001Okay, seeing it is 6 o'clock, I will call the regular meeting for November, the board of education 66 into session. >> Roll call, please. >> Hannah Gersonnich, >> here. Matt Keys, >> here. >> Mike Koulac, >> here. >> Brett Perry, >> here. Jordan Stanley >> present. >> Brian Spina >> here. >> Uh please uh silence your cell phones and stand for the pledge to the flag. >> I aliance 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. At this time, we would like to take a moment of silence in memory of Suellen Stevenson, retired from Lincoln Elementary School, principal, and Elizabeth Pal, retired Eastu Elementary School teacher. Thank you. Well, now we have the appointment of
002Holly Blue to fill a vacant position on the board of education until spring 2027. Can I get a motion? >> Second. >> Roll call, please. >> Matt Keys, >> yes. >> Mike Koulac, >> yes. >> Brent Perry, >> yes. >> Jordan Stanley, >> yes. >> Brian Spiva, >> yes. >> And Gersnich, >> yes. Okay, we will administer the oath of office. I believe you have a copy of it, Holly. >> Yes. >> would you like to read that? >> Okay. >> All right. Do you want me to read it as fast as I can, >> please? >> Okay. I, Holly Blue, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of member of member of the board of education of Canton Union School District 66 in accordance with the Constitution of
003the United States, the Constitution of the State of Illinois, and the laws of the state of Illinois to the best of my ability. I further swear that I shall respect taxpayer interest by serving as a faithful protector of the school district's assets. I shall encourage and respect the free expression of opinion by my fellow board members and others who seek a hearing before the board while respecting the privacy of students and employees. I shall recognize that a board member has no legal authority as an individual and that decisions can be made only by a majority vote as at a public board meeting. I shall abide by majority decisions of the board while retaining the right to seek change changes in such decisions through ethical and constructive channels. As part of the board of education, I
004shall accept the responsibility for my role in the equitable and quality education of every student in the student district. I shall foster with the board extensive participation of the community, formulate goals, define outcomes, and set the course for Canton Union School District 66. I shall assist in establishing a structure and an environment designed to ensure all students have the opportunity to attain their maximum potential through a sound organizational framework. I shall strive to ensure a continuous assessment of student achievement and all conditions affecting the education of our children in compliance with the state law. I shall serve as education's key advocate on behalf of students and our community schools to advance the vision for Kent Union School District 66. and I shall strive to work together with the district superintendent to lead the school district
005towards fulfilling the vision the board has created fostering excellence for every student in the areas of academical skills knowledge citizenship and personal development. >> Thank you Holly and welcome aboard. >> Thank you. >> You this is kind of the picture you'll see every meeting. Uh we got a few extras out there but uh you'll live and learn here like we all had to. Is there any amendments to the agenda? Good news items. Building reports, CHS student report. For our intro to education course, we did the steam day at Westview for Halloween. Um, we also went to ISU for the future teacher conference. Um, we as a class got to sign up for many different sessions. Um, I went to a session about student teaching. Um, I also went to one with a teacher that spoke
006about different things that she can that she does in her classroom to engage her students. Next, we had our Veterans Day assembly. Um, Mr. Siders was our guest speaker and we also included Westview for our for first quarter incentive. We Elena Raleigh, a senior, won the grand prize of the Nintendo Switch 2, uh which student council prepared a game, Minute to Win It. Um it was very fun to watch. Um we have been doing we have been receiving many donations for our care closet, both money and food. Um, my job, the YW.C.A. also just recently donated food. Uh, soon we'll be giving away uh holiday food boxes which include an entire holiday dinner put together by our care closet for families in need. >> Very good. Thank you. >> This time, recognition of audience request
007to address the board of education. >> I have additional good news there. Um, I want to give a shout out for our Veterans Day assembly and celebration that we we've hosted for the past nine years. Uh, Westview Elementary did a fantastic job. Our culinary students hosted a breakfast at a omelette bar and a waffle station. Um, our student council then hosted our veterans and it's probably one of the biggest turnouts that we've had in in uh recent years. And I also want to shout out our play and our thespian club. They had their play this past weekend on Friday and Saturday. Uh the brothers grim. I know it takes a lot of hard work. They bust their rear ends. A lot of late nights. Uh a lot of a lot of hard work that goes
