001St. Mel play at 6 >> tonight place for state. Yeah, >> that's good. from this to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Hannah, can you call the role, please? >> Brother Johnson >> here. Johnston here. >> Diana Mendoza Pettit >> here. >> Deborah Sweat >> here. >> Bon the agenda. Action item. Agenda there are additions, corrections, and modifications. Motion to approve the agenda removing and correcting items as presented. A motion. >> I'll make that motion. >> Second. John Brotherton. Hi. Robin Bond. Hi. >> Deborah Sweat. >> Hi. >> Katie Johnston. Hi. Pettit. >> Hi. >> Photo Johnson. Hi. >> We are moving into public comments and our first contestant is Freda Ray. >>
002All right. And I'll when she's coming up I'll read the thing on the screen here. Members of the public are welcome to speak during the public comment section of the meeting only. Comments are limited to five minutes per speaker. Board members will not respond to comments or questions during this time, but they may follow up with speakers following the meeting. Speakers are asked to please conduct themselves respectability. Are you ready? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, today I'm this month I'm going to concentrate back on the school um and education. And Mr. Scott, I appreciate you answering some of the questions I posed. However, some of them the school board should have responded or or and or forwarded the ones that could not be answered. And sometimes I feel like I get confused because I feel
003like you're running the meeting instead of them. And that's just a I'm just putting that in there. And um my question to what happened between 2011 and 2015 when the reading and math scores dropped drastically, which I brought in this right here that shows the drastic. Okay, that's what I'm asking about. What happened? Um, I showed that the graph showed a drastic drop in the reading and math scores. Did the phonics stop being used, etc. Where were the teachers required to teach two or three different ways? This is a new question I'm asking because of the same due to the same class because of 504 and IEP. what happened to cause the scores to go way down and why have they just stayed level out basically I want to know the wise I want to
004know it and um demographics I've heard in in it I don't see how demographics have any cause because I grew up in a very poor family and I got a B+ and I when I graduated my dad wasn't around that much either so you can't really use that um I re recently told by a a person, a friend of mine who told knows a 22year-old who graduated from Rantel High School. Their father bragged about the student getting straight A's on their report card. My friend started to hang around her this person because she knew the person's brother. My friend found out this person could barely read. They were able to read enough to get a job, but that was it. This person went through grade school here. This is my concern. This is what's going
005on. Um on the question why is that why is it that children nowadays cannot read an an analog clock which is used by a majority of the business maybe you should use an analog clock so they can get used to reading them and using them which seems more like a logical solution since they're going to go out in the world and they're going to need to use it. Okay. Repetition. Repetition. And I know with the dollar the dollars and the the money you can't use repetition. My question on why has cursive writing been taken out of the curriculum? How are they supposed to sign documents? And you responded and I think that is not thought thoroughly before this decision was made. The modern world still requires a signature even on police reports. What is one
006unit of instruction? I don't think that's enough. They are also not able to read cursive. Historically, cursive signatures were favored for their perceived uniqueness and difficulty in to replicate acceptable al alternatives cursive. The legal landscape allows for flexibility in how signatures are executed. The UCC does not mandate a specific style recognizing printed names, initials, and even simple symbols or marks such as an X as legitimate signatures. This inclusively ensures that individuals are who are unable to write in cursive due to physical or cognitive impairments can still authenticate docess not for the majority on my question about the phonics when when was it not used to teach reading because I was told that it was never taken out and when did it come back as a good tool to teaching when did they start evaluating the
007students I want the dates and it's unfortunate that I cannot go back and listen to the recordings because even my with my computer turned up to the loudest I cannot hear what is being said because I started to come to the school board meetings because two students were struggling to read on the question about the school board is ga what the school board how the school board is gauging the superintendent's performance I was given an attachment well we know that that's not 100% accurate we are talking about people who sometimes play favorites do they really have all the information that they need to know an to make an honest um evaluation who supplies the board with the the information. I say that based on the test scores it is a filling it's a failing grade.
008It's a failing grade and no one should get no one should get um raises at all. Also who who evaluates the teachers there there are also some favoritism pos probably going into play there too. Are any of you taking notes? I'm sorry, but I just don't want it to go in one ear and out the other. It's back to where you left off. I'm serious and I want to see change. I want to know I think all these years that someone would have tried to figure out how to get the students to want to learn to show them that people actually really care. And I just re remember watching a movie not too long ago, the Ron Clark cl the Ron Clark story. It's based on a true story. I think you all should watch
009it. That's right. Bennett. >> Hi. >> Evening. Um, so we are the Randol Family Advocacy Coalition. Do want to start by saying that holidays are fun, right? I understand short time days off, but we are not if we are not anything, we are persistent. So, I just want to make sure we understand that this may sound extremely repetitive, but it is what it is, right? We're here to advocate. So, our goal is to ensure every child in Ranchel will feel safe, supported, and valued at school to strengthen the relationship between families, schools, and community leaders through open communication and advocacy. Our vision is to unite Granville communities where families and schools work together to protect every child, promote accountability, and create a culture of respect, inclusion, and understanding. Our mission is for the Ransville Family
010Advocacy Coalition to empower parents and families to take an active role in students safety, well-being, and education. Working together to advocate for safer school environments, stronger anti-bullying measures, encourage transparency, accountability within the school system, build bridges between parents, educators, and community leaders to educate families about policy, resources, and their rights. This promotes unity, respect, and collaboration across our community. We are not here to fight against the school. We are here to work with them. Our goal is not to blame, but rather to reform the current policy to be more effective. We want to be a part of the solution, helping to create safer schools, stronger relationships, and more unified community. We would like to thank the board for listening to community concern and addressing several issues from the last not November, but October. Um, this
