001All right, uh good evening everybody. It's 6:00, so let's begin this business meeting of our Bangor School District 116. Roll call, please. Member Sherrod. Here. Member Hixon. Here. Member Maraboo. Here. Member Jones. Here. Member Langendorf here, Vice President Baxley. Here. President Palowski. Here. Uh are there any additions, corrections, or modifications to tonight's agenda? No, so we're going to do this as published. Um there are like zero citizens in our lobby here, but there's a call for citizen statements going once, going twice. I know citizen statements this evening. There will be a call for an executive session after tonight's meeting for the purpose of personnel, specifically for evaluation of the superintendent. We will also be discussing uh contract negotiations as allowed under um the Open Meetings Act. Uh is there a motion to approve tonight's agenda
002as published? >> So moved. Second. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? We have an agenda. It is now time for our student ambassador's report. Uh good evening everyone. Um this is our ambassador report um for um February 17th. So, um a about four or five weeks ago, we sent out a parking lot survey um because we really would like to um we really would like to expand the parking lot. Um not just for students, but also for staff. Um our goal is to um hopefully um get the zoning approved um for the lot that we have across the street um for us to make a duplicate lot of of the teachers um current lot um just after the stop sign or kind of how you come in. Um but to just duplicate that
003um to the left. Um like you're facing if you're facing out um of the school, duplicate the lot to the left um in the open grass area. Um and we would like to do that and have it accessible for both teachers and students. Um and so that we can hopefully ultimately get rid of parking passes. Um so from the parking lot survey, um we asked students um kind of where do they have to park um in the mornings um whenever um student parking spaces are full. So, some said Broadway Avenue, um some said in the teacher lot um or the um aquatic center lot behind um or to the left of the uh middle school. Um students are parking in the teacher lot, um Walnut Street or on Michigan Ave. Um with this, it it
004adds additional time it adds additional walk time from these spaces um that could really um hurt a student in a way to where they could be late to class. So, we would like to minimize that as much as we can um and we hope to do that with this slot. Um on the next slide, um we asked um students um what time do they get to UHS every day? Um so, we have a different um range, so typically students kind of arrive between the um 7:45 and 7:50 mark. Um and class starts at 8:00. Um but there are some students who arrive late um but it was good to uh make sure that we get that data from them as well. Um on the next slide, it is um it is a um a different
005copy. Um this is from the teachers' point. So, we had to make two different forms, um one for students and one for teachers. Um this is the uh teacher responses. So, teachers typically get here um around 7:20, 7:30. Um some come later um but it is um we do also want their input as well. On the next slide, um we asked students um have they ever been late to first hour because they haven't been able to find a space? Um we see that 55% said yes and 44% said no. So, this is a really big deal because we of course we don't want students to be late to first hour. We don't want them to be late to any class. But by us not being able to find spots in the lot or find spots
006around, um it's really made it difficult um for students to get to class on time. Um and um it it's it's a really big thing um because then students have or teachers have to um have to stop what they're doing um to make sure that students are able to come in and to make sure that to make sure that all of their students are accounted for. So, we have to it's it's been such a big deal because they are being late to class. And so, we would really want to minimize this um as much as we can. Uh um on the next slide, um this is a student question. Um and I asked, "Do you observe teachers or teaching assistants parking in the student lot?" Uh 40% say yes. Um 59% said no. Um this
007is also a really big thing because part of the whenever the teacher lot gets full, um teachers or other teaching assistants, they will park in the student lot. So, this also takes away student parking. Um and it's forcing students to have to find spots that's not um the spot they they paid for. So, with with their parking pass, they should be able to park in these lots. Um but the fact that there are other teachers or TAs parking in those spaces, it's giving uh it's really um taking up the space that they have and forcing them to park somewhere else. Yeah, go ahead. Especially for students that are coming from like Parkland classes at the beginning and then coming and like seeing a full lot and then like "Oh, I need to find another parking
008spot." But their timing was like "Oh, I'm going to be here at this time and get to next class." It's really difficult cuz they have to go find a new spot and then they're late on top of just coming from Parkland. Mhm. Yes, and with Parkland, um you you have to be back within so much time. So, if you get to the school and you realize that there are no spots, um you now have to add in the extra time, which could um which could be excused or which couldn't be excused because you are using um extra time. Um so, we also have to factor in that as well. Um question to the teachers, um do you observe students parking in the teacher lot? 92% say yes, 7% said no. Um this is also kind
009of the um counter to the students or um teachers do view students parking in the teacher lot. Whenever the student lot gets filled, um that's where they're parking. So, it's it's also taking away spaces from our teachers, um which is a big thing. Um and we really really do want to minimize that. Um we asked Oh, there we go. Um we asked Oh, I think that's the last one if you go back to John. Uh one more. Okay. So, we asked um students, "Do you feel that bigger parking lot is needed?" 90% said yes and 9% said no. Um with all of these factors being taken into account, it's been really hard to find parking spaces. Um and it's it it takes away so much um and it forces us to use um other streets.
