001Heat. Heat. Heat. Oh, oh. Heat. Heat. Oh, all the Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Okay. Calling to order the uh February 24th, 2026 regular meeting of the CUSD 2011 Board of Education. Uh roll call, please. Leah Canover >> here. >> Heather Franklin >> here. >> Carlos Aia >> here. >> Timothy Orman >> here. >> Adena Hoover >> here. >> Kevin Marin, >> here. >> Alexandria Mill. >> Okay, stand for the pledge, please. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Okay. The chair will entertain a motion to uh enter close session to discuss specific employees and student discipline. >> So move. >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Mr. Orman. Yes, >> Dr.
002Hoover. >> Yes, >> Mr. Marin. >> Yes, >> Miss Franklin. >> Yes, >> Mr. Aia. >> Yes, >> Miss Conover. Yes. Motion passes. We'll be back >> in half an hour. Half an hour. >> Maybe less. >> We didn't want to change what time public do. So, yes, 30 minutes. Jack's going to do it. So the chair will entertain a motion to approve the minutes of the February 10th, 2026 regular meeting of the board of education as presented. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I You're not logged in. >> Right. >> Yes. Sorry. >> Opposed. >> Trying to get on board. >> Okay. Motion passes. Uh, the chair will entertain a motion to approve the minutes of the closed session of the February 10th, 2026 regular meeting of the board of
003education as presented. >> So moved. Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Uh, opposed. Okay. Motion passes. Uh, moving on to public comment. Do we have public comment tonight? >> Okay. Moving right past public comment to the consent agenda. The chair will entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented. one personnel recommendations Charlotte Leaden teaching associate uh assistant Jill Jackson Long uh term subsocial worker uh that's a lot of letters words resignation number two approval of the February 2026 expenditure report number three ratification of the January 2026 regular payroll number four approval of Westmont High School student tours and number five approval of donation from Westmont Public Library >> some Move. >> Second. Roll call. >> Dr. Hoover. >> Yes. >> Mr. Marin, >> yes. >> Miss Franklin, >> yes. >> Mr.
004Avia, >> yes. >> Miss Conover, >> yes. >> Mr. Norman, >> yes. >> Motion passes. Okay. Information and discussion. Uh, tutoring opportunities, which is an exciting thing. Can we get that on the screen? >> Yeah, >> I Carla both probably have it. I think she's got it. >> Cool. >> Mhm. >> Yours is up. >> Cool. >> Thank you so much. >> See, >> we got to talk about the >> Oh, there we go. Yay. >> All right. So, we're going to give a really brief update on the junior high's participation in a national math tutoring research study. I'm going to turn it over to Amy because she is going to be the best person for this information. >> She's the principal at the junior. >> Hi. Thank you. Um we are so excited to
005present to you tonight our participation in the national math tutoring research study. It is we are in partnership with Carnegie Melon University, Stanford University as well as CargI learning who provides us with our curriculum. And thank you to Carla because she spearheaded this and also our teacher Orisa Grubbin. She's going to be the sponsor lead teacher for this uh tutoring program in late March. So this March, our pilot of approximately 23 students will receive virtual tutoring by a live person twice per week during our win time. So it will not take away from their core academics at all. It will happen in that intervention time and this is at no cost to the district. nothing. We selected students based on their academic and math confidence needs to be a part of this program and the
006tutoring will be live via the web with adaptive AI math software to provide timely targeted support for them. All data will be fura protected identified and of course families can opt out if they would like. This partnership allows us to expand our math support for more students while contributing to national research on effective scalable math solutions and interventions. >> Do we have any questions? >> Wow. >> How were the students chosen? Like what were the >> Yeah. parameters or >> so the teachers looked at their I Ready scores I A previous I scores as well as assessments within the class just like we choose interventions it was just another add-on to our intervention repertoire >> and how did this come to us as an opportunity >> so we um we have the Carnegie resource for
007junior high math and um the Carnegie rep they were talking about some kind of Carnegie tutoring that they offered it was really expensive. So I was like, "Oh, we can't afford this." It was a cool idea, but it was just too expensive. So then he came to me like a day later and was like, "Well, maybe you could be part of this university study." Um, and then he connected us with the people who were doing the study and that's how it came about. And they let us know they don't have any schools that they serve in Illinois. They're primarily east coast and I think West Coast, too. And so they wanted to have schools in our territory. So we're the pilot for them. Yeah, they're really looking to see so the onetoone tutoring would be
008with an actual person virtually and then they're pairing it up with the math software that we already use through Carnegie and it just kind of is coming together to see how does this how's this going to work and um it's just extra tutoring opportunity for our students >> during a time when they're already getting tutoring. So it's just more hands- on deck really. >> Yes. >> Can you speak to like you said what this could lead to? Is this something that can move beyond a like small group or is it something that can be supported to move beyond a small group like what what does it mean for um besides getting information nationally like for us? >> Yeah. So it's a it's a national study. So um it's just contributing to the research to say
009okay these kids need support in tutoring um if we pair this onetoone virtual support with um uh AI supported like the car the Carnegie pathway that they have um what impact does that have on students and the early results show that it's having really great impact so it's just more opportunities for different tutoring for students that um could be sustainable but in terms of this study there's a possibility for it. We're just piloting this end of the year. There's a possibility for it to extend into next school year. >> That was going to be my question. How long it goes on for potentially. >> You said student parents have the option to to opt out. Yes. Have has this already been communicated to the students that have been selected. >> So that is a great
