001forever. She wants You'll see all the doors. Think we see we No, no. Wow. Good evening everyone. I'd like to call our May 19th meeting on board education to order. Call at 6:04 p.m. start time. If I could have a roll call, please. >> Mr. Bernita >> here. >> Miss Champine >> here. Miss Mr. Mortonberry >> here. >> Miss Steven >> here. >> Mr. Cook >> here. >> Mr. North >> here. Thank you. Welcome everybody. If you could all please stand and join me in our pledge of >> 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. Okay, >> full house. Thank you for your patience while we got some more chairs in here so
002we can have people be comfortable while you're waiting. Um, first item, staff, student and community celebration. We will start with community ZB pride awards. Dr. Belchure. All right. Thank you. Uh tonight, uh we wanted to take an opportunity to uh celebrate several organizations whose donations of gift cards and gift certificates and uh variety of different items contributed to a uh raffle that was hosted uh several weeks ago during our staff appreciation. So, our culture and climate committee here at this campus organized an effort to add to many of the great things that we've been doing to honor and celebrate the staff um and they solicited several donations from a variety of different communities uh both around Zion Walkan and also Jeremy and some of Wisconsin as well and um for their request and and mine
003we felt it necessary to give them a shout out. So, I know several of them as as private or should say um yeah, private and organizations were unable to be here tonight, but several are and I'm going to do my best to kind of sort through all of them and give them the recognition and bring them up today. So, um I do want to start by recognizing those that I know are here and then I'm going to kind of go through my list as well and give them some uh uh the recognition that they so deserve. Uh once we get up here with those of you who are here today, uh we will take a little picture as well. Um so uh Mr. Mr. Carlson, can you help me out? Just just give me a
004little hand here. So uh I do want to start out uh by recognizing the Kuanis Club and Zion and Zion Pageant. Here today are Miss Lynette Van Habbeek, Jean Vines, and also uh Michelle Peterson. Stand right over here that way. That way I'm not getting. And then representing the Peach Park Queens, special guests Annab Beth and Evelyn. Um, I know that those those of you who walked in, I tried to catch as many of you as I could. So, I'm going to read off several of our others. And if you are here tonight, please come forward and we will we will take care of you. Um, uh, Starbucks of Zion, the N&T's restaurant, Nothing Buncakes of Gurnie. Okay. McGrath Acura of Libertyville, Marcus Theater in Wisconsin, uh, Dwells Automotive Services, Cooper Hawk of Gurnie, the
005Beach, I got the Beach Park, Queens, and B&G sales and Pel Rose Park. All right. And Jewel of Gurnie Omni Salon and Spa of Zion and Mike Moore Miles Auto Repair of WA. All right. That's what I thought. So, uh, without any, you know, further ado, right, adding to the recognition that so many of our staff deserve as they show up every day for our kids in our district. Um, some say the work we do goes unnoticed. Um and and though we know it does not, these are the types of little things that our community partners do just to make what we do as educators, particularly our staff, uh and show them a little bit of recognition for all the time that they invest. So, one big round of applause to ALL and I will
006be giving all the uh their certificates uh for all of those other uh organizations that were generous uh on behalf of our staff appreciation week. They will get all of their certificates um over the course of the week. So, we'll do a quick picture if we can with the board with our with our folks that are here tonight and then we'll move on to the staff um and student recognition. >> True. We'll come right in. I'm finally tall. >> One, two, three. Okay, good evening everyone. Um tonight it is my pleasure to honor two uh stellar people from the Z campus. One outstanding staff member, one outstanding student. Um it's my pleasure. We're going to go and start with our staff member. So I would like to call up someone who really adds to our
007culture and climate at this building and spreads her sunshine and her smiling face and it's just what we really need every single day here, our employees like this. So, I'm going to ask my award winner to come up and I'll say a few words with or about her. So, Miss Stephanie FESSEL right here front and center. All right. Stephanie Vessel, if you do not know her, she is a ZB grad, graduated in 2005. Do not cry. She's been working here for four years as our purchasing specialist in the business office. The business office has had a distinct goal of creating customer service and friendly and just it's it's it's a hard office sometime that business office but with Stephanie they are achieving and they're actually smashing that goal because she's front and center and she's
008wonderful. She helps our staff, our students, the administration. She literally runs all over to make sure we have purchased and we get what we need when we need it on time. And it's been just an awesome experience working with Stephanie. Um Stephanie prior to working here was in hospitality. So she has brought all of her skills hospitality to this building. But I do want to say again that Stephanie is just a true employee that we do celebrate and sometimes we overlook those offices but it's my honor and I thank you Stephanie Fessel and I will present you with your not that one not that one cuz there's nothing in that one. That was just kidding you on that one. Stephanie, my pleasure. You can stand. Okay. >> All right. That means you care cuz she's
