001[music] Heat. [music] Heat. Heat. [music] [music] Heat. [music] Heat. Heat. [music] Heat. Heat. [music] Heat. Heat. [music] Heat. Heat. [music] [music] Heat. Heat. [music] Heat. Heat. [music] [music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [music] this regular board meeting to order. Tuesday, January 20th, 6 p.m. Can I get a roll call? Yes, you can. Um, President Sterling here. Vice President Thompson here. Board member Mcnite present. Board member McKini here. Board member Carlson here. Board member Johnson present. Secretary President here. Pam Cook reporting secretary. Troy Yarro superintendent. Shelley Wagner human resources. Michelle curriculum instruction. Jason, communications and community relations. Josh, business and operations. Thank you. coming. You can hear you can hear from here. A good sign. That sounds like a traditional. Well, it's my pleasure this evening to have a few of our students from Marquette Elementary join us
002along with Mr. Cole, our assistant principal. Um they are here to help us start our meeting off with the pledge of allegiance. And so we're going to get some introductions. He's going to tell you why these three were invited. [laughter] I'm going to face this way up. We didn't practice that, but that's okay. Hi. So, I have three wonderful students from our elementary school that have joined us. We have two second graders and one first grader, and they are here for perfect attendance. So, I have Joselyn, Siml, and Maya who joined us tonight. Awesome. Thank you so much. [applause] A quick fun fact, we have two of these students representing Miss Thompson's class. Tucson. Paul take credit for any of that. [laughter] But if everybody would please stand to the flag of the United States
003of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Nice job board members. You come around quicker. [laughter] Just got to try and save space. One, two, three. [laughter] [applause] gone on Friday. So there's two of those in perfect. That's why you have two. Can I get a motion and a second for approval of the agenda? Motion. Second. President Thompson. I. Board member Mcnite. I. Board member McKenna. I. Board member Carlson. Hi. Board member Johnson. Hi, Secretary Meeks. I President Sterling. Hi. Thank you. All right. Like we do at every meeting. [clears throat] Um the mission of the Harlem Consolidated School District as a vital part of the community is to help diverse learners realize their limited potential by providing an educational program dedicated
004to academic excellence and a development of strong character in a safe and respectful learning environment. Thank you. Can I get a motion to approve the regular board meeting minutes, close session minutes for December 15th, 2025, and public hearing minutes for December 8th and 9th of 2025. Motion second. Board member Mcnite. I board member McKenna. I board member Carlson. Yes. Board member Johnson. I, Secretary Meeks, I, President Sterling, Hi, Vice President Thompson. Hi. All right. Well, it is my pleasure this evening. We have one team here that we're going to recognize this evening. You probably heard them out in the hallway. So, we rehearsed this. We're going to see how we do with our lineup here. But, uh, [laughter] we try. We talk through it. rows. That's a big [clears throat] Well, it's my uh my
005pleasure this evening to um recognize a team that uh just had a big competition uh not too long ago. Uh they competed at the ICCA cheer championships um in the I'm gonna try my best to get this right. The junior large game day division. Junior high large game day division. That was really [laughter] this group of um ladies earned seventh place at the state competition which we're super excited about. [applause] As we know, anytime that you can qualify to compete at a state level, um that says a lot about your team and your your skill and your ability. And so, uh we're excited to recognize them, hear a little bit about their season, um and to hear from our coaches. We have coach, uh Rachel and coach, uh Aaron here that have led this team.
006And so, and they're most excited about getting to say their names and [laughter] they were practicing that so that they made sure they got it right tonight. So, I'm going to turn over to coach, let her talk a little bit about uh this team and the season um and kind of their structure, too, because now uh we've expanded and we have actually two different teams um at the middle school level that we're working with. And so, I'm going to turn over here to talk about that. Hi, I am Coach Rachel Stark Loftton. Uh this is my first year heading the middle school team. Um I have assisted it for the past few years. Um I also run the junior husky uh program as well in the district. Uh this year we have started something a
007little different just so that way we have uh more athletes to be able to develop and feed into the high school program. Um so this year we decided to do an orange team and a black team over at the middle school. The orange team focuses on uh the game day which uh game day division which they competed at and earned a seventh grade placing or seventh place seventh place placing um at ICCA. um that focuses more on school spirit. Um trying to get the crowd involved and you know skills and such of that level. Um routine is our other team which is our black team and they are still competing right now. So that is why they are not here and then we would have 35 athletes in [laughter] a little little tighter than what
