District 118 BOE meeting 11/19/2025

001for it stands one nation under God indivisibley andice for all >> it's been repaired >> it looks good >> okay um before we start I'm going to uh begin with the mission statement for the district and that is to ensure all district students reach their full potential. Thank you. >> You're welcome. And thank you. And we believe that our administrators not just say it, but they live it every day. And for that, we're grateful. So, thank you. At this time, I would approve a motion uh to approve the consent agenda. >> Move to approve the agenda with the following changes. Uh remove agenda item number 12 and part of number three, which is student discipline motions. Second. >> So, we have a a motion and a second to approve an amended agenda. >> Roll call

002vote. You want help? >> Miss P? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Cordon? >> Yes. >> Mr. East? >> Yes. >> Mr. Warfield? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Town? >> Yes. >> Dr. Howard? >> Yes. >> Mrs. >> Yes. Thank you. Motion carries seven. Uh, obviously, M. Robinson. having trouble with her voice and boy, she's just hanging in there and just giving it all she's got. So, thank you. We'll try we'll try not to make you uh do too much. So, next item then is Oh, this is exciting. Our next item uh and I want to preface this by saying that uh we were asked after the last meeting uh to move student presentations to the beginning of the meeting because the kiddos uh need to go home and do homework or get ready for bed and that

003made so much sense. So, thank you for whoever suggested it and uh we listen to you and that is what we will do from now on. Our our student presentations will happen before public comments from now on in the future. So, at this time we get to hear um from the Northeast students um about me poems and pictures. So, let's welcome the northeast. [applause] So, tonight I'm excited to bring to you on my um cool things that students do around the district um treasure hunt um from Northeast. Um this is Miss Hler and um her she they both she teaches sixth grade, Miss Adams and Mr. Lockheart, the principal and their lovely um crew of students which is a sampling of some poems that they've done and I'll let the teachers and Mr. Lockheart speak

004to you before the students do. But I just wanted to introduce to you and you'll see their poem. They're incredible their poems up there and how open and honest they were. But you're gonna be super excited about the writing, too. [laughter] >> Good evening. I am Kim Hustler, sixth grade at Northeast. Um, so many moons ago, I did summer school and Angelique Simon was next door to me and she introduced me to this book called The Best Part of Me. And so, ever since then, I've tried to incorporate that in my classroom and have the kids just pick the best part of themselves and write about it and share about it. There's so much um issues with social media right now to uh what do I want to say like >> negativity comparing ourselves to

005one another and so we wanted to focus on something positive that they love about themselves and it could be external or internal whatever they really enjoy about themselves. So this the first student is Brian >> Okambo. [applause] You want to read it from the screen? >> Okay, go ahead. Uh the best part of me is my youthful unique astonishing legs. My legs are my favorite part of me because they help me run fast like a cheetah. Another reason why I love my legs is that in soccer, my legs are very useful and legs are one of the most important things you need for soccer. My impressive special legs are my strongest part of me and they help me jump or push things around. Legs are important to me because they help me kick things like

006soccer balls, kick balls, and footballs high or far with strong power. The next reason why I love my legs is they help me dribble a soccer ball around defenders and score goals against goalkeepers. Additionally, my legs help me get around to places and they resemble my dad's legs, which are huge and muscular. [laughter] I feel like my legs are my favorite part of me because they are very useful in my daily life. >> All right. >> [applause] >> Okay, next we have Miss Emmy Shanks with her style. [applause] >> Get a little closer. >> The best part of me is my style. My style is fun, different, and it makes me who I am. The way I dress might not be for everyone, but it is for me. My style allows me to express myself

007in many ways. It brings me out. It brings out the best in me. My style is a western kind of twist. When people compliment me on my style, it makes me feel good. My style comes from my father's roots down in Texas. I feel my style is the best part of me because it makes me feel like myself. [applause] >> Next is Addie Chandler. The best part of me is my heart because my heart is very nice and it makes me me. I love my heart because it helps me be nice and happy. I also like my heart because it makes me caring and it's great when I'm very, very happy. I have such a big heart because I'm so caring to others. My heart makes me feel free and happy. I want to help

008others. My heart loves when I hug people because it makes me feel so loved. It feels amazing when someone tells me I have a big heart. It makes me feel so good inside when someone is sad and I give them a hug. That makes me feel so good inside, too. When someone falls and I catch them or I help them, it feels so good inside. [applause] >> Alex Kilgore. [applause] >> The best part of me is my lovely complex hands. To start with, my hands allow me to draw or do other crafting activities. Secondly, they also let me write and type imaginative imaginative stories. Also, my hands have wonderful fingernails. They really just look magnificent. [laughter] Nextly, my fingers are unique and I just like if I had any other fingers to add on, my

009hands allow me to feel my surround surroundings. Lastly, they give me the ability to go through my daily life and have a sense of normaly. I feel like my hands are the best part of me. They let me be me. [applause] And last, we have Taylor Robertson, who I have warned her not [applause] to sing in the microphone, [laughter] so she does. I'm sorry. >> Go for it. [clears throat] >> My favorite part Oh, there. Okay. My favorite part of me is my coily dark hair to begin with. My hair is my favorite part of me because it represents my culture. Also, it's the first thing people notice about me. Next, an afro is a genetic trait that a lot of my family has. Another reason is I'm able to do a lot of a

010lot of styles with my hair because of the length and texture. When I have braids in and I put beads in them, I can shake my hair and it makes noise. Lastly, my family and I make jokes about our hair together. I feel my hair is the best part of me for these reasons. >> [applause] >> If I could have brought all 50 students, I would have because they were all just amazing and they did a wonderful job talking about themselves and being descriptive and using all the adjectives. So, thank you for letting us share that. >> Thank you. [applause] >> Thank you teachers. Thank you, Mr. Lockhart. Um, and thank you parents. And we have some pretty great kids, don't we? We have some really [applause] great kids. >> At this time, we will

011uh entertain public comments. [clears throat] >> Mr. Ry [laughter] >> [clears throat] >> I think you said me. [laughter] >> Good evening board. Mr. Hart, Mark Basy, director of district athletics. And in that consent agenda that just got approved, there was a really important hire uh [clears throat] to me [snorts] [clears throat] uh tonight. uh excited and emotional, but um [snorts] um you guys approved the um consent agenda with Megan Mattingley as our new athletic director at Hanville High School. Um, [snorts] Megan comes to us. She was a graduate of DHS in 2017, three sport athlete, um, volleyball, basketball, softball. She excelled in all those athletic events here. She was a great student. Uh, she left us, went to Eastern Illinois, played softball there. Uh, division one softball player. Um, started in 218 of the

012220 games during her four-year career. She was the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year her senior year. And um which is a great accomplishment, but also the fact that she was the Ohio Valley Conference Scholar Athlete of the Year um is really important to us as we uh hire her. Uh she got her bachelor's degree while she was at Eastern. She got her master's in sports administrational leadership in 2022. Uh she then went off and taught in Indiana [snorts] and she taught PE. Uh she coached uh uh volleyball, softball and was athletic director at the middle school there. And uh her and her husband then moved back to Illinois and she took a job at the University of Illinois where she was the she is well until we hired her today >> [laughter] >>

013um the director of operations for the University of Illinois softball team. uh she served in that role at the start of this year until this job um became open and she expressed her interest and uh we hired her and so she'll leave there and and come to us here shortly. Her start date will be December 8th. Um Megan brings a vast level of experience both academically, athletically. um she played at the highest level of division one um athletics and then she also got to be on the administrative side of that. Um and as the changing landscape of athletics in in college is going on and of course our goal is to have our kids go on and pursue their dreams in college um she has the incredible knowledge of of being a player recently and

014then being on the administrative side. So she she will help our kids drastically in that area. Um, we welcome her. I'm so excited to have her. Her husband Payton is here. Grady was here. [laughter] Um, he's out in the hall. Uh, so we welcome them to the Viking family. And so, Megan Mattingly, we're we're so happy to have you. >> Welcome. [applause] >> You want to put her on the spot? >> Sure. Speech. Speech. Speech. Speech. Speech. Speech. Speech. [laughter] Sure. >> There you go. Man, it feels so good to be back. Um, good evening everyone. My name is Megan Mattingley. I'm honored and incredibly excited to be the athletic director at Danville High School. I want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who has welcomed me into the Danville family. First and foremost,

