001I call this regular board of education meeting to order on Monday, June 30th, 2025 at 6 PM. If we could all please stand for the pledge of allegiance. >> 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. >> Thank you. If we get a roll call, please. Mindy Hartman >> here. >> Darling >> here. >> Bridget Sandlin >> here. >> Stacy Salt. Katherine Potter >> here. >> Jason Jansik >> here. >> Julie Jetty >> here. >> Okay. Next up we have community input. Um the board and administration welcome your input. When recognized by the board president, members of the public are welcome to supply information for the board's consideration or to express their
002opinion of district policies. However, public debate between members of the public and the board of education members or district staff will not be permitted. We ask that individuals speaking before the board identify themselves with full name and address and be brief. Comment shall be limited to three minutes. Uh we've got one sign up, Stephanie Schwall. Hi everybody. Nice to see you all. Sorry it's been a while. Um I wanted to start um I owe you guys this beautiful uh cursive handwriting. I wanted to show off my son's uh second grade uh cursive writing here. And again um come up and show my support of learning cursive here in district 26. I hope that continues on. Um I'm I don't have all that much besides this besides we've had a really good school year. Um my
003my kids teachers I I don't know how I can top them. So shout out to Miss Slack and Miss Buckley at Three Oaks. Um I do expect to have great teachers again next year because that's just been the case every single year so far at Three Oaks. So um and I'm also happy to see Dr. White here. Um, I didn't know if you'd be gone by now, but um, I just wanted to say that I really appreciate your leadership these past was it two years? Two years. Um, you know, I I met you when you first came on uh because I wanted to get to know who was going to be leading the district and helping make decisions for for my kids. And uh, I was very impressed by you the first meeting and you're
004a family guy and you have a great background in education. and you're really passionate about education. I think you've done a great job for this district over the last two years and I think that you've been a a steady kind of businessminded presence and you've always been focused on what's best for the kids and it's kept it very centered and I really appreciate that about you and I hope that when you guys consider the next superintendent that uh you get somebody just like Dr. White. So that's all. Thank you. >> Thank you. Was there anybody else that wanted to speak that didn't sign up? Okay, hearing none. Uh, next up we have uh there were five foyer requests this month. The foyer requests can be found on board docs. Uh, next up we have board
005member comment. First up, Mrs. Hartman. >> Um, I don't have anything tonight. I hope everyone is having a safe and wonderful summer and staying hydrated because it is mighty hot out there. >> Thank you, Mr. Chanzic, >> I just want to say congratulations to the district 26 retirees who will wake up tomorrow morning on the other side of uh the or the first page of the next chapter. Um so and thank you so much for your commitment to our students. Uh and then just enjoy this welldeserved break or time off, not really break. Um thanks and good luck to Dr. White, too. It's been a pleasure working alongside you to echo some of comments. uh we we are heading in the right direction uh because of your leadership and look forward to seeing what you
006do at District 50. Uh very excited to work with our our leadership trio. I'm sure we'll come up with a name sometime this year of of the three. Uh but very excited to get to work uh tomorrow with with you folks and excited that that you're excited to get to work as well. It's awesome. And then that's it. Have a safe and enjoyable summer uh to everyone out there. Hope they're doing well so far. >> Thank you, Mrs. study. >> Um, I just wanted to say thank you to Dr. White. Um, I've really enjoyed working with you and I admire you very very much as an as an educator and as an individual. Um, I just think you have a wonderful personality and you that goes a long ways in leadership. Um, I also am
007very happy that our we have our trio in place. I I have a lot of confidence in the three of you. I wanted to say thank you to uh for graduation to our staff that ran graduation at the junior high. They got the traffic in and out and people seated and the students all in place very effortlessly and I think thank the staff that um sat on the platform. I think the parents like to see the staff there. So, um, and I also, while in education, we take the summer off a little bit, um, just to kind of recharge our batteries for stuff. Um, please remember that our first responders don't, they're working 24/7. And, um, I recently had to have them at my house and you when they you need them and they respond,
008you just think the world of them. So, um, we have a, you know, a wonderful group of first responders here in Kerry and I appreciate them very much. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mrs. Potter. >> Thank you. Uh, I first wanted to say uh, I really appreciated Mr. Martin's presentation and I think he's doing a fantastic job. He definitely came in uh when we had a lot of work for him to do and he's really hit the ground running and um if he can hear me, thank you very much for your presentation and I think you're doing a great job. Um I want to thank Dr. White just I just have so I like you so much and it's really I'm gonna be uh I am sad uh to see you go. So, um, just
