Valley View CUSD 365u Board Meeting 8/18/2025

001Woo! [Applause] Here we are. What's up, buddy? >> I'll go to the open room. That's fine. >> Well, we want I need you to stand when I say my team. >> Well, I know, but I'll I'll walk into that part. How's that? >> Okay. >> Um, there's a lot of people in there, too. >> Yeah, that might be good, too. >> Well, that is >> I I gave them a sweet spot. It matters that you're here, even if >> Right. That's why I'm saying I just I think they need to know. She's trying to [Applause] >> Oh, yeah. >> Yeah. Two of them. Uh, >> that's what I thought. I thought that was crap. It was uh Where's she at? The two of them. >> What? [Applause] picture. Negotiating picture. >> Oh, I I don't

002think we need that. Oh, all right. All right. I don't know. >> Um, yeah. Uh, where's she at? Oh, they walk in with them. Maybe >> the the thicker girl with the dress on and the Asian girl board member dressing ones. Yeah. Heard her told them they can't hold the sign. It's not They're supposed to be neutral. [Music] [Applause] No, I'm going I'm going there. >> I don't care. >> Kick rocks. >> That's right. Kick rocks. That's [Applause] nice. [Applause] All they [Applause] You know what? Heat. Heat. [Applause] Congratulations. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. [Music] Hey, heat. Hey, heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Good evening. Welcome to the Monday, August 18th, Valley View School Board Meeting. Regularly scheduled school board meeting, I might add. Uh we would ask that you silence your cell phones, rise,

003and join us in the pledge of allegiance led by member Pipkin. 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, Vice President Campbell. Board mission statement, please. Our mission is to empower every learner to be college, career, and life ready and to develop, grow, and achieve as a productive citizen. >> Thank you, Dr. Wood. Board agenda. >> Yes. Thank you, board president Quigley. We're seeking your approval of the agenda as presented. >> Is there a motion? >> Second. >> Motion and seconded. Put your microphone on. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Post. Same sign. Eyes have it. All right. The agenda is approved. Student staff recognition. Dr.

004Wood. >> Yes. Tonight's spotlight video is a school psychologist, Kalissa Pampuch. Um, we'll have an opportunity to hear about her position, but also more interestingly her um journey as a Valley former Valley View student. I've always felt like at home at VBSD. I um did my I completed my internship here last year with um Romeoville High School and I like felt so at home there. I loved every person there. I felt so supported and I was filling out job applications. I saw that Bowling Brook High School had an opening and I was like, you know, I like need to go back. I So I filled out my application. I came and interviewed and I felt like I belonged here like the second I walked into my interview. I had so many supportive teachers back when

005I went to school here, specifically Bowling Brook. I feel like I remember that the most because it's the most recent. But just like throughout kindergarten through high school, I've had so many people supporting me here and they're the reason I wanted to come back. >> It's been seven years between the time you graduated from Bowling Brook High School and now that you are a staff member. That's not really that long of a time. So, describe the range of emotions that you were going through when you came into the first staff meeting here at BHS and you're walking through the parking lot. I'm sure you had a lot of memories and feelings and things that came back. So, as close as you can, explain to us what was going through your mind. >> The first thing

006we had to do on Monday was go into the auditorium for the all staff meeting and I felt like I was walking back into like my freshman meeting with the principal in the auditorium. So that was just like I don't even know if nostalgic is the right word, but it just felt like I was back in high school because it really hasn't been that long. But at the same time, I felt a sense of comfort because I knew exactly where I was going in the building. I didn't like it's a big building. It's overwhelming, but I actually can navigate the building. So that was like super helpful and calming. And then I mean just other than that, I've been like just excited. Like I think it was a feeling of nostalgia, but now I'm excited

007to be here and I really know I belong. Like I just have that feeling >> because it's been such a short time between you and you were a student and now you're a staff member. Many of the staff members are still the same. Who are the staff members that you're going to have a very very hard time calling by their first name? Now >> I've already called Kate Spertie Miss Spertie like two days ago in the hallway. She was like you don't have to call me that. You can call me Kate. So, but I was like, I can't like her, um, Angie Beam, probably Melissa Kasalonga and Adam Brown. All of those, those were like the teachers I remember vividly from being here, and I'm going to have a hard time calling them by their

008first name. >> One of our portrait of a learner competencies is to help students become empathetic citizens. In your school experience, how did staff members help you become an empathetic citizen? And how are you going to pass that trait on to the students that you work with? I think every staff member I came across during my time in VVSD really sought to learn about their students as a whole and like learn their backgrounds outside of school and not just throw material at them to learn. It was more about learning who you are as a person and that's really important to me. >> Why did you choose psychology as a profession? >> My senior year I took AP psychology with Kate Spryy who I just mentioned before. Um, and I loved that class. Like I loved

009the way she went about teaching the class. I was just excited to want to learn more. Um, so my mom and then my her mom, they're both in education. They're both teachers. My grandpa's also a teacher. So I like grew up in education. I grew up in an education family, but I kind of knew that I didn't want to be a teacher. I just didn't think it was for me. It wasn't my calling. So I was like, psychology, like this is interesting. So, I decided to major in that in college. >> Outside of school and outside of psychology, you started ice skating at 5 years old and you still do it. You're now a coach. Why did you initially get attracted to that sport and why have you stayed with it? >> So, I actually

010got a free pass for my kindergarten class at Jamie McGee to go ice skating. So, that is like how I started skating. So, I would never gone to Jamie McGee. Maybe I would never be skating. So, that's an interesting fact. But I think I just like fell in love with it the second I stepped on the ice and like I never wanted to do anything else. >> What is something that you have learned from skating that you feel like you can apply to help the students you'll be working with here at Bowling Brook High School? >> I think time management is like my top one and then also work ethic. I think a lot of kids struggle with time management and like being so busy especially in high school. They're all involved in a bunch

011of different things. And I think along the way, I've learned a lot of different skills to help myself. Like I was going to practice in the morning, going to school, going to skate after school. I was traveling a lot to different competitions and I did miss a lot of school in high school, but I always stayed on top of my work. So, I think I have good skills to pass on to my students now with time management. [Applause] Dr. Wood, Will County CED, Center for Economic Development, Summer Internship Program. >> Yes, Adam is Mr. Herder would take the lead. >> Good evening board, President Quickley, Dr. Wood, audience members, staff, and community. We're here tonight to present awards um for two different things. So, just to make sure we don't leave anyone out, if you

012are here tonight as a student to be recognized for a summer internship through the Will County Center for Economic Development or for an AXO award, now is your time to come on up as we will read your name. Okay. So, I will introduce Dorleta Payton. Dorleta is our director of college and career readiness. This is a project that began early on in last school year um identifying opportunities for summer internships that connect to our portrait of a learner competencies in a variety of places throughout our community. And so, tonight we just wanted to read off the names and then invite those who could attend to recognize their um efforts during the summer. We got fantastic feedback as we would all expect from all of the businesses and managers that that worked with these students and

013we would expect nothing less. Um so congratulations to them and at this time I'll call up Dorleta Payton to read off their names. >> Thank you. I am also accompanied by Adrienne Podio who is our strategic projects coordinator who works very closely with work-based learning of which this summer internship program is a part. Um as Adam said my name is Derleta Payton. I'm the director of college and career readiness. Thank you to the school board president and members and uh Dr. would for allowing us to acknowledge our students, which is why we are all here. It's about what our students are doing, learning, and how they are applying what they learn. >> Amen. >> This Will County CED program is the first year we've had a summer internship program like it. CED is the Center

014for Economic Development. And so what they have done is gathered various school districts together and employers organizations to employ our students for paid PID summer internships so that they can apply what they have been learning that all these wonderful teachers have been teaching them and see the relevance of the coursework how it applies in real life. more so than that overall for work-based learning and this applies for this program and for what I'm going to say about uh Caleb Wallace for AXO is this allows our students to really start picturing themselves in the future to think is this something that I really want to do I think this is a career that I want but it allows them to get handson experience and either confirm yeah I really do like this or deny h thought

015I like this but actually I hate it whatever that choice is and both are valid um outputs because what we don't want is our students finishing at Valley View going on to the next level of education and wasting a year or two pursuing something that they're really not passionate about. So, um that's why we're putting so much time into these work-based learning um opportunities and we are expanding the program this year. So, if you are a community member, business and you are interested in hosting an intern, please feel free to reach out. Okay, I am going to call all of the names uh even if they are not here. So, we had 13 students that had internships. Six of them have graduated. Some are at college already and uh some are working already. I spoke

016to some of the alumni who are not able to be here tonight, but they told me about how this experience really helped them. The first student that I know he's not here tonight, Isaiah Isaiah Rhymer worked at the um Senator Rachel Ventur's office. And I'll just tell this story and this will be the only one that I tell. But I asked him, "What was the most significant thing that you got out of your internship experience?" And he told me about a leaflet drop that they did because there's a reconstruction of a bridge in Joliet that a bridge that was happening and they needed to let local residents know. By him doing that, local community members were able to come out, find out more about the project, and they were able to give input to the

017powers that be. So, he got to see at the grassroots level the impact of being there engaged in the community. So, um, hold your applause until the end. Students, if you're here, I will um hand you your certificate and then you can go around and be acknowledged by the board members. I already said Isaiah Rhyr, Alla Chowry, Andrew Sandoval, Bridget Marzowitz, Elanie Tjo, Elizabeth Davalos. Elanie, here you go. Congratulations, Elizabeth Davalos, Francisco Gonzalez, Matthew Dobbins, I know is at work tonight, Miranda Zava, um, Zavala, Alice Dy, Delilah Pentoa, Jada Laval, Lavali, and Cara fairs. I think that's how you say it. So, many of the students, as I said, are away. Some were not able to make it, but could we give them all a round of applause? [Applause] Thank you very much. So, I

018was here last year uh recognizing a student that had won a national bronze medal in the AXO program. And I'm going to take a quick moment for those of you that are not aware of what AXO is, I have a quick paragraph here to explain it. AXO is actually an acronym. It stands for Afroacademic Cultural, Technological, and Scientific Olympics. It was actually founded in Chicago by Vernon Jarrett in 1978 as a way to get recognition for black students for being something more than just an athlete. Nothing's wrong with being recognized for being an athlete, but our kids have many other gifts and talents. And so that's how it was created so that they would get that recognition. The two DWP page county AXO program serves Cain, Kendall, Will, Dupage, and even parts of Cook County.