008into that. Just I want to make sure that they get their get their props because they did a fantastic job. Right. Super good. All right. I already touched on nine of the audience. That brings us to the consent agenda. Goes through 14A. Is there any discussion on the consent agenda? Can I get a motion to approve? >> Second. >> Roll call, please. >> Mike Krillac. Yes. >> Brent Perry. >> Yes. >> Jordan Stanley. >> Yes. >> Brian Spiva. >> Yes. >> Holly Blue. >> Yes. >> Ann Gerson. >> Yes. >> Matt Keys. >> Yes. >> Okay. Consider the approval of the FY25 audit. >> Hi. I have uh Katherine Molton um one of our auditors here to present the information. I'm going to pass out the audit booklet. All this great information for you. He
009used to send this to me in advance. He didn't do it this time. >> Sorry. >> That's his risk. >> Okay. Well, we're ready, Catherine. >> All right. Thank you very much. My name is M Associates and I senior manager audit. Uh so I want to walk a couple of items on the audit report. >> We issued a legal opinion on the court. Uh the audit is presented on the regulatory basis which is in accordance with reporting statements and on a regulatory basis we issue an unqualified opinion. However, we also issued an ad opinion on US general county principles and the reason for this is that um we are not following GAP county standards in terms of report disclosures because those are not considered necessary on the regulatory basis. So the dual opinion is this
010so that the readers of the financial statements are aware that we're planning on regulatory basis that we are not uh giving a clean opinion on the gap of accounting and this is the way the audit reported and um there are no issue with or anything like that. I know some people adverse think that's necessarily bad. It's simply saying that you're not following the GAP standards. We are not saying anything negative opinion just simply that it's regulatory and not >> on page four and five we have the statement of asset1 balances arising from cash transaction. This is basically a balance sheet which is a snapshot of the district's finances as of June 30, 2025 and it is broken down by funds and then accounts. So um overall district total current assets are million5935. consist of cash
011and investments. Uh the capital district um make the balance balance of the assets. So the total assets are I'm sorry 118 million 349,825. Um we have liabilities of $26 and then the remaining liabilities are the long-term liabilities or the debt issues outstanding of $7,460,000. And then finally we have the total fund balance in the district which is $110,897 >> $799. So um you can see by each of the different funds what the individual balances are funds that had balances as of June 30th 2025 which is always a thing. Um on page six and seven we have statements of revenue receipts expenditures dispersed and other financial sources and changes in fund balance for the year after June 30th 2025. >> The receipts of the district are 3722,534 and this consists of local, state and federal resources.
012is um during during the year ended June 30th, 2025, it was the last year of the grants. Um so the federal revenues are going to be less than we have seen in previous years, but it was because that was a short period for >> uh the total expenditure for the year are >> 44 million >> 300 and 300,000 sources would be the transfers between so the change in fund balance are um which brings the fund balance from the beginning of the year of 53.8 to the balance as of June 30th >> which was 47.2 Um during the year you see that there was a significant amount of capital outlay due to all the various projects that the district had during the year which is why we see the decrease in the um total fun and
013on page 34 we have a detailed summary of the changes in the fixed assets which show our balance as of July the addition deletion and then the end balance. And as you can see, we had a significant um increase in the fixed assets and we show significant assets added during the year. Um, also on page 34 and continuing on to page 35, we have your long-term debt um obligation footnote which shows the uh two life safety bond issuances with their beginning balance, the repayments during the year, ending balance and the amount due for fiscal year 26 as well as the schedule of um repeating principal interest payments on this debt. Uh during the year the um district had a couple challenges in the accounting um areas. One there was a maternity leave and then two
014there was an upgrade of the software. Uh school district software is not the easiest anytime I have to make a change or make an upgrade. Um so in terms of the upgrade for the current year everything went really smoothly. The only hiccup that we had during the year is that when the software was converted there was an issue with certain carrier accounts being reported in other funds than the social security. Um all of the numbers were correct. It's simply the soft to put these expenses in the wrong fund. Um, and this is something that has had stress. Uh we do have an internal entry for us here which is a little bit of an unusual thing but given the scope of um the update and the number of accounts the district had you know one
