001All right. >> Oh, no. This is for >> you agenda. >> Well, I don't I don't have any >> She doesn't have any documents at all. I just need the agenda. >> I just need the agenda. >> You go ahead and start. >> All right. Uh, good evening everybody. It's 6 o'clock, so let's begin the study session of our school district 116. Roll call, please. >> Member Cheryl, member Hixon, >> here. >> Member Maribou, >> here. Member Jones, member Langondorf here, Vice President Baxle >> here. >> President Palowski >> here. Uh we do have a quorum. Are there any additions, corrections, or modifications to tonight's agenda? Uh >> there are none. Uh is now time for citizen statements. If anybody here present wishes to make a statement before the board, please fill out a golden
002rod sheet located in the back of the room and hand it to recording secretary Lori Johnson. Has there been any received this evening? >> Uh going once, going twice. Uh no citizen statements this evening. There will be an executive session after tonight's meeting for the purpose of personnel matter. Is there a motion to approve uh tonight's agenda as published? >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> We have an agenda. Let's start off with uh accommodations and recognition. Like to uh acknowledge our national board certified teachers this evening. They put in a tremendous amount of work to get qualified and get reertified for this position. So, we would like to honor the new the teachers who have achieved the status of national award certified teacher this
003year, including uh Tiffany Clark, Rebecca Nihen, and Joan Jacques. Uh Tiffany and Rebecca are are here this evening. >> Nihagen, excuse me. Say Nihagen. Do they want to come up? And usually we have them kind of walk and shake the >> Okay, we can do Tiffany, come up and do your part first. >> Yeah. >> And then we will do that part at the end. >> You'll just go up to the mic and if you hit the button. >> Yes. >> Can I Can I just stand? Do I You have to hold the mic though so people at home can hear. >> Yes. About this far. >> Perfect. Use my teacher voice for real. I want to thank Urbana School District and the board who have supported us all in this journey. Teacher excellence is
004the foundation of excellence of our school district. But I want to acknowledge two people in particular who were instrumental in this process being able to happen. Achieving national boards is an incredibly rigorous process that I know I would not have been able to accomplish on my own. And so I would I want to acknowledge Miss Smith and of course Julie Erlinger and thank you so much. >> And I want to echo that. Um, so thank you Tiffany for doing that. Um, but I would like to also recognize uh Mrs. Smith, our director of professional development and Julie Erlinger, who's uh recently retired from the district but has been our national board um cohort leader uh for several years and while they're taking their photos. Um unfortunately uh this is our last school cohort that we're
005going to be able to run as a district. So, it makes us very sad. Um, Mrs. Smith has shared with me some info that um due to just money and not having enough, we are thankful to have Julie, but a lot of districts don't have a Julie um who does that work with our staff. And so, um, Isby and the state are going to be taking over the national board program. So, local school districts like us who have run a program for I don't even know how many years and who have certified many many national board teachers, we won't be able to do that at the local level anymore. Um, but the state will be continuing the program is my understanding, but it'll look a little different and it'll be a little different because it
006won't be happening in our schools with our people and um us having that input and um in the process. And so, this is our last cohort. So that's you guys are special, but um it it is sad that we aren't going to be able to continue it on our own, but we have had so many wonderful leaders. We Brian Lake, Beth Mir, I can't think of I'm missing I'm sure some other who else >> Joe >> Jill Shoda over the years. And so our program has been just a I think a stellar program and an example of what a national board program should look like in a district. So, um, thank you all on behalf of the board and I know we have your plaques here for you and we would love for you to
007come up so the board members can people on TV can see you and we can shake your hands. >> All right. So, we've got Rebecca here and Tiffany and Rebecca's plaque is being redone. So, she will get hers in it again soon. So sorry. I know. I know. I know. I know. This is a place over. >> Yes. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> Congratulations. So for our um audience at home that might be listening the plaques that they are getting um is something that we have provided in addition to the wonderful stipen that they get to acknowledge all the hard work that they um they go through to uh reach this achievement. We also provide a plaque that hangs outside their classroom. So, whichever classroom that they're in, they have a very special plaque
008outside their door that um recognizes their work and effort as a National Board Certified Teacher. So, that's why Tiffany was holding on. She's been looking forward to having her plaque to hang outside her door. So, congratulations again. Uh, student ambassador report. >> All right. Um, good evening everyone. Um, in the absence of Mia, um, I I'm here by myself today um, because she had an emergency that she had to deal with. Um, so let's get started. So, things happening at UHS. The ranching banquet happened on March 26th. Um several members were were awarded their certificates along with uh Big 12 conference uh academic um certificates along with um I believe Illinois certificates as well I believe to my knowledge. Um the girls JB soccer um won versus Uni High on March 27th um and ran
009on March 31st. Um, is Illinois Wesleyan Jazz Festival was on March 28th and that was at um that was in Bloomington. Um, and that went very good. Um, the senior trip this year, they will be going to Malibu Jacks. Um, this year's trip is completely free. Um, so I believe they get um $10 game card, free pizza, um, and I believe there's something else I'm missing, but I can't think of it. Um, but it's a completely free trip. Um, and then we have preac and ACT testing tomorrow and Thursday. Um, freshman's and sophomores are tomorrow and then juniors and seniors are on um, Thursday. um for for the days that they are not in school. Um there will be e-learning assignments that they will complete on Google Classroom. Um the MAL recognition program um I'm
010not sure when that is happening, but I know that is coming up. Um the solo and ensemble competition um happened I believe two weeks ago. Um, and we had um we had several people um win best of day um and some other awards that they got um from the solo and ensemble competition. Um on the next slide, um Lily Danto, she went on um and she represented Urbana High School in the wrestling state duel where she wrestled for team Illinois against Indiana. Um where she wrestled one match. Um and unfortunately she did lose. Um but but she did do awesome from what I heard. uh the Deep Dist Jazz Festival that was in Chicago. Um and that happened on uh March 27th. Um and they performed downtown Chicago at Columbia College. Um and we received
011a a level one rating from all three judges, which is the best rating that you can get. Um so um great job to jazz combo. Um indoor state track and field um has happened. Um state track was held on March 27th and March 28th. Marley Yao um got seventh um in the 800 meter. Lillian Danto got fourth in the shot put. Kaye Bell got 10th in the 200 meter and long jump. and Arlland Our got ninth in the 800 meter. So, congratulations to all of them. Um the NHS volunteering event on September 28th, National Honor Society volunteered at Cunningham Children's Home. Um students help pick up around the campus and take pictures um of quilts for Cunningham's upcoming um event. This was a really great opportunity for students um and they all enjoyed the experience.
