001Please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, to the Republic for which it stands, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Good evening everyone and thank you for joining us tonight. I'm going to shift our order of business slightly this evening by moving the Consent Agenda ahead of my scheduled comments. There is a personnel recommendation on the agenda that I believe is appropriate to approve and celebrate before we move to our recognitions. Dr. Gault, would you please share the items on the Consent Agenda for the board's review? Thank you, Mrs. Maloney. This evening I have for the board the approval of the minutes from the Special Board of Education Open Session Meeting held on January 24th, 2026, and the Open and Closed Board of
002Education Meetings held on February 5th, 2026. Acceptance of the Treasurer's Report, approval of the Bill's Payable List, approval of the District Activity Bill's Payable List, approval of the Personnel Report, which includes the resignation of certified staff, employment of non-certified staff, employment of administrative staff, and I do want to stop here and just make sure that I share with the board a little bit of information about my recommendation for the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction, and Innovation. And so it is my pleasure to recommend Dr. Tasia Fields for the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction, and Innovation. I'm going to try to do her resume justice right now, so I'm going to read a little bit more than what I might usually read. Dr. Fields has earned a Doctorate of Education from the University of Illinois and
003was named by the Illinois State Board of Education as one of its 2025 Award of Meritorious Service School Administrator winners. She has proven academic gains, including a 15% increase in K-5 reading achievement, and has demonstrated her ability to successfully modernize classrooms while ensuring technology serves instructional goals. She has experience leading curriculum development in a K-12 system, including fully articulating and aligning local curriculum standards in a collaborative way, which is aligned to the process we follow. She also has led her district through a resource adoption process as a part of that curriculum development process. Her references that we have checked have described her as a strategic, empathetic, and evidence based leader. It is my hope that the board will approve this recommendation this evening. And that is all I have for you. Thank you, Dr. Gault.
004May I have a motion to approve the consent agenda as prepared and presented by the administration? So moved. Second. Thank you, Doug. And thank you, Dr. Pinter. Are there any questions? Kate, please call the roll. Dr. Pinter? Yes. Mr. Goldberg? Yes. Ms. Maloney? Yes. Ms. Timm? Yes. Mrs. Warren? Yes. So before we go on, Dr. Fields is in the audience. And so I would like to invite her up and Mrs. Malik. Welcome, Dr. Fields. Thank you so much. I didn't expect all of this. It has been simply wonderful from the moment I interviewed with all of you. Greetings. Greetings, community, Lake Zurich community. Hello, board president, board members, superintendent. Thank you so much. I am so honored and excited to begin working with you all. And thank you. Thank you. Thank you. We will now
005recognize our students, staff of the month. Ms. Malik has prepared a short celebration video to share. Mr. Nardiello, please play the video. Good evening and welcome to the District 95 Board Awards. It is a great pleasure this evening to introduce students, staff, and volunteers who truly represent the values and the vision that support the District 95 mission to empower every learner to achieve personal excellence. Tonight, we begin with our student of the month awards. Nate Smith, Young Adult Center. Nate is a friendly and outgoing student who brings a positive attitude to everything he does. He consistently makes others feel welcome and encouraged by his kindness and enthusiasm. Nate is always the first to volunteer when a task needs to be completed. He demonstrates a strong work ethic by giving 100% effort in all activities. Nate
006is quick to adapt and is able to learn new tasks and concepts with confidence and determination. He takes great pride in his work and shows growing independence and responsibility each day. Gordie Libby, Lake Zurich High School. Gordie consistently demonstrates an extraordinary and authentic capacity for being inclusive with individuals from diverse backgrounds. On a field trip in December with Illinois State Senator Darby Hills, Gordie collaborated effectively with his LZHS peers and students from neighboring high schools to craft an effective legislative proposal in which common ground was achieved. He also mentors freshmen through fame and is respected by his mentees for his integrity and authenticity. Gordie's leadership is not loud or demanding. Rather, he leads by encouraging others to share their insights and then supporting them in their success. Maxim Savet, Middle School North. Maxim approaches learning
007with a positive attitude, a great sense of humor, and a genuine desire to do well, which is evident in his daily effort. He confidently asks questions and seeks feedback whether related to language or academic content, showing strong perseverance and a growth-oriented mindset. In math, Maxim works collaboratively with peers and is always willing to explain his thinking to help his group succeed. He takes pride in his work and enjoys sharing his learning with others. He is a joy to have in class and his commitment to giving his best will take him far in life. Maxim is a gentleman and a very sweet man. Despite him, he is not a person that can do everything by himself, he does everything on his own will, despite the fact that he does not support anyone. He is a hero.