010question. I will find out for you, but I know that the communication is already set up. I've seen it. And so then we'll let the parents know and then they'll be able to opend >> for who's not started yet. It doesn't start till the end of March, >> right? >> It doesn't start till later. But I'm saying like have have the students that have been My question isn't really about the opt out. It's just has it been have students been notified. >> Is it also Is the inverse also true students that haven't been notified aren't involved? >> That I we weren't going to do, but we we can >> but we were just going to notify >> not I I'm not saying I'm saying that if someone's sitting at home right now watching this going,
011I wonder if my students been selected, >> they would they would know now. Yes or no? Is that the question? Yes, we will have to ask. Orisa was working on the letter so that if it hasn't gone out yet, it will be within the next couple of days. >> Gotcha. Thank you. >> You know, it sounds like a good opportunity. Just if you would report back how it went. >> Mhm. >> Of course. Of course. >> Lost our data. >> Thanks, guys. Appreciate it. >> Okay. Uh, finance and facilities committee recap. Wait, no, you guys have more. Yeah. Is this is this also our wonderful opportunity? >> So Kevin and I are going to talk about teen tutoring at Manning. It's a um really cool concept that we are um trying to see how it
012works, trying to see how the kids respond to it um and in the future try to get our own Westmont students to participate. So I'm going to have Kevin talk a little bit about how it came to be. uh came to be actually over Thanksgiving dinner. So, uh I have uh nieces and nephews who are in a local school district, uh Oakbrook in, uh Hinsdale, and we were just talking about my experience here as first year principal, you know, at Manning and how different it was from from where I was on the Northshore and talking about the uh how diverse this community is and the fact that they're neighbors to this community. They never realize how diverse we really are. And so, and I was just talking about some of our needs and they asked,
013you know, the three of them were kind of talking about like how could they help our kids who who needed support. And so, uh, they came up with this tutoring idea and kind of I put them in in in touch with Edith and they actually set up meetings and met with Ed Edith and Ron and a few others over several times and kind of worked we worked on how can we make this happen here at Manning. And so, uh, currently it's it's should come over on a Tuesday. It's really kind of cool and cute. But uh the kids I have three um teachers or two teach one teacher u Miss Troa and then I have uh Mrs. Dispensa and Mrs. uh CMI uh who are two teaching assistants who kind of help coordinate and like
014get materials to work with the kids. So there are second and third graders is how we've started and there's 14 of them. We've kind of identified them. Um we had a kind of a tiered system and kind of looked for like um financial need first you know um you know parents who have reached out and asked for these things because they they didn't have the financial resources to do it themselves. Uh you know we asked teachers at the second and third grade level um you know to kids that they thought would uh be of most help for you know to to to be a part of this. And so we wanted to start kind of small because uh my nephew set up a like a Google form system for their all of their friends. And
015so their friends sign up and so every week we get like six to seven uh middle school and high school students who come on their own time. Uh they get here at 3:30. They work with kids till 4. Um which I think is it's awesome watching them, you know, work together and really work on, you know, they're working on math skills and reading skills with with these students. And then uh Miss Troha plans like an SEAL lesson. So when they get out of school at 2:30, they're with her and and and Mrs. Dispensa and Mrs. Selemmy for until 3:30 and actually the three of them stay till 4:00, but they work on SEC SEAL skills and some other tutoring pieces. So, it's kind of cool cuz they built this little community um because we're trying
016to say like yes, academics is important, but we also want kids to really have those skills necessary to kind of be able to relate and communicate and develop friendships and things in society. So, so that's where we're at and we we'd like to eventually we're like we said piloted. It's small. I've got like 12 students in it from Manning that are second and third grade. We'd love to, you know, expand it to allow more students, but then really we were talking about reaching out uh to, you know, our own, you know, junior high in our own high school to see would kids be interested in coming and being a part of this this program. And that would allow us, >> you know, the opportunity to bring more um of our students in from Manning, but
017then also more of our students in across the district of people who would love to uh help out um and help kids in in in need. So, >> and if I'm not mistaken, volunteering to tutor is a is a service hour opportunity for per students. I might have been on the website yesterday. We wanted to see how it would work because we have junior high students and we weren't sure how they were going to be with the young ones, but it's been they are so great and >> their leadership is incredible and and the students are responding so well to them. Um they it's it's a boost of confidence for them and it's it's been wonderful >> and they've developed like relation the kids are developing their relationships with these middle school and high school
018kids who are coming and um and the kids have been amaz the high school and middle school kids have been amazing just the interaction like when you walk in it just you know it just brings a big smile to my face I'm always telling people you got to go down and see this it's really cool >> and the younger ones just like stare at the team >> you know like I'll learn anything from you so so we we are we are um you know want wanting to bring in more students and we want to extend it to our junior high and high school, but we wanted to start small um make tweaks along the way. And in addition, we need our own 2011 staff members to oversee it because they're from outside of the district.
