001We will call to order Prairie Hill Community School District number 133 regular board meeting at Willowbrook Middle School library today is March 18th, 2026 and it's 5:31 p.m. Mrs. Ollenbacher Here. >> Mrs. Shade Here. Mrs. Anderson Mr. Shuckman Mrs. Finnegan >> Yes. Mr. Keller Yep. And Mr. Lewis >> Yes. Yes. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Yeah. What do we hear? Yeah, but you haven't had it in a little while once. We all agree. We have no communication or audience of visitors today. So, moving on to consent agenda. I will entertain a motion to approve motion to approve the February regular meeting minutes, February committee meeting minutes, March bills totaling
002$137,700 $137,766.48, March payroll totaling $245,430.37 and the student activity funds. So moved. Second. Who had the move? Uh go ahead and Liz can take it. >> motion to approve. Table the whole thing. So moved. And two minutes. Second. Motion. Who's Who did the second? I did. Liz did the second. Appreciate that. That's some serious engagement right there, guys. I didn't do a roll call here. Mr. Lewis Yes. >> Mr. Keller Yep. Mrs. Finnegan Yes. Mr. Shuckman, Mrs. Anderson >> Yes. Mrs. Shade and Mrs. Ollenbacher Yes. Administrator reports. Mr. You want to go? I don't I don't have a whole lot. It's been 3 weeks. It's been kind of a fast 3 weeks. Um exciting. We did our last drill. We did our tornado drill last week. Kids did a great job. So, we have completed
003all of our drills. >> You were there on the day of the storm? >> I actually did. It was that Tuesday. Um weird weather obviously what we're having. Um kids did great. They were and teachers did a good job coaching the kids how to duck and cover out in hallways. And so, we are done with our five drills. So, great job. We also got the final completion results of the five essential survey. So, those of you that were on the board last year, part of our school report card is the completion rates. We got all the points last year. Prairie Hill should have all the points for this coming year, too, on the report card. Um just [snorts] finished up the last interview um 20 minutes ago. We did 13 interviews for our two open
004positions for next year at Prairie Hill. Um a fantastic pool of candidates. Um it's going to go We're going through the So, I I'd have like a We have a rubric process and a team result and it kind of it did We We will have two very good candidates to recommend to the board or I will in April. Um but I am going to have to make some phone calls to some really good candidates that we won't We'd not have a spot for them. Um I feel really strongly enough about the pool of candidates that I may even reach out to some of my counterparts if they're looking for people as well. Um so, hopefully if we're looking for people in the future, it's kind of one of those give and take with our with
005our with my colleagues, our colleagues. Um yeah. Fourth grade resource and a kindergarten. Michelle is retiring. So, So, this is not including the the No, that's a that's a Willowbrook. It's Willowbrook. Willowbrook. >> [clears throat] >> So, I look forward to recommending our those two candidates in April. I'll be reaching out either by the end of this week or right after spring break. Um IAR is only like five school days away. It arrives. So, we are in full swing in the building. That's kind of where we're at. We've got our schedules and coverages um have been created. I definitely need to shout out Kim Andrews. I'm sure Jackie would agree. Um Kim puts in a lot of work to make sure that the testing season runs well and smoothly and helps coordinate the staff. It's
006a big task. Um so, if you see her, thank her for all of her work. Also, Sarah uh Sarah Byrne with also helping with the coordinating of all the small group testing and um accommodations that students need so that they have the best chance to succeed. I really do feel like one of the you know, even when we we do take pride in our test scores, but I do think one of the reasons why this district or does so well is that our teachers are really organized, on top of things, and making sure every student has exactly what they need for their best opportunity to succeed. Um and then the teachers themselves, the third the third and fourth grade cuz that's where we take it at at PHS. They're They also helped create that. They're
007being flexible with their own daily schedules to accommodate them. For those of you who are unaware of the IAR, third grade and fourth grade each take five tests, two English, ELA, and three math. Um they're roughly 60 minutes to 90 minutes in length. So, it's a it's a long process. Um so, it kind of messes with our kind of building schedule that that you had that you had seen. So, these five days kind of the building schedules just put to side. And you know, our K2 teachers and students do bear some of the flexibility. Like we have to move some specials around for them and so, big shout out to our our team of teachers and I expect it to go well. Um This kind of I We We had talked about this about four
008or five months ago, but I said I would bring it to you at the March board meeting. Um we've started the new enrichment Friday. Um and I spoke with the teams and I've spoken with Amy Smith who does it on Friday. Um the reception has been exceptionally positive. Um I told them I promised I would tell them um what they'd asked for. The only complaint that the general education teachers had is they would actually think it would be most effective and even better if she could do two days a week instead of just the one. So, I said I That is not up to me, but it Amy's doing a really good job and it would be my recommendation because I Amy's only under the assumption that it's through the remainder of this year that