015I extend my sincere thanks to Mr. Bases and Mr. Bretts. Your leadership, your trust, and belief in my vision for the future of Danville athletics means the world to me. I am eager to work alongside you and the entire administration to build upon the strong foundations already in place. On September 22nd, we lost one of our own. One of our own who made a difference in so many lives. A light, a leader, and an incredible mentor. I take on this role striving to be as impactful as Mr. Gritten was as a leader, as a human, and as a mentor. It feels so good to be home. Go Vikings. [applause] >> We welcome you and welcome you to our family. Uh it'll be great to have you. >> Thank you. Ashley Ashley, [laughter] you're okay. >>

016Good evening board, Miss Parker, Mr. Hart. My name is Ashley Amler. I'm a proud parent of district 118. Tonight, I wanted to come forth um after some recent attention that's been made amongst the public regarding the distrust of the school district. the administration and the school board. I'm here to debunk those statements and um share how trust has been validated amongst our educational journey. To give you a quick little background, our journey has consisted of roughly seven years divided up amongst three buildings and we've had five administrators during our time. Throughout the years, I've reached out to teachers, building administrators, a few department heads, assistant superintendent, both current and past, and a few school board members, both current and past. I have never once felt that my voice has not been heard. Have we always

017agreed on things? Absolutely not. But there's been a mutual understanding for one another, and to me, that's trust. It's also respect when it comes to the partnership of a child's education that every parent should have. I've used multiple forms of communication, whether it be phone calls, emails, even in-person meetings, and I've always had a response given to me in a timely manner from the individuals I listed above. The vital turning point for my husband and I that we have had trust and validation amongst our time within the district was an in-person meeting that I personally requested with an individual that I prefer not to name. I asked for that meeting in person due to the fact that I had a lengthy amount of questions, concerns, and feedback. That meeting was granted. The meeting occurred the

018day before Thanksgiving break. And let's be honest, nobody wants to meet with a parent the day before Thanksgiving break. But yet, all the questions, concerns, and feedback, both positive and negative, were addressed. When I left that meeting as a parent, I knew that at the other side of the table there was a listening ear, accountability that that indiv individual has to seek forth any plans or actions that needed to be taken place and simply an individual who takes pride in the district that wants to make sure that standards and expectations will be met. Truthfully, I felt that that meeting was probably better than any parent teacher conference I've attended. And that's no offense to any of my child's former teachers or current teachers. And I want to publicly thank that individual. There's more that I

019could go on about trust and give multiple examples throughout our time with the district and I won't bore you with all of them, but I do want to thank many individuals, you all know who you are, who have been a part of our partnership and my own child's educational journey. I take a lot of pride as a parent with this district. I'm not originally from here. Neither is my husband. And we've made our time with the district what we've made of it with our own journey. And I [clears throat] understand that we are in a rebuild phase and we have been for quite a few years. But it takes a lot of patience, a lot of hard work to see growth in multiple areas, not just within the buildings among the district, but also the

020school board as well. And I feel that we have the right team with probably two of the most downto-earth individuals leading the way for us that are willing to get their hands dirty and put in the hard work and the long hours. A listening ear goes a long way and I want to remind the public that there's trust that can be gained amongst this district. It may not always be shared publicly as some of us choose to live a little bit more privately, but it's consistently happening amongst the district in many buildings. I see it on a daily basis in my own child's building and also the building I work in. There's students that simply want to come to school, that want to excel and reach their highest potential. And yet there are parents who

021are proud that their child is a part of this district. Thanks. [applause] >> Thank you. Thank you. That means way more than you could imagine. So, thank you very much. >> Treasures report is Just need to make a motion. >> Just Okay, that makes it easy. I will entertain a motion to approve the treasures report. >> Thank you. A second. Thank you. Any discussion, concerns? >> Uh just the the balance is going down. Makes me uncomfortable. I think it's important people actually go back and look at the balance going down. Um, but it isn't going down in a way we didn't expect, but um, uh, I don't just want to not say that by about a million dollars. It's a lot. That's all for me. >> Thank you. Minutes. >> Roll call vote, please. >>

022Mr. >> Yes. >> Dr. >> Yes. >> Mrs. >> Yes. Yes, >> Mrs. S. >> Yes, >> Mr. W. >> I'll abstain. >> Mr. S. >> Yes. Motion carries six with one abstension. Thank you. I will let you do the next introduction for business and finance with the 2025 preliminary tax levy. >> Thank you. So, um we have Mr. Gary Lewis, who has been um the interim director of business and finance department, and he's going to walk us through the levy. Thank you, Mr. Lewis. >> I hate to be the one to bore you after all this nice stuff. [laughter] >> So, I I provided you um the the spreadsheet I use. Um it's from PMA, which I've worked with for years when I was superintendent at Oakwood and Catelyn. It's just a nice spreadsheet

023to plug numbers in and it it pops it up. Um the AV was this early assessment was up 5.89%. Um I went to Mr. Hart and said, "How do we want to do this? Do we want to try to capture all of it? How do we and he came back after talking with some of you guys to just do a flat levy of what we did last year." So, what you have in front of us, um, and you'll see the tax rates that 272 in the ED fund that at some point was at a a referendum was ran that the public went and raised that because for a for a K12 district, it's the minimum is 250. So, you've you've run a referendum at some point to run that. Um, those funds, you're going to

024get what you ask. you're going to get what you asked for and but you can't get any more on those funds that have a locked rate and that's sometimes hard to understand. The ones when you're not a tax capped which V for county isn't. The ones you have to be careful of are your uncapped ones which are your um social security um municipal retirement and your tort there. You're going to get what you asked for and if you're wrong on your EAV that tax rate is going to go through the roof to make sure you capture that money. what we're looking at this year to get a flat um no increase on the amount of money we we bring in working cash right now we still on about a three 3.1 million balance um there

025wasn't a whole lot I've looked gone back we've done much with that so this year I I propose not to levy anything in that just to kind of hold that also when you if you watch around the state there's been some reports of some schools having huge reserves then you get into a plan you have to spend that Now, um, as I tell my wife who was a CPA, there's the school administrator in me, and there's a guy that paid taxes in me, and we fight continually >> because [clears throat] I don't want to pay more tax than I have to, but as a school administrator, I want to get as much money as I can. Um, tort, this is just reduced by $750,000. We have a nice balance in there, too. Um, so that

026I feel comfortable doing that. And life safety, we have a $ 1.5 million balance in that. Um, I think we can go a year without $250,000 bring it in. So, your tax rate last year, the final tax rate before the tax with what they calculated the tax bills on was $446. Um, the estimated tax rate spit out this with your bonds. Your bonds are always that's you're going to pay that no matter what. And we do have a bond coming off. We're paying off one our oldest bond this December. So, that'll come off. Um, so that'll lower won't lower the rate so much because some of the payments on the other bonds ramp up a little bit. Um, and that gets you to pay those off faster. Um, we're looking at about a $421 tax

027rate. Um, equal amount of money. We've we've got I've talked with John. You've got balances and is it Mr. Eastston? That right? >> Yeah, >> I understand. And what you It's hard. My wife in business, she's like one month you look horrible and next month you look great. like all the money comes in at once and then we spend it >> then money will come back again. So that'll flow and that's something I've talked with John about. We probably need to look about how we're spending um and maybe get into a need versus want. >> Um again, we don't the last six years when I was regional superintendent was the first time I've ever had money. When I first became a superintendent was the start of the proration days. because I always did this kind

028of stuff with budgets and it's like squeeze every penny you can. So, this is a a rate I think that is good. I think it'll give you the money you need for next year. I imagine your EVF will go up again next year. Um, it went up about $2 million this year, so that some of that will be offset. Um, but I do I do see a trend where that the the reserves are going down a little bit and that's probably something we need to talk about. And I've shared some other ideas that Mr. Hart, some things you need to look at. Um, I appreciate you putting your trust in me to pop in here and help out. Um, I'm sorry I can't stay as long as I wanted to, but I had another job

