essential responsibilities whether it be um state associations or uh more local associations. Um I'm I'm not um I'm not certain that
089we often if at all pay for uh lodging in the city. Um it depends on that again the agenda on on the on the schedule but we don't do that. um you know there is within uh board policy um language perdeium for um expenses related to the the the conference and but for our staff it has to be clear upfront and proposed on what that's going to be and how much is that is going to cost prior to um and so we will significantly be reducing say so I think it's you know for the board to determine what are the essential uh I would agree that uh continued participation at the joint annual conference trip is an essential responsibility of the board of education of board members uh for uh required uh board training and
090education uh to stay upto-date and current with changes in um law policy that impact governance uh and also to you do learn from your colleagues. So certainly attendance at that um I think is an essential travel uh and um having attended the joint annual conference for over 15 years. Yeah, it's an exhausting conference and so um you know I I think you think about typically um you know not from a staff standpoint we don't typically pay but it's not that type of a schedule for a typical conference either. So I think if the board found an agreement there that would be okay. regarding COSBA. Um, federal advocacy I do think is a um, you know, I I think the board has to determine to Miss Blastic's point, you know, our voice sometimes is a little
091bit more loud here locally. Um, however, having an opportunity to engage our our representatives at the federal government right now are responsive um, and do pay attention to our state. Um, and so I I do think, you know, it would be easy to establish that that would be essential. However, um probably that would be an area where we'd say, okay, if we typically sent two or three staff members, this would probably be a year that we send one staff member. Um in terms of other things that are more elective or optional, uh I believe earlier Miss Kelly Black was talking about just having, you know, one of the agreements that the board came up with a couple years ago was on attendance at conference. Those are more election or those more elective or more optional
092and not necessarily while yes, important and essential learning, uh not necessarily an essential current responsibility to the board. So I would prioritize the joint annual conference. Um and I think that's in terms of like the more timely also registration is open for the joint annual conference. Again Mrs. Patton is waiting to hear from those who wish to attend. Um and then um while housing allowance will close up. Um typically there's not a fee to cancel a reservation up to a certain point. Correct. >> No. or you have to you have to pay a a hold. Right. That's right. So, that is something there is a a $200 hold um that's non-refundable on reservations. So, um you know, perhaps you can have more conversation about about that or other expenses. Uh and then um I would
093encourage you as part of this is up coming up partially also because one of your roles is the assignment of uh committees and duties and we typically assign a delegate assembly member for the joint annual conference. So, we should continue to appoint that. And then I would recommend that the board also continue to appoint a representative in an alternate for the COSMA um federal advocacy. And then there's opportunity the the early bird deadline for registration on COSA closes I believe is July 20th. Um so um there's just a little bit of time on that. >> Um so just I don't have board policy open in front of me. um the pdium that that doesn't ever cause like a hardship. It's well within like >> Yeah, we really technically don't have like a pdeium. It's I
094guess that's what a pdeium is. It's an allowance on breakfast, lunch, and dinner established rates set by the board of education off top of my head are 1520 and 40 1525 and 40. >> Um and then we do reimburse mileage at the federal level. >> Okay. >> Um >> Okay. Well, I think the one thing Joe, you said something that sparked an like this can be an annual conversation. We don't have to whatever we decide now is not going to be forever, you know, and we can the board can um be flexible with the financial situation of the district. So, we could just say this year, you know, whatever we decide one night at at uh triple I or no lodging, you know, if you wish to stay down there, it's on your own, you
095know. So, just something to keep in mind that we we have we're not carving this in stone for all of time coming. Melissa, did you have a comment? >> Yeah, I was just going to say I I do think the overnights I think that Mr. Bridges brought up a good point about it's a very exhausting if you really try to go to all the sessions. So to expect board members to go back and forth. Another important point is that you get to talk to other people from other districts. That's a big part of what this is about. You know, we learn from one another. We make contacts. So I think that um that should be considered. The other thing about it is I know that I always go down for the Friday sessions and then
096if we have a board policy that like is only one night since I'm the only one that does that. It would be nice if or wait Thursday. >> Okay, >> Thursday. Sorry about that. I do the Thursday. But I do think that given the late notice, we may want to keep our practices and then definitely consider them. But again, I think we want to make this we want to be able to be able to participate, meet people, and get the most out of it. Holly, go ahead. I just wanted to clarify. I think it was mentioned that for our staff, if they were going to a conference in Chicago, they would not have overnight accommodations. >> It's typical not, but I'm not going to say never >> because they're unique circumstances. I mean, I think