009I'm I'm not going to start calling you Brandon, but, um, just thank you so much for being I don't know if it's instinctive or or or what, but responsive to the needs of the district um, and to the faculty and into the students. And you really did accomplish a lot for D26. um uh that I'm not sure where what direction we would be in if you hadn't come here. Uh so thank you for your leadership and um I know that there is um one family in Carrie at least who wanted me to personally thank you for taking the time out of your day to mentor their child with a stutter and make that student feel cool and be a positive role model in their life. So um thank you for doing that for them. and
010being here and I wish you the best. And I've got beef with that other school district. >> Thank you, Mrs. Sandlin. >> Uh I also wanted to thank Dr. White. Um though I don't I didn't get to know you as well. I'm sad see you go. I know you've done great work. You'll really be missed. Um and uh good luck at your new position. And you know, I have the same beef, I think, as Katherine does do. But, um, and then I do want to thank the teachers, um, for another great year. Um, and everyone have a safe summer. >> Thank you. >> You, Mrs. Salt. >> I'll also say my thanks to Dr. White. Um, I guess I could probably go on and on with what a great leader you are and how amazing
011it's been to have you lead our district. Um, but I'll keep it short and say I think it's interesting that when you did quit, I didn't have anybody in this town come up to me and say, "Thank goodness." It was all like, "Oh gosh." So, um, I think that speaks volumes about how loved you were. Um, and I wish you luck. Of course. Of course, now Harvard will be our enemies. No, I'm just kidding. Um, but speaking of retirees, I wanted to for the future um maybe ask you guys, I don't know how you would do it, but I had an awesome conversation with our one of our retirees. Uh, I love to garden as I've said in the past. Um, and I don't know like if we can get they put a lot of
012work into it. This one that I was talking to that she does a lot of work and I know Three Oaks puts a lot of work into their garden. So, and Deer Path is the where I we're talking about. I'm curious if we can get like an update in the fall. Like what was the yield? Did you do it to the p give it to the food pantry? Because didn't they do that last time? Um or just like have them all these people that have put all this work into it. Show us what they've done cuz she is just phenomenal the amount of things she's doing over there at Deer Path and I walk by Three Oaks daily and they're still on top of it. So I'd be super curious to see where this is
013all going and where it all went because it's a lot of great food. So yeah, thanks. >> Thank you. And then last again um like to speak to the board as well. Um the thanking Dr. White. Um for me it was, you know, we had a lot of one-on-one. Um what stands out most to me is your dedication to this community and not just in the school district, but in the things outside of the school district. And um that's what I'll miss having you here. Um I'm envious of that district for snatching you up. Um but they should take advantage of that as well because you're amazing in the community. Thank you. >> All right. Next up, we have the superintendent update. >> I should have went first because now I'm all all emotional. Um
014one I just want to say um thank you to the board for taking a chance on me. Um, this was my my first superintendency and it was very different than what I had ever done before, but I wanted a challenge. I wanted something new. And so I truly appreciate you all taking that chance um and giving me the opportunity to help the students, the teachers, and all of the educators in Kerry um just be better each and every day. I think that's something that I always strive to do and I hope that I've instilled that in everyone as part of the community is that we can always be better than what we were um the day before. Um I want to say just um a few remarks. Um, Miss Rivera, um, has been a true
015asset. Um, a thinking partner. Um, someone that came in with me. So, I felt like I wasn't alone on, um, on the new train. Um, but she has done outstanding work. Um, and I just continue to um, be excited for her future in education or what's in store for her. and I know she's um destined to do great things just as she has done so and will continue to do here in Kerry. Dr. Thomas, um thank you for your guidance and your wisdom with the years of experience that you have in the district. Um we could not have done the things that we've done for not only our students with exceptional needs, but for all of our students. So, I do appreciate that. Mr. Shepherd has probably taught me more than I've taught him. Um,
016because Illinois School of Finance was my Achilles heel for sure when I came into this state. Um, but I truly respect him, his decision making um, and his abilities, not only just financial um, direction, but also his him as a leader. Um, Mr. Daru and I have um I will appreciate and I will miss our candid debates and collaboration um and looking at things and and making me look at things in a different perspective um and again excited to see what his career um and his future holds. Um, last but certainly not least, and the one I'm going to try to get through without tearing up, is Miss Laura Dorfler has truly been an asset um, not only to me and my two years here, but to the community um, and to the the district
017of Kerry. If we were building a new school, I would try to fight to be have it called Dorler Elementary um because I truly believe she has um, given a great deal. Um, and she really helped me. Um, a lot of people don't realize, but I lost my mom 5 days um, before I moved here. Um, and she has truly been a guide and a support not only just with the work, but a friend um, during some of the darkest times in my life. And so I truly appreciate that and thank you. All right. So, I have just a letter that just went out to the community, but I'd just like to take a moment to read it. As I prepare to conclude my time as superintendent of District 26, I want to express my
