001I know joist. I know studs. I know drills. I have to know the different music. We're writing music. You have to know the notes. You have to help with guitars. Yes, I can kind of play guitar. I can kind of play the keyboard. I had to know the different art things, the perspective drawings. The regular ed kids ask us for help. This is on a daily basis. I'm exhausted mentally by the time I get home. I love this job. I love these kids. I probably had some of your kids. I don't know. I I just I've never spoke at one of these. I've never been to one of these. I'm not complaining. I just don't know if everybody knows what some of us actually do. I make more decisions in a day than probably a
002surgeon. We all do. We're exhausted. But we love it and we love these kids. But I have to know a lot of different subjects, not just one, not just two. And I got to know thoroughly. I got to know who's got adapted, who gets pull out, who gets this, who gets that. And I got to know Johnny on the if I've got to help a child not lose their fingers in a bandsaw today. And that's exhausting because it's tiring. It's a lot of work. And I think you would all understand. We all have a different story. We all have different kids. But I've had 25. 25 that I don't want to violate their IEP. I want to give them what they deserve and what they need. And I love every single one of them. As
003much of a pain in the butches, some of whom are. I love them all. But I just wanted to let you know that maybe you just didn't know what some of us carers do during the day from, you know, Central 7:40 to 3:10. I'm constantly going, constantly helping, thrown into a class that I've never been into before. And I hate ELA. Everybody at Central knows this. I hate it, but I was thrown into that eighth grade ELA and it was awful, but I did it. And I learned something, you know. So, I just wanted to say that. I don't know if you had know what some of us have done, but like I love this job, but it's exhausting. It really is exhausting, but these kids are the most important thing to us. So, thank
004you very much. Thank you. Okay, we'll move on to union reports. that one. Hey, some news from the buildings. There's so much to report from CMS. Band students have been busy with a trip to Nashville and Super State in Champagne. The Moana performance was fabulous with all students, actors, and crew doing a really amazing job. There are lots of activities across all grades and students are excited to attend. Tonight, the graduating eighth graders are showing off their dance moves at CD and me. Probably don't want to go there. The staffs and students at FER have been busy bees. We celebrated the end of April with the science fair in which over 60 students participated. There are many other ongoing exciting events that students and staff are celebrating. To name a few, we had a successful
005buy one get one free book They are organized by our media center director. We have a schoolwide ABC countdown with many creative ideas such as anything but a backpack day to outdoor learning day. We look forward to explore more and field day as we near the end of another successful year with our amazing students, staff, and school leaders, Mrs. Lenor and Mrs. Zimny. At Fulton, it's already been a very busy month for the Fulton community. Children's author Renee Galvin visited and inspired students. Staff and the PTO worked cooperatively to host a garden party, stream night, art show, and book fair for families. Lincoln Special Recreation Association came to Fulton for the fourth year for a PE takeover during which students developed a better understanding of overcoming physical challenges while having a blast playing games. Cruz
006did a pet drive for Tony Park Claws. It was very successful. Food toys and assorted pet supplies were collected and donated. Cruz also had a storming science field trip. The bilingual, sorry, bilingual ELLL department in collaboration with Kim Hartnik had an inschool field trip that entertained and educated the students with facts and videos about tornadoes. Storming science brought a tornado sim simulator and created a cloud which the students fully enjoyed. And Dr. Jazar took care of all the news at Memorial. So I won't Give us good evening. >> Hello. Um, just to let you guys know, the ESP union and administration, we have been negotiating in good with good communication in the last couple months or so. Um, I want to make sure that everybody does truly understand what negotiation is all about. We list
007our wants and then we actually decide what our true needs are. However, both sides have been confident. We do have a confidentiality understanding. However, recently it has been breached and we're hoping that it will be addressed. As Ann had said, we want to make sure you guys understand what the support staff actually do. We are vital to the schools. You have safety clerks, secretaries, level one techs, nurses, health clerks, parists, and immediate clerks. Do you really even know that we have five people media clerks that do not even qualify for the benefits because of 15 minutes a day? That equals 24 hours a year. They don't qualify for benefits. So therefore, if they need insurance, they have to go out to the marketplace and get their own insurance. Um, there is a solution to increase
