001session. Jackie, roll call. >> Kristen Bailey >> here. >> Nick Atwood >> here. >> Steve Buyers >> here. >> Josequz here. >> Christopher Boy >> here. >> Mark Shervat >> here. >> Bino Maria Rodriguez >> here. >> We'll now do the pledge. 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. Next item will be 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 comments should be limited to three minutes. Our first one is Scott >> Osterlin. Excuse me. I have to
002give me feedback if the microphone still works or not. Um, my name is Scott and I'm from Founders. Um, I had the opportunity to look at the video from last meeting and to read through the minutes or the the minutes the proposal being set forth for basically of the elementary schools throughout the district and that it's tucked into the proposal the approval for for the ELDC that was put forth. My question is why was there nothing done to the public? Has there been due diligence done with regard to the public? You're talking about this proposes redistricting. One proposal of of record before the board and there's been no work done on it that I'm aware of that's been presented. Any type of anything from architects, cost analysis, other ideas for where to put instead of
003breaking up the largest elementary in the district. If there's only one proposal, that's unheard of. How do you do that with one idea without getting other input? I'm I'm just aiss. I don't understand how that can be legal. Public funds justifying or referendum. So, it doesn't have to go to the public. You got parents, students, everybody involved and no one's got a voice. Doesn't seem plausible. It's public funds. They're paying the taxes. Why can't they have a voice? Why does it have to be rushed through and put under another bill or under another proposal for the ELDC building? It doesn't make any sense. It's not transparent in any way, shape, or form. I just like to know why and what is done to rect what will be done to rectify it to make it transparent
004so everybody's aware of where the dollars are being spent and staff students teachers everybody should be or teachers um parents should be involved doesn't make any sense doesn't make any sense do something affecting them without I just like some answers to why it's being done the way it's being done and it seems to be slipped without notes. That's all. Just a little clarity. >> Thank you. Gloria Diaz. >> Oops. I'll get >> Hello D428 community and board members leadership. Uh I did have a request and question, but that was uh kindly answered already by uh leadership in the back. So, thank you. Thank you, >> Denise. Osterlin, >> it's Austral. All right. Good evening. My name is Denise Austerlin and I am a fourth grade two-way dual language teacher at Founders Elementary School. I want
005to begin by expressing my full support for building a new school to house ELDC and for reducing middle school class sizes to 30 students as outlined in the vision 428 plan presented at the October 21st school board meeting. The reason I am here tonight is to ensure that Founders Elementary has a voice in the rest of the pro of the rest of the project. Our school is not represented at the October 21st presentation and I want to bring attention to the more than 500 students and 100 staff members who make up our community. While our building may not be considered an ideal elementary school setup, we are deeply committed to supporting our students social, emotional, and academic growth. Our staff includes many veteran educators who bring years of expertise as well as several new teachers
006who contribute fresh ideas and energy. Together and under our new leadership, we have worked hard to build a strong sense of community. As stated in our staff created mission statement, we as a founders community believe everyone belongs. We foster a culture of respect and care valuing individuals from all backgrounds. Together we make we are committed to making our school a safe and welcoming environment where everyone has the courage to thrive. I respectfully ask that you consider this proposal. As you consider this proposal, you involve our entire community, teachers, parents, staff, administration in the decision-making process beyond the construction of the new ELDC building. All stakeholders deserve to be part of the conversation and the vision for our district's future. In closing, I urge you to recognize the dedication, resilience, and potential of our school community
007and to ensure that our voices are heard as we move forward together in building a stronger future for all students. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Steve. OD. >> Yeah. I just wanted to take a minute for the uh board [clears throat] um just to support ELDC. I've come from um I'm coming from a lot of different backgrounds as a staff member, as a parent of a student who has gone through the ELDC, who a spouse who works at the ELDC. Um I fully support the idea of actually having a dedicated building to our prek program for those students. I think it's going to be a huge uh commitment to our community um to students who may not be best served in other situations and I just wanted to voice my support for the uh
008building of the uh new ELC. >> Thank you. >> Miss Ashley, could I have your document that you read from? Would you mind if I kept that copy? >> No, that's fine. It's a little messy cuz I wrote on it. [laughter] >> Sorry. >> There's some scribbles. >> Thank you. >> Keith Cameron. >> Hello. I'm just going to be blunt. Um I think that basically as of this point in time I have no respect for anybody on this board because I don't think you have respect for the community because what you have done is you have housed a very popular idea with an unpopular idea and you have not at all approached the community about it. You're asking people to sign on board with something that they want versus something that is supposed to reduce
009student load in classes from 35 to 30. That is the definition to me of someone who is asking me to sign on to something without actually asking me to participate in the decision and then you are couching it again again as I have stated with a popular idea that I support with an unpopular idea of rearranging the schools. That is ridiculous. This reminds me of a terrible TV show that I love to watch right now which is called Love is Blind. You were asking us to sign on to an agreement without actually seeing anything, no details. [clears throat] So yes, I am comparing you to one of the most sloppiest Netflix shows at this point in time because that is the treatment that I feel like you were giving the community [snorts] and I'm glad
010some people are taking notes. One person in particular I can already see is not and that is disturb that is disturbing to me that I am talking to you and you are not even acknowledging me much like I don't feel acknowledged by this plant face the facts the community is growing the community is expanding and again you have housed a popular idea with an unpopular one and you have not included the community in the decision-m for all the people here who support the new building. I agree with you. But you want me to sign on to something else and make me the villain because there's an unpopular idea that I don't agree with. That's atrocious. I don't agree with it. I don't respect it and I don't think it is the correct decision. Thank you.