019And they bring students from over 20 area high schools together monthly to work with a mentor, whether it's STEM, arts, entrepreneurship, humanities. Um there are over 30 categories and they receive mentoring from a professional mentor. again putting into practice what they're learning, hands-on application. So, the Duke Page County Axel program is actually the top program in the nation. I am very proud to say um as a former chair and the the current chair and the current chairperson, let Dr. Leslie Ford is here. Can you wave your hand? They put in incredible an incredible amount of effort and hours for free. So, Caleb Wallace, Bowling Brook High School student, entered in the film making category and he competed at the local level, won a gold medal and then went up and competed against all the other

020gold medalists from around the country and he came out with a national gold medal, top in the nation. [Applause] I'm inviting Caleb to stand over here cuz I did see your video. >> Mhm. And um the name of the title of his video is I Must Confess. And since you're here, I have the blur here, but why don't you tell them what your video is about? Very short. So, I must confess is a film I made in order to speak to the emotional suppression um within the black community, especially of when people have their problems, they feel the need to bottle it up and not open up about it because they don't want to appear weaker. And my film was pretty much a public service announcement saying that everybody has their own unique problems and

021nobody should be ashamed of that. And it's okay to look at your peers and the people around you for help. [Applause] Caleb, I'm so proud of you. You're the second student in a week, male student, that I have become aware of work that they are doing in the mental health space, which we know is so needed today um for our youth. So, thank you for being willing to put yourself out there. Thank you for the work, the hours I know that you put in to make this um come to fruition. And before I hand him this certificate, I am going to put in a public service announcement and say that AXO is recruiting for 2526. Um their website is www.dupagectso.org org and their orientations are virtual. The first one is Thursday night. So, please Bowling

022Brook High School Valley View used to be number one for Dwage County AX. So, a number of students and we'd love to see it get back there. Thank you so much for your attention, Caleb. Congratulations. [Applause] This video is about three and a half minutes. Perhaps we should have that at one of our subsequent meetings so we could watch it. Dr. Wood or anyone, Mr. Mr. Blay, I'm sure you can make the technical magic happen. Thank you, young man. Moving down the agenda, student uh treasures report, Mr. Renich. >> Thank you, President Quickley. The uh treasur's action report 6.1 for the month of July includes the normal schedule of financial reports, the balance sheet, summary of revenues and expenditures, interim obligations, and debt service payments totaling 13,253,740.98 for your approval. >> So move. >> Motion

023and seconded. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, hearing none. Roll call vote, please. Member Pipkin. >> Member Hyo. >> Yes. >> Member Schroba. >> Yes. >> Secretary Sutherland. >> Yes. >> Vice President Campbell. >> Yes. >> PresidentW Quigley. >> Yes. >> 6.2 is the schedule of bills for June 30th, 2025 for fiscal year 25. The schedule of bills for the month of June. We have five funds totaling bills payable of 3,296,246,0.37 for your approval. Move. >> Motion seconded. >> Second. >> Somebody second it. Uh, is there any discussion? >> Seeing none, hearing none, roll call vote, please. >> Member Strova, >> yes. >> Member Hy, >> yes. >> Member Pipkin, >> yes. >> Secretary Sutherland, >> yes. >> Vice President Campbell, >> President Quigley, >> yes. 6.3 is the schedule of bills for August 18,

0242025 for fiscal year 26. The schedule of bills for the month of August, we have six funds totaling bills payable of 2,78,84754 for your approval. There >> a motion [Music] motion and seconded. Any discussion? >> Madam clerk, pick role. >> Member Hyo. >> Yes. >> Member Schroba. >> Yes. Member Pipkin, >> yes. >> Secretary Sutherland, >> yes. >> Vice President Campbell, >> yes. >> PresidentWigley, >> yes. In >> your packet, you have a 6.4, the summary of investments for the month of July, along with 6.5, which is state funding update, 6.6, property taxes received, and 6.7 all trust schools account activity. This is anformational agenda item. If you have any questions on those items, talk to Mr. Renidge. I'm sure he'll make himself available. Moving down the agenda, consent agenda items. Yes. Tonight, we are

025seeking your approval of five consent agenda items as presented. 7.1 board meeting minutes. August 4th, 2025. 7.2 Executive session meeting minutes. August 4th, 2025. 7.3 Gift to Brooks Middle School. 7.4. IG Lincoln Way Area Special Education District number 843 and 7.5 intergovernmental agreement between the Valley View School District 365U and the Bowling Brook Park District. >> Is there a motion? >> Motion and seconded. Is there any discussion? Roll call vote, please. >> Member Pipkin, >> yes. >> Member Hy, >> yes. >> Member Shrova, >> yes. Secretary Sutherland, >> yes. >> Vice President Campbell, >> yes. >> President Quigley, >> yes. Leazon reports. Board reports. Any for my right? Any for my left? Currently, there's no leazison reports this evening. All right. Uh, student ambassadors, Caitlyn Marino. Good evening, board members and members of the Valley

026View community. It is a pleasure to be sitting on the board once again. I'd like to start off with our house shoutouts. IHSA fall sports began on Monday, August 11th, and we would like to wish all of our fall athletes a great and successful season. Welcome to our new staff members across the district and to our class of 2029 freshmen. We are so excited to have you in our house. We had a big turnout at our 2025 find your way day as we changed the format to make it open to all students. While the entire staff was present to greet them, a huge thank you to everyone who attended and helped to make the night amazing. Both Romeoville and Bowling Brook high schools had a very high pass rate on this year's AP exams. We

027are so proud of all of our hardworking students and we hope to continue having such high rates. The RHS JRTC Raider team has qualified for Raider Nationals to be held in Fort Knox, Kentucky this semester. Um, and then last but not least for our house shoutouts, this past school year we had a 98% rate of ninth graders on track and a 98% graduation rate. We hope to m maintain this outstanding performance for old business. We are pleased to report that our summer school and sports camps were very successful, laying a strong foundation for the upcoming school year. Both RHS and BHS are seeking juniors to join the ambassadors for the 2025 2026 school year. If you are interested, please check parent square for more application information and feel free to reach out to current student

028ambassadors for details if you or your student is interested. Moving on to new business, picture days are coming up, so be sure to dress nice for all your pictures. As a friendly reminder, we want to gently remind all students about the importance of good attendance throughout the school year. Regular attendance is a key predictor of academic success. Your presence in school makes a significant difference. Please mark your calendars for RHS's fall awards night on September 4th, where we celebrate our student achievements. In closing, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all board members for allowing the student ambassadors this valuable opportunity to share their voice. Thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to the community. Thank you. [Applause] Moving down the agenda, is anybody who wishes to address the audience this this

029evening? If so, please keep your comments to three minutes and state your name for the record. Hello board. My name is Michelle Tampa and I am a teacher at a Avido Martinez. I've been in this Yes. Go us. I've been in this district for 35 years and I'm and I am very disappointed with this board and our central admin. I am I am one of the very few people left in this district that has taken a strike vote. 1993 we took a strike vote because of an unfair uh unfair contract. 92% of us said yes. It didn't get to that point and I'm certainly hoping that we will not have that situation again. I am in the twilight of my career. Throughout my time in Valley View, I can't help but see all the different

030ways our teachers, our parapros, our security, our maintenance have been harmed by unfair contracts. The school board and the school district, and I'm not saying you guys because you haven't been here for 35 years, have continually given us unfair contracts. Let me give you a history lesson. This is the third time in my career that we have started without a contract. 93, 2013, and now in the '9s, the board and central admin forced us to vote on a contract the very last day of the school year, otherwise we'd start at the beginning. This district continues to take away things that were given. People lost four years on the salary schedule. We've had our salaries frozen. For a long time, employees that had worked here 5 years got free health insurance. Spousal exclusion. It costs some

031of us a pay raise. Then there is the tier one and tier two. I really thought that this district and this board started to value teachers after the last contract which fixed that tier one tier 2. I was wrong. You are not willing to provide us with a fair contract. You are throwing our parapros, maintenance and security under the bus. They're worth their weight and gold. [Applause] They deserve a living wage. I find it very interesting that you suddenly released the new suggested healthc care plan today. [Applause] Hasn't the negotiating team been asking for it? >> You want to add to the high school day and are still o only giving general statements as to what that's going to be used for. Pardon? >> Can you start to wrap up your conversation? >> I'm almost

032done. Hold on. I know I got a time limit. >> I'm almost done. you want to add to the high school day, but still only giving those vague statements about what it will be used for. I'm a history teacher. I always tell my students, history repeats itself. I'm up here because I'm in the twilight of my career and I don't want to see VVS VVC go through what I've had to do and see unfair contract, unfair contract, unfair contract. Our students and our facility need a fair contract. Make it happen. [Applause] Good evening board and VBC. Today I come to you before because I've been attending the past uh school board meetings and all I keep hearing and seeing every month spend spend spend is what this board does. >> Can you can you put

033your >> in some cases my name is John from Romeoville. >> Thank you. >> I don't know why uh they spend because they provide very little details on that. For the past board meeting uh they stated that this district has been doing very well financially. Dr. Woods received a $6,000 bonus and an pay increase this year. I don't ever recall anybody asking me if I would approve of that or the people of this village. I would have said no. >> If we don't have money to pay our teachers and staff, then we shouldn't be accepting money. I would say pay it back. If we're financially well, then why are we here supporting the teachers with this contract dispute? for about this 20 minutes. I can't wrap my head around it because it doesn't make sense

034to me. I presented it to my colleagues earlier today and they were just like, "What's the point? What is your motive?" >> What is your motive? If you It's stated in the in your discretion in your uh description that it's 20 minutes of maybe someone student can make a retake for what? It's just less than 20 minutes because by the time they sit down, by the time they take the test, they're racing against the clock. You're adding stress to them. So, that doesn't make any sense to anybody who read that piece. For years, I've been asking for a line by line breakdown of the school budget. I want to know what my tax dollars are being used for and the amount of salaries you're paying for senior administration. PresidentW Quigley and board, it is your

035fiduciary responsibility to make this right and pay the teachers and staff what they have earned. Not what they want, what they have earned. >> This means that if you make cuts, start at the top with senior administration and start cutting their salaries. Valu Valley teachers and staff, don't let this board divide you. Stand united and stand strong. Thank you. Hi, my name is Audrey and I go to Romeoville High School. And I think it is a big waste of time to add 20 more minutes to my day. And I personally don't like wa wasting my time. And I know you guys don't either. Since you say it's only 20 minutes, then you can only give them a raise, can't you? [Applause] So, let's think about it. Since you guys don't clearly think, we need to

036think about how the 21 minutes a day can affect the students because at the end they have a life outside of school with activities. So, they won't get home until like 7, which doesn't give them time to do their homework or anything. So, how does that come in results with the test grades and all that? It doesn't work out. Attendance will increase and all of that since it's only just 20 minutes. Again, give them a raise. Since you think their job is so easy, my mom comes home stressed, drained, tired, and upset every single day from work. It's year after year. And if you think that's easy, then you go spend a day in a pair of pro classroom. If you think it's easy, so yes, my mom coming home stressed, drained, and all that,

037that sounds so easy to me. It really does. So I don't know why you guys can't give them the raise and everything they need. [Applause] That's it. [Applause] Good evening. My name is Sam Simon, 2016 graduate of Bowling Brook High School. Over 10 years ago, I stood before the board to fight against the removal of Mr. White as our principal. Today I have taken off work, used my own PTO, and driven 45 minutes to come speak before you again and tell you how ridiculous it is that our staff at BBSD are working without a contract. [Applause] that it is outlandish that the staff that make VBSD who they are, the staff that made me who I am, the staff that are the heart of this community are working under such conditions. They deserve more than

