001States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> That moves us on to roll call. >> Katie Casey >> Here. >> Joel Johnson >> Here. >> Natalie Melfeld >> Here. >> Joseph Quinn >> Here. >> Tom Schwartz >> Here. >> Mary Schufeldt >> Here. >> Allie Stansbury >> Here. >> We'll call it done. Moves us on to consent agenda. We need a motion to approve the consent agenda as submitted. Motion. >> Second. >> Johnson >> Yes. >> Melfeld >> Yes. >> Casey >> Yes. >> Stansbury >> Yes. >> Schufeldt >> Yes. >> Schwartz >> Yes. >> Quinn >> Yes. >> All right, consent agenda is passed, and that moves us on to item five, retiring staff. We have four new hire
002packets, and I'm moving to five, retiring staff recognition. >> Um Sorry. >> Uh okay, we'll get this started here. I know that we have some people here to say some words, so I think what we'll do is we'll start with Brad Ziegler. Uh Mr. Preeson, is it uh was he able to be here tonight? >> It looks like Mr. Ziegler Mr. Ziegler isn't here tonight. >> Katie Ziegler >> Okay, I think it's important that we read it anyway. So, let's do it. After more than three decades of dedicated SERVICE IT WAS WAGNER GOES TO IT'S NOT HERE ANYMORE. WELL, DON'T sit out. DON'T SIT OUT. >> I JUST CALLED YOUR NAME. >> YEAH, YOU KIND of kind of stand up next to Mr. Quinn. Oh, you uh Preeson wasn't able to be here tonight, Mr.
003Ziegler, he asked me to read this. So, let me start over for you. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. After more than three decades of dedicated service, Neversink Middle School celebrates the retirement of Mr. Brad Ziegler, who began his career at NMS during the 1993-94 school year. >> Wow. >> Think about where you were back then. >> Uh-huh. >> Throughout his time at NMS, Mr. Ziegler has made lasting impact as a math teacher, department chair, mentor of countless staff members, union leader, and coach of the eighth grade girls basketball team. The relationships that Mr. Ziegler built during his career have brought smiles and memorable moments to our school community. His leadership, commitment to students, and years of service have helped shape NMS, and leaves behind a legacy that will not be forgotten. We thank Mr. Ziegler
004for his 33 years of hard work and dedication, and wish him all the best of a Wisconsin retirement. >> Thank you so much for your service. >> THANK YOU. >> SO, WHAT'S THE FIRST THING YOU'LL DO? >> UH I DON'T KNOW. A lot of people keep asking me that. >> Yeah. >> to Hawaii in June, so >> Fantastic. >> it out after that. >> Yeah, enjoy Hawaii. >> Thank you. >> Okay, we're going to move on to Laura Meagher. >> So, if any of you know me, I do my best work on the fly. So, but this is Meagher. She's been um a Spring Grove for 31 years. Um she's been our resource, one of our resource teachers at Spring Grove. Um and one thing you don't know about her, um she has some of
005the best dad jokes. She'll come into the office and say, "I have a joke for you." And they're actually funny. But, no. So, she she does she has that great sense of humor. She's caring for the kids. She loves the kids. She's loved what she's done. She throws a a great summer bash party as well for the staff. She throws a great summer bash invitation. Staff goes they love it. She opens up her home for them. Very welcoming and we can do anything. We can go kayaking just enjoy out in the backyard for for her her home and stuff. So, she will be missed and we want to wish you the best of luck and the best of retirement it has to offer. >> CONGRATULATIONS. >> SO, DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANS? >> Kayaking for
006sure. >> There you go. >> And a whole lot of doing little projects that I always felt too guilty to do when I should be doing work. >> Oh, yeah. Good for you. Congratulations again. All right. This moves us on to Colleen Brown. >> Actually, if you don't mind, can we use the first name please? >> Yes, we can do that. >> Thank you. >> All right. All right, Julie Brown. >> First night's here tonight, but we did want to share that Mrs. Bradford has been over 10 years with the district. >> Your sheet? No, I'm just joking. >> I would say she started as a para and then moved into the classroom where she's been a first and third grade teacher. Um excited for her to enjoy her retirement. Her husband is also retiring
007this year with Henry as PE teacher and I know they're excited to spend time with their families, with their triplet adult children, and their new baby grandson as well. So, I know they're excited to travel, enjoy each other's company, and their families both in retirement. I know I don't get to do that with my family. My husband's going to retire 8 years before me. So, I'm jealous he gets to do that together. So, kudos to that and you know all the best IN YOUR RETIREMENT. >> AND THEN THAT DOES MOVE US ON TO COLLEEN BROWN. >> COLLEEN BROWN. I HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU BECAUSE I KNOW YOU want to say things to everybody out here. >> Okay. >> Um Colleen has been with RGS for 35 years. >> Wow. >> Um it's her 35th year.