015item that didn't go quite as smoothly. Um, but I've seen other kind of accounting changes where >> it's kind of messed up their financial statements, you know, for a little bit. So, all very very smoothly. >> Um, those are the but if there are any questions I would address those. >> Do we have any questions? Good M. >> You got anything to add? Yeah. >> I thought everything went well. Um, we did a journal entry to fix uh an issue that happened during the transition and everything everything else was uh perfect. So, >> good. >> Well, thank you very much. It's a pleasure to work with uh Jack and staff as always. Um if there are any other questions pop up later. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Have a good evening. >> Can I get
016a motion to consider the approval of the FY25 audit? >> So move. >> Second. >> Roll please. >> Brent Perry. >> Yes. >> Jordan Stanley. >> Yes. >> Brian Spiva. Yes. >> Holly Blue. >> Yes. >> And Gersnik. >> Yes. >> Matt Key. >> Yes. >> Mike Krue. >> Yes. >> Consider the approval of resolution authorizing final aggregate tax levy for tax year 2025. >> So this is the first of six documents for the tax levy that was presented um previous at the board meeting. And so this is the the first um item that has to be approved in order to start the tax levy process. >> Any questions? >> Motion to approve. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Jordan Stanley. >> Yes. >> Brian Spiva, >> yes. >> Holly Bloom, >> yes. >> Ann
017Gerson, >> yes. >> Matt Keys, >> yes. >> Mike Koulac, >> yes. >> Brett Perry, >> yes. consider appro approval of truth in taxation certificate of compliance of final tax levy for tax year 2025. >> So if you go over a 5% increase in asking from last year's tax levy, you have to do a truth and taxation hearing. We do we are not asking for that. We're asking for high 4%. Uh we're not going over the 5% cap where we have to have official hearing. So that's what this document states. >> Again, any questions? Motion for approval. >> So move. >> Second. >> Roll call, please. >> Brian Spiva, >> yes. >> Holly Blue, >> yes. >> And Gersuch? >> Yes. >> Matt Keys? >> Yes. >> Mike Koulac? >> Yes. >> Brent Perry? >>
018Yes. >> Jordan Stanley? >> Yes. Consider approval of resolution authorizing levy for leasing educational facilities for computer technology or both for tax year 2025. >> This is another procedural item saying we're requesting $130,000 used for the leasing of computer technology. >> Questions? Motion to approve. >> So move. >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Holly Blue. >> Yes. >> And Gersnitch. >> Yes. >> Matt Keys. Yes. >> Mike Krillac. >> Yes. >> Brent Perry. >> Yes. >> Jordan Stanley. >> Yes. >> Brian Spa. >> Yes. >> Consider approval of resolution authorizing levy for fire prevention and safety. >> Same procedural item and or to use the fire prevention and safety fund. It'll be $130,000 ask for the levy. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> And Gersonnich. >> Yes. Matt Keys. >> Yes. Mike Kruak, >>
019yes. >> Brett Perry, >> yes. >> Jordan Stanley, >> yes. >> Brian Spiva, >> yes. >> Holly Bloom, >> yes. >> Consider approval of resolution providing for the partial abatement of taxes here to four levied for tax year 2025 for the payment of principal and interest on the general obligation school bonds. series 2017 of Canton Union School District number 66, Fulton County, Illinois. >> So, uh, this is the we requesting the use to use facility sales tax of 250,000 to go ahead and have less of a burden on the taxpayers that we would just use our fund 64 million. >> Any discussion? Motion, please. >> So, moved. >> Second. >> Matt Keys. Yes. >> Mike Kulac. >> Yes. >> Brent Perry. >> Yes. >> Jordan Stanley. >> Yes. >> Brian Spiva. >> Yes. >> Holly
020Blue. >> Yes. >> Yankers. >> Yes. Consider approval of resolution providing for the partial abatement of taxes hereto for levied for the tax year 2025 for the payment of principal and interest on the general obligation school bonds series 2023 of Canton Union School District number 66 Fulton County Illinois. >> So this goes hand in hand with the the last item uh requesting using $250,000 facility sales tax. It's the same $250,000. >> Discussion. >> Motion, please. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Roll. >> Mike Krillac, >> yes. >> Brent Perry, >> yes. >> Jordan Stanley, >> yes. >> Brian Spiva, >> yes. >> Holly Blue, >> yes. >> And Gersich, >> yes. >> Matt Keys, >> yes. >> Consider approval of employment contract for J. Valencia, principal, Canton High School, effective July 1st, 2026 through June
02130, 2029. >> The move. >> Second. >> Roll, please. >> Brett Perry, >> yes. >> Jordan Stanley, >> yes. >> Brian Spiva, >> yep. >> Holly Blue, >> yes. >> And Gersich, >> yes. >> Matt Keys, >> yep. >> Mike Kru, >> yes. Consider approval of employment contract for Amy Jones, principal, Ingresaw Middle School, effective July 1st, 2026 through June 30, 2029. So move >> second. >> Jordan Stanley, >> yes. >> Brian Spiva, >> yep. >> Holly Blue, >> yes. >> Ann Gers, >> yes. >> Matt Keys, >> yes. >> Mike Koulac, >> yes. >> Brent Perry, >> yep. Consider approval of employment contract for Jason Juckhams, assistant principal, Canton High School, effective July 1st, 2026 through June 30, 2029. >> So move >> and Gersnich. >> Yes. >> Matt Keys, >> yes. >> Mike