038being treated as if they are expendable because they're not. They are the shaping the lives of students that our future, the students that will inevitably be taking care of all of us one day. I stand with BBSC staff and I will continue to fight alongside them for a contract. I will continue to stand in unity as long as it takes. Thank you. [Applause] I'll try not to get emotional because all these speeches have been great. Um, but good evening uh members of the school board and the community in attendance tonight. My name is Ruth Michaelelsson, a Romeoville resident with two VBSD students, one middle schooler and one elementary school age. I first learned that Value View Council 604 was working without a contract as of the beginning of the new school year at the meet

039and greet sessions and subsequently through social media. I also read Superintendent Dr. Wood's statement that was released earlier today by VBSD. Although negotiations between VBSD and its teachers and staff are done behind closed doors, it's important for taxpayers who contribute to the community purse to know exactly where our dollars are being spent and that they are spent appropriately. I appreciate the transparency that is shared with the community and Superintendent Dr. Wood uh saying that the district will continue to work with Valley View Council 604 and coming to a mutual agreement. I urge you to follow through that commitment without disrupting the education of our students. If there is a fear of a budget shortfall because of the unpredictability of federal funding in the future, I believe EVSD should look to refine the budget and review

040any areas that don't impact our most valuable student resources, our teachers, our par profofessionals, security nurses, and the like. Is it not possible for the district to come out with a 7% contingency if the federal dollars fall short? Could we reduce the amount or put a pause on our purchase services? Can we re-evaluate the funds allocated to facility and operation improvements? Are we optimizing how the district operates before we absolutely say we can't compensate our teachers and staff fairly? And I'm going to go off script from what I wrote today to say that my son, if it wasn't for the pair of professionals and the special education teachers and the social workers that put in the hours, he would not have jumped from a second grade reading level to a fourth grade reading level within

041a year. [Music] They did that. Whether whether wages or minutes, I want to emphasize the importance of time. Time is a precious resource. Let's not take the wages and minutes of our teachers and staff lightly. The service they provide is invaluable and they can make a difference in our children's lives. They certainly have made a difference in mine. Thank you. Hello, my name is Crystal Duran and I am a first grade dual language teacher. [Applause] I have been I have been a teacher in this district for almost 20 years. 19 of those years I've had the most immense luck to work in the greatest school, Tibet Elementary School, where I have the most incredible principal, amazing office crew, the most loving support staff, and the most welcoming whole staff with the best vibes that you'll

042ever meet in your life. Thank you. In that time, I've had the privilege of seeing our schools at their very best. Moments where we've pulled together as one. When we've shown up for our students and for each other. I love being a teacher. Trust me, I love the work. I love the kids, the community, and the parents and everything that we've built here together. But I also know that the strength of our schools isn't just inside of our classrooms. It's in every single person who walks these halls to keep our schools running. It's in our security guards who protect our children and teachers every day and our examples of role models that our children may not always get to experience. It's in our maintenance teams who keep our building safe, warm, and working. It's in

043the paraprofessionals who support teachers, food service workers who provide kindness and fill our bellies, and countless others who make it possible for learning to happen every single day. And yet, yet some of our colleagues, people that we rely on every single day, are working two or even three jobs just to provide for their families. That's not right. Do you think that's right? That is not fair. And that's not the kind of district we want to be. It's literally not a good look. This fight, this fight, this contract is not just about my salary or any one group of people. It's about all of us. It's about fairness. It's about respect. It's about dignity. It's about making sure that every single person who works here in any role can go home at night knowing that they're

044valued, respected, and supported. We are a team and our team is unique. We show up for each other in ways that if you're not a teacher, if you're not working at our school or at a school, you're not going to know. You can't see that. Every single day we have each other's backs. And there is not one day that goes by that I don't say to someone at my school, "I've got your back." >> Can you bring your remarks to the close, please? >> And now more than ever, we need to stand together. We can't go back and we're not backing down. We're not going to give up on the happiness and well-being of everyone in this district. If we do not invest in our teachers and our staff, we're not investing in our students.

045>> Can you bring your remarks to a close, please? >> You got it, baby. When one of us is lifted up, we all rise. When one is lifted up, we all rise. And when we win, we win together in unity. this thing. >> Folks, can we can we keep our remarks to the three minutes? >> Sure, I'll try that. This is a I did some research. I know this is like a $400 million institution. I really wonder why these things are kept so limited by Excuse me. All right, I understand. >> I need your name on the record. >> My name's Alberto Lopez. >> Thank you. >> Um, I'm just going to go right right into it. Uh, I have a family that's filled with educators, so I really am here in support of of

046everyone here, although the topic correlates um in in some way that I'll explain at the end. But good evening. My name is Albert Lopez, a Valley View parent and community member. I've lived in Romeoville for 15 years. I've paid taxes in Romeoville for 15 years. I have three children and combined they've used about two years worth of resources in this school district. Um for 83 days, Valley View School District has systematically violated the federal disability rights of my 13-year-old son, a twice exceptional student with diagnosed ADHD and g and generalized anxiety disorder. uh both e uh value district school administrators district council council have categorically denied the federal disability law applies to my son's case despite providing 47 federal cases including supreme court and binding seventh circuit precedent. They continue to claim there is no

047state or federal law supporting your position. This represents systematic and willful disregard for established federal civil rights law. Child find violations 58 days to respond to a disability disclosure. Then denied evaluations entirely. State put violations unilaterally placed him in uh a grade where that wasn't uh adequate. uh violating his federal right to uh to remain in the uh uh his last agreed upon placement. Uh educational deprivation. My son has missed three consecutive school days because Valley View School District refuses to provide his federally protected placement. Procedural games. Instead of responding to the independent hearing officer's legal questions, your council sends mediation requests to avoid accountability. This is particularly troubling because Value School District employs doctoral level experts in education law. Dr. Pollson and Dr. Rollers, who I understand are sisters, both wrote dissertations dissertations on

048educators legal literacy. Yet they oversee systemic denials of Supreme Court president. When your education law experts participate in violating federal disability rights, this is no longer ignorance. It is institutional indifference. Board members, your fiduciary duty demands immediate action. Valley View School District systemic violations expose the district to federal civil rights liability. Attorney fee exposure under federal statutes. >> Personal liability to officials when qualified immunity doesn't protect violations of clearly established law. >> What my son faces I'm almost done. I promise you. What my son faces while View School District plays legal procedural games. My child asks daily if he can finally return to school and rejoin his teammates on the uh John J. Bantic varsity baseball team. He's a 13-year-old boy in your community who deserves the federal protections Congress guaranteed him. >> Sir, bring

049your marks to a close. >> I'm I'm at the end. I promise you. >> Well, I know, but we we're not going to discuss a lawsuit. >> Oh, I'm not asking you to discuss it. I'm just I want to get my statement here for the record, sir. >> You can provide that to the clerk. We're running on four minutes now. Everyone here, I I I promise you that Valley View School District, it's apparent they don't have the money to sit here and expose themselves to risk. [Applause] >> I'm Jennifer Cooper. [Applause] [Music] I was asked to speak on behalf of Paris, but I'm sure everybody can relate to this. Uh, thank you for a moment to speak. I want to start by saying, uh, let's just take a stroll down memory lane. I'm sure some

050of us, uh, some of you have stood in our shoes. You know what it's like to do a lot of work and still be overlooked. So, let's just remember the golden rule. Treat people the way you want to be treated. [Applause] Uh career professionals are not extras, we are essential. We directly impact student success every single day. We have over 240 plus pairs with years of experience and degrees and we even have co-workers coming to us trying to figure out how they can reach students. We solve problems, but yet we are basically boxed into uh single descriptions. And yet we have a plethora of roles that we have to fill. But yet, here's the truth. We are expected to take on our fair share and more um of jobs, but yet we get less recognition

051and less compensation. Before you make another decision about our jobs, our schedules, our pay, I challenge you to come from behind that desk and come to our job. Let us know who you are and do our job for a day. Your decisions are shaping our livelihoods without fully understanding what the reality of our workday is like. Honestly, your opinion on our roles holds about as much weight as if we were to bars into one of your homes or jobs and start making decisions on how you run your household. [Applause] If you are going to decide our future, have the decency to witness our present. Come see us because we are not uh because we are done being dismissed and underpaid. Um and paying us on two different levels is just unfair. It's causing internal internal

052division and resentment. We need to be united on every front. You find money for so many different things. [Applause] So stop ignoring us cuz we're not asking favors. We are vital. We are professional and we deserve compensation, respect, and support. We are demanding fairness. We want to be able to take care of our families and such just like you. Recognize, respect, do better, and support us. [Music] All right, please state your name. >> My name is Jason McConnell, Bowling Brook resident, proud parent of two Valley View students. Good evening. I am here tonight to speak in favor of reaching a fair deal for Valley View's hardworking teachers and educational support personnel. After parents, teachers are some of the most important people in our children's lives. They don't just teach. They're role models, mentors, cheerleaders, support

053systems, and sometimes fashion inspiration for our children. And they deserve our support in every possible way. Please understand when I'm speaking of teachers, I'm not just talking about those who teach our children, but also the security guards and maintenance staff who keep them safe, the nurses who keep them healthy, the lunchroom workers who keep them fed, the pair of professionals who provide so much one-on-one support, and every other person who makes the dayto-day work of this school district possible. Thank you for all that you do. These dedicated professionals work handinand with our children every day, and they have unique insight to what is and isn't going to help these students learn best. Starting school even earlier when all available research suggests later start times for high school students is not a good idea. Work with

054our staff to come up with a better one. Caution in the face of uncertain governmental funding is wise. Work with our staff to come up with the best way to meet that challenge. If we're losing talented and committed security and prayer professional staff, then talk to them about what could be done to make it possible for them to stay. And just as importantly, listen to what they tell you. The challenges we face are many, but luckily for us, we have many, many people in this room who want to find the solutions. CS Lewis said, "Two minds are better than one. Not because either is infallible, but because they're unlikely to go wrong in the same direction." We have a lot of great minds right here who want to help. Teachers have helped make every single

055person in this room who they are today. I know we can all think of a special teacher in our life. A person who supported and encouraged us, who believed in us when we didn't believe in ourselves and helped us realize our potential. The people who do that for our children every day are in this room right now. They aren't asking to be rewarded appropriately for their contributions. That would require a salary far beyond what any of us can pay. All they're asking for is to be listened to and to have a conversation with them and with us, the community, about what path the district should take. Give them what they're asking for and do it now. Thank you. My name is Isabelle Scott and I am a student at BHS. First, I would like to

056say good evening to the board and admin. And most importantly, thank you to the teachers, paras, security guards, and so so many more for allowing me to be here today and supporting me to get here today. [Applause] I would not be here if it wasn't for all of my teachers and all of the work that they have done. Whether it was show up early or stay late so I could retake tests or learn a concept that I do not understand or help me with an etude. I felt so much love and support from these educators and they care for their students and more than anybody could ever know they put so much work into every single day. There are so many who have impacted me in the best ways possible and just to name a

057few, Miss Bartholomew, Miss Zider, Miss Kubiaak, Miss Hanahan, Miss West, Miss Wells, Miss Bleers, um Mr. Bleers, Miss Monzour, Miss Jones, Mr. P, Mrs. Boyd, Miss Hayes, Miss Rupsis, Mr. O'Halerin, Miss Vitco, Mr. Hannerhoff, Miss Deleon, Miss Hawkins, Miss Theiel, Miss Miring, Missio, Miss Gridup, Miss Wade, Mr. and Mrs. Stino, Dr. Deayo, Mr. Whis, Miss Broman, Mr. Clark, Mr. PD, and so so many more. I love my teachers and I will always speak for them and always stand with them. When I was chosen to be a board ambassador, we were supposed to give our opinions to the board. This is the student opinion. We want our teachers and our paras and everybody who works in our district to be equally represented and equally paid. Thank you. Good evening board members and community in the audience.

