001close meeting back to session. Jackie, roll call. >> Kristen Bailey >> here. >> Nick Atwood >> here. >> Buyers >> here. >> Jose here. >> Christopher Boyce >> here. >> Mark Sherbot >> here. >> Vante Bum here. >> Maria Val Rodriguez. >> All right. Pledge of Allegiance is the first thing we'll start with. >> I pledge algiance 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. >> All right. First thing we'll move into is public participation. Public comment. Members of the public who wish to speak to the board should complete a request card prior to the start of the meeting. This section of the meeting will be reserved for comments from the public. All comment should
002be limited to three minutes. Criticisms, individuals, and do we have any public comments? No public comments. Do we have some board correspondence? >> Okay. And we did not hear anything from Ria. So we have nothing on that front. We'll move into the public hearing. We're now going to open the public hearing on the adoption of our levy in conformance to the requirements of the Truth and Taxation Act. So I now open this hearing. Do there any members of the public who would like to speak at this time? Hearing no comments from the public. I will now close this hearing and then we will move into the consent agenda. It is recommend the board of education approve the consent agenda items 5B through 5J. Approval of board minutes from the 18th, 24th, December 2nd, December 3rd,
003December 4th, December 6th, personnel items, purchase order requisitions, payroll for November, accounts payable for December, financial reports, employment contract for an elementary restorative dean, sunb belt staffing agreement and disposal of surplus equipment as presented and or amended. Is there anything on this that we have any questions about before we vote on it? I I do have one item for the restorative dean contract. Um, one of the provisions of the contract refers to performance goals that are it says on the sheet that we have in front of us that was published to the public that they are to be attached to this agreement. um want to find out when we can see those goals since this is obviously something that who the individual we're hiring is going to be signing and and this is the restorative
004dean of course for Mitchell. Is that correct on that? Okay. Do we know when those those goals are going to be published or may I think it's important for the public to see that since it's part of the contract and it's not attached or at least our process involved with this be very helpful. goals for all administrators are established after they are in the position um and established with or work they work with that individual um the administrator and the evaluator to establish those goals. So that does not happen till after they're hired. >> So the individual is not informed of the goals of the position. It just seem seems like if you're taking a job you would want to know what what's expected of you. So the goals of the position are the goals
005of the district overall, >> but they um in the performance evaluation process, there are specific goals specific to each administrator. Those are the goals that it's referring to. >> Okay. But this will these goals will be part of the contract when the individual signs the contract because it says attached here. So >> they will be after the individual starts and then they work with their evaluator, the building administrator to establish the goals. >> Okay. You just said made part of this agreement. So the wording on here is >> Yep. We can work on that. >> You can absolutely work on that. >> Thank you. Appreciate it. >> All right. >> Do we have a motion to approve the consent agenda? >> So move. Second. >> Jackie. Roll call. >> Nick Atwood. >> Yes. >> Steve
006Buyers. >> Yes. >> Jose Jquz. >> Yes. >> Christopher Boyce. >> Yes. >> Mark Shervat. >> Yes. >> Fant. >> Yes. >> Kristen Bailey. >> Yes. >> All right. Moving into old business. Adoption of the tax levy 2025 tax year is recommended the board of education adopt the 2025 tax levy as presented on the certificate of tax levy. We'll do the motion second and then we'll have discussion on the motion on the floor. So do I have a motion? >> So move second. >> All right. Do we have discussion on the motion on the floor? >> Yes, we do. Um I would like the board to consider I know we had consensus not a vote. We had consensus on option uh option three at the prior meeting. I would like the board to consider option
007number two. Now I last time of course I wanted option number four which was to hold the taxpayer harmless but option two I think would be reasonable for the taxpayer right now as we're looking at it right now. Taxpayers on a house let me look at the numbers here. Uh Uh, sorry, I got to put on glasses here. Uh, home value of 250K, which is your standard home in Decal Township, if we go with the consensus from the last meeting, would see an increase of their tax bills of $350. If you live in Malta, with the multiplier of 12.48%, you're looking at an increase of probably closer to like $450. I would be willing to consider option number two which still gets the district instead of 85.299 million 83.299 million knowing that at the budget
008that we approved on the day that we approved the budget we were able to come up with cuts in the budget of 1.5 million thereabouts in a matter of hours before the board meeting. I think between now and when this goes into effect, we would have time to look at perhaps either further cuts to bring us to that amount or as you all know, we just uh approved the city actually approved a data center which is going to bring in $20 million approximately if you use comparatives to um what Meta is bringing in right now. So, we're going to be sitting on a lot more money. So, I would like to do something a little bit better for the taxpayer. This is still an increase. We we we're the we're we're the big dogs here
009on your tax bill. We're we're we're going to hit people the hardest with this particular tax levy. I would like to propose option number two. And I think JJ mentioned something similar to this at the last meeting, at least considering it. So, I'll I'll defer to him on that. I would like to make a motion to consider option two and maybe put it up for uh discussion amongst the board. >> Well, one of the problems that I mean this is uh air if you can hop up real quick. I the question of when is this actually due? When do is it due to be submitted and published and everything else like tomorrow, right? >> Um it is on the last Tuesday of December. However, we have to work with the county's uh open offices. Uh
010we should be able to um I will say they are I believe they're closing Christmas but we wanted this as soon uh as we can. >> Right. >> Um I I was the one that just couldn't make up my mind. So I I've made up my mind a little bit better is what my dream would be option two. But I also understand where we're at. Um I'd like it to go down there eventually. But even if we went to like halfway between three and two. So would that be 4 78ish 76ish? Um just because I we came in here and you know with the bulldozer and and everybody in that back room is like wait what what just hit us and it's it's the four of us coming at one time. think if they can
