February Board of Education Meeting

001Good evening. I call to order the board of education meeting for Prospect Heights School District 23 for February 12th, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. Can I please get a roll call? >> Mrs. Bowwinsky >> here. >> Mr. Gdanis >> here. >> Dr. Long >> here. >> Mrs. Mlany, >> present. >> Mrs. Morrisy >> here. >> Mr. Nordmark >> here. >> Mrs. Peters in >> uh tonight's pledge of allegiance is led by students who participate in a variety of different steam STEM or robotics programs across the district. Uh tonight is parent teacher conferences. So we had uh a lot of double booking. So we appreciate you guys being able to be here. But we're going to uh have the students lead us in the pledge and then we'll ask them about their experiences with robotics and steam

002activities in the district. All right. So, we'll all stand. >> Yeah. and started to 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. So now we're going to just ask you a few questions about this. Can we start? And can you tell us your name and what grade you're in? We'll start with my friend here. >> First grade. Grayson. >> Grayson. >> Matthew. Fourth grade. All fifth grade. Matthew. First grade. First grade. Fifth grade. Fourth grade. >> Tel fourth grade. One more. Hyper first grade. >> All right. First grade from uh Eisenhower and fourth grade from Anne Sullivan or fifth grade from Anne Sullivan. What does robotics club do? What is that all about? Or

003what is your steam club do? Tell us who can tell us what you've been doing after school. >> Grayson. steam club and like fitness the fitness club and stuff and then and you get do like this activity on the first day of like fitness club. Well, you get to like you have to run around tag people and if if that person who has like the flag you it's and then in steam club it's like really fun cuz you get to do different stuff. >> All right. Yeah. Fitness club is a brand new club at Eisenhower this year and steam club. What else do you do? >> Um we do robotics club. It's where we learn about how robots move on our iPads. Yes. And we have to like >> program it to move forward, maybe

004sing something, >> make it do all kinds of things. Uhhuh. >> And who from Eisenhower? I was just over at Eisenhower. Were you there when we filmed the monthly minute? Any of our Eisenhower friends? Were you there? Anybody? I was there on a day where you had mazes built like around wooden blocks and you were somehow oh magically driving a robot around. Do you remember doing anything like that? >> You do. Tell us about that. >> Uh you got to build a maze using like like you got to like put a piece of tape for like finish and end and like you had to drive these little sparrows on the iPad. >> And that sparro, that's like a little robot kind of thing. >> It hooks up to a >> Uh-huh. And you designed the

005racetrack. >> Yeah. >> For who? >> Uh, does. >> Yeah. For the other group of kids, right? So, they didn't know. You had some challenges. What else? What other fun things have you done in Steam Club or or robotics? I've done in steam club the m the mouse came into like steam club and locked all the cls up and and >> you had a mouse >> right there was a mouse >> you have a mouse in school >> yes >> tell me more >> and it locked things up >> and locked the crayons up >> oh my gosh any other first graders know what he's talking about what happened I see somebody way back there do you know what What happened? >> Oh, you're looking out the door now. >> Do you know what happened

006when the mouse What? Do you know what happened? Yeah. Tell me. >> Uh uh there was like one game where we had to figure out like locks and codes to like on like a box or like it was like a pretend mouse that like cran >> Oh, it was a pretend mouse. >> We don't have mice at Steam Club. and to problem solve and you had to figure out like an escape room. >> It was basically that but like colors >> but with Okay, >> it was like puzzles and stuff. You have to figure out like the code and puzzles and stuff and you have and you had to like unlock it. >> Yeah. >> Looks like key. and our friends from Sullivan. Is this your first year or have you participated [clears throat] in

007the steam club before or robotics club before? First year or repeat. >> Second year. So you're in fifth grade now then? >> This is your second year. >> Oh, you're in fourth. You did it at Ross last year. >> All right. So why did you come back? What was about it? What was so fun about it that you wanted to do it again? So you do some coding, too. >> Yeah. >> When does this club meet? >> Um, it depends on the day. >> Oh, like is it like during math class or >> at the end of the like after school? >> Oh, you have to stay after school to do this club. >> Yeah. >> Wow. >> Usually they usually end like 3:45. >> Okay, that's cool. >> And they just do that. They

008stay after school with no adult. Nobody else is around. >> We just let them have my >> Is there somebody's help? Somebody's helping. >> Yeah, there's a dog. There's um one person helps us, >> right? Miss Host Child, >> Mr. Mr. Ramirez at at Sullivan. And do you know that at MacArthur there's another kind of robotics and Lego robotics club? if you're interested. We've been developing that. >> He does it over at Mac. Yeah. So, it's great because it's awesome when kids play instruments or when they like sports or they like to act, but it's also really cool when kids are interested in math and science and programming and robotics. So, it's a really cool thing for us starting in first grade all the way up through 8th grade. I'm also volunteer like the robots.

009I know how to build the bots. >> Yes, >> I know how to code the bots. >> Know how to do everything else with >> Do you know how to keep them from taking over the world? And >> yeah, I'm a little worried about that robots taking over. They won't >> either. That's why I'm always nice when I'm on Alexa. I always say, "Thank you, Alexa." Because I don't want her to be mad at me. you know, take [laughter] over the world. >> I never use a muscle. >> Any other questions from the floor? Where do you go for robotics club? Where is robotics? >> We normally go into like this room where there's like um it's like it was the ideas room and then it went to this room with like tables and chairs

010and then we just programmed it and it just went everywhere. >> Mhm. What about when you're at Eisenhower? What room do you do robust in Eisenhower? >> Is it in the library? >> Is Steam Club in the library? >> Steam club's in the library. >> Very cool. >> This is really cool. Thank you guys for coming tonight. >> Appreciate it. Now, you know what we get to do that kids love and parents love even more? >> Taking pictures. [laughter] You got it. You're so smart. You're right. >> So, if you come down just a little bit more and we'll have everybody come this way. Try to stand in front of the the banner here. >> We'll get these out of your way. >> And then No, we'll just do the >> I think we'll just

011try the kids. >> Can you guys come in the front here? >> Board members are ready. >> I have two row. All right. Well, No, no, we're not. We're signing certificates. >> Yeah. First graders want to go in the front. That's cool. That's a good idea. >> And then Sullivan in the second row. Okay. Awesome. >> You're a first grade. I am not. >> I was. >> Make sure you guys all face this way. >> Oh, Grayson. I don't think they can see you behind them. You got to come up front. >> Kids, come in the front. >> Come on. all of the cameras. >> Look at me, Grayson. >> Come down here. Come down here. >> Thank you. >> Yummy. Okay. And we thank Miss Hoschild as well. Where'd she go? >> She went

012upstairs. I cry. >> Yay. She did it for you. >> Yeah. Miss Hoschild and Mr. Ramirez and our coaches. Thanks to all of you students for spending the time. Parents, grandparents, family, thanks for coming and celebrating your students with us. We appreciate it very much. Uh if the students could go out in the hallway, we have a certificate for you. So we'll distribute those out in the hallway. And um guests, you're welcome to stay. Or if you have other things, I don't know, another conference. Did you have your parent teacher conference? >> You did already. >> Cheers. >> Keep talking. I got three more. >> Uh and then we'll be able to get that to you. Thank you all very MUCH FOR COMING. [applause] >> [clears throat] >> WE'LL COME ON OUT IN the hallway

013here. Hopefully. >> Yeah. Yeah. I'm jumping out of the >> Grayson. Wait. Wait for us. Wait. Wait for us. >> Yeah. Just stand in the hall like he said. You don't need to go anywhere. There are so many. [clears throat] >> There were so many I made one pen go out. Well, his parents live out of state around. >> Yeah, especially since dad. That's awesome. You got it. >> All right, let's take a pick. Let's get out of the way. We're out there. Thank you all. >> Thank you. >> Nice job. We'll have to hang this in the basement. >> Thank you. Then there were none. >> All right. >> At each regular and special open meeting, members of the public and district employees may make comments to the board of education. If you would

014like to address the board, please complete a table uh and give it to Mrs. O'Donnell, our recording secretary. I did need to address the board that uh that my last day as a board member here will be April 8th of this year. And you know, we planned for a while for me to step down this summer, but to uh to coincide with my youngest daughter Maggie's graduation, but uh but you know, Don sent an email a few weeks ago about kind of the planning for the spring and especially that April the midappril strategic meeting and that that seems like a really great opportunity for the new board member to be at. So, I'm going to step away a little bit earlier. So, thank you all. It's been a real privilege to do this and uh

015still still be around for almost two more months, right? So, [laughter] won't be gone just yet. And uh you know, I'm you know, I'm still could we'll still be you know, volunteer with the PTO next year, so I'll be around. But uh but thank you all for the opportunity to do this. >> Great. Thank you. >> Thank you. [applause] Brian, we really thank you for your service, but we also think that like the thoughtfulness of the timing of your resignation of, you know, keeping our board strong and making sure that we have a good solid footing moving forward. It shows who you are as a board member and as a a member of our team and I think like I speak on behalf of the board and and administration that we're so thankful for you

016and >> it's a big seat to fill and and you will be really missed and and you you've done a lot of good work with us and for us and >> thank you. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> All right. We'll talk about some of that in new business. We'll we'll address some of the things we'll need to do as a board moving forward. So, but he's not gone yet. We got him for two more months. Um, all right. So, we are on to communications. >> Just a couple of quick communications items. The uh Wheeling Township sent uh a thank you letter for the food that had been collected over uh prior to winter break both through the um the VIM department's food ser uh collection. Um and so that's uh thank you is is

017in the packet Luis delivered. So that's why it's addressed to him. Uh just a a plug for our polar plunge which will happen uh on March the 6th on campus. We have a a special uh way of doing the plunging. Uh Dr. Schroer, you want to give a >> a little explanation of what we'll be doing. >> So we participate in the cool school challenge which we did two years ago. Um, so we work with um, all the proceeds go uh to support Special Olympics Illinois and they come out on campus and fill up a couple baby pools. They're like the this high, you know, they're like a two feet. Um, and uh, the students and staff, if they raise $25, they get to plunge um, and jump in the pool. Um and then um

018if they raise $100, they get a very nice sweater shirt from Special Olympics and um so we do a lot of activities around that. Um our sale program does a lot of work in um having hot cocoa available and things like that. And um so the students are working on uh they had a bake sale during parent teacher conferences to raise money to support some of the students in plunging. Um, and so we're looking for staff, students, board members. >> I've already been volunteered. >> Fantastic. >> I heard from my child that I volunteered. >> Exactly. So >> volunte and we uh run IT USUALLY I WAS NOT [laughter] I no I heard I heard [laughter] >> I heard was Mr. Caper said so Mr. paper I heard said, "Your mom was really helpful last

