Board of Education Meeting 11 13 2025

001Are you in regular order? To the flag of the republic for it stands nation indivisibley and justice for all. Miss >> Richard Mr. >> Mr. >> Mac bullying, harassment, racism, sexism, and hate speech have no place in Community High School District 117 is committed to creating a rich and equitable and respectful learning environment for all. We believe in our mission statement which is passion and discovery in every student. We will continue to develop ways to extend the thinking, learning and opportunities for all our students, all of our staff and our families. To that end, it is critically important that we are explicit in stating that bullying harassment, racism, sexism and hate and all kinds are not acceptable and have no place in our district. Please work with us to discourage, report and address. Next item

002on the agenda is our public comment time. The opportunity to speak to the board is provided for members of the public who have a comment to make about the business of the board. The board appreciates hearing from stakeholders and values your thoughts and questions. The board strives to make the best decisions for the district and public is very helpful. The board must protect the civility and decorum of this meeting. Please be respectful of the duties of the board and the democratic process in your comments tonight. Please state your name and address and address your comments to the board. Please limit your comments to three minutes. Please request that you not make statements that are personally disrespectful or condescending to members of the board or staff to the extent that there may be multiple speakers addressing

003a single issue. I reserve the right to limit the number of speakers and limit. The board does not respond to comments or attempt to answer questions during the public comment period. >> I don't know who's number one, but I know I'm number two. My name is Mike Reler. Uh I'm in the district 36 area school. My grandson is high school freshman and little background. retired Marine 20 years a state of Illinois at the veterans employment office in Wood. So one of the things I did was when my grandson got here I started check out the website you have a planning website and everything else but you don't know how to put yourself waste of time on the site. the same thing when you go for college. But the two things I did notice for the

004office is that you don't have anything about military and we know that not everybody goes to college. Matter of fact, now they're fixally people and those are options that the school should have on there and either I can be available here that site make it easier for the students to understand where they're going. My personal experience tech and my hand says what's even worse they wanted to know English science language wait you're already behind so I'm saying and I think a couple months ago improving that site to make it more user friendly for the students might give them a better idea what to instead of waiting out. So, I just want to bring that to somebody tonight, but it does work. >> Did you sign in? >> I met you, but I didn't hear your

005last name. You signed in, right? >> I did. >> I'll follow with you. I got a lot of information for you. >> Okay. So, you have any questions? Not a problem. want to bring that to your attention. Okay, then we will proceed with the next item on the agenda which is recognition. >> Yes, I have the recognition and that is for our school. uh school board members day on two days from today school board members on your way you may have seen the posters of our tremendous school board in action I can tell you I've worked in education for 28 years about 19 of those I've been working with school board on the board and this is the most uh dedicated school I've worked for uh just their true student centered and their dedication to

006being interesting and they are hands on. We just had tours at both schools a couple weeks ago. They are presenting at the schoolboard conference next week for all school. Thank you. All right, the next item on our agenda is the tax lobby and then followed by presentation stand. All right, good evening. I'm Arian, associate superintendent and chief school business official for community high school district 117 and I will be presenting the tax levy for 2025 the public hearing tonight. Uh as far as uh just timet the board of education heard the tenative numbers and approved the uh levy last month in October. Tonight we'll have the public of course the public hearing and then I just need to make sure after it is more approved that I submit it to the Lake County clerk's office

007by the end of the calendar year basically. So when looking at the levy and producing levy numbers um just some uh things to take into consideration. Um first of all just long-term projections and our fund balances. Um twice a year the district look at our projections. We have a meeting coming up in December 2nd that we take a look at our projection and just look at overall fund balances and what that means. And that's something that we need to take in account when we're looking at the le. In addition, of course, we want to continue to provide all our amazing uh resources and opportunities that we have our students and staff. So, we want to make sure that we have our revenue for that along with and I think um I hope that you've seen

008that we always are looking at our facilities and what needs are and what updates need to happen. Whether we're looking at u the needs of something where it's from our health life safety survey um or just updating our facilities overall, but again making sure that we're staying on top of our facilities as well. So moving forward, um overall our property taxes make up a large large portion of our revenue. That's not unlikely of most of the districts in Illinois. Um they make up 68% of our revenue from the fiscal year 2026. So that budget that you heard and approved in September. So that's roughly a little over 46 million dollars that come from property taxes um here in district 117. Other sources of course you can see there on the right evidence based funding state

009federal grants um and then other local revenue whether that's interest registration fees things like that. So again a large large chunk comes from our property taxes. So when you look at the formula um when you look at the um you might recall last month we talked about having known you know we have known numbers and we have some unknown numbers but those are provided from the county. So, one of the known numbers is our CPI, the consumer price index number, which is a 2.9 that always comes out in January of that year. So, it came out in January 2025. So, this is just historical data that you see here all the way back from 1993. These last four years, you can see this is my my fourth year doing the ley. This is the the

010smallest number for CPI um in the last four years. the 23, excuse me, 22 and 23. You might recall that those were over 5% economy was booming, but we could only then um use 5% because we are a county and we can only use 5% in the calculation for the CPI because of the property tax limitation law. So this year it's 2.9. So moving on then um in that equation or formula looking at uh looking at your extension and levy. Um one unknown item but an estimate that we received from the Lake County um is our new construction. So you can see I just put some historical data again here. Um this year's estimate is almost $12 million in new construction at least probably ever. Um but definitely in the last years that I show

011here. So roughly that's going toate a little bit over $300,000 for new money um for the levy. So again, this is an unknown number. So when you're looking again at your formula, the known numbers are the 2024 tax extension number. So that's the 45,752 that you see there in the first column. Then you basically take that number by the CPI, again another known number, and we divide that by the estimates provided to us by county of the EA construction. That's is your limiting rate. I don't have the limiting rates in here, but I do have them in the board packet. They're the lowest they've been for a long time, too, at about 2.57. So, remember last time you might recall, we have the extension. So, the 25 extension on the way right, that's what we

012think we will get based on numbers and calculations and laws and such. But We talk about there could be changes between now and between or between now and the spring whe you can see in the middle in red is 47,928,300. Okay, that means then the overall increase from the 24 extension to the 25 levy request is still under 5%. So by law, we do not have to have a public hearing for the community high school district 117 with our community. However, you may recall last year we decided we still wanted to do that for transparency with our stakeholders. So um also just to mention um in this number is not included two different two different numbers PA which is the property tax advisory board that is not something that we include for numbers for uh

013Lake County this is I think it's year going to be year five for property tax uh advisory board numbers we started getting receiving like45,000 and we're up to almost 300,00 However, we'll see what we get, but that's not some number that we provide to the county. Um, and then also Seedall, that's a number that we get from Seedall itself, the special education department of Lake County. They give us that number. We submit that number on their behalf and turn that money. So then, so that's the levy numbers. One thing uh else I do want to mention um by law and this started last year again you guys might remember this last year public act 103394 um this is where we need to report to our board of education um looking at our last three years

014uh average expenses. Um so we look at audit our audit numbers from 23 24 the average year of the operational funds in the state you need to at the ed and then transportation. So that's 10 20 40. So you can see the last three years here are 60,21,000. And then what you do is um you basically take well you got to sorry you got to look at your fund balance then of those same operational funds last year 2025 and that's 45 million 829,000. So basically then what you need to do um is divide your fund balance. So that divided by your average expenses. And basically what is it saying and again this is something that was directed by the state is that if you have two and a half times your fund balance of your

015average expenses for those previous years and you have to come up with a reduction plan. Well you can that doesn't fit us. our expenses are more than our fund. However, I mean that that would mean we'd have to have 150 million in fun. Um I I would hope people would not allow me to do that and for sure I know our board members would not do that. So but but for me if this is being put in place that means I would think somebody's doing that but we are not. So but this is something that we need to >> we have a policy that wouldn't allow us to do that. >> Correct. So that concludes the levy presentation for 2025. So turn it back over. >> Okay. Thank you. With the conclusion of our presentation,