029already I'd already applied and they called and got me. Um, any questions? I know this is quick and fast. >> Yes, I do. Uh, our current rate is our projected one for this year is 4 >> 4.21. >> And what is it currently? >> Uh, the last proof the final rate was $446. >> Okay. And so for what does that mean for the tax payer for their tax bill? What everything you're talking about? What does that mean for them? >> It shouldn't go. Well, it depends on what their house is assessed at. That's where we get in. We don't control the assessment of the houses. >> Exactly. >> Um I don't we're not asking for any more money. So with the rates going up, that rate should probably come down. I mean, our the rate

030for the school will be roughly around 421. And I understand that's an estimate, but I did check with the other county superintendents that I worked with when I was at uh Oakwood and Ken and they said the assessor and the office has been pretty pretty close to the number that they give give out for the estimated EAV. So I felt pretty confident in that. Um again, you're not asking for any more. So I don't expect you're they would pay they might pay a little more. That's depend on what how their house is appraised. And I know a lot of assessors have gone around, not just in this county, other counties, and have really raised the values of houses as they sell. >> So, if anyone is watching the news, there are other school districts that

031are uh looking at tax levies and they're raising their rates for next year. So, what you're telling us is actually good news for our district, our our taxpayers. >> Yes, your your fund balances are strong. Um I mean you you did you end up with a lot of federal money and a lot of state you know additional money which is part of that this demographic and that's what it is. Um and that's why that money comes to us so we can help help our kids and our staff with that to try to help with that. Um I feel confident this is a good levy. Um now do I think in a couple years maybe you need to start looking at some stuff? >> Yeah. And all of us will. Um, I mean, there's very few

032pockets in Illinois that the enrollment's going up, >> right? >> I think when I was at the ROE, the only one I could ever really count on for growth was Champagne and Muhammad, >> and everybody else is going down, >> right? >> Anybody else have a question, concern? >> I can't tell you how much we appreciate you stepping in, >> taking a look. you've uh you've done great work and uh it is very much appreciated. We're really sad to see you go. Um it wasn't long enough, but we know where to find you if we have questions. >> I've known John for a long time. I said if he needs me, I'll come back and do some stuff. Um I do want to put in a plug. I stepped in the office. The ladies in

033the office do an amazing job. >> I'm asking for stuff today to try to I've honest never touched Skyward in my life, which is our financial program. >> So I'm like, what does this mean? What is this? What's this? Run that. Please. So, um, I'm just looking at some stuff, just going to clean some stuff up. Um, again, I've done this, I did this for 20 years before I become a regional superintendent and then I didn't have to do so much with budget anymore. U, but it's been fun to get back in and do this. So, thank you for the opportunity. >> We appreciate your work. >> Mr. Lewis, this will be on display for 20 days. >> It has to be on display for 20 days. So, we will be [clears throat] on display

034for 20 days. Um, and one thing I did, I did give you what the this sheet is what we'll actually turn into the county. Um, I always remiss. I never shared that with my [clears throat] other boards. They're like, "What do you what do you turn in?" So, that's what >> um So, and then we'll have an abatement with only about $150,000 worth of abatement that is figured into this levy on the on the bond payment. And that's something you'll see next month from Chapman Cutler. they'll write the resolution, you guys just approve it. And that's just what those bonding houses do. Um, so that you hit all the legal buttons, so you don't have to press anything. Um, and other than that, I hate to run, but I our oldest is autistic and he's

035with my 80-year-old 80-year-old father-in-law, so I'm going to go let you go. >> Thank you so much. >> And if anybody has any questions, please, I'm here Monday, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Um, feel free to reach out and give me a holler or just email. Um, these things are no fun to try to understand. Um because when I say $2.72, it's actually when you're going to multiply it, you move those decimal to the right or to the left two places and then you go that way. >> Um >> but I think I think you've got a good levy. I think you've got good balances. But there's some stuff John and I have talked about that need to look at. >> Um and I've been through some very slim times in schools and you want to get

036ahead of it rather than try to catch up. >> All right. >> You look good in 118 gear. >> Thank you. I thank Miss Paps. As soon as I walked in my office, it was all right there. >> A [laughter] thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Where are we? >> Yes. Yes. Okay. >> 2025 uh AR ACT presentation >> and that would be Mr. Rice and Mr. Trux >> And the whole team. Okay. >> Okay. [laughter] All right. >> You look a lot better since [laughter] yesterday. >> Here we go. >> Good evening board. Mr. Hart, Marisha Parker, associate superintendent again. I am excited to be here with our amazing team. Um, and we're going to share our 2025 Illinois report card data. >> So, as always, Mr. Hart has already shared the vision,

037the mission. I'm going to share the vision, theme, and our goals. And then I'll turn it over to our team. So, our vision is to equip every student with the knowledge, skills, and support needed to succeed in college, career, and life through personalized learning, targeted support, and whole child development. Our theme this year is D118 ready, ready for college, ready for careers, and ready for life. Um, our district goals, our smart goal number one is state assessments. We want to increase the number of students that meet or exceed on state assessments by 10%. We want to, our goal number two is to decrease chronic absenteeism to 25% or less. And goal number three is our goal. We want to utilize multi-tered systems of support to provide appropriate interventions to improve building culture and student interaction

038as evidenced by a reduction in suspensions and expulsions by 15%. So with that, I will turn it over to Mr. Rice. >> Oh, I guess I should do our wig before I let Mr. Rice go. But we have a district wig, our wildly important goal, and that is to improve teaching and learning. And we do that by ensuring that training, development, and support for high performing instructional teacher teams to support adult learning and development to advance student learning and performance. >> Okay, Mr. >> Thank you. >> We talk about these so much. Mrs. Parker didn't even have to look at the screen. So, [laughter] >> good evening board. Mr. heart. Um, on October 30th, all things district data related, including student performance on our state assessments finally became official and it was released to the

039public via the Illinois report card. Um, so we're looking forward to sharing that information with you tonight. I'll start off by looking at things from the district perspective and then we'll give each principal the opportunity to discuss how that impacts their specific buildings. If you think back a couple presentations ago, we talked about the house and how all things that schools are trying to earn their designation scores, earn as many points as they can. They wait for this house to pop up every fall so they can look at the points they've accumulated. And you remember the key components to that house are everything from proficiency in ELA and math. Um looking at our growth in those content areas as well. Chronic absenteeism five essential survey if you're at DHS 9th grade on track and graduation

040of course plays into that designated score as well. Remember schools can be designated at four different levels from exemplary to commendable status targeted or identified for school improvement and comprehensive status. This year our results we had six student or six schools placed in commendable status, one school that was targeted and two students two students schools schools placed in comprehensive status. and we can kind of break down that specific data and how it relates to our district and kind of do a 2425 comparison. Um, in 2024, our designation status, we had three schools in designation status and that is true again this year in 2025. The thing that's kind of missing from that when we identify that is the schools that are in designation status at the end of fiscal year 24 have to participate in

041all these things we've talked about with ISBY and school improvement meetings and making goals and putting systems in place and our schools have progressed out of that status into fiscal year 25. Some of our schools that were um successful previously have dropped into designation status. So really what that is saying is we're kind of charged with it at the district level is we want to look at putting systems in place that can build sustainability. So when we move out of designation status we continue to grow and close that instructional gap. We talk a lot about proficiency. So if you remember proficiency is simple. It's percentage of our students that meet or exceed state standards. Um across our district our ELA proficiency rate was 23%. our math proficiency was 13% of our students meeting or exceeding

042state standards. We've talked about how growth is much heavily weighted um as a huge indicator as far as the direction that we're moving as a district. Uh when we figure growth, it's it's calculated a little differently. Um the state will take a comparison between our students and their peers across the state. They will look at um students that are in the same grade level, the same content area, and had a similar test score, assessment score in the past, and then they can predict how we're improving, what kind of growth we're showing in comparison to their peers across the state on assessments in future years. Sometimes they will use track data from a couple of years to to try to get this formula right. Um 50% is the state average. So when we talk about growth,