019year. Will she be here again this year?" And Lily said, "Yeah, she'll be here." So, I was told that I was coming to help help not >> with a plunge. [laughter] >> People help demonstrate. >> If you guys each donate to me, I will plunge. >> All right. I like that. >> I will. If each person donates a small amount, I will plunge on the health >> of the board. It has to >> be I don't know. I don't know what I'm allowed to ask you guys. [laughter] >> Oh, she's already >> I will create a a site and if you would like to donate, I will plunge on the 6th of March. >> I will get you all the info to sign up. >> I will wear a proud BB23 shirt. I got the

020one with all the name. I will I will plunge on the 6th of March. >> I love it. very need to donate to me. So, >> so the st the student staff will be plunging throughout the day. We start about 11:00 and kind of go till towards the end of the day. Um and then we live stream it so the kids can see it in the cafeteria during the lunch period. We also are getting um the elementaryaries involved. So, Sullivan is also um has some students that are plunging and um they all start doing a fundraiser where they have I think five or six teachers that have volunteered to plunge and whoever they're raising money for each of the teachers and the top three teachers that raise the most money and the kids are raising

021the money will go over and plunge. So, um so yeah, they're doing some fun things. ambassadors are doing that I think and >> so >> and it really if you guys haven't been if you can come on the 6th of March truly when we did it a few years ago >> um caper does it they're out there in swimsuits and it's never warm that day like it's never warm that day >> and it's a little early doing it a little bit earlier than we did it two years ago so yeah it might still be a little chilly >> yeah but it's a it's really like they do a really nice job of like the the it's the atmosphere is really a lot of fun that day to >> [clears throat] >> you know, the >>

022to really show how we're a unified school and like it's it's just a really cool experience. Um, so if you all can make it, I think >> it would be fun. >> And since Becky already volunteered, you you could just be there and support. You don't actually have to plunge because she's going to be >> pl she's representing you as a board. [laughter] >> THAT'S WHAT YOU GUYS WANT, RIGHT? OR OR YOU COULD ALWAYS say that since Brian is leaving, [laughter] HE COULD ALSO hold together. [laughter] >> You know, that's the same day as a Sullivan musical. I volunteered to be there for [laughter] >> Oh, Mims that day. [laughter] >> No, I'm just kidding. I be there. So, lots of fun uh friendly competition and lots of really excited participation and again the live

023stream it helps bring everybody kind of across the district. So, uh and the last communication item is just uh our announcement. We've had this in the school newsletters. It'll be in the school scene again that uh our annual five essentials survey is now open for parents. We need at least 20% of parents from each school to complete the survey um so that we get that data back. We use that data as part of our key performance indicators. We use it in our self assessments. Uh we use it to help set strategic plan goals. later in the month, uh I'm sorry, in early March, uh staff will be invited to take that and students in grades four through eight are invited to to complete the survey as well. So, um in the next few weeks, we'll

024start receiving those uh response rates and we'll be able to tell which school is in the lead and which one needs to get a few more. Uh put the plug in. It's always MacArthur that needs more uh parent participation. So uh parents are able to complete that survey for each school that their child uh resides or attends. So that are those are the communications items. >> Awesome. All right, we are on to committee reports. So first up we have buildings and sites. Um Mrs. Morsy, if you want to provide a brief overview of what happened. Um, a lot of the stuff really falls under finance. So, it's gonna be very brief. We have a lot of things we're going to be voting on um from the finance or I think actually with finance later on

025down the road, but um the painting um the gym floor, the design of the gym floor. Um we'll be talking about the timeline for for Ike. I think things of that nature. So, it's mostly action finance. This is >> finance. to report. >> Okay. We um discussed a uh resolution which we will be um going over later just regarding property taxes in Cook County and um how we feel we have been as many others um unfairly treated as far as our collection of property taxes due to us that our taxpayers have paid. Um so we got that going on. We discussed uh EBC, our insurance, and um possible rate increases. GPO at 16.8%, HMO at 14.4%. And dental at 4.4%. So um not such great news there. Um but we'll keep monitoring that. It's not

026final just yet. Um we too went over proposed summer work and um some of that work is going to be voted on later this evening. Um we discussed the global uh litigation the social media litigation and that should be coming I guess to our state soon and um we discussed uh Patriots Park user agreements and a little bit on land swap and I would say that's about it. It was very heavily attended by several board members. So, it was a great time. >> These two of us don't know how to read our calendars, so we showed up to the wrong month. >> Oh, that's okay. >> But that's okay. >> We'll be back in March, too. You know, the only thing that I would say just for for Carol and Tracy who weren't there that

027you know the those insurance numbers are like eyepopping, but I think just contextually like you know just based on Brenn's experience that that's kind of in line with what everybody's >> seeing in terms of increases so or worse. >> Yeah. Then that it's actually not that bad, right? Relative to to what other districts, right, and government organizations are seeing. >> Yeah. What did you see the NS? >> I don't remember. I don't remember what the number is but if it was >> equally >> but yeah but just you know think the the numbers are just shocking but it's really it really is in line with what everybody's seeing. So >> so I hadn't called out which two didn't know how to read a calendar but Brian did [laughter] point out which two of you do

028know how to read a calendar. So thank you I was I was working [laughter] >> Yeah. I like that >> that was very useful what Bin provided. >> I agree. I didn't know anything about >> when when is it final or is it >> um No, it's not final yet. We have a um the followup renewal meeting is towards the end of March. So then it'll be final for the July. >> Do we expect it to like go up and down? >> I would expect it to go down um because like I said, we talked a little bit about the uh contribution to the fund balance and that was two to three points. So I'm I would not be surprised if that gets taken off. >> But it also gets an extra month or two

029of experience. So if that doesn't run well, >> right, >> it could cancel it out or it could go the other way. So like just optimistic. >> That's what I was wondering. Like does it >> a little of something we've typically seen a slight reduction as we get into the final. So, we'll just see if you'd like to provide a report. >> Sure. I have a choice. >> No, but you could. >> Sure. [laughter] >> I mean, I guess you have a choice. You could say nothing to report. >> There's There's Yes. Um, [laughter] the meeting was last week. Uh, it was the first meeting first meeting of the governing board this year because January there was no meeting. So, um fair amount to catch up on. Um there uh the meeting actually started kind

030of on a sad note. Um there was a moment of silence for a student from Kirk who passed away. And this this is something like this is something about NSSO that is is kind of unique that it it's not I mean it's doesn't happen frequently but way more than you know in any other school. So it's and um you know the the staff and the students they're you know it's like a family. So it's like losing a family member. So, um, Jennifer Browning is the principal of Kirk and she, um, gave some memories, um, and had a video montage of pictures and stuff. The student had only been there, um, starting this year at Kirk, but, um, she she just started high school. So anyway, uh and then uh it was followed up with the

031shining star and uh that was a student from New Trier who's in the DHH program and um they talked about uh how she has um gone has learned a lot about independence and leadership and self advoc advocacy. [snorts] She's a junior now. She's been in that program in the DHH program since first grade. Uh, and talking about college, one of the interesting things in line with self advocacy last summer, she was a lifeguard and so she, you know, kind of looked at that job, what things, you know, would may be an issue for someone who has hearing issues and you know she had an answer for those things and advocated for herself. She got the job. >> Did she come through the program too or she >> Well, she's at New Trier so it's the

032itinerate program. >> I just [clears throat] didn't know if she had come through. >> No. >> Um Okay. And then the um Brian Bulier who is uh in charge of Sloic at the Sunrise Camp is retiring at the end of this year and we've been searching for his replacement. Uh that person was introduced. Um it's a fellow named Andrew Picket who comes from uh he's currently the assistant principal at Central School in Glen. So, uh, he will start on July 1st. Let's see. Then, uh, there was a superintendence report kind of a review of some of the activity towards the end of last year and through January because we missed January. Uh she did a summary uh of the first operational board meeting that did take place in January. Uh she reported on the um

033winter wonderland that took place at Sloic. Um [snorts] >> it was a couple weeks Yeah. Right. couple weekends ago. uh which was it it was a pretty cold day but they had a good int attendance there. So uh human resources Brad Carter uh let's see we the board rep approved uh the second policy read of there were probably a dozen policies. Uh they approved the uh calendar for uh and approved the proposal for ESY for this summer. And um it looks like they will be returning to 3 weeks duration um when it was cut short for just two weeks last year because of construction at Kirk. Let's see. Uh there was a report on the institute day that took place uh beginning of January uh an associo put on this institute day. They took over

034the whole thing was at Harper. they had uh over 1,600 participants. Um [clears throat] and uh they usually send out a survey to kind of you know find out how it addresses things that people are concerned of and how the logistics and all that kind of stuff. So the report from the statistics was that there was high level of participation and satisfaction uh and there was good feedback for addressing some of the logistics. next year like parking and food and that kind of stuff. Um see business services Gavin reported on the um NSCO unreserved funds. Um, typically an associo goes through once the audit is done, any funds that are left over are returned to the districts and the board approved that return and we should get about 13,000 back. uh and Gavin announced that

035they are getting another Deco grant of 500,000 and that uh it looks like they will use that for uh window replacement at Timber Bridge. Uh and then he was talking a little bit about the f the finance committee creating the budget. I'm sorry. But like that grant like does that come up in your like in terms of how they allocate that funding? Did [snorts] that come up at all in the operations committee or >> just that we were notified that it was received and that that was their plan? And so our and there's uh no accept you know you have to vote to accept it but we were in agreement that the windows at Timber Ridge would be a good use of that. >> Okay. So so you did get the it was kind of

036your board approved that. Okay. All right. Awesome. All right. Thank you. Sorry. >> Uh and that's [snorts] that's pretty much it. Um the next Spencer is actually going to go to the next meeting. I'm not able to go to it. Can't wait. >> Yeah, I bet. [laughter] >> Yeah. >> Um, and then I I don't know if you want to report on >> Yeah. Just >> the operational stuff, >> the way that we're developing a cadence of the meetings between the two boards, the operational board and the governance board. Uh, we want to make sure that there's a good flow to that. So, it's going to take a little while to kind of get into that rhythm. Um, our primary subject matter in close session was discussion of the NSSO bargaining that's going on uh

037currently. So, we were uh kind of reviewing some of the preliminary uh language and um financials. And so the positive report from the negotiations team has been that it's you know it's been uh collaborative and and positive and continues to move forward. Uh I believe the expectation is that at one of the next two sessions the uh bargaining unit will make their proposal uh to the NSSO negotiations team. So then after we have that in hand, we'll be able to sort of review and and respond accordingly. So moving forward, >> how do how do you do that communication, right? Like do you and Carol meet like after your meeting to make sure that you guys are completely aligned on what Carol >> Yeah, Carol, Chris, and I have a meeting that we're scheduled in between

