Batavia Public School District 101 Board of Education Meeting February 17, 2026

001Gilbert >> present. >> Arandu >> here. >> Present. >> All right. We will now do the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance 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. [clears throat] >> Right. Tom, are there any items to add or remove from the agenda? >> Uh, just one item. We had a request if we could make sure we clarified that under the board discussion there'll be a discussion about the board ambassador student student ambassador program. However, there's also uh the desire to have a conversation about those student a student board ambassador program where student board members are sitting at the table and kind of being part of discussions and process. I think I've captured

002that. But it's a full-blown conversation for the board. It's the board's program. So all any and all can be discussed during that time. >> Okay. Thank you, sir. All right. Celebrating successes. We would like to welcome Madison Shank, a fourth grader at Grace McWain Elementary School. And in joining her is Jeff Modaf, the principal at Grace McWain. Madison single-handedly proposed the idea of installing a buddy bench on the playground at Grace McWain. She then developed and executed a fundraiser raising over $1,200 for the purchase and installation of the bench. Congratulations, Madison. Please tell us. [applause] So, uh, good evening. I'm going to speak quite quickly because I don't want to, um, get in the way of her speech. She's got something, uh, grand planned for you guys tonight. But, uh, thank you for giving her

003an opportunity to celebrate with you. We're very proud of her um as a community at Grace McQueen. And um like I said, I'm going to step aside and let her share the details. >> Thank you for inviting me this evening. My name is Madison Shink and I am a fourth grader at Grace McGuin Elementary School. I would like to share with you a project that is very close to my heart. I got this idea when I was at school for summer camp. I saw a bright blue bench with a carved sign on the back that said buddy bench. If you are not familiar with a buddy bench, a buddy bench is a special bench where someone can go to if they're feeling lonely or have no one to play with. Sometimes I have felt lonely

004or have no one to play with. And I know for a fact that other students at Grace McGuain Elementary School have felt the same way. Currently, if students are feeling this way, they have no nowhere to go. I thought that that if we get a buddy bench, they would have a special place to go. I believe that this would be a great way to let other students know that some someone is lonely or feeling in need of a friend. I talked to my mom about this idea. We brainstorm possible problems so we could come up with possible solutions. I did not want kids to be embarrassed or afraid to go to the buddy bench. Everyone needs a buddy sometimes, and the buddy bench is meant to help people and let them know they are never

005alone. It's not embarrassing to need a friend. I talked to my teacher, Mrs. Riggs, and our school social worker, Mrs. Aosta, about my idea. They loved it. Mrs. Acasta suggested I email my idea to Miss Mr. Modaf. I emailed him my proposal. He said he liked my idea. Next, we needed to think of ways to raise money to buy it. I did some more brainstorming with my mom and we came up with an idea where parents agreed to donate items that I thought were popular. I would then sell raffle tickets for these items. Mr. Mardaf gave me approval to sell raffle tickets at at our school's winter wonderland festival. I decided to set up a table and sell tickets for $1 each. Mr. Modaf sent us to a link to benches that were school approved

006and could not be stolen. I picked out one the one I liked best. The bench would cost $1,166. I started to work right away. I found supplies on Amazon, a cash box, a ticket box, and raffle tickets and made signs that night explaining what I was selling the tickets for. The night before Winter Wonderland, I was nervous that we wouldn't raise enough money and I wasn't sure what we would do. But people were so wonderful. They the donations and raffle tickets sales started right away. Everyone was saying they really liked my idea. In the end, my dad added up all the money that was given and and it was $1,344. I was so happy. I got um to go on the school announcements and say how much we raised and thank everyone for being so

007generous. I also got to announce the raffle winners for our prizes. Because we raised enough money, I wanted to see if we could do something extra to make the bunny badge even more special. My mom found a local business that would engrave a stone with a kindness quote. I chose for it to say, "Everyone needs a buddy. Sometimes you are never alone." I want to say thank you to Mr. Maf, Mrs. Mrs. Acasta, Mrs. Riggs, Mrs. Greece, and all the adults who encouraged me and donated to this project. I want to thank my family for all the support and love they have given me, too. I am looking forward to seeing the buddy bench out on the playground this spring. I hope that people make new friends and it will encourage kindness. Thank you again

008for your time. [applause] >> [applause] >> You know the routine by now >> and by now. >> You're not crying. >> [laughter] >> appropriate not to [clears throat] [laughter] already done. Thank you. >> [applause] >> Great job. >> Great speech. >> The support. [laughter] should do great. >> Wonderful. >> Thank you. >> All right. Sorry to anyone that has to follow that up. [laughter] >> Holly, do we have anyone wishing to address the board? >> Yes, we have uh a total of eight people this evening. >> Okay, >> starting with person number one. I will read this first, so you'll have to suffer through this. Welcome to the meeting of the board of education. If anyone wishes to address the board this evening, please see our recording secretary to submit a form for addressing the

009board. Please put your full name and address on the form. In general, the board will not answer questions or engage in dialogue during the public comment. This does not mean we do not take your concerns or comments seriously. The board values active community participation in the district's endeavors, encourages people to engage with the district using appropriate channels and systems designed with your input in mind. Board members are not involved in the day-to-day operations of the district and cannot engage in district business individually. If you have specific questions or would like to further engage with the district, you may submit your questions using the link on the website and the appropriate staff person will communicate with you. All right, first person is tribute >> is Marissa Hunt. [applause] Marissa, I'd also like to mention to you

010that there'll be a threeminut timer that will start as soon as you're ready and that will apply to all the people. Okay. Um, dear board members and Betavia families, my name is Marissa Hunt and I'm currently an eighth grader at Rotolo. I'm here to talk about something that not only affects me and all of you, but the entirety of our community. Bavia sports are one of the most loved things about Betavia. From the IHSA cross country regional teams, our basketball championships to smaller groups like the all league tennis. Well, as students and fans of Betavia sports, we want to add another sport that will get everyone talking. Betavia girls five football. I was lucky enough to be part of the original club in early January of 2025 and get it started during the summer of

011sixth grade. Me and Tori, who I'm also here with tonight, met with our head athletic dire director, Mr. Lester, to get it started. Girls flag football is projected to be one of the biggest sports following the 2026 season into 2027. It not only gives girls the chance to grow in athletic ability and versatility, it also gives them opportunities that they might not have had the chance to get otherwise. One of the first things I loved to do with my dad was sit down on Sundays and watch Bill's games. And it became a tradition every week. When we couldn't watch the game, we'd go out to restaurants or listen to it on the radio. As I got older, I started asking questions and really getting to know the sport. I was lucky enough to do that

012so early and put in place those memories, but some girls weren't as lucky. I've heard so many stories about how after the girls flag football club at Routollo, so many girls have now been able to connect with their dads and even brothers in a way they couldn't have before. Now, many of our girls are playing outside of Betavia Sports, learning how to be better athletes, teammates, and playmakers. We are growing with new and amazing play players from all over, but we would much rather be playing with our friends and family. I've had so many of my friends hear me talk about how much I love the sport and how much I've grown and ask me if they can play with me. And I wish I could give them the answer that not only they want,

013but we want as well. Currently, me, Men, and Tori are playing in a league called G7, and we're playing national tournaments. This weekend, a select group is heading to Florida to play in eight a tournament where eight countries will be um going to with over a thousand teams and over 10,000 athletes with one championship broadcasting across ESPN across national networks. Yes, these are rough statistics, but it still proves how dedicated and important this sport is to the girls in our community. Thank you so much for letting me speak here today. And I just want you to know that this sport means so much to not only me but everyone else in this community. [applause] >> Next we have Men Selvic. [applause] >> Good evening. My name is Men Selvic. I currently attend RTO Middle School

014and I will be a freshman at the high school next year. I got the opportunity to play for the girls flag football club in the fall and it was an experience I won't forget. Girls of different ages and skill levels came together to find their love for the game and build their knowledge for football. So many girls stood out and really connected along with gaining confidence through this program. After it ended, there weren't many avenues for the players to continue playing. The sport is rapidly gaining popularity as we speak. This isn't just some hobby on the weekends. It's a serious passion of mine and many others. Every other high school around us has a team and we want to represent the Bulldogs on our behavior field. We are willing and more than happy to do

015whatever it takes to start it up this coming fall. Thank you for your time today and for your attention to our request. Let's take this next step together towards making our football dream a reality. [applause] Next we have Tori Bruno. [applause] >> Hi, my name is Tori Bruno. I'm an eighth grader at Roto Middle School. I've helped start the girls flag football club at I have been playing girls flag football for four years. I've played with I9 and Tri City Chargers and G7 where I'm currently playing now with me and MRSA who are up here with me tonight. I love this sport and I want to keep playing when I get to Bavia High School in August. Flag football has helped me feel more confident and it has helped me become a leader among my

016peers by sharing my knowledge of the game. It has help also helped me connect with students I might not have met if football didn't bring us together. Right now the option for me and my teammates playing in high school does not exist, but it could. You can make an impact by having girls flag football get introduced at Bavia High School and allow the RMS girls flag football team to become the BHS girls flag football team. I am here to ask you for I'm ask you to please support adding girls flag football to the 26 27th school year. Please encourage the athletic department to schedule an interest meeting so students like me can show how many of us want to play when we get to Battavia High School. Thank you for listening and thank you for

017supporting students like me that want to keep playing in high school and maybe even college. [applause] Next we have Emily Zabinski. [applause] Good evening. My name is Emily Zabinsky and I'm a sixth grader RMS and this past fall I played girls flag football. I'm interested in playing girls flag football in high school because it is a very active and challenging sport. For several of my teammates who played this past fall, it was their primary sport. There were quite a few eighth graders on the team and a lot of those girls want to play next year. Given the large interest in flag football, there will be plenty of girls who want to play in a future program. Currently, BHS does not have a girls flag football team. Students love representing their school and without a BHS

018team. Girls will have to go elsewhere to continue playing flag football. If the high school gets a flag football team, it will not take up a lot of resources because the girls team can share the football field and there is less equipment involved in the sport compared to tackle football. Girls flag football is a popular and growing sport. Girls flag football will be featured in the 2028 Olympics. Battavia is falling behind by not having a girls team. The Betavia community embraces boys football. There's enough school spirit in this town for it to embrace both the boys and girls football programs. Being a student athlete teaches important lessons, including leadership, confidence, and organization that translates from onfield play into future careers. Some of the most important skills developed from playing the game are teamwork, fast thinking,

019and flexibility, which are not always learned in the classroom. The girls flag football team wants to continue the long-standing Bavia tradition of winning and representing the school at the highest level possible. Girls flag football players should have the same opportunities as the boys football team has. I know I'm not the first girl to want to play football and I know I won't be the last. The mantra of the RMS girls flag football team is grit, grace, bulldogs. Let's write a new chapter and make history in Battavadia and support the first girls flag football team in Betavadia High School. [applause] [applause] >> Next we have Leah Zbera. [applause] Okay. Good evening members of the board and Pierce. My name is Leah Zimbrough and I am a junior at Betavia High School. I am here tonight to

020advocate for the addition of girls flag football for the 2026 2027 school year and years to come. I understand that adding a new program requires careful evaluation and I'll acknowledge that consideration of space, finances, coaching, and long-term long-term stability all matters. However, girls flag football would not just be a temporary addition to Betavia athletics. It has been officially sanctioned sport through the IHSA for a while now and participants will and continue to grow across our communities and nationwide. Many surrounding [clears throat] schools in our conference have already implemented successful programs. They face similar challenges that have been brought up with the surrounding matter. yet they made it work. This tells us that it's not an unrealistic goal and it's achievable with proper planning. Interest in Batavia is strong like you can see and I have

021spoken with numerous female student athletes who are ready to participate. In response, we also started a petition to further show support for this cause and demonstrate the measurable demand at hand. As of today, we have received 918 verified signatures from students, parents, alumni, community members, and the number is likely to grow. While there is an estimated financial investment, sustainability can be supported through community partnerships, booster involvement, and careful scheduling within existing facilities. Every successful program at Betavia once started from the ground up and I believe growth requires a beginning. This represents more than just an expansion of our athletic programs. It's also about opportunity, equality, and giving female students the chance to compete in one of the fastest growing high school sports in the state. I respectfully urge you to take the next step in