097for me that is the telling point and I know so many people commute and it all conferences are exhausting and that we want our staff to network just as much as we do and I would like to um treat ourselves the same way we do our staff. So, I guess we just need like kind of an informal what do you you'll so we'll give you direction you'll put together a little this is what we'll do this year. Okay. Um, so do so we'll start with um the federal advocacy one. So we want to just send one person or no >> or I'm sorry inter um do we want to see the cost of that because to be honest the cost of that we might want to put towards triple I >> it um averages uh
098for the registration hotel flight and food for and actually most of the food is covered um but I [clears throat] was talking to someone this past weekend and they said it costs around $4,000 to send one person for everything. >> Okay. So I think want to think about the cost of these and is that how we want to allocate that 4,000 or is there an option to connect with those? >> I think I know a lot of people at this board know a lot of our federal >> level that they can talk and advocate. >> Okay. Um Okay. So, let's start. All right. We'll go backwards. So, we're all in agreement that triple I we should attend. Should we or go lodging this year? I mean we can always I mean >> just to help
099if I can just just because I was listening you know um I I I felt that there were um a few different um ideas that were proposed one from eliminate the cost of lodging to li uh limiting to one evening again based off of the the conference schedule to ensuring that the everybody can attend and be fully engaged. So, I think it's kind of one of those three. Uh, historically, um, we've not limited for board members. However, we've never had all board members go to the full extent of every a Thursday night or Friday night. >> It's like a different combo for everybody. Okay. >> Okay. So, do we want to just head nod on each of the three options or what? [laughter] How do we want to >> I don't I don't know how
100it works with the agenda if we can vote or how >> it's a [clears throat] um I definitely hear when Holly and I heard saw Mark shake his head about just commuting, right? Um and so I I and I did that the first few years. Um, what I missed out on though was specifically Friday night is when the majority of people uh from other districts um throughout the state end up staying over and there's a lot of different networking opportunities. So those uh tend to go late um till like 10 or 11 o'clock and then every Saturday morning there's um a DUP page breakfast at 7 a.m. So [clears throat] that is a very it's um and I I find that um I really missed a lot of great networking and having conversations and stuff
101like that with different u people at that. So to me, having one night to be able to make the most of most the conference is really important. Um, and I think the the room and board is around 250 for one night or so. Is that what it's kind of capped at? Um, [clears throat] so so getting to numbers, right? Um, so I'm still kind of I I could go without a Thursday, I could go without a Sunday. um in regard like or commute back in and I've done that too. Um but that one uh night I think is really really important for my uh professional growth as a board member. Um so I would say one night that's my vote. >> Okay. I'm I'm actually going to throw a curveball into all of this. I
102think based on listening to you know I think um this is not an action item listed on the agenda for action and so it would be something that would be looking at changing practice. My recommendation to the board of education is you've heard from me the practices in place for staff and for the district. You've heard from your colleagues about how they feel about attendance at these events. My recommendation is that the board agree to limit expenses to only those that they determined to be essential for them to fulfill the responsibility for the board related to triple I and if that means you feel in order for me to get the most out of this I have to stay one night but to limit it to one night then that's what I'm going to do.
103which would be essentially our practice that has been in place >> but with a little more awareness now to the financial situation of the district. >> Okay. >> Does that make sense to everybody? So, we're still going to choose what we feel is best for us. >> Okay. for triple I um >> and I would remind the board that board policy 2125 regarding expenses um maybe typically you know that's something that comes after um maybe we ask that board members by um that we get approval um at a board meeting prior on anticipated expenses. >> Oh okay. So like before we agenda like correct we'd look at the the we'd work backward from a timeline establish kind of that and >> Okay. So then if we think something may have changed in our personal schedules
104we can adjust. Okay. How does the board feel about that? Okay. So, we're going to keep triple eye. You can have lodging based on what you feel is best for you, but we're going to review that far enough in advance that if any cancellations or changes have to be made, it can be done without penalizing the district financially. >> Once we make a reservation for a hotel, there is a $200 non-refundable deposit, though. >> So, then it's just the Okay, so keep that in mind. Okay. So, what about um the federal advocacy? Do we want to change that? Do we want to not do it this year? Do we want to send one person? Mark, >> yeah, I I I I do feel that um it is important to have representation at the national level.