012Uh cap and gowns. Um so this was a this was a big discussion um for for seniors this year to be able to decorate their cap and gown or sorry their cap. Um and so um admin will be allowing us um to decorate caps this year. Um, and there is a um there is a process that they would go through to get the caps checked to make sure they are all kept school appropriate. Um, and they can decorate them in ways that reflect cultural, ethnic or u religious identities. Um, deans will check caps during the rehearsals. Um, and seniors are really excited for this. So, um, that that's a good thing. And then um FCCLA State Maggie Simbandi Simbande sorry um and Tim Freeman both competed at the College of DuPage um for baking and
013pastries and culinary arts star competitions for FCCLA um on March 27th um competing for the first time in an industrial style kitchen. Tim and Maggie both did phenomenal jobs making entre and desserts. Um and there were some pictures of some things that they made um on there that actually looked really good. So um yeah, I'll be I can share that with you all as well if you don't have it. Um but they did a phenomenal job. Um and then one thing that I think I'm missing a couple things. Um a couple things that I wasn't able to put on there in time. Violet Porter. She placed fifth at um at the IWCA um in I believe this year it was in Bloomington or Springfield, one of those um for Urbana High School and she did
014amazing. Um and then the UHS talent show um that also happened a couple weeks ago and um that was that was really good as well. So um a lot of great things h are are happening at UHS. So, it's good that we recognize that. Um, and then one last thing that isn't on there, um, soon there will be, uh, there will be a reflection form going out to students. um hopefully for next week um for them to kind of reflect on their experience um th this past year. We've been working a lot um especially with the student concerns recommendations form to really figure out what what can we advocate for. And so we worked really hard on some things this year. Um and so we want to see from the student uh perspective if they
015think things have improved. Um and so that's what we're hoping to to get out of this form. But not only to see what has improved, but to really look at what has not been, you know, of of big improvement so that we can continue to advocate for that now, but also for next year. Um, so we can continue the process. Um, and so this is also helping us um understand some more things going into next year, what we can advocate for. So, we hope that we can um we we hope that we can um share the results with you all um in May. Um as I said, we are going to try to open it up next week because I know lots of things start to happen toward the end of the year. Um and
016we don't want to kind of bombard everybody with a lot of the things that are going on. So, we're going to try to keep it open as long as we can um and try to see some more things that we can navigate for for next year. Um, I forgot this part here. Um, the senior walk on on May 19th, the seniors will be able to walk through um, all the elementary schools. Um, I think last year we had around 40 people walk through. Um, I do not remember what schools they walked through. Um, but they typically got to the school around 8:00 a.m. and then they started walking um through some of the elementary schools and then they will have kids um who'll be in the classrooms or hallways and you know they would um
017they would clap and you know congratulate them for for graduating. Um and some deans and and some other teachers will be I think there as well. Um, so we hope to see that pretty soon and this is our report. Thank you. >> Thank you. I love seeing the pictures from this the senior walk. It's always awesome to see the the elementary kids come out and cheer the the the students in robes. It's awesome. Um, board reports. Go ahead. >> There were a couple things that I that you mentioned um, candidate and I don't understand. FCCLA, what do you know what that stands for? >> Um, I Yeah. Um I I don't know the actual acronym, but I can get back to you. Thank you. >> Okay. Yeah, it's through the culinary arts program. >> Okay.
018And the IWCIA, did you say? >> Um that's the Illinois uh Wrestling and Coaches Association. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Y >> appreciate it. >> Uh board reports. Anybody have a board report this evening? >> Sherry. As I was sitting here signing some forms, uh, especially another RIFF form that we possibly might be, we will be voting on later. I know I talked about this a few weeks ago about feelings about RIFF and I know that it's important that we have to do it within a certain amount of time and it's just one of our responsibilities. But I was hoping that along with the legal documents that are sent either by hand or through certified mail that there could be a personal letter enclosed as well. It doesn't matter if someone's worked here one year
019or 10 years or 40 years. That person would appreciate knowing that they made some type of contribution. And it's not going to make it the riff notice any easier, but at least it would show that we appreciate what they have contributed because there is a chance that that person might not be returning. So that's all I wanted to share. Thank you, Sherry. Anyone else? All right, that's it for board reports this evening. Let's move on to our sole study topic of the evening, which is our consolidated plan and grant updates. >> So, this is a yearly update. Um, we're required to do it by the state board and it's a great um opportunity. I know it is kind of long and several of our um directors and people who facilitate grants, they will kind of
020come up and take turns and uh share uh the grant that they oversee and the activities um and programs that the grant supported or personnel that the grant paid for. Um so as they go through each grant, please stop them as they're here because they will be cycling in and out of the chairs. So, um, the other folks will come when their grant it's their turn. So, um, make sure if you have questions, you ask them while they're talking about their particular area. So, I'm going to turn it over to Dr. Deacon to start us off. >> Good evening. It's our annual visit to discuss the grants that we have across our district. Every year, we are required by the state board to submit a consolidated plan. And so at this time we're going to
021share the different aspects that go into it and the things that we are purchasing with the money. So a consolidated district plan, which we'll probably refer to just informally as a CDP throughout the presentation, is for our federal entitlement grants. We're required to have a plan developed before completing individual grant applications for fiscal year 27. This does not apply to state and local grants, though we do take care of some of those as well. The consolidated district plan, each year, it's always interesting. We kind of wait to see what will the new element be that they're going to add to the list. Historically, we've had the summary of the district's needs assessments. A survey was sent out three times through the course of end of February and March asking for feedback from families, from staff,
022and um local area, our our teachers in particular to see what some of the needs are that they're looking for for our students. Stakeholder engagement activities are part of our summary. We also have to con have conversations and consultations with the non-public schools here in our area that service kids that are Urbana residents but do not attend our schools. Plans to support our academic, social, emotional, and linguistic development. Plans to support teachers and their professional development. And then we have also our plans that support families and parents. This includes basically our family engagement. That was the new piece that's been um emphasized this year. Last year in the title one grant, it appeared that we needed to um upload our family engagement policies. And this year, they've included it in the consolidated district plan as
023well. We also have our youth and care stability plan and our bilingual services plan. Federal grant directors that are here tonight, we have Kelly Russell. She's sitting to the left. We have Beth Lad. We also have Lupe Racone, Yavanda Smith, and Shauna Sher to help kind of walk us through the different pieces to get a better understanding of what each of the grants do. Here's just a little bit longer list for you. And I'm going to go ahead and hand off to Miss Kelly Russell to talk about early childhood. >> Good evening, board members. Here we are again. Another year has gone by so fast. Oh my goodness, how did it happen so fast? Um, I'm Kelly Russell, the program coordinator for CU Early. Our program is a prevention initiative home visiting program funded through
024Isby. Um, and in addition to ISBY funds, we also receive funds from the Champagne County Mental Health Board as well as the United Way of Champagne County. We serve expectant families and children birth to age three. We serve the youngest learners in our school district and our program is housed at Urbana Early Childhood. CU early is funded to serve 85 families and 95 children and we have a staff of five. This includes four home visitors, two of which are bilingual Spanish speakers. We provide child development and parent education activities in families homes bi-weekly and we also do monthly play groups. Our biggest challenge of course is funding. Um we're going into our ninth year of level funding with ISBY. 95% of our funding goes towards salaries and benefits. And this year we had to cut
02512 days of services to families. Um and that is directly affecting our staff as well as the families that we work with which is very unfortunate. Um we are anticipating um that we will need to do the same thing for next year. it might be even higher. Um, we're just waiting to see about negotiations and and all of that, but that's our biggest challenge is is funding. Um, besides that, uh, we welcome you, um, board members, um, to come to early childhood and see all of the good work that our home visitors do with families every day. So, thank you. And this slide and the next slide just talks a little bit more about um what uh the Champagne County Mental Health Board what that funds. So >> are there any questions for Mrs. Russell?
