001Heat. Heat. Heat up here. Heat. Oh, oh. Heat. Oh. Heat. Oh, oh. Heat. Heat. Oh, oh, Heat. Heat. Heat up Heat. Heat. Hey. Hey. Hey. Heat. Oh, Heat. Heat. Heat. Oh, oh Lord. Heat. Heat. Oh, oh. Heat. Oh, all the high. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Oh, oh. Heat. Heat. Heat. Oh, oh Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Oh, oh. Heat. Heat. Heat. Oh, all the Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat up here. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Oh, oh. Heat. Oh, Heat. Heat. Leah Conover >> here. >> Heather Franklin >> here. >> Carlos Xavia >> here. >> Timothy Orman >> here. >> Al Adena Hoover. >> Kevin Marin >> here. >> Alexandria Milk here. >> Stand for the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic
002for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Okay. The uh chair will entertain a motion to enter close session to discuss specific employees, student discipline, and superintendent evaluations. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Miss Mill? >> Yes. >> Mr. Marin? >> Yes. >> Miss Franklin? >> Yes. >> Mr. Horman? >> Yes. Yes. >> Miss Ravia. >> Yes. >> Miss Conover. >> Yes. >> Okay. We'll be back. >> How are you, by the way? >> I'm pretty good. How are you? Heat. Heat. Heat. Oh, heat, heat. Heat. Heat. Oh, oh. Heat. Heat. Heat. Oh, oh, Oh, heat Heat. Heat. Oh, all the way. Oh. Heat. Heat up here. Heat. Heat. Oh, oh. Heat. Oh, all Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Oh, oh. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat.
003Heat. Oh, oh. Heat. Heat. Heat Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Oh, oh. Heat. Oh, all Oh, heat, heat. Oh, oh, Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Oh, oh. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat up Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Oh, oh. Heat. And uh first up is the approval of minutes. So the chair will entertain a motion to approve the minutes of the February 24th, 2026 regular meeting of the board of education as presented. >> So move second. >> All in favor? I >> I >> opposed. Motion passes. The chair will entertain a motion to approve the minutes of the closed session of the February 24th, 2026 regular meeting of the board of education as presented. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Uh all in favor? >> I >> opposed. Motion passes. Do we have public comment? >>
004Nope. >> No public comment. Okay. Uh moving on to the consent agenda. The chair will entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented. Personnel recommendations. Anthony >> Cersion. Okay. Uh for science at Westmont High School. Margaret Divine Westmont High School Scholastic Bull Volunteer. Um and resignations. Number two, approval of the March 2026 expenditure report. Number three, ratification of the February 2026 regular payroll. Number four, approval of the IHSA membership. Number five, a paint donation. Uh number six, approval of student tours Westmont Junior High School and Westmont High School. Uh ratification of the amended 202526 CUSD 2011 regular school board meeting calendar. Before I before I ask that ratification is because as of January 1st, 2026 um a law was law went into effect that we couldn't hold a schoolboard meeting on a election
005day which was yesterday. Um but we approved that calendar prior to that law going into effect. So that is what we are approving right here is changing tonight's meeting from yesterday to tonight because we were we are legally not allowed to hold it yesterday anymore. Is that real circular? Any questions on that? >> No. Okie dokie. Uh chair will entertain a motion. So move >> second. >> Roll call. >> Mr. Marin. >> Yes. >> Miss Franklin. >> Yes. Mr. Horman. >> Abstain. >> Mr. Aia. >> Yes. Miss Conover, >> yes. >> Miss Mill, >> yes. >> Motion passes. Okay. Information and discussion. Presentation of the fiscal 2025 year audit. Okay. Hello. My name is Allison Kmen. I was the manager in charge of the district's audit this year. Um, so you all should have packets
006if you wish to follow along. I'll call out page numbers. Um, feel free to stop me along the way if you have questions, but I'll also pause at the end for questions. Um, I did want to thank Ron and his team. Um, without you guys, we really can't put this together. So, thank you so much for working with us in order to get this completed. Um, on page 12, you'll notice that um, the district did get the certificate of achievement for uh, fiscal year 24. So, congratulations on that. Um, I'll be moving to page 15, which is our opinion. So, for this opinion, it's a very clean opinion. No modifications of any kind. Best opinion you can get. Um, that's really all this is saying here. Going to page 19 is the management discussion and
007analysis. Just wanted to point this out as um I'm sure you know the finance team and Ron uh do a lot to put this together along with our report writing team assist um but really it's a financial overview of the entire year. There's a lot of analyticals and things in here that is very useful for understanding the total financial picture. So I would just highly recommend reading this in depth. Um moving on to page 32. Um here I'll just be giving some brief financial highlights. Um give you a second to flip. Um so starting with the general fund which is made up of the education student activities tort and working cash funds. Um so it had a fund balance of about $9.1 million which is 56% of the total fund balance which is $16.2 million.
