001order roll call please Brown is here Mrs galbert here I'll let it go a little Dr Hall here Mr sawales here Mrs Walters vice president Rue here president Albert here please stand and join me in 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 liberty and justice for all and Mr would you please read our mission statement sure if we want to empower each student to positively impact the world for a bright new future okay next up is public comment we have one Ezekiel Israel and the topic is the acknowledgment of our creator you you have three minutes thank you thank you peace be with you all and I grew up uh grew up here
002um went to Balmoral Elementary when I was a child and I'm concerned about our society and you know when a society fails to acknowledge God its creator It ultimately comes to its end right we see we've seen this happen with Egypt with Babylon with me to Persia with Greece and with Rome and in the very core of our Declaration of Independence it states we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal that they are endowed by their creator the very acknowledgment of the Creator is in embedded in our Declaration of Independence and while we've started with these foundational truths of acknowledging our creator I'm very concerned because you know we're seeing a lot of crime and a lot of problems uh a lot of gun violence growing growing um mass shootings
003in our schools right and I believe these things are happening because we're becoming more distant from our creator when we teach our children to acknowledge God and that God sees all things and that he will judge everyone at some point in time according to their deeds it can help brittle the lusts of evil actions in our children okay but when our children are taught not to acknowledge God taught that they come from monkeys okay well well then why do you expect that how do you expect the child not to act like a wild monkey right so uh we need to get back to the acknowledgment of our creator and and acknowledging him in our our schools and I know that that may not be a practice but it's it's got to become one it's got
004to become one because if we don't our society which is the greatest greatest country on the Earth right now okay is going to fall into depravity like these other historical societies that fail to acknowledge their creator and how we do that how we Implement that that can be open for discussion but we have to get back to the drawing board and we need to get back to working how we can can acknowledge God be thankful to him for all that he's done for us and and and getting that in instilled in our in our children okay 30 seconds okay 15 15. um and then I'll just wrap up and say that you know I went to Balmoral Elementary as a child and then part Junior High and then transferred to a private school after that
005and there was a difference from when acknowledging God versus not that I saw okay and thank you very much board and appreciate the time thank you okay next up administrator or uh board updates anybody have a board update the only one I had which I talked to Ken a little bit about is we replace the water pipes in several of the schools and on some of them like here we have caps on the water fountains so are we removing those or what's a so the the new coming out of covid there were some new parameters from CDC and also like Public Health who recommended covering those that those drinking out of those is a way of passing disease from child to child staff members or staff members so when we replace the fountains most of
006them I think we replaced not only with the actual drinking spout but also bottle fillers and so it is the recommendation from CDC and ipdh to or idph to use bottle fillers instead of drinking out of those fountains and that when we went and created the new Wing over a Crete we actually The Fountains that we put in there do not have drinking faucets on them strictly our bottle fillers so I think one of the things that we have talked about was the ability or of the district purchasing water bottles for the children so that if they wanted to they could use that some of the principles like that idea right now we are supplying cups that people can get you know water out of those fountains but we're thinking a better solution would be
007to provide water bottles for them and then they would be standardized throughout the district okay okay again that brings up one question I do have that I didn't remember the other night there was an update on the aqua water situation with University Park still having a portion of it living on bottled water okay are our schools affected at all or are we our schools are not I mean uh you know again with our replacement of our water pipe so you know all of that lead solder has been taken out that may or may not have been there I don't know if it was in our pipes to be honest with you I know we had some high levels of reading in a couple fountains but a lot of that has to do with stagnant water
008that just lays there so again going back to something that Mr schwoz had talked about with these fountains I know some of the fountains we have put in an automatic kind of circulating device so it will automatically continue to on a timer basis circulate the water so that there is no segment water but but it does not affect us we're we're in really good shape with our pipes in that thank you any other board updates I'm in on that we may be okay just use this building here we get supply water via a well it comes through Crete right so the pipe that feeds us the creek The Village portions do we have any type of insurance that or or we provided a report saying that the water is okay all the reports that we
009have and again that's the weakest link yeah whenever whenever the pipes are replaced like they were placed in the building the testing is done there's a chlorinated test that has to be done not only with the water in the building but as it comes into the building because we've we've done some construction on you know the connections and all of that stuff sure all of that is done and we are I'm just going to say clean with everything it's the same way over at up the issue at up is really it is I would say this it is the water coming in but it's because they've adjusted the chemicals in the water that ate away a lot of that buildup in the interior of your house on those pipes that protect you from those lead