016I will now open the public hearing for the tax and ask anyone at this point. I would ask if board members have any comments? >> I understand. I have neighbors that are at US or I don't know especially when you're Not only that age group. Okay. So other people too. Okay. >> Just to clarify this a meeting of public but you can't comment from the audience public comment. So it's not So I appreciate that very concern. We all have that concern, but you know that concern involves every tax in the state of Illinois in county and I think we've been pretty diligent in this to keep that levy as low as possible. Our extensions have gone down probably the last five years. >> Yes. So we managed that and if you remember from the last

017meeting they have no I think you know the bigger issue would be those governmental entities that have debt but they have to service and still continue the city of Chicago that they have that I think in some way form So I think we've been pretty diligent and I think you can probably assure your neighbors that we are districts high school. >> Well I guess I agree with that lotern about property taxes again. I think just something to consider, you know, talk more about projections. Um, when you're looking at your overall revenue, again, 68% of our revenue taxes and um I mean I know I live here and higher taxes, but I do know that my son is great, great teachers, great classmates, great facilities. Um, I think one thing that's I think concerning that I

018always have in the back of my mind forward is that um I think we have people that are willing to pay these taxes to go to those schools. Um and the uncertainty of other revenue streams coming in is greater than ever when we don't know what's going to happen. I was just at a conference that currently billion across the nation and so there's other factors that we have to take operate. The unfortunate thing is the way the state is here. So we will do the best we possibly can possible with everything we can possibly offer students in every aspect. Whe we'll do everything we can and to get the best people to do that reason. And I'm not saying I'm saying >> to retain that. It's just that when Any other comments? Would any of

019the board members like to submit anything? If not, I will close at this point. All right. Next item agenda are the presentations. We're going to begin with career and technical education. So want to welcome John students in terms of some of the access to postsecary pathways and program. of study. So without further ado, hi Jenny Harrington. Good evening. Um I want to start off with something that we're really proud of. Um the state implemented college and career pathways. And part of these pathways are that each student that's entering the pathway has to have six college credits, two career exploration activities, 60 internship hours, and two team based challenges. Um over the course of the past year, we worked hard to get five different pathways approved. Um the two that we have in house are culinary

020arts and educational teaching and then we have three that we send through tech campus. So that's um emergency medical services, certified nurse assistant and welding and fabrication. Um so I just wanted to highlight a little bit about the ones that we have in our house. Um so we are super happy that we align two of our classes to the College of Lake County where students are going to get college in our classes. Um So early childhood studies is aligned with ECD 117. So students that are in that class upon successful completion are getting three college credits and then early childhood teaching one they're also getting three college credits through EC16. So currently we have 81 students that are starting this year at the bottom that pathway and over the course of the next couple years

021they are going to complete that that pathway. Um the nice thing about because we have our onsite preschools. Our students can do all their internship hours with us. They have so much fac. The other pathway that we have in house is culinary hospitality. So there's three different kind of core sequences because of the college credits. Our culinary classes don't have dual credit with CLC. Um, but AP Spanish and AP chemistry relate to the industry. So students can take those classes to fill the college credit. They can also go to tech campus if they don't want to do the two years or the full pathway with us. So we are on path to next year have students that are starting and completing that pathway. So we're super excited about that one as well. >> Yes. Good

022evening. John here high school. Uh we're going to transition here to a portrait of a graduate. Um I I took a moment this evening to work with our other woods teacher, Mr. James Ba. We made a prop. So I'd like to present this to the board president. Um I need a little finish work, a little sanding, but you can just today. >> I made this just today. All right. >> That's an interest. >> Yes, we have a machine to get it and so on and so on. So, we're using our technology to portray this. >> Thank you. Uh, so our first slide here is uh portrait of a graduate. Students can think critically. We're starting to give out what we have for a while been doing certifications. So 360 kids in culinary one will get

023a state certification. 26 plus in culinary theory are doing the manager certification. 18 coding and Python are doing the PC test. That's that's the test that comes at the conclusion of the yearong class. And then 121 students are on track to receive OSHA certifications. So these certifications makes makes your students more employable when they're in high school and after high school. So we're really giving them the edge. Oh, AI foundations. So we're proud next year we're going to be introducing a new course that freshman through senior can take and uh we'll push kids to really use AI to challenge themselves and use it for really a companion to teaching, not just award. uh embrace diversity. Um the little eagles and the sequence programs at the high schools engage students and authentic experiences that promote empathy

024and deeper understanding of others. In Woodtech, we use our laser engravers and other technology to make holiday ornaments that reflect the personal culture and religious beliefs combining craftsmanship expression. uh emotionally intelligent uh coding in Python. Students will build resilience and self-awareness as they manage frustration, perseverance through complex challenges and reflect on the problem solving process. So if you're not a coder, I've seen some of that coding work. It is critical thinking and thinking emotionally through it to get pride to see the result at the end of the coding to make the project work. So that's really exciting in entrepreneurship. Uh students strengthen empathy and social awareness by empathizing or by analyzing the wants needs values of target market apps being courageous. Um one of the first things that pops into my head because I'm the

025school director we are asking students to stand in front of a group of preschoolers and teach them and they are very very nervous. the first time that happens. Um, and it just shows the courage that they're willing to take to to do that. We have some, you know, I remember my first day teaching shaking and it's so nice that we're giving kids an opportunity at FaceTime um when they're in high school. Um, in entrepreneurship classes, they are designing marketing businesses. So, they have to go out there and sell their products to students and staff and that takes a lot of um technology. We're asking them to use equipment I would not be comfortable using. So, we're just asking them to put themselves in a situation where they're doing something outside of their daily routine and

026challenging them. And that takes a lot of courage to do. >> So, in my small engines class, high school, the kids do welding. So there's nothing more courageous than giving freshman aching work or putting them in a go-kart and telling them to drive around the parking lot. Right. So that's that's collaborate. We're CTE where there's all kinds of collaboration and talk and engineering challenges that the students have to solve. Uh in the spring we will go to the team based challenge out at the uh manufacturing technology center of CLC. Uh we did that the last couple years. Great opportunity for our students to collaborate and really work with industry partners on projects. FCCLA students work together on projects that require creativity, planning, and critical thinking. Emphasizing the value of teamwork and team based challenges. We're

027trying to bring in more team based challenges to all our classes, get kids talking to one another, really coming up with creative solutions to difficult problems. And with those through the state, they can't be attached. So like you need to do this and it's a problem and they have to have professional feedback along the way. So we have to write these all out ahead of time, okay, here's your problem. How are you going to solve it? They can work with teams and along the way like have you thought about this? Have you thought about that? So it really takes that that team effort with feedback along the way to complete those challenges. Um again talking library and Python students enhance technical communication by documenting clearly and explain process in preschool students practice age appropriate communication

028while interacting youngsters business courses students strengthen personal communication project analysis So communication we've really tried to embed into all of our classes as well because we know that that's such an important skill. So they have to demonstrate their skills not only through action but also verbally to others. >> Challenges well we do have some challenges in CT uh keeping up with the technology. I mean just this year we got new printers that came with new software comput and more computer run equipment. So there's always updated on the software. Uh professional development, you know, targeted professional development for CT teachers to get teachers trained on, you know, being around equipment, how to keep kids engaged on that equipment. This isn't always easy to find. I find a lot of professional development for teachers, but not for

029skills of industry. So like if I wanted to go school my skills it's hard to find professional development for like teachers who teach culinary um and even early childhood you know I went to an early childhood conference a few I think it was last year because I was like geez I've worked so hard on like my teaching but like am I uprenhood some of those are harder to find because it's such a small group um even like our national um you know conferences that we can go to and They're a lot necessarily industry. So that's kind of a big challenge that we're facing >> and then aligning our curriculums. >> So kind of the things that we're going to be working the next year um and going forward. Um we want to get two more

030pathways put into the state. Um we've got six college credits right now with CAD. Um we are working on the internship hours. So that one should be another one that we can build in house. Um we have to get an internship program set up though. So that's something that we are working on. It's goal that by next fall um you know we can propose it for the following year because we're takes a little bit of time to get those proposed. Um the other science pathway. We offer um two AP classes that they can get college credit for and then we have two levels of coding and Python. So finding those internships for kids, letting them put their skills to use in the workforce for all of these is something that we are we're working on.

