001call to order the public hearing on budget for the board of education for public schools district 39 this Monday August 25th 2025 will the clerk be called >> Katie Gil >> here >> Judy Berlin >> here >> Alison >> here >> Stone >> here >> Amy over you and welcome everyone. Um, we have Taylor Harvey here who will introduce our summer encouragement students to lead the pledge of allegiance. Welcome. Thanks for joining us. Thank you for joining us. Thank you for that introduction to a little presentation to share some of our results from summer enrichment. >> Yeah. Hold on. No, no, no, nope. Share. Share your screen. So this summer we had 269 students enroll in our summer maintenance program. We offer three periods a day uh three periods per day by a specific teacher
002and within those three periods 9 to 12 classes period were offered which then gave us total 43 classes. Of course classes we were able to offer intervention IEP services as well as classes like steam rocketry book club ceramics 3D printing writ club coding math photography we had our preschool program also offered a cooking class we do have some students from our cooking class here our classes were um we had really great attendance this summer families shared that their students were doing really as well as prevention programs um as well as we had kids laughing and running even though they're not supposed to run in the hallway in their next class. But overall, it was a fun summer. I was happy to be able to be at one of the sites that see their joy in
003classes. So with that, I'm going to bring some of our cooking students up here to introduce themselves and share a little bit about some of their My name is Georgia and I really like My name is Libby and I've really liked um the rice krispies and um a lot of our things that we made in cooking class this year. My name is Frankie Serno and uh my favorite part of the summer enrichment was probably we made all sorts of fun stuff in cooking. That was amazing. And I also really loved getting to meet all sorts of new people from new schools before the school year started. So, while I'm making new friends from other classes, I also have some people that I know um that areas [Music] was really fun this year and my favorite
004recipe was my name is Jackson Foley. I'm an eighth grader WJHS. Uh I really like the banana steer muffers. And then I also want to say thank you to some of my writing coaches this summer and the summer before that for helping me improve and uh starting uh and inspiring. So, >> one of the benefits to being in the cooking class is that you don't have to follow the fruits and vegetables. Um, so no, why don't you guys come up and join me and we're going to go ahead and do the lunch. United States to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Okay, thank you students very much for being here this evening. It sounds like it was a great summer and you've learned new
005things and made new friends. So, thank you for taking your time to be here with us and you can meet your parents in the lobby and we have a small token of appreciation for you out there as well. So, thank you and good luck this school year. Right up next, we have some introductions to make um as Miss Bishop and Mr. approach the podium here, please. I'll share just a little bit about two of our new administrators. I'm extremely excited to introduce Ann Bishop as our new seventh grade level administrator at WJHS. Miss. As a little bit of background, Miss Bishop's experience as both an educator and leader in our district 39 community has made her an ideal candidate for this position. Miss Bishop has spent the last nine years at Highress Middle School as
006a beloved sixth grade science and social studies teacher, showcasing her well-rounded abilities as both a classroom educator and a community builder among district 39 students, staff, and families. During her tenure, Miss Bishop also served as a teacher leader on a variety of committees, including most recently the district strategic advisory team, the social studies curriculum committee, the 58 science curriculum committee, and the joint leadership team for culture and climate. In addition to her work in the classroom and on district committees, Miss Bishop has also served as the president of the Wilma Education Association for the last four years. In this role, she collaborated with teachers, building leadership, and district administration as an advocate for our district educators and students to help ensure a well-rounded educational experience for the children of Wilmet. Miss Bishop has positively affected
007the highest community through her work with school clubs, including speed cubing, cross country, and debate to help to enrich the students sense of belonging through shared interests. We are thrilled to have Miss Bishop continuing within District 39 and are excited for her continued contributions within this new role for her. Please join me in welcoming Miss Bishop to [Music] >> Hi everybody. Um I have to say that the last nine years of working at Highest have just been an absolute joy. Um, I adored the people that I worked with and the students and the community. Um, and working with the WBA has been incredible as well, but I'm a big believer in ending things at Peak Fun. Um, so I'm excited to try something new and I really appreciate this opportunity. Um, I do have to
008say that one of the things that I didn't like about working at High Press and teaching sixth grade is that the year ended and often the kids would leave and I didn't see them again. Um, so it is just so exciting to be able to move to seventh grade with them and then loop with them next year and see some of my former students as eighth graders as well. So thanks again. Last I also introduced uh to the board in our community our princico um and he was not able to join us physically at that meeting. other commitments for his still has still. Um so we're pleased to be able to bring him to you in person this evening to introduce him. I'll keep my uh announcements about him a little bit more brief. Um
009he is joining us as the principal at Wilmeter High School and his background. Um Mr. uh brings 29 years of experience as an educator to this important position here at WJHS, including the last 12 years as a high school principal. He was most recently principal at St. Verar High School in Arlington Heights, uh where he helped the school to achieve national blue ribbon status. um improved the school through um best learning and supports for teachers and also instituted some new programs for student and employee recognition. Prior to that, he was at St. Patrick High School and named the Lasalian Educator of the Year in 2021. He also um started his career as a math teacher at Carmel High School. and we know he's very proud to share that he was a coach as well and
010affected many students in so many positive ways while being there. Um also served as an assistant principal in Gonquin um atquin middle school. So we're just thrilled to have John joining our team and we know that his experience and leadership and passion for learning, his commitment to student growth and the mission of district 39 are extending. So we're really thrilled to have you joining our team. Welcome. Thank you. This is always awkward uh when people read uh a little bit about you. Certainly not my personality, but uh thank you to the board. Thank you to uh the neck community for your warm welcome as we're just uh beginning the school year and it's been a great start. I had an opportunity to shadow in the spring as the school year was concluding and let me
011tell you that the kids and the faculty and staff were wonderful and warm and welcoming and that really hasn't changed since the school year started here earlier this week. So, it's a terrific community. I'm thrilled to be part of it. It's really an honor to be the principal and I look forward to not only a great year this year, but many great. Thank you very much. down there. So we are moving into the budget presentation the budget hearing portion of this meeting. will give a review. But we will do a bas. >> All right. So, as Dr. Crimly mentioned um holding a public hearing is one of the procedural steps each year for for the approval or adoption of a of a budget for a fiscal year. So we've talked about this multiple times going
012back to May. Um there's different iterations. One of the focuses when we ultimately reach adoption time in August is what what did we change? What are the many changes? what did this what does the summarized version of those changes look like? Um, so I'm going to really talk about these next three slides and then some of the documents that were posted in Boardocks detail that out where we started. we were at roughly 2.7 million for the operating funds of a net deficit that includes transfers out for large um summer construction projects of which the the projects for uh this current fiscal year fiscal year 26 the projects are um both here at the junior high so the first thing I want to point out is um we reduced the interest revenue line item by uh
013275,000 And while in some ways that can be tied to um the overall budget for the year can be tied to a little bit of a reduction in interest rates um from last year at this time. The primary reason for this reduction is that Cook County um for the third time in four years is delayed with their um second installment billings and that is the reason for the property tax line item remaining the same is that we haven't gotten the final tax levy for this for this particular year. And then we're going to transfer We increased the transfer 600 something thousand for uh projects. That gets us to 3.7 million. And so we started out with a budget surplus of 1.4 million. Then we get to the net um deficit of 3.7 which gets us