008Maxim has always been a busy person, but now he spices up on new things and wants to make his life better. together with classmates and is always ready to explain his thoughts in order to help the group achieve success. He is proud of his results and likes to share his knowledge with others. We are very happy to see him in the classroom. His desire to work hard will help him achieve success in his studies and life. She demonstrates the district's values and portrait of a graduate characteristics. She approaches her learning with a strong growth mindset, striving to do her best with an exceptional work ethic. Annetta balances rigorous academic expectations with her passion for figure skating outside of school, a commitment that requires discipline, perseverance, and effective time management. In this experience, she has learned
009how to communicate proactively with her teachers, manage her responsibilities, and ensure she does not miss any learning opportunities. Karis is an outstanding role model who shows future readiness by fulfilling expectations independently and demonstrating a strong sense of responsibility. Her actions set a positive example for the rest of the class as she approaches school with a positive attitude and enthusiasm that is truly contagious. Through effective communication, she creates a welcoming environment for everyone. Her positivity has had an incredible impact on the classroom community and will undoubtedly continue to impact those around her throughout her educational journey. Kelsey Malik, Mae Whitney. Kelsey consistently demonstrates leadership, kindness, and a strong growth mindset in the classroom. She shows initiative by helping classmates stay on task or understand directions. During group work, Kelsey shows empathy and patience, making sure everyone
010feels included and supported. She approaches challenges with determination and a positive attitude, viewing mistakes as opportunities to learn and grow. Kelsey leads by example through her respectful behavior and helpful nature. Ella consistently greets classmates with a smile and helps others during center time, showing leadership and compassion. In class, Ella listens carefully and shares thoughtful ideas, communicating clearly and meaningfully while practicing active listening. Her work shows progress and an eagerness to try new challenges, demonstrating resilience, perseverance, and a growth-oriented mindset. During play, Ella includes everyone, models good sportsmanship, and shows empathy by comforting classmates. Her positive attitude, collaborative spirit, and willingness to accept feedback make her a wonderful example for the kindergarten community. Yui consistently demonstrates academic excellence while maintaining a strong growth-oriented mindset. When faced with challenging tasks, she perseveres with resilience, viewing mistakes as
011opportunities to learn rather than setbacks. Yui works respectfully and productively with her peers, actively listening to others and ensuring everyone's ideas are valued. She communicates her own thoughts clearly and thoughtfully, often helping her group stay focused and organized. Yui is inclusive and open-minded, treating classmates from all backgrounds with kindness and respect. Lola consistently demonstrates the qualities of the District 95 portrait of a graduate. She holds herself accountable to her goals and strives for academic excellence each day. She is empathetic toward her peers and serves as a cheerleader for their individual goals as well. When classmates are stuck on a problem, Lola uses positive self-talk to support them. She has shown great perseverance in learning to read with expression. Lola models respect for the learning environment and ensures everyone's voice is heard when collaborating with peers.
012Moving on to our adult recognitions, we begin with our Volunteer of the Month. Azure Smith, Volunteer of the Month, Seth Payne. Through her more than five years of service, Azure has consistently modeled District 95's core values of collaboration, respect, and accountability through her years of volunteer leadership. As a dedicated PTO board member, including serving as vice president and treasurer, Azure has gone above and beyond to create meaningful experiences for both students and staff. She has served as hospitality committee chair, taken on multiple committee leadership roles, and currently leads yearbook efforts. Through countless hours spent collecting photos and thoughtfully designing the yearbook, Azure has helped preserve memories that students and families will treasure for years to come. Azure's positive communication, attention to detail, and willingness to step in wherever needed have created welcoming, joyful experiences across
013the school community. Regina Hope, Staff Member of the Month, Isaac Fox. Regina Hope, Isaac Fox Social Worker, exemplifies the District 95 values of perseverance, respect, and equity in all she does. She meets challenges with determination, persistently working to ensure students receive the support they need while honoring their individual strengths. She fosters a culture of respect through the trusting, collaborative relationships that she builds with students, families, and staff. She champions equity by advocating for inclusive, student-centered practices that allow every learner the opportunity to succeed. Isaac Fox is so thankful for all Regina does to support the learning community. Congratulations to all of our District 95 award recipients. In a moment, we will conduct our presentation of award certificates. I have a few directions to provide for this recognition. When your name is called, please come up
014to the board table where the board members will be standing on my right. And once you're presented with your certificate, please stand between the tables in the front of the room so that we can capture some photos. Once we finish all of our award announcements, you will be invited to enjoy some cake. At this time, I ask my board colleagues to join me at the award table, and we would like to invite Mrs. Malik to introduce and recognize these very special individuals. Okay, good evening, everyone. Thank you so much for being here. So we're going to start with our Students of the Month. And as mentioned before, we're going to have you come up here and go right over that way. And then we'll have you stand in the middle for a picture. We will
