001I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Do I have to call the Do I have to call the meeting to order? You do. Okay. Okay. At this time, I'd like to call the open meeting of June 17th to order. Uh, do I have a motion to go into open session? Any discussion? Roll call. Oh, any discussion? No, I thought I saw hand. Uh, Miss Robinson, roll call vote. Mr. East, yes. Dr. Yes. M. Yes. Yes. Yes. Thank you very much. We are now in open session. Uh we have um a full agenda and an exciting agenda. So I'm glad y'all are here to witness it. Thank you very much.
002Uh do I have a motion to approve the consent agenda? Uh, Madame President, uh, just citing board policy um, uh, 200 2 200, upon the request of any board member, an item may be withdrawn from the consent agenda and placed on the regular agenda for independent consideration. Uh, two pages, part H, treasures report. So the treasurer's report would just appear immediately after the consent agenda uh for independent consideration at my request. Doesn't need a vote. Thank you very much. So we need a vote. We need a agenda. Okay. So we we move to amend the agenda to move item H to the open uh agenda after public comments. Do I hear a motion to approve? Motion to approve. Second. Roll call vote. Miss. Yes. Mrs. Yes. Mr. East. Yes. M. Yes. Dr. Holland. Yes. M.
003Yes. Thank you. Motion passes. 60. Oh, wait. Yeah. We're still six. We still are. Um, public comments. Uh, good evening, Mr. Hart. Board of Education. Mark Bassy's um, director of district athletics. Uh, just here real quick to, um, kind of recap one of the things that that we do in the athletic department. Um, along with food service. Um, we have for the last few years vol had our athletes volunteer at the East Central Illinois Food Bank uh monthly at Mark Denman Elementary and uh various other things throughout the community. And as I total them up this week, uh, our athletes have put in over 500 hours in the community volunteering, giving back. Um, we love that they do that. We we loved helping out with food services. Unfortunately, um that program is is being done
004away with. Um so I'm also here to ask a little bit for the community to reach out to me or one of our athletic directors if you have something in the community that that you need people to volunteer for. Our athletes are are ready and willing and we're looking to do some of that to fill the void for every Saturday um every once a month every Saturday as as we did that for um East Central Illinois and and Miss Fujo. So that's all I have. Thank you, Mr. Bes. Good evening, board. I see your full agenda, so I will be keeping this simple and short. Um, I am a Danville resident. I have one student attending DHS and I'm here tonight to share my concerns about the use uh proposed use of yonder pouches at
005the high school. I understand and appreciate the goal to reduce distractions, improve focus, and create a better learning environment, but I believe we must balance that goal with practicality, safety, and respect for our students real world needs. If we're serious about preparing students for life beyond school, we should give them opportunities to exercise responsibilities. That includes managing their cell phones. That said, the board emailed you everything else. Uh if the board chooses to move forward with the under policy, I respectfully request a reasonable adjustment to allow students access to their phones during lunch. My student, like so many others, use their phone to communicate with their family, coaches, extracurricular adviserss, and their employers. This small compromise honors their growing independence while still preserving the focused environment you're striving to create in classrooms. So, I hope
006we can aim for balance and not total restriction. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. Okay, moving to then the moved item from the uh consent agenda, the treasures report, which we will Madame President, I'd like to make a motion to table the treasurer's report until another meeting. And if I get a second, I can tell you why I think that's a good idea. Second. Yes. Okay. Um I asked um several questions to Mr. Hart and he was very helpful. Um and primarily the questions that I asked about the treasuries report report cannot be answered at this time due to staffing uh unavailable to answer my questions. So um that's basically why I can't get an answer to some of the questions. So I think we should table it till the next meeting. Okay.
007Any other comments? Roll call vote. Mrs. Yes. Yes. Yes. Motion passes 60. Thank you. At this time, um it is my pleasure to u make an announcement of the um appointment of associate superintendent of schools. This person is a Danville native, DHS class of 1999. Helds an associates degree in science and arts from DAC, a bachelor's degree in elementary education with an English concentration from EIU in 2005. Started her teaching career in April 2005 at East Park Denman Elementary School. She was a teacher at Liberty for nine years, third and fourth grade. while teaching earned her master of arts and curriculum and instruction from Olivet Nazarene and a master of arts in educational administration from EIU. She's been an assistant principal for three years at DHS, principal for one year at Northeast Elementary Magnet School,
008director of human resources for four years in Urbana and 2022 began the pursuit of her doctorate in education with superintendent endorsement from the University of Illinois in Urban Urbana Champagne. She returned to D118 in 2023 as the assistant director of HR. She holds a superintendent endorsement that she earned in May of 2025. Also in May 2025, she started her dissertation process which is focused on equitable leadership practices at the district level. And while she has until 2029 to defend her dissertation, she is hopeful to defend it in 2027. So needless to say, she's a very busy lady and I couldn't be more pleased that she has agreed uh to this appointment. She is uh a tremendous asset to our district and she will be wonderful in that role. Can I please hear uh a nomination
009for Marisha Parker? So move second. Any discussion? Roll call vote. Yes. Mr. Yes. Dr. Yes. Mrs. Corby. Yes. Yes. And with that, welcome Marisa Parker. [Applause] I think it's on. Good evening, Board of Education, Mr. Hart, and members of the Danville community. I stand before you tonight with deep gratitude and excitement for this amazing opportunity. Well, I have known since the third grade, thanks to my teacher, Mrs. Susan Shane, that education was my calling. If you would have told 19-year-old Maresha Hillsman that she would one day serve as the associate superintendent of district 118, she would have laughed at you in disbelief. And yet here I am 25 years later humbled and honored by this opportunity. First, I would like to thank my family friend and friends for their unwavering support, encouragement, and prayers. My
010oldest son, Davin, who has walked this journey with me for the past 25 years. You were my motivation. Thank you. Thank you to my husband, Travis, who has sacrificed some of his own dreams so that I could pursue mine. And to my youngest son, Phoenix, and my bonus children. Thank you. I owe a special thanks to my professional mentors, Dr. Kimberly Norton, superintendent of Heritage School District number eight. Dr. Jennifer Ivory Tatum, superintendent of Urbana School District 116, and Dr. Angie Franklin, assistant superintendent of human resources for Urbana School District 116. They recognized my potential and they provided me with professional opportunities that challenged me to go beyond my comfort zone. They have had a significant impact on the leader that I am today. As your associate superintendent, I am committed to leading transparently, being
011visible and accessible, and doing what is right because it's the right thing to do. I look forward to refining our district systems, moving forward with strategic planning, and implementing initiatives that support the growth and success of every student here in district 118. I am honored to join Mr. Hart and the entire D118 family in this new role. We understand that the role will be demanding and while change does not happen overnight, we are ready to meet the challenge. However, we cannot do this work alone. The success of our students and our schools depend on a strong partnership with you, our community. So, please engage, share your ideas, and bring your questions and concerns to our district and building leadership teams before you take them to social media outlets. Give us the opportunity to work with
012you to find a solution. We all share one common mission to educate and empower the children of this community so that they can achieve their fullest potential. So, to the board of education, Mr. heart. Thank you for trusting me and believing that I am the right person for this position. I am eager to begin this important work and serve the District 118 in Danville community with purpose and passion. Thank you. You may take your new seat. Thank you very much. We have a a second very important role to fill that we are looking forward to. Uh this signals to the community we are moving forward and we're moving forward in a very positive direction. So it is an honor and privilege for John Hart to serve as the interimm superintendent of Danville School District 118.
013Deep rooted commitment to public education and success of every student. Mr. Mr. Hart has dedicated the past 24 years to District 118 in a variety of impactful roles, including teacher, principal, director, assistant superintendent, and now interimm superintendent. Proud graduate of Eastern Illinois, Mr. Hart holds a bachelor's degree uh in education, a master's degree in general administration, and an endorsement as director of special education. In 2016, he furthered his professional journey by earning a superintendent's endorsement and completing an education specialist degree in educational leadership. Throughout his career, Mr. Hart has passionately advocated for a quality, comprehensive education for all students. He shares in the vision of the board of education to ensure that all district 118 students reach their fullest potential. His leadership philosophy centers around developing rigorous teaching and learning environments, promoting social, emotional wellness,
014and creating opportunities for students to discover their talents and dreams through rich academic, fine arts, athletic, and extracurricular activity activities. Excuse me. Beyond his professional commitment, Mr. Hart treasures his role as a family man. He has been happily married for 32 years to his wife Sandy and together they have raised three children, Joshua, Alec, and Rain. Their family continues to grow and bring joy through their four grandchildren, Riley, Austin, Haven, and Kylin. With his blend of leadership, compassion, and steadfast belief in the potential of every child, John Hart remains dedicated to the students, families, staff, and the community of Danville School District 118. At this time, I will entertain a motion to promote John Hart from interimm superintendent to superintendent of schools. So move that superintendent of schools. Second. Roll call vote. Miss Robinson. Yes.
