001Very good. Did you like [clears throat] how you doing? Just Tuesday feels like a Thursday, right? I know. Tomorrow's Monday will be Friday, Wednesday. Yeah. Right. Right. The day after a board meeting. I'm like, I don't know what it feels. You know what I mean? Because you're so late. What are you talking about? We're out of here. It's okay. Well, let's do that. [laughter] All right. It's six o'clock. I'd like to call this meeting to order. If you please rise for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Kelly, would you call the role? Michael here. Christian here. Evans here. Alex here. Paulary here, Nathaniel Russell Jr. Alan
002Zant present. All right. As a reminder, our board governs by policy aligned with state law. These policies are not just guidelines. They are legal and ethical obligations that ensure transparency, accountability, and consistent. When policies no longer meet the district's needs, it's our responsibility to amend them within the bounds of the law to better serve our community. The board acts only as a whole in a duly convened public [snorts] meeting with a quorum present. Outside of this structure, no individual member has authority. Adherence to policy protects the district from risk and ensures that all decisions are fair, lawful, and aligned with our strategic goals. Our mission is to empower all learners to succeed in their world. Our vision is to provide an ideal learning experience where students and staff are engaged and want to come back
003the next day. Our board policies and actions should reflect that mission and vision. Our first item on the agenda is student and staff recognition. As part of our commitment to recognizing excellence across our district, each meeting we take time to recognize our students and staff. We honor those who exemplify our shared values and make a meaningful impact in our schools and community. Um we do not have a student here tonight, although we will still recognize that individual, but we do have our staff member. So, our staff member to be recognized is uh Miss Darcy Eglesen, who is an Oscar Junior League teacher at South uh Prairie Elementary School. Um Darcy was nominated by a parent, and I will read what that parent said. Uh my son had a tough first year of preschool. This is
004his second year attending the Little Spartans program in his first year of Oscar Jr. Mrs. Eglesen has helped him find the joy and excitement of school. We ask him every day what he liked best about his day at school and he tells us learning with Mrs. Eglesen. She's the best. What a relief it has been knowing he looks forward to his school days because of her. Uh pretty powerful. So for those of you that don't know, our Oscar Jr. uh runs uh pretty much just like an extension of the school day. Um so Darcy is a lead teacher within that program and uh just the impact she's had um for many years in that program. Um but uh to hear that from from this parent the impact on the student is is very special. So
005Darcy please stand be recognized and we have something for you. [applause] [applause] Can we take a quick picture? Yeah. So we're going to try something new and we'll do it real quick. Uh Darcy wanted to say if you No, Darcy did not [laughter] want. But uh what we want to try and do is uh if you can all just stand in your your spots and then Darcy, Dr. Campbell, do you want to come around front? We'll probably do this um after the second one when we have both here. But um we're thinking if they just stand in the front. Cole, we need you two here. And Nicole and then uh will this work? We'll give it a go. All right. All right. Ready? One, two, three. Every one more. One, two, [singing] three. Make sure
006I got everybody in here. It's tight. Done. One more. One, two, three. Okay, perfect. Thank you. [applause] That part will be a work in progress, but uh another way to to celebrate Darcy for those that maybe aren't tuning in, we can push that out and celebrate her and the students. So, I'm going to hand things off to Dr. Campbell now um for the student recognition. Yes. So, I'd like to recognize Aubrey Crawford. She's a fifth grade student at North Elementary. She was nominated by her uh teen time teacher. And Aubrey is always willing to step in and help. All the younger students are drawn to her positive, happy nature, and she exemplifies a leader in our school community. Aubrey is a hard worker and includes others. Always leading by example. She is kind, patient, and
007teaches the younger students what a friend, leader, and a Spartan is. She's a joy to have at North, and I know she'll continue to make a positive impact on those around her. So, please join me in celebrating Aubrey Crawford. [applause] All right. Oh, wonderful. That was really great. Thanks. And thank you. Appreciate it for for joining us tonight. And to anyone in the audience, there are pan prines up there. Help yourself. There's [laughter] like four. So, yeah. Like like uh I just want to say it's funny because I saw Mrs. Ellison today. She's really shy. She is [laughter] she's truly authentic. Um I have the pleasure of my children under her leadership and I also want to shout out her leadership that's behind her, Tom and Eve. Our Oscar program, early childhood program is one
008of the best in the state. And I just wanted to take the time while I'm in this position to recognize you in that school. Keep it up. She has personal conversations with children that make me wish I had a teacher like that as a child. So, we do not take that lightly. Nick, thank you for recognizing her in this moment, but please keep that up. I hope that you can be an example for teachers in that program. Thank you so much. Darcy has had three of my children and she keeps coming back every day. [laughter] For those of you that know them, you know that that uh she's resilient. So, talk about portrait of a Spartan. New York. She also has one of mine. [laughter] I got to echo everything else that has been said.