011plan for a year to know that we're going to be a little more strict on some stuff. We're going to expect a little bit more less discretionary spending kind of stuff. I think it's fair to give them more time to adapt to that than five months. >> Um I just want to bring something up. I I I think it's very important for all all of us to rem to remember that number one we are reducing u to a level of which would leave us with a very small margin to be able to be able to afford things that currently tariffs and costs are rising. So by reducing any further if there is a change in cost or any kind of change any lower we would not have any cushion to be able to make up
012that difference. Now, I heard the data center, but it's going to take us a few years before we get that kind of money. >> Understandable. But what what I'm pointing out is, you know, we also have some of the biggest reserves around. So, if we were to just to take part of that from the reserves until we get to the point where the data center money is coming in from, I have no problem with that either. This is just a huge jump compared to what we've had in past years. It's going to hit people hard. I I I hear what you're saying and it it makes sense, but this board has also approved for the building of an ELDC and the renovations at Huntley. So, the funding that we're using is going to be coming
013from there to begin with, right? >> And a reserve uh is the fund balance that we keep is to ensure that we can pay our staff with that fund balance that we currently have as it stands at this moment without using any of it. We can pay six months of salary if something occurs at the state and federal level. By us reducing it any further would this mean that we would have less to be able to pay our staff to continue considering we're the third largest employer in the cal without us being able to pay them would be detrimental to town and detrimental to our staff. Now, I'm I'm hopeful, right, that that's not the case, but um I I don't want us to play with money that could end up hurting the district and
014the community at some point. Now, I understand where you're going with the additional funds that'll be coming in. I think that um I'm just going to say you know that there needs to be a sense of trust that says that this time around allow us to take what we're asking for and then as those those monies come online then we will make good on reducing what we can right for our taxpayers nobody and you know that includes me too right so I'm I pay those taxes as well but I at this point last year we were right there. We didn't took we didn't take a cushion and we got hit with transportation costs and a couple of other things this year where if we reduce any further, there's no cushion as well. Then that that
015means that once again if there is something that costs have gone up, we're trying to get ahead of something so that we don't end up paying tariffs, it could end up hurting the district in the long run. So that's part one. Part two is that every time we lower it, the state sees that. So when I got here, we were a tier one. That year that I got here, we became tier one. We've been then moved to tier two. Now we're tier three. That's because the state says you're supposed to collect all this money. They don't know that we lower our levy, that we abate and we do that. They don't see that. All they see is the total amount of money that's supposed to come to us. So they think, oh, they're getting 99
016or $98 million, whatever it is. We're not collecting that all. So they say you don't need all the other money. So they reduce what we get for EBF. >> Right. Right. >> So so that balance of those two things we have to be strategic so that at the end it doesn't we're not you know cutting the hand that feeds us either right for those of us that live here. But at the same time understanding that um we that right now time is a little timulative and we have to watch what economics looks like over the course of this next year. Now, when that uh data center comes in and we get those $20 million, then I think that that would be easily a better time to offset because now we have that money in hand
017and we can offset that with that. But knowing that if we do that again, the the state of Illinois will probably make us a tier four, which means we get even less money from the state, right? So, every time we do that, that's what we're doing. we're risking that and then not being able to ask for top tier money, right? That again, this is us wanting to make sure that we're playing on a field that makes sense for the district while not hurting us. And I think that there will be a moment. You just have to give us some time to actually collect it. >> Okay. So if we were to levy, let's say we went with the option that the board brought consensus with option three at the uh 85 uh 3 million come
018March when the assessments are final and the final numbers are put that we can abate can't we? Can we further abate to get us down to that number? So we >> Yes, we can. >> Okay. >> Yes, we can. So, one of the things I'm sorry and I'm still for you, but Amir and I have that plan. We had we had a conversation about what that looks like. So, if we end up getting lucky like we did last year and we are able to get a little bit more money and it makes sense, then at that time we can we can make an adjustment for that so that the, you know, so the public gets what they need, right? But it now it gives us that that that pillow, that little little comfort level to
019make sure that we're hitting it and we can see what happens over the next three months. I think I think that's a fair request. >> Well, I think over three months I I'd be okay with that in that we look at areas we could we would have time to look at further areas we could trim perhaps to get us down to that level as well. So >> So I'll I'll say this to you. Um, I'm I'm finding it hardressed to look that way, but I I promise you that as we're moving into March 1st, which is when principles request their next year's numbers and everybody else, >> I've been and I'll tell you, I've been hard on them every year. So, I'll make sure that we are looking hard at that so that it doesn't
020end up costing us any more money, right? And that way maybe uh that way we can try to alleviate something in March. Okay? So, just allow us that time, you know, that little space to to try to figure that out. >> Okay. I think it would be prudent to wait till March because I've been thinking about this a lot too because I like the idea of giving, you know, about $125 back to taxpayers like if we can, but right now we don't know enough about what it's going to look like in 3 months because, you know, we had operational costs go up with the the health insurance. We've got a major salary bump to the the collective bargaining units happening. So, I fear, you know, levying less now and then after property tax appeals come