009we at least keep that point two for one day a week. Um so, we can continue the enrichment um uh the enrichment day, those groups to continue at least one day a week for the entire year next year. So, um Amy had some really good She really wants to own it and I I think we have a good person to keep keep that position. So, I wanted to report to the board that nothing but good. Okay. [clears throat] Okay. Okay. So, that is PHS in March. Any questions? Having issues remembering the timeline when did Amy Yeah, or how long you know. December. December. Yeah. So, she started second trimester. And one of the things that we noticed and we had to give her a couple of days and what we do at the elementary school,
010can't speak for the middle school, but our interventionists don't really pull kids the first two or three weeks of the year because they have to test everybody. So, Amy's looking forward to that opportunity to do almost like another type of assessment and then plan the units so that when we start doing interventions mid-September, she's more in line with what they need. Um so, there was a little bit of a delay in groups because she had to do that right before Christmas break. So, she's gone through a couple cycles. The groups are flexible. So, every five or six weeks when we when we meet, um it's based off of who is performing on those metrics that we use. Like so, some kids are in, some kids are out. We just We try to give the kids
011what they need. Has it been brought up to Amy, right? You're not naming right. >> Amy Smith. Yeah. Um Has it been brought up to [clears throat] her if she is potentially interested in two days a week? She brought it up, too. >> Amy's the one who brought it up. She She This was part of both They all agree. So, they they talk, they collaborate. Basically, what the the structure of it was is that since it's happening on Fridays, um they're doing enrichment projects and her what she's noticing would be nice is if And we kind of talked about it like Tuesday, Friday was if you did introduction of the project on a Tuesday and then the Friday is the check-in and the collaboration and development of the project so that they on the following
012Tuesday like turn it in and then repeat the process. So, it's almost like they are they're advocating for like a midpoint check of a project and more instruction based on what the kids need. That mean that is kind of how the intervention process works, so. Do you think before looking into this as an official consideration, you'd be able to see like some data of >> Sure. how well we're My data could be weird. It is going to be weird and I use the word clunky quite a bit in December. The the big impetus was where we lose points on IAR is with growth. Right. And our kids are performing really high proficiency, so when they go from really high proficiency to really high proficiency, the state says, "Well, actually they needed to be a little
013bit more proficient than the proficient that they're at." So, I'm going to look at our growth on IAR to see if some of our highest students um made growth this time around. So, that'll be my first indicator. >> And will we will see those kids individually like if those individual kids Mhm. Why not? Yeah. That's really That's really what I mean Kim and I are Kim Kim Kim loves data, but we'll look at that. We'll also look at the IA and not the IAR. We'll look at the IAR, but the I-Ready will give us more um immediate feedback. Um so, really my big goal is are we growing our most advanced learners at a pace that's better than what we have been doing. >> [clears throat] >> I don't know if I'll get that data
014solidly this year. That's why I mean, I'm not recommending going to a a two-day a week next year. I'm just I I would like to continue at least a day if you're okay to that. Eight. Um I don't know trying to remember what we talked about last time, but eighth graders have their course selection nights on and you got the end of February. Um so, one thing to just be aware of that we did is this year at math, we tried to do two advanced sections of eighth grade math, so we tried to kind of push some kids into that. And we normally only do one. It's only a quarter of our population. That's pretty standard for Roscoe and Roscoe, too. So, or Roscoe and Rockton as well. So, they might have eight sections of
015something and two of those sections would be advanced where here we have four sections of things one advanced. So, it's a quarter pretty much across the board in the nations. But we tried to do two cuz we felt like maybe the kids could handle it and then that would give them more options going into high school. Um but we found that that really isn't working and it's kind of showing some large gaps between some of the students in eighth grade and where they're at mathematically. So, after course selection night and students knew if they were either going into honors geometry or they knew that they were going into algebra again, we took those two classes and actually resorted them to be in a class that would meet the needs that they had to be ready
016for their high school course that they took. So, that way the kids who were going into honors geometry, they could stay with that like fast course pace algebra and the kids who were going to take algebra again their freshman year could go at a slower pace and really kind of hone in on what they weren't understanding about algebra to be better prepared for that next year. Um so, that's one switch that we've made um in eighth grade. Not typically something we do midyear cuz they usually stick minus a kid or here two here and there. Um but we have heard some positive feedback on parent from parents on that being like, "Thank god." Because I think some kids were having a hard time keeping up um just because it can be really quickly paced. Um