038the two >> the two. Okay. >> Uh we need to the big picture is we need to spread those out a little bit further. They the way we've done it just this last time was three literally like three days in a row. It was the NSSO board meeting and then it was the operational board meeting for the next month the next day and then we met the next day or within a couple of days. Ideally, we'd be spreading those out every two weeks so that there's an opportunity for if there's questions, if there's feedback, if there's discussion, but there is a summary that we receive uh that the governing board and the operations board receives from Meg just sort of outlining the this is what was discussed. These are the uh recommendations or these are

039the positions. Um, so working out the timing on that, but the cadence of those is is definitely in uh in the development and our trio meeting. We have to come with a better name for it than uh Chris, Carol, and Don. But CCD >> CCD CD >> CCD, never mind. We just came up with it. >> CCD. >> We have CCD once a month. But that does give us the ability because Chris meets with her colleagues in that >> uh realm monthly as well uh with other with the other uh directors and special ed assistant soups. So, uh, triangulating those three and getting us in the room to monthly will definitely help us streamline that CDC. >> But, so, so there's really now four meetings a month, right? So, there's the the directors and assistant

040soups, >> there's the operation board and then there's this kind of like communication meeting to Carol like for Carol and then Carol has the governance meeting >> and then there's a finance >> and then the finance too, right? Standing. Okay. So there's early five. >> Yeah. >> But like you you attend the meeting with >> So you don't you don't go to >> he's not part of CCA. [laughter] >> Throw another letter in there. >> Could be a real wordc. [laughter] >> That's what we call [laughter] that. All right, we can't use that one. [laughter] >> Um, succession planning. That's you. >> Uh, we [clears throat] had a good meeting >> ago. >> We got to come up with something. [laughter] >> That's not fun. Okay. >> Um, we'll talk more a little bit in

041executive session later on some things. I think big thing just for everyone watching tonight is in the school scene tomorrow. We obviously have information about the open seat and looking for candidates for that at this point. And then um we talked about search firm a little bit more. So we'll be able to share that. Talked a little bit about um some forums and surveys and things to try to build out what our candidate >> uh for the right profile candidate profile will look like. And uh so we'll talk a little bit more about that later, but all in all, a good meeting both on the schoolboard front and on the [snorts] staffing front. So we'll I'm plann on going to Dodd superintendent uh meeting the next one. And uh I'm uh spaced on going to

042the PTO meeting. So I'll try to go to the next one or at least talk to the executive people next week. >> [snorts] >> um community relations. That's >> Yeah. When I saw that I had to speak to this, I'm like, I remember that meeting, but it was almost a month ago. Um >> I So, so the the main topics that we had hit on were the community connections newsletter for the spring at Do you have an we have an ETA of that? just that we decided to push it a little bit later in the spring and so it'll likely be in production through March, April with an early May uh arrival in residencies. Okay. Um we we are doing a a website redesign. Um you know I think that a big part of that's

043for compliance and accessibility right which is big for all websites now. So, I know that that's something that Chris is working on and that uh that we will be looking to make progress on that over the next several months. Um there there's a we have a strategic plan goal for first impressions, right, of the district for for families and talk a little bit about kind of the different ways that uh you know that that the district could ensure they're making a really good first impression for for both for families of kindergarteners kindergarters or for for new families that come in. I mean there's been a ton of work right in that over the last several years. Um but uh I think there's always more to be done. I don't do we have any like concrete

044takeaways from that >> just that we're going to move because of the desire to move it forward. We are going to keep it on the plate for this spring. Uh we'll be having some internal working groups that will look both at documents that might be helpful for families uh who are brand new to the district as well as the kind of the welcome for families as they transition between buildings. Um because each of our schools has a unique kind of vibe and culture which should be celebrated and they each have their own set of contact information and those types of things. So, how do we help all of our families as they have a new [snorts] year, a new impression at a at a new school feel welcomed and and have the information at hand.

045So, a lot of that, as Brian said, we've been developing and we have it in bits and pieces. The goal here is to sort of really make that embedded in a more structural way. Again, I think that everybody seen like the kind of like the introduction booklets for all the schools now that they put together that those are really great. Those really great idea and they should be sure to put that together. Um uh you Donna presented an idea that that they' seen in Palatine 15 of a foot calendar, right? So it's like a a printed calendar that really kind of then calls out really the the key events that occur uh you know in the district throughout the year. and then have also, you know, additional information about the district. What else? You know,

046I think that we that was something you're going to look into a little bit more. It's just an opportunity to highlight um information whether it be your strategic plan, whether it be, you know, services and programs, whether it's um uh key information that uh that calendar is seems to be a a useful tool that people have. Um, and if you can get in the habit of developing and issuing that, that might help both with the welcome and the first impression, the access to information, the tie-in awareness of the events that are happening across the district. Um, we would be looking at u a non-print version of that as well as a potential for a print version either as a purchase for a dollar or two, whatever they end up costing just at cost. Um, but

047we're investigating that and looking to develop that as part of the first impression goal. >> Uh, and then lastly, calendar items. Uh, next Tuesday, the 17th is the Superintendent's Advisory Council. The 19th is BPACK night at the Prospect Heights Library. February 24th is Sullivan Literacy Night. February 26th is Sale Program parent night. March 5th is Eisenhower Family Literacy Night. And then on the 6th, right, we have the Polar Plunge. And then also the Sullivan Musical. [snorts] Um, March 13th is PTO family fun night. And then uh you know spring break is March 23rd through 27th >> and we're off on St. Patrick's Day. >> Yes. Off on St. [laughter] >> I think that that was anything else. >> Tracy, >> did you cover it all? >> Thank you. That's it. >> Amazing. Thank you guys.

048Um all right, we are on the consent agenda. Uh the consent agenda for this evening includes the approval of minutes from the regular and executive session on January 8th, the personnel report for February, and the tuition reimbursement report. >> I get a motion. >> Everybody was here. >> I wasn't here, but I'm fine. >> Do you want to keep them? [clears throat] >> So I move to approve the Consent agenda as presented. >> I'll second. >> Motion by Ryan, second by Marilyn. Does anybody [snorts] have any questions or concerns or comments? >> Great. Can I get a roll call, please? >> Mrs. Bwinsky? >> Yes. >> Mr. Gordonis? >> Yes. >> Dr. Long, >> abstain. >> Mrs. Mlan, >> yes. >> Mrs. Morsy, >> yes. >> Mr. Nordmark, >> yes. >> Mrs. Peters, >> yes.

049>> Motion carries 61. financial report. >> I had the distinct pleasure of having the books this year. Um, >> she even squeezed an extra one. >> Oh, boy. >> Come in tonight. >> Nothing out of the ordinary. Okay. I will just for people who are coming up be advised that there's a lot more >> sticker shock with the school expansion stuff that is more regular that you just have to get comfortable. >> It has not been part of the ordinary in the past. So that's my fair [snorts] warning that um >> there was and there's a lot more. So I the last one I made a comment there was only one attachment but usually there's three or four time >> things um to review. So that's just my give everyone a heads up if you've

050not [snorts] been looking intimately at them >> alphabetically next which means she took one from me for you. >> You're welcome. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> I was happy to do that for you. So >> thank you Spencer. [clears throat] That's so nice. >> But I will uh move to approve the financial reports as presented. >> Moved by Spencer. Second. >> Second by Bren. Any conversation? >> Any questions? Awesome. Can I get a roll call, please? >> Mrs. Spwinsky. Yes. >> Mr. Panis. >> Yes. >> Dr. Long. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Mlan. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Morsy. >> Yes. >> Mr. Nordmark. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Peters. >> Yes. Motion carry 70. >> Um, superintendence reports. >> All right. We have uh two presentations to start off the before we get into some action

051items. The first is the uh building a better D23 update. So, um, we're going to pull the presentation up here. This is primarily focused on, uh, items that you will see in the packet, [snorts] uh, later for action, um, regarding the MacArthur window, side doors. And then we have a brief update on the Eisenhower timeline. This presentation is um will again be linked in the school scene. So you'll have uh community will have the opportunity to review it on their own. >> Will be on the website. >> It's also on the website. Yes. Specifically as part of this uh we want to highlight the components of the project that are managed by the district. Um the initial bid with uh to passion FH passion um has already been awarded and that is uh the bulk

052of the work. But one of the ways we are able to uh reduce costs um is by managing some of the items within the pro scope of the project internally. So through Amy and through Luis uh through Chris in tech uh the things that we're able to manage help us to reduce cost overall. So we're always looking to balance what of that do we have the capacity to do how much of that is uh going to going to tax us overly tax us or are we able to to meet. So the items that we're presenting and talking about tonight are those uh district managed projects and the ones that are up for uh being awarded later this evening. So you can skip the next. That's what I was just talking that second slide. So MacArthur

053windows, siding, and doors. Uh the overall project uh continues to be on time. We've had initial conversations with FH Passion. Um we have made a presentation to the MacArthur staff, talked to them about the timeline for packing their rooms. Uh so we are uh we're ready to roll as far as that goes. The first uh district managed project here that we're going to be talking about [laughter] the repainting and refinishing of the floor. Uh the repainting of the gym itself. some main office furniture uh replacement and repainting the interior of the main office at back the window shades. Um and then we're investigating uh not ready for action yet, but investigating a replacement of a damaged accordion wall on the stage and um we'll bring forward a landscaping plan once we get a little further

054into the process. So, these are the three that we're asking for um awarding contracts to this evening. First, we have the new gym floor, new logo, uh new design. Um those of us that are old school, knew when there was a time when there was no such thing as a three-point line, uh bud here clearly uh clearly delineated. And uh this will be a complete um sanding down of the existing >> painting and then refinishing. You'll see on the next slide that cost is broken down uh the artwork itself and the refinishing work and the recommendation is two specialty floors. >> Right. So these are obviously subject to u Illinois prevailing wage uh which we have to pay. So a little bit more expensive. Bren, at the finance committee meeting, you had asked the question

055about uh how many full sands can a floor have? Um specialty floors recommendation was after three um then it's time that you know you'd have to look at replacing this would be number two for us. >> So I just wanted to get back at you on that. Yeah. >> And then how often do we do that? >> Um the last full sand was prior to 2019. >> Okay. >> So we we don't do it very often. It's typically just a just a a light sanding and then a refinishing. And that we do do every year. >> We're looking at least we have a third sand and then after reevaluating I just for my needed >> maybe 10 years. >> Yeah, probably >> uh the ceiling >> walls uh of the gym. There will be uh

056work on the far wall as part of the doors, window, sighting project. Uh that is included in that [snorts] contract. Um but you know, the the opportunity to freshen up the entire space as we did at Ross Sullivan's gym. Um we're looking to bring forward a proposal on the next slide. um had four requests for proposals or four proposals received um and we're recommending the award to Asher Brothers. >> Yeah. So Asher Brothers is actually the company that worked to do all of this painting when we redid the windows uh and siding um Ross and Sullivan. They did a nice job. So we were kind of happy to see them um show up. This was This project was actually bid as part of the Ross Sullivan uh gym painting bid. The price that we got