105Um, regardless of, you know, we we may know folks at the at the local level in in the in the district or in Springfield, I I do think that um trying to work through what we need with our national legislators um is important. Um I I think there is um by by people coming out and showing um what they uh what they support in terms of education is important to people uh and I think that does have an effect on legislators. So I I would not eliminate it uh maybe get down to one person but I would definitely feel that it is important that we do have representation at the national level. Other comments, Joe? >> Yeah, that's uh where I stand as well. I I feel like the uh federal advocacy is very important
106right now and um having a a presence uh and I agree, we could go down to one uh board member uh this this time. Um but having a a presence at that um federal advocacy event is important. >> Melissa, >> I have a question. Joe, have you been to a CASPA event? Any of them? Okay. Because one of the things we made that in within our term, one of the agreements we made that is that we could go to a Cosba event. Um, the only one I >> point of information I doing time on this because we've changed subjects. Melissa was out of time, but we've switched to Cosba. Should I do a new three minutes? >> Okay. >> I just wanted Yeah. Yeah. Thank you. >> Thanks, Holly. Um, the one thing I would
107say is that I did have to pay out of pocket. So, I would like to be able by the end of my term to go to a COSBA conference. So, I would like to be considered for going to this so that I, you know, I don't think it was right. I had to pay last time out of my pocket. So, I think it's only fair that I get to go to a cosb conference as we agreed at that time that I would be able to go to one before the end of my term. >> Right. Well, at the time though, we were we were putting it on a trial basis. So, that's why one board member went and the district paid for that. That was because it was the inaugural year for Cosba. So, >>
108I know I'm just saying that I want to keep our consistent to all board members that that Joe and I get a chance before our term ends to go to a COAB because that's what we were agreed and to me it's important because I had to pay before and I was told that I'd be able to do it. So, I would like to be able to >> Well, I I understand that and it's not and it's not an argument, but we're talking about limiting our our travel and our expenses. Okay. >> And then you're asking to add something to it. So, it's it's it everybody is we're trying to keep this even because of the current financial situation, not trying to keep it even because of something else. >> Well, no, I do think that
109being even to board members does matter, but >> uh Joe, go ahead. >> Yeah. Um so, while I I think it would be uh useful to go to COSPA, I I don't find it to be an essential need this year. So, um I am not going to uh go to Cosba um even though I have not uh been and used that um uh that travel opportunity. >> Any other comments on the federal advocacy one? I mean, I'm for me, like I said, I I think one person could handle it. It's a whirlwind, but definitely one person could handle that. um you know where we don't have to like kind of have that mentor thing. So um I just think that uh aligning I think maybe Mark if I was understanding you right like there's a
110um a big show that a show of force that the entire you know like our state organization coordinates this and says hey it's important for us to come to the capitol to advocate for this. I think it does send a message on its own before we even get to speaking with our um federal Congress people. So um I'm okay doing um one person to federal advocacy. So I don't where did we leave off on a you said >> I guess I'm the last one. Um I'm still feeling that I mean especially with the $4,000 I want to check every dollar and I do really believe especially in this year we have two legislators who really cover our district. One who has a couple a culde-sac and then two senators. I do think we have um
111great access and representation with them via Zoom in in their district offices. They're open to speaking to us. So I think it is a point especially this year where we could save $4,000. So what what's the consensus on federal advocacy? One, two, three, four. Okay. So Okay. So we'll send one person this year um for Washington DC and again this can be revisited each year. Um and but in the meantime uh let Mrs. Pat know if you want to be registered for triple I because there's early bird on that too. Correct. Okay. Yeah. So we can get a dis. >> Okay. If by chance um sorry to ask another question. So say I'm out and I can find a cheap hotel. I could expense that to the district. Correct. As long as it's within policy.