009I mean, you're you're so great with the students. You everything you do with them and so we're so grateful to have you. All right. The uh next item on the agenda is the consent agenda. Uh the recommended action is to approve the consent agenda as presented, items 4.01 through 4.10. Uh item 4.01, 101 minutes of regular meeting January 27th, 2026. Minutes of executive session January 27th, 2026. Bills payable, financial reports, personnel report, gifts and donations report, SCP and Lucen T. Smith annual report, revisions to policy 2200, middle school and high school choir trip to the 2026 National ACDA Conference, and the 2026 through 2027 early childhood calendar. Uh, is there a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented, items 4.01 01 through 4.10. So moved. Second. Moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Seeing
010no discussion. Kelly, would you call the role? Cppel? Yes. Evans? Yes. Regary? Hi. Russell, yes. Zantu, yes. Motion carry. Next item on the agenda is the NIA consent agenda. The recommended action is to approve the NIA consent agenda as presented. Items 5.01 through 5.0. 105, the NIA treasures report, NIA bills payable, NIA personnel report, NIA contract/ vendor agreement report, and the NIA financial report, annual financial report. Is there a motion to approve the NIA consent agenda as presented? Items 5.01 [snorts] through 5.05. So moved. Second. Moved and seconded. Any discussion? Seeing no discussion. Kelly, would you call the role? Yes. Gregory, hi. Russell, yes. Zut, yes. Evans, yes. Motion carries. The next item on the agenda is audience to visitors. Good evening. Welcome to the regular meeting of the Sycamore Unit School District 427 Board
011of Education. Guided by board policy 2230 in the Illinois Open Meetings Act. This is a business meeting held in public. The seven of us seated here are your neighbors, volunteers entrusted by you to care for our schools. And we are truly grateful that you've chosen to spend a portion of your evening with us. To balance participation with the board's agenda, we've reserved up to 30 minutes for public comment. Each speaker is kindly asked to limit remarks to three minutes. Unused time may not be transferred to another person. Any extension requires a majority vote of the board. When you are recognized, please approach the podium, state your name, and share your thoughts. The board will listen without debate this evening. Questions or concerns, when called for, will be rooted through the appropriate administrative channels for follow-up
012consistent with our chain of command procedures. If you'd like to speak, please raise your hand, wait to be called. Thank you for lending your voice and helping us model effective self-government for our students. Is there anyone in the audience who'd like to address the board at this time? Seeing no one, we'll move on to the next item on the agenda, superintendent report. All right, so you have the report here from our K5 principles. Um this is, as you know, uh my second day here and um it's been very exciting. Um, I've had a chance to visit all the schools in the district. Um, and it's been so wonderful to see our teachers and our students and our leaders uh share the story of each of our schools. And um, I'm very excited to continue to
013get to know the community. And I look forward to reporting more about the week uh, in my uh, weekly board report here coming up on Friday. Great. Thank you. Yes. I'd love to see the big Spartans, Little Spartans program that is thriving. I wish we had that at other schools, too. Um, you know, shout out to all the people that make that happen. That's such a good program that we do at West. Let's see here. All right, we'll move on to the next item on the agenda. Always good. You click it, it moves. Thank you. Board reports. So, we've got our FOYA board [snorts] report. There were a couple Um, nothing. It looked like it looked like quite a bit of time. So, I don't know any comments. All right. Good to see people are
014exercising their civil liberties. Uh, board district and non-district reports. Uh, is there a teaching and learning update, business service update, policy committee update, parent teacher advisory update? [snorts] I don't have an update, but there will be action items from the policy committee tonight. Any other subcommittee updates? Well, I know and I know we do have board rep and goals, too. So, and I want to pick up the CF2 there as well. So, no update on learning and teaching or teaching and learning, excuse me, but we do have a meeting on uh March 10th, a week from today. And I'll make my pitch that anybody who's interested, please come and visit and join and we can have a nice conversation. We're going to be discussing uh the ELA pilot [snorts] specifically or most most uh predominantly.