010Um and it also for the people who do pay for parking passes, they are not able to use their parking pass for the space that they paid for because we have non-parking pass holders um parking in those spots. Now talking about um towing, even with towing, um the the deans are really busy um during the day, so it definitely is very hard on them to be able to get out there um but they they try to Mr. Sexton tries to get out there as much as he can. Um but it is really hard because he has so much to do during the day. Um so it's it's still giving non-parking pass holders opportunities to park in those spaces in which they have not paid for which frustrates parking pass holders. Um on the next slide
011we asked teachers the same thing. Uh 76% said yes, 23% said no. Um we asked do you frequently observe non-parking pass holders parking in either lot. This was a student question. 85% said yes, 14% said no. So this goes back on to um non-parking pass holders taking spots from um taking spots from the parking pass holders. Um which is a real frustration because it gives parking pass holders a mindset of why did I pay for a pass if I'm not able to have the spot that I paid for. So it's it's really been a huge frustration um and we see it happen every single day. Um and we really would like to um minimize this because it is such a big problem. Um and this is um a teacher question. Um 76% said yes and
01223% said no. With this um we are um ultimately we would um really like to urge the Board of Education to please um move forward with the zoning of that lot um and allow us to um even if we got another gravel space um that it'll it'll truly be helpful to each person in the building. Um it will be less stressful um and we I believe that we would have um lots of more happy faces because they don't have to fight for spots every single day. Um but even there we see um lots of the times we see um improper parking. Some students will take up two spaces or some teachers will take up two spaces. Um of course students being late to class. Um I think this year we've had a couple accidents out
013in the lots um this year. Um parking pass holders are taking up spaces. Um parents are parking in spots that are not um parking spaces. So it's blocking students specifically who are coming back from sixth hour lunch um or are leaving um for sixth hour lunch because they can't get out because they are physically blocked. Um and that's also been such a really big struggle. But also we've had Promise Healthcare um their staff have also been parking in student and teacher spaces. So it's also taking away from not only the teacher lot um but also the student lot because they are using spaces that are not intended for them. Um if you have not been out to the parking lot Promise has designated spots for them. But there are um times where they would use
014other spaces or parents who are coming in for an appointment will use um our spaces which really restricts it. Um and really just overall students parking in other lots. So um we we as ambassadors would definitely urge um for the board to move forward with this um zoning process um and would hopefully find the funds to um for us to receive a new lot. Okay. Now things that are happening at UHS on the 7th EIU there was a jazz festival at EIU. And then wrestling there was a JV boys meet on the 7th. Girls regionals on the 7th and then boys sectionals on the 13th or the 14th. We had three girls qualify for state in wrestling so that's really cool. And then girls and boys basketball regionals coming up. Regionals for today for the
015girls is today and then boys regionals is to be determined. Track had a meet last Saturday and they also have a meet coming up this Saturday in Mount Zion. And then FCA has a campus huddle at UMS on Wednesdays and then FCCLA has a service project. And they're having drawings coming up to classes on time to like have people have better attendance. And then softball tryouts are on the 12th from 3:45 to 4:15. And then track wishes from the meet. Um like urgent tools to come but there's a QR code if you still want to donate um to support the track team. Donations go towards like food, uniforms, and equipment the team will need throughout the season. And then here are athletes and coaches of the month. Kaiya Hu she's in girls basketball right now
016and she's a senior. And then Amalio Diego Juan he's a wrestling coach. Do you have any? Yes. Um he is a wrestling coach. I believe he's been here for 17 years. Uh don't quote me on that. 17 or 18 years now. And then Gus Guno he's on the boys swim team. Um and then so we got um athlete of the week nominee. So um I believe it was a week or two ago um the Copper Creek Church um nominated um Ricky Ivy um for athlete of the week. Um Ricky won the 140 lb title um and led the Tigers to an overall third place finish um at um sectionals. Um you can vote um for Ricky um on the Copper Creek News Gazette line or um sorry website. Um and the link to that is