008>> Yep. >> She has had such an amazing attitude. Having known her for just now a year, just over you know, a year and a half. Um I have told people I want your mentality my last year of education. Uh she's warm and caring. She's got a great sense of humor. Um she was playing pickleball with everybody after school. Um she is one that you'll find out on the boat with her friends and family. Um and I know she's looking forward to spending more time with all of us. Yes. So, I will leave that to you. I'm going to go UP TO YOU. >> GO AHEAD. >> ALL RIGHT. SO, AFTER TEACHING FOR 35 YEARS, I couldn't leave this place without saying anything. So, it's hard for me to put it into words what this
009journey has meant to me. In those years I've worked with eight principals, three associate principals, five superintendents. You're the last one. I've taught approximately 760 students and worked more than uh with more than 1,600 parents, including you and you. Um Through every change in leadership, every curriculum change, every educational trend, one thing remained constant for me, the relationships with the students and the staff. And what truly shapes the school has always been the character of the people who have walked through the doors each morning. That'd be all of you. People often say that in education, we are replaceable. And that's true cuz lots of people have been replaced. Um classrooms are going to continue next year without me. Uh another teacher will eventually sit at my desk. Oh, I don't have a desk anymore. Uh
010but my hope is that while we may be replaceable, we are unforgettable. So, you know, you're unforgettable when you are a teacher. Um I started with Brad. I hope the lessons we teach, not just academics, but kindness, resilience, responsibility, humor, that has been a big thing for me, and compassion, stay with our students long after they leave our classrooms. We're not miracle workers, we try to be. Cannot fix every hurt or solve every problem, but we've become one stable, caring chapter in a child's story, and sometimes that changes everything. And I've learned that over the years hearing stories from students that I just I don't realize until years later they're like, "You helped me through my parents' divorce or you helped me through this." I'm like, "I did?" Um Um Others I've learned years later
011not knowing how they impacted or my words or actions changed somebody's life. I just talked to somebody recently. Um So, Richmond Grade School has been my second family. Right, Mike? Um I have worked with more staff members and teammates that I can count, and every single person taught me something I carried forward. Some taught patience, some taught teamwork, others tried to teach me organization. Uh still working on that. Um some taught me how to laugh on difficult days, and some simply reminded me why this work matters. People often talk about how children have changed over the years. Maybe they have in some ways, but honestly I learned long ago that you never really know what a child walked through before they entered your classroom. We are so so lucky that we don't see a lot
012of in our district a lot of abuse or neglect. I've seen my share. But we do have students that have walked through our door with traumatic experiences. As as simple as moving, um I Some of our students have been through fire, some have lost a parent, uh a sibling, a pet, a classmate. Um So it's then that we become that stable caring chapter in the in the child's story. And I heard this today at my reception and it was so interesting. Uh a parent kind of said this to me today. I said um and It's just interesting that I that I'd been thinking about that. It says, "I found that most parents always wanted the same thing for their children to feel safe, valued, and loved." I have been fortunate to work with so many
013supportive families throughout my career and I'm grateful for the trust they placed in me with their children every year. I've had a handful of difficult parents. Not you or you. But for the most part they have been supportive and amazing. But behind every difficult parent was a parent that loved their child deeply and simply didn't know what else to do. Um So I was kind of told that today and I just uh feel blessed that she shared that with me and blessed that I've had so many amazing parents as well as students. And the children. I remember all 35 years of them. I may not recognize them today as middle schoolers, high schoolers, or adults, but I will always remember them as the the seven and eight-year-old little faces looking at me sitting in my
014classroom. Little details that I remembered years later like the one that loved to dance. The one that threw up on her desk on the first day of school. That happened, yeah. Um who their best friends were. Um the ones who were great at baseball or soccer. The one that needed a pedicure. Because the nail better on his fingers burned and he said, "I think I need a pedicure." Um or the student who wrote knock-knock jokes for me to read and made me say the word damn. Well, I read his joke out loud and he had a really good laugh out of that. I remember his name was Patrick. And then there were the hard ones. The ones who didn't make it past 7 years old. One that didn't make past nine. Uh one didn't make
015it out of his teenage years. And those really deeply impacted me and I and I still am in touch with those families today and they have made me a very special part of their lives. Got flowers from one of them today. Um a lot of these students are in their 40s, which means well, let's just say retirement is probably a good idea. Teaching has never been easy for any of us. Um it's not just been a career. It's been a juggling act of balancing school, family, and friends. It has been a part of who I am. It is who I am. It has been my soul. I would have had nothing without teaching. It's one of the few careers where you leave knowing there's always more you could have done. I've always asked what more
016I could have done on most days. Teaching taught me that the most important work is often the work that happens quietly. Without headlines, awards, or recognition. I did it because I loved it. I did it because my second teacher inspired me to do it. So, after 35 years, I leave knowing that none of us are replaceable, but I hope we are unforgettable in the small ways that matter. Teachers retire from the classroom, but not from influence. It's not about textbooks or curriculums or programs, it's about children. And I've been blessed to spend 35 years surrounded by them. Thank you for allowing me to spend 35 years doing work that mattered. I leave with gratitude, pride, and memories that I'll carry forever. And before you ask me, I'm going to sleep. >> Okay. >> I'm going
017to sleep. I'm going to read. I'm going to go on my boat, and I'm going to fish, and then maybe travel. Like, you know, with school starting. So. Thank you for letting ME DO THIS. >> SO, I REMEMBER MY SECOND GRADE TEACHER. I had moved up here from Texas that year, so it was pretty scary for me as someone with a southern drawl that nobody could understand back then. I had to really work at getting rid of it. She was amazing. And so, um thank you all of you for your years of service here. Um it's incredible the amount of time that you spent in this district, and yes, you've impacted a lot of children and parents. But then you've got a lot of younger teachers coming in, and hopefully they stick around for 35
018years, too, and you set the bar. So, thank you very much for all your service. >> So, I have public input, but I think that was it. Okay. That does move us on to section seven. Those that are here, you can remain here to go through the remainder of the meeting, or you are to leave, as well. So, uh we will move on into reports. And uh starting with Stop me if you have any questions on any reports as we go through them. But, 7.1, revenue expenditure report. 7.2, fund balance comparison report. 7.3, special education revenue expenditure report. 7.4, impact fees report. 7.5, impress report. 7.6, transportation report. That moves us on to 7.7, administrative reports, starting with the superintendent's report. >> Yeah, I'll pull it up here. Um I don't think I can top
019anything that we've heard tonight, but try I will. >> I'm not going to be close to my my uh My report was not as exciting, but it is important. And so, we'll do that. I wanted to give a a brief district financial update. Uh in June, I'll give a a review of kind of the state of the district from a curriculum standpoint, from a financial standpoint, all the things in between, like I do each year. Um but, I wanted to give you this. So, this goes through April 30th. And if you take a look at it, we're 83% um through the fiscal year. Uh our collections are at 57% of revenues. And if you take a look at our accounts, um going down, they're in good shape. Uh the torque fund at 99.79% is done.