015Great. And then I'll briefly share no update as well, but in conversation with the team and the rest of the business services subcommittee members, we are going to have the next meeting on April 14th and that'll be um an important meeting in which we'll discuss some long-term budgetary plans and I'd encourage everybody to attend that one as well. Great. Nothing from PTAC. Uh we made the recommendation on the assistant principles, but that's still being in the works and we don't meet again until July. So we have some time. Good stuff. Board representative updates. Question actually call. Will that be a joint with L&T? Yes, that's correct. It's still going to be the joint even though we move the date. Yep. I believe there's an update on SEF, right? Um yes, the grant night. It was
016awesome. It was my first meeting and they had this little indie indie robo. I think they called it a Spiro Indie Robo. Correct. And it was just the neatest thing. And it's uh so a few different people presented grants. The communications department or presented the desire for a grant. The communications department. And this would fall right into learning and teaching. Um, I don't know if you've heard very much about it, Alan, but it it's uh actually for hands-on learning and device problem solving and intro to coding. So, I thought it was really cool and they said it and it's really durable. They said even if you threw it, it wouldn't, you know, sustain much damage. So, um, that that grant was approved. And then um there for the uh yeah they said also it would
017be beneficial to ELA and math. So that's something that it would be kind of cool to have a presentation about. In fact, is that it over there? I was wondering what's in the tray on the table. Okay. Too bad. Anyway, it would be kind of cool to have uh you know, somebody bring one in and show show the public and show the board. So, that'd be really cool. And then um another grant for a wood joiner that is going to save a lot of time for staff and it can do a lot of awesome things for the woodworking. And then Spartan TV, uh the Green Go technology is the same technology that the NFL uses. And um all those grants were uh approved. Correct, Nick? Yeah. Except for there was one that they're going to
018they tabled the listening library, but I think that's going to probably be approved, too. I'm pretty sure because that's pretty cool because it doesn't require a Wi-Fi at all. So, I thought that was really good. And uh the funding for Olympiad was approved and they were discussing subcommittees and also the trivia night which unfortunately I missed but it sounded like a lot of fun. So they have an awesome meeting and they have a new person doing the trivia. I think that makes all the difference. So [laughter] it was cool. He's not the new guy. [laughter] Tell us a little about it, Michael. because I did not make it. No, no, I I couldn't make it in there. I was Oh, okay. Nick was there, though. No, I I couldn't either. I had Southeast uh talent
019show night. That was part of the discussion is finding on on their big events, finding a night um where there's not four elementary schools having something going on because there's a lot of staff that wanted to attend and just couldn't because of all the events. and it's just a challenge to do so, but they were uh we worked to identify a date that maybe would work um based on this year's calendar. If it was a couple weeks earlier, I think there would be a free night. So, that'd be good. And I think that the um what is this? Greeningo. Uh not gringo, but green go technology like the NFL uses because they they will be able to move around the gym and it's going to be a lot better uh to broadcast our games and
020everything. So, I thought that was really awesome, too. Thank you. You're welcome. Alex, you have something for us? Sure. Um, I attended the Kishwalki division meeting on February 26th in Machznney Park at Harlem High School. And the keynote speaker that night discussed AI in in K12 education. And the one thing I thought I I have a report loaded into diligent for anyone to take a look at but summarize um something I thought was very interesting and perhaps we do this is he presented a green yellow red stoplight approach to AI so that it's very clear to the student if they're allowed to use AI and to what extent. So green is just go for it. That would be sort of like coding classes where perhaps we'd have a student use AI to generate something in
021Python or whatever. Yellow would be maybe an English report where they'd use AI to tweak grammar but not write the entire essay. And then red is it's just not allowed. Perhaps it's just a pen and paper assignment or there the expectation is no GI is to be used. I thought that would be pretty interesting to consider if we haven't done it already. So it's very clear to students and teachers so they can hold students accountable if AI is um allowed on assignments and to what extent. Um they also had a financial update on the um governor's proposed budget and EBF the ex [clears throat] the ISB was exp or lobbying for an additional allocation of 350 million and the governor is proposing 305 million. still a little bit under the um sort of what's been