031So we're hoping to propose those throughout this year um and get those kind of set up for the coming years. Um as John said earlier, we have the AI foundations course that we're um going to start running next year. I kind of goes back to the challenges, right? Because like that is changing by the minute. So, keeping up with that and making it um you know, useful for students is something that we really find value in that we want something to be quality um and we want it to be up to date. And then we're really excited about um AP business principles. We have two our first AP classes through CTE are coming through. AP business principles will be replacing business. So, we're exced to kind of curriculum and college credit for our business class

032we haven't been able to do before. So, these are all kind of things that we're looking forward to um and looking to add into our department. >> Yeah, absolutely. I I'm excited for all of it. I'm especially excited for AI foundations because uh there's huge potential especially in my area. You can tell, you know, uh 3D print me a teddy bear. It'll output a file that you can run on a 3D printer or you're if you're making a large machine, you can AI to make pieces of the machine put together. It's called assembly. So yeah, the SK is the limit on that. Any questions? This is true. Yes. >> I don't know that I've heard as many possib students or whatever. The one thing that we're really trying to do is offer opportunities in not

033want to go to campus. It's a big commitment. So, one thing that we're really trying to get through our college credit and our dual credit so that they don't have to commit, you know, two full years of go over there. But there are some kids that want to offer kind of even with the early childhood, they could do it here or they can do it there. It just depends on which path they want to go down. And she had to adjust her schedule. I know Dr. just the energy of our students. So I walked around I did all night long and just to hear the excitement they have the sense of purpose like a lot of their identity and their sense of purpose and it was really powerful. I appreciate the presentation. CT has come

034a long way and has come a long way in the last five years and to be able to offer different pathways for nonb students is excellent gentleman and to reflect on graduate we talk about communication we took a tour around schools and Python class. It was amazing. I talked to a couple students how they were about what they were doing and trying to explain to me, you know, for a high school kid to tell a stranger in his classroom or her classroom what he was doing or trying to do and try to explain it to someone who doesn't know anything about it. I thought that was fantastic. They were just willing to to try to detail everything that they were doing to try to make me understand it. So, I mean think I think this

035portrait of is working well and I see it every don't think it's a singular cause coming that increased focus on wellbeing, mental, emotional, physical wellbeing is real. I think we all know it. I think we all see the value in it. So I appreciate the two of you and what you're about to share and also all of your staff because they're in it for the right reasons to make sure that students are are really engaged in that well whether it's physical education, health or you know you could see that as a good or bad thing when kids get all of those things are welldal. >> Thank you. Yeah, I'm the department chair at high school. This is my 22nd year in the district. I'm joined by my colleague and friend Jordan. years in the district

036and his second year as a department chair at any uh while we didn't bring gifts like our fellow Jordan does want to extend an invitation for any personal training class that >> uh tonight just quick snapshot we're going to go over some curriculum and instruction highlights uh talk fitness testing the goals that we had set for last school year and then an update on goals for this coming portion of a graduate updates on certain competencies that we feel very strongly about in all of our classes. Um and then some celebrations between the two departments department curriculum and instruction highlights just a few a few things over the last year that we've we've accomplished as a both departments. This past March, uh, fiscal best teachers from both schools attended the National High School Strength Coaches Association

037Illinois State Clinic at Northwestern University. Uh, we saw presentations from high school and collegiate strength coaches on, you know, different structuring of programs, lifting progressions, techniques, uh, ways to build relationships and culture within your weight room. Um, so we left there. I think we had seven total there. So we left with a lot that we can incorporate into our physical best curriculum. Um we try to keep that evolving as you know strength training programs are always changing and we want to try to stay up to up to speed and current with all those >> and uh and this past May know we're very fortunate if you haven't been over camp I'm sure most of you have uh we really have a state facility there for our classes and this past May um our district uh

038and our and our venture teachers hosted the Midwest outdoor symposium there. And so we had 16 schools from Northern Illinois come and attend uh conference there and there were various speakers from different schools presenters from from both as well and you know they spent time going through best practices and different lessons and ways to utilize uh the equipment and we're so fortunate many of the schools that came just tell our teachers over and over like how lucky they are to have that. There's so many districts that don't have that. Um and so for for our teachers to have an opportunity to host that and really be leaders in that area uh is really exciting for us. You know, we are a pretty veteran staff schools. We did have, you know, a little bit of some

039new blood talk about a little bit. Um, but a better staff, but one thing we love is that they are still hungry to be better teachers. They are striving to develop their pract. >> We had another successful summer of curriculum work. Again, we're fortunate for the opportunity to do that and to get those hours and fortunate to have teachers who are willing to give their time over the summer to continue to build and adapt and update our curriculum as we go. This past summer was our dance and fitness teachers and PE1. Uh meant to just enhance and update curriculum and continue between the two schools. The goal of Ray and I to align the experience of the students between Antioch and Lakes as similar and as close as we can. Um, so another successful summer

040there and kind of building towards that alignment between the two. >> And then there's been uh quite a few developments in the driver's ed world the last couple years. Um, you know, two years ago there were finally some agreed upon standards uh for driver's ed. And so that's been an ongoing development process. So, two summers ago, we had a daughter who just did some curriculum work. And then this past September, three of them from each school were able to go and attend uh the state clinic and really dive deeper into those standards and how we can incorporate those making sure that we are giving our students everything that they need to be safe on the road. Jordan and I not only are, you know, educators in the district, we also live in the district, which

041means we also drive on the same road. everything. Uh so we want to start with our review of our fitness data from last year. We we one thing we think is really important uh is that we are making sure we are addressing the physical needs of our students. And you know we we monitor this by a series of tests that the state asked us to give and whether they asked us to give it or not we would be giving them. Um, but we always present this data. So, and we talk about goals. So, I think it's important we follow up with this. So, uh, last year at this time, uh, we had 18.5% of our students were tested in our district that scored in the healthiest and fit range of the five fitness tests that

042we did. We set a goal to improve that by the spring semester. So, when we retested our students again in the spring, that number went up to 21.8%. were part of that part of that that jump. Uh we want to continue to see that number go up, right? Uh so the five fitness tests we did, we did the sit and reach test, the push-up test, the curl-ups test, the 20 meter pac, and the mile run. And so that 21% means in all of those tests, those kids reach uh what the state defined as healthy individually. We set some lofty goals. We thought our scores were pretty good in the spring or I'm sorry in the fall of 24 on four of those tests. So the sit and reach test we were at 71%. We were

043hoping to achieve 75% with score healthy and fit in that and we were able to achieve that the spring. Uh push-ups we were at 68%. We wanted to get to 75%. Uh again when we retested the students in the spring they got they did get to that 75% threshold. our curl up test. Our students do really well on that. Um that was at 92%. We want to get it to 95. We fell just a little bit short of that. Uh and 93% of our students tested healthy and fit. And then our 20 meter pacer test was at 40%. We were shooting for 45% in the spring time and we did achieve that goal of 45%. A goal we didn't get to was with our mile run. And so that's a big focus for us this