022making this program a reality. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [applause] NEXT WE HAVE Jessica Selvic. [applause] >> Hi. Thank you. Um I'm Jessica Selvic. My daughter is Mail. She's an eighth grader at Ratlo, my oldest. I have three other students younger in the Betavia School District. We love it here. Um watching this club, these girls are awesome. You can see their passion. They are talented. They deserve a chance to play. if you a lot of them who play other sports they are fast they are dedicated watching them was incredible the three coaches are here to support them and it was so awesome um I just want to like ease your mind there is a ton of support within the community as parents um I know there are a lot of considerations for cost space all of

023those things but there we are behind you we are ready and willing to jump in fundraising help with it's going to raise money for the town because I think we're a football town my sons play and it's already Well, everything is laid out in place already for the boys and the girls will seamlessly transition in with the with the camps. Um I think the girls deserve a chance to play right now. Um playing um for G7. It's out of St. Charles and I don't want to spend my money in St. Charles. I want I want to send it to Betavia. So um I know it's there's a lot of factors, but these girls are incredible athletes. They want it and they're going to make you proud and I think it's going to be good for

024our community. It will raise money. It will continue to build our spirit and uh whatever we're behind you. So, thank you for your time and go Bulldogs. [applause] >> Next, we have Don Hus. [clears throat] >> We have more about flag football. [laughter] [clears throat] Uh, good, good evening. First of all, thank you all for your time serving our community. I wanted to highlight a few important points. Uh first scholarships. Uh girls flag football is now an established and rapidly growing sport. More than 2,000 scholarships for flag football are expected by 2028. The NFL has committed $32 million to the sport and it will be as mentioned earlier in the Olympics for 2028. Flag football is the next big thing. Second behavior. Students who participate in school activities have increased attendance, grades, test scores, and

025graduation rates. One RMS parent shared how a student who had been struggling behaviorally turned things around through flag football. Being part of a team provides structure, mentorship, and connection, and students rise to meet those expectations. Third, confidence. A coach told me my daughter's confidence grew tremendously during the season. By the end, she was leading stretches and drills and tonight she was the first speaker for flag football. That confidence carries into the classroom and into life. So what are we asking? There appear to be important upcoming deadlines. One in March for proposing programs and another in August for conference participation. Parents and students are unclear on the process. We're asking for transparency and communication about the district's plan. This is about opportunity growth and leadership for our girls. At similar schools, particip participation has been strong.

02680 girls joined Wheaten North's first team for flag football. Betavia families are ready to support this and we will do what we need to to help. What students need now is certainty. If you build it, they will come. Thank you. [applause] >> Our final speaker is Mary Bruno. [applause] >> Good evening. My name is Mary Bruno. I'm a proud parent of three students. Mia, Bella, and Tori here in the district and a Routollo girls flag football parent coach. Sports unite people. They teach leadership, confidence, collaboration, and resilience. They give students skills they carry beyond their time here in Betavia. In our district, we proudly say one town, one team. What does that truly mean? And does it mean all students? Not long ago, one of our Routolo girls in 8th grade asked me a question.

027Coach Bruno, will I be able to play flag football at the high school? [clears throat] She wasn't trying to start a movement or create conflict. She was asking because she found something she loved, [clears throat] something that gave her confidence, a sense of belonging, and pride. In fact, during the season, one of her teachers reached out to coach Annie FCO to share how impactful being part of the girls flag football club had been for this student. academically, socially, and emotionally. That question, that impact is why we're here tonight. Student interest is strong and documented. At Routollo alone, we've seen strong pos participation, averaging 37 girls at each practice, leadership development, and a clear pipeline of athletes who want to play in high school. Betavia is currently the only school in Dukane Conference without a girls

028flag football team slated for the 2627th school year. We understand that adding a sport is complex. We understand the challenges around space, staffing, and finances that have been shared with us. What has been challenging for families and students is simply understanding the process. It becomes difficult for students to know what to expect, and that's hard for kids who are showing up and asking pretty respectfully to be heard. Mr. Kim, when you came to our district, you said you wanted to be a champion for all kids. Well, one way to be a champion for kids is to recognize where opportunities are emerging. Girls flag football is no longer just growing locally. Colleges across the country are beginning to recruit female athletes and offer scholarship opportunities to play at the next level. Those opportunities are new and

029programs are developing. Schools that move early give their athletes a meaningful head start in skill development, exposure, and opportunity. We are not asking for shortcuts here or special treatment. We are asking for partnership, clarity, and a path forward. One that positions Bavia not behind the curve, but leading with it. We are ready to help through community support as mentioned earlier in the 90 over 900 signatures we have on the petition, fundraising, and sponsorships. We're asking for clear next steps, consistent communication, and an opportunity for these girls to be part of one town, one team. My hope is that the conversation does not end tonight. That we focus on solutions and start asking how can we make this work because when we work together and we stay focused on the kids, especially our female athletes in

030Bavia, amazing things can and will happen. Thank you for your time and consideration. [applause] >> Well, thank you everybody for coming today. Usually everybody gets up and leaves. So I just [laughter] want I want to say thank you for your time. I want to give if the other board members want to say anything, but clearly there's a passion here. Clearly I appreciate the students coming and I definitely appreciate the parents supporting and those that volunteer to help it in and at a minimum that program that happens right now. So thank you very much. You might want to say something. [laughter] So uh in transparency, I was one of the parent volunteers of the girls this fall. Um, I spoke about it quite a bit at a lot of board meetings and it was an incredible

031experience, incredible group of kids, family supporting it and um, I know it's going to happen and when we do it, we're going to do it the right way and uh, the kids are going to shine when we do that. So, it was great to see everyone up there speaking. You did a magnificent job representing yourself and the rest of your teammates. So, great job. >> Thank you very much for coming today. Appreciate it. All right, take care, guys. >> I mean, you can stay if you want. >> Got consent agenda coming up. >> Very exciting. >> Lambo student ambassador. [clears throat] Grace isn't here. >> Oh, there she is. Okay. >> She's hiding in all the other. [laughter] >> It's a very nice. There's uh no best. >> No best but nor bea. >> I

032was going to say I didn't see him hiding in the back. >> No. >> Okay. >> It's you. Thanks for sticking around, Grace. [laughter] >> Mr. ML can move to the front. His family. >> The ML family can move up. >> Yeah. Grace, you are our BPS partner for the night. >> Yeah, [laughter] you're it. >> Yeah. >> All my friends left. [laughter] >> They still love you anyway. It's fine. >> A thanks. I have no Kaia today either. It's just me. Actually, she might come in a little later. We will see. I seem to get the presentation up. >> Take your time. >> Actually, before I get there, while I'm trying to pull it up, um I played football. Let's talk about it more. Um, I played up until they started tackle and then

033I wasn't able to play anymore because I I personally wasn't comfortable doing tackle football. But I think if this was an opportunity I had, I would have jumped on it. It was so fun. I still practice with my brother to have some hints of football in my life. So, this is just I know I'm a senior and I'll be graduating, but this is a legacy I'd be super happy to see left behind in Betavia. So, I'll voice my support even though we heard everybody else. Um, more on sports. As we know, Betavia is great with our sports suite. Have so many wins all the time. The track season is starting up and is always rapidly growing. Um, they just had their first meet on Valentine's Day. So, just last weekend, we had so many wins.

034I'm going to be honest, I don't know what most of like the different terms mean for what they're doing in track and field, but we had a lot of wins. And I was debating on whether I should like say all the names or not, but a win is a win and I think they all deserve to be recognized. So, our first place wins. I have a ton of names across all four grades. We have Elizabeth Wendy, William Houston, Aiden Punio, Jeremy Schiller, Avery Hacker, Jabari Buckley, Edward Pilowski, Yavin Pecor, Andrew Colada, Olivia Graham, Thomas Contrarus, Darren Ashiro, and Charles O'Brien. So, those are all of our first place winners, and we had so many across the charts. And then for Triple Jump, Abby Worth just set another record for indoor, which is awesome. She's a

035junior, so she has another year left. She's on the top right. We have a nice little picture. She's awesome. I do band with her, but our track is doing great. And I noticed that people really are drawn to that community. Just like how everybody treats each other is a great space. So, I'm glad that we're fostering that in Battavia. For basketball, that's still happening. Um, boys basketball, they won the Battavia vers Geneva meet, which um love all the wins, but Battavia vers Geneva is extra special. So, congrats to them. And then girls basketball Dukane Conference Senior Awards. We want have one for Payton House and Ally Thomas, which great. Our girls basketball is wonderful. They just had their senior night and tonight actually is their regional semifinals. So, I'm rooting for them. I'm sure we'll

036do great. Wrestling is kind of in that mid to end season. Uh there were sectional wins for both the girls and boys teams and they're off to state soon in Bloomington. We have qualifiers Lily Enos and Kaenos. They're siblings. Uh Lily is graduating and Kaisen underassman. So we'll have some great wrestlers. That's all for sports. And then for clubs and events, always big things happening. The winter dance is coming up in the next two weeks. I think uh the theme is City of Lights. So like a La La Land theme, I think. Um that's one of our new dances and it's a great community. Everybody's talking about it. It'll be super fun. Tomorrow, National English Honor Society is off to Chicago. I will be there during school. Um, we're watching a rendition of Hamlet and

037it's going to be a play. I just think that's super fun opportunity. I don't know many other clubs that take trips out to Chicago. So, I'm excited to get to learn more about that, especially because we read the book in AP Lit and now we'll get to see like a different interpretation of it. I'm very excited. Key Club's off to our state conference. I talk about Key Club all the time because I love it. Um, big Key Club fan. It's called District Convention and Leadership Conference. We're going this Friday. We have five state officers. This is kind of our last time to recognize them because they'll be ending their terms then. But we actually have one student at Bavia. Her name is Emmy Stronac. She's a senior. She was part of one of two people

038who planned the entire event for over 500 people. Um we're so endlessly proud of her. Battavia has a great pathway for Key Club. It's our service and leadership club at the high school. So we'll be off in Springfield this weekend representing each other. But five state officers on a team. I think there's 40 high schoolers. It's all student led is really great representation coming out of one club. So, we're super proud of them. Uh, Scholastic Bull on the bottom right. Novak won all Dukane conference award. Super proud of him. Um, that's like our trivia team and we have some more competitions coming up, but we had our big conference game and he won that award. Then youth and government, we had a rose fundraiser. We just wrapped those up and sent them off. There's a

039picture of me with Chelsea Booth in kind of the middle bottom. They're like chocolate roses. We put little notes on them and it sent them out through the school. We had to go and buy more roses because we sold out. So, that was a super great fundraiser and that'll help send us to Springfield in March, end of March. Sounds right. So, we'll bring our bills there and have that fundraiser helping us out. Esports Dukane Conference tournament is coming up. BSU has had some really huge things. They had their BSU cafe. So, they just have such a great community. It's really great to see them. I went to one of the meetings. It's just so inclusive. We love it. And then bottom right, that's a picture from the history of hiphop event. They had it at

040the BFAC and I think the middle school came too cuz my brother was telling me about it there. Like teachers went up on stage and we're doing fun. It's just a great way to immerse our kids in the different history of different factors in media. Then for music and drama, there's always something happening. That's where Kaya is right now with swim singers. The government inspector, I think it's the next slide. Um, Government Inspector was the play they most recently did. I went. It was hilarious. Kaia got to like help direct it. I think she was assistant director. It was so fun and they did their whole There's so many people in it. It was It was great. Our drama program is just so strong. Um, so there's some pictures. The bottom middle and bottom right,

041those are from it. And then the mustache, that was like the little theme. And they gave us mustaches when we came in. It was super fun. Um, there's been like concerts galore. There was a choir one, orchestra one, band was a while ago. I think there was a choir one. Not 100% sure, but yes, we've had lots of concerts in the BFAC. They've been super fun. And then Swing Singers has been in full swing with their well actually that works. Swing Singers full swing. Um, they've been very ready off doing their competitions. Their combo like the band that works with them won first place at their most recent competition, which is wonderful. There's a picture of Kai up in the front. She has a bunch of solos. She's great. Um, so yeah, they've been practicing

042a lot. And then Rock the Runway, that's kind of like media, so I put it over here is March 13th to 14th. It's a super awesome show. They do at the BFAC. All of our students are making the different outfits and then they go and have the students model. It's awesome. They'll be there March 13th to 14th. I recommend everybody comes out because it sounds awesome. And then RMS, there's not a ton of things. We just heard about their flag football. That's wonderful to see so many people here. February 20th is their Legally Blonde performance. Basketball is always going well. All our sports are super strong across all levels. And then they have show choir competitions. That's all for me, but I will stick around because I know we're talking about my job later. [laughter]