017inside of the slides. And on the next slide we have another nominee. Um Peter Wald he was also nominated for athlete of the week. Um he won the 1 m dive with a score of 372.0 um leading the Tigers to a fifth place finish at the Big 12 conference. Um and you can also vote for him um via the Copper Creek Church um link as well. And then at the Cinema Art Gallery on Main Street 18 different UHS students were able to participate from Art 3 and APR and have their art showcased um at the gallery and it's still up till next Saturday. So if you want to come look at it you can. It's on Main Street and it's across from Incontro and like next to Eric's Bakery. So it's a really cool opportunity
018for students to like show their art in like a larger scale. And this is our report. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you both. Uh board reports anybody have a board report this evening? You go ahead. Um there were also many visitors, mentors um staff and teachers and from other schools in the district that come to visit the the school and are there for a certain amount of time. Have you ever looked at the log in to see how many visitors there are that we have to accommodate as well? I think you have to when you think about how many spaces we we need you have to consider the visitors as well that are only there for a few hours or in a period. Correct. So we um we have not looked at the student observer
019um sign-in sheet um but that that is also another factor too is they also um play a role in the parking spaces. Um and so we also have to accommodate for them as well. Um and some sometimes they could be there for maybe two or three periods and sometimes they could be there um I mean the whole day really. So we we also have to accommodate for them too but we also have to still make sure that we are um that we are accommodating for teachers and students. Um but right now it seems like we're kind of fighting each other on spaces. So we we also are are taking that into account as well. It's nice to have all those spots in front for visitors or family but they're usually they're full. So there has
020to be another alternative for that as well. Yeah. Usually every spot is filled um and so people will just start parking in spaces that are not meant to be parked and that causes more issues. Um I'm I was wondering about when we talked about this before we talked about the freed up spaces at the middle school because we don't have as many teachers there and I'm wondering as a stopgap message um method, could we you know, count the cars there, the staff, and then you know, section off this is for students, this is for teacher in both parking lots at the middle school. So, we can't do it in both parking lots cuz the back parking lot is pretty much full except for the blue aquatic center spaces. But, we do have a plan when
021the ground unfreezes. Right now, we can't really do anything is going to move the activity buses to the middle school to park by the gate field gate, whatever the throwing field gate. And we were going to put in some additional spaces in the front row and call it UHS overflow. Right now, we have seven or eight student teachers that are parking in the lot as student observers. And so, Mr. Guzman's plan is to have those folks move over to the um that front middle school parking lot. But, we can't signage those until the ground is enough, you know, warm enough where we can put down new signs. But, that is the plan when the weather breaks a little bit more. Even um we we talking about moving the UHS student observers to the middle school
022lot, or are we talking um about moving um maybe some some actual high school student or teacher spaces to the middle school lot. Moving the student teachers and the student observers to the middle school lot. Okay. At least that's what Mr. Guzman and I talked about. So, yeah. Yeah. I Yeah. I agree with that as well. Um Yeah, we just we just we just don't have to we just will have to make sure that we are also still still accommodating for um Promise Healthcare because they are still using our spots or, you know, obviously other students and teachers. Promise Healthcare, do they only have like two to three spots though? Yeah, Promise only has three spots. And so, that will that that counts for every staff they have. But, that's that's not accounting for um
023the actual um for for the parents and students who actually have appointments there. So, they they are using our spaces still. So, those those three spaces only really account for um for the actual staff who work at Promise Healthcare. Is there a way that um parking enforcement somehow can we can do better on parking enforcement in the lots for those that do pay to be able to utilize their spots? So, yes. So, Mr. Guzman and Mr. Sexton, so Mr. Sexton is over parking. Um and he has been out there, I think, putting notes. Randy has even gone out a couple mornings and kind of counted cars to see how many people were coming in and out. Um so, they they are doing a better job in enforcing now that it's gotten a little bit warmer,
024too. I think the big thing is though that there's like so many more kids like I know juniors, I'm not can't say for all the seniors that want to buy a parking pass and they're not able to cuz there's not enough room. Like people don't want to walk 10 to 15 minutes like to get to school even if it's like your broadway, but like in the cold or whatever like they don't want to spend like 5 to 10 minutes or even like walking from the aquatic center, it's a difference and it's walking from there. And if there was a bigger lot, and even if it was just a little bigger and people started to pay for a spot, there would be more people that would pay even if it's not like free completely. Even even