026>> I just have a quick question. Um I'm very familiar with CU Early um because I used to work at Washington School with them. Um but you said something about negotiations. How does that affect because your staff works with birth to three, >> right? So our home visitors are on the teacher salary schedule. So >> all right, good evening. Beth Lad, executive director of student services. Um I currently uh continue to oversee the early childhood block grant which um funds our preschool for all program at um Urbana Early Childhood School. Um we have a new principal there. Uh she's not new anymore but Katie Madigan and um we may be transitioning this over to her in the near future. Um, but just as a reminder, the slides talk about the funding that we receive and
027um, I'm just going to highlight some of the updates and changes and work that's done there. Um, primarily we are funded um, in a way that supports personnel, right? That's what a lot of our our grant funding goes to is people. Um, and what that means is that there's limited funding available for other things. As you know, Katie has been before this group um talking about the need for new playground equipment over there and um we obviously have to look elsewhere for funds for that. Um and um we continue to grow out of the funds that um that are provided through this grant. Um and um just uh for the upcoming uh fiscal year, another huge change for the early childhood block grant, preschool for all and for Kelly's um prevention initiative grant is that
028is is moving from being overseen by um the Illinois State Board of Education and um to under the newly um uh developed, structured, restructured Illinois Department of Early Childhood. And so um services to uh early childhood uh students and families has been funded um and a part of three different state agencies over the last many years, the Department of Human Services, ISBY, and um DCFS. And so they are taking all of the early childhood and placing it under the um Illinois Department of Early Childhood um umbrella. We um are anxiously awaiting what this looks like for us and um obviously there are certainly reasons for doing this, but it is um a transition that is going to present some um changes um that we just wanted to share with you. So um over the last
029several years, we're in the year 2026. COVID started in 2020. We are um in um our early childhood and kindergarten spaces seeing students that um uh were born um around that time. and um just in general from um what's happening in our society, seeing a greater number of needs within our students that presents itself in our early childhood classrooms. We're seeing an increase um in our students who receive special education services at the early childhood center, which means our staff um are um extending um their efforts in many ways. Um, we have not received um an increase in funding in at least six years. And I know I say it every time I come up here, but um I just think that's really important to recognize that we've not seen an increase in funding for
030our most significant needs um students at their earliest level in at least six years. Um and um over the last several years there has been a great increase in um financial support. Um but it has uh really been highlighted from the Illinois State Board of Ed and our governor to go to community- based programs and the creation of new programs. Obviously, they need that money too. But um it has been quite an impact in terms of services um within our programming currently. And so um we have um I can't remember exactly what year it was we celebrated 50 years at Urbana Early Childhood. It feels like it was yesterday, but is it been a year, two years? And so 50 years of inclusive services in our preschool program obviously shows um a high quality program
031that is recognized um really throughout the state. there is a strong team and a strong commitment um from all the staff in that building and um really committed to developmentally and age appropriate practices that really start our youngest learners off on the right um uh path. Um I think it's important to to highlight something that has changed a little bit. Even our um early childhood staff is seeing a greater increase in turnover. Um it used to be um that our youngest learner staff were there for for many many years and we're just seeing an increase in that and that's just an impact um that we're feeling across all of our our schools um that I wanted to highlight. Any questions about our uh preschool for all program or Urbana early childhood? Let's talk about our
032funding um through IDA or the Individuals with Disabilities Act. We receive funds to support our implementation of special education services and um are legally responsible to do that. Um we have uh part of our funding that um is geared towards our preschoolers. Um we uh fund uh a small amount of teaching assistance through this funding. um it says one and a half to two because it really depends on the um specific person in that position and um that often changes throughout the year. So it's not just one person through the whole year, but um that that 62,000 is about one and a half to two teaching assistants for the year at the preschool level. And then we have um the rest of our funds through the Individuals with Disability Education Act. Um, again, we have
033um pretty stable funding over um uh the time in which I've overseen um this grant. We're serving students from the time they turn three and exit early intervention to us um andor um three and we're completing special education evaluations on them on up through uh the school year in which they turn 22. And um primarily again um looking at um staffing uh as a resource out of this grant for our teaching assistants. Such an really important service for our students. Um we are uh spent the last year really I spoke to you about this last spring uh highlighting our services in students home schools at the elementary level um to um maintain students access to their um school in which they are attendance to that has been a process this year. There have been lots
034of ups and downs and I cannot highlight enough the hard work that each of our elementary buildings, their special education staff, their general education staff and their administration has done to support students in a new way. I also want to highlight um even though it's not um financially uh about the IDA that we have really increased um the hiring of staff within our special education department over the last couple of years. We still have holes and we still have needs, but um we have uh decreased the number of open positions we have as a as a district. Any questions about uh special education um finances or services? Thank you. We always appreciate the opportunity to talk about the hard work that our staff are doing um and to highlight the need to continue advocacy for
035funds. >> Thank you. >> Next, we move into title one part A. This particular grant is the largest of the title grants that we participate in. We have titles one, two, three, and four. This particular one, title one, focuses on, as the others do, student learning, learning conditions, and elevating educators. The first amount there, the 1,670,000 plus, that covers the cost of our interventionists within our buildings and materials that support the work that they do. We have over 300,000 that's also spent for training. When it talks about instruct improvement of instructional services, there's professional development that can be paid out of this part of the grant as well as out of title two. Educational media services are our digital subscriptions, things that we use to help fill in the gaps with our kids to get
036further practice. 67,000 is transportation, which helps to support our outside of school day education, after school or summer. We have $400 for other support services and then tied in with it is the 224,000 plus for community services. Those include our family leaons and the budgets for supporting our homeless students within the district. Last year they had changed the way that that was calculated. So we have tried to make it very efficient and make sure that all of our needs are met as well. Um, we also have 54,000 that is allocated to non-public school services. We have three non-public schools in the area that we work with closely. The others um last year had opted to wave the services. They have that option and overall about $2.3 million for title one. Here's a list as I
037mentioned just a moment ago where some of those monies are spent. your tier three interventionists and family leaons. SEAL committee stipens were at the end of last year. Then this year we did not include those as we move forward. We also fund our kindergarten readiness and first grade jumpstart, homelessness, family engagement through our school events, transportation, again our outside of school day programming and non-public schools. We also purchase curriculum and equipment that supplements learning. We're not allowed to purchase core materials through title one funding. So it must be able to supplement what we are doing. Attendance initiatives, stipens for curriculum development and professional development. Were there any questions on title one before I jump into title four? >> Yes. I have a couple of general questions and I wasn't exactly sure where I should ask
038them. Um, so this year given that it's a negotiations year. Somebody mentioned that this, you know, what are we using as our base um salary, you know, like if we're going to hire a new teacher? when we are setting up the grant for the next school year, I have to work off of the salary and benefit amounts that go with the staff that are designated to fill those roles. So, >> right. So, do we have a number like if we don't have this position filled, do we have a number kind of a placeholder number that we put in there? >> Yes, we usually discuss a little bit. We look to see about the benefits with Dr. Sloe's to see how those might change for next year. Insurance is also a big one that we need
039to understand how that's going to change. And then we usually try to work with a ballpark number of what we think might be a suitable increase or you know hopefully better but we have to have some numbers there as we get started so that we can make an accurate hopefully amount put into the grant. If that turns out that the amount is underbudgeted then we have to do an amendment and then we get the correct numbers put into it. >> Right. Of course. But I have we um decided on that number yet? >> No, not at the moment. We haven't even we have not been notified of our funds for next year. >> Oh, okay. >> To when we're budgeting too, just as you know, I like even I talked to Carol about it a
040little bit for who the prior CFO and I was like, you know, when we're budgeting, we h what is the best way to go about it? And um my understanding is that it it you don't want to like put out a number that because it could be considered like an unfair labor practice that we're like anticipating a certain amount. >> So we have to be really careful about what numbers we use to kind of budget. So when Tanya is doing a budget, it's going to look a little bit different. And then she knows going back like it's a negotiations tier. no matter what, she's gonna end up having to do an amendment because it's either going to be overbudget or underbudget. And so, um, she has to give herself a little bit of wiggle room