058I am Hayden Danielle. I would like to start off by saying that I am not a peer as an ambassador but as a student in a school district that shouts every learner every day. It is astonishing to me that the same logic is not applied to the very teachers that contribute to the very success of this teach. [Applause] The teachers that take time away from their families to run clubs and sports. The teachers who spend their summers working in their classrooms. Teachers who spend what very little they get on their paychecks to buy from teachers pay teachers. Sorry, I lost my place. teachers who sacrifice their mental health to ensure their students have the utmost education. And it is not just teachers. It is paraprofessionals, lunchroom workers, nurses, and security guards all the same. If

059you want to implement changes into these schools, go live these individuals lives and see how impactful your choices will be. I'm not I not only witnessed this from my own teachers, but from my mother. My mom has been in this district for over 20 years and I can tell you the effort she puts goes in beyond the alpha office hours she has. As a daughter of an educator, I know the realities of a teacher and I find it mind-boggling that all they do gets disregarded. Do not take my mother's work for granted and give her what she rightfully deserves. Teachers are not your subordinates who you can pass down ridiculous demands to and expect nothing in return. These are well-educated people who know their worth and so should you. Thank you. Have a good night.

060Good evening everyone. My name is Zoe Mia and I'm a senior at BHS. First of all, thank you to all to the board admins and all the teachers who are here today. I'm not today. I'm not just here as an ambassador, but also as a student at BHS. And I honestly wasn't planning on speaking until I spoke with a teacher a couple minutes ago. Shout out to Mr. Gernzie over there. He he didn't have to reach out today, but he asked how all of us were doing, which includes me and my older brothers who he taught. He still checks in years after we left his classroom. Mind you, he was my fifth grade teacher and so for my brothers. That kind of dedication isn't written in a contract. It's not part of any test and

061it's a real human interaction. I am standing here right now because of every single teacher who is here. Um my hold on um yeah right now our teachers are being asked to do more work and have more pressure and it just genuinely doesn't make sense. They're already giving us everything they can beyond what's required. Staying after school just so we can understand assignments, answering to late night emails. So, as a student ambassador, I'm asking and begging you to listen to really hear us. You created this ambassador group to hear our opinion and I am here to tell you ours because what teachers because when teachers are supported in the right way, students succeed. If you really want us to succeed, you have to teach our you have to treat our teachers right first. Thank you.

062[Applause] >> Good evening. I'm Hannah Hernandez. I am a parent of two children and will soon be three um students at Valley View. My children, my son went to Woodview first. they are now at Pioneer. And um I've also I have spent most of my career working in organizations that support education because education is very important to me. But I also know I'm not cut out to be a teacher because the work that they do, it takes a very special person to do that. And I am so grateful for being able to see that now as a parent close up in these classrooms. Um, I'll be frank with you. You guys could give them a raise every year and I will tell you it'll never be enough because until they are making what people at

063the top are making, I will not be satisfied. But regrettably, I didn't realize the vital role that our support staff play until bringing my son to Woodview two years ago. and my children both have special needs. Um, so they don't come to school very easily. And the only one of the biggest reasons that they were able to get to their classrooms and learn, not just because of the teachers, but because of the pair of professionals, the security, the people at the front desk, even the maintenance would greet him by his name, hold his hand. Um, Mr. ex knew that Bailey was scared of the loud noises in the lunchroom. So, if I had to pick him up early for a doctor's appointment, he personally went and got him and brought him to the front door

064for me to get him. They've wiped his tears away. I've also had the incredible privilege of spending a lot of time in the school to see the work that is happening. Woodview has children with complex needs and I know we all here know that it's not the easiest placement. I have seen pair of professionals be called for alopement, for difficult behaviors, uh security maintenance. They are vital to keeping our students safe, to keep my keeping my children safe. And I count on all of them, all of the teachers, all of the support staff to do the best that they do every day, showing up every day for my kids to keep them safe. And it has not go unnoticed. And I tell you, many of the parents out there, they might not be here tonight,

065but we all see it and we notice it. And we count on you all to show up for our kids. And you can count on us to show up for you. [Applause] Buases. >> My name is Marisella Habberampamp and I have been teaching in this district for five years. I began as a bilingual elementary teacher and later transition into dual language. That transition came with almost no training because of substitute shortage and since then the expectations for us as teachers have only continued to grow. I am speaking tonight not just for myself but for my fellow dual language teachers and for all of my colleagues monolingual special education par profofessionals nurses and staff across this district. We all carry the weight of growing expectations while working without a fair contract. As a dual language as

066dual language teachers we do double the work. [Applause] planning, translating, and teaching in two languages because our students deserve it. But the reality is that our dual language students are often the ones who suffer most from staff shortages and high turnover. They are overested yet those tests don't result in the same services they need. Too many of them go without special education or speech therapy in Spanish because there simply aren't enough staff to serve them. And every time a teacher or specialist leaves the district for better pay elsewhere, our students lose access to the stability and support they deserve. Board members, this is where you come in. You are the ones making the decisions. You are the ones who can change whether this district will continue losing talented educators to neighboring districts or whether you

067will finally recognize the value of the people doing the work every day. When we say every learner every day, that includes the children who sit in classrooms with constant staff turnover or who wait year after year for services that never come. If you want stability, if you want to end shortages, then you must invest us in us with a fair contract. We are not asking for luxuries. We are asking for fairness, for equity, and for stability for our students. My colleagues and I, bilingual and monolingual, show up every single day to make sure our students know that they matter. Now, we ask you to show us that we matter, too. [Applause] Board members, the choice is in your hands. Please give us a fair contract for the staff who serve this district and for the

068students and families who depend on us. Gracias. [Applause] >> Hi, my name is Ava Mockery. I'm a sophomore at Bowling Brook High School. Um, please please believe me when I tell you no one wants this. We don't want to wake up 20 minutes earlier so that we can have 3 minutes extra in our classes. 3 minutes is not going to help me understand what's going on in AP Biology or AP Calculus BC or AP US History. What am I supposed to do with that? Teachers already work too hard to be made to get up 20 minutes earlier. Hold up. Zero hour would start 20 minutes earlier. It starts at 6:30. Students should not be having to come in at 6:10 so that they can take choir or band or whatever gym they need to take.

069And teachers should not have to come in 20 minutes earlier to teach these kids. My bus comes at 6:37 a.m. so that I can get to school at 6:50 even though school starts at 7:30. I don't need to be I don't need my bus to be coming at 6:10. I already get up at 5:00 a.m. so I can feed my dog so my mom doesn't have to and she shouldn't have to girl. Teachers already do too much. They already come in early. I get in every day at 6:50 a.m. and Miss Emily Bakaco is already there in her classroom with her door open. Yes. And countless other teachers are there, too. They should not need to feel like they have to be there earlier. They should be getting paid for these times. [Applause] >> Um,

070yeah, that's it. >> Uh, good evening. Good evening. My name is Wilfr. I'm a sophomore at Romeville High School. I had a speech planned, but my phone died, so everything I'm going to be saying is off the dome. Okay, let me Oh, okay. I'm here to address the exploitation and abuses of the teachers thing here today and everyone in our district [Applause] board. You say that you are you say that you're for every learner and every day. But if you were for if you really were agents of education and you really cared about the education that happened in this district, these speeches would not happen at these speeches wouldn't be told here today and these people wouldn't be sitting here in blue trying to fight for the things that you guys are trying to implement.

071You are paid way too much and the teachers are here are paid way too less. when I go to school and I need guidance and I need help and I need education, it's not you that I see in those hallways. It's the teachers right here. and I know for every student in this district, they can tell you the exact same thing. They're the ones that wake up every morning at like 5 4:00 a.m. 5:00 a.m. 6:00 a.m. getting lesson plans ready, buying things, doing things. It's not you guys, it's them. School board. And I want you please all look me directly in my eyes when I tell you this. Without this district, let me without these teachers, you are nothing and this district is nothing. Thank you. Hi, my name is Emma. >> Hi, my

072name is Emma. I go to uh Bowling Brook High School. Um, I'm a sophomore. Um, I've been in uh this district since kindergarten. Um, uh, teachers and students uh, they shouldn't start 20 minutes earlier because it's hard enough to wake up. um uh as it is uh teachers have lives and they should be they should be getting paid for um all the time that uh that they're at school. Um uh um if you guys uh have the money uh for gates um on on the bathrooms uh uh phone phone pouches uh new gym floors uh then you guys uh you guys have the enough money to for all the teachers uh to oh you guys have enough money to pay all the teachers um for all the time that they are at school uh and

073they don't get paid enough as it is. Thank you. >> Hi, my name is Jennifer Bares. My mom has taught in this district for 22 years, but have you, the board, ever spent 22 minutes in one classroom? Any classroom? No. No, you have not. Because you guys are too busy doing photo ops at I saw Dr. Wood at the high school helping helping with buses when he could have been helping out any other staff members that need the help. We have the staff to do the buses. And I may only be 16, but I have never seen my mother this stressed coming home from school every single day. She she teaches kindergarten at Woodville Elementary and wants to make a longl lasting impact on her students, but she is struggling with this because her admin

074in the district are not giving her the support that they need to deescalate all the situations that are happening in her class. In her school alone, there are three kindergarten teachers within the past two years have all been on workers comp because of a student. [Applause] And as for home, she comes home stressed every single day, stressed and exhausted because she is not getting the support. and her admin are they are rewarding these kids. They aren't reprimanding them in any way. And the these the things that these teachers put up with, they should be getting compensated for that in their paychecks. And adding also adding 20 minutes to a high school school day, that's not going to do anything. That's going to make students more miserable. That's going to decrease attendance because no one's going

075to want to wake up 20 minutes earlier. I have friends who already wake up at 5 in the morning because they have to get themselves ready. They have to get their siblings ready. I have I have friends [Applause] I have friends who miss first period already almost every day because they have to help get their siblings ready. And adding 20 minutes to that day in the morning is not going to help that. That's just going to decrease the attendance in the morning. And as for the teachers paychecks, as Wilfrid said, you guys would be nothing without these teachers. They do so much. They buy so many things for their classrooms. They put their all into teaching. I have gone to so many teachers for for support, so many counselors for the support, and they have

076given me that support. I have never gone to you guys once for support. Thank you. Good evening board members. My name is Julie. This is my c-orker Nora. We stand before you to personally extend an each an invitation for each and every one of you to come work a day in multi before you go back. before you go back to negotiations and decide what paras are worth. I also want to extend a huge thank you to all VVSD staff who have shaped not only mine but Norah's children as both of us have children in VVSD schools. I also want to send a thank you to my daughter who is a senior at RHS this year. She's here tonight supporting not only me and my co-workers, but all of EVSD staff because she knows we are