043I think sometimes the misconception when you see some of these percentages only this percentage of our students are moving. That's not true. 100% of our students are showing growth from where they were as fifth graders to where they are as sixth graders every grade level. The the data we're going to share with you here is in comparison to the state and to their peers. So our ELA growth, it's pretty much stayed consistent in ELA and math the last couple of years. In fiscal year 24, our ELA growth was 41.8%. 8%. It declined slightly to 40.7% this year in fiscal year 25. What that means is 40% of the students in our district are showing more growth than their peers across the state. Math growth improved from 41.5% to 42.6. So 42% of our students are

044showing more growth than their peers across the state. We've talked a lot about chronic absenteeism. I feel like this is the one area we are trending in the right direction. We improved about 4% this year with our chronic absenteeism rate improving to 31%. Remember the state average was 25. So we've closed that gap the last couple of years. That'll look a little different next year, but that's another study session for us when we talk about that. [clears throat] >> Um celebrations. I feel like we have a lot of good things happening right now. We have five schools that have transitioned out of designation status since fiscal year 24. Our subgroup of our English learners in our district have an ELA growth of 48% and math growth of 47%. So that subgroup that's not comparing our

045English learner students to another group of English learner students. Those are students that that subgroup um is it's in the all group. So they are performing at a very high level close to the state average. So that's something that really sticks out is our English learners are performing at a higher level really in consistent uh comparisons to the state. One area for growth I think we're always talking about closing that instructional gap. We like to see those scores go up, but really we want to close this close that instructional gap between our district and how the state's performing. I think that's how we get a true comparison of how we're performing. So before I turn it over to the principles, if you guys have any questions from a district perspective, I'd love to answer. If

046not, we'll keep it keep it rolling. >> Okay. >> Mr. Shanks. >> Okay. So this is the house that we all get with our specific number. So this is specific to Edison. Something we don't talk about on the next slide or any of our slides is the culture and climate survey, the five essentials. That's really important data that we get from our parents, students, and staff and we take that and then we can build upon that. If you get 100% participation from the students, that's how you get those points. So, that's something we don't talk about, but it is really important to get that data. So, that doesn't show growth, but it does show we got participation um when I was looking at Edison's numbers, we had particip participation above the state average in all

047three categories. So, I feel like we're getting um some good data there. The rest of it I'll talk about on our slides. Um my first second year second year 2024 at Edison we did get out of designation and we're commendable. Um our score was 43.89. We now my second third year sorry third year. Um we are still commendable but we have risen to 67.82. Um very proud of our staff and very proud of the work they've done. [applause] >> It's huge and I just celebrated with my staff the other day. It's phenomenal the things they're doing. Which leads me to the growth. Um our growth with our students is 56.8 which is above the growth of the state. So our students are growing higher than the rest of the state when compared to their peers.

048Um we have students who come from all walks of life, all demographics and my teachers set the bar high and they they don't waver on that. At the same time providing what those students need to get to that point. So the growth for me is somewhere that I think we shine and that my staff and students are doing a phenomenal job at. Um growth in math is right under the state. So the state I think was 51 but still we're right along path of the rest of the state in our growth. Um chronic absenteeism was something when I came in we really really changed our systems. we focused on we went from 32% chronic chronic absenteeism down to 23% so 9% in the last year. Um that was huge too and again I give that

049to my staff and the relationships that are being formed with our families. Um one thing to celebrate our indicator score is 25 points up. I mean I think that speaks for itself when I gave you the difference in one year. So we as a staff got out of designation and they didn't stop. They're still not stopping. they're still going and they want to know how do we get higher, how do we go further. So every single staff meeting we have, whether it's about what we're doing for the year or whether it's a specific data meeting, we talk about the data and the goals and they want to continue to improve. They are never satisfied with where they are and you can see that in every classroom. Somewhere we want to continue to grow is to

050close that instructional gap in the proficiency. So while our proficiency numbers aren't as high, that's kind of where we're focused. And again, we're not ready to stop. We want to keep going. >> Well done. >> Great job. >> Thank you. [applause] [clears throat] >> Good e. Oh, >> I don't want to use the mic. >> Good evening. Um, I'm Mrs. Gerard representing Liberty. Um, thank you all for coming out this evening. It's great to see you. >> So, I'm going to go to our next slide. Just like um Edison and our climate survey, the teachers worked really hard to make sure that we had 100% in that so we could get all of those points. Our um designation for 2024, we had 47 and a quarter points. Our designation was commendable. This year we dropped

051about nine points and unfortunately those nine points was enough to lower our designation by two to comprehensive. Now it's a little bit tricky. So our ELA growth was 32 points, math growth 38 points. However, what changed, what got us commendable for the last two years was our ELA and math growth. Now although that went down what did go up was the percentage of students who met on the I a exam. So although growth declined the amount of students who met did increase in ELA that went from 12% to 17% in math that went from 4% to 14%. Unfortunately, that's just not how the cookie crumbles when it comes to maintaining the designation status. Um, so we do have a little bit to celebrate. We do want to increase that growth, make sure that we're closing

052that instructional achievement gap so that we will rise in our status. I'm standing here today telling you um we will not be comprehensive next year. Um so one another thing to celebrate um our chronic absenteeism last year was 34% that has dropped to 30%. So we're on our way. We started off very strong this year and then uh Handoot Mouth and then it snowed. My people aren't coming in the snow. [clears throat] They're not coming in the snow. They don't want those babies to get cold. Um, but we're just going to keep on plugging away. We we're planning a spirit day, uh, spirit week. One of those is going to be December second, which is 67 day. >> Yeah. We're going to incorporate that to try to boost attendance and spirit in the schools. Um,

053but once again, I will end by saying next year we will not be comprehensive. >> So, don't worry. I have belief in my staff. Oh, and when it comes to chronic absenteeism and how we're improving that, I just want to say happy birthday, Mrs. Funk. That is our home program interventionist, and she works tirelessly to make sure that we're finding ways to decrease our chronic absenteeism. >> Um, are there any questions? >> Awesome. You guys have a wonderful evening. [applause] >> Good evening. I'm Stacy Sers. I'm principal at Mark Deman Elementary. Um our house points are a 52.08, which puts us in commendable status for this school year. Um some of the the growth that we've had in the when I first started at Mark Demon, we were targeted and comprehensive um status and we

054have come risen up out of the ashes to commendable. So we're super excited going from 37 to 52. Um thank you. Thank you. Our ELA growth is a smidge higher than the state. So, we're very excited about that at 51% and our math growth is just a smidge lower than the state at 48%. Um, chronic absenteeism, that is what really um kills us at Mark Demon. We we were at 46% but we did improve by four percentage points in this past year. Um the thing to celebrate is that comprehensive to commendable status but I have to give all the credit to our staff and students for committing to the work that we've asked them to do and um just being committed to the programs that we've put in place at Mark Deman because that is

055how we are rising above uh where we have been. Uh the area for growth for us is just to continue what we've already been doing is fully implementing that MTSS model to increase proficiency in our academic growth and also our chronic absenteeism. Chronic absenteeism has to be uh one of our focuses with our home program interventionists and our um attendance secretary. Uh so we will probably be coming and asking for some things. >> Thank you. [applause] Hi, I'm Kelly Trux. Um, but today I'm Mr. Dauer from Me Park. >> I'm covering for me Park today. But first, I just want to say how proud I am of all of these principles. If you guys knew how much work they have done >> to do this and I think all of us directors would say the

056same thing. I I'm just very proud of them and um they they should be very proud of their data and everything they've done and of course the staff, but they have had to do state meetings and lots of extra paperwork and time and data and they they have put the work in. So I just want to say that I'm very very proud of them and and very happy to work with all of them. So Mr. Dau's house me Park um he also uh me Park came out of designation this year. He was thrilled. Um they were targeted last year with points of 40.27. Um when you're targeted, you have a student group that is over 20 that didn't meet the goal is and so he he had a targeted group. This year he was commendable