057here was less than $1,000 more than when they bid it in 2023. It's a different vendor. Um but we're we're pleased to award tonight to Asher Brothers. Yeah. Um, just so you know, we uh this this solicitation was issued as an RFP because it was we suspected that it would be significantly under the bid threshold of $35,000. So, um, we did have some that came in below and some that were significantly higher. The high bid was $64,000. So, this was a nice savings for us. So, we were pleased with the pricing that came in in that process. >> Don, how how'd you come to the design on the floor? I didn't ask this the other night, but I thought about it afterwards from a regulation standpoint. >> Yep. >> Like how did how did that

058come to be? >> That was Yeah. So number of meetings between the floor between specialty floors, the principal, the athletics, the gym teachers, and then uh Louise. >> Got it. >> That sets us up for volleyball, basketball >> as the p those as the painted lines. the painted >> and then as necessary for class they use the tape. >> So >> it's a unique design though uh having the inside arc but not the paint colored. >> Yeah. >> So that that's what drew my attention >> and I don't see many quarts like that. >> But >> he showed us about six different designs and this was the one that Yeah. >> Yeah. Max team liked maybe because it was a little bit different. Yeah. >> With our new intimidating marauder. [laughter] >> Strike fear into

059the heart of our >> Yeah. >> Uh the next area is the redesign of the furniture in >> I'm sorry, real quick. the previous are they do. Are we going to open up those windows up above there as >> that is one of the ad alternates? >> That's an ad alternate >> that we're still waiting on. We have the proposal to do that. [clears throat] >> Um we are waiting to see what happens with Eisenhower to see if >> there's available add-on money to to do that and add the windows. Yes. >> Yeah. You scroll back to that. Yeah. I'm sorry because that's a really good picture of it. Yeah. So, this is actually right right above those >> all the way up. >> Yeah. So, you can So, what how long ago was that

060that they got covered up like 10 years ago or longer than that? >> 30 years. >> Yeah. >> But that would be a cool project to get more natural light in. >> That would be a great project. They've done it at a couple of the We went to look at a couple of the um Palatine schools that have put in the frosted U panels all the way up. it just affords so much more light coming into that space. And then um the electronic uh window shades will be in there along with the frosted glass that'll kind of allow whoever is using the space to kind of cut down on the glare in the earlier or later time of the day, right? Because it's >> Yeah. The west. >> Yeah. Because it's facing west, right? >>

061Yeah. >> And and there's two, right? One over each door. What does that look like on the outside? Is it is it just like that black? >> Right now it is. >> Oh, right now it's just >> the black panel. >> Yeah, it's just that black paneling over to the outside now. >> Right. >> Um, one of the other projects that we look to do um as we talked about at finance and buildings and sites is the um not really renovation but just kind of new furniture in the MacArthur office. Um kind of tweaking uh the positions that the admin assistants would be facing. So here you've got um one that would face the door and then the other one would face down that main corridor. Um what's different here is they have really you

062recall in the existing office they really only have that middle area as their workspace um because the perimeter is largely stand up and and talk with someone. So here it brings them out a little bit and it kind of maximizes their workspace um all the way around. It adds some additional storage um kind of on that shared wall um as you kind of walk back towards Caper and Cam's office. Um and this is a setup that that the Mac office team all had input in. Again, a couple of different renderings. We went back and forth with the vendor and um made a couple of tweaks. So, yeah, this we would look to install um in July or likely more towards August as they were wrapping up. They were good with not having like the higher

063wall all the way around. >> Yeah, they did not want the higher wall. They literally just wanted kind of those they're called transaction counters >> because I just just from personal experience, I'm there once a week dropping something off that my child has forgotten, right? that that those >> that those counters are covered with >> covered with stuff that kids need to pick up or drop off or >> part of the safety enhancement will be the shift to parents who don't need to come into the office to drop off a clarinet or whatever >> on the table in the foyer. >> And that would eliminate the need to buzz in. Parents can drop and go. They don't have to wait, you know. Yeah, >> I mean they do that at the Ross right now. >>

064Yeah. So finaliz and we're in the process of just kind of finalizing but it would be uh 25 it's just over 25,000 um the prices actually in the action. It's like 252 I believe. So, uh, with the award going to educational environment. And then lastly, um, Allstar Drapery is the vendor that was awarded the contract for window treatments when we put the bid on the street again for Ross, Sullivan, and Gratsky. Um, we did go back to them to see if they would uh would honor their pricing from 2023, and yes, they were willing to honor their pricing. So, I will likely um it is probably a little bit more of a technicality, but I would feel more comfortable bringing a formal board action to you guys um for the full amount. There's there's really

065no rush and no reason why we can't do that. So, I'll bring that forward in March um for action just to kind of reapprove uh the award to Allstar Drapery so that we have something current, but it it'll be the same Greyber um blinds that we have here. And all that was really good last time when we did the windows here and the painting in the painting here. [snorts] >> Uh and then just an update to the timeline uh for the Eisenhower project. Uh the bids for the work were released this past Monday. Um we've received um interest from a lot of vendors, which is great. Uh we are hosting a bid walkth through on [snorts] Monday morning around 10:00 a.m. over at Eisenhower. Uh it's not a mandatory walkth through, but we do anticipate

066between 30 and 40 vendors. Um, >> it'll be fun >> to walk through [laughter] being with your competitors. >> fortunate to have the day of non-attendance >> uh so that we can have, you know, access to the building. um >> and uh vendors will typically, you know, take notes, take some pictures. They'll, >> you know, maybe jockey for position, you know, and uh but that that gives them then uh 11 days to finalize their bid submissions that are due by 100 p.m. on Friday, February 27th, where we'll be hosting the bid opening here. uh Nicholas and Associates will uh facilitate that process. They will uh review the submissions for make sure that they're complete. It's a substantial bid packet. So there's a lot of uh detail to be uh reviewed and then they will bring

067um for discussion at the finance committee meeting on Tuesday the 3 um sort of the overall recommendations and the review of the ad alternates so that >> Nicholas and AR join us for that as well >> so that um there's an opportunity for discussion um that can then give some direction for them to develop the awarding of the bids uh to be presented at the March 12th meeting. Uh, >> is there like back and forth like between the 16th and the 27th? Like is there like do they have like a like do you expect all the questions to be asked the day of or do they like submit written questions and you have to give feedback or >> so they they will likely raise questions um in the um in the walkthrough but but Nicholas

068will have to address and answer all questions in writing to all prospective biders. So >> Okay. So Nicholas is handling all that back and forth. That's great. We're good. >> So excited to see those projects moving forward. Um, again, thanks to Amy, Luis, the team for uh their work on that, our partners at Archon and FH Passion. Um, any questions or anything else you'd like to discuss about that? Uh the second presentation then is the second in the series of three presentations. >> It's a trilogy. >> A trilogy. [laughter] >> The prequel. >> This one really ends with a cliffhanger. >> Yeah, this is that's exactly right. It is a cliffhanger. It picks up It picks up our story just where we left off. [laughter] Did you change the boat? >> The boat is still

069there, but >> it just makes a brief appearance. It's not the focal point here. What we're looking at [laughter] >> here, what we're looking at um is is providing sort of the the groundwork or the foundation of u the budgeting process, the budget projection [snorts] process. so that from a planning perspective we have as uh realistic as possible assumptions uh so that we can plan accordingly for uh costs moving forward. So again uh this overall trilogy is is tied to this goal for developing our plan for sustainable financing. We will tonight talk about our current budget assumptions. Again, building off of uh what we saw last time in terms of expenditures and revenues. Uh we have some exciting updates about the full day kindergarten program uh design and Chris uh sorry [snorts] Craig and yeah

070Chris and Craig will share uh the work of the committee uh with us and then as Brian says we set up the cliffhanger by by talking about the new baseline uh that we would be uh using as we begin to look forward. Then next month we will uh run that data, provide some budget scenarios as well as some strategies for um how we might match those needs. Amy and I, she, you know, must love, you must love working so [snorts] closely with me because it takes me a little while to speak the language. But, uh, I think it's important to point out [snorts] the the term assumptions that we're using um in budget development versus budget projections are a little bit different. remembering that the budget is a living document, but it's it's built on

071as current assumptions as you can make. And it often times you have the exact percentage of um benefit in benefit increase for example. >> But we also make assumptions for what that will cost us in future years. So wherever possible, we're doing that with actuals. We're doing that with guidance and and uh consultation from our our vendors, from our partners. Um but it's there is an element also of best you know uh experience in making a decision moving forward. You have to you have to sort of use that make a professional judgment uh as to what those dollar amounts need to be. The point of the exercise really is to make sure that that those estimates that we are making are as accurate as possible to really paint the a true picture of our our

072needs. Um any other >> No, I just think it's it's it's and and thank you I think for that. There was a lot there was a lot of back and forth and I think it was a lot of um not more challenging conversations but trying to get other people to understand a language that you kind of talk through all the time and you I'm like no that's not what the assumption is or you know it it is it's like this much it doesn't even feel like guessing but it's this much and then it's a lot of it's a lot more of this they're researching to line up exactly where we know where we're going to be with grants and understanding exactly what CPI could be looking like with, you know, through conversations with Liz or

073with our partners at Forecast 5 and really kind of understanding exactly where our neighbors are, where where they're thinking, you know, so that we're all kind of on kind of on the same um the same plane when we're when we're looking at what some of these financial fluctuations could look like. um I think is really important is getting as close as we can be when you see kind of where some of our uh estimations are coming in. We're we're not that far off with the actual. So that was I think that was um >> reassuring. Yeah, thanks for that. And >> this this this is not unique to us. This is all >> all all districts do is >> with with tighter and tighter budgets, it becomes more and more important. You know, if we

074had a 120% fund balance, you don't sweat a percent here or there, but we have that is not our reality. [snorts] >> Yeah. >> So, when we start out here, uh Am's going to walk us through our process. >> Yeah. So we present a very similar kind of graphic when we go through um what the levy cycle is just so we can really kind of understand that it is kind of a fullear uh a full year process and a fullear plan. So in July and August we're kind of reviewing what those prior year um expenditures and revenues looked like and then we're kind of getting into the audit in uh September. We're bringing forward um to the board the final budget to be adopted. November we're kind of going through um finalizing the audit and

075that comes to you the AFR >> [clears throat] >> um typically for approval. November, December, we get right into levy. Um and in January we're kind of at that halfway uh that the halfway mark. Um, so we're kind of evaluating where we're at and then we're developing our projection models as we look towards budgeting already for the next year, which is exactly where we're at now. Um, January and February, we're holding those meetings with the budget administrators. Um, and we're setting our priorities in alignment with the strategic plan, which is which is really important. Again, another document that we view as a living, breathing um kind of uh uh goal for us um to achieve. And then we've got um between March and May, we're really kind of building that final budget and then we're