020So, nothing else will come out of that fund. Uh some of the graphics you can kind of see, uh we should be not only where we're at, but have some left over at the end of this when we go through. Now, these are our unaudited um numbers. So, the audited numbers for April will come in in June. So, if you take a look at it, we're about 3.3% higher than we were last year if you look at a fund comparison and I do a macro level at it. We look at the overall total balance within funds. So, if we break it down at the April 2025, we're at 14.4 million. We're now at 14.9 million, which is a 3.3% increase in our revenues and our reserves and that's about $477,000 additional than where we were
021last year. Now, I always hate bringing those things up because something could happen in the next month or two that would be a significant expense. However, being through winter, being through the big season where you have the big expenses with boilers and piping and stuff like that, I'm pretty confident that we will stay on track with this and end the year stronger, even stronger than we did last year. Um So, I would be glad to take any questions that you might have on that. And like I said, we have started our annual audit where the deep audit goes into it and then you'll get the results of that early fall. But, I'll also be giving you numbers of our unaudited numbers at the end of June as well. >> I appreciate the new representation of
022these numbers too, kind of helping us understand where we're at during the year. Knowing what we still have left out to collect as we think of where we're at this year for expenditures, knowing we still have a good amount of revenues left. Is is Is that 3.3% pretty reflective of where we think we're heading towards the end of the year knowing what we still have outstanding? >> I I believe it's probably close. >> Yeah. So, the biggest thing is that you've got a whole bunch of tax revenue that's going to be coming in in May and June. >> Right. >> So, that should put push your work 57% up to almost 100%. >> Correct. >> Torte fund is pretty like Dr. Lynn said, they got paid in um uh September. With the IMRF Social Security
023fund, those workers will uh not will be paid through the middle of June. So, then you've got a couple of months of or a month and a half that they won't get paid. So, that's why that one's got a a little bit higher than the rest of them. >> Mhm. >> But, I believe in that we're pretty much where we were this time last year and we should be coming very close if not at or maybe another $100,000 to your fund balance. >> Okay. >> Um the one that really hasn't gotten straightened out that uh hasn't had a time to catch up with itself is transportation because we have a new transportation director and she's just learning how to do the reports. So, there was one month that didn't get into the the board minutes
024or the board meeting. So, that one you'll see it'll next month when Dr. Lynn does his reporting, it'll see like it's it's basically going to be a double hit. So, that one will will be um a significant change from from this month to next month. >> Okay. Yeah, overall though again, I think we run a very lean budget and I believe that we'll continue to do that. Uh we continue to reduce costs where we can, classrooms, staff, things like whatever we need to do and I think we'll be in in decent shape. >> Okay. Thank you. Any questions on this? Anything additional? >> I'm done. >> Okay. Great. That moves us on to Assistant Superintendent of curriculum and instruction. >> Good evening, everyone. Um right now we're identifying students for the accelerated in math accelerated
025math and ELA courses that we offer each year. We use our IXL data, our data which came in, which we're really happy about, and then teacher feedback. So right now we're gathering all the teacher feedback for students who have met at least one of the criteria. They have to meet two out of three to be placed into the courses. So we're in that process right now. We're in our I think our fifth year doing it, so we kind of have it down pretty well. The next item is the curricular experiences. So just a quick review of what the parents focus group round up looked like. We met We met four times with parent group with the parent focus group to get their feedback on standard based report cards and some of the bigger items that
026and one thing I already shared was that the parent feedback on on the current report card, they loved the written comments and having the grades posted, but the the too many too many different grading scales and inconsistency of mixing numbers and letter grades uh causes confusion for them. So that's the feedback we received on that. The other feedback that we received was the trimester, moving from a quarter to a trimester, and five of the parents thought it was agreed with the idea. Six of the parents thought the community would also have open be open to the idea as well and receptive to it. One person strongly disagreed that the community wouldn't like it very much at all. Um so that kind of comes down to uh the space of getting the grades to them. That's
027where the one person mindset kind of went saying we don't have the grades quickly enough and quarterly puts it to us trimesters at three weeks after and then again and again. So that kind of adds up for them. But for over overall majority folks felt that moving to trimesters is a fine idea. Um they liked the shift in conversation that they'd would able to have their children with the I can statements versus what's kind of in there now where they can ask the students versus they can ask them how you doing in school versus tell me what skill you're working on in in your English or your reading class fourth grade. So they can deepen that conversation with their kids. Where it kind of split but majority of parents that we that preference I should
028say for parents did go to the four proficiency scale versus a three proficiency scale. I know the last ones who kind of talked about what that looks like and we'll share it again next month. But the four proficiency scale they preferred that because it gave that space for exceeding or excellent. And so we talked about how we have to shift our mindset from a three on a three scale where it says meets is a really really really good exciting grade or mark to earn and get to because people see we want the folks to understand that that's the A, right? But people see exceeds as a that's going beyond what they're doing in the classroom. That's incredibly difficult for teachers to be able to have something beyond what they're teaching at that grade level standard.