008we are right now. So, um we are very proud. Uh this is the first year that this is that we've done this and uh they earned their uh state qualification in uh early December which was the first time that we've taken game day on and so I'm very very proud of them. They worked very hard this season and they should be very proud of themselves. Um it's it's been a it's been a road a lot of hard practices. I think they, you know, sometimes they come on and they're like, "Oh, it's so fun." And then they don't realize the the hard work that always goes into the things and there's it's long days and they have to maintain their athletic eligibility. Um, and I'm a little rougher on that than maybe it might put in
009the policies as well. So, anytime I see anything slipping, they know I will come to a class. I will um, you know, I'm emailing them so they all get emails if anything is off. But they're a really good bunch of girls and I'm very very proud of them this season. So, and then I'll hand it over to Coach Aaron. Hi. A lot of you guys look familiar. I see you guys at Chick-fil-A all the time. [laughter] I saw that ice coffee immediately when I came in. [laughter] But yeah, assisting these assists coaching these girls has been absolutely amazing. Like couple years ago, I was literally in this spot right in front of you guys getting my recognization for state and it's just like full circle moment. I'm just so glad to like be able to
010pour my cheer knowledge that I have into them and for them to take that on to the next step with them. So, makes me a really proud coach. Really proud. Definitely. Amazing assistant coach though. [laughter] We'll take the countless hours of not sleeping at night worrying about how the routine's going to go [laughter] replaying it. but let's learn about them. So, we'll go ahead and we'll hand it over starting over here. Hi, my name is Ava Spates and I'm in sixth grade. Hi, my name is Lily Veracity and I'm in sixth grade. Hi, my name is Jada Martin and I'm in sixth grade. Hi, my name is Jordan Young and I'm in sixth grade. Hi, my name is Shaniah and I'm in sixth grade. Hi, my name is Nola and I'm in seventh grade. Hi,
011my name is Try Fowler and I'm in seventh grade. Hi, my name is Callie Harvest and I'm in seventh grade. Hi, my name is Miranda Rab and I'm in seventh grade. Hi, my name is Chloe Grazinski and I'm in eighth grade. Hi, my name is Nella Rosario. I'm eighth grade. Hi, my name is Ellie Zel and I'm in eighth grade. Hi, my name is Annayia Duck and I'm eighth grade. Hi, my name is Ambriel Jacobs and I'm in eighth grade. Awesome. AWESOME. [applause] WELL, on behalf of the board, our community, our school, our families, the other students, we're incredibly proud of your accomplishments. Um, it's great to see such a wide age range. look forward to seeing some of you back hopefully next year to recognize you as well. Um and and we obviously hope
012to see those eighth graders in high school competing at the level that they are. Um I also want to say a special thanks to them because you know we talked or made mention of the the the teams in splitting. You know that was something that was driven by them as a way to uh increase participation. We know we have a large uh middle school and you know somebody that came from coaching basketball at the time we only had one team and we had made that transition to having two teams and so these two are taking on two teams themselves. Um but it's allowing more kids to participate at this level which I think is awesome as it gives chances for kids to prepare for high school and what competition looks like at the high school
013level. Um but just again giving uh a lot more chance uh for our kids to be engaged and connected to our programs or through our programs. And so thank you to you two because I know it's a big ask and big lift to not only coach one team but to take two teams and to focus on all the details that come with practice and pre precision that this sport takes. We get one practice space for two teams at a time [laughter] there. So that in there in but on behalf of again on behalf of all of us congratulations well done. Thank you for representing us so long. Kudos to [applause] scrunch it in a little bit. [laughter] I know some shoes I want you to captain. So I want you to [laughter] Oh, yeah. Yeah.
014All right. There you go. All right. All right. How do we think that's about as good as Thank you. One, two, three. Okay, hang tight. I'll move the way. Guys, your parents pay for them. [laughter] Congratulations. [applause] Great job. Everybody. So, as uh families are departing, I do have a couple other just um quick recognitions that I want want to make. Um and uh just a few things to note. Um first, I I do I know some of you were able to attend, but um we're excited to uh support Hari Young who is getting the chance to go to Super Bowl um and to be part of all the festivities around uh flag football. It's a pretty big honor for her to be one of uh four student athletes representing the state of Illinois. but
015alongside Lamont Jones. And so I know that we'll invite her after that experience so we can hear from her what that was like. But a pretty cool uh thing, a big deal to see and and we even, you know, we have seen that in our social media. I think last I checked we had, you know, 68,000 views of that post. Um that just shows and that that brings, you know, the community support and and obviously the park district has been instrumental in the flag football. we've had them here um as a newer program, but to see that opportunity to exist for this girl um and something that's well respected by our teammates and coaches and uh pretty exciting. So, for any of the community doesn't know that's what's going on in that picture right now.
