001I'm so excited. Wow. I got a task taken off my docket tonight. Oh my goodness. All right, we need to get started cuz I got to know what the heck's going on. Yeah, all these kids. The March 16th, 2026 Board of Education meeting will now come to order and this evening the Pledge of Allegiance is going to be led by our guest, our students from Lincoln Elementary School. So, everyone would please rise. >> [clears throat] >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Well done. Oh, that's cute. Mrs. [snorts] Mock, roll call, please. Dr. Bruno. Here. >> [snorts] >> Mr. Ulbricht. Here. Mrs. Hill. Here. Ms. Becker. Here. Mrs.
002Ledaw. Here. Mr. Estes. Here. Dr. Martelli. Here. Ms. King. Here. Ms. Lindeman. Here. Mr. Murray. Here. Everybody's here. Now we're going to find out what's going on. We've got a few celebrations. And Dr. McHugh, you're up. Okay. We have two celebrations. The first celebration is an adult and it's somebody who our Lincoln friends don't know yet, but maybe in a few years at Hadley you will find out who this gentleman is. Every year the Glen Ellyn Chamber of Commerce has an award for the District 41 Educator of the Year. Anybody throughout the whole district is eligible for this. They are nominated by parents, students, staff members, and only one person gets it. And this year that person is here in the audience. We're going to have him come up in a minute, but he is
003our fine director of bands at Hadley Junior High, Mr. Chris Cooper. Come on down. >> [applause] >> Uh thank you so much. Um it's been an absolute um honor um being named the Educator of the Year. Um it's not something that I ever expected um would happen and this past couple of weeks has just been an absolute whirlwind. Um I'm so fortunate to work in a district that supports the arts so much. Um I said this in my speech last week, but that's not normal um to have um just the incredible amount of support from the administration, from the community, um from you on the Board of Education. So, thank you so much. Um with all that support it makes my job really easy and I just get to do the fun part, which is
004just making music with kids all day. Um I'll I'll say it, I have the best job in the world. Um so, I'm truly honored and humbled by this and uh thank you so much. >> [applause] >> Oh well, first of all, Chris, congratulations. And it's always a joy to go to the school and to be part of all the musical performances that happen here, but other places, too. And I know all of the board members have participated. I'm just I just want to leave it open in case any board members have any thoughts. Yeah, Katie, I thought you might. Yeah. Mr. Cooper, I just want to say thank you for sending us the emails when the different events are coming up. Like it's so we can't always make it, [clears throat] but it's just so
005nice to hear and I love when people reach out and are like, "This is coming up." So, thank you and congratulations. >> you're thank you. Thank you. Anybody else? Yeah. Ted? You look like you were Well, you look like you were leaning. I'm not sure. >> You were you were leaning. Congratulations, Chris. Thank you. >> I um both of my kids went through the music programs here at D41 and I still try to make it over once in a while and I just >> [clears throat] >> it's not only so much fun to see the kids enjoying themselves and learning and stuff, but you're just you're leading the fun is is kind of cute to see, too. So, congratulations. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Ted. Yeah, Jay. Yeah, I think what I mean, yourself,
006I've seen I got it on this track. I've seen what you've done um in the classroom, at concerts, you know, at Wolves games, what have you. Um I think the passion that you bring transfers to the kids. And the enjoyment that you bring transfers to the kids and and vice versa. Um and it's more than just the music. It's, you know, the concerts where you get the kids in costumes and you're bringing kids from the community to trick or treat, what not. You make it more than playing an instrument. You make it fun. You make it a family. You just make it an experience for not just the students, for everyone in the community to to enjoy it. So, I think you guys are doing a great job. Congratulations to you. Congratulations to to the
007whole arts community here. Thank you. >> [clears throat] >> Anybody else? Uh well well, uh Chris, just maybe just two things. One, it seems to me that you the way you and your whole musical team and staff really approach it is that you see it as you see music as this universal language that really kind of touches the soul, it touches the heart, touches the mind, it it builds community >> [snorts] >> and it's a beautiful thing to be to be a part of. My only disappointment though tonight, just and you know what this is. Because at the dinner last at the >> [laughter] >> at the awards ceremony, I learned that you are quite the musician yourself and that the banjo is something you something did you know this? >> [laughter] >> No, what
008And could you play Bob off? That may be the incentive you need. >> [laughter] >> But yeah, you're quite the banjo player. Is that right? >> Yes, that's true. Yes. All right, have we heard banjo played at a You know, no, not yet. Okay. To be done. That's true. That's true. Maybe one day. Yeah, might have been at the choir concert. All right, another another time, right? Chris, thanks again and congratulations. >> Thank you. For our next recognition, I'm going to throw it to Brittany Smith, the proud principal of Lincoln. >> [applause] >> Good evening, everyone. My name is Brittany Smith. I am the proud principal at Lincoln Elementary School and I have brought eight second graders from Mrs. Madison's class. Um, when we started go ahead and line up you guys. When I got
009here today, I was talking to Dr. Bruno and he he said something and I said this is nothing that I deserve credit for. This is 100% second grade. I have done almost nothing but eat lunch with them and enjoy them getting this presentation together. So, it was great to see this happen during a time when we were having conversations about this exact thing. Um, as a committee committee of a whole reading what schools could be, we were talking about opportunities for students to have collaborative and problem-solving opportunities, very authentic learning that incorporate different content areas all on their own. Um, the opportunity for voice and choice is very much seen in what I'm about to present to you. It was very meaningful for them. So, during indoor recesses, because we know it got pretty cold,
010um, these eight second graders and a few others that couldn't be here tonight either due to illness or um, other scheduling issues worked with a couple of our fifth graders and they wrote scripts, they made um, their own costumes and they rehearsed their lines and actually presented their play to Mrs. Madison the first day back from her maternity leave. So, this was my goodness, a month at least I feel like. Even when they were outdoor recess, they had time where they were outside with fifth graders and they would practice all of the things. So, as we were reading this book and coming together to discuss it, I received this beautiful invitation. Mrs. Long was their maternity sub and so I received this invitation um, on my desk inviting me to see the play. I did
011not even know that they were planning all of these things. So, it was a surprise to me as well. So, we got together over the last week or so, had some lunch together, did some practicing, did some planning and what they have come up with is I'm going to introduce each of them to you and they're going to tell you what part they had in this giant project and you're going to hear a couple songs as well. So, the first person I'm going to introduce is my friend Sam who played Belle. Bonjour, my name is Sam. I made the invitations and helped deliver them. I also helped make the costumes out with paper, crayons and tape. My favorite part was singing my solo. >> [applause] >> So, beca So, because she was Belle, she had
012some pretty important lines and what we're going to do right now is if I can have all of my second graders maybe take a step up and make a line because Sam is going to take our microphone and she's going to start her solo and then the rest of us are going to sing with her. Little town, it's a quiet village everyday like the one before. Little town full little people waking up to say Bonjour. Bonjour. Bonjour. Bonjour. Bonjour. There goes the baker with his tray like always, the same old bread and rolls to sell. Every morning just the same since we all came to this poor provincial town. Good morning, Belle. >> Good morning, Monsieur. >> [applause] >> The next person I'm going to introduce is Young and he played the Beast. >> [cough]
013>> Hello, my name is Young. I helped make my own costume. My favorite part was performing our play for everyone. The next >> [applause] >> Next, we have Gaston who was played by Joey. Hello, my name is Joey. I practiced my lines with my fifth grade friends. My favorite part was working hard and having fun with my friends. >> [applause] >> Next was our enchanter and that was played by Lucy. Hi, my name is Lucy. I helped create the Beast costume. I also brought costume from home. My favorite part was working with friends to help put the whole play together. >> [applause] >> Gigi played a townsperson and Lumiere. Bonjour, my name is Gigi. I helped by making costumes and practicing lines with my friends. I love seeing everyone on stage and performing our play.