015Yes. With that, it's my honor to introduce our new superintendent of schools, John Hart. [Applause] Good evening, Board of Education, community members, students, everyone, staff. Um, thank you so much. Um, I really appreciate this opportunity. I will, um, I can assure you that I am up for the challenge. Um, this job has not been easy since I've been in it and it only gets easier by the day. Um, I feel like everybody is moving in the same direction, which makes a huge difference for the school district. And that goes um everyone from teachers, custodians, food service, administrations. These jobs are hard. These jobs are important. Um not anybody could do these jobs and I'm fortunate to work with some of the best. So I appreciate you. I appreciate the support from the board of education
016that I've received and I am ready to move this district forward. So thank you. [Applause] With that, I would also like to announce at this time, tell me if I can, can I can I talk about we conducted um uh interviews for our vacant board position prior to this meeting, we have one more interview to conduct and then we will be making an announcement of an appoint an appointee to uh this board. will have a full compliment on the board, full administrative staff, new leadership, and great things are going to happen. We're moving forward. So, thank you very much. And Mrs. Corley is going to speak about the consent agenda. There was Thank you. There was an item in the consent agenda that we would like to bring to your attention. So, it's my honor,
017uh, Mr. Brent Lockhart. Um, I've known Mr. Lockhart as a music teacher from Northeast for five years. and then at Mark Deon Elementary as an AP for the last three years. Um it's my honor to announce that he will be moving to South View to work with amazing team Fluos team. So congratulations Brent. And I also want to point out that we will be posting the assistant director of HR soon, which was Miss Parker's old position. So that will also be posted. Thank you. Mr. Lockart, would you please stand and receive our appreciation? [Applause] Moving on to item number eight, Yonder cell phone pouches. Um, the high school team and the Northridge team. Good evening, Superintendent Hart and Board of Education. Um I'm Jacob Brett, principal of Danville High School. I have um Mr. Nathan
018Henderson, assistant principal of Northridge Middle School here. Uh so I'm here to um I presented two meetings ago. Uh so I'm here to officially ask your approval of the purchase of Yonder cell phone pouches um for both Danville High School and now um Northridge Middle School. Um I I know that the total for Danville High School is $42,742 um both to bring us into compliance with what will eventually be um cell phone legislation from the state but also to create a more engaged and focused learning environment at both schools. Did you want to say anything? Um yeah, I don't have the exact number for Northridge. It's roughly half as we have half as many students. Um but we um we thought that after hearing Mr. Prett talk at the last meeting that it would be
019a good opportunity for us to try to align our practices and our structures uh to better prepare our students for the transition from middle school to high school. Um and as a as a collective just be consistent with what those expectations are. Can I have a motion to approve the use of yonder pouches at both Danville High School and Northridge Middle School? Motion to approve. When do we discuss? After we have a second. Very good. A second then. Okay. Okay. Now we can have a discussion. Dr. Taylor, the motion and the the approval tonight is for purchase. Yes. Um it would come out of title four federal grant money and they uh the company has told me the life of pouches uh would be six to eight years. I'm sure you have some sort of
020an imple implementation plan in mind. Um so yes the company also that's part of the service that um we are purchasing. Uh so they pair you with an implementation specialist. Actually have a meeting with the company tomorrow at 9:30 depending on how this goes. Um and so they like like I said at the last meeting they're very protective of their product. Um they do not they have very specific ways they want it implemented. One of which is that it is bell to bell. Um I'm sorry is is bellto bell like that that they don't get unlocked throughout the day for various reasons. Um and so they walk you through is it's the first line item on the quote. Um included in the package is implementation planning support uh process logistics planning policy creation and launch
021plan and school resource template for school policy parent letters staff communications and more. I'm wondering from the comment we've heard in in public comments which seemed to have some reasonable thought into it and for legitimate reasons whether there's any negotiation wiggle in that whatsoever in terms of implementation. I personally would ask that there not be for two reasons. one um I think it both goes against the philosophy of what we're trying to accomplish through purchasing the pouches um in terms of creating a focused phone free environment. And then also I would be concerned about the logistical undertaking that would pose for the staff at the high school. Um, also like between the second and the third lunch, there's not even a five minute window that we we do have a five-minute window between the first
022and the second lunch, but not between the second and the third. So, you would have hundreds of students leaving and coming into the cafeteria simultaneously. And so, the logistical and components and the supervision of that um would be quite an undertaking. And I think a drain um for 30 minutes of the school day. Any other comments? You have a point of order. We have to actually vote on these separately as they're listed separately on the agenda. So, we need a remotion for high school separate from the middle school. I would entertain a motion for approval of yonder pouches at Danville High School. Some moved. Second. Discussion I have uh is um it is funded by federal funds. Uh Mr. Hart. Yes. Yes, it's funded by federal funds and uh Mr. Hart knows and uh Miss
023Parker knows that it's part of our budget that we're going to be presenting and hopefully approving before the end of October. So, this is money that we'll already be spending in the budget. Right, Mr. Art? Yes, that's correct. Um, but like all federal grants, we pay for it upfront and wait for reimbursement. Right. Correct. So, it is going to impact us initially while we're waiting for reimbursement. Uh, but Mr. Bretts and um we you've you've considered the cost and you believe it's worth it. I believe it's worth it. The staff believe it's worth it. Yes. So, I called around to some parents that I know on the district and I wondered if you could help me. I'm sure they're watching. Some of them are a little concerned that we weren't very efficient at enforcing a
024dress code in the last several years. We started off with really great ideas and it got complicated across the schools. Mhm. Um, how are you confident that this won't fall to the way of our in writing dress code versus in practice dress code? Yeah, because this impacts learning and teaching and what students wear I don't believe does. So, you think our our philosophy to hold to no cell phone this will work? You believe it'll work? I believe it will work. I think it'll be challenging. Um, I'll add the two area schools in our immediate area that I've spoken to that um, both Urbana Middle School and well, all of Peoria 7 through2 uses them. I been have had conversations with the principal at Richwoods and they both um, very much also stated that they are
025happy that their districts went in this direction as well. They said that it is uncommon um like extremely uncommon um after initial implementation and getting through the growing pains to see a phone either in a classroom or a hallway. This would um kind of align with the clear book bags uh for which you get very little push back anymore on that. Is that correct? Yeah. No, not much at all. uh students have adapted just the same to the weapon detection systems. Um I'm not naive. I don't think it's going to be easy at the start by any means. Um but over time, you know, we're humans and we always adapt to change over time eventually. I would to Mr. Eastston's point, I would add um as it relates to the uniform standard address there, the
026expectations for the honor pouchers have far fewer variables. um in terms of the implementation and um expectations, kind of like the clear book bags, it's pretty cut and dry. Um and it's I mean I think it'll be pretty evident to see there there won't be any gray area in terms of does the student have a cell phone or not. Thank you for that. I appreciate that. Yeah, that's a good point. Thank you, Mr. Henderson. Any other comments? I do. Um is your mic on? Could I please have everyone turn your mic on? My mic is on. Okay. Thank you. I am I'm torn. I've I've been in the Viking round tables. I've listened to the staff. I've listened to the presentation that Mr. Red gave us. I do think as a parent this is very
027difficult for me because I do understand what Miss Jack's saying and I do have a couple children still in the district. Um, however, after I talked to the staff and listened to what they had to say, my views were changed. I do think this could be a very positive thing after the initial growing pains. I don't know how long that will take, but my concern is the cost. um after after our recent discovery of the deficit for our district. That is a serious concern of mine and just being transparent, I'm scared to spend any money in this district right now, but I don't disagree that we need it. So where does that leave us? So that that's where we are. I am not you almost don't even know what to do because I do agree
028we need it. I do think it would be a great asset for our school academically speaking, let alone socially speaking. So th those are just my concerns. I'm just trying to be as transparent with the community. Um because we are in a real situation, if you will. I understand that. I don't envy you. And the title, you said title four, which is federal money. Do we have I was going to ask Mr. heart to please explain to the public title four funds and how that works so that they understand where the money is coming from. Sure. Where where's Mrs. Trux when I need her? No, just kidding. So, title four funds and actually I confuse title two and title four frequently and but I'm not going to today. So, title four funds are typically the
029uh the the oddities or if you will, they don't quite fit into math and English language art. So, they're outside of that. You you may I mean, you're going to know the details. Sure. Yeah. Use appreciate that. Thank you. We've already received our Title 4 aotment for this year and title one $267,000. This will be approximately $70,000. Title 4 is spent on um well-rounded instruction. So, we do music tutors. We do it's also safety, so we do cameras. Um we've done CTE with it. We do the DSO conference concert for the kids. We do the U ofi camps for the kids out of that and um we will have let's see what do we we have oh the SRO training we do that 15% of title 4 must go to technology so I work with
030Mrs. Hummel and usually she'll do extra Chromebooks or Chromebook cases. So, um, as of right now, I've already re I mean, I have the grant is open for fiscal year 26 for title 4 and title one. I haven't written it yet because I'm still gathering all the POS and it's not due till July 31st and it was open last week. Um, I'm still amending last year's money. So, we do have carryover that I'm expecting to get. We get 100% carryover in title four. We get 100% carryover in title two. However, this year we have zero title two as of right now. So that you're aware of that. Title two is everything for teachers. So PD, um stipens, anything that's an improvement of instruction, we have zero dollars for that right now. They are saying that
031we might get that, but I sat down with our team. We went through priorities and I put the most important improvement of obstruction things into title one set aside because we get 4.2 million in title one. So I know you didn't want a whole grant lesson on that but um that's what we have right now in fiscal year 26. So there's approximately I think it's 42,000 for you and it's around 27 for you. So it's about 70ome,000. The monies aren't transferable from title four to title to I mean you can't take something designated in title four and put it in another title line item. No. Um well title one. Yes you can. Um that's called blending and braiding. Now years ago what we did was we had title one and title two and then we