019We needed to make sure that we had those adults and so, you know, we'll need additional adults if we bring other students. But it's it's working really well and it's it's really fun and yes, we encourage you to come and and visit. Uh and the and the teachers, it's great like you know, Mrs. Dispensa, Miss CMI, uh Mi Mroa, they go around to those classroom teachers and say, "What do your kids really need support in and help?" And they they kind of all work together and then bring it in. So those kids aren't having to create anything from scratch when they're they're tutoring. They actually have things there. And then the three adults kind of rotate, you know, kind of move around the room and just make sure things are going well. And if they
020need to help or interject, they do. But they're like, "It's been really, really smooth. They've loved it so far. >> Yep. >> Awesome. >> Can I ask what schools K the tutors are coming from and and maybe is there an application process? How do you know that when they get here they're going to be great leaders and they're going to be great tutors? Is there like a process? >> We actually had them all come in before we ever started the tutoring service and they they met with all of us and we talked through what the expectations were and things that needed to be done. Um, and if there are kids that, you know, needed support, we haven't had that piece yet from the from the kids that have come in and volunteered, but that's what
021the adults are there for to really help, you know, great >> keep them on in in where they need to be. So, they're coming from uh Hinsdale uh Central High School and then they're coming from uh the Oakbrook Middle School. >> I'd like this I'd like to see this go in district, >> frankly. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah, that's the goal. >> That's the goal. It's just they they actually >> came to us and we were like, let's just let's make it happen. Let's we can start here and then start expanding it and >> having our own students participate and working out all the kinks and >> but yeah, certainly that you will see that happen. >> Yeah. This year, next year >> we actually want to start this year. >> Yeah. Great. >> It would
022be great to see some data. I know you guys are very early in the process, right? Think about what you would like to measure. Think about how you could measure it so that we can report back on what it's bringing to the district, not just, you know, what it feels like it's bringing to the district. Let's do those pieces including, you know, hours and feedback from students. But it's sounds heartwarming. I know the days that like what is it the high schoolers come back and read >> like the seniors come back and read all the and there's like all those whenever there's a couple of those days where you see the older kids coming back to like Miller and Manning it's always like >> the most heartwarming and I think that's one of the things
023that like being a unit district we're capable of doing like the kids are when they graduate are able to come back and be like I went to I was in preschool here right Like that's really it's really cool. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Any more tutoring opportunities? >> That's all we got time. >> Okay. How about uh recapping the finance and facilities uh committee meeting that happened 5:30 to 6:30 uh this evening prior to our meeting here. >> Another very productive meeting. We're very grateful. We had leaders from the village join us along with some staff and administration and some community members. We would love to see more community members. Uh we're going to have our next meeting March 17th at 5:30 prior to our regular board meeting. We started off with the finance
024piece of the finance and facilities. Uh Mr. Okconor and myself and the team are in the process of making uh some significant uh reductions mainly through attrition and retirement. some belt tightening that's necessary to the tune of about $800,000 plus. Um we believe that can happen without really impacting the quality of services we give to our students and having minimal impact to our current employees and staff and still being able to serve the district the highest level. So, and we're still in process, but we will present those reductions uh beginning in March uh to the board and the community. But I know Ron and I are confident that we will hit that target if not more than that and it'll be putting us in a stronger fiscal position going forward. Um there were a number
025of responses or questions at the prior meeting. So we spent a good portion of the meeting responding and giving information to the committee including talking about a hybrid financing model uh and options that are available as far as potential ways to fund new facilities going forward. We revisited the tiff information and the village had some interesting things to share. Um we got specifics about Miller Manning um uh square footage and acreage including other property possible acquisitions. Um, we also went through the ballot measure deadlines which include uh August if we were interested in going in November and then in January if we're interested in going April of 27. Uh we talked about the benefits of consolidation that we think conservatively if we had one K5 building instead of two we could save uh at least
026$650,000 a year if not more through consolidation. Uh there was some discussion. Next steps was to contact some of our fellow community owners apprising them of the situation and inviting them to our meeting and we will go forward with some other options and uh at the March 17th meeting. >> Very good comments. Anybody? >> I just have a question. If we I don't know if this do we leave like questions and comments for the committee or do we want to have that open broadly? >> I think we can discuss and if we would like to see some some uh what we'd like to see from the next direction from the committee right we kind of set the direction here. we said like, "Hey, we need to we need to we need to bring the committee
027back together and get some direction." And that was our >> that was the board's that was the board's direction. And now maybe it's time for us to give them some additional direction. So, um, >> and Jack, you've used I'm sorry. >> No, I was just saying, do >> you use the term option? These are really still ideas, right? >> Absolutely. >> Not plans. Oh, I was just saying that like I um we're really heavily looking at ideas, but um and I don't want to like say we need 15 ideas, but I just think for that QR code, do we give that out or do we leave it for the committee right now? >> We can Yeah, we can get that out. >> Okay, >> that's a really good point. >> Just because you weren't here