043>> Thank you. >> All right. According to our board policy, we designated a portion of the action items on the agenda as consent agenda for those items that usually did not require extensive discussion before board action. items are generally routine, recurring, and can be grouped together for efficiency. Steve, would you please take us through the consent agenda? >> Yes, absolutely. Um, before we jump into the consent agenda, I just want to comment on the personnel report, which I don't often do, but I think it's appropriate tonight. Um first of all um upon approval or per if there is approval for these positions uh John Mikl is here with his family uh his uh 23-year-old son who's at Aurora University right is uh here with him along with his wife and then behind them he's got

044uh his brother-in-law and sister-in-law. You might see some resemblance in the two here in the crowd. I don't know. Um but uh you know with approval I just want to congratulate him and we'll give him a little little space at the end if you want to say a few words. Um the other part I want to say besides uh celebrating him joining our team as our director of facilities is I would like to uh congratulate Joanne Smith. Is she hiding back there somewhere? Where's Joanne? >> Joanne. >> Um she's hiding literally. >> She's uh she's going to be approved and will be replacing my position which obviously means a lot to me. So I wanted to personally congratulate her with proper approval from our board of education. And then I'd also like to uh congratulate

045both uh Brad and Tony who's not with us for their new roles that are a part of uh our superintendent kind of uh restructuring of our leadership team. So I'm uh grateful for our board for supporting this. Um and uh upon their approval, I definitely just want to congratulate all them. So with that uh we will jump into the consent agenda. 5.1 and 5.2 is the approval of the January 20th, 2026 meeting minutes along with the close session meeting minutes. Um 5.3 is the approval of the destruction of close session recordings from August 1st, 2024. Uh 5.4 is the uh affformentioned uh approval of our monthly uh personnel report. 5.5 is the approval of our payrolls and bills. 5.6 is the approval of uh donations received. We're grateful for the generosity of Office Depot, Betavia

046Wrestling Club, Beefy, the Betavia Rotary, and the uh HC Storm PTO. 5.7 is the approval uh of the review of our close session minutes. [cough] 5.8 is the approval of the updated service agreement for Boys and Girls Club. And then finally, 5.9 is the approval of our cons. >> Any questions? >> You don't even want to make them sweat a little longer [clears throat] or [laughter] >> Okay. >> All right. Hearing no questions, I will entertain a motion to approve all items in the consent agenda as presented. >> So moved. So moved by Aaron, >> second by Katie. Cindy, please lead us in a roll call vote. >> Yes. >> Siger, >> yes. >> Meadows, >> yes. >> Gilberg, >> yes. >> Gonzalez Thomas, >> yes. >> Gerals, >> yes. >> Armando, >> yes. >>

047Thank you. Motion passes. [applause] education members, administration, and my family for coming out. I appreciate it. I just want to say I've been waiting about a month to hear that. So, that's awesome. I'm super excited. [laughter] Um I've been hiding it and holding it in. Um but no, I'm just really excited. Betavia has a tremendous uh respect and just reputation out in the world of the education out in the education world as far as the education process uh fine arts and also athletics. So, I'm really excited to uh continue the work that Mark Anderson has done and expand on that through the warm, safe, and dry initiative and and also look at other critical small and large projects. So, uh just really excited to get started with my team and can't come soon enough, but

048I know we got some time, but uh really excited. Thank you so much. I really appreciate it and I look forward to working with everyone. So, thank you. >> Congratulations. [applause] >> Can we get a picture of the family with you guys? >> Of course. John, your current superintendent will no longer speak to you. [laughter] >> She's already told me she's okay. >> Yeah, they were going to come come over here. >> I know. [laughter] Get out. You're good. Beautiful. [applause] >> [cough] >> All right. Foyer requests. Tom, >> uh, the board has the foyer report in front of you in our board book. Little heavier in volume this year or this month, but uh, you can see the status of all the reports. >> Any questions on them? >> Okay. Treasures report, not Tony.

049>> Well, just want to He already gave us the lowown. >> Nothing out of the ordinary. [laughter] >> Okay. All right. Nothing out of the ordinary. And then committee uh updates. Tom, you can pull that. >> Whoever's pulling that up. >> All right. So, um, I'll I'll cover dcc and then board members, if you have any that anything you'd like to add for the committees you represent, please feel free to do so. But the summary is in the board book. Um, at DCC, we uh had some large high altitude conversations about state of the district. One of the things that Brad was able to present was uh the academic progress that we had shown in our winter uh map testing pro um progress marker. Um, we had also addressed and reviewed data concerning certain areas

050that were either identified under our significant disproportionality citation data, which was also very good news. Um, and so we're hope and then our ELA um, and math scores and our winter map uh, results were the strongest we've probably ever seen. So there was a lot of things to celebrate. Um Tony then also presented to uh DCC. We talked about the staffing plans. Um we talked about some programmatic initiatives and then one of the things he highlighted was um some of the state of economics and capital projects in our district at the moment. And um not to sound too alarmist, but you know that was obviously a critical point of conversation as well. You'll hear a little bit later on from our Iraq report. Uh Kristen, I'm sure you're you're prepared to share um with the

051board, but we'll also back you off with any other details that can talk a little bit about the working mechanisms of what's been discussed at the committee. Right. I just ask one question on this plaque. The food service can a little more explanation of what that means. >> Thank you. It would be appropriate to do that. So actually that was part of the rack conversation. Um it's not really professional development but um so basically we've got um our K8 program is on the national school lunch program and then our high school is not on the national school lunch program. And what we're doing is we're doing a programmatic review of our food service program to see if it's the right course before we go out to you know bid in three more years. So, we're

052looking at the high school specifically and we're trying to figure out does it make sense to stay off of the program and turn down federal dollars or does it make sense to go back on the program and accept those dollars. So, this is a long play. It's not something you guys have to, you know, decide today, tonight or tomorrow. So, Rack is going to do some work on looking at it. We looked at the finances this past month. In April, we're going to do a little food tasting cuz it's food. So you've got to try it out, right? So we're going to compare the difference between food made on program or off program and then we're going to see about all right, is this something we want to look at? And then we'll engage kids

053in the process after that. So it's really the start of a longer process. Did that help? >> Yeah, I guess. So when it says next three school years increase cost staffing and construction is that with going to the national lunch program? >> So no no no no no. So that's I don't know why that's written that way. Um but the looking at the national school lunch program is all about like the reimbursement that we would or would not get from the federal government. >> So for example, if a student or family needs a free meal at the high school, they receive that, right? But we receive no dollars for that. We eat that cost. Whereas if we were on the program, we would receive federal dollars to help offset that cost. So that's what we

054were looking at in that instance. >> I'm I'm just confused by that statement, though. Okay. I think I found helpful to see like at the elementary and middle school level, we actually make money that we can then put back into the food program, whereas at the high school, we're losing money. >> Correct. >> Wash out or >> it can't. So the federal dollars cannot be used to subsidize a nonfederal program. So that's kind of the conundrum. So at the elementary level, we have to look to reinvest those dollars to support our kids in that program, which is what we looked at at the committee in the heating and um the Alto shams, their cooking hold units so that the food could be made more on site um so that it's better quality for the kids

055instead of being made at roullo, put in a hot box, shipped at 8:00 a.m. to the school, and lunch service ends at 1. So, like that's just something that we're looking at. Um, but again, that money has to be reinvested in that program because that's the purpose of that money to support that. Whereas the high school, since we've elected not to take federal dollars, we can't use federal dollars in that program. One question I had during the meeting was why did we ever go off of it? And it it was largely because of portion size. Is that right? >> That's I wasn't in the role at that time, but that's what our one of our committee members was on the committee actually on the board when they made that decision. And uh that's what they

056talked about was that it wasn't enough food for uh the athletes was how he phrased it. So again, that's why we're investigating it because what is a right decision in 2014 might still be a right decision in 2028, but it might not be the right decision. So it's our job to investigate and research and make that informed decision. So that's why we're taking that long approach, whereas we're not waiting until right before we have to re-up with another company or go out to bid. We're doing that leg work now and then we're making that informed decision. >> Thank you. >> Anything else on the committee items? >> Um, so I know it says out there Kaka's meeting this Thursday and then we have a tentative board policy meeting March 1st. somewhere around there. >> Yeah.

057First Monday of March. Put it that way. That one. >> March 2nd. Thank you. [clears throat] >> I could talk more about >> RACK. >> Um so the committee's been for several months now talking about health life safety bonds which I've mentioned here. Um and so they've been kind of coming up with a plan. Uh so there's action towards getting in more information about a $11 million towards health life safety bonds um and talking about feathering it in over time so that rather than having pe you know people's taxes be affected the same amount across the board over the length of the bond it would start small and then go up incrementally um so it's not so shocking Um, so Josh, when when is that going to be brought like the details going to be

058brought? >> Well, that's a really good question. So, the committee is recommending that path for Tom to think about and to maybe bring to you guys as a board. Um, I think there's a lot of factors that go into that. So, there's a lot of things that Tom has to weigh because ultimately, first, do you guys know what a healthife safety bond is? Okay. So let's start there, right? So every 10 years we have to do the health life safety survey and it says certain items that we have to do within a year, we have to do in five years or we really should look at doing and that costs money, right? Anything we do costs money. And this is really about things that are in the warm safe drive plan or our systems that

059are failing like fire alarms. They're not like really exciting items, but they're very necessity important items. And now we have the opportunity because the law changed in 2024 to allow the school board to issue bonds to get money and issue debt essentially to get this work done. Now, we can't just willy-nilly decide what this work is. Our architect has to file it with the state. The state has to approve the specific work that has to be done. But it's work that we are expected to do. It's a funding source to get that work done. Um, and Mark could speak to this better, but the warm safe drive plan is what he him and his team are working on. And what's happening is every year the costs of doing that work has gone up way more

060than we expected. So I think it was last month Mark mentioned that the Luis White project which is the same as the Storm project has gone up 18%. That's a huge increase and that increase is causing us to look at maybe pushing capital projects down the road. And this is one option that would allow us to get more funds to do this work. But this is really it's really a band-aid option, right? like these are things that we have to do and they're so critical, but then we're not able to do other things because we're worried about these specific tasks. So, I think that gives you a little history on what a worm safe ride bond is because if you don't know what it is, it's kind of hard to talk about it. Um but

061yeah, >> so if I'm understanding correct that correctly that uh this is like an initial recommendation but it's going to be determined if they're going to come and make a presentation provide more details on this. Is that right or wrong? >> Yeah, I think the committee itself is saying we've looked at this and this is a viable option to consider. Um, you know, the resource allocation committee is worried about the resources, but there's so many different facets when you go out for bonding and things to be considerate of that. That's why it goes to that next level and that gives Tom time to reflect on that, us to have a conversation here or in other forums to decide if that's the right lever to pull or if there's a different lever to pull. It's just

062something that the committee felt would really help get those projects underway. But it it really is just a band-aid on those specific things like replacing fire alarms and some HVAC work. It's not the totality of warm safe try. It's component of it. Feel free to interject anytime you want. >> Can you [laughter] outline uh to the best of your ability at the moment just what the cost and some general scope of of projects we're talking about here. So, um, what we looked at, myself and my team and architects looked at is when we I brought I don't know a few months ago the 10-year health life safety, we identified a items. So, A items need to start. So, we're kind of in that timeline of like we need to start those. So, identifying those is

063about 1.5 to two million dollars. Then on top of that, there are fire alarms as Josh mentioned. Okay, there's fire alarms at multiple schools, but mainly the high school, middle school that are in need. Okay, that's another $2 to3 million. Then, as you know, I've talked a lot about the HVAC at certain areas um specifically in two schools that need to get done and other schools behind that. So, we came up with basically $11 million. Now, where that number came from is really working with PMA. Okay, PMA um to see where that number is correct as far as you know because this will you know increase taxes and we talked about feathering that in. Now $11 million is basically a start. Okay, that is what we can do is for instance um at the high

064school there's many different um fire alarm as far as some are in the 90s, some are the recent edition. The state board will only look at replacing what needs to be replaced. But if you replace some components, the actual fire alarm is not going to work. So you have to replace all of it. So, we'll get about $1.5 million from the state, but it might cost $2.5 or $3 million, things like that. So, the point is is you can turn a lot of items into the state from HVAC to roofs to parking lots to fire alarms. I can go on and on and on, but it's really about the comfort level of how much money you want to borrow in the bonds. Basically, you don't want to just borrow $2 million this year and then