05745.09. So he was thrilled and the staff was thrilled as well. Their ELA growth is 40.5 and their math growth is 43.5. Chronic absenteeism improved from 38 to 31. And they're celebrating their target um student group which were their black students and they improved from a 38.63 overall score to a 54.13 overall score. >> That was huge and he was very proud of that. So I want to share that with you all. and they are working on math growth um at be park. So I don't think I said everything he would say but I did the best I could. [applause] >> Good evening board. I'm Charles Profett principal at Southwest Elementary. Our house score uh was a 50.73. Like Miss Shanks uh explained earlier, we received full credit in the climate survey. Um and there

058is a lot of data that we can look at and build off of. Um this is my third year there and so we are changing that climate. Um and our climate survey is showing that for the for a nice change. So we're very proud of that. Our house points for 2024 were 55.15 commendable. This year we did a slight dip to 50.73. We're still in commendable. Um, we are still building relationships uh with the new students we had last year as well as all of the new students that we um gained this year. Our ELA growth was a 50.1. Our math growth was a 44.3. uh chronic absenteeism was 29% in 2024 and there was a dip there as well to 32% for 2025. Um I will say um that my home liaison Marta Mitchell

059is phenomenal with working with our parents and the absenteeism rate. Um she's on the phone constantly uh along with Jasmine Owens, our social worker. They're doing home visits. Um so I'm very proud of the work that they are doing. Um we also have Mr. Koy who comes out, meets with students now and is also uh going with Miss Mitchell and Miss Owens on home visits to our students. So he's from the ROE. So, we're very we're proud of where we are headed to. I will put it that way. Um, one thing that we do want to celebrate, math last year was not our wig goal. Um, I set a the bar at 45 and everyone said we couldn't meet it. That was just going to be way too difficult. We scored 44.3. So, I think

060we did pretty good when that wasn't even our wig goal. And um so our area for growth, we're still going to focus on ELA. This year, we have everybody teaching the same curriculum. Uh and I think we're going to see some advancement in our ELA growth as well. So, thank you. >> Thank you. [applause] >> Good evening, board. Brent Lockheart, principal at Northeast Elementary School. You will notice on ours, we have one more category there on the house. Uh because we have science. So, we're elementary school, but then we also have upper elementary with fifth and sixth grade. So, you'll notice that there. Uh and real quickly, uh you can see the ELA proficiency. We've got a perfect score. I'll notate that on the next slide. And also at the climate survey. So, 24 we

061had a 70.4 43 and we did go up four points to a 74.71. Uh getting closer to the exemplary status um which I believe was 81.99. Yeah, we're getting there. >> ELA growth at 53, math growth at 49, and improvement in chronic absenteeism, it did go down. So, you know, even though it's low at 4.6, six. We're still trying to get even better at that. So, we're down to 4.3. We did uh note already before that we had the full proficiency in ELA. So, we're going to continue to keep that up. And then one area for growth is to continue to close the instructional achievement gap compared to the state level performance in both ELA and math. We want to improve and grow in both of those. Thank you. [applause] Good evening board. I'm Robin

062Fluno, principal at Southview. I don't feel like I should have to go after Northeast, but that's the way they make it go. So, we did get at South View all five of our climate survey and that's the only one I'm going to talk about there. >> There were lots of wonderful things that happened at Southview last year. uh we moved from comprehensive to targeted and we had almost a 10-point growth. ELA and math both we had 40.6% growth. Our improvement in chronic absenteeism went from 31.3 in 2024 to 15.8% in 2025. That was our wig last year and that's what we focused on. I have three of the most amazing home program interventionists that you could want and they can track you down if you disappear. And um so the thing that I'd like to

063celebrate the most is the movement from comprehensive to targeted and our area for growth is overall math proficiency. But I think one thing I'd also like to celebrate would be the fact that all of my almost all my feeder schools are now commendable. So that they're coming to me and so we should be seeing all of my scores go up as well. So I want to thank all of them for all the wonderful help they're giving me too. So any questions? >> Thank you. [applause] >> Oops. Good evening members of the board, Mr. Hart, Mrs. Parker. I'm Michael Gorley, building principal at Northridge Middle School. Um our index score for this past year is a 38.24. That's close to a 12 point dip um in the previous year. Um but it is worth noting that

064we just missed uh commendable by half a point. >> So it was razor thin and we learned that the state of Illinois does not round up unfortunately. Um on our survey score, a climate score of um 4.87. Um that is the highest it's been there since I've been there. Um I've increased it the last two years. This is my third year. Um and that's double the previous administration's last year on that score. So just worth noting that as well. That last one was at 2.4. And so the last two years we're at 4.83, I think, and then 4.87. 87. Um on the next slide, just some things to point out. Um so there is that close to 12point dip from 49.8 commendable to drop down to comprehensive 38.24. Um of that near 12point dip um

065it like nine of it combined came from the ELA dip in the ELA growth to 35.6 and the math growth to 41.9. Um, and so that was where we hit took the biggest hit was the comparison between this year's sophomores and this year's uh freshman. If you can think of those two groups in terms of when they take that spring assessment. Okay. [clears throat] Chronic absenteeism, another dip. Um, we're 40.7 in 2024, 43.1 in 2025. So, an increase in that. Uh we spent half the year with a substitute attendant secretary uh because ours resigned mid year. Um and so that led us to some difficulties in terms of staying on top of the she was really good and we had a wonderful sub. She was really good at the day-to-day um functioning of the school

066getting kids out for doctor's appointments and called in but in terms of helping stay on top of us cleaning up the report for the state um that became challenging. Um, one thing to celebrate, went back and did some digging. Our ELA proficiency, again, not growth, but the proficiency since 2021 to 2025 has gone up steadily by a total of 5.4. So, that's a nice nice trend going up. And I think I attribute that to just some dedicated teachers and ELA program obviously. Um, some of the AVID strategies and partnerships we've done to help improve instruction. So hopefully we're going to continue to see that growth continue or that proficiency trend upwards. And then excuse [clears throat] me then obviously one area we're going to focus on is chronic absenteeism. Um that is a big portion

067of the overall composite score for everybody and we've got a lot of ground we can gain there and hopefully get back up and we're looking forward to being conventable next year. So missing him by razor thin, we felt kind of cheated that they didn't round us up, but a lot of work and effort went into that and pretty confident we get back there next year. >> All right. Thank you. [applause] >> Good evening, uh, Mr. Hart and board of education. Jacob Brett's principal Danville High School. Uh so Danville High School has earned a commendable status uh based on last year with a score of 40.71. Um in 2023 we were comprehensive. The last two years we've now been commendable but you'll see on this slide we've still shown growth within the commendable rating. So last

068year um or 2024 our total designation status points were 24.53. Last year they were 40.71. Um, our house is made up um a little bit differently. Freshman on track and graduation rate play a big role. Those two things combined make up about close to 60 of the 100 available points. Graduation rate making up actually half of the available points, 50 of them of the 100. Um, so last year we had an increase of 5.7% in our freshman on track, finishing at 79.8% of firsttime freshman being on track for graduation after the freshman year. Our graduation rate increased by 9% up to 78.8%. Um, we had mine's I probably didn't type that in the best on chronic absenteeism. So, we had we decreased the number of students who were chronically absent by 1.9%. So, it is

069slight but it is an improvement. So, two years ago we were at I think it was 38.2 and we finished at 36.3. So, that minus 1.9% is positive. That means >> Mhm. less kids were chronically absent. Um, one thing to celebrate is our growth in the graduation rate. It's actually risen 17.1% over the last two years. Um, >> yeah. Um, the staff work really, really hard. I think one thing I've learned is if you get teachers quality information in a timely manner, they can do a lot of good stuff. and the Damma High School teachers, home leaison, school counselors. Um, I know our social workers and our social emotional learning team. Um, I'm probably forgetting another group. Um, but they have done a lot of work and I pushed them really hard the last two

