001Good evening everyone. We're going to start the August 4th uh board meeting uh to call a roll call. Secretary >> here. >> Valencia. Valencia >> here. Sephuentes >> here. >> Johnson >> here. >> Olivas >> here. >> L here. >> Reyes here. Moreno >> here. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. We're going to start with public comment. In order to speak at the board meeting, you would have had to sign in before 7 p.m. Please respect the 3minut time limit, respect the confidentiality of students and staff, and keep comments appropriate. We'll start with Randy Writer. Good evening everyone. >>
002Good evening. I'm not going to sugarcoat what I have to say. We have a problem in 131 with inappropriate discipline. unjust discipline and a hostile working environment for the African-American staff members. Their sta their complaints are going unheard and unressed. I've been through this. I'm 67. I've been through this in the Jim Crow South. And I refuse to allow my grandchildren and greatgrandchildren to go through the same things I've watched, I marched and fought for for years. Everybody deserves a safe workplace, a safe school to attend, and to be treated equally under the rules. Pardon me. Lots of our children are being expelled, suspended when there are other forms of discipline that would that that could be done to interrupt our children's education process is not a solution to any of these problems. I myself
003am tired. I work with East Aurora students and I hear constant complaints about how they're they feel they're not being treated fairly and they're not being uh heard by supervisory staff. Their concerns are not being addressed. Now, if we have to come up here in mass to get something done about this, we will. But I'm not going to stand idly by and let our children and our staff and our African-American staff, which we have very few, because I'm looking at this board, we're not even represented on I'm just going to say this. I'm putting you all on notice. If you don't address it, we will. And with that, I go. All right. Thank you. We're going to next person, John Burch. Good evening. Let me just say to each and every one of you, I
004thank you for the service that you rendered to our community. I'm a lifelong well only 52year member of the Easter School District. All of my kids are tom cats. But some issues have been brought to my attention that I'm sure you may or may not be aware of and hopefully you'll respond accordingly. As brother Randy said earlier, we have been made aware the black community that there are certain attitudes and actions that are taking place within the school district and these are not complimentary to black students or black staff and teachers. Concerned is the word I've used. Disappointed is another word I've used. In the 52 years that my kids have attended these schools, we've seen positive changes. We've seen explosive growth and and our communities have worked well together. But there seems to be
005a dichotomy now that there seem to be a a desire for certain groups to receive benefits and others to be pushed back. I too uh born and raised in the south and I saw Jim Crow. I didn't experience it here as much but it was present in 1973 but so many things have moved forward and it's my hope to see it moving forward. What I've discovered in my years of life is that often people are participating in something because they're not made aware. And when you don't know any better, you don't do any better. Can I can I get an agreement on that? My my my goal, my hope is for us to come to a consensus where all of our kids receive the same level, the same concern, the same opportunities to receive the
006education that my four kids did. They've accelerated and they're all tom cats in the medical field. Both my daughters are bilingual. Often people think they might be Puerto Rican or Spanish, but I assure you neither my wife and I are not. Most of our neighbors are. We all love each other. We're one just big community over in the East Aurora School District area. I want you to take a look. I want you to evaluate to put in a little time and see the things that we're concerned about. I don't believe there's malice in any of your hearts, but I think sometimes we ignore things because it doesn't affect us directly. Thank you for listening. Thank you, Kim Thurman. Good evening everyone. I graduated in 1988. I'm also a Easter Tom Cats. Loved it. When I
007was there, everything was fair. Now what I see is very unfair when I hear the kids were not treated the same. And I want them to explain because we don't all look the same. If we all get cut, we all bleed red. There's no difference. I'm also was inducted in the Hall of Fame. Now, the question I do have at this board is that the gym was remodeled, pictures was taken down, records was removed. I'm hoping that's a mistake because I've have records that was still set there that was never broken. They are no longer on that board. So, I do have a problem with that. And if you want, I do have a picture to show you. And I will tell you the records. 100 meter hurdles, 200 meter hurdles, 300 meter hurdles. There