022the gold standard of adding 350 million to EVF every year. And there was also some concern about a lack of um funding for MCATs mand mandated categorals mandated categoricals and the funding will not be sufficient to maintain flat levels from the prior year is what was shared. And then a couple updates for future events. March 15th is the deadline for share the success proposal. So that's why I added or I asked Michael to add it to this agenda because this is the only time we'll have to discuss before they're due, which to me is kind of crazy that ISB wants the presentation proposals eight and a half months before the conference, but they do. And um March 24th is ISB advocacy day in Springfield. Is that on the agenda later or should I talk about
023that now? You can talk about it now. Okay. Um that is an event where school board members, administrators can meet with their state reps in Springfield to discuss current issues. I plan on attending that. I found out about it the night that registration was due. So I was at the conference, you know, booking my hotel and signing up. And um I guess if any board member has any specific issues they'd like addressed, send them to me and I'd be happy to share them on the 24th. I'll try to compile everyone's thoughts if if if that's something you're interested in doing because unfortunately the time to register has passed if you have not registered. That's all for my very long update. No, I I will actually I'll add just two pieces and and this is something
024to think about. So Heather, she left some really big shoes to fill with our IASB delegate assembly representative for the November um conference and so I'm hopeful someone can step up and be our delegate assembly representative. Um so yeah, so that's so let me know if you're like I said if you're interested and I can get you some of the details and um our last uh piece of proposed uh legislation uh is actually supported. It was one of the only resolutions supported by ISB last year. Yeah. So, it's being lobbied on and there's an opportunity in September traditionally where if the Springfield is of interest, uh there's a Washington DC trip usually where you can lobby uh with them too. So, a little more of a time commitment, but um I need to talk to
025Christian more about that. We had talked about this before, but we'll talk about it. Yeah. So, thank you, Alex, for that update and for attending that conference. Sure. It was it was really great conference. I thought the AI speaker was excellent. If anyone has any follow-ups, I'm sure I could get you his contact information. He was happy to to share. I'm told if if you host, you get they come out and they give you a [clears throat] free workshop, right? Isn't that the the pitch? Because We're pretty central vision. So, yeah. And we have this beautiful new building, too, right? we you know so yeah conversations right Spartan Senate update hopefully you guys had an opportunity to take a look at that video it's just lovely really nice update did a good job oh [snorts]
026yeah she's very charismatic um and then board goals progress update uh just standing item under our board report um is there anything to report any comments on the standing progress towards our board goals there's an item in new business that we can touch Great. Okie do. Uh there's nothing uh anything else in board district non-district committee reports. All right, we'll move on uh to skip past old business. There is no old business. There is only new business. First item on the agenda is item 10.01, the consideration to approve res revisions to policy 852. Um the proposed uh language here is going for uh approval on first reading. Um is there a motion to approve revisions to policy 852? So moved. Second. Moved and seconded. Any discussion or clarification about what it is? I can provide
027some just for the record. On February 9th, the policy committee reviewed the policy five, no 8 col 250 logo and trademark use following a recommendation from communications to remove the language from the policy that mandates that the Spartan logo is always printed with the trademark symbol um in in whatever. So, if we're printing it on a water bottle, let's say the trademark symbol per policy needed to be printed. We have not done that. that was not practiced. Lauren caught it in policy and the committee agreed with the recommendation to remove it. So, we do not have to print that on any merchandise. As as um illustrious as our Spartan logo is, I I just I'm not sure the it's worth having the trademark logo on it is it might make the goods or whatever we're