011>> Thank you. Hearing all of public comment, we'll now move on to board correspondents. Does anyone have any correspondence for the board? >> So, I guess Oh, Kristen. >> Uh, I don't know if this is the time to ask this, but I am extraordinarily confused. Um, I was not of the understanding that the vision for 28 was part of the decision that we are approving and the proposal for the ELDC, but that it was an intention and that. So I guess I'm asking for clarification is >> so to clarif >> I had a very different understanding. >> So based on I think what you're asking. So 6A is the resolution for us to commit funds to building ELDC which is 6A >> right. >> 7E is ELDC and grade centers reconfiguration. So they are two
012different agenda items. We are still committing funds if we vote to approve that for ELC and it is separate from the issue >> lumped together. They are not. >> That's I just wanted to clarify that they >> they are their own agenda items. It's now the way they worded it makes it sound like you know they're together but it's just because ELDC being its technical own entity outside of the normal K through 12 is just a its own standalone part of the reconfiguration. >> Okay. And I wanted to clarify that that is only an information item tonight. Correct. That is not we are not deciding on that. >> Correct. >> Okay. Thanks. So I guess JJ, did you have something? >> I was just going to >> Yeah. >> specify what she asked about. >>
013So the only thing that I would have for board correspondence, I guess. Yeah. One thing really. Uh JJ and I both got to go to the ISB division meeting that they held in St. Charles. Was that two weeks ago now? >> Yeah, >> two weeks ago. at that um I have been selected and was elected by the members of the Koshwaki division to be one of our directors at large. So I now have within the Kushwalki division an executive committee position. So that's a lot of fun. >> And then congratulations. >> I actually felt that they had a very very helpful session from the St. Charles school district discussed how they've implemented their phone policy and collaboration with parents and students and just the way they talked about it. It sounds like it's been very
014very successful there. So, I actually felt that I did gain a lot from going to that meeting. >> Yeah, I I did too. Um I was very surprised by some of their uh the data that they brought up for after um the program and the program's not much different than what we do in the school district now. But just the fact that they had follow-up data to talk about some of the social emotional growth that the students had outside of school stuff um which was it was pretty dramatic. >> All right. Do any of the adult board members have anything? All right, then we'll go to student board correspondents. Maria, >> um, nothing crazy with the mini board right now, but I have the IASC um, student council leadership workshop coming up on Thursday. Very
015excited to hear about that. Um, it's always been really fun when I've gone. Um hopefully I would bring some of that and present it to the mini board and be like, "Hey, this is how we can be better leaders and maybe we can do it to the middle schools or elementary." I don't know. I'm just excited for that. I really like that workshop. >> Thank you. >> All right. Hearing nothing else, we'll move on to the consent agenda. It is recommended the board of education approve the consent agenda items 5e through 5e, 106, 1021. Board minutes, personnel action items, purchase order requisitions, donation from St. Paul's Episcopal Church to Mitchell Elementary as presented. Do we have any questions about any items within the consent agenda before we vote on it? >> Thank you to St.
016Paul's. >> Absolutely. >> All [snorts] right. [clears throat] So, do I have a motion to approve the consent agenda? >> So moved. Second. >> Jackie, roll call. >> Nick Atwood, >> yes. >> Steve Buyers, >> yes. >> Jose, >> yes. Christopher Boyce, >> yes. >> Mark Shervat, >> yes. >> Kristen Bailey, >> yes. >> All right, we'll now move into old business. First, old business is item A, resolutions committing funds for ELDC facilities, constructions, and renovations. It is recommended that the board of education approve the resolution for an early learning development center and committing certain property tax revenue as presented. This is an action item. >> Quick uh before >> got a couple questions. Um we have 26.2 million as part of the fund balance already collected um which is going to be set aside
017upon the passage of this resolution. My question is where will this money be invested so it can continue to grow while interest rates are higher? I want to see that this money is being [snorts] invested as effectively as we can. And I'm not sure if we're going to go with more of a long-term until we have to start paying out on this so we can grow the money and do do better with it. >> Correct. Uh so once this is approved [clears throat] uh we will commit this money so that it doesn't uh gets mixed in with any operational fund and uh we can actually lock it in for long-term investments. uh at that point we would have a a better idea where th when those uh construction funds will be dispersed which will give
018us a better idea on when when and where to start locking and making those funds liquid. So that is definitely the intention of it and we have done this also with Mitchell uh where we when we knew when the dispersements of construction will be able to unlock that. So, we just need to ensure to the public that these funds are not going to be touched, that they are going to be dedicated exclusively to ELDC. I to use my Al Gore, a lockbox, if you will. Right. Okay. Very good. >> Correct. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Um I have a question. Uh just a clarification more than anything else. >> The second uh document in the agenda item talks about ELC, HMS, and future financial considerations, but it talks about the fact that we have
019to invest in HMS um as we discussed before um with Kristen's comment is that uh whatever we do to HMS in pulling ELDC out it doesn't matter whether we have the the um what's for >> reconfiguration >> no the the vision vision 428 plan or not we still have to do those whether it stays a middle school 6 through eight or it goes to seven and eight we still have to make those fixes to get it back to where it was. [clears throat] >> So, I guess just my one last question just because I've noticed as we've looked at different documents and I don't know, this might be a tag team between Tammy and Armir is every time I feel like we've been presented ELC in the last four months, the the bottom line keeps
020just snaking up a little bit every time. I think it started at 38 million, then it was 40, now it's 42.8. So, it just >> You're saying it's Tanny's fault. >> No, no, no. [laughter] I just >> It's okay. I can take the blame. Um, we have looked at different variations of this from 16 classrooms. It started out, then it was the discussion potentially with Sycamore. So, it was 16 plus 6, 20 + 6, then we went to just 20. Then we now we're at 24. So we are still waiting for an updated information from the architect as it relates to a 24 classroom building because it's not just classrooms being added. When you have four more classrooms, that's additional support space that is needed for those additional students. So that information is being previewed
021by administration to ensure that we do have the space allocation proper properly um divided so that we can get a proper quote to all of you which is planned for the if all goes as planned but for the December meeting we will have more accurate budget numbers as it relates to a 24 classroom ELC. >> Okay. >> Along with a timeline >> and the timeline. Yes. All of that. >> All right. Nothing further. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> All right. Do I have a motion? >> So moved. Second. >> Jackie, roll call. >> Myers, >> yes. >> Jose, >> yes. >> Boys, >> yes. >> Mark Sherba, >> yes. >> Bailey, >> yes. >> Nick Gwood, >> yes. >> All right. [applause] >> All right. And now, if there's people who do not wish
022to sit through the rest of the board meeting, you are more than welcome to leave at this time. You're also more than welcome to go out and, you know, talk in the the you know, just keep it quiet. But [laughter] >> but >> we're not ready to stop. >> We'll move. >> Make sure >> on to item B, resolution to amend the 2023 debt certificate resolution to allow the purchase of the Mitchell Elementary School real estate. This is an action item. It is recommended the board of education approve this resolution as presented. Do I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Jackie, roll call. >> Jose, >> yes. >> Boy, >> yes. >> Mark Shervad, >> yes. >> Christine Bailey, >> yes. >> Nick Edwood, >> yes. >> Steve Buyers, >> yes. >> Item C,
023approval of SVP COPS grant contract with Department of Justice, DOJ. It is recommended the board approve the grant contract and match funding for the school violence prevention program, SVP grant. This is an action item. Do I have a motion? >> So moved. Second, >> Jackie. Roll call. >> Christopher Boyce. >> Yes. >> Mark, >> yes. >> Kristen Bailey, >> yes. Nick Atwood, >> yes. >> Buyers, >> Yes. Item D, Kishwwaukee College agreement for making the connection. Illinois cooperative work study program. Cooperative work study program. This is an action item. It is recommended the board of education approve the partnership agreement with Kishwwaukee College for the grant-f funded Illinois cooperative work study program. Do I have a motion? >> So move. >> Second. >> Jackie. Roll call. >> Mark, >> yes. >> Mr. Bailey, >> yes.