112>> Made within policy. That's correct. >> Okay. So, I guess you can do your own shopping, too, if you want to stay over and get lucky and find a different rate or use points, which you can expense back, but okay. All right, we will move on. Thank you. Um 11.04, superintendent staff. Nothing. Okay. Item 12, discussion without action. We do not have anything. Item 13, discussion with action. 1301, the adoption of the 2526 amended budget. >> Uh just as a followup to comments made earlier this evening during the public hearing, I recommend the board approve the uh resolutions presented in board docs regarding the fiscal year 2026 amended budget. >> Okay, I will take a motion >> motion to um approve the adoption of the 2025 2026 amended budget as presented. Second. >> A motion
113and a second have been heard. Any questions or comments, Melissa? >> Um, I noticed we spent a lot of time and we went over our three minutes talking about the $4,000 or or these. However, when I look at the amended budget and I'm concerned about the deficits we're ranking up, I do have some concerns. Like when we look at the community service, um, it's 1.8 million for community services and I think it's going up to 1.9 in our budget to give you an idea that we pay in salaries for community service 1.1 million 204 pays $46,000. We pay for employee benefits for community services uh $240,000. They pay 7,200. Uh purchase services were 300,000, they're 62,000. Um we are for supplies and materials we are 135,000 and they are 23,000. I one of the things
114that's bothering me is with these amended budgets, that's an area that doesn't impact our kids directly. I'd like to know why we're spending so much more on this um and that has been increased in our budget. Can I get some explanation of why we spend so much more than 204 and why we have not reduced that, we've increased it? >> Uh actually I I can't answer that question. Not because um I I don't want to answer it for you, but I don't build nor does Mr. Francis building in Prairie 204's budget or I have any clue what they code into those accounts or or why those are assigned to those accounts compared to ours. So, sorry I can't answer your question. >> Yeah, I do have their budget, but yeah, I I see a lot
115of spending overall on the amended budget. In the new budget, we spend much more for uh purchase services, supplies, and materials. Um, and again, um, as we look at the amended budget, another thing I'd like to point out, I would like to know in the amended budget, if you could tell me our click agreement, where is that listed on the amended budget, the money we pay? >> Uh, are you talking about the click invoice for next year? >> Yes. >> The click invoice is uh, spread out over a number of different accounts. The majority of that is paid out of the tort fund, but there's also a section of the click invoice that's paid out of the operation and maintenance fund as well as the transportation fund. >> Because what I see is for support
116services in general, it has risk management and claim service payments. We have 800,000, but >> that would be the portion that's paid out of the tort fund. But that's not all of >> as I mentioned it's some of the invoices paid out of the operation and maintenance fund as well as the transportation fund. >> Um >> so 800,000 would not be the full invoice. >> Okay. So that is one reason when reading these and even when we do the bills and claims that I like the functions so I know I can compare apples and oranges just like you know Mr. Bridges. >> Which functions are you referring to because the functions are all listed in the state budget for as well as the budget book. What I don't understand and is hard to find in
117here >> is for example that would be hard to find. I don't see where that's listed and then when it goes to legal fees I know we don't use the tort necessarily very much. We break it up into each one. So for example for tort we're like 1.7 1.8 million. >> Um are those just legal fees? >> Do you can you answer? I I thought there was time. I'm I'm not sure what the question is either. >> The the 1.7 or the 1.8 that we list. Is that for legal fees? >> The 1.7 or 1.8. What are you referring to? Can you speak? >> It's a tort. It's the collective tort from all the different funds. >> No, I believe that question was answered in the board questions. The the the 1.7 million is made
118up of really four different things. $800,000 for as a portion of the click invoice. There's also a um a bill for the excess workers compensation which is also on the same agenda item that the click agreement was approved for in excess of $200,000. We're also self-funded for workers compensation up to $450,000 which is another piece of that $1.7 million as well as our uh unemployment insurance would make up the difference. Those four items are ma mainly make up our tort expenditures. >> Thanks Mike. Other Melissa, your your time was up. >> All right. Well, it lists toward later. >> Melissa, >> it'd be nice to know where our legal fees how much >> Melissa you've had four meetings to ask these questions and they >> asking they've all been Melissa, they've all been answered. The
119entire document has been answered >> about where how much we legal. >> Joe, go ahead. Uh [clears throat] just to uh make sure that we're we're clear on what the amended budget um is amending. It's only the four items listed in the memo. Uh correct. The um the the [snorts] uh capital uh funds, the land cash, the additional salary expenses um and the um fund balance transfers. So those are the only things that are changing. >> That's an extremely good point. We're not amending the tort fund whatsoever. Thank you. >> I didn't say we're amending it. >> Melissa, you haven't been recognized. Other questions for Melissa, you have not been recognized. Your time is ask these questions during the year and you said I could only ask them during the budget meeting. >> Melissa, you
120have not been recognized. You've had four meetings to get your questions submitted. Every question has been submitted and answered. Okay. It's up to you to read the 40 pages of question. You have not been recognized. >> That is not accurate. >> Okay, Mark. I'm sorry. >> Question submitted has been answered. Mrs. Kirk, [clears throat] >> any other any other questions on item 13.01? No. Okay. It's okay. Okay. I've heard a motion and a second. Please call the role. Mrs. Patton. >> Lastic. >> I. >> Winsky. >> I. >> Kelly Black. >> Nay. Cuz >> I >> McMillan >> I >> Gerky >> I. The motion passes. Item 1302, the resolution to transfer from the ED fund and transportation fund to OEM O and M to capital projects. >> As the board has now approved the