028trying to sell or painting a stool not as um aesthetically pleasing. So, anybody who has the TM on it, it's like a wheat penny. Yeah, that thing, hold on to it. It's going to be going up in value. [clears throat] All right. Well, great. Uh, any other discussion? Seeing no other discussion, uh, there's a motion and a second. Uh, Kelly, would you call the role? Evans, yes. Hi. Russell, yes. Santu, yes. CP, yes. Motion carried. All right. Next item on the agenda for first reading with no action requested at this time is revision to policies 310, 350, 5220, 6210, 480, and 640. They each have accompanying memos and red line for the public's consumption. And these will reappear on the agenda at the later March meeting. Any comments on these? You guys like me to
029give a brief overview of them or what's in diligent? Okay. I'm happy to give a verbal too if anyone wants. That'd be great. Okay. Um, so the the policies in this group that the committee is recommending the board approve upon second reading are 310 goals and objectives. There was a link that took us to a portion of the website that no longer exists. So instead of having update the link every time we update the website, we just changed it to will be located on the goal section of the district's website. and then just sigma427.org. Um there was policy. So that's a pretty minor change. 350 administrative personnel other than the superintendent. This we defaulted to press language. I can't get it to open. Sorry. Nick, do you have any recollection as to what it was
030before? Sorry to throw it on the spot. I can't get the pull it up. I can try to pull it up, too. I'll move on to 5220. We can come back to that one. Um, substitute teachers. The policy previously referred to a collective bargain agreement for substitute teachers. However, our substitute teachers are not subject to a collective bargaining agreement. So, this aligns us with press uh 6110. The committee added revisions that add that that tie the process for approving instructional materials to the charter for the learning and teaching committee 480 accounting and audits. This had some extensive revisions. The committee added the depreciation tables promulgated by Gazsby number 34 um which actually came out in the 90s and recommended and and those changes were recommended by the district's current audit firm ladderback Aean. The committee
031also changed the timing of internal controls from time to time, which is pretty ambiguous, to at least every 10 years, as well as added language that would necessitate the RFP for audit service as upon completion of a contract uh with the auditors. So, if we have a multi-year agreement with the auditors, we're good. we don't have to bid it out every year, but then once that contract's done, we'd like to to bid it out to see if we can um get a better rate. The next policy was 640, curriculum development. The committee added revisions that align the policy again to the charter for the learning and teaching committee. And that's all I have except for 52 or 350 if you do you happen to get it pulled out? Yeah, 350 was just the one. Um
032it used to say that the board would determine total amount of money available for salary increases. So it was like a pool of money. Yeah. And we reverted to um what I think press is and just that that overall whatever those raises would be would be presented to the board no later than March 31st. Instead of it being this pool of money, it would be you guys seeing kind of the whole picture. Any questions? Thank you, Alex. Okay, move on to the uh next item on the agenda, which is goal setting 2026 through 2027. Um there is uh some just I think the biggest piece for this and I and I want to defer to Yeah, Alan, you want to Yeah, it's there's really just a set offormational documents for the board to review. Um,
033Alex put together a nice memo kind of outline outlining the process that we came up with last year. Um, noting that there is some refinement that we need probably some larger um group think outside of the board and probably Dr. Campbell's extended team. So, it's really a welcome to Dr. Campbell. Here's the process that we have a general overview of the timeline and calendar that we're hoping to do. trying to get started relatively early so that we have enough runway so that we're not rushed at the end and we can really have a thoughtful process. Um, so a lot of uh goodformational uh documents here as well as some directional ideas of maybe goals that we've had in the past and maybe some additional ones based off some discussions that we've had. Um, but a
034lot more discussion to come. Great. Yeah, this is really comprehensive. This is just Ellen and I came up with to familiarize Kristen [clears throat] with our process so that there's plenty of time for her to take this run with it and get as much staff feedback as possible um as we set our goals for 2627 school year. I guess is there any questions you have Kristen or about the process? No, I appreciate all the detail you have put together and giving also an overview of some ideas and kind of building on what we've done in the past and I appreciate you allowing me some time to get where we're at as a system. Yeah. And engage with the community and the staff and um make sure we're we're all in this together. That's right. Yeah.