024>> Buyers, >> yes. >> Mr. Boyce, >> yes. Now moving into new business. Item A, student discipline number 110425. This is an action item. It is recommended the board of education approve the expulsion and abance for student 11425 as presented. Do I have a motion? >> So move. >> Second. >> Jackie. Roll call. >> Bailey. Yes. >> Nick Atwood. >> Yes. >> Steve Buyers. >> Yes. >> Jose. >> Yes. >> Christopher Boy. >> Yes. >> Mark Sherbet. >> Yes. >> Item B, DHS CRMS HMS Midwestern Region Corell Conference student travel request. This is information and action due to the timing of the conference. This is presented to us by principal Dr. Donna Larson. >> Great. Thank you and good evening. Thanks for prefacing that. I also have Dr. Shaw here who is proud principal at
025Hunley Middle School. Um, this is encompassing the excitement with students from the middle school as well as the high school. We have 27 DHS students and seven middle school students. Uh, Mr. Boyer couldn't be here this evening. Um, this is actually our largest group that made it this far in history, so that was really exciting. Um, they will be attending the Midwest Regional um, American Choir Director or Coral Directors Association conference. Um this was or this is uh students that auditioned from 10 different states. Um 70% of our students that auditioned made it. So that was really exciting. So thank you for making thisformational an action item. Um the fiscal impact that is where the pending is is occurring right here especially with all the schools involved. Um there's it's $150 per student which will
026be taken out of our D428 music accounts. $30 per day per student for meals. Um we're going to look at activity accounts for that from DHS and then $125 per student for hotels. So DHS music um the music boosters will be covering that piece. >> Any questions? >> Just to I [clears throat] guess clarify real quickly when you say $30 per day per student. >> Ramen noodles. >> So yeah, I mean are we expecting [laughter] >> they love ramen? >> Seems like a very low >> they love pizza. Some of the things Yeah. and some of the conference will cover different snacks and breakfast and things like that. So, we won't let anybody go hungry ever. >> When When did they qualify for it? >> This just took place. Uh maybe within the last month
027or so. >> Okay. And then we need to >> So that we can book the rooms and things like that. So, we just Yeah, we just found out. Um I think it was That's why everything says pending as well. We wanted to make it happen, but yeah, we got to get the books or get it together. Yeah, get it booked, not the books. >> Any questions? >> All right, >> hearing other questions. It is recommended the board of education approve this request for the DHS CRMS HMS students to attend the Midwestern Regional Corral Conference February 25th through the 28th, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Do I have a motion? >> So move. >> Second. >> Jackie, roll call, please. >> Kristen Bailey, >> yes. >> Gwood, yes. >> Steve Buyers, yes. >> Jose, >> yes. >>
028Christopher Boy, >> yes. >> Shut. >> Yes. And item C, Illinois State Board of Education maintenance grant application fiscal year 26 presented to us by director of facilities and safety operations Tammy Carson. >> Thank you. Uh we are just asking uh for approval to apply for the school maintenance grant that is available to us in the amount of $50,000 matching funds. We have been awarded this grant at least five years and the project we would tie this to upon approval of the bid results and February when I bring them forth would be the founders toilet room renovation project that we are looking to complete next summer. >> Any questions? >> All right. I have a question. Yes. >> And I hesitant to bring it up. Go ahead. But [laughter] um we'll probably have an answer
029about the grade centers before this actually goes. So that it's just to get the money because we know we have to do something, right? Either leave it the way it is, but update it or change it, right? >> Regardless of the grade centers, the toilet rooms that I'm proposing that need renovations will still need to be done. Okay? And they will be renovated a level whether this is a K5 or a 56, they will still be able to be utilized by those students. >> Absolutely. >> Thank you. >> All right. So, this is an information item. Do we have consensus to bring this back? >> Yes. Yes. >> All right. Item D, differential committee recommendations. This is an information item presented to us by director of human resources, Dietra Salis. >> Good evening. We had
030a differential committee meeting and out of that meeting um these are the recommendations that are being brought forward. We have a number of positions that we are looking to [laughter] take from discretionary and uh bring to the board for approval. Discretionary are funds that are allocated to the buildings and the building fund those um those uh extracurricular activities after they have run for at least a period of two years and have proven successful. We then bring it for board approval so that it comes off of the school's comes out of comes off of the school's budget and becomes part of the board budget so the school has more room available to bring on new types of extracurricular activities. We have um sports that have proven successful in one season and looking to expand into another
031season that is for winter sideline cheer. And then we have some that um we are seeking to adjust the number of coaches due to enrollment and or adjusting the pay based off of the amount of time commitment that it takes. The total cost is 29,750.39. Any questions? The discretionary are also listed there for you. That's information only. That's not for board approval. um for girls on the run. Yes. So that is an outside organization. Correct. >> It is sponsored by outside organization [clears throat] but we have coaches that are from within. So, does that organization reimburse the district for the cost? Cuz I guess when I was in Interact Club or if there's a Key Club or if there's any of those, Rotary, Kowanis, Lions, whoever is footing the bill for the fact that we
032have to pay someone to sponsor those organizations, >> not Girls on the Run. >> So, I guess do obviously it's here. So, we feel it is a valid thing that we should do to support our students. >> It is very successful at the buildings. um over the years it has increased um participation um as well as just the interest. So >> I'm a little unfamiliar with I know what Girls Under Run does and but what does the organization give to the coaches that would require us to be part of their organization other than the name? >> Well, it is the name. Um, but also um, curriculum is not the right word, but um, >> training plans. >> I'm sorry. >> Training plans or >> Programming. Yes. >> Is a good word for it. >> What's
033that? >> Curriculum is a good word for it. >> There's lots of plans. It's a whole book. It's a >> Okay. >> Even more. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Yes. >> Other questions. >> Hearing no other questions. Do we have consensus to bring this back? >> Yes. Yes. Thank you. >> Thank you. Moving on to item E, ELDC and grade centers reconfigurations resolution. This is an information item presented to us by Arir Doa, director of business and finance. Uh so we're bringing forward a resolution uh to the ALDC and great centers u reconfiguration. So when when receiving the consensus to move forward with a new building for the early childhood without the need to go into a referendum, we wanted to also authorize the construction of this, put it into writing, basically formalizing it,