044year moving forward. Um currently 50% of our students in the fall tested healthy fit in the mild run test and we would like to see that number go up and so a big focus for us and for our teachers. Uh we want to improve that by 5%. We want to see that in the springtime be as 55%. And so we're going to do some targeted focused lessons uh hopefully some motivational things so that students are really understand they're young sometimes and you know I want to you know I tell them all the time when I was your age I thought I would be I thought I would never have any issues right now I'm in my early 50s a little bit overweight I'm a little bit diabetic and I wish I would have listened more

045on the importance of that. So, we really want to stress that and although they would love to get better at the mile by playing basketball every day, uh we're going to do a little bit more uh targeted work on improving that that mile score for portrait of a graduate. Um we feel strongly that we are able to hit all the components in all of our classes daily. Um, but instead of going through all of them, we decided to reach out to our staff and ask them what are the ones that we really feel strong that we hit the hardest that we can hang our hat on and know without trying we're doing these things in our class every day. Uh, and these were the three that they came back with. Number one being collaborates. And

046again, in all all sections of what we teach, whether that's developing team strategy in a sports class, um peer assessments and in health, dance and fitness, drivers ed, and then small group work, which obviously takes place uh in everything that we do, whether the weight room or a sports based class, dance, driver ed. So, the next one our teachers felt felt really strongly about was communicates and a graduate of our district communicates. So some ways we do that uh we do it through student presentation. So our our dance and fitness class they will create their own dances and then they will show that and they will demonstrate that in front of their students or in front of their classmates and then they will teach them that dance as well. um in our driver's ed class,

047you know, daily for speaking up uh in front of the class and they'll have to just talk about a lesson, something they got out of the lesson and share that back. Uh you know, we use in physical best, our students use corrective cues and commands with one another, communicate with each other. And then our PE team class, the students often have to communicate strategy and different ways to accomplish a goal and be successful. >> Uh and then finally is courageous. uh one attempting new activities and skills as simple as you know some of us may feel some of our students who are multiple sport athletes we have students in team sports individual sports who to stand up and swing a bat or kick a ball in front of class is a challenge and something they're

048not comfortable with. So we see that uh every day with something as simple as that. setting new maxes, fitness scores in our physical best classes to the same extent. We have kids who have never been in a weight room before and they're with varsity athletes and they're slamming weights and and lifting heavy weights and um you know they're just learning how to do it and then they're setting maxes and attempting those maxes in front of their peers and teachers. Um so they're taking chances there and then as Ray hit on earlier the student performances uh and dance and fitness doing things in front of a crowd. Um so we think always showing uh courage and trying new things and outside their comfort zone. Uh some celebrations, new hires. We each have a new hire at

049Antioch is Dalton Wood. He's a graduate of Richmond Burton High School and then University Debuke last year. So he's fresh out of college, first year teaching. He is teaching health PE team and PE individual here at Anoch and he's an assistant football coach and he has been outstanding. Um blown away by a first year teacher and and what he's done. Instant connection with our students and our and he's been a huge addition already and I'm excited to see him continue and grow and help you know lead us to new levels in our curriculum and the areas he's teaching throughout his career. >> Then over join our staff. Uh David is a graduate of LCHS. He's one of my former students. Uh which I feel great about but a little bit old. David's a graduate of

050of Carthage College. He's been coaching at Lakes for for many years now. Been coaching basketball for many years. He was a par professional at Lakes. So we hired him on as our teacher. He's another, you know, while we're veteran staff at both schools. It's really exciting to get, you know, young teachers with some new fresh ideas. Uh it's really motivating and the kids really gravitate, you know, they enjoy being around those those guys. Uh they bring a ton of energy to it. So, it's been really exciting to have both these young men join our department. So, one thing we're we're really really proud of is our our zero hour courses that we offer. Um, we have uh physical best classes at both schools. Uh, at Lakes, we have one section and then at ACS have

051two sections. The thing that we love is number one, kids that take this zero hour are choosing to no one's making them. They're coming in schools at 7:05, right? Where everybody else starts at 8 and they're choosing to take a course that strength train through it. Uh the thing that we love about it is this course provides them the opportunity to have more time during their day to maybe take something else that fits into their passion, right? Maybe it opens up an opportunity for a fine arts class, maybe an AP class they want to take or they want to take or maybe they're an athlete and outside of their season they have to work a job or do something else and they don't have time for strength training. Now we can in the morning. And

052so, uh, it's been great. Uh, the students do a wonderful job in there. Both Jordan and I piece that, right? So, as department chairs, I think it's important that that we're kind of in there leading that. Uh, and it's been been something that we're really proud of and and something that we want to continue. >> And then another highlight uh that we wanted to talk about tonight was our co-taught adaptive PE courses. This is new for us. We've had adaptive PE in the past, but never co-taught. Um, and it's been, I think, probably one of the best things that we've done. I know I haven't been here that long in this role, but one of the best things that we've done at Lakes. It is a fit for life class here at Antioch. I teach

053both. Uh, it's a P individual and then dance and fitness. But what I love about it is in the past it's been one teacher with anywhere from 35 to 40 students, regular ed and special ed. Right now we're there's probably four to five special ed in each section and then 30 to 35 regular ed. That's a lot when you're one teacher. And I think we were successful in the past with it, but I think it comes with limitations at times when you're trying to differentiate and give both groups of students that full experience while being in that inclusive environment. And there were just certain units and lessons that were really hard to to accomplish that. Now with the two teachers, we can do that. Um, for example, a biking unit. We have mountain bikes and

054we have trikes here at Antioch. In the past, we just have an area in the parking lot where the students could ride so that the teacher could supervise both groups of kids, make sure it was being safe. Now, with the two teachers, Co Pal, who I who I co-e with, she's able to take regular ed students into town to parks and really explore and take the bikes out. And then I can kind of dive in and specialize with those special ed students and teach them how to work a brake, how to do the kickstand, how to get on and off, adjust the helmet, and literally start out walking alongside the bike to then lessons down. They're on their own, and we're riding a bike next to them and teaching them those things and being able

055to hone in on their individualized goals and what they need. So, I think this is it's been great. I've been fortunate enough to teach it. I love it. I've had a blast with these students and I think we can do a lot of good with this moving forward. So, something that we're definitely proud of. I appreciate the presentation. I'm sitting here sweating and we were in that best class I think took and I was as you indicated I was kind of males and females in there and watching them guiding them after you given them some instructions on how to do that. The students are teaching the students as well. Okay. >> So, our final presentation is going to be from our student services department. We're going to have Kyle from Scott Le from Annoch. They

056are assistant principles of student services. Unfortunately, Jackie could not be here tonight. She is at a conference. So, these two um are going to And are you joining us? >> I'm sorry. Alan is also joining them to present on MTSS update on the goals that are centered around the parent teacher conferences that we just concluded in last month. and then also bag which is our behavior attendance and grading report. So I will turn it over to these fine gentlemen. >> So one of the things I wanted to do with so many students here tonight sometimes as educators we get caught in the vernacular of being teachers right and leaders and so we throw out acronyms and then we don't always explain what they mean. So when you see MCSS it means multi-tered systems of support.