008Flipping once to page 34, we have the income statement here. Um, the general fund had a net decrease change in fund balance from last year to this year of about $968,000 and in total um between all of the funds, there was about a $339,000 net decrease in fund balance. Um, most of this can be attributed to overall rising costs and less grant funding. Um, if you flip the page again, page 36, just wanted to make note of the notes to the financial statements. Here, you're going to be able to find a lot of the um significant accounting policies as well as schedules such as capital and long-term debt. Um, the budget will start on page 93, which has um the original and final budget, as well as any comparisons there. Um and next we'll be
009moving to the management letter which is a separate document just like this. So we did have one current year recommendation. This is just an FYI. There's nothing to say that um anything you're doing is wrong. It's just we've seen a lot in the IT space of risks that are coming up, fishing attacks and those kinds of things. Um so we're just making the board aware. Um there are six prior year recommendations. One has been implemented. The rest are in various stages of um I know Toron his team are working on. Um and lastly just wanted to touch on the very last page of this. There's two upcoming Gazsby statements 103 and 104 which our team will assist in implementing with the report next year. Any questions? >> Can you explain on page of the management
010report? I guess it's uh it's not numbers of pages, but it's number five where it talks about the co-mingled cash. >> The coingle cash. Sure. Um so this was a comment last year as well as this year. So when we look at the funds, we would anticipate they all be positive um to make up the full balance. And it appears that within the accounts payable sweep account, um there was just multiple funds like education, IMRF, um about five of them which have a negative fund balance. So that's going to be something we want the district to look into. Likely a software thing with the cash allocation that just needs to be adjusted. >> Ron, can you speak to that? >> Uh yes. when I first came on board that was one of the first things
011I identified. So, uh we are working on that and reallocating our financials to make sure that that doesn't happen. >> So, what is h is it is it lit is it like what is happening? >> Like layman's terms explain it please. >> Sure. It's like you have one bank account that has this much money and another bank account that you're in like in a negative. So, you need to make sure that you you put things in the right spot. >> Okay. Is that because of like we didn't budget correctly in those individual accounts or >> I I I don't know what the thought was at the time. I know for example the one was IMRF and social security that really hit me quickly. Um so I I can't speak to my predecessor but it's being
012addressed. >> Okay. So what are you doing to address it? I Right. It's you weren't here last year. Yeah. So, but what are what adjustments have you made? >> So, for example, the corporate personal property replacement taxes can be placed in a variety of funds. You can put them in the 10 fund, 20 fund, 60, 50, 50, which is IMRF, social security. So, that's the one like I said, my little bank account. That was a pretty severe negative. So rather than put that in another fund, I've dedicated it to the IR social security in addition to levying the taxes so that we can break even on that one. >> Okay. >> Yeah. It's it it really is just reallocating whatever funds that we can uh we can move around legally. >> Mhm. >> And making
013sure that we plan and see through it. So it is it is being addressed for sure. >> Okay. So getting the revenues into the right spot. >> Correct. >> Okay. And why does that have an effect on the cash balance? Because the cash balance was 12,615 in June of 24 and only 1.9 million in June of 25. >> Wow. >> That's likely due to um some of these being negative, but also just outstanding items is likely a portion of that. the full amount of the AP sweep account. Um, that is a very large discrepancy, hence why we're pointing it out here. Um, but I think part of the procedures that Ron's trying to put into place is to get those more aligned with what we would expect. >> Was there was there something with um
014we got payments at a different time last year. I feel like >> there was a delay of some kind. >> There were I believe so. >> Could that have impacted this? What was that? >> I believe I think I know Mandy and I were >> cuz it came like right at the end of the school year. We were anticip we would normally have gotten a payment already and we didn't and it was happening to the whole like all of due page. It was like a clerk error or something. >> I can Yeah, let me look at that. >> Yeah, cuz I was in Cook last year and the same thing happened. There was a software issue and it delayed the taxes by like three months. Yeah. If that could have impacted these two numbers, right?
