001Good evening. It is 7:37 p.m. on February 23rd, 2026, and I'd like to call to order the meeting of the Lyall Community Unit School District 202 Board of Education. Miss Sims, could we please have a roll call? >> Yes. Um, Miss Novousel, >> present. >> Mr. Nagler, >> present. >> Mr. Helderly, >> present. Miss Foster >> present. >> Miss D. Dominico >> present. >> Miss Sims is present. And Miss Alman >> present. Thank you. Could we please rise for the pledge of allegiance? >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Item three is the Lyall 202 mission statement, which is to provide our learning community with the essential education, skills, and
002experiences for future success. And we'll keep those thoughts in mind as we meet this evening. Next is public comment. Um, Mr. Tom Hmel, I wish you had been at our last meeting because we did uh cover this topic about the tiff extension uh during the finance meeting. Go ahead. >> So, I'm sorry. Tom Hmel, 82459th Street. Actually, I was at work and I happened to listen and after I was hearing the conversation, I'm like, I better get over here. >> Okay. So, that was >> and we're still here. >> So, want to comment on the TIFF extension. I think you're voting on it in this meeting. Um I am still a hard no on this. I think you guys should vote no on this. Um what I understood when I was listening to the finance
003meeting, you will still get if you guys if the tiff extension fails or and the tiff goes away, you would get the arbor station money anyway with no extension. Um they would not be able to uh tiff uh the arbor station town homes. Contrary to what was said at the finance meeting, you are giving away money that you would get you are entitled to anyway with Flity and Collins if there are students. So, this is basically it's actually a better deal for the village than the in a worse deal for the school district because you guys would get the money from Arbor Station anyway if this tiff were goes away and plus you would get the money for the students from Flity and Collins. Now, you're foregoing that money for the from Flity and Collins.
004Um, also I know it was stated with the new TIFF they, you know, with this current tiff with an extension, the village can expand this tiff, the tiff boundaries anyway in the future. So worrying about a new tiff with new expanded boundaries should not be part of the consideration. That may happen anyway with this tiff because they have the ability to expand boundaries with the current tiff. Um, and that's easier to do than starting a new tiff. Um, you know, you do have more power power with starting uh more power if you start in a new uh tiff process and we'll get more money from a new with a new tiff because some of these properties would not be included in a new tiff. Um, and again at the end of the day uh we
005are tiffing an apartment building uh which is residential that is this is insulting to me and other existing homeowners that you know that we're tiffing other residential property but taxing to the max everybody else. I mean this is all this is benefiting as a out ofstate developer. I mean we need this country and the state and the local government needs to end the corporate welfare. Um I mean I mean people talk about it all the time but everybody at the end of the day when it's nut cutting time there's there's the corporate welfare. This is exactly what this is and trickle down economics does not work. So I know this has gone over a couple administrations with the village. Everybody is overselling this apartment building. If they think this is going to be the the
006thing that opens up the whole economic development and not not we have 45 years in this country where e or uh trickle down economics does not work. This is how we wound up with Donald Trump and even Bernie S. Sanders in the socialist mo movement on the left is because people are sick of this crap. Um, also if you do agree with an extension, I'm assuming this surplus will be abated back to the ta taxpayers. And finally, uh I know there's uh some paperwork issues with the Route 53 and Ogden Avenue tip tiff. When those come back up in the next few months, I am expecting this part this uh school district to fight for smaller boundaries on those future tiffs. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Hmel. Okay. I don't Did we have any
007public comment online uploaded? Okay. Thank you. This brings us to item five then, which is our action items. Um before we look at the consent agenda, which is 5 A1 through 56. Does anybody have anything they want to have pulled for discussion for further discussion? >> Can we pull 56, Pam? Sure, we can. Okay, let me just pull the language on that. Okay. Um then anything else before that one? And then I will approve or um ask for a motion to approve 5A consent agenda. 5A1 board meeting minutes. 5 A2 payroll pay orders. 5 A3 vendor pay orders. 5 A4 personnel. 5 A4A classified employment. 5 A4B extra duty employment. 5 A4 C classified leave of absence. and 5A5 recognition of a new booster organization. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Did you are you
008going to exempt from >> Yes. >> So you we should pull that also. >> Yes. I didn't >> Okay, that's okay. Yeah, we will pull um No, that's fine. We're going to pull um 5 A5 also uh from the consent agenda. Um, and so otherwise I will ask for a motion to approve 5A1 uh through 5 A6 uh 5 A4C as presented. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Okay. Could we please have a roll call? Yep. Mr. Nigler. >> I. >> Miss Foster. >> I. >> Miss D. Dominico. >> I. U. >> Miss Novasel. >> I. Mr. Helderly. >> I. Um, Miss Sims is an I and Miss Alman >> I. Thank you, Miss Sims. Okay. And then that brings us to uh 5 A5, which is our recognition of a new booster organization. Um,
009and Miss Sims, uh, you were going to abstain on that vote, I think, because you were involved in that. >> Yes. So with that, I will entertain a motion that the board of education approve the Lyall activity boosters lab as a school affiliated booster organization for the remainder of the 2025 2026 school year. I'll entertain a motion. >> So move. So we have Miss D. Dominico and Mrs. Foster is going to do a second. >> Okay. So, Miss Dmenico I >> Miss Foster I >> Mr. Helderly I >> Mr. Naggler I >> Miss Novascel I >> Miss Sims is abstain and Miss Alman >> I thank you. >> Okay. And with that um we brings to it item 5 A6 the village of Lyall downtown TIF number three extension. We discussed this extensively at our
010finance meeting this month and then also in the past. But were there any other comments you or just want a separate vote on that? >> I I just want to ask a clarifying question. Um based off the comment we just heard, is this tiff able to be expanded at any time? So could this further go into areas surrounding where we saw in the borders that were given in red in the last meeting? >> I'm not aware of the ability to do that. That's not to say it can't happen. And I'm just not aware of that happening. >> I think they would say this wasn't if the extension wasn't approved, they would define a completely new tiff that would expand that red boundary. >> Yes. >> And but they can also just issue a completely new