021through, we could end up with a lower EAV and we still don't know what's going to happen with a lot of the federal title funding. So, like in March, we'll have a clearer picture of what those things look like. And I think, you know, I think it's important that we we kind of hold where we're at now, but I think we we look strongly at what we might be able to do then. and and I think we're all willing to be flexible, you know, because, you know, we don't have to set anything in stone until March technically, right? So, that's just kind of where I've been because I think it is it's going to be tough for everybody this year because of, you know, EAVs have gone up and all the taxing bodies even holding
022flat, it's going to be seven or $800 for a lot of people on their tax bill. So, we'll just have to see where we're at. But, I feel like if we under levy now, like then we could be really stuck. And that's not responsible for long-term tax planning either. and the the data center, which we didn't know about when we talked about this last time, it's still like six years >> at best case scenario from when it'll be fully online. So, >> anything could happen between now and then. So, you know, and I do think that's the best time for us to offer the real meaningful drop in the levy rate. But I'm I'm sensitive to what you're saying and I think we should absolutely be looking at it again in the spring. But I'm
023just not comfortable setting it now and then being in a worse position when that comes and then surprising people or something like that with a higher tax bill at that time. >> Can I just ask a question for my own clarification and it's probably mostly going to be for you. So obviously right now we are taking the money collected from Meta and putting that towards ELDC. Obviously the construction of a building is a we spent our 40ish million dollars We don't have to rebuild ELDC every year on out in perpetuity. So I know with the insurance cost and the loss of the mileage reimbursement, I'm just in my math mathing that about 10 million of that money kind of is already spoken for in those increased costs. Is that then other $9.6 million that we
024receive from Meta every year already spoken for? Well, but what I'm meaning is the 19 because the 10's already going towards I'm assuming the insurance and the mileage for the buses. >> Is that extra 9.6 then? And I'm I have no idea what it costs to run ELC, but I'm assuming it's not going to be a full 9.6 million for one building a year. Is that money then already accounted for in another place that we need to spend it or is that money once ELC is built will be freed in our budget? So if you don't mind u so u we have done a cost analysis of some of the things that we're talking about in building the district forward as long as the board allows us to do that and if we were to
025uh pretty much what the funding looks like if over the course of the next three years with the money that we've already set aside and in the next three years we should be able to cost out a lot of the things that we're hoping to do to get the facilities where they need to be to be able to move into the vision 428 if and when it gets improved by the board. If that happens, that's three years. After that, all of that money is extra, right? So that money, that money, that's just metal money, but now we're also getting Amazon money. We'll get we'll get uh the hotel money, and then we're going to get craft money. None of that money has already has been put into that. we're thinking about using it which will
026then you know reduce the reduce the s the amount of money that we need to go to the taxpayer for. You see where I'm going? >> So eventually then that money when we've costed those things out and paid those things out in three years aside from paying for the cost of the high school because we still have to pay that right then uh then all that other money will go on top of that we can then begin even to further reduce. That's the game plan. That's what we've talked about. Now, that's my commitment sitting here. You have a new, you know, when you have a new superintendent, the new superintendent has to decide that that's what it's going to be. But if that's what the board says and then moves forward, then it makes sense.
027That makes us not just the district being fiscally responsible. Uh it and I prefer to that that be first. Not that I'm not trying to hold the the taxpayer harmless, but we have to be fiscally responsible for what we are charged to do. Then on top of that, we're going to be holding the taxpayer even, you know, more uh what's the word I'm looking for? Less harm, more harmless, less, you know, >> in a better financial. >> Thank you. In a better financial position, right? We'll be giving him giving them financial relief. How about that? Right. So, it's just again, it's just kind of the waiting for the money to come to get those things out and then move forward. And we've costed out like three years. Is that right? Like three years in by
02820, what did we say? 2029. >> Yeah. by the time 2029 comes around, we'll we won't have any of those costs that we have to pay for. And then that money will be money that we can then use for that. So Mark, you want to keep joining the board so make sure that we we get that done. >> So I just want to be clear with the option that the board brought consensus to last time. So we're going to go from last year's 77.6 to 85.3 million in terms of dollars collected from the difference. >> No. No, no. That that we're going from So what what does that amount to as far as an increase from >> in that levy? >> It's like almost $9 million 8 million. >> No, percentage wise I mean what's
029that percentage wise from from 77 to 85 >> the $8 billion about 7.5 million? >> That's about 10%. >> Yeah, it's about 9.5 which is the appreciation of property values. Just remember that that also includes the money that we have to pay the difference for transportation and for all of the other things that we got cut short on that we didn't realize was going to be hitting us at that time, >> you know, because we didn't have the additional funds, >> right? >> Which it doesn't even cover that entire amount because it's like 10 or 11 million between the transportation reimbursement that we're getting, the increase in the salaries, and then the insurance hit that we also took. So it's like we're not we're not banking that essentially, you know, it's kind of already spoken
030for in our obligations. So >> So just just to summarize for the public, I mean, and this is not just us. So the city did the same thing. The county is the only one that's not doing this. They they're keeping their dollar amount close. I don't know how they're doing it, but somehow they're doing it. Um, so basically everybody's tax bills this year are going to go up at least if you live in Dow Township about 10%. Total. self including the district. So the the district share increase based on this. What does it say? Uh >> $350 more for the average $250,000 house. So which is the average house. We had that other example a few weeks ago >> at this moment in time. >> Right at this moment in time. It could fluctuate based