015Like just to >> We can look. Yeah. >> Can you ask that? Yeah. >> It'd be nice to get, you know, if you could get an answer to this, if you could share that with us when you figure out what's going on here, that >> absolutely. >> And if it's not that, maybe just showing like year-over-year more than one year, right? Is this a trend that we bounce up and we bounce down or was it pretty consistently, you know, $12 million and 2025 was a weird, you know, out of the edge case for some reason? Any other questions? Cool. Any comments, Ron? Jack, >> I I do have a comment. I really did appreciate working with this firm. This is the first time I've had to do it with them. Uh it was pretty easy
016and straightforward. So I again I just I really grateful you guys and Don and sometimes when I have a comment just like what we were saying some just making sure the funds were in the right spot, they were very quick with helping with adjustments and and journal entries. It's nice to have. >> That's great. So, um, this essentially closes the 2024 2025 school year, right? Our books essentially. Um, we're are we approving this tonight? >> Yes. >> Do we approve this tonight and then will all of these documents go up on the website or is there a delay or >> u as soon as we approve of it tomorrow, we should have these on the website in addition to anything with the contracts exceeding dollar amounts? Uh all the auditor pieces would be done and
017it's approved so it's official. >> Okay. So are these in executive content right now? >> No, they're not. >> Okay. >> So when they go on the website, can we add them to public content on in our agenda, but then also where they're at on the web, please? >> For sure. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Well, thank you so much. Appreciate it. >> Okay. Student handbook revisions. Come on down, Adam. >> Good evening, board administration. How are you guys? Uh, my name is Adam Cordooski. I'm the assistant principal at Westma High School and I am the chairman of the handbook committee and I would like to take this time to go over the revisions for the 2627 school year. But before that, we got some new members. I just want to give you a little brief
018history since I've been here. Um, my first year here, we were still printing a paper handbook. Um, and last year, um, we decided to move away from the paper handbook, uh, save the district some money and go to a digital format. And that format, uh, was developed using, um, the Illinois Principles Association's uh, student model student handbook. and that was developed by the legal team uh the lawyers at the IPA that aligns all the Illinois school code mandates um into one handbook with the proper language. Um so what we did was we purchased that for the district and then applied it to one district handbook with separate parts for the schools. So, it's a pretty much a one-stop shop now for um all parents and community members and students. All right. And now, um with
019the use of the revisions from the model student handbook from the Illinois Principles Association, we are um very easily uh updating the mandates that are necessary for our handbook and still in compliance with Illinois school code. and we pretty much align with um all the other school districts that are using this as well. All right, so I'll kind of give you a brief rundown of our revision template over here. Um red will mean that we're omitting those um sections or words and green will be additions for um those areas of the handbook. If you look on page one um uh where it says page 15, you'll see that they updated the subgroups and that language will be added throughout the handbook. You'll see that um those subgroups are new subgroups that we want to identify
020that um they're being addressed. So then uh it'll be kind of changed throughout. So that is um one of the additions from the Illinois school code. Uh when you go through the next page, page two through about 10, you'll see that you'll have a lot of red on the left side and green on the right side, um sometimes there's only minor words andor uh different things that are being taken out. Uh and then the green will be the new version that's coming in uh that was adjusted for this year. So, those are um mandates, and this is kind of in no particular order, but those are state mandates that um are required to go in our handbook. So, I'm going to skip to page 10. Here we have our um couple of building additions that
021we have. Um one of them I think that's important is um uh school bus safety rules that is now added. So, we'll have a an aligned um in our handbooks for school bus safety. Some good tips over there, too, if you students want to look that over. Um and on page 83, we're making adjustment to uh from two to three parties, which I think is a great addition there if you guys want us. And again, the next couple pages are going just going to be those mandates that are added. You can see a lot of green. Um those are ones that we're going to put into the handbook in lie of the other ones that are on the left side. Then I scroll down to page 20. Um for the high school um for safety
022issues, we're adding that uh deliveries are not allowed uh to the high school um by students for food and other other delivery. Um this can cause an issue for us with, you know, door dash and things, people that we don't identify coming to the buildings, uh different doors, too, because when you type in the school, they'll sometimes go to the door 21 in the back, door one in the front. And so we just want to make sure that we have a a solid even playing field there. So we don't have any any issues with I didn't know or anything like that. We do have a system in place where if parents want to come by and drop some stuff off that they can uh enter the vestable only and drop off in little cubby holes