011is a good start, but we still need to work for work towards this. We still have the community still has many concerns that I know you guys have reached out to schedule meetings. I don't want to negate that you didn't try, but I still want to press and continue that we need to have these meetings. First, an equal advocacy for black and brown community uh for the community. And I do understand that clarification is needed. Hence why I said it the way I did. I want you guys to reach out to me. administrators, non-teers and contractual workers to take culture sensitivity, trauma informed and implicit bias training. Uh allow all those who interact with our children to include contractual workers, buses, the bus staff, afterare staff should take conflict resolution training, conflict resolution training, make
012it a part of their contract. Multiple ways to communicate when there's an issue at school, letter home, text, call, emails. I have received letters, so I do appreciate the board for that. Notifying families promptly within uh within a situation at school before the 10 days are out. Clear solution to address meanness, rudeness, a re-evaluation of the CARES program. school morning huddles to be documented so that it's structured to address our busiest children's needs and to better support our teacher so that we can have outcomes and understand how the issues that are being brought to during the huddles or if there's issues even being brought up during these huddles. How does that look and how are we addressing it as the school community and how can we better support our teachers bridging the communication gap between
013administrators and our principles. Again, this is what many of your community residents have asked for. This is an effort to support our community and our growing needs. We meet with the community. We ask them what they're what they need. So, our job is to help bridge that gap. So, I'm going to encourage you guys again to look at so we can have that. We can talk and we can really help support you, support our families, support our children. Thank you. Good evening. We just wanted to thank you for beginning to implement changes to better our schools. We hope you continue with this growth mindset to make our schools a better place for all to learn. We ask that you continue to appropriately appropriately communicate with transparency. We're looking forward to continuing to work together with
014you guys to make our schools a safe, supportive place for all to learn. And thank you. >> Thank you. >> Sabrina River. >> Good evening. I promise not to be as long-winded as I usually am. As you may know, my name is Sabrina Rivera. I am here as a member of the Ranchel Family Advocacy Coalition. Tonight, we are here to encourage that conversations continue to happen and that you continue to work with us to help make Ranch City Schools a safe and thriving environment for each and every student for their betterment and their success. You know our asks and we are hoping that as we continue to work together and as changes are implemented that you will see an improvement in student and staff relationship building as well as morale. We hope to motivate you
015to keep your growth mindset about your schools and your staff the same one that you encourage your students to have daily. And we understand that finding best practices takes time, but we also know it is possible and needed. And we are here to support you on your journey to making RCS that is built around an ever and evolving system that promotes positivity, inclusion, cultural awareness, and growth. Let's continue to work toward our common goals. But until we meet again, may each of you and all of RCS have a warm, safe, restful winter break. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you all for those comments. Next up, we are going to move on to there's a little change up in the agenda this month. We're going to move on to board superintendent comments at the beginning
016of the meeting. have anything they would like to say in board superintendent comments. Um >> I just wanted to have Did you guys see the post on Rant um that Miss Asia Smart? >> Sorry. >> Did you see the post on Ranter that Miss Asia Smart made? It was she's a one of our teachers at through the care program. Um, and she posted some bruises on herself because from work because it's rough in there and I didn't know if I saw it and I just wanted to talk about that for a minute because that was disturbing to me to see that. >> Yes, too. Um, I reached out to her and she just said that it was really rough in there and that she took training on what to do to BS that they have
017in there was not being I don't know what the issue is actually but there's some issue there's some problems in there and I just didn't I just wanted this the one time that we can all talk openly. So I just I I know I saw it. I didn't you guys saw it. It's funny you guys to be aware of that that something that is happening and that we probably need to talk about anybody else. And um first I want to apologize for not being at last month's meeting. There were a couple items on the agenda under new business that were carried forward and I just wanted to briefly run over those few points if you don't mind. Um, one of them uh was about uh cell phones for board members. And the reason I brought
018that up was earlier uh in the school year I asked about obtaining a cell phone. We have moved into the the technology age. We are downloading apps on our personal phones. We're getting text messages from each other uh from the superintendent, from staff about issues uh whether uh to check your email or to should we meet in close session. And I think those should not be on our personal cell phones, which makes it worable and it can be subpoenaed. And I did check with an attorney because I heard it from someone and I followed up with a couple of friends of mine who are lawyers and they said, "Yes, it can be for you, your personal cell phone, and it definitely can be subpoenaed in a lawsuit." and any correspondence between board members regarding an
019issue if it's done on the cell on your personal phone they can obtain that information. So I had asked about a um cell phone that could be used for the district business. I was told that there's none available and it's something that the board would have to decide. Then it became a new business issue as I inquired more just asking questions I feel and then was also termed as being a perk first of all my phone my personal phone going off saying school's closed or should we meet or can you call me which sometimes I don't mind but that stuff should be separate from our personal equipment that we pay for and even if the school reimbured us partial for a cell phone each month. It still makes it foable even more so. So I
020just wanted to bring it up to discuss that in the future we've got in 2027 three board seats available. We need to look at whether a cell phone and a Chromebook andor an iPad are equipment that should be supplied to the board. It's up to the board member to refuse them. Now, I use my cell phone for just about everything. The only thing I use my Chromebook for is to go in and view of the board and check email, but if I had a cell phone, I do it from the cell phone. I use my cell phone for just about everything. So, just something to consider. If you don't want to do it now, then in 2027 we we have new board members. Then maybe we can address this and make this part of the
021equipment issued to board members. The other thing that came up I uh just inquired trying to educate myself and it's something that we did as citizens with the village of Ranul. We got them to include the demographics on their employment and hiring and their recruiting. I asked if there was any historical data that the district kept on their hiring and it turned into I was making a formal request. No, I was just asking and I was also asking can we look at maybe incorporating that in our HR because research has shown and still shows. Our staffing should be as diverse as our student body. It's not. I think I've been here since 71 and I don't ever remember a black in the leadership of Ranchel City School District. We had the gentleman I believe that