008is only a record for 100 meter hurdles. I'm bothered by that because as being an athlete, as being a coach, we work hard for that. We want our kids to see all different colors of athletes. So, I'm hoping that you guys address this as well. We want everything to be fair. I have a grandchild, three of them. My last one is mixed with was Spanish. She says, "Nana, I love you." She first says it in Spanish. Then she says, "Nana, I love you." in English. But guess what? She's a part of me. And I don't care what color she is, I still love her. Thank you. Right. Fourth speaker, Dr. Peggy Hicks. >> Good evening. It's a pleasure to stand before the board of uh directors for Easter school district and I am no stranger
009to school board meetings by no means. I have been here uh through a number of superintendent and I have to say quite frankly I feel like deja vu from about 10 years ago. 10 years ago, we were here fighting the fight of trying to get more African-Americans employed as teachers. And to this day, I do believe there's at least one that I know of, and I will not mention his name in here, that was successful. Um, so this climate is not new to us. Um, I took a break while I was getting my PhD, but now I'm back to make sure that one that we represent all I want to just share a story and I wasn't going to share but I want to share it. I was in Guadalajar 20 I don't know I'm
010old so it's been a while. I was in Guadalajar and I was there for my friend's um wedding anniversary and we stayed with her brother and there was a young girl that would come to my room every day and stand in the door and her name was Esmeralda. I never forgot that. And she would just be talking chatter chatter chatter to me in Spanish and I was like I can't speak Spanish. I can't speak Spanish. Right. And it it that left an indelible impression upon me how it is how important it is to be able to communicate to each other. I couldn't I felt so bad. I I mean at that time we didn't have uh you know these phones where you could translate and so I never forgot that moment. But that moment left
011an indelible impression on me that we must fight to be people to people. We need to love each other beyond our skin color and we need to produce cultural environments and school systems that are healthy for everybody. If the environment is not healthy, then the students are not healthy. And if the teachers are not healthy, guess what? The students are not healthy. And so while we take for granted kids feel trauma, they feel a hostile environment. And so this we've been getting some some concerns and these concerns need to be addressed. And we're here tonight to give voice to those who are afraid to speak up. We're here as a community to make sure that their voices are heard and that something is done about the trauma and the hostile work environments that they're in.
012If we're going to live up to your mission, then we must be diligent about making sure that teachers, all teachers, all support staff regardless of race, creed, or color. But I'm here tonight to address the concerns that our African-American staff had. and your motto said to empower. So, we want our African-American staff to feel empowered and loved. >> Thank you. I I I just wanted to respond just uh quickly. So, thank you for being here um and sharing your perspective with us. You know, I want you to know that all of you um I want you to know that we hear you and and I appreciate you bringing these concerns forward. Um, as a district, we're always learning and growing and um, your voice plays an active part, an important part in helping us move
013in the right direction. Um, and you know, I'm open to meeting and I know Dr. Halverson will meet um, so whenever you would want. >> Yes. Yes. All right. We'll move on to the uh, communications from the superintendent. President Fentes, we don't have an update at this time from my seat. Thank you. >> All right, moving on. Section uh five, motion to approve the following consent agenda as listed. >> So move. Any questions? Hearing none. Secretary call the roll, please. >> Yes. >> Valencia, >> yes. >> Olivas, >> yes. Bl. >> Yes. >> Moreno, >> yes. >> Johnson, >> no. >> Reyes, >> yes. >> All right, moving on to the finance. Uh oh, we do have one item. Go ahead, sir. >> Uh yes, we do have one introduction. Um this evening, we are
014pleased to announce Miss Yaselin Zavala as the new assistant director of information and school systems. Oh, there she is. Thank you for standing. Mh. Miss Zala brings a wealth of experience in educational data analysis, information systems management and professional development. She is being promoted from her current position as lead database analyst where she was responsible for data analyst or data analysis reporting and staff training across multiple PL uh programs. Uh she has held previous roles as an education program specialist and coordinator of assessment and evaluation uh supporting state and federal reporting assessment administration and technology integration. Miss Zavala holds an MBA in educational management and corporate training from Keller Graduate School of Management, an ESL endorsement from Western University, and a bachelor's degree in accounting and business uh from Lasell University. Congratulations on your promotion.