017so, that was one thing. Um we are with there was the DC trip. I don't talk a lot about that because to be transparent, it's not technically a school trip. Um but the kids who went had a great time. There was 44 of them gone on the Tuesday returning trip. So, it's almost like eighth grade skip day cuz we have about 80 some. They didn't deal with like some airline delays and they were fine. >> It's called stamina and They're fine. They're probably up till 1:00 a.m. Kids during the day will be like, "I was up till 1:00 last night. I was up till 2:00." What are you doing? Just playing video games. So, then they can do it, but anyway, there was a lot of kids who were absent, but they had a great
018time. Um we have popped into our third trimester as well. Um our last or third quarter elective is ending here right before spring break, so there's that switch into that final stretch. Um girls basketball has concluded. Our eighth grade team, our varsity team was in the championship game. They played against Rockford Christian. They only lost by two points. They did an amazing job kind of fighting and working all the way to the end. Um and they're actually our their most talented players, I will say, are seventh graders and they have a couple eighth graders who can definitely contribute, but um one of their seventh grade players who's kind of a go-to is also injured, so she can play. Um but they did a really great job fighting for that. The seventh grade of the varsity
019JV team, they did a lot of learning, right? And a lot of growth. Um and they had a really it was a hard season because they worked hard to be competitive with teams, but they really did have a great attitude and it was fun to watch the parents as well. For the most part, um really appreciate the small wins like even just getting a simple basket for somebody. So, they've both had one a game. >> [laughter] >> Yeah. But they were you could see even at the end of the game they'd be getting unfortunately maybe killed, let's just say nicely, and they'd still score it. So, maybe score a free throw or a basket, you would think that it was like the winning point of the year. I really walked in I thought the scoreboard
020was broken. It was it was but again, that's a lot of sixth graders. So, normally in other districts they fill most of their teams with seventh and eighth and sixth graders are just a couple here and there. So, some years we have that here at Prairie Hill where we get a lot. Um but those are some of my best teams where I would get to keep them sixth grade through seventh grade through eighth grade. By eighth grade, they're a totally different type of group. So, they have a lot of room to grow. Um boys volleyball tryouts have concluded. They were today and yesterday, so that's our first ever. Um they kept everybody because they had just enough to keep actually and make two teams. So, one team for JV and one team for varsity, which
021we weren't sure that we were going to get the um students to come out to make two, but that's cool because Roscoe, Rockton, and Harlem also all have two teams. So, they'll get to play both. So, something to just mention and kind of look out for as we probably head into April. We only originally asked for one coach and one stipend, but now that we have two teams, we'll likely have to relook at that because just like girls volleyball or boys basketball, next two teams and two coaches. So, we'll talk about that in April, but I just wanted to bring that up. Um Medieval Times was visited by sixth graders. I feel like somebody's staring at me. I I feel the same way. Um on last Friday, so they went there. They had a wonderful
022time as well. Um something to keep in mind tomorrow night is our Tony Barlo charity game that Mike Ryan started years and years and years ago. Um we the purpose of the night is to raise money for Defy Abuse Shelter. Um so, the students play the staff in volleyball and basketball. So, the varsity girls will play um in volleyball and then the varsity boys will play in basketball. Historically, there's always an injury adult that happens event. Well, can I have pictures? >> [laughter] >> We bring um people bring cans or perishable items to donate to the shelter and then also all the concession like money to get at the game is to go towards the shelter as well. So, um Mike Ryan was here in full spirit this morning doing announcements and going around and
023getting all the things, but Anna has really taken and done a wonderful job with the athletic director position. So, she she he has shared a lot of wealth with her, but she's taken it on well. So, they're kind of working as a team and I think it's something he likes doing and he'll continue doing for a while. Um that, so. And then um IAR for us is going to be April 7th, 8th, and 9th. So, that gives us about a week after spring break to kind of do we always call it kind of like a drilling kill essentially is what it is. They've had a week of spring break, so we just want to make sure that their brains are working and functioning. Um we do ISA testing as well, which is the science assessment
024for fifth and eighth grade and that's not until April 20th through April 23rd. Um so, just like Craig mentioned, the IAR test has three math and two ELA, um but the ISA has three tests that they will do um for both fifth and eighth grade. And then last um kind of sad news. Kim Hatfield who taught math here for a long time, she passed away last night from her battle with cancer. So, that's Willow Brook. I don't know when services are yet, but I will be sure to pass it >> [clears throat] >> Is this it? Yeah, just a couple things. Um we talked about a few things at the COW. Um [clears throat] I'm actually going to defer to Craig. Uh do you want to give just a quick playground update on who you've
025reached out to or Yeah. Um I have I on request I've gotten one more quote and they told me they were another company was going to give a quote today, but just preliminary you know, I would like to sit down and I just asked the company I got to find it again. Is it in the drive? I don't want to say the name of the company, right? So from American Parks, when I talked to them, they were based out of Florida. But this one's Texas, the person that I'm talking to. Regardless, the equipment they kind of gave me the the basics of the equipment like what I was looking for is obviously a main playground structure, some swings, but all the things. There's nothing specific. I'd like to get input from the pre-K team about