010solder joints that's what happened there so the water coming in we're okay with and all the testing that we've done and then again with our pipes being all replaced in our buildings we're clean because of all the chlorinated tests that we've done okay thank you yep any others okay next up administrative updates superintendent yeah I wanted to make sure that we had this on Just for discussion uh about clear backpacks for next year and preparing for next year and making sure that we're having giving enough notice for our families I wanted to make sure that I was clear from the board on the direction that we were going to be moving this year we did uh 312 for backpacks I heard from our last meeting we're looking at going to ELC 212 so the whole
011District that's pretty much what I heard right okay so I guess the question I think that we wanted to find out um with um we provide the district provided the backpacks for our families last year because a lot of them had already gone out and purchased them by the time that we had made some of these decisions so the district you know obviously provided those but we would like to put that on as a school supply list but we want to make sure we gave them enough notice so I wanted to make sure that there was consensus from the board that we went ahead and do that but that's fine except make sure that we're perfectly clear what we mean by clear backpack because some people thought that meant the mesh and things like that
012because you can see through it so I think that we need to be specific maybe if we're expecting them to buy them and what we expect that backpack to look like yeah I was going to say the same thing if we provide them we're setting the tone for no gray area so like at the very beginning of the year the first day we went to I was at the middle school and Mr Schneider but it was very clear what the expectation was so I think if we provide them then this is what it is you know the people if they buy their own she's right I mean what if they buy something and well I can see through it or whatever but if we're providing it then it's clear what the what the Mandate is
013you know what we're requiring is this is what it is we're hoping we set the tone by showing everybody with a clear backpack looked like that's always yeah that's always up for someone interpreting that a different way the year we we wanted those clear backpacks to be used it was mandatory right correct okay and it sounds like things when went on implemented without a not a hitch I guess for the most part I haven't heard much about it in the most in any negative way so so if a kid every student was was given a backpack right so going into the next year are we saying they cannot use the existing one or they could still use it they could still use it so and we are out out of it as far as purchasing
014and paying for it right correct correct and we were also providing replacement backpacks for students that lost them more if they had ripped and so we were trying to get out of the uh supply business do anyone recall how much we expended on that 76 thousand dollars about 80 grand 80 grand did that come out of Essa money it did which will be drying up shortly yeah that'll dry out next year it was the last year for it any hardship cases are we looking just everyone are we looking to provide it for some uh to like I said we had some discussion typically if it's on the school supply list you know parents have typically have gotten those before but I think there's been places that you know when we've given out you know um
015free supplies at the beginning of the school year I think we've done that before is the is the supply list considered a fee no no that's not okay the issue is do we know the availability because that was also a problem last year yeah I don't know right and one of the issues we ran into last year I will share this is is that there were two different brands I'm going to just say Brands we we ordered the um middle school and the high school from one vendor and we did the Elementary's from the from another vendor and the elementary was ones were just ripping apart they were a cheaper bag um so if if we were to supply these again we would go with all the same ones that we ordered for the high
016school and the middle school excuse me it'll be a little bit more costly um so I would venture say we're going to spend probably 80 to 90 000 to do that do they have I think they have a little bit smaller size I'm not sure I'd have to check on that right you know and all that too so is it is it possible to stock some and make one of the options on the school supply list that they can purchase it from the district um it is or or with a if you buy one and it's not compliant you'll have to buy one from us yeah I I mean we could do that that's a tough one though I you know I think I think that puts too much stress on someone in the building
017to worry about that and if we're going to provide meals okay it's the same thing with a backpack because there are going to be families that aren't going to be able to find it or pay for it like some of the school supplies so I just don't know that you're gonna if we're gonna make it some people come with them some won't and I just think it puts a lot more stress on the staff at the beginning of the year spending time wasting time were pretty much if we Supply them it ends that discussion yeah I I see all back to your question and that I you know it's going to be difficult selling them I mean then we're in the business of trying to collect the money and and you know do we take
018credit cards do we take cash do we take blah blah blah you know and all that so you know that's a difficult one uh doable but again it does put a lot of pressure on the staff to collect that money and everything I think it lends itself a little bit more for a more stringent conversation because the big thing with the clear backpack for the most part probably 100 is security right so you look we had clear standard expectations we had a wine safe at all for the most part when we paid 80 grand so there was no room for argument here so now we're talking about we may set some standards some dimensions and all of that but I can see some problems here and some of the parents students bring in different type