011tiff for just we'll just say everything around Garfield. >> Yeah, I think that was what they said in the finance committee that would be for a potential future tiff. But just I want to clarify the information that was just or the comment that was just shared. I mean is that >> I can do some research after the board meeting and and send an email to you, but it I'm not aware of the ability to have a TIFF and then later expand the TIFF, but there might be a process to be able to do that. I just have not had that in my experiences >> given what they're doing right now. I think they're expanding the current one by going through this whole talking to every body. I'm wondering if it's similar to that. because that's
012what is happening now. They added space to the current tiff. Even the back where the arbor is stationed, was that always in the tiff? >> Yes. The the footprint hasn't changed from >> Okay. That hasn't changed at all. >> No, they're just asking to extend the years. [clears throat] >> Okay. and amending the TIFF or extending the TIFF would require full uh govern or for full body again from the entities in the village. Again, I think the support, but I'm I'm not certain that might be >> I'll do some research. I didn't I've not heard of this before, but I don't want to speak either way until I do my research. >> Okay. Isn't if they if this TIFF doesn't go through if basically they would reissue a tiff which would take another year approximately
013and they can expand that tiff any highway they want and they wouldn't necessarily need 100 100% approval from all of the taxing bodies >> and so we we we so in other words we wouldn't have any I think that would harm any negotiating abilities we'd have with the village they're like you know we're going through this yet again a year delay 10% increase cost in the construction cost, you know, it would just complicate a whole lot of things. And then >> I think I just maybe [clears throat] it's worth mentioning or confirming, but I think the conversation was that they could propose a new tiff and they could grow the boundaries. It wasn't that hey, if you don't do this, we will, right? So, I think talking about what could potentially happen if if this
014doesn't pass is just I think it's anyone's guess, including the villages at this point. So, I think just talking about what is actually in front of us um and not what could potentially happen would be helpful to me to understand what we're actually talking about. >> And from what we were told this evening um by the mayor, the Arbor Station would still be a part of that um original. So, I would say that that would limit the surplus that would void that, right? There's no I mean, I don't think the mayor is in a position to sit here and tell us that the arbor station would qualify. once it's been developed to sit in a new tiff, right? Because then the but four has to be re-evaluated. So I think I [clears throat] don't think
015it's I don't think that I would ask that we don't base our decision based off of [clears throat] what could potentially happen and what the village might propose for the future tiff. We don't know that that would come to fruition and I I think saying that is it's it's probably not a good starting point for a discussion. >> Yeah. Good. Okay, let me get my computer going back here. And any other any other discussion on that topic? >> I I maybe just a statement, but I continue as I shared in the finance meeting just really considering all the different tiffs that we've discussed in Lyall and I understand that there's two. It just it's a lot of tiff area and I just, you know, considering the potential impact that could have on the rest of
016the community and and their tax dollars. I just that's something I'm struggling with on this. I'm struggling a little bit with the size of the apartment complex and not having any of the holdback. And I understand that it's a negotiation because you're trying to make the known like the guarantee of the arbitrage like happen. Um but the unknown like economic times are changing for everyone. people are making different decisions in housing than maybe they typically have and for the next 20 years with hundreds of apartments that could impact future enrollment um in the district is um what's weighing on my mind as in in addition >> I and I don't maybe somebody here knows the answer to this but what's proposed feels a little bit like simulating a new tiff district without arbor station without
017actually going through the work of doing that which I understand that's a that's compromise because that's ideally what I think I heard from the last committee meeting. Um, but I don't I don't know that like there's a there's legislative action that has to happen to approve this, right? Do we know what the impact of this intergovernmental agreement would be on the legislative process to approve this? Like because we are kind of doing a weird thing here. Um, and then if if the can the IGA be thrown out but the extension get approved legislatively? Like I have these concerns. These feel like important unknowns to me. The will be a legal document that both parties agree to. We've agreed to have those come into place in the next 90 days. uh in terms of the extension
018going through they need to have a letter from every organization and so if every organization gives them a letter by the end of this month then legislative they'll be able to get the approval to have the extension so there's always risks associated with it but I do feel like we have covered with the letter of intent to be able to say this is what we agreed to which will then allow the but I don't think not having an IG in place before the extension will void or complicate anything in terms of the legislative ability to extend the tiff. Other questions, comments just for historical reference and I I think the answer is yes to this, but the the Mark on Main property by the tracks, that was the one right over here. That's a that
019was a tiff district, right? >> Mark on Maine was not a tiff district. >> It was not >> something it was. Okay, >> this is a different world back then. I mean, if it if it >> I'll just tell you my perspective. My perspective, >> in my opinion, >> is that Family Square makes a lot of sense to have a TIFF. Ideally, it the it would just have been designed that it's just that area. And if the village could find a way that says, "We will give you your property taxes during the next 24 years back, but what we want is a parking deck with 90 parking spots. you know, we will help you with, you know, demolishing what's currently there, uh, putting in the streetscapes. Like, there's certain things that are tiff eligible. As
020long as the property taxes from that apartment complex go to that apartment complex, it's money that we would have not gotten anyway. Now, I'm not speaking to the butt for because residential gives another ripple. PY Homes, I'll use as the example, they don't need the money. So, it makes sense for it to come back to the school district. So, I'm very comfortable personally with the direction we're going. Of course, I would like to have the PTE homes. Plus, if we get students out of this apartment, but that's not a choice. And by focusing on that choice, the village isn't going to move forward. And then in turn, what will happen is the village unfortunately will have to go through the process of going through all of this again, which may include all of Arbor Station.
