CorpusRecord 117805

2025-09-23 CUSD 201 School Board Meeting

A searchable transcript preserved as part of the Discourse Corpus. Passage numbers provide stable references within this record; verify quotations against the original recording when available.

Source
YouTube / CUSD 201 Media
Date
2025-09-24
Location
DuPage County, IL
Material
Transcript
Extent
2,863 words · about 16 min
Collected
2026-06-19

Transcript

Verbatim source text

001Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat up here. [Music] Heat up here. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Laughter] [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat up here. [Music] order. Uh the >> regular regular meeting of the CUSD 2011 Board of Education for September 23rd, 2025. Roll call. >> Leah Conover here. >> Carlos Aia >> here. >> Adena Hoover >> here. >> Kevin Marin >> here. >> Alexandria Mill >> here. Jessica Rodono >> here. Lauren Securi >> here. Stand for the pledge. I pledge allegiance 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. >> Okay. Uh chair will entertain a motion to enter close session to discuss specific employees student discipline and purchase or

002lease of real property for the use of a for the use of the public body for use by the public body. >> So move second. >> All in favor? >> Roll call. >> Uh Mr. Abia. >> Yes. >> Mr. Marin, >> yes. >> Miss Sakiri, >> yes. >> Miss Mill, >> yes. >> Dr. Hoover, >> yes. >> Miss Rodono, >> yes. Miss Conover. >> Yes. Motion passes. >> Oh, it does say it's suggestive. When we go into at 7:22. Um, the chair will entertain a motion to approve the minutes of the September 9th, 2025 regular meeting of the board of education as presented. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Okay. Uh, public comment. Do we have any public comment? Great. Moving right along. We are going to start

003the budget hearing. The public hearing for the proposed 202526 uh budget at 7:22. [Music] And take it away, Ron. >> Okay. I was seeing if it was projecting. There it goes. >> Thank you so much. Uh, yeah. I just wanted to kind of just a quick recap for what we were discussing the last uh last board meetings with our timelines and our revenues recaps. I you've already heard this before, but uh the FY25 revenue recap uh what we're looking at compared to now and I could just kind of go to what we're doing about this year. We're looking at again a drop in the corporate personal property replacement taxes. Uh that's a 41.3% drop. We're also looking at mandated categorical funding that the state would typically give to us. Uh which is for mandated pieces

004such as transportation, special education, food service. Um there are other pieces. It's an 8% decrease. Uh the CPI it's 2.9%. So we're expecting that much to be happening during taxes as well as that we're tier 4 district and er funding being gone. So if you see our revenue breakdown, we are very unique in terms of uh we're 89.9% locally funded. And then if you look at our state and federal funding and there is anticipation of federal being even less in the next year or two depending on what is being decided. Uh state is at 7.3%. Uh local revenue breakdown again this is uh it's it's on par with the rest of the communities around the area. we have uh 69.9% of it being residential whereas 26.7% of it our revenues come from the commercial groups

005and then we have industrial being 3.3 and if I'm going too fast let me know I just I know we've seen this before I just kind of wanted to go through it of course our personnel variables we have uh Westba contract at 4% our custodial contract is 4 and a half our insurance is at 6% And we also have uh certified which varies based on the staff member but that I mean again it's one of those typical pieces that every district uh will deal with. [Music] As for transportation we've seen a 4% increase in SASID which is our special ed. Uh in district we've been using Westway that was a 6% uh our services and supplies we anticipated 2.9% which is the CPI that we were banking on. And um of course there's been the

006taxi costs and parent daily rate that's been kind of uh taken care of when it comes to having parents being reimbursed. Um other variables of course electrical gas or HVAC or sewer and water. Um to be fair you know for example I just put a new a new roof on my house last year. Uh so when it comes to any sort of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, it also works with that at schools, right? So it's about our upkeep and making sure that our facilities are topnotch. Our object expenses, 56% of it is salaries and then 22% of it is uh benefits. And that again, that's pretty much on par with the rest of other districts. Uh our purchase services are about 7.7%. Uh supplies is 3.6 at capital outlay is is a 4/10en of a

007percentage. That's kind of tough to deal with. I know that Joe Smith would love for that to be a little higher. And then um other expenses is uh 10.6. That all kind of varies depending on what we're we're looking at. So, as we talked about it before with our operating funds, uh our ED fund, we will be we're looking at uh little bit of a deficit there of $51,979, but our on&m it's about $243,170 of an increase. Transportation is actually holding pretty steady for the district. So, we're kind of looking almost balanced completely. So, that's where you get your total for your operating funds. Now, for everybody to understand this, operating funds are specifically for what it would take to run the district, right? So, that's like your education, which is a 10, operation and