022was a finance person. He stayed here 6 months and then Mr. Roundtree who just came up from unit 4 what a little over a year or so ago. Um and that is it. We have a handful of black uh teachers. All of our principles are female and white. Where we get our minority staff is in the parapra, our TAs. That's where we get more staff color. But our kids, black and brown kids, need to see themselves in front of the classroom and in the leadership of the district. And all I asked was what recruiting efforts do we make to seek out minority candidates? I feel like we did that um before um since I've been on the board. And just thinking about it, I um it might be there might not be as many people
023of color because of all the other things that we have to go through. Like maybe there aren't as many people of color that go in education. are you just have to go to them. >> Um, right. But I think that we have done that and they don't want to come here like they don't want to come to the Midwest. >> Um, the truth >> and we do have some one principal. We have >> Mr. Ho. >> Yeah. >> Vice principal. I'm talking >> he is a director but he's not considered a principal of the school. I saw I noticed where his title was different as director of rise. He went over I think as a assistant associate principal and then I uh recently saw where the title was changed to director. So, I don't know
024if that's formal uh a formal change or what, but also yes. Um but we're getting away from what exactly? I the questions I asked were as an effort to inquire, do we maintain statistical data on hiring the applicants? Do we have minority uh applicants? How many um what can we do? And it was just a question to educate myself, not for any one of you to answer, but if just a question since we do have a newly formed within the last few years HR and there are efforts. So all I'm asking um is this something that could be >> I don't think we're legally required to ask them to to come forward with that. I think it so there is reporting that has to be done or open up the HR space for like there's
025reporting that has to happen but if it's a volunteering like you don't have to say you you know you don't have to identify a race you don't have to do any of that. So really it's kind of like one of those sticky like you know protected class things where we can't ask the question but if they provide that information you can use it. >> Yes we can document it. >> Totally put me on that for a bit. >> Yeah. And so um >> you're just saying that you just want to see some of that. >> Yes. I if if it has been thought about could we do that? Should we look at or should the district look at their um recruiting efforts? I know they uh didn't Mr. Mayor say they mainly recruit ISU uh
026Eastern. There's also job boards and stuff that you can um post at. There are HBCU teaching colleges. I have two cousins that graduated from H.B.CU and they're teachers. Spellman and the other one was in Greensboro. I can't remember the name of it, but um and their teachers, they were in the DC district, charter schools, public schools, and now they're in uh Atlanta district. And so um there are black teachers and yes, they don't want to come north. >> It's too cold. >> Yeah, >> that's what I always hear. >> Yes. So we make just make an effort. what point isn't there didn't we I maybe I'm getting confused with the high school but I feel like we did something specifically for recruitment to get minority teachers or am I making that am I getting confused
027because of high school >> because it was happening right around the same time >> because I remember because Monica and I were talking about >> I what I would say is the status of hiring in schools right now is to fill positions with candidates and um we do not have lots of candidates for position post them. Um so yeah, I mean it's not there's not a lot of people coming out of universities right now at all who are trying to go into education and it is very disproportionately white and female the people who are coming out of colleges. I was thinking um about the money like is it could it possibly be because can't afford college? That's what I was thinking. I don't know how true that is but >> I don't know but that's
028something >> and I don't know if I'm just thinking about my little bubble of ran toll and how a lot of minority people don't seem to be able to go as far. And I think it's also the effort too. Um it has to be a conscious effort to do something and it could be just as simple as posting to a virtual job board that um a lot of minority candidates look at as far as teaching positions. That was something I recommended and I shared because I used to do recruiting for graduate school at the U of I from H.B.CU cus and I shared my um contact list with I don't know if you remember Geraldine Lee. She used to be the principal of the high school and she and I worked uh together and I
029helped her post and try to recruit. And yes, some of it is the funding or the salary and the weather. We didn't want to come to the Midwest, especially coming from the warm south. They'd rather deal with tornadoes and hurricanes than snow. Well, I will say one thing and uh I think Rita touched base on part of this. There are black and brown kids that come from Ranul if Ranul Township High School or not that are getting college educations and they do not want to be here because of the favoritism >> the the um the way the way the community is up to a certain point. Um you can look in Champagne and and and Springfield. And I'm this is a lot larger larger area. Decater can key they're all black. A lot of them
030black. Majority of some of the schools are black. So the you can't say we don't have black people or black black um people that are qualified in or that that can be drawn. You're right. Grand Tula is hard to be to to get people to come to for for many reasons, not only here, but also at the high school. And um I spoke with a couple of people at the high school that is working at the high school that is getting their education, that is getting their their degree, and they flat out told me they are not staying here to teach. And I went, "Why are you here now?" They said, "I'm just getting my soon as I get my degree, I'm out. Ran Tool is not where I want to be." So, you know,
031there's a there's there is a problem and um I don't know, you know, we can we can blame anybody and blame anything on it, but I think if we we as a as a community, as a board, um including a high school don't at least, um try to see what it is to try to help that, then our kids are going to struggle, the kids, kids of color, because they're never going to see nobody that that's a teacher or a principal or you know I mean we're seeing the same same thing over and over and over and over year and year and year and year and um a lot of people are frustrated by it. You might you know a lot of you guys might not hear it not might not see it but I'm
032out all the time. I see it all the time. I hear people talk about it all the time and u it's it's frustrating to be somebody that that was born on Shen Air Force Base had all my kids pretty much went through grade school and high school except for one of them. Um it's it's it's a shame that that you don't want and I'm going to be truthful. I don't want my kids here. I would like to it to pack up my bags and and go somewhere to give my kids a better opportunity for whatever it is if it's Yeah. My >> um I forgot one of you guys said something about your kids. Uh it was Rita said something about uh a young person 22 now got all straight A's in and in in
033um in school in high school. I can give I can pull out my phone right now and show you my daughter. All A's A+es except for one A minus and all A+es pretty much all the way through since she's been in Grand Tool Township High School. I don't want to go after she graduates and and this is true. I said, "Well, why don't you go somewhere else? Why don't you go to St. Thomas Moore >> or why don't you go to to uh Urbana? You uh I'm not going with all them smart people at there." I said, "You're getting A+es here. Why Why can't you get it there?" She goes, "Dad, this is Randol." >> You think Do you honestly think >> the education here at Randol is the same as the education at Uni