076kind of going into um into that cycle again. But for us, it's it's all about um kind of taking a look at the past to see where we um are kind of coming in as we at the same time are working on those forecasts. Um and it is just kind of a a cycle that goes throughout the year. So, thanks Chris. We started um with a zerobased approach to budgeting two years ago now. um with last year, we really implemented some um reductions districtwide through not only line items, but department um line items, department budgets, I should say. And that was really helpful because I think it um encouraged the budget administrators, principles, and department uh heads to really look at their actual expenditures. They start with largely nothing uh and then are kind of

077tasked with going in and prioritizing their needs um and then re-evaluating and allocating those available dollars at the at the building level. We use a cost per pupil model for their discretionary expenditures. And then here um we it's it's largely a kind of a carryover from what they had in a prior year with implementing some reductions and then uh Chris and Craig both take into account available grant dollars coming in when they're working towards those expenditures. Again, the projections and the assumptions that we use are largely based on historical data and then market analysis moving forward. But for this presentation, um, when we go through each of the expenditures, there are some key variables that most impact our budget that we wanted just to kind of highlight. So, some of those on the revenue side,

078uh, obviously local funding, we know we are largely dependent on our property tax dollars, just over 80%. Uh and so for us that uh having a good clear estimate on where our property tax collections are coming in. Um with regard to the state evidence-based funding for us has been really predictable. It's largely very flat. Um uh the the MCATs is something that we've spent a little bit more time recently talking about. So we've seen um increased proration which results in decreases in revenue coming to us. um federal grant funding we've heard a lot about in the news and so we keep uh continuing to keep a very close eye on that. We're we're optimistic and we're encouraged by what we're hearing now that funding coming into fiscal 27 will remain the same. Um but we

079are looking if we need to make a potential reduction. I think we've scaled that in there um for a for a slight reduction. And then use of one-time funds. We um for us that is largely those DCEO grants that we've continued to receive. Um as well, we are likely going to be the recipients of an additional grant. We have not yet received that final paperwork, but we'll be sure and share that once we get the final um from the state on that. Um but again, the DCEO legislative grants, we also get that school maintenance uh grant as well. and then oneoff grants that we might receive that are more project specific. Go >> ahead. You want me to walk that? >> Sure. >> Um so we Don and I have spent some time talking about

080um exactly where are we at when it comes to our property tax receipts. And so I worked on a chart to share exactly um how the dollars are coming in. And and the one thing to keep in mind is tax year does not align with the fiscal [clears throat] year. For a single tax year, it spans [laughter] over two fiscal years. Okay? And so it is a little bit tricky. The first installment, which for us comes in the spring, makes up 55% of our total of our total extension. the remainder trs up based on the remaining um 45% and then also with any new property that would come into the district which for property or for prospect he tites the area it's been really again pretty flat. There's not a whole lot of new uh

081commercial going in. Uh although we do kind of we work to keep on top of that with the um with the assessor's office just to make sure that we're staying on top of any developing properties, but it's been really pretty limited. So you can see that we have um each tax here shows us the um the capp and the non-capped extension. Our non-capped extension is for bond and interest. So um just so you guys have a sense of that. And then our total final extension is the amount of money that we are uh eligible to receive by tax year. Um when you look down below, those are the taxes that have been distributed um by the county to the district. Some of those dollars are lost um based on refunds. That's really nothing that we

082can plan for. Um it's funds that are taken back and oftentimes those refunds are processed after we receive the funds and so someone we may receive a tax year distribution for 2023 or 2024 and a couple years down the road they'll take that back based on successful appeals um through the PTAB process. But it's it's nothing that we really planned for and like I said it's unanticipated and we it forces us to be a little bit more reactive. But um we have talked about exactly where our percentages of collections have come in. The past several years we have [clears throat] budgeted right around 98%. Coming into fiscal 26 which is this year we scaled that back to a 96% collection. Um not not because we're not optimistic that we're going to get it, but we

083just want to be really sensitive with regard to the refunds and we want to make sure that we're we are [snorts] very carefully spending uh planning for our expenditures so that we're not in a position to be deficit spending again next year. So >> can you tell what happened in 2018 that we were only at 90% of the >> Yeah. So [clears throat] the interesting thing is t in 2018 oh 2018 Becky was the first uh no that's not right. I was going to say that was the first year EVF, but that's not that was not >> I mean if you don't know 2017 I don't I don't know why that was like 98 97.99 and for some reason in >> it was only 90 >> only 90 I just it's interesting to me because

084we >> so the refunds there's no like general range that we're seeing. It could be anything. It could it is it swings. Um last fiscal year it was in the $400,000 for fiscal 25 and we do get some of those dollars back. Um recent legislation that was passed was that revenue recapture um legislation. And so we do get just under about $200,000 back by per year. Um but yeah, >> it's also on a because Cook County assesses and taxes on or assesses on the trienal, >> you'll see that go a little bit in waves when >> when you get that sticker shock that first year that your property is reassessed. >> You see a spike in the number of >> appeals. The challenge is that that appeal process may take two, three, >> yeah, >>

085four years before it actually comes to fruition. So just as that is, you know, perhaps low that we may still receive tax revenue that is owed to us from two, three years, >> four years. I mean it goes Yeah. So it at the end of the day it comes in but it isn't a straight line from in this particular tax year you were supposed to get this and you got all of it. It >> it spans a couple of different years. So trying to think about it through that percent of collection as a measure for us um allows us to say you know if we're at about 98% historically that feels comfortable and then as we look to move forward as Ames said uh reducing that to 96 with the set aside for construction dollars

086um being sort of the strategy we would use uh moving forward. One of the challenges that we've had with this year, so you recall the one uh we are currently still awaiting final payments on the second installment for tax year 2024, which were due to us in August, September. We still have not received our full um entitlement on that installment yet. We're still about a million dollars short. However, the um the Cook County Extranet, which is the site that taxing bodies can go to to pull this information, has not been updated at all for 2024. So, it's not the information for the first installment is not there and it's not there for the second year, which is why you see that that the blank space in tax year 2024. resolution resolution. [laughter] >> Uh I

087I think it's an important misunderstanding and so I think it's important for us to try to clarify um the process of state supporting uh local school districts. [snorts] That shift in fiscal year 2017 to 2018 was the implementation of the new evidence-based funding model. The portion of that funding in blue is uh statutoily uh guaranteed to us. Whether they meet that or not is a different it's a different story. But uh you can see that that base funding minimum um has remained relatively uh consistent uh year-over-year. The new funding on top of that base um is allocated through the evidence-based funding model which creates four tiers across the state. the most uh at risk districts, the most underfunded districts uh furthest away from adequacy receive the vast majority of the money, 99% or thereabouts. The

088second tier splits a percentage of the remaining percent and tiers three and four uh receive a again an even smaller sliver of the remaining sliver. So yes over year over year we have received more dollars from the state which we're thankful for. But when we hear the total dollars at the state level and they and they have put in [clears throat] 3 $150 million a year uh in new funding for school districts across the state. Uh our share of that has been uh 44 41 51 nothing 41 33 24 $34,000. Again, not going to turn it down, not going to say no thanks. Um, but it's important as a tier, we have historically been a tier three district. So, [snorts] we receive a very, very small sliver of that. We are beginning to transition to

089tier 2, which is what happens. as tier three districts that are kind of on the fence or on the border uh don't receive as much money, our adequacy level drops in terms of how close are we to meeting the expected um allocations for an adequate education. Uh we are now down to 90% and have fallen into tier two. So, we will likely see an increase. I would project it to look closer to 65 to 75,000. >> Don, going back, you you said so looks on there 2018 evidence. Is that when you the evidence-based funding kicked in with wasn't that Becky, was that your question a couple slides ago? But the fiscal year 2018 was like also only received 90% tax collection is what she was asking. >> So they're like they [clears throat] happen to

090happen the same year but they're not connected. >> They're not connected. >> Yeah. >> Like they just it just randomly they're the same year. >> Bad luck. >> What was your question like? Was that because of evidence based funing here? >> I I misunderstood the question and so that's I thought she was >> going this way. She's just asking about the lower rate of collections. Yeah, >> they're not. You're right for spotting there big changes in 2018, both of those slides, but they are actually >> unrelated. >> Uh so one of the pieces of legislation that um we have been actively advocating for is >> [snorts] >> uh for fully funding the uh what are called mandated categorical uh shorten to MCAT. Uh there are required services uh for school districts by statute. Special education.

091Um transportation being two of the largest components of those that are uh intended to be reimbursed by the state. And so, um, there's a proration, meaning if they were to pay it 100%, we would get all of the [snorts] money expected that we're expecting to, but they have not fully funded those MCATs in I hesitate to say ever, but uh, it has it has it has varied in percentage. It's been as high as 90% but it's been as low as 60%. >> But it looks even lower. It looks even lower than 60 there. >> On top of that, >> we see increased costs that just get added on to what is not reimbursed. So there's two issues. One is fully fund what you say you're going to fund instead of only funding it at a

092percentage. And what you say you're going to fund needs to be higher because that baseline that the state has set, the money that they're putting toward transportation has remained flat >> while transportation costs have gone up and up and up. >> So they're not adding new dollars into that pool and then within that pool they're not giving us everything. So >> inconsistent inconsistency, >> right? It's the $5 allowance that you got in 1987 and you're still getting a $5 allowance now. >> Perfect. >> But you're only getting >> but you're only going to get four of the five and that $4 doesn't buy you the happy meal like it used to. >> But AI is here. So it should make it simpler. >> Maybe >> the robots. So, this is an important advocacy point for

093us because yes, thank you to the state of Illinois for the evidence-based funding, the new dollars, but what is happening to districts across the state is that those new dollars are being absorbed into a deficit that we're that's just not being matched. So, this is happening. transportation is the largest most glaring example of it, but it's also happening in the special education and special ed placement realms. Um, but this is a significant stressor in terms of state revenue that we need to help [snorts] our legislators understand. >> Do you actually have the like another year or two older data so that this like aligns more? The co screws this up with the transportation, right? But >> I think just ultimately right to your point down like you can't see what our reimbursement was in 2018.