041when it comes to like supplies and things that we know might give us a little bit of that like wiggle room. Um, so we just have to be really careful about how we go about that budgeting, but it's not an easy process and it takes a lot of amendments when we're in a negotiation year. >> Okay. Okay. Yeah, that makes sense. Okay. And uh just a quick another quick question. Will we still get other years we've gotten that those many many pages with a very very small print? That is the actual grant. >> Is this in place of that or will we still get that? >> Um I we've been working on it and the draft has been developed. We have a draft, but I would rather we give them the more of a draft
042and something more final. So, yes, we will provide that for you once we >> I just I was just wonder I don't to tell you the truth, I didn't remember getting this planning part and so I was thought, well, I wonder if this is instead of it, but >> No, you will also still get it. Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um, title four then is a grant that gives us some opportunities to expand the curriculum and the work that we're doing with our students. When you took it, take a look at Title 4, it contributes to a well-rounded education. Last year, you may have noted that we had purchased music instruments so that more students that are coming from low-income homes would have those opportunities. Um this year we have been working
043on PE equipment and house outfitting those classrooms a little bit better so they have some great things to do. We also have our student learning and we also have technology and then we have safe safe and healthy as another category that works within title 4. So we go ahead and try to develop our plan based on the needs assessments of what folks would like to see get some additional support. So this past year for well-rounded it was almost 120,000 we were able to use there for safe and healthy part of that was the yonder pouches making sure our students felt safe and limiting a little bit of access for more instruction for technology that actually was used to purchase pocket talks this year. It's a device that helps us when a parent is speaks a
044different language than English and it helps for the two people to be able to have a conversation together. And then in all this year, we had a little over $200,000 for title 4. Were there any questions for that one? I'm inviting his lab back up. Yep. Good evening. I am representing Jennifer Ran who is principal of Gerber School which is the residential school um which we jointly run with Cunningham Children's Home. And so she um runs the Title One Part D neglected delinquent at risk grant. And so I'm just going to share a little bit of information and then hope you don't have questions. So this um is uh this these funds are used for students who live in a public or private residential facility which is what Gerber is. Um and they are placed
045there either due to abuse, neglect or um family circumstances. Um this program has been in place for many years and um these funds are supplementary. they are not uh they cannot supplant what we're doing um just from a a general basic um fundamental uh education for those students. Students who um are residentially placed at Cunningham either attend Gerber School, which is a special education school, or students um who either um require such special education services that they could attend our schools andor they're not currently eligible for special education services come to schools in Urbana. So um these um really are targeting students to ensure that while they have disruptive um experiences in their life that they are able to maintain and and progress through their schools in a way that allows them to graduate um
046as they should. So these um funds can be used for credit acral um programming transitions um really the continuity of education as students are transitioning between programs and schools. Um this um is very uniquely um funding um a position that supports students who do come to our public schools from Cunningham. It um provides support for um fundamental um materials um that um really supports students staying on track and um provides a lot of professional development opportunities for staff there. And while I jokingly said no questions, I am available to answer any questions and can probably do so um if there are any. Gerber is another really special place um in our district um and um a really special team of people. Thank you. Hello. This evening I'm going to be talking to you about two
047separate grants. The first one is going to be the title two teacher quality grant. Great teachers, principles, and other school leaders collectively matter enormously to all of our students in Urbana. The title 2 part A program is designed among other things to provide students with great teachers. That means ongoing professional development. The program's mission is to increase the academic achievement of all students by assisting schools and school districts to prepare, train, and recruit highquality teachers, principles, and other school leaders. We know that professional development is not a onetime thing. It's not at the beginning of the year. It is something that we continuously do throughout our year in Urbana. Before you you have the breakdown list of title 2 allocations. Please note that when our staff attend professional development in the summer, they are paid
048to attend this training and it is at the going rate of what we have already negotiated. This summer um title 2 was able to pay for new teacher orientation. We know that when new hires are coming to our district, they are stopping something to come and be be onboarded in our district. And also we have to take take in consideration that child care and other things are also adding up as they are transitioning to a new district. So what our district has negotiated is to make sure we pay them $100 a day. They do get fed and other things and all types of freebies, but we want to make sure that we have a space provided for them so that they can come and learn about our district beforehand and not afterhand. Also, this year
049as a district, um, we train all of our administrators, our elementary staff, and our secondary staff on CHAMPS. Champs is a district-wide program that we are using in order to strengthen our culture and climate in our schools, meaning the classrooms and then also the school buildings. If you notice, title two really takes the district goals and then implements them by perfor by supporting our staff with professional development. This includes the certified and the non-certified staff. Also, we partner with non-governmental contracts to support the school and district school improvement plans. That includes Illustrative Math since Illustrative Math is our math program and then also CKLA Amplify. We also partner with the Illinois Resource Center and other entities to make sure our district has what they need. This year, our conferences will be covering AVID and it
050did include sending nine administrators to the CHAMPS training in Shamburgg, Illinois this winter. Professional development materials includes anything and everything that have to do with them receiving the professional development they need. Sometimes it is professional books and in other times it may be the necessary needs of our presenters that come to our district. And then the last thing is supporting our non-public professional development schools. Um what happens is if we have students that are Urbana residents, but they are in our private schools, they do receive funds on behalf of title one and then also title two. Both Tanya and I both meet with the entities and we discuss how their funds can be used and what our district process is to help them utilize those funds. Below you see that it is the smart Christian
051academy, the Hadaya Academy and also the Monasuri. Do you have any questions about title two? Please note title two does cover our administrativeies where our principles do receive their updated every year because every year they have to attend one administrative academy in order to maintain their lensure. The next grant is a title one a school improvement grant 1003. I'm going to talk about five different schools but I have tried to provide you with a lot of information so that you have a cohesive outline of how their their funds are used. These schools all have different designations according to ISBY the Illinois State Board of Education. These are all from the I AR, the Illinois Assessment of Readiness Assessments that they take in the springtime, which is what they just got all finished with. We love
052testing. Yes, they don't love testing. So, for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School this year, they received 122,146. This was an increase. All of our schools received additional money. Yay. in January January from all of the schools in the state of Illinois that did not utilize all their money last year. Okay. And so for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. they are very unique because we wanted to maintain the native language teaching assistant that is there. And so some of the salaries the salary that is there that is what it pays for. We include the salary and the benefits as well. Um all of the schools have instructional materials money. And then this year what we did to offset some costs in other places is each one of these schools are paying for their school
053improvement teams planning hours and also the stipens. It comes out of their money from the state. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. also has conferences. um one of their assistant principles is going to the statewide director's conference this summer and any other opportunities that their staff would like to attend, they can attend those conferences as well using using that money. They have also partnered with Illustrative Math which is our math program K5. They will provide math coaching and professional development. The way this looks is in the morning an instructional math coach comes and does an observation, provides feedback for a grade level and then in the afternoon for three hours they go through a professional development um session. The principles are always invited to attend those sessions so that they also can learn and build their
054instructional leadership capacity. And then the last thing that King Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School spent their money on is a learning partner. because they are a comprehensive school, they have to partner with a learning partner because we know that we just can't throw things, give things to schools, we also have to work with the educators and we have to shift mindsets and go deeper in our learning to make sure that we are making academic progress with each and every student. So the learning partners for Dr. Martin King Jr. are the Illinois Resource Center and what they do is they provide multilingual professional development and then also the ROE number 17 which was math instructional coaching with Janet Moore. At the bottom I have provided you with an outline of just a brief des
055brief definition of what each school's designation means. The next school is Leil Elementary School. Leil Elementary School received 60,000 Yes. I'm sorry. Can I ask a question? >> Um I'm again kind of a general question then um in deciding how to spend the money that each school is getting here. Who decides that? >> Great question. The principles create a projected budget and it has to be in alignment with their school improvement goals. >> Okay. And and so are the teachers or but is involved in that or >> their school improvement team meets at the end of every year and then they weigh in on how to utilize the money. Yes. >> Okay. Yes. >> Okay. So it's not just a central office kind of. >> No, it's it's not a central office thing at all.