016Yeah. So, yeah, thank you for pointing that out. Yep. Had the chance they uh we were able to surprise I shouldn't say we they were able to surprise her. She had no idea walking into this room and there was a lot of people in there. um and to be surprised with that uh this opportunity. She was you could tell she was pretty pretty excited. Pretty big smile on her face. So, uh we look forward to hearing about that. Um I do want to just preemptively uh give a quick shout out um on behalf of the board and us uh to our property services team. As we know um they're calling for snow tonight and the work that they put in and you know starting at 3:00 or 4 in the morning and and the amount
017of time that happens during the season um outside of their normal duties to take care of the snow and stuff like that. We just want to give them a shout out. Um, and then lastly to the board, I know that you have this on your agenda, but um, I'm just want to make sure you're all aware that when we host the Kishwalki Division dinner on February 26th, our culinary students will be providing the um, the appetizers for that evening. So, we're excited to showcase their talent. Um, just to just for logistical stuff, um, we will have some tours that will be happening ahead of time as those events typically do. um so we can showcase the facilities at the high school. But just wanted to encourage you all to be there and obviously uh to
018show your support and make you aware that our culinary arts group is going to be working on uh putting all of those appetizers together and stuff like that. They do a great job and I think it's just a cool way to to celebrate the the stuff that they do um in that program. So just a couple quick things I have for you and that's all I got. Thank you. be turning it over to public comments from the community. We have three. One was from Dale Lane. [laughter] Um sending that over to you. That was an email. First one will be from Don Campbell. Uh comments from the comments from the committee should be respectful and demonstrate consideration for others. Comments regarding specific individuals are inappropriate. Address of the address the board only at the appropriate
019time as indicated on the agenda. Each speaker will be allotted three minutes to present his or her comment. Comments concerning the same subject matter will be narrowed to one spokesperson, but we're going to have that worry. Please be aware that the board of education members will not respond to your comments or questions during the meeting. If necessary, the superintendent or appropriate designate will contact you after the meeting to follow up concerning a question brought forward. And with that, I will turn it over to you, sir. My name is Don Campbell. I have a daughter that's uh really sad that she couldn't be here because she's really getting into the whole board discussion and obviously with consolidation plan, it's uh affecting her deeply. So, um I'm bringing uh the attention that I believe that the minutes
020that were just approved uh for December 8th and 9th uh do not properly reflect the public comments. um the public comment stating that the disapproval of closing not only the the consolidation but also the closing specifically of Maple and Olsson Park schools were very sporadically mentioned in the minutes um compared to what they actually were. Um and it's more of a generalization and I would uh I'm asking that the board amends that to actually specific stating that the the disapproval of the Maple and Ocean Park closing. So it's for public record. Um there are many comments that were specifically stated as such and so I'm formally requesting that the board correct those uh minutes and for the next meeting. Um I also want to state my disapproval that um at the uh last meeting there
021were four options and not one of them included anything of trying to keep Maple or Olson Park open. There are four options. You say you heard from the from the public. There are many people talking about do not close our schools and not one single option was out there. So I just like to state my disapproval for that. Thank you sir. Jayen Maverick. Um hi guys. [laughter] Um, I am I wanted to point out just that listening to all of the meetings, I'm a little disappointed and a little frustrated. Um, and I know that many people are as well and um, I listened to our admin team. I listened to our board members and I listened to a lot of the community and I heard what people wanted. I heard a lot of blame passed
022around and a lot of it was really inaccurately placed. Um, but there are some things that I didn't hear that I thought needed more attention or didn't hear enough. Um, and I'm gonna I changed the order I wrote them in. So, I'm sorry. I'm going to try to stay on. Um, the first one was that the original scenario 7 really came from a point of looking at the most equitable way to spread out our resources. And I don't feel like that got touched on enough. It was really looking at spreading out the resources across our district because we know that there are areas of inequity in our district and um seeing that get tossed out and understanding that there was a lot of push back on it. I didn't hear push back on that push
023back that I wanted [snorts] to hear. Um, and then it felt a little bit like a a negotiation that went sideways where you didn't take the first offer and we got one back. That wasn't as good. The new proposal is very much a highlighted area of the halves and the have nots and that's problematic. And it's problematic when people realize that their title resources are going to be limited in areas because of where they are. And I know that that was pointed out, but I don't think people realize that yet. Um, the second thing I wanted to point out um was that I really appreciated when Mr. Mcnite brought up the idea about the tax um the the amount of people that are contributing to the taxes and how when there is a reduction in
024that um that takes away from the budget we have for our kids. What I didn't hear is stuff that's been talked about in these meetings that I know you guys have been really forthright, but I don't think the community has paid enough attention to. And that's things like the fact that we have the former Blackhawk bank that is trying to reduce its tax liability. And I am sure there are many people in our community who have mortgages with that company. And we should be putting pressure on them to contribute to the communities that they are built in. We should be doing the same for the pharmacy chain and the the home improvement store that have been talked about in these meetings that we spend money downstate trying to get them to contribute to our community
025the way they're supposed to. Um, and all of that takes away from the money that we have to use in resources for our kids. um along with some of the the the reduction in tax liability. But those are some things that we as a community can control. We can control where we spend our money and we can control who we [clears throat] put pressure on. Um the last thing I wanted to point out was um that and according to our last Illinois report card, we spent about $18,000 on each kiss. Okay. So, we and people out here that were upset about their tax contribution being $6,000. I'm just going to use that roughly. That's a third of what it costs to educate your kid. The rest of that comes from your neighbors putting into the