035Great. Okay. Moving on to the next item on the agenda. Consider Well, it is consideration for authorization of the joint annual conference presentation. So, uh Alex, you were just the memo guy. You didn't turning them out and they're they're really nice. Um, so ISB, as I found out, um, on February 28th, is currently accepting applications for the Share the Success Panel presentations at the 2026 joint annual conference that'll take place in November of this year. Submissions are due March 15th. Each district may submit two proposals. And this is a great opportunity for us to showcase the work we've been doing in Sycamore. Um, two things I think would be behoove the board to showcase to other boards that I think we are doing an excellent job at would be our super superintendent evaluation process and
036then our policy committee governance tools and methods. So, tonight I'd like the board to consider authorization to submit one or two proposals for this event. And I'd also just like to see if anyone else in the on the board or administration would like to be part of these panels. I'm happy to do it by myself because like this is coming from me last minute, but if anyone else is interested, I'd love to have you there um at the conference in Chicago. Um so I guess if there's interest from board members, if we have more than two board members, so myself and someone else who want to partake in this, we need to form an ad hoc committee. Um because that would be a majority of a core meeting. So, we can need to meet in
037public. And then if it's less than two board members, so if only one other person wants to be part of this, we're good to just meet outside of board meetings. And then, as I said, the two topics are the objective comprehensive superintendent evaluation. I'd like to show our evaluation protocol that Allen has worked extremely hard at formatting and creating for us. And it's very robust, and I think it's much better. um as the person who adopted it with the rest of the board. Um so a little bias there, but I think it's much better than the templates that ISB gives that are very generic and they just sort of say here's you know a green yellow red chart, go figure it out kind of thing. This I think is is more structured and could potentially
038help other boards. Additionally, policy. I speaking at to JC with other board members, there's a lack of maybe understanding of what board policy is and how to use it and how to track changes. That's another thing. People were saying, well, gosh, the previous board made this change. I I don't know um what happened. I was like, well, I had the same experience in Sycamore. So I so we as a committee have worked um on creating a log and a system to monitor what changes were made and why they were made so that future boards can understand why we made the decisions we made regardless of if they agree with it or not. They at least see what happened and why it happened. Um so I think presenting that to other boards would be helpful. I
039think it would just be a great opportunity to share the knowledge that we've gained as a board with other districts throughout Illinois. So, I would like authorization to submit these proposals to ISB um to present at the JAC. Oh, you have the proposals? Yeah, I do. I have the proposals, too. This um it's it looks kind of silly because they're um I think that should they um Sorry, I can't talk and pass out paper. Oh, you didn't spring for color on, you know. I thought I I did, but because I have the Yeah. And then I was like, you made enough copies? Yeah, I think I made like 10. So, is there So, these are actually verbatim what ISB would want from us. [clears throat] Thank you so much. Oh, wow. Thank you. So this
040is just so if anyone very thorough they well they they have a form and we just have to fill out the form. I like the hook here. Um yeah they wanted a hook like they were very clear with what they're looking for. Is your board stuck in a cycle of simply approving press updates. I just pictured it's all black and white red X right man. So yeah, I guess that's if if anyone has feedback on these submissions before March 15th, if the board chooses to allow me to submit these, I'd be happy to receive your feedback and implement in these um submissions. And the one thing I talked to Lauren Martinez today or email there and she told me we [snorts] don't have to submit the PowerPoint ever. So, this is all we submit to