014>> [applause] >> George had a few important roles. He was a townsperson, Cogsworth and the assistant director for their play. Bonjour, my name is George. I helped to create the costumes for our play. My favorite part was being the assistant director and helping others. >> [applause] >> Next, I have Sawyer. She played the silly girl, Babette and the narrator and had the important role of being the play's director. Bonjour, my name is Sawyer. I created the invitations and helped deliver them. I made the props and costumes with other classmates. As the director, I helped my friends practice their lines. My favorite part of the whole process was working hard to make something of our own. >> [applause] >> Nora [applause] and Mabel are both sick tonight, unfortunately. Next, we have Tad who played the closet
015and a a townsperson. Hello, my name is Tad. I helped others practice their lines. My favorite part was singing in front of everyone. >> [applause] >> So, as Tad said, his favorite part was singing in front of everyone. Before we wrap up, we are going to do one more singing performance and Lumiere was the main start to this song. So, I'm going to give her the microphone. Brittany, before you start Yeah, um, we've got some parents, right? Who are trying to film but they're your kids are looking this way. I don't know whether this is proper protocol, but do you want to come up behind us so that you can film your kids? I don't know whether I I just violated some or stand in front of us right here if you like. I don't
016mean to make it uncomfortable for you. >> [clears throat] >> Yeah, no, put the parents behind us. I again, I don't know. Probably violated some school board rule. Don't turn us in. Okay, now go. Be our [screaming] guest, be our guest. Put our service to the test. Tie a napkin round your neck, cherie, and we'll wave the rest. We tell jokes and I do tricks with my fellow candlesticks and it's all in perfect paces, you can bet. Go on, lift your glass, you're on free pass to be our guest. Be our guest. Be our guest. >> [applause] >> Wonderful. Okay, now you got to go sit down or you got to vote and I don't think I can let you vote on anything. Second graders, awesome awesome job. We would have loved to put on
017the entire play for you, but I knew we had a time crunch, so we did shorten it down a little bit. But second graders, can you all take a bow because you are so brave and [applause] so creative. And I am so so proud of each and every one of you. Well, thank you all really for coming here tonight. This is after a whole day of school, right? And you still came here and you entertained us, but you also showed us how well you work together and you did this all on your own, right? No teacher, no adult. This was just you coming up with something that you wanted to do, right? Well, that was brilliant. Thank you very much and parents, well done. Thank you so much for spending the evening with us. All
018right, we'll let you go. >> [applause] >> We'll give everybody a minute to Unless you want to stay. >> [laughter] >> You're very very welcome. Yeah, yeah, there you go. Guy's insane. A banjo. This is a banjo. We're no kidding, man oh man. >> [laughter] >> Bagpipes, Ted. Bagpipes. He does. >> [laughter] >> That's how to That's how to do a celebration, I got to tell you. Before Before we get into our presentations, I do want to acknowledge at every one of our meetings for many many years, the League of Women Voters have assigned someone as an observer to District 41 and we have a new league member who happens to be a retired teacher at District 41, Ms. Christina Kellum. So, Christina, thank you for joining us. All right. All right. Presentations. Be our
019guest. Be our guest. Be our guest. Good luck here, [laughter] Chris. All right, well, I want to kick this over to Dr. Chris Webster, our Assistant Superintendent for Teaching, Learning and Accountability. Well, I'd have to come up after that. I don't know how I'll even be able I feel like I should start with bonjour. And I'm not going to sing. I will spare all of you the singing. So, I'll actually be speaking twice tonight. So, this is just informational and then there are some things I'm bringing up for first read later in the meeting. So, this will this will be brief just to kind of catch the board up on things that we've been working on this year in the TLA department and the different committees that we've had. I don't I'm sorry. So, the
020first part that I'll be speaking to you about tonight are curricular updates. The second piece that I'll be speaking to you about will be curricular resource recommendations. So, right now, these are just informational items. So, as you know, each year I meet with different departments regarding Thank you. Regarding curricular reviews. This year I kind of I took on a lot of the curricular reviews to make sure that everything was in good shape for Dr. Williams when she starts in July to make sure that everything was kind of taken care of, so she has the next year to to get to know people, build relationships and not have to worry about too many things. There's quite a few things that we we worked on this year with the teachers the teachers and I. So, I'm excited
021to share that work with you. Um So, there were three curricular updates science, music and PE. So, we did do a science curricular review. It was that time in the this curricular review phase for science. And just as a reminder, when we review curricular resources, it does not necessarily mean that we're going to purchase new resources. It just means that we look to see what we have and see if it's still the best for our students and meets our needs and if not, then we look for something that does. So, for science at Hadley, we did a pilot. We piloted two different resources um that used an open open source resource called OpenSciEd. And after piloting two different resources and then looking at our current resource, we decided the teachers recommended and decided that actually
022the resource that we currently have met their needs better than the ones that we piloted that were new. So, we will be staying with our current resource, which is STEMscopes in 6 through 8. What we're going to do though is take the time for professional development next year because it's their year for deep focus professional development and focus on inquiry based problem based learning. So, because they won't be learning new content, we're not changing the scope and sequence. It already meets our kids are very high performing in science already. We can now focus on the pedagogy, specifically the pedagogy of inquiry based teaching. So, that will be their focus next year for their professional development which is actually wonderful because our content is solid, so is our instruction. But this will really help us refocus
023on that really that pedagogical shift that came with NGSS almost a decade ago that we still do, but this is a good time for us to refocus on it because we won't have a new resource. So, they're very excited about that. So, that's what I we'll be doing for Hadley. And then for elementary, so just like we did with social studies, our new HMH resource has science and social studies embedded within in the curriculum, the science and social studies standards. So, just like we did with social studies, most of the core content for science is already embedded into HMH into their literacy block. Obviously, the hands-on component is not. So, and it's not there will be some areas where HMH maybe doesn't cover it as intentionally and deeply as we would like. So, we also
024use Mystery Science which we already currently use. So, what we're doing is we are taking Mystery Science and HMH and we have created a scope and sequence and pacing that uses those two resources together. Mystery Science is primarily for the hands-on, the experiment, kind of the fun part of science, right? The part we all like about science. So, we have both the content and the hands-on experience and that again, that is something we already have. We looked we did use have STEMscopes at elementary and just found that it did not work as well at elementary with STEMscopes and with the addition of HMH, didn't need it. So, we will be not using STEMscopes at elementary, focusing on Mystery Science and HMH. And the teachers are very excited about that because it really gives them a