026community and we are a community and there's a responsibility to to contribute. There's also a responsibility to hold those businesses earlier mentioned and ones like them responsible for contributing to that. If if that's what you're paying in taxes, you're getting a heck of a deal. That that's a third and we should be talking about that and how that we are below the national average, which is 20 to 25,000. If you're looking at private schools around here, you're looking at 6 to 10,000 a year for elementary, you're looking up to 20 for high school. We are a steel. Public education is what is the foundation of this country and our community. And so I felt like there needed to be more conversation on how we all contribute [clears throat] and what happens when we don't and
027how we face deficits because it wasn't a spending issue. It's an income issue. Thank you. The bills. All right. Thank you very much. The total payables this period were $1,177,95066. There were three payrolls this period for a total amount of 11,36,4923. For total expenditures of 12,214,44289. split up by fund. The education fund paid 10,556,146.96. The operations and maintenance fund paid $677,480.74. The transportation fund paid $586,2629. The IMRF social security fund paid $387,552.90 and the life safety fund paid $7,000. again for total expenditures of 12,214,44289. Are there any unanswered bill questions? Is this for the bills? Motion to approve the bills. Motion second. Mrs. McK mean board member McKenna. I board member Carlson. Yes. Board member Johnson. I. Secretary Meeks. I President Sterling. Hi. Vice President Thompson. I former Knight. Hi, Dr. Shir. Thank you. Uh,
028tonight I'm bringing forward four overnight travels. Um, in three of these the students had to qualify for state. Um, our middle school is doing great things because three of them are the middle school state competition. So, congratulations to all of them. Uh, the first one takes place on January 28th through the 31st. It's for the IMEC Allstate. I brought the high school one forward at the last meeting um or last month. These are for our middle schoolers who qualified. It's something we started last year allowing them that opportunity and uh great things are happening there. So that takes place um oh I think I already said January 28th through the 31st. Uh my next one is the one I bring every year which is the model UN that's our high school students. It is from
029um February 5th through the 8th takes place in Chicago and um they have come back and shared some of their experiences with us I know in the past um and it seems like quite an opportunity for our kids. Uh the third one is IA state is for middle school cheer. It will take place in Peoria. The students will leave on February 10th and return on the 11th. And my final one is IDTA state competition. That's our middle school dance team and that takes place on February 13th through the 15th and that will occur in Springfield. That ends my report. Thank you so much. [clears throat] All right. Thank you very much. My first recommendation tonight is to approve resolution declaring third west property at Maple Elementary, Harlem High School, Parker Center, and Harlem Administration Center.
030Next, uh 10B2 is a recommendation to accept the November 2025 treasury report as we reviewed in committee of the whole last Wednesday evening. There any questions on that? 10B3 is a recommendation to award the bus bid to Central State's bus sales for three conventional style buses at a cost of $449,370 and three transit style front engine buses at a cost of [clears throat] $514,740 for a total cost of $964,110. So just a reminder, those six buses we've been buying 12 to 15. So we're scaling that back for next year based on some of the state funding. just take a look at how the income comes in. There any questions on those? Dust purchase recommendation. 10B4 is a recommendation to award the high school dust collection bid to Miller Engineering Company in the amount of $370,917.
031This will be paid with our life safety funds. Any questions on that bid award recommendation? 10B5 is a recommendation to approve an agreement with YA Healthcare, Inc. to provide nursing services at Lo Park Elementary at a cost of $80 per hour at 37 12 hours per week for 20 weeks for a total cost of $60,000 paid with IDEA flow through part B funds. 10B6 is a recommendation to approve contracted school improvement grant tutor for Rocka Elementary at a cost of $10,500 paid with planning year title one part A section 10003. Next is a recommendation to approve Tyler Technologies/munis reporting [clears throat] services migration for a onetime cost of $3,600. My final item is a recommendation to approve an agreement with Nania Energy Advisors as we look to bid out our electricity services. If there are
032no questions, that is my report this evening. And the NIA is not cellular or the solar panels. Nope. So they have two divisions. They help districts put in solar, which we're not doing, and they will help us um put together the bid and evaluate the vendors on the electricity side. current. Yeah, we'll negotiate our rates for you. Yep. Dr. Good evening. Um have the recommend recommendation to approve the personnel agenda and agenda this evening. We have 10 employments, 24 resignations, nine transfers, and requests for two new paraprofessional positions. These positions are requested as we had two new moveins to the life skills program. One is at Parker Center and one is at the high school. That ends my Thank you, Dr. Troy Yber. Thank you, Bo President Sterling. I have five foyer requests here to
033read. So, as you know, I got to read them read them all. Okay. So, the first one is dated [clears throat] December 5th of 2025 and was submitted by Brad Shields requesting salary reports for all certified and uncertified staff in the Harvard School District. The district responded to the request during December 16th, 2025 with the inclusive documents. The second foyer request was dated December 11th of 2025 and was submitted by Nathaniel Langley from WIFFR requesting an opportunity to inspect or obtain copies of emails from Superintendent Terrell Yarro that contain the word plan as well as scenario written between January 1st, 2025 through the date of the request. The district responded to the requester on January 5th, 2026 with the inclusive documents. The third um one was dated December 5th of 2025 and was submitted by
034Ashley Bragg requesting access to the following records related to the CTE Career and Technical Education Expansion Project at Harlem High School specifically for the period from December 1st of 2022 through the present. The district responded to the request around December 19th, 2025 with the inclusive documents. The next one was dated December 31st, 2025 was submitted by Owen Wang from Rockford Sun requesting copies of all active full-time aid contracts or collective bargaining agreements. Um the district responded to the request on January 5th, 2026 with no pertaining documents. And then the final one was dated January 15 of 2026 was submitted by the Illinois Retired Teachers Association requesting the contact information of certified staff who are planning to retire in 2026. The district responded to the requester on January 15, 2026 with the specific documents. And then
035finally um bring a re I want to bring a recommendation to approve second reading of policy 820 AP from our November 17th 2025 board meeting. As you guys remember that is the one with facilities. Um it's just giving um Mr. Ran the opportunity to you know not bring um um something to the board. Yeah. On the weekend on Sundays specifically. And so unless he has some questions or or or wants to let you guys know about it. So that ends my report. Thank you, sir. Thank you. Can I get a motion to approve personal agenda and addendum? Motion. Second. Board member Carlson. Yes. Board member Johnson. I. Secretary. I. President Sterling. Hi. Vice President Thompson. I board member Mcnite. Hi, Bo McKenna. I Can I get a motion to approve student travel requests? Motion. Second.