023over there. So uh we do have means in place to um for those students that need different things dropped off. If you go to the next page on page 21, um where it says throughout on the left, there's new language that's going to be adjusted for our our medical issues, um we're going to use the term licensed medical practitioner. And this is again from the model student handbook in the IPA. Um that'll um be put in place of nurses, school nurses, uh doctors, nurse practitioners, everything. It'll encompass all that. So um we won't have to specifically address that. Uh on page 46, I'm sorry, on the left side, you'll see page 46, we're going to make additions to our um uh behaviors, we're having no or AUP, I'm sorry. We're going to have no unauthorized
024uh recordings and devices allowed. Um and that kind of that language is developed so that we make sure that we have uh privacy and that we're obeying all the laws within the classroom. Uh there's recently some new glasses and pens and things that can do little recordings. So um only authorized recording devices like the Chromebooks will be allowed. If you turn if you scroll down to page 22, uh the high school our athletic code of conduct um will be amended. um we had a reduction in place from prior and we had no means of providing those supports or courses or programs to reduce the suspensions from athletic events. Um so therefore we're eliminating those from the the handbook you'll see over there. I think I missed something. Do you have any questions for me? >>
025I would like to know how much time has been saved with this new process. >> Oh, that was great. It was far and more efficient. Um, we do have a committee and and it's it's we were in and out in under an hour and now we'll present the we'll add these additions once approved and deletions and then it's electronically already done and we can just do it really quickly. So, we appreciate the board supporting this um model student handbook purchase that we have and if we can make sure that we continue um because uh the mandates keep coming and now they're um arranged very easily for us to keep in compliance. >> Yeah. So, there is obviously a cost to this every year, right? Um from an administrative perspective, like how much time do you
026think it saves with all of these inputs if you had to put like an hours on it? >> Adam did it. So, >> well, and was Adam able to do it before or did Adam have to do it with the help of >> Oh, had your own handbook? >> Yeah. >> So, a lot of time. >> So, lots of hours. >> Oh, yeah. >> Paper. >> We're turning back and forth and then finding it was Yeah. It was difficult. >> Yeah. So, arguably we have five schools, right? We have five buildings. I have to think about that. And before that work was done by five different sets of secretaries and now it's able to be done by one person maybe costing the same amount of time by one person. So, a decrease of Somebody do
027that math. I can't do it. >> Very efficient. Appreciate it. Much >> awesome. >> Mr. Leinsky is here. He was part of the uh process, too. He's big help. Uh Miss Cinovich at Miller. Uh Steph just at Manning. Uh Tiffany Teresi at South. They've all been really helpful. Miss Kosart is also um a big help and dedicated some of her time along with some of the other committee members. So, want to thank everyone there. Yeah, please extend our thanks as well. This is great and much easier and we're happy that this has been helpful for you guys. >> You're able to spend your time. >> Thank you so much. >> All the stuff. Thank you. Appreciate it. >> Thank you, Adam. Thanks, Mike. >> Finance and facilities recap. >> Okay. You want me to take
028it? Sure. Well, we went over the financial piece. We went into some detail about the budget reductions that need to be made. Um, and we highlighted those and took some questions and answers and we'll do some more followup in the near future. But we are financially in a position where we have to make some careful reductions to balance our budget and we're on course for that and we outlined the different areas where we are making that happen. uh we moved on to a followup from the 24th meeting and there was a series of questions that people had asked and the committee had asked and I think we followed up on those issues and I think we brought a lot of that to resolution including enrollment projections, working cash, um looking at the uh eminent domain
029issue and we're still in process with that. We talked a little bit about community engagement and we're moving forward with listening sessions on April 28th that we will publicize and then a Zoom meeting on the 29th and then another in-person meeting I believe on May 19th. Uh there is a funding opportunity through uh Congressman Sean Ca Castton's office that was brought to our attention uh by an Leah and Joe Smith went forward and put together a package and has been in contact with the congressman's office. So that's an attempt to secure additional funds to have less of a burden on our taxpayers. And uh that's the recap >> board members run. >> So if you're out there listening, uh please email Sean Casten to let him know that he wants to support schools and we
030want the money to be able to approve our facilities. That is all >> we will be posting on the website the uh we're putting together a letter that can be copied and pasted and emailed to Sean Castton's office. This is part of um uh federal funding that as uh he gets he gets to you know allocate um different Westmont um the Westmont Park District got got some funds for it in previous years. There's been I think Marker has gotten some funds in previous years. Um it seems really well dispersed amongst his constituency. Um but there is certainly a like a public the more that he hears from his public in that area, right? Um the more likely that funding is. So this is um this is a need, right? and we're trying to look at
031all of the different ways that we can potentially fund all of the work that our district needs. Um, and our ask is that the community helps share that with with uh Sean Casten and his team. So, we've put we've done this stuff. We're going to put it onto the website. Um, and then there might be a social post as well at some point. So, keep an eye out for that. Um, Ron, are you going to update the PowerPoint deck that was um with that was shared during the meeting and posted on the website with notes? >> That is correct. >> When can we expect that? Realistically, >> let me aim for Monday if that's okay. >> Okay. And then if we could post that both on the website and then also in the agenda here