009very emotional. She's the best. All right. Now for our outstanding student. For our outstanding student from Zen, it's my pleasure to call up Fernanda Reeria. SO, WE DID JUST UH do our graduation and we we moved the seniors on out, right? But here is a rising senior that you need to know. So, she just completed her junior year here. But I I put my comments I don't usually do this, but I put them in writing because I don't want to mess up while we're honoring you. She's outstanding. We're going to congratulate Fernandanda Reeria on completing the Advocate Condell Medical Centers. It's called the Penazi program if you've heard of that. Not sure if you've heard of it. Um it is it provides opportunities for students to immerse themselves in the healthcare field. It's a very
010competitive process to be accepted. To secure her spot, Fernandanda had to compete against 531 applicants um complete an intensive interview process and from there was one of 52 Lake County students selected to be admitted to this program. first ever present. So began uh the program this November attending this is in addition to school which her her calendar or her schedule is chock full of AP courses and advanced items but in addition she did this on her own time after school. She began the program in November attended weekly seminars through April. During this time, she gained valuable experience from scrubbing in for and observing in a surgery, experiencing the rush of a trauma patient entering the ER, listening to inspirational medical speakers, providing empathetic care to patients, practicing her medical skills in a simulation lab, and
011networking with highlevel healthcare providers and local high school students. So, for that, you are an outstanding Zion Benton student here, and we are excited to see what you're going to do your senior year. your counselor, Miss Colleen, who could not be here, said that she is one of the most extraordinary students she's ever encountered in her 20 years plus of being a veter. So again, picture Good evening, President Nordstrom, Board of Education. I'd like to welcome up uh for Zion Betty East Pride Ward uh one of our staff members, Mr. Ryan Cassidy. Ryan here is uh finishing up only his second year at Zanveet East High School. uh but he came to us with 10 years teaching experience in both middle school and high school social studies in the state of Wisconsin. He very quickly
012uh became apparent that he is an excellent and engaging teacher. He first came uh across what's called the stock market game. This is a game sponsored by the Sim Sithma Foundation. Uh, and he found out about this about this game from a colleague back in 2017 and he broke Design Bed East this year and made it a whole class assignment. These students competed against $1,363 other students across the state. And here's how it works. All students get $100,000 in virtual cash. not real money, but they invested in real companies in stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, and they can track their performance with real-time updates, and their performances ranked statewide. Mr. Cassidy found that his students were becoming very motivated, looking at the leaderboard each day, were collaborating, and they and uh he helped students by
013teaching them how to research and look for companies that will rise up and and showing them how to analyze on Yahoo Finance. and he found that students got a lot of success this year by investing in electric companies, oil companies, uh companies that make hard drives. Um, and so I'm going to talk a little bit more about Mr. Cassidy. But first, I'm going to have him call up some of the leaders uh and talk to you about the impressive uh nature of these students and how they did in this and then we'll come back to Mr. Cassidy. So, sir, I'll hand the phone the microphone over to you. Thank you very much for having me. I appreciate the opportunity to talk in front of you all. Uh so let's see. Let's call up some of
014my awesome students. So do we have Noah? Come on down. Uh let's see. Owen, come on down. We have over here. Do we have Eric? That's okay. So, these are our two awesome students. And we uh Noah on the initial one $100,000 investment that he had, he earned over $51,000 over 6 months. So 51,000 bonus dollars is what he earned in one. His best stock was a petroleum company with a $19% rate of return. Uh he also heavily invested in Apple and Tesla, both making solid returns. great investments now. And Owen on initial $100,000 investment, Owen earned over $59,755. He heavily bought also into a oil company and there is going to be a trend here. Oil did very well this year. Uh he had a nearly a rate of 200% rate of return on
015his investment. He also got very lucky with a company that went private and totally liquidated in stock. So, he earned a couple, was it almost $7,000 for free just because a company went private. So, uh, congratulations. Sometimes great timing is what it takes. Uh, the trends this year were pointing towards tech companies with hard drives and memory companies doing really, really well. Um, and with the AI push, uh, those who invested heavily, uh, took the top spots. Congratulations to all the winners. And I'm proud of you for taking the four of the top 10 spots out of over 1300 teams. So congratulations. >> Congratulations. Gentlemen, why don't you join the group over here? Mr. Cassidy, can you speak how the team overall did and I will show them our impressive banner here. >> There we
016go. Turn around and show the audience here. So, they uh they sent us this. They sent us some medals because out of the top 1,400 or 1300 teams, we had nine teams in the top 20. So almost half the whole half the top 20 was our students. So I'm very very proud. While we're very very proud of our student success that no we know that student success does not happen by accident. Thank you Mr. Cassidy for your dedication to district 126 to Zion students Zenton E students. Um, and we're very proud of you finding ways to highly engage, motivate, and differentiate in the classroom so that students can participate. That's our students are really lucky to have you and very proud to award you with this pride award. If I can find the right one.