014to 43% for the pending fund balance. The operating funds we're looking at 86% for property taxes and another 8% getting us over 90 for local. that we have almost 80% of our operating fund expenditures in salary and benefits. This is pretty typical for us. And then this is a graph we like to see the trend line um continue where the blue which is the revenue exceed the green expenditures each year. Um so we see that continuing in fiscal year 26. One thing that wasn't in the presentation from a couple weeks ago was all cash balances for a particular amount. This is just a procedural requirement that's been in place for the last couple of years. So we see all cash investment for the district that the end of May was just over $52 million broken
015down by our funds which are fine. That said that is the extent of the presentation for the D39 budget. If there are no board questions I will move on to the WIC one which is even a brief presentation. >> Board members any questions on the budget? Thank you. >> Yep. All right. So, the other item that the board needs to take action on is the Wixie joint agreement with the Vocus School District. It's a joint agreement between the two school districts. Um the reason the board's taking separate actions, they have separate financial statements and district 39 serves as the fiscal agent for Wixie. Um even though we have separate meetings with leadership from both from both districts. Um, this is just the last slide here. Last year we were at 227,000 as the budget for
016for this entity. This year we're at 236. It usually goes up slightly. The one unique thing compared to like the D39 financial statements is that we um have no fund balance in Wixie. Um so basically the revenues and expenditures equal each other each f the school year and that is once the board takes action then the Last step is um just the district administration filing these uh budgets with the appropriated um appropriate agencies. That's all I have for you. Any questions? Thank you again. I know we had um an conversation a couple of weeks ago. We talked about the delayed um tax installment payment or bill and the future capital planning. So thank you very much and at this time with no questions or comments we will move on to public comment on budget. This
017is an opportunity for the audience to address the board regarding the presentation of the budget. Are there any audience members that would like to speak? >> I think a clarifying question. >> Sure. >> Um, if you're going to speak, please >> I'm just wondering if um I'm just wondering if you show two opportunities for public comment. Um, are members here who are planning to make public comment or intending to do so at the first public comment as opposed to the second? Um, >> are there three public comments tonight? There will be there will be one on budgets only and then two. >> Is there anyone here tonight who would like to make a public comment on the presentation? Okay. Having no further business, I request a motion to adjourn the public hearing to the regular
018meeting of the board of education. I move to adjourn the public hearing and uh adjourns to reg. >> Motion has been made and seconded. All those in favor please indicate by saying yay. >> Motion carries by general consent. We are now adjourned to the regular. I hereby call to order the regular meeting of the board of education for Wilmet Public Schools, District 39 for Monday, August 20 25th, I'm sorry, August 25th, 2025 and the time is 7:22. All right, and the time is 7:22. And for all of you out there, just a little bit of humor. I might be moving to progressives after this meeting. I can't see this or anyway more than more than you needed to know, but this is really something else. Um, all righty. With that, I seek a motion to
019approve the minutes of the June 9th, 2025 regular and executive session meetings. >> I move to approve the minutes of the June 9th, 2025 board of education regular and executive session meetings. May I have a second? >> Second. >> The motion has been made and seconded. Board members, any comments, errors, or omissions to the meeting to the meeting notes. Okay. All those in favor of approving the minutes as submitted, please indicate by saying it. >> Okay. >> Motion carries. The minutes are approved. All right. This is now an opportunity for the public to address the board on any topic. Seeing audience members who would like to address the board, please stand. And may I remind you to state your name and community of residents. And by board directive, you are allowed three minutes to address
020the board. Um, again, there will be a second time to address the board later this evening if you speak now and you have three minutes and then you can speak later and you have one minute at that time or you can wait and speak later and you will have three minutes. As a member of our WAT community, you are among fellow community members and friends. As such, respectful and civil discourse is expected. Please note that the board uses this time to listen to community questions and concerns, but will not respond immediately to individual requests and cannot take formal actions on non-aggenda items. Please include any specific requests for action or response and appropriate information for followup if applicable. Criticism of specific individuals is out of order. We also ask that you refrain from clapping or
021response of any kind regarding people's comments. Thank you. Hello, my name is Elliot. I'm the president of the WA and quite a few people here today and we're gathered to share concerns about recent board of education decisions and their impact on the heart of our school community, our students. As teachers, we see firsthand how these decisions unfold in classrooms every day, affecting real children in real time. Yet, too often, we are left without the authority or resources to provide meaningful solutions. This evening, you'll hear directly from teachers. We ask that you not only listen, but begin to address these issues. Some of the concerns raised are new, while others have persisted for far too long. Please know that we have already brought these matters to our building and district leaders, but have yet to precede
022a need for response. It is time for our families and the broader community to understand what is at stake. We hope our voices are heard tonight and that together we're able to find solutions to the problems we face. Hi there. My name is Jenny Rosine and my community of residents is wellness. Um, I'd like to thank the board for listening this evening. My name is Jenny Rosine and I teach 8th grade at the junior high. While my colleagues will address the myriad issues when the board's financial decisions seem to contradict the objectives relating to student outcomes, both academic and social emotional. I am here to address a particular issue within the 2526 schedule that could have been easily addressed had the scheduling committee not been boxed out of process months ago. A committee must have
023was that all students have access to learning through home. Community is built within our home rooms. That sense of community underpins all learning particularly where the board and the committee align. the objective to increase and improve each students sense of belonging. One of the student groups has always been short changed when it comes to that sense of community. The newer math students in our old schedule, our new math kids would only participate in a few minutes of home room weekly. With our current schedule, however, it is all but guaranteed that our nutri that our newer math students will miss out on home room and its attendant SEAL programming in its entirety every single day. A group that has been historically marginalized in terms of what home room has offered is now ignored completely. How can
024we possibly get an accurate sense of the impact of programming if we ignore a significant portion of our population? The L survey results on which you rely for future decisions will be muddied by the fact that new year math students are are now more excluded than they've ever been before. This problem was addressed by the committee, but our suggestions were rejected by administration. The teachers are the ones executing the work to meet your objectives. Perhaps our experience and our voices should weigh more heavily into decision making. Thank you for listening. Sorry, my name is Heather Burner and I'm an eighth grade LBS at the junior high. Last week I began my 19th year of teaching and my 11th year in district 39. I'm here to speak about the impact of loss of a math teacher
025position on our students both in general and special education. As a faculty and district, we are incredibly proud of the work we do in both the math department and student services at the junior high. A major part of my position involves transitioning kids to new chair and I am told often by their faculty how good we are at preparing all students for high school math. For the past two years, the math department implemented a model where unsupported classes not taught had an extra general education teacher for half of each period for the purpose of supporting student learning and providing in-class intervention as a meter of arts. While many special education students receive math units in Kota classes, many receive math instruction in non-cotto classes with accommodations. If we do not offer CO or we do
026not offer CO out their classes, having the interventions support in class was invaluable for students that don't struggle with that but do struggle with executive functioning. When the news of the new schedule broke and the ending of this intervention model and it was all shared with the parents actually reached out to me to share that they were upset. They shared that they felt that the extra teacher helped their children be successful enough to stay on top of the fast-paced seventh grade curriculum and eventually qualify for algebra in eighth grade. Others shared that the extra teacher was helping their algebra students currently earn the 80% that they needed to move on to geometry in 9th grade. As students enter algebra as opposed to eighth grade math, their placement and success ultimately determines their track for math