032so that it's in the public. I think we got some good feedback. Any um anybody want to talk about like feedback what we talked about the com the committee that we received tonight. >> Yeah. >> Uh feedback for the PR committee you mean or just in general? Well, I mean just anything that we kind of got feedback that we received during our during the finance and facilities meeting I I I don't >> Nope. Nope. To me, I just appears we have to kind of decide where we're going to go, what we're going to do, you know, would like more of the public's input >> on this subject. You know, what they want us to do, what they think we should do. Um, I'd love to have more people come out, but, you know, at a
033minimum, please jump on the Zoom link when it comes up. you know, um, participate, have your voice heard, let us know what you want. >> I was happy about the villages response to the TIF funds and what they talked about and how they were going to work to make sure that the TIF funds could be transferred to >> the 25% >> building. Well, I did say 25% I think they said. >> So, that's the that's where the the funds are. 25% of the taxes. >> Oh, yeah. >> Um, that's what makes up that fund that we get yearly. Say something. >> No, what I'm talking about is they were talking about the TIFF funds for Manning. >> Yeah, that's that. >> Oh, okay. >> Mhm. There's two ways that those funds come to us. We
034get 25% um every year in cash. That's that that fund that has kind of come up that we've been holding on to. And then there is that um increase to our revenue line that happens when the tiff ends. So it comes to us in both of those ways, but they're specifically talking about that that 25% because that is not a normal um most districts don't get any of the funds from the tiff. They just have to live without it. So that was a that was a non-normal agreement that a previous board made. But didn't they say that the statute didn't prohibit that money? >> Mhm. >> From ultimately being you like if they >> It's used to remove a school building that exists in the tip district, then the funds can then be used for
035the replacement of that school building. Yeah. >> There is a statute that allows for that. Yes. Which is wonderful. That was that was very nice for them to to to say that and frankly do that work rather quickly. In just a couple of weeks, they got us an answer that we asked for. >> Actually, I'm reminded two things that came up. Now, um one, it was nice to the the to hear from just to have the presence of people whose homes could be affected by um by some of the solutions being proposed and um to get those people in the room. was nice or that person. It was only one person, but it would be nice to have those people really involved in this, you know, in any way that they feel comfortable being involved.
036And then the other thing was just the mention of of the this was mentioned by a few people in the room that there was that we are at a point of of inflection in the district, right? Where um current situation financial is un is unsustainable and we can't stay on the same track of performance. clearly we cannot stay on the same track of performance in the district um with the finances in the shape that they're in and that um it was good to have that sort of bubble to the surface um in the meeting in the from the community. Yeah, I think there was a key point that you know voting no the schools won't stay status quo >> you know things that is making a decision things will change. >> Yeah the the reality
037is uh the number of projects that we've needed to do in the last decade has only grown. It hasn't changed. >> They've gotten more expensive. uh they don't go away just because we didn't get additional funding for them via a referendum. So we have a and we are still in a spot where we must fix them. We have committed to fixing them. So we need to decide either how we do that without additional funds which means a measurable difference in class sizes, right? which means an impact to our programming in all the ways that we'll all have have have impact, right? No, no additional funds is not a status quo stays the same. Um or if we would like to attempt to get additional funds again and th those are our two choices essentially. So,
038>> right, >> problems didn't go away. >> Turns out >> weird. Um, >> we will make sure to do everything we can to meet with each each of those seven homeowners. Ron has already been in communication with them and we'll keep following through. >> That's great. It's it's great. >> I thought it was interesting to see the enrollment data over the last six years or so. And I know that we look at it every year, but it was nice to it was nice to look at it. Um, I thought it was uh I thought seeing the piece that our class size actually grows between 8th and 9th grade over the last six six years. So, we're actually gaining students at the high school um every single year is really nice to see. Um, >> yeah,
039I thought that was interesting. people to me that says people that's telling me people recognize how well the school's performing academically >> you know hopefully that translates other our other schools are performing similarly hopefully people can recognize that >> Mhm. And I thought there was a lot of good questions and comments about the financial piece. Uh it seemed like it took up o over half of the meeting. So I think there was a lot of interest in it. >> So you bring up a really good point. I want to say one thing and then I'm going to speak to that. I want to It sounds like the um administration and the union are working their darnest to find solutions in this budget that have the least amount of impact on our students and our union
040members, our community as a whole. And I want to thank everybody for that work to that um comment. So the job of the finance committee, okay, is to work on the budget. Um and we've essentially uh kind of done this group finance facilities committee meeting thing a couple of times now. Um, I think that now is is an appropriate time for us to decide if we would like to get to go back to how we did this over the last couple of years and that is move these um larger finance and facilities conversations to a strategic planning which is an ad hoc committee which is a temporary committee um so that the finance committee can go back to its regularly scheduled work which is working on the budget. There's a reason why I took up