017Here it is. Congratulations. All right, time out from the front. Come here. Go ahead. Don't need to see me. >> All right. Ready? One, two, three. Nice. Should I try Hey, you're my tender. >> I was going to lose third. That's I didn't thank you everyone. Um we'll move on to communications from staff guests and district residents. Um staff guests and district residents may address the board of education during the communications from staff guests and district residents portion of the agenda. Um we have people who have signed in on this piece of paper. Sometimes people sign in thinking that it is a just to sign in not necessarily to speak. So, if I read your name at some point this evening and you didn't intend to speak, please just say that you didn't intend to
018speak. Um, comments will be limited to three minutes per individual. Um, when there is obviously a larger group like this, I'd like to make sure that this is uh reinforced. Um, please try not to repeat the comments of anybody who has spoken before you. If uh multiple of you are are generally going to speak on the same topic, if you could maybe delegate or allow the person who has already spoken on your topics to um represent what their thoughts were, we would appreciate it. Um if multiple individuals wish to address the board on the same subject, the group is encouraged to appoint a spokesperson and I may limit um the amount of public comment that we have so that we can get to the rest of the business of the evening. And as many of
019you know, um, we try not to respond to the public comment. Um, want to make sure you make your comment. Um, but also know that there are things that just can't be discussed even if we wanted to. So, um, the fact that we might not respond to some of your comments doesn't mean that the issue isn't known and that we haven't been working on ways to help assure that everybody's needs and concerns are taken into account. With that, um, I will start and if I misstate your name, I apologize. I'm trying to make sure to read handwriting. So, I'm going to go in the order that people signed in. And I will start with Thomas French. When you come up, if you could please uh state your name and I believe um we've asked if
020you there's a tablet up at the lecturer if you could please uh just so that we have your name reflected because sometimes it's hard to read off of this. Thomas French. >> Yes, sir. >> Is there a piece of paper up there, sir? >> Yes, sir. >> Could you just write your name on there real quick? >> I'm afraid that as we go through this, we might not end up having the exact order in the names of people who actually spoke. Okay. And then uh you have three minutes and we'll try and give you about a 30 second heads up if you're about to use up your time. >> Okay. Thank you very much. First, I'd like to thank the board and athletic department for the amazing job that you guys have done with the
021athletic fields and just the school in general. It all looks very great and like I would like to thank you guys for putting that type of effort to get the school and things where it almost looks basically futuristic out here. Thank you guys very much for that. I am the uh guardian of Jir French and Three and a half years ago, we had a real tough decision to make because as you guys have seen in the sports landscape, a lot of people are starting to, you know, basically roll in the gray area with high school, junior high students. And so the first thing I did is I went to coach White and I told him that I just was honest with him and I told him everything that was going on. And coach White explained
022that you here at Zion, we do the right thing and with all the offers and the things that they wanted with my nephew, I had to honor that. And the fact that when Coach White when I thought about what he has done for the fact that he started as a sub and after being a sub credit recovery and then running that summer program and everything designed for he had to put in at least 15 to 20 years of doing that like that was the reason that we said okay we'll stay here in Zion and we don't want to be one of the families that seem to try to run to the lane find an apartment there and go to different schools and things of that nature. So basically what I'm here for is to say
023that like without Coach White being the honest man he is and showing the kids that you can actually start from the bottom with no nepatism or anything and you could be a kid that's grown up on Java and then turn around and be somebody that actually has a big position in the school. Like that's actually something that they should aim for want to do. But on the flip side, I know we have like rules and regulations and things of that nature. But the fact that he started working with the kids from the bottom that shows that that's something it's very hard for somebody to say because I have been successful, which God bless him that he has been successful. It's hard to cut that part off and look like you're up here and it's something
024that they can't achieve because you no longer get to work with them hands on. That's all that I really have for it. I hope Thank you sir. Um, the next name we have written in is Emily Braden. Please restate your name and then you go ahead and start. >> I graduated in 2007. So, Coach White was a senior when I was here and I heard his name all over here all the time. Coach Rod also started when I was here. And the fact that we have been here almost 20 years and coach White came back and dedicated his life to bettering the kids in our community just warms my heart. Some of the kids don't have fathers in their home. Some of the kids don't have good influences outside the walls. But being a head
025coach is more than just coaching. You're a mentor. You're helping these kids. you're directing them in school and helping them outside of school. And I think having my son play with Coach White and experiencing having somebody that is just like him and knowing how far you can go and how well you can proceed in life is just amazing. My son, I love you, but my son needs a lot of guidance. Um, but I think with having Coach White on our football team, I know for a fact my son has done so much more better than what he would have done if we would have chose to go to a different school. Having the coaching staff that we have just makes me happy. And I think without coach White, the football team would the the kids
026on the football team, I don't think would be as well-rounded as they are now. And then with coach Rod, my son also had an experience with him when he worked through the summer program and he helped him through the hard times that he was going through with the summer program when we had came back to Illinois. So, I just want to just say that the fact that my son gets to experience the people that guided his father and myself in high school just ultimately just makes it like a whole circle. That's pretty much all I can say. >> Okay, thank you. >> Next name Gunter. I'm sorry if I please correct my pronunciation. I'm pretty good with names, but my name is Mun the fourth. Um, I can't speak to uh too much history of
027the football program. Um, we've lived in Zion since 2003. We transferred our son to Zion Betton for one year, senior year. And our first point of contact was uh Mr. Beimi, which I can't say enough about the entire athletic department. Um they answered all the questions we needed. We needed to know whether he was eligible and if he wasn't eligible, we would have stayed where we were at. Um, our next point of contact and direct contact was we came in for a shadow practice and we met Coach White, the rest of the coaching staff and most importantly these young men behind me. Um, and after seeing the culture of this football program, the respect of all the coaches, the respect of these young men behind me, um, and Coach White meeting, uh, we were impressed.