027in high school. We want our students to not just be in algebra. We want them to move on to geometry as freshmen and give them the full range of math options that contribass intervention support while keeping the higher class size is not a decision that we felt was made with student centered learning in mind. Additionally, sorry. Additionally, the eighth grade math teachers are no longer on a specific team due to the three levels of math for eighth grade. While the math teachers I work with has increased as over the years as the math department has been slowly detachers have now gone from working with two to three special education teachers to at least five if not seven case managers. You might understand why this could possibly be an issue due to the crossing the direct
028line of communication from gened to LBS is absolutely complicated. Now, this may not seem like a big deal on paper, but our faculty has always valued our commitment to team collaboration in order to holistically support each student throughout their day, and now our ability to continue to do so is having impact. Thank you. >> Hello, my name is Mary Ken. I live in Chicago, Illinois. My um said, "My name is Mary Kenneth. I'm a Spanish teacher at Wilmont Junior High. This is my 21st year of teaching and my 11th year at WJHS. I'm speaking today to express concern over changes that have been made to the fifth through 8th grade world language department the last two years. In the spring of 2023, we had a meeting with district administration to discuss the future of our
029department. After our colleague would be retiring from the French teacher position at the junior high, the district decided that temporary lower enrollment meant that they would move teachers between buildings and into new positions that they did not want and had not taught before in order to fill the position without hiring a new teacher. Many of my colleagues were also informed that what they would be taking on an additional subject to teach such as e or win on top of the two, three or four different subjects they already prepped for. The district also increased the number of teachers who travel between the junior high and middle school. In this meeting, we were informed that that the district's goal for our class sizes was to have 28 to 29 students in a course. This is a big
030change from the class sizes that ranged from 18 to 25 in the past. When we raised concerns about how these changes would negatively impact our students as well as our workload, we were told that it was necessary to keep us full-time. Even though this was not the case in the past, with the increased number of students in our classes, we have also seen increased need. It is more difficult to connect with our students with such large classes and our classroom communities take much longer to build. I believe that what is best for teachers is also what is best for students. Teaching classes we are passionate about and experienced in smaller class sizes that allow us to foster positive relationships with students and meet the needs of our diverse learners. Thank you. Hi, good evening. I'm
031Don Taylor. I live in Chicago, but I'm a seventh grade math teacher here at the junior high. Uh my 26th year here as an educator and 23rd year here in district 39. Tonight, I'd like to speak to the newly implemented schedules at both HMS and WJHS, which allow for meaningful social emotional learning instruction to occur to most of our 58 students. So much has already been spent on providing students with a schedule that would allow for additional SEAL instruction. Per board reports at least $50 to $60,000 has been spent on outside consultants, resources like Wayfinder and and committee work. And now the final piece of the puzzle that could easily snap into place for our students, the teachers, is being devalued by the board. In order to execute the schedule that board approved in the
032spring, the school day has been extended. This means those students and teachers now have a longer day. For your teachers, this translates to approximately 21 additional work hours over the course of the school year. Yet, our employer, the board of education, has refused to appropriately compensate us for the change in our workday. To me, this sends a very clear message. Providing our students with instruction is important, but not as important as the board's strategic plan goal related to stewardship of resources. Stewardship of resources for those that don't know in education means a board is acting as a caretaker of the community's investments, the money, the people, the facilities so that they're used effectively to serve students. This means that the board looks carefully at each expenditure and determines whether or not it has a valuable
033impact on the students. They determine among other things that they value our superintendent faculty as for salary, bonuses, and other incentives, but are in the top 98 percentile for compensation among superintendents in the state of Illinois. It's been determined that she serves a critical role in the education of our kids. I am not here to argue that point. I don't disagree. I'm happy that the board is able to compensate her for all of her hard work. The board values technology and spend millions of dollars on Apple products. They believe that every child should have access to iPads starting in kindergarten so they can participate in impactful instructional technology use. The board values its facilities, spending a significant portion of their budget on building updates and upgrades, including air conditioning, to all the students. My own
034classroom is finally air conditioned after 23 years. Yay. The quality of our physical space where students learn is important to this board. So, what am I to conclude about how the board values its teachers? Without the incredible educators that you see here tonight and those watching at home, it doesn't matter that our schools have iPads or air conditioning. It doesn't even matter Dr. Premis Fully has an ambitious student centered vision for our community because at the end of the day, it's the teachers who bring that vision to life. A school a school's budget is more than numbers on a page. It's a statement of values. How we allocate resources sends a clear message to students, families, and the entire community about what truly matters in this district. If these priorities and initiatives are truly as
035important as you say, then do what is right and demonstrate to this community that you value the very people who make them possible, your teachers. Thank you. Hello, my name is also my president and I third grader at elementary and preschool and I wanted to thank the wonderful teachers uh for what you do my daughter school and I appreciate the last comment which really brings us to what we are here to talk about and that is technology. Um I wanted to start by thanking the board and here for uh listening to our concerns back in May and June and for taking the first steps in addressing them in making iPads safe school through the end of fourth grade. We also appreciate Mr. D's time to research the best practices of using tech learning. I also
036want to thank Dr. Thomas and Dr. Monte for their time this morning answering some of our questions. We understand that uh boards it is board's plan to review the use of iPads for entertainment. uh and free time this with school administrators uh and teachers and it is also our understanding that the board will be reviewing the use of YouTube for educational purposes and whether it is the right approach and whether it can um relatively be replaced with something safer. While we while the work which is already done is we really appreciate it. I would like to ask a question which follows uh the teacher's speech here is uh why why do we need to use iPad so extensively starting in early elementary and increasing it exponentially through high press and junior high um I hear
037the mantra all the time they need to be fluent with technology because they have to be ready for nutria and the technological world we live in but if nutria for my third grader is six years away the technology technology is going to change in those six years dramatically. Is it um it's simply not true that they need to be ready for mature in elementary? Uh kids success in technological world won't depend on them having understood iPad access in kindergarten or even fourth grade or making presentations on their iPads in second grade or making book projects on their iPads. When most kids they barely write uh visually correct sentences their handwriting is impossible to read and yet it's critical for brain development to write and to read paper books we scan iPads we don't read them
038it's scientifically proven by now as a but we trust the teachers to teach and build communities with students and build communities between the students you know by promoting boarding during free time and not and not iPad. Why not allow kids to talk during rainy days and not just sit down in front of a huge screen and uh say sh you need to watch a movie. Um why don't we focus on real life learning in these formative years especially elementary uh for context my husband and I and my and our parents work in it. Sorry. And I didn't have iPad and I didn't get to see >> and again there will be a second opportunity for public. >> Hi. Um I'm also my name is Gabby Kosma and I'm a parent of a kindergartener and a