019oh this is a clear bag and that's not what we want the beginning of school so however we do it you know it's eighty thousand dollars worth us having clear expectations we know the security component now we we solve that or that's what I would like not saying that we pay but we need a clear expectations that everyone is going to have some type of standard when it comes to this and it's going to be clear sure not two months into the school district or the calendar year yeah not three months in your first day of school and you don't want confusion on opening day right the first we don't want that because there was a little bit I mean listen they handle it great but it there was a line coming off the bus
020here on this side and then you can enter the building on this side I would imagine it didn't hear a couple days and it was subsided and like you said we haven't heard complaints but it was regulated that was it it was clear-cut and we don't want anybody to waste any more time on that because then now that 80 000 starts chewing up pretty fast and there's arguments and right and you're right then you got to collect the money and that's just a whole nother if we have I I'm sure we have a security or safety budget somewhere whatever in that department we could have to come out of there somewhere because that's basically the premise for it sure it's not really for anything else other than being safe and helping the staff recognize as
021they walk through the door any other thoughts or is this a consensus I'm just thinking I mean I I when I'm at the high school I always look to see if they're doing the clear Bay Packs and it seems to me that they're holding up pretty good so yeah the ones over there are holding up yeah would we be saying that we're student again because really I like that they're holding up they look great um for the most part and they're all using them and you see them so again would we have to buy for every student again or would we make sure that you know we've added well I would make sure that we have enough in stock for every student that's just the way I you know I think and then you know
022if we don't use it we'll just storm and you know kind of stop we should probably have a couple of thousand extra at that point you know I mean I I don't know I I you know I think you know a lot of students will probably want a new one you know I mean I I don't know I'd rather you know a new one you know I argued for years that to my kids that they could use the same backpack I lost that argument every year yeah so yeah and I I guess you know from a funding standpoint yes I think another year we have another year investor that I could take the money out of that and get reimbursed for it you know in the future you know I I would hope that there
023would be some safety funds also there that you know you may be able to tap in to get some reimbursement in the future too and you know again if if it's the board's pleasure to do that you know my role is to find the money to do it I don't think personally I don't think it's my pleasure to do that where the district absorb it but it is my pleasure that we have a tight program sure to make sure it achieve our goal of having clear backpacks of a standard so if you guys can come up with something where the parents could absorb it that's fine but it's a standard it's clear it's concise and it's going to happen on the first day of school and throughout the school year yeah I think the only
024way that the parents would be able to absorb it if you came out and gave them a specific model number type and all of that so that there's no discussion about that but then you still run the risk quite honestly of you know students at first aid not being able to show up and like you've said you know there may be some that they can't they can't get them we're out because more and more districts are going to these now and so you know I we I bought Lamont and I Mr Holyfield and I have worked that we've got the we got the vendor on hold right now so I've got them and so that's why Dr Kara has brought this up so that I can order them and have them for next year if
025that's what we're going to do and I'm okay with that you know and that so so again yeah I've got both the large ones and the smaller ones on hold yes right now Okay so we've got enough I guess I guess the consensus is find room in the budget okay great we appreciate that we just wanted to either order them or start sending the messaging out okay all right thank you families that it's expected that on their first day whenever they're passing them out on the supply list you can put you you don't have to buy a backpack because a clear one will be provided and must be used but again real quick can I do like your idea when you said if you again take another responsibility of the district financially but if there
026was some way that the parents would bring the model give the model a backpack to their kids for the kids to come to school as a district we say this model and this model and we go to the manufacturer vendors say hey we talk to them have a conversation sure say hey and have some Maybe as an emergency stock or something like that that's one way yeah you know there's no different you know when I was in college they said you only use this type of calculator yeah this model here and some of the other supplies that's on the list I'm sure the teachers say only this type of Crayola or pencil and number two or number one so sure that's just another way but okay I'm okay with the district observative too long as
027we can be consistent in standard do we have any leftovers Ken I think I have a few of the I don't want to say the cheaper ones but the ones that don't hold up I have a few of those left over I think that the high school has a few left over not a lot but a few left over because we only had a couple of hundred extra to begin with right okay thank you okay next up is consent agenda approval uh is there any item on the consent agenda abort member would like to have taken off to vote on separately okay hearing none Dr Carrick could you please read the items and the way we go all right under superintendents item one approved regular meeting minutes of January 17 uh 2023 item two approved