015>> Is that the only move? >> Okay, moving on to section six, finance and personnel committee with Miss Reyes. >> Good evening. Buenes to the finance and personnel committee um met tonight at 5:30 here in the admin center. Our next meeting will be held uh September 2nd, 2025 at 5:30 here at the admin center. And we do have some action items tonight. 6B.1 motion to approve one FTE preschool grant secretary. >> Second. >> Any questions? Hearing none. Secretary call the roll, please. >> Yes. >> L. >> Yes. >> Johnson. >> Yes. >> Valencia. >> Yes. >> Squentes. Yes. Moreno. >> Yes. >> Olivas. >> Yes. 6B.2 Motion to approve the resolution for the fiscical year 26 tentative budget. >> Second. >> Any questions? >> So I I have questions. So again, I I think some
016of my questions weren't addressed at the last meeting. So I'm going to re ask these questions because the state of Illinois has uh come out. Well, obviously the Trump administration did fund the schools. That was one thing which was certainly reflective of the budget. But the state of Illinois recently um gave a $37,000 to the schools. They increased the special education budget and they increased the t transportation budget. And then most recently, um I believe it was Friday, they also said they were giving more money to schools. We are still at a break even budget. And um and I don't and I know that for a fact that our budget still lacks um lacks the let's say lacks the detail that we needed for this budget. So where are uh where are we at with
017the reflections of all of the latest and greatest from the state of Illinois? So the biggest thing that came out on Friday from the state of Illinois was the evidence-based funding uh allocations for the school districts uh for across the whole state. Um we last year for FY25 were tier one. This year we are tier 2. Uh we made the tier 2 cusp. I want to say the cut off was at 76 or 75.9%. We're at 76.2 or three. Um, we did receive tier 2 funding this year, which equates to approximately $2.1 million more than the previous year. Last year we're at 160 million.3 and this year we're at 162.4. So that was the additional funding. Um, had we remained tier one, we probably would have seen a 5% increase or equivalent of an $8
018million increase, but we did not. We went into tier two. >> Okay. So, is your budget totally reflective of being 100% staffed? >> Uh, right now, uh, salaries and benefits are accounted for, uh, for the FY26 school year >> for every position because there we never fill every position. >> Correct. I was going to say as of right now, they are reflected. Correct. >> Um, and that's with the same understanding. >> Every position. Correct. And that's and that's with the understanding that we are probably not going to be able to fill every single position. That that's what that understanding. >> Okay. And how about the special education? Obviously, we will probably see an increase in special education students, which obviously usually means more funding for the district. So, we're with that. >> Typically, it's in
019the rears a little bit because the idea funding is basically uh for the year prior. They use numbers for that. Um we also have contractual um expenses there for uh additional staff especially for the harder to fill positions. So those are accounted for as well. >> Okay. And where has the state actually said that we are a tier 2 school? >> Could you send me that link? >> Absolutely. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. >> So >> I will I will have other questions but I can tell you this budget was poorly done. Sorry. >> So, Dr. Angel, so is the uh the money the extra 2 million for tier 2 because last time you presented it, we had a deficit, but now we have a >> a surplus a little 200,000. So, that's great.
020So, is that >> why that changed or >> So, the original when we were going through the budget, okay, yeah, >> the first rendition of it, we were prepared for a tier one funding. Okay. We knew we were going to be close to tier two, right? I had an idea that we were going to be close to tier two and we slid into tier two. >> So that's great. So that's what did it. Okay. I'm glad I'm glad to hear that it's not a negative. That's great. Thank you. >> All right. Any other questions? All right. Hearing none. Secretary, call the role, please. >> Yes. >> No. >> Yes. Yes. >> Yes. >> 6B.3. Motion to approve the following revisions to IASB press board policies A through H as listed. >> So moved. >> Second.
021>> Any questions? Hearing none. Secretary call the role please. >> Yes. Yes. >> Yes. >> All right. Moving on. Oh, are you are you done with your report? >> Yes. Sorry, that concludes my report for the finance and personnel committee. >> Thank you. >> All right. Moving on to curriculum and programs committee with Mr. Olivas. Good evening. Wastard. Uh we had our curriculum meeting back in July 20th. That was last Monday at 6 PM here at the admin center. Um we had um a presentation for school improvement process overview with Mr. Simpson, uh, Dr. Van Husen, um, Rose, Miss Rosary, and Dr. Gonzalez, uh, kind of give us a little overview of the updated, um, zip update aligned with the Easter 131 strategic goal aligned with the numerousy, literacy, and culture of belonging. Um, each
022area include, uh, proficiency driven goals. Um and a phase PD rollout includes uh zip 101, 2011 and 301 session uh accumulating in faculty presentations and year-long implementation. Um template updates feature smart goals um supported the by explicit instruction in reasoning and problem solving to include uh to improve students outcomes and on standardized assessment. Uh we also had a summer school review by um Mrs. Olalia Valdez um and kind of gave us a brief overview of those um summer school um uh programs that we had. Uh we had a prek through 8 program metric and total enrollments was 546 students. Uh total participants was 403. The average attendance was 86.52%. Uh we had high school metrics 41 uh 411 students 120 1,29 um eenuity courses were completed in high school 189 students uh back on track