029So that's the kind of conversation we had and we're still talking about it moving forward. Um So that that's kind of the round up from the parent group. Next step with the parent group is if the Board of Education agrees tonight to move to trimesters and even if you don't we're still going to have the parent focus groups for the pilot team. Uh grade levels grade K and grade two next year to get additional feedback after they get the report cards so they can consume it and understand it and we can talk about what that's with those parents. But we'll also have open education nights moving towards standard based report cards to help parents understand and we'll have both we'll start those in the winter and to spring for next year. So that's the next
030step with the parents. Moving to trimester for SGE RGS. If the board approves this tonight I did share a draft letter that we'd would to send out if the board approves it. If there's any changes or anything you want that, please let us know. We'll be happy to update those things. Uh the pilot teams are grades K and 2. I spoke to them over the past couple weeks to see how they're feeling. They're all feeling pretty good about moving into the uh being the pilot team. Uh grade K is a lot more comfortable because their grades are basically uh uh 1 2 3 now. So, it's not a huge difference for them, but it will add into the I can statements that they have to go through. And um Overall next steps uh have more
031district information sessions and get out the information for the frequently asked questions for parents, but also at the next month's meeting I'll get into more detail about the proficiency three scale and the proficiency four scale. It's kind of a lot. Yeah. >> Do you have any questions? More than happy to try to answer. >> Will you be meeting with the parents more? Is that what my understanding is? >> So, the K and kindergarten and second grade parents will have a focus group just for them to kind of get through the the updated report card and so they have a better understanding of it or solid one. And then with the overall district education parents, we'll probably have at least three or four meetings next year just on the education of what standard based report card
032means. Other questions? >> Just to be clear, elementary is staying to quarters. And then it's just K to 5 on trimesters. >> Correct. And that was a one of the questions the parents asked also and uh reason behind that is elementary school we're getting ready kids ready for middle school, middle to school we're getting kids ready for high school, high school we're getting ready for post whatever it's going to be. And so, they will be on they're still on quarters at high school they're going to continue to be on quarters. So, that's how it kind of works out there. Any questions? Thank you. Uh if I pass the NMS principal's report, so we'll move on to uh RGS principal's report. >> We got a busy month since we last met. Uh kicking it off with
033Earth Day, we had a local beekeeper educator national come out and share his gear, um some conservation facts with students. Uh they opted to honor Earth Day with a local beekeeper, which was exciting. Uh he also donated a couple bee homes, shelters, uh to go into our wildflower garden, which is outside of our library. Uh kudos to our PTO, they helped fund our petting zoo visit, which I think everybody enjoyed, the adults included. Uh it was nice to have them out front. Our lawn was perfectly manicured in a big circle, uh but everybody had a great time meeting all the animals. I'm sure a lot of us wanted to take them home. Uh band concert was on May 19th. It is always so exciting to hear the growth that happens and the amount of songs
034our students performed is just amazing. Um they performed about nine songs, students did the transitions in between, and the sound is incredible. And I hope majority of them stick with it as they move on to next year. Um fine arts tonight, we celebrated with Mr. Bratton and the whole specials team uh with the annual art show. The theme was the zoo, hence the petting zoo. It all worked in tandem together. Uh it was a wonderful evening, great turnout, um and then we also had young authors and a local author visit. Again, uh supported by our PTO. Um local author and illustrator Laura Smetana came out and she also met with our young authors, um folks that submitted their published works. Uh and had lunch with her, but also got to go to the classes, got
035to answer questions. Uh so there you see us and our girl at the end of our top winner um for young authors for this year. We also had the IPA Leadership Breakfast this year. We honored Joetta Guevara, who was a fifth grader, and Emma Romani. They were nominated based on their building leadership, but also because they were helping in the library as student leaders there as well. So we all celebrated together, and then of course we had Staff Appreciation Week. It really comes together with the help of everybody, our families, our staff, district, PTO, the office. It's It's an incredible week. So just thank you to everybody who helps make that special for everybody. We really appreciate it, especially this time of year. We all need that extra push to get to the finish line.