021It may include well beyond the current footprint. And so I would rather move forward in this direction and know that we're financially struggling in the next couple of years and have this additional $400,000 than run the risk that they may include all of Arbor Station and expand the tiff and we get nothing other than maybe the hold back which might result in one kid might result in the up to the 40 but if I guess I think it's closer to the one than it is to the 40%. when they create a new tiff, do they have to have the approval from all the taxing bodies? >> No, it's it's they're an advisory board and so if the advisory board as a majority doesn't support the tiff, then I do believe it's just a super majority
022that they need at the village in order for it to be approved. And as much as I'm a purist and feel like the but four has to be part of and I would argue, well, how can you say the but for the tiff, the py home wouldn't happen? I've come to realize in the other two tiffs which included Bill Kay and the Hyatt that the but four is a test. It's not the test and that there's ways to make it appear essentially whatever you want a tiff to be as long as as long as you call it a conservation area. So I don't feel like we would have a very strong opinion to fight them including all of Arbor Station or anything else. And so I think we do run the risk that if we
023don't go this route we may get significantly less if anything out of the entire development both Arbor Station and PY Home or Family Square Apartments and it'll go west all the way to the 53 may very well go north uh on the other side of Ogden. like I feel like this is a good opportunity to collaboratively work and there's risks associated but I think if we say no to this we're at a much higher risk realistically of not getting anything and I think that's what they say what a negotiation is like we didn't get all of what we wanted but the village didn't have to do any of this for us they could have just said we're expanding the tiff the village could have done none of this and say look take it or leave
024it and so their willingness to take a tiff and saying even though that money could be used for family square we're willing to have that be surplus I I think really goes to show the a partnership that maybe didn't always exist in this community between the taxing bodies >> and it's the extension that requires the full support of the taxing bodies but not not a new tiff. >> I think like you said the village could have said that but I think we're all trying to serve the same community and make the best decisions for that community. So, I I'd like to think that they're going to include us no matter what because they, you know, all of us are just looking to to serve that community and make the best decisions for the community as
025possible. Okay. With that, I uh will entertain a motion that the board of education approve the conditional letter of support for the extension of Village of Lyall downtown TIF number three contingent upon receipt of a village approved letter of intent incorporating the terms outlined above. >> So moved. Second. >> If we could please have a roll call on that. Okay. >> Mr. Helderley. >> I. >> Mr. Nagler. I >> uh Miss Dina Medico. >> I >> Miss Novosel. >> Hi, >> Miss Foster. >> Name. >> Miss Sims is an I and um Miss Alman. >> I Okay, thank you. Thanks for all the work and all the discussion on that. Number six on the agenda is our financial information. The board acknowledges receipt of the following reports. 6A financial report and 6B, treasurer's report. Were
026there any questions? Uh, none received ahead of time, but none. Okay. Then seven is our discussion items. Um, 7A is the board code of conduct and agreed upon norms. Any discussion on that? We review those every six months. Um, any comments or any suggestions on it? Seem to be all all-encompassing. >> They're very thorough, Pam. >> We've had quite several passengers. So we might find it finally. >> The one the one thing I would add as we're preparing is you know the the one item on being prepared for board meetings which I really appreciate the fact that everybody is. And if just as a reminder if we could all check our Lyall 202 uh emails about every couple days anyway that would be real helpful because sometimes there's information that's important to share. So >>
027and this also goes to our certification for for our board. So, >> yes, >> check that box. >> Yeah, exactly. That we have these and that we review them every six months. All right. Next item then um is our 7B policy review. So, Dan, I will turn it over to you. >> All right. We had extensive two policies in there um just for review. And so there, as you know, there's several uh we schedule several of these periodically for review. So, I think we had a couple of suggestions. uh for changes uh for both policies. So starting with uh 6 col 50 um Pam had suggested make sure I bring up the language that if you look in the packet in number two which is like on the second page uh the policies available to
028the community on an annual basis through copies of or online access to board policy manual com there's a semicolon and for that's continue option three Pam has suggested to ad distributed to students and their parents/guardians through student handbooks to be inserted between the words manual and the semicolon. >> Now, and I'm suggesting that because that's what our current policy says. So, the one that's presented to us doesn't have that in, but then perhaps our current policy isn't in line with uh with what we're actually doing. So, that may be >> correct. So I I did review the student handbooks and it doesn't seem like this is referenced in the student handbooks which again is an option. So if if the the board would wish us to include that in the future, we certainly could do
029that. U but currently it's just in uh board policy which is obviously available online. So I mean we would have to revise our existing one but obviously this would overwrite it if we do not add that um that statement distributed through student handbooks. It's one option. So we just leave it as is or we make sure that it's referenced in our student handbooks. So those are the two options that we have. Should we if we added this would we want to first add it to the handbook and at the same time then augment our policy? >> Yes. I mean yes I think that would be the order. >> Right. Right. Good. Yeah. So we could leave it until that the student handbooks are reviewed and that determination is made and bring the policy back at
030at that point in time. So approve this as presented this version as presented which would override our existing one which is not reflective of what we're doing. >> Sound like a plan. >> Sounds like a plan. Very good. Okay. All right. Moving on to seven. Any other discussion on this? Okay. Moving on to policy 7285. >> Oh, sorry. >> I had questions on this policy. >> Oh, yes. Go ahead. Um, I had a question on this. I think on page five. I wanted to know if it says it said something about how every 3 years a superintendent shall provide implementation data or reports to the board that include the extent to which the schools in the district are in compliance with the policy. The extent to which the policy compares to model local school wellness