008maintenance is 20. Um, transportation is a 40, you know, working cash is another 70. So, these are what you would do to run a district. This is what ISBY would typically look like, look at. Uh, but the district has attempted and has worked and maneuvered its way with all of its resources to ensure that we do have a good education for all of our students. It's very admirable to see the different programming throughout the district as well as trying to just keep building upkeep. So, that's where we're at with this one. And then the non-operating funds uh are bonded interest, that's fine. IMRF and social security or capital projects. uh there's nothing planned a tort which is some of like different legal pieces health life safety but it's pretty much balanced nonoperating again being you

009don't need it to operate your district right for your classrooms so again the recommendation um I finally feel like I can start sitting down and doing the programmatic review setup that we've discussed uh that's been on the back of my mind but there's always something great happening so you're kind of running around and doing what you got to do here. Um, we're looking at our cost of our upkeeps of all buildings. Uh, for example, um, I do hear about people asking about the tiff dollars and manning and and what's being spent. Rest assured, the money is being spent. Uh, I'm working on putting together a spreadsheet just to keep track of here's how much we've received in funding from the tiff versus how much we're actually spending from that money so that people can start

010seeing that. So, for example, the PA systems, >> the plumbing, uh there's a lot of everything that goes into what we've spent already. And um I'm hoping I can create that at least from this standpoint, from this year going forward that people understand we are using all of our resources. Uh there's not always such a thing as free money and the TIFF is an example of we are frozen in terms of what we can make in an EAV because that's what part of the TIFF was. So, we it is costing us in a regard. Uh we're also going to keep utilizing our cash flow and review our working cash. I've mentioned transferring the approximate $600,000 into our capital projects fund so we can keep things running. And MLS are both nonoperating funds. So, I apologize

011if I was way too fast, but I just figured this was just the review and questions. Here we go. Can you very briefly explain the programmatic review again since that one is a little more unique to you? >> Absolutely. >> Thank you. >> So the programmatic review is going to consist of us looking at our FTEES, our salaries, our benefits, uh looking at purchase services in each program, uh supplies, material, the whole nine yards. Uh from there you kind of look at how is this affecting students. So we look at each of our programming for example like extracurricular activities we could break them down how many kids are involved uh how how many uh like staff members are involved in it as well but is the percentage of students who go on to postsecary or

012what is their average GPA or what is their average test scores stuff like that to show and justify what the great things are that are happening here. Um it'll show some great things. It's a great way for staff members to look at how the data ties in with the finances. It doesn't happen too often like this where districts are able to essentially I mean show off, right? And discuss this is what our money is going towards and why. And there are going to be some good conversations with it. It's about again tying in that finance and curricular piece that doesn't always happen so that people understand the rationale of these decisions that we're being we're doing. And is that something that um is available to becomes available to our stakeholders as you're able to like

013um show that data per se? >> That will be um I already talked to Dr. Brown about some of the data that we can tie in with it. Uh Mr. Balderman's going to be there every step of the way too. Uh we're going to it's going to turn into pretty much a I don't know some sort of it's like a packet or a review from everything. Mhm. >> Uh there's no problem with that being shared. I think it's actually more of a showcase of how well we've done. >> Do you then sometimes make recommendations based on the outcomes of the review, financial recommendations? >> Absolutely. Uh when I did this the first time as a team, we've actually I believe and I mentioned it last time, you can see your budget as it is now.

014>> Mhm. Then you can say, well, what if it was a 10% increase in that program based on what it's doing? What would it look like then? If you have to cut back like a 10% hypothetically, what would that look like? So, it kind of shows you kind of the, you know, future and what what is valuable, what is needed, what needs more more resources or what looks like, you know, what we might be able to do without adding resources to that as well. >> That's the plan. >> I think that's great. I I'm really happy that we're doing this and I think it's really important for everybody to know about because I think it just shows that financial responsibility and that we're looking at it with a fine tooth comb really and the efficacy