034High? That's what she said. >> I'm not saying that. >> I'm not high school. I'm glad I already got through there. >> I'm just saying this is what the the This is kids saying it. It's not only the the parents and and society and the community saying that. That's the kids that go to Ant High School that same way. >> I don't know. >> I think I think it's always kind of been that like uni was always the smart school, but >> yeah, >> I got straight into the University of Illinois. >> I think that >> it's about opportunities. >> Got a master's degree. >> My nephew got to go to Michigan University, which I hear they do not big on. Yeah. Especially on App State. So, >> I'm not saying everything I said was
035right or true. I'm just saying like like Katie said, my my uh the sister right below me went to the University of Illinois on the dean list and now she runs uh uh a district 11 districts in in Houston on a computer system. >> You know, she has 36,000 people under her. >> So, no, I'm not saying that that we don't ask people to it's not going to be successful. But how many? What's the percentage? What's the number? >> I think high is what I'm saying. We have a a treasurer of >> basically and getting back to it's recruiting and Mr. Johnson did hit on a point and that's one of the things that um and after she left we stopped conferring but retention is the issue. You get them here. You got a lot
036of locals and I think Mr. Goldston when he's approached the school board over the years and you have a lot of local teachers that are recruited into the district. They are already established here. You have people coming from out of state. They don't have family. They're still paying student loans. They can't just go and get a a loan based on their name and their family history because they have roots here. So, we need to increase recruiting, but we also need to build retention and to interface them with the staff and make them welcome. And that was one of the problems. I encouraged a couple of minority students, one Asian, one black, to apply here. Do you uh they were UFI education students? They were told they were overqualified. >> Overqualified. Yes, ma'am. What that means
037that's what is wondering too. And uh they wanted to continue for masters and work, but they were told they were overqualified. And this was back in the early 90s. And so um but anyway, just need to just think about that a way to get more minorities in the leadership roles of the district as well as the schools. what we can do and just try tracking it and see what you see and if there's historical data have HR look at that and see if there are things they could do make suggestions that's all I was asking the last thing real quick green cards I did talk to ISBE they did not have any information about um districts any policies etc etc regarding green cards. They do have information and they help with the J1 visa program.
038That's it. I did talk to two other school districts. One I haven't talked to yet. Uh the person didn't return my call and then I was given another name. Uh and it's a person I know. So, uh I am going to reach out to them. that they do not get involved in green card visa issues with staff because of the cost and also the fact that they don't necessarily get their money out of it. Um it's like uh staff were paying a tuition for. Generally there is an expectation that they have in their policy that they have to spend x number of years working for the district after they paid for their degree. they um they indicated yes something similar to that with the visa, but they do not want to enter into that type
039of agreement. And they're uh they're the one that actually recommended this other person who I knew. Um they said they had just had a conversation and it's a real sticky issue and districts are shying away from it. So that's as far as I've gotten. I can come back uh not publicly but I'll send an email followup once I talked to the last person. So, I did try to do a little bit of research, not a deep dive, but a lot of people, the few I spoke with was like, "No, we don't do that. We don't want to get involved." Our district come back in. I forgot to say that I spoke with um someone from Pleasant Acres in Walmart was telling me their situation there and it goes along with the whole child hitting. There's
040just seems to be a lot of elopers and children and I don't know if it's behavior things. I I was told that it's happening a lot at Northw, which is the um K through two, but it just seems like our um lower level schools are having a more difficult time. Um, and I don't know if you guys are aware of that, but I just wanted to again take the time to when we all talk about it, say reach out to people to um, so they have someone that's truly going to listen because they are having a very hard time right now. And I don't I don't know how to say it. Just reach out to them. for having me back. Okay. >> Um, if you don't mind, I'll just say a couple of things. Um,
041I'm going to send out an email to all of you. I was meant to do it last week and I got really busy. I apologize, but it's going to um have the slides from the Elma Foyer presentation that Nikki and I signed on in Chicago um from the state's attorney's office. It's updates to and requirements that are coming forward. Um, and there it was a really good presentation. I'm really glad we sat on it. Um, also I want to say thank you to everybody who did go because it was a good experience. I felt like I felt like we got to really connect with some members from other districts and um really understand how the struggles that other districts are having are very similar or a lot worse than what we're having. So, it's it's
042very um it's heartwarming to me to see that we're on Halloween so long. >> Yes. >> Uh good to see that >> the stuff that we're doing we're doing. But like the suggestions that they had were we're doing that. >> We were like on blends in there. They were like, "Oh, you're doing that?" >> Yeah. We're doing that >> kind of like a a model district a little bit. So, um, as far as, um, in the agenda, when you're putting something on the agenda, I am not ever trying to stop anybody from putting anything on the agenda or talking about anything of comments. The only thing I'm trying to do is get us to follow the policy that we wrote that says if you want to have something that's an action item that it should
043go into new business that we all decide on it in new business whether it goes on to the next agenda as a voting item that we approve or the policy the board comments like we're in right now. Nikki and I talked about it and we moved it to the front of the agenda so it would kind of differentiate it from new business a little bit so it's less confusing, but I just want to say if it's an action item that's something that you want the entire board to think about voting on then um new business. If it's something like Nikki, you just want to discuss it, you want to talk about it, board comments. But that's not to say that something in board comments can't come up on an agenda. You can just um follow
044the process and let her I know before the next meeting we can put it in new business for a voting item on the agenda. So I just want to make sure everybody understands that nobody's trying to stop anybody from giving information, voting on something, talking, putting their voice out there at all. I'm just trying to get everybody to follow the policy that we wrote. >> So, I think we kind of got a little confused there for a while on how it is supposed to go >> because that's not I was explaining to Robin that that's not how I had done it previously. Like I just whatever new business or comics, it didn't really matter. I was just saying stuff so that we could have we would have the opportunity to talk about it amongst ourselves.
