001I 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. >> Secretary, please call the role. Boehner, Dunlap >> here, Hammerneck here, Lloyd >> here, >> Barry >> here, Nenza >> here, >> Casper >> here. >> Okay, three. Uh, we're going to have student recognition. >> Yes, it's my pleasure to introduce Mrs. Dexter, Miss Barnes, and Mr. Freeland who will introduce the talent. Good evening. We wanted to tell you a little bit about what ILMA stands for and the great stuff that these kids did just a couple weekends ago. Um, so ILMA stands for Illinois Music Education Association. Illinois is divided into nine districts and Central Middle School is in district 1, which encompasses all
002of the Chicagoland area. The band and choir students you see here tonight went above and beyond to make the commitment to audition. This required extra uh learning of music, extra learning of skills. Um they auditioned by preparing and recording videos that were submitted to judges for scoring. Um the students here tonight were selected to perform in the honor bands and the honor choir. Um their day looks like they get to um Unity Junior High School. It was on Saturday, November 22nd. Uh they had the opportunity to work with guest clinicians throughout the whole day. Um they participated in rehearsals, sectionals, lunch. Um and the day culminated in an afternoon performance for family and friends. Um, for choir specifically, um, I had one student go that we'll recognize tonight. The choir this, um, year was led
003by Na, uh, Natha Martinez from Walter Payton College Prep. They sang Cece Namoja, Fly, Follow the Drinking Gourd, Can You hear me, and One More Song, and it was exquisite. Um, before I have my student come up and introduce Mr. Failen, Miss Barnes, I wanted to thank the board, Dr. Stwick, Angela, um, for organizing this recognition for our students. We really appreciate it. Um, so my student this year, um, she made it last year as well as an alto and this year she auditioned as a soprano and made it. So I would love to call up Vivian Lucco. [applause] I'll just go last. No, it's I have to go a little slow. And I'll turn over to Mr. Finland and Miss Burns. [applause] We would also like to thank all of you for giving us
004this opportunity to celebrate these wonderful musicians out here. They've worked tirelessly on their efforts, their preparation for everything. So, we'd like to go to our band students right now. Uh, Mercy Argun. [applause] Mercy was recognized as the district band. Uh, Fallon Berthole. [applause] Fallon was recognized as the band and jazz. She made it in both. Luca uh Logan Bertisovich. Um go ahead and give him a round of APPLAUSE [applause] and Luca Bertisivich as well. [applause] They are out this evening. Uh Oliver Couch. [applause] Oliver was recognized as district band. Tiana Nash Jackson. [applause] Tiana was recognized as both district band and jazz. Annabella Arona. [applause] Annabella was recognized as district band. and Emma Sage. [applause] Emma was recognized as district band. Yeah. Ban, come on. Band and choir, come on up. Let's get some pictures.