121amended fiscal year 26 budget, recommend you approve the resolution to fund capital improvements projects that had previously been approved by the board of education. Okay, I'll take a motion for item 1302. >> I move to approve the resolution to transfer from education fund and transportation fund to M to capital projects. >> Second. >> A motion, a second have been heard. Any questions or comments? Melissa I just again want to point out that we're transferring funds out of and if you look at our budget reports you will see that what's causing there's a lot of talk that the deficits are being caused by salaries and benefits. They're not those have stayed. If you look at the percentage we've paid out, those have not increased. Um, it is most definitely that we're transferring out of our educational
122fund, which are services for our students, which are salaries for our teachers, which are benefits for our teachers. We're taking money out of that to do these these building projects. Um, and we're getting our funds are getting very low. And even with this, we're going to have a deficit next year. Um I think it says it's $36 million for capital. So even all this money we take out of our education fund, are we going to cut more teachers, more services, and how are we going to pay for the 40 the 36 million next year? There's not a plan. So, no, I am not taking robbing from our educational fund to pay for capital projects that are not necessary. >> Any other questions or comments? >> Joe, go ahead. Yeah, just um again to ask a
123clarifying uh question, um the uh money that is uh being moved here is from fund 60 uh which is kind of like our savings account. uh when we uh you know decide to make a capital investment uh we pull from that savings account and and that is savings from you know every fund uh from many years not the operational funds from this year >> Melissa you've not been Melissa you've not been recognized Joe is speaking >> the um the the um though those funds have to be moved into the uh O andM budget uh line first and then transferred to capital projects. Uh so these are uh monies that we have saved over many years and we're we're using them for capital projects that we've uh approved and now we're just kind of reconciling uh
124the the accounts to um now that we've amended the budget. Is that uh correct interpretation? >> That's correct. >> Thank you. >> Just one other clarification to Joe to Joe's point. We're also staying within board policy for our fund balance. Correct. >> When we go over a certain amount or under a certain amount, we have to do something about that. Okay. >> Melissa, >> we are creating by transferring these funds deficits and all those. And Joe, no, it's not coming out of the fund 60. That's the capital projects. It's coming out of the educational fund and which is 10, 20, 40, and 70. So, >> apologies. I misspoke. I'm the phone number. >> Well, it frustrates me because a lot of people misspeak and I think accuracy should matter. >> Okay. So, uh, anything else?
125U Holly, go ahead. Um, I just want to um build on these questions and the explanation about fund 60 and our savings fund and our board policy 4.20. Um, I'm going to support this resolution because throughout this year, my first year on the board, I have voted to support these capital projects and this transfer is how we have funded those. Um, so there's slides in the in in board docs. We've kind of talked about each of these projects we've approved and having voted for them. um this resolution is the way we go about funding things we've already approved. Um that said, I do have concerns um that I feel like um one of the questions I asked ahead was about value um evaluation and reviewing projects based on their need. Um, and the response to
126that question was in the capital when we have money in the capital projects fund, we select projects and design them to be within budget parameters and find ways to save along the way. And to me, that is not how we should go about having a capital plan and funding things. We now have a budget in a project in search of a need rather than a need that is shaping the project. So going forward, I'm not going to support um the budget going forward, and I would like to see us review um board policy for 20, but I did support these projects. They had important safety and accessibility and other needs, but after a year of observing and participating in this project uh or in the board and this reviewing this policy, I'm not going to
127support it moving forward. But I do appreciate this kind of conversation because this is a clear point to show how that savings account is built and created and how those projects come to be and come to be funded and really essentially for me taking those savings and creating a pool um that is available for a project rather than a need. I think it is shaping things to be larger with fewer checks than other processes. So I would like to re that going forward. But again, I supported these projects. I voted yes on them and I'm going to vote yes to fund them today >> and thank you for saying that because it helps me understand your question that was in there so we can talk offline about kind of how we view the term you
128use the term value engineering process and so the process you described I don't think anybody disagrees with you and I think from a construction standpoint they took the value engineering just a little different way so we'll follow up that >> okay I've heard a motion and a second please call the role Mrs. Hatton. >> Kelly Black. >> Nay. >> Winsky. >> Hi. >> Gerky. >> I >> McMillan. >> I >> Kazminsky. >> Hi. >> Blastic. >> I. >> The motion passes. Item 13.03. The resolution to abate working cash fund. >> Again, with the approval of the FY26 budget, U. administration recommends the board approve the resolution to fund the capital improvement projects that had previously been imported approved by the board of education. >> Okay, I'll take a motion. >> Move approval of item 13.03