025clear cohesive scope and sequence. In the schedule in HMH, when the focus is on social studies, we have an extra half an hour of the day dedicated to social studies. When the focus is on science, they have an extra half an hour in the day for the hands-on activities for science. This really does complete that cycle. So, they're very excited about that. Any questions about science? Okay. When I met with the music department, they were First of all, I wanted to let you know the music department was incredibly grateful to the district and to the board. They feel tremendously supported. They feel like I think Mr. Cooper alluded to it here as well that the focus that we have here on supporting our teachers and our departments is unlike a lot of other places. So,
026first and foremost, I want to express their gratitude to you through me to you for all that they have. They feel very well supported and didn't really feel like there was much that they needed. We did we were audited a couple of years ago by the DuPage ROE, so we know that all of our standards, all our scope and sequence already align. So, that part was already done. Their only ask is there is a music they felt like the the curriculum for grades 3 through 5 could be strengthened just a little bit and so they will be trialing next year something called Quaver Music. They had a free trial of it. They they liked the free trial, but they want to try it for a year to see if it is the one more thing
027to shore up their music curriculum. So, they're going to try that next year and then get back to us and let us know. But overall, they were happy happy happy and said thank you thank you thank you for everything that they have and all is going well. Any questions for music? Okay. PE was similar. PE also was did not really have anything curricularly that they needed. Their standards were aligned. They meet the state mandate. We just added the 5 days of PE, so they are also happy happy happy. So, again, I'm expressing their gratitude through me to you. They feel very supported and very happy. So, thank you for all you do. The elementary would like to get a bowling kit for shared use at elementary. There's a grant for that. They were going to
028try and do that this year, but the grant is closed until August. So, they currently rent bowling a bowling alley thing, I guess, every year from a bowling alley. So, by purchasing it, they would be able to save that money. There's a lot of questions we have to answer about that funding, storage, that type of thing. So, they'll look at that next year. They also asked for a Hadley gymnastics equipment refresh. Again, I spoke with Eric and Dave, but Eric Eric asked that they gather what a list of kind of what needed to be replaced and put prioritized what needs to be replaced. And then Eric and Dave and Steve will take a look and they can make a That's more capital improvement than it is really curricular. So, they will look at it and
029decide what the plan will be going forward for that. So, there's no recommendation for that currently, just a needs list that was that was created. Any Any questions about PE? And PE >> Did you just touch on something as like Kid J? My mom was a PE teacher back in the day. One of her favorite topics, whatever, was bowling, but she liked cross-curricular utilization of it and bringing the math to it and having the kids learn how to keep the score. And she liked how it kind of brought lots of topics together. She really I don't know what else she did taught in PE, but every time we would get to the bowling of my topic, I remember her being really excited about that. And every year she'd be talking about telling me all about
030it. It was one of her favorite topics as as a PE teacher there. >> a lot in all of our our specials really are our key not only just to developing whole humans, right? The academic plus the arts and PE. There's also a lot of academic things that happen in music, art, and PE. I mean, so they they are they are not fluffy. Those courses are not fluffy or they're not there just for plan time for somebody else. Those courses are are really crucial um and very important both to a child's academic growth as well as their social emotional growth and just again, their growth as a human, right? As we make some makes us different from robots, right? All of these these things. So, um so yeah. So, those are the updates I have
031from meeting with science, music, and PE. Stay tuned for the next part of my presentation. There's my There's my cliffhanger where we will talk about art, MTSS, and Hadley health. So, that's all I got. Any questions or uh or or comments? Um Thank you also, Chris, for the information you provided to the board ahead of time and answered some questions that that people had. You know, I did want to say it's it's not related to any of the specific decisions um about curriculum, but you you started by saying in the science uh discipline that there was a pilot and you ultimately determined what you had uh and at least from my professional experience, it's uncommon when pilots don't lead to some adoption. People feel like they've sunk cost into it and they're hesitant to not
032to to do it. So, often a pilot becomes the choice. And so, it's fairly uncommon when some when a group says, "You know what? What we've got is best." Um and the piloting helps you to see what you have. So, you're you're actually in a stronger position even though you're not changing anything, but you wouldn't know that Right. >> if you didn't have the courage to pilot and then saying no Mhm. to it. And these from a governance standpoint, I'm glad you could say no to a pilot. >> Absolutely. Yeah, so whenever I have uh curricular reviews, whenever I work with committees, I never bring something to a committee that I would not be comfortable with them recommending or adopting. I really do bring bring information to them, and I really do go with their
033decision. Like, we do the whole process, we get parent feedback, student teacher feedback, we try it, and then I say to the teachers, "Which one do you want?" And we go with what they want. Because anything I've brought to them would be something that as as the as a assistant superintendent for TLA, that I would feel comfortable with them adopting. So, I completely trust their judgment, and they base it honestly on um their experiences with kids and their the way that kids were engaged. They felt like kids were more engaged with what they currently do and that they were less engaged with this, and they wanted student engagement. So, I give kudos to them. To your point, kudos to them. Good. Okay. Then, we will Thank you, Chris. We'll see you later. Uh we'll move
034then to uh public participation. Members of the public who wish to address the board should complete a green form and submit it to Mrs. Moke, the board recording secretary. Speakers asked to maintain respectful decorum and limit their comments to 3 minutes or less. Uh please note that all meetings, including public comment, are live-streamed and recorded and become part of the official record. Mrs. Moke, is there anyone who wishes to make public comments this evening? Rebecca Taylor. Rebecca, thank you. Well, thank you. Hi. Uh my name is Rebecca Coleman Taylor, and I'm a Churchill and Hadley parent uh and the parent of a D41 graduate. I'm also a member of GE Unplugged, which is a community group focused on encouraging less and healthier use of technology and empowering kids to be more independent, responsible, and engaged
035in play. I wanted to speak tonight mainly to affirm the district's process in evaluating its use of educational technology. In particular, I'm very excited about the April Chromebook trial. Here's the added perk on top of the obvious things that I'm most looking forward to about this April trial. My third-grader generally loves to walk or bike to school. However, most days when she does so, one of the first things she says when she arrives home is, "My back hurts." or "My backpack is heavy." So, I'm really looking forward to this complaint being removed from the equation in deciding [laughter] whether kids walk or bike to school. And I'm looking forward to all elementary students having a lighter physical load as they wait for the bus, walk to or from cars, or walk or bike to school.
036I'm so impressed by this April trial period because I think it represents a real willingness in the district to try new strategies and see what works and to overcome obstacles when a change is important to make. One such obstacle is keeping Chromebooks charged if they don't come home. I very much support the district's purchase of charging stations for classrooms that I think will be discussed later in the agenda tonight. This will enable the April trial period for Chromebooks staying at school, but will also alleviate some teacher and parent stress uh whether or not Chromebooks end up staying at staying at school permanently. So, thank you for being willing to try out a new way of doing things. I do have one additional technology area that I encourage the district to consider sooner rather than later.