028We were put to comfort that would do well here. And it turns out that this one year in Zion was his best year of school again. And it was all started from this football program. Uh we went through the entire summer program and we were at ease when he walked through the doors as a student for the first time. And uh it was this entire coaching staff, not just co, the entire coaching staff are topn blessed that they are meeting with these young men. When you get to know these young men, they will shake your hand. They will look you dead in the eyes and they will hug you. It's a culture of love and respect. I can't tell you how many times my son was on the phone with one of the coaches 8:00
029at 9:00 talking about game plan going I can't speak highly enough about the entire program very impressed and I'll see these men in in the store 10 years and they'll still have I can guarantee friends for life I appreciate everything that the the school's done and especially Okay, next Gary B. Right. Good evening. Welcome. >> Thank you. Um I'm a 1969 graduate science high school. Started teaching here 197475 school year. Retired in 2007. And when I first heard that the policy of being an administrator and you could no longer coach, I shook my head because back in 197475, which might seem like a long time ago to some of you, but it seems like yesterday to me. We had a very, very good young basketball coach by the name of Mo Tharp. Mo was a
0301962 graduate of Zion. He was Billy McKenna and Ryan Cobert's coach. He was in his fourth year as our head coach and he got his administrative degree. Decided that he would like to be a dean and the head coach here at this school and our school at that time told him no way you cannot do both. Mole wanted to do both. So he left our school after seven years. Went to Palentine Friend High School. Coached there for 27 years as an administrator. started off as a dean, worked his way up to assistant principal, is a Hall of Fame basketball coach, and in my opinion back then, and still my opinion today, we lost a very good young coach. And not only a good young coach, he was a good teacher. And I'm sure he would
031have been a great administrator. That's my opinion. He could have done both. He did both for 27 years. The other story that I have is by a little little little closer to now was a track coach by the name of Leon Luck. >> Leon was head track coach at this school and was also a hall of fame Lake County Hall of Fame uh track coach and Leon was also a dean at this school for many years. He did both. Had no problems with doing both. And uh I know that Derek Lee when he was head track coach was also an administrator at that time. Uh I know MacArthur cuz I was MacArthur's football coach when he was here and and I know Rodney also very well. I think those are two outstanding young men, two
032outstanding young coaches who in my opinion are just going to get better and better with the opportunity. So my asking would be for the board to reconsider that policy. I seen it not work at one time when we lost a very young coach back in the day and I hate to see this happen again. So there's nothing more to say. Thank you very much for listening and thank you again. Thank you. And just to slightly change, not add to what I said earlier, just so everybody knows. Um, again, there are some things that we can't share and wouldn't share in public. There are some things that the board isn't solely responsible for and able to change by board directed policy. There are other schoolwide relationships that we need to be aware of and at times
033that somehow and sometimes prevents us from doing what might otherwise be proper. So that being said, um, next name on the list is Karen Stewart. Apologize. Oh, I thought it stew. You can write your name on that piece of paper before we start. appreciate it. >> You just say your name and then uh go ahead and start your time. >> My name is Stewart and I'm here tonight because I truly believe Coach White deserves the opportunity to to be serving students in this district for 15 years. He has to build real relationships with students. For him, coaching is not just an activity. It's a calling. The impact he had on students goes far beyond the field. It's difficult to understand why someone so passionate about supporting kids would have to leave a role to continue
034coaching and mentoring students. We often talk about the importance of relationships and education and coach has spent years building those relationships with young people in his community. Hope serious consideration is given to allow him to continue doing the work he really cares about deeply because students truly benefit from having people like him in their lives. I can read the last name. I can't read the first name very well. Last name Mendes. Maybe Mendes. >> Did I get that correct? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you. Good evening, Board of Education. My name is Hope Mendes, and I'm here today because I want to speak about the impact Mr. White has had on our school community. Mr. White has consistently shown dedication, leadership, and professionalism in both roles as head of security and head coach. Beyond his
035responsibilities, he always make an has made an effort to connect with students on a deeper level, making them feel seen, heard, and supported. He goes above and beyond every day. Whether it's helping students through difficult situations, encouraging them to succeed, or creating a safe space and positive environment throughout the school. His impact reaches far beyond security or coaching. He served as a mentor and a role model to many students. Taking away one of these roles would not only affect Mr. White, but would also have a significant impact on students who rely on his guidance, support, and presence each day. He has earned the respect of the school community through his hard work and commitment and he truly deserves the opportunity to continue serving in both positions. If he no longer is allowed to serve in
036both roles, future students and members of the school community may never get the chance to experience the positive impact Mr. White has made on so many students, including myself, allowing him to remain both head of security and head coach would continue to strengthen student safety, trust, school spirit, and the overall school community. I just graduated this past Sunday. Speaking on myself and my personal opinion, Mr. Roy has been there throughout my whole four years. He's known me since I was little, but he's made a huge impact on my life and he's been a father figure in my life and always guided me and counsel me on things that nobody else had the the courage to talk to me about or just to sit there and listen. So, I was really taking appreciation if you guys
037would consider the policy that was made. Thank you. Okay, thank you. And at this point, I'm going to keep going through all the names. Everybody's being pretty good about not being too repetitive. Normally, if we're going like a full three minutes, I would ask for us to shorten the comments, but I'm going to try and get everybody's name through here as long as we don't get too repetitive. Um, so I appreciate you being aware of that. Um, next name is Jeff Norman. Is it Norman? >> Thank you. Welcome. Yeah, my name is Jeff Norman. I'll try not to be too repetitive, but I am here on the same topic. I'm coming at it from a little different approach. I'm a coach here currently and I'm a pastor in the community and I feel like I