041them and then we just can go and wing it if we want to or we could give them a I would suggest we work on a PowerPoint or something so we're more collected. But I'd like to see you wing it, Alex. [laughter] I don't know if that's possible. So, no, this is great. Wow. I'd like for Alex to present at the joint annual conference. All right. There's a motion. Is there a second? Second. All right. So a motion please. I would like to enter a motion for Alex to present at the joint annual conference in November this year. There's a recommended motion. Well, and as many other board members as and up to. Oh, go ahead, Alex. So I move to authorize myself um and any other volunteers who wish to participate um from administration
042or the board to submit and present up to two share the success proposals for the 2026 joint annual conference and further move to establish an ad hoc presentation committee should three or more board members participate in the development of said presentations. Second. Moved and seconded. Any discussion? [clears throat] I can tell you from experience, I love being in group projects with people like you, Alex. So, uh, no, this is great. So, uh, how about, um, if you are interested, you know, just send me an email and I can, you know, aggregate that or actually better yet, send Alex an email, let him know and then we can coordinate if we have to work, um, within the bounds of MA um, to respect that process. So, any other discussion? I think we need a vote. Yeah.
043Right. No, just any other discussion on this item and then we'll Yeah. No, you're good. No, great work, Alex. Obviously, you're enthusiastic about it. I think we should definitely do it if you're interested. Yeah, I know. I figured the worst that can happen is I wasted 40 minutes of someone's time. So, I will do all I can to not do that. Though, I think a lot of people will find it beneficial, especially the policy governance aspect. Having been on that committee and seen what we've done, I think that process would be very beneficial. Yeah, because look at all the work we did. Um, the workshops, the goal setting time we spent, hours and hours to be able to share that with other people. I think it would be beneficial. All right, any other discussion? Seeing
044no other discussion, uh, all in favor? I. Any oppose? All right, go get them. Okay, we'll move on to the next item on the agenda, the fiscal year 25 audit. Um, we have before you here an audit memo, AFR. Um, there's a letter and then a management letter. Uh, any comments on this audit? Comments? Anything? Yes. Oh, go ahead. Um, well, I'm scrolling through the management letter now, but if I recall correctly, there's several spots in there where they recommend basically amending policy or changing policy in order to match with their recommendations. Does that sound like I'm remembering this correctly in their recommendations? Yeah, and Nicole and I talked emailed about this today and the policy has been changed, but because this audit was for June the fiscal year that ends June 30th, 2025, they
045were looking at previous versions of policy. Okay. So, going forward, finding three three, right? I think it's finding three fund funds not in compliance. Sure. Fund balance policy should not come back. Okay. And then there was there's a couple other spots where they mentioned or I thought they mentioned policies or recommended updates to policies. Yeah, the capital asset the capital. Yeah. One also Nicole already helped us fix that. So then then that's all I just figured we would send that over to policy, but it sounds like maybe we have done that already. Good stuff. Anything else? Well, I was just going to say maybe for the benefit of those watching the stream and the public if Nicole could just explain a little bit more about the audit in general because it says in their letter
046we're we don't do this audit to catch any errors or you know do you know what I do you know what I mean? And so that's kind of a little confusing. Why do they why go through the audit if they're not checking for errors? if they're not checking for anything wrong with the way the funds are being spent. Sure. So, do you have a specific question or No, just a general if you could just general generalize it, you know, with the purpose of the audit, I guess, is what I'm saying. Yeah. So the purpose of the audit is to have an external external firm come in and uh look at the um procedures that are taking place specifically in the business office. Um but they do look at some other outside um entities um such