094But it's gone up, you know, just from 2019 that we're having to pay a half a million dollars more almost for transportation. >> Yep. >> And that, you know, and so that >> it's great that we see that the big jump in evidence-based funding, but we're but that but that's that savings is getting eaten away here. Right. >> Right. And the legislators are and everybody's got, you know, uh, tight purse strings these days. That that makes sense. But they're discussing and debating either or either putting more money into evidence-based funding or putting more money into MCATs. Those are two separate issues. The evidence-based funding is to get districts to adequacy of instruction. MCATs are reimbursements for required services. So if if you pull money away from one and put more money here, you're still creating

095that imbalance that in many legislators minds. I will say not Mary Beth Kanty. We've had many conversations about this, [clears throat] but many people will say, "Well, we gave [snorts] education $350 million more." We're saying, "Yes, but you underfunded MCAT, so that 350 had to go, it didn't go to instruction like it's supposed to. and it didn't go to improving the classroom educational experience because you're underfunding the reimbursement just to get kids here. And so that push and pull is very much at the center of the legislative battles that we're seeing right now. >> And so that is there like I hear Mary Beth Kanty is doing a great job of hearing us. Are there like other ways for local like for us to continue to advocate? I I just saw there's an advocacy day

096coming up in March with local legislators. Like >> is that something like for anybody that's listening or watching like getting in front of while Mary Beth is you know >> Yeah. As you're seeing bills proposed to fund education um in a variety of different ways. the the ones that we're advocating for that we can express our support for would be ones that maintain MCATs and EBF as two separate pools and fully funding both. >> For any of you that didn't know, there's an advocacy day on March 24th. >> You want to go down? >> If we raised both of them though, would we want the MCATs funded? Would that be our our choice? over the other >> the MCATs have a much more direct impact for for our district. Yes. >> Yeah. >> Because the

097other base funding at least the red bar on the other page like it's 9 100,000 350 million. >> Right. >> Small number. >> Yeah. Uh the the next page is just a federal funding. Again, we have um you know, we see some spikes. Those are tied directly to the student enrollment because most of those federal grants are tied to student- driven programs. Um we are cautiously optimistic that funding will remain uh somewhat level but uh most at risk I believe are titles 2, three and four when this federal government al makes their allocations. uh they come through the state and then Chris and Craig uh manage the grant writing for all of those. Next month we have a an update for for the board on our overall grant position and our projections for next year

098specifically. But as trend data goes, you know, again, we don't rely heavily on federal funds. [clears throat] Um and we don't really see any trends one way or another. it remains in flux. >> Expenditures. >> Um so some of the variables that we take a really close look at um annually um include on the expenditure side, right? We've got our staffing levels and compensation and then our um employee benefits and combined those equate to about 76% of our total uh expenditures. We also look at um the the annual kind of those ongoing programmatic and operational costs and then purchase services uh in each of the operational funds ED transportation and O andM. And as Don talked about oftentimes those we know exactly where those um contracts are coming in for the next year so we

099can budget really pretty closely there for those. So these are um more familiar uh and and some of them are repeats from our last uh time. Our staffing plan has remained relatively uh flat over the last couple of years. Um we have seen programmatic increases in technology uh as we added more support there in um custodial as we chose to add more folks there and clerical. Uh the most direct impact to the classroom is the lower golden rod color bar. Uh that ranges from 63 to uh in 63 core teachers in FY20 to 61 teachers being projected for next year. So that's [snorts] relative to class um enrollment to class size that has always bounced right around that dollar amount. the uh student services programs that we have brought inhouse uh as an offset of

100outplacement are in the special ed certified area and then our onetoone or classroom special education assistance uh fluctuate obviously based on student need. So when we go into um each of these next slides, we'll talk a little bit about Not yet. Not yet, Chris. Sorry. Um we'll talk a little bit about each of the different categories. Um but where we have um we're kind of listing some of these components here and these components go into the forecast 5 model as we're developing our projections, right? So, we typically can we assume two retirements each year and then we kind of kick that out to see what that potential um cost impact could look like. We have um we utilize our class side class size guidelines to determine staffing needs and then we put those exact dollars

101into the projection model so we can go ahead and escalate those out at the um increase in alignment with the negotiated agreement. So you want to go to the next one? Thanks Chris. So for when we look at compensation again salaries are budgeted to be exactly what they are um and then escalated with the negotiated agreements. Here we've seen a historical average increase of just over 3%. And so for projection purposes past um we had used the 3% um increase uh for our assumption um with regard to compensation. for insurance benefits. Um the historical average increase that we have seen um so this is different than the trend um that we had talked a little bit about in um in finance but the average increase that we've actually realized here is just over 7%. Again,

102when we put these numbers in, we typically have our exact um year-to-ate numbers and then we have the next year's um estimates moving forward and then we project out. So, we'll share a little bit um more about that towards the ends, but towards the end of the presentation when we look at that table, but for this we depend on our partners at Gallagher um uh to kind of articulate those trends. our operational costs that is uh our supplies and materials those vary um again across fund in the education fund. We have projected these out as flat. So really um very limited increases and then over the past two years our challenge to our administrative team has actually been to realize um some savings between five and 10% on their own line items. Operations uh and

103maintenance fund that's our fund 20. Unfortunately, we've talked about the increases that we've seen um pretty much across the board in the different utilities and consumables, but here uh overall supplies and materials have seen average increases of just under 8%. Um and the only other uh item here that we would include is our uh transportation fuel as well which has continued to go up but largely our projection models have held flat here. P services again the operational funds we've seen historical averages uh increase just over 9%. Although here our ED fund projections we've held them flat. Um but that's been again the challenge to the budget administrators. Transportation has been in alignment with our negotiated agreement and then operations and maintenance across the board has been an increase of 2%. So in these uh visuals

104that forecast 5 that we work on with them, they've grouped these by um by object, not by fund. So that's kind of why they're co-mingled a little bit. Any questions on those? We kind of kick through them pretty quickly. If you go up to that to that last one, just what all from the ED fund, what are the major things coming out of the ED fund for purchase services from >> contracted staffing? >> It's contracted staffing. >> Uh some purchase services for um NSS portion is the is the add-on stuff for NSSO falls under there. Is that right? >> Some of the tuition cost >> is the tuition as well. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So the majority of NSSO is under here >> is under >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Yep. >> So that's just

105to again bring us up to speed with what we have typically done. We know that we have an exciting addition in terms of full day kindergarten programming that we need to account for. And so I'm going to pass it to Craig and Chris to walk through their process uh since they and Luke led uh this committee. >> All right. So [clears throat] when it comes to full day kindergarten and our planning for that, we had a few goals in mind. Um the first the [clears throat] first is to uh just conduct a needs assessment of our full day kindergarten program. Um as a part of that, we wanted to look at what is currently going well in our halfday program. [clears throat] Um and then in a perfect world, what would we like to implement

106to make our full day kindergarten successful? Um we also as a part of those goals, we wanted to um just collect input from both staff and parents. Um and then while we're doing that, also collaborate with other districts um to see what's worked for their programs during implementation and what we could how we could benefit from those. Um and then lastly, just create a plan and communicate that plan to you guys and also the community. Uh the first thing we did was we convened a full day kindergarten committee that was made up of [snorts] our four current kindergarten teachers. Um three key support staff members. Um one of those was our instructional coach, one was a special education teacher and then one was an interventionist. Um and we partnered with them. Uh it was Dr.

107Lombados, myself and Dr. Stroka. Um while we were convening the committee, we also had some district-wide planning going on. Uh we again wanted to look at our needs for our program, [snorts] which first one is pretty obvious, curriculum and instruction um and where those needs fell, but also around our classrooms and um creating schedules and routines in the classroom that would best benefit our kindergarten students in a full day program. And then we also wanted to make sure not to overlook some of the teacher planning involved um around making sure that they have a team planning time and they have the time necessary to plan for the for their students and make that the best program possible. Um also along the way we wanted to consider our budgetary implications um gather feedback uh from parents

108and the community and also those neighboring districts as we talked about. We'll talk a little bit more about each of those. Um, some of that collaboration that we did with other districts, um, included both River Trails 26 and Arlington Heights District 25. Um, with district 26, they've had a successful program for a while now. Um, so these two districts were a little different as far as why we were partnering with them. Um again 26 we we went in and our teachers were able to talk with their teachers kind of a Q&A session ask any questions that they had. Um and then also they were able to visit the classrooms and actually uh go in and look at some of those needs assess those pieces that we wanted to assess going into this. So, uh, [clears

109throat] some of the routines that were going on, how they had their classroom set up, ask about their, uh, curriculum that they use, and maybe just some things that they've changed over the years that have made their program more successful. Um, and then with Arlington Heights, uh, that was a little bit different because they're going through their implementation right now. This is their first year of implementation for their program. So, it's kind of a fresher take on uh what do they feel like they need to change or what's gone well that you thought was going to be good and then what still needs to change. So, um that was our fresh take on all that. >> Um so, we gathered feedback from um staff and so some of the strengths [snorts] and gaps that we've

110learned and are kind of planning towards um they really feel strongly about the curriculum they're currently using. So really those those are solid. We do a lot of work in gathering information on curriculum. Um so uh they feel good about that. They also feel really good about um their SEAL um which is the second step program. Um some of the gaps that they have identified were um more not enough time for writing. So um >> current gaps they have identified not in programs they visited. >> No, this is this is their >> Sorry, I just make sure. >> Yep. Um, so time for writing. Um, obviously with two hours and 45 minutes, um, that's our kindergarten session, there's not a lot of time to do everything. Um, so they have minimal opportunities to retach skills

111that kids are not getting. Um, they really don't have an opportunity to do too much differentiation [snorts] and that means really like to hit some of those higher um, skills with some students who are progressing faster maybe than the general class. but then also you know supporting the kids that have skill gaps. Um small group instruction is challenging um in the short amount of time they lack uh free play and structured play time um and um really like the pacing of their curriculum. They're just they just feel that that's the biggest gap. So in the next slide um we had an opportunity to meet with some parents which was fantastic. got a lot of great feedback from them and so the strengths they see in our current programming mostly half day um is opportunities for

112field trips that they feel the curriculum is really strong so they're really happy with it um and the smaller class sizes um so the gaps that the parents um identified um based on the feedback we got was um the lack of specials opportunities so you'll see that in the next slide in a minute we'll talk about that um structured play was also another gap and really that opportunity to focus on socialization with peers. Um time for grouping by skill. Um and they also talked a little bit about just cross grade levels. So opportunities to work with first graders. Um that was something some of the parents brought up and and not having time to do that when the kiddos are only there 2 hours and 45 minutes. So um and they also brought up um

113having more time for parent volunteerism. So then um based on all the feedback and the observations um the proposed program design is to maintain class size guidelines and um the core um curriculum which is the literacy and the math and that dedicated time. Um we would be looking at increasing PE to three times a week which is what first grade and and first through fifth grade get um provide art, music and library. So currently all of the kindergarten sections do go to library one time a week. Um but only our two full day sections receive art um art class and none of the sections get music. So it' be increasing and kind of equalizing that out. They're going to be here the full day. So why not get the same that the first graders get.