038have a pretty good pulse for uh just how people feel about this. And that's in regard to both guys. I want people to know Coach Rod and Coach Squig as we affectionately call him. Um, these are two great guys, great coaches, and uh, great friends. I'm going to share a couple of their stories on each. Coach Rod, I had him as a substitute my freshman year here. I've been to Zion my whole life. Um, and as much of a clown as I was, I remember him being gracious when he got the security position. I can remember that pattern continue. Um he he really knows how to work with students, how to love students, and how to make you feel comfortable when you're in trouble. And I was like that. Um you know, I won't get
039into details or anything, but Rod has been through hell in his personal life. Uh he's been through hard times in his career here. He's been overlooked for some things. and despite that, he has remained faithful to this district and to these kids and he's still here serving. Um, Squig has been here almost 20 years. He took our football program at a time of crisis when coach Garza uh passed away, God rest his soul. He took it at a time when nobody wanted that position. He loved these kids outside of football. If you get to know any of these faces behind me, these are not just kids who play now. These are kids who graduated that are here to support him as well. And he's so committed, as a matter of fact, that he's willing to
040resign his day job so that he might not let them down. I asked Coach White, "Why would you do that? Why would you give up uh your salary and all that?" And you know what he told me? He said, "Life is going to let these kids down. life lets these kids down all the time >> and I'm not going to do that today and I think that really speaks to his character. Um, as the board, you guys are the voice of the community for this district and you're hearing people time and time again and there'll be people after me crying out, do something, >> make something work for, are you going to listen or not? I guess is my question. >> Come on. >> And so what I'm asking ultimately is that as leadership here,
041you would put people over policies, procedures, and processes. And I assure you that the community is watching your decision. Kevin James, welcome. Hello. Uh, my name is James. Um, I'm here also coach Blake. Um as for my experience I can say I think I can speak for everybody on the football team that coach Squid is more than just a coach all of us administrator he um his his influence and his impact on us start it doesn't it doesn't end on the football field but it definitely does start there like uh taking away that platform to him just mentoring us kids not just us that are on the football team like right now in athletics but as well as kids that have never got the opportunity to get mentorship Um, for my experience, I just had
042a my older brother, he graduated from here last year, and we've both been coached by Squid. But, um, as I can say, like like my freshman year, um, not even getting coached by him yet, just him as my brother's coach. He, um, like my freshman year, I went, me and my brother went through a very hard time. Um my mother had passed away and um Squid and multiple other coaches on the football team as well. Um they showed up to the funeral and like me as a kid I didn't know what that meant for them. At the time I thought it was just some random dude showing up just cuz they had to. But as I got older I realized they really didn't have to do that. It just shows how much they deeply do
043care for us more than just football. And um as my brother graduated like last year when I was on 14th I had an older brother a senior that could um like you know help me push through the hard times like when I needed motivation but he graduated I didn't have that but at times when I thought nobody noticed um me struggling or anything like that um squeeze energy he checked in with me he kept me kept me levelheaded he um he he um he helped me through a lot of stuff even after the football season ended he um one time I gave into the building terrible day going on. Um he pulled me into his office. He had deep conversation with me. Um about just like just like it's like it's more it's more it
044goes it runs deeper than just being on a false with him. Um taking away that that platform that gives him the opportunity to present himself to us in the first place is just terrible loss for me them and many more to come. That's really all I have to say. HIS name Christine the Gracia. >> Welcome My name is Christine Negraia and this is my the end of my 29th year here. Uh Rod Henry was in my third period class the first year I taught here right on the quarter room 120 and a few years later his senior year I had the privilege of teaching uh coach wave too. Uh, not only have I been their teacher, but I've also coached them because I coached boys track back then also. And um, I've also coached with
045both of them. And I'm here to say that we need more coaches in the building. So, as head track coach of the last few years, I've had to hire some people and it has been a struggle to get people to want to coach. Uh, coaching is, as these young men have talked about, it is not two hours after school. It's a lot. And to get people who want to do that is difficult. I spent hours as we had openings on our staff scrolling through Facebook, looking through yearbooks trying to get alums to come back because Zeb's care. They want this place to be great, right? And to know that these two might not be with us anymore is a problem. And I heard you say, "Hey, it's might not just be something that you guys
046can control." But the last time I had this microphone was when we almost went on strike as a staff and we figured that out. And this is a time where we need to figure it out again because >> we cannot let these two men leave this district. Period. >> Come on. So I just want to give an example from a staff viewpoint because the kids have already told you what you need to know. Uh this winter there was a basketball freshman who was acting goofy in the hallway as freshman I have to do. And all I had to do was co text both of these coaches and coach Rod wasn't around but coach Squid immediately said where you at? Let me let's talk. He grabbed the kid. He got together and he mentored that kid
047on how to talk to a staff member appropriately. And he got that kid to shake my hand by the end of the conversation. and now we're cool. That wouldn't have happened if he wasn't here. And having them in the building is important, especially for football. Coach Rod is in our building at this campus, right? But for football, we do not have a single coach on staff who's in this campus, >> right? >> And we only have two, correct? Over at East, we need coaches in the building. It changes the culture. And we've done a lot of amazing things. Um, and forgive me I don't remember who said I think it was Mr. French who talked about all the changes we've made to the building itself but we are working on changing the culture of this
048building too. having them here matters. And the policy of not allowing coaches to to be either like uh classified staff or administration is making it difficult for the coaches who do care to do what we want to do and that is to make this place amazing. And it's already on the way there. But we need your help. So we have to find a way to compromise. We have to find a way to make this work. We did it a few years ago with a contract. I know we can do it with this, but we need your help. And you're going to see a bunch of other people who are going to speak on this. They matter to us. They matter to these kids. They matter to our staff. We're family. We cannot let family go.