070years and they've really risen to the challenge. As far as the graduation rate, KDBA deserves a lot of credit, too. Um they while they don't have a house like their students are our students so they played a role in all of this but they do a really good job >> getting the students we send them to the finish line so they are to be commended for that. Um area of growth I would say our ELA and math growth. Um so as Chris said or Mr. Rice said average is 50%. So we have 43.2% 2% of our students growing more than the state average at ELA and 43.9% of um our students growing more than the state average but we'd like to obviously get that at or above 50%. And then the last thing I'll mention

071um within so if you go back a slide so the ELA proficiency and math proficiency um each of those you can earn up to seven and a half points and so over the last three years we have earned more points in terms of student proficiency as well within ELA and math. So appreciate it. Thank you for listening. [applause] To sum up, thank you to our principles for presenting this evening. I know it's our favorite thing to do. Um, a lot of things you see we can celebrate, but we will still put in the work uh to meet our mission, which is to have our students reach their fullest potential. So, thank you. >> Thank you. [applause] >> Thank you. That was efficient. It's all information that we need to know. I know it takes a

072while because we have so many schools. Um but we really appreciate the effort you're making. We appreciate the data that you're collecting and um pushing your staff and your students. Uh it shows and we're proud of you. So, thank you very much. >> Um at this time, our very favorite item, talk about school calendars for the first reading of probably what 10 maybe. >> I hope not. >> Okay. [laughter] Good evening, board. Mr. Hart, um I'm hoping that was going to be my opening line that this will be part one of the only time I'll be up here for um school calendars for this school year. Um so, we are happy to give you the school calendar for next school year for a first reading tonight. Um we did work with a committee of DEA

073um members to come up with the school calendar that we're um in agreement on and we would like to present that to you tonight for a first reading and I'll be happy to answer any questions that you have. [snorts] >> Questions board >> pretty straightforward. [laughter] >> It is. Thank you for your work. >> Oh yeah. >> Appreciate it. >> Mrs. Do you want to talk about the beginning of the school year for 2627? >> Yeah. one we there was one change that was made um after the committee met and that was to um take out we normally have a staff institute day in October which is something that the county does and um we've reflected on it the last couple years and it's just not something that is probably as successful as we would

074like for it to be based on feedback and then attendance those types of things. So, there was some suggestions and feedback that we move that day to the beginning of the school year. And so, um, we're going to have three days at the beginning of the school year. Students will have a normal attendance day when we would normally have had, um, professional development in October. We'll have three days before school starts um, with students. So, we scooted back the original date that we had planned, but we'll get out a date earlier than we had planned. So, I hope that people hear that part, the the teachers hear that part. So, we're excited about the opportunity to have three good days um of professional development at the beginning when um teachers will not lose the plan

075that we normally have where they get the ability to work in their classrooms, those types of things. But we will um do some really targeted professional development on one of those days. >> And we might not know this yet, but does this mean that graduation will not be on Memorial Day weekend? >> That is a Mr. Brettz and Mr. Hart thing. >> It's Yeah, it's we if if everything goes as planned, we end a little bit. will end before. But yeah, >> so that was another thing that I would hope people, the teachers love it when we get out before. I think parents do too before Memorial Day. Maybe some of them, maybe not all of them, [clears throat] but >> we need the weather to cooperate. >> Yes. >> I'll be talking about that

076in a little bit later tonight. >> Okay. >> Anything else? I I I just can I ask about the >> start date? >> Oh, that will be Mr. Lockart. >> Okay. I just feel like it has moved up since my kids have gone. Now, that's been a few years ago, but um what has what might have precipitated to to make that happen because I remember a certain event they were in in the summer and it was always after that event, which was almost the last week of July, like the at least in the 20s. So, I don't know. I feel like it's a week earlier. I can't I think we had the full 3-week break for each, but I [snorts] don't know. It just seems What's their What's their fault? What's their summer break then?

077Is it six weeks? >> Six. >> It's typically six weeks. >> Okay. Okay. >> I think it's on the calendar. >> It's the same as last year. >> Okay. >> We get Could it possibly be because we're getting out a little bit earlier this year than we would have? >> True. Yes. There you go. It's May versus June. They always went into June. Okay, there we go. All right. Thank you. [laughter] >> Answered that. >> Okay. Any other questions? Thank you, Mrs. Button. >> Okay. >> Thank you. [laughter] >> It's the first reading, so we won't uh have a vote uh until it comes to us for a vote. Um item number 11, contract and services with Jay Kasus and Associates. >> Okay, I think that one's me. Um, so I am recommending that we

078um again sign a contract with Jimmy Cauus and Associates. We've worked with um Mr. Cauus and friends Joy um throughout the school year. [clears throat] They're working with four schools um and we've actually looked to expand that to six schools and also worked with a group of directors and has worked um we Mrs. Parker and I have also worked um with Mr. Cauus and um Joy as well. We feel like it's very beneficial and um the principles have asked to continue our contract with him and we are looking at um he actually split the bill. They um work from January through August and so their half years are a little bit different. So they cross fiscal years. So it would be a total of $47,500 in I lied to you. $49,500 for year one and

079then $47,000 for year two to work with the six schools, the directors and central office. Um this again will be paid from title one. So again, approximately $50,000 out of this year's Title One and $50,000 out of next year's Title One. Um, I welcome any questions you have and I ask for your approval. >> Uh, could I have a motion please [clears throat] to uh pass? >> Motion to approve. >> Thank you. Second. >> Thank you. Having a first and second motion. Do we uh have any discussion? I do. Um how many years has this been in place and um can you give us an example of some of the things that that they work on with you with the administrators with the principles? >> 100%. Um so this is actually the the second year.

080Last year was our first year of working with um Jimmy Casa. um we brought him in as the keynote speaker in 2425 and um we begin on began working with him at that time. So I'm I'm going to talk about the experience I think that Mrs. Parker and I have had um we work with him a lot to create systems to um build leaders to build our own climate within the district. that's kind of the specialty is climate. Um, but we did find out that Mr. Kasa has many talents and so we're working um with him on systems. We've talked about um strategic planning. We've worked with a um here we go again. Me and the the chart, the flowchart. Give it to me, Marishia. >> The organizational chart. I'm not sure why I always

081struggle with that one. Um, so we've had um lots of great experiences with him. A lot of times when he comes he will meet with u Mrs. Parker and I sometimes for an hour, sometimes for three hours, and then um he'll pull in the directors and a lot of times they'll spend the afternoon with principles or he will see things that are happening in the district and he will actually um ask to meet with the administrators or administrators will ask to meet with them. So we really feel like we've received great benefit that will trickle down to the classroom as well. So I hope that example those examples answer your questions. >> Yes, that helped. Thank you. >> Sure. >> He seems really invested in our district uh from the very beginning. >> Very much

082so. And I I think it's worth mentioning as well that although we are asking for another year with um Mr. Cauus, there is another uh consultant that we used in 24 2526 and we will be um ending that contract as well. So, um, just to know that we are doing our best to be fiscally responsible. >> Okay. >> Do we need a vote? >> We do. >> Okay. We have a first and second motion. So, any more discussion? Roll call vote. >> Yes. M. >> Yes. >> Mr. Ethan, >> yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Dr. >> Yes. [clears throat] >> Yes. >> Mrs. >> Yes. Motion carries 70. Thank you. I'm sorry to do that to you, Miss Robinson. Thank you. [laughter] >> Stop guys. Okay, moving on to um theformational items would be

083[clears throat] you, Mr. Hart. >> It is. So, I'm going to ask Mrs. Button to come up and she's going to just give you an update on virtual schools and where we started >> and where we're going. >> So, um just to make sure that everybody's clear, I'm going to give you um the definition of e-learning as opposed to virtual. So e-learning we use on our emergency days um which is our weather related days and we just gave some information out to the principles and the schools about that. Hopefully I think we're going to have a different um experience with those. We're hoping not to use them um this year but we are prepared for those with packets and laptops. Teachers will be available online again from 8 to 1 and teachers K through 6