036Board member um Johnson. I Secretary Meeks. I President Sterling. Hi. Vice President Thompson. I. Board member Mcnite. I. Board member McKenna. I board member Carlson. Yes. Can I get a motion to approve resolution declaring surplus property? Motion. Second. Secretary Meeks. I. President Sterling. I. Vice President Thompson. Hi. Board member Mcnite. Hi. Board member McKini. I. Board member Carlson. Yes. Board member Johnson. I. Okay. I got a motion to accept November 2025 treasures report. Motion. Second. Board member Sterling. I. Vice President Thompson. Hi. Board member Mcnite. Hi. Board member McKenna. I. Board member Carlson. Yes. Board member Johnson. I. Secretary Meeks. I. Can I get a motion to approve award bus to Central State's bus sales for three conventional style buses at a cost of $449,370 and three transit style front engine buses at a cost
037of $514,740 for a total cost of $964,110. Motion second. Vice President Thompson I. Board member McKinley I mean Mcnite. I board member McKenna. I board member Carlson. Yes. Board member Johnson. I, Secretary Me. I President Sterling. I can I get a motion to award HHS dust collection bid to Miller Engine Engineering Company in the amount of $370,917. Motion. Second. Board member Mcnite. I. Board member McKenna. I. Board member Carlson. Yes. Board member Johnson. I. Secretary Meeks. I. President Sterling. Hi. Vice President Thompson. I can I get a motion to approve agreement with IA Healthcare to provide nursing services to Low Park Elementary at a cost of $80 per hour, 37.5 hours per week, 20 weeks total with the cost of $60,000 paid with the idea flow through part B. Motion second. Board member McKini. I.
038Board member Carlson. Yes. Board member Johnson. I, Secretary Meeks, I. President Sterling, I. President Thompson. I board member Mcnite. I can I get a motion to approve contracted school improvement grant tutor for Rock Cut Elementary at a cost of $10,500 paid with the planning year title one part A section 103. Motion. Second. Board member Carlson. Yes. Board member Johnson. I. Secretary Meeks I. President Sterling. Hi. Vice President Thompson. Hi. Board member Mcnite. Hi. for me. I can I get a motion to approve Tyler Technologies Media's reporting services migration for a cost of $3,600? Motion. Second. Board member Johnson. I, Secretary Meeks, I, President Sterling. Hi, Vice President Thompson. I, Board Member Mcnite. Hi, Board Member McKini. Hi, Bo Carlson. Yes. Can I get a motion to approve agreement with Na Energy Advisors? Motion. Second. Secretary
039Meeks. I, President Sterling. Hi, Vice President Thompson. Hi, Board Member Mcnite. Hi, Bo McKenna. I board member Carlson. Yes. Board member Johnson. I can I get a motion to approve second reading of policy 8.20 AP from November 17, 2025 board meeting. Motion. Second. Vice President Thompson. I. Board member Mcnite. I. Board member McKenna. I. Board member Carlson. Yes. Board member Johnson. Hi. Secretary. I President Sterling. Hi. Turning it over to announcements and discussion. Yes. Um I had I had received several emails um this week and a lot of them asked why we didn't even look at pro or option four which would be the sister schools. And um I'd like to read at this time I an email that I received. I'm not going to say the teacher's name, but she's a teacher in the
040Harlem School District and all of us received it on the board and I thought she uh made some very good points about about um sister schools. So, I just would like to read it to you from my phone here. It says that she is writing uh as a teacher in this district who has taught in the one through six neighborhood school at Parker and at Parker Center and now in a grade level banded school. Because I have experienced all three modes firsthand, I feel strong that the grade level band structure best serves our students, families, and staff. I also want to acknowledge how difficult this decision is. I know that you're being asked to choose between uh choose between two and perfect options, both which deeply impact family, staff, and long-term future of our district.