031policies, a description of the progress made in attaining the goals of the policy. how the district will make the results of the assessment available to the public and where the district will retain records of the assessment. >> So related to that question, I uploaded after it was late this afternoon after you sent your questions uh a document from me certifying that it's been complete within that document in board books. I actually have a link that takes you to our website. The actual uh assessment is on our website under food service. And so, um, what we'll do moving forward every 3 years when we look at this policy, because it's in a three-year review, we'll also include this letter. We'll also forward you the link, uh, to the updated. The last time the assessment was done
032is in May 2025. And so, if you click that link and you go into the food service, you'll see our both our wellness policy and you'll also see the assessment that we do every three years. >> Thank you. Just building off Ry's question, if [clears throat] we went through some of those items at a board meeting, would it check all those boxes then for making sure it's public knowledge and everything? Like is there anything on here that if we had it as an agenda item, would that just keep us in compliance with um this whole uh assessment available to the public or >> I mean it's on our website which means it's available to the public. >> Okay. >> Was that your question? I'm sorry. >> Yeah, just I was just thinking like linking it
033to a board meeting somehow just to make sure we know we have it out there. Yeah, it is. It is always on our website. It is under um food service. What's this? It's uh about our district. And then it's >> school meal programs, I think, is what >> it should be pretty self-explan uh update that every three years. So, you'll see the document there, but then also I have this letter where it says I'm to update the board as to the assessment. And so, we'll make sure we include the letter that I included this year that says we're we've complied with the assessment and that uh the documents on our website >> and we could Kate to your point, we could reference that in the minutes also. So, that would >> perfect extra check on
034the box. >> Okay. >> Check the box. A >> lot of checking tonight here. >> All right. I mean, just so you don't look at that document later and ask in full transparency, I think you had asked a little bit about the shared meal program. >> And so, I don't know how many of you are familiar with this, but when you buy a lunch at our school district, you're required to take everything that's part of that lunch. And some kids might say, I don't like my orange. And so, for a while, we had an area set up, some actual containers. If you didn't want your orange, you could put it there. And if you're another student who said, "Boy, I would really like to have an orange." They could go over and get that. Students
035weren't putting food in there. They were pretty much eating it. Or if they decided not to eat it, they weren't putting in that container. And we also were not finding that students were going to that container to find food. For a while, we tried to deliver it to then it was very I think we had like an orange over a period of few weeks. I know I used orange as the example twice, but our intention was to drive it over to the food pantry locally, but there was so few items it just wasn't even worth the time and effort. And so, we're required to do that. We periodically try to to set that up, see if any student has an interest. But when you go through the checklist, that's the only one that we hit
036that did not meet uh in terms of actionable steps. We'll reach out the neighboring school district, see if anyone else has figured this out. I've not heard of anyone else finding much success, but maybe we could do something different than we're currently doing. But that was the only thing that when you go through the entire checklist that we said we could probably do a better job with that. And then the other one we could probably do a better job is when we do have our wellness committee meetings, it would be nice to continue to get more student feedback and some parent feedback. And so we do send out surveys, but I think a more formal approach during our wellness committee would be uh something we would work towards. So those were the two things that
037kind of stood out in our last assessment in May. anything to add? >> Yeah, the only thing I would add in terms of student feedback is Chartwells, in particular, Lauren, our food service director, has been doing a great job of setting up um kind of taste tests with some of the students. And so, she's been working with the principles. I think she did this I don't know if it was last semester or the second semester of last year. She actually um worked with the principles, got students together, had some items for them to taste, get their feedback, get their thoughts, and I know she's planning another one of those here coming up also. So, that's been a wonderful thing to get more students feedback. She loves it. She enjoys it. She's gotten some great information,
038added some new items to the menus from that. And so, uh, we Charwells has been a good partner in, um, improving that and and making that happen. >> As we're looking at any of the aspects of excess food or the food sharing, maybe we could also involve the food pantry in some in some manner. I don't know what that would be, but we might get input from them. >> Yeah. So one of the challenges again we tried it we rolled it out we were doing it for a while but there's also food safety aspects of it too which become a little bit challenging we don't have uh Chartwells you know that's not really their responsibility so then it falls to an administrator to take on that responsibility and make sure that proper food handling is
039happening with the food that's dropped off there it gets to the free >> I think Mrs. Alman was offering to deliver it though unless [laughter] I misunderstood. >> Anyway, there's some other challenges that the state doesn't really help us with but mandates that we do. So, sorry to go on a little tangent there. out of one other question and I'm sorry I didn't think of it sooner but um does Chartwells when they're um bringing the meals over to the schools are they having a lot of extra afterwards or are they very it's very fine-tuned to know like what students are usually taking what and so there's not a lot of >> yeah so they try their best based on kind of their experiences and what they know which menu items are more popular than others
040and um they have production records and so they try and uh look at those and and estimate as best as they can. But the other challenge we have is we've gotten those emails from parents where their students have taken pictures of the food because there's no food and it's all gone and they get very upset. So you have this balance of making sure there's enough food for everybody. Yet if you make enough food and then not everybody takes it, you have leftovers. So it's a difficult balance. It's a challenge. I'm pleased to say that other than at the start of the school year, we haven't gotten any of those upset parents emailing us to say that there's not enough food for their students when they get back from recess. Um, so that's positive. But the
041flip side of that is they do end up throwing out unfortunately a fair amount of food at the end of the day. And so they don't want to do that any more than we do because they have a cost to produce that food. We only pay them if the meal is actually sold. But there's only so much you can do um to make sure that kids have all the food options when they when they get up to the line. >> Okay. So that's their choice to throw it out cuz we don't pay for that food. It's only the students that actually get a lunch. >> Correct. We only pay for each meal that is served. So if they have to throw out 10 pieces of pizza, that's basically cost to them. >> Okay. And that