077all worth it. [Applause] Hello, my name is Raven Johnson. I am a parent of a student um VVM Valley uh Alvido Martinez. We are new here from Minnesota. We don't have the best of experience, but I teach as well and for the first 10 years I volunteered and I'll still do it to this day. I've been teaching for about 25 years special ed. I know we all got to get paid. I need to get paid. They need to get paid. But in all reality, every day when you go to school and you go to work, you still act like you're getting paid two 300,000 a week more because that's what you chose to do. So my thing is if you wake up with a better attitude, you'll change the world with the students. Now financially,

078I'm not here to discuss that. They probably want another 50,000 just like anybody else in this room. But I would do it for free. I did it 10 years for free and I'll do it again. When you wake up in the morning, you go to class, speak. I I heard one of the speakers earlier say that they spoke to her child per name. Y'all can do that, too. And I think that would actually incorporate the children to depend on y'all cuz I had a tough experience with my child last year. I can go on and on and I go personal. I'm not here for that and I don't have enough time. But whatever you do, you wake up in the morning and you do it. I don't get paid enough at my job that I'm

079at now, but I'm not going to discount my job for that. I'm I'm just not sorry to go against a lot of speakers, but if you're in this career, you know how much you get paid before you start work that morning. And all I ask is that you make sure you do your job as if you're getting paid a million dollars because we are here to build the future for the students. And we all know teachers are underpaid. So, >> I can't hear that. No, >> I'll still do it. I'll still do it. Y'all can hire me and give me nothing. I'll still do it for free because whatever I wake up in the morning and >> I thought I had three minutes. Y'all being rude now. Come on. I'm nervous. What I'm saying is

080that I watch my mother in the midst of the hood in Inglewood. I grew up there. And she fed everybody at 4:00 p.m. And I know she couldn't afford it. So, I didn't know I didn't have a speech prepared. I didn't even know I was speaking. But just based off what we're saying here, ask any employee in here, wake up and give it 100%. Because personally, the students don't choose how much y'all get paid. >> We already do. We already >> Hey, let Hey, let her speak, >> right? Can you please bring your comments to say >> bring your comments to a close? >> Let her have Let her have voice. Let her have a voice, please. I just know the experience my son had last year and because of Hicks experience >> he he

081said himself I said well who helped you in that moment he said nobody >> please bring your comments to a close >> I'm okay my minute's up thank you guys >> thank you [Applause] >> hello everybody my name is Nigel Morris and I am a student in Avito Martinez. That's my mom. And I'm here to say that everybody is different in their own way. Because if somebody had a different religion as somebody else, that doesn't make them different than anybody else. They're still human. Just like I am black and there might be like a lot of white and a lot of different races, but like they're still human. So expect people to be different than who you are. Like may maybe somebody is just way different like they're dyslexic or maybe they have autism. Like

082still respect them. It's no different than anybody else. And like teachers teachers they go to the school classroom because they want to not because of the money. Maybe maybe because of the money but they still want to teach because they chose to teach. They they don't expect their their like whole class to just be happy to be at school. They m might have a bad day and just not want to be there, but there's a lot of teachers that ex expect their class to participate in what they're supposed to do, not because they need to go to school, but because they're at school. It's no, it's no different than like like e-learning or something. It's just school. Like teachers have their own choice. They can quit if they want to. They can retire, but they

083choose to be in that classroom because they want to, not because they choose to. And this and this is coming from a tw 12 year old like ex just be grateful that your teachers are there. Be grateful that your teachers are helping. Be grateful that your teachers are being who they are, not because they're getting paid. Because they are teachers. Goodbye. [Applause] >> Thank you for your patience and for listening to all of us. My name is Mary Jane Wolf and I have been a teacher in this district for 30 years. That is 30 years of watching children walk through my classroom door on the first day of school nervous, excited, full of potential. And 30 years of doing everything in my power to make sure they leave stronger, more confident, and more prepared for

084the future. I stand before you tonight inspired by a fellow veteran teacher who spoke here just a few moments ago. I am retiring in two years. So I am not speaking for me but instead for our union of every teacher, every paraprofessional, every staff member who has dedicated their lives to this district. A fair contract that honors the hours we put in long after the school day ends. A fair contract that recognizes the nights spent grading, the weekends spent planning, and the countless moments when our own families wait while we take care of other people's children first. Over the past three decades, I have seen education change. I have adapted to new standards, new technologies, and new expectations. Always with one goal, to give my students the very best. But what has not changed enough

085is how we as professionals are valued. Too often we are told to do more with less, to stretch ourselves thinner, and to sacrifice quietly. And yet here we are still showing up, still giving our hearts. I implore you tonight, show us the same commitment that we show our students. A fair contract is not just about salaries and benefits. It is about respect. It is about sending a message to every educator that this district values stability, experience, and dedication. When teachers are supported, students succeed. And when staff are respected, schools thrived. After 30 years, I can tell you this. No one stays in this profession unless they believe deeply in the power of education. We do. Now, we need to know that you believe in us. Please do the right thing. Set an example for our

086students of what fairness and integrity look like. Give your educators the fair contract they deserve. Thank you. Hi, my name is Jenna Jarvis and I'm a senior at Romeoville High School. I have been in Valley View School District since I was in kindergarten. My teachers have made an exceptional impact on who I am today, but don't get paid near the amount they should. I am also the daughter of a paraprofessional. I have watched the stress my mom goes through every day, the amount of time she puts in, staying after work hours. She is worth more than being paid the bare minimum. I would also like to thank all the staff for being here tonight and working without a contract. Thank you. [Applause] Hello, I'm Nelani Joyce and I go to Bowling Brook High School. I

087would like to make two points today. First of all, I am a student athlete. I play varsity golf at BHS today. If I had a match, I wouldn't have gone home until 8:00 p.m. I am in top 20, meaning I take majority APs and honor classes. That means I would have to have homework on average. My friends know I get to four to 5 hours of sleep daily when I am playing golf. Adding 20 minutes to my day would decrease my sleep, meaning decreasing my test scores, which would go against what you guys are aiming for in the first place. Another thing is I am a daughter of a paraprofessional. My mom come homes often with scratches, bite marks, and everything above. She offers more than just educational support. She they offer emotional support as

088well as physical support. amount of times I've went to my teachers asking for snacks because I'm hungry and I have a sport after school or a club after school. They spend money on those snacks. They also spend their time out of the days to help me retake a test that I might have failed because I didn't have enough time to study cuz I lack sleep at the same like 20 minutes added to the day might seem like nothing but that is so much to the students. Students would also not show up to school if they miss the bus early in the morning. I know a plethora of students that don't show up because they miss the bus. So, if they have to wake up earlier and like they're have to wake again, they have to

089wake up earlier and they miss the bus, they're not going to show up. Attendance will go down, grades will drop, and people won't care about the after school stuff, which also contributes to college. It doesn't make sense to have 20 minutes. And if you are going to do that, at least pay the teachers that have to take time out of their day to help the students afterwards. They have a family at the end of the day that they need to go home to. They have kids. My coach literally has a kid in college and a middle school student. They don't have time to just spend 20 extra minutes when they have to worry about their family. So for them to come to school every day, worry about kids that aren't their own and spend time

090to help them for their future is already significant. So you trying to decre like not offer compensation for that while increasing their day is honestly unacceptable. Thank you. [Music] Good evening. I did not think I was going to speak tonight, but after hearing um I just felt motiv motivated to come up. Um first off, I'm sorry. I'm Kimberly Hanahan. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Um I know quite a few of you up there. I've been in Valley View for many years. Dr. Wood, I have great respect for you as well as the board who are volunteers. Um, but I I have been a resident of Romeoville for 33 years. Both of my children grew up in Valley View schools. I was a parapro. I was a teacher. I retired early. I never expected to retire

091early. I'm quite young and um I retired early because I didn't feel supported. I didn't feel healthy. I was stressed. My family wasn't first. My students were first, which I don't regret, Izzy. Um but we need to support our teachers. There's so many of us that are retiring early. I worked at Pioneer. They're they're flocking out the door. Like, what are we doing to retain these teachers, these psychologists, these social workers, these people that have specialized degrees? Like, what are we doing as a district to do that? Um, there's so much more that was in my head, but I can't remember. Um, I did become a teacher because I felt the calling and I wanted to be a teacher. But yes, we we have to live. We have to pay bills. The parapros do not

092get they're worth their weight and gold. I am now I retired and then I came back. I went to Pioneer and worked three days a week last year. Now I'm at uh STEPP and I'm uh filling an open position as a substitute. I didn't want to work five days a week, but those kids need consistency. Those women in that classroom, those three parapros are supporting me. I'm not supporting them. They are supporting me. [Applause] I I feel like our parapros, our secretaries, our maintenance, our security, they don't get paid a living wage. Um that's why I went back to school to be a teacher because my parapro salary was not enough for my family. So, I just urge you to find that money. I I know that it's complicated. I've talked to some of you

093about finances. It it is a complicated thing, but we have to be able to put off fixing a football field or putting the fences up or buying the TVs or the new microphones. We have to somehow find that money that they so much deserve. So, thank you. Hello, my name is Ellen Trejo. I'm a senior at Romeoville High School, a VVSD board ambassador, student, and teacher. In these three roles, I have gotten a wide variety of perspectives. And as so many people in this district have had an immense impact on my life, it is the school staff and the teachers that have motivated me and helped me the most. It is the commun It is the communion students that I have taught for the past four years at St. Andrews Church. My teaching as a

094profession teachers, Dr. Marorrow and Mr. Rouitz, the teacher that helped me write my application to sit on this very board. The teachers that taught me the meaning of justice and fairness. my teaching as a profession teachers and the benevolent scoff fifth grade dual language teacher Mrs. who let me intern for her first semester, who I saw do double the work, and the countless teachers and mentors that I see in front of me, who guided me from such a young age that affirmed me, who affirmed to me that I want to be a teacher when I grow up. And that showed me just how valuable it is to be a teacher and the immense time and effort it takes to be one. To this board, I ask you to hear my voice as an ambassador, teacher,

095and student. To listen to all of my teachers and my staff, and most of all, mentors because at the end of the day, they are the ones shaping and serving every learner every day. All right. Good evening, uh, board of education President Quigley, Dr. Wood, student ambassadors, the larger, uh, Valley View School community, and of course the members. Uh, I do have on my Valley View Blue today. Um, as I always do, um, everything has been said this evening, right? Um, again, Lavar J. Ammons, Dr. Lavar J. Ammons, uh, 25-year Bowling Brook resident, um, son or father to a, um, to a student at, uh, Brooks Middle School. So, thank you for all of your work, Brooks Middle School, as well as Pioneer Elementary as well. Appreciate you all. Uh, again, it's all been said

096tonight. Uh, the thing for me is as a former uh, administrator in this district, I've been in the classrooms, I've interfaced with staff, I've interfaced with with our uh, administration here. And what I'm asking is that we take care of our people and let's just let's get it let's get it done. Let's get it done. Listen, uh work working without a contract is incredibly difficult. Uh not to be expected to to to for anyone to have to do that, but these folks are showing up every single day still putting their best foot forward working with our students. And again, I know that leadership is tough. I know that the uh negotiation contracts conversations are are tough, but leadership is is difficult. And now it's time to to step up, lead lead with integrity, and make

097sure we do the right thing for our for our community. All right. Thank you. Uh my name is Amanda Hes and I'm a parapro and I am a daughter of two educators proudly. My mom has been a teacher all my life and I was able to see my dad earn his degree. Um I had to drop out of college for personal reasons but I felt lost. [Applause] I didn't know what I wanted to do and then I became a parapro cuz my mom pushed me even though I was scared. Um, and being a parapro has changed everything for me. [Applause] When I started being a parapro, I had an amazing teacher um that I was able to learn from on the job. And education and teachers in general has always been very important to me.