022Kulac, >> yes. >> Brent Perry, >> yes. Jordan Stanley. >> Yes. >> There is no third. Holly just >> you wondering if that has to happen. >> We went Jordan. >> Consider approval of employment contract for John Gersznich, assistant principal and assistant athletic director, Canton High School. Effective July 1st, 2026 through June 30, 2029. >> So moved. >> Second. Ollie Blue, >> yes. >> Ann Gerson, >> yes. >> Matt Keys, >> yes. >> Mike Kulac, >> yes. >> Brent Perry, >> yes. >> Jordan Stanley, >> yes. >> Brian Spiva, >> yes. >> Jordan, we will be quiet over here. >> I'm trying. >> Okay, I got it. I'm trying. >> You can get one in. >> Yeah. >> Consider approval of employment contract for Brad Ullet, activities director, Canton High School, effective July 1st, 2026
023through June 30, 2028. Second, >> please go. >> Gersnich, >> yes. >> Matt Keys, >> yes. >> Mike Kurlac, >> yes. >> Brent Perry, >> yes. >> Jordan Stanley, >> yes. >> Brian Spiva, >> yes. >> Holly Blue, >> yes. >> I >> Okay, that brings us to reports. District 66, metrics report. Any questions on the metric? >> Nothing on the metrics. >> Okay. Discussion item. Schedule a board policy governance committee meeting. >> Yeah, it's that time to have another board policy governance meeting. And Doc and we need a new member for that committee. >> Sure. >> Any takers? So, thank you very much. When do you want to have? >> Sure. I didn't know there was a follow-up question. >> It's always a followup question. >> How soon do we have to have it?
024>> Um before the next board meeting. >> Doc and I will communicate. We'll give you a couple days right now. >> Yes. Right now. >> That's what the looks >> after 12. >> It is after this thing it Sounds good. >> Thank you very much. >> Did you say December 4th? >> Was it? >> Yeah. >> December 4th. >> Okay. >> December 4th at 6 p.m. >> Okay. Discuss course descriptions for Canton High School for 2026 2027 school year. First reading. >> Uh there aren't really major changes here. Um the really big changes will be on page three and four of it. Uh addition, we had the CEO program which was countywide. We just added it to the handbook. Um also change that with the DCO grant pay for tuition for Spoon River College students
025and sorry dual credit students. Um we also have the addition of applied mathematics. Apply mathematics is a dual credit course that is more for students that taking that third-year math, more applicationbased, vocational based part of the GT-150 that they can earn their um um degree in with in the welding certificate. So it's more mental math, tape measure, real world application based mathematics. Um and then finally the advanced placement which has been around now for three years. It's on page three. The ISB school code has now changed that to for those students who meet or exceed was initially meet or exceed standards in uh I AR or any high stakes test ACT, SAT, they would be automatically advanced to the ne next most rigorous course level in math, English or science. Uh the first year they
026did meet or exceed. last year, like I guess this school year, it was exceed and then now they're reverting back to meet or exceed unless parents opt out of that. So, if you meet or exceed um on the AR, if you're an eighth grader, incoming freshman or the ACT on those three levels, math, science, or English, you automatically be bumped up to the next most rigorous course level, which in most cases is honors or a dual credit course. Those are really the main changes. >> Any discussion, questions? >> So, this is a first reading, so next month it'll be on the agenda for approval. >> All good things. >> Yeah. Yep. All fairly minor, too. All good. Good things. >> All right. discussion of CHS baseball softball 2026 spring break trip. I see we've got
027some athletes in here. >> We do. And Avery actually arm wrestled me earlier today since she wanted to go first. So So the softball representatives would like to discuss the opportunity to go to Murphy'sboro, Tennessee, which is a trip that they've taken in the past. >> Okay. >> So these two with me. Um, I have Avery Smith and Tory Burch. They're seniors. As sophomores, they got to go. Um, I feel like it's a great opportunity for kids, um, that may not get the chance to play beyond high school. These two will actually get that chance to play beyond high school. Um, so being able to play in another state is something that a lot of kids won't forget. Um, the last time we went down, we had not only just a fun time team building,
028um, and just having that fun experience, you know, the travel and all the extra stuff, uh, but we did real well. Um, we got a chance to play against, um, some very tough teams. One team was, uh, the state champ from like a one class A level in Tennessee, and they ended up being the state champion that year as well, and we beat them. We were one of their five losses that year. Uh, a pitcher that we got to face from that team was um last year one of the top pitchers in the nation. Probably one of the best pitchers these guys will ever ever see. And she's playing for Tennessee right now. So, a lot of those girls um from the past team were just like, "We got to hit off of this girl.