039third grader at Bona. And I'm also um here to speak about um YouTube Kids as being one of the applications that um my children and the other students have access to. Um just uh this week my kindergartner said he was excited that he had um seen his first tablet and there was YouTube on it and he asked if we could buy the new Spider-Man movie because he saw that he saw something about Spider-Man. It may seem small, but this illustrates a larger issue that even with these kids versions of YouTube, these are designed for entertainment and advertising, not education. And as parents, I feel like we already face a difficult job of managing screen time at home. And we're relying on the school and the teachers to provide a safe, structured, and developmentally appropriate learning
040environment. And when classrooms introduce applications such as YouTube for free time, it sends mixed messages and puts children in front of flashy screens instead of encouraging the kinds of activities that builds focus and skills. Um, what young children need the most are hands-on age appropriate activities that straighten their creativity and cooperation. And I respectfully urge the boards to establish clear guidelines respecting the use of YouTube and similar applications in school settings and provide teachers with safer curator curated resources for research and enrichment. Um, our children deserve an environment that fosters focus, creativity, and a love of learning. Thank you. Good evening. Thank you all for being here. Just wanted to thank our wonderful teachers, administrators, all of you for for showing up tonight. We appreciate all that you do. Uh the two people who went
041before me, I just wanted to echo really what they had to say. I don't have a great deal to add. I don't have prepared remarks. I just wanted to say that the two people who spoke before me are not alone. I I fully admit 51 years old. I'm a product of a different time. I grew up obviously many of us did without an iPad, without an app, without a smartphone, wouldn't even approach. So I I fail to see that that the utility indeed the benefit of having an iPad or any any electronic device quite frankly for that matter at this young age. kindergarten up through, you know, junior high, perhaps at the high school age. But studies have shown again and again, I mean, these things decrease attention span. To say nothing of the effect
042on your eyes, to say nothing of the distractions that they provide, the various dangers of being online. And really, in addition to that, you're at the mercy of all these kind of external problems. When you're using a device that you simply didn't have in the pen and paper era, you're relying on internet connectivity. You're assuming and hoping and praying that your device does not become glitchy. You are hoping there won't be, you know, you know, lose your charge. Uh you always hear about young people losing work that day and saved all these things. Again, that didn't happen. And I totally agree that it's hard for me to really fathom some argument that this prepares anyone to be technologically literate savvy by the time they get to high school because as we said so well just
043previously the technology is going to change. It's changing every day. So again I mean let's give our kids a rest. Let's hope their eyes uh let's eliminate these distractions. Let's eliminate the kind of anxiety that these uh devices create. you know, when you're relying on uh connectivity and everything else, I simply don't see the benefit through it at all. And so, I hope that it's something that we can at least cut back on and always give kids the opportunity to use pen and paper if at all possible. Most of us in this room grew up with that. That certainly didn't hurt us many. So, I I don't see why we can't at least consider that. Thank you so much. By the way, change that. Hi, thank you for thank you for the teach tonight. So
044I'm also party and district and uh I've been spending like 20 years my life in the for production sector and my biggest concern is like when you start connecting online with communities like YouTube and others apps you don't know who's behind the screen how do you protect who the kids will talk to I can tell you so many stories I've seen my career working with law enforcement where I have issues with sex options, you know, on an ordering, people scamming other people, kids like going to like some kind of, you know, like spiraling outside of like what's supposed to do. So, please like try to figure out as much as possible like having those kids to like spend time online, especially if you cannot protect and make sure who's going to connect with them on
045the other side of the screen. Thank you. Nathan Shook. I live in Glen Q and have kids in district 39. I'm brief to hear speak about the overall iPad policy just overall encouraging the limits of use. I cannot imagine being a teacher with 20ome kids with iPads and not being under control what they're doing. Are they listening to me? Are they following along um at that time? And I just think back to the way that at least learning was for me and how, you know, pen and paper and you can see what someone's doing. They may be playing tic-tac-toe, but they're not doing something completely different. And at least from our experience, have seen the controls in terms of what websites they can get to are not being controlled um within our district and it's
046been detrimental. So again, I feel sympathy for both the parents and the teachers here and for action. Hello, good evening. My name is Denko. We just moved from Chicago to very excited to join this community to join Ramona, my son. He just got uh third grade. He's unbelievably happy moving. um the only reason for our actually to join um country and toain his education there in um to also support previously the smart way of using technology specifically within the elementary um years the beginner years of our kids. Um I work I love it. I think is definitely the enabler, but I do believe we want the necessity to bring stronger guidelines within our schools. First one, we have a negative experience um to CVS of my son um going to YouTube school grounds uh for
047a friend's recommendation uh and learning about the horror uh game that he became absolutely upset. Uh it has been extremely hard and difficult to then pull him away from this and be able to bring him back into focus and um get him interested in something else. Especially for his peers were so keen and so excited and that's something now kids are very much like friends and what's popular and what's um in trend. And I absolutely understand that it could have happened in any but the reality of things situation happened within CVS. Um and I would love to take away some of the parents are facing myself as examples. really appreciate your attention and thank you so much for having me and for being so welcome. Thank you. >> Hello, my name is Miriam. I am
048a resident in belonging district and my children my child uh atties um I didn't really prepare to speak honestly here just to listen. Um however I would like to speak on my concerns all around surrounding iPad research as well. I know previously um Mr. Deal um sent out an email suggesting that grades 2 through 8 will be bringing home an iPad for charging purposes and completing assignments with the goal of active learning. Um, I have since school started, I have asked my daughter's teachers to print out her homework um for the sake of avoiding iPad usage at home and possibly exposing her to more um just general um harmful content and just the usage of an iPad in general. Um I know that we have done research myself and a few parents who are here
049have addressed the board before um on the negative impacts that technology has well iPads itself um and sorry I again didn't prepare for this but um I would like to not make things more complicated for my daughter's teachers by requesting for them to do more work. Um it would be wonderful if they would um simply um in general and and not have to do something extra because a parent has concerns around the usage of technology for educational purposes. Um, another question I would like to ask, no, just thought about it. Is there a way that anyone in charge of iPads can um monitor the amount of time our children are actually spending on educational apps versus non-educational and um look at those numbers and go based on that. Um and uh lastly, have you asked
050yourselves how do children actually learn best? >> Hi uh Sarah Bar. I have elementary school students uh district 39 and thank you to all the teachers in advance. Uh I also have a hard time with our technology uh practices. So my first grader was exposed to content that was not age appropriate and or tied to learning during school hours under the supervision of teachers. Again, this is not their fault. I will proceed. Texas Chancellor Massacre and it was the content the trails that they watched in full and could vividly describe to me. My six-year-old walked into my bedroom at 2:00 a.m. and said, "The penny is coming, Mom." I had no clue who he was talking about. I particularly do not care for horror movies. In fact, until my husband whispered in my ear, "Did
051he just mentioned Penise the Clown from It?" For two weeks, he struggled sleeping alone in his room. For my son, this was the first real life movie he watched unsupervised and much different than sandplot. There was no one to tell him this was movie magic, not real, a horror movie. Take your accountability, even the principal, and discuss with the child that found the trailer. However, it truly comes down to setting these students up for success. It's not the child's fault or the teacher's fault. They were able to access it. That is the problem for me at the core. So, how do we block content beyond learning apps? For example, remove Safari. Put age restrictions by age at a minimum. How do we teach them what's school appropriate verse home appropriate? Let's overcome the all this