098Um, but it was the first job I've ever had where I felt a sense of belonging. Um, like I can learn there safely and I could be who I am and help the kids in the way that they need, not in whatever other way there is. Um, I went to Jane Adams and middle school was very hard. Um, and the main reason I would get up in the morning [Applause] were was for my band class. [Applause] electives and other teachers who helped me with math, which was also very hard, and science or social studies, even um sports. Sports was my life as a kid. That's all I ever did. And those people are there for the kids or later if you're a pair pro. They are also there for you. Um more than any well

099not my parents. [Music] Um they're one of the most inspirational and motivational people I have in my life. So thank you [Applause] All right, seeing no further speakers, we will be moving down the agenda. See here, 10.0 No, >> the action for 10.1 is to approve the consolidated action report for certified, classified, and administrative personnel. The administration is respectfully seeking your approval on all items as presented. >> Uh, I'd like to motion to separate the administration position, director of multi-tered supports. >> Second. We have a motion and we have a second. Uh, any discussion? If not, a roll call vote. >> Member Hy? >> Yes. >> Member Shrova? >> Yes. Member Vader? >> Yes. >> Member Pipkin? >> No. >> Secretary Sutherland? >> No. >> Vice President Campbell? >> Yes. >> President Quigley? Yes. Okay.

100So, we're separating that issue out. >> Okay. We're going to vote on the remainder of the kind of the classified personnel. >> Need a motion to >> some move. >> Second. >> Motion and seconded. Is there any discussion? Seeing none hearing none. Roll call vote, please. >> Member Hy. >> Yes. >> Member Shroa. >> Yes. >> Member Badurus. Yes. >> Member Pipkin. >> Yes. >> Secretary Sutherland. >> Yes. >> Vice President Campbell. >> Yes. >> President Quigley. >> Yes. >> Now to the motion. >> M. This is a motion. We're addressing the motion made by member Hy on the MTSS. to approve that position. >> Second. He made the motion. I second. >> We have a motion. We have a second. All right. Roll call vote, please. Unless there's any >> No discussion. >> Do

101we have discussion? >> Yes, we do. >> Thank you. >> All right. Well, I'm asking before we start this discussion if uh you could give us 30 second a minute, Dr. Wood, and then we can have some more discussion and then we can talk about voting about it. Sure. The um conversation revolves around the position of multi-ter system support um the director for that um that position and when we look at the u position um the position position is um designed to provide supports u for students who uh need support whether it be academically, behaviorally, um socially and or emotionally. um pretty much um connects with a lot of the commentary that was um pre presented tonight in terms of what can we do to ready our system to make sure that we have equitable

102practices and provide services and resources where it's most important and that's in the classroom. Um especially when we talk about um students who need it to need it the most um specifically as it relates to academics. Um, we know that our students um fare fairly well, but we do have a distinct um um equity gap or academic performance gap um between specific subgroups, whether it be race or students with special needs. And this position is designed to um examine data um promote datadriven decision-making work in partnership with administrators um and school um staff to make sure again that resources are provided at the level that is most important. Um we had a commentary about um dual language programming and I'll switch to how that could be supported in terms of um hiring practices for hard

103to fill positions um like that. So this position would also support um um diving into what we can do to make sure that through an equity lens that we are attracting and retaining highqualified staff um in the areas for example dual language or special education. Um additionally [Music] uh we know that students perform better when they're supported not just in the classroom but also to at home. So strengthen that family engagement component, but again looking at it through the lens of equity and um we had students um that that came up and spoke and I want to see all of our kids have an opportunity to be a Caleb or um an Kalissa who's u on staff but went through our um school system. MTSS um is a vital component of our district strategic plan.

104It's a vital important um important component that's measured on the Illinois school report card. And it's a again it's a position that is um it it expands across levels. It expands across um roles to at the end of the day make sure that every learner every day receives a quality education. >> Thank you. We have a motion and we have a second if there's any further >> further discussion. Um I'm concerned I'm concerned why this particular pet position out of the other positions was called out. It's hard for me not to see it as discriminatory in some way and it's it it it hits me in that way and so um I'm concerned. Excuse me. I would like to know why it was specifically drawn out and what was the thought behind that. Thank you.

105>> Uh I would like to draw more attention to the position that's been vacant for 7 months. Um in discussions with people at building level uh they are putting in the support not from the district level. I want to make sure that the person that's filling this position is going to be a value added not just another body in a building not near children. And I guess I want to make sure that that's happening and it's not falling down to the people that were speaking uh right now. >> And uh board member Hy, if I could say um back in March, we presented a revised um job description because we realized that there was some opportunity to enhance the services that we provide. Um so we we did that and um center for action which

106was approved and we will follow through with the um intent and letter of um what we wrote in the job description. >> I appreciate that. I think we also need to make sure that it's reviewed on a more regular basis going forward. >> Any other discussion? >> Yes, I'd like to talk about it. Um, I wanted to talk about it because I wanted to make sure that as member How said, I was a little iffy about it, but you know, I stand my ground on anything. So, what I believe I believe God's got me and I'm covered. So, uh, I believe if it's best for our staff and our students, we talked about all the people who came forth, our students, our staff, and we're talking about every learner every day. So, I I wanted

107to pull it off the gender so we could have a talk about it because some of the board members did have questions about it. So, let's get it out in the open. This is not a close session thing. This is something that we all should be concerned about. So, when they said it, I was a little iffy about it. I was like, "Yo, let's bring it out so that people will know what this job is. It's not just a fattening the central office again." Okay. That's that that's what I'm I'm just keeping it real. Come on now. And so, that's what I want to know to make sure and like you said, to be monitored to make sure that the students, the staff, and everybody who's involved get what they need out of this position.

108We're not trying to fatten anybody pockets. And by the way, I thank God for the zero dollars that I get for working on this school board. Okay? And we're the only elected officials that cannot be paid in the state of Illinois. I want to keep that real, too. But like she's saying, I come and I do it because I do because I had a special need baby to die and go to heaven. Okay? So I understand that. So I've been in that in that position. So I am here to support everybody because it's about the village and we talking about the village. then let's come on get with it and let's help this village you know from us to y'all today they to them that's what it is so we come back to the table

109that all of us we're coming here together we talk about it but as we're saying you know right now I don't even see I'm just going to keep it real what is the respect that you know you got to boo me go ahead boo me if you want to to say what I've got to say but I'm going to respect you no matter what you do so my ambassadors I told them before when they came here and we were talking about listening to somebody you said listen we want we want to listen you know and You've got to be listening. So, and I know active listening is I ain't going to preach to y'all for too much longer. Is that, you know, I'm not trying to say what I got to say before I've already

110heard what you say. And I have my social worker friends seek to understand before you're being understood. So, that's the reason I could stand because when I lay my head on the pillar, I got to see my Jesus and what he say. Did I make the vote? Was I being selfish? Was I being proud? Was I looking at one little category of people? No. That's not what it's all about. And I hope it's all about that. how we are about everybody. Everybody everybody is valuable until we get to that point. People don't care how much you care till they know how much you care. You can have all the knowledge in the world, but people do. People know they care. Do your your fellow uh your uh members of the unit. Do they know that

111you really care? Do you really have their back? Do we really have your back? When it's all come down to say, we'll see. We'll see if this position is really what it is. and you can hold me to the test that if you out there and you see that this position is not where it come and let me know and I can speak up cuz I I'm a long ranger without Jesus anyway so it don't matter. So if we want to take a vote on it let's go for it. Last last comment. So I first of all say thank you because I did really want to know and make sure that we all know why this particular position was called out. Um and I did want to say just once again the MTSS is that

112multi-tered system of support that Dr. Will was speaking of um my concern too was I don't want to lose the value we have in equity. We are such a diverse such a diverse district that um there is a leadership at the top that is needed so that we address equity not just about racial equity but about learning equity, ability equity, um access equity. So I just wanted to make sure that that was done. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. We have a motion. We have a second. If there is no further comment, a roll call vote would be in order. Madam clerk, >> member Hy, >> yes. >> Member Shova, >> yes. >> Member Boduris, >> yes. >> Member Pipkin, >> yes. >> Secretary Sutherland, >> yes. >> Vice President Campbell, >> yes. >>

113PresidentWigley, >> yes. Resignations, Misty Donado. >> Action for 10.2 Two is to approve educator resignations pursuant to Illinois school code 105 ILCS 524-14. The administration is respectfully seeking your approval on all items as presented. There >> motion move. >> Motion and seconded. Is there any discussion? Roll call vote please. >> Member Shrova. >> Yes. >> Member Buris. >> Yes. >> Member Pipkin. >> Yes. >> Member Hy. >> Yes. >> Secretary Sutherland? >> Yes. >> Vice President Campbell? Yes, >> President Quigley. >> Yes, Mr. Renitch. Tenative budget. >> Thank you. Uh, each year at this time, the tenative budget uh will be put on display for the fiscal year in accordance with the school code. The tenative budget must be made available to the public inspection for 30 days prior to the required public hearing and

114final adoption, which is scheduled for September 22nd, 2025. Between now and adoption date, we will continue to refine the budget as needed. And I am available to meet with each board member and provide a personalized budget workbook and support for your review and understand. So, at this time, it's it's recommended that the board of education approve the 202526 tenative budget to be placed on display for 30 days as required by law and to be made public uh for inspection in advance of the scheduled public hearing for its final adoption. So, move >> motion and seconded. Is there any discussion? Roll call vote, please. Discussion. I heard Sorry, I thought my mouth's loud enough. Y'all, y'all know what it is. Y'all know how to make noise. All right. Um, wake y'all up, too. Um, like I

115say, I'm I'm special. I know that I'm special. And so, that's And everybody, we special. What the young man said? We all different. Okay, think about my mother. She's in glory now since January. Had to put up with me. Um because the budget I heard somebody um talk about the budget and where the money goes and what the line at. So this is your opportunity to see it out there online. And then also if you don't you have access to Mr. Renidge. Ask him some questions. He'll get back to you. And if you don't let us know but I I trust him. We hired him for a reason. So here's your questions about the budget. Where is go? where the money where your taxpayers money going for your parents or students where that money's going.