008their time to get them their benefits. However, we're only looking at finances at this point. We need to look outside the box and see what else we could do to get those people to become full-time employees. We are told same as as usual in the last couple contracts that I'm aware of. No, that's not right. That's not fair to these five people. Five people within our district. They can't qualify for benefits. Think about it. If you went to a job and you were told, "Sorry, benefits are not included, but you can take the job and you are important to the district. You are important to the school." you will be seeing every school, every student within that building to get them their books that they need to get our scores up for map reading and
009such, but yet sorry, we can't give you those 15 minutes extra a day or even we could get them to be we could get them even 30 minutes a day, but sorry, it ain't going to happen. That's just not fair. all the ESP supports teachers and administration and students. Paris, we work with challenge students. You heard it from Ann. She's across the board. 25 students, one person. She's basically a teacher, but she doesn't have a certification, but she still handles 25 students. We also work we work with challenge students. We work in assisting the teachers, secretaries. They take care of absenteeism, safety clerks. Well, I'm hoping that just says it itself. We're trying to keep all the buildings safe. They monitor the buildings level one tech. They keep up with the technology and making sure
010that the teacher staff um and the students and the teachers, they have the equipment to teach the students, nurses, they support obviously the health concerns of each building. Media clerks, as I said, they keep the book books circulating in the libraries. And these are just a few of the examples that how the support staff truly does support teachers, admin, and students. I don't know how a building would run without support staff. All prek through 8th grade. How many students do we actually uh serve that actually need the support? Think about it. We have kids that have behavioral issues. Now, in the last 10 years that I've been in the district, behaviors have escalated. Um, multi- need students are coming here because they know that they will be included, that they will be taken care of.
011The paras really do care about them. They're not just, "Yeah, here's this and class aside." We love what we do and we really treat them as if they are part of our family. When was the last time that you were in our build on a school day. We understand you guys have jobs, but do you truly understand how many decisions that we are making and what we do? How can you make a decision about our schools, what we do, how we should be paid if you're not walking the halls seeing what we're doing on a daily basis and seeing what we're putting up with. Do you understand? Like I said, we have different behaviors. We have different multimemes. the things that we put up with hitting, biting, punching, yelling, etc. The social emotional has changed
012so much. So much in the last 10 years that I've been a part of it. I was a sub I was a substance teacher beforehand. I didn't see those behaviors five years and now I've been a pair of it has just escalated. I see behaviors in preschool that, you know, is only going to get worse. I see how they're entering. What are we doing? How else can we support our support staff? We know that the supporting of the kids, this affects their life skills. They need their life skills to go further. Many of them are even becoming now tradesmen, doctors, nurses, lawyers. We need to support these people. Now, in the last two contracts that Tai's been a part of, we received support received 3.25% 25%. Really think about it. Somebody who's making $15 an
013hour, 3 and a4% that's 45. Doesn't make any sense. And then, of course, you got the insurance cost, which has risen. The last 5 years, anywhere from 5 to 9%. In the next 5 years, it's projected to be 8 to 10% increase. Think about it. That means we haven't gotten a raise. We're actually negative. I've actually had some of the union members come to me and go, "How am I making less money now than I did a couple years ago?" Well, you know, insurance is in rates. Insurance costs have gone up. Yes, it's gone up for the district. They've also gone up for us. And yes, it is a benefit for us to receive, but the costs have increased. Cost of living just isn't fair to us. We need to be competitive not only to