057Um Mr. our board president made a comment earlier for all of you students that we're trying to offer students everything we can. So when we think about offering all of you guys everything we can that means we want to do everything we can to help you be successful. And so when you think of those multi-tered systems of support think of the word like interventions. So how do we support you when you might be struggling? And you can struggle in a variety of different ways. And so whether it's in the classroom or outside of the classroom we're going to intervene on your behalf so that we can help you be successful. That's our That's why we are at school with you every day. So, if we go to the the next slide, just a little bit

058of what we're going to talk about tonight. So, one of our um board metrics is around being courageous and we're going to talk about um certain elements of that courageous goal um related to the strategic plan. And one of them is going to be around parent teacher conferences, how we connect with students and families so that we can again intervene and help you be successful if you're struggling. We're going to look at behavior, attendance, and grade metrics. And then the And so if you look at the bottom half of the um screen there, you can see uh the goal around um reviewing MTSS procedures, intervention strategies, and then the outcomes. And so there are really three areas in there. You've got the area around conferences and then you've got actually two and then you've got

059behavior, attendance, and grades. And what we've sought to do is to grow over the last three years in those areas based on the metrics that we've established. So, what we're going to start off talking about is those parent teacher conferences and how we can connect with students and families and say, "Hey, if a student is struggling, what can we do to help you be successful? We know we have those touch points that we will help you have success." And so, if you look at that, you can see in 23 24 we had a 76% success rate. We increased it um last year to 77% by 1%. But take a look at this year on the right hand side in blue. You can see we went up 10% to 87%. And so that's a real testament

060to our uh staff and our leaders to be able to connect with our families and our students to be able to help them successful. And Kyle has got to talk about that. Uh so the the portrait of a graduate uh competency that we're really zeroing in on is courage. And I don't think that's the most that's not the first word that comes to mind when you think about teaching conferences, but um I remember as an English teacher, one of the hardest things to do is those peer revisions where you have your classmates reading your own work and u with parent teacher conferences similar. I think it takes a lot of courage to confront here some of the things I haven't done well. Um, it takes courage to to say this is where I'm at now

061and this is where I should be and this is where I want to be and to uh to have those conversations with parents, guardians, with your classroom teacher uh to set some goals to articulate what it is that you're specifically struggling with and create a plan to address it. So, uh we we'll get into the data here, but uh there is quite a bit of courage that goes into something that's behind a lot of d Just to elaborate a little bit on the data that Dr. We want to make sure we present the clear picture kind of where our conference work begins and we don't want to give the mistaken impression that we're focusing on that year because that's a pervasive amount of our students. So there's a great deal of trouble going out of

062our schools. The students that have const and so not a not a significant population of students or grades within our schools, but certainly an area where we do want to focus our efforts to help support greater shaping and containment of those A's, Bs, and CS that we hope to see. So just to paint the background of the picture of the 15,000 grades, it's just 8.2% that we're trying to tackle. 87% Dr. Wall out is a 10% step for us and we're really proud of that. It's still not the 95% that we're hoping to achieve. That was our original base goal three years ago, but we are in towards that number and we made a big step forward compared to the last two years. So, we're proud of that. The overall number of conferences is the

063other double head of the number and we're up there as well just marginally. Uh and for any mathematicians in the room, you may 20% and some good news is it moved that% up because the total number of days was down last year. So we have less students struggling but we also had more conferences achieved with those families making sure we're supporting them. >> There is one other jump in make it more understandable. It's not 42 different students >> correct for each class. >> I think the last little note there is even there may not work out all the way. We make another small adjustment this year to constitute some of that 10% growth. About 2% of that is down to us from the conference data pool. Students that are currently hospitalized where other things are

064more pressing right now than a phone call about a math class and other students who have removed their schedule for a reason. That's a small pocket of kids, but those are classes where probably the family way. And so we trying to be practical about saying what 95% of need to achieve and making sure that we're reflecting conferences that are reasonable and meaningful to the family and the students. So that con is a big step toward the 95 that we're hoping to get to at 42 conference. This is a tremendous amount of work by our teachers and our staff and also a commitment from the families in our community. These are two conferences. We've been really firm about that. It's not If I email a parent and say, "Hi, I'm worried about your child." I have

065to have a phone call with that person. It needs to be a conversation. So, 42 conferences. There's a tremendous amount of work, but also a big trust as well. The next graph here is indication of what happens to this cohort of students from checkpoint one to checkpoint. We don't have a 3D printer, but Scott and I are working on a hand version of this graph. Uh the so the total grades here are the same cohort of students and the November 6th grade shows us where those grades change for that same group of students. And so we see the go down from September 25th to November 6 from 61 to 43 across the district. The number of go to 340 and then that 64 students that exited this cohort here on the left now have seen

066or higher in those classes as of last Thursday. So um you know we can't prove that it's a causal relationship. Uh but the data does show that there's a really strong correlation between uh the efforts of our staff to communicate the efforts of our parents and guardians to help support those students and ultimately what this reflects the efforts and the work of students to p they'll get that extra help. Um, in addition to our parent teacher conferences, there's just some other communication tools that I want to highlight here. One of those is not new. This is the bag report attendance and grades. Um, and we send this out every five weeks at checkpoint one and checkpoint two. And it's similar to a report card. It has their current grades on there. It also behavioral referrals

067attendance and uh and some scores down at the bottom of it. So that helps uh parents guardians get an upto-date uh snapshot of the whole picture of the student not just their academics but some of these other aspects as well. Um and it's it's a good communication tool for for us and for all students. So all students uh receive the bag report not just the students. Um next slide here is uh just a look at baseline data from our strategic goals here. Uh you see the longitudinal data the 22 23 school year 24 24 25 for each of those and then the bottom uh line is just what our goal was last school year. Um so for behavior we just kind of took a 10,000 foot view of the district students with a discipline referral

0682% of days and that's held steady. 93% of students have uh do not have a referral and 0 to 2% of school days attendance uh students with 9% or better attendance. So we see that again kind of holding steady right right around that 778%. And then the last one the percent students with all CS are better 65% last year. So just a slight uh slight dip from the the prior year but hold steady 22 23 school year. Uh this slide just kind of indicates proposed goals for this current for for next year. And so uh the blue numbers there are going to be the the major goals and then what we have underneath this some of the things that we're doing to support not a comprehensive list uh but for things like behavior just making

069sure we have clear and consistent expectations across uh across the same cell phone uh expectations for instance. Um on top of that, you know, we have uh PB that we do with staff throughout the year at the start of the year to just cultivate strong relationships with students so that their classrooms are spaces where they feel comfortable um you know being themselves, building positive relationships um looking for restorative practices. Things like, hey, if you find an opportunity where peer mediation might work better than some kind of formal discipline, we prefer that the students can work through those things and mediate those peers. Um, and partnerships with the regional office to just reduce our out of school suspension. Um, same with attendance, we've we have a couple different areas or ways that we tackle attendance. um

070monitoring, you know, our students every week that are missing consecutive days. Uh supportive checkins where we send that kid a pass, reach out if they've missed a couple days in a row, um to find out what's going on, support them better, make sure that they're feeling good return to those classes. And then some of our other uh additional resources well referral GPS using regional office of education BCBA to help support and then new addition is a platform called talking points which is allows staff to have two-way communication with parents and guardians uh via text messaging from their laptop. So um you know it's no one silver bullet. It's just kind of a patchwork of of many different efforts to make sure we're supporting students and making our build welcoming so that it's the kind of

071place get excited about. Uh and then the last one is the the grades goal. Uh strengthen our tier one practices. So things that all students can be sure that they're receiving the classroom and then also just making sure that we're putting kids into tier two and tier three supports. We're using data to support that and track their progress in those interventions. >> Last we were implementation of a new piece of our postsecary framework, our framework, where we did something that's not called for required by the state. We made some commitments last year about having all students guaranteed to experience certain things in our district. The language on the template framework is very soft to all students. And so we made some commitments to say all students are going to do certain things. We continue that

072work. We're excited about the steps we're taking with that. We're still your survey and your meetings where our students are going beyond and it's very delayed we're employing a national house to see about the attainment of our students after high school that does take time right now because we need to see those four college graduates we're talking about graduates the class of 2020 at this point that available to us now so it's helpful and interesting but really quick action changes based piece. On the next slide, there's just a quick picture of that. Again, that top row that says all students will those are just commitments that we're proud of where we're making sure we're deliberate action for every student to help support them with really effective career planning while students. The last piece to mention