037I understand the district is first considering this low-hanging fruit related to educational technology changes and that evaluation of technology that's actually used in teaching will come later. However, I'd suggest that one other item be added to this low-hanging fruit list. The April trial period will cover no Chromebooks during indoor recess in K to 5 and during lunch in middle school, but it doesn't seem to include not using Chromebooks for downtime or rewards. I would encourage you to consider either adding that to the April trial or considering another later trial period for teachers in both elementary and middle school to avoid Chromebooks as a filler for downtime such as when a student finishes a task early or the whole class has a few minutes before a transition. And two, as an individual or class reward. So,
038avoiding those things. Just as the elementary schools are beefing up their classroom games and activities as they prepare for in the indoor recess trial, there could be an effort to brainstorm and share resources about alternative downtime and reward activities in lieu of Chromebook use. This potential change could have a big impact without without affecting actual teaching or learning. Again, thank you for your work on these technology issues in D41 and for being willing to learn and grow as a community. Thank you. >> Okay. Very good. Thank you. All right, we are going to turn to the superintendent's report, but we need to transfer that remote up this way. Okay. While Dr. Webster brings this up, I was looking at the date being March 16th and thank you, Chris. Looking outside doesn't feel like March 16th
039with all the snow and ice. Want to give a big shout-out Dave Scarmardo and his team for always keeping our our walkways cleared and with all the blowing snow, it presented a challenge, but we always appreciate our our B&G team. So, thanks, Dave. Okay, I've got six topics. I'm going to move through them quickly, but at the end, we can certainly go back for questions on any of these six topics. And only fitting that we're going to talk snow with e-learning and emergency days. One of the questions that I've gotten since arriving in District 41 is e-learning days versus emergency days. Now, just from a definition standpoint, an emergency day is a traditional snow day where school is canceled, there's no work that's needed, but you have to make that day up either at the
040very end of the school year or sometime later in the calendar year on a scheduled day off. An e-learning day does not need to be be made up. Instead, instruction is done at home and there's no additional days added, but as many people know, it is hard to replicate in an e-learning day what you would get in school. And the question posed to me is, "Dr. McHugh, have we considered doing snow days, just old school snow days for one or two times?" And to me, that's not a me recommendation, that's a we recommendation. So, we decided, "Let's survey the students, the staff, the community, and see what people feel about e-learning versus emergency days." And we do have surveys out right now. They are due Friday, March 27th. I think they went out last I'm
041looking at Erica. Just last week. And the responses are coming in, and it also allows some free response, and we are we are reading those comments as as as well. But having that data will better inform us about what do we want to do next year for e-learning and emergency days. April Chromebook trial. Um boy, Rebecca, I think you you set it you very nicely teed this up. Um for those of you who um are are have not been tracking this over the last maybe 6 months or so, we have been engaged in what are we doing around instructional technology really since we read The Anxious Generation last year. And this is where we landed for the trial. The reason we landed with the trial is because we heard a lot of feedback, and it
042was mixed. The student personal devices was much more one-sided. There are a lot of opinions about this. There's a lot of opinions about are Chromebooks really needed at home for homework? Are Chromebooks needed? Um do we need to bring them home in the event that there is an emergency day or an e-learning day that we need to have? And we thought the only way to know for sure is to try it and then get feedback. So, during the month of April, we will be again talking to students, to staff, to families to then help us decide we know we have May in there. We'll figure out what May means, but really looking ahead to next year. And one of the questions that I was asked is you're buying all these carts for grades 1 through
0435. Has a decision already been made? The answer is no. But the carts, worst case scenario, there will be a need to use those carts because I don't foresee every day, no matter what comes out of the trial, every single day those Chromebooks having to go home. How much they go home, if they have to go home at all, that will come out of the feedback, but we do believe that the carts will be a good investment for those classrooms grades 1 through 5. I think indoor recess for the most part all of our elementary schools are have not used them even before this trial. And then no Chromebooks at lunchtime for Hadley, we're going to we're going to see how that goes. We've talked about that as an advisory council and we're we're going
044to see. E-bikes and e-scooters is another pretty hot topic. There were a lot of issues right around specifically Hadley with e-bikes and e-scooters in the fall. We have talked to the village, to our surrounding districts, to the police department, and a new ordinance was passed in February essentially saying individuals under 16 years are not permitted to have e-bikes and e-scooters. And because all five of six of our buildings are in the village of Glen Ellyn, we are not going to permit these on property starting after spring break. So, there will be communication to students, to their families. The staff already knows, but after spring break we will no longer permit those. We want to hold true to the village ordinance on that one for e-bikes and e-scooters. Schedule update. We were talking about the scheduling
045of the the Hadley schedule in December, in January we had a group present, in February we February February we spoke. And as a team we decided that we are not scrapping this idea for all of those changes that came out of that engagement. We are slowing it down for planning purposes so we can implement in one more year. Um we're bummed because there's so many great things we feel like was part of that schedule, but we want to get this right. We want greatness. And there were some pieces that in order to get that ready to go by the beginning of next year with all of those changes, we didn't feel like we could pull we we could pull that off. So, as we have new principal coming in, new assistant superintendent for teaching and
046learning, we'll have them weigh in on it, give some feedback, but ultimately we are going to look to go to a schedule similar to the one that we landed on. It's just slowing it down so that we can get the planning right. Special education review. This is an update to the board because a lot of work has been going on. Kudos to Molly Victor. I know you've been moving the ball down the field and we want to share with the board and community what is going on behind the scenes. So, as a review, Dr. Leanne Frost did a special ed review in the fall. In December she presented and then in January Molly came to the board and she and I talked about what are our first steps. There were 11 areas, that's a lot
047to tackle. We prioritized two. The first one being establishing a parent collaboration group. And Molly has spearheaded several of the leaders of our already current IEP groups with a few administrators to say, this collaboration group, how many people do we have on that? How do we go and and solicit people to be on that? So, that collaboration group is in the process of being formed and then once it is, we're going to start tackling some of the questions and concerns that came up through the review and do it alongside parents and our staff. The other one that came up that was a priority was expanding the continuum of services. We do have a robust continuum and by continuum, you'll see in in special education the least restrictive environment is the general education classroom. The most
048restrictive is outplacement. That means we can't support students in our own district. And in district in district 41, we want to do everything we can to support our students. And in the special ed review, Dr. Frost said, we need to build out some of our programs, some of our specialized programs, some of our instructional our instructional programs to provide opportunities to make sure we're meeting all of those needs and to use vocabulary to get everybody on the same page. So, we are right now looking at what would that look like and again, this is to give families options because ultimately all decisions made about the continuum is done on an individual basis with the IEP team, but we're right now trying to get all of our buildings on the same page with language and see
049what services that we can make sure we're providing so that we can give everybody exactly what we need across district 41. And lastly, this is a huge celebration for the I think the first time ever, I've been told the first time ever in District 41 history, we have hit the minimum participation on [clears throat] the five essential >> it into the calendar. Um so I there's no right or wrong answer. It's what's right for the community and we're just trying to figure out what's right for our community here. And I think the survey is was one way to try to get the information, but it won't be the only way. We will also be talking to people that to get their perspectives as well. Cool. Thank you. Uh Thank you. Dr. McHugh, first of all,
050it's good to see advancement on on all these areas. It's it it's very affirming to hear work I know work's being done. We have the consultant come in and give us an additional audit on special education and you're taking the next step, step. So, kudos to the team to do that. We make a big deal now. You're very excited. I I'm very excited about the five essentials. I'm glad we we're going to do it for the first time. But but could you just take a minute maybe and express why it's a big deal other than the fact that we get that we got buy-in for the first time and you everybody worked really hard to to get those responses, but what is it about five essentials that can be such a helpful tool to the
051district? Yeah. The one reason is that it is part of the Illinois state report report card. For me, that is the least important [clears throat] reason. It's important, but the least important. For me, the most important part about it is it gives us feedback. It gives us feedback from three stakeholder groups. And in fact, we thought that some of that data was so important that we have metrics on our strategic plan about students feeling how what type of supportive environment do they feel they have at school? We have that as a metric about belonging. About satisfaction, staff satisfaction, um parents, how do they feel that we're communicating with them, we're involving them. It gives us a lot of good data on leadership. How are we doing on leadership and on all these different components of
052what makes a healthy school and school culture and getting the feedback in all three of those areas by school, it gives schools actionable data points that they can go and work and to improve and it gives us at the district level, our cabinet, some data points that we can look at to say, how can we as an organization do better? Great. Okay, thank you. Yeah, Jason. I'm just kind of following up on that and continuing that discussion. I think kind of the same thing this parent group's going to give a lot of actual data. It's going to give information that you know, kind of I forget where the conversation was having. A lot of low hanging fruit um be able to tackle before getting into even harder stuff. So, there's a lot of steps that
053I think this is a great step and you know getting parents from all different schools, administrators, staff involved is is important. Getting the right people involved is important, so first steps, baby steps and moving us forward to I guess that greatness is where we need to be. Okay. Well, thank you. Thank you. >> turned on. >> [laughter] >> All right, very good. All right, well then we will move on to the board. Are there any board reports? Ms. Becker. All right, I've got a couple. So, I did mention that I attended the Churchill PTA meeting and they are hosting a cool to be kind assembly that's coming up. They also in meeting their minimum target for the five essentials, they're going to be celebrating with a movie under the stars. Oh. So, that was part
054of their outreach was, "Hey, if we get this, like let's do something fun with it." So. >> Oh, good. Yeah. Um they are hosting their international night in April. If board has not checked their emails, check your email because there's an invitation for you to attend. Um they were over the moon excited about the games during indoor recess. It sounded like the PTA may have donated some games to the different classrooms and they said that they had gotten thank you cards and kids were really excited and just overall super super positive reaction to the games for indoor recess. Um and then I mentioned the e-learning versus snow day and the discussion over some confusion. Um let's see. Separately, I attended the Hadley play, Legally Blonde, and my children are still singing the songs. They loved
055it. It was fantastic. Um and I want to say thank you to Dr. McHugh for my tour of Lincoln. I had not been in that school before and it was very cool to see and sit in on some things. Thank you. >> Thank you. Well done. Thank you, Amy. Yes. How about on this side? Anything over here? Katie, please. Um bunch of PTA meetings between last meet last meeting and today. So, I attended the Lincoln PTA meeting. Um they It was right before their auction on February 22nd, which was at the Backyard in Wheaton, which was a switch from what they've done in prior years. Um seemed like it went really well. I saw a couple photos and they were great. And then there were lots of year end planning, assemblies, year end field trips.