032put title four money into title one for reading and math. But then when Dr. get us came, we moved title four because we didn't want it to look like we didn't want that money, you know, that we didn't need it. So, we put title four in a set. It's it's all bundled into one grant. Title one, two, and four is called ESA of 1965 as amended. So, it's all one grant. So, you can move things in and out. What you can't do is move something out into the district and put it back in. So, if I pay for yonder pouches right now and let's say next year you pay for yonder pouches, I can never put it back in title four. So, we have to be really careful as to what we pull out of
033grants. I can move things around with grants like Illinois empower grants, afterchool program grants. Um, you can definitely do that. So to clarify what you just said, if we use your title four for the the pouches, but then next year we use district funds, it can't go back to the to the grant. Exactly. Exactly. Um we could possibly put it in title one. I mean, I don't look for title four or title one in the next couple years. I've been told that we should have that money. Title two again is for teachers. So that money is zero right now. So is there a reason we And I'm just asking because I don't know to use title one instead of title four. Well, because title four is for safety, security, and well-rounded. So I would prefer
034to put it in title four. It's cleaner and it makes more sense to me. Okay. But if we would have to move into title one, I can ask my principal consultant, is this something we could put in title one? It's not instructional, so that concerns me a little bit. It could maybe go in community because we're giving it to everyone. Like our school supplies is a community line. So everything has a different line and a different object code. That was very good. Thank you for that. Thank you. I just have a a question for Mr. Bretts. I I have a student. You're done with me then? Yes. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. X. Mr. Brett, this just to give some uh uh clarity and maybe some ease to the public comment we just received. Uh
035I've been talking to my student who's at Danville High School and uh tell me is it true that uh she will be able to email me um with her Chromebook during the day if she needed to tell me that uh showquire was canceled. Yes, all students have a Chromebook and a district assigned email account. And email, I think for many people, I hope it works very similar to text to alleviate some of that concern about changing appointments. I think parents would need to hear that um uh to help a little bit with uh the concern. Uh the other concern I have uh in talking to people is uh and I've heard you say this. I just hope you would say it again that you agree uh or not that we would punish the phone and
036not the student and teachers wouldn't be enforcing these rules. Uh administrators like Mr. Henderson and yourself would be enforcing these rules and the teachers are going to be teaching like they're wanting to do. Yes. I think that's another reason I would advocate for this approach. Um because it's cut and dry and um it doesn't leave anything up to the teacher discretion in terms of if they see a phone having to make a in the- moment decision on the context of how it was used or try to interpret why it was seen or out of the backpack. Um and they can simply focus on teaching. And yes, I think um the only thing that would result in punishing the student would be anything that might transpire from the student with a staff member when being corrected
037about not appropriately using their pouch. Um I think when we when redirected if um that redirection is taken and staff are respected then I think restoration to the classroom for learning would be uh what's most important and another reason why um I would advocate for this approach. Yes, Mr. Her. Do we know what percentage of our students carry a phone? 122. an actual exact percentage. No, no, not actual. I mean 8020. Oh, I I hear 95% at the low end. And how much does an individual pouch cost? $30 per student. Is there because it would be a privilege to bring a phone to school. Perhaps there's an opportunity for some cost sharing here. That would be a way some of the funds that we might expend out of grant dollars and also allow people to
038have their phones in the pouch but still to have it at school. In other words, you could opt not to pay $30 and not bring your phone to school because it's useless during school anyway. [Music] technically I guess you could how you um how you logistically manage that. I think that would be um I guess I I my big my first thought would be how do you know or track who are the students who have their phones in a pouch and who are the students who allegedly haven't brought them to school which I'm saying allegedly very intentionally they'll bring them to school. Um and that's just one more thing for I I think that would be something that would undoubtedly to some degree fall on teachers to manage and to know that and to know
039that and have that memorized for every student in their classroom across six periods a day. Um to to me to me I think we either we're all in on it or we're not. And I understand um the concerns of the parents. Um I do I understand the situation you're in with finances. Um I believe that however the six of you vote, it's with the best of intention, the district. Um, and so, but I don't know how you manage knowing who what basically you will have is you'll just have everyone say, "I'm not bringing my phone to school." And they'll all bring their phones to school and try to sneakily use them and come up with every way they can under the sun to use them or to get out of class to go use them.
040Um I I think you you are voting on and I'm asking for either we're all in or we're not on this and if we're not then we'll go back to the drawing board. If we are then thank you very much. Is this something that could be enacted midyear or is it something that has to be done start of year? Um so there's obviously the benefits of starting something day one, right? Um but they have the company has told me that they have successfully had implementation of this program at all different stages of a school year. Um I know at a middle school I I don't think this is probably the amount of wait time you're looking for. They they implemented like three weeks into the year um to give time to get get the school
041year going. But our the representative I've spoken to multiple times um has said that yeah they they implement this with schools at all various times of the school year. While the majority are like opening the school year with the program um it's not their position is not that it has to be like like if if someone comes to them say we want to implement this and it's October like they work with you on implementing it in October. I don't think that's ideal, but I do understand you have other questions you are needing answered in other areas that are influencing how you might vote tonight. Is there any reason that we can't begin the program at the beginning of the school year? Why we cannot are Yes. Are we prepared? Can we be It'll be It'll
042be quick um a quick turnaround, but yes, we can. We can. Miss Payne, how Miss P? I understand. uh parents concerns about their children not having phones. But if you look at statistics, most students at high school in particular spend two and a half hours on their cell phones while they are at school instead of focusing on academics. And that is one of the major things that we're going to work to improve the academics of our students. Um I think we just have to trust that this is going to work. Like everything else that's new that Cword change. Um we have to give it time to actually work. But I think it will. And I had a little bit of a comment. Um we are really the first generation to manage the kids who are
043the first generation to have all of this access to electronics and social media and it will be some trial and we don't know what the exact answer is but there's I go back there's there's tons of um data and statistics out there with how much time our students and our kids spend on an electronic device and it's staggering. I there's a Diana Sawyer um special. It's been years ago. Might have been during co um blew my mind. Um if you guys can find it anywhere, watch it. It talks about the number of times you touch your phone during the day, the number of times you pick it up, the number of times that you look at it. I It was somewhere between one and 300 times a day that you check your phone. and she
044did a test and she had a family go without phones and they sat down at the dinner table and they talked to each other and they had they were more engaged their life improved um socially and I think as an overall here we are in the school but we don't talk about the school being just the school we talk about it being part of our community so I think that we have to look at it that way I know that we want to put boundaries on our kids with how much they use their phones and sometimes it happens and sometimes times they get by with it. So, um, when we have the opportunity, I think to help them improve, it's going to improve their grades, their attention at school. Um, I think we need to
045consider it. And what about can we do a trial? Can we go for a year and say is there some concrete evidence that says after one year of no phones we have you know I don't know if you look at grades overall or if there is some type of a factor that you can look at that says we have we have improved. Yeah I've thought about that. Um I would be looking at one two things behavioral data and academic data. Um, so I would look at course passage and then decrease in specific types of behaviors. I see the biggest impact in um looking for a decrease in things like fighting, threatening, intimidating acts. Um, and um, like we've all seen kids loving to videotape certain types of behavior in the school. Um, a lot of
046the communication, here's the thing. There's an entire com student conversation happening at every school in America underground that no adult knows is happening. That no adult knows is happening. And they're having it all day long on their phones and it is unmonitored and we have no clue as the adults. And a lot of that conversation is actually the thing that causes a lot of the behaviors that we see that frustrate us so much that have no place in our schools. Anyone else? Roll call vote. Miss Robinson. Yes. Miss. Yes. Yes. Yes. The motion carries 6. I know it wasn't easy. You could see you can tell that it was not easy for members of this board. Um, but we certainly want to move in the right direction and hopefully this is a step in that
047way. Now I will entertain a motion uh to approve Yonder cell phone pouches for Northridge Middle School. So move. Do I have a second? Second. Any discussion on that or have we exhausted? No, I have a question for Mr. Henderson. Mr. Henderson, uh, we had Mr. Brett's here presenting this at at a board meeting in the past and he assured us that he had a a really high percentage of buyin with staff at the high school. Um what's your assessment of Northridge? I I think um just from anecdotal conversations that I've had with staff, I think that they would be very very pleased to have that classroom um distraction and sometimes classroom um battle uh removed from the equation of their dayto-day. Thank you. Do you mind? This is probably unconventional, but Miss Parker, can
048I I'm sorry. I know it's a little unconventional. Hi, I'm Mrs. Parker, the seventh grade dean at Northridge Middle School. So, our staff would love it because a lot of our discipline comes from this kid was on his phone, this kid was doing this, this kid was on his phone, which will cut out a lot of that disruption and teachers will be able to teach the lesson. Our disruption doesn't come from the arguing in the classroom. It comes from this thing being on or using it or setting up something to happen in our main hallways, even in our bathrooms. So, I'm here because I told my principles that I would come on this day and have my thumbs up that y'all will pass it. There you go. And that was I believe the dean, correct?