034the new 24 classroom early learning uh center and related improvements to great reconfiguration to existing buildings. This is all part of the vision uh 428. Uh this initiative directly addresses the growing needs for our youngest learners uh but also continues to reduce class size and open up more classroom space at the middle school level. Um so we're ask we're providing the board a formal resolution to determine this outcome [clears throat] and uh we will be uh we'll be bringing forward uh more information on planning designing financials and programmatic changes uh on grid configuration as well. So, any questions? >> I guess I'm just going to follow up real quickly because I just want to make sure I'm feeling like reading this now. I misspoke earlier in the board meeting. Okay. >> So, the construction of
035ELDC >> is tied in with this reconfiguration based on how I'm reading this. So, I did misspeak >> when I said that they were separate then. Correct. >> Correct. >> The financial was a different resolution. >> So, I guess I'm just going to be straightforward. I do agree with what they're saying. I don't know that those should be bundled together. I'm still in full support of both of them to be clear, but I don't know that it makes sense that they're the the same thing. We can build an ELDC without doing the rest. So um we just for clarification [applause] purpose is that the vision for 428 includes the expansion of the district so that it encompasses our youngest children all the way through to our secondary students that need the additional space. So vision
036428 is about what that whole facility and programmatic looks. So, it's it's the plan that we're putting into place, how we break that down depending on what funding we have available and then how it will then be uh scaffolded into into being as well as how it will be paid will be separate. So, one isn't contingent upon the other, right? But the the plan, the grand plan is the vision of it is to make sure that at some point over the next few years that this is the opportunity that we get to be able to do that expansion so that we can lower class size at the at the middle school and and as part of that could be a five, six, seven, eight grade B grade centers. So, so again to go to go
037back what Chris said earlier in the meeting is that the what we passed earlier today was to fund the building of a new ELC that's done and now air is bringing us proposal to say that along with building the EL we would like to do these other things as well and we want to do the research to figure out how to do it what it's going to look like >> absolutely >> hopefully take public comment and public concerns into play and all of that stuff, but whatever happens with with how we vote on this next in two weeks, the ELDC decisions done. >> Right. >> Okay. >> So, so I just I want to make sure that we're all on the same understanding. Yes. So, everybody just feel comfortable making sure that I'm going through
038this appropriately. The purpose of the funding is initially for ELDC. However, funding for additional changes into the HMS into everything else is also along using the same funding style that we would like to be able to do. If we are successful in being able to fund ELDC and the changes and and making sure that building is whole, then we would like to continue that same process to be able to build out the rest of the plan. Now, that's not to say we're we have decided what that looks like. That just says that we would like permission, bless you, permission to be able to move forward to be able to plan that, right? because we are still very very early on in just understanding that if we do not get a an approval to allow us
039to move forward, we can't um bring together architects and construction managers to talk to us about it because there are fees associated with that. We want to make sure that we're giving the opportunity to be able to build out that plan, be able to show what that looks like and bring it back before the board. And and the plan is is that we would be able to, as Tammy mentioned earlier, take a look at what the um architect brings forth with cost and a time frame for all of those things as a part of envision 428 so that we can do that and plan for it in the future. >> Is there any possibility we can decouple the two rather than >> so that public can have more input on the new plan? [applause] was
040talking to a neighbor the other day. They just heard about this and they're like, "What's going on with the schools?" And I had to kind of explain. They're like, "We didn't know anything about this." I think people should be given more time to uh partake in the process. >> Okay. So, I wasn't ready for that to be honest with you. Right. So, I'm I'm not saying I'm not saying no, that isn't a possibility. I just don't know what that looks like right now. Right. So, I think we I need some opportunity to be able to figure out what that looks like and be able to bring it back to the board, right, for for discussion or for information so we can move forward, right? But just for clarity, what are we what are we asking
041for here just so that tonight what the work that needs to be done tonight gets done around ELDC? So um yeah this includes uh increasing classroom space and building the ELDC without referendum. So it is more of an extension of the consensus that happened uh last board meeting and just to add more to manervas uh we do need to have a clear plan and pathway uh what we want to see so that we can also save money in during that planning and uh so by seeing what's going to happen in two or three years time this is not we're not looking for a great configuration the next school year and so forth right but this clear path pathway opens up what uh exactly is the design process, what where is the money going and how
042it's being planned. So, it is a long-term strategic planning. >> Mhm. >> So, just so that I can I guess clarify or try to clarify to the board what I'm understanding is they're not dead set this is how reconfiguration's going to go. what they need right now and not right now but in two weeks is if they're going to do reconfiguration it will cost a lot of money before they can even look into how much money that will cost they need Dr. Garcia Sanchez and all the directors need permission from the board to even entertain the idea. So, it's >> I think this is more of a preliminary, hey, do we have permission to look into these options and see what bids might look like to see what >> the cost would be to have
043an architect give us an assessment >> to give the the community an option to be able to be a part of what that might look like so that we can talk, >> you know, those things so that we're opening it up. Right now we're not we don't we don't have that but we could have that moving forward but at this moment we don't have that permission to be able to do that. So let me ask you a question Armir based on how the resolution is now. If we decoupled ELC and the grade center reconfiguration and we made them their own agenda items, does it impact your timeline to do ELDC? And I guess this is for Tammy as well because she has to figure out the buildings. Like can you plan for reconfiguring Huntley and