036And then of course we have our congratulations and bon voyage to our retirees. >> Thank you. Any questions? Okay. And though we did skip over NMS, for those that want to, Christian did upload his report, didn't he? He just couldn't join us. That moves us on to 775 SGE Principal's Report. >> Thank you. Just kind of a quick update that's not on here. Um last month I shared about the electronic sign going to the village vote for building the village of Spring Grove. It was approved. So that the architectural committee approved it, and then the next night the village approved it. I did attend both of those meetings. They had questions, so we're excited to get that going. We will have materials actually going to be starting delivered second week of So we are >>
037So it'll be installed before winter? >> It will be installed before the first day of school. That's That's the plan. All right. Okay. All right. Yeah, it better because Yeah, it it to be. All right. Um yeah, but we're really excited about it. Um they'll have a limestone brick base and stuff, so it's going to look really nice out there once it's all completed. Um uh curriculum-wise, um we had some great concerts. Um Mrs. Hartnett, she outdid herself this year. Um she uh put on one amazing performance with our our students uh fourth and fifth grade. Um it it was even quite long. Um she said it's going to be a little bit longer, uh and it was, but it it was phenomenal. Um and then Mr. Prior, he always does a great job with
038our band students, and um the kids loved him, and um just a lot of energy that came out of that. Then the following morning we had our grandparents special person's day, so we had back-to-back uh programs going on. Um Again, our K-3 did a wonderful job. Um it's always great seeing those grandparents there, um you know, enjoying the the school and seeing the kids, and um so again, we we just we really enjoy having all that uh happening at the school. Um so school celebrations, um Mrs. Lavar, she was uh nominated um for McHenry County Elementary School Teacher of the Year. Um so I went with her, um and her daughter was there, too. And uh she was one of few hundred uh in the county um that were nominated. Um so just a nice
039very nice uh meal, and we got to meet other educators. Um so it's just a a good way uh for us to to to honor those teachers that deserve and um go above and beyond um you know, the call of duty, and I think everyone agreed that she was um well and deserving of this uh award. And then um kind of like tonight you saw all the retirees who've been here for quite some years. Uh we celebrated um some of our staff. We had what do we have five, six staff members who have been at Springbrook five years, two been there for 10 years, four who have been there for 20 years, and then this is Lavar who has been there for 35 years. So, it just kind of shows the dedication that our staff
040have at the school and just all the great things that they do for all of our students. >> Great. Any questions? Okay. Thank you. That does move us on to 7.8 FOIL requests. Do we have any? >> No. >> Okay. Old business? >> None. >> Okay. That moves us on to new business. First up is 9.1, approve appointment of treasurer and treasurer's bond renewal. >> Annual requirement, so. >> Yeah, I'd like to move forward with it. My recommendation. >> So, we need a motion to approve the appointment of Denise Lewandowski as treasurer and treasurer's and for the treasurer's bond renewal. >> Motion. >> Second. >> You got more than one. >> I know, I think it's very exciting. >> This is unanimous. >> Schufeld? >> Yes. >> Casey? >> Yes. >> Johnson? >> Yes. >>
041Melfeld? >> Yes. >> Schwartz? >> Yes. >> Stansbury? >> Yes. >> Quinn? >> Yes. >> I was actually just going to ask if we should really want to know. >> Fair enough. >> Interviewers from now right. >> Yeah, from now on there will be an interview process every year of the appointment. Motion passes. 9.2 approve the change from quarterly grade reporting to trimester grade reporting. Need a motion to approve. >> I'll motion. >> Second. >> Schwartz No. Johnson >> Yes. >> Stansbury >> Yes. >> Casey >> Yes. >> Schufelt >> Yes. >> Melfeld >> Yes. >> Schwartz >> Yes. >> Quinn >> Yes. >> The passes. That moves us on to I three approve intergovernmental agreement with Richmond Township Public Works Department. >> Yes, so we have this with the the high school and starting
042with the Township's office is right next door to us. It's just the way that they they've helped us out with projects before, equipment we need, and this is just a a way to kind of make it official. It's kind of set some boundaries out. So, I fully support it and would recommend it. >> So, the other district was already in it. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Okay. >> 157 is. >> Okay. >> So, you motion to approve the intergovernmental agreement with Richmond Township Public Works Department. >> I'll motion. >> Second. >> Okay. >> You both motion and second. >> Melfeld >> Yes. >> Schwartz >> Yes. >> Stansbury >> Yes. >> Casey >> Yes. >> Johnson >> Yes. >> Schufelt >> Yes. >> Quinn >> Yes. The motion passes. I 94 discuss board policy 714. >>
043Yeah, so Mr. Creasy will take the lead on this and he'll be back next month. We'll make him no matter how ill he is, he'll be there. But, well I can go through a background on this. So, RB 157 is a read only this month. We want you to consider it, ask questions, those types of things. We have sent this to our district attorney for 157. It's also our district attorney for district two. But, it came out of at the high school anyways. Richmond-Burton was the last high school to implement this. We we haven't done it. Um and both times I've been over at the middle school with Mr. Creason in the last week. Uh he's watching the cameras because we have significant vaping going on in the bathroom. And as soon as he gets
044the kids that go in there that he knows are vaping, he by time he gets there, they don't have the vape on them, they don't have anything. Um and we're now getting a lot of complaints about students not wanting to go into the bathrooms. They're vaping THC. It's it's a growing problem at the middle school now as well. Not a lot of kids, but enough that the majority is being impacted by it. So, what this does is it uh the way schools do this, we would put vape detectors in our bathrooms. And I think most of our cameras are set up like this, but we would have cameras that would watch the entry and the exit of the bathroom. So, you see who goes in, who comes out. If the vape detector goes off, you
045have a pretty good idea of what student or students were vaping. >> Yeah. >> And then what since a lot of times they put it on their person, they hide it, what this allows them to do is either turn it over or call mom and dad and the schools use metal detectors. And if they want and they they get a hit, they can either turn it over, mom and dad can come in, they can turn it over to mom and dad, and and go from there. But it's it's a way to try to get that minority of students, that two or three that always go to this bathroom or go to that bathroom. Cuz the only other solution we have and we've tried it at the high school is to shut bathrooms down and and