041You truly are in a position of weighing competing needs, and I appreciate the time, care, and responsibility that you were bringing to this process. I am writing this email because I do not feel that the positives of grade level bands have been fully represented in this conversation. Change is uncomfortable, but growth often happens in that discomfort. And I feel that models offer meaningful and long-term benefits to our students and community. One of our biggest concerns with a standalone kindergarten building is the disconnect it creates for our youngest learners. Kindergarten classrooms are not clustered by neighborhood schools, which means many students form friendships that are immediately disrupted after just one year. When I taught kindergarten, I watched students spend their last month crying because I knew that they would not see their friends again until middle
042school. That is a heavy emotional burden for 5-year-olds who are just learning what school even is. Kindergarten being isolated also creates a gap in expectations. While I fully understand the dis developmental differences between a 5-year-old and a first grader, our kindergarten students should be held to the high standards of being safe, respectful, and ready to learn. And when they're in their own building where they're offered viewed as babies which can in unintentionally lower expectations for behavior and independence, our kindergarteners are capable of so much more and they are supported with considerate cons and cons constant experiences that continue into first grade. If concerns exist about transitions from a grade level band level model, I would argue that a standalone kindergarten is actually the hardest transition of all. We are asking our littlest learners to ba
043build relationship with staff and peers leave learn in a building and figure out what school is only to move again that very next year and start over. Grade level bands provide a more devel uh developmental appropriate and stable path forward. There are many clear benefits to grade level bands. One, it's more flexible and effective grouping of students. With more sections of each grade, schools can better create balanced classrooms. When you only have two or three sections in a neighborhood school, there is very little flexibility when students do not work well together or have econom academic and behavioral needs vary. There's greater consistency and depth with curriculum. Currently, our PDS support grades one through five, which is extremely wide range. an abandoned model. They could focus on just two grade levels, allowing them to better deep
044to build deeper expertise and provide more meaningful instructional support to teachers. There's more equitably in class sizes and neighborhood model. One teacher might have 17 students while another in the same grade across town has 25. This makes it very difficult to evaluate curriculum and instructional practices fairly. Stronger social emotional development is an abandoned program. students reached middle school knowing roughly half of their graduating class. This enables them to develop stronger peer relationships, feel a better sense of belonging, and navigate social growth with a broader support network and stronger advanced learning and honors opportunities. In fourth and fifth grade, honors and advanced learning classrooms are more flexible, are more feasible and abandoned model. Currently, students are gifted in one subject, often do not apply, it doesn't apply to the advanced learning and miss out on enrichment
045in their strongest area. In the neighborhood model, families sometimes are forced to choose between keeping that child with friends or seeking academic rigor. Grade level bands allow students to have both meaningful peer connections and access access to instructions that they may need to grow. And strong relationships all still thrive. As a teacher currently working in a grade level banded school, I can confidently say that strong relationships with students and families are built quickly and meaningfully in this model. A stronger, more united community. Grade level bands help make the vision possible. Students with a band students within a band can host hosted events like they bring families together such as Marquette and Machznney's turkey bingo this year. These shared experiences strengthen their community rather than divide it. I know there is no easy answer here. However,
046based on my experience across all three models, I believe grade level bands provide greater equity, stronger academic support, and a more connected school community for our students. Thank you for your time and service and dedication to making these thoughts decisions for our district. Um, what I'd like to say is, you know, I we've all been here for a long time in the Harlem School District. A lot of us have. and Marquette has been in grade 1, two, three, and Machznney four, five, and just till a couple years ago six for over 20 years. We've actually been doing a sister school banded program here for over 20ome years, and it's worked and it's worked well. And actually, when I got I really did appreciate her email with her opinion since she has served at all three
047schools. And I think maybe option four is something that we should look at because um kindergarteners and one two kindergarters first and second grade in one school and then third, fourth and fifth in another. They're only transferring twice like they are now from kindergarten to a school and it does help. Um you know as the person mentioned it here, we we are having the problem with the I got another email and talked to a few people that are worried about the economic segregation that we're having. I mean, as they call it, and we really need to look into that, too. But I wanted to bring it up and see if there's any support from the board to also look at proposition four. We've received some good insight from some teachers at Marquette and and uh
048I just wanted to see if there anybody would be interested in looking into option four because I think her email was very insightful to me having served in all three areas and I don't think some of it was even some people might not even have thought that we do grade bandandy but we've been doing it Marquette and and Machznney for a long long time. Is there So you you're looking for consensus for that to be considered. Yes. You would need to say Yeah. Right. I will I definitely [clears throat] consent because I said last week I would agree with three or four. Okay. Yeah. One of the callouts I had with was four was that the it addressed some of the issues with three but with no support of four at that time I dropped