065go back for two million more. It doesn't makes sense to do that. So, once that 11 million is paid off, you could go back out and identify more. Let's say in five years from now when you have that done and do HLS [cough] bonds all over again. I've been in this position for a while, okay? And just a few more months now. But this has been something that I've talked about year after year after year. And obviously we tried other mechanisms. You know, we want the community. I won't mention all of that right now, but we are now into fund balance. So we're borrowing money to get all this stuff. That's where warm safe dry came. Well, warm safe dry really should be coming to an end about next summer. warm, safe, dry. When the

066initial plan, when we initially brought this, it's at least three to five more years before we get done what we initially wanted to do about four years ago. So again, as I've come up here and said a lot, Josh talked about it, every year it's usually about three or 5%. Now it's about 10 or 15%, sometimes 20%. That's what the expenses are going up for projects. Now, I have no idea if that's going to continue. I hope not, but it it could. I don't see any signs of it slowing down. It continues to increase at a rapid rate. So, I just gave a really long story, but really at RACK, what we talked about and we've been talking about is trying to find different funding mechanisms to help get these projects that list down sooner

067and sooner. But again, the buildings aren't getting any younger either. And I've also talked about a lot in my capital projects is this is what I call capital maintenance. This is fixing what we have. We really haven't looked a lot towards capital improvement and that's something that I really wanted to do. Again, when you do capital maintenance, there are things that are improve, but really changing the spaces. So, um, I think that's really the big conversation is about how do we take and try to get these projects down as quick as we can and what are those mechanisms to do that? >> So, what's the next step? I'm still kind of confused. >> No, right right now they're my what I've heard is they're going to kind of rack is looking for a way of

068being able to present something to Tom bring to the board that they bring to the board. But there's other questions here, right? Like, so you mentioned it a little bit. There's capital improvement projects. So, as everybody recalls, went out to the community a while ago. The community did not have an appetite for what was being presented at that time. You know, there's considerations about this process because this is a way of leveraging someone's tax ability to essentially add another tax to their bills to be able to take care of the necessary things. Now, the state is not all that they're pretty stingy with this process and it's takes a while to get approved. Um, so like that's the [clears throat] other reason I'm kind of rolling it out over time because there's >> two one

069one two or one people in the state that are approving these right now. >> There's one >> two people in the whole >> approve one for 800 and >> 56 school districts that could be [clears throat] applying for these things. >> So, it's not going to be a fast process. And the moment you put the fact that you're going to try to leverage something like this, they get much more critical about it when you're not using your own money. So it is a more challenging process. I've been through it. I filled out the forms. I know this stuff a bit. So the second question is right if we're that only takes care of like the high priority items of the warm, safe, and dry. It won't take care of all of them, right? And then

070B, if you do this and there's a need in the future for these more capital projects for updating buildings, major additions, things like that that would never be fundable in this process. What we're have to look at is are we suddenly going to bite the hand that feeds us by doing HLS bonds without having community support on it because we have to do it in a lot of ways potentially, you know. So it's about I I think from my perspective I'm asking you guys is there a a need to kind of get a better understanding of the overall and how these things break between HLS how much of a portion of the warm safe drive is the HLS bond fundable and what are these other capital projects that are kind of floating out there that

071we need to look at that would tie into our capital needs >> you know that would tie into our strategic plan all of that stuff [clears throat] >> trying to give some framework for this guy as he gets the data to kind of come in. So, does that make sense? >> Yeah, makes sense. I think what we're I'd like to see because we already with warm, safe, and drive, we did prioritization, right? >> And we said these are our top issues and this is where we're going to direct our our funds to. >> So, how does that if HLS also has a priority? Are we >> Yeah, this like if this is warm, safe, dry, this much is HLS. So, >> so we can potentially take away the money that we earmarked for that with

072the HLS money and then >> Yeah. So, you can do >> you can take the money out of the bottom here and pick up some of the other stuff on the top here kind of thing, right? And those become higher priorities because by definition the state has agreed that these are higher priority items, you know. um like the the addition at the front that we did that we called HLS and the one that's going on for the project right now are not like we call them warm safe and dry. They are not health life safety bond fundable items. They're components that might have been but the additions at the front and the doors and that sort of stuff are not in and of themselves particularly the site work in and of itself is not >>

073generally approvable. >> So >> I'll wait for more information but I kind of see it's a a shuffling game here of some of the funds. So, we'll get it. >> Yeah. And we just want to make sure we don't want to like cut our nose off to spite our face just to try to get something done without looking at the long range >> is my concern. Any make sense? >> Is there anything else that you think that rack needed to hear before you guys start planning on how to present this to me before we go to the board? >> I don't think so. >> I I think understanding a little bit from me as to what that 11 million kind of translates to project-wise and taxpayerwise. Like if you look at it >> per $400,000

074house, what that means is important for us to know because if it's, you know, 75 cents a year, maybe that's not as terrible as we think it might be. >> So, all right. So, if we were to do just a straight 7-year payback on a median home is $440 440,000, it would be $155 a year. Okay. Like >> and that's the 11 million number over a sevenyear >> and that's not doing any of the feathering that we talked about that we can do or getting you know more financially savvy with it just that's straight like it would be seven years 155 on immediate home of Betavia just to put some context into it. So, one of the things that I've asked uh as Mark and Tony met with me to talk about what the rack

075recommendation was um a better understanding and more complete picture kind of Rob, I think to your point of what our project list looks like. I'd like it updated. I'd like to see what actually has been completed through warm safe dry and what still is outstanding as a priority item from when we approved in 23. But then on top of that, what is the new maintenance requirements that are coming online now that we'll have to address and um what the the scope of cost is going to be for that. The example I'll give you, Mark, please correct me if I'm wrong, but the example I'll give you is Hooverwood and Grace McQuinn are two of our newer constructed buildings. Not a ton of work has gone into the maintenance as the other buildings on our ground

076in our all of our campuses. Well, those are coming due. Those are 25 year old buildings now. So there's going to be some huge maintenance work that and if we don't want to continually defer that maintenance, right? Because then it becomes a critical project that has to be addressed. However, if what we already are still trying to accomplish with warm, safe, and dry now gets longer as a list because now we've got Grace McQuinn and Hoover Wood coming online to be addressed, that bottom line number, the ticket number I need to know is whether or not the squeeze is worth the juice for the board. uh because if we're going to continue to peacemeal things, even the feathering concept, which I think is a totally fair concept to be introducing, um the problem is it's

077outpacing inflation, inflation is outpacing that type of strategy right now, at least for right now. The economic conditions have shown that. So at the end of the day, you know, it goes back to this even the concept that we when we went forward the project, we did toy with the idea could we take care of Louise White and HCS at the same time to avoid the situation we came into, but we we were told we would not get the uh responses that we would want from our bid process. People would not take our job, take our bid. Right, Mark? That was pretty accurate. >> Okay. It's it's really about the timeline of the summer to get that amount of work done in that time frame, >> right? >> So, um there's more to come. I

078think the idea of what exactly are we dealing with? How much would HVAC systems um cost us? For example, if we're going to uh aggressively attack the issues at at BHS and the Seawing, um as you all those of you who might remember pictures of pipes bursting in the UNI vents, flooding, literally flooding. I've never seen anything like that. Um, you know, that's really a learning environment situation that needs to be addressed. And I know Mark and his team have done so much and as much as they can to keep this uh operational. We are really lucky, I think, that we've had a rather mild winter with the ex exception of that one uh event, the exposure of temperatures. Other than that, it's been a pretty mild winter and so we've been happy with that.

079Mark, I probably just jinxed us, didn't I? Maybe. But um so anyway, those are some of the considerations that are playing out right now. Um we will bring more back to the board once I have a better understanding of what the recommendation means and looks like. >> Right. >> I think the the other comment just one one other quick comment is just you know there could be a perception that we're somehow working around the community here with this HLS. Uh, and so just we got to make sure we're transparent and communicative as we go through this process. >> Okay, great. Thanks, guys. Don't go too far, Mark. [laughter] >> Any other committee updates? >> Okay. Uh, award bids for the HC storm site work improvements. Mark, can you lead us on this item? >> I

080will. Um, and I'm going to try to do a better job this month because it's two separate items and I'm going to try to keep them separate. Technically, that's what you have to do. So, I did my slides that way too this time. Um, so at the site improvements, if you want to go on the next one. So, this is HG Storm site. [clears throat] This is a Google image. Um, it's actually on GIS system that I use. Um, if you notice something about the storm, it's very close to Van Norwick. That causes some issues as some of you HC storm parents here know. Uh, there's only one way to get in there and one way to get out and it's a very small circle. Okay. So, I'm not going to really go into much

081detail what it looks like. Um the other piece on here uh is right now it's also in an intersection that's very tight just because of kind of how the curves are too. We have tried, we myself, the city, worked with the police department, um, traffic studies. I mean, over 10 years, I have done about every different thing I can think of and others putting no parking in different spots on different side of Illinois. Nothing really works well. Um, we even, that's why you can see those lines on there. Those are sidewalks, by the way, the like neon green ones. Um off to the west the subdivision there's a path there. We did that a number of years ago. Um it's a walking and biking path. Uh lots of kids use it. Again, we're at a

082point now where um it becomes we are really this is the only school that has bus and car lane traffic together. If you want to go to the next slide, this is more what Craig sees all the time. So this is just a current uh site layout drawing. This is what it currently looks like. So you can see trees and you know different things like that. I just want there's a reason I put this on here because if you go to the next slide, this is the very clean new site layout drawing. So what this is is basically what you have to do is you have to make sure a firetruck and a bus can turn around anywhere in the curves. It can do that. So if you look north is up. So if you

083look to the north at a like northeast point that is going to be a new entrance right there. So that will be coming off and Nordwick and it will be a oneway in. Okay. So this will be the parent drop off. So obviously the staging area will be much bigger at this point. Um so they come in off of there and then they go out the current exit which is [snorts] not changing at all. And then to the south um with the new development we are connecting that um basically another and that's going to be two-way another way in and out from the development to the south that will mainly be used for not mainly that will be used for bus traffic and also that will be a staff parking. The other piece that this

084will do is um to the west there, the fields are used for the high school, the soccer fields. Um they play games there under um like freshman sophomore level games. So that will also be used for parking um for those contests as well because that's after school um when those games are going on as well. So now there will be three ways instead of only one to get in and out of HC Storm. Other improvements, um, a lot of improvements within, um, the hard surfaces, so where you walk, where you bike, things like that. There's a lot more strategic locations for, uh, bike racks, so that way you're not crossing through the parking lot. The other piece that, um, we are including in here, um, you can kind of see just to the north, um,

085it's kind of a darker area. That's a trash enclosure. The city of Betavia passed an ordinance, I believe, two years ago that they're giving um like us school districts and other um businesses through town, they have to have trash enclosures within a 10-year period. Obviously, this makes a lot of sense to do it now. We're doing a lot of work here. Um so, we're going to include that um in there as well. Um trying to think of other things. Can you go to the next one, please? This one's a lot more busy. So, this is the landscape plan on here. Um, this basically shows, you know, we're not just putting sidewalks and, you know, driveways and things like that in. There's a lot of landscape that's required as well. Um, and also the other piece,

086there's a red box on the lower right corner. That's going to be a um detention area. Um, it's not going to be deep. It's like I believe it's 2 and 1/2 ft total from top to bottom. Um but that will be used as um a lot of different prairie grasses. So it just won't be a pond. Um so when it's dry and it'll probably be dry most of the time. Um you see something similar. Um the high school has one. There's there's others throughout town that have the same thing. Um at one point storm did have a lot of drainage issues. um they've become a little bit better, but this will definitely make um it much better so we don't have ponding water throughout the site. Um and basically I think that is it for

087that piece. I will get the playground next. So that will be the next few slides, but we'll finish this first. Any specific questions about the site >> about how many buses out of curiosity >> how many buses are there currently? How many buses go through that? >> Um there is uh three total >> each. >> I don't know if I'm counting all of the like I'm I'm mainly just doing the district buses, but there could be >> right. There could be some like kinder buses like that, little buses. >> HC Storm has a green team that's worked hard on some landscaping. Is that all staying? >> Yep, that's all staying. So you can see kind of on the west part like the southwest part there's like five trees right there existing. That area is completely

088stained. The one that will get disturbed um because it's going to so we just are going to put um different plants back in it. There's one that's closest to where um well now it's actually the new nurs's office in one kindergarten room. >> But that it it won't make it. I can tell you that with all the amount of work that's going in the front of that building. So you can see it's very difficult to see, but there are new plantings going in that spot. >> And will the will there be any native plants used throughout the city? >> A lot a lot of native plants in there. And again, it's it's very hard to try to clip this and make it bigger so you can see it. But yeah, there's and I'm not exaggerating,