045I do like it at the beginning because people just walked out, but less I feel like I don't know if it's true or not, less people walk out and are more engaged. Not that we have a big audience, but for the ones that are here. >> Yeah. Usually we would get people for public comment and then they would leave right after public comment and not stick around the board meeting. >> And I don't think they really got to hear that we would discuss things. Um >> the um the reason some things might get put this is something that I talked about with administration. Some things that are uh require a significant amount of time for the district to do something that's going to require a lot of staff hours or whatever like that. Um, I
046specifically said it's okay to put that on the agenda for a discussion or for something that the vote the board can decide whether we want to go in that direction because it's taking up so much staff time to gather that information. But if it's smaller stuff that you have questions on, that's not that should always be getting answered always. >> Yeah, I I I appreciate that. And it just felt like I had to jump through hoops. Several emails, even one at 8:40 in the morning, 8:44 on a Sunday morning, talking about an issue that it was just a question and it turned into a major. And uh and I'm going to be honest, I made my a decision. I will ask but if it's the concept is not accepted or taken I will use the
047foyer. I understand that >> and I will use the foyer to obtain the information if I can't and I was willing and offered to come in and just look at a folder not have copies made and I understand we can do that but I shouldn't have to jump through hoops and I don't think the public if they want to see something that is publicly available and should be made public should have to jump through hoops to get >> on that side though I don't think that we should be expecting the administration to do significant amounts of extra work if the entire board agrees that we don't need to go down that road. >> It may not be an issue that the board does not need to make a decision. I as an individual board member
048am asked and have been voted into this position even as a write in to represent the public and make decisions that's going to affect our kids, our stakeholders, this community, our schools >> for all that. >> I like to do it informed. I like to do homework. I do a and if it's something I want to understand better and I this is just to look at a document but because of the hoops that get put in or obstacles let me just say obstacles verbal obstacles I just went for the gusto it was one document but I did a for you and requested more >> there's not verbal obstacles there are verbal obstacles. >> That's your interpretation. But the point is bottom line if it's a simple question which I felt that I asked and it
049turned into a whole circus then my I just decided I will use the foyer. >> I'm going to say I think that's the picture you're presenting and I if the whole board wants to discuss it, it would be more appropriate in close session. Well, and I can for you as a community member and I have other people. >> What I'm saying is the the the disagreement is something that we should discuss in close session as to why that I was not immediately providing that information. >> That you >> um we can discuss it publicly. I I don't have a problem. >> I don't believe it's a open session topic. >> Okay, that's your call. But um I don't think it's anything that uh is that confidential. Um it was something that was I don't think
050was being listened to appropriately even asking are you understanding what I'm asking what I'm looking for and it was still misinterpreted. And I get a three paragraph email on a Sunday morning at 8:44. Totally. >> I was laughing on that email. He was asking me what you were wanting. >> No, that was not the email. And that is not what he was asking. And if you want to go on to close session and discuss this, we can. >> We can. Um on the um discussion of cell phones, I'm just going to put it out there that I'm opposed to this right off the bat. I'm opposed to it because >> are we voting? Let's clarify this. Is this voting? >> I'm giving my opinion. >> Okay. And and I'm glad you're offering your opinion, but
051as I said, it was just a statement. I just wanted to read >> making my statute. >> Okay. Um, I'm opposed to them specifically one because of the cost. Um, we are, if we were to purchase cell phones for each member of the board, that's $7,000 plus the added cost of a monthly cell phone plan because the district doesn't have that. None of the district staff have cell phones. We would be the only ones that would have cell phone. On the other side of this is the only way that you're going to get foyed for or for um FOYA or subpoena is a if somebody knows that you're using your personal email or personal uh text messages to discuss board business and they know specifically that you are doing it and that they know what
052you said. And I know this because I talked to our attorney and we sat in on the attorney general's presentation and said the same thing. And secondly, because our district email is not our property. So when you're doing your um district business and your email on your phone, they're they can't sub your phone for your district email because the district owns your email account. So the district would provide that, not your phone. As far as text messages, I'm I stopped all of that. We're not doing any of that with anybody. We're solely using district email going forward because of this reason. >> And that's good to know that that was that email sent out, >> huh? >> Is this the first announcement of thing that I'm sending out to you this week? >> Okay. But
053as far as text messages and stuff like that, that was sent out a month or so ago to everybody that it's not going to be there won't be any like that. It's just all through district email going forward. I won't be communicating with any of you anything other than the district. >> Okay, that's good. >> So you're saying that anything now that that I may, for example, receive won't come on my phone no more. >> They'll go to your district email. Did it just come on? >> If you access your district email account through your phone, >> I know I my phone is just my phone. >> But it doesn't even matter if you do. I think is what she said. Correct me if I'm wrong. I think what she think is it doesn't matter
054because if something were to get for you from our emails, >> it doesn't matter what device we use to do it because it's already going to be turned in because it's from our district. own that account. If it's something that you personally own, >> like you own your text messages, you own your your own personal email account, you own all that, >> you would be responsible for providing that. But in the case of an or foyer situation, the person foying you has to specifically know that a you made these comments in the cell phone. So, for example, if I text Nikki and I say, "Nikki, I talked to Deborah about this, this, and this, and this." And then Nikki fors to Katie and says, "Hey, Robin and Deborah talked about this, this, this, and this."