044the ELDC without at this exact and not even saying this exact moment but if one were to pass and the other half were to fail would that impact your ability to build ELC? I still to be clear fully plan to support both. But does it impact one >> to cut them apart? The only thing that is cut apart from the ELDC is what needs to be done at Huntley, which was talked about earlier by ELC vacating Huntley. These small spaces between the classrooms that are currently mini bar bathrooms have to be renovated to be offices or storage. There's also small bathrooms at the end of the hallway that need to be renovated for older kids to be bathrooms for older kids. Those are the things that have to be done. The rest of it is
045really in planning for the great centers. So short answer, no. They are not specifically tied together. It is all part of the fiveyear or not fivey year, excuse me, that's my normal term, the long-term plan and the entire forecast of what we're looking to do in the district. So then I would at this point based on that answer seek consensus from the board to split ELDC and grade center reconfiguration into two different items that we can then consider and look at at the next board meeting. >> Can I can I >> Yes. If so, it sounds like they're saying that if we don't separate them, we run the risk of not getting accurate quotes or or something like that for the building or something. There will be something different with the quotes. Is there a
046possibility of keeping them together but somehow ensuring that there is a whole process in place once Huntley is taken care of where we are soliciting community input getting plans together like that there's a lot more >> I guess I will answer first for you real quick if that's okay >> you are you are on this board's on this board we are all on this None of these individuals in this room get to do anything on that project without at least four of the seven of us agreeing to it. So they're they can't not do the community conversations and do the things required because that's something even previous boards before you guys got on expected with Mitchell we expected with ELC are now expecting with the superintendent search. So I mean that's just that's not the
047culture and climate that this administrative team has ever had when they do a project. they are always looking to bring members in. Now I think what happened is because they had to get permission to look into it, they had to bring it to us first. So then obviously it did look like, oh my gosh, they just sidelined us outside of the entire process where I think it's similar to when we went and had the conversation with Sycamore about ELC. That was not our attempt to kick you guys out of the conversation. We just had to factf find so we knew which way to pivot. >> This is again just where a committee came up with a plan. They brought it to the board to say, "Hey, can we look into this plan?" So, nothing is
048dead set. We're We're not voting to make reconfiguration happen next meeting. We're voting to allow the administration to look into options to then bring you guys in as the community to decide, debate, and figure out what we can do to holistically help our students. >> And there are risks to decoupling. >> Correct. >> I mean, the risk is that we could vote one down and vote the other up. But besides that, I mean >> that's the only risk I guess I as far as I'm make sure I was understanding from our >> yeah in a on a financial uh standpoint uh if we let's say you decouple this and then we move forward with a regular HMS without the programming of a grade seven eight but the program of five and six and then eventually
049two years down the road or three years down the road you change the mind to become a great reconfiguration then we've lost money and we've lost planning and design and architect. So that's why having this blueprint [clears throat] um will help argument. >> Okay. >> So public comment is done. You're not allowed to speak anymore. Thank you. >> Amir. >> No, you're not. And you can be removed if you continue to do outburst. So, barring is it a problem for you to put put this in two different documents, two different agenda items for next next meeting so that I I understand what you're talking about in here, but it looks like at least some of the public and some of the board members don't. Can you put it in two different things >> or can
050we amend >> we amend it now? >> Amend it now. So, we at least get the ELC portion done. Yes. Well, this is just either way HMS portion >> it's just information either way, >> right? That's Yeah. >> So, can we amend it and then we can act on it next? >> So, when you bring it back for action, your amendment will be on there. They'll read the correct one. So, you don't have to amend it here. They'll amend it on action. >> Gotcha. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> So, do we have consensus to bring this back with the amendment that is just for ELC and Huntley Middle School renovations? >> Yes. >> Thank you. Well, no, no, no, no. So, Huntley still has to happen. It's >> founders and >> but yet I
051was requesting to be still include vision 428, but it's its own [clears throat] separate item. So, because they need they need permission to get the committees together, have the different meetings with with the with us, with the communities, with >> So, we're seeking consensus to split though. They but they >> because we're just talking about allocating funds so that they can look at this holistically and plan for what does ELDC look like and what does Huntley look like if we're going to go one way and keep Huntley in its current configuration versus if we're going to explore uh the grade center approach like what what how would that change the process? So, I think we're opening up funds to allow them to pay the architects and whoever to have these two separate options that then
052we can start discussing and including for a community conversation. Here's what we're facing. Yes. >> Here's what's happening, right? >> Yeah. We're in agreement on that. Okay. But the the second item I'm talking about is that last part you just said is just to to even have initial conversations about it needs to be put in front of us because there will be money spent to do that. So if we don't include it next next meeting and we're not clearing >> people in the back row to start those conversations to see, hey, how do we actually do it? It was great, you know, they spent lots of time, nothing taken away from the uh the team back there, but it was great to have the the document given to us saying here's an idea, but to