073I think is just to say that we areend to be using It's a healthcare platform. There's several. It is the industry leader right now, particularly in this area. So last spring, Dr. Carer took us to the Chicago area schools user group in the spring. Uh delightful acronym SLUD for schools user group. So we're proud Chicago members. Um and so we're looking forward to continue to work with area partners in this regard. Um because it is the industry leader, it's much more easy to network with schools in the area and there's a lot of conversation RC talked about it in terms of internships and opportunities for workplace learning. Mr. Mock's helping us partnerships right now. Everyone kind of hot in the same trail, but the regional office is recognizing that as well. And so they're coordinating

074opportunities and by asking a customer to our own students and make sure that they take a senior survey. Do you take a freshman? >> You have a freshman. That's a good question. We have a freshman activity. tied to one of the tools in school. We don't have an answer to the exact same questions. Seniors in the fall are really concerned about making sure as we approach applications for colleges that we're locked into that they're applying to certain places that they're interested in athletics that they're interested in. Those are questions very different. Like that gentleman said he said you have these requirements otherwise forget any freshman that are so directed that they can say this is what I want to do. I mean do you learn that from the freshman survey? >> There are some a

075little bit. Yes. That is I think uh gentleman speaking accurate and yet that's a hard thing for a 14-year-old to have crystized in their we often see that students come from families where there is either a tradition of the military academy or specific special interest in one of those we try to make some of that special knowledge available for our students but sometimes it is so broad and so difficult that it's a place for us to continue to think about how we do that well for every student certainly if there's interest we're here to ser them and our postsecary counselors Mr. excellenc in a way that doesn't get too specific for students who aren't interested in something is a real challenge. Right? So we have to balance like how long you talk about a plumbing

076apprentichip for a fresh that's certainly not for me to the right information when they're interested is where we put a lot of our school relary testers within the military teacher conferences and both focus for teacher spoke to those parents really well classual with that 87% that we don't see that it's 100% of those students that have been contacted multiple times, text message, email, phone call, a lot of cases, home visit, hey, you know, we haven't heard from you guys in a while. So, there's a lot of care and effort that goes into that just need a little bit more support. It's not So 95% you have to have 95% participation but you can't do this yourself. Thanks very much. I just do want to say uh that 87% was a huge mostly teachers a lot

077of extra time but also Scott and Kyle and follow your earlier. >> Anybody else? Thanks very much. >> Okay, the next item on our agenda is the consent agenda. All items listed under the consent agenda are adopted by one motion board of education superintendent request. and voted upon separately. Consent agenda items are matters of matters that the board and superintendent agendified staff hiring substitute teachers hiring long-term substitute staff members, the position hirings, also volunteer positions, the positioning of student teachers, also under the consent agenda. approaching our retirement requests. Um, and also our resations, requests for extended years of absence and the approval of bills and payroll in the finance departments 1050 and also the freedom of information request which we had responded to. So any member of the superent motion that we approve the consent

078agenda as presented motion by Mr. Second by Dixon. We'll do a roll call beginning. >> Miss Carol >> Mr. Dix >> and you have props. >> Oh, I do. I have props, too. Uh the first thing though is just the approval of the levy for 2025. You heard the presinary numbers also last month. Um so just to reiterate the final levy ask for 2025 is 47,928,300 and also 14,000 for the IRF which is a separate resolution. So, um it is recommended to approve the 2025 tax levy um and adoption of a resolution of the six different resolution. >> With that recommendation, I would entertain a motion board approve the 2025 tax levy which includes the adoption of a resolution authorizing the levy of taxes for special education purposes for district 117. The adoption of the

079resolution authorizing the levy of taxes for special education district County for district 117. The adoption of the resolution authorizing the levy of taxes for leasing of educational facilities and computer technology purposes for district 117. The adoption of the resolution authorizing the levy of taxes for community. The adoption of the resolution authorizing taxes for working. The adoption of the resolution authorizing for district 11. Any questions, comments? No others. We'll do a roll call beginning with Miss Carol. Mr. >> Dix. >> Okay. On to number two in the business. This is the approval of the district office renovation project. This is something that we have been working on for a while. Different um designs that we came up with actually a lot of work not long. Not just our but this project so much with it. It's

080just been great. Um so we've gone through different phases of it and really it's different administration positions and we've outgrown the space. If you were to walk in it's kind of a You come in and you have our Gina right small desk really doesn't have an office. So we're looking just to be able to expand this area and have all of our staff along with um the student services uh PSP is on the other side. So she would be able to come over with us too which would then allow another space to open up for them to be able to use. So that will help the academy as well. So we had a preid meeting on October 15th and then we had a bid opening on the 30th of last month. You can see there

081that we had 11 different contractors sub. I think a lot of that is due to able to do this work starting spring break and then finish it in those two months. So a lot of contractors are looking for work. So we had 11 different bids or contractor submit bids. You might see or notice there that of course we always are looking at the lowest bidder. Um so we always take a look at okay what's usually our lowest so we can see what that looks like and then just check out the different numbers and then of course make sure of these companies because you can see that the base ranges anywhere from 2 to 475,000 almost. That's a big range. Um I will say the very first one that was read was that almost 475,000 and

082I thought well this project but then they got better. Um but you can see that the third contractor there that's listed that um that's way lower than you can see with other prices there. Um not only the base but the other alternate there's one two three and four and I'll get into that a little bit so that's a red flag right when you're seeing some of these way different prices so that's where we are making phone calls references talking to these contractors are you really understand information that was provided to you I mean just looking at alternate number four that is basically to a floor. I'll get more into that. But again, you can see that the company that had a basement of 28,000 that alternate number four, I'm not using the zero. It was

083really $800 in the next lowest price,000. So again, those are just some red flags that we call and talk to these contractors um and ask questions. So they ended up with their from the project. Then we move on to the next company which you can see is listed there. Um the very top one of 265,000 again um between just numbers and questions um and reference checks they also construction which we know them very well. They built house. They finished our cafeteria edition and so their base is $36,63. So to talk a little bit about those alternates, those would have been things that we would have deducted if we decided not to go with those with the different options there. So the first one um well let me talk a little bit about I did put

084the plan in there. open that up. You might not have really ever been in the district office where you go all the way back and there's like a little kitchenet back there. So, basically what we're doing is we're there is a storage uh room right now just to the east of the kitchenet area. We're going to take that storage all those files and everything and we're going to put it in the um room on the basically the northeast corner of the building. So, there's there's files um already being clean. So, we're going to move all of that into that room. But then you'll add some more space. That's where Chris will be going with HR. So there'll be some different adjustments and then actually have an office. So that's great. So but the um the

085alternate one then would be a purchase of a high density storage unit that we would put in that northeast room. storage, but we need something to be able to store everything that's in our current storage room. So, um we would like to purchase a high again that high density storage unit. Uh alternate to then is um we would basically upgrade our interior doors. So, we know now that our outside doors, which we improved last year, you use your swipe card to to get in. There's a camera system there. Um, but then you come in. I always joke with my colleagues that doors, but those two doors, those internal doors don't have any locking. So, we want to install new doors and a card system to be able to swipe. And then the third one is

086exterior door. So there is a door right now into the norththeast side of the building where it's a single door kind of back to come in too much. But that would just be replacing that door with a better door. Um again with the technology of the camera system. And then the last one, that number four alternate would be just providing more concrete um for support underneath of that high density storage unit because we did a core sample and there was basically a gap. So there was five in there and then more stone. So just to make sure it can large storage unit. It wouldn't be the whole room. Let's see. In this whole project, um there is a $42,000 contingency built in. I think it a lot of information. So very excited about this project.