114So um so we would we would do that and we were planning for that. increasing [snorts] writing instruction time as well as kind of those things that we were talking about in that gap section about reteing, differentiation, structured play. Um all of those things and then um the one last thing is really restructuring the kindergarten screening process. Um then that gives them an opportunity to know, you know, what skills the students have coming into kindergarten and um how to best uh manage their their classes. Chris on on the slide before we where we were talking about strengths and gaps. >> Yeah. >> So that includes >> is that looking at the full day kindergarten classes as well and understanding what they're I mean I know it's sort of a different level but are we looking

115are we also looking at strengths and gaps of the current? So we obviously those teachers were are part of that committee as well and so the gaps kind of came out of like okay Mrs. Dico what what do you get to do since you have a full day this is kind of our gap because of the half day are you able to do small group instruction or are you able to do more differentiation. So that's how some of these gaps kind of came in. The gaps are based on the half day, but in comparison to what those two full day sections are able to do. So they really kind of talked around, you know, how do we do that better in a full day program? And they also talked about with all the students being

116um there together in full day um they'll have more opportunities for the big thing that they're working on um is the groupings. And so really like collaborating with each other to cross group the students across the classes. So they might be able to do kind of like an acceleration group and one teacher would take that group and they'd have a dedicated time for that and that's just something that they're not able to do right now. So, so the gaps are in reference to, you know, not having a full day and not having those opportunities, but in reference to the full day. So, they included that information as well. >> Um, obviously with a full day kindergarten program, there is some staffing impact. So, [snorts] um the biggest being the first one you see up there.

117Uh we'd be looking to add two full-time equivalent positions for classroom teachers. Um there's also some implications that Chris mentioned a minute ago with our specialist teachers. So, we'd be looking to slightly increase those. Um because of the bigger space, we would also need some additional custodial support. Um and then we're looking to add a 0.5 FTE social worker as well. Um the total cost of those positions is just over 275,000 per year. >> And then um also just similar unfortunately the the special education services really eb and flow. It it's hard to necessarily estimate but this is an estimation based on you know having to increase speech and language support for maybe a point 2 or 3 maybe a 0.1 of OT. That doesn't mean that we're necessarily going to need to add people.

118They might be just shifting around things around the district. Um, but it's an approximation and that's about $58,000 per year. There are also some operational programmatic um needs and uh in total uh looking at $46,500 for um the curricular materials and supplies that includes technology subscriptions, things like that. Um also we're looking at an increase in utilities and maintenance. Um approximately $25,000 per year there. And then there are >> That seems really low based on our electrical bills. >> [laughter] >> to be added. It's a, you know, pretty small addition compared to the existing footprint, unfortunately. >> LED. >> Yeah. Yeah. Oh, yeah. All the LEDs. >> Yeah. >> Um, and then there's also some additional one-time startup costs with with the new program. So, those are included as well. Um, when you look at

119this slide here, adds all of those pieces together that we already talked about and we're looking at a total of just over $45,000 annually. Before we transition off of that, questions about the full day K program design process elements. >> I'll put Chris back to that 58,000 for the special. Some of that will be refunded through IDA or is that still >> I mean we're not getting more money from for so >> Okay. No, >> I you know I mean like >> Yeah, I just like reimburseable not like is it >> I mean it's it would it's just if we increase the staffing projections I mean right now all of our idea a majority of our DI dollars are split between NSSO which used to be the flow through so those are the costs that

120we have to um put into our grant and then the rest we choose to fund our special education pair professionals. So that's kind of how that's split. So the um special education costs are around like adding, you know, half of a special education teacher, a little bit of speech, a little bit of OT, that kind of thing. >> Thank you. >> Just wondering if, you know, we could >> Yeah. >> milk some money. >> Well, we we did we did lean more on a you know, we want to make sure that we have the finances available. So that may be some of those costs may be a little over um what we will actually need to spend. I mean depending on which 45 new kindergarters enroll with us. If they all have speech and language

121needs that's not going to be nearly enough. But >> none of them do. Then we wouldn't have any. So it's it's sort of taking a look at the um trends on ratios of what's existing. >> Yeah. >> Good gueststimate. estimate. Yes. >> So again, the purpose of this whole exercise really is to take the opportunity now with this new reset of uh adding a full day kindergarten program in FY27. So this is not in effect for the next fiscal year, but Amy's already in the process of developing that budget. This is really to inform our planning for FY27 and beyond, but it gives us an opportunity to reset where's our current costs just to maintain what we're currently doing with a transition to full day K. And we've talked about absorbing those costs. And given

122the fluctuation within the last five to seven years that we talked about for a pro uh projection standpoint for that long-term planning, do we need to make adjustments to some of those assumptions? Has our has our assumption of maintaining it flat been too low? Does it need to be higher? And so that's what brings us to uh the next slide. Oh no, not the next slide. No, you can go to the next slide, but that's [clears throat] >> I was the following one, but go ahead. Why why we're doing this, why we need to have financial uh long-term financial planning. >> Well, and I think carefully articulating [clears throat] what the baseline is, right? and and identifying those gaps that we're going to have to have to have to mitigate as we kind of project

123out over the next couple years with the start of um full day kindergarten. We've just got some other costs that we need to be aware of. So obviously um it it allows a plan for financial stability um and it increases the credibility and transparency which is really important for our communities. It allows the board to evaluate [snorts] the new initiatives. Obviously, full day kinder is a big one on the radar. Um, but based on our realistic financial capacity, which we'll see in part three of the trilogy when we actually um project out some of these models using the new baseline, >> do we do we potentially save some money on transportation costs by going to full day kindergarten without We're going to be So, yes, we'll be eliminating likely. We'll be eliminating Okay, so it's

124a two-part question. Ideally, yes, because we will be eliminating some of those midday routes. We're going to be working on implementing some changes to transportation as we get to the 2728 school year. However, um, First Student has recently acquired Grand Prairie Transit and so it really has kind of eliminated now the competition in that market in our area. So that it could be a little bit more problematic for us, but we'll we uh are locked in this year. We'll have to be preparing to put a new bid on the street next year to be implemented in 2728. So, >> so if they held if they held their if they hold their pricing, >> yes, we would see a reduction of at least one route >> and overall and and reductions in cost. >> And I

125like you saying you bid to bid, >> right? It what will be interesting is to see if Cook Illinois, which is Grand Prairie, um if they remain separate. It literally this just was finalized within the past week and a half. So it's still really new how they're going to continue to operate. I I don't know. Safeway is out there. There are a couple Durhams out there, but nobody is that large. So >> there's an opportunity for a startup bus company. >> Okay. So the next slide kind of I think if I'm correct. >> Can you go to the next slide, Chris? Sorry. There it is. Okay. Geez, it took me a while to get there. Um, just kind of provides again that reset of assumptions. Uh, not every item in the assumption model, but in

126those key some of those key areas, we talked about the local collections rate being in historically right around 98%. That is a I think a good confident number for us. But with the strategy of allocating uh funds purposefully toward a capital projects uh that baseline assumption as we did this year uh shifts to 96%. Negotiated agreement we've been using 3% we continue that. Uh we're looking at FTE for staffing remaining static. So no no additional staffing. The benefits on the medical side had had been at 7%. Uh we're looking at a one-time bump of 15 and then projecting 10% from there. will obviously in reality adjust once we know what the actuals are, but we're feeling like those are more in alignment with uh what our actual costs will be. Similarly, dental from 2% to

127five. Our purchase services in the ED fund, we have been holding flat, but everything that we use in the ED fund uh continues to go up in cost, subscriptions, uh devices, textbooks, and so without an increase in the ed fund, we will have to think about doing things very differently. Curriculum adoption, for example, um the $160,000 that we set aside for curriculum adoption has been static for a while. That is not getting us what it used to get us in terms of subscription costs and textbooks. So, do you look at elongating that time frame so you don't change curriculum as often? That's a potential, but we're suggesting a slight increase in the ED fund over time will give us the revenue needed to keep up with the increased costs. O and M we're holding steady.

128Uh but transportation we're looking at uh an increase from our 4% assumption to a 7%. supplies and materials. We've been holding flat, but there again, uh devices uh for for students, tech, technology, um I'm sorry, this is where textbooks land um have been uh have been increasing in cost. The purchase service on an ed fund is uh again purchase services through special education uh and other contracted services. the supplies and materials is curricular materials, technology, supplies, and equipment. Um, so we're looking at either reductions in what we do with with technology and and materials or to maintain a more realistic uh assumption, maybe 5%. There's our boat. >> It's back. >> It's still floating. So [laughter] >> what we will focus on next time [snorts] is the gap between revenue and expenditures including the reductions

129that we we will be projecting for to accomplish full day K. Um what will that look like just to maintain where we've been? Uh what will that look like if in terms of cuts? What would that look like in terms of new revenue? How will we maintain that baseline sustainable financing um over time? And it comes from a combination likely of reductions or andor increased revenue. So >> there's your shark coming. >> So Return of the Jedi should be interesting. >> Yes. That was really good. Thank you. >> It really does seem like that that sequence, right? It ends here and like the Empire Strikes Back in a very sour note. Right. Right. Sour trouble. Right. >> A picture of you and Carbonite. >> Right. Yeah. >> [laughter] >> lightsaber like slash >> uh >>

130does anybody have any related conversation or topics to sustainable financing? >> I'm working really hard to stay on topic and on track. >> Does this make words? >> I don't know. [laughter and cough] >> No, >> it's 9:00 at night. I want to make sure we're moving forward. >> All right. >> Any any question? I mean, seriously, thank you guys for putting that together. I know it's a lot of time, but I do think that for those of us that have been on the board for a little bit of time or new, it's really helpful to see historically and like what's been going on and what more is to come. So, I think it's good. I think just that that last slide, right, like to say like what have our assumptions been and what do

131they need to be moving forward, I think it just I'm sure they'll replay that in the next one, but that's >> I think just really important for the for the board and for the community to kind of see to say like this is what we think we need, right? And why? >> So that was that was great. I love that. >> All right, we have about six action items. So we will go through these now. The first one is um we've talked about almost all of these tonight. So this first one is the Mac Carter Middle School main office furniture replacements. Um so um do we have a motion for the replacement of the furniture? >> So move >> in the amount of $25,21840 to educational environments. Do I have a move by Brian? Do

132I have a second? >> Second by Spencer. Any discussion? Any questions? Roll call, please. Mrs. Bowwinsky, >> yes. >> Mr. Gordon, >> yes. >> Dr. Long, >> yes. >> Mrs. Mlan, >> yes. >> Mrs. Moresy, >> yes. >> Mr. Nordmark, >> yes. >> Mrs. Peters, >> yes. >> Wonderful motion car 70. Our next action item is the um proposal of the gym floor from Asher Brothers in the amount of 27,500. That's repainting the floor. >> It's the full gym. I'm sorry. It's not. >> So, it's not just the >> This is the full gym. The next one is the flooring. Sorry. >> This is the Oh, this is painting the walls. This is the painting of the walls. Okay. So, this motion is for the painting of the walls in the gymnasium in the um