056And I know they just had um their talent night this past weekend, which they were also talking about. And then second, I also attended the PTA Executive Council meeting, which I had never been to before. Um great learning experience just to see the PTA Executive Council and who attends. Um I think the big news out of that one is they have their executive slate for next year cuz there's a couple current officers who are rolling off. And then they also talked about the new greatness in D41 award, which recognizes staff in the different buildings. I know I think they've done Hadley, Forest Glen and Churchill already and then they have Lincoln in April and then the Kindergarten Center in May. So, they talked through that process and how they decide on who that is. And
057then the third meeting I attended was the PEP meeting, the PEP committee and their big discussion is they are looking to change payment processors. So, the payment processing system that they use right now, which enables donors go online and make donations, has a really high transaction fee. It's like 4% of the donation and it's kind of clunky and they also, this made me think of Faisal, they had a security issue this past summer. Um so, they are looking to move to a new platform called Givebutter, which balances fees. I know it's kind of a funny name. It balances fees a little bit better. They promised to not pass along any fees as long as PEP enables the leave a tip functionality and the overall just interface of it looks so much better. It's also a
058CRM, so they can capture a lot more data from the donors who are making donations to the PEP organization. So, and then yeah, Hadley musical as well. Fantastic, such good songs. 2 and 1/2 hours, those kids went after it. It was amazing. Including some kids you know well or at least one you know. >> Including a child I know well. She [laughter] was up there. She was very tired afterwards. Wonderful. Thank you. How about over Yes, Julie, please. Um I attended the LEAN meeting last the end of last month. Um federal committee did their little thing. I had a report and also the federal committee will be meeting with our our federal legislators, a few congress people um at the end of this month during our spring break. So, I will unfortunately be unable to
059attend, but I will I will get a report from them on how that goes. Also, I attended the Forest Glen PTA meeting. This was super fun because several months ago, I want to say fall, Jeff and I got to hang out with their new student council and talk to them about leadership in school and it was amazing. It was so much fun. And then a small group from that group came in and presented to the PTA asking for funds to set up a free library, like one of the little free libraries on the little stand out front yards. So, they did their presentation just like these kids earlier. They didn't have any singing. So, >> [laughter] >> suggestion for next time. No, I'm just kidding. And they were wonderful. They were they were so prepared
060and they did such a good job and I am constantly just like astounded at like the like the ability of these young children to just be okay and not sweating or crying or you know, like in front of a group of adults. They did so great. So, they're getting a free little free library. They're going to like vote on the color. And like I'm so excited and they was said, "We're going to invite the PTA." And I was like, "Can you invite the board too?" They're like, "Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. We'll put you on the list, too." So, I'm hoping we get invited to go see them like debut their free little library. >> Is this going to be Like on Forest Glen like property. Outside somewhere. >> Yeah, outside. Like okay. It was so
061cool. Did did you you surely knew this. You you have a grin on your face. But it was it was so fun to see these kids do their thing and then get their prize that they came in asking for. It was great. Um so, that that's what I have. That was really fun to watch. That's a good thing. That's great thing. Anybody else? Yeah, Jay. I got a couple. Um I would say give just kind of clear it up. Legally Blonde is phenomenal. Just I'm a the number of kids that are up there and the talent that they possess and the talent that they they share with the community is just just outstanding. Gina Wood gets just the most out of all these kids and I think more of getting the most out of all
062these kids, she gives an opportunity to I mean, what is it? 150 some kids plus the crew. Um And and plus beyond students, you have you know, some of our alums that are doing directing part that are coming in and giving opportunities for kids to get that type of experience, which is just it's much broader than you than you might think. It is it's an awesome opportunity. It is not just Hadley, you know, then these Hadley kids going out to the elementaries and and doing some of their behind the stage crew work for for these. So, it's really expanding and it's a great great thing that this district does and then and it's just outstanding the talent that they show and then what the kids then contribute from that. Saturday World Down Syndrome Day. It's
063the most wonderful time of the year. We get to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day March 21st. We celebrate World Down Syndrome Day March 21st, 321, three copies of the 21st chromosome. Um so, one of my favorite days of the year. It's it's a day where we can celebrate okayness. Um celebrate that everybody's worth knowing. Everybody's worth celebrating. Everybody's got worth. I'll be going around. I'll be handing out socks to all the staff throughout District 41 just to show their support of individuals with Down syndrome or really any isms, syndromes. It's giving that voice of recognizing that you're all welcome here. Um you're all worth being in this classroom. You are all worth being a part of this community. Um, we walking up through all the different schools, um, talking to various classes. We talking to
064a lot of the seventh grade classes here at Hadley. Talk about what is Down syndrome, where does it come from? What does it mean? Um, uh What does it mean to have Down syndrome? What How do you talk to someone with Down syndrome? How do you just walk up I'll give you I'll give you a Everyone just just a little cliffhanger note here. Just say hi. You know, it it's a lot of times people run into someone with whatever kind of disability it is and it I I don't know how to approach them. Just say hi. It it it's one of the easiest things. Anybody can It's something that unless somebody tells you you got you know, oh, that's it. Yeah. That's it. And just kind of giving that permission and kind of giving that
065understanding and that that's kind of what what what what I hope to do and I hope to have done over the years. Um, so part of that we're doing a rock your socks out so it benefits People's Resource Center. Um, we're partnering with there's no collection sites um, throughout the district all the different schools CSO here um, to help um, uh people that in the community that might not have the ability to buy new socks to to help others rock their socks. They're We're partnering with the Village of Glen Ellyn. There's collection sites at the Civic Center, um, the park district. There's collection sites at Ackerman, at Spring Avenue and Main Street and with the Downtown Alliance. There's there's local businesses involved. Um, Sign of the Whale Antiques, Al a Main, Whitney Collectibles, uh, the
066Pilates Experience, uh Fair Trade Glen Ellyn, um, Treasure House, Gather Collect. I could be missing some and if I am I do apologize, but just the support we're getting throughout the the community is incredible. Um, and it's just to show I what I love about it is that it's the whole community coming together to just to tell people that might not otherwise be hear heard, we're here for you. You're part of our community and you're important to us. So, thank you to everyone participating. I look forward to being in the schools on Friday and continuing this conversation. And so everybody on the board here has has their socks suitable for you. Bob do you have socks? Please wear them on Friday. Um, and on the back of the socks they all have a little thing
067Bob let me see your socks here. I got them on now. We all have We have a little saying on all of them. There's 30 different sayings on them and um, I'll just take Bob's. It's fact number 28. Um, did you know in adulthood many people with Down syndrome have jobs, live independently and enjoy recreational opportunities in their communities? It's kind of the part of this. You know, when we when we talk about inclusion and we and we talk about these kind of things, it's important to recognize that our kids aren't going to grow up and live in a segregated community. They're going to leave the school system, whatever age that may be, and live in a community that they're going to live, work, and hopefully it's a community that knows to accept them and
068is willing to accept them. And that's part of what this work is. So, thank you everybody. I appreciate all the support. We'll see you all on Friday. Well, first of all, I want to thank um, Brother Jay for taking such an effort making such an effort being so personally invested, uh, but also reaching out and touching so many uh, families in in such a uh, embracing and and in in inclusive way. Uh, it's a real effort that you put into this. I know both personal reasons, but uh, you also believe it is genuinely a way to uh, touch other people to make connections. Yeah. It's lovely. Uh, and and I So this is cool. So I have to walk up to somebody. I have to say, can I see your socks? It's going to be