042can't go to the food share table, by the way. Aren't these regulations great? Thank you. >> Or the food pantry. >> Okay. Any other discussion? Move on to policy 7 285. >> I think your mic is off. >> Good. Moving on to uh policy 7285, Anna Felacic. I'm not going to try again. Prevention response and management program. Um I think Pam you had a suggestion on page two under uh item number two uh modifying the portion of the paragraph that says an inservice training program for staff who work with students that are is conducted by a person with expertise in anaphylactic reactions and management. Pam suggested adding >> uh bannual inservice training. So basically adding by annual uh at right after the paren parentheses a n and >> it was in the note under underneath
043under number six. And the only reason I suggest I know Kate you've asked a couple times how often is training given or whatever. So, I just thought it would just be adding the bi the word bianual um to that if if if everybody would want to do that >> and I think it's fine and if I remember correctly this policy that it links to um Dr. Catalik when she was here had all the rhythms put in there because she looked through all that because you're right I did have a list of questions for her. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Any other discussion? Everyone in favor of that change? >> Yes. >> All right. Excellent. All right, we will approve these for second reading at next meeting. >> Great. >> Thank you, Mr. Marky. >> Yeah, >>
044that was uh that was a terrific policy review. Quick. >> Yeah, exactly. >> Short [laughter] summer. Item 7 C is a preliminary official school calendar for the 2027 2028 school year. >> Yeah, good evening. So we are bringing uh forward uh both a small amendment to the 2627 school calendar uh and that's something that we realize as we are looking ahead to the 2728 calendar. So I think we'll start if you don't mind with just the the small amendment to next year's school calendar 2627 and in our conversations in building the calendar one of the things that uh we talked about specifically with the junior high is a little better timing for their parent teacher conferences. they just feel like it's it usually kind of straddles the start and the end of the second quarter.
045That means that some of their classes are just starting. Um so it's kind of between a get to know you conversation with some parents while some uh with some of the other classes they've got a pretty good start. So, they actually liked the timing of the elementary conference date right before Thanksgiving as uh a much probably richer conversation that they can have uh with parents uh about how their students are doing in class. They felt like that's maybe a little bit better of a milestone um to have those conversations. So, they were hoping that we could make that adjustment in 2627 and that would also be one of the changes in 2728 as well. That's the only change to the 26 27 calendar. Any [clears throat and snorts] questions or discussion on that? >> I
046think I did have one. >> But I think in the 2728 you've added spring holiday. So >> yeah, I'm going to talk about the 2728. I want to go back to this year. See if we can do the same. Excellent. Okay. >> No, I'll I'll I'll talk to the to I'll speak to the 2728 and then we can maybe talk about that um and explain that a little bit more. So looking ahead then to the 2728 calendar generally much of kind of the rhythm and the the days are the same as far as the kind of number of institute days and inservice and late start days so forth. Uh I think some of the main key points the the start date of school is August 18th with a tentative last day assuming uh no snow
047days or cold days occur of Thursday May 25th. Um couple of the specific things to to mention that broke out a little bit differently. Uh first of all I mentioned the conf conference kind of realignment. So we would continue with that idea from 2627 of having the junior high and elementary share a conference date. Uh so again not a significant change to the calendar just when those events occur. But then the one uh specific aspect I think uh that we wanted to discuss is the spring holiday is marked as April 14th which would be a day off of school unless uh there is a need for a second emergency day. So let's just kind of walk through this. One of the things when we're building the calendar that we we try to build in is
048a couple of days before Memorial Day in case there are days that we need to make up from school. So like for example this year we've had one day we've had to cancel um we have that kind of cushion before Memorial Day that we're able to make that up because I think families often have some plans around that weekend and we would hate to infringe upon that by extending the school year if if we don't have to. So, when we looked ahead at building the the 2728 calendar to kind of work in the normal breaks that we typically have, the the duration and the length of the winter break that we have, just the way that it started an end of the school year, um we only had that one emergency day built in prior
049to Memorial Day. So thinking was that if needed, we could potentially reclaim that spring holiday on April 14th if we needed to, if we had a second against a reason to cancel school, whether that was for snow or for some other um issue. So it's it's it's a little bit of a different approach. Other districts do this often where they'll they'll work in kind of a day off of school in the spring. Uh but they they have the ability to kind of reclaim that day if they need it. >> So certainly open for discussion. >> I'm support that is good that's good Friday if if observed. >> Yeah. And I know >> I don't think it's any different than any other Friday, but it is uh what is it called? >> Good Friday. >> It's
050Good Friday. [laughter] called Good Friday on their calendar. Okay. It's a great Friday. >> Yeah. And I know other district one other district does this and their attendance is not that impacted. So >> Mhm. >> I I like the fact that we just don't go past Memorial Day. >> What what was that? >> I think that creates an extra bush uh cushion to not go past. >> Correct. Yeah. I I think everyone was looking forward to that. And again, we have to look at obviously you have to change the beginning of the school year, the end of the school year. One of the things at the beginning just because we did look at that as well is we try to kind of contain when the staff start and the students start all into one week
051and also not have the students start on a Friday. So it's kind of nice to try to get that in the middle of the week that start date as much as possible. Um and kind of this those same things around winter break to try to have more of a midweek um start to that as well as like you don't want to come back from a break on a Friday ideally either. So seemed to be kind of the best time when we could work those dates in just the way the days fell. >> Um I presume at least for now we intend to continue surveying parents whether they want to do e-learning or snow days. >> Yes. >> So if uh if during this particular school year we elect to do >> um e-learning. >> Yep.