116This is the opportunity and that's why we're voting on it so you have access to it. No hidden agendas, no nothing. Transparency. You got it. >> All right. Seeing no further discussion, roll call vote. >> Member Vader, >> yes. >> Member Pipkin, >> yes. >> Member Hyo, >> yes. Member Shrova, >> yes. >> Secretary Sutherland, >> yes. >> Vice President Campbell, >> yes. >> PresidentWigley, >> yes. >> Mr. Renich, >> um 11.2 is a library liability insurance renewal. So, at the August uh 4th board of education meeting, the renewal proposal for our property, our casualty, our student accident, and our education educator legal liability coverage was presented as an information report. So after uh marketing our insurance needs for more than 30 carriers, Alliance Services recommends renewing our coverage with the incumbent providers. The proposal

117renewal reflects 11% increase over the expiring premium. It is the administration's recommendation that the board of education approve alliance services to procure the recommended insurance coverages for the period of August 2025 through July of 2026 as presented. Is there a motion? >> A move. >> Second. >> Motion and seconded. Is there any discussion? Roll call vote, please. >> Member Schro. >> Yes. >> Member Hyo, >> yes. >> Member Pipkin, >> yes. >> Member Buris, >> yes. >> Secretary Sutherland, >> yes. >> Vice President Campbell, >> yes. >> President Quigley, >> yes. >> Moving down the agenda, technology, Gmail migration. >> Yeah, Gmail. uh migration support. The district has successfully utilized Google Workspace for the education tools for several years. With the recent upgrade to Google Workspace for Education Plus Edition, we now have access to

118enhanced features and advanced learning tools that will further support instruction and collaboration. Following a review of our current system, administration has determined that is both practical and beneficial to migrate from Microsoft email to Gmail beginning 2026 2027 school year. This transition will enable staff to fully integrate with a broader global workspace uh environment, streamlining communication and improving overall efficiency. So, the administration recommends that the board of education approve the Google Workspace migration project in the amount not to exceed $47,520. >> Motion. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Motion and seconded. Is there any discussion? >> Roll call vote, please. >> Member Hy. >> Yes. >> Member Shrova. >> Yes. >> Member Beris. >> Yes. >> Member Pipkin. >> Yes. >> Secretary Sutherland? >> Yes. >> Vice President Campbell? >> Yes. Yes, President Quigley. >> Yes.

119Driver's ed vehicle. >> I just presented the insurance proposal. Well, uh Bowling Brook High School requires the replacement of vehicle um following an accident involving uh one of our schools 2023 Hyundai and it wasn't our fault. Um during the summer instruction, the vehicle was declared a total loss by the district's insurance provider. In response, the district the district issued a public bid solicitation through the newspaper on August 1st, 2025. The bid closed on August 12th and resulted in a single proposal from Darcy Hyundai in Joliet. Darcy Hyundai submitted a bid for 2025 at a total cost of $29, uh, $19.20. After applying the insurance settlement of $19,167, the net cost to the district for replacement vehicle will be $9,852.20. A detailed breakdown of the vehicle's pricing and insurance valuation is included in reference in your

120packet. So, the administration is recommending that the board of education approve the purchase of the 2025 Hyundai sedan from Darcy Hyundai at a total cost of $29,19.20. 20 cents. >> So move >> second. >> Motion and seconded. Any discussion? Roll call vote, please. >> Member Burus. >> Yes. >> Member Pipkin. >> Yes. >> Member Hy. >> Yes. >> Member Shrova. >> Yes. >> Secretary Sutherland. >> Yes. >> Vice President Campbell. >> Yes. >> PresidentWigley. >> Yes. >> Number 12, ESSA, Every Student Succeeds Act. Dr. Pollson. >> Yes. Action item 12.1. um bringing forth forward for an action item that was anformational item at our last meeting for Oak View School improvement plan. The administration respectfully um requests your approval as presented. >> Motion. >> So move. >> Second. >> Motion and seconded. Is there any

121discussion? Roll call vote, please. >> Member Pipkin, >> yes. >> Member Hy, >> yes. >> Member Shova, >> yes. >> Member Baderas, >> yes. Secretary Sutherland, >> yes. >> Vice President Campbell, >> yes. >> PresidentWigley, >> yes. Dr. Wood, board policies, updates, updated. >> Yes. Thank you. Uh, board president Quigley. Um, last month the 11 board policies listed below were presented as an information report. Um the updates are a result of a regular review of board policies and/or recent changes in the school code as outlined in the accompanying memo in your packet. We are seeking your approval of the policies as presented. >> Motion so move. >> Motion and seconded. Hit your microphone. Uh is there any discussion? >> Discussion. I just had one question um regarding the change to policy 4.165. This particular policy

122is is titled awareness and prevention of child sexual abuse and grooming behaviors. Um we just removed two policy references that I just wasn't sure why and I was asking if there could be clarity if we removed um reference to policy 5.2 and also 7.2. Um just to clarify policy 5.2 is non-discrimination harassment retaliation and title 9 policy. So that's 5.2 and then we have a 7.2 as well which is in regards to students and that title is um non-discrimination, harassment and retaliation of students and title 9 policy. I was just curious why title um the policy in 4.165 regarding grooming and child sexual abuse why it removed references to those policies. Thank you. Is it appropriate at this time? I've received a response from legal. >> Have the legal council address that. >> Basically, what

123we're doing is following uh a lot of the press uh suggestions for updates. I didn't realize this was a question. Um I'm happy to receive phone calls anytime uh before being up on the deis. So, Okay, we have a motion. We have a second. Any further discussion? Roll call vote, please. >> Member Hy, >> yes. >> Member Shva, >> yes. >> Member Burus, >> yes. >> Member Pipkin, >> no. >> Secretary Sutherland, >> yes. >> Vice President Campbell, >> yes. >> President Quigley, >> yes. Moving down the agenda, superintendent information reports. >> Yes, thank you, uh, board president Quigley. Um, my update tonight is essentially about our students and it's about the staff that support them. And um, I don't want to move forward without acknowledging the excellence that lies within this room because you

124guys are excellent. And when I say educators, I mean anyone who comes in contact with students to provide supports which which I have seen, which all of us have seen, you live it and walk it every day. So um the images that I have um selected um are representative of the students and the first day of school. We have gotten off to a tremendous start. And on the top left you see um the first student of the day for AVM middle school. Our bottom left are all of our eager eager learners at Hermanson Elementary. In the middle left we have outdoor information sites at Jane Adams that was made possible by um the fortunate event of no rain unlike what we're experiencing tonight. Middle right is our secondary transition experience program students gathering on their

125first day. And on the right, elementary um and school support dog whose name, interestingly enough, is Snoopy. Some additional um pictures. First day of lunch at Pioneer. In the middle we have Bowling Brook High School marching band greeting classmates. And on the right we have RHS sophomore ready for her second year of learning and growing. And we had to make a slight addition uh adjustment to the superintendent update because we could not move forward without getting pictures of our youngest learners um who started school today. This is our class of 2039. On the left you see the very first student entering the Debbie Sakor Early Childhood Center and on the right our students at James Mitchum Early Childhood Center in the Tiger Room getting busy right away for the start of the day. And speaking

126of the Debbie Sakura Center, this is a reminder for our entire school community to come out for the official naming and ribbon cutting ceremony that will be this coming Thursday, August 21st at 5:30 p.m. And um some additional important upcoming dates, curriculum nights, check in with various buildings, different dates and times. Um, I mentioned the August 21st ribbon cutting. September 1st, Labor Day schools close and September 8th is our next board meeting. That brings me to the end of my report. >> Moving on the agenda, middle school bowling teams. Dr. Pollson. >> Yes. Um, information item 14.2 two is related to um coming forth with information for a proposal that will be brought to action at the next meeting which would bring our three middle school three middle schools in Bowling Brook together as a

127co-op for Bowling for our middle learners as well as another co-op for our Romeoville community for our two middle schools here in Romeoville. Um so this is just information I'll be bringing forward as action at the next one. >> Thank you. Board policies 14.3. >> Yes. Item 14.3, board policies. Tonight, we are presenting an information report on updates to eight board policies in the effort to keep the Valley View School District board policies current and up to date. Changes have been made to the following policies as described in your packet. The board policies will be presented to you for your approval at the September 8th board meeting. And if you should have questions um regarding those, please um reach out. Thank you. Legal services report. No report. Thank you. Valley View Council report 604. Thank

128you to our maintenance department who keeps buses, equipment, and our facilities running. [Applause] Thank you to our security who keep us safe and act as a first line of defense in so many buildings. Thank you to our parapros who fill so many roles I could give an entire speech on that alone. Thank you to our nurses who keep our students safe. [Applause] Thank you to our support staff who also fill so many roles. I could give an entire speech on that as well. [Applause] Thank you to our coordinators who fill more roles than most realize. [Applause] And of course, thank you to our teachers from preK all the way through our STEP program. [Applause] >> That's us. And who are we? >> One more time. Who are we? >> In unity. >> Inity. >> We

129come before you today. And that is important to realize. It's not me, but it's we. That was a slogan not too long ago utilized in the district. We before me. We paid attention. So, here we are. Our negotiating team is here and they're going to stand up. They have reviewed and they've revised a little bit because you know how long-winded I get. They review reviewed and revised much of the speech with me. They have witnessed every step of negotiations that have happened between BBC and the board. Thank you for your incredible dedication. [Applause] We say board because maybe some board members don't realize that when we were given proposals, they were labeled your proposals. Board proposals, not district proposals originally. We are also interested in transparency with the public. And so this message does not

130come from me. This message comes from the membership. The message is pretty clear. We will not be divided anymore. Those days are over. And I forgot to thank one group because for those at home viewing, maybe what you don't see here is we have a ton of people in the cafeteria, the cafe here at JJL. So, thank you to all of them who have stayed. [Applause] They have endured. We have endured, not flourished. We have endured in the past pay freezes. It split our membership. We have endured losing our spouses from our insurance. It split our membership. We have endured two pay schedules, telling our newer teachers and staff they're not worth as much as others. [Applause] Our ESPs still endure two pay schedules. It split and continues to split our membership. But we will

131endure and we will not play anymore. We have endured wa uh watching our ESPs struggle to make ends meet with the wages they make despite being tasked with some of our students most necessary and intensive needs including safety, health, and guidance. We have endured paying maintenance staff, our maintenance staff below what they could get in the private sector. All because they are dedicated to their community and the schools. They keep those buildings running. [Applause] They work on the buses that many, if not most of our students rely on to get to school. We have endured guarantees to our academic freedoms. A few contracts back that have now been taken away. [Applause] We are at a point now where elementary teachers are told when they can teach certain subjects. Middle school and high school teachers now

132have to be they have been given the task to have the exact same grade books with the goal of the entire district having the exact same grade book. We aren't operating under everyone learns to ride the bike at different times. teachers and staff are now operating under. We are going to control if and when you can use a kickstand at this point. much compension pora El program mana distinto estrosantes to eldamo [Applause] in espanol usar mos. [Applause] Don't worry, I'll translate. Except the last part. That one's an inside joke. The dual language teachers have endured many hours of work without compensation, making endless translations, meeting extra requirements, and dealing with changes every year. They have endured very high expectations, different messages from the administration because each person sees the program differently and going without being