069an interesting conversation starter. But then who knows where it might just lead. So I'm going to be checking out socks. So watch out. >> Yeah, so when you get socks when you get socks on Friday, the Bible says you want to know more to ask ask somebody with a different pair of socks is there's a lot of different different little factoids. Um I'm I'm just to start conversation. I intend to learn them all. All right. A lot of sock checking out. All right. Student board reports. And are you all sitting in the appropriate places? Dr. McGill was and I see tried to throw you off there by changing your name tags, but uh, do we have any student reports? See, they're confused. They don't know who to who's So Um Yeah, um mine aren't really
070like eighth grade specific because not a lot's been happening in eighth grade. But yeah, there was um, IAR testing and there was a mock test last Monday and there was a Legally Blonde play. It's hard to make all that state wide testing interesting, Rachel. State wide testing. >> [laughter] >> Um, with IAR there's like a lot of incentive for the students to do well. Like like in some eighth grade classes they're doing like this ticket program thing where for every time that you come in with your Chromebook fully charged, with a book to read after testing and just like all those good like work habits things to hold you accountable, then you get tickets and then there's like these little bags that you can put them in and then there's going to be a drawing
071and then you win the prize and it's I think that's very nice. It helps students stay accountable. Um and everybody's getting ready for spring break. Everybody's really excited. Um, and PE right now at Hadley they're doing rollerblading and also very fun. Um Legally Blonde was great. Um the buses are doing a lot better and there's a choir concert this Thursday, which is >> the second one of the year. Um, and all the choirs have been working very hard. Okay. Chloe stays on top of the bus safety. Did you notice? She's really She's keeping us up. Yes, she's sure lying to that. Thank you. Um I know you guys said a lot about IAR testing, which I was going to talk about that, too. Um but yeah, as you said, um, charged Chromebook and using scratch
072paper all that. Um, students [clears throat] get like depending on your team, like the ticket she said. Mine's doing something for a movie and um, it's really nice that we're being encouraged to do well and um, we get to do it first thing in the morning. So everything's fresh. >> [laughter] >> Thank you, Sophia. Thank you very much. All right. Well then we will now move on to our discussion items and we're going to bring Faisal up to the table here to talk about Wi-Fi access points and Hadley switch work. Talk about things that are really exciting and riveting. Here we go, Faisal. I appreciate >> technology is not riveting? >> Faisal as to the why, the security why. Oh, I agree. Yes. Yeah, but I appreciated that email just before you get into it
073just because just explaining that why. So just like, hey, this is what's going on. Um, this is the changes you're going to see. This is why. It's just nice little update that you don't always get. I appreciated it. >> Yeah. Thank you. Yeah, so you know, it's E-rate season. So we're making some improvements. We're continuing on on our access points to the Wi-Fi. We want to uniform and standardize them throughout the district. So we'll be continuing with that. We're taking some requests for proposals for our cabling at Hadley. Um looking at that you know, to upgrade all our cables, our our network. Um, switches are end of life. We're looking at that. Uh, we're buying firewalls. We have to upgrade our firewall as well. It's 10 years old. So that's coming end of life as
074well. And we're also looking at Hadley to make it a secondary site. So we'll bring another firewall here, um, just in case we lose connectivity at CSO. Uh, so those are the projects that are on the table for the summer. Uh, I'll be happy to take any questions if you guys have. Well, pretty clear, straight forward. Yeah. Faisal, thank you. Absolutely. Thank you. Thank you. All right. We will move on to Hadley world language curricular resource recommendation. I have D as our lead presenter here. Yes. Thank you so much. Uh, similar to Dr. Webster, uh, there were a lot of pilots that I pilot projects that I stepped into um, in July of 2025. Um, elementary FLES is going through a pilot process as well as world language here at Hadley, which includes French dual
075and Spanish. Um, and so um, my uh, information for tonight focuses on Spanish and dual um, dual Spanish classes and curricular recommendations. Um, as noted in questions from earlier today, although French was a part of that pilot process, um, none of the pilot programs that we uh, were uh, looking at really met our needs. Um, and it did not feel appropriate to make a decision just to make a decision. So we're going to keep at it and um I will include that in the next couple of months. So um, for both Spanish and uh, dual Spanish, the uh, recommendation after significant review and lots of work from our world language teachers is to continue on uh, using the Somos uh, Comprehensible Classroom uh, curriculum as well as taking a look at Huelas for dual Spanish,
076which is also from uh, Comprehensible Classroom. And um, the teachers really came to that um, after a lot of work and careful consideration and uh, collaboration with elementary FLES as well. Um, and a lot of that information is here already for you, but they're really excited to continue on and actually make some additional modifications to what they're currently doing in the classroom. Any questions? Thank you. Good. Thank you, D. Again, it's encouraging to hear that you look at a pilot and it to change this for the sake of change. You didn't allow those sunken costs to bias your decisions. So, thank you for that approach. Okay. And now, we've been waiting for the return. This is an encore. >> fourth quarter. We'll start that way again. And I still >> [laughter] >> And I still
077won't sing. I still won't sing. Okay. So, um we do I do have um three curricular resource recommendations. So, in addition to the other three committees that I met with, I also met with these three committees. It was a lot of lot of work with teachers this year. It was awesome. Um so, I'll start with the MTSS intervention resources. So, that was tools for strengthening our system. So, I know one of the questions I got today is this is an addition to, right? And it is. I'll talk more about that, but we're always looking at ways to shore up our toolbox. We've spent a lot of time um Molly particularly did a lot of work on the processes and making sure that we have the processes straight, but now we have the process. We we
078know the what, we know the who. Now that what do we use, right? We want research-based um intervention tools that we can then use as we develop this process. So, we we worked with an MTSS committee on that. Um as part of the PE um conversation, health was part of that conversation as well. So, there's a a recommendation from health. And again, um as part of the conversation with the committees I also met with K8 art. So, um I will continue there. So, MTSS last of words in there. I broke every rule of of uh slides there. So, I apologize. Um So, the MTSS committee came together and we looked through um research-based kind of gold standard like what works clearinghouse that type of thing of uh intervention tools for our students that have been
079identified for MTSS services. Um we identified um two, Lexia for literacy and Bridges intervention for math. We had used Lexia um at Churchill as part of our Title I funding for high-impact tutoring and it had gone really well and there was a lot of interest um at the other buildings to trial it there. So, we expanded at the trial of Lexia uh literacy there. And um Bridges intervention is uh a hands-on really a lot of manipulatives for math kind of making math feel less ethereal, less kind of theoretical and more like I can touch it, I can see it, I can feel it to help kids that are struggling a little bit with math. Uh we were really impressed. It was about a 6-week trial when you figure out the holidays and everything. We saw
080significant growth in both literacy and math with the students that participated. Um we measured that through progress monitoring either through the intervention itself or through FastBridge, our progress monitoring tool. And we saw above-average growth and in some cases we saw an actually a lot of cases we saw more than a grade level's worth of growth in just 6 weeks. Um there's a lot of research that supports that small group instruction that intervention um and we were very we had very good luck with that. So, um the committee met after the trial and would like uh to unanimously recommend um that we adopt both of these as tools in the toolbox for our MTSS uh for both reading and math. It's very uh literacy and math. It's very difficult especially for math. There's just not a