089hundreds of plants. and we went back and forth honestly with the city because basically they're not all going to live. So my point was like why do we have to put so many in? Let's kind of space them out a little bit and give them a chance. Um this was just back and forth because the amount that they actually require. I mean they don't they won't make it. So, um but yeah, there's I mean many different um type of native plants that are through here. And actually in the um detention area, there's a lot of in that area. >> I don't know if this matters, but just out of curiosity, are you allowed to enter the enter only traveling north? Are you allowed to make a left turn into that enter? Do you have to

090like go >> No. Yeah, you can go both directions. >> You can go >> at this point. Okay. So, we the city hasn't we've talked about this a little bit, but basically it's like let's see how this is going to work first. Um because it's one of those things you don't have it yet, so you can't test it out. Um other spots that already have multiple entrances, you can change traffic patterns, move buses here and part here. Right now, you don't have a choice. It's this is where you enter and this is where you exit. We did talk about that because of the backup getting out. Um so yeah we have looked at that um a little bit but we are going to keep the you know same type no left turn to exit. So

091that signage is going to stay the same. So it's either you know um straight actually it's only going to be straight actually or right now you can go right because that'll be different because um so yeah there will be updates on signage as well. Um but that one not yet >> questions. Okay. Hearing no other questions. Anything you want to talk about the bids themselves or are you good? >> Yeah, actually I will. Uh the bids uh much better than I thought as far as I mean the the price was what we thought the price was going to be. So it wasn't any really dramatic increases but uh the amount of bids were very encouraging. Um so we did have a lot of different bids. um which you know you kind of I mean it

092is site work so this is a little bit late but um really there's a lot of you know a lot of site type utility and concrete and asphalt that are still hungry and want jobs so that that's a good thing. All right, hearing no other questions. I will entertain a motion to award the bids for the HC storm site improvement projects as presented. >> So moved by Raquel. >> Second. >> Ty. >> Give it to Danielle. >> Yes. >> Second by Danielle. Cindy, please lead us in a roll call vote. >> Gonzalez Thomas. >> Yes. >> Sliger. >> Yes. >> Arlu, >> yes. Carol, >> yes. >> Bilberg, >> yes. >> Meadows, >> yes. >> Motion passes. All right. Item 7.2, playground purchase and install at HC Storm. Okay. This is all part of the

093exact same project, but we're doing this in cooperative purchasing through Sourcewell. So, that's why it has to be separate. Um, this is just your general layout of what the playground is going to look like. There will only be one playground now instead of two. This is the only actually only elementary school in the district that has two playgrounds. I don't know honestly I don't know the history of it. I don't know why but it is. But with the changes we're making in the front of the school, there's nowhere to put it. Um so we are inreasing it a little bit in the back. Not a little bit, quite a bit. Um so that is the layout. So the main structures kind of in your lower lefthand corner. You'll see more pictures of this later, but

094I wanted to show you the layout. On the right, there will be swings at HC Storm. And then in between or above the swings and the main playground, those are four [cough] other pieces of equipment. [laughter] And you'll [clears throat] see the like little squiggly lines around all that. That's for fall zones. That's just how you know playground equipment manufacturers have to do it. Um, and this is really the best picture to show you um kind of the the layout. If you go to the next one, that's the main playground structure. That's that's actually what's going to look like. Same colors, same everything. Um spent a lot of time. It seems like it's been it's been probably a year ago at this point when we first started doing this with students. Um it was I've

095done this a couple times and it is really fun to you know with the kids and what they want and their creativity and they had some interesting color schemes and I'm like give you some selection here. So, um, this is what the vote was right here. This is what they came with. Um, and the other piece of this, it's going to be turf. Okay, the the surface is going to be turf. That is really the new um thing coming now. Um, most playgrounds are really it's three choices. It's the trai traditional wood chips, turf, and what's called pour and play. Um, the rubberized material. Um, so this is really, in my opinion, kind of best of both worlds. Um, it's not as expensive as porn and play. Porn play is great, but porn play is

096very expensive. Um, but then if you want to go to the next one, this is when we're getting into the playground selections. So these this is what will be there. Um, this is the names of them, the whole bit. Um and then if you go to the last two, so those will be the four kind of additional ones. So we originally were going to have [cough] three um pieces of equipment >> and god, it's been six years ago now. Six years ago when we did Hooverwood and Grace McUade, we did the exact same process. Um and that's when the PTO's for both schools kind of jumped in and said, "Hey, you know, can can we help with this?" And I said, "Well, sure. What do you want to help with?" And so this is kind

097of how the process came up with and just that kind of extra piece of equipment. Um and this year um really I don't ever ask but VTO's kind of came the same thing again and um they were very generous and that you saw that in the donation um when we did approve the donations. So they didn't pick which one it's going to be. So I didn't have them do that. We just kind of the fourth one was kind of in fourth place as far as what the kids voted on what they wanted. They were shown I think it was eight different type pieces of equipment. I believe the last time because I kind of remember this. I believe the PTO helped with the the playground that's in front. Um and actually they helped put it

098up too at the time. Um, I know some I wasn't in my role at that point, but uh it was on a weekend maintenance team and a bunch of PTO members went out and kind of helped put the final touches on the playground. So, it's been kind of a long-standing thing with the PTO's and obviously they help the schools a lot and this is just, you know, another piece that they do. >> Does this include the black tops and the basketball hoops? >> Yes, that was in the site, but yes. Okay. >> Yep. That's all going to get redone, too. >> Cool. Yep. So, new basketball hoops, new backboards, rims, new hopscotch, and four square. And >> that black top is like mini pools, you know, like they the kids are like anything. >> Yeah.

099>> Cool. >> It's a need for sure. >> Yeah. It's [laughter] be sad. >> Yeah. >> And you want to keep that? >> Yeah. [laughter] >> It's great. >> For the turf, what's the maintenance on that? I mean, is like the at turf on the field at the football field? >> Not nearly as much. Um, yeah, you'll have to go and uh basically there will be some infill that you'll need to do, but it's it's not the same type of turf. >> Okay? >> You know, it's it's mainly I mean, yeah, you're going to run around a little bit in it, but it's mainly for the fall. It's the fall protection that you'll have to test. >> Okay? >> We do the very similar thing on the turf field now. Um, but this one will

100be it'll be an annual maintenance thing that you'll have to do that and you know at some point obviously it'll have to get replaced but it's not much different timeline than what any any other surface is going to have to be replaced either. >> Any other questions? >> Okay, hearing none. I will entertain a motion to approve the playground equipment and installation as presented. So moved by Raquel, >> second by Kristen. City, please lead us in a roll call vote. >> Yes. >> Gonzalez Thomas, >> yes. >> Arandu, >> yes. >> Slider, >> yes. >> Meadows, >> yes. Thank you. Motion passes. And 7.3, elementary assistant principal at Louise White School. Steve. Yeah, this is uh probably not surprising, but it's part of the uh kind of our restructuring um because uh Mike Wall is

101going to be assuming the 12 month principal position um to take over some uh additional administrative duties um that will keep him busy uh during the summer and then at various times during the school year. Uh part of that plan was whatever uh uh principal took that job, they would be getting an assistant principal to work uh a 10-month assistant principal to work in their building and support uh provide administrative support to the uh to the school, to the staff, to the student, the community. Um and so we're uh recommending and asking for you to approve uh this position and uh if approved, we will have it posted tomorrow. >> Any questions? >> You have any concern about kind of what uh John Mikl shared that we have found in our uh as we put

102out positions that uh generally speaking people want to come and work in Battavia and so um I'm very confident that we will be able to put together a very uh strong um candidate pool that uh you know ultimately the uh the staff will work with Mike um BEA and best representatives to hire probably the right person for that position. really quick. Uh I don't remember when when do you want this position filled by? Like when do you want their start date to be? >> They'll start I mean they'll start after July 1st. They run a 10-month schedule off the top of my head. I know I know you you put together those calendars recently. Um but they'll probably they would start probably like middle to uh uh like July 20th somewhere in there is when

103they start and then they end up working until like maybe mid uh beginning of Juneish. I got that about right is there's a little flexibility in for them to work with their supervisor, but that's roughly. >> Any other questions? Hearing none. I will entertain a motion to approve a 10-month assistant principal position at Louise White School. >> So moved by Katie. >> Second by Aaron. Sydney, please lead us in a roll call vote. >> Arlu, >> yes. >> Meadows, >> yes. Kilbert, >> yes. >> Thomas, >> yes. >> Motion passes. [clears throat] Thank you very much. All right, Dave. Renewal of data center support contract. >> Nothing too exciting. Um, so this is a contract that we use to support a lot of the hardware we have uh in one of our data centers. Um,

104we originally purchased it with a 5-year agreement that is now up. So, I'm looking to extend that to its maximum that we can go before it has to be replaced. Um, so I was able to work a better deal to do a multi-year like this. So, that's why I brought that to you guys today. So, it's roughly [clears throat] two yearsish. [snorts] >> All right. Anyone have any exciting questions about software renewal and whatnot for data center storage? >> Come on. Anybody? [laughter] I will entertain a motion to authorize the renewal of support and maintenance for the district's data center storage for a two-year term in a total amount of not to exceed $65,000. >> So moved by Rob. >> Second by Danielle. >> Yes. >> Daniel. Cindy, please lead us in a roll call

105vote. >> Yes. >> Thomas, >> yes. >> Arlandu, >> yes. >> Siki, >> yes. >> Sliger, >> yes. Yes. >> Meadows. >> Yes. Motion passes. All right. Item eight, board discussion. So item 8.1 is uh talking about potential the next um kind of facet or development or whatever you want to think of the student ambassador program or whether it becomes a student board member program. So it's currently the student ambassador program. So really what was asked at a previous board meeting is that we have a bit of a discussion about it. Give everybody a chance to kind of look into it, figure it out. Kristen, did you go to like a one of the sessions on it if I remember correctly? >> I did not. No. >> Okay. Somebody I thought did. Okay. Katie did.

106Okay. So, um, that's, you know, I think part of this discussion, I'm just going to turn it over to you guys to kind of start it is to kind of maybe understand what, you know, what we see it evolving into and what we think it should be and kind of just an open discussion. So, >> if I could start to have the discussion if that's okay, just kind of give you guys a little bit more >> of an understanding of why um, I felt was important. Um, this is something I've definitely thought about pretty much my entire time on the board. I love our ambassador program. You guys do an amazing job. And I I don't know what it would form into or if it's separate because I think that whether we I think there's

107a difference in having an ambassador program and having a board member and um I would love to give the students a little bit more empowerment to um specifically connect with their peers in in various ways and to give them a voice at the table. Um, one of the things that I kind of come back to, um, through my various times on committees and being on the board is that student voices, while we may seek them out at times, we're not getting the voice from the students themselves. And the only times that we do um, is often if they do come up to the podium, they address the board. And with that, we're not really having an exchange. We're not really kind of taking in their comments into necessarily what our decisions are. Other times that

108they are brought to us, they're brought to us through adult voices, through administration voices, and that is not going I just I don't think that's we're we're not going to get the same outcome, honesty, um effect as we would if we allowed the students at the table and to have a voice. Um, you know, I've done plenty of of look on and actually when I attended my first triple eye, I went to one and I don't remember what the district was. Um, but they had two student board members, I think, and they had been doing it for maybe like five years. Um, so they would do like a junior and a senior and they would kind of cycle them around and it was just I'm always inspired and in awe with our with our students.