025um even then, we um we have we don't have again, Mr. Sexton, he he won't be available all the time. And so, it's it's it's not the point of um I don't think it's the point of him like actually going out there, but I think we we have to have um kind of that consistency. Um and I don't think we're able to get it because of how busy he is during the day. Um so, I think because the consistency isn't very consistent, it also gives non-parking pass holders um you know, very good opportunities to actually be in those spaces because they know that Mr. Sexton is busy or, you know, the other deans are busy with, you know, certain situations. So, um I I think even then if if we could um maybe could even
026have someone who's really designated out there to be there in the mornings um and for sixth hour lunch, it'll be better. But, I just don't think Mr. Sexton's schedule or just the deans in general are able to make it out there every single day um for the time. Our parking passes um are they do they are they assigned by license plate? How do they um go through? It's a sticker for your car. Stickers? Mhm. But, I think when I got mine, you get it like they'll give you like your license and with that just have it on record or like the car model you have and stuff like that. But, then like they said, you have a little sticker you put on. Mhm. Well, I appreciate all the work that you're putting towards it. You
027know, this is obviously a priority to the students. But, again, there's a balance to maybe students have to leave 10 minutes early, too, so that they're not late to class. So, I think you have to advocate for that as well. I mean, the the dis- this district spent over 30 years acquiring that land. I mean, basically as houses came up for sale, we've slowly this was a strategic plan built by people way before we were elected to acquire that land. And I don't think it was really for the purpose of a parking lot. I mean, we we we I wouldn't I mean, if we did want to use it temporarily for parking, that's one thing. But, we have a campus land use study that we commissioned about 8 years ago, spent 30 grand on that.
028But, kind of highlighting the the purposes that this community could could use that land for including uh more space for industrial arts including there's a lot of different things including some traffic flow changes just for purposes of safety. But, um any change that we would make with regards to what to do with that piece of land, I would want a lot of community input on. And I didn't have it be aligned with our strategic planning process. We've had enrollment at the high school has been flat for 20 years. We've had this parking situation for for that amount of time. That we've had about the same number of staff, the same number of students, the same number of drivers. Um I I mean, I'm not opposed to making changes to improve things, but I don't want
029us to see us step step away from our strategic decision this board has kind of been on for 30 years to find a use for that land that has educational purpose. Was there ever a proposed plan um I I believe it was a like a 2019 proposal or something that that like had like another building or like a parking lot or something in it like uh are we are we able to kind of pull things from that plan and kind of um cuz I know that we don't, you know, Sure. >> think we had the funds then to >> Well, yeah, the the the the the the plan that was conceived by the the consultants was really expensive cuz it basically involved building roadways that would go all the way from uh from Race Street
030all the way over to Vine Street with a with a with a roundabout in the middle and another one that went up to Washington. Building those roadways would be really expensive. We've never had the money to do that. So, I mean, that So, that's kind of the the ideal if we had infinite funds. But, piece you know, some of that stuff can be done in in in piecemeal. And yeah, so some of that was restructuring the parking lots. But, I don't really think it really expanded the number of of spots very much. It did a little bit, but not to the level of what Yeah. I mean, I mean, I think I think when we whatever we do with that space instructionally, a a traffic study would be involved in that process with the architects
031or whoever's doing the work or whatever's happening. Um because right now, the goal is it again, like Paul said, we spent a lot of years and put a lot of thought into what we're going to do with that space to improve student learning at the high school. Um not to just add parking spaces. And so, I think whatever we do, we need to do it under the guise of we're improving the student learning and what we're able to offer our students to make our high school more comparable and more attractive to families moving in. We want to keep our students when we compare what they can get in unit four and in other districts. Um adding parking is not going to do that for us. That doesn't mean that when we improve our instructional spaces,