028today doesn't mean you don't >> Yep. We don't want to hear your opinion, >> right? >> Yep. >> So, the board does have Can't believe I'm saying this. We do have a decision to make if we would if we would like to go potentially to referendum again. And and there are very real timeline things that we need to start talking about if that is the case. And it is a very very very big if at this point. However, what we need from the one of those deadlines, the first deadline would be August, the end of August. We would make it we would need to make a decision if we were going to be on the November ballot. That is every time there's a every time there is a big every time there's election, we're allowed
029to be on the ballot, but there's a deadline for when we need to ask to have our ballot measure prepared to be on that ballot. So that means that the board needs to have direction from the community, needs to have direction from the administr. Like there's a lot that needs to happen prior to the board feeling like it has enough information to make a decision about if it's going to referendum again on the November election. So what what information would the board members like need? I um Oh, I'm thinking when you put out that QR memo is do we want to include like the four options even at minimum like I don't know what you want to include for the information but if for people were not here and say this is these are this
030is what was presented by the people who were there if you want to be a part of this here's when we're meeting or submit your comments. I you know I I envisioned something where we would provide the slide deck and write a a synopsis of what was discussed as well as some of the ideas so that there is all this information in one >> one set we could even put it on the website >> since this is being recorded can we put the QR code on this recording so that someone who's watching this or goes back and watches this session can actually also access that QR That's a great idea. >> I think the easiest thing is to say we say it here that find that on our site. >> Um >> like YouTubers do.
031Don't they go don't they go here? Go. There's a link right below. >> There's a link right below >> that we put it on after I >> So I realized that that we don't we don't post this, right? Because the village thankfully does the recording and does all the posting of this. Are we able to add a link to the description? >> We can put a we can put in on YouTube, which is where these things are housed. We can literally go into the comment section and put the link. It's not I just >> You could It could just be the very first comment. >> I sure I haven't seen the QR code link where it links to, but I would maybe ask if we're going to put it on a you on YouTube, maybe
032do some What's your do you live in Westmont? Right. Like name. >> Oh, >> you haven't checked our viewers yet. >> I do have one friend who doesn't live in the district who likes to watch these and make fun of me. >> So Chris, please don't >> if you know, don't click on the link. Heather wants to keep you out. >> Yeah, we don't want we don't want >> I mean I'm not trying. Honestly, I think you put the it's out there. It's public information. This is a public meeting and there's no reason not to. just put the link in there and whoever whoever really enjoys school financing can go have a look. >> It's more than welcome again on our on our website so that >> yes up on the website up on the
033socials we can post it in the first comment of the YouTube as well. So >> I think for your uh previous question you know what do we need what do I need as a board member to make a decision and what we do next and specifically for a referendum. I I appreciate the um community members that come including a village to hear um you know their input and thoughts and um I still feel like we need more of that. Um, I feel like if the board wants to have a discussion to say final, what is your appetite for this and if you need a decision said a decision made and what is our final decision about this upcoming one? I think it's a good question and to get the board's vote and speaking on it
034and a meeting to say uh maybe it's more time to say it. We don't have much to put a final vote to say yes or no. You know, we are considering it. We're not and then continue what we're doing with our community. Um yeah, I don't know if we put a date out that we're going to or a potential date that we're going to make a decision by and that's part of our discussion and we make a decision of what we're going to do for this year. What are our plans? So, so the community knows what cuz I know people ask, "What are you going to do? Are you going to go back?" I think we should answer that question as a board and maybe put a date of when we're going to I think
035we had it in our finance committee meeting like potential dates to say in a board meeting >> we're those are the those are the board >> meetings to say what >> scheduled board meetings prior to the deadlines so that we don't have to do um so we don't have to do another >> 16th I think it was >> I think >> if we were to that's our drop dead >> when we would need to make >> I think we said before >> I have my own opinions about that. So if that I know, Madam President, if you want us to say even before that what we're going to do, I I think that's fine too that we don't have to wait for that date, we can say. I don't know. I don't know if everybody
036has an opinion about just making a decision about that. At least this for this year. >> I think it's premature for us to talk about that right now. I think there's still a lot of other discussions that need to go on. So, but what do we need to know to to >> say yes or no to it? Yeah. >> Not even not even that. What do we need to know >> that makes that not pre not premature? Cuz I'm not saying that >> I want to be super clear. I'm not saying I want a ballot measure or that I want I want to be very very clear. >> That is not what we were talking about. But what do we need from the committee? >> What direction do we need from the committee? What work