052child has older so he's at home it's going to get way worse the thing is is that my my kids have watched plenty of movies when I'm out with other families and friends but you talk about it they're in that moment again this is school a safe area how are we monitoring screen time when asked for this detail there is not a clear response or measurement and we need one ultimately internet freedom may be important for older children to some at this point high school, middle school even. But it's hard to understand any access outside of prescribed teaching apps and free iPad time is not teaching. Hello, I'm Michelle Weinberger. I'm a parent of a kindergartener and a second grader in Wilmont. And I'm also here to talk about technology. A lot of the things
053I was going to talk about have already been covered by other people. Um, but I will reiterate that the teachers in our district are amazing. Um, you know that they are fantastic. We want to set them up for as much success as possible all the way from the technology to resource allocation. Um, I would love the money that goes to all the technology in the school to be allocated to additional teachers. For example, in um central we have money for students and the kids second grade class. The numbers haven't been that high for a long long time. So there's so much money that we spend on technology and then once you have the technology you need more technology for the technology and add to the technology and the teachers feel like they need to use
054the technology because the technology is in front of them or then have programs for that and I'd like for us to sort of step back as a district and really look at the evidence behind um the technology that's used. I'm on the research faculty at Northwestern um I and a lot of my colleagues happy to help them who specifically do research in this area um have found that there isn't a lot of benefit of these technologies that this screen that there's a huge opportunity cost of screen time. So sure, kids are playing an educational game. Could they on their iPad, but they could be sitting there playing the educational game with the kid in class, which focuses on social so um emotional learning um communication skills, learning how to lose in person. There's a lot
055of things that we lose um with technology. Um and so thinking about learning objectives and not just saying differentiated learning um as but really deeply thinking about what is the learning objective of this program at screen time and um is it a net benefit for the students and for the teachers right um I think you know could our students be reading the same book on paper instead of on an iPad could they be playing that game in person certainly there are times when technology is a wonderful tool. I use it at Northwestern in my classes. Um and and the teachers here have thought a lot about, but I think the the science and technology is really helpful. But um I I also would love to see some data on the amount of screen time that
056kids are I want to collect our kids, but I also would like to see on a kind of class level. How much time are kids spending across the different classes? a little bit in this class, a little bit in that builds up over time. They also have the TV in the classroom. They're staring at a screen when they're five, six, seven years old. Um, and so and their opportunities cost for that. So, I'd like some thought um and some policy around the amount of time students have um on screen. Thanks, work. >> Hi, I'm Chuck. Um, thank you for listening to our concerns about iPads and everyone who came today. Really appreciate that. Um, I just I'm echoing everything they said, but I really, this has been a yellow sheet of paper that I've been
057stringing up for the past 12 years. I was a senior at Nutrier. I have a seventh grader at Wilmary High School, a ninth grader at Nutrier, and also a fifth grader at Highest. I've been dealing with my pets for a long time, and I've not been thrilled with how they've used that. I've had amazing teachers along the way who have been really amazing with asking them for certain things like keeping out of hands at home or printing out paper to my children so they can be off the iPad. I just feel always awful about asking that. But in the beginning of the year when they ask me to sign paper, I review it with my kids and I sit down with them and I make them repeat what they wrote on the paper. And I
058look at my little 10-year-old at that time and I'm like, they're not going to follow this. They're not going to agree to use the iPad only for school purposes when their school iPad is only iPad they have access to. They are so excited to have home and they love trying to access games that are non- internet based and they love to crack code and figure out how they can get around certain things. And maybe that's just my kids but I feel like it may not be. Um, and so this paper, if we can also consider looking at this for the upcoming year and maybe think about how we actually want to teach these kids how to use the iPad. We're kind of giving them mixed signals by saying no iPads for um gaming and and
059non-school things, but then we do get some when they're maybe done with their homework earlier or they have fun Fridays. Um, so I think we just need to kind of revamp this and talk about this. Um, that's it. Thank you. >> Thank you. Again, as mentioned, there will be another opportunity this evening for additional public comment. At this time, we will move on to board reports, starting with committee and facility. development. Mrs. Dicapra, >> thank you. Um, we have two updates from our last meeting at the committee of the whole on August 11th. The first one was the 2025 summer construction project review. Mr. Bolter provided an update on the WJHS first floor AC construction project this summer. Air conditioning projects for all schools are now complete. Nicholas and Associates shared that the summer project
060at WJHS went well and was completed on August 8th, 2025. The second update is the 2026 construction budget estimate. Mr. Boltire explained that the board provided design authorization for the summer 2026 window replacement project, the WJHS, prior to spring break, which allowed the design team to get a great start on the project. Nicholas and Associates was able to complete a budgetary project estimate based on the conceptual design documents. They've seen a 2.5% increase in project market pricing. Project is going out to bid in October. >> Thank you. Mrs. Dcastro will now move on to school finance. Mrs. Scaven. >> Yes. This will be familiar. The finance committee review agenda items. The D39 fiscal year 26 budget. the Wixie 2026 budget and annual tax compliance notification. Mr. Bolmmyer provided, excuse me, a review of the final
061D39 budget that was presented earlier. The overall final operating fund budget projects the fund balance to remain above 40% of annual symmetry. The impact of these changes resulted in the 26 budget to increase from a 2.7 million net deficit to a 3.7 million net benefit deficit. The fiscal year 26 is budgeted to end with over 43% in the deficit is due to drops in interest revenue from the interest rate market and a delay in the second installment of property taxes. Uh cities is a joint agreement between 39 and the local school district with E39 as the fiscal agent for the joint agreement. The final 2026 receive budget was reviewed with revenues and expenditures equaling $236,268. Due to district 39 having issued bonds in the past, the district is required to complete an annual tax compliance
062review related to the standing boxer has completed his overview and not that comp. >> Thank you. And we will move on to the strategy committee in stone. >> Yes, the strategy committee also met as part of the committee as a whole on August 12th. During that time, Mr. Monti provided the board with an update on the use of technology in our schools. He explained that the district goal create and communicate a clear philosophy for the use of technology in our schools. In his update, he related that there are several actions the district will be taking to support that philosophy. The district will be providing a guide for teachers and parents summarizing active learning use versus passive learning use of technology. The district has also reviewed its device take-home practices and has made adjustments for this
063come school year. iPads for grades 1 through 4 will remain at school with the exception of active learning assignments which will be assigned at the teacher's discretion to be completed at home. The district purchased and assembled 85 tech tubs in order to keep iPads at school. Mr. Deonte noted that the higher third and fourth may have more active learning assignments to be completed at home to help for headrest. Securely home, an application available to parents can be used to limit home use on the iPad. The district will also be offering a facilitator workshop on artificial intelligence and will develop a guidance document for parents and teachers. That is the strategy. Thank you, Miss Stone. All right, DAR, please go in. Okay. The um as the leazison for the Illinois Association of School Boards, I just
064want to highlight three meetings that are coming up for board members. The first one is Super Saturday, which is uh Saturday, September 13th in Neighborville. It's actually specifically for new board members. If any of you are interested, the deadline to register is the end of this week, August 29th. Uh the second one is uh the North Cook Fall Division meeting in Arlington Heights on October 22nd in the evening. Doug Bolton will be presenting. Um he's a pretty well-known presenter on uh building communities that foster emotional well-being and success. And the third meeting is the annual joint conference Chicago which is November 21st to the July 3rd. You don't have to memorize those but if you have any questions or if you need help in registering you can let me know because I say they're emails.