029We got to Well, I don't think anybody got a hit off of her, but we drew one, but it was still just when you get a chance to say I I you know, we see somebody playing on ESPN and said, "I we got to get in a bat on this girl." Um, that makes trips like this really memorable. >> Avery, what what's your favorite part of it? >> Um, I think it is a good thing just because I think we really meshed as a team when we came together and even like not just on the field but off the field. It just really brought us together is at the beginning of the season and I as a sophomore really got to know my seniors and it was just a good time. >> Or we just
030like the food. That's what she said. >> It was great. I thought it I thought it was great because I mean seeing that kind of competition I mean we are in the middle line so like if you travel around and look for teams like that in this area not in the middle line you're not really going to find that. So like seeing it like how they play it's a whole different game and I thought it was really beneficial for us. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. Thanks. >> I have some baseball representatives here this evening um as well. Sorry. Um there I mean I could express similar sentiments. Last time the baseball team went I uh actually Mr. Drenzy and I had to go down and um Coach Emory had a had his appendix removed
031that that week. So um we went down and I got to coach some baseball again which was awesome. And um really similar things. where uh the baseball team also going down to the Murphy'sboro area, leaving on a Sunday, playing four games, coming back on a Thursday, one of those days being an off day. Um to last time I know they did Top Golf. I put some options on here um that they would that they maybe they're going to probably want to go to Top Golf from listening to them speak to one another. Um so probably Top Golf. Um, but leave another opportunity leaving on a Sunday, going down and seeing Tennessee play at Vanderbilt. Um, two of the top baseball college baseball teams in the nation. Um, going down there that Sunday afternoon to see
032them play. Um, getting to play a local team in Fatville, just finding a neutral site, playing there, and then also joining the same tournament that they played in in the past. Um, again with four games. So, boys, uh, if you want to share what you're kind of looking forward to most. >> I mean, >> introduce yourself. >> Catherine Hen. >> Okay. >> I'm a junior. >> Um, I remember the 24 class. They got to go and when they all graduated, that was their big memory from high school and going out of Tennessee, being with the guys, playing games. I remember they faced some pitcher who went to Stanford and he was he was good. So hearing that from all them makes me want to go down there and kind of do the same thing, make
033memories, be with the guys, >> right? I might add that this young man has signed a letter to play at the University of Illinois. So that is quite an accomplishment. >> I can still hit your fast. >> I'm a senior. Um, you know, I I've been a part of the team with the 24 class. Obviously, they they always talked about how uh important it was to them, how much fun they had, and I know that some of them they based their idea of what they want to do after college, specifically on that trip, seeing that um kind of taking the next step on how like college ball would look, you know, with the freedom of not always being with your parents, always being with coach, right? So it uh I feel like that would always
034uh >> right. >> Yeah, it'd be good. Right. >> I don't know. This next >> further >> on what you're going to do with your team. >> This next young man reminds me of somebody in this room. >> I'm Parker Dorenzi and I'm a senior. And I think a big reason I want to go on this trip is just listening to my teammates from previous years talk about it. just years after and had countless practices and I just want to make some uh new memories with my teammates like they did with theirs. Um my name is uh Dylan Dudek and uh I think it's a good opportunity for everyone who is going on the trip to get together one last time because a lot of us are going separate ways either college ball or wherever
035and it's just good good opportunities to go on a good trip with everyone. >> Great. Thank you. Anything else? >> Any questions? >> Cash still didn't answer my question. >> Just say you're staying last last season. >> Not at all. Right. >> None. >> Cash is the first team all conference player and first team all state. >> Yes. >> Oh my god. >> And I do know that by the way. Just messing with you. Well, board has uh given our blessings. >> Is everybody in agreement? >> Go safe. >> So, for our newer board members, anytime a team is going to leave the state, um they do have to get permission from the >> be smart, have fun. >> Go hard. >> Make good choices. Make good choices to my team. >> Go make some
036memories. >> Kids out of state all at the top. Good choices. >> Looks like you're going for a different >> hopefully. >> Two information items. Freedom of information requests from Steam Fitters Local 383. >> Yeah, they had asked for invoices originating from GM Mechanical from March of 2025 through October of 2025. So that request has been fulfilled. Illinois school report card presentation. >> Okay, we'll be fast. It comes along here tonight. So, every year the state of Illinois um gives a report card to the schools based on their performance on the standardized assessments which include the I for grades three through eight and then the ACT for our 11th graders. So, I'm just going to go over what we um how we did. You guys aren't going to stay for this. >> So, I gave