005[applause] Right up there. Three. >> [applause] [applause] >> You are welcome to stay for the rest of our meeting. If you need to leave, now would be a good time to leave. We're going to move on to our superintendent's report. Thank you. [cough] >> Thank you. I just want to remind the board and community uh we don't have a committee of the whole meeting in January. So, the next time the board convenes, we'll be at the regular January meeting, which will take place at um at the ad center right here uh on Monday, June uh January 12th, 2026. So, happy new year to everybody. Next time we see each other, it'll be 2026. Um, also want to let the board know, you might recall we recently had a a snow event that came in on
006the last day of November. Um, it's not, as you know, not unusual for us to get some snow um on a November day. It's unusual to have a snow event that could potentially close school on a November day. Uh we've since dusted off our e-learning plan and uh went through it with uh principles went through it with their staff. So um we're prepared in in the case of a snow event to do an e-learning day. Um we still have five traditional snow days on our school calendar that are at our disposal if u if the circumstances um call for that. But I just want to let the the board know that we're ready to go and our current e-learning plan is up for renewal uh in June. So we'll be [snorts] u working with our
007teachers this spring to see if there's a way to improve it, tune it up, etc. Uh and submit it to the region for approval. I'd like to let the community know and the faculty and staff know that um our standing strategic plan has come to its uh ex expiration date. That date that was written on the plan as uh as expiration isn't was an arbitrary date but it has come and passed. So, uh, the board and I spoke at committee and we believe that the the ideals, the values of the district haven't changed substantially since we uh wrote that plan. So, the board has charged me and the administration with um reviewing it, updating the terminology, vocabulary to modern um the the words that we use um in the district today and also to update
008uh the art and stock photography and such so that it's a a new looking document. It won't [clears throat] substantively change. Um, but I just wanted to let everyone know that a new version of that uh is coming and once the administration has done their work, we'll bring it to the board for the board's uh approval and if it pleases the board, they can reauthorize that um that strategic plan. We have three condolences this month. Uh Lynn Hoppenrath's husband Tom passed away unexpectedly. Lynn is currently a pair professional at Memorial. She's worked in several District 146 buildings and with staff from across the district for many years. Uh we've received news that Karen Hansen's husband, Jim Hansen, passed away. Uh Mrs. Matira shared that Mr. Hansen filled in as principal at Memorial for a short
009time when we were in transition. Karen was a pair professional at Fulton. Um and Mr. Hansen was, as I said, a temporary principal at Memorial. Um, we found out today Mike Mullen's mother-in-law, Roberta Pupa or Pupa, forgive me, Mr. Molines, if I'm saying that wrong, passed away over the weekend. A visitation will be held at Kurts in New Lennox on Thursday and privac private services will be held on Friday. So the district extends its condolences to uh the Hop and Wrath Hansen and Mullen families [snorts] as well as the Pupa family. Two celebrations we are participating in a district-wide food drive and we're pleased to announce that we pulled together and collected food donations for families that are facing food insecurities this season. uh as well as District 146 Cares, um we do our our
010annual 146 CARES drive and these donations and and volunteer efforts um allowed us to assemble and deliver care packages to families who are requiring assistance. And this kindness and teamwork are reflection of the district's deep commitment to caring for others and strengthening the community. Uh both of these efforts have been very wellreceived and I appreciate all of the 146 family members that uh made both of these a reality. So our thanks and that's all I have for the superintendent report. >> Thank you. 5.1 citizens may address the board at this time. >> No citizens. All right. 6.1 Union reports the over Broadway about the first Thanksgiving parade. The students created animals or characters on sticks to simulate balloons marching down Broadway. Miss Judah's first grade class partnered with Miss Pro's fifth grade class to make
011balloons to celebrate the book as well. The first graders marched in their own parade around school. Um, also the PT is hosting the holiday shop this week. So students are able to purchase gifts for their loved ones. They love to do that. They love to get in there with their with the names on them and go looking for just the perfect gift for all the people they care about. It's a great map. It's a kind of a map, but it's a lot of fun for everybody. Um the students at P are also celebrating the season with flat [clears throat] flat flames. The students and their families take pictures of themselves participating winter activities and families are able to send their pictures in so that the pictures can be shown on the hallway monitors in the