031on appeals before the board of review. So okay, like I said, that's just a huge hit. It's going to hit people hard. But anyway, just making my point. >> I hear you. >> All right, then. At this point, are we ready to take a vote? >> Jackie, roll call. >> Steve Buyers, >> yes. >> Josequz, >> yes. >> Mr. Boy, >> yes. >> No. >> Mr. Bailey, >> yes. Gwood, >> just to be clear, we're voting on the recommended rate. Is that what we're >> correct? Yes. Thank you. >> All right. >> B and C are pretty much just in line with A. So it is recommend the board of education approve the resolution transferring funds for the operation and maintenance fund to the district to the bond fund of the district and abating taxes
032here to levied for the year 2025 to pay debt service on outstanding bonds of the district. Do I have a motion? >> So move. Second. >> Jackie. Roll call. >> Jack. >> Yes. Christopher Boyce, >> yes. >> Mark, >> no. >> Yes. >> Christa Bailey, >> yes. >> Nick Atwood, >> yes. >> Cyers, >> yes. >> Item C, it is recommended the board of education approved resolution approving certification to the county clerk of the 2025 levy below maximum amount permitted under PEL. Do I have a motion? >> So move. Second, >> Jackie. Roll call. >> Mr. Blaze, >> yes. >> No. >> Dante Bum, >> yes. >> Mr. Bailey, >> yes. >> Nick Atwood, >> yes. >> Steve Buyers, >> yes. >> Jose, >> yes. Item D, differential committee recommendations. Is recommended that the board
033of education approve the recommendations from the differential committee meeting held on October 9th, 2025 totaling $29,750.39. Do I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Jackie, roll call. >> Mark Sherbot, >> yes. >> Vince Bham, >> yes. >> Chris Bailey, yes. >> Nick Atwood, >> yes. >> Steve Buyers, >> yes. Jose, >> yes. >> Christopher Boyce, >> yes. >> Item E, Shape America, the Society of Health and Physical Educators Convention and Expo. It is recommended the board of education approve the travel for our district PE coordinator to attend the Shape America conference in Kansas City, Missouri. Do I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Jackie, roll call. >> Dante Bum, >> yes. >> Christy Bailey, >> yes. >> Gatwin, >> yes. >> Steve Buyers, >> yes. >> Jose, yes. >>
034Christopher Boyce, >> yes. Mark Sherbet, >> yes. >> F. Courageous Principles Leadership Development is recommended the board of education approve up to 15 administrators to attend Courageous Principles Professional Development at Deote from February 27th through March 1st. Do I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Yes. All right. Discussion on this? >> Yes. Um later in the agenda there's a a another thing for the courage principles. I know there's no surprises. I'm sorry. Can you explain the difference? >> Sure. >> So, um um we were able to receive additional funding in our title money that then now allows us to send the rest of the staff that hasn't gone to courageous principles too, which are um our coordinators and our managers in the content level. So, this will allow us to be able
035to send them. So, on the new side, that's who we're asking for now. >> Thank you. >> All right. Any further discussion? >> Jackie, roll call. >> Kristen Bailey, >> yes. >> Gwood, >> yes. >> Steve Buyers, >> yes. >> Josequest, >> yes. >> Christopher Boyce, >> yes. >> Mark Sherbot, >> yes. >> Item G, agreement, scope of work, DHS and niu P20 engagement, Illinois MTSS network. It is recommended the board of education approved for DHS to enter into an agreement with NIU for their P20 Illinois MTSS network to further strengthen their practices and school improvement plan strategies. Do I have a motion? So moved. >> Second. >> Jackie, roll call. >> Nick Atwood, >> yes. >> Steve Buyers, >> yes. >> Jose, yes. >> Christopher Boyce, >> yes. >> Mark, >> yes. >> Vante
036Bum, >> yes. >> Bailey, >> yes. >> Item H, DHS, high school ac capella choir field trip request to Port Washington, Wisconsin. Is recommended the board of education approved the DHS choir ac capella to attend the Port Washington High School Aapocalypse Festival on April 10th through the 11th in Port Washington, Wisconsin. Do I have a motion? So move. >> Second. >> Jackie, roll call. >> Steve Buyers, >> yes. >> Jose, >> yes. >> Christopher Boyce, >> yes. >> Mark Shay, >> yes. >> Veham, >> yes. >> Kristen Bailey, >> yes. >> Nick Atwood, >> yes. >> Item I, travel request, professional development, secondary glad training. It is recommended the board of education approve the travel for secondary staff to attend glad training. Do I have a motion? >> So move. >> Second. >> Jackie, roll
037call. Zez, >> yes. >> Christopher Boyce, >> yes. >> Mark Shervat, >> yes. >> Fiance Bino, >> yes. >> Chris Bailey, >> yes. Yes. Mwood. >> Yes. >> Buyers, >> yes. >> All right. New business item A. This is information only. Southern Illinois University Educational Affiliation Agreement. This is presented to us by Dieter Sal, director of human resources. Good evening. Uh Southern Illinois University reached out to us because they have a student that would like to student teach in our district. Um we have not had an agreement with them at least within recent years. So this agreement is >> Oh, sorry. I'm like I didn't touch anything. >> You're in control. >> This agreement um is what we would operate off of when we have student teachers that come to us um and guide us
038in that process. Um, it has been reviewed by both ourselves or both human resources and our attorney. >> All right. Does anyone have any questions? >> Hearing no questions, we have consensus to bring this back. >> Yes. >> Item B is the 2627 academic school calendar. Also presented to us by Dietri Salis. >> So, the school calendar um is developed and created by our professional relations committee that includes members of DCTA as well as myself. um and we work together in creating a drafted calendar. We then take that calendar and we bring it to our cabinet, all of our directors and the superintendent and review it to determine if that meets our needs for the upcoming school year. We've worked through this over the last few months and we finally come to an agreement on
039a calendar for the 26 27 school year that we are bringing forward to you. You will see there are two attachments. One is for the traditional school year and the other is for our ELDC calendar early child early learning development center. >> One quick question just so that I kind of understand once we approve this calendar that kind of that locks us in for 26 27. Correct. >> It does and it doesn't. Um, we're still early enough where if the governor or Illinois school code makes some kind of change that we have to make a change, we still have enough time to do so. It actually gets submitted to ISBY, but not until >> May 1st. >> Yeah, May 1st. So, um, we have time to tweak and make changes. Even after the school year,
040if we're told we have to make changes, we can. But we like to get this out so that families can start planning um any and everything that they need to plan for the upcoming school year. >> Right. >> I see we have emergency days. Are we still doing the remote learning sometimes and >> e-learning? Yeah. >> Yep. So, um that is our preferred method. Um when there are things that come up, whether it's weather or um something going on in a particular building or within the city, um our preferred options are e-learning so that our students don't get um don't don't lose the opportunity to continue learning. Um so that is the plan, but if something occurs and e-learning does not work for us, we still have those emergency days in place. >> I just