049it for the safer method of one. I think with with option four and I'm not saying that's one way of go either side is there are benefits right so you get one replace our aging ALP with proper honors courses as was discussed so that you're not kind of targeting just who's at the school who wants to who wants to give up their friends all these locations have that opportunity you expand out the peer group so that lessens the potential for bullying once you get to the middle school which we have heard for the five or six years I've been on the board uh here. So there's some benefits to it as well. And it's in some cases a lesser transition. All my kids have gone through, as I mentioned at the last meeting, they went
050through Parker Center, they went through Marquette, and they went through Machesnney. So they went through all these steps. This would be one less of those. It also lessens the construction issues of dealing with Parker Center. It's still going to keep the little kids in the little school. So I still want to hear what the public thinks of this. I mean, the bands are is just a terrible word, right? Like, look at the meaning. Look what's there. Give me honest feedback the board as well as we do this. But I don't I unfortunately still don't think there's really a direct place right now for option three. But if option four is replacing option three, you would have my vote of consensus. I um like I say, I think banding like he said is a word that
051we really don't like. But I mean, they mean drastically different things. I think at this point sister cities or sister sorry sister schools you know is a a way to go and and as I think they just mentioned they just started doing that but like doing things together with the two schools like that turkey bingo and so the kids get to know what the other school they have a joint PTO as well. So again, these are some of the concerns that we were hearing, but when back with the last meeting, they you know, if if if I was the the the lone man out that was having support there and I'm again, option one has some benefits to it, but I don't want anyone else that does the feedback going, it's not one, so it
052has to be bad, right? It's banned, so it has to be bad. Like take a look, give the honest feedback what's strictly there. Okay, Aaron. I I said one and two, so I'm going to stand on that. I can't get I can't get behind three or four. So, I'm gonna say no on the consensus. Rebecca, this is just for just to switch three to four is kind of at which point so we're able to consider are we switching three to four? Is that what we're looking for consensus or are we looking to add four? So, now we're at one three and four. If we add four, I'm out. Sorry. If we if we're adding four to this agreement, I'm out. I think it needs I think three needs to go. Okay. That that one's different
053than both of them. That's right. [laughter] That's why I mean what are we consensing? Make sure my consensus is [cough] correct. Correct. [clears throat] All right. So, are you asking to replace three? If that's where we can get more consensus for. I would be willing to do that. So, Kurt's in on four, right, Kurt? Yeah. Because if we do three again, we're going to be right back where we at the meeting, guys, and that's going to get us nowhere. So, is that okay with you, Diane? Yes. I have no problem with that. Like I said before, I go along with three or four. So, four is fine. Okay. And well, you already know how I feel, so that's three. What about Rebecca? After lots of research, I have to go with Aaron and say one
054and two. Well, no, we're just Oh, we're good. Okay. No, then the answer is no. Yeah. Okay. Thank you. That's We're good. [cough] So, you eliminate three, right? Eliminate three and then we would only consider one and four. Four would be the sister school. Well, you're going to eliminate three, but that doesn't mean I have to vote on No. No. It just gives consensus to that you can consider it on you want to keep three. Okay. Okay. You have consensus. I'm not. Is there any more announcements in discussion at this time? I had a couple. Go ahead. Well, thanks. That's what we're here for. Well, that's good. Uh, first I wanted to apologize to the 12 people at this table and to the community for uh letting my emotions get away from me at the
055meeting last week. And after all the taunting and heckling and I snapped and yelled back at some who knows who was out there and I have to apologize and say I'm sorry for doing that because that's I that's beneath me and I shouldn't have done it. But in that regard, I think we need to work on the protocol etiquette of meetings, whether they are COOTW, public hearings, regular board meetings, and we're you've read the instructions even like you did tonight with the the comments that these people in these meetings don't care and they're cheering and they're clapping and they're yelling and they're taunting and it's inappropriate. and just the fact that it happens whether it's in this meeting or in any other meeting it's it it should be curtailed and there should be accountability and
056you know when I'm even sitting in this room and there are some that are sitting whether we're meeting and they're yelling things at at the board members um that's really unacceptable and I think we need to possibly even have a sip date for our staff and maybe say hey you you know we got to go over some of these policies that say how to behave and how to act in etiquette and things. So, I just think we need to look into curtailing some of the things that are going on. So, that's pretty much it. When when do we vote on this? 27 27 next week. Tuesday. Next Tuesday. Okay. I just want to say um I want to thank the administrators for all the time you put in, but I've been going over everything, doing
057some deep thinking, and I'm going to make sure I make the right decision for our district. Um because when I ran for this, I ran for the students first and then families and stuff. But I always look at life as your school days. Your school years are the only you're never going to get that back. So I want to make sure Harlem students get the best education, safety, you know, no bullying and everything that they need. So I'm going to make sure that I vote for the right thing because my heart's telling me to do it, not because of other people or the insults or nothing like that. Um, I vote by listening to people. I've been talking to little kids, little bitty kids, you know, high school, grade school, all ages, and some of
058the community stuff. And I just, my heart is telling me one thing and I'm going to do what I feel is best for this community, and that's what I stand for. Um, I just wish we can get to a place to where people can talk and communicate with each other without getting angry or losing friendships or losing families because of your opinion. If we start getting like that, we're just going to be in a box. You should be able to say what you want without this person getting mad at you or losing friendship or a husband and wife breaking up. You know, it's just it's it's crazy how people have gotten and I I can't blame. was just I don't know what's going on, but I wish we can just get back to this community.