052>> Uh this could be updated to just be a planned day off potentially. It's there's no reason why we couldn't do that. So, I think I think typically um you would still keep the emergency days on the calendar, but you would it would be very unlikely that you would need to use any of them. Even schools that have e-learning at times, they may have an emergency that pops up at the very beginning right before a school day where they have to to cancel, that certainly happened in some of those districts and they're not able to adapt in time and to prepare to have an e-learning day. Again, unlikely. Uh, but I think you would still keep the emergency days on the calendar. You just probably wouldn't use them. >> Okay, >> does that make sense?
053>> So, quick question about that spring holiday because I remember us discussing this a few years ago. this the similar question came up and um they mentioned it was a a legal holiday and I was checking that that it it is listed um as a legal holiday but some schools still are in session which is what we're proposing if it was emergency day I just do we have any concerns that there would be >> so there's no requirement for us to be out of school that day um there are districts that that are in school on that day and there are districts that take it off. So, it is a little bit more the norm to have it as a holiday. Uh when we were reviewing kind of our um typical comparable school districts in
054the area, uh but it's it's not a declared holiday by the state. It's completely our option. >> Okay. And I'll I'll just maybe look at this. I just want to make because it does say 105 ILCS includes it. is that I just remember us talking about it a couple years ago and that's what made me think about it being >> I think it includes it as a holiday that you can use but you're not required to but I'll confirm. >> Okay, thank you. >> It may very well be like Veterans Day and a variety of other ones like there's those days listed that could be considered holidays but you can choose to be in attendance. So we'll look into that also and see what our options are because we are looking at a calendar two
055years from now. So, we do have a little bit of extra time, but we did want to share that there's a lot of stress in the organization if we only have one day baked into the calendar. And so, for example, this year we're right at that Friday. And we're crossing our fingers that there's nothing that forces us to go year before. But we figure if we at least communicate this to parents in advance that if we have one, this is what we'll go to that Friday. And if we have two, um, that spring holiday on a Friday may wind up being a day of attendance. we don't have as much stress for next school year. When you look at the 26 27 school year, um we could have quite a, you know, I think we
056could go have the whole five emergency days and still not go past Memorial Day. And so, um, we're good for next year, but we have some time to think about what we want to do for 0708. So, no rush. >> We just do like to publish our calendars two years out just so parents can start to think about it, but I think most people are focused on the current year and the next year. Could there be a consideration for the using it the similar thing for the spring holiday for 26 27 because it's still ending on Friday? >> I just don't think there's a need for it because if you look if you clicked on where our last day of school is, it's like a week earlier. So I don't think it's necessary even with
057snow days. >> But not so much that it's Memorial Day weekend, but it's a weekend. So fans would still come back on like a single day on a Monday. But if we had one more buffer day in there, then that lowers the probability of everyone coming back for that on a Monday as the last day of the school year. So I'm just wonder discussion on if we want to also do that for 2627. >> I think based on our collective bargaining agreement, I would encourage you to leave 2627 as it is cuz kind of to Kate's point, it is listed as a holiday in the okay seal bargaining agreement. So I think there would have to be some discussions with the with the seal union in regards to 2627. >> All right. Thank you. >>
058And what we've done to get around that in the past is we gave them a floating holiday. I think in fact we have one this year a floating holiday in terms of I think it's Veterans Day that used to be listed as our holiday for SEAL and so we just give them a day to float. So we'll work through it. We're talking about 78 for now, but we'll also give consideration that how bad it is to end on a Monday. But um for now, we're looking at 78 with the possibility of having the spring Friday be a possible attendance day. >> And just Dan, just based off that, I know historically um years ago we had emergency days in April when we had all the floods and that was that was pretty late in the
059year. So, I mean, anything could happen at any time. I think we're just being Midwesterners all used to it being a snow or a polar vortex, but you know, there's >> Yep. >> a variety of things that could occur. So, >> okay. Any other discussion? >> Okay. >> Um, thank you for making the other changes. I appreciate. Okay. 7th is u the freedom of information requests. Those are um in board books and have been responded to. Uh 7E is public comment followup. There was none from last month. And 7F is the superintendence report. So it's always a challenge every single month to be able to figure out what exactly to put into this report. Uh as you saw this particular month, there's two and a half pages. And so I'm not going to read this
060to you, but please understand that this is not a comprehensive list of all the things that have happened since the last month. highlights based on suggestions of the principles um at Lyall Elementary. For those of you who still have elementary students, the fourth and fifth grade music program was incredible, very well attended. The students did a great job. But one of the real special moments is I'm sure all of you know Mrs. Yanis. She's been an incredible teacher for very many years here. And so as part of their program, they actually had a heartfelt dedication at the end where they really were able to celebrate this being her last year. And so she'll definitely be missed, but it was nice that the fourth and fifth graders took the time during the performance to acknowledge all
061of her years and the impact she's made. Um there was a big presentation by the land of smiles which really is to try and get the preschool through first grade students to understand through an entertainment value um you know the importance of flossing which I'm sure we all do and brushing every single day at a minimum. So um very well attended. the students enjoyed it and hopefully in the end they'll be able to utilize [snorts] some of the things that they learned for that. And then they also wanted us to point out that they really can't believe this is the end of our second trimester, but when they look at the report cards for this particular trimester, they real feel feel like the students have gone above and beyond. We're just seeing a lot of