049Yes, correct. At at Northridge. And I am at Northridge a lot. and you do have a problem with the cell phones. I I agree. Um I don't know if the public is aware of that, but it's bad. It's bad. Um so I you're correct. And I and I also want to point out I mean you we've talked about the academic benefits. We've also talked about behavioral benefits, but I also think the social emotional benefits are also going to um sort of snowball as we as we get the program going. I know there's been in terms of how students interact, how they communicate, their willingness to work in groups um and collaborate. I think that having phones, having that as a persistent distraction has also impacted our students socially. And I think that again removing that
050from the equation, we'll see benefits in that area as well. Yeah, we've had comments about expectations and help with discipline, help with grades, help with success, teacher persist perception, all of those things. I encourage both of you and perhaps through us to measure that and to come up and maybe it's talking to the company representative but I think it would be very instructive to establish some sort of a baseline whatever it is discipline cases through the year the average grade point average what or maybe an array of those things and then measure along the way and try to tease out if there is well no matter what the what the outcome is to tease out how much of the cell phone difference makes. But but I think it's important to measure not just to next
051year say we think it worked pretty good. It ought to be more than that. It ought to be that our grade point average is this that we had this many fewer discipline cases that we had something objective to say here's where we stand here. Here here's where we are. This is why we think it happened. So could you develop some sort of an instrument to do that? Yeah, I got two years worth of worth of pass rates for the core. I have um two years worth of pass rates for every class in the core I establish a baseline with. I've got a year's worth of pass rate data for every non-core class in the high school. And we can pull discipline data in Skyward going for specific offenses going back to forget what year it
052was but it's it's more than two years since I've been principal I know when we had to do some realignment of the disciplinary codes of Dr. Kobe. Um and so that baseline can be established as well. Um, and then we also have um your comment made me also think of um one of our data dashboards that I used has a social emotional survey and so we could uh rethink the questions on that survey and try to tie them to students feeling of their social emotional well-being and other um socially interactive behaviors if they feel like if the students feel like it has helped them as well. I I don't I think if you ask a student right now, I think they're all going to say, "Yeah, please don't vote for it." And you already did.
053But um yeah, I'm in trouble when I get home. But interest. But over time, yeah, I think I would be interested in seeing too like if if they're being honest, do they feel like, hey, we don't love it, but it has helped me with other areas of my social emotional state and mental health. Thank you. I I I think that a teacher perception would be useful as well. I I'm a little concerned too, Mr. Brett. I've talked to you a little bit about the data, but Mr. Henderson, especially for the middle school, the data shows um sometimes students feel like this is too much and truency rates go up. So, I just wondered if we're prepared uh for them to skip school, like they were able to go to school and watch TikTok all day
054and skip school by by virtue of being on their phone for as many hours as you said, uh Mrs. Town that they're on. Uh are we anticipating that that is something that might happen? And are we are we ready to enforce truency on the district if it happens at the middle school especially? That's where kids drop out in Illinois. They drop out in middle school. They make it to high school. Mr. Brett, you already know the math. uh you have a really good chance of getting them through compared to middle school. If they drop out in middle school, it's uh they end up with the Department of Corrections. Right. So, right. I don't know. And we Yeah. And we monitor truency closely. Currently, um I wouldn't based on patterns that we've seen, I factors involved.
055I wouldn't anticipate this being something that would exacerbate our truency rates, but with the utilization of our home program interventionists and our attendance monitor, um we are always trying to glean as much information as we can from parents as to how we can support their students um being coming to school, being prepared for school. And if that came up as an issue, we would address each of those cases individually. Anyone else? Roll call vote. Mr. Robinson. Yes. Mr. Cor. Yes. Mr. E. Yes. Yes. Dr. Yes. Yes. Motion passes 60. Thank you for all your work. I know it's been hours. Thank you. Thank you. Item nine, extracurricular memorandum of agreement. Recommendation. Mr. Bases, good evening again, everyone. Um, board, I'm here before you uh tonight to ask for your approval for the um MOA on
056appendix C, which is currently page 77 in our collective bargaining agreement. Um, it stands there before you. I think you should have a copy of of the MOA. Um, I can get into the weeds like Mrs. Trux did on on grants and contract language and and dive real deep into it um if we need to. Um I like contract language. I think the value of of our contract is the language is always really good. Um and what we're doing here, what I'm asking you for approval today with with the DEA is that the changes in this MOA clean up some of the questions in the contract. uh on page 77 with this MOA in particular where you see um athletic director has three weeks, band performance has four weeks that is unclear in the contract
057of who is entitled to that extra time. Um historically it it's been the high school athletic director, the high school band performance um person, but it doesn't specifically say that. And so we're cleaning that up by adding the high school to the left there of athletic director and band performance. Uh and then below that where uh you'll see there is the option of additional time um at the employees discretion for Northridge South View athletic director. Um the high school band performance went from four weeks mandatory to two weeks mandatory additional time and two weeks optional. Um, Northridge, Southview, and Northeast Man performance will have two weeks of optional time. What we found through many conversations, many meetings, many um discussions back and forth was we send out all our well, we used to send out
058all of our band instruments for cleaning uh at a pretty hefty cost on on the low end, $125 per instrument. Depending on the year uh in the music program, we have anywhere between 200 and five 500 instruments that need to be cleaned. Uh that work was all being done contracted out. We then the district then purchased a instrument to clean or the device to clean the instruments and the employees, these people here, the band performance um stipen people were doing that work. Um and so that that's where this time comes in through the conversations. why two weeks uh would be needed optionally if they wanted to come in and do that to to clean the instruments. Um ultimately it becomes a cost savings to the district from sending those instruments out if this work wasn't
059being done by our um people. So I'll stop there. I think is as I mean I I we again I could go for hours on this but um I'll stop there. Hopefully that gives you a little bit of the background of of why this needs to be done. Um any questions I'll entertain after if needed. Do I have a motion to approve? This is for approval, right? Correct. We have a motion. We have a second. A second. Any discussions? So I have um the four week is crossed out to two weeks and you just explained it because the other two weeks is used for cleaning instruments at the uh staff's convenience. Correct. So it we just so for the high school the two weeks um a lot of the discussion was was there really four
060weeks worth of work to be done and um so the two weeks is for Northridge Southview northeast and then now DHS. So those all match up the two and then the additional two um are optional for the high school if there are if there is more work that needs to be done if there is something um also not to take away from that the employee as well. Thank you. Any other comments, questions? Uh roll call vote. Miss Robinson. Oh for a second. Well, I would I don't have my glasses on. So, I just want to make sure the one in the the black the extended contract we're adding those because I don't currently have those. Correct. Like Northridge, Selfview, and Northeast. Correct. Ban now we're giving them the option where we didn't before. Correct. Typically,
061they time sheet a lot of the um teachers did at $30 an hour to be honest. And then when we went through the extracurriculars, it made more sense to Okay. just extend it. to make sure I understand. And there was there's a large cost savings by cleaning and repairing our own instruments, right? And again, I think the benefit ultimately is that's well defined here. Um what I'm seeing Well, anyway, it's well defined. It's clear. Um it's it's what a contract is supposed to do. It's it's supposed to be clear. Now, can we have a roll call vote, Miss Robinson? Mr. East. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Well, a motion passes 60. Thank you. Okay. I believe this is it is. Next up is the item number 10 2526 LUDA which is large unit district association. Awesome.