046minimize which ones are open. And that's not really fair to the rest of 98% of the students that follow all the rules. So, it is a big request because you're wanting a student and and we have like I said I'll have our attorney get back to us on it. Uh but it is the same policy that other schools use. So, again it's out there. Um I'll take questions. Mr. Creason can probably be more in depth about it and you throughout the month we can have conversations, too. >> So, these wands are metal detectors. >> Metal detectors. >> Yeah. Not all vapes would show up. Not all No. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So, so you >> Sorry. Go ahead. >> Search and seizure, you go in, you metal detect, you find a vape, you find a
047knife, what happens in that regard? >> It So, it go it goes back to a Supreme Court case TLO versus New Jersey that if you are searching for something and you open the purse and there happens to be you're looking for a vape, but there's a knife, that's a legal search cuz it's in plain view of the search for the original object. And then we would use our policies that we have our board policies to deal with that as well. >> As if it was found without a wand. >> Right. >> Okay. >> Yeah. And if we wand and find something they're not supposed to have, then that would, you know, fall into our disciplinary code, too. >> Okay. >> So, under their reasonable grounds to suspect that's the vape alarm in the bathroom that's
048going on. >> Yeah, so I think they even fine-tune it a little bit more. For instance, he knows the five or six individuals. And when those individuals go into the bathroom, by the time he can get in there and you can smell whatever it is, the the the smoke, but you can't get them to turn anything over. So, it it's it's a It's a multi-pronged attack of it where you you know the history of the individuals. You have the vape detector. They're in the spot. The vape detector goes off. Then that would give you the probable cause you would need as an administrator to go to the next step. So it would all build on the information below. >> I know you sort of said it um you touched on it a bit about going
049to the attorney. So my big concern is the liability issue with the district cuz you did say it's a handful of students that are doing this. So my fear is parents would say like you're targeting my kid cuz this kid is getting blinded 100 times and none of the other kids are getting blinded or something. So that That issue does make me nervous. And the other thing too is because it's a vape issue and it's not necessarily a security issue. So if you have gangs and fighting and weapons and knives and all that, listen, we got to start blinding because of that. And this is a vaping issue which is more of like classroom management, school management. It's almost a different level than like a safety issue. That concerns me as far as liability. Also,
050so I'm wondering if if we talk to the attorney, can you bring those issues up as well and see what they kind of have to say about that? >> What was the first first >> Targeting. Like >> First >> If it's the same students constantly, you know, getting blinded and nobody else is like I would I could see a school metal detector that everyone walks through, right? >> Yeah. >> Then it's not really a targeting issue. But if you're saying it's two kids and we're wanting these two kids constantly, is that now going to be an issue? >> So it won't be a I'll get the attorney's feedback for you, but it won't It shouldn't be an issue in the sense that it's like in in a law enforcement incident, you have to have cause.
051You know, they have a higher level, but we have to have cause before we can do it. >> to have a very clearly spelled out probable cause >> Yeah. >> policy. >> It's a very I mean it it we do searches all the time as administrators on on students' person or um their belongings. And the targeting I There's an argument to be made, "Hey, you're targeting my student. And I would say, how come your student's always in the bathroom when the vape detector goes off? You know, I mean, there's a there's you start to put, you know, one and one together and that's a that's a valid argument that we'll have to look into. The other is the safety. I would say it is a safety issue and here's why. The individuals doing it and
052I I just happened to be in there the two days when they were having the issues at the middle school. It's a a It was a core group of su- certain individuals that then go into the bathroom and kind of make it a hostile environment for a kid who just walks out of class because now they're out of camera sight, they're out of view and they walk in and and the student's using a a vape with, you know, THC in it, which is an illegal drug. So, we'll certainly check into it. Now, how far a search can go is is very spelled out, too. Uh the law is is pretty lenient with schools. Schools stop way before the law tells them they have to stop because we don't want to even put ourselves in a
053gray area. And that's why a parent would need to be present and we would not be taking anything forcibly from a student. Um there's an assumption of guilt in some ways with this policy that I've seen that the vape detector went off, there's just you and three other people, we wanted everybody else, yours is going off. So, there's there's a uh uh uh a nexus there to okay, we're just going to assume you have it on us, you're not going to give us what you have, we're going to send you home. So, there are issues, though. It's not going to be smooth. >> issues in classrooms where students will say they saw someone else with it. So, now you're going by kids' words, too, or what the policy state? Just the teacher has to see
054it or is it another >> We It is Yeah, in any of the investigations that I was part of as a principal, we student statements um most of the time, uh, again, you weigh your your student. How many times have they come in and give this information? Have they been reliable? Is this something you've never seen and they came in? >> Right. >> And then from there, you could kind of kind of build. Generally, if you have a student who vapes in the back of the classroom or on a bus, >> Right. >> the student who comes and tells you about it is one of maybe 10 who know what's going on. And as we when you get a student in a small group or just by themselves, they'll generally tell you. And that's enough,
055though. That would be enough without the teachers having seen it or smelled it to say, "Yeah, we're going to take it to the step." I don't think it will be as aggressive Well, I know it won't be as aggressive as it may sound. >> Okay. >> Um, it's very targeted. Um, >> Can I ask one more question? >> Yeah. >> The letter in here says that it's for D 157 and D2. >> Yeah. >> And I know it's an issue at the middle school, but when both my kids went through elementary, there was vaping there as well. So, are >> Yeah. >> we going to be winding up at the elementary, also? >> Well, so, we have had in fifth grade, we have had some incidences of it. They're so easy to get to. They