037you a little cheat sheet just in case you need clarification. I'm going to kind of go through it quickly so you have the presentation and then this little cheat sheet with you um so you can yeah understand how the different metrics are configured. So we will start um with some overall shoutout stats. So on the bottom is our proficiency rates in the year of 2024 and then on the top are the proficiency rates from this year. You can see there's been a significant increase in IR proficiency and ACT proficiency. That has in part to do with the right size cut scores that we talked about earlier this year. So the state of Illinois adjusted what it means to be proficient in the areas of math and English so that it was more accessible to students
038in Illinois. And then for science actually they did the reverse. They made the expectation for proficiency to be more difficult. So some celebrations are that our ACT or high school students in the areas of math and science are exceeding the state proficiency benchmarks. And then for the IER, we almost doubled our math and we are inching up to being in line with the state for our um ELA. So exciting statistics there. Up here, this is just showing you the growth. So just like in our school report, our um school improvement plans, we measure proficiency and growth. The top shows you the elementary growth and the bottom is the high school growth. on the top. The light green is our district and the dark green is the state. So exceeding the state in grades three through
039eight for growth in the areas of math and ELA. Okay. And then this is just showing you I'm going to show you some comparisons to different school districts in the area and then in the middlei conference. But it's important to note that our school district is currently at 54% low income. So, our student population, that's the statistic. And so, it's not always um comparing apples to apples when you're looking at school districts such as Morton or Metamora because their perfect their low income rate is like 7%. So, it's a huge difference um in comparison. So, when you look at it from that lens, there are four quadrants. And so, the quadrants that we would be in would be the high performance high poverty or high perform low performance high poverty. That's where we would fall.
040The state considers 40% low income to be like when you're identified as a lowincome district. Again, ours is 54. So, we're way above that and in the best quadrant that we would be for the situation that we're in. This is for ELA and this is for math. So, even better for math. So, so every school in the district did earn a commendable um rating and I did prepare for you like a house um visual that explains the breakdown and what each school earned. I'm not going to go through each building because it is here in front of you, but just to kind of orientate you around what you have in front of you. And the white box is what they earned the year before. All of the six colors there are the things that are
041weighted to come up with the index score. The index score is out of 100. And the top number is what we earned out of 100 possible. So if I scroll over to this chart, all of these schools are reaching for the same goal of exemplary, which is 81.99. And so you can see how far each building is getting closer to reaching that goal. Uh this line right here shows you the next threshold. So that's the highest number for a targeted school. So we are way above that in where all of our buildings are. Lincoln, as you can see, was 1.04 or 1.4 from that exemplary designation. Um I will say last year they were in the 70s. So it is possible to jump that much um in a year. Westview jumped 15 index points from
042last year to this year. So it is possible to keep um reaching high here and getting that exemplary designation. The high school same thing except for their exemplary designation is even higher. It's 92% that they have to earn. Um what's also interesting is this line down here. This is where some schools might have like 15.7 would be their index score and they're still considered commendable. So if you think about it from that lens where our high school is at 68.49 so definitely on the the other half of that um metric. So lots of things to celebrate overall when we look at all the buildings and things that are problematic for us. One area that we need to grow in is our depth of mathematic application. Another area is chronic absenteeism. Um, and so I'll just
043talk a little bit about the chronic absenteeism just so you can understand it. So chronic absenteeism is not the same thing as truency. It's just the number of days missed and it's excused or unexcused. So it includes trips to Disney, being sick, having braces. It includes the five mental health days that we're mandated to give all students starting grade three through 12. And so even if they take those days, that is counted towards that metric. So, um, all of our principles are doing a lot of work trying to get that attendance rate up. That's we were talking about earlier with the, um, incentives that the kids one that's all about attendance. They're all calling home. They're doing home visits, truency officers involved. Um, so just wanted to mention that as you're looking through, there's a
044lot of work being done. There's just a lot of things against us that are out of our control in changing that number. >> You have a number in like that shows truency versus the other things. >> Yeah. So when you go to the Illinois schoolreportcard.com and look up each building, it will give you a rate for truency and each building has a different one. So >> or what are you trying to connect the truency to? >> H >> what are you trying to connect the truency to? >> She said that chronic absenteeism is truency doctor's appointments Disney whatever. >> So the difference between truency truency is unexcused where chronic absenteeism includes excused. So if a parents choose to take their children um for example somebody just took their child out for three weeks to go