041much of the much of the meeting because that is the work that the finance committee would be doing this time of year and so that the facilities committee can also kind of get back to its regularly scheduled um >> programming. So is there any um thoughts on that from the board? I think they should be separated because I think that they're both very important pieces and I think that you need to devote sufficient time to each of them and I don't think combining them together sufficiently devotes the time that's needed. >> When you say combining are you talking about finance and facilities or you talking about um finance facilities strategic planning? finance and facilities. I mean, I think we saw today that trying to combine both of those together, we were pushing too much on
042both of them and not giving enough time for for, you know, the amount of discussion that needs to happen. So, I think you should think about splitting those. I mean, were they were they separate? They were at one point. So, so a couple of things. We have our regular committees for per board policy have x number of jobs that they do every single year. Finance is a separate committee from facilities. They tend to meet joint a couple times a year because they are so intricately interspersed, right? And because they need to talk about next year. Um the conversations that we are having on the larger facility problem would not would we did that in a strategic planning committee last in the previous years because that's a whole board committee and it's temporary. So it's not
043a regular business of the like regular business of the board would be finance and facilities would meet on a joint would meet jointly so that we could talk about what projects do we need to budget for next year, right? And then and then the finance committee would also meet on its own to work through that budgetary piece as well. Um and these what would be not short-term but not forever discussions essentially about our larger facilities issues would be a strategic planning >> situation. I think another way of thinking about this for me anyway is that the the job of the finance committee and the facilities committee is um to talk about the resources available to the district in order to achieve the goals of the district, right? um when when the finance committee and especially
044if it's in conjunction with the facilities committee come to the conclusion that there aren't sufficient resources in the district to address the issues present in the district then it becomes a strategic planning issue. Right? If you're gonna say we need more resources, it's no long the job of the finance committee is to deal with the finances as they exist, as they stand, not imaginary money that the district doesn't have. It's illequipped and and certainly not out of scope. It's out of scope for that for that committee. Um it is in scope for an ad hoc >> strategic planning committee to plan for the future, >> right? um and to come up with resources if the PR committee or someone says, "Hey, we need we need more than what we got here." >> So, that's how
045that's how I that's how I think about it is that a lot of the things that that are that are coming out of the finance and facilities committee meetings of of of the recent ones are tending towards saying we need more resources, right? So, if that's the case, then then that becomes strategic planning in my mind. So to my two cents, >> I think when we started it made sense. Um but now it certainly seems like the discussion is deepening. In my opinion, I think it moves to a strategic planning piece of it. What what opinion does the board have? >> I agree with that. >> I would agree too. I think we should call it something else besides strategic planning because I I'm not sure that if we're going to be talking about facilities
046and needs, I think that we need to convey to the public with the name of the committee what it is that that strategic planning committee committee is doing. >> Yeah, >> I get I can get behind that for sure. >> There's we've got freedom in that. It's just that it is a it's the type of committee that it is. Yeah, because it opens up it just opens up who can be involved in which other committees can be involved. It's a whole >> and allowing the committees that exist to do their jobs also because that's the that's the thing and I think you said it earlier like it takes it's it's a it's you you do especially when you're doing both you do both >> not as well as you want to be doing them you
047know and they don't get to do like we honestly this time of year and that entire facilities excuse me finance so just finance committee meeting should have been spent on the budget >> yeah and normally it would have been yes >> you know the entire time would have only been that topic And it wasn't >> for good reason. For good reason. >> Alex Kevin. >> No, I like that idea. >> Yeah. >> You know, change the name to reflect what what we're discussing. >> Okay. Can we make that adjustment? >> What are we calling it? >> Well, >> what the PR committee? No, I'm kidding. >> Call whatever you want. >> Can you just take it back to the admin and say with and figure out what you guys would like to call it? strategic
048planning uh colon I don't know what's the two dots semicolon I don't know >> yeah colon >> what did we call it last time it was strategic planning finance and facilities I think but um let's come up with a why don't you come up with a idea and maybe send us a couple options >> okay >> I mean are we going to be talking about facility needs >> it's Yep facilities planning >> I'm anticipating >> I think that is actually what we called it was facilities planning. >> I think I actually think I think that actually is what we called it was strategic planning facilities planning committee. >> Strategic planning facilities plan. >> How about strategic facilities? >> Whatever we called it last year. Go for it. >> Okay. >> It hasn't been that long.