065Um do you want me to go to the legislative report? Thank you. >> Okay. So the and then the next thing on the agenda is the legislative update. The legislature is not in session so that can be a really short update. Um, traditionally, however, they do uh meet to review legislation that the governor has vetoed and that happens in October. So, although it's really called the veto session, they also can um consider new legislation at that time. So, we'll keep an eye on it. Thank you, Miss Berlin. I will now turn it over to Dr. Premis Foley for our information items this evening. Thank you. Um, first of all, the board received written communication from uh, Dina and John Melanchowski regarding the McKenzie outdoor speaker and from Kevin Robinson regarding transport activities. In terms of
066administrative announcements from myself and our team, uh, first of all, our schools are open. We're really excited. We've had a great start to the school year. Our schools are buzzing with energy and enthusiasm for this school year ahead. Um over the past four years you uh our strategic plan um sorry over the past four years of our strategic plan we've accomplished a whole lot together beyond the growth and connection and achievement that was nurtured within each of our students. We celebrate our success as educators and as a professional community too. As a district we have expanded our services. We've refined our practices. We have collaborated as teams. We've strengthened our culture and climate overall. And we've made some pretty critical improvements to our building infrastructure with much gratitude to our board and to the community
067at large for their support of those projects. As we embark on the year ahead, we will be building on the work that we've accomplished so far. Um, as we approach this last year with a focus on refinement, alignment, communication, and collaboration. We are also excited to strengthen our feedback loops and to expand opportunities for engagement as we begin in the second semester to envision and to plan for the next five-year strategic plan. As an update to the 58 scheduling work, the new schedules for the 2526 school year for Highress Middle School and WJHS have been implemented. These adjustments have been informed by extensive work by many over several years and after careful consideration of myriad options for various adjustments. We all know there is no perfect schedule um but this year's schedule does allow for
068um some additional time in home room so that our teachers can work with our students um at the 58 level on social emotional learning, community building and executive functioning. So, as we all know now, this year's schedule at each school includes a 25m minute home room period um with all our other courses remaining at 40 minutes. The passing periods are 3 minutes long and our students day has been adjusted by 7 minutes. Although some of these changes to uh some may feel or seem minimal, they definitely represent some significant adjustments in how our schools operate in the services and supports that we can offer to our students and in the planning and preparation that must be done by our teachers. We believe these changes will help us to address the highest priority needs and desires
069that were identified by our teams as we launched the scheduling review more than three years ago. Bless you. Those include daily dedicated time for home community building instruction and um what we know to be very important, the executive functioning support work. Thus far this year, these adjustments are allowing us to implement some positive changes while continuing to improve the way we meet the needs of our students. Yet, we know that change can be hard, and we are very grateful to our teachers and to our administrators who have contributed to lesson planning that has helped to ease this transition for our home room teachers. We're also grateful for the ongoing dedication and collaboration of our teachers and our teams to support this transition. Together, we believe that we can have a positive impact on our students,
070on their sense of belonging and connection to school and to their peers, their social, emotional, and executive functioning skills, and the overall culture and climate of our schools. We're committed to reviewing the schedule, so the current schedule adjustments allow us to get started with addressing some of those highest needs. Um, but we are committed to reviewing this work as we um I've mentioned before, we will con convene a group of teachers and administrators in January. Um, and this group will um help to review the new schedules that are being implemented and plan for any next steps or adjustments that may help us to further our goals. Uh, we look forward to this work and again, we're just really appreciative uh for everyone who's been involved in this work so far. Uh we're also really really
071excited this year to launch the school year with uh fully kindergarten before all and with air conditioning within all of our classrooms. Just a few of the highlights that have been made possible through the support of the board in the community as well as our strategic planning work. So thank you for all of that. Uh we continue with our ELA curriculum review and we're excited to hear about how that progresses throughout this year. But we know our teachers have taken on a whole lot of new resources over the last several years and uh we're really grateful for the ongoing work and and the opportunities that presents for our students. Um we also kicked off the urban institute day. So this uh room that we're in now was packed with teachers and staff and administrators as
072we launched our work together this year. Um it really was a fantastic two days of learning while our students were still home busy uh awaiting their schedules and getting their school supplies together. Our pre-ervice and institute days were a tremendous success. We hosted our new teachers uh during the week of August 11th for our new teacher orientation. Those days are are really filled with a lot of professional development and training for our teachers as well as an opportunity for our new teachers to meet with mentors and with building administrators and get some support from our central office team as well. Uh we were thrilled to welcome all of our teachers on Monday the 18th here in this room and on Tuesday the 19th they spend time in their own buildings. Um the annual kickoff um
073was really a a fantastic event. Thank you to Annne Hart who on behalf of the board helped to welcome our teachers and staff and to everyone who had a part in making that day really special and also super productive and collaborative. We appreciate that. Um let's see on Tuesday I mentioned our our staff returned to their buildings. Lots of professional development, collaboration and preparation for our students who arrived to us on Wednesday and it's just been a really joyful start to the school year. Um so we appreciate everyone who has supported that work. Uh moving on to other important reports we have uh freedom of information act uh requests. The district received foyer request from learning unplugged regarding technology use in schools. Two from smart from pure requesting all current employee and staff contact information
074and purchasing records from April 17th of 2025 through July 22nd of 2025. NBC Chicago regarding a former employee. Public info access requesting a current staff contact directory. Current technologies requesting all proposals submitted. And what organization was selected for the Wilmont public school district 39's security camera project and from Valerie Duzi regarding the McKenzie PE position. One more. and uh public data research requesting current employee names, job titles and and employment start dates. Uh this represents quite a significant amount of work in compiling these records and in making them available um or sometimes just pointing people to the right place on the website for where they can find this information that is already publicly available. Um we appreciate everyone who has a hand in making that possible too. Property tax assessment appeals. District 39 received one
075PTAB in the last month. An estimate of the financial impact has been prepared for the board should the appellants be successful in their appeal. And that concludes all of my reports. I'm happy to enter questions or comments if there are any other. Okay. Well, since I have the mic and I can expeditiously move us on. Okay. Uh we have the under the strategic plan update, we have the response to the community review committee, the CRC report. Uh today I'm here to present the superintendent's response to the CRC report which is titled belonging and connection in the digital age. Seems very appropriate considering much of the comments we received this evening. Uh this report was presented to the board of education May of 2025. Um, and the report highlights many recommendations that were accepted by district