062growth at all grade levels. The junior high boys um basketball actually made it uh to the state championship. I think maybe a few of you were able to attend. uh we really enjoyed the game, but it uh in the end we wound up uh being in second place. And so uh I think it's been many many years since we've actually made it this far, but I really think it was a huge event for the junior high students. Um and I really think it was a great thing to celebrate even though we didn't become the state champions. Uh in terms of our inspire magazine, I think we've sent you links and there's been links in the parent uh communications that um the students really do a great job doing this digital magazine and our uh school
063submitted it in to something called Realm First Class Magazine by the National Council of Teacher in English. And so there was 436 submissions and we were in the very top category with ours. And so really wellreceived accolades in terms of the professionalism and both um the content and how they had designed it were very wellreceived. I think many of you had a chance to go see the get smart uh play at the junior high. The sound wasn't as exciting or as robust as we would want, but we're working through that. Um but I do think the students took what they had and made the best of it. And I think it was really really wellreceived by the parents and the students did a great job. And then as much as we don't try and teach
064to the test, there is a component of the test of just having to be familiar as to what the test is looking for. And so the junior high has really leaned into that this year. And they had a variety of different instructional videos and examples of writing prompts and working in individual classes. So, not only do they know the content, but know in a way that it's going to be evaluated in IR just to increase their chances as much as possible for students to be able to hit that proficiency level. The high school uh hopefully you had a chance to look on uh social media and on the website had their school cool school plunge. This was the first year that we actually had it. We had 27 dedicated students and staff members participate. For
065those who don't know the details, they were able to raise uh almost $7,000 in funds for Special Olympics. And then what they did is had various costumes and then at the front of the school, they actually jumped into a very large pool of uh freezing cold water on a day that was already freezing cold. So, it was a lot of fun. It probably will become an annual event, but it was amazing that 27 people were willing to participate. Maybe we will next year. I don't know. Maybe on a warmer day. Um we had our first annual career day. I mean, we've had things in the past, but this one looked different than many of the others. We had 33 people in our community that were willing to come and present a day in the life.
066They all had individual presentations to talk about how exciting their particular field was, but students were able to attend six or seven different sessions. And so, um, it's just nice to be able to have somebody, at least in my own experience, it seems like maybe you have neighbors, you have relatives, you you see things on TV, but to actually have somebody willing to take the time to be able to kind of present what it really looks like and answer the questions, I think is really helpful in terms of students trying to figure out what high what looks, you know, beyond high school in terms of whether to go to college, not go to college, and if so, you know, what you might want to get a certificate or a degree in. So if I did
067take it personally, one of the students was complaining she got stuck watching one on accounting. And so that kind of resonated with being a CPA. My wife is a CPA. My daughter's her senior year at getting her CPA. And so I told her to go anyway. And I'm hoping years from now she'll talk about how she was so inspir. But um there's a variety of different uh nonaccounting degrees if you want to call it that. But anyway, yeah, Mr. Wilkinson, you should have presented maybe next year. Uh, in terms of our athletics at the high school, we had three uh, wrestlers advanced to the state meet. I do believe a student by the name of Xander actually qualified and wound up being in fourth place at the state level. So, we're really proud of everyone
068and in particular Xander and then the boys and girls basketball advanced to the state playoffs and Alli advanced to being uh, for girls bowling for state. So, lot of lot of people making their way to the state competitions. spring musicals this weekend. So, Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Hopefully, you'll be able to attend. I'm sure if you have kids of your own, you'll go to all three. But, um, Adam's family is on the 27th and 26th at 7th at 7:00 p.m. and then on the 28th at 2 p.m. I think most of you were able to attend Cabaret Night, which was on the 14th. Um, boy, I think this is my 19th year of going and um, the group does such a great job of every single year transforming that same room to look completely different. And
069so the students did a phenomenal job. It's always fun to have the alumni come back and play and the students who aren't even participating uh in the actual music and just being behind the scenes serving do an incredible job too. And so I I think the number of all the students willing to pitch in, make it a great event, the parents pitch in and the very next day everything goes back to looking like normal. But I think it was very very wellreceived and a lot to be proud of for those of you who were able to listen to the incredible work of our students. And one of the things, this is the second year of this, um, we had some questions about Ramadan and what it is and what it isn't. And so some of
070the staff work with some of the students to make a video to try and explain from a student's perspective what it is, what it means to them, and why they do what they do. And so hopefully you've had a chance to get that information from uh, I think all three schools sent it in this last Sunday and maybe even the Sunday before. So, if you haven't already, check on that video to get a perspective from the students as to what it means to them and get a better understanding of the different religions and and things that people do in order to support the religion within our school during the day. And that concludes my superintendent report, although I'm sure there's an item or two I missed. Uh, feel free to add, but I I do
071think it's been a very busy month. I don't think you missed anything but just also wanted to highlight the Ramadan um those u the YouTube videos were um really great way to recognize and also it was nice that the seventh grade boys were recognized at the uh high school the basketball team from seventh grade was recognized at the high school the very exciting high school uh basketball game on Friday night at halftime. So that was they all came down and you looked at them and thought they'll grow a lot by the time they get to high school. [laughter] That's Thank you. Anybody else have anything? >> I wanted to comment on career day cuz I don't know what it's like in your household, but half the time in my household if I hear about something