087Again, we went through different lots of different designs. Um when we got our first numbers back from our architects, they were way higher. We said we did not feel comfortable moving ahead on that building. We wanted to go for students and staff. So, we're still happy with this design that it brings, the additional spaces for both staff. So, it is our recommendation to award the district office project number 3,663. With that recommendation, I would entertain a motion award project number 0721 construction amount of $36,63 students. They should be owned to be Township. So that we amended that public last year. >> So why don't we >> why are we building ours? They can use the building with students. >> We are stilling a building that is not fully You have to make today's environment. separate

088from >> Okay. So, where are we putting large closet like on the northeast corner of the building. So that closet is already there and there's like shelving on back there. But in order to take that along with what's in the current storage room, we're going to put this large unit in there and then have all of our So that's on the east side of the kitchen. >> Yes. There are some It's basically a walk through. If you go straight through, there's that door that we're replacing. There's like right before the door. There's a back there. And that's kind of what the left of that door will blow out. all the way back. So, we're just improving our building. office >> and really in the last year I I don't believe they come in like they

089used to like showers like he told us what >> I'm in Well, we're only reason why we had big They're not currently >> just as questions. I have more details >> and props. >> Carol, >> Mr. K. Okay, moving on. Sorry. Okay, so the next one is the approval of the turf and track renovation project. I have lots of notes here, so I guess props. I have I never knew that um we made a sample of so fancy um as far as sending this. So we can pass this around or I'll bring it around um but the different types of turf we have here. So um to begin with uh believe it or not it's 11 years since we installed the turf. We had I looked it up the dedication ceremony in spring of April

090of 2015. So had 11 seasons on it. So um here we are with I can't believe how fast it's gone but here we are with doing a renovation. So uh we are doing this purchase through a cooperative purchasing program. Um we researched three different companies which were turf systems turf and then Shaw sports turf and we looked at overall product safety of course. I do have to give a huge director and worklet director and different people around the different schools also. coaches about their opinions visits even about their preference. So big shout out to Mike and all the work that he did for this. Um let's start specifically with the turf. So, I did put a picture in rendering of the proposed track there. I think it's personally I think it's super sharp looking. Um,

091but overall to start with the turf, make sure I have my picture up here. To start with the turf, we looked at of course right now we have a two layer system. This would be going to a three layer system. So, um, again, I'll open this, but it's basically just adding another layer in which you have a pile height of of grass. Believe it or not, this is the same thing. That's this right here. Because you have, you know, all this sand and the rubber pelts and everything. Thank you. Um, and so this is what it would be at like when you add all those layers. So, it's actually um it'll go from a two layer system to three layer system 2 and 12 in tile height. So, a little bit longer than what we

092have for impact sports, but then we have girls and boys football. Um it it right now produces the highest safety scores in the industry when you're talking about safety of this product. It has a 10ear warranty. Uh additionally there's four lines that will be that will be embedded in the turf. Right now those four lines be football, soccer, field hockey and lacrosse. Right now we only have two of them. We don't have um field hockey and lacrosse but we have to now. So that reduces we will have this doesn't look like it but I promise it is alternating. It's better in the sunlight, but if you look on the uh the rendering that's provided, you'll see that it's a dark green and a light green that alternates down the field. So, it's two different colors.

093We will have one large logo and nothing else on it. You might recall down there that there's a logo in the center, but then there's like smaller aidines like different that you see here in the middle. the end. Currently, those uh letters are white. They're going to go to gray and outline. So, those are the differences with the turf. Now, the track um it is actually in great shape. We had our track come out. He'll actually do the installation. It's from track surfaces. Um he said it's in great shape, you know. typically that type of system they call it last 20 years. So he said we should it should last another 10 years probably but at the same time what we can do is scrape off a little bit and then add solution to it

094and then basically we'll also paint lines on it. where those IHS will be updated and then also you'll see gray exchange there. So um that is a difference from this field or excuse me this not only then um is this company and what is you see here in this picture the most fiscally responsible the lowest the different companies who definitely like the product Again, it's all about safety. But then we were also able to get a couple other ads um and still remain lower than the other two companies. So in addition, we're adding posting both. Um they have been a few times in the last year and say they're wobbling wobbling pretty good. So we'll replace those along with we will also replace the four jumps um for our and then I think that also

095is very very important when it comes to looking at not of course and safety uh but when we look at different fields and schools that have field There's two schools in our conference that have fields and that's Lake North High School. That's just I believe that um that field is along along with um and then also just recently was installed which I know our football team there worked with both inst. So that's I didn't know there was so much to learn about turf and track and so that's been interesting. I have tons of samples in my office if you would like to see any more of them. Um let me just check my notes make sure I have everything. Uh so it is recommended oh sorry start date start date will be the Tuesday after

096Memorial Day everybody's been informed of school because we still do have final exams right for a few days and then summer camp will not be held down there but everybody's okay with that we'll start it on weather should be done by the end of July So it is recommended to award the ACS t and project number 031622 to field turf North America in the amount of 1 million28,717.78. With that recommendation, I would entertain a motion to approve the awarding of the contract of the DCS track project in the amount of 128,7178 questions. I believe it was years initially. Yes. And the track was At least the gentleman that came said that kind of system usually install. questions comments. I I talked to you. We talked about 10 years. >> Yeah. I mean I mean if

097you look at you look painting. If you look at the labor that goes into the other and the other project this fin Originally I had put in the budget um two years ago 1.5 million um and then I believe I'd have to go back and look but I think when we met in spring I had just football as of now. That's not in the plan. Um I know that that definitely comes up but that is not in the plan. I know we're talking at least with Miss Bowen and the athletic director and I think it sounds like coaches like the grass as far as how they feel. But that's something definitely consideration and I also um have had to decide to decide to get maybe it wouldn't be the stadium field that would get it

098but are baseball field the field within the track over on the other side. So there's been some different conversations of what >> usually couple of cycles >> it is on project and so that is on the Other questions by Miss >> The next item is the approval disposal items. So we have basketball practice gear from the late boys basketball program um to be discarded. So approved it. >> Did you bring a prop? >> I don't know. It sounds like a description. They're pretty nasty. >> Motion board approve the disposal of the listed items as presented by questions. >> Yes. And the final thing is just the capital project update. We did have a payment for ventilation. So we saw that this month. Um and then we did finally start the baseball cage at Lakes yesterday.

099That should be done in a couple weeks or hopefully by the beginning or shortly after. And then we also have started disassembling and assembling the new furniture or new to us from the um Ryan and HS. So it's a little crazy in area, but it's getting there. So, it's a work in progress. Maybe not tomorrow, but we'll see how these big fancy power Last thing I just wanted to mention here, um I just put here that um because of again phase two of our roof work at Lakes, we will have summer school over here at this year. Everybody is aware entirely for about two and a half weeks just because we'll have very large um in the area. We just want to make sure everybody. So, we're planning to have the lake shut down until

100staff and athletic director question. It was 21 22 years 22 years. We open in 2004, right? This is the first time the rooftop unit. Yes. typical rooftop units to 25 years of the maintenance. But we had some of the rooftop units starting to wear down. And so we decided it was time to do that. And then instead of waiting longer to do the roof because you wait longer then you might have to do a complete roof. replacement. >> Thank you. >> Moving on. Govern Excellent. $100. I'm so hungry. Thank you. something like >> affect your I decided to stay. >> All right. >> A Christmas gift from Jeff a while back. At least I They're pretty cool. We will continue. So the first thing governing >> uh you can click on the calendar standard very