081lot out there for math. So, we're pretty excited that we can add to the math toolbox. You'll see up there that I do have the costs um for a 5-year digital license for Lexia. You know, Eric and I have been kind of talking about So, we're trying to really harness like the the discount that you get for a multi-year license. Um but as Eric and I have talked more this week, we're thinking that maybe the 3-year digital licenses might be a better way for us to go for the district. It would allow some flexibility in 3 years. Still gives us the discount. Um but if anything were to change or go awry and things are you know, you just never know with 3 years what things are going to look like. So, when I come
082back for the actual recommendation, these numbers will likely be lower because they'll be for 3-year digital 3-year licenses when they're multi-year as opposed to five or six. Um so, this right here is worst-case scenario, right? Um so, the Lexia is uh a digital license, but to be clear cuz I know I got a question about this that I thought was an excellent question. Um while Lexia is digital, it has a human component. So, it is to me the best of both worlds and kind of how tech we want technology to be. It uses takes uh the the teaching of teachers and it enhances it as opposed it doesn't replace it. It's it enhances it. So, um we're very excited about that piece. Bridges does not have a digital component. It's all hands-on strictly small group
083instruction. So, this is for discussion only. I will be bringing to the April 20th meeting a recommendation that we um purchase both of these resources for MTSS intervention toolbox. Um please note though when I bring it back the the Lexia cost will be less because it will be for 3-year licenses as opposed to a 5-year. I anticipate Eric, that's right? Yep, he's nodding. Right. Um so, that number will likely be a little bit less cuz it'll be for 3 year. Any questions about MTSS? Dr. Webster, thanks so much for your um answers to the questions earlier. I'm just trying to make sure I'm clear on this. So, these resources are just to supplement what we already are using, right? In the MTSS process. Am I understanding that right or So, uh yes. So, one of
084the one of the requests we get from teachers and our interventionists particularly is having research-based tools that we can use consistently across the district. We need to up We need to up our toolbox. We needed more more tools in the toolbox. We already do have Yes, we already do have research-based tools in the toolbox, but what this does is it helps us um provide more targeted instruction for a wider swath of students, right? Because not every student that struggles in literacy and math struggles with the same thing. And so, by expanding the toolbox, we have a wider set of tools to choose from to best meet the needs of whatever that particular student or that group of student needs um in that at that time. So, yes, it's an addition to. Got it. Okay. And
085then and in terms of evaluating them cuz you mentioned there was significant growth with these resources. So, all the students that used or are the teachers that maybe offer the resources to certain students, that's all monitored in a tool? That's how Okay. >> So, um sometimes the tool has an actual progress monitoring component and that's what we would use that first. Um but we also use uh FastBridge, which is uh one of our benchmarking universal screeners that we also use to make sure that we have consistent measurements. Once they get to a certain um tier uh of MTSS, then we use the FastBridge assessments just to make sure that we have consistent progress monitoring using the same tool. So, yes, and by doing that we have an objective standardized tool that really gives us a
086clear normed research-based measurement of how students are doing. What we saw the biggest growth, which is not surprising, the biggest growth we saw was our primary age students. Um and that is pretty typical when you're doing interventions and that's also a really beautiful thing because when you intervene early, they don't need the interventions later. Um I will also say that I'm very excited to know I'm working with Hadley is that our intervention groups at Hadley are very very very small, which is exactly how it should be because the purpose is to intervene like crazy um during the early elementary years. So, by the time they get to Hadley, they don't there's not a so there's not quite the same need for intervention, right? You try and address those needs. There will always be kids that
087need something more and different. Um but the smaller that that we can make that, the better. And these tools are what help us provide that early intervention. That's super helpful. Thank you. You're welcome. Okay. Yeah. Any other questions about MTSS? Okay. Um Oh, that's me. I have I have the controls. Okay. The next is Hadley health curricular resource. So, we are not making any change at all to um our Hadley health curriculum, any of the topics. Um nothing is changing the scope and sequence, the standards, or the topics that are taught. Um but our current uh uh textbook is from 2008. It's now 2026. Um so, we are uh several editions behind. Um so, the Hadley health teachers asked if we could look at the 2021 edition, which we did. They looked at it. They
088loved it. It's fully aligned with state requirements. Um it now has both print and digital resources and it's way more engaging and topical for students because something that is from 2006 2008 looks like it's from 2008 and when you're an it it's a student, um it looks really old. Um 2008 looks really old. Um they're Yeah, they're looking at me like, "Yeah, please." How how how do I look, guys? I don't You look very young. >> They all go, "Thank you." You say that. >> Um So, uh tonight this is just for discussion, but I will be on April 20th asking the board to um to approve a 3-year contract with discounted pricing um for uh that would include textbooks, two sets of classroom textbooks, and digital licensing that goes along with it. Uh we
089are only going with a 3-year contract. Again, it does maximize the uh the discount we get for multi-year pricing, but I am anticipating and the reps are anticipating that there will be a new edition coming out in 2029 that will allow us to get the 3-year discount on the digital license and then if we want to update the books if there's a significant change, we can look at that in 2029. If it's not a significant change, then we won't need to look, but that gives us the flexibility to do that. So, any questions on Hadley health? All right. Hi. Anything more? One more. >> Dr. Webster. And I can be just as quick as I was. I know. See, this is how busy I've been this year. The teachers The teachers and I have been
090very busy. >> I know. We have been We have been working hard. Um so, I also met with the K8 art teachers. Um so, the K8 they they have done a fabulous job. They have a wonderful scope and sequence, um but they don't have There isn't a lot out there to choose from for a standardized standards-aligned resource um that that's aligned to the to the art standards. Art of Education offers they have used the Art of Education for professional development. They have a professional development strand they've used and they also have a curriculum strand and when they saw the curriculum strand they were like can we please please please have this and I said yep we'll look at it when it's your time for your curricular review. Here we are. Um What's beautiful about this
091is it has a standardized curriculum that goes K8 to provide that scope and sequence from both elementary um it has lesson libraries, instructional videos. It also has robust professional development for teachers which is very difficult to do for art teachers. When we get into the specials it's very hard to find specialized professional development for them. So as part of the package there's conferences and videos online that they can that they would have access to. Um they are very excited about this. They say that it will really be helpful. They're doing a lot of their own work trying to pick and pull things from the internet. This will save them time, save them their personal money and it will provide a consistent experience K8 for all of our students regardless of what building they're in. Um
092so on April 20th I will be coming to you recommending that you approve the purchase of this for teachers. Again after speaking with Eric we've been working on this. We will be looking at a three-year contract instead of a six-year contract just to give us the flexibility that if something new or better comes out in three years we can take a look. Um with the anticipation their next review cycle won't be for another five years. So I don't anticipate we'll be looking at their curriculum but this will still give us the benefit of the discounted contract and the the continuity while not locking us in for that period of time. So the number you see here will be less when you get the final recommendation on April 20th. Any questions about K8 Again they also
093say thank you. Everybody says thank you to the board there and to Eric for for supporting they say thank you. They are very happy. It was a very kumbaya We had a great time. We had a great time this year with the curriculum committees. Any questions? >> [laughter] >> Committees are a good time. You should you should do it sometimes. Curriculum is the best. They have smiles on their face after serving on committees. And now we'll [clears throat] get that reinforced with human ex results. That's right. We hope. [laughter] We hope. Yes. Okay. So um if there aren't any questions tonight is just for discussion only. I will be bringing all three of these reports to the April 20th board meeting for your approval. Uh if you have there no questions I have nothing else.