072at school, it's kind of rare or it's like something with what they do in an activity or like athletics or something. But both of my kids came home and talked about how cool it was and that they enjoyed the discussions that were going on during career day. So kudos. >> That's that's great. I'll definitely pass that along. I know a lot of work went into getting all the presenters and we had a few people cancelled, but I think I mentioned there was 33 that came out. And so I I really think as I've mentioned before, um it's just a struggle at that age to try and figure out what next. And so, you know, you may sit through some of those and go absolutely don't ever want to be an accountant. And that's almost as
073important as trying to find the thing you do want to be, but really to have them talk to people beyond who their friends and family are to get an idea of what their future might look like and have relevance today to be able to show that's leading to something bigger. >> Well, thank you. Very good. All right. Item eight is our committee reports. Facilities 8A facilities master planning did not meet. 8B finance >> finance [clears throat] >> finance met today where we discussed the tiff uh student fees and the um technology uh purchase >> was it a robust discussion or >> oh yes the tiff discussion was quite robust though the fees uh was uh brief [snorts] >> but uh detailed >> okay but informative all righty um 8 C is policy >> we had
074a robust but relative relatively brief discussion on two policies 6 col 50 and 7285 tonight. >> Okay, thank you. And a D is the vision 202 did not meet. Item nine is our board representative reports home and school organization report is in uh file ISB um 9B delegate to board. Do you want anything? >> Uh no updates. >> Okay. Well, I we we did >> we'd have the quarterly meeting. >> Yeah, we had our quarterly meeting on February 3rd and our board received um the recognition uh governance recognition which we're very proud of. One of 42 in the uh districts in the state and one of nine in DuPage County to receive the ISB school board governance recognition. And for two people that weren't there, we got beautiful pins. Um I noticed that we're all
075wearing ours tonight, but that goes down to Heather and Greg. you had to leave early unfortunately. So, um you too will have those pins and we'll wear them proudly. So, thank you. Um let's see. Item 9 C is intergovernmental and uh that report is in uh the board packet if you had any comments. 9D Len did not meet this yet this month um or since the last board meeting anyway. 9E Lyall Education Foundation. Those minutes are also in board books and SASID um did not meet but there's an agenda for >> No, we did meet. >> I'm sorry. >> There's uh three items there. The the agenda or pardon me, the minutes from that meeting uh take a while to get in, but the the um other documents are there. Though the presentation they did
076on their strategic plan uh is only available through the link. So, I they don't allow you to download that, but I highly suggest it because it was very detailed. Gave a good idea of where they were going and what their current I wouldn't say challenges are, but uh what they're trying to uh accomplish today. >> I apologize those there was a lot of material there. I'm looking at this agenda in front of me and it said so very good. Thank you for sharing that. Um item 10 is agenda topics for future board meetings. Does anybody have anything they would like to bring up? I have a one small suggestion. Um, when we um can look at policy 4140, it doesn't list student activities as those that would be waved for students who meet that federal
077meal requirement. I just think it's important to name it there. >> Great. Okay, we'll bring that one to um the next board meeting then 4140. >> Um sorry, I have a question maybe a followup from November. [clears throat and cough] So, at our November meeting, we had the I think the policy marathon >> and one of those was um our policy on bullying and at the time we reviewed the policy and I had asked when the last time was that we reviewed the effectiveness of the policy and we weren't sure at that time and we talked about potentially making that a future agenda item and I just wanted to follow up to see if that was on someone's radar, if we all agree that that's still a good topic. Um, again, my thought was we
078review the policy and we feel good about that because we've done it apparently several times in 2025 alone, but we there is um maybe a potentially a state requirement and also a policy requirement that we actually talk through intentionally some specific metrics related to the effectiveness and so I just wanted to follow up on that. >> Okay. Is that something that uh administration could determine how how to measure the effectiveness or I I guess just bringing data? >> We file a report on an annual basis with the state of the number of bullying incidents and so I could bring it we would only have last year's but I could bring that for you to see from last year >> next month >> that something like that Heather would be >> I think that's helpful. I
079mean, and maybe this is revisiting our policy and what we expect as a board, but we we list like frequency of victimization, which is I think what the report is that we file with the state annually, but we mentioned like observations of safety at the school. I think that comes up in five essentials survey, right? But maybe having an intentional conversation about do we feel like the actual policy in place is meeting our expectations in terms of being effective to help prevent the bullying, harassment, and intimidation. I don't know that reporting just on instances of bullying is going to give me the answer to that question, but I am one person, so that's opening it up. No, >> I agree with Heather and I think it may be a good thing that to have as
080a standing item moving forward so it doesn't fall off in future years. Heather, maybe we could get together or talk about, you know, how would that look, I guess, for us as we discussion um for the next, you know, before the next board meeting and what would we like administration to bring? >> Sure. >> That okay, we can look at that. So, potentially for the next unless it's very detailed and then we could, you know, perhaps wait one month, but we'll definitely within the next two months. Okay. Anything else for future No. And that I will entertain a motion to adjourn to close session to discuss the appointment, performance, discipline, compensation, or dismissal of employees at 8:38. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Could I have a roll call, please? >> Was that Kate? >>
081It was Kate. Second and Rick. >> Um, Mr. Naggler. >> I. >> Miss Foster. >> Hi. >> Miss Novascel. >> Hi. >> Misty. Dominico. >> Hi, >> Mr. Helderly. >> I >> Miss Sims and I and Miss Alman. >> I thank you. We will adjourn at 8:38 to close session.