045to Indonesia and so that's going to be excused because the parents are taking them but they are now going to be configured into that chronic absenteeism. >> Correct. Yeah. So >> yeah we consider the chronic truent it's nine unexcused absences in a 365 day period. It doesn't reset being schooler. So October 1st this year. Then if you were looking back, you go back to October. >> Got it. >> Okay. So this is something that we've been putting together. Jason Parsons actually started it and I've just been continuing it. So just to kind of show you longevity of data, the important thing to look at here is when they did the alignment of the cut scores, they predicted that in the area of math, school districts would increase from seven to 10%. 10% being the highest
046for school districts that were really working on school improvement and we have 14.3. So really awesome in that area for math. And then for ELA the prediction was 7 to 12 and we have increased by 15% for our district. So lots to celebrate there. definitely shows that all the work that the teams are doing through the collaborative team time identifying essential standards the data tracking summitive assessments commonives all that work is really showing that it's um creating positive trends for us I do some comparisons for other schools in the area just so you can kind of see where we're at um so redacted data means that there were fewer than 10 who were able to be proficient or above proficient and so if that was the case if you went into the Illinois school report
047card, you could use the demographics to identify basically who those kids were and so it's a privacy issue so they don't put it up there. So things to celebrate as you're looking at this is the consistency of Canton. So kids are getting a stellar education at third grade and it's continuing on through 8th grade. Whereas in some of the other districts there's some really big dips. And so I think that's just something to kind of highlight when we look at our ELA instruction. When we look at math it's not as solid. There are definitely a few grade levels that I'd like to see improvement. We're aware um of teacher turnover and how that impacts programming curriculum um that vertical articulation. So, we're working towards that. And um again is why I said one of the
048areas we need to improve in is our our applied math. Okay. And then this is science. So the science assessment is given in fifth grade and in eighth grade. And then we have the comparisons for the ACT. So these are just comparisons of 11th grade students who took ACT from around the surrounding areas. This first one um is the ELA comparisons. You have to remember the the population and demographics aren't always comparing apples to apples here. Um I will say this is two years in a row that we've been in second place for our ACT math scores. Last year is with the SAT math score. So, I think that's starting to demonstrate that there's some sound instructional practices in place there. It's not just a cohort of kids that are producing those numbers. And then
049for our science, again, this is really impressive because when the math and ELA proficiency rates were decreased, the science was increased. So, it was making it harder to reach. And so being above the state and the best in the area um in comparison to these districts is something to be a proud of. Okay. And then here we have the middlei. And if you just don't look at Dunlap, Morton, and Metamora, we're number one in ELA, number one in math, and number one in science. >> So overall, >> nice try, Brad. That doesn't work. So, the ELA proficiency increasing, the math proficiency increasing. Um, you know, we've talked about before this work is so important to me personally because the power of education in a low poverty area is the only way to start closing that
050gap to get these kids the future that they deserve to have. So, we are on a mission to do that. That is why we spend time here talking about it. That's why we have our collaborative teams. That's why we have our late starts. That's why we're vertically aligned around the district. um and why we're constantly trying to measure and watch this so that we can provide the kids with what they deserve. >> It's also why you're not afraid to show the numbers >> and where we need to improve, right? >> Absolutely. Um and so then our next steps, we're going to continue to talk about that chronic absenteeism. Um all of us have been talking about ways maybe we can just have that message out to families like it's nice that you get to go
051to Disney, but maybe not in the middle of the school year if you could help it. Um just to help us with that a little bit, but we'll see there. um strengthen our math instruction through the data driving practices and targeted supports. We're going to continue to use our standards tracking data, uh refine our tier 2 supports and really push those instructional focuses and instructional coaches. We have some very talented, smart people on the curriculum team who are willing to help the teachers and get in there and improve their instruction. So, we're going to be pushing that as much as we can. So, and then the last thing is every building has a leadership team. Um, and so we meet with each other and we'll continue to meet throughout the year to tackle the next