056take a brother's, they take a sister's. If we pass it as a district policy, it would really be you know, like so, the law is basically with a a search, you go to the age of the student and and to to the significance of the action. So, a kid is vaping and if you smell the THC, the nexus then could be we're going to call mom and dad. They're going to come in and you have a you have a meeting with it. >> I would almost argue that the younger, smaller, lighter child taking in THC is at far more risk than the older ones with like medical >> Correct. >> or whatever other chemicals might be in there. >> But but the the the guidelines are again, to take certain things you have to take
057in before you do a search. >> Yeah. >> You have to take into consideration the child's age. And you know, the where they're at in life, what the crime or the violation was. Um, but you're right. I would agree. It's a It's It's a very serious issue. And And we've had them a couple times where a younger kid brother gets or, you know, a hold of an older brother's vape and brings it. For the most part, fifth graders will turn it over pretty quick. >> Yeah. >> And you call mom and dad and then you you handle it that way. >> So, why not just if it's on their person, right? >> Yep. >> And have there been instances where kids have been asked to turn out their pockets? >> Yeah, we've had kids wear
058two pairs of pants. >> Okay. Wow. >> Yeah. They'll wear shorts and two pairs >> it in their pockets. They're hiding it. >> Two pairs of pants just to hide a vape. Yeah, but they You're right. We do have them We always do that. We give them every opportunity to do that. >> It's just another opportunity for them to put it in a different location, in the bathroom, that it's not on their person. >> And they can be, right. They could. And that'll That'll be all. Things So, if a vape detector goes off, then only will you have to deal with the individual that you believe is guilty of it, but you'll have to search a bathroom, garbage, all that stuff. >> Yeah. >> Stealing vapes. >> Yeah. You're not wrong. >> Well, in in
059the policy, it mentions trained school personnel, is it clear who those >> Yeah, it could only be the administration. >> Okay. >> Yeah. They would be trained in the the rules and where the threshold is for a search, how far it can go, the age of the person. >> In a middle school, who's considered the administration there in those regards? >> Just principals. >> It's the principal. It would be anybody that's hired in a certified position that would require administrative certification, cuz they would have the training. >> Yeah. Okay. >> But it's new, so that's why I wanted to let's take a month and reflect on it. And And again, I'm going to get the information from our attorney to make sure everything I'll get some answers to your questions and get a hold of
060me or Brandon and in the next month we'll come back and we'll ask for action on it on this policy. >> One last thing, is it an amendment to the existing board policy or is this just additional information? >> this is really an administrative >> Uh >> an AP, which would be an administrative procedure. So, you have your policy 7140, which would allow for this type of action under that policy. This would be the setting out the administrative procedures. >> Yeah. >> What can be done, how it can be done, and to what extent. >> I can't get over the wearing two pairs of pants just to >> Yeah, all right. You really got to want to vape if you wear two pairs to school. >> Any other questions on this board policy? >> Are
061there any Excuse me, are there any other policies, procedures that we will have to update if this goes through? >> I don't believe so, but I'm going to I'll follow up with our attorney on that. >> All right, is there any requirement that we would have to follow up with our local police departments and >> So, no. Um we work So, our at 1:57 the school resource officer also is kind of the school comes down and works at the middle school or when they need it. Um and the laws in Illinois are pretty clear now. They don't get the police stay completely separate from school issues unless it clearly turns criminal. So, the police are not going to come in and do any of it. >> Well, wouldn't a vape of a minor be a
062criminal charge? >> With THC? >> Even if it's >> So, so if if you find the THC, then that can become a criminal >> issue. And and depending on the laws of the laws have gotten very clear on okay, even you know, that THC is a is a crime, but when can the police be involved and write a ticket? When can they do that? Uh there's Illinois' passed some laws recently that have really limited police's police officers' ability to act within schools. So, well, that's something that we'll have to go through. >> Well, in many regards, too, I don't know. I don't purchase it. You can go and just buy a THC vape with the same vein as >> Yeah. >> you just buy cigarettes now. >> Yeah. It's a matter >> in the day,
063if you got caught with cigarettes, the cigarettes just got confiscated. >> Right. It's a new day, that's for sure. It's it's much more common, you know. Yeah, it's not unusual anymore. >> Okay. >> Good questions. Any others? Okay. Discuss that more next month. Uh 9.5, first reading of the press policy update 121. >> If you go through and you see anything that stands out or anything, just let us know. >> We'll just go for approval next month. >> Yes. >> Okay. That's why we just read this. >> What's that? >> That's why we just read it. >> That's >> Oh, I know. I know. >> Yeah, it's a lot. >> It is a lot. Okay, that moves us on to committee updates, starting with buildings and grounds. >> All right. So, uh buildings and grounds
064committee met yesterday. Uh quick update on the HLS amendments for the potential bonding. It's still We're still waiting for ISBE's response. >> I did get word today uh from Allison that things are for the most part, everything's going through. >> Huh. >> It's not official yet, but she see any issues as of today with them coming back with anything else. >> Excellent. So, excellent news there. >> Yeah. >> So, once we, you know, once we get that back, that'll determine our next steps. We talked about the potential uh committee of the whole. >> Mhm. >> So, we'll be able to bring more information then. Um we did continue discussions about uh just cost-effective solutions for our aging buildings and these needed repairs. So, beyond the uh the bonding, we're, you know, we're looking at uh
065you know, just all the the possible options to address these things. Um annual HLS inspections updates. In February, SGE and RGS, they had uh gone through their annual walkthroughs with the um McHenry County ROE. Uh NMS was delayed. I think their uh walkthrough was May 13th. Um so, Chris uh provided the reports for that, and uh minimal findings, your typical uh you know, an additional emergency light needed, things like that. Very minimal cost items. Um something that uh that Mr. Link did highlight, and and we appreciate, is the number of violations have been reduced over the last um few years. So, from multiple pages down to um you know, a few line items. So, appreciate all the progress there. Uh let's see. Mr. Link also uh reported on uh reactive maintenance at the middle school.