053actually put more time and effort into that idea, we need to clear them to do it. And [clears throat] that would be a separate agenda item next meeting so that we can at least say, "Hey, here's permission to go do some research." >> I think part of it too is I think we need to look at the the wording with the grade center reconfiguration just so that it it very clearly states that like, you know, we're we're authorizing permission to look into it. We're not approving the reconfiguration. I I think it's important that we we make that clear. I know that was your guys's intent, but just so that you know, when all of our parents from founders take a look at the next board meeting's minutes and everything when it gets posted on Friday,
054they they know that's what it is. >> So, do I have Thank you. Thank you. Anyway, um so do we have consensus to split ELDC and grade center reconfiguration into two agenda items? >> Yes. >> All right. Yes. >> And then do I have consensus to bring both of those back for next meeting? >> Yes. >> Does anyone have any other final comments, questions before we move on to item F. Hearing no other comments, questions, concerns? This next item is probably going to be some really fun conversation. So, I'm just letting you guys know if you would like to go home and get ready for bed, now is my time again to let you know you can. hang out. [laughter] >> All right. >> Thank you. We love We love having >> you guys. [laughter]
055>> All right. Looks like everyone wants to stick around. So, we'll move into item F. Oh, okay. Good. They don't. They don't. >> I would also like to >> Oh, yes. Sorry. study. >> Exactly. >> As discussed, there's not a lot of time between now and finals. Go home and take care of yourself. >> Okay, great. Have a great day. >> She carries around like as big as she is. >> It's bigger than her. All right, we'll move into item F, budget discussions. This was submitted by board member Mark Sherbot. So Mark, I will let you kind of go into what you'd like to discuss. >> All right. When it comes to the budget, you know, I think it's important for district 428 to be 100% transparent. Transparent is a word I use all the
056time. Um, when it comes to the budget and the upcoming tax levy discussions this board is going to have here in a couple of weeks, when we passed the budget, this board did not, in my opinion, have all the necessary data to make a 100% informed decision on the budget. That's the reason why I voted no. I wasn't questioning necessarily the individual expenditures or line items. I simply did not have the individual expenditures or line items that I needed to know the dollar figures for. Now, there was some criticism from staff that I was requesting budget information, namely the chart of accounts and budget uh department budget requests. I have no regret because I firmly believe that all budgetary matters are a matter of public record and should be easily accessible to the public. Now,
057I'm happy to say that attached to tonight's agenda, the public can now see at least a portion of what went into the budget that was passed by this board, albeit after the fact. You can see last year's requests compared to this year's requests. You can see which numbers have increased and a few numbers have actually decreased on line items. My initial observation is that each of the schools in our district, the principles and assistant principles submitted budgets that are pretty much appear to be in line with last year's budget. I'm quite happy to see that. However, there are some huge line item increases in some of the department budgets like student family services, security, superintendent office, teaching and learning, technology, buildings and grounds, and as and athletics that I still need to get answers to.
058I'm not going to burden the board with each line item by any means, but I encourage each board member to look at the department budgets that were finally made available to the board and the public at my request. So, thank you to the staff for providing this so the public can see it. Now, now, let me state specifically, I'm not trying to put the kaibos on any budget increases, but I will be seeking out clarification as to the reason why some of these line items are increasing sometimes three, four times last year's level. The funding sources for these line items, whether it be grants or property tax dollars, I want to get some clarification on. I just want to get answers. So, I will put my questions in an email to staff and maybe even
059set up a meeting with Armir to go over these line items. Also, what's not specified in these budgets is future staff positions. How much more is going how much more things are going to cost the district uh in terms of staffing. I've had constituents that when they heard about the initial plans for the property tax levy telling me, "How many more people is the district hiring?" I don't have an answer to that. How [clears throat] much are my taxes going to go up because of it regarding new staff positions? I know in the past the board has not been made aware of future staffing requests until March, but I would like to see if there's a possibility that the board could get an estimate of new staffing and related new I'm talking about new staffing
060specifically, not staffing we already had prior to the tax levy discussion we're going to have here in a couple of weeks and we'll pass in the first uh week of December, second week. Now, the reason I bring up the budget is because it's directly related to the tax levy that this board will be approving in December and discussing at our next meeting. Now, I've been informed that district administration is seeking to keep the property tax rate the same. Words are important here. While that may sound good, it's very important for residents to understand that keeping the tax rate the same when you have an EAV adjustment of 9.51% for just about every property in the city of Decal. This will represent a 10.7% increase in tax dollars paid to the vast majority of residents that
061live in Decal, specifically in Dalb Township. Multipliers are based on what township you live in. For those who live in Malta, it's going to be even more than that. You will see a 13% hike based on the proposal that one of the proposals we're looking at. My house alone, that will represent an increase to the district line item alone of $370 approximately. For comparison, the CPI is 2.9% according to documents provided to the board. Now, what upset me is that what upset me specifically is that this board has been told by administration that the plan for the tax levy that we're going to present here in a couple weeks will not be including a plan to hold the taxpayer harmless. That means your taxes would not go up. At the last board meeting, I requested
062that the board be presented with at least an option that we consider a tax levy that would hold the taxpayer harmless for consideration. Usually around December, you get four or five different scenarios, usually about four with different levy options. But I want to make sure that administration does provide this board with at least an option that the board can consider to hold the taxpayer harmless. Understandably, I know there's there's um a lot of issues when it comes to the uh cost increases the district has seen, but it's hard for me to get beyond a CPI that is 2.9% while increasing taxes on our residents at 10.7%. So, that I'm just going to make that clear when it comes to the budget going forward. I'm looking forward to maybe having those options presented to the board.