012school. U Memorial is doing the 12 days of Christmas cheer 12 days of cheer celebration as schoolwide to kick off the start of the winter season. Uh staff and students are using the 12 days to show school spirit unity and thankfulness. Um today I had on reindeer antlers which I was not willing to wear but everybody's getting into the spirit. It's really a lot of fun. Um some levels are working with the music teacher to learn new winter songs and movement for their annual winter showcase coming up on the 18th. your time to stay after school to help set up for the production and to make it memorable for both the students and their families. The last day of school in 2025 will be a fun day for students and staff with the whole school
013winter sing along. It's really very very touching and the winter party in the classrooms and CMS central students are really busy giving back. The builder is collecting toiletry it to help a whole community run on the 19th collecting goods for the bar food pantry and selling candy to support Best Buddies and also benefit Advocate Children's Hospital. So everyone can come out and get a little run in during the winter weather. Uh band and choir had amazing concerts. The high school bands gave a special winter performance for the eighth grade students. So there's a lot going on over there. [clears throat] And finally also up here also busy celebrating, learning and giving to others. Holidays are being celebrated at their elf shelf store like our penguin patch and students become shoppers and purchase gifts for the
014loved ones. Music in the air with a choir concert and an all school concert coming up. Students are also excited to be practicing reading skills while learning about the new topics and the new amplified CK CKLA reading series. Um, second grade is currently working on Greek um myths. We've been working also on Greek architecture. They're learning about democracy. So, a lot going on in second grade. >> Thank you. >> Okay, we'll move on. Uh, can I have a motion for the consent agenda? >> Move that we adopt 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. 7.5 approval of personnel items. >> Can I have a second? >> I second. >> Any discussion? >> Um, yeah, I actually have a little
015bit. Um, in reviewing the financial items today, um, came to my attention, something occurred to me. Um, you know, I don't know if people are aware or not. We've not actually received our um second half of the calendar year property tax payments. As of yet, um, seemingly they're not due to be paid by the county until December 15th, which means presumably we may not get paid till January. And I just thought it was worthwhile to take a minute to point out um given some of the criticism we received about how we managed the district's balance sheet over the summer that if we followed the state's recommendation and started the school year with about a 50% fund balance to budget, that would have meant about $25 million in the bank. To date, without those payments, we've
016run about a $15 million deficit through the month of November. current burn rate means we're probably if we started the year at 50% fund balance, we'd probably be heading into the month of January with a month of cash left in the bank, which means at this meeting we'd probably be talking either about bills that need to be deferred or how we're going to borrow money to make payroll. So, I just thought that that was worthwhile to point out for a second. There is a reason why the board does what they do and I would commend everyone for their fiscal prudence managing a conservative balance sheet so that when the county doesn't get around to paying us until months after it's supposed to, it's a minor annoyance instead of a major problem for the district, its
017budget, and its employees. >> Well, any other discussion? Okay. Secretary Polo. >> Uh, Dunlap, >> yes. >> Hammerick, yes. Lloyd, >> yes. >> Barry, >> yes. >> Nenza, >> yes. >> Casper, >> yes. >> All right. Nine. Action. >> No. Number eight. Action. Approval of superintendent contract. So, can I have a motion to approve the superintendent contract? I move that the board of education approve the 2025 to 2029 superintendent employment contract with Dr. Jeff Stwick. >> Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Any discussion? >> Secretary, please call the role. >> Dunlap, >> yes. >> Hammerick, yes. Lloyd, >> yes. >> Barry, >> yes. >> Denza, >> yes. >> Casper, >> yes. >> Delighted to continue the partnership. Thank you. >> All right. Number nine, action, approval of school maintenance grant application. >> Yes.
018So, we need board's uh approval to file the um application for the school maintenance grant, which will pay $50,000 if approved. We'll pay $50,000 toward the project that you'll hear about next. >> All right. Can I have a motion? >> I move that the board of education approve the school maintenance grant application uh FY26 as presented. >> Is there a second? I'll second. >> Any discussion? >> Secretary, please call the role. >> Dunlap, >> yes. >> Hammerick, yes. Lloyd, >> yes. >> Barry, yes. >> Menza, yes. >> Casper, >> yes. >> All right. 10. Action. Approval of domestic hot water boiler replacement project at Fulton. >> Matt, do you have anything you want to share about that? >> Sure. Um, Fton is 16 years old. It has seven uh ondemand domestic hot water heaters that