109um they don't vote. Although there are um various districts across the nation that do give them an advisory vote, which means like let's say if we were saying, "Hey, we're going to be talking about this one thing. Student board member, would you possibly work to pull your peers?" And then they could come back to the table and as an advisory vote give their vote on that issue. And it's not a vote actually that you know is between the seven of us, but it's something so we can understand where the students stand and it's um a way for them to kind of be tasked with going and seeking their peer voices. Um, so I, uh, West Aurora, East Aurora, they have probably more like ambassadors, but um, I did do a bit more diving through. Um,

110and I just wanted to kind of put out here with what the student voices stated that it felt for them, like what and influenced it, like what it what it did for them, you know, what are the benefits, what did it look like? And so I think the main feedback things were that they just really felt like there was pride. They were able to say I sit at a table and I help kind of make that decision whether their students their student body knew that they were on the board or not. They were part of organic and genuine conversations that were happening in their classrooms in the sport like in different sports in extracurricular activities and friend groups. So they were able to get this feedback that none of us would ever get. They truly

111felt that they were the the re the we've often said like what are the stories behind the data, right? They're they're able to give us those stories. We're not able to understand why our numbers are the way that they are, but the students are living the experience. The students are the ones who can tell us what what the the story is behind the data. And I think that can help us. And it's it's one thing that we've ran into over and over. We kind of fall like we don't ever invite that that that voice to the the table. The equity committee had been on it several different times. It was never done. It was never done. And I will never understand why. Why are we not going to invite that in in an actual powerful

112and meaning and meaningful way? [snorts] And it's like it's it's not just to bring their voice to the table now. It gives them the sense of belonging. It gives them an experience into democracy. It gives them the ability to actually be like, "Yeah, we were part of the decision." And even if we make a decision and it's not what the student voice kind of overwhelmingly said, they still can feel like, you know what, the adults heard us. you know, the people at the table who made the decisions, they actually took what we said into play, like into my like play and they understood what our day looks like and what these changes make. um that sense of belonging, that sense of representation, that sense of leadership, it's just overwhelmingly like one of the things behind

113it for for me as a board member. Again, it goes to truly understanding the voices behind the data and um just having the opportunity to know that we are understanding and and it allows for that bridge. Again, we're not going to understand it by sending me over to a classroom and asking some questions as a board member, by Steve being in a place and asking. They're not going to talk to us the same, right? And this is a way to bridge that communication gap. This is the way to bridge the problem that I've seen over and over again where we don't understand why the attendance is down in this way or that way, why some of our students aren't performing like some of their peers, why, you know, certain extracurriculars maybe are doing better. Just

114there's so many reasons. So, um I just don't want to leave this as something that's just It's like a we're just going to do the same thing that we've done. I really obviously feel passionately that we absolutely need student voices at the table in our discussions and given the power to actually seek out um those voices for feedback. >> Yeah. Thanks for listening. That was long. I I um I looked into thanks Danielle for your perspective there and it's to me it's a little bit of a branding issue too on how we're a branding and also what we've specified for the current role the ambassadors. Okay. So um and I think we have as I think was communicated I think we have the power to kind of change that you know what we want out

115of this position and I I I think I agree with most of everything you said as far as um it would be an important voice to add to the mix. Um I did look at a couple school districts. Superintendent Kim um forwarded a link to me to Leiden uh district 212 and I went on there. They have uh what they call student um I think they call them student board members. Um but I couldn't find a video on that. I wanted to watch the videos to see the interaction um of the the students with with the board. Um but they do they do have them um they are uh from what I gather they are um uh they have to be recommended by a staff member um for the position and then I think there's

116you know a process that goes goes with that. So, I didn't get a good feel for the interaction uh from that school district. But then I did look at Asiggo 308 and I was able to watch a couple meetings there and that um their board members well one of the meetings they they didn't they weren't there um for that particular meeting and one of the the regular board members uh gave the update. Um but the other one I watched um there was the representative there and I think what I found interesting there was she um she gave an update on a specific initiative that they were working on um that they were tasked um from I guess the board the regular board um to kind of work with and give feedback on and get students

117perspective. So, um I think there was direction given then to them on kind of what to um work on and uh report back to the board. So, um and they did sit at they did sit at the the table here, you know. Um so, that was uh that was interesting to see. Um now, I didn't see much other than when it was time for their comments. I didn't see like much other interaction on the other issues, you know, like when we were talking about the playground or, you know, the rework and the other work at HC Storm. Um, so I I didn't see that and I just it was just the one meeting. So sample of one there, but um but so I think where where I'm at is I think we I have no

118problem. I think it's probably a good idea to do it. Um I think we got to be a little bit careful on exactly what issues that they're going to be involved with. Um, and but to Danielle's point is if there's some data here that we need kind of the story behind the numbers, I think they could provide a very valuable addition to uh to that understanding. Um, so I'm willing to kind of look at what we have for the requirements right now and if we want to rebrand it to the board uh student board member um I think I'm okay with that too. But um um but let's just be pretty diligent about how we specify the requirements. Now the other thing is what I saw there is a commitment too for this this role.

119So, um, these student board members are expected to sit at the table and be there for the entire meeting. Obviously, not for close session and stuff. So, there is an expectation. I think there's a little from where we currently are a little there's going to be a little a big jump actually in expectations and responsibility on what they'll will want. So, it's going to be work and commitment by those individuals and it's going to take probably a certain certain type of individual to um you know fulfill that role. So, um that's going to be another key aspect. We want to make sure we get the right people, set them up for success. Um but I think great leadership opportunity for those individuals. And the other thing, and I've talked to Erin about this, is I

120think there's a mentorship part of that position too that we're missing out on. And that means they should be leaders within our community. They should be going back to our elementary schools, the middle school, working with, you know, particular student leaders at those schools as well, getting those voices and um um understanding some of the issues there. So I think there's an opportunity for not only for that individual to gain leadership themselves but also to be mentors to some of our younger students. something I didn't touch on and I I know you guys to add in more but just to kind of go back on that um one of like a a really amazing state doing they actually Washington um has like a it's like a student board member like your um IEA but for

121student board members um but um one of the things that's really recommended is to actually not have it be uh recommended by staff. It is to put out the ask and the expectations and to have an open application process because like we have with student ambassadors we had high achieving students. I mean we see it like they are in amazing clubs. they are able to do so much. And sometimes students who otherwise could really use the nudge to maybe be more involved or maybe they're just really like they're really interested in, you know, government and democracy, but they're not, you know, in a million clubs or they're not super high achieving grade wise, but they're doing great. Like they're just I'll think of one of my favorite students of the past, Martin Burn. They were

122not at the top of their class, but they came to board meetings. They paid attention to local politics. They paid attention to what was going on in the community, how money was spent. That would be somebody who I'd be like, "You belong. You would be amazing at getting student voices and caring tremendously about. I think it's about having someone who cares not just about what their, you know, experiences and people who are like them, but it's everybody." Um, and so I think when you open the the the application process to everybody, you may have QR codes, you may, you know, put up blurps and emails here and there. Anyone is open and then you're kind of looking at various types of students. It'd be great to have someone who understands the high achieving academic world.

123than someone who's more average, right? That is committed. Because just because someone's not in a bunch of clubs or not at having A's across the board doesn't mean that they don't have an important voice in this district. In fact, they probably represent majority of the kids, you know, that are doing wonderful things, but just not who staff would automatically turn to. So just to kind of go back to that, it was the feedback that they had found was that it was a more inclusive process to not have staff recommendations. And we do have that with the ambassador program. It is like traditionally who's um recommended by staff and then if they say yes, you interview them. Um but I just wanted to make that part clear because it was really specifically stated um that that

124is a a much more um kind of just a a more inclusive way to kind of get other people at the table again understand what the expectations are and all those things >> and that's what SVGO does. They do an application slashin process. >> That's great. That's great. And then I can share with you guys, but um I think it was rest west aurora like in 2024 they had a podcast. And so the uh superintendent at the time had three of their student board members. And so a lot of what I'm bringing to you um also includes what they felt they could contribute. They do contribute what that time commitment is and just those other things. It was really interesting to hear them kind of go on about it. I I [clears throat] love the

125idea. I'm a little concerned about the length of some of our meetings and the commitment >> um for students. That's that would be a lot of time. So, I'm wondering if there's a way to, and I've kind of did a little looking around, um, a way to either load topics that the student board member might have input on to the like front of the meeting so they can meet early. Or I also saw some places where they would task the student board members, you know, this topic is going to be brought up at the next board meeting. We want you to gather feedback and before we make any decisions during discussion time on this topic, we want an update from you about what you learned from your fellow students. So like the cell phone policy

126would have been a good we're talking about the cell phone policy next month. Could you reach out to students and come back and report to us what they had to say? Um, I just trying to find ways to make sure that we use their time thoughtfully so that we're not wasting their time or I don't know. >> Uh, I have a couple thoughts and my first one's actually if our student ambassador wouldn't mind going to the mic. You're listening to our conversation. I'm curious what your thoughts are. [laughter] what your thoughts on this are and uh you know you've been doing this for a little while and you know would you have an appetite for you know sitting up here with us and and uh you know we're not really clearly defining exactly what the

127role would be but taking on more basically. >> Yeah, I think I guess to start having a defined position would be very helpful. I feel like a lot of what we learn is kind of passed down person to person. I love the Kayak Ray show. It's wonderful. I look forward to it. But I think I also, at least personally, and I can speak for Kaia as well, do well in serious positions. Like I think there's some points of feedback that maybe wouldn't necessarily seem conducive to hearing students, but actually like I would really appreciate hearing like sitting talking about um like the changes in school lunch programs. That's a conversation I'd love to be a part of. I think a lot of us have identities that aren't necessarily like readily seen, but our voices would

128be valued in those sorts of conversations. Um, going with like the application first recommended, I was thinking a lot about it and thinking back to last couple or last year when we were going through the process and I think there's a value in the applications, but I'm not sure the types of voices that you necessarily be looking for would be found there. I think being in a lot of different clubs gives us those different backgrounds, but being recommended was super helpful, at least to me, to like get into this space because I wouldn't necessarily see that. Martin, by the way, still watches the meetings. They messaged me the other day um talking about watching the meetings and seeing stuff here. So, they're still watching. But I think there can be a balance between applications and

129recommendations. I think hearing what the teachers have to say about your spot in the classroom also gives a certain voice because I guess speaking for myself I talk to everybody in class like that's just the type person I am. I like talking to everyone and I think that's something that would be heard in an application from a teacher but the sorts of voices we're looking for could be different. I'd appreciate a spot at the table. So, I think there's a lot of different conversations that especially with like the phone policy, I think being in the classroom um would be helpful. Sometimes when Kai and I come up to this, we're like close friends outside of this. So, we have a lot of conversations talking about like, okay, what do the students want us to talk

130about if we talk about anything serious? Um, and I think sometimes not having it defined, we're like, oh, yay, let's talk about all the fun things, but we're not really sure where to fit in more of the serious topics. So, if we were encouraged to do that, I think that's something we'd be happy to do. The tasks would be something super helpful for us. I think if I was given like I should be here from 7 to 9, like that's a commitment at least I'd be willing to make just to sit down. Sorry I had to pop out. I had another meeting that I planned for 8 um and then I pop back in. So, having that defined, I think that's definitely something that could be made out. Um, we would just need to know

131like the topics beforehand. I think being able to do our own research coming in and being educated on the topic sometimes as a high schooler um if you're not necessarily in leadership positions or super involved it can be scary to come to a board of adults and say this is what I'm thinking and this is what the students are thinking if it's not necessarily like the same as everybody else around you. So having that prepared ahead of time would be super helpful. That's kind of mostly all I had. Do you guys have any questions about how the process has worked for us like coming into the role or like how we've learned what we're expected to be doing? >> When you guys have something that you want to bring just to if if it's not

132like a task that is given to you whether you're an ambassador, board member, but maybe you're hearing a lot of student voices like you did with the weather. Um is that something that you would normally run by during the principal like advis do you guys you have like a principal advisory committee? Like do you run it by Dr. Smith first and kind of like, hey, we're going to probably bring this up. Is that how that works for different types of things that maybe aren't on the board agenda? >> In the past, typically we've not done that. That's definitely a smart idea. I think the process we've gone in is hearing comments just in classrooms about what people are thinking. A lot of people, at least with like the weather, because that's the most recent example.