032we wouldn't also be adding parking. But, it would be done under the umbrella of a traffic study, a real plan with the architects and the people that would be involved in that. So. And and like Paul said, if we had infinite funds where we could do all the things, then that would be great. But we we don't have infinite funds to do all those things right now. So. Yeah. I mean, I wouldn't be opposed to to some sort of temporary use of that that spot for for increased parking, but nothing nothing permanent without without like a community-wide >> Just like we added the gravel spaces would be something that would be easier to to do, but again, Is that the >> to have a gravel parking lot right across Is that the spot that has
033like the container on it and the car that just sits there? That belongs to the shop. The students actually work on that through the auto class. It does look like it's just sitting there, but it is part of their their the auto shop program, but Yeah. I mean, I The container has I forgot what's in the container. I would love to have a basically a big garage for the industrial arts department to to be able to do things, but um we haven't had the money for that either yet. Yeah. We had an agreement with the city too, if you remember, that um Oh yeah, [clears throat] I forgot about that. >> we couldn't put parking over there. Uh it was going to be green space and or uh educational space. That was quite a while
034ago. Yeah, you're right about that. >> initially were going to put a gravel lot on Washington and the city told us we could not. Right. Um because when we tore down those homes, the three homes there, that was what we were initially going to do is put a gravel We We had three um properties right on Washington Street right as you pull into the high school parking lot. Um and when we tore those down, our initial plan was to put gravel parking there and the city said that that was not um when they signed off on right-of-way and other things that they would not approve that as a use of that right-of-way space to put a gravel parking lot there. That was several years ago, but I mean, we could revisit that question with the
035city. We could. I really appreciate all the work you put in and the very mature way you advocated for your position. I thought it was great. Um and I think it will encourage us to do what we can around the edges and really look for more parking spots. We're trying to be creative. We're moving activity buses, putting some overflow parking flow parking where we can. No, it's it's a real problem and and we need to do what we can, but But I do think that if someone is old enough to drive, they probably are old enough to get themselves up 10 minutes earlier with that, you know, if you have that responsibility to drive. Um and also it isn't that far to walk from I mean, I'm a person who rode her bike to King
036School until I was 63 years old from the high school to King School. So, I think that it's um it's part of being an adult to say these are the things I need to do in order to drive my car to school. Well, when you get to the U of I, if you ever go there, parking is horrible. And so you will be walking a lot even if you pay for a parking pass, you still have to walk quite a while to get to the building that you need to go to. And I I would even say is even even if we even if students did have that and they did leave and you know, come to school 10 minutes early, if everyone's getting there 10 minutes early and then spots are taken, it it
037it still doesn't fix the issue. Um so it I don't I personally don't think that it would be um it would be a problem solved if if everyone's getting there 10 minutes early because then spots will still be gone like that. So, I I I just think that we could I think that we should, you know, maybe revisit this at a later date. You you've you're talking about a an international perennial problem is parking. Also hitting on human nature being able to get up in in time. But uh just that being said, back of the envelope costs for an asphalt parking lot with 100 spaces. I'm not sure how many spaces there are now. Do we know? Somewhere between 45,000 and 350,000 dollars. That's a big range, but that's all on site prep, you know,
038local costs, but 1,500 dollars per space basically at the low end. Gravel, not much not much better really. It's but you know, low end for gravel, which is a 10-year lifespan average is about 90,000 dollars. That's low end being the site is easy to you know, just put a bunch of gravel down and that's that's that, but I don't know if we would be able to do that here. That being said, it's a lot of money that the district can't really pull off the money tree, if you know what I mean. But then again, we're not going to discount your your your needs. >> No. No, I yeah, definitely want to I definitely appreciate the work you put into this sur- the survey is multiply and it is a problem and we we need to