037does the committee need to do? What do you as board members need from that committee to to report to us so that we can have discussions about about because ultimately there were four options. >> There's look it's endless options but it's really there's four big options right we need to decide a pathway. So what do we need to what do we need from the committee to give us in order to decide a pathway and the sideline of that pathway is if that pathway is a referendum of any kind because three of those options do have a referendum on them that the very first time that we have the next opportunity the deadline is August 27th. So that's the that's what I'm say what do we need from the because we need to give the committee
038direction on what they need to give on what we need from them. I would I would like a committee recommendation one two >> like first first recommendation secondary >> and I'd love to hear I I more from our community which is is not um yeah I want to I want to gauge the success of of whatever we move forward with. There's a lot of work that goes into this next phase of our district and I and I want to >> I agree. I've >> hear from the commit or from the community. >> Is there room for a town hall >> where it's the committee's asking more community members to come in and state? Like I I don't think it's a lot of work that like it's not a committee work thing, but it's hearing it's
039gauging a community and we haven't had it in a long time. I don't think you need a lot of them, but I think we need it in some way. >> I wonder if the I wonder if the next ask from the committee is how would you like us to engage the public? >> Yeah. >> Give us some direction on because >> that that >> is it a survey? >> That's endlessly the that's endlessly the the challenge, right? Um, how would you like us to engage the public to gather more information on this? >> Yeah, because I agree. We haven't heard from the public nearly enough, you know, like like do we do surveys? Do we have town halls? We need more input. >> Mhm. >> You know, so >> and that and that input to
040maybe and that that may be from the committee or the input like um first choice is not we do not recommend. No, like I just I think it needs to be said and it's it's not just sneaking up on us like, "Oh, it's August. Are we going?" Like, I think we just need to point out say, "No, you know, the committee doesn't think we're ready for this. We've engaged the community. We're not." And so, we know and we can answer the public too and say we are not. We can say definitely that the board has gotten information from the committee and the public if we were to, we're looking at this date, whatever that is. So, what again? Yeah, we need to I guess ask in that March 17th next steps beyond so we can
041have a game plan or road map. We could ask um if we would like to reservey the committee and or review the re the survey that we had done a couple uh two years ago now maybe maybe a year ago. Regardless of perception of that survey, it was a very scientific survey and it was it was a very well done survey. So, we could ask about, do we want to redo a survey? Do we want to do another survey to measure appetites? Do we just want to review um that surveys data, which we still have? >> Carlos, you're looking at me real confused, like, >> no, I'm I'm I'm Look, I if what what's the ask of the committee? the ask of the committee I think is what information if you're sitting on this board
042right now and you are undecided because I think we all are >> undecided um as to um whether because I think I don't what is our August meeting date August 18th maybe >> yeah those aren't set yet >> okay oh because it's next year's meetings that's the next yeah >> so that's why there say potential in the slide >> theoretically August 18th um So that's like that's kind of like the line in the sand that we're working back. That's the that's the cup that we're that we're putting backwards from, right? We're looking at that at cup and and and so in theory, everybody on this board would want to know at some point before August 18th how they how they feel about about this, right? And so what do you need to know? If if
043you're a board member right now, you and you don't have all the information you need, what information do you still need? And some of that is information that maybe the finance facility cannot provide. That's fine. The finance and facilities committee cannot provide. Maybe that's fine. But what can the finance and facilities that's this the topic we're talking about right now is the finance and facilities committee meeting. >> So what is the direction from any of the board members here as to what that committee should be working on to fill that information gap for you individually? I think that's the question on the table. That's why I'm looking at you that way because I I mean that's the question on the table >> and if so I I think each person should go around maybe an
044answer to that question for themselves at the moment. There might be other ones at the next one or after the next one. >> Yeah. I think we need to figure out a way to get more engagement. And one thing that I've that I always think is effective is paper. And I know that it's expensive. Um, but the village has a monthly newsletter that they come out with and they put all kinds of, you know, there's a meeting on this that I know I read, you know, I may be oldfashioned, but I open that up and I read it. It's only 12 or 15 pages. >> Mhm. >> You're talking about the Westmont, the little the little Westbot magazine, right? I mean, I I don't think I've ever seen anything in there that says, "Hey, there's
045a finance and facilities committee meeting for the for the for the board of education in there." It would be great to have that in there. I don't know when when the next one comes out. >> Am I am I hearing you say that you you would like to task the committee with getting more public engagement and you're suggesting an idea, >> right? coming up with ideas and and maybe and maybe the finance and facility committee isn't the right committee to do that, but I also think that it is because it's dealing with this specific issue and >> it it could help it could help drive it. I I agree with that for sure. >> I I think the way Carlos kind of described that we're asking the committee for more engagement, how to more public