019supply um hot water to the bathrooms um staffs, kitchens, etc. [clears throat] Um the ones that were originally installed have a estimated life of anywhere from 12 to 15 years. We're at year 16. We've got seven and currently four are not functioning. We have some temporary uh water heaters uh in place and um we're looking move forward with this project which can be done um during the school year because the locations won't interrupt um the education of the kids. So, >> thank you. All right. Can I have a motion? >> Move the board of education approved the domestic hot water boiler replacement project at Fulton for $157,950 as presented. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Any discussion? Secretary, please call the role. Dunlap, >> yes. >> Hammerick, yes. Lloyd, >> yes. >> Barry,
020yes. >> Nanza, yes. >> Casper, >> yes. >> All right. 11 action. Approval of resolution authorizing final aggregate tax levy for the year 2025. >> Yes. Uh this is our official tax levy for the year. No changes from last month when it was info. Uh the quick summary is that the consumer price index is 2.9%. So that is the limit of what we can receive. We're asking for a little bit more because of the way they do things, but we could ask for 10 million%, we're going to get 2.9%. Um, I do want to point out there's one additional item in board docs, uh, public act 103-0394, if you see that, we also have to do an annual disclosure showing our annual expenses compared to our fund balance. This has to be done at the
021time of the levy. I'm not sure why, but um so that that document is in there. It shows our uh fund balance to average expense ratio over the past three years is 1.03, meaning we have a higher fund balance than our annual expenses. If that number goes above 2.5, uh the state requires us to do a fund balance reserve reduction plan. But we're we're at one. The number is two and 2.5. So we're a long way from it, but we just have to publicly disclose it. So that's in there as part of the levy, even though it really has nothing to do with the levy, >> if that makes sense. >> Thank you. All right. Can I have a motion? >> I move that the board of education approve the resolution authorizing the reduction of
022certain Sorry, I'm reading the wrong one. And I move that the board of education approve the resolution authorizing tax levy for the year 2025 as presented. >> Is there a second? >> I second. >> Any discussion? >> Secretary, please call the role. >> Dunlap, >> yes. >> Hammerick, yes. Lloyd, >> yes. >> Barry, yes. >> Nenza, >> Casper, >> 12. Approval of resolution authorizing reduction of certain fund levies for the 2025 levy year. >> Yes. So going along with the levy, since we ask for a little bit more than we know we're going to receive, we have to tell them where we want them to reduce. Uh so the reduction will all come out of the ed fund. That's kind of the the catchall. So that's what this resolution is. >> Thank you. >> All
023right. Can I have a motion? >> I moved that the board of education approved the resolution authorizing the reduction of certain fund levies for the 2025 levy year as presented. Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Any discussion? Secretary, please call the role. >> Dunlap, >> yes. >> Hammerick, yes. Lloyd, >> yes. >> Barry, >> yes. >> Nanza, >> yes. >> Casper, >> yes. >> Number 13, information items. >> Yes. The first item is uh a first read of new policies uh recommended by press. We had a policy meeting. Normally this is the time in the meeting where I tell you what substantive change or interesting thing is changing in this batch of updates and I could not do that with a straight face. This is mainly five-year renewals, changes in footnotes, updates, some
024terminology changes because changes in the law, but um I had trouble identifying anything that you'd uh care to hear about in public. Um, it's a big big batch of uh relatively uninteresting changes that won't change our behavior. But I do recommend to keep your policy manual current to give these a read this month and next month and then adopt them to our manual. >> Thank you. >> Is there another item? You just said first item. Okay. Number 14, communications and correspondence. >> I'll start. Thank you for the American Education Week lunchon. The ad center staff, >> thank you very much for the pizza and salad lunchon for the American Education Week. We really appreciate it. Love the Fulton family. >> Thank you for the lunch. Feric staff, >> thank you for the beautiful plant you
025sent in memory of my stepfather. Your kindness meant a great deal to us during this difficult time. My mom loved it. Lorie Kaiser. And then on the other side, dear district 146 board of education members and administrators, Oriano Ron Nomolini, stepfather of Lorie Kaiser. >> Thank you. Can I have a motion to go into close session? >> Move that the board of education go into close session to discuss personnel matters. >> Is there a second? >> I second. >> Any discussion? >> Secretary, please call the role. >> Dunlap, >> yes. >> Hammerick, yes. Lloyd, >> yes. Barry, >> yes. >> Casper, >> yes. >> Thank you. There will be no action after close session.