052steps and make sure that we're on the path to address the building's needs. Any questions? >> Still doing late start. >> Perfect. >> Yeah, >> I'm I'm a lover of it now. I used to not like it. I'll be honest. I like it now. >> My kid likes it, too. >> He gets to sleep. Anything else for Julie? >> No, I mean I think all the years of being on the board, this is about as clear and concise as the message has been. >> Thank you for the cheat sheet. >> I think last year we ended up in some formula math in here at one point in the discussions if I remember right. >> So I appreciate you handing that to me. That was good. >> Absolutely. >> But yeah, it's good progress. >> Good
053job. Thank you. >> Thanks. >> Yeah. And the progress is, you know, extremely proud of our our district and and our team of teachers. um they have put in a lot of work over the last four and a half years on this PLC process. It was a huge shift for them and we're changing the way we are teaching kids which is the most difficult thing to do in a school district and extremely proud of everybody that's been involved. >> Great. >> Athletic committee meeting update. >> So we had an athletic committee meeting. Uh it went very well. Um overall a lot of positives. Um numbers were good. In fact some cases better than what was anticipated that caused some issues. um specifically with baseball and softball. So we talked a little bit about how to
054remedy those situations and uh there was some discussion probably most of the discussion was on sixth grade football and how to handle that. Um so Brad, can you elaborate on that a little bit with football? >> Yeah and with Mr. Vanout and I put together a survey, sent it to sixth grade parents. Um we do have those results the two committee members and the rest of the board that they want to see outside competition. Um so Mr. Van Hton's been working really hard on trying to see what he can provide down there. Um, I don't know if you want to speak on that at all, but I know he's been working on that. >> Sure. I've talked to basically every local school football that plays the area, gathered all that information. Um, there's a lot
055of there's pros and cons to both leagues, the JFL OCI that plays. Also, there's another league around here. Um there's going to be some hiccups with trying to find that competition. Um I can elaborate on that more in the future if you'd like for me to. Um yeah, I guess that's specifically with football because most teams play JFL on sixth grade and that presents a a lot of different problems with us at the school >> such as >> uh they play on Sunday for one. Uh they also have double headers that they play which we would only have one team. Uh so those are two major hiccups. Um also their schedule comes out in the second week of August. That's when the schedule comes out. That's not really how we do business at the school.
056So there those are three main ones off that you know there's some thing there. It could be worked around I in some capacity but some of that is going to be very challenging. Um, >> officiating is another big one. Um, because they go and they work 67 JFL, you guys know they work a bunch of >> You set me up. I mean, come on. They work several games on Sunday and Saturday and you know to come to Canton or go to wherever we are and only work one game that's something that officials are going to not want to do at all. So that's just another hurdle not something that we can't do our best to address. Um we did set another meeting month at least and we're going to meet again in January to discuss
057football. >> How was the numbers for the program? >> Sure. Um for football, >> sure. Sure. We had 64 kids sixth through eighth grade. For football, about roughly 20 per grade level. We had 40 kids try out for baseball, 34 for softball, I believe. So those numbers were great, which also presented some issues with staff and games uh specifically that we're trying to figure out or how to work through that. >> 25 for girls faster girls basketball. >> Yes. successful, very successful basketball. >> Well, we knew there were going to be some hiccups, but you've recognized the problems and we just kind of smooth them out as we go here. >> So, I think the first year was fantastic. >> It was a very good year. >> We'll meet again. >> Can I say one
058thing? Real shout out to Coach McCormack and his staff and their players. They were very involved with Anger football. Um they were very helpful and coach McCormack specifically was there day in and day out games practices helping trying to funnel his program. So I did want to mention that. >> Okay. >> We will meet again in January and come back with recommendations to the board after that meeting. >> Good. >> All right. Joint annual conference review. So, everybody received their packets with information as we lead up to the conference. If you have any questions, let's see, reach out. >> You lose that, you're off the board. >> The biggest thing in there is the phone number list. Do not share with anybody. Well, staff, have a great Thanksgiving and thank you for your >> continued
059hard work and we do appreciate that. Can I get a motion to go to close session? >> So, second. >> Roll call. >> Matt Keys, >> yes. >> Mike Krue, >> yes. >> Brent Perry, >> yes. >> Jordan Stanley, >> yes. >> Brian Spiva, >> yes. >> Holly Blue, >> yes. Yes. >> Thank you everyone. All right, we're live. >> Get a motion to adjourn. >> So move. >> Second. >> Oh >> I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. You know what? I'll let you do it next time. They weren't that nice to me. >> Roll call, please. >> I elbow you tons. Tell me that. >> Holly Blue. >> Yes. >> And Gersnich. >> Yes. >> Matt Keys. >> Yes. >> Mike Kulac. >> Yes. >> Bren Prairie. Yes. George Stanley. >> Yes. >> Brian.
060>> Yep. >> All right.