056>> We help guide them, but it really has to be driven by the school improvement team's work. >> Okay. Okay. Thank you. And then um is the ROE going to also work with um Yankee Ridge? I couldn't think of the name. >> Yankee Ridge doesn't have a summitative designation at this time. So they utilize >> True. So they don't Right. Okay. >> They utilize funds from another source to get their professional development. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Leil Elementary School received $60,922. If you note there, LEIL is a targeted school and what that means is one or more student groups performed at or below all students groups. So it's very different from comprehensive which means all students are included. Note that Leil has the same outline, the instructional materials, the school improvement team and planning
057hours, and then also the non-governmental contract. And Leil School has partnered to use Read 180, which is an intervention supports group that they are going to use with with a group of students at third, fourth, and fifth grade levels. Do you have any questions about Leo? Thomas Payne Elementary School. Thomas Payne Elementary School receives $119,651. Their designation is comprehensive. Please note that they are following the same process, instructional materials, school improvement stipens, and planning, non-governmental contract. They use illustrative math coaching and for their professional development. And then also they have used the ROE number nine. They have had Beth Mirs come and support the teachers with instructional strategies. And then also regional office number 17 which is the instructional coach Janet Moore. And then they also have money utilizing conferences and they sent one of
058their teachers to the Illinois numeracy listening tour that was in Effingham, Illinois. What questions do you have about Thomas Pay? Dr. Preston L. Williams Jr. Elementary School received $118,436. they have a designation of intensive. Please note Dr. Williams will look very differently because we are going deeper in the learning and we are going deeper and more layers with our professional development. They also have utilized their money with school improvement team and also the planning hours. They received 12 coaching days from Illustrative Math this year and that means they had six days in the fall and then they had six days in the spring. We supported third grade, fourth grade and fifth grade. All of those teachers at that grade level. Please note intensive means in addition to everything else everybody else is getting. Okay. They
059also have a learning partner AVID which Avid came and did consulting and also coaching in supporting our fifth grade scholars. And then also they have to pay for the AVID membership and the digital library that comes along with those services. And then this summer, Dr. Williams Elementary School will be sending a team to the AVID conference in Kansas City, Missouri. What questions do you have about Dr. Preston L. Williams Jr. Elementary? >> I actually have a question for admin and a reminder that intensive designations also mean that the additional board training is needed. Correct. So, and we have to do that this year yet for >> So, we have not been notified of additional training yet for this year. Have you heard of that, Mrs. Smith? So, I asked um Perry Hill, I saw him
060recently at an IEA event and um they have not let us know yet that there's additional training. When I uh last asked, I was told that they were still working on that. So, hopefully they announced that soon so we can plan ahead for our board calendar. But as of right now, we've not been notified. >> Thank you for that. >> Two last year. >> We had to do three last year. >> Yeah. >> And the last school, last but not least, is Urbana Middle School. They received $164,626 and they have a comprehensive status. Please note, it is the same streamline process of the school improvement stipens. the middle school did support certified and non-certified. She wanted to make sure also that the non-certified staff that serve on the teams were also included in the planning
061and some of the discussions um instructional materials. Um the middle school is an AVID school as well. So you see the subscriptions, the membership fees and also yes we are sending 10 from Urbana Middle School to AVID this summer. The non-governmental contracts for the middle school include read 180, math 180, and into literature. Those are programs that help support our students with interventions because we wanted to make sure that there was a a program that was identified to support them and to make sure everybody had the training to go along with it. So, they have received training all year and then they also have renewed a contract to receive training all next year. What we want to make sure is that we onboard all of our new hires in these schools with the ongoing training
062so that we can sustain what people are learning. The last thing that the middle school has is professional development materials of $6,000. Melissa Karns um has is doing some book studies with some of her groups. um she is interested in making sure that they all have time to meet, they have time to plan and discuss and so they can move forward. Do you have any questions about Urbana Middle School? >> Questions. >> I just wanted to let you know that every month >> Sorry, I do have one question. >> With regards to these designations, uh will the sixth grade center be treated as a separate building? That's kind of unique in terms of like how the schools in Illinois are structured, right? So, is it Yes. >> coupled with a middle school or is it
063treated separately? >> The sixth grade center got to start all over again just like Yankee Ridge Multilingual School. Okay. >> Yes. Great question. I just wanted to point out that Dr. Williams, Thomas Payne, King, and the middle school all meet monthly with our Isby Illinois State Board of Education consultant Christina Kelly along with Chassity Beckas. Any other questions? Thank you. >> Thank you. Good evening. I am Shauna Shear, the director of Urbana Adult Education. and Urbana Adult Education. The director has um historically overseen the um TEOP grant. TEAOP stands for truent alternative optional education program. And we use that grant in two ways. Um we fund it. It's part of it is used to fund um Urbana Adult Education Center. We buy some instructional supplies. um some of our staff, support staff, um salary and
064benefits, transportation, things like that. And then um the majority of the grant actually goes towards the district um attendance interventionists. We call them SEAAS this year, right? SEAA, student engagement attendance advocates. Um and that the majority of the grant goes towards their salary and benefits. And then whatever the grant does not cover, the district um covers. And we have an SEAA in all of the elementary schools and the middle school and the high school. This not not much has changed since previous years. This is the third year of the three-year cycle. Um, so we should be hearing pretty soon from the state about the renewal and um, hopefully we will get it. We've gotten it pretty consistently over the years, so I'm hoping we will continue to receive those funds. Any questions for me about
065TAP? >> Thank you, Shauna. >> Thank you, Hello. I am here to talk about title three, which is another one of our federal grants. Um, similar to title one, uh, it is designed to be supplemental to support our emergent bilingual students. Um, this also includes our immigrant youth as well. Um, the first grant I want to talk about is one that we actually did not receive this year. Uh the immigrant student education program grant is uh based off of data from the past three years on the number of newcomer immigrant students that we have received from out of country. Um this past year, for the past three years, we did not meet that criteria. Um this year especially, we have seen a decrease of newcomer immigrant students enrolling in our district. Um which is not
066unique to Urbana. Many districts across the state of Illinois are also seeing this. um which impacted that grant. We did have a little bit that rolled over from last year. Um so they were willing to let us use that this year um which Dr. Weel um is looking at using that to support the new newcomer program that he's housing here at Tiger Academy. Um the language instructional education program that is our grant that um our biggest grant that we received through title three. um we have been able to use that again this year to support a TA at the high school um to help support our emergent bilingual students there. Um supplies and materials, we um Dr. Weimalt and I committed um a portion of this grant to support the school libraries at all of