047as technology. That was one of the current recommendations on here looking at security um and making sure that our process and procedures are um are good to go. Um they're also looking at um making sure that our books are balanced um and that the appropriate um entries are being made throughout the year. Okay, thank you. That's I hope that's um No, that's good. Most high level I can make it because when you hear an audit, it's it can sound like you know and it's on the agenda that you know this the stuff about the audit. So it does help because when you hear open to interpretation so I see what you're trying to say that we're not handling business when we are right just extra check. Yep. And school districts are required to have an
048external audit done every year. Uh, our district goes above and beyond and we actually put together a comprehensive annual financial report. We're not required to do that. Um, but we do that just for transparency purposes. So that's why you guys get this fun book every year. Um, yeah. So we're not required to do that, but we do take that extra step. Okay, great. Thank you so much. All right. Uh, is there a motion to approve the fiscal year 25 audit? So move. Second. Moved and second. Kelly, would you call the role? Hi. Russell, yes. Evans, yes. All right. Uh, the next item on the agenda is the Lauderback and Amen Internal Control AUP. Uh, any discussion on this, questions or comments? So, I just wanted to add uh that I had a conversation um with
049one of our fellow board me your fellow board members um and we are going to be making an amendment to the contract to include um accounts payable with a focus on dispersements of payroll. Um so, we will have that amendment uh to the contract for you to review March 31st at our next board meeting. Um we did uh now that it's on new business, we wanted to share that that is something we would like to to suggest adding in um and being really specific there. Okay, great. That's in addition to what's in the contract today. Yes, I believe right now we have um pecards um and so um you know I know that there's I'm learning a lot right the history of the conversations we've been having with our external auditors about the different things
050we could focus on in this external audit. Um, and so based on conversations, we're recommending adding in payroll as well. If there's no other discussion or uh anything else on this, is there discussion? No. Okay. Well, we've reached the end of our agenda. Uh we'll now uh go to executive session. Uh is there a motion to enter executive session? Move that the board of education adjourn to executive session for the consideration of matters pursuant to 5 ILCS 12 2C1 5CS 122C2 and 5 ILCS 122C11 second move and seconded any discussion seeing no discussion Kelly would you call the role yes Evans yes Yes. All right. Uh, no, they don't know yet. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. to get% raise. Do we have I don't know. I think so. Do we not? No, I understand. Did legal
051not say we Okay. It is. What is it? Are we Are we Buttons? Buttons. Good. We're all good. We good. Relax. Beth isn't here. That's Oh, Beth's not here. Okay. Sorry. Somebody's missing. Sit. It's not freezing. [clears throat] We are back in open session. Just should put a handle on it or cup it to yourself. [snorts] Tapes [laughter] unredacted ones. All right, we're [clears throat] back in open session. Um, we have an item on the agenda 12.01, amendment to assistant superintendent for business services employment agreement. Is there a motion to approve the amendment to assistant superintendent for business services employment agreement? So moved. Second. Moved and seconded. Any discussion? Just for the record, this is just the annual compensation increase for both of these action items. Great stuff. Uh, Kelly, would you call the role?
052Yes. Evans, yes. Grados, yes. Hi. Russell, yes. Next item on the agenda, amendment to assistant superintendent for human resources/educational programs employment agreement. Is there a motion to amend uh to approve the amendment to assistant superintendent for human resources/educational programs employment agreement? So moved. It's been seconded. Second. Any discussion? Kelly, would you call the role? Yes. Evans, yes. Gregory, hi. Russell, yes. Sanu, yes. Motion carried. We've reached the end of our agenda. This meeting stands adjourned. kind of [laughter] Yes. No, you really don't. No, [clears throat] I