041want to make sure that we're clear. the superintendent is the one that does that, right? So, if the weather is that bad or it's ridiculous, then, you know, there's an opportunity for us to just shut down, we could do that. But any day that we close down has to be after we've already used all of our remote learning days, right? So, once we've used a remote learning day, we have to use all of them before we can then take an act of God and close without using a remote learning day. Does that make sense? Okay. So, we can't just say, "Oh, we're going to do a remote learning day this time." Next time we're just closing school. It has to be all and so we use all of our days and then we use a
042snow day. >> How many days is that? >> Pardon? >> How many e-learning days do we have? >> Five. >> Thank you. >> I was right. >> Government by the state or is that something that the five e-learning days? Is that >> who decides it? >> We've only used I'm sorry. We've only used it once. >> She's asking is >> Oh, no. The I'm sorry. So we um are we set up the calendar for it to be that way, right? So we can use up to 5 days >> and we have a e-learning plan that has to be turned into. >> Yep. That is required. So we uh work on a plan teaching and learning works on the plan with collaboration of others and that plan gets submitted to ISBY and then Isby knows what
043what we may do in the event that we need to use those days. Is the reverse the same? So if because like I remember last winter sycamore actually used an emergency day for Lord knows why. If we use an emergency day and don't go to remote learning for whatever reason act of God. Do we then are we stuck with using emergency days until we get to five before we can use an e-learning day or is it just the the e-learning first? I think just to clarify some vocabulary, e-learning is what we would call like our snow days, act of God, a water main break, we have to close down one building. Remote learning really goes into the category if like the government or the governor says we need to shut down for a pandemic or
044whatever. And then there's some varieties in between, but we won't get into that for tonight for the sake of time and space. The e-learning days, as Billy said, we have five days that we can take. My understanding is that you could say one day we're going to do the e-learning day, we're going to do another e-learning day, and then we're going to take a snow day. Meaning, we would have to make up that day at the end of the year. What Dr. Garcia Sanchez was explaining in order to take the act of God days where we would not have to make them up. We would have to exhaust all of our e-learning days, those five, plus the emergency days that are on that calendar. It would be a lot. I've personally never seen it come
045to that. Not saying I don't want to jinx it. I don't want to, you know, put out bad, >> but but not last year, but the year before, we did quite use quite a number of e-learning. >> Yeah, I think we used four. >> Well, we're almost there. >> That's not going to happen, though. The bad weather is contained to the weekends. >> Okay. >> Any further questions? >> Hearing no further questions. Do we have consensus to bring this back? >> Yes. >> All right. Item C, Diligent Elevate Conference, also presented to us by Dietri Salis. this information. >> I'm sorry. I'm like, where are we at? I lost my spot. So, the dil diligent elevate conference is for this software right here that we use for our board meetings. Um the software that we
046use known as board docs. This is the software that um Diligent is no longer they're going to continue to offer it, but they're not going to continue to support it. Many school districts have already migrated into their new software called community and we are in the process of doing that. As of our next meeting um June or June January uh 13th we will actually be running both this board docs software as well as a community software. We think we know how to work it. Um time will tell. Um but we want to make sure that we know how to work it. So in April of 2026, there is a conference in Atlanta, Georgia um that we would like to attend. When I came to the district, I was already familiar with Board Docs because I
047used it in a previous district. When Jackie came into this role, we worked together um so that she learned it and that she also had a backup in me. Now that we're moving to community, we're all going to have a significant learning curve. So for this conference we are looking to take five people. Um Diligent has offered us that if we register for four they will give us the fifth for free. So then we have to pay for travel airfare um and accommodations for all five but the registration for the fifth is of no cost. Questions? >> The source of the funding for this >> it is title funds. Okay. Grant title is okay. Um, I'm just curious with is learning software. Why can't this be done just through some through a computer terminal where
048you take a course? You've done online courses. I'm trying to figure out why we would need to go to a conference for this. >> So, we've tried that and we've been doing that through our migration. Um, we've had some remote um training opportunities and that's why we think we know how to work it. We're going to find out in in January if in fact we do or do not. But there are functions even of board docs that we have not used because of enhancements or upgrades and we want to know the full scope and ability of the software because we want to maximize the usage because we do pay for it. In addition to it serving as the software for our board meetings, it also holds our policies. So, we want to make sure that
049all of that carries over and that we're using that function effectively as well. >> But I'm still not getting why you would have to go to a conference to learn all why can't we train online? >> So, the conference is hands-on. So, we are able to sit down with technicians. They walk us through scheduling board meetings, creating um agenda items, and then helping us problem solve why something may or may not work. Um, and again, we're gonna have new users that are going to be part of it, newer even than Jackie and I, because we know board docs the in the detail. We're gonna have other new users that are going to come in and we just want to make sure that everyone's fully supported. It's really about support and being able to maximize the
050um the software to its fullest. >> And then our information is live, right? So, if as we're look as you're doing that, if there's an issue with what we've provided in there, then you'll be able to fix that while while you're there. You'll be able to learn how to do that. >> We'll learn how to fix it. We're not able to fix it because we'll be live, but we'll learn how to fix it. >> We mentioned five. So, you, Jackie, who are the other three? >> Shauna, who is your background? >> Yep. Myself, Jackie, Shauna, our parillegal. She supports Jackie as well with compliance. Um, Kyle Gertis because Kyle submits a lot of stuff. Um, but we want to make sure that we have additional backups. And then our fifth person is Billy Worml. Dietra.