059Not saying that we're not loving cuz I I love this community, but I know when things happen, it scares you. So, and everybody's afraid of the unknown, but I going to do what I feel is best for this [clears throat] community and especially our children and then the parents and stakeholders and everybody in this community. And I know some people are might get angry, but I'm human and I have a right to change my vote or stress my opinion and do what I feel is best. So, and I guess and like I said, I've been going over these things till 2 and 3:00 in the morning just going back and looking and going back and looking and I I'm going to make sure I vote why I feel best for this district. And I just
060wish that we could all get back to the place to where we could be more respectful to people cuz this is this is hard. And we all took this because we care about this community. Not just to be saying I'm a board member. I took it because my heart I love this district and I want to make sure everybody, especially our children, because you're going to always get older, you're never going to get younger. You can always go to college, but you can never get your school days back. And that's what my thing is for. So, thank you. Thank you everybody. Thank you. I spoke enough at the last meeting. So, I'm going to just kind of I think everybody knows where I stand. And actually, you know what? I am going to say something.
061That's a shock. Why not? Um, so [laughter] as a board member, the first thing we have to the the our number one job, and I'm just letting the community know if you our number one job is is the education and the students and the teachers. That's our number one job. Our number two job obviously is the taxpayers, right? So as a board member, we are we are in a balancing act of number one representing our taxpayers and number two well number one getting our children the best education and number two appeasing to to to the the tax taxing base. Um what was said is you know what was said back there is and I I had a brain fart on your name cuz that happens. But you you know you know who I'm what was
062said is when you when you look at the tax base I mean we're you know I'm just going to give an example. My old or my my youngest is graduating this year. So therefore I will not have a single child in the district and I will not complain about paying taxes. Someone paid for my children before. I'm paying for someone else's children before as long as it's a reasonable tax rate. So, like I said, I'll have no skin in the game besides my taxes at that point in time, but I'm paying for I'm paying for the next generation um to go through. And I think that's the way we got to look at somebody paid for us and we're paying for them. So, like I said, it obviously is the children first and that comes
063with the students, the teachers, that comes with that. But we also have to look at our we also have to look at our taxpayers too. And and that's that's always the tipping point as being a board member is we're we're trying to get the closest to that access as possible. And I think there's a way to get there with with some of these some of these plan. I mean I know there's a way to get there with some of these plans. So with that being said, I'll send it back to you, President Sterling. Thank you, Kurt. Anything? Um, no. I mean, I I think it's good that we did this because we're going into another meeting. It gives you time to review, follow up, and and get that feedback for for all directions, right? I
064think this meeting and and this conversation really does prove that we're listening to all of that. I think just asking to be a little nicer at times to to all members is is just the courtesy and the part of being in this community is important, but you know, we're human. There's a lot of emotions involved to this. Impacts a lot of us. And I love your point, Erin, like we're just maximizing the return on our investment, which are our kids. So that can keep going generation over generation. Yeah. Well, the only thing I can add is um to the community, we've been very cognizant of of taxes in general. Um over the last years, uh how many tax abayments? Um we've made about $12 million in property tax relief grant and brought that debt payment
065down 6.5 million down to 2.6. Correct. We also didn't have to, but made a deal with North Park Water that saved the taxpayer $13 million there on on that well. We've we've consistently and will con continue to consistently look for ways to save taxpayers dollars. We made a deal with Lo Park too with the water tower. With the water tower. Yes. But I'm what I'm saying is a continuous thing. Um when I joined the board, we were number one in the highest rate and now we are three. So we've we've gone down on our tax rate. Um this year going into this the board consistently as a group said that we were not looking towards the taxpayers to burden this with the any with this deficit. So we've looked many different ways but the deficit
066only said that we couldn't kick the can anymore over this utilization of the of the schools. That's why we had to look at the at the schools. Um, it's gotten to a point where the numbers say that we can't hope and pray anymore for young families to move into homes that don't exist. That there there are no empty neighborhoods in in our area. So now it's time to look towards whatever option and we don't have to do it all on one plan. We have time. There's multiple years that this district can afford to run a deficit, but we're not trying to. That's why we started this and that's why many options will be on the table. Many more things will be coming up. Justifications for many things will need to be had. But that doesn't
067just stop to on on Tuesday the 26th. We don't just stop and say, "All right, we're we're done for the future. We'll keep looking." And but at the end of the g day, it's for the kids, but we still have to protect the taxpayers's dollars while we do it. But the end results for the kids. As long as you're doing it for that, you're doing the right things. Anything else with anybody? All right. With that, can I get a motion and a second to adjurnn? I have a motion. Second. Heat. Heat. [music]