07639 and that will be incorporated into our ongoing work. These recommendations will be incorporated into the action steps of the strategic plan for the 2025 2026 school year and the ongoing work that we are doing to support both a sense of belonging and inclusion for all as well as safe digital citizenship and technology use among our students. As a result of the in-depth review, District 39 has accepted seven of the CRC recommendations to be continued and implemented as part of our ongoing work with our strategic plan goals. Um, our teams also support these recommendations and acknowledge that these recommendations align to and are really embedded in goal two, which is our supportive community work, and in goal four, which is our family partnership work. These recommendations have been integrated into our action step planning under
077these goal areas for the school year and those plans will be presented to the board in our community in September after the has a chance to weigh in. Um, I would like to personally and on behalf of the district express uh our gratitude to all members of the 2024 2025 community review committee with special recognition to president Peters and vice president Mashra Abramovitz. Uh the research provided within the report was definitely thorough and offered detailed findings and recommendations that will assist our district in continuing to support our children's sense of belonging and connection in the digital age. The dedication of the members of this committee as well as their commitment to the students of district 39 was evident in reading their report and we really highly value their contributions um and their ongoing support of
078our children's collective wellbeing. So, thank you for that. We look forward to continued partnership with the CRC throughout this year. And on our annual business, we have our enrollment updates. And so, I will hand the microphone to Dr. Glowwacki who um will present this report. Thank you. Last May, I shared with you our estimated plan for staffing for the students that we were expecting. That plan mainly held true. We did increase one section of or one classroom or fourth grade at Ramona due to some last minute enrollments that we watched throughout the summer. So other than that, it remained pretty steady since the last report of May. Does the board have any questions about the enrollment report or comments? As everyone knows, we monitor these enrollment numbers all spring and all summer until the day
079students arrive and and we're really grateful for that work and for Dr. Kaki's leadership of it. And up next, we have another report from Dr. Baki. The annual administrator and teacher salary and benefit report is a requirement through the Illinois State Board of Education shared tonight with the board and will be posted after the meeting. Thank you. And moving us along unless uh board members any questions or comments about that report. Okay, we have uh Corey Boltonire who is going to present the annual tax compliance notification which we have talked about at the committee level. >> Correct. Um so because district 39 issues long-term debt, one of the requirements is that um as the compliance officer related to this, I have to perform a review um each fiscal year and I can report to the
080board um at this meeting that district of United in compliance with all the requirements is >> Thank you. Board members any questions? Okay. Uh we'll move on then to board policy. Dr. Phili. Sure. We have some many board policies up for first review. These are reflective of press updates that were done earlier this spring and in the summer edition. And so all of these policies have been reviewed and some have been updated and are presented tonight for first reading. Any feedback or questions you have, we can look into for presentation at second reading. Next one, any questions? I'll have the microphone back to you. Um Heather, I just have one small um comment on policy 230. No, I'm sorry. That's not the one. Let me see here. There it is. One colon two. And this
081is just what appears to be a small typo in the second paragraph. The superintendent shall manage these ex activities to the extent the program. Okay. Um, and then the other piece was just a comment on mine when I was reading through 8 col 30 and just looking at this started out to put it in context. Um, no person on school property or at a school event including visitors etc shall perform any of the following acts. you get down to number 16 and it was engage in any risky behavior including rollerblading, roller skating or skateboarding. And it just made me think of some of the ecooters, some of the issues that we've been seeing. I didn't necessarily think that was the appropriate place for it, but I wasn't certain it was going to potentially review some
082other policies to see if it would be appropriate. Also, >> Mr. Devonte and I had this conversation about a week ago. uh we have a question in to the legal team for the board to find out where that might be most appropriate. So, we'll be able to share that during the second read. >> We've had a lot of >> we Oh, Mike. Sorry. >> All right. All right. So, yes, we have. We've partnered with um the other schools in town, St. Francis Evoka um in particular as well as the park district in the village to get some safety tips out on e- scooters uh ebike safety. It's come up quite a bit in other communities as well as here in the village of Wilmet. Um this particular policy talks about visitors. So risky or unsafe
083behaviors in regards to ebikes or ecooters would allow us to enforce uh maybe removal from the property. um we wouldn't be banning scooter, e- scooters or ebikes, but it would give us the authority if there was um let's say uh high school kids or whatever just going through the parking lot and we have teachers backing up or um those kind of scenarios. But yeah, we've um definitely been talking to Dr. Kremcoli's point uh in the village multiple entities as far as safe behaviors when and when not the rules can be enforced. there's some uh confusion out there in the law as to which class can be enforced or there's a part of the law that stays silent and it's all ecooters and ebikes are not alike. So, um we're waiting for clarification on the law
084and then we're also waiting for the village to take up the discussion as well because there may be some lo local ordinances that will um will help. So, thank you Dr. Kiscoli because this is a good opportunity to talk about that as it is a point of discussion across the village. So this is tiny also on policy 2 col240 [Music] under policy developments where it says the superintendent is responsible for under number two it may be the way I'm reading it but I think the commas notifying those who will implement be affected I thank you. Any other comments, edits, questions at this time? Again, this is the first reading. Okay, seeing none, we will move on. This is another opportunity for the public to address the board on any topic. Are there any audience members
085that would like to speak at this time? As a reminder, um please state your name, your community of res res. Hi uh res again parents. So I would like to thank all the parents who came out today and all the teachers who are remaining here and go through us. We really appreciate the work and we appreciate your sentiment that it's not just us parents. I would like to uh bring up a point. We would really like the board to consider adding the technology update to the next board meeting or meeting in part to follow up on uh current parents on ongoing process of reviewing free time usage of iPads and YouTube because honestly we would really love to get this going and not to wait until strategic plan. And then I also wanted to share
086that it's not just eight or 10 of us who were here today. Uh the petition to limit iPad usage and to make it safe uh by now has reached 960 signatures of parents within district 39 and there is a similar petition in Evansson and there are a lot of movements across the nation. So it's such a fun. Thank you. >> Thank you. Hi, Michelle Weinberger again. Um, I just wanted to add just a couple of action items that I think could happen between now and potentially the next meeting or I'm not exactly sure how this all works. Um, one is just an inventory of tech use throughout the day. So, we I'm happy to do this um and share other parents are as well just to track how much time between the projector, you know,
087the TV screen and the iPad children are interacting with throughout the day and those types of interactions. Um, so not just the time but the different types of of fights throughout the day. Um, and then from there think movement breaks, rewards, behavioral management programs, mindfulness programs, free time, there's a lot of nonacademically oriented time. Um, also thinking I have and I already sent some of these um to Tony, you know, just pol the thinking about policies around maximum number of minutes of screen time per day by grade restrictions um for for YouTube and YouTube kids news sites um where kids are seeing content that's well above grade level um okay and I have all of that information um Tony has um a set of policy suggestions. >> Thank you. So, anyone else? Okay. All right.