051>> Yes. >> I I may have I was concentrating on trying to do something with this. >> Did you say they do offer the online or do they not? >> We've already done it. So, as we are migrating into starting to use it in January that gotten us up to speed. Um so, >> what you're learning I'm sorry, but what you're learning at this conference there isn't the equivalent online. Correct. >> It is not. >> Correct. >> It is not. And Jackie and I actually went to Sycamore because Sycamore has already um moved over to community and we sat with the board clerk there um and she showed us some features and then we learned that there are some other opportunities with the features that she does not utilize. So we don't know how to
052work that. >> All right. Any more questions? Do you have consensus to bring this back? >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> All right. Item D, request to purchase Chromebooks for onetoone teaching and learning technology integration. This one is information and action as we would like to get them bought at a good discount. Okay. So, yeah, this is our 13th year of the teaching and learning technology initiative which provides onetoone devices for all K- through2 students and teaching and and teaching staff. Uh, foster impactful learning requires both physical and virtual tools and the chrome and the Chromebooks bridge that gap. This is the most equitable opportunity we offer our student population necessity in our times. Um, for this rotation cycle, we are looking at 1,700 devices. The quote is at $530.50 per device, which includes a
0534-year unlimited accidental damage warranty, uh, Google managed ser uh, management licensing, uh, content filtering, and an always hard shell case. And due to our partnership, we were able to reduce our costs over last year by $8.50, uh, which will save us about $14,450. Um, so for this year, the total is $91,850 for these devices. They will go to incoming first, fifth, and 9th grade students, which then creates that rotation cycle. >> Quick question. The last time we ordered, what was the price of the Chromebooks at the time? I know everything goes up, but I'm just curious. >> Uh 500. >> So $8.50 more. >> Okay. So the the >> What do we do with I assume we're going to replace some of the old Chromebooks with this, correct? >> Yeah. So what ends up happening?
054Yeah. So like when a senior graduates, all those devices are collected, we refurbish the ones that we can. We actually send them out as fast as possible to get the broken ones repaired. We get those back and then those go into the laner pools that are used across the district. So that way when students have a broken device, they can just go to the media center. We hot swap them on the spot. Um so they have a functional device that day so they can continue learning and then their device gets shipped off. But yeah, the old devices get refurbished and put back into the laner pool. So we actually get five, six plus years out of some of these. Um, it's not until like, you know, after the the warranty is completely up, the Chromebook's
055completely used up. I mean, it's broken beyond repair, and then they get recycled. >> All right. Any other questions? >> Not a question, just a comment. Ben, um, with the chaoticness of everything that just happened with that, I asked you the question about, you know, could we have avoided and pretty much no. >> I just want to thank you for staying on top of this and saving us whatever that amount was a lot. >> Well, 14,000 right now, but yeah, if we really extend this past January 1st, what we're looking at is an additional 15% increase over that $91,000. So, now we're in the million-doll mark. And I really, really don't want to do that. Um, and my concern moving forward is what next year is going to look like because quite frankly, uh, just
056memory costs alone within the past month have gone up 50%. And it's gone up that much because all the memory is going towards data centers. And when all the memory is gone and the processors and the hardware, you have supply demand and scarcity and then things become very very expensive very quickly. All right. Since this is information action, do we have a motion to approve? >> So move. >> All right, Jackie. Roll call. >> Chris for Boyce. >> Yes. >> Shv. >> Yes. >> Bailey, >> yes. Gwood, >> yes. >> Buyers, >> yes. >> Joseph, >> yes. >> Thank you. All right. Our next item is item E. Also informationing staffing request for an athletic trainer one FTE for 200 days. I know Peter's been waiting for this one. So, >> well, I learn stuff
057every time I come here. A lot of math. And I just got done with learning how to do board docks, and they're changing that on me now. So, uh, my Let me get here. There it is. Okay. As you can see, uh, with what I'm asking for is that we hire a, uh, a 200 day, uh, athletic trainer position. Just a little background on what we've had. We usually before what we had is that we had a staff member. It was through a differential. Well, that staff member moved on and the differential really never ever was filled and we outsourced to Northwestern Medicine. So, kind of going to go full circle here is that our Northwestern outsource he they that person had to go leave for medical reasons and now we're just having someone fill
058in for him right now. What we would like to do is bring this person on full-time. Well, 200 days we're going to kind of prorrate it for the rest of the year and then moving forward we would have a athletic tra athletic trainer in house at uh decelb they would be at the keelb high school for 200 days they would work the school calendar and then what we would do is use northwestern to fill in during the summers. So that's in a nutshell of of what we're doing. a few questions. What are we currently paying for or what were we currently paying annually for the differentials? Because right now this position looks like the salary and benefits is going to could be up to 86,000 a year. What are what kind of dollars are we
059currently putting forward? >> So what we had is when we had the staff member who did the differential, he was making $45,000 for the year, which is roughly 15,000 for per season. Um, and then when we used them in the when we used that person in the summer, we would time sheet them. Now, since he's left, we have not touched that differential for 2 years roughly saving. I mean, now it's down on one of my little note cards. Uh, what we had, and I have to put mine on, too, is that uh we had 27,000 for the differential for the first per, you know, yet year one, which was 9,000 per season. So that's what we have not used for the last two years through the differential. We're taking the differential away and wanting to
060come to a 1 uh 1.0 unaffiliated. >> Okay. I want to make sure I understand the numbers. You threw a bunch. So right now last year, let's say last calendar year, we paid how much for the differential for the position? >> We did not pay any last year for the differential. >> I think what is Northwestern's contract in person? Northwestern's contract is $22 per hour. And the last two that we've done with them, well, this last year is that January 25 through April 2025, we had 721 hours at $22 uh an hour. It was 15,862. And the last bill from May to October, this past October, it was 724 hours at 22 uh dollar an hour for 15,928. And I believe that took us to right around uh it looks like 31,790. >> Okay, so
061we're going from 31,000 to 86,000. >> But that was one person with us adding three sports just the other day. I mean, just the other day I talked to the person that stepped in. They got like 30, we have 30 people, 30, 40 people in there trying to get ready before practice to get triaged, to get ice, to get taped and stuff like that. So, we've been kind of doing it with one person since that uh teacher left, which really is not meeting the needs of our student athletes because we have, you know, we have close to over well over a thousand people uh a thousand students that participate per year in the in in our uh in our athletics and we added uh cross or we added girls flag football uh girls wrestling and