018deepest gratitude to the parents, families, students, and community members who have supported and partnered with our schools throughout this journey. Serving this district and the greater Kerry community has truly been an incredible honor and I'm truly proud of the progress that we've made together. During my time here, my goal was to provide a clear vision and establish shared expectations that will guide us toward a stronger future for all our students. But I want to be clear. While I may have helped lay the foundation, the true strength of District 26 lies within the educators, school leaders, and staff who bring that vision to life every day, and with the families and community members who support and believe in them. Together, we've achieved some remarkable milestones over the last two years. The successful passage of the referendum
019was a defining moment, one that will lead to safer, more modern, and more inspiring learning environments for all our students. We also reached a resolution hopefully come July 15th on the long-standing Maplewood property issue enabling progress and unity around a once divise divisive topic. Plans for a new transportation center are now underway. positioning the district to better meet the logistical and safety needs of of our students. Most importantly, we've built a strong instructional framework that is already leading to improved outcomes for our students and expanding the capacity of our educators to meet every learner's needs. These accomplishments were made possible by the unwavering commitment of our entire community, parents, civic leaders, business partners, residents, but most importantly, our educators who continuously show that public education is a shared responsibility and a shared priority. As I
020move forward to a new opportunity, I leave with full confidence in the leadership and staff of District 26 and in the strength of this community to continue advancing the important work that we've begun. I want to thank all of you for your support, your partnership, and your belief in what's possible for our children. This has been a truly rewarding and um a privilege to serve the community of Kerry. Thank you. >> Do you mind if I jump in for a second? I wanted to say one thank you. I didn't do my thanks in my my board member commentary. So, thank you. Thank you for what you said, but to our administration team who and Mr. Dorfur who need names apparently and nicknames. Um, I want you guys to know I'm sitting here next to Dr.
021White. Those were not prescripted remarks. Those are clearly how he feels about all of you. And I just want you to know that I think one of the lights that you bring to this district is how you shine on other people and you lift them up. So, I appreciate the off-the- cuff remarks that I know were from the bottom of your heart to everyone here. Thank you. >> No pressure, Miss Rivera, the curriculum reporter. >> Should have gone before you. So, I'm going to turn our attention back to our students and our staff. Um, we've talked about summer school and people being on break and the vacations and whatnot, but we have um a handful of dedicated students and educators who are still at work here in Kerry 26. I want to take a moment
022to highlight them um and celebrate them. We have our littlest learners from ECE all the way up to seventh grade. So, next year going into kindergarten, 8th grade who are hard at work still this summer. They've just completed their third week of summer school. Um whether it be ESY or whether it be the EEL summer program. Our learners are um both at Three Oaks and at Oaknull. If they're at Three Oaks, some of the exciting things they've been embarking on is making blankets, but not just for the purpose of making blankets, but they're learning area and perimeter mathematically as they're making these blankets. They're also learning and reading about community helpers um with the intent of donating those blankets to the Kerry community. Over at Oaknull, our youngest little learners um are hard at work
023not just, you know, um learning reading, math, early literacy skills, but they're also learning routines and just how to be in school and just life routines in general, right? We know that they need those. Um, but also they're learning on how to be a good friend, how to handle their big emotions, how to use words in order to identify what they need. Um, they're also working on following directions and reviewing those positional words, which whether it's above, under, um, over, to left, to the right, uh, which we know is important not just for reading, but for mathematical purposes as well. So, even our smallest of learners are hard at work. And I just want to make sure that we recognize our students, our staff, and our administrators who are still um doing things the carry
024way, hard at work. In addition to that, I want to highlight the Kerry Junior High staff um and specifically Mr. Shirley who um facilitated a classroom management PD at the end of the school year and we had a good turnout of junior high teachers who attended that PD um and we will be looking at continuing that throughout this coming up school year as well. In addition to those teachers, our PBIS teams met at the end of the school year in order to already start planning for the kickoff of the 2526 school year. So our teachers here are definitely dedicated and I think it demonstrates how whether they are it is summer break they were still coming together in order to prepare and launch our 2526 school year. So I just want to say thank you