062Thank you. uh district membership for which we we usually have an annual membership to that. Mr. Hart, we do. So, I'm recommending again this year that we um update our our membership with LUDA. It's an organization obviously for larger school districts um get together. There's um some lobbying, some legislative groups, uh always keeping up on trends in education. They're Luda provides professional development. Actually, we used to use it in this district quite a bit. So, um things will vary what they offer and um to attend some of the professional development. It is free. um they advocate um for school districts and like I said lobby laws to um support public schools as well. So I recommend your approval at 5924. That's $5,924 a year membership. Can I have a motion to approve? Motion to approve
063and a second. Second. Any discussions, questions? Moving right along then. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Thank you. Thank you. Item number 11, human resources. That is me. So, I'm here tonight to recommend the reclassification or elimination of the position of director of operations. um that position. There are duties that are um redundant between several departments and some of the the duties actually came from other departments and and were put together. Right now we're um the district is financially um I I think that we need to consider every position, every hire that we have. Um so this you know obviously will allow the district to reallocate funds and um will basically re reshuffle re-shift um duties um back to other positions and many of them where they came from. So I recommend your approval. Can I have
064a motion to approve? So move. Second. Second. Any discussion? Mr. heart, you say this is going to save the district money, and that's a I assume that's a very strong goal of yours. So, thank you for that. Thank you. Um I think it's uh going to need to happen on more than just one position like this. I agree. So, thank you for taking the first step. And uh to be clear, we are talking about a position, not a person. That is 100% correct. And there are other positions that we need to reclassify. That is correct. Yes. So, thank you again for taking the first step. Any other questions or concerns? Roll call vote. Mrs. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Mrs. Yes. Mrs. Yes. Motion carries 60. Thank you. Uh 11B, Superintendent Endorsement Program. This is Megan
065as well. So last year um the board of education approved paying for tuition for our administrators to um attend school to earn their advanced degrees either their um endorsement as a superintendent or to earn their um doctorate degree. doctorate degree. Um we have two administrators that have um asked for the board to um pay for their tuition to be a part of that program. Those two people are Mr. Henderson, the um assistant principal at Northridge, and Miss Hampton, the other assistant principal at Northridge. They are both enrolling in at Illinois State University. Is that correct, Mr. Henderson? I thought so. And pursuing their doctorate degree. So, I recommend your um approval of this item. Do I hear a motion to approve? Motion. Second. Any other questions? I have a question. Is there uh is there
066any obligation on the part of the recipients? There is. So um obviously they have to um meet academic standards. I I think it's a C or better two be reimbursed. They have if you're going for the superintendent endorsement, a specialist degree, you have two years to complete the program and the doctorate degree, you have five years to complete the program and have to both either direction you go, you have to give four years back to the district um for paying for your tuition and they will sign a contract and that contract is in the board package. So it's postgraduation correct obligation is correct. Yes. Thank you. That's correct. How are we paying for this? This will come out of district funds. And we don't know a cost. It's up to $500 per credit hour. And
067I believe you can take up to two classes per semester. Yes, that's correct. Is this a pretty Is this a pretty standard um offering for districts in Illinois? It's probably become more standard now that I mean there's the um teacher vacancy grant which we do hold. However, that grant is ending next year. It's being cut by 33%. These two would not fit in that grant. Um, so that they would be outside of that and the district would be responsible for 100% of the cost. And Mr. Hart, you think it's uh fair to say that we hope that they will learn something very valuable that will help our district and then also stay and serve the district maybe the whole length of their career. All of the above because we are uh very excited that they
068are investing in education of our students and in themselves to do that for the district and in our community and our district. Yes, I think it's a a really great idea. Um it does cost money though. Uh but uh they'll be smarter so they'll be worth more money. Absolutely. Bro calls it. Dr. Yes. Mrs. Yes. Yes. Yes. Motion carry 60. Thank you. Moving on to item number 12. Uh special education. Mrs. Bailey. Clinical education affiliation agreement recommendation. Good evening board. Mr. Hart. Uh I have a sever we have several things on the agenda for you from special education tonight, but I think this one will be very easy. Um this is an affiliation agreement between um the district and the University of Illinois. And basically it just outlines the responsibilities for the district and the
069U of I um with the school of social work for our social work interns. Um for several years the district has um had social work interns. This year's not one of them, but we do have three for next school year lined up already. And um this agreement is for 10 years. There's no money involved. It's really just a making sure that we have an agreement so that we can place students here. So I recommend your appro motion to approve. So move second. Uh so this the idea of this is that students will come do their internship, love our district, want to come back to work for us. Correct. Have we had success with that in the past? Yes. We have se probably about half of our school social workers right now are former interns. Um
070we often about 50% of them stay. Um you just never know. Some of them are not from around here or they have um partners in other areas or um just family that they go back to, but many of them stay here and um stay in the district after um the internship. So our obligation is supervisory. Yes. Yes. They they are here four days a week, four full days a week. Um and they start just pretty much shadowing the social worker. Uh they do have to do supervision hours within the week at some point in time. Um we uh they have to um evaluate them. If there's ever any issue with that, then I step in and I help our social worker with that. if there's any kind of you know um tardy or anything like
071that um from the social work intern um you know it is a big jump you're going from college um right out into the real work environment so sometimes we have to just have some discussions but for the most part DU ofI does a great job of working with us and providing us with great interns and your social workers obviously so obviously spend some time with them rather than time on their job so is it a wash in terms of how much more work the social work intern can do than than teaching. I I imagine if you would ask people um it's just like having a student teacher. It's really not less work for you. Um but what we try to do in Danville is two days a week at one placement and two days a
072week at another placement because it is a long time to have someone with you all day every day because it's a full year internship, not like student teaching which is often eight weeks or or whatever the case might be. So, we often place the people uh the the interns with two separate social workers um for a couple reasons. Number one, it alleviates some of that burden on our own social workers and number two, they get to see a couple different buildings and how things are done differently maybe at an elementary building and the high school or a middle school and um KDBA, something like that. So, it it seems to be successful the way we've done that the past few years. Anyone else? Roll call vote. Yes. Yes. Mrs. Corb. Yes. Dr. Yes. Mr. Yes.
073Yes. Motion carry 60. Thank you for your work on coordinating that. Uh item 12B, contract with Solient Health LLC for school psychologists. in order to maintain our legal obligations um for child fine for evaluation um all the things that a school psychologist must do for our district um we are are asking to try something different um for the last several years we have had um vacancies in school psychologists um we are unable to find candidates um we have had a team or of of contract agencies is looking all over the place to help find us an in-person person. Um that doesn't exist. Uh we we did have an hybrid person two years ago. Um but he moved on to um I think to get his doctorate actually. Um and so Mrs. Nixon and um Mrs.
074Over Street conducted several interviews um and had a long list of qualifications that they were asking for. So we're asking to contract for two virtual psych uh psychologists for the school year. Um for 36.2 hours a week, which is our typical working hours, um the cost is 3,8625, approximately 137,000 a year for um the psychologist, which would be 274,50 um for next school year. So I recommend your appro. Can I have a motion to approve? So move. Second. Second. Thank you. Any discussion? What's their work time obligation? The same as all certified staff in district 2018. 36.25 hours a week for how many weeks for 180 school days. And what's the salary again? The salary for the for them? I'm not I don't know what their salary is. The cost to the district because they're
075contracted. So um but the the cost to the district is 100 approximately 137,000 um each. What hours are they working? Regular school. Regular school hours at wherever their placement would be. And is all of their work face to face? It would all be virtual. Virtual. Well, we recognize that this is not an ideal situation. Um, we also recognize that um that these jobs have been posted for uh the life of our current HR director and with absolutely no uh no interest in these positions. So we have as life of me as well and life of you as well. So 11 years 11 years it's a long time to go without any candidates being interested. So, Miss Bailey had alluded to the fact that we have legal obligations to our students. Absolutely. And so, as I