028regular meeting close session minutes of January 17 2023 item three approved committee the whole meeting minutes of January 10 2023 item four approved committee the whole closed session minutes of January 10 2023. item five approved the updated CPN in intergovernmental agreement um item six approved press plus issue 110 and board policy seven colon uh five three under business number one approved Board of Education financial report item two approve a payment of fifty nine thousand thirty five and ninety three cents to ro Soho for the work completed the ELC in Talala for the 2022 school year item three approve a payment of twenty one thousand seven hundred and forty three cents at our whole RL Soho for the word completed at CSK and item four approve a payment of forty one thousand two hundred and eighty
029two hundred forty eight and fifty six cents at RL Soho for the completion of the work at Balmoral approved payment of 1.1 million 892 and 86 cents at CC Holdings Inc for work completed at the high school for personnel report it's approved the personal report which includes approval of certified staff employment leave of absence retrieval leave of absence resignation educational report step employment leave of absence return from leave of absence and reassignment and resignation um for teaching and learning it's um Crete money High School show choir overnight field trip application and item two is to prove the school calendar for next year which is 2023-24 school year that's it any questions or comments on the consent agenda the only the only question I need for Ken is the uh RL Soho work is that the
030retention you off top of your head uh off the top of my head I don't believe it is yet and that because there still is Keith and I had this discussion is today there's about 24 items on the punch list uh list that still have not been completed I've directed him actually to talk to Soho and said if those aren't completed by the 31st of March I'm not paying any more money so when you if you can find out and then send when we go to approve that can you put that on there that it is the final for each of those oh sure sure yes yep I will do that and then Cara can you remind me what the the CPN intergovernmental agreement that's for a career center that we have at the high
031school it's an intergovernmental agreement it has to do with um it's our partnership we're in a Consortium with HF Bloom rich and and that we use it okay okay yeah any other questions or comments yeah let's go you can ask it before we can get a motion to okay you're welcome thank you again on the fund balance for January I don't know if you pull that up okay or maybe it's probably something you could probably answer right off the bat but for the month and the January 31st 2023 I'm just looking at the debt service and our fund balance that and it actually December 31st why is that negative why would we have our fund balance food for The Debt Service to be negative over 200 some thousand dollars right let me pull that up
032Mr Brown so okay that was let me see sheep is it one ending in December or January were you referring to oh it says for the month in the January 31st 2023 but I have the fund balance of December 23rd December 31st 2022 so but it look yeah it looks like it's January 31st 2023 of 231 000 134 dollars I have not I am absolutely not sure that I don't have an answer for you right now I can get that answer okay uh no worries but when you calculate it the total of all funds for January you have 87 million yes 225 753. and when I go to little scatter diagram here the next page it shows the fund balance it looked like it began on January of 67 million some of our dollars and
033then when you hit February the beginning of February I think that's the end of January of 64 million and it looked like it had the same funds it doesn't actually the the one you're referring to that has 87 million dollars is all funds yeah so that's yeah we're missing something the next page is the uh operating funds okay so I missed okay so I missed a couple funds yeah there's a couple of questions look at it again I'm like okay we got working cash right and all of that so yeah so there's just some funds that aren't on there so the one that you're seeing with the charts and the graph is your operating funds okay just one last question with the working cash of being and I know it's not that high I guess
034it's the money we borrowed about 15 million working cash right we approved at the board are you throwing other money in there for working cash we got 32 million for working cash no those there are some additional I can I can get your breakdown of what we borrowed but a lot of that was working cash fund uh doing that borrowing stage in December there were a couple of them uh that were already in cash yes I think the death certificates were really the only one that went into debt service I think everything else went into working cash but I can get you I can get your breakdown of that are we at our limit went working cash borrowing to you can you bring that back I can bring that that's where we are I can
035bring that back okay all right that's all thanks again yep all right now any other questions okay can I get a motion to approve the consent agenda moved okay full call Mr sawales aye Dr Hall aye Brown is an i Mrs galber vice president aye president Auburn aye motion carries next up are action reports under business kind of get a motion to approve a resolution providing for first abatement of taxes in parentheses 2022 in order to obtain fiscal year 2023 property tax relief Grant moved second any questions or comments okay roll call Brown is an i Mr salallis hi Dr Hall aye Mrs galbert aye vice president aye President Oliver hi motion carries next up can I get a motion to approve a resolution providing for a second abatement of taxes in parentheses 2023 in
036order to obtain fiscal year 2023 property tax relief Grant second [Music] any questions or comments on this item okay roll call Mrs Galbraith aye Brown as an eye Mr sawales hi Dr Hall aye vice president group aye president Albrecht aye motion carries does anyone have any old business does anyone have any new business and we can't get out this early now we have [Laughter] we're going to take your coffee away [Laughter] we have no need for closed session tonight can I get a motion to adjourn okay all in favor say aye aye all opposed we are adjourned