067our schools in the district that have multilingual programs. So um we've done that for the past few years and that's been really beneficial to get more books from other languages in the buildings as well. Um there are some subscription services that we use um specifically for some of our languages that don't have as many print resources that they use these subscription services um in French and in Spanish in in some of our buildings. Um professional development um one thing that I haven't heard my colleagues say yet is uh the term blending and braiding. Um we all work very well to support each other um with our grants. So, as you as you may have noticed, I have the smallest amount of money out of all of us. So, my colleagues from title one and title
068two um we they do a great job of supporting me with initiatives that I want to bring to the buildings as well. Um and likewise, I'm able to use some title three professional development to support things at King. Um professional development also is an area where Dr. Weimalt and I have been very specific to um development that aligns with our goals in the strategic plan. So um if you are at those meetings and you are with Dr. Weel and I you will hear um some of those goals and how we've talked about the PD that we have um developed or hired consultants for that are specifically targeted to to those goals. Um parent and engagement we do um support BPAC the BPACS with um snacks and resources that they might need for their meetings as
069well. Um the travel the purchase services is um for um parents. Um one thing that we're excited to offer to our parents every year is going to the state level um bilingual parent summit. Um I have reached out to our uh chairs at both of EPACs and they really want to go. It's a matter of figuring out who can go because as you know going to that up in Chicago can be challenging with child care and transportation etc. Um Dr. We has committed to driving the bus parents this year. So I am not certified to drive the bus unfortunately. So um we think that might help encourage parents to go as well. Um we do we did start the year supporting Hadaya Academy. Um private school allocation for title 3 is a little different. It
070is actually based on where the school is located. At the beginning of the year academy was located in Urbana. They have since then relocated to Champagne. Um so I I had already started the year with them. So, I'm finishing supporting them with title three. Um, but as of next year, they will no longer be under my purview. Um, and just a, as I had mentioned, some of the things that we do with this grant to help support the buildings. Um, as I had mentioned, the TA supplementary materials. Um, we've been looking at expanding our ESL curriculum specifically for our push in and pull out ESL teachers um, across the district. um as well as um just looking at additional ways that we can support French and Spanish in all of our buildings as well. Um
071as Tanya had mentioned, the bilingual service plan for the past uh three years, I believe, has been wrapped in with a consolidated district plan. What this is is really um well it is a requirement through the grant um that it include kind of our um our outline of what we're planning to do with services for the upcoming year. I do share that with our BPAC chairs um for any feedback or revisions. Um this year they did not send me any questions about title three that you might have. >> Any questions? >> Thank you. >> Okay. Last year, we had entered in some graphs, added those into the presentation so that you could see how the funds impact the different areas within the district. With slightly less grant funding this year, we are at 6.3% where
072last year it was 6.6% of overall spending within the district. We also have the breakdowns. One graph dedicated to school improvement funds. There were questions asked about that. And then all of the grants that we have shared tonight and how those come together. Were there any questions about the information on those? >> We have our slide to make sure we know we are all a team working together and trying to make sure that we get the best opportunities for our students that the grant funds can provide. The CDP itself will need to be approved by the board. This is why we do the presentation each year to talk about the different aspects that go into it as well as what our plans are with the money and how it would be spent. So, there will
073be a more finalized copy coming of the CDP. However, it has to when I'm talking with people at um the organizations, I always have to make sure I say draft because until we have a board date in there where it's been approved, it's always going to be a draft. Um did you have any other questions about the CDP or the process? >> Oh, it's April 21st meeting is when we're going to be approving this. Um, I just want to express an appreciation uh for all of you because uh in changing political landscape, you're managing to get the most out of the limited funds we're getting from our state and federal agencies. It's a ton to manage to make sure that we're compliant with with state and federal regulations and making sure that whatever money we
074get has a best impact on our kids as possible. So, so thank you. What you're doing is really appreciated. >> Welcome. anyone go ahead. >> So all of the grants that except for mental health and um United Way are like the per pupil grants you we get them every year, right? Did I >> Are you saying all of the grants presented tonight or all >> Yeah. All the grants we you presented tonight? >> Yes. Tonight was the federal grants. Yes. >> The Yeah, the federal state grants. Okay. But but the mental health and the United Way which were mentioned, those are ones we apply for every year, right? Or not? >> That would be um Kelly does the United Way. >> Yeah, she applies with she applies through the you know, United Way opens those
075up to the community and the mental health board does the same. And so they're competitive grants to the county that she applies for. >> Okay. But but all of these the grants we're we're sure we're going to have them for the for next year. We're sure we're No, we're not sure about all of them. Okay. >> But I I want to clarify one thing. So >> PFA, the preschool for all is one we have to apply for each year. It's not guaranteed to us. >> So that's a competitive. >> It's competitive. >> Okay. >> Yes. Um and so it prevention initiative. Um and um we have not had to do a full new application for either of those in at least six years. Um which is highly unusual, but because they have not um well,
076there are lots of reasons why they haven't reopened it for for um for a a new application. Um we um we will have those for next year. Um, Kelly is hopeful for the mental health board and the United Way. Um, she began applying for those when her funding continued to be um, stagnant. Um, yeah. And then in terms of the other grants, um, we will have IDA again next year, right? That's Yeah. And title one. >> Yeah. Title one. Tit I was the title grants will come. >> Yeah. Okay. Great. Thank you. Anyone else? I thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Uh we have uh one administrative report this evening on uh lease extension uh with Champagne Orban MS Transit District for the central office space. Uh we have on at 11:01 East
077University Avenue. >> Okay. Already on. So board members have the one pager um at their seats. Correct, Lori? Every Okay. Um and it is just a one pager as an extension. Um our attorneys uh the mass transit district MTD um they have reviewed this uh as as well. And so, um, MTD actually, uh, presents, they wrote the, um, agreement and shared it with us. Um, Paul and I and, um, Dr. Slows and Randy Ashman and I met with, um, Carl Ganant about a month ago, um, to kind of get an update on where, uh, MTD was in terms of their, uh, future um, downtown project. Um so as you know in 2021 when we entered into the um lease that is ending June 30th of 2026 of yes of 2026 um our initial plan was
078to um go through the five years of this particular lease and hopefully at that point be into a different space um for central office. If you've driven down Ray Street recently, you have seen that our our past space is gone. But there's beautiful grass there. I saw grass there recently. It really looks nice. And so um anyway, we are um leasing that prop that um we're leasing where we are and our again our intention when the board approved this five years ago was not to be continuing to lease beyond the existing lease agreement that we are um that will be ending. our our hope was that we would be into a um different space at this point. However, um the um MTD uh they have, if you've been watching on the news, they have been
079involved in um lots of other lots of projects. Um they have made some progress on the downtown project, but again, there have been some ups and downs recently. um you know the uh city of Rabbana um has kind of gone through new leadership and so I think we're going through you know we're going through that. Um initially the property where the um downtown project was going to be was gifted to MTD uh by our former mayor mayor Marlin. So I think we're we're all kind of getting caught up in that process. And then just recently there was some historical preservation um uh issues and some things steps that they've gone through. Um so I I haven't heard an update on that recently. Um but from what MTD has shared with us, they are still very