076said, this is not an ideal situation. We hear what our current staff has told us about this option. We don't like it either. We want to tell you we don't like it either. Um, but it's something that we must do to f to fulfill our legal obligation. And if any of you know of any psychologists that would love to come and work with us, by goodness, we would welcome them. So, while we don't really think it's ideal, we understand why we have to do it. Correct. We've tried every other option that we can think of um and have put this off for about three years. Um our our contract agency's been asking us over and over again for a virtual person and and Mrs. Nixon and I have said absolutely not. We want someone in
077person. that person that doesn't exist in central Illinois. So, can you tell me logistically? Um, we'll have to hire an additional staff person to be with the student in the room when this is happening. How's that look? Possibly. Um, a a teaching assistant. Sometimes you can utilize teaching assistants that we already have. Um, we have virtual speech language pathologists already. Um, sometimes they sit in the back of the room where where the where class is taking place and they put on the headphones and and they they do it. It will look a little bit different when they're conducting evaluations. Um, so we we may have to hire a couple additional teaching assistants in order to help fulfill that. And will those people travel to buildings or you're talking about per building? Per building. So that's
078a a lot more than 274,000 then. What do you think the total would be if you had to guess? Um, it really depends on on a teaching assistant. Approximately 60 grand for a teaching assistant, but that's not necessarily each building would need that. Okay. Um, depending on where these school psychologists are placed. Um, and like I said, they may be able to utilize some of the teaching assistants that are in the building. We'll have to work out that that scheduling. Um, plus it wouldn't be a full-time necessarily because part of what they do is attend meetings. um and and other things as well. Thank you. Do we do we have um do we have any students currently in the grow your own program who are perhaps going to college for this? I think one, but
079I do think that you have to remember that a school psychologist, it takes about six years, but you have to get your bachelor's plus at least a master's degree. Do we have any clothes? No. Very good. We're two years out from a social worker even. So, and what what is the service that they do? This is evaluative. It's counseling. School psychologists. Um, all of the above. Um, speak up. I could hear. Oh, he asked what service school psychologists do. So, they complete all the special education evaluations um for the district, which is approximately 4 to 500 per school year. Right now, we have about 875 special education students. every three years each one of those students has to be reavoued plus any parent request um a school psychologist has to meet and determine if that
080evaluation is appropriate. Um they also have to sit in every manifestation meeting. So any special education student who is suspended or up for expulsion must have a manifest suspended over 10 days must have a manifestation meeting and a school psychologist has to run that meeting to determine whether or not that was a manifestation of their disability because if it was then we may not suspend that student. Um they often they're part of our mental health team right now. They're not very they don't really have the time, but they are when we do have more of them, they are able to help with our crisis and our threat assessments. Um, they can help with our MTSS process, which is our multi-tered systems of supports. Legally, before we can determine a student has a specific learning disability,
081we have to ensure that they have had interventions, that they've had the core instruction plus additional interventions. The school psychologist has to evaluate whether that was done appropriately or not. Um, so they're not able to sit in on those meetings ahead of that time right now. So they have to just decide that within their 60-day evaluation window. There's a lot of legal mandates on timelines. You have 60 days from the consent of the parent to finish that evaluation. Um, we have to have every single student transitioning from early intervention um must have an IEP in place by their third birthday. So we have to evaluate all those students. It does not matter when their third birthday falls. We have an evaluation team going on right now that are handling all the summer birthdays. Um, so
082they do all those things. We are losing a retiree. I've kind of kept her going for a few years. Um, but so we are losing one. Um, so like I said, they're part of our mental health team, but right now they're not really functioning that in that manner to the best of their abilities because they just don't have the time. They could offer counseling um services and um um other intervention to students as well, time permitting. Thank you. Roll call. Minson. M. Yes. Mrs. Yes. Mr. East. Yes. Mrs. Town. Yes. Dr. Yes. Mr. Yes. Motion carries 60. Thank you. Thank you. Then moving on um to 12c approval of partnership with Cross Point Human Services. Uh Miss Nixon. Hi, good evening board. Mr. Hart, I am proposing that we continue our partnership with um Cross
083Point Human Services um for next school year. We have had this partnership in place since um I believe the 2017 2018 school year. It's been a long time. Um last school year they did struggle with some staffing so they weren't um able to provide some counselors in the school buildings during the school day like they had in the past but our staff um our social workers psychologists were still making referrals out to Cross Point for students and families to be seen after school hours. Um, I have spoken to Cross Point and they're still actively um trying to pursue um some counselors that can be in our school building during the school day because they are a huge help to us um in regards to being able to offer some more mental health services to our
084students. Um so far we've seen they've been able to see almost about 475 students over all of these years. Um and this partnership um is free to us. So just proposing that we continue it. A motion to approve. So move. Second. I'll second. Any discussion? I have a question about the modality after school. How are they seeing a counselor? They have to go to the Cross Point um office to see in person. Yes. So it's true then that we're not offering virtual counseling right during the school day. No, after from Cross Point. No, not to my knowledge. They're going there to the office. So they're having a counselor that's physically breathing in the room with them at Cross Point. How are they getting there? Their own. They have to provide their own transportation or their
085family does. We just make a referral that this student is struggling. It may not be school related. it may be more outside issues and the family community which is kind of not necessarily in the realm um of what a school social worker might see every day. They're trying to kind of focus on more of the school issues and so then they make that outside referral and some of our families and parents and guardians attend as well which ideally Mr. Eastston um works best when the uh counselors can come to the building and the referral is made and they're seen at the building. And I know because I started this program that that's what works best. We have the population, they have the services and it was a good marriage of services. However, just like us
086trying to find um help in this arena of professionals, it's difficult. So that's why they they had to just do it there instead of providing enough counselors during the day. but they're actively working to try to find counselors that can come to the school during the day which would make it ideal for a lot more students. We used to have quite a few that came but I mean honestly co right it took a hit and um as you just heard um Mrs. Bailey the entire mental health field has really gone to virtual things. So and Mrs. Nixon don't we partnership do we send some of our kids out there during the school day as well to cross? Is that correct? So they're for the adult program. Adult program. Any other questions? Roll call vote. M
087Robinson. Mr. No. Yes. Yes. Motion carries 51. Thank you. Thank you for that. Uh 12D. approval of partnership with Rose Crants. Nice to see. I'm staying. Yes. Um so again, I'm proposing that we continue our partnership with Rose Crants. Um they provide more specific substance abuse counseling um to our students individually and group counseling. Um it just kind of depends on the student needs. Sometimes they start in group and then they realize some more um intensive services are needed and so they provide it that way. They have also struggled with some staffing over the years, but we um do this past school year, we did have one inerson um substance abuse counselor that came to Danville High School and I have spoken to them too. That um counselor has taken a job elsewhere. However, they
088have hired someone. They go through some pretty specific training, counseling training for substance abuse. And so, um, they anticipate that that person will be ready for us in the fall in person during school hours at Danville High School. I think I covered it all. And it's spring breathing in the same room. Uh, motion to approve. So, move. Second. Second. Thank you. Any other questions, concerns, thoughts? Roll call vote. Mr. Mr. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Motion carries 60. Thank you. 12E. Is this also you? Yes. The next approval of partnership with Dr. Angela Mahome, child and adolescent psychiatrist. Psychiatrist. So again, I'm proposing that we continue our partnership with um Dr. Angela Mahome, child and adolescent psychiatrist. We have been in partnership with her since um 2018. um she sees our students um based off of
089referrals, either school referrals or um local pediatricians or um family doctors. And she has historically worked either one to two Saturdays or Sundays a month. It really just depends on what the weight list looks like. Um I kind of determine that. um working in um collaboration with her, kind of keeping track of the numbers, who needs follow-ups, um if we have new referrals, um and yeah, that's basically it. So, I'm just proposing that we continue that or that partnership. Can I have a motion to approve? So, moved. A second. Second. Any discussion? Yeah, please. um if she comes down on the Saturday and the Sunday, how many students will she see on any given day? Okay. So, I'm going to kind of answer this in full. So, we have kind of gone back and forth.