039be reminded that it's a problem and we need to do what we can about it. It's it's more than the the caution I was trying to to to state is I'd I'd hate to see a 30-year strategic effort to be used for a paved parking spot. But that's that's just my personal personal viewpoint. That you know, the uh land use study shows a majority of that land is is parking. Mhm. On the Washington >> On the Washington side, but if the city's not going to let us They wouldn't let us put a gravel lot. No, we Yeah, they I think if we if we had a intentional new traffic plan, um and we had a a structure, right? Like so if we were to build something, of course there would be parking behind it. >>
040Um so no, I'm going to be clear. They We couldn't put a gravel parking lot back there. I'm sure if we had a very intentional plan for a new instructional space that would include parking, that would not be a problem. But increasing parking also you have to do a major study on traffic and That's what we need, a traffic study to include the traffic flow for arrival and dismissal. That's a huge issue right now. That was yeah, I mean, that was part of their work is That was part of their 2019 work, but Yeah, they probably need to update They they did do uh a survey on traffic patterns and and peak times and all that. Um I think they even flew drones and stuff to to watch. Um All right. Board reports. Real quickly,
041Read Across America is March 7th from 10:00 to 1:00 at Lincoln Square. Um we having we have over 30 um organizations, agencies that will have booths in literacy hands-on literacy activities and some community uh readers and some celebrity greeters. We still have space for a couple more if anyone is available that day. Um and I'm hoping that um families will come out. Anyone else? Okay. Um and there are no administrative reports tonight. Okay. Uh we do have a consent agenda for action items including 11.1, the minutes for our January 20th business meeting, the January 23rd executive session, and the February 3rd study session. 12.2 are our bills and checks, education fund bills for 1.2 million dollars. Operation maintenance fund bills for 373,000 dollars, bond and interest fund bills for 848 dollars. Transportation fund bills for
042310 thousand dollars, working cash bonds for actually 40,000 dollars, school facility occupancy tax for 13,000 dollars. Tort for 82,000 dollars, life safety levy for uh 4,625 dollars, payroll, salary, and benefits for 4.9 million dollars. And about adult education for 89,000 dollars. Um there is a list of personal items that were published that are needing approval, 11.3, 11.4 is uh resolution authorizing or again sale of personal property. Um these are library shelves and student desks from UHS and library books from DPW and Yankee Ridge Multicultural School. Uh does anybody wish to have any of these specific items removed the consent agenda? Uh seeing no hands, the chair would entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda as read. So moved. Second. I move and a second it. Any further questions, comments, discussion? A roll call vote
043is in order, then. Member Hickson? Yes. Member Maraboo? Yes. >> Member Jones? >> Yes. Member Langendorf, yes. Vice President Baxley? Yes. President Palowsky? Member Cheryl. Yes. Motion passes. Uh moving on to our individual action items. Starting off with 12.1, our gifts. Uh when you can can Kinoshita donated $1,000 to Urbana High School in memory of her husband, Takiyo Kinoshita, who taught at UHS. Uh Fisher National Bank donated $500 to Urbana High School wrestling program. Is there a motion to accept the gifts and send out the appropriate thank yous? So moved. Second. And a second, any further questions, comments, discussion? All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Uh 12.2 is Press Plus 120, which was reviewed at our last meeting and discussed um at that point. Um is there a motion to approve Press Plus
044120? So moved. Second. >> It's moved and second, any further questions, comments, or discussion on Press Plus 120? I had sent some questions in and got them answered and had some You know me, I always have follow-up questions. Um but I just want to make sure these um new policies will be will um the wording of these policies will replace the policies our board policies, correct? We'll add to Yeah. Add to our board policies. Okay. And A lot of times the press language isn't replacing a policy itself. It's just updating a footnote or updating a legal reference. Right. Right. I understand that. Mhm. But it it does become our policy. Yes. Absolutely. Um and I just want to make My thing is I I want to make sure that we follow through with procedures that
045make sure we're following the policies. So. And thank you. Any further questions, comments, or discussion? A roll call vote is in order. Member Marable. Yes. Member Jones. Yes. Member Langendorf, yes. Vice President Baxley. Yes. President Palacios. Yes. Member Cheryl. Yes. Member Hixon. Yes. Motion passes. Uh there is no call for future special or executive meetings. Um so at this time, let's have our superintendent's report. Mine. I totally missed something. My apologies. Oh, I blew right past that. Thank you for catching that. Um totally missed this after after board reports. Uh Tim Friedman, a junior at Urbana High School, was named Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America FCCLA Section 7 Public Relations Officer for the upcoming school year. This is a position at the regional level for the larger FCCLA organization. Congratulations to Tim Friedman.