014other with other districts and so that we can attract the people that we want to come and work and stay at D146. The last couple years I've seen multiple multiple support staff leave to go to other districts because they're making more money. They just don't see it or they don't want to be hit, punched, yelled at, and go through the social, emotional behaviors themselves that the kids are going through because they say it just isn't worth it. Just isn't fair. We have the hardest, most physical, demanding job, but yet we're paid the least. Not fair. Now, we get it. Education is not a money-making business, and there's only so much money to be divied up. loving our students. That is a good pay for us. Not paying the bills though. Sorry. It just doesn't make
015us want to return to work every day. The love of the kids makes us want to come back. Some people are going to argue saying, "Oh my gosh, you're asking for a raise that's going to increase our property taxes." That's baloney. I'm a real estate agent. I see the increases that have happened. Most of the support staff have taken a second job. Mine's real estate. I know the property values in this area. I know how property values have increased in the last seven years. They have doubled and I'm sure we all have enjoyed those. And that's going to increase your taxes. Please help to support staff with fair with getting fair wage increase at least what the teachers have gotten. It should be more. We are paid. We have less of a salary. Much less
016than a salary. Half of it. Even more than that, what the teachers are making. We need to be paid more. We work hard. Thank you. Can I have a motion for the consent agenda? >> I move we move that the board of uh board of education approves the consent agenda item 7.1 approval of minutes. 7.2 approval of close session minutes. 7.3 approval of destruction of close session tapes. 7.4 approval of financial items. 75 approval of personnel item. >> Is there a second? >> I second. >> Any discussion? Secretary. Secretary, please call the RO. >> Schmidt, >> yes. >> Boehner, >> yes. >> Gasper, >> Yes. Lloyd, >> yes. >> Barry, >> yes. 7.6. Approval of contract renewal for regular transportation services with the first student formerly American school bus company for fiscal year 2027 to
0172029. >> Yes. Uh no changes from last month when this was in in a year proposal 5% increase the first year and a half each of the next years. We're happy with the service and recommend Thank you. Is there a motion? >> I move the board of education approve the regular education transportation renewal contract with first student for FY 2027 to 2029 as presented. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Any discussion? Secretary, call the role, please. >> Yes. >> Casper. >> Yes. >> Cameron. Lloyd. >> Yes. Yes. 7.7 approval approval of contract renewal for special education transportation services with sunrise for for fiscal year 2027. >> Uh same thing uh same as info presented last month. This is special transportation also a contract. This one is 4%. >> Can I have a motion?
018Move the board of education approve the special education transportation renewal contract with sunrise for fiscal year 2027 to 2029 as presented. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Secretary call the role. >> Yes. >> Cameron gas. >> Yes. 78. Approval of intergovernmental agreement between district 146 and Tony Park District. >> Yes. There's been no changes to this agreement since it was an info item last month. I'm looking forward to continuing the relationship with district. >> Have a motion. >> I move that the board of education approve the intergovernmental agreement between district 146 and the park district. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Secretary call the role. >> Yes. Mayor, >> yes. >> 7.9 Approval of F PTO gift to Furick Education Center. >> We really do have outstanding PTO and PTAs
019in our district. Dr. mentioned the fine folks in Memorial. Um the folks over at Fer would like to gift Education Center um just under $8,400 for media center furniture. The proposal hasn't changed since it was an applicable item last month and I am recommending that the board accept that gift. >> Is there a motion? >> I move that the board of education approve the gift to the education center from the PTO for the purchase of media center furniture as presented. >> Is there a second? >> Any discussion? >> Secretary call the roll. >> Schmidt. Yes. Boehner. >> Yes. Yes. 7.10. Approval of board meeting dates for fiscal year 27. >> Yes. These are the same dates that were proposed last month. Um these are the regular meetings of the board of education for for fiscal
020year 27. >> Is there a motion? >> Move the board of education approve the regular board meeting dates for fiscal year 2027 as a second. >> I do. Okay. >> Any discussion? Secretary, call the role. >> Schmidt, >> yes. >> Gas, >> Yes. 7.11. Approval of items to be declared as surplus for sale, donation, or disposal. >> Yes. This list is the same as you saw last month. Um, this is chapter one of I don't know how many chapters of Mr. Shanahan recovering space at the warehouse. These are items that are no longer in use by the district but still have value and we'll be looking to either sell or donate or dispose of them as surplus. >> Is there a motion? >> I move that the board of education approve the itemized equipment and