025to our staff and to our students and to our families and that everybody has a wonderful summer and I will miss you Dr. White. I'll leave it at that. >> Thank you. Uh next up is the committee of the whole update. Uh we discussed take a look here the treasur's report the fiscal 26 fiscal year 26 budget had our first look uh the district policy manual reviewed section 7 and 8 we discussed press issues 117 and 118 from the policy update review the approval of the maths savvis adopted materials streaming of the board meeting minutes and the summer construction update Next up, we have the consent agenda. Included are those items that are routine in nature. Should any board member wish to remove an item from the consent agenda, the item will be discussed at
026the end of section 8. 7.1 is the revised April 28th, 2025 board meeting minutes. 7.2 are the closed session minutes from the May 19th, 2025 committee of the whole meeting. 7:23 I believe the close session oh sorry open and close session minutes from the May 27 2025 regular board of ed meeting 7.4 is the treasures report 7.5 are the resignation dismissal retirements 7.6 are the employments 7.7 is the destruction of closed meeting audio recordings 7.8 is the disposal of assets there were none 7.9 is the math savis adopted material 7.10 10 is the approval to place tenative fiscal year 26 budget on display. 7.11 is the district consolid consolidated plan. 7.12 are policies 4150, 4170, 6235, 760, 770, 7190, and 7250. May I have a motion to approve the following 7.1, 7.2, 7.3? I'd like
027to pull um 7.5 employment. Okay. So I'll say may I have a motion to approve the following 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.7 7.8 7.9 7.10 7.11 7.12 Sorry, I can't hear you, Miss Dorler, but I'm assuming we're could we're good. >> Okay. I I will make the motion to approve 7.1 through 7.5 and 77 through 7.12. >> There a second. >> Second. >> Sorry, Gez. >> Any discussion? >> I do have a quick question. um on 7 policy 7.70 under nine the um I I'm just curious why informing a teacher or school personnel about available supportive services would qualify as a professional development. Wouldn't isn't that just information or I I'm I could be wrong. I don't know. I have to roll that up real quick to be able to >> Oh, sorry. >>
028Yeah. I'm sorry. >> I think that's page 14. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> I'm sorry. Which section did you >> 7.70 number? >> Oh, you're in policy. Okay. Sorry. I did. So, we're in 7.12 then. You're in policy 770. I'm with you. Thank you. >> And I'm sorry, which number in 770? Which number were you on? says uh for ongoing efforts to provide ongoing professional development is to inform personnel about available supportive services. So I just wondered is that really considered professional development or is that just information that you're giving the staff? >> I mean really it is information we'd be giving to the staff. Um, I don't know why they would phrase it as professional development, but I mean, anything that we're providing information about resources that are available, certainly it could be
029considered part of the professional development. Um, >> it's just how the folks at the ISB press service worded it. So, >> okay. Thank you. >> And that's just that was how it would ex existed previously. It's just additional wording. >> Okay. We could take a vote. If there were no other questions, if we could take a vote, please. >> Darling, >> yes. >> Bridget Santland, >> yes. >> Stacy Salt, >> yes. >> Katherine Potter, >> yes. >> Jason Jansik, >> yes. >> Julie Jetty, >> yes. >> Mindy Hartman, >> yes. >> That motion is approved. Uh, eight will be uh items requiring discussion. So, we'll revert back to 7.6, the employments. >> Okay. Um, the reason I pulled this, I've got a little rant. Um, and I don't want anybody to think that this is
030personal. I would go on this discussion if was my own family member. Um, and I'm not going to mention any names, but when I look through the resumeumés on the employment, um, we have a we are hiring a person with, um, a PhD or EDS, I guess, in education for a nonadministrative or nonsupervisory position, which puts them at the higher end of the salary schedule. And I just would like to caution um people as our budget tightens up of um I I feel that we are paying for a third degree that we are not going to use. If we had a plan and measurables to use that extra degree, I wouldn't have a problem. But there I doubt that there is a plan or I doubt that we'd ever see goals and then me something
031measurable for this position. So I am against hiring that higher level of education within the classroom in a nonsupervisory or non-administrative role. And that that is my discussion. Thank you. Um, so we'll bring this to a to a vote then. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Uh, may I have a motion to approve item 7.6, employment as presented. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Hearing none. If we could take a vote, please. >> D. Darling. >> Yes. Bridget Sandlin, >> yes. >> Stacy Salt, >> yes. >> Katherine Potter, >> yes. >> Jason Jansik, >> yes. >> Julie Jetty, >> no. >> Mindy Hartman, >> yes. >> That motion is approved. There are no other items for discussion. Next up, we have close session for the purpose of the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance,
032or dismissal of specific employees of the public body 5CS120-2Z1. May I have a motion to adjurnn to close session? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Any discussion? We take a vote, please. >> Bridget Sandlin, >> yes. >> Stacy Salt, >> yes. >> Katherine Potter, >> yes. >> Jason Jansik, >> yes. >> Julie Jetty, >> yes. >> Mindy Hartman, >> yes. >> Darling, >> yes. The motion is approved. Open session ends at 6:28 p.m. Thank you everyone.