133amount of 27,500 from Asher Brothers. Do I have a motion? >> I'll motion to approve the proposal from Asher Brothers for 275 for Payton MacArthur Jim. >> Awesome. Moved by Tracy. Do I have a second? >> Second by Brian. Do we have any discussion? >> Wonderful. Can I get a roll call, please? Mrs. Bwinsky? >> Yes. >> Mr. Gordonis? >> Yes. >> Dr. Long? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Mlan? >> Yes. Mrs. Morsy? >> Yes. >> Mr. Nordmark? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Peters? >> Yes. >> I see it. I see it. >> Motion carries 70. [snorts] Make sure the typo gets corrected. >> Yeah, you got like the >> just want to make sure it gets in the minutes, right? >> My my vice president's really helping me out here. All right. I appreciate you. All

134right. The next one is a motion for the artwork on the floor. The new scary marauder. Nice and um aggressive, intimidating, that was the word I was looking for, and refinishing of the floor. Um, do I have a motion? >> I have a motion to approve the proposals for work and repainting for $7,000. We finishing the amount of 29 and then five for the gym floor at the total cost of 36.995. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Uh, motion by Tracy, second by Brian. Any discussion? [clears throat] >> Uh, great. Can I get a roll call, please? >> Mrs. Bowwinsky. >> Yes. Yes. Mr. Gordon. >> Yes. >> Dr. Long. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Mlan. >> Yes. Mrs. Morsy. >> Yes. >> Mr. Nordmark. >> Skateboard wins. Yes. >> Mrs. Peters. >>

135Yes. >> We had a great volleyball win this week. >> Talk all sports. >> Yeah. Interesting. Great. >> A great one. All right. [snorts] Low voltage cabling work for Betsy Ross and Anne Sullivan schools. Do I have a motion? >> Motion to approve the contract. for $140,814. >> Great. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Motion by Tracy, second by Spencer. Do I have any discussion? >> Where's our guy? >> This is his This is his thing here. >> Wow. >> Out of spite. We all abain. >> Now he's gone. Zero zero. >> I think you needed a break after those presentations. [laughter] >> I moved to table. [laughter] >> All right. Well, um, any other discussion about this really great great item that we would like to vote on, but the person that

136we would like to vote for wasn't even here. >> So, [laughter] >> any other discussion? I would just like to say that I motion to approve this item and it was seconded by >> Spencer. Spencer. >> Spencer. Wow. So, are we ready for a roll call, please? >> Mrs. Bwinsky, >> yes. >> Mr. Gdanis, >> yes. >> Dr. Long, >> answer. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Mlan, >> yes. [laughter] >> Mrs. Morsy, >> yes. >> Mr. Nordmark, >> yes. [laughter] >> Mrs. Peters, >> yes. Motion carries 70. [snorts] Um the next thing is um a resolution about the Cook County tax collection and the um delay that has um thing going on. We uh have gone down to the Cook County um what is that called? The board. I was there. I just don't remember where

137it was. >> I saw you. >> Yeah, you get you did watch me. um the Cook County, but we have a to date um we have a delay in our distribution totaling $220,000 in lost revenue. So, this is a resolution um just acknowledging and addressing this as a >> is there speculation about the spring. >> They legislatively extended the due date now until April 1st instead of March 1st, but they are anticipating getting them out. It [snorts and clears throat] should be less of a delay. Is that fair to say? >> That's what we are told. >> But they do plan to manually send them out again. >> That is what we are told. >> They will not be >> pigeon. >> What' you say? >> Pigeon. >> Yeah. >> Got it. >> We need

138more pigeons. >> Yes. More pigeons. >> More pigeons. [laughter] >> Um, do I have a motion for the resolution? I'll move to approve the district 23 county tax collection and distribution resolution as presented. >> Second move by Maryland, second by any other discussion regarding this resolution. [snorts] >> All right. Um, can I get a roll call, please? Mrs. Bowwinsky, >> yes. >> Mr. Gradonis, >> yes. >> Dr. Long, >> yes. >> Mrs. Mlan, >> yes. Mrs. Morsy, >> yes. >> Mr. Nordvark >> shows the money. Yes. >> Mrs. Peters. >> Yes. >> Motion carries 70 project. >> And then the last action item is um the hazardous routes. Um Mrs. McAlland, do you have anything to share? >> No, this is just something that we have to do every year to um just provide clarification

139on the routes that we're claiming reimbursement for. So for us it's about 36 uh different hazardous areas within the district. >> Have they changed at all this year? >> No changes. >> No change. >> Great. Um do I have a motion? >> Motion to approve the annual reporting of hazardous routes as presented. >> Second move by Spencer. Second by Bren. Any other discussion? >> Did we heard any updates on the the below sidewalk from our friends? >> I have heard nothing on that safe passage to school. Nothing >> don't seem to be our friends. >> What? Where was it? >> Our our friends are pushing for it. >> Are not our friends are not giving us the money for it, right? [laughter] >> And would that be along the rest of the way to 83?

140>> Yes. So the village has prioritized that as their next project. So from showing back when money comes when money comes when no money has >> so from showing back to 83 would be the remainder of the sidewalk. >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> And so that was Yes. So the village heard a couple of different competing proposals for the next sidewalk and they chose that and that's something that's been advocated for by parents of 23 graduates and people that live in neighborhood. >> It would be great. But there's Yeah. Just I think it's it could we could it could wait years, right, for it to happen. It's just this is the it's the village's priority, but we need a grant. >> I like walking in the wet ditch. [laughter] >> That's cool. Kids getting there,

141playing there. It's great. >> It's like a polar flood. >> Some days, some other days just mud. >> Totally. >> [snorts] >> It's a really good place to throw the candy on the Fourth of July parade, too. >> Just so you know, it's a good place. >> Anyway, can I get a roll call? Mrs. Bowwinsky? >> Yes. >> Mr. Gordonis? >> Yes. >> Dr. [clears throat] Long? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Mlan? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Morsy? >> Yes. >> Mr. Nordmark? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Peters? >> Yes. >> Wonderful. Our next is the uh semian old business semiannual review of executive session minutes that we so nicely gave to Carol. >> Yeah, I just spent hours and hours looking at all >> took the whole day, right? >> Took about four minutes. [laughter] So >>

142I move that the executive session minutes from September 18, 2025, October 9th, 2025, December 18th, 2025, and executive recordings 18 months and older to be destroyed. >> Moved by Carol. >> Wait, >> they're not going to be destroyed. >> Yeah, they >> the first three are going to be released. >> That's not working right. >> Sorry. >> That's okay. the wording. >> So the first three >> September 18th, October 9th, and December 18th will be released. >> Right. And then all the recordings from 18 months and older will be destroyed. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> Moved [snorts] by Carol. Second by Bren. >> Mrs. But >> I'm ready for Do we have any discussion? >> No. Move by. Go ahead. Yeah. Sorry. Sorry. >> I said I after all those Mr. Gdan, >> I really

143appreciate it. >> Dr. Long, >> yes. >> Mrs. Mlan, >> yes. >> Mrs. Morsy, >> yes. >> Mr. Nord, >> yes. >> Mrs. Peters, >> yes. >> Motion carries. 70. New business. We do have some new business. Um, since Mr. Gdinus has shared that he would be um leaving us effective April 8th 8th. Um we do need to pick some um dates that we could um hold for some um board interviews as we will need to hold board interviews. So I would like us all to grab our calendars and look at the week of March 16th >> with candidates. Nope. But we need to we need to be able to release to them what day they will be interviewed. >> They have to be because that's when we're interviewing. Um [laughter] >> so the week

144of March 16th um there's some discussion that March 17th while not a actual holiday, it is school is closed. Um and so we didn't know if we wanted to put that one out there. Um, so I was looking at um Monday the 16th. Was that our first choice with um the 18th or 19th also as options? >> I'm good. The 18th or 19th or 20th? I could make the 16th for 18th. >> 1920 is March. All right. I don't [clears throat] >> can't do that. [laughter] But I will make myself available 16, 17, 18. >> Avoid the 19th. >> Is the 17th off for you, Tracy? >> Uh, I mean, it's a pretty big day for my family. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, the 18th would work for you, Bren. >> You want to come

145up? [laughter] >> I might I might I might bring my Eddie. >> I can do the 15th or the 19th. >> Um, I think the 20th. You guys want to do a Friday night? >> Friday night? >> Oh, lipstick. >> I actually off on the 20th, so I can actually [clears throat] >> Whatever you need me to do. >> Whatever. >> The 19th is wide open. The 20th is wide open. >> Of course it is. Smart men is everybody takes off the >> So it sounds like the 19 >> 16 watch it in this office all day. I know this is >> how many are how many work for the 16th? Can I just get a quick >> the 16th works? >> So Monday the 16th we will hold for our um board interviews. So,

146if you could just hold that that evening. Um, once >> Oh, are we talking evenings? >> We're talking evenings. >> Oh, okay. I thought we were talking during Hold on. Different different conversation. I'm good. >> I'm good. Oh, killing me. Yeah, >> hot day. >> Yeah, was an Irishman. >> Okay. You said no to the 17th, so then I moved it to the >> All right. It's all right. It's all right. Listen, whatever works. >> It has to be in the evening to be able to >> No problem work for all of our work schedules. So the candidates >> and the candidates >> um there is a concert that night. So if anybody has a conflict for the concert, we'll schedule them earlier in the interview schedule or whatever. Um, so as the the memo

147will go out in the school scene tomorrow with uh save the date for March 16th for interviews with them being available to be seated April 9th and April 11th for the um the workshop so that they have all those save the dates um out there. I'll send a memo to the board with outlining the dates and process and then the application packet itself will be ready and made available starting tomorrow. >> So, will this be the date of the special meeting? >> There will be a special meeting on March 16th. It'll be um a closed session for interviews of potential board candidates. >> Thank you. Any other new business? record after the interview. >> Sure. [snorts] >> Carol's like, "Yep, she couldn't speak up fast enough." [laughter] >> I like it, Carol. >> Um, [snorts]

148thank you guys for your flexibility and understanding that we need to get those scheduled. So, I really appreciate it. All right. We do have um executive session for the purpose of personnel, but there will be action. There potentially can be action after executive session. Um so could I get a motion to adjourn to executive session? >> I motion to adjourn to executive session. >> Um motion by Tracy. Can I get a second? >> Second by Brian. Um moved by Tracy, second by Brian. Any questions before we All right. Uh, can I get a roll call, please? >> Mrs. Botwinsky? >> Yes. >> Mr. Gordon? >> Yes. >> Dr. Law? >> Yes. >> Mrs. McClaney? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Morsey? >> Yep. >> Mr. Nordmar? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Peters? >> Yes. >> Motion carries 70.

149>> Thank you all. >> Five minute break.