021materials to be declared as surplus. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Secretary, call the role. >> Yes. >> Casper, >> Yes. Okay. Moving on to information 8.1 district 146 e-learning. >> Hi. Um, thanks. So, uh, the way that this process works is I've met with a committee of teachers, couple principles on there. We had a nice, uh, group. We had representation from elementary and the middle school level. And so basically the teachers uh and committee got together to determine a structure and a plan that would give us some flexibility when we're not able to meet and learn in person. So having this plan um would allow us to do that. Um so it's it's a little bit different from what we're currently experiencing right now. Um the district we're going to
022um move it forward as a two-day cap on instructional days. And so if we use those two days, uh any closure we would have after that would go on as a traditional emergency closure day or a traditional snow day. Um and the the other part that uh we need to be aware of is that it is a bit of a revised structure where instead of having long sessions of synchronous instruction, there'll be a check-in uh virtually in the morning to make uh students are aware of the setup for the day, the expectations and and having a connection with them and then the asynchronous work will be assigned um where teachers and support staff will be available to um help throughout the day. So that's what we're looking at here. So it will go um towards
023action item for the board next. >> Thank you. 8.2 auditing services three-year agreement. Um our current auditors come to us with a proposal for the next three years. It's 1.1% year one 5% 5.1 there's more requirements every year placed on auditors and the audit process. So this is probably about the best that we can do. Um this month we'll be asking for what's the 5% technology fee. >> They they've so our local auditors were bought out by a national firm a few years ago and the national firm has this technology fee and they the local office has been able to keep it off of the agreement for the past couple years but they said no more being insisted on. So it's it's actually more like a 6% increase. The first year they actually came to
024me with a 5% increase plus the technology. I was able to get them down to 1.9. That's about the best. Why are we here to lack research with like they're not MPS? They're not I mean like we knew who our auditor was going to be at we know I mean a lot more turnover I mean it's a why are you here to lock us in we've had mostly the same team the past several years they are they are pretty consistent the partner in charge one presents the board every year has been the same for many years so you Why are we doing this for uh it was a way to reduce the increase in the first year by committing to a longer term? It would have been 10% for for a one-year deal. >> Is
025that a common cost? Have we ever shopped around or is it worth us looking at other options? >> Um it it's it's a process. So yeah, um yes, uh my colleagues are constantly doing surveys. Who are you using? How much are you paying? We're in the middle. Um but changing auditors usually comes with a big cost increase the first year because they have to uh right now our current auditors know our processes. Um a new company coming in would have to test everything um and spend a lot more time. So the hire that first year. Um it's not out of the question, but um I'm happy with the services that they provide. >> Thank you. All right, we'll move on to communications and correspondence. >> I can start. Uh, dear District 146, my siblings and
026I would like to thank you for the heartfelt prayers and condolences. We also want to thank you for the beautiful flower basket sent to our father's funeral services, Carmen Ford and Martinez families to >> the board of education. Thank you for Thank you. Thank you for the staff appreciation gift and lunch 146 and center staff. >> Dear district board 146 board of education, thank you very much for the wonderful lunch and monk staff gift. We appreciate it. Love the family. >> Dear District 146 school board, thank you for the lovely plant that lifted my spirits during my recovery. Grateful. Dear District 146 staff, administrators, and board members, your kindness and thoughtfulness in sending a plant with beautiful flowers for my father, Jim Blair's service, meant the world to me and my family. It brought light
027to sad days. Thank you, Brenda Cook, and family. >> Thank you. We'll move to close session. Is there a motion? >> I move that the board of education go into close session to discuss personnel and collective bargaining matters. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Any discussion? Secretary, call the role. >> Schmidt, >> yes. >> Mayor, >> yes. >> Gasper, >> Yes. Lloyd, >> Yes. There will be no um action after the close session. Thank you.