063In addition to that, I realize if we do go with a hold the taxpayer harmless option that certain budget cuts may have to be made. I would like to see those presented as options as well. And I'd like administration to look at that specifically and have each department head perhaps look at that present that to the board as well. Every budget there's always some sort of fat in the budget. one. I mean, you you look at your own budget at home, you're like, "We can cut that. We can cut this." Maybe you don't want to cut this. There are some areas we could probably cut. I would like administration to look at that. Department heads to look at that and at least provide our residents with an option to hold the taxpayer harmless. Remember, the
064property tax bill that you get from the district or at least from the the big property tax bill, 60% of what you pay goes to this school district. So, when you're talking a 10.7% increase, that's a hefty amount. I don't know about you, but if you've renewed your insurance lately, you've seen those your your premiums skyrocket. You're having double-digit cost increases for your health insurance, your homeowners insurance, car insurance. I don't think this district should be piling it on if at all possible. That's that's what I have to say. Um, in looking at what Mark put into the into this agenda item, the meritorious budget award and the budget manual, I'll talk about information that I also asked for before we voted on the budget and I didn't get it and I still haven't gotten
065it, but Mark's done the work for me so I don't have to worry about it. But when when the bud when everyone in the back row builds a budget, they don't just grab it out of thin air. They have all those documents here. So I I'm a little confused why it wasn't presented to us along with their budget so we can look at it and understand why they're asking for money. They everybody needs money. I mean, you got none no none of us can operate our operations without money. But just so we can understand and sometimes we can debate it. Sometimes we can use it to defend it because as you notice there are people in our community that come up and say hey why why are you doing these things and we'd like to
066be able to defend them. So is the merit we only have 2021 here. Is there a document for 2425 or yeah 2425 that we can look at? We do have the budget uh at least air provided us with the budget uh as far as the department requests 2425 and then 2526 so you can see the increases. That's that's the longer one. This was just populated today. So I'd like the community to look at this so you can see how each department has changed. >> But you've received that. It's it's >> I think what JJ is asking is if the just the budget awards specifically because we have been awarded financial awards every year since I've been on the board. So he just wants to know cuz that's the 20 to 2021 one that did we
067get one for 21 to two 20 to three like >> no we have one >> you can answer it please but yeah you do have to answer at the mic. you know the rules. >> So that was a um a one time uh where we did complete a budget book. Uh it is >> 17 pages. Uh it was done one year and um CSBOs have changed since then. So, but it is definitely my plan to kind of update it uh for the next budget. >> Thank you. >> So, I think there's a lot to unpack with that. And the one thing that does concern me like obviously is as board members like we have a duty to the students and we also have a duty to the taxpayers we represent. So, like we have to
068be very cautious about what we're going to levy. But it's it's more nuanced than just, you know, oh, we're increasing by 11%. like there is an effect that the the taxes will go up, but that's also in part because people's home values go up. And that's not a number that we designate. That's a number that gets done by the assessor. And so we've held our rate flat. And for I think six six straight years, the district lowered its levy. And so there's an effect when you lower the levy like that, we've now gone into a lower tier as far as state funding is concerned because we're we're effectively under levying. We could take more, but we haven't. And because we've done that, we've actually lost access to other state funds. And part of what I
069think the district has done very well strategically over the years is position themselves to take a a maximum advantage of state funds and federal funds that are available to us. And we so we have to be cautious when we're looking at this levy. What are we taking and how what's the long-term effect? Because we could try to hold the taxpayer harmless, right? But what happens historically when the district has done that? when the district has lowered its levy, the park district has raised theirs or Kishwalki has raised theirs, you you have the other taxing bodies that if they see one other body lowering a levy, they're going to try to jump in and get it. So like it effectively, you're asking us subsidize all the other taxing bodies by lowering our levy to such a
070degree that we we leave so much money on the table that it then affects the services that we're providing. And one of the things that's unique about the school district versus these other taxing bodies, these services we are mandated to provide by the state of Illinois, by federal law for students with IEP. So if you see uh students that might have individual nurses that the district has, we have to pay for all that. It's not as simple as, well, we just won't asphalt the road this year if we're the city, for example. So we have to take this into account for long-term planning. If we underlevy and underlevy and underlevy because we want to give taxpayers $100 a year in relief or something like that when their home is worth $100,000 more than it was
071a few years ago. What is the benefit to the students that were tasked with educating by doing that? because I just don't feel that we could underlevy enough that anyone would have a substantial impact from that because it'll get taken by one of the other taxing bodies. And overall, you still have to think about the reason that they're paying more is because their house is worth more. And we've done our part to try to provide some form of relief. You know, as new developments have come on the south side, the district has gone back and asked for less and less. It wasn't that long ago when the first referendum for the high school got passed in 2008 and [clears throat] the district borrowed $108 million to fund that. Then the recession hit. The bottom dropped
072out of the economy. EAVs were reduced significantly. Homes got foreclosed on and the local tax base eroded right after we took on this massive debt payment. And so for year after year after year, the district had to go back and increase their take just to cover basic expenses. there was no setting aside of funds and things like that for investment in things like the ELDC which went by the wayside because that was part of the original referendum. So we have to take a very long-term approach to making sure that we have funds available because if we under levy year after year after year and then something happens we have to go back to the taxpayer five years or six years in a row and up that levy and take the most we can get and
073their budgets have already adjusted to this lower rate. So, like we're I feel like we're doing our best to keep this reasonable. And when and when the district could provide relief without sacrificing services, they did that year after year. And and I just feel like this year, you know, inflation is high. I know the CPI is 2.9 or whatever, but I mean, our insurance rates went up 40%. It was $6 million. I mean, that's a significant sum that's coming out of operating budgets and things like that. Like I I want to give taxpayers as much relief as we can possibly give them, but we have to do it in a very targeted manner so that like as new as new properties come online in the Ezone and and we're getting new revenue, then we can