133A lot of people were talking about that like the week leading up and we were like, "Okay, interesting thought." and trying to hear like where that voice would be valued and it would be at this board meeting and so we kind of talked about it thought about if it was like a serious issue or if it's just like students complaining to complain because I mean we're teenagers I complained about doing homework and I do it anyways like it has to be done there's a value in it um so [laughter] I think we just evaluate if it's like a worthwhile topic and then we bring it to the board meetings but if we had a standardized process for bringing serious issues and having that go by Dr. Smith first. I think that would help. I think

134a definition is what we need. >> That's a good point though that it shouldn't always be about us tasking you to get feedback. That there should be also an avenue for you to come to us and say this is what we want to talk about. >> Thank you. And thank you for staying so late. >> Is there anything else? Do you guys want me to pop in stay? fails with it. >> Do you feel that it's beneficial because when you started you were a junior, right? >> Do you feel like it was beneficial to have a senior kind of passing some experience down, getting to shadow them a little bit and then going into the role or do you feel like if you were a senior coming and you just you would be fine? Like

135would did it make an impact to you to have someone ahead of you? >> I think it's dependent on the person. Um I come from a background in like different types of leadership roles. So, I'm someone who I can read a manual and probably do it, but I can't speak for everyone else, especially because leadership is so different depending on the person and depending on your experience with it. So, myself, I think either way was helpful. I think learning the the mentorship program part of it, I picked it up pretty quickly and just know to make my slides and go on Instagram and find pictures and find the fun things and if there's a serious topic to go pull the people around me. But if we were given a specific set of instructions going into

136it as a senior, I personally would feel comfortable stepping into that sort of role. >> This is weird not having like the Kai Grace show where I'm up here [laughter] like this. >> You man, you muddled through it well. So, >> thanks. >> Yeah. My other point, and that's I don't have any more questions for you, but I do think there's a lot of value to it because I'll give an explicit example where uh when I was on the steering committee during the development of the strategic plan, uh Zar and Darit, student ambassadors that preceded you, uh were in those meetings and they had a very valuable voice. Now, I'm always cautious um to be like just because you're a student, you obviously don't speak for every student's experience, but you are giving a student's

137experience and you're living it in a different way than any of us would be capable of. So that is uh very valuable and I just want to be careful that um like if that we define the role more clearly with a little more ambition on the task that we don't get too ambitious uh because this will be a pretty big step up I think and even to Kristen's point I mean sometimes our meetings uh in open session don't end till you know 11 o'clock and they are students so uh that would be part of the process of figuring out how we can maybe manage that a little bit. um you know because they are kids and they do have school and that kind of thing but uh I do think there would be a lot

138of value to it. I agree with you on that. >> Um at the eye conference I I attended a session with Asiggo. Um so I got to meet their student board members, their superintendent and the teachers that are involved in that whole program. And the thing that really stuck with me is the superintendent said, um, our our students are are our primary stakeholders and without their voices at the table, we're just a bunch of grown-ups trying to make changes for kids and that's not going to happen. Um, and that just that really stuck with me and it it they are the primary stakeholders of of anybody that's there who we're here for. So, I I'm very very supportive of us getting as much student voice to the table as possible. Um, and I think the

139nice thing about there being all these districts nearby that do it is that we won't have to reinvent the wheel. We I'm sure they had those same concerns when they started the programs. I'm sure they have I know at as we go they talked about like some of sometimes the students have to leave early because they have other commitments or it's just sort of meeting to meeting and they figure it out and if it's going too late they say you know what you get out of here we'll talk to you next time like go to bed. Um [laughter] but it's I I think there's definitely ways around any of the any of the concerns we might have. Um and I think there's a lot of folks we could talk to to get a better sense

140of of how it works. If I might add, um Kai and I here are here for a couple more months. I can't speak for Kaia because the choir their schedule is crazy. Usually I just work on Tuesdays. So if I have a board meeting, I like plan out the next couple hours after it with meetings. But if you guys are trying to pilot anything and have sort of drafted ideas, I'd be completely willing willing personally to sit in and try some things out because I go to bed pretty late anyways and I can just do my homework beforehand. So I don't mind trying things out. if you have any expectations or definitions that you want to test before we're gone. >> That picks up on one of my thoughts. I mean, I'm I I think

141the idea is great. I think there's an opportunity here to kind of expand the student ambassador role into something else. And when you change it, I think it's better to rebrand it or make it so that they feel and they are recognized as a part of the process. Right? ambassador implies that you're relating and liaisoning between people as opposed to the the member is a part of the the process. Right. So I I I get that. Um I the the thing I my a couple of things is one I want to before we get out of here on this particular topic kind of talk what we all think the next steps are with it so this doesn't fall apart and not get moved forward if it we're all interested which sounds like most of us

142are. Um is that one I think I we may take you up on your offer of um involving maybe our current student ambassadors in the process of figuring that out. Right? So I'm just putting that out there as an idea, but to be able to whatever format and whatever information we do, we bring students in because I can I know how busy my kids were, but they were generally in music. So that's one type of busy, you know, they're not in music and sports and this and that, you know. So that that's some things to figure out those problems so we can try to minimize the number of them. So this is a sustainable process, you know, same things that the the the girls flag football were talking about like resources, availability, sustainable. It's the

143same premises and the same challenges that we need to work through. Um I I also think we need to work through, you know, I'm just going to echo a couple of things. One, you know, attendance of the meetings. have very very long meetings probably 60% of it right now are things that I wouldn't imagine that they need to particularly sit through you know so yes I think the meeting could be stacked in a way to be able to expand on you know even if there was a section or whatever we might come up with that's a student voice section you know that's in it to give them an opportunity to speak more than a BPS partner you know um and then that commitment and their availability you know I know some some students look at

144this as this is a stepping stone for a career or things that I want to do and that's very important and want to give them that potential opportunity but I don't I also want to make sure they don't you know sacrifice other things that they're really focused on and they have to make that choice too right you know as a part of that and then I guess the last thing is I've been a little bit about the nomination process and if there's a way in that of getting some student voice in that process whether that's an an election to a set of nominations that comes through to us to pick from, you know, so that we because you could put it out there as an open call and we get 300 students that want to

145be a part of it and how do we narrow that down or is it chosen through the student groups that they may all nominate people from those student groups so that they could be brought into the process or you know I don't know I'm just saying I think there's a lot to talk about here and this is not a quick decision makingaking process in my head right now. So I guess one is working backwards on it. Does anybody have a specific kind of when are student ambassadors done? I mean you're going away soon. >> They're they're both uh graduating. So >> So there's an opportunity here >> because I don't think we don't have anything has I'm not on the committee. Is there not We don't have two other student ambassadors. >> Not right yet.

146So there's an opportunity. >> That's usually October, isn't it? >> Yeah. We get some for next year. Yeah. Yeah. So there's an opportunity here to look at this if there's a commitment on the board to be able to maybe spend some time at you know upcoming meetings or do we establish a small committee to be able to work through it and present it back to the board on allow the policy committee like what are the thoughts? >> Yeah, I think we need to put something together and I'm I'll I'll volunteer to be one of the representatives to help with that. >> Um hello. >> Yeah. Well, if you do it, >> please, [laughter] please don't excuse me from that. I would love to help with that. And I do want to say I looked at

147IASB and just for timeline sake, I believe it is your August through June is where they have student board members um typically serve. So, um they come on in August and then they exit in June. So, if this is something that we are looking at, you would want to have them in place by June. I don't know that they do anything over the summer necessarily, but that way in August they're ready to go and then >> training process. >> Yeah. And then you would bring on two new ones or however many in the next June. It's a one-year terms. >> I've read some of the ones I looked at that some of them are two-year terms. So there's one junior and one senior >> so that you are alternating every year. So you never end

148up with two training two people at the same time. >> That makes sense. Also, like the two-year term gives them a chance to get their feet out from under them. And then when like the senior is focusing on I got to get ready to go to school and how do I find my dorm and all this other stuff, someone's there to support them in that process. >> Yeah, that makes sense. >> Does that make sense? >> Some of them have alternate board members to student board members too like has primaries but then they also have their >> back in case someone has to work. >> Yeah. >> Right. >> Swing singers or whatever it might be. >> Right. That makes sense. I think Wester had three that when I was listening They might have had

149four, but there were three that I was listening to at the same time. And the other thing that they had really specified, and we kind of looked at this in the ambassador, I know Erin and when you and I had talked about that last year was just really trying to pick people who would had um different backgrounds um so that you do have voices that come from different groups um and so you know, maybe someone's really heavily invested in um certain sports and maybe someone's more key club and stuff like that. So like where you don't have just two band kids or two choir kids or two this or that. Like it that was a really big point. Um which I think then helps alleviate the problem of them being gone at the same time

150>> for everything >> does help me. >> Yeah. >> Right. So I heard Rob, I heard Danielle. >> So what are so like what are we asking Rob and Danielle to do I guess is the question. I think uh well you guys can chime in but I think me and Danielle should probably get together and >> okay >> kind of put a game. >> Is everybody okay with those two start paper and stuff like that? >> Okay. >> I mean because if there were three of you we got to hold a full on board meeting. So no >> you know at least notice and everything else. So >> just call us ask them for everything they have. [laughter] What you got? >> Yeah. >> Are these conversations you would want and I on or >>

151they may plan that. So I think as a part of them figuring out their framework, they may reach out to you. >> Yeah. >> Especially knowing you're interested. I think that's Yeah. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> All right. >> So one last funny comment I think though. So you talk about the meeting. So when I was watching that as ago meeting, I'm trying to scroll through. I was like, when is this student ambass [laughter] board member going to talk? you know, and they went through financials, all kinds of like curriculum stuff, and it's a two-hour me, it was a two-hour meeting, and then at hour and 40 minutes, I finally I'm like, where is this thing? And then finally, the student board members started talking. [laughter] >> Yeah, >> they're in the back doing

152their homework on. [laughter] >> Okay. So, next steps when I you two will get together, figure it out. If you feel like you want to present something at the next board meeting, I'll let you two make the determination to let Tom and I know what board meeting will be ready for to be able to put that in another board discussion item. >> Sure. >> Does that make sense to everybody? What would be nice to know is if we think this is going to be a not this next year thing, then let's look at since we have we're losing two student ambassadors, we may need to get a student ambassador in for next year if we think that this isn't going to be that, you know, because we might take more time or we need to

153work past because clock is running. We got to be able to get them figured out before June for next year. Or we could get two student ambassadors and try to kind of slowly some of the things >> if we're not ready to like jump in >> right in >> that's up to the process that you guys want to present. >> Just I'm putting it out there that I I I personally would hate to have a void for an entire year as we >> we probably know do need to uh get with Dr. Smith and uh get some get the process going for student ambassadors. We have kids ready to go. >> Well, unless you end up what I think what Craig is saying is unless we end up putting this in place to go for

154next year and then you end up having student board members. >> Yeah. >> Instead of ambassadors, >> if these two get together and say, "Here's a plan to be able to get this done before next August and we all agree, yes, we can do that, then great." >> You know, >> or if there's a plan to say, "We're going to do student ambassadors and a student board member for one year." No, hybrid. One's a one's an ambassador and the other's a board member for the year. That way you can feather in the two-year term thing. I there's >> two good people working on it. >> Excited to hear what you guys think. >> Make sense? >> Okay. Anything else on the student ambassador member discussion? Thank you for bringing that up. All right. Uh administration

155comments. Tom. >> Yes. Um, thank you. Byebye. >> Have a good night. >> You too. >> Um, I wanted to thank everyone across the entire organization for all the experiences and opportunities that you continue to provide our students every day here at BPS 101. As we continue to recognize Black History Month and the meaningful learning that continues to take place across our district, uh we were recently reminded of a a sad loss, a very unfortunate loss uh of Reverend Jackson, who for me growing up in Chicago, um you know, it was more of a a news cycle all the time growing up in the decades and hearing that and [snorts] acknowledging that we've lost a steadfast advocate for equity and public education. I believe that's one of the big stances he took for decades in

156creating a more equitable funding formula or solution for schools especially to reach kids who were poor in poverty or those that were not always represented through our our process that we educate kids. Um, and so I think in helping bringing those uh uh playing fields a little closer to together and also in my personal experience having stood in spaces with leaders such as Ruby Bridges and Maya Angelo and listened to them deliver their powerful messages and reminders about the enduring power of public education and what education did for them and what it does for everyone else. Um, I think the transformation transformative I'm saying that wrong, power of what we do is important. I still recall learning personally as a young boy uh being first introduced to Langston Hughes and his poem I too and

157just thinking about the messaging behind that about dignity uh the ability to endure and creating a more inclusive society. And um those that was one of the first uh works I can remember as a student having a really powerful impact on me. Um, and so I think there's a lot of uh of that work that resonates in today's society that I hope that we continue to reflect on. And today our students as they continue to navigate their life in our district um they will continue to be that generation that I believe um they have such a big responsibility in front of them because as they grow, they're growing up faster than we are. And we're in a place now we have to teach just beyond the content. They already have access to it within seconds.