055Right? And then Katie messages me and says, "Hey, I heard you talked about this, this, and this." Then we all know that we're all talking when we're not supposed to be talking, right? And then somebody can foyer that information because they know that it's there. If we do not have that information, that knowledge, you can't just deploy a general text messages. You can't say, "Provide me all of your text messages in case there's some because you're responsible for going through all of those and handing them over." >> I mean, we're we're expecting you to be honest about it and hand over your communications, >> but it's also only things that pertain to district business. And you can still have one-on-one conversations with other board members. You just can't um have like three or two or
056or three board members together talking district business together, >> right? Like >> and I can't Nikki tell me this and I go tell you that and then I go tell you that and then I go tell you that because I'm sharing Nikki's business with all of you. That sort of thing. Mhm. >> I was lost there for a bit because I'm sitting there going, I get a lot of stuff on mines and for example, I get stuff from Anna sometimes >> and I sometimes get stuff from Dr. Woods and then sometimes I get >> I think if it's general informative items like here's the time of the meeting, here's the that's okay. That's not voyable for one thing because everybody gets that. Okay, that that's I'm just trying to get a better picture of where
057we're going with this because, >> right, >> you know, I kind of understood what I was saying about having it, you know, having that because um >> I wouldn't want my phone for you. Um, luckily, it isn't in my name anyway. So, I don't have nothing. That's what I was meaning. >> It wouldn't be. >> Well, what I mean, it isn't in my name. >> Just think of it as do you own the account or do you not? >> No, I don't. If you own your personal email, if you own your your text messages that you pay a bill for every month, >> then you those would be actionable, >> but you would be responsible for turning over and going through those files to see if there's actually any communication, >> right? >> And it
058can't be a generalized show me everything you have. It has to be specific. >> Um, okay. I think I'll go back. Sorry. Um, my final thing is the staff gift. Um, I want to thank John and Nikki for going today um with me to deliver the staff gift. I think it was very well received and I'm glad that um you guys could take the time to do that. >> It was okay. >> I All right. I did have some things quickly. I did email the board this before. Um, so along with the staff gift, which was the stocking cap, um, that was delivered today, the other part of the staff holiday gift was the happy hour, get it, appetizer hour, which we held on December 8th at Lil Pond. Um, and I did say I
059would give a shout out to the local businesses that uh provided uh giveaways for the staff that went and those were Monles, Agave, Kasamigos, Dim John's, Culver's, Kino's Coffee, ETS, Starbucks, Jersey Mike, Mag McFersonson massage. I did not win that one. Fashion nails and organic tests. So, uh, it was a second time we've done that event at Pond and a lot of folks. Yeah. It was correct. Yeah. >> Um in the second item has to do with kindergarten and care. Um so in response to a higher number of discipline referrals and out of school suspensions that we've had at the kindergarten level specifically, um the district did set aside December 1st as a planning day for kindergarten staff, which was unusual, but it's allowable. Um part of what we did that day was get organized
060for some significant shifting of resources towards kindergarten. Um we started with focusing those resources at Northview and we this is the end of three weeks at this point. Um this included moving the care program into Northview uh and limiting placements into the care program to only be kindergarten students. And actually over the last three weeks we have not had any new uh kindergarten care placements. Um additionally after break we will be opening we we added a an additional kindergarten classroom teacher and an additional TA at kindergarten to help address the class sides and the issues that we are experiencing as a school uh with behavior. Um in January we'll I'll be at um Pleasant Acres and we'll be doing some of the same things but uh they have fewer kindergarteners uh at Pleasant Acres right
061now and uh the needs are definitely higher at North. Um, one of the things we are seeing is which is unusual is some physical aggression from our kindergarten students such as uh biting um which that is what's going to cause bruises. Uh kicking and hitting can also cause bruises but uh if a kid bites your arm it's going to be bruised. Um and so those are things we're working through. Again, it's primarily um happening at the kindergarten model and it's with a relatively small number of students, but it's enough students that um we we did make a decision to put some additional resources there. Uh so, we're going to fund the additional classroom with uh some carryover funds from our title one grant which allows us to do that for class size reduction. And uh
062the next item I want to talk about speaking of grants is we did apply for the 21st century after school grant again to for next starting next school year. I have the wrong date in my notes here. Um and that is uh only Broad Meadow of our elementary schools was eligible to renew. This is the explorers program. So, because Broad Meadow currently doesn't have the Explorers program, they were able to um apply for it as Broad Meadow. Uh what we decided to do was host that at the youth center if we get the grant. Um and so that we can serve kids from all four of our elementary schools at the youth center. Um which we would have to do some transportation things, but so if we get that grant, that's the plan. Um we
063do have a formal partnership with the village in the application of that grant. Uh several other community partners agreed to support the grant. Um and then we did just it's not in the agenda this week. So I don't have it a signed copy yet, but we um I made the decision to hire Jenny Feric to uh work with us to get that grant done because we were on a fairly tight timeline. Um so that was as an amendment to our existing. Um, the last thing, and this is going to come up probably when we talk about the AFR and levy and tax statement, is uh, district administration is currently reviewing preliminary budget projections for next school year, which indicate a potential deficit of up to $1.8 million. This is primarily due to increasing costs and