074start talking is this a year that we can responsibly lower that levy because, you know, we've been able to replace funds from these other sources. So, I think I agree with the concept of as much relief as possible, but like I don't foresee a world where we can ever hold them truly harmless because we'll just cut and someone else will just take that piece of the pie. You know what I mean? >> Well, the years we've held the levy, I'm sorry, the uh uh taxpayer harmless. The district did not have a lower levy. They collected more money still in those years. Well, the the growth, not the rate, >> significantly a lot of money in those years that we held the taxpayer harmless. >> Want to correct you on that. >> So, by what you're
075saying would hold the taxpayer harmless, you're saying that my top my property tax bill, say next year, >> right, >> would be the same as it was this year >> for the district for the district line item. We can't control what the city does. They've already announced. I understand that, but but you're even admitting that it's it's costing us as a district 2.6 or whatever percent more to operate. >> So, holding it, we're actually you're suggesting we're going to try to lose money. >> No, the district if you hold the taxpayer harmless based on I I haven't seen the exact final numbers yet. They're going to be presented here in a few weeks. But I want an option that does hold the taxpayer harmless where you pay the same amount. The district in the past
076when we've done this has collected more money every single year we've done that significantly a lot more money. They could have given us better tax breaks. You know, I I was standing out there in front of that microphone a couple years ago pointing this exact same situation out where they could have actually given the taxpayer more relief those years, but it decided not to do so. I'm not understanding how the math maths, but we can talk about it later. >> Well, that's why I'm what I'm basically asking is an option. Now, the board could reject it, but I want to at least have that option presented to the board with scenarios. And the other option I was going to suggest is one that increases the dollars paid by residents at the CPI level 2.9%. So,
077that matches what CPI is. So, >> so then I will at this point hearing Mark's request We'll make them two separate things. We'll start with the first one and just go down the line. Do we have consensus to have an option presented to us at the next board meeting or whenever Armier is bringing it to us to have an option that holds the taxpayer harmless >> as a consideration for the board to decide among the other options as well? >> Just it's that little table you made us last year. It's just that's one of the columns is what we're >> assuming you're yes >> sure. >> Yes. >> Okay. Second one. Do we want to see a column that is an option that keeps it just at an increase of CPI? >> Yes. >> Wouldn't
078that raise the levy if we're go that would increase it from where we're currently considering doing it? Right. >> It would be commensurate. You see 2.9% more on your tax line item dollar. >> So you're talking about not our actual levy rate but >> No, I'm talking about what what every homeowner business owner would pay. >> I think he's meaning increase the levy by 2.9%. Right. >> No, the amount of the average I'm talking about the homeowner. I always want to keep the homeowner in mind because we talk about rates and that kind of stuff. People look at the line item that they're paying that would increase. >> Okay. So, like if I had a $100 bill, I would see a $102.90. Okay. So, he's just wanting to see it increase >> what it looks
079like for an average homeowner. Is that what you're asking? I'm not sure. I understand >> to lower the levy >> collective >> to where we go down. >> Oh, okay. based on not to zero. I see 2.9%. >> How much we would have to reduce to equ >> if I'm nervous about it, you know, he's going to >> So, um we uh we do not um assess each homeowner's tax bill. Uh we do not uh calculate the taxes even what we present in December. get gets changed in March uh because that's when the county will actually uh submit their final assessments, EAVs and all uh review boards uh items. Uh it's it'll be an impossible task to have seven townships with a variety of uh of their u EAV increase to get each tax bill
080to >> Well, that's understandable. But this year we actually are in a fortunate situation where all the townships as compared to previous years where you had like Aftton Township had a 1% multiplier. Decal Township had [clears throat] a 9% multip. They're all relatively close this year in terms of the multipliers from each of the townships. >> We don't determine the multipliers either. No, we don't the the Illinois Department of Revenue determines the multipliers and that is it. >> And and two years ago, we did try to do a weighted average because of we have seven townships with such a variety and some people in in the cal itself so an increase and the other part of town decrease. So it's just it would be an we cannot do that as a taxing body. we can
081only uh uh levy by the amount uh and then even the tax rate itself will be determined by the county in March. But so the a let's say the average among the seven townships would be a 2.9% increase for the taxpayer >> um the CPI level right >> so we can yeah so we can do what we mentioned like a levy of 2.9 we [clears throat] >> across just an approximate I'm not expecting exacts and I know it's going to vary depending on what township you're in so Okay. Any further discussion. All right. Hearing no further discussion, we will move into the superintendent report by Dr. Garcia Sanchez. >> I feel like we're pretty overloaded with what we just heard. So, I'm going to be really brief. Um, first and foremost, thank you for coming
082out and thank you for being as supportive as you've been uh to the district and for all of your um um all of our discussions that we've had. Uh but more importantly, well definitely so just wanted to give you guys all a reminder all you you all at home and here uh we'll be having parent and teacher conferences coming up the week of Thanksgiving on Monday and Tuesday. I highly urge everyone to ensure you have set up your time to meet with your child's teacher. uh making sure that you're you've taken a look at their grades, you've taken a look at their behavior, you're taking a look at their attendance, and then having those good one-on-one conversations with the teachers. I know the teachers are all excited about having you guys there. They're preparing, and
083we would definitely like to see you all out in our buildings that week right before we have Thanksgiving to be able to give thanks for a really good reason because our kids are doing great in school. So, thank you all for coming out and I'm going to pass it back to the president. >> All right. Do I have a motion to adjourn the meeting? >> Real quick, do we get to what's coming up on Saturday? >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Just a reminder again, we do have our community listening session for our super intern search on Saturday. That will be at Mitchell Elementary School from 1 to 2:00. We are also planning to record it, so you guys will be able to watch it afterwards if you would like to. So >> if you want
084people to come so we can hear their thoughts. >> Yes, please come. >> And that is the purpose of the listening session is for us to listen to you. >> All righty. Do I have a motion to adjurnn? >> So move. >> Second. >> All those in favor say I. >> Meeting is adjourned. >> Thank you everybody.