080aggressively moving forward with their plan. Um unless something changes in the near in the future for them. So um we again have nowhere else to go. We've looked at a lot of other spaces. Um, and right now continuing this lease is probably our only option to have a home for the next couple of years until we have somewhere else to go. Um, we would not be the only partners entering into this. I know MTD is having conversations with other um um, say that again entities. Yes, entities. um county entities, city entities that might also join in the project. But for us to be able to be available and ready to join the project whenever it's completed and again they don't have a completion date at this time. Um, one of the holdups was um the
081NEPA process which is like an environmental process um that they have to go through which is a federal um has a lot of federal guidance and guidelines and there they they had a lot have had a lot of hoops that they've had to go to go through um for that process and it has really gone I think a little longer than they thought. Initially it was supposed to be 18 months. It's been a lot longer than that. Um but again that is they're they're doing all the work on that part and just kind of give us updates as they can. I do know that they were and um getting closer to being able to get to that um to the point where they might start talking about um the um an architect and a design
082and all of that. But that is in the future and I I don't actually know when that would be. So, we are kind of at the mercy of um of having a home. MTD has they have been great partners and great landlords, I guess I'd say. Um they they work really well with our facilities team. Um we have no complaints about our space. It is we're just really thankful to have it. We do want to be closer to downtown. So, we're really um hopeful that uh we will be joining the project whenever it's done because we do we miss being downtown. We miss being on a bus line where our our folks can get to everything easily um right there from uh downtown Urbana. So, um in order for us to continue to have a
083home, we need to have this agreement um signed and approved. So, tonight we're just going to talk through it really, really quickly. It is just a one pager. Um there is not much to add. There is no change really except for um extending the lease for two years. Um hopefully at that point there would be a uh building started and in progress that we would be able to move into. Um um but if that did not happen by June 30th, 2028, this agreement just gives us the option to continue to extend the lease for another year and another year and another year. Um if you remember from our previous lease agreement, there is a um escrow. Um we started an escrow account. Um MTD puts uh 50% of our lease into an escrow account. They
084started doing that after year three. So, um we started that last year and this year is year five and that will continue for the the term of the lease. Um the a change in the lease amount is basically just a CPI change and um right now they've kept it at a 2% increase every year which we think is um pretty reasonable when it is very fair. So um basically that is it. Paul, you have anything you want to add? I know you've been in some of those discussions. >> No, no, you explained everything. I mean, this this is, you know, it's basically uh us saving uh half of the rent and and and for funds that would go into uh purchasing the space uh in the in the partners uh ship with MTD and the
085eventual downtown office space they're going to build >> whenever that happens. >> Yep. Y >> Maryanne, you want to add anything else? No, I mean I think it's a really good opportunity for us to be able to escrow some of the amount over for the rent and it seems like a pretty fair increase as well. >> Yeah. >> Questions. um being in the old building for um participating in activities there in meetings in different offices and such is a wonderful building and it's I go there on um university often and just even walking down the the hallways to get to where I'm going if I'm having a meeting there. I mean it's just a lovely inviting place and I can't imagine what the expense would be too if we had to find some place. Oh,
086>> because I can see that. I don't know if we put in the money as far as decorating and office furniture and stuff, but it is just really perfect for our employees. I I hope it is at least. >> Yeah, >> it has. I mean, it was we were very thankful that it was available when we needed a place to go as our building was falling in on us um several years ago. and um MTD came to the table and offered us a space and so we've been really thankful um to have it and and we're really excited about the opportunity to be part of their future project. Um I think that is going to be a great um project and you know they've got a lot of plans um through some of their grant
087funds and um some of the additional you know future uh vision and goals that their board has for their space. and we're just really excited to be able to be part of it. So, >> Any questions? Okay. So, this is the first read for this and then we will approve it at our um next meeting on April 21st. >> Right. All right. Thanks everybody. We do have a set of individual action items on our agenda that uh are for our consideration. uh first is uh 12.1 which is approval which is being sought for an amaran ement uh for a power transformer and uh that is needed for the completion of the cell tower project I guess uh John do you have any any comments on that or provide context for the board? >> Uh this
088is a coincident with the existing easement that you already approved with the lease. Uh Amaran just wanted us to have their own easement for themselves, but it's the same easement you approved. >> Great. Um is there a motion uh for the board from the board? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Been moved and second. Any further questions, comments, or discussion? >> Can I make a comment? I just want you to know that one of the neighbors who lives directly across from the tower who was pretty upset at one of the meetings that we went to, she told me the other day, you know, I don't even notice the difference. So, I just thought I'd tell you that. >> Thank you. >> Thanks so much. That's nice. And I know like they put up an emergency
089Verizon tower. I don't know if you guys saw at the corner of Goodwin and Illinois because apparently the signal is so bad that like it's really is needed for this area of Urbana. >> It re it really is. >> All right. Uh any other questions, comments, or discussion? Roll call, please. >> Member Hixon. >> Yes. >> Member Maru. >> Yes. Member Langorf. Yes. Vice President Baxley. >> Yes. >> President Palowski. >> Yes. Uh motion passes. Uh 12.2 is a resolution authorizing the honorable dismissal of a teacher. Is there a motion for the floor? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Moved and seconded. Any questions, comments, or discussion? >> We'll call votes in order. >> Member Maribou. >> Yes. Member Langodorf. Yes. Vice President Baxley, >> yes. >> President Palowski, >> yes. >> Member Hixon, >>
090yes. >> Uh 12.3 is resolution authorizing and directing the sale of or disposal of personal property in accordance with Illinois State Law. Uh this is library books from DPW and Yankee Ridge and various outdoor equipment from Urbana High School. Is there a motion for the floor? >> So move. >> Second. Any further questions, comments, or discussion? Roll call, please. >> Member Langodorf, yes. Vice President Baxley, >> yes. >> President Palowski, >> yes. >> Member Hixon, >> yes. >> Member Maru, >> yes. >> Motion passes. 12.4 is approval of mechanical work at uh King School. Uh Randy, any context you'd like to provide to the board? >> Yeah. Um the district received bids on April 2nd for uh Martin Luther King building uh from two mechanical contractors. The lowest responsible bidder was Henson Robinson uh with
091a total bid of $133,624. Um we will being applying the uh school maintenance grant uh towards this um to help bring the cost down a little bit and um just uh asking for approval um of the contract to Hensson Robinson for $133,624 and a construction contingency of $13,364. >> Thank you, Randy. Is there a motion for the floor? >> So moved. >> Second. Moved and seconded. Any questions, comments, or discussion? Roll call. >> Vice President Baxley. >> Yes. >> President Palowski? >> Yes. >> Member Hixon? >> Yes. >> Member Maribou? >> Yes. >> Member Langorf? Yes. >> Motion passes. That concludes our action items for this evening. Uh there is no call for a future special executive session, but we will have one following this meeting with no action taken by the board at the
092conclusion of that executive session, superintendent report. Okay, so we have a surprise in the superintendent report and I don't know if Paul even knows about this, but we were notified this week that or last week rather that Paul is being recognized as a board leader um by the Illinois Association of School Boards. Um yay. So, President Palowski received this honor in recognition of his service to public education as well as his ongoing commitment to professional growth through participation in IASB leadership activities. So, um Paul frequently um joins us at triple I every year and he usually participates in those really long all day uh some of those trainings and some of those all day sessions and I know you've gone on some of the trips around when they take you guys on buses around to