046engagement to help us make this decision. And here's an idea. Here's an idea. >> One, what other ideas you got? >> Right. Yeah. because we I because we we would like more public input, but we we've got actually this these committee meetings have been >> the last two have been have had more engagement than many have before, >> you know, and and so anyway, long story short, yeah, that's that seems like a very tangible ask of the committee. >> Get more voices. >> Yes. >> In in more different ways. Can we invite like our it's not a PR meeting but invite them to listen to help say okay when we're going to combine the efforts of our finance and our PR to get out is it a postcard that go I mean I know that's
047money but we again we need to figure something out at least for engagement to get information >> I don't know that we need to like combine the meetings in particular but yes I think combining work >> I think part of the piece is like Hey, the the committee is asking for this engagement >> and engaging the public, the PR committee or the PR team on like how do we >> Yep. How do we get more >> Yep. >> pieces. Um Kevin, what do you need to What would you like? >> Just really more information. I would love to see a survey go out because how many people are you going to get to come to a meeting versus how many people will answer a survey? Mhm. >> So, um I it's good to review the
048data from that previous survey, but I kind of think we need a new survey. um the problem the problem with surveys I think is how you ask the question and you also don't get you also don't get to ask a back follow up and have that back and forth and >> you know so I'm not I mean >> it's probably very expensive to have a really good survey designed and I and I think that it's better to have engagement where where you're having back and forth exchange of ideas >> but there's trade-offs there because in a in a well-designed survey, which the last survey was a very well-designed survey and and hit our population incredibly well from a from a demographic standpoint, um there are trade-offs, right? Like you have to take that information, you
049have to you have to take the pieces of it because you have to recognize that committee involvement is the is the few people with a lot of voice, right? And the survey is is additional information of folks who don't have time, don't have whatever, right? But it's the mass of people being able to give very specific feedback like we have to take that all as a whole. I think we can't weigh too heavy. >> So when we say the survey, >> are we referring to survey? >> The phone survey is that that's what we're referring to, right? and and it was from a data science standpoint a very sound survey that that's for sure. >> Um it was sort of the boilerplate benchmark survey for this of this type, right? >> Um >> but it
050was run by phone and it was expensive and and I I kind of >> Yeah, I wouldn't want something that wasn't that that wasn't uh sound from a data science standpoint. Um, and I agree with Tim that that a a good sound survey is expensive. It is. Um, so just it's something to think about, right? >> I think I think we can review the cost. we had all of those costs laid out. And the real the if we were to explore redoing a survey, we are not we don't need to recreate. In fact, we should not recreate the questions. We should ask the same questions and we should do it in the same way that arguably wouldn't cost us the exact the same amount that it did before because we don't have all of the
051prep and we don't have all of the other stuff because it was in it was included in other parts. Yeah, >> we were not to do other parts, but >> we got a we got a cost balance. >> Well, I guess is that so is that a sorry, is that an ask of the finance committee or is that is that just something that needs to get done? >> I think it's something the finance committee should discuss in more detail. And I mean, I'm, you know, I'm not opposed to it necessarily, but I think it's a >> it's something that >> another thing on the table about getting more information. >> Yeah, that's a fair. So at the 17th meeting the a question I'm hearing is how to engage a community. What are some of the
052mechanisms to get community input? Can I ask a question about and I sorry with the I think you've asked this before or maybe you've been uh educated on this and I'm not recalling the answer but is there a a way to ask a point question from our district during this huge election about in a way like we can't do five questions. I think we answered this before. We're not asking for money, but is there a way of saying like asking >> like on the ballot? You mean like can we ask a question on the ballot? >> Can we ask a question on the ballot? >> Like an advisory I think I've I think I've seen like advisory questions where it's not a binding thing, but you know there was one I think a couple elections
053ago that talked about, you know, amending the constitution >> and it wasn't binding. It was just advisory. It was just give us information on it. >> I know nothing about this. Yeah, >> we I remember answering a question like that, but I don't know. >> I remember that as well. Can we explore that? >> Sure. You got this. >> That's a fascinating idea. >> And it's a huge election. So, we're not asking for money, but we're hitting and people Yeah. We're not It's almost survey like everybody's not going to answer it, but we hit a large >> question. the free survey >> and you're and you're actually asking the people that go vote >> that well in that election >> in that's very important information. >> This is this is I mean this is isn't
054this um >> that >> this should be a very high turnout November election. >> So we're not getting a demographic that like that votes more than another. Well, we do. Well, I mean, we we reviewed the demographic challenges of of different elections, right? >> Every election has demographic something. So, this was a good one to do it. I wouldn't want to do it consolidated. >> So, I I think it's a I think can we explore the question and then I think the other piece of it that would be helpful to understand is not just the straight like how much information can we get? Um, >> huh. because >> from the responses >> because you know I think we were at like 60% turnout 60 70% turnout or something in the last presidential election and we