129resolution to abate working cash flow. >> Second. >> Okay, a motion a second been heard. Questions or comments from the board? >> Okay, call Oh, sorry, Mark. Go ahead. Yeah, this is a question I asked in advance and and people just may be curious, but um can uh Dan, can you just explain why we have an abatement to the working cash fund rather than the previous resolution just to move money in the uh between funds? >> Mike, can you take that one? >> Sure. There's specific uh statute around transferring money between specifically between the education, transportation and operation and maintenance fund. And then there's also specific legislation around how you abate or partially abate the working cash fund and where that money goes. So there's just two different ways to do it, >> right? But
130the results are the same at the end of the day. >> Yes. You're transferring money from between various funds within the school district. Got it. >> Thank you, Mike. Okay, Melissa, >> I have a question. I know that we have to there are rules. So, we have to transfer the funds to from those other funds, the education, the transportation, so forth um into the on&m operations and maintenance then to capital. And once it goes to capital, it can't come back. Is there a reason given that we have some financial challenges unex and there might be more unexpected and our our funds are getting quite a bit lower why we don't put funds in the working um the working cash versus because then it can be transferred out of it but once we put something in
131capital projects it can't be transferred out >> I am not aware of a school district transferring ing money from other funds into the working cash fund. I'm not saying that it can't be done, but I've never seen it happen. Um, we're transferring money specifically for projects that have already been approved and are in progress by the by the board of education. Best practice is to is to charge those expenditures to the appropriate fund. And in this case, for those projects, it would be the capital projects fund. The working cash fund does not allow you to make uh specific expenditures towards it. There's no place in the state uh Illinois State Board of Education budget form or or guidance that allows for any expenditures out of the working cash fund um for any expenses. >> Okay,
132I've heard a motion and a second. Please call the role. Mrs. Patton. Plastic >> I >> Kelly Black >> nay. >> Winsky >> I >> Gerky >> I >> McMillan >> I >> Cuz >> I >> The motion passes item 13.04 the 2627 budget adoption. >> Recommend the board of education approve the fiscal year 2027 budget as presented. >> I'll take a motion. Motion to approve item 1304 2026 2027 budget adoption as presented. >> Second. >> A motion a second have been heard. Any questions from the board? >> Melissa, >> again I'm concerned that we knew we were having financial issues. We had to do an amended budget. We have to do transfers. Um, and these capital projects, like I said, will also lead us into, what was it, 33.6 maybe million or 36 million
133next year in deficits. Um, I'm upset that we don't knowing this was coming. It shouldn't We shouldn't have been blindsided. So why did the administration propose a budget that the deficits actually increased more? And my concern is this. If they diligently went through and cut what they could, what does that tell us about our ability to pay for budgets moving forward? I have not heard where this money is coming from. Shouldn't that have been a conversation before today's vote? I I find this to be honestly reckless. >> Was that a question or comment? Because I do have a I do have a followup though on that, Miss Gerky. Um >> I >> because we have addressed the comments that you have just made multiple times there. >> I don't know what you're talking about in
134terms of some $30 million deficit. Um, there is no $30 million deficit. >> There's all fun deficit. Melissa, Mr. Bridges is speaking. >> Your your ongoing comments of it that reflect your lack of understanding of the complete budget process and how those funds are used. And we have attempted to very professionally, your board colleagues have attempted to very professionally correct you and to provide you with the information. However, you continue to paint this false narrative about the condition of our financial state. >> It was as a reminder as a reminder >> Mr. Bridges is speaking. >> Financial five-year financial projections to the board of education going back till at least 2023 have forecast this deficit. This board of education and its administration have had an opportunity to discuss budgets and where we're at for multiple
135years. So, this is not something that came out of the woodwork, out of the blue, or should be a surprise to any board member or any staff member. But now is the time that we have to address it because the deficit is now structural and we cannot keep up with it. So, we have begun to address it at the direction of the board of education and we will continue to address it at the direction of the board of education. >> Nelissa, Melissa, you have not been recognized. Can you please be respectful? Are there other questions or com Melissa? >> Melissa, >> where's the right? >> Can we cut her microphone, please? >> Please cut her microphone. Thank you. Are there other questions or comments from the board? Joe, go ahead. Oh, >> feel like a
136broken record for the last what, three, four meetings. Um, so, uh, just another point of clarification. Um, the structural operating deficit that we are going to approve for next year was the 3.975 million. Um, >> what's the all funds deficit, >> Melissa? Enough of the disrespect. It's >> Accurate information is is important and your colleagues and this administration have repeatedly tried to make that clear. You are not recognized >> and you need to be respectful. >> No, you are not recognized. >> You did not understand this. You're going to blame me when >> Melissa say it >> enough. You are sending out incorrect information to this community. All funds deficit. Yes, >> we understand. >> All funds deficit is 40 million. >> Joe, please continue with your comments. Melissa, you're not recognized. You are not