158Uh we have to continue to teach about critical thinking, discernment, respectful dialogue, and the ability to to be able to disagree and agree productively together in our society. So in a world that often pushes a very us versus them narrative um and loves to create volume over truth or dialogue, um I believe we got to stay anchored to our mission here at BPS 101. So we're going to continue to focus not just on the academic growth but our social social emotional development which shapes the whole student under our portrait of a graduate. And in the words of all the supporters during uh Reverend Jackson's time uh as he ran for public office, he ran for presidency twice um before that was even a considered option. Um that for our youth we say keep hope alive

159and that was one of the big slogans that he used to have with his camps. So keep hope alive. We got a great tomorrow coming with with the kids that we're raising as a village. So that's it. >> Thank you. Board comments. >> Tom just mic dropped it. I don't [laughter] >> Nobody ever >> kind of did, didn't he? >> That's great. >> I can start. >> You have You do all the time anyway. >> I don't think I did last year. >> You did not. Yeah, somebody else jumped in. Candy jumped in. So, thank you. Uh, one of my favorite Jesse Jackson moments was when he was on Sesame Street and I highly recommend so good. I am somebody. It's one of my favorites. Uh, I didn't I hadn't planned anything to say, but

160then Madison, is that her name? The buddy bench. medicine shake. >> I was thinking when she was speaking so eloquently that she is doing this and she's a fourth grader and there are going to be kids five years from now sitting on that buddy bench. And so this fourth grader is like having an impact on kids coming up after her. And then our ambassador who's graduating got up and said, "You know, I would have loved to have flag football." And so she was also thinking about the students that are coming after her. And I I love to hear about the MAP scores. It's amazing. But I think sometimes those characteristics that we're creating in these students don't always get acknowledged. But that's amazing to have students who don't only think about their impact on themselves

161and their, you know, fellow classmates now, but to think about all the kids coming behind them. It's just it touched me today. That's all I have to say. >> Okay. Yeah. So, you know that I want to thank everyone that um the girls flag football all the comments there and it made me start to think you know as a father of a daughter who was very active in sports here at Betavia um it is a big definition of who she was or who she is um the experiences that she had uh participating in those activities and I think really there's also a Bavia experience I like to say and I think it's different. It is different here. Um and in order to get that we need to make sure we have like the right people,

162the right coaches, the right facilities. We have to make that experience the best possible for the students. So um it is ultra important that we get flag football going as soon as possible um for the sake of the kids. Um but uh I do understand we have to do it the right way to make sure that experience is what it should be for these girls. So, um, and then on Black History Month, so please indulge me here for a second, and you brought up Jesse Jackson, um, and he deserves all the accolades, but happened to be listening to NPR in January, and they um, they had a feature on a on an individual that I thought was like pretty it was to me it was very inspiring. and it's it's individuals that uh are not

163high-profile uh people but have made a big impact on our lives. So, um I'm going to read something courtesy of uh NPR. Give credit to NPR and Wikipedia, but uh if you'll indulge me here, uh and this is for Black History Month. Um, next time you plug an address into an app for directions or tag a social media post with your location, please take a second to thank Glattis West. She was an African-American mathematician who helped to develop the algorithms that made GPS possible. Dr. West was born in 1930 in Virginia. Her family was a sharecropper uh farmers. Uh, Wes saw education as her way to a different life. At West High School, the top two students from each graduating class received full scholarships to Virginia State College, a historically black public university. Wes graduated

164as Valley Victorian in 1948 and received the scholarship. Um, at BSU, she chose to study mathematics, a subject that was mostly studied by men at the time. Wes graduated in 1952 with a bachelor of science degree in math and began as a teacher. And she did that for a few years, but then returned to BSU to complete a master's degree and graduated in 1955 where soon after she was hired at the Naval Proving Grounds in Virginia. Um, she was the second black woman hired and one of only four black employees. She was a computer programmer in um they call it dog vision. I'm not sure what that means but and a project manager for processing systems for satellite data analysis. Um meanwhile in the spirit of continuing education she earned a master's degree in public

165administration from the University of Oklahoma. So Dr. West was inducted inducted into the United States Air Force Hall of Fame in 2018. one of the highest honors bestowed by Air Force Space Command. Uh the press release hailed her as one of the hidden figures part of the team who did computing for the US military in the area be in the era before electronic systems. So I just wanted to share that about Dr. West. Think about that with your GPS now. >> Uh yes. So just along the lines, happy Black History Month. Happy Lunar New Year, happy Ramadan, happy fat Tuesday, Ash Wednesday starts tomorrow. >> Um, and then just along with the flag football. Um, so yeah, growing up, uh, I had my two oldest brothers always watched me, so I always had to tag

166along and of course I always had to play their sports. Um, so that got me hooked on. I remember when I was in 8th grade and it was our class field trip and it was really boring. So, uh, we pulled over and we went to a like a park district type place and so we were playing football and so being that I always had to play against my brothers who was one was four years older and the other one was two years older um I was pretty good and I had their own dads. That's why you want to tell the story to tell. >> No, not at all. One of the chaperoon dads was like, "Have you ever thought about playing football?" And I'm like, "I can't play football." Right? Because at the time there

167was no girls in football. It just couldn't do it. So, it was kind of like, "Well, I can't do it." So, I just play the other sports that I can't play. So, I just think it's important um that Yeah. Like you know Rob says like of course we'll do it the right way but it is important to have opportunities because I think when I was in high school then we started like the WNBA came you know slowly and surely you know girls sports are getting recognized and getting introduced. So but so yeah I think it is important to have the opportunities that I didn't have. Uh, all right. So, happy Black History Month. I do want to commend uh Madison when she spoke. Uh, incredible poise for a fourth grader to get up there. Uh,

168her eloquence and, uh, what she was able to accomplish out of the goodness of her heart. So, yes, it's very inspiring. Uh, you know, people are coming about the flag football team. Uh I'm very embedded in that situation having a coach and spent a lot of time with all the girls that spoke tonight being on the field with them coaching them. And uh just kind of what I go back to is in my life like anytime uh things are getting heavy or maybe I'm losing the sight. I always go back to the kids and the kids have that purity of heart and uh ambition and uh clarity. sometimes they don't get bogged down in uh some of the things that can clutter adults mind. So, I was proud of all the girls that spoke tonight

169and their families that were here and I know that we're going to do it the right way and when that opportunity comes for them that uh we'll all be out there cheering them on and formed to do the best they can. Um I want to again welcome Mr. Mikl to BPS 101. It was a pleasure to meet his family. Um, you know, I think he has big shoes to fill, but uh, I know he's going to do a great job for us. Um, I want to thank everyone who submitted nominations for the Hall of Honor. We had a flood of nominations before the window closed. We're going to have a vote next week. So, very shortly we will, uh, be able to announce the new inductees. And then I want to touch again on the

170map testing. So, I know Mr. It's been talked about a couple times, but the results were when I saw them, I almost like fell out of my chair because I've been kind of trained that this is a big shift that takes a long time to to move. And um Dr. Newkerk, you can jump in here because I'm going to botch this, but MAP testing is this benchmark for testing students K through eight uh as far as a percentage that meet the projected goals of growth. And we went from in 2025 to 2026 in math from 64 to 71% in reading from 57 to 68. And if you go back to 2023, the numbers go for math from 53 to 71 and reading goes from 53 to 68. And that's a significant increase. I know that's

171not an accident. There was a lot of hard work and planning and uh collaboration with the parents and and self-reflection on where we were falling short. So, I just want to say that that's uh very exciting, very encouraging, and I just want to thank all the stakeholders who had a part in in seeing our kids grow at that kind of rate. Job well done. That's it. >> All right. Um, on the note of Black History Month, um, I mean there are so many, you guys have done such a great job kind of just outlining a couple things and, um, I think one thing that I just kind of wanted to talk about was black joy, black resistance, um, black community. like when I when I dive into learning, those are all those all are things

172that have been brought to us um by so many black leaders in the time in this country. And um I've learned a lot from it. And I think we all um I there's just so much that goes into experiencing what their community experiences and continues to experience, but show up and show up and show up and show up. And so it takes so much effort. Um it's a resistance to find to have moments of joy. It's a resistance to have community. It's resistance to gather and share meals and it's beautiful and I just I really like to take time just to kind of think about that and try to find those moments in my life just to slow down just to resist by resting. Um, and I'm really thankful for just various ways that black

173history has been able to be ingrained in my life and I've intentionally done that and it's it's absolutely wonderful and it just again we wouldn't have so many things in this life without that. Um, and um, to go back to Madison and go back to the students who spoke and all of that, I'm really big into like patterns and like that kind of stuff. And um Kristen, actually something you you mentioned it made me feel like kind of what I was speaking to you about the student board members, right? Like it's not always about the academic piece. It's about the character. It's about caring so much for another student. Um these students in this district care so much about each other. They stand up for each other. Even when it doesn't impact them, there's no

174stake in it for them. they show up at this podium that a a fourth a fourth grader a you know a high schooler doesn't matter you middle schoolers they're showing up and I I know the girls who spoke tonight for flag football they're not just speaking for themselves right they're speaking for their sixth graders their third graders everyone in this community and it's really wonderful students will just never ever I'm just consistent just overwhelmed [clears throat] by the amazing things they can do she was phenomenal And just to think about, you know, like you said, like just there's there's going to be like more kids that come on and that's like her her legacy she's leaving behind. It's just it's just so wonderful. Um, and for flag football, I just want to bring back to

175their I 918 petition signatures and you know, I'm really big about petitions because to to I want everyone who is involved in that process and that's 918 individual voices who are like, "Yes, please do this and please find a way to do this like quickly and the right way and all those things." Um, and I know that, you know, ideally it would be a sport and I don't know that we're not part of that conversation. And I hope if it can't be a sport because of really good reasons that it could be a club or something because I just I hear these these young athletes talking about how they have to go outside of what's available here. And um it would be really sad for them to miss an entire year and then start up

176as a 10th grader or whatever it might be or miss a chance even if they graduate before they can join. Um and I just I don't want them to be left out. So, I'm just so proud of them for writing in, for their parents, for taking the time, and it's it was awesome to um just kind of read their emails and hear them speak. So, yeah. >> Okay. Um, not to beat a dead buddy bench, um, but [laughter] I I also was extremely I'm I'm I'm noticing the students using their voices a lot recently and I think that's really just appropriate based on the conversation that we had tonight and wanting to welcome more of their voices. um the empathy that Madison expressed with the buddy bench and and getting that all together, the enthusiasm

177and the attempts to make equal a football situation between girls and boys. You know, boys football is so beloved, it it almost seems absurd to have no female representation in such a beloved institution. Um, and then even the kids who, and I guess I shouldn't as a board member say this, but said attendance be damned and walked out last Friday and walked over to Randall Road uh to make their voices heard. That was really something special. They took care of each other out there and it it was just really beautiful. They went and bought each other water and food and they they made their voices heard and it was really really really wonderful to witness. So, um, I'm just really proud of all of the students for using their voices. Um, and happy Black History

178Month as well. And that's all I've got for this month. >> Okay. >> A couple things. I'm going to echo what Kristen said, like the whole point of the point, the portrait of a graduate is to find the other beyond the MAP scores and the academics, right? And that was a big part of that conversation. we a couple of us were going through it back in the day of letting that kind of develop itself through teacher input, parental input, surveys, the whole thing for community members, business members, and all that stuff. So, I I'm glad to see that's kind of beginning to kind of reach some some awareness at a minimum and rewards at the maximum, right, where people are paying attention to it. And it's one thing I've always seen about our entire community

179is that, you know, that everybody's trying to help out each other. And it's one of the things I'm proud of to be in the the the Betavia School District community. Um couple one other thing I want to mention is um I sometimes forget about all of the kind of the band stuff, but I just I'm not sure anybody here knows about it, but I think it was this past weekend. Um they do kind of a a band high school band kind of festival, but it's hosted here at BAC. So add that to another thing that BAC does. The thing that's really neat and important about it is this is not for the best bands in the Illinois area. It's for the concert band level kids to have an opportunity to come to do this and

180to play in front of others and to get the coaching sessions and to get that experience that a lot of the higher level kids get. So I really kind of and it's very heavy student involvement. a lot of students come and assist, you know, Chris Owen and the other directors that are in a part of that process. So, I just want to kind of bring that out because it's one of the really neat things about kind of kind of belonging and community and that sort of stuff that we don't often hear about that's kind of specifically targeted at the like not the best of. And that's okay. Plenty of kids are busy. This is where they want to be and it's too bad they don't they don't get these things sometimes. So, I applaud all

181of them for that. So, um, and I will just echo everybody else's comments because as usual, everybody says it better than I do. So, thank you very much for your comments and I will, um, we're going to be having another close session. So, the board will close in closed session. We will not have any action items after the closed session. You three four are welcome to stay here if you like, but if you decide to leave, we want to thank you guys for sticking around today. And the time is 9:25 and I will entertain a motion to move to close session as allowed under the open meetings act for the purposes of exceptions 5 ILCS 120C1. >> So moved by Raquel. >> Second by Aaron. Please lead us a roll call vote. >> Yes. >>

182Carol. >> Yes. >> Thomas. >> Yes. >> All paying attention. Yes. >> Thank you.