055had 2500 5,000 votes roughly total our entire voting maybe it's 6,000 something like that our voting block is about 10,000 registered voters like who makes those up I know that we can't get those details but um 2500 oneway way 2500 the other way those same 2500 don't ever show up at the next at the municipal so like can we even I don't know can we get different information from an advisory question than we could get from >> a voting question you know what I mean >> demographic information and I know >> itself is interesting and the answer to the question we want to ask is even more interesting >> and and then the other work that's if you can it's what how do you ask and what do you ask you get one question. >>
056That's always the magic, right? >> It's always the magic. >> Okay. So, I'm hearing more engagement, more ways to engage. I'm hearing reviewing of the previous survey, exploring a potential new survey. I am hearing exploring the advisory question. Um, is there information that you guys would like the committee to review? Like things from the, you know, last 2 or 3 years that the committee hasn't seen that we'd like them to review. We've taken in a massive amount of information in the last couple years as it relates to >> and received a ton. >> Yeah. As it relates to all things facilities, not just I don't want not just referendum, but just all frankly all things facilities. Um for for me like what comes up when you asked this question what I what came up to
057me was that I would want to know what the committee members would want me to have um considered what information would they have wanted me to consider before I make that before I vote before I vote for them right so what would they have wanted to know that like I've looked into I've someone is I've gotten that information does that make sense I think so. Um, yeah. I mean, to me it does. You're just basically saying people who are members of the committee, what maybe may maybe questions they don't need answers to themselves, but they want to make sure that the people sitting at at this table have asked those questions or have had those questions answered. >> That's what you're saying? >> Yeah. I've got one that's a little bit more ground floor, but
058um and that is I did it didn't get brought up in today today's committee meeting, but it did at the last one was this issue of like buildings being inspected and having non-conformances or not non-conformances, what are they called? Um being >> non-compliance out of compliance on certain things. And I think it this might sound like a little minutia detail, but I I would love to know what if any what if any are are we out of compliance on based on the last inspections? >> Out of code. Out of code. That's what it was. It wasn't out of compliance. It was out of code. Thank you. >> Cuz I know that these are like these things happen, right? And you have time to to come to bring things up to code. You don't just because
059you're out of code, they don't shut your building down. >> Like a village code or like an ADA or >> all of it from that arc. So like what are we out of code of that would that would be covered under the HSA >> or not are there things that are not are there things can you be out of code and it's not covered under >> under >> health safety >> health and health health and safety I don't know that I don't know the answer to that question and I I I guess what I'm getting at is what information need that I have as a board member is >> it still remains like what does what does not going out for for a referendum money, the kind of money that you need for that you
060get from only from a referendum, not from our own financing. What what does it what what does it cover, right? Because if we're I would I would love to know that. >> Well, that's the you're talking about from the 10-year life safety report that's done by an architect. So, our most recent one was done four years ago. >> Let me look to make sure. I think I think directly that's right. >> Yeah. So Cashman did the last one and then we um and we were due, right? And that's where the master plans come from. That's where the documents that um Joe Joe pulls those all of that stuff from the master plan which is fed from that from the 10-year life safety. >> I I I know it's a little detail. I I know that
061it is, but I'm just saying that like I know Joe has >> absolutely killed himself over the last few years prioritizing and rep prioritizing and presenting information in different ways so everyone can understand this is important. This is really important. This is the building's going to fall down important. I I understand that. But one thing the over one overlay I haven't seen >> is the is the is the out of code stuff. I I would love to see that overlay. Yeah, we know like priorities but not necessarily like >> or maybe they are there but >> maybe they're there, maybe I missed them. Maybe maybe it's just not said though. >> Maybe using that for his needs to be done, but we don't know. So we won't. >> So there there's there's one that I
062have that I would love to understand a little bit better would help me. So I mean hypothetically speaking, if it's a huge chunk and it eats up everything we can possibly do on our own, right? And these are things that you're in theory obligated to do. And that's something we I would want to know, you know. >> So, >> okay. Good. Mhm. Great. You guys have direction for the next meeting? >> Yes. >> Awesome. Moving right along. Um, our action item tonight, the chair will entertain a motion to approve the fiscal year 2027 student fees as presented. Just a reminder, we reviewed these in the last meeting. >> So moved. Second. >> Roll call. >> Miss Franklin, >> yes. >> Dr. Hoover, >> yes. >> Mr. Merritt, >> yes. >> Mr. Aia, >> yes. >>
063Miss Conover, >> yes. >> Miss Horman. Mr. Horman. Sorry. >> Superintendent report. >> I have a quick uh PowerPoint I want to share. Pretty incredible. >> I love questions. >> Oh, yes. Wonderful. So for tonight, new information became available to us. Dr. Bronn was at a DuPage uh curriculum director's meeting and what was shared with us was uh all the schools in DuPage and the growth that each of those schools had seen. Now my point is this cuz sometimes it gets bandied about about test scores and so forth. There's a difference between your bottom line proficiency score, which percentage of your students were proficient on a state exam, and what percentage of your students showed adequate growth. There's a big difference there. >> Now, proficiency, and I'm going to argue that growth is not only