137recognized. >> But then not recognize me to clarify it. >> You are incorrect in this constant narrative. You're incorrect. >> So the all fun, >> you are incorrect. You are not recognized. >> All right, everyone. Look, I'm paid. >> No, we don't need a teacher's lesson right now. And you should be held accountable if you >> I am held accountable >> years have been on this board and you do not >> you are not recognized if you if you continue >> I would like to call to vote for the um point of uh that we're on right now please >> we need a second to call the >> second >> okay I've heard a motion and a second >> we need a twothirds majority to move forward >> to we right sorry we need >>
138call for the um question. Yep. Move to the previous question. >> Please call that role. Mrs. Patton. [clears throat] >> So this vote is >> this is to end >> the debate and go into >> I >> Winsky [clears throat] >> I >> McMillan >> I >> Blastic >> nay. >> Kelly Black >> nay. Gerie >> I So the debate is closed. Oh, hold on. >> Could we just Could we just have an answer on the all funds deficit from Mr. >> Francis? I've heard a motion and a second on the agenda item. One second. My computer closed. >> Okay. So, now I've heard a motion and a second on item 13.04. Call the role. Mrs. Patton. >> Kelly Black. Nay >> Blastic. >> Nay >> Winski >> I >> Cosmini >> I >> McMillan
139>> I >> Gerky >> I. The motion passes. Okay. Item 13.05 the third reading 7.92 ride share services. >> Melissa, that's enough. You've not recognized. The disrespect is over the top. You've not been recognized. Uh 13.05, please. >> Yeah. Uh administration recommends adopting a new policy prohibiting the practices of ride share services that we have discussed at the previous meetings. At the direction of the board of education at the last meeting, uh the policy recommendation and the um waiver have been updated to reflect those who are 13 years of age of older. >> Okay. Uh go ahead. I need a motion. Um >> motion to approve item 1305. Uh third reading 7.92 ride share services as presented. >> Second. >> A motion and a second have been heard. Uh discussion or or comments or questions
140from the board? >> Holly. Um, I just wanted to say I wasn't here last meeting and since then I really appreciated the comments and the adding the age 13 because I did realize that often when this will be used, it is going to be the parent, not you someone using a teen app. Um, and so the ride share wouldn't have a way to know the age of the student riding. So, thank you for adding that. >> Other comments or questions? >> Oh, Melissa, um, I do like that aspect. Um, my concern with this would just be that this has come up. It was by our our liability group and our board attorney who works for the liability group who recommended this and um I would have liked to seen more feedback from the parents. I
141think that emergency is can be vague. It's not that I oppose the concept. I just I always appreciate when there's feedback because I'm not sure how this is going to work. Are they not going to release a child if the parent doesn't sign it? >> That's correct. With just like we would typically on any school day wouldn't allow a student to just walk out >> and they have to do this for every time. >> That's correct. And I also need to correct this was not a policy recommended to us by click or anybody else. This was a policy that we saw a need for and we wrote and we had reviewed by legal counsel to ensure it did not conflict with any other policy that the board had or any law. This never came from
142anyone other than really Miss Bouty who saw the issue at the middle school and said I think we need to address this. So I'm not sure where you had this coming from. Click on >> documents. It will show how this came about and it will say that it was the recommendation came at the recommendation of our attorney who we don't have a board agreement with. >> Melissa, >> if there's an agreement with our attorney, if we have a legal agreement, I've been asking for that, but we don't because we hired them through click. >> No, that's Melissa. The polic was born. >> This is great. People have foyed wanting that agreement. I have foyed that. >> Melissa, first of all, that's not the topic we're discussing. We're discussing the ride share policy. >> The ride
143share policy. >> Melissa, >> I moved the previous question again uh for 1305. Um staying on topic of what we're actually talking about. >> So, we're just discussing this ride share policy and it was it was a concern from staff. That's where it came from. any other >> documents that referenced it was just that our legal council reviewed based on uh myself and Dr. Cohen reaching out after we've had repeated issues at our level. The building administration are asking what is our guidance >> Melissa Melissa >> okay so we've c um we had called a question so we are going we heard a motion in a second Mrs. Patton, please call the role. >> Blastic. >> I. >> Kazinski, >> hi. >> Gerky, >> I. >> Kelly Black, >> nay. >> McMillan, >> I. >>
144Winski, >> I. >> The motion passes. Item 13.06, the SROU. >> Okay. Um, new to some updates in legislation, we have a need to update our uh school resource officerous with the cities of Neapville and Lyall. Uh Mr. Foy has been working to review this and be responsive to input from the board of education. Uh we do need to have a policy in place uh that it at least addresses the three bullet points noted in the memo prior to July 1. Uh we can continue to work through any other issues you may have. Mr. Frank, anything you want to share? >> Yeah, that that's that's correct. Mr. Bridges, um like to call the attention of the board to the memo. There's several documents that are in board docs. Uh the memo itself does outline uh
145what Mr. Bridges just uh overviewed. Um the the three bullet points are in fact already in law. This is simply making sure that our MLOU, which we've had for several years, uh has that uh those three things that were signed into law by the governor back in August in the MOU agreement with both the city of Neapville and the village of Lyall. um by board direction. We also explored a few other areas um which are also noted in in the uh memo itself. Uh one of which uh specific to age um with our students that certainly expand beyond um 18 um both the city of Neapville and the village of Lyall are in full agreement that um their interactions as SRO's with our students regardless of age apply. Period. End of story. no issues there.