064flat state and federal revenues. There's a possibility we'll have decline in state and federal revenues, but we're projecting flat. Um, and in our district, state and federal revenues are 71% of our funding. So, if those funding sources don't uh stay flat or decrease, we are going to see a much bigger impact than a district that relies more on local property taxes. Um, so as part of the budget development process, uh, my team is has begun the the the process of looking at what our programmatic and staffing options are for the board. So, I know I've given some of that update to the board emails, but I wanted to make sure I said that uh today public else. >> I just want to real quick backtrack on one thing on on earlier about the um uh
065the kindergarten situation at any of the schools north Houston since that's been brought up quite a bit. Have we lost any um staff members, TAs and or other members of of of the district because because of this? >> I think that's probably a reason that we've had some resations. Yes. >> I have not asked specifically. I can connect the dots on. >> Yeah, I was kind of trying to connect the dots too by seeing some of the people that actually designed or or let me let me not use the word design. um supposedly no longer going to be here in January. >> Can you clarify um if there are any kind of like safety protections at in these classrooms for children that do bite? >> Yeah. So, some of our students we can anticipate that
066this is going to be a problem and and it's not I want to be very clear that this is not a special education problem. It does happen in our special education classrooms, but it's a problem in um with our general education students, too. But for students where we know this is a problem, we do have some protective equipment that the staff can wear. Um it it's bite protection. It's mostly supposed to prevent I'm looking at Alice who needs to make eye contact. It's mostly intended to prevent breaking of the skin. Um and so, but it will still leave bruising. Uh so one one version is a nice black hoodie that uh and one are you have these sleeves that you wear uh and some of our special ed staff it's fairly common that they would
067use those things. I I can speak from experience. My wife uh is a speech therapist and works one-on-one with kids. She has some kids that she wears them with every time she works. And it's not necessarily behavioral. It's a communication thing for several of our kids. >> Have we communicated with the parents on these kids? I mean, I'm sure I'm sure >> not broadly. I haven't done like a district email about it, but I think these kids at that age. >> Yeah. I mean the where when it's happening um the parents of the kids who are doing it obviously know if a if another student is one of the students getting hit or bit then we also report that >> but no we don't send out like hey there's a bit >> yeah no it's
068it's >> I will say over the three weeks that I was there I was there every day and uh at North view and I I was I it was very obvious we were seeing improvement. Still a lot of work to do but um you know most kids know how to follow the rules and follow expectations and just need some reinforcement. >> All right. I think appreciate that. Thank you. more than a couple say it's important that's very important they feel that the head people are there it's not like you do that you take care of that >> one kid one kid could earn breaks each day and play with Legos for 10 minutes at a time and he needed somebody to supervise >> I played Lego >> I got to supervise Lego >> maybe I
069played Legos I don't All right. >> All right. Moving on. >> Consent agre. >> So there's one. >> Or letter E, approval of board policy. >> Yes. >> Okay. Um, we are removing this from the uh consent agenda. It's not ready yet to be added to the consent agenda. So, it'll probably go on next. >> But other than that, is there any discussion that we need to have on the consent agenda? >> Yes, of course. >> Um, got on letter D. Um, Bill Slutter here works. Um, Bill's a neighbor and Bill and school. Bill's overcome a lot in his life and he's very successful in his businesses now. And uh he told me we're painting there this summer and he in his house in he said I'd like to give some money to schools. I
070think it's very nice of him to give this money. But his his grandchildren don't go to city schools. He went to city schools. His children went to city schools, but his grandchildren that one was in school. And you know, he could say, "Well, I gave my kids better, but I don't need to now." I think it's that that shows the the kind of people that we do have in school that they're willing to do something when you know we're >> more kids go to school here or even you know but him and this kind of money and he told me he was going to do this no thank you that's that's great you know he's doing it so I want to make sure that public >> I'll say what it was I didn't read it
071say it out loud he donated $2,000 from uh 1,00 to 10,000 to 11 acres earmarked to be used to purchase gloves, hats, jackets, or other winter attire for students. Those >> schools that kind of person give out too, but he didn't. So we can answer. >> We appreciate it. Anybody else? We get a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> I can go ahead. Okay, >> I'll make a motion to approve the consent agenda items, including personal report is submitted with the stipulation that each individual is required to comply with all requirements for new hires as indicated in Illinois statutes and RCS board policy and procedures, including ratification of bills prepaid by the finance manager under board policy work. >> Noting. Anybody second? I second. John Brother. >> Hi. >> Nikki Pettit. Hi. >> De
072Swat. >> Hi. >> Robin Bond. >> Hi. >> Katie Johnston. >> Hi. >> Moto Johnson. >> Hi. >> Okay. Number seven. This is the action to accept the fiscal year 2025 audit and financial report. Just to clarify um with all of you, it's not necessarily an action item. We don't have to vote on it, but I ask that we put it on the agenda as an action item that we formally accept it. Um that we've received it and we formally accepted it. >> We can't not the audit is what it is whether we like it or not. >> It is what it is. So, I don't know if you want to talk much, but um you know, it it was shared with you and you did not get a hard copy of it. If you