088Uh, the next order of business is the consent agenda. Are there any items that the board would like pull from tonight's consent agenda? Thank you. Mrs. Campus, please proceed with the motion. Okay. I move to approve the personnel report dated August 25th, 2025. I move to approve as first reading of board of education policies 1 col10 school district legal status 1 col20 school district organization operations and cooperative agreements 2 col10 school district governance 280 board member oath and conduct 2130 board superintendent relationship 224 4 Board of Education Policy Development Uniform Grievance Procedure 2265 Title 9 Grievance Procedure 330 Organizational Chart 415 Identity Protection 450 Internet Procedures 4 col 55 use of credit uh and procurement cards 480 accounting and Audits 4 col180 pandemic preparedness management and recovery 5 col10 equal employment opportunity and minority recruitment
0895 col 20 workplace harassment addicted 5 col 6 expenses 5 col 0 staff development program 6150 home and hospital construction access to Electronic networks 710 Equal Educational Opportunities 720 Harassment of Students Prohibited 740 Non-public school students including parochial and homeschooled students 750 school admissions and student transfers to and from non-dist schools 770 attendance and 790 police during During school hours 7 col130 student rights and responsibilities 7 col140 search and seizure 7 col180 prevention of and response to bullying intimidation and harassment 7185 teen dating violence student behavior 72000 suspension procedures 721 10 expulsion procedures 7 col25 student services 7 col255 students who are parents expectant parents or victims of domestic or sexual violence 7270 administering medicines to students 7300 extracurricular athletics 7310 Restrictions on publications 7325 student fundraising activities 7 col 340 student records 8 col10
090connection with community um 8 col 30 visitors to and conduct on school property and gifts to the district >> um I move to approve the manual effects issued between June 10th 2025 and August 25th 2025 in the following months. Educational fund 3 million7 $718,54029 O and M fund $51,000 $51,42280 debt services $441,16625 transportation $344,932. Capital projects 472,630 followers Ports112,368.38 total all funds 5,591,31 [Music] and 01. I move to approve the accounts payable for bills listed between June 10th, 2025 and August 25th, 2025 following amounts. Educational fund $948,393.50 Own fund 92,000 $4.7 transportation 81,58823 total all funds 1 million122,19780 [Music] >> I Judy Brennan and Hart Castro. >> Yes. >> Alison, yes. >> Stone, >> yes. Katie, >> yes. As the consent agenda is approved, >> as moved, the consent agenda is approved and we will
091now proceed with action items. Mrs. Capless. >> Okay. I move to adopt the annual budget for WAT public schools county district 39 as presented in this reporting all anticipated revenues and expenditures for period extending from July 1st 2025 through June 30th 2026. >> May I have a second? >> Second. >> The motion has been moved and seconded. Will the clerk please call the role? >> Alison, yes. >> Amy, yes. >> Aaron Stone, yes. >> Kristen Castro, >> yes. >> Ann, yes. Katie, >> yes. >> Judy Berlin. Motion carries. >> We are now I'm now moving to adopt the fiscal year 2026 budget for Wilnet Community Special Education Agreement. Need a motion to approve. I move to adopt the Wilmet Community Special Education Agreement annual budget as presented in this report reflecting all anticipated revenues and
092expenditures for a period extending from July 1st, 2025 through June 30th, 2026. >> Thank you. May I have a second? Second. The motion has been moved and seconded. Will the clerk please call the Kristen Castro? >> Yes. >> Ann, >> yes. >> Katie Hilton, >> yes. >> Judy Ryan. Alison, >> yes. Hen, >> yes. >> Motion carries. At this time, we'll move to conference items. Is there any old business? Okay. Is there any new business? Okay. I'm good in welfare. Miss [Laughter] Um, yes. So, let's see if this can make sense. This makes sense in my head. Um, I'm thinking a lot about or I have thinking a lot about connections and relationships. So, a few things happened. Um, when I drive from my house to my church, I go past Ram Ramona and a
093few weeks ago, there were some district vehicles that were like parked out there that had a lot of bags with what looked like wood chips in them. And I was thinking, "Oh, those are like get on the playground, right?" And I was kind of all fired up about it. And then, um, a few weeks later, I drove by and I saw they were all out on the playground. And I thought, you know, like thinking about all the kids and all the connections that they were going to make out at the playground with their friends and the connections they make in class. And that takes me to taking my son, who is a sophomore at the University of Illinois down to Champagne a week ago, Saturday. And we're driving down Green Street after we got his
094groceries. And um he says, "There's Zach Huish." And I said, "Like Mackenzie Elementary School, Zach Huish?" And he goes, "Yeah." He says, "Mar, we've been friends for such a long time." He said we were friends there. We were in chemistry at nutrier together and now we see each other on campus and it's really great. And I thought you know these connections that kids make like last a long time and it's not just the connections they're making with each other that are fostered by their amazing teachers but you know they're connecting with the text they're you know forming relationships in their brains with you know like expanding their um number sense and just across the board all of it. And I just think it's fantastic. And I just want to thank everybody who works so hard
095every day to make all of that happen and to facilitate all those um amazing opportunities for our kids. People um I mean it's really special. So that's that's my good welfare for the month of August. It's going to be a little hard to pass this. >> Thank you, Erin. Um, anyone else this time? Okay. Well, I will um just a couple quick things. I didn't have the microphone in front of you when Dr. Kremcoly welcomed Mr. Bathco and Miss Bishop. So, I just wanted to say on behalf of the board, we're thrilled to have you both on the team and look forward to working with you. And it doesn't look like she's here. I thought I was going to embarrass her. Um, Miss Bishop is, I've heard, already off to a fabulous start. This was
096completely unsolicited from a former student at hers who came home and said, "Miss Bishop's already doing a great job in her new, you know, in her new job." Um, I'm like, "That's that's great to hear. You know, well, what did she do?" And um the student said that she held the door open and told him where uh the bus would be, otherwise he would have missed the bus. Um, and so I thought that was um, great and I'm sure both of you will continue to have a wonderful impact big and small on our students. So, we're excited to work with you. Welcome to the team. And then I was just going to quickly um, say how great it was to see Carrie. wrote this down um your appointment to the North Cook Intermediate Services and
097how fortunate they are to have you and your time on their board and we're proud to have you representing us. So, thank you for doing that additional work. If there's no other good and welfare, I believe we need a motion to adjourn to executive session to discuss specific personnel, collective negotiating matters, and special education. Um I move to adjourn to executive session to discuss uh specific employees or personnel uh collective negotiations any individual students. May I have a second? >> Motion having been made and second clerk please call the vote. >> Kristen Dcastro. >> Yes. >> Annart. >> Yes. >> Alison, >> yes. >> Aaron Stone, >> yes. >> Katie H. >> Yes. >> Judy. Motion carries. We are now adjourned to executive session. [Music]