049So, I ask you to find a way. Find a way for us, PLEASE. Thank you, Ron Edwards. >> I don't want the microphone. slowly, sir. >> Okay, I will. Thank you. >> But Miss Pam, I'm going ask you to look at me and Miss Patricia and Chris. >> Most times I come to speak, I come to fight. Today, I don't want to fight cuz I'm a little emotional. You got two black men, >> despite what's going on around the world, >> I'm looking in this room and I'm seeing black, white, and brown sitting together, y'all. YES. >> Do you know how hard that is to do in today's society? >> I'm sitting here and I'm sitting in this chair and I'm asking myself, do they even understand what coaching is? >> Coaching ain't just about
050the sport. >> Coaching ain't just done on the field. >> AND IT TAKES SOME SPECIAL PEOPLE to be coaches. Yes, sir. >> We talking about fathers. And as a black man that grew up in a home without a father, these boys got somebody. They deserve somebody and somebody should hear me. >> I'm a community advocate and I'm all through the county. So often I have to go to a hospital to stand with a mother because her son was on the football field. >> He wasn't on the basketball court. He didn't have a coach. >> I don't want to fight. I want y'all to do something for the first time by putting these babies over the policy. >> Yes. >> Don't tell me, Mr. Chair, what we can't do. >> Come on now. >> Cuz I
051believe in God and I know he can get anything done. And I think that sometimes we do the things that is convenient and we do the things that's easy >> and we run from what's hard. But each one of y'all asked us for a vote >> because you said you care about this community, the people. A lot of them can't vote, but their parents care. And if you take those black men a part of those baby flies, I ask myself, will one of them be the next one? I'm going to cheat on >> I'm saying to y'all this time, you know, you know, I don't cry, but I am asking y'all today to do something different. I know rules can't be broken, but it ain't no way on paper where they say it can't be
052that. >> That's right. >> Rod and Squid live in this community. >> Yes. >> They go to the same grocery stores, the gas stations, the barber shops, they ride the blocks. >> Mhm. So these babies won't have an opportunity to do something different. And when you take them out of the building, you stop the relationship that they have with these teachers. I I thank you for recognizing your staff. That matters to let people know how much they are appreciated. It matters. And sometimes all that have to be is as big as a month. So Mr. Jerry, I'm saying to you, I'm going to reach out to you, Mom, >> cuz I want to talk to you some >> I want to see what you and I can do and what you and I can talk
053about because what we going to do is we going to keep squid and rock. I thank you cuz I'm sitting there and energy is contagious. I feel your energy. I know you care. You care a lot. And so I'm going to say this and I'm going to sit down. Coaching don't just be in the buildings. >> That's right. >> It's in our community. >> It's at the parks. It's at the youth center. Yes, >> the police calls them even when they ain't THEY >> and God for that. You don't pay them for them after hours. Listen to my babies. That's who we all work for. Cuz one day all of them will be sitting in one of these seats. That's the goal. >> I thank y'all FOR Y'ALL TIME. MR. JERRY, I THANK ALL OF
054Y'ALL. I know y'all don't get paid to do this. I know this is voluntary work. It's taking y'all away from y'all families. And so I thank y'all for that. But I ask y'all to just think about one thing. The same work that y'all do. Amen. That's what R and Squid do. I think this is Is this close? What I thought closer Welcome. Thank you. >> Is this on? >> Yes. There you go. >> I taught here for 33 years. Uh, coached here for 42, went to a different school for 11. I'm back and I'm glad that I'm back. I coached basketball for a lot of years here. I had the pleasure of coaching Rod and MacArthur, two high quality, high class individuals. You're not going to find anybody better to lead young men than these
055two. They are top of the list. And here at Zion, you have to let coaches have ample opportunity to develop their craft. I was head freshman for six, head sophomore for 10, head varsity for 25 here, then I went over to Warren for 11, and now I'm back at Zion. The first four years that I was at Zion, it was tough. It was tough. But I had a superintendent, a principal, and an athletic director who believed in me. And 525 points later, it was a whole lot better. Michael Taylor I'm sorry. Could you could you name sir? I'll try I'm just trying to be consistent. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> How y'all doing? My name Taylor. Um, today I stand up here in support of Coach White and Coach Rob. Um, Coach White, I
056see firsthand the impact he has on kids, not just in sports, but in life. Uh, back in 2016, my brother Male played for him and Coach White brought out a different level of drive and confidence in him I've never seen before. Now, years later, I stand here. My son just graduated from Warren and always been a big support for him. too many people to see him on social media. But seeing what coach White has done lately and build over here at Zion, it has changed my perspective. My brother Micah is here currently at Zion. And Coach White has had a great impact on him, not just his sports, but just the person I used to become and the young man he's throwing into. Uh, Coach White has not only done that for my family, but
057for many, many others as we all see here. Now, I have a son that's in eighth grade that's going to high school and he um he has the opportunity to choose between coming here and going other places. And after seeing the energy and what he coach White has been doing in the building, my son decided that he wanted to come. So, I plan to move back into the district and then I find out that he may no longer be here. And as somebody that graduated from Zion, that was crushing to me because always wanted my son to fill my shoes. >> And I believe that replacing Coach White would be a huge mistake. Uh especially this late with the energy that these kids have built. I haven't seen the last time that uh I came