084will be online with the students beginning at 9:00 for a quick meeting with the students. Um and then at 7 through 12 it'll be a particular class period will be chosen by those buildings as to when they'll meet with the students. So we can count on a specific specific time to meet. So, but what we're talking about tonight is virtual and virtual schools are different than um our egeneuity courses, those types of things that we have. This would be as I like to call it in my Marielle in this um a not brickandmortar situation. So, our students would be able to attend our classes taught by our teachers using Canvas, which you guys had agreed to purchase for us, which I love. Um, and they would go to school virtually from home or wherever they

085choose, wherever they are. Um, and they would have the same experience as our students have now. So, what we've done is we've been meeting there's a committee of us that meets and we've been re reviewing the adopted um oh my gosh I just lost the word sorry the adopted policy that you put in place and we've created a um admin administrative procedures for us to look at. Um teachers around the district are getting very more and more comfortable with Canvas. Um not everybody has to use that but the teachers that will be teaching virtual will do that. Um we have the committee is very much recommending that all like we wouldn't start till third grade and we would want students very we don't want to teach students to read virtually. We feel very very strongly

086about that um having experienced that during COVID. So we would like for them to be readers when they would start virtually. Um that's our recommendation, but that would be a there will be a committee that would um help students apply to be in this program. 7 through 12 um students would that program would look a little bit different. It could um be that there's stu teachers at the high school. Again, this is all needs to be decided still, but there could be teachers that they teach three sections of inperson and two sections of virtual. um because our schedule lends to it. When we have elementary folks that are teaching, they will likely be teaching virtually all day. Um so our next steps are we're there's a few of us that are going to meet to

087kind of discuss um what it looks like for staffing and then we'll work with the union um to come up with some ideas. Mr. um our fabulous union president has been on the committee with me. So, >> no, I know [laughter] I'm having a bad but we've been we've been meeting regularly since I think March of last year and so we've been working side by side. He helped pick the people on the committee, too. So, it's been very involved the entire time. So, um, our next steps are to move forward and, um, well, I think we could start, no, we can't, um, next year. No, um, we can start slowly. Um, there's options. The easiest place probably for us to start would be at the high school. Mr. Brett and I had a great conversation

088about it last night. Um, but we could like I think we'll be ready to go here, I think, pretty soon. So, we're I'm I'm really excited about it. But I'm here to answer any questions if you have any. But if not, that's that's the big presentation that I have for you tonight. And if you want me to show you Canvas, I will. I'm super excited about it. >> I would like to see it sometime, but >> it's really with you. >> Yeah. I'd like to know who are the target students for the virtual. >> So, the basically what it's really interesting how the state set it up. So, it's not really us seeking anybody out. The big the big idea is that it is not students that are in trouble. It's not students that are

089already being met for homebound services because they're ill. These are students that will perform better or we believe and their families believe that u virtual experience will help them perform better academically. So there's criteria that they need to meet that that's part of what we worked on in the committee and actually I think it was Monday night we met and that's the criteria that we set. So there will be a committee of individuals that meet when students they'll have to apply >> and then they'll meet and um interview the students and they'll have to have proven somehow that they're likely to be successful in this environment. But what's really interesting as well is it is a you sign up for a semester long >> situation and while we can if something's not going well we

090can put you right back into our um brickandmortar situation >> um we make decisions about the successfulness of it like semester to semester so you sign up semester to semester >> so students that say go to Kenneth Bailey would they be qualified or >> I mean in some situations they could but they're already they're already in a program that is meeting their need. >> Okay. So, but it might be for a student. I can't like I just think that there if there's a student that really would thrive in a virtual environment because like maybe um like a like there's so many people or like we we have sometimes we have military students >> um or families of military that this would be perfect where they could travel with their families, they could stay part of

091part of our school and we could offer that to them. That's just an off-the cuff example. >> Um techsavvy or >> that would definitely be definitely be >> important. Yeah. Critical I think necessary like >> Okay. >> I think yeah we would want that. >> So and they I I would also think they do need to be interested in being online too. >> So this is not something you force on them. It's very different than >> Sure. >> Yeah. They would want we would want them to be interested in it and they'll be live >> with the teacher. It's not >> good. >> Yeah. >> So for our students who are interested in fine arts, >> uh is it possible they could do core academics virtually and then attend brick and mortar for music, art,

092band? >> So Mr. Brett and I were having a good conversation about that last night and um extracurriculars can be treated however the however we decide. My suspicion is if a student is signing up for virtual there's a reason they're signing up for virtual. Um we won't I mean I think that that will be something that will be decided. If there are students there are students so there may be virtual extracurriculars that we create as well. So, I mean there's all kinds of opportunities with this. >> Uh, when you say in trouble, what do you mean students who are in trouble? >> So, when >> I guess just to clarify, uh, a third of our district is chronically absent. So, a third of our district's already in trouble. So, if a student is not coming

093to school because the environment, the in-person environment is not comfortable for them. But if we were to give them an opportunity to be virtual and they would thrive in that situation, that's a great student for this situation. But if they are a student that we would provide this for and they still aren't going to attend, that's not, you know, going to be a good situation. >> Do you have any uh research of other districts doing it in other states that it worked well or not? >> There's there are schools all over Illinois. We're working with a gentleman um through LTC, the learning technology center through the state that's been working with um us and there are he's connected us with some other um platforms, schools, and we started working with them at the beginning, but

094you know, every school they're all they're all different. So, we have to make this work for our community. So, they just sort of got us started. But yeah, there's there's places where it works well, but where it comes down to is is is sticking to the committee that would select the students and having the purpose for the school. So, making sure that you're not trying to do too many different things with it. >> You imagine it would look like Northeast then where there's an application and a group of people picking who comes, who doesn't come. I'm there there's guidelines from the state whereas Northeast doesn't have that. >> Got it. So you have you'll have more strict rules. >> Yeah. There's there's there's policy. The policy is that you guys adopted has very specific things

095outlined that you have to consider in a virtual school where that is not the case for Northeast. That's something that I think I believe a committee or our district put in place. Um, so this is a different situation. So no, I guess it wouldn't be similar to Northeast. >> Okay. So it's in it's in what's in the board policy now. That's actually pretty stringent if I remember the things that it's not as You're right. It's Northeast is very easy. This one a lot of boxes have to be checked. >> How much do you think it'll cost? >> I that I don't know. >> Okay. Thank you. Mhm. >> Considering the uh state's requirements for data and what we're being held accountable for, um we are given attendance credit for our virtual students >> and how

096is that how is that managed? So it would not be different because the teacher is going to be present online with the students and so they'll see the students and we would have um they have to um have five hours okay >> of work that five hours of um attendance and if you think about that we have the students with us all day but they have lunch with us. So if you're virtual you're you're not going to watch the student eat lunch at home. you're gonna work those things out. So that those pieces are going to look a little bit different. >> So um I mean I hope that wouldn't be the case. So there there would be breaks and I would assume in the time the schedules that I've seen kind of allow for

097those those types of things. So they would their teacher is going to be present. So they would have the same systems. It has to look exactly like what we're offering in person. So they would use the same grade books, the same um Skyward for attendance, um all the same accountability systems that we would have. That's why I call it not brick and mortar because it works just like a brickandmortar school for all of those things. It's just not brick and mortar. >> Got it. >> That's just how it makes sense in my head. >> Okay, any other questions? Nope. >> Thank you. That that helps a lot. It's exciting to think about. >> I'm really excited about it. >> A great path for some students. So, thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> This

098is me. >> This is you. >> This is me. So, I [clears throat] just wanted to share the workman's uh compensation insurance plan that we have and and just um I guess kind of let everyone know what we paid in 2024 2025 and just following the increases with insurance and for 2526. So, in 2425, the district annually paid $54,000 um for workman's comp insurance and it has increased for the 2526 school year. It will be $69,000 annually. So, um quite the increase for um insurance. So, and and really not a lot different from health insurance, dental insurance, property insurance. So, um I just thought it was important for everyone to know um kind of where we are and um as a school district, we are not um shielded from inflation or price increases. So, thought