046And thank you for for pointing that out to me. My apologies for missing that. Okay. Superintendent's report. So, um we have some photos of our our girl girls wrestlers who qualified for state um February 27th and 28th next week in Bloomington. Tamaya Terry, Lilliana DeSanto, and we already saw some uh shots of Ricky Ivy, who is a three-state um three-time state qualifier. So, all three of these wrestlers, and this is what's most amazing, is they didn't start wrestling until they were in high school, which just shows how talented they are and how much um progress they've made in the sport of girls wrestling. So, congratulations to them, and we wish them the best of luck next week. Uh Winter Guard Our Winter Guard every year. I saw Christy Kaplan on Friday and wished her and
047the team well. So, they took fifth place in the lyrical flag at um the state finals this past weekend. In addition, eight students were recognized as scholar athletes. Um there is one more opportunity to see the Winter Guard performance. Um all of the schools are coming together at Champaign Central um on March 5th at 7:00. So, we'll get to see their final uh performance of the season one more time at the end of season showcase. So, congratulations to the Winter Guard. Black History Month. Um as you know, we have uh several more assemblies to go. We did a lot of celebrating for NAFED, um but we also have some upcoming. These are the ones that we know about. There may be others um that we're not aware of yet. I know the high school has
048something planned. We'll have to get that date um out as well, but the middle school is having a musical celebration on February 25th. Yankee Ridge is hosting an assembly on the 20 um also on the 25th. Dr. Williams Elementary, February 27th, and the Sixth Grade Center also on February 27th. So, these are great opportunities to just be visible and show up and um just support our students and our staff who work really hard to put together these assemblies and performances. Sherry already mentioned Read Across America. I know I'm signed up, and um Paul, you're probably signed up. Not yet? Not yet. Um but I know many of us are going to be out there on March 7th, and um the first 1,000 children receive a free book and bag. That's still the case, right, Sherry?
049Awesome. Um and I look forward to seeing all of these celebrity readers reading books in multiple languages um on March 7th at Lincoln Square. Some other important upcoming dates. The high school winter play, Trap, um begins soon uh February Well, actually this weekend, the 19th and 21st, and then the matinee performance on Sunday the 22nd. All district choir festival is next week on the 26th at UHS. Um UHS uh Cool Schools Polar Plunge is also next week. I do think you can still donate. I'll have to check on that. If if you're interested, let me know. Um February 27th during sixth and seventh period, and we're going to just keep announcing until April 8th about kindergarten registration at Lincoln Square on Wednesday, April 8th from 10:00 to 5:00. So, if you know a anybody in
050our community with a kindergartner turning five by September 1st, um make sure that they know about kindergarten registration. That is it. All right. So, uh at this point in time, um Oh, sorry. The As published in our agenda, there was a set of process for you. At this point in time, the chair would entertain a motion to enter closed session for the purpose of uh well, negotiation. I Well, it's been published. But if if it's if it's published, I don't need to read the whole thing. Okay. Um for the purpose of negotiations, uh which is a blanket exemption in the Open Meetings Act, but also for the purpose of uh uh personnel, which is going to be the superintendent evaluation. There will be no action taken after the closed session. Uh but we'll do like
051a 5-minute uh recess to reset the room uh before the executive session starts. Is there a motion to that effect? >> So moved. Second. Did you say no action? I said no action after. Yep. Uh roll call, please. Member Jones. Yes. Member Marable. Yes. President Palacios. Yes. Vice President Baxley. >> Yes. Member Langendorf, yes. Member Hixon. Yes. And Member Cheryl. Yes. Uh thank you. Yeah, yeah, we'll do a 5-minute to reset the room. Will we needing our mics um because uh one of uh the lawyer for the district is going to be appearing over Zoom. So. >> Mhm.