058into design station and it was hard to find places. Um, just walking around just seeing the energy like I would say probably the last time was around 2017 when they went to the playoffs and before that when was the player and taking that away. What was the point of all the things y'all did for building the weight room and doing everything that y'all done cuz it's going to kill the confidence of so many kids. my son was important to come here and believe it made my day if he's able to and both here. I don't know how. So, I hope y'all make a good decision and whatever happens happens. All right, we're done with last two games. So, I'm going to have to stay with the same protocol. I'm not going to shorten anything, but
059again, please uh make sure they do not be uh repetitive. I appreciate all the comments. Um, next is Ira Williams Jr. >> I just want to start off by saying everybody that started way I' known him for a long time very respectable person very honorable again I hate to piggy back but I I have seen the things I am the assistant coach here for his varsity basketball also part even back then when I was across he was always motivational always inspirational was always positive. So um to take pillar from the community and take him away from something that I know he loves and that he puts us all into I think to the to speak on coach. Coach Rob is more like a mentor to me. I respect him very clearly, very professional, very honest.
060Um, he has open door policy. He'll talk to you about anything. He will help you with anything. He's just he's always there. He's always around. I see the things he does in the community as far as giving back to the kids. ice cream thing. He doesn't It's just hard to really be up here and see that he may not be here anymore. I hope that we do the right things and keep them in our community so that these kids can continue to have structure and the discipline that they need to continue to try to be successful. Demetrius Terrell. All right. How you doing? How you doing, Mr. Morrison? Thank you for the time. Uh, I had something to say today, but I can't go against the grain, so I'm going to just follow through. But,
061uh, no, the real reason I'm here is to talk about my basic civil rights for the last few years. Um, I got hurt at work January 11, 2020. From that time, I've been denied reasonable accommodations. I've been penalized for using FMA FM EMA and ADA protection because of the accident that occurred while I was working. Since this time, I've been written up for write ups and this time I have been miraculous. But I'm not going to talk about that because my emotions are not there right now. I want to talk about Mr. Hear me and Rob. I had the pleasure to play against him when I was young in North Chicago. Uh what I can say the the meaning of having coaches inside of a school building, the impact that that has on a school
062district and culture is tremendous because like Mr. Grace say, if a student is acting up, they allow that contact with that coach to get that student in order. When I was growing up, I had a coach similar circumstance had to stop coaching football because he was an administrator. The football program went downhill and a lot of those athletes got into the streets because they no longer believe in the sports and their school sports system. So, they found other things to do. Like everybody up here before me on said, coaching is just more than the X's and nos on the football field. If I didn't have a coach that was in my community, I would become the man that I am today. According to the statistic, I wasn't supposed to graduate. I wasn't supposed to go
063to college, let alone to get a advanced degree, which is in human resource management. So the reason that I'm speaking on all these things is because the real reason that we even talking about this was to get them from being in the union so they could have their safety net to taken away from them. >> And that is a big issue in this space right now. It's neptism and they don't care. If you go against them, they're going to find something something that they want out of you. So you can't do your job or I can't work for them because you going against what they believe in. If you don't jump on their team, you're the prop and they going to do everything they can to write you up or come at you to get
064you. So thank you for your time. I'm sorry I'm so emotional right now. I couldn't speak to the script. So thank you for your time and I'll be sending the board all of the information tomorrow via an email about all the things that I've been going through. So thank you. You have bleach. Welcome everybody. I board member previously position on the board for many years. So these days like this are very long and board members and staff that are here. So thank you all for allowing me. Um, I'm here because when I was on the board, and I'm a long lifelong member of this community, but I was on the board and we had this same situation come up with, Mr. Carlson and it killed me because he coached my daughter, he coached my granddaughter
065and he is an excellent coach and life altering position because he taught him more than just how to play volleyball. We continue to um uh work together. Our students continue to perform and we continue to celebrate both schools. And I will finish by saying to you as a board administrator hold the vision from the work and the next years to come this year for this. Thank you. >> Questions for Dr. Right. Moving on. Reports of discussion. Our principal reports, >> right? >> You have our packets and we will hear from them next month. Um for committee reports, this finance committee In the interest of time, I'll just briefly say as always that we talked and visited finance about pretty much everything we going to be taking up or have already taken tonight including contract repairs