049>> The point being >> finance gets back to the work of finance. Facilities gets back to the work of facilities and longer term planning moves into the appropriate committee. Okie dokie. Any other comments, questions, concerns, feedback on the >> financing facilities? >> Great. Moving right on. Demand response contract. So uh just so we know there is a contract that is coming up which is a demand response contract with uh energy who is our vendor for electric. Uh it's a third party that finds the best deals possible for electric and then then gets the district an opportunity. Demand response typically is anytime throughout the year they ask if you can turn off the system the electric within your building for a certain time frame. After doing that uh they give you the heads up for the
050day before the day of then they tell you they give you the window. Now in my experience with it there is it's it's savings. Uh you you can get a couple thousand dollars for a building. I asked what buildings we could do it for. the high school was the one that they say is worth it. The um it doesn't have to happen during the school day. It could be during the weekend when there not any, you know, any kids or staff in the building. So, uh I will bring this again to the board next month to see about renewing this because it is it is it's a savings. It it does allow us to take care of the grid while at the same time making some money back in return. What makes the high school
051like worth it and the others? >> Uh, it uses more >> it uses more electrics from what the company was saying cuz I was pushing I would love to have every building on it but they said the high school is the only one that was eligible. >> Would would this interrupt any kind of athletic events or >> no >> or any kind of extracurriculars or >> if it happens if they ask or request to do it during a certain time frame we don't have to comply. they can find another time. Typically, it's like in the summertime when no one's in the building. >> Okay. >> So, >> yeah, I had an employer that had a similar program and it was it was big savings for them. So, >> sure, >> we do it, too. >>
052Just another example of us trying to find ways >> Yeah, it's great. >> Can we Is it possible to adjust the title of this to like add the word energy next to like demand response contract energy? I just >> It is super non-specific. It is really non-specific and a little bit like >> so funny >> almost worrying. Yes, >> it is almost like just what's the what is the two dots colon? I think it is a colon. Not my strong energy like >> are we allowed to do that? Cuz if we are allowed to do that I >> not only would it make searching our agendas past agendas easier and also >> I am acknowledging that and we'll take care of it for sure >> to modify the agenda. They're strong. They're strong words. >>
053Okay, great. Um, if there are not any other comments, questions, concerns, we will move on to the action item portion of the evening. The chair will entertain a motion to approve the fiscal year 2025 audit as presented. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Mr. Marin, >> yes. >> Miss Franklin, >> yes. >> Mr. Horman, >> yes. >> Mr. Aia, >> yes. >> Miss Conover, >> yes. Miss Mill. >> Yes. >> Motion passes. Uh the chair will entertain a motion to authorize and direct the treasurer to pay any bills received in March 2026 that have been budgeted for the 2026 fiscal year. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Miss Franklin. >> Yes. >> Mr. Horman. >> Yes. >> Mr. Ravia. >> Yes. >> Miss Conover. >> Yes. >> Miss Mill.