101similar to last year. We didn't make any major changes as far as models of Thanksgiving break or spring break or anything like that model calendar. Oh my god. I like >> No, just for the calendar. >> That's why the comfort Dr. Waller's up next. >> So yeah, last month I sgested proposal. So I hereby request the board approve the addition of AI foundation math and data science as recommendation. I would entertain a motion to approve the new course proposals for SY 2627 which Just had a second question. So just as we pull it Again, I like to think of the students that are here just so you guys are listening and learning. So, every fall we anticipate that Illinois school report from the previous year. So, right around Halloween is when we find out and

102so you know most of the board and our admin team and our teachers are aware of that everybody else in the community might not be. Thank you so much. But so what we received in late October, early November is our most recent uh Illinois school for both of our high schools as a district collectively. So, a lot of pride just stand a lot of and certainly being app there's a variety of competencies that I want to go ahead and show you all. I'm not going to spend a lot of time on but it's important to look at this slide so you can are the competencies that were measured on be able to demonstrate growth and improvement as well as attainment. And so you have ELA or English language art proficiency, math proficiency, science proficiency, um

103the graduation rate and then the E progress proficiency. The thinking behind the English learner progress is we know that they're not going to be meeting proficiency standards or standards. So how they're measured is based on how they do and then you look at the other 25% that's absent and we conference but that's one that I think we're all still working on diligently feedback survey and then a really variable everyone is nth graders on track to graduate. And why that's so important is um we know that students who come in either on track or if we can give them early interventions to make them more likely to get on track before they leave they have a higher likelihood of postsecary success and so that ners so when you look at our score in 2324 was 78.81

104and we went all the way up if you look at the top of the school in the middle to 88.99 and so just tremendous growth by as well as by it was at 90.22 went up to 92.48 and it should be noted for everyone that basically Illinois really I would say that these new standards are probably more accurate the spectrum of skills of high school students probably represent their growth and so they've done some refinement as we head into this year and that definitely also contributes to our growth. The last thing I just want to say is you know the the collective efforts of our students, our staff, our families, our school board, our leaders to really just see the growth in our students and the growth in both schools is is amazing. So kudos

105to everybody and I always add that I'm really proud to be a part of this district. We all know that we are grow. So last time I was You got right above that threshold. >> Yeah. So if you are in the top 10% of all schools are Did you say that the metrics changed? >> So the metrics for the state of Illinois have changed also. adding and adjusting to It's a tremendous subscri underperforming student groups. or below the all student group of the lowest performing school. So we excel we excel at that. when you're chasing that top 10. So that that when you chase that top 10% position >> the top position will not change >> you can't or not. So in other words, the entire state or the state or 25% just what >>

106basically the state of Illinois had metrics for qualifying for benchmarks that really were beyond what ACT and SAT felt were appropriate or accurate. So by that what I mean is you had students doing really really well but state metrics or standards they were deemed not ready. looking at our students and I can say even though I've only been here a short time because I know about the history of your students to know your students were going on postsecary and having success and so you literally have a student who was not posted on the data set and What Illinois did that a little bit more accurately represent what it means to be I just question. I think you're surprised. >> I can take it. Every year we report to the board our early graduate list and

107you'll see that we're very >> I requested the board approve the list of graduate >> with that recommendation. I would Motion approve of potential graduates by second question. field trip. We're seeking approval of high school as their model United would like to attend Chicago. With that recommendation to the following field trips to Chicago conference dates are February 5th, 2026 February 2026 Yes. Yes. Yes. She's gonna be worked up. I was ready to do this in front of people. >> I'll just turn around. This is just on the agenda. So in case I think we would agree that recommendations put forth by our last couple. All right, next item is board education tour. >> Yeah, I put this on here. I want to thank for your time and academy. Thank you for taking us around and

108a bunch of classes that I can start by saying that in the classes I went to I personally courageous personally saw collaborates these are students communications emotionally intelligent I didn't personally but I'm sure at least those I saw personally in all the classes I went to excluding I mean including the fitness class I thought that was great that the students have been immersed in this probably from day one. It wasn't it wasn't the instructor or the teacher telling them tell them about emotionally intelligent about this. You could see that their communication with us and with >> almost every I thought that was very interesting because only a different way of doing it. House of Representatives. >> Well, so much of what we do in real life is collaborating with people. You might not all the

109teachers that I saw in school. students from day one didn't understand as they went on a way jump in there and say, "I know we can do better, though." Our student ambassadors, our board ambassadors are going to come out and meet with you in the next couple weeks because you're going to take on one of these. You're going to collect feedback from yourself and your peers at those strategic planning, you're going to report out about how we're doing. I'm sure if you listen to us, we probably do a little better on X, Y, or Z. So, we want your feedback as well. In fact, we had some freshmen. I'm getting off topic here. Sorry. I'm always small. There was a class. >> No, I did not do that. my head. >> We're adding more coffee

110to hear from our student ambassador. So, Mike, you want to kick us off? >> Actually, for the benefit of us tonight. >> All right. As our fall season come to an end, our fall athletion except individual achievements overall produced 40 winners and girls and girls and state top NLC player of the year. Also we have state cross country qualifiers. Those include finished state boys cross country and crossbered to community. He works as a veteran service officer for the veteran assistant county. They branch of the milary veterans. The schoolwide recognition was made possible by collaboration. Powerful day. That was so elellield. Also, this is also AP. So, They also gave her really up to They also show whatever. They're always going to school for for the first week of December. >> All right, I'll turn it

111over to the guy at So for our updates. So last week marked the end of another successful. The final chapter was Saturday with Liners finishing in 43rd place. We also from 11 to 25. At the end of the day, we collected enough to save. theater department is getting ready for it production with auditions and cast of girls. We are so proud to report our members accomplished the 64 members contributed to our community and localized as scholars. It is one of the highest we from one of our strong literacy magazines are currently in the national journalism education conference. a great opportunity for the students to network with other students across the country and to learn best practices in the area of student. >> I would just add Uh if you're watching at home, all of my

112update email17 right there at that board members. comments. Anybody? >> Was it Somebody did something great. I don't know what >> that was. just so much students were amazing. I'm always in respectful time. I'm always so impressed. Every time there as permission first long time here and walk around. We were talking students that would walk up stand, thank you for your service. And by the time we left, he was so struck by this and even several of them including one She had planned and they left there and they just couldn't believe and I said you got to come to don't think it's just like one of these programs you see on stage and that's it and they said every student and they just kind of address. You know, everybody has an elected position that has

113a taxing responsibility. It's the complaints. We all do. We always have and and typically the complaints in most cases are justifiable. But from my perspective and my business, there are more people moving in moving out. So there's always going to be a flow out of the state and one of the reasons that they tax the tax and it's taxing every entity. But one of the key things on the high such an influx creates homes which then the assessor assesses them higher which creates higher taxes. So, it's this circle that can't get out of, but as long as we at district 117 do our very, very best to keep our levies where they're at, to keep our staff at the highest level possible, to keep our facilities in tiptop shape. We're doing our job that we

114do and sometimes it's difficult conversation to try to convince someone that certainly your taxes are highly understand because when you go to other places and I guess I don't know much about Florida license plates are unbelievably expensive. Insurance on the homes offsets what we pay on taxes here. So, you know, the other side always looks and I don't do by the same token because they benefit when they leave because they get the higher price when they leave. So, You know, we had those conversations with the public, try to temper them a little bit understand. That's our job. I would entertain a motion that enter into close session for the purpose of discussing the following exceptions to the open meetings act. A the appointment of specific employees individuals who serve as independent contractors recreational or educational

115specific volunteers by Legal council for the public including hearing testimony complaint against employee specific contractor recreational educational setting or volunteer body to determine it. However, a meeting to consider an increase in compensation to a specific public body that is subject to the local government wage increase may not be shall be open to the public and posted in the actary cases which falls under and we will after close session that motion by Mr. Second by roll call beginning Carol.