090She has started out in person. Um and then we did a little bit of a hybrid of um in person and kind of virtual. And then we had COVID and then she was completely virtual. Then she came back um a little bit in person and hybrid back and forth. And this past school year we've pretty much done all um virtually. Depending on if the student is an initial referral that usually takes about an hour um sometimes hour and 15 minutes, hour and 20 minutes if it's a follow-up. Sometimes it's as short as 20 minutes to 30 minutes is kind of how I I do the scheduling. So that's kind of how I space it out. So, she could really see anyone maybe five students up to I think I've probably scheduled her for nine or
09110 before and that was kind of a lot, but it was a lot of follow-ups that day. Yeah. Um the initials, as you might imagine, take a lot like she meets with the parents. Um sometimes we've had some of our school staff come in and meet with her too if um you know the school has made a referral and they're struggling um kind of with the student, maybe it's behavior, maybe it's mental health. And so some of our social workers, actually a couple of principles too, have um come in and and assisted in part of that appointment too. If she comes Saturday and Sunday, she stays overnight. Is that she she has in the past? Yes. And you paid for her? Yes. The uh hotel. Do we pay this out of district funds? Yes. If
092u if some of these um patients have private insurance or other insurance, is there billing that occurs with that? No, this is free to all of our students. That's how we've kind of started that. Why not? I don't have an answer for you on that. I'm not sure. We have always started as a free service to our students. um back in 2018. I haven't thought about it until right now, but I Me really until you mentioned it. But I but I deal with people every day all the time who have medical insurance that covers visits with me and these are medical illnesses as well. I'm thinking that probably many of these people are insured or even Medicaid too. Well, Medicaid for sure. Yeah. Is that something we could look into? Might be worth looking into
093that. Yeah. Yeah, I think so. I could ask. I mean, I don't I'm sorry. I don't really know what goes in. I That's not true. I build my own Medicaid um working in the district. Um but I don't know what that goes to for like a doctor and what she all has to set up for that. But we could certainly ask her. My other question is, does she manage medications? She makes recommendations to the pediatricians and the doctors and then they actually do the prescribing of the medications. So she doesn't write the prescription herself and like hand it over to the parent. She calls them a a coordination of care letter. Um and so then she types one up for each student and then um my role in that is like faxing or mailing um
094sometimes dropping off in person um those letters to the doctor and then that has the medication kind of recommendations in it. Anything else? Our reimbursement rates $350. My guess is Medicare is not reimbursing that high, but I don't know. Uh so then it becomes about uh where would our students you said 325 be able to see a psychiatrist and I know in Vermillion County that would be quite hard so it is a lot of money um and it's a lot of people 325 but access to a pediatrician uh I think might be a coveted thing for us. If we were to try to find someone else, I'm not sure we could. So, that makes me uh even though I think we probably should try to get their insurance, um it might come back to bite
095us if we did. I think bears further discussion. Yeah, it does. Point. This is not a pediatrician. Oh, psychiatrist. This is a child and adolescent psychiatrist. Psychiatrist. Yeah. even more rare. Yeah, correct. And we've had great success with a lot of our students that she sees. I mean, it's made a huge difference. But again, definitely comes with price tag and we do see referrals come from um you know, Dr. Hawk, um believe it's Swanson Family Practice, Carl, OSF, Jaliscocova. Yes, Jellesa. So it's not always just the school making referrals too. Are those all district 118 students students? Yes, she only sees district 118 students. That's part of kind of my role is as soon as I get some of the referrals because that has happened um where some of the outside um providers don't necessarily
096realize that or didn't ask or whatever may have happened. And so the first thing I do is go into Skyward to make sure they're an active student. Um, and then just gather all the additional information like if you know if there's discipline, if they have an IEP. Thank you. Vote, Mr. Robinson. M. Yes. Yes. Yes. Dr. Yes. Mrs. Gordon. Yes. M. Yes. Motion carries 60. On to item 12F, agreement with Ashley Mahome, Psychiatric Consultation Clinic Assistant. Yes. So, this is a proposal to continue um to provide Dr. Mahome with uh consultation clinical assistant. Um historically it has been um Ashley Mahome um and then it was Lance Mahome and Ashley went away to school and now it's back to um Ashley Mahome the last two years. I'd like to make a motion to table this
097until it's July 16th meeting. Second. Do we need a roll call vote on that, Mr. Eastston? Yep. Okay. Well, can we discuss? Oh. Oh, yes. All right. Y any discussion? What is the job description for this person? Yes. So, Miss Mahome, Ashley Mahome, when in person, she does a lot of the checking in process and the consents with the family. Um, I do more of like the check out um when I'm there. And then she does a lot of assisting in kind of starting those coordination of care letters um for Dr. Mahome and getting the information in there. Um and then of course Dr. Mahome proofs that um and then I proof it as well. um and sometimes assisting with like scheduling of follow-up appointments and things like that. Um and in addition to pretty
098much similar things if it's virtually too looks a little different of course in the check-in and checkout process. But and what are the educational requirements for this position? Um all I know is that she's currently um going like working to what do you call it? Going away to be be a doctor. She's at a doctorate program in medical field. Um, and so I mean I feel like that's probably pretty in line with the job description and in her experience, but I don't know that we've ever set out specifics um on what that position could be in terms of qualifications. The job description sounds secretarial more than clinical maybe. I don't I can tell you I have been a little bit more hands-off in having kind of my hands into the coordination of care letters because
099I feel like I'm not a doctor. So, um I know they have more of those conversations with each other about the medication and the dosage and all of that in terms when it gets to my hands. I'm doing more of the editing of like grammar, checking the student, making sure the school's right at the top, the birthday, that kind of demographic stuff. But she might be responsible for uh the specific care and medication dosage. I mean, she would have to know those things to be able to do that communication. It's not just a secretarial letter, right? Like a formatted Yeah. She has that conversation with Dr. Mahome and knowing those things. Yeah. Okay. Thank you. And what's the what's the statement or cost? Oh, uh $21 per hour. Is it has it been posted as
100a physician? No, historically I will say that we have not done anyone local. I know a time it was talked about maybe could a high school student getting job experience do this? We were trying to keep it very confidential because it's our own students. Um, so this of course was somebody that's doesn't live here, doesn't you know, um, doesn't know personally our students and parents. And I'm aware that there are within our staff perhaps in the field, social workers, whatever, that might be interested in earning extra money by working a Saturday or so. Okay. That's why I wondered if it was posted because I think we do have some people who might be interested and would qualify. Okay. Okay. But we have a motion and a second to table this. Is there any more discussion
101and we will pick up this uh discussion and vote at the next meeting? Correct. Correct. Roll call vote. Roll call vote, please. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Motion carry 60. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. On to item 13. Miss Zetta Food Service. Good evening, Board of Education. Mr. Hart, I am Zetta Pis, director of food services. I am here with three items from the department. The first one being a continuation of agreement with the Vermilion Association for Special Education to provide their lunch um to for their students for the 2526 school year. So, my recommendation is to continue at the cost of $360 on days that the um district would provide meals to their students. And yes, that's it. So, there's a this is a motion roll call vote item. Can I please
102have a motion uh to approve? Motion. Second. Okay. Uh this is a program we engage in every year. Yes, it was here prior to myself. And um the vase students, are they District 118 students that were paying for this food? I No, they they are not. They're not. That's for main county schools. That's their special education program. It's students with autism and emotional disturbances. And do we get reimbursed at all for the No, this is treated as a catering. As a catering, we do. They pay us. Yes. Make sure that's clear. We don't pay them. We don't pay them. They pay us. Okay. Are you cooking at Southwest for th those meals? No, those meals are coming from um Danville High School with our district cook. Got it. Okay. Any in the beginning it did.
103Okay. Roll call vote. Miss Robinson. Yes. Dr. Yes. Yes. M. Yes. Yes. Yes. Motion carries 60. Thank you very much. On to 2425 summer feeding program. This is anformational item. Yes. Last meeting I did discuss the summer um feeding programs for the school district which is uh the high school and Mark Denman. Uh for the community we have project success. Um, and just as of yesterday, we are adding four of the City of Danville parks so that we can go out and feed the students because my staff is hearing from the students that they're still hungry. They're asking for additional food and we thought we take the food out to them. So, we'll go out to the parks Monday through Friday somewhere between I'm still working out the logistics which will uh we'll have them
104final by Friday somewhere between 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Winter Culver Carver Park. Um Douglas and No, I'm sorry, not Douglas. Garfield. Garfield. And we're working on something in Tilton to address the students in the southwest southview area. They have to eat there, right? Yes. They can't take it. They have to eat it there. So that was part of the problem. We originally started out with eight locations, but after canvasing the city, I realized that some locations do not provide the bench and table. So, um, we had to go down to four, but they have to eat the meal there. And we do get reimbursed for those from the same program, our federal program. Federal federal program. Yes. Thank you. Any other questions, thoughts? This is anformational item only, so requires no vote today.
105Yes. Thank you. You're welcome. Uh and then your last uh item uh request to go out for bid for towel service recommendation. This is a motion and roll call. Yes, I am making a recommendation to go out to bid for the towel service for the food service department. We have concluded our five-year agreement with them and um we thought we'd go out to see what other options were out there. Do I hear a motion? Motion. Yes. Second. Thank you. That, Miss Robinson. Thank you. Um, we get towel service all year long. So yes, we the contract that is coming to an end, that particular contract stated that even though we were on hiatus for the summer or winter break, fall break, this particular service still provided the towel services for us. Um about two years
106ago I was able to work with the management there and requested that they stop because it was towels piling up for absolutely no reason. So they did accommodate us with that. So the last two years we have not but prior to then Yes. So your bid specs this time will be to observe suspension of service students available. Yeah. Yes. Okay. Anything else with that? I just wondered uh why we don't do it ourselves. You might be able to give us a reason. Laundry service. So, we we don't have one as far as I know. We just don't have the machines or the staff. Nor the staff. Nor the staff. Nor the staff. But you think you'll get more than one bid? Yes. I already have at least two, possibly three. Great. Thank you. Yes. Okay.
107We have a a motion in a second to uh go out for bid for towel service contract. Uh roll call vote. Mrs. Yes. Yes. M. Yes. Dr. Yes. Yes. Yes. Motion carries 60. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you, Missa. 14. Approval of board of education travel expenses. This is a request approval of the board of education members. Kimberly Corley and Alice Payne uh to travel to the National School Safety Symposium held in St. Louis uh June 25th through the 27th. Um this is a motion roll call vote. Do I hear a motion to approve? So move. Second. Any discussion? Any discussion? Do you want to explain what this symposium is? Yes. Uh Miss Payne and I will be going to St. St. Louis next Wednesday. Um, it is a seminar on school safety.