026specifics, but overall, the total cost of equipment was around between 20 and 22 and the installers was around 8 to 9, so it would be 30,000 with this quote out the door. Which was which is less than the one I was talking about in the fall, which was probably Yeah, I think so. And I think the other company when I talked to them, like I said, they I told them I was having a board meeting on the 18th. They're going to give me another one and stay about in that range as well. So it looks like a a decent pre-K playground with land around 30 instead of the 60 that was originally reported. And that's installed. I'll keep bringing that up. I'm trying. I am trying. The goal would be to um try to have
027something ordered if we if we are able to do this, something ordered by the end of April so that it's here in in in June. Would be nice to do a summer build in there. Really with a hopeful goal that the pre-K team does >> [clears throat] >> three summer events for their upcoming class and the one in August, they bring them here for supply drop-off separately and I would like for the pre-K to be introduced to that playground by the start of next school year. So just some things to talk about. With money. I'm still working with the PSA as far as their 503c. Is that I say it right, family? 503c? I said we do have the 5,000 from Pilot. They put us in a nice news release, right? And then I did
028have a business that reached out that was interested in donating maybe 15. So that would put us at 20. So basically I would be looking for about 10 from some combination of That's kind of what I'm looking for. District District District PSA. We're getting there. This is in it's an already Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, the area is pretty much ready to go. So it's just the equipment to install. And then is it do you think mulch or The mulch is already in there, so and and the whole playground of itself just maybe you want to know there the area under the trees closest to the fence in the parking lot the grass is now stopped growing there and like right now it is not ideal to play over there cuz it is all mud. There's no
029grass. So we're going to be purchasing and putting a lot more of that mulch in throughout the whole thing. After the install. After the install, yeah. So I think I'm going to mulch it all the way up to the fence all the way around. No mud. So as I get those or as Craig gets those, I'll put them in the folder and then we can discuss again at the COW. We should have at least two if not three meeting estimates by Hopefully the April COW. Well, April committees. So which which committee is it? Finance. Okay. And probably Ed, too. Okay. So I'll get those taken care of as Craig gets those taken care of. Just wanted to have him give you an update since he had more information. So thank you, Mr. Carter. Just want
030to reiterate registration fees. We'll start taking a look at those. We'll leave them the same for next year, but possibly upping them in the 2027-2028 school year. And I'll check out the different districts around us to see where they're at to kind of be a comparison and or take a look at what they're charging for versus what we're charging for. So we'll take a we'll continue looking at that. The tuition waiver actually during the COW, I received an email back from legal with some clarifying questions. So they're working on that. I would say we should have at least a preliminary by at least the April board meeting. And I let them know reiterated that we'd like to approve that in either April or May. So there were a couple of clarifying as far as like
031what with union involved and so on and so forth. So I just had to get back to them about that and then they're working on that and they'll give us some feedback. So I'll share that with you. And then the final thing is if you did or did not notice the 1% sales tax did not pass. It was like 60 some percent 30 some percent. And actually I was quite impressed that I think there were about 30,000 people that went out and voted on a March election. So that was impressive. Yeah. Oh. That's fantastic. So we will as a as a region, we will likely regroup and kind of take a look at that at what that looks like. I think one [clears throat] of the things that hurt us was towards the towards the
032end of everything or beginning of the election, I guess depending on how you want to look at it. There was a very strong showing from a realtor group in the area and a lot of the information they were giving was not true. So I think people didn't do the research that they should have and you know, again we tried to do we did a open meeting with the Native Nations in the area and we had one person show up. So you know, it's it's one of those things. So we will we'll regroup. We'll come conversate about it. I would imagine we'll likely try and get it back on in November board or November election, but I'm not going to speak to that until we kind of make a collective group and once we have that,
033then I'll obviously be able to The process to get it back on the ballot, does that require board approval from all the districts again? >> I don't think so. I think once the resolution is done, it's good. It's just a matter of Is there enough motivation to put it back on? Right. Yeah. I think we're I think I think as districts, we would be excited about receiving the money for the for the facilities. Um And obviously we don't take a stance one way or the other, but I guess I'd say it'd be in our best interest in my opinion to at least try again. But we'll see what we think is a better chance. If it's on in a more regular election. Could be. Yeah, I mean there'll be there'll be more people for sure.