062now this spring we have boys volleyball. >> Just to be clear, the hours that you've mentioned, those are hours while there's a game going on or they're getting ready for a game. Does it include any additional off like if they're in training, if they're if something happens during the day getting, you know, I'm just curious. >> Usually they get there at 2:00 or so and they are worth there for practices when there's only practices or when we have uh events. That's when they are there. Um, I guess followup question on my end real quick with our health insurance because I know when I was at least an athlete, any injuries or things that we sustained as an athlete within the district, anything our personal health insurance did not cover, we could bring back to the
063district and build to the district's insurance as well. >> So, we have Gerber and then that picks up that picks up what is not picked up by the student athletes. So, we also do have the indirect savings and that if we have a athletic trainer who's there full-time, our students instead of having to one interrupt their educational setting and leave the building to go see a physical therapist or go see a chiropractor can now go see an athletic trainer at no cost to them or their insurance during the day. Correct. >> That is correct. >> Okay. I recognize it's more money too, but I do think it's important that we consider making sure that the student athletes are well taken care of, especially the number we have. And based on, you know, the research I
064was doing into this, I think we're the only team in our conference that doesn't have a full-time certified athletic trainer on their staff in their district already. So, it would behoove of us, I think, to make sure our athletes are getting at least the same level of care that their uh competition is getting. >> That was going to be my next question. So, comparative districts, do you have full-time athletic trainers? Yes. So, well, just in compared to what we have at Sycamore is that they have a full-time trainer that's there, plus they out they have one uh another trainer from Northwestern there. Last, just this this last fall, we had 35 activities here on our campus with two or three events going on the same time. We've, you know, we've only done it with one,
065but the two then we're, you know, we're we're we're making sure that everyone is taken care of. >> Peter, sometimes a contractor is actually less than a full-time employee. Most of the times it's more. Back of the math, how much are we saving if we were to give the same number of hours contracted to Northwestern? >> Well, that it's it's $22 an hour. It's moving up to 25. >> So at $25 an hour. >> Yes. >> Having them work full-time. Same amount of time that we're doing this >> real quick. And I see the phone net out there. So she >> But the ones that we were having from Northwestern weren't with us full time. >> That's why as needed, >> right? >> When we had when we had when we had that stipen position,
066we had both there. So, um, as a 10-month employee, if we were to pay, it comes out to close $41,000 with Northwestern. However, um, we have not been able to fill this as a differential because of the needs of license and certification. So, they must be a certified athletic trainer. We were fortunate that we did have a staff member in the district that held that license and then did the differential since that person left the district. That's why we've not been able to fill it. We did for a short time have someone that recently graduated come in and fill the position for >> two three weeks >> two or three weeks and then was like I can't do this. So, we've not been able to fill it as a differential. And so, that's another contributing
067factor into why we're looking at making it a FTE position >> because we want to try to keep somebody in house because there is a huge shortage of athletic trainers throughout >> nationwide. >> Is this competitive enough that we'll get it filled? >> Yeah. So, the hours of the day this person would be working is from 2:00 p.m., you said, until >> 2:00 p.m. till until everyone >> last kid goes home. >> Until I leave and and the kids leave. >> Yeah. >> Other questions? >> All right. Do we have a motion? >> So move. >> All right, Jackie. Roll call. >> Mr. Bailey. >> Yes. Gallow. >> Yes. >> Steve, >> yes. >> Jose Jquz, >> yes. >> Christopher Boyce, >> yes. >> Marsh, >> yes. >> Vante, >> yes. >> All right. >>
068Thank you. >> Item F, Courageous Principles Leadership Development Program. This information item presented to us by Dr. Manurva Garcia Sanchez. >> It's me. >> Mhm. >> Okay. All right. Well, as mentioned earlier when JJ asked the question about, you know, why the second time, so just to reiterate without having to, you know, do it all over again, we have uh we were able to get additional title money that now allows us to be able to send the rest of the crew that hasn't been able to go to courageous principles too. By sending them now, all of the uh academic individuals will now have that opportunity. So it's uh student family services staff as long and the teaching and learning staff they will now have that opportunity to have both and um they will also have
069the full coverage of the professional development that all of our principles, assistant principles, dean and most of our cabinet have. >> All right, any questions? >> Oh and I'm sorry and that's uh for April. This would be for the April trip >> paid for from title funds. >> Hearing no questions. Do we have consensus to bring this back? >> Yes. >> Item G, Adilante MS by literacy curriculum work PD agreement presented to us by AJ Crook and Sarah Montgomery. >> Good evening again. Um AJ is going to talk to you today about partnership and continued work that we will have with Adilante to help with our two-way dual language roll up through the middle school. >> Thanks Sarah. Good evening. It is that time of year where we start planning summer professional development and spring
070professional development. And as you know, our two-way dual language program is up to fifth grade. We're currently writing the sixth grade curriculum for implementation next year. So, we always plan a year in advance. So, uh what we're asking for is a partnership with Adilante to continue our work together for uh finishing sixth grade this summer. That'll take three days and then five days for writing seventh grade curriculum. Um and it is it keeps us in alignment beyond writing curriculum. It provides professional development to specific biliteracy strategies that teachers need to use to implement two-way dual language programming. >> Any questions? Hearing no questions. We have consensus to bring this back. Item H, DHS new course proposal, transitional math, quantitative literacy statistics, presented to us by >> Sarah and Amy. >> All right, >> it's me
071again. Um, I'd like to turn the microphone and the stage over to Amy Broadcorp, our secondary steam manager, to talk about what we call QL and stats, quantitative literacy and statistics, a new course offering for high school students. Hi, good evening. Um, so we are proposing that we get this uh translation uh the QL stats class for the high school for next year. We're proposing this course. Um, some information the transitional classes um it's Illinois state law that we offer them. What the QL stats does for us is it really opens the door for a large majority of our students a course offering for their senior year. So, I think this graphic right here is probably the best pathway. So, we're looking at the orange. Um, we have a lot of courses in place for