108It is two-day conference. We won't be coming back until late Friday night. I've been looking forward to this for months and now I'm really hesitant because of our financial situation. Um, I still think it's extremely important for us to go. School safety and student safety is our utmost. It's just important. Um, I'm just I'm just torn. That's all. I'm just torn on spending money right now. Um, it is going to cost, just being transparent, about $2,000. And I don't feel like that's a lot of money, but right now everything's a lot. Everything's a lot of money. So, I'm just trying to be transparent. It is going to cost a little over $2,000 for us to go to this conference. Um, but I do think it's important. Um, it's National School Safety Seminar. Um, I do
109think it's important that we go bring good information back. I will be bringing a lot of information back. Yeah, I I'll vote for this motion, but I want you to take good notes. Oh, yes. Yes. If anyone does want to see it, I do have the handout on what we'll be doing. So, I've been to conferences with her and she really does pay attention. Um, roll call vote. Yes. Yes. Yes. Uh motion carry 6. Thank you. Okay. To our very favorite item. It's almost as fun as school calendars. Oh yes. They equal each other. Press policy issue 117. The first reading. It is a first reading. And the good news is there's lots of just footnote changes and updates according to law. That's probably a perfect way to start, especially if you're new to the
110board because these things are very, very cumbersome. So, I'll just ask that you read them in advance. I will give a summary at the next board meeting. Um, but just to give you an idea, I just marked a couple things. So, um, one change is you school district or school boards don't have to go out for referendum for if they're building or adding on to a school as long as it will house a prek or a kindergarten classroom. So, I'm not sure where that came from. Um, another change is from guidance counselor to school counselor. I mean, these changes are minimal this time. It, like I said, it's probably a good one to start with. So, do you want to back up for new members and for the public? Sorry. Sorry. So, press policy. Thank
111you for the reminder. Um, is a service that we get through the Illinois Association of School Boards. And so they basically keep up with all the the laws, the legislation, and um any school code that comes out. And they're constantly looking at policies um especially um when the um legislation is in session. So that's typically uh April and October is when the new press policies come out. outside of that they still come out but they're they have a tendency to be much smaller in quantity where after um meeting they're much much larger they're um we probably come out what would you say Mr. around them four to five times a year. And again, we we look at them all. We'll um send them to directors and actually we will be setting up a um this
112is probably one of the more most important things that board members do. So, this is actually a committee that board members should be sitting on going over with the administration. So we will get that going along with our financial committee which will meet quarterly as well. This actually saves us a lot of time. Uh it's a a lot of policy um a policy that is dependent on legislative votes and so forth and so they do that work for us. They make this much easier for us. So it's a valuable service. Tedious but valuable. Okay. Thanks. Thanks for that. And that, my friends, brings us to the final item,formational items. And I do want to talk um onformational items. I just want to everybody to be aware of the funding. I know that you've heard a
113lot tonight, but a lot of information has come out from the state really starting today, some yesterday. Um but the governor just passed the budget and in that budget there's lots of cuts and cuts to education and um the federal funds are also affected and the budget was just passed and the US Department of Education was hit as well. So the money that we've been accustomed to with ESSER and um kind of grabbed on to what we could and did what we could with those um that has ended. So right now evidencebased funding which is where we get our funding per child um will go from it was originally 3 or 307 million now it's 301 um EAVs there expected pretty much to um stay the same which is um oh my gosh somebody give
114it to the EAV somebody. What is it? Who's the business person in here? I'll come back to it because I'll think of the acronym equaliz assess value. Thank you. of property. Perfect. Thank you. Um so that's um expected to remain consistent. Um regular transportation. So last year our transportation claim we were paid back at 79%. This year it'll be paid back at 73%. Special transportation will go from 69% reimbursement to 61% reimbursement. Private facilities and this is typically special education. Um we were reimbursed at 77% will now be reimbursed at 50%. That is huge the cost to um have a a child in the residential facility. um public facilities, we are going to get some money back. So, we're going from 0 to 50%. However, we don't typically have that, by the way. Um so,
115just lots and lots. So, it it's I know that we talked about um title money, special ed money is affected. There's actually um the federal government put out today or the office of US Office of Education put out today. So with IDA, the Individuals with Disability Education Act, preschool is down to zero, and that's federal funding, which is illegal. You have to serve kids with disabilities. So we've received more prek money, not a lot, by the way. Doesn't offset much, but then zero for special education. So lot still unknown out there. I don't know if you've watched the news, but even community eligibility for um free breakfast and lunch. I had Miss Zetta looking and I think Champagne actually is charging and so the criteria is going to charge. So there's not enough students in
116Champagne County for them to continue with free lunch for the community. They have three years. We have three years before we're Got it. Nice. Um, so you know th those things are all coming uh or or hanging and that's the concern of the board. So you know we will be questioning purchases. Hopefully you're questioning yourself if you're a district employee, but um big things out there. Uh IDA part D we talked about. So, they're going to take all the money um for for um education, for training, for special education. So, if it has anything to do with adults, for advocacy, for printed materials, all of those things. So, right now they're at zero, they are cut completely. So, um I would assume there'll be some change. I wouldn't want to bet on a whole lot
117of change. I think we're seeing what we have in store for us. So, um maybe a tough year financially. Um but I did want to share not the best news, but um it's our reality. Anyone else? Any other good news for us? No, that's all I have. Thank you. Um we'll start with you, Miss B. Okay. First of all, congratulations. You're our new superintendent and our associate superend. Um it really is going to help us moving forward in this district. So kudos. Um some school programs seem to be moving right along and I appreciate the fact that our district provides lunch in the summertime for our students and as way things are going uh they need that help and I'm glad we're able to do it. Okay. Um, also congratulations to uh your new position,
118Miss Parker. I would love to get to know you a little more. I don't know you that well, so I en envision that happening. And Mr. Hart, congratulations on your position. Um, what I noticed when you both accepted um, your position and just looked at each other, there was a mutual respect and there was kindness and that is so needed for us right now. And so, thank you. Um, that just is genuine from both of you. Um, I think that is wonderful for us and I'm happy to be um on the board while you're here. Yeah, Mr. East. Yeah. Uh, Mr. Hart, uh, I've asked you a lot of questions in the last couple weeks and, uh, congratulations. Yes. Thank you, uh, Miss Parker. Congratulations. I think uh to say our district is facing challenges
119would be a significant understatement. Uh we're we do have urgency, I think. Um and having you two on board to help us uh be creative is uh exciting. I'm I'm excited. I think that you both will help the board to collaborate together uh with our staff and our students to really uh achieve some goals this year even with the financial stress. Um I think it's important that we don't uh let uh fear be what causes us to uh do what we do next. We need to not be frozen. uh our students need us to be innovative and just make do with what we have and um I think I think we're going to do that and I'm I'm excited to that for that. Um I will say I have been talking to Mr. Hart about
120the uh the budget and uh just wanted to draw attention to some things about the budget that I hope can be looked at Mr. heart and just to say publicly, the budget that was passed in September of by the board of education um was supposed to have a proposal for a budget for 2026 2027. Um it basically does not. Uh and it's supposed to have one for 2027 2028 and it does not. And so I hope that um as you're thinking about the budget and as we're thinking about the budget that we'll actually not be trying to create a budget for just this year because I think we know at least from the federal side what to expect uh for the budget next year uh to be less again potentially and uh just with our
121state it might be less again as well because of revenue issues that we ran into in the department of of education across the state. So, um I I would really like to see someone take a creative and careful approach in actually treating that part of the 52page budget seriously and giving us a starting point where you think we'll be actually and not just uh uh pencil whip it. And I don't believe you will. But I just wanted to say that part of the budget has my attention. a three-year plan, which is what we're supposed to do and what we did not do in my opinion uh in the past year. So, but I look forward to working with you and you've helped answer a lot of my questions and uh thank you for that. I
122think success depends on the leadership. It of course also is contingent on the people who are followers and helpers from top down. But I couldn't be happier to be among people than the leadership I see here. We uh you have most of it assembled. We have one more board position to fill and I'm optimistic about that one as well. I think we have a good team and I think that the leadership though it be on stormy seas, I think we have a captain and crew that can get us there. I really don't have any word comments that they haven't said. So, congratulations. I'm excited to be working with you again. And of course, Mr. Hart. Um, all our admins, all our directors, we really can't thank you enough for what you guys do. I know
123we probably don't say it enough, but you guys are extremely important to us and we do value you in what you do. And I just I think you guys need to know that. Thank you. And um I echo everything. As a matter of fact, I can tell we've been married for a long time because he said exactly what I was going to say. Um next time I'm going to go first. Um but what I want to say to all of the directors, the teachers, and the building administrators, what we're trying to do here is put together a team to lead you, to support you, um and to give you um hope for your buildings and your staff and your students. And I hope you see that. I hope you see that that is what we're
124trying to do and I think we're putting all those pieces in place. Um to the community, if you don't think people are interested in being on this board and serving on the administrative team, you are wrong. We had all kinds of people interested and uh that's a good sign that despite our challenges, despite how we've been in the news, we have people that say yes, I still want to be part of it. So, for that, I'm grateful. Um, Mr. Hart, I'm grateful for you, for your leadership. I am so excited, Miss Parker, that you're part of the team. I already know what you can do and what you bring to the table. So, thank you so much for that. And on that note, this is the first summer meeting, and we don't have another one
125until July. Uh, right. Right. 16th. The 16th. We may have a special meeting uh to uh seat the new board member. We want to get that last piece finished. so that we can really move forward. Um, that being said, go enjoy a little bit of time, enjoy the sun and the heat. Um, and we appreciate very much you coming out. Oh. Oh, yes. I always forget that we actually have to adjourn. Uh, do I need a motion for that? No. Okay, we're adjourned. There's a lot of worms in here, but it was a