064more important than proficiency, it's almost the reason we exist. What is our purpose as an institution is to see our students grow and their learning, right? I don't know what's more important than that when it comes to education. It's not just bottom line scores because standardized tests is well established mountains of research that your proficiency score is driven primarily by socioeconomic factors. Look at any scatter plot from any state in the union and you will see a direct correlation between the percentage of students who live in economic poverty and the performance on standardized tests. It's well researched that they're not only culturally and ethnically biased, but they also there's a correlation between socio economic status and performance on standardized test. That's well established. However, growth is an indicator of learning. So, if somebody was really
065serious about measuring the effectiveness of a school district or a school, you would look at how well they're growing their students. Does this make sense? the most important number more important than what your bottom line score is. So the growth is an indicator of how well we are advancing our kids. If you're in a school district that for instance has kids 75 80% of them like some of the magnet schools do 90% are already at level as a walk in the building at proficient. That's not really an indication of how well the school is doing at educating and growing them and moving their learning. So growth is an indicator of learning and this metric evens the playing field to measure the quality of how a district or a school is doing. Growing student learning is
066the number. This metric is the indicator. So let's take a look. Where do you think CUSD 2011 stands in one of the wealthiest counties in the state and nation for um instance and this was provided by Dr. Braun 50% would be your average growth. 55 to 60% is above average growth and if you're above 60% you are getting excellent growth. Now this is a little bit tricky because we're used to seeing percentiles. So we would expect like in some areas we're in the 99th percentile. There is nobody in the state who's growing at 90 or even 80% that we find. So, CUSD elementary math is at 64, ELA is at 62, high school math at 60, and ELA at the high school 66. Now, here we have broken down all the districts and schools uh
067in DuPage County and their growth levels. So, there's a lot of data there. The bottom line is this though, and this is we're going to put this out to every parent, every staff member, community on our website. Where do we stand in DuPage County for elementary math, number two in growth out of these dozens of schools? Number three in ELA. Actually, Roselle and Salt Creek have 63. We're at one point off the mark. So, we're number three. The high school is number one in DUP page for math growth and for ELA growth in DUP page. These are some new numbers to us and this is really the most powerful thing. I think our district as a unit district is number one in DUP page for growth. I think it's the most important number we could
068be looking at. Now here is statewide there's 852 school districts. The number one unit district according to over two years for growth, Illinois State Board of Education is CUSD 2011. Number one unit district for growth in the state of Illinois when you look at 2-year growth rates. We're number six out of 852 overall. So top 1% of districts in Illinois, number one for unit districts. So over this 2-year period of time, number one unit district in Illinois for growth over the 2-year period of time, number six overall out of 852 districts, top 1%. In the most important metric, in the most important category, why do we hold board meetings? I would argue, why do we hold our administrative meetings and our faculty meetings and our staff meetings and professional growth? It's to grow our kids.
069and we are either number one unit district or in the top 1% out of 852 districts. The next time somebody would argue about our test scores not being strong enough, we have something even better than bottom line test scores and proficiency. And that's the growth of our students. And that's a testament to our team from top to bottom from our community, parents, school board, admin, teaching staff, staff, students, families, parents, everybody. I say to my team sometimes, I think I'm living in the matrix because I have to pinch myself. Is this really is this reality? This is as an administrator what you would dream of to see your student and your team grow. Not just good, not just great, but the best unit district in Illinois and top 1% in the state. So, I think
070I'm going to leave it at that. I would love questions, but I think it really speaks to return on investment. We are spending per pupil at a high rate. There's not a doubt about that. But the return we're getting for student growth and performance and learning speaks for itself. These are not our numbers. This is not an opinion. This is the data provided by the Illinois State Board of Education and the other agencies that we use. And once again, this doesn't even touch on top 1% for chronic absenteeism, top 1% for five essentials. >> Love it. >> Thanks. So, what we're doing, what you're doing as a board, what our teachers and kids are doing, incredible. >> Thank you. >> Uh, board reports. Any board reports? >> Second microphone. >> You got what? >> Yes.
071No. Maybe. >> I think I can't think. Sorry. >> I feel like we were just here yesterday, so Um public comment. Do we have any public comment? >> Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> Uh okay. Future meetings and events. Uh pizza wars tomorrow night. The the night of the year followed up by the other thing that is the pinnacle of of excitement for the district, parent teacher conferences. Um, no student attendance this uh fruity 26th parent teacher conferences are 12:30 to 8:30 to 8:00 p.m. Um, and on February 27th we have an institute day. So that is a no student attendance day also. And then our next uh SIP dismissal day is March 11th. See your specific school for specific dismissal times. Um, we've got preschool screenings on March 11th also. And our next meeting, regular
072meeting of the COSD 2011 board of education is March 17. Uh we do not need to enter closed. So there's no motion to enter closed. Um and the chair will entertain a motion to adjourn the February 24th, 2026 regular meeting of the board of education. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I opposed. >> Motion passes. I already have.