072our STEM kids, our upper level kids to take their senior level uh class like pre-cal and calculus. This is really for those kids that are not STEMbound. So, that's pretty much a large majority of our students. What this class does is they can take it their senior year and it's kind of like taking a free 99 level college course because the Illinois colleges in will recognize it and allow the student to automatically enter their freshman year of college into a 100level math course. And if you look at the stats a lot of kids are not meeting that threshold. So by taking this course if they pass it which is C or better they're able to do that. So, we're just asking to bring this course on. It fills a large gap in our um curriculum
073placement in the course. You have to be again a senior and you have to have all three years of your graduation required math courses completed. The nice thing is there's not much cost because there's not a lot of materials. Um the students would just use their Chromebook and the teacher is just requesting a teacher book and there's no course fees for the students and really the fees would be for the teacher to write that curriculum. Everything's online. So using the book, the textbook and the online resources um that would cost uh $525 for them to do that. Any questions? >> A little steal. >> Yes, I agree. Any questions? >> I said one quick question. The 99 level, that's what you said, right? The college courses, those the ones that are not um like they
074have to pay for them, but they don't actually get college credit for them, right? Correct. >> Which is a huge barrier to college entrance for a lot of kids. >> We have um if you look at it, there's about 30 to 40% of fresh entering freshmen who have to take 99 level courses. And so, you do pay, but they do not count towards your degree. So by doing this, they're allowing them to start right into that 100 level course. >> Anything else? >> I I have a question, but I don't mean any insult by it, but if and I I agree with doing this. I'm just trying to understand. >> Okay. um if we're having to provide an additional class to get them to the level to start at 100 level classes and for how
075many decades people just graduated high school and they went to 100 level classes. Where did the shortfall happen? Are we talking about sixth grade, fifth grade? >> No, there's so there's there's a lot of reasons. So first of all, we are only required it used to be two years of math in high school to graduate. Now it's three. So what happens is if you take freshman, sophomore, junior year math and you don't take a class your senior year, guess what happens to your math skills and then you go and take your placement test and then you place into those classes. So that's a lot of what's happening is you see there's a gap and then they're not taking something or they're not taking the appropriate class their senior year. So now they're taking a placement
076test that's placing them into those lower level math courses. What this does is it makes sure that makes sure that we are giving them the topics and the materials that they need to when they take that placement test, they will test into and be ready for that 100level course. So, that is kind of where we're seeing that gap happen. Um, that's just the nature of math, you know, especially if you're not a STEM person, you know, you you lose the skills. And so, this is kind of just making sure we're keeping those skills fresh. And then the colleges are saying, "Hey, if you're doing that job for us the senior year and they're taking it senior year, we're going to just believe that they're going to be ready now to take on that 100 level
077course." >> It's filling a gap for some students who might not take that fourth year of math, making sure that they have a place to land. >> Thank you. >> Yep. Anything else? >> Hearing no other questions, do we have consensus to bring this back? >> Yes. And last item is item I, staffing request, DHS drivers education point4 FTE. This guy is info in action presented to us by Sarah. >> Yep. And Donna said that she'd gladly join me if I needed assistance, but I'm good. Donna, >> so this is information and action because this is important to our timeline to start second semester. Driver's ed is a very sticky class where there are many different requirements and moving components to it. So there are classroom hours that need to be completed and then there
078are behind the-wheel hours that need to be completed. The behind the wheel hours take I would say a considerable amount of time. And we have looked at this over the last I'm going to say four years because I said Dr. Larson I don't ever want to talk about drivers ed again. I got three years like let's not talk about it. Let's come up with a long-term solution for this. This is the long-term solution because we run out of hours during the school year. Kids get backlogged. I'm giving you the high view summary here. They get backlogged, then they get pushed to the following year. Then we're trying to bring in our current freshmen, our current sophomores, and the juniors and seniors that didn't finish it up. And it creates a snowball effect of problems. Increasing
079this um FTE that we had started last year to a 1.0 for the second semester and for years to come. We'll develop that long-term solution that we really need. We're also looked at how do we support students that don't pass it the first time that they don't take the full class again. They will just take the classroom portion because that's what needed that is what is needed to graduate high school and per the ISBY requirements of mandated units that will also help us. That's a high view. So just for clarity this is a 6 position that we are now requesting >> the Y to make it 1.0 >> to make it whole. Correct. >> So, we stop bandating because it's just kicking the can further down the road to make a bigger problem. >> Any
080questions >> down the road? >> Yes. But I'm bumping. No questions. Do we have a motion? >> So move. >> Second. >> Jackie, roll call. >> Atwood? >> Yes. >> Steve Buyers? Yes. Quiz? >> Yes. >> Chris Boyce? Yes. >> Mark? >> Yes. >> Bailey, yes. >> All right. Dr. Dr. Murva Garcia Sanchez. >> Okay. So, I'll make this quick and sweet. Uh, today is December 16th. Yes. Okay. Friday is December 19th, which means that is the last day that children and staff will be in the district uh before the winter break. So, everyone will be on winter break from the school buildings that are uh certified staff. There are staff that will be in buildings and at the ed center. The ed center will be open on the 22nd and the 23rd. Individuals may
081or may not be here depending if they take choose to take vacation. But on the 24th, 25th and 26th, this building will be closed. And then the 31st, 1st, and 2nd, right? This building will be closed Monday, Tuesday >> because a Saturday is the 3rd. So the building reop the district reopens on January 5th. Everybody should be ready to rock and roll on the 5th to finish second semester strong because once that starts, we're all waiting for spring break and then spring break comes and then we're ready to finish the school year strong. So, please relax, enjoy, have a great holiday and uh peace and joy to everyone. Merry Christmas, happy holidays, happy Hanukkah, happy Quanza, and anything else I miss. All right, before I close the meeting, just going to give one super quick
082update. As I'm sure the community is aware, Board of Education did conduct our community interviews this last weekend. We are currently in the process of making the selection for our new superintendent based on that final round. We will have more updates to follow within the coming weeks. Have a merry Christmas everyone. Do I have a motion to adjurnn? So move. >> So second. >> All those in favor say I. >> Merry Christmas.