094I have one quick comment about it. And I I think it's important that you see we're talking art curriculum. You talked earlier you talked music curriculum. You talked PE curriculum. You know we had these kids up here that that or it was recess. They're talking about you know structures having recess. We're talking about legally blind. Um all these things that we put in the categories of specials are special but they're important parts of the education of our kids. And it's nice to see that highlighted up here because it's there's a lot more than math, literacy, science. There's a lot more that these kids are doing here and it's it's nice just to see that come out and I nice to see really the the work and the intentionality that goes into each of those subjects
095as well. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Good good good point. Good to underscore that. Thank you. >> All right. Very good. We'll move on then to the consent agenda. Are there any items board members would like to be removed from the consent agenda to be considered separately? Hearing [clears throat] none may have a motion to approve the consent agenda which includes employment recommendations, resignations, resignations with retirement and termination recommendations, the dismissal of non-tenured teachers other than final year probationary teachers, disposal of surplus property, donation and gifts, Freedom of Information Act report, investment schedule, monthly revenue expenditure summary report, school district payment order, summary of bills and payroll, treasurer's report and the February 23rd open and closed session minutes. Motion. Do I have a second from somebody? Second. Thank you, Julie. And Mrs. Molk, roll call please. >>
096Mr. Lobach? Yes. Mrs. Hill? Yes. Miss Becker? Yes. Mrs. Ledoux? Yes. >> Mr. Resti? I'd like to thank the PTAs at Abraham Lincoln, Ben Franklin and Forest Glen for their very generous donations and I vote yes. Dr. Bruno? He never misses one. >> [laughter] >> Yes. All right. Yes. Very good. We already have the majority. Did we miss somebody? No. Oh, okay. All right. Very good. Yes. All right. We now have three recommendations. We'll start with technology and this is on the Chromebook charging stations. The district has been gathering feedback to guide future decisions regarding Chromebook use and instructional technology practices. As part of this process April will serve as a trial period to keep elementary Chromebooks at school overnight requiring charging and storage solutions. Based on research into functionality, durability, usability, capacity and cost
097the administration is presenting a recommendation tonight in order to have them in place on April 6th. May I have a motion to authorize the purchase of 93 JAR Systems Elevate USB-C charging cart cart for a cost of $164,331 to be funded through the 25-26 technology budget as outlined in the board report. Motion. Second. Any further discussion on the charging carts? Hearing none Mrs. Molk roll call. Mr. Resti? Yes. Dr. Martelli? Yes. Miss Becker? Yes and I wanted to say thank you for answering my questions that I had about the the funding of it earlier. Mrs. Ledoux? Yes. Mrs. Hill? Yes. Mr. Lobach? Yes. Dr. Bruno? Yes. Motion passes. Our second item is the kindergarten center improvements. May have a motion to authorize Assistant Superintendent Eric DePorter to execute the required change orders for each of
098the contractors required to complete the kindergarten center enhancement at a cost of approximately $1,001,810 to be paid from the 26-27 capital fund budgets as outlined in the board report. Motion. Ooh, I'm not sure which one got in there first. Jay second. Who first? Amy? Amy beat uh on that one. Any discussion? Just a quick just I I know I've said it before but I wanted to just give that shout out to Eric and Dave because it's easy to talk about this project but you forget the work that went into the prior project that left them the ability to do this because you can't just building a building and then just adding things like bathrooms is a big deal if you don't properly plan for what what might come in the future and the fact that
099A you know you got the last project in in such a place that there's budgetary funds available and B that you have space ability to you know do these types of improvements and to do these kind of ads which when we did that last project you said there's going to be changes that are going to be needed. We're going to have to live with it and see what those are going to be and we're seeing the results of that planning. So I think it's really important to point that out that this just isn't a you know coming off of this agenda. This is a couple years in the work but that was planned This is planning for the unknown that you guys did a couple of years ago. So it's good job on that. Good
100and and good explanation. Thank you, Jay. All right. Roll call. Mr. Lobach? Yes. Miss Becker? Yes. Mrs. Ledoux? Yes. Mrs. Hill? Yes. Dr. Martelli? Yes. Mr. Resti? Yes. Dr. Bruno? Yes. And motion passes and the third final recommendation are the FY26-27 student fees. May have a motion to approve the 26-27 school year student fees as outlined in the board report. Motion. Second. Yeah, Amy got it. Any further discussion on student fees? And roll call Mrs. Molk. Miss Becker? Yes. Dr. Martelli? Yes. Mr. Lobach? Yes. Mrs. Hill? Yes. Mr. Resti? Yes. Mrs. Ledoux? Yes. Dr. Bruno? Yes. And that motion passes. Okay. We'll now move towards towards two our board governance learning together. Any items? Any reports? Miss Hill, okay. Good. Then I guess we're not learning together tonight. Okay. Maybe on another meeting. >> [laughter]
101>> I have I have one more Ooh, Ted's got something. that I meant to bring this up earlier and I kept forgetting. Um there's a copy of the board member code of conduct on our website and it's signed by the board but there's two people on here who are no longer on the board. And and one person on here who stepped down from the board and then was elected back to the board. So this is kind of out of date. Um so I'm thinking maybe we should execute a new one. We we should do that. Mrs. Molk you got that? Okay. Thank you, Ted. Good good catch. >> need a date Dr. Martelli to sign it. Again. Again. Fresh signature. Thank you. Good catch. All right. Upcoming meetings April 20th is our next regular Board
102of Education meeting here 6:30 at Hadley. Monday, May 4th will be our commit next Committee of the Whole meeting 6:30 at Hadley and then May 18th regular board meeting 6:30 here at Hadley. All right. We will now adjourn the closed session. May have a motion to adjourn adjourn the closed session to confidentially discuss section 2C, the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal specific employees, section 2C8, security procedures, school building safety and security and the use of personnel and equipment to respond to an actual a threatened or a reasonably potential danger to the safety of employees, students, staff, the public or public property and section 2C11 litigation when an action against affecting or on behalf of the school board has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal or when the school
103board finds that an action is probable or imminent in which case the basis for the finding shall be recorded and entered into the minutes of the closed meeting. I need a motion. So moved. Second. Thank you, Julie. Mrs. Moke, roll call, please. Mrs. Hill? Yes. Mrs. Ledoux? Yes. Dr. Martelli? Yes. Mr. Estes? Yes. Ms. Becker? Yes. Mr. Lobach? Dr. Bruno? Yes. Thank you very much. We will go into closed session and the board will not be taking any action after closed session. Thank you all for coming. Have a good evening. We'll see you next time.