066overnight field trips uh draft meeting calendar improvements update building purchase process and tax extension report. Any questions for me? That was in our meeting of whatever day it was uh the 12th April. >> Right. Moving on. Policy committee. >> Thank you. Policy committee met last week. Two of the later handbook. We also discussed graduation participation specifically who can participate in graduation and administrative procedures up. procedures needed to carry out questions. Moving on, new business administrative salary ranges compensation recommendations. Good evening board of education. This evening I'll be presenting the recommendation for the proposed salary ranges for administrative and positions. So as part of our commitment to conduct a salary study every two years. Um we are reviewing the board approved FY25 salary ranges to ensure that our salary remain competitive, equitable and that we are
067right with markets. Um in this process we looked at CPI we also looked at school districts and um we also looked at getting feedback and finance. So they provide feedback and we make sure to include all the feedback in our recommendation for the 257 salary. We are recommending a 2.8 adjustment to the salary ranges. Um this adjustment will help us maintain internal equity by ensuring that when we hire new staff that they're not any current employees within their categories. And this also makes sure that we are competitive and that we attract questions about a motion to accept super recommendation to approve salary structure effective FY by any questions. Very good. >> Hi, M. Hi, Mr. Cook. Hi, Mr. M. Hi, Mr. Thank you. Next item, board committee assignments, meeting dates and board meeting calendar for
068so annually the board approves the board assignments meeting dates. So this is about those are have a motion to approve the right motion to accept the proposed meeting dates and the um for both committees and regular board meetings as described presented motion by second by Steven any questions I'm looking election consolidated that may not apply. >> Yeah, I'm not sure. I just I don't want to have a repeat of this. So, you're saying is there a local? That's my every other day. So I just want to make sure we don't have election. So if we're not sure at this point, I may ask that we approve it as is acknowledging that we may have to come back and adjust that date and I'm assuming that because of how naturally short February is anyway Tuesday later
069so maybe we'll adjust either be a different day that week or earlier puts us way earlier in the month but I don't know if that works so I guess I may suggest that we approve it as is administration backction effects that the next February need is that acceptable everybody what I suggested that we keep motion Mr. Steven >> Mr. Bernot >> by first reading press 121. Mr. Cross. >> Good evening board. Thank you. Uh so this is just a first reading so no action is necessary with this but uh you will find in their press plus 121 which includes in large part updated language legal references. Uh there were a couple of questions to us to ask what our procedures are. We will submit those uh for uh what we currently do with regards to
070posting u meeting locations as well as how we take action as a board and we're just following what we currently do. So we'll be answering those and then some more specific reviews uh that just changed a few minor details to policy. Nothing overly um great. We did spend some time uh to discuss those. the committee aware and now for first read you have access to all that as well. >> Thank you. as we've talked about many times just so that it is others who are watching the first reading. So please take this as your opportunity to ask additional questions, make comments or whatever. So by the time we get to the next meeting or already >> Yes. student handbook. Uh this will require actually for the board to for approval. Um and so uh introducing
071a number about additions, things that were completed and updated the Main points we talked about compliance with Illinois school code. Uh there was some language that was updated to make sure that we're compliant with that. Working on improving our tardy policy and then uh updating our grading procedure and process to reflect our new infinite campus uh what it's capable of doing uh there. So if there's any questions or concerns about any of that, please let me know. And if I can't answer it, I'll try to do it right. Do I have a motion to accept the policy changes as described in our packet forward to revis? Mr. >> Hi, >> Mr. Mine. >> Hi, >> Mrs. H. >> Hi, >> Mr. Nordstrom. >> Hi, thank you. Next item is under other business reporting board. >>
072Well done. this evening. Um, annually every year a tax extension report is provided to the board. U basically there's a memo in your packet that talks about the tax years what our money asked and extension have been what our tax rates have been historically and then you can see from the slide that I haven't yet advanced to that uh in December you approved the levy ask for $33,1432 final extension we received with the final paperwork in March less the aaitments was a total of 31,223 And don't forget the 57 important when they start calculating next year's money ask. So we are at about 98% of our taxes received. We should see a small uptake with that. We should get a little bit of a distribution in June but we have done very very well with
073our finances and tax extension report for tax year 2025. >> Any questions for Dr. All right. Thank you. Thank you. And I under other business. So I will move on to take a deep breath. Do I have a motion to go into close session for consideration of appointment compensation discipline performance or dismissal of specific employees for deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees negotiating between publications for employees or the purchase or lease of real property? whe safety and security and use of personnel and equipment to respond to the actual threat or recently potential danger to the safety of employees, students, staff, the public or public property. Motion by Mr. Bernz. Any questions on the motion? Roll call, please. >> Mr. H. >> Hi. >> Mrs. Mr. H. >> Hi. Thank you.
074We will adjourn to close session.