023for online graduate for on time graduation. Um and then we also had a summer graduate of 48 students. Uh we also had an extended school year. We had a preschool uh students of 31 enrollment. Elementary was 34. Middle school was 18 and high school in transition we had 24 students. Um the K28 summer camp participation um basketball camp had 70 students. Soccer camp had 222 students. All the youth leadership um which was 6 through 8 grade was 19 students. Uh total serve students. Uh we also had a middle and high school sponsored camps. uh district sponsored um our fourth year tuition and transportation covered with the Illinois summer youth music um fine art the fine in um applied art camp and esteemed camp at niu. We also had a presentation by Mr. Simpson with the
024Lutheran children family service. uh they had a program last year uh we're going to continue with that um which outlines uh outlines the youth development initiatives in partnership with the east school district 131 during the 2425 school year. Three after school sessions were held at the rec center. Uh for the 2526 school year, uh the program aims to serve 32 middle school students over 13week uh fall semester running Monday through Thursday. Um the expansion opportunities include uh uh replicating the model in spring and summer. The next steps involve collaboration with middle schools to promote um and get enrollment. Uh we also had a community health uh festival request. Dr. Amy Anggo and Miss Marita Martinez u gave a presentation about a community health festival initiative led by companos and salude aim to strengthen community engagement
025and promote wellness through culturally responsive programming. Um they're asking for schedule for October 18, 2025. I believe the hours are from 10 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the rec center. Uh the event will offer free health screening for adults resource from local organizations and guest presentation focused on prevention and well-being. Uh compan salute is a grassroot coalition serving the greater or area. Uh we also had a presentation u from Mr. Simpson and Mrs. Nikita Stewart about high school guidance division chair. Um Mr. Simpson and Miss Nichus recommended that restructuring the division chair of guidance position at the Easter High School for the 2526 school year. Um they suggested appointing a current counselor as a counseling department manager with a reduced case load and added responsibility responsibilities in um excluding administrative evaluation. uh this um change
026aligns with the district's uh strategic goal of coll uh collaborating and student achievement and I believe that was presented today at the finance and personnel committee. Um we also talked about headphones for elementary uh by Miss Dr. U Bmer director of literacy and and interventions. Um we are they were asking uh for about 5,500 headphones for the new program um HMH intro reading and arrivala lectura. Um these assessments require clear audio recording making classroom accessible headsets essential for accurate and efficient testing. The initial cost is estimated at $56,375 with an annual replacement cost of $28,000 to be funded through title one. and that will be an action item. Also, uh we also just discussed a disposal of found panel material by Dr. Amy Angle. Uh the East School District has adopted a new literacy platform
027into reading and arrival for the school year 2526. Um so the existing fountain and panel or FMP materials are no longer needed. Um it it was recommended that the board of education approve the disposal of these outdated material which include benchmark assessment kits, classroom sets, level literacy intervention kits and libraries and teacher guide. Uh these material um as a recommendation uh these material will be reviewed to ensure some remain on site for intervention. Um this topic will will be brought back to the committee for review at a future date. Uh we also talk about attendance and enrollment update. The district enrollment um as of last Monday was at 92%. Uh the district is actively working to contact families for registration and screening with phone calls and bi-weekly reminders. And I believe there is um a
028late date on Wednesday till 700 p.m. for registration here at the uh registration center and then our meeting was adjourned at 6:35 p.m. Um we do have two action items. Uh the first 17B1 uh motion to approve the partnership with Companto and Salute to host a health and wellness event at the Resilient Education Center on Saturday, October 18, 2025. >> So moved. >> All right. Any questions? Hearing none. Secretary call the roll, please. >> Yes. Yes. >> Yes. >> Reyes. >> Yes. >> All right. The last motion 7B.2. Motion to approve the purchase of headphones from for elementary students from CW uh CDW in the amount of $56,375. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Any questions? Hearing none. Secretary call the role please. >> Yes. >> Valencia. >> Yes. >> Johnson. >> Yes. >> Moreno.
029>> Yes. And our next rec uh committee meeting will be Monday, August 18th, 2025 at 6 p.m. here at the AD. >> Thank you. All right. Moving on to section 8, building and grounds committee with Mr. Lofty. We had a meeting uh tonight, excuse me, at six o'clock and we will uh have our next meeting on Tuesday, September 2nd. Uh no action items tonight. So we will report the minutes uh next meeting. Thank you. All right. There is no executive session this time. So can I get a motion to adjurnn? So move. >> Secretary call the role, please. >> Yes. Yes. >> Yes. All right. We're turn