066Uh water supply lines. So, we're So, we're starting to see issues with our galvanized domestic water supply lines and uh and failure with corrosion and leaks. So, Chris is we're working with um plumbers and and taking care of those things, but just uh another thing to highlight those aging buildings and necessary repairs. Uh and then we also discussed the intergovernmental agreement, which which is which is great. You know, the uh ability to share resources between uh two government units. I think everybody benefits and um uh appreciate putting that together as well. Any any questions from buildings and grounds? No. >> When you talk about sharing services, is that the intergovernmental agreement? >> So So that is the um um the the approval we just did tonight. So the Richmond Burton and the high school district
067had been doing um previously but but to also have to be able to work with the public works from uh Richmond Township. So they've got you know, lots of resources and equipment that we don't have that you know, is handy and and labor to be able to operate those things that we wouldn't need all the time. You know, for example, like uh a bucket truck or a chipper truck. Things like that would you know, would be uh you know, expensive to hire that out. To have those guys and you know, be close to be able to do things that are really you know, be cost effective. Other questions? Thank you. >> Thank you. Moves us on to 962 curriculum committee update. I think we covered most of it so far, but we'll do a quick
068recap of what we went over today. Um we talked about the parent focus groups, the analysis that came from that. Um thank you, Dr. Enright and administration for all those groups uh of people that you brought together, both teachers and parents to go through all this Um not just in regards to the trimesters that were approved tonight but then also in the report card updates that we're trying to implement here. I think next month you'll see you'll get information in regards to the proficiency ratings and likely heading into at least one through three for the K through two pilot and then considering one through four maybe beyond the pilot but you'll get some more information over the next month that'll be presented next month for for approval when it comes to proficiency ratings. Um talked
069about potentially what our board goals that are out there but it's actually a good question or transition here just regards to our overall board goals, right? As we're updating the ones for the curriculum committee, I know that we had talked in months past about potentially getting together having board goal training and reviewing board goals and so I don't know if there's been any update. >> So getting together with a trainer right now from the ISBE is going to take a little bit of time. >> Yes. >> So we we can meet though at any time and go through board goals and and adjust them as needed. And so if if that one you wants to be a June or a July thing or even an August if that's cuz I know everybody's got different schedules.
070You let me know like the best month and and I'll make it work. >> I think the last time we went through this was two years ago in and around the August October time frame. >> Yeah. >> So I'm thinking if we can look at something like that for us to get together and maybe in a couple of meetings one we review the current board goal structure as it is, think about revisions and then we come back for a second one to narrow down the revisions and then from there maybe I know that all of our committees just met. Um but maybe we we almost entertain this as like almost we're here as a board group, but then our committees have their goals that they're bringing to this that they're maybe potentially looking for revisions
071at the same time if that makes sense. Official. >> Yeah. >> And it will allow us to put in updates into life safety, too. More of a strategic plan going forward. >> Right. So, So, we will just send out some dates for August or September for us to continue our goals. Um So, on that same vein, identifying, you know, the board goals as we have established right now for the curriculum committee, what have we accomplished? Um what's still out there and pending? Um we have made great strides over the past 5 years, but now what does the next 5 years look like? And I think that's going to be part of the of our ongoing conversations. Uh talked about the accelerating programs and how that is certainly a board goal that's still in process. Yeah,
072am I missing anything? >> No, that's pretty much it. >> Okay. Any questions for the curriculum committee? >> Great. >> That moves us on to closed session. Anything for closed session? >> Yes. >> You do? Okay. >> All right. >> So, we need a motion to enter into closed session to consider information pertaining to the appointment, employment, dismissal, performance, discipline, and compensation of employees of the district. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Belfield. >> Yes. >> Quinn. >> Aye, yes. >> Casey. >> Yes. >> Johnson. >> Yes. >> Schwartz. >> Yes. >> Schufeldt. >> Yes. >> Stansbury. >> Yes. >> I'd give him one. >> Thank you. >> Yes.