015of all of our programs and everything changes so quickly in education maybe the thing we needed even just 5 years ago as a result of co isn't the best thing anymore and there's something else. So um I just appreciate that we're doing that. It'll be great. And and there's no place where you can go in a district where you can walk through the the building and I see it when I follow Mr. Balderman around. There are kids like that. He knows every single name. >> They love it. >> That's an exagger. I appreciate that, but test me on that. >> Test them. Uh >> I love them all, but I don't know all their names. But it's a matter of when you see those relationships being built when it comes to staffing, when it comes

016to the kids, what they're doing, what kind of ideas are coming up with uh different programmatic ideas the high school wants to do. Every child having one thing extracurricular to keep them involved. That doesn't just happen. So, I'm hoping that this can help tie in and show there's a real special place here that frankly anybody would be lucky to have kids in. Mhm. I'm I'm super looking forward to seeing it. I think it's a very natural next step after the dig in on the data that the student data that we've been doing over the last couple of years and the growth that we've gotten from that. It only makes sense that we dig into the financial data. I >> think it's a great next step and I'm looking forward to seeing to seeing it. >>

017Absolutely. >> So, with the operating funds that negative 273,000, do you do you think you'll be able to close that gap further? No, to try to balance the budget or are we >> I can always tell you anything, you know, but uh the thing is there's so much unknown from now until the end of the fiscal year. You know, I I one of the craziest things that ever happened in the previous district, student moved in and they needed $100,000 in services, >> right? >> Um when you are a small >> It's happened to us. >> It has. >> So when you're a smaller district, you get affected pretty quick. Mhm. >> And so that's one thing I I can never guarantee what I'm going to can and can't do, but I can guarantee you it's

018always going to be in the best interest of our kids. >> And I think that's where we're going with it, you know, with within reason, >> right? >> Mhm. And and I would say to put that into perspective, normally Carlos does this, but I think he doesn't have his calculator out. >> That is >> I already did it. >> 07. It's a seventh of a percentage of our total, right? 273,000 out of our $35 million budget, less than 1%. So, >> it's a rounding error. >> It is a rounding error. I need to add that to my notes. >> But to answer your question, Kevin, I I think this we will be in slight deficit spending. And then when we do the program review, we can make some tough decisions and get back to a

019balanced budget if that's what people think is the best way to go. >> And we've we've always talked about that. And that's why I like this program cuz they many of us have asked like you know we you know and we ask our you know something we take back to our stakeholders is you know when they're time to make tough decisions >> you know where do you cut what what do you what's what's that at risk and we can start to ask answer with data I think that's better than me saying how I feel I should go like we can answer that with concrete kind of >> hopefully there'll be some lowhanging fruit where we don't have to make really tough decisions like ah we don't need that anymore. >> But I I think it's

020important that you know we we've had listening sessions about our facilities but as a as we look overall you know um we tell our kids it doesn't grow on trees like you you can be involved in this just as much you know as we are. We're going to take what you know what our constituents think and want, but they you know, we have something to present to them to say, you know, you can when you you're giving us messages or you're you know, you have your input, use what information we have and >> hopefully it's not too much of a tough decision, but we >> Well, just because we say the word financial, I don't want it to also be negative. I also want it to be we can find some celebrations that we've really

021done a great job with. Well, I think that's huge, too, because so many people um just aren't aren't in our school buildings on a regular basis or we're involved. Um but they're a part of our community. So, any window into what it's actually like is super helpful. >> And I I think that's we've been doing that. But just like you said, there >> people ask or what is that doing for you or what we it's just great to be able to answer that more concretely. Um, we've we can already celebrate it without, you know, having that right now, but I think this it just adds to what the great work we're already doing. Um, and points to what we need to do also. >> Thanks, Ron. >> Thank you. >> Uh, are there any other

022additional comments or questions from members of the board of education? >> No. >> Cool. Are there any public comments concerning the proposed 2025 2026 budget? Okay. Uh I declare this public hearing on the proposed 2025 2026 budget closed. Moving on to our consent agenda. The chair will entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented. Uh personnel Christian Rosa, volunteer wrestling coach, Westmont Junior High School. Steven Mikilik, uh, volunteer scholastic bowl coach, Westmont High School. Carlos Rivero, volunteer soccer coach, Westmont High School. Thank you to all these volunteers. Uh, resignations. Number two, approval of the September 2025 expenditure report, ratification of the August 2025 regular payroll, presentation of the ISBE salary compensation report, presentation of the IMRF salary compensation report, presentation of the salary compensation report for all employees. >> So moved. >> Second.