133heard that our students take twice as many tests. [Applause] We have we have endured retaliation and intimidation. Quite frankly, we I cannot discuss it because members are too scared for me to do anything about it. Trust has not been eroded. It has been eliminated. >> Trust has not been eroded. It has been eliminated. We endured a less than ideal process during negotiations with a brand new administration, brand new attorney, and a board we had strained relationships with sitting across from us at the table. which is why they were not interested in listening to us as educators and staff. We knew that we should temper what we asked for. We endured having many of our proposals rejected despite the district not only having almost twice as many as we had, but our acceptance of most of

134their proposals as well. We had 22 proposals in all. The district came with 41, almost twice as many. We endured a proposal from the district that wanted our high school teachers to teach up to eight classes. Wording the proposal this way meant my members may have possibly not received lunch nor a plan. You will probably hear from the other side that the union asked for a ridiculous amount for a raise around 20% for one year in one of our earlier proposals. That's true. But realize something. That was after we pointed out the wording and wanted to have a discussion and were told come with a proposal. So the team went to work and we couldn't find a district that worded the high school day this way in the entire state of Illinois. So yes, we

135proposed a roughly 20% raise for one year because we were trying to work with what the district put in front of us. Our 20% ask was as ridiculous as the district's proposed wording of the day for our high school teachers. [Applause] We have endured during negotiations being told that higher raises than what the district was initially offering would depend on prek through 8 working an extra 20 minutes in addition to the high school. When asked what prek through 8 would do with those extra 20 minutes, no clear p plan was given. We have we have endured the district proposing a cost-saving insurance plan and being told we would have to agree to 20 extra minutes for that cost-saving insurance plan. A plan that the district stated saved the entire district money. The district was willing

136to lose money as opposed to working with us on more instruction time for our students. To be clear, that was the moment we called an impass. We called an impass the moment the district was willing to lose money to get what they wanted. [Applause] >> We have endured being our students advocates as the district demanded that we agreed to force our high school students to start start at 7:10 a.m. I'm not going to go into all the research, but you really want me to, we could. Research indicates this is harmful to our students. We asked for data on student and parent voices on the matter. We were we were asking. We wanted to have the conversation. We were given none. Two days into the school year, I was getting to know one of my students

137and I want to tell you his story because it happens too much and too many people aren't talking about it. His workplace in another community is illegally working him. The student told me, "Hey, I'm pretty tired today." He stated he didn't get off work until 1:00 a.m. 1:00 a.m. on a Thursday night, just so we're clear for a 16-year-old is illegal. But he needs a job. It's not a fun position to be in, is it? When you hear these stories as a high school teacher, he needs sleep. In addition to this story, I had someone come up to me today and they said, "I don't know what I'm going to do. This is a fellow teacher. My daycare opens at 7:00 a.m. >> I cannot find anybody else open before 7 a.m. How do I

138tell them to work with this? I tried people. The negotiation table is not where to decide to send our high school students to school 20 minutes earlier in the day. I'll get to that game. We have also endured hearing from non-educators about the length of a school day. So, let me provide some numbers to address the message from the district today. Matea Valley, I'm going to use Mattea Valley High School. How many minutes do you think they have more of instruction than Bowling Brook High School? The answer is they have 10 minutes a week more based off of the proposal that we both agree with to eliminate early release. That's how much they would have, not 2010. Since we both agreed to eliminate early release, this is the accurate number moving forward. That's two minutes

139a day, not 20. Both districts 203 and 204 start later than the district's proposed 7:10 a.m. start time. We would have one of the earliest start times for high school in the state. You are trading what you say is one of the shortest high school days in the state for one of the earliest high school days in the state. That's what you're doing. a state where the average start time for high school is 8:08 a.m. Now, there's a deeper conversation. You're going to hear that and that's true. But where is it? Why isn't happening? A state where students attempted students I want to re I want to make sure this is a state Illinois is a state where students attempted to get Springfield to pass a bill to man demanding a later start time for

140high school and I'm sitting here asking for data that the students are okay with this. We asked the We asked the district for data on their proposal to make our high school day one of the earliest start times in the state. They gave us nothing. We give you the community student voice and numbers from the state. While we are on the topic, we have endured a district that put forth a proposal that would give our high school teachers less plan time than Neighborville, Indian Prairie, Planefield, and Asiggo 308. The district is going to tell you about Planefield. We tried we tried to work with the district on this. We spent an hour and a half working out a schedule that would have at least started at 7:15 a.m. instead trying to work with the district

141and buy our students at least an extra 5 minutes of sleep. The district stated they couldn't afford that and they didn't think it was safe. This is interesting since a board member stated in this very room and we quote, "The district has plenty of money [Applause] This is interesting since we proposed the idea of a longevity increase for our security to help retain highly trained, qualified, and I want to say dedicated security. District said no. We now have teachers who are performing the duty of security in some buildings during their duty time instead of running support for students, which by the way, that support time is exactly what the district was asking for. The district's plan would also reduce instruction time for current classes. No plan or communication on how we're supposed to adjust our

142curriculum. We have endured needing to take more college credit classes in order to keep our job. teachers with over 10 years of experience in some cases have almost lost their job if not for union and HR working together to problem solve. When we proposed a simple step to help with that burden, we were told no. In the end, all of this is why we have come to an impass. But there are more reasons we have asked ourselves many times as many of us have over the years. And I know this is going to sound harsh and it's not meant to, but it's just real. How much is ineptitude and how much is malice? We set up good faith mediation sessions with the district. Many emails went back and forth. We sent an agreement for both

143parties to sign. What I signed did not say mediation. It was not what we had corresponded back and forth about. It is true. I trusted the district. Luckily for us, the mediator was not having it. The district capitulated after he got involved. That's what they think of us. Why? To try and prevent us from striking at the beginning of the school year. Through all of this, this is what the district thinks of us through actions. Not of the people who care about and for the most and for the most valuable asset to their community, their young people. No adversaries. is there trying to one up. It's just sad. It's the word that keeps coming back to me is sad. We never wanted to strike at the beginning of the year. It's not something I would

144do. I wanted we wanted to engage the community. We always want to we still want to engage the community. It has always been our intention to allow the community to hear these things first. It has always been our intention to be transparent and do business in the light. [Applause] And when I have asked for that, we have endured retaliation. I myself have endured retaliation. to the community. I guess we are. We are the enemy because we try and involve you. We are the enemy because we think you should be a part of this conversation. We are the enemy even though we came with adjusted expectations and we were still not heard. We are the enemy because we run a Q&A for you to hear from the board candidates. And when our students tried to do

145the same and run their own similar Q&A, they were told no and shut down. You have student ambassadors. Have you asked them how they feel about a 7:10 a.m. school start time? Or was this just another time in which the union was going to be blamed? No more and not under my watch. A contract is a two-way street. And to the administration of this district, I want you to realize that the contract does not contain what the union finds ideal. It is merely what the two sides have been able to agree on. A contract is a twoway street. And if you have ever said, "We can't do anything about it. It's the union contract." Why would we be willing to take the blame then for an earlier start time for our high school students? Cuz

146I'm not. Because at this point, after my 19 years, I know how this works. People are upset. The complaints come in and the union gets blame gets blamed for the contract. I'm done playing that game. To the community, we don't want to have a work stoppage. We are dedicated to working every day of this school year, even if a work stoppage does happen. And we have to work further into the summer because we protect our own. [Applause] And I'm sorry, I know this is going to be taken personal, but I'm going to throw it out there again. Two years ago, and you heard it earlier, two years ago, we had a retiree who was hurt on the job. He put in for retirement only to realize the workers comp he had to collect would lower

147his pension for the rest of his life unless he was allowed to revoke his retirement. The district said no. I'm sorry. I know this is going to take be taken personal, but it's not meant to. It's just that you need to understand that when we see administration allowed to revoke, and we are not. This is what we see. And so, no games. We know how many days we need to work. We'll work them. We're committed to working them all and making sure our students receive the very best education. But we are also committed to standing up for ourselves and each other in unity. >> We want you to realize one last piece. The district has stated they are afraid their federal funding will be cut. But let us say this. They asked for an economic

148contingency plan. We agreed to one. We were very close to agreeing on the percentage of lost revenue at which time that would kick in. But realize something. If it does, there is a scenario where the district asks staff to work longer days for nothing. What we have asked for is not that far off from what the district has stated it can afford. This isn't about us trying to drain the district of money. We are close. The district's philosophy, however, is quite simply that we aren't working enough. And unless our prek And unless our prek through 8 teachers are sitting at the school for 20 more minutes or high school isn't there for another 20 minutes, then they state they don't have the money. And by the way, if you're asking about step, they didn't tell

149us. The district neglected to inform us what they wanted from our step staff. The good news is my team, our team, we know our members were there to advocate for you as well. [Applause] >> If your goal of adding time is so important, this should be part of what you are selling to the community and staff through outreach. Forward thinking. You should work with stakeholders because one last thing our students and we have endured. It's called future ready because you asked for more time before. You asked for more time before and we we said okay. We agreed, right? Two-way street. That's what you did with the extra time last time you wanted it. We are going to bet I am going to bet your student ambassadors have lots of thoughts on future ready. We would

150love to see the feedback from the students on future ready. In fact, here's a challenge. The last time you asked for more time, we ended up with future ready and advisory time. How do your students feel about that time? Do you know? Cuz we do. >> Throughout negotiations, we were asked the question, "Don't our students deserve the best?" Our answer then and now, absolutely unequivocally. Our students deserve the best and so does the staff. [Applause] >> All of this that I have provided is an attempt again. Again. And I I need you to trust me. I've tried. Like we have tried. It's an attempt again. It's an attempt for you to understand the broken promises we have endured and the actions with no plans have lasted far too long. We have endured. We want to

151flourish. And in case you need a reminder, who are we? >> Who are we? In unity. >> In unity. [Applause] Office Personnel Council. >> Good evening board members and senior leadership. as well as the Valley View Council and the community. My name's Maria Resisus, president of the Valley View office personnel. I'm here with my executive board officers, Vicki, Christy, Sandy, and unfortunately, Ley had to go home in the storm to Indiana. So, um, she wishes she could be here as well. Um, although the secretaries are a separate council, we are we're all in this together. Um, through the AFT and the IF, American Federation of Teachers and ILO Federation of Teachers. As a taxpaying homeowner and a resident of 24 years in Bowling Brook, I'd love to see Valley View be a school district where

152applicants are breaking down breaking down the doors to be a part of a workplace where positions only open when someone retires. VVOP, we stand with VVC for a fair contract. [Applause] transportation. No report. All right. Any old business before the board this evening? Any new business before the board this evening? Boyer requests will be with Mr. Blay and are available on our website. Any announcements for the board from my left? Any announcements from the board on my right? Uh I have one announcement. The Pakistani Independence Day celebration is Saturday at the Bowling Brook Village Hall. We have a large contingency of Pakistani residents in the community and they throw a wonderful Independence Day celebration and have some really good food. Uh that begins I believe at noon and goes on into the evening. So any

153announcements by the administration? >> No, not tonight. >> Anyone else? Any comments? Have a safe evening. I hope you don't have to row your canoe to get home. >> Motion to a motion to adjurnn. Motion second. >> Motion and seconded. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Post. Same sign. Eyes have. Thank you.