146Uh so we made those adjustments. We also explored language around pursuit and um language around uh deceptive tactics. And while we weren't able to come to specific agreement given lots of exceptions and lots of circumstances uh that would be within those uh couple areas, um they are really in in agreement with us in terms of the fact that deceptive tactics are not appropriate uh with students. Um and uh the any pursuit could could be dangerous and they're certainly committed to um ongoing training and ongoing conversations with us around that. Um the conversations just so the board is aware uh did rise all the way to the level of the chief of police with both Neapville and Lyall. Uh so we have uh really good relationships and great conversation around all of our um items within
147the s uh within theou IG but in particular with those couple items that we just couldn't find language at this time. Happy to take questions. >> I need a motion. >> Move approval of item 13.06 06 SRO MOU. >> I'll second that. >> Okay. Motion and a second have been heard. Questions or comments? >> Holly, go ahead. Yeah, I just want to thank you so much for all of your work and working with both municipalities on that, especially to get that um agreement that we're treating anyone who is a student as our school as in our buildings and our schools um as a juvenile because it is such a unique sensitive environment and we have um a unique role and responsibility for our students and anyone we bring in um we should expect to treat
148them in that same way. So, I think I really appreciate the buyin from both municipalities and the work that was done on that. Um I do continue to have my concerns about deceptive practices in pursuit. Um it is just born out of the difficulty of being in that policing role. um a unique difficulty for SRO and when in high intensity quick decision-making times um that's specific to the pursuit that I am really concerned about any pursuit um on or around school grounds are we have young people we have a lot of vehicles we have a lot of people on foot bicycle scooter um and we have a unique risk um and I would like to see that tailored down so I hope that's something we can continue to work with both municipalities on um similarly
149deceptive practices. Um I know that's been legislation that has the general assembly has been moving it for many categories of people. I would like to see that in the future. But again, I really appreciate I think it was a huge win to include um the broader protections for all of our students no matter their age. So just thank you so much for taking the back and forth on this and working with the m municipalities on this. >> Other questions or comments from the board? Melissa, >> um, I had a question. I was looking at the new agreements and the budget as far as the SRO. I noticed that there's an additional stipen there was on the amended budget. Can What is that for? >> We've already passed that agenda item. >> We're on the SRO.
150We're on 13. >> Well, that's part of safety. Wouldn't it be part of safety? No, we're just talking about theou at this point. >> All right, because there's a hefty stipen, it would be nice to know what that was used for. >> Other questions or comments? >> Okay, I've heard a motion and a second. Please call the role, Mrs. Patton. >> Winsky, >> I. >> McMillan, >> I. >> Blastic, >> I. >> Cuz I, >> Gerky, >> I. >> Kelly Black, >> I. >> Okay, the motion passes. Item 14, old business. We do not have any old business. Item 15, new business. We do not have any new business. schedule of events. >> Please note that uh Friday, June 19th, the district will be closed in observance of Junth. Next board of education is for
151Monday, July 20th, 2026. And another very very very important upcoming event for our six board members in attendance is you may not leave until you see Mrs. Mrs. Patton for a signature on some uh Illinois State Board of Education required documents. Uh so she will have these right here for you to come up and sign prior to leaving. >> Okay. And item 17, a motion to adjurnn. >> I move to adjurnn. >> Second. >> Motion and second have been heard. Any questions, comments? Okay, please call the role. Mrs. Patton, >> McMillan, >> I. >> Kelly Black, >> I. >> Blastic. >> Hi. >> Kazminsky. >> Hi. >> Gerky. I >> Winsky. Hi. Okay, >> we are adjourned. Have a good evening.