023Roll call. >> Mr. Marin, >> yes. >> Miss Sakiri, >> yes. >> Miss Mill, >> yes. >> Dr. Hoover, >> yes. Miss Rodono, >> yes. >> Miss Conover, >> yes. >> Mr. Aia, >> yes. >> Cool. And just a reminder that those compensation reports are reports that we do every single year as standard operating procedures. There's nothing out of the ordinary there. >> And they are posted publicly on the website >> and they are posted publicly on the website. We have no information or discussion. So, we're going to move right along into our action items for tonight. Um, first one, adoption of the 2025 2026 budget. Uh where I will entertain a motion. The chair will entertain a motion whereas the board of education of community unit school district 2011 County of DuPage State of

024Illinois caused to be prepared in tentative form a budget and the secretary of this board has made the same conveniently available to public inspection for at least 30 days prior to final action thereon. And whereas a public hearing was held as to such budget on the 23rd day of September 2025, notice of said hearing was given at least 30 days prior, thereto as required by law, and all other legal requirements have been complied with. Now therefore, be it resolved by the board of education of the said district as follows. Section one that the fiscal year of the school district B and the same hereby is fixed and declared to be beginning July 1st, 2025 and ending June 30th, 2026. Section two, that the following budget containing an estimate of amounts available in each fund separately

025and of expenditures from each B and the same is hereby adopted as the budget of this school year for the said fiscal year. >> That's it. So moved. >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Miss Sakiri? >> Yes. >> Miss Mill? >> Yes. >> Dr. Hoover? >> Yes. >> Miss Rodono? >> Yes. >> Miss Conover? >> Yes. >> Mr. Aia? >> Yes. >> Mr. Marin? >> Yes. >> Okay. The board will entertain or the chair will entertain a motion um to approve the contract with consultant Fred Peron as an instructional coach for the 2025 2026 school year as presented. >> So moved. >> Second. Roll call. >> Miss Mill, >> yes. >> Dr. Hoover, >> yes. >> Miss Rodono, >> yes. >> Miss Conover, >> yes. >> Mr. Aia, >> yes. >> Mr. Marin, >> yes.

026>> Miss Airi, >> yes. >> Superintendent report. >> Uh, overall things are very positive in the district. It's homecoming week at the high school. Uh, Friday night is a nice community event. We'll have the band playing and the cheerleaders and the football team and just a lot of fun. The parade is on Thursday starting around 6:00. >> Mhm. Um, so the thing that I would ask, we're seeing great gains in literacy, which is so essential for any student no matter where they're headed in life and but we need to be partners. So parents, please make sure your kids are reading at night at least 20 minutes and that's really crucial and um it's I think the partnership has led to some great gains in literacy, a significant incredible gain for students to become readers and

027that's such an important thing like I said no matter where they're headed in life. So we all need to be on board and we need to be in partnership about that. Same thing with getting kids to school. Our chronic absenteeism rates are some of the best in the state, but we need to be partners and we need kids in school every day they can be. That's reasonable and those are things that are good for our kids and good for our schools and our community. So, I'm very proud of the advent team, the teachers, the staff, the kids have been incredible. We always have more work to do, but progress is being made. >> Great board reports. Cool. Public comment. Okay. Future meetings and events. We have our Westmont High School homecoming parade September 25th at

0286 p.m. in downtown Westmont. It is pretty quick, about 15 minutes. We just walked down the north part of Cass. Join us. There will be candy. Uh, Westmont High School's homecoming football game is September 26th, this Friday at 6 PM at the high school. Uh, October 8th is a SIP day, half day dis half day dismissal, half day, right? Yeah. Uh, parent teacher conferences. October 9th, I believe that those signups started today. We all got our text messages. Uh, there is no student attendance on October 9th, October 10th, and October 13th. That is a 5 and a half day fall long weekend. Uh and our next board meeting is uh October 14th, 6:30 p.m. right here. Wait, are we here? >> Yeah, right here. Village Hall. We do have a committee meeting before it. Uh

029and that's where actions happen. >> There's no committee meeting on the 14th. No. Okay, never mind. >> If we swallow up, parents, no conferences have gone to one day. Conferences are down to one day. Check your Thursday, >> but they start earlier in the afternoon and go till the evening. >> Cool. Rock on. Check your messages and schedule your conferences. Uh if there's nothing else, the chair will entertain a motion to adjourn the September 23rd, 2025 regular meeting of the board of education. >> So move second. >> All in favor? I >> I >> opposed. roof. They're

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