099it was important to share the information with the board. >> Thank you. Board comments starting with Mr. Eastston. >> It was really great to see all the District 118 students uh supporting our veterans. I just want to say uh that it's really great. I know this town has a VA, so it's already very supportive of veterans naturally. Uh I saw all the social media posts, saw the kids. It was uh really great to see them do that. And uh um with when we talked about the levy tonight, which I think is important. Um, you know, a lot of students come from families that don't pay property taxes. I don't know if you know that. You saw this report card. Almost 90% of our students are in poverty. That's really high. Um, it's gone up a

100lot. If you go back to the school report card and look back to 2016, 2012, it's really gone up a lot. And so what that means I think and I was grateful for everyone tonight that presented you're really doing a a commendable job all of you with um the difficult setting that we are in and uh no child picks the setting that they're in. We are born into our families and so um they're born into this district too. So thank you for for loving them and taking uh good care of them. Thank you. >> Thank you. I was very happy to uh participate at least uh by listening to all of the academic emphasis that our schools brought to bear here because that's what we're all about. That was a little dry and it was

101on paper. Um, we had the opportunity to go to the National Honor Society induction this past week and it was very very uh uplifting to see that we have some 100 students. I don't know the number exactly but some 100 students who are National Honor Society members. I think that's wonderful. I mean that's the flesh and blood reflection of what you're all talking about and what you're presenting here. And those kids just quietly, efficiently and competently go about their business and uh they reflect our uh our emphasis here and your all emphasis there very much. So thank you for that. >> I want to thank all the admins. Um you guys are doing such a great job. I feel like there are so many good things going on in our district and I'm very very

102proud of all of them. I do want to give a shout out to our JR OTC caller guard. This is the third year that they have been invited to present the callers at the Illinois State School Board Convention. I feel like that is a huge honor and I'm very proud of the four that are going. So, just a huge shout out to that program. >> Thank you, >> Miss K. >> Oh, uh the uh students at Northeast the poems, they were just fantastic. I really enjoyed listening to that. Uh for the principles um as a retired administrator, I I know the effort uh that you put forth over and beyond and uh it gets harder every year because circumstances change. So I want to commend you for I was taking notes on every school on

103where you were, where you had been, and where you are now. and I was I'm I'm very impressed. So, kudos to the administrators. Thank you, >> Mr. >> Um I want to second that with the about me from the Northeast students. I think that presentation was great. I think honestly it touched on a topic that a lot of kids um are dealing with at all levels um with social media, with you know just dealing with their peers. Sometimes it's hard to be confident in who you are and for them to be able to focus on some part of them that they truly enjoy. I think that's a beautiful thing. Kudos to their teacher for bringing that to them as well. So I think that's a wonderful thing. Um I also want to share that I

104got to go to Bourbonet for the um district 3 jazz choir competition or well performance not competition. Um, and just wanted to just share that we had four students from our district that were able to go and qualified and and got to participate in that event day long and it was a beautiful thing just to see them with other students from around the area showcasing, you know, talent and bringing good representation from DHS. So, I appreciated that. Um, and then also I second the National Honors uh Society induction. Uh, it was a beautiful thing. It's great to see the support that these children are already receiving, the love that they have for the teachers that are supporting them. They can see it. It gives them pride in what they're doing. And I love seeing that

105they are pushing themselves to even be better because of what you're doing for them. So, continue to support them. They feel it and we thank you for what you do. >> This is hard going last. Um, I would echo everything that was said pretty much. much. I was at the NHS induction as well and um the the kids that presented today were wonderful. The one thing I wanted to two things. One was um it's wonderful when you principles and everyone in our district, you acknowledge and want to give thanks to other people, people that had the kids before you. You're it says such a such great things about you as a team member being part of the team. Um you're not just looking at your little part. you're putting everything together and wonderful kudos to

106you guys for seeing the whole picture and for being um acknowledging others um it makes us a great stronger team. Um and it's kind of a funny thing I'll end on um the Halloween um this Halloween in an effort to help the teachers with this annoying thing that's going on in the classroom that 67 I wore a six. my husband wore a seven and the kids that came up for Halloween trick-or-treating, they were like, "Oh my gosh, 67." And they were all repeating it and it's always it's like the middle school kids, I think, and younger. But, um, we were trying to help you guys. So, you're welcome. [laughter] >> The best way to take care of a fed is for the adults to be part of it and it'll go faster, right? >> Um,

107thanks. Thanks everybody. Um, we haven't met since we had a threat made against our district. And I I want to address that just very very quickly. Uh, you can't imagine the number of compliments I have received from people in the community uh at the grocery store. I was at the at Festival of Trees and the um manager of the civic center sought me out to tell me what an amazing administrative team we had and teachers. Um she said she came into the civic center which was our uh what do you call it? Our re reunification center and to see what she could do to help and she said they had it so under control that she just went back to her office to work. She said it was a thing to see. It was really

108great. So I wanted to pass that on. I wanted to say thank you all you administrators. I had a child pick up that I and I was so impressed that the teachers were so organized and so calm and the children were not traumatized. The ones that I saw, they were like, "Oo, this is an adventure." And uh so thank you for thank you for all of that and all that you did. And Mr. heart and Marisha and all of you. Thank you for um we got as as my husband said, we got an unintentional practice uh to see what goes well and what doesn't and so some things will will improve but mostly we didn't good. So um thank you to all of you that was really good. Uh I echo about National Honor Society

109and the week before uh was the honors recognition students where they recognized their staff members that contributed and that was all really good. 100 students were inducted into the National Honor Society. Now they've other board members have recognized their academic talents that brought them to that point. I'd like to point out that they had to have community service hours to qualify for National Honor Society. Think of that. 100 kids out in our community doing things. That's amazing. Look at what we're Look at what we're raising. So, I'm really excited about that. Today, I had the opportunity to go back to the Festival of Trees to watch the Madreals again. Another example of how our kids make us look so good and listening to all the people talk about, oh my goodness, what talent you have.

110Um, they were outstanding, outstanding and fun to watch. So, thank you, Mr. Thomas and the magical singers. Um, I wanted to say quickly again I echo thanks to the principles. That's not easy for you to put all that data together again just to tell us, but it means so much to us to know. I I had uh a retired teacher approached me in the grocery store and said her daughter in Chicago is really worried about our schools in Danville. Really worried. And I said, "You tell your daughter she does not need to be worried." And tonight proved it. tonight proved what we're doing and what we're doing right and I told her that. So hopefully she's watching and so uh she can tell her daughter that. Um I want to say thank you. I I

111had this on my desk when I came. I got a certificate of appreciation from an anonymous person. Um what a nice thing. And to have a parent step up and tell us we're doing a good job. It I can't tell you how much that means to us. Thank you for that. And thank you for this certificate of appreciation. Um, one last thing. Uh, I have had I'm aware that I have had problems with my email, my district email. So, if you've been trying to get a hold of me and I've not responded, it's not because I'm not responsive. It's because I don't know it. Uh, we're working on that. Right, Patrick? He's back there. We're working on it. We're going to get it fixed and figure out why I'm not getting any board emails. So,

112it isn't just you. I mean, I know nothing about what's happening this weekend for the state board convention because I haven't gotten any of those, but I've got good uh good teammates here to to help me out. But we'll get that fixed. So, if you've been trying to get a hold of me, be patient. Try again next week. We're going to get this get this worked out. We are as a board Oh, one thing I forgot. I'm looking right at you. The um the evacuation I meant to say thank you to the bus drivers. Oh my goodness. you were on route and then you were backing up and then I mean what you had to do to turn those buses around to get everybody where they needed to be and to the homes where they

113needed to to be making sure there was an adult there. You did a commendable job. So, thank you. I'm I'm glad I looked this way. Thank [applause] you. We as a board are going to Chicago um some of us tomorrow, some of us Friday for our one weekend of classes to teach us to be better board members and we will take lots of good classes um to learn to do just that. Um it's the one time that we have a year uh to improve what we do. So, thanks for the opportunity to let us do that. Uh and thank you for coming tonight. I appreciate all of you. Uh Good night. Oh, happy Thanksgiving. >> Happy Thanksgiving. >> Yeah, thanks. Oh, >> meeting is adjourned, right? And we're not having a close session, so I

114don't care. Yeah. Yeah.