034But or young people If it's like an older crowd that don't have kids in schools, they they They just see taxes. Yeah, exactly. And and and I can see in some polls that you know, we've we've talked about giving back to the communities as far as tax payments and whatnot. To be honest, the comments I read, a lot of the people just don't believe that's going to happen. >> Yeah. Maybe we have to have more of a finite um information giving, I guess. >> Or illustration that could show what this looks like. Yeah, but we we had we had flyers that we were posted on the website and we gave to the one parent who showed up. Um So those will be readily available. >> see how they let's ask how they voted. The one
035parent that showed up. It was Knick Knack, I think. So I can reach out and see if I can find out, but so a little disappointing in the sense that we're not going to have that extra money coming in for facilities, but as I said, we'll regroup and then we'll come back and I'll I'll give you an update when we figure And then and then probably a good time to mention that we're taking away the committee of the whole and we're going to start meeting as committees. Yeah, I was going to say that before we went into official committee reports, but just so I mean we talked about it at the COW, but so admin knows as well and anyone else that we had a healthy discussion about the you know, if the COW was
036the best format or if we liked what we would consider the previous style that was used. Only three of us had any experience with the prior. So um at this time we've decided to go back to committee meetings. So I believe finance finance building and finance as well as policy will meet when our normal COW meeting was. It was the Wednesdays at 5. Um And then education has to figure out their new time slot. We'll keep those as consistent as possible. We will give this other format with them in the committee specific meetings a try probably at least through July. Yeah, through July and then have one more discussion on which one and then everyone will have experienced both formats and then we can decide what really works best for our district. So Um that
037is our plan right now. Building and finance. Got any anything? I mean the COW was only one week ago. So I don't know that we have a lot to report, but The only question I had, it's not a report. When is the final drop dead due date for the audit to be formalized and signed off on? June 30th. Okay, that's all. Any progress? I haven't heard anything. Things are slow. Yeah, I'll touch base with her. It's been kind of a busy week, so She did send me the info for payroll. Okay. The number of employees. Yeah, and Lara Lara had sent me something the other day um that I hadn't had a chance to look at, but so she's on stuff, too. Yeah. Okay. Um Education transportation? Nothing. Did we decide Tuesday at 9:00 a.m.?
038That's what our first sub-committee Okay. Tuesday which Tuesday? Um Tuesday the 14th. Let me say. Yeah. April 14th? Yep. Yeah, for our first Cuz the other meetings are on the 15th, correct? Um well, that was when the COW was supposed to be, so I think people were just going to schedule it right around that window. Was the event Yes. I think that we asked plenty about it. We said Wednesdays. But Tuesday is originally better than Wednesday morning. Yeah, I mean, if I have nations and co-op meetings on Wednesday Wednesdays, um but Tuesday that that would work for me. Perfect. April 14th at 9:00 a.m. >> 9:00 a.m. Okay. Yeah. In order that Aldi? Any update? You updated us on the tuition waiver aspect of the law. Uh and then we had also looked at the
039section six review items. Uh I didn't know if you had any updates at this point, Lance. Otherwise, is it Not outside of what we discussed at the COW. Yeah. So, reasonable to check in again with Lance now. Yeah. With all the Well, Yeah. Maybe not. Perfect. We need to I need to get out of that mindset again. So, it's great It's a transition period. >> a good way to say it, even though we all do at the end of our year. Yeah, we often made fun of the COW. Really? So, good. That different coffee, right? Yeah. Okay. Um Miscellaneous FOIA requests. I do not believe we had any. Not on this agenda. All right. So, I will entertain a motion to enter executive session to discuss [snorts] appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of
040specific employees 2 C 1. Second. Mr. Schakmann? Mr. Lewis? Yes. Mr. Keller? [snorts] Yes. Ms. Finnegan? Yes. Mrs. Anderson? Yes. Mrs. Isham? Yes. Mrs. Allumbaugh? Yes.