093different schools and >> they haven't done that in several years but I I really enjoyed those when they were doing them. Yeah. Um, but they would let they would let us tour different CPS schools and they would actually take us there in school in yellow school buses >> school buses >> and yeah, you get anyways it was a good way to to actually you know learn about how CPS does some stuff but um they haven't done that about five or six years. >> So they sent in a special pin that you can wear on your lapel when you attend ISB events and it says established board leader ISB. So congratulations to President Palowski. So today we celebrated young authors. So um we were at I Hotel this morning and our uh we had young authors
094representing every school in the district and um we have young authors who start off as kindergarteners all the way through high schoolers. So the students at each school submit original stories. Um they are judged by teachers in the building. Um we have young author coordinators who kind of rally around and um get judges to read all of the wonderful writing that our students um write every spring. And then today was the celebration where we recognize them for their work. Um they get a special lunch and every year we invite an author um to come. And today we had two local authors who um are from the University of Illinois and um they each student got a copy of the book as well. So they get to take have several photo ops and um we had
095a large number of um parents and guardians and family members who joined us today. And then they get a u collection of the stories are put together and we bind them and print copies. Um and then our high school students come and um our musical theater and our um high school students, they come and they act out several of the stories, their own little renditions. And so um it was it's always a really fun morning. So um they this is just a couple of the pictures and some of our this sixth grade center in the top corner and then our high school students are there in the middle. So congratulations to all of our amazing young authors. So keep writing. and the future educator conference. So, I'll let Angie talk about this slide. So, um
096future educator conference was uh about a month ago. Principal Carr led a session um and we look forward to hearing more about the future teachers of Urbana. So, Angie, you want to tell us a little bit about what's going on here? >> Yeah. And so, this was um a Laura Taylor brainchild several years ago when she was in unit 4 working with um Nick Elder. And so several community um schools come together uh and we bring students um that are interested in going into teaching and this year also principal Carr and then Andy Bonner um is in the background picture there as well presented to a group of students which was nice. We use it as a recruiting opportunity to bring um you know to set up shop and try to make connections with the
097students already and um give them a little bit of swag and give them some tips on um going into college and going into education. So it was a great event. It's um really it's an inspiring event because it's it's looking at the future of education and that there are still several students that um are are wanting to enter the field and sometimes you know just in the past few years with the teacher shortage it's been a little discouraging. So this event um really um just inspires everybody that attends. So it was wonderful. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yep. And then I know um Keandre talked about some of our amazing track athletes, but here's some photos of them if you've not seen them. So um we did have some top finishers with some top times.
098So Marley Yao took seventh in the 800 meter run and set a new alltime indoor record. Marley has just been like even since middle school like wow, she's amazing. Um Lillian Danto finished fourth in shot put. So, congratulations to Lillian. Um, Kaylee Bell finished 10th in both the long jump and the 200 meter run and 18th in the 60 meter run. And Arlon Ore um qualified in the 800 meter run, finishing ninth. So, Arland has also been a great athlete since his middle school year. So, congratulations to all of our track athletes um especially these who um get to go to an upper level and compete with some of those um runners from all over the state. So, congratulations to um our high school uhs indoor track finishers. Outdoor track has started and it's so
099I'm I'm excited to see what's going to come from all of our outdoor track events in the next um few weeks. Kindergarten registration. We've been talking about this for weeks and tomorrow is the day. So, if you know any families, please, please, please send them to Lincoln Square Mall. If they have um a young one in their home who will be turning five by September 1st, they can register for kindergarten. Um I have some fun ideas of some things that I'm going to be doing at kindergarten um open houses this spring. And so, I'm going to share that with families and make sure that they have those dates saved, too. Um, but we want to get as many kindergarteners as we can registered at Lincoln Square Mall tomorrow between 10 and 5 for next school
100year. So, the e-learning survey. So, as you know, this is the third year of our approved e-learning plan. Um, and so we've been starting um to collect feedback from families and from our staff with their thoughts on um how our current plan is set up. um if people have feedback on ways that we can improve the plan or what they like about the existing plan. Um we have a planning committee with representatives from um all levels. I'm not sure if we have people from every single building, but we have someone at least from all levels. Um and then um Jesse Bradford, our director of student learning, is chairing that committee and um she's collecting the family survey and the um information from uh parents as well. and we'll share all that with the planning committee
101and then they will start working on a new e-learning plan that we will bring forward to the board hopefully in August um that we will present and share and um get approval on for the next three years. So this is just the beginning of our feedback process to um to plan for that next e-learning plan. So please complete those if you haven't yet. Um, dual language applications are due April 17th. Um, we always wait and we don't accept those applications to allow all of our kindergarten families who are registering tomorrow hopefully. Um, an opportunity to apply, but if you're interested, please apply by April 17th. Um, Broadway and Vine is April 18th at 3:00. that is the um uh theater production put on by Urbana Middle School and normally uh it involves a lot of
102the students that are in the Splash program. Um but it is a always a um a really exciting uh to see our middle schoolers before they get to high school and what wonderful um actresses and actors they are. What is the name of it this year? Angie knows her daughter's in it. >> The Adams family. >> Adams family remember. >> Yeah. They've been they've done Disney for the last couple years and so they wanted to change it up. So >> yeah, the family is fun. So good. So come out on April 18th. It's open to the public and anybody can come. They'll put on a um performance at in the cafeterium at um concert choir, band, and orchestra performance is April 21st at 700 p.m. And then UHS spring musical is April 30th through May
1032nd and then May 3rd at 2 o'clock. So lots of upcoming events. Wait until you see everything for May because it'll be one thing after another after another. So that is it. Sherry I think has >> Are all these events on on the website? >> They should be. Um if Katherine is usually pretty good about making sure that they are on our calendar on the website. >> Thank you. Um there's a long list of foyas which are completed that were published in our agenda along with a summary in the for the fourth quarter's uh costs for uh processing um said foyas. Um if if I could say one thing about the costs uh that was done at the request of the board from back in uh December. So those are the costs for quarter 4.
104This ended up being with the personnel a much more laborious process than we had anticipated. Uh so we probably won't be doing that with all the time tracking moving forward. Understood. All right. Thank you for that. Um with that, the chair would entertain a motion after a 10-minute recess to close the room to enter uh close session for the purpose of uh personnel as published. Uh in section five of our agenda, there will be no t action taken after the board a at by the board after we return from close session. >> So move. >> Second. >> Roll call, please. >> President Palowski, >> yes. >> Member Hixon, >> yes. >> Member Maribou, >> yes. >> Member Langodorf, yes. Vice President Baxley, >> yes.