073really want one, you've got office last month. >> Um don't go right now. Okay. >> But um and then I emailed out the summary and that was listed in the Okay. Can I get a motion? >> Motion to accept the fiscal year 201. >> I'll second John Brotherton. >> Hi. >> Moto Johnson. >> Hi. >> NPC. >> Hi. >> Bond. Hi. >> De Sweat. Hi. Katie Johnston. I >> both those documents should already be on the board website. action resolution concerning the affecting tax levy for 2025. Are you reading that? >> Yeah, I'll go over. We don't have to read the whole thing. >> Um the recommended levy is again we talked about this last month. This has not changed. Um the 4.98% ask the likely extension is slightly different uh because the EAB went
074down. That's the equalized assess value. I believe that was from uh property tax appeals. So enough property tax appeals go through and then they give us a revised number. This year it have to go down. It ended up being a total of $956 in revenue to us. So it wasn't a huge impact but it was a negative. Um so the anticipated rate will decrease again by um point roughly. 21 uh percent um on the rate. So this the motion that unless there's discussion but the motion that's written there is how we have so but if there's any any discussions or questions on the left anybody >> sorry >> want >> no thank you making motion to approve the tax levy resolution with a tax liability of second 336,693 and approve the filing of Jackson. >>
075Get a second. I'll second that. >> Katie Johnston. >> Oh, hi. >> Photo Johnson. >> Hi. >> Robin Bowen. >> Hi. >> Don Robertson. >> Hi. >> Deborah Swat. >> Hi. >> Petti. >> Okay. This is the U tax abatement. >> All right. >> These have to be read. We have to do three of these. So, I think that I'm going to suggest the quickest way is I'll read what's on the screen and then somebody else reads the motion. Yeah. >> So, I'm just kind of stating out loud what you're voting on and then someone motion. We do this three times. And what this is is we have three basically construction bonds that are out there and we pay for those with the 1% sales tax. So first one is resolution abating the tax here
076to for levy for the 2025 for the year 2025 to pay debt service on taxable general obligation school bonds alternative revenue source series 2016 qualified school construction bonds of school district number 137. Make a motion to approve the resolution. Second John Brotherton. >> Hi >> Vicky Pettit. >> Hi >> Robin Vaughn. >> Hi >> photo Johnson. >> Hi >> Katie Johnston. >> Hi >> Deborah Sweat. >> Hi. The next one is a resolution abating the tax hereto for levy for the year 2025 to pay debt service on general obligation refunding school bonds alternate revenue source series 2020 of school district number 137 motion to approve the resolution as presented. I'll second it. Okay. John Brotherton. >> Hi. >> Johnson. >> Hi. >> Vicky Pett. >> Hi. >> Sweat. >> Katie Johnston. >> Hi. >> Robin
077Bone. >> Hi. >> The last one. This is the prek building. Uh resolution abating the tax here to4 levy for the year 205. A debt on general obligation school bonds. Alternate revenue source series 2024 of school district number one. >> I'll make a motion to approve the resolution present. >> I second it. >> Moto Johnson. >> Hi. >> Deborah Sweat. >> Hi. >> Robin Bond. >> Hi. >> Net. >> Hi. >> John Brotherton. >> Hi. >> Amy Johnson. >> Hi. That's just it's agenda item. >> Gotcha. >> Okay. Yeah. Number 12 is the superintendence evaluation tool. Um we're going to discuss this in close session. Just go over it and if we have any questions on how to fill it out, how to do it there. Um 13 information items. >> All right. Um the
078contracts are listed um on there. Probably the one to note is the Skyward, which is our student information system. It's a big project that they're transitioning to a new platform. Sounds very exciting, but it costs money and it's going to be a lot of work. So, that is upcoming and we have to coordinate it in such a way that doesn't somehow disrupt school operations. Um, so that is u the Yep. So, in board policy updates, I did share those with board previously. Uh, please make sure if you have any questions uh there wasn't anything unusual in this batch of policy updates, but if you have questions uh prior to the next one, make sure you >> can I ask we're allowed to talk about voice, right? >> If you would like to. I don't um
079miss what why did you I'm assuming that lost I'm assuming that the Carter Foundation thing was one of the things that you asked about and you didn't get the information and so you decided before or maybe that wasn't why did you um why did you decide to like what questions did you have >> do you want to discuss this publicly or in close session It's entirely up to you. >> Okay. Um it had to do with the bullying that was brought before the board of the bullying issue by uh the Ranchel family advocacy and then the meeting that we attended that night at the Ranchel um family sports complex and then some information was shared and I was a little taken aback because the situation was brought to the city schools uh to take the
080lead in discussing and addressing the bullying situation that was brought before the board about uh JWater. Then the information the flyer I received about a meeting. It had a different organization taking the lead on it and I called and asked a question un trying to understand how this organization was taking over something I thought the school was taking of the lead on. Was there something some collaboration was uh the district? And so because of that I asked what is the partnership with the foundation? What's the description? That's all the information I asked. >> I am. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Good. >> Yep. >> That's it. >> Session. >> What? I said, "Yeah, it's >> ask one quick question." >> Um, the parallel learning. >> Yes. >> What exactly is that? I did do a
081little Googling. >> I kicked that over to Al. >> That's what I figured. >> So, Parallel is a company that we worked with before in our previous contract. They provided speech therapy when we didn't have a for virtual specialized teacher services. So, not speech. just seconds for teachers. Okay, >> that's what I thought. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> I get a motion to go to close session. We're on that part. >> We're there. Yes. >> We just have to read the recommended motion. I'll make a motion to move session. Senator Swat. >> Hi, John. >> Hi, >> Robin Bond. >> Hi, >> Bo Johnson. >> I John Johnson. >> Hi. >> Um, I'm going to stop for the public. I'm going to stop the meeting here because they're going to go to close session.
082There's no action for close session.