054>> Yes. >> Mr. Marin. >> Yes. >> Motion passes. Superintendent report. >> Okay. There's a lot going on. I want to just uh say follow up from our previous meeting that we'll we're forming the athletic committee and those invitations will go out uh in the coming week and then we will have meeting probably in late April. We really highly encourage uh students, parents, booster club members, uh coaches, I'm sure there'll be some board representation, uh alums, people from the community to really gather as much input to put together maybe a renewed vision for what we're looking for for the athletic experience for our students in this district and then formulate that and strengthen the vision. come up with some smart goals and then um proceed together to strengthen the experience our students have in athletics
055in our district. Along those lines, congratulations to the Westmont Junior High School uh state champion wrestling team. The coaches and the athletes should be so proud. Amazing accomplishment. uh very special and uh it wasn't gained without a lot of tremendous dedication and hard work and the assembly that took place uh on Tuesday was really beautiful. Uh so congratulation to our coaching staff and all the student athletes and to Westmont Junior High School for an amazing accomplishment there as state champions. Uh we had our uh spring choir concert that was incredible. Uh, congratulations to Mr. Troyer, Mr. Earlop. A great concert put on by our students. The spring musical was really special and so many students not only enjoyed that but performed so well. Our Scholastic Bowl team, which has uh won state championship and even
056a national championship in the last few years, is heading down to Bloomington this weekend to compete for the state championship. So good luck to Mr. Demay and Mr. Chamberlain and the Scholastic Bowl team. And we are coming into testing season when last year we saw incredible growth, some of the best in the state and incredible achievement because of the work of our teachers and students and admin. So we want that to continue because it's a way to measure our student learning and growth, which is really one of our top priorities. But we need to be focused. Um, and by our next board meeting, the testing at the junior high and the elementary school will be uh near completion and the high school will be starting. So, it really isn't just the test score. It's really
057a way to measure what's most important to us, which is our student learning. And last year was phenomenal. And then I I'm confident that this year will be too. Great board reports. >> Um, yeah. I mean, Jack's already recognized the the the achievement of the of the wrestling team, but I I just kind of feel compelled to say a few things about what happened there, right, and how that was achieved. And um first of all it coach Dave Weisbrock and and coach Vic the dedication is is amazing to what what they've what they've achieved. Um and I really hope that they both can stay a part of wrestling in Westmont in some way going forward. Um I know it's difficult. I know it requires a lot of time but it would great be great to
058see them continue as a part of community wrestling community in Westmont whatever that however that shapes. and also um recognize a lot of parents that were involved in the success of this team um and especially Dave's Dave Weises Brock's wife Danny who who was really really gave a lot of her time uh to the success of this team. And the last thing I want to say about that team and what what that team achieved is it's it's a really good example of the kind of thing that that we're talking about when we talk about vertical integration, community involvement. Um, you know, there's a lot that happened inside and outside of the wrestling room to make that team successful. Um, and once you get a moment once you get momentum like that going, um, you can
059build on that. It's a it's a model to learn from both both in terms of what went well and what didn't go well. Um so I really hope that all those people that I just mentioned can make their way to that committee meeting when it when it gets scheduled. Um so we can learn from their successes and and and frustrations. Any other board reports? I just wanted to shout out the Miller and Manning PTO. They those parents put on a really great fun fair. Um super well attended, like lots of fun games, memories, baskets, like it was just a really great overall time and um I volunteered for a little bit and my kids loved it and um the turnout was was really great to see. It was a windy, cold, rainy day and we
060still had lots of families showing up. Um so it was really good to to see that. Awesome. Thank you. >> Tomorrow night is the talent the elementary talent show at the high school and so it's always fun to see um the kiddos get on that big stage and and uh we have a basketball dribbler and some dancers uh some joke tellers. So it'll be fun to just celebrate. >> It's at the high school. >> They're gifts. Yes. >> Tomorrow night. and we clear the agenda. >> Okay. Any other board reports? Do we have any public comment? >> We do not. Future meetings and events. Uh South School's family night is coming up March 19th at 5:00 p.m. at South. The District 2011 Fine Arts Festival, always a great night. March 25th at 700 p.m. at
061the high school. We do have a PLC dismissal. on March 27th and spring break starts March 30th and goes through April 6th. Fifth grade stepup night is April 9th at 6:30 at Westmont Junior High School. I'm not ready for that. And our next PR committee meeting is April 14th at 5:30 p.m. Um, and our next board meeting just happens to be the exact same night at 6:30 p.m. So, April 14th here at Village Hall, 6:30 p.m. Uh, there is nothing for closed session, so we will not have another close session. Um, do we have any other communications? We do not. The chair will entertain a motion to adjourn the March 18th, 2026 regular meeting of the board of education. >> So moved. >> Second. All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Motion passes.