015take a picture first, then we'll get out of the way and let you guys take a picture, okay? Okay, we'll start with the Young Adult Center. Let's give a round of applause for Nate Smith from Lake Zurich High School. Gordy Libby from Middle School North. Maxime Savey from Middle School South. Annetta Viplentis from Isaac Fox. Charis Engreiser from May Whitney. I think we might have a parent coming up instead of a student, but you're very welcome to come up. She's not really a first grader. She's a parent of a first grader. But let's give it up for the mom of Kelsey Malik. Yes, yes, please join our picture. Don't worry. From Spencer Loomis. Yui Inouye. I'm sorry if I said it wrong. From Seth Payne. Lola Matthews. And our Volunteer of the Month from Seth
016Payne. Azure Smith. Yeah, in the back. Don't worry, I'm going to organize you for photos. What about? Sarah Adams. I'm so sorry. Sarah Adams. Ella Sheehan. Sorry, Ella. And last but not least, our Staff Member of the Month from Isaac Fox, Regina Hope. Okay, parents, you're welcome to come up and take pictures. Keep smiling. Keep smiling. A couple more. Look at all those proud parents. Okay, congratulations, everybody. Have some cake. Those words are never. All of our guests are more than welcome to stay for the rest of the meeting, but you are also more than welcome to leave if you should choose to do so. All right, moving on to public comment. Kate, is there anyone signed up for public comment? No, there is not. Thank you. The next item on the agenda is the
017Superintendent's Report. Dr. Gault. Thank you, Mrs. Maloney. I have several items for the board this evening. The first we'll start with is communication. You did receive some communication related to the walkout that occurred at Lake Syracke High School. For those that are part of our system, Dr. Walsh did reach out to those individuals. For those who are not part of our system, we just took it as feedback. So the FOIA is included in the agenda as well as typical, so I know that the board reads that very thoroughly. So I'm sure you saw all of that information. And then we had a facilities and business and operations board committee meeting this evening. We actually were missing Ms. Staniger, but we did have Mr. Goldberg, our chair, as well as Mrs. Warren joined us this evening.
018So certainly if I miss something, either one of you are welcome to add to this report. But we first started with the D-Wing update. We are ready to begin our construction process starting during spring break. And certainly I appreciate everything that Mr. Erstead and his team have done to ensure that we will begin on time and have a successful experience. But I also want to give a shout out to our high school administrators, more specifically Dr. Lambert. There was a lot of planning and effort that went into ensuring that we had all of the space we needed on the first floor. And so as you can imagine, moving all of those classrooms for every period downstairs was a feat in and of itself. And so I just cannot thank our high school administration enough for
019all of their work and their planning. We did talk about furniture a bit. The renderings are under development and the board can issue them. It should say expect to receive pricing and renderings by April 1st. I just would add that currently right now we did make some changes, slight changes to the furniture from a couple of months ago to ensure that our teachers and our students, that their voice has been heard. However, as we walk through that process, they seem to be a little higher right now than what we would like them to be. So we're still going to be going through a process to ensure that we come in at or under budget. And then we had a food service update. And so we are looking forward to bringing a contract renewal back to
020you. And so you'll have more information forthcoming. Our breakfast numbers have declined a little bit. More specifically, we talked about the middle school level. And Witsons has really engaged with our students. They've offered our students opportunities to trial some of the breakfast items. Some of our students shared with us that they did not know that we had a program. And so there needs to be probably a little bit more communication so that our students have access to a healthy breakfast before school starts. And then we talked a bit about our tax anticipation warrant, which was repaid on February 11th. And so that was repaid at 200 or the monies that came in, 219,862. And there was a total because, if you recall, there were two different ones. And so please note that that's not the
021amount of money that was actually made. But that was the money that was paid back. It is more than what we would have earned should it have sat in our typical place. So did want to say that. I think if I'm not mistaken, Dr. Romano, around 10 percent. OK. And then the business office is continuing to evaluate and pursue investment opportunities. And so should we find additional ones? I know Dr. Romano often will get a call and then he'll investigate and determine whether or not we want to proceed with that. He will provide an update to the board should we decide to move forward with anything else. I would turn it over to our board members who serve on that committee. If they'd like to add anything, this would be a great time to do
022so. Thank you, Kelly. Just a shout out to Dean and the entire team. I think I really appreciate the creativity that you guys have shown to try to bring both a better return on investment for the district as well as help other districts out that are in need. So I think it's a fantastic thing. As Kelly mentioned, we're probably seeing an additional 10 percent of income that we wouldn't have seen had we just placed in the normal investment stream. So but I think just as importantly as that is the ability to help other districts in need out. So, Dean, I really appreciate what you and Katie and the whole team have done in the business office to do this. So thank you very much. If I can shout out to all the high school administrators,
023the teachers on the staff and then the students, because this is imposing on the high school operations to start this project on spring break week. So it's it's a lot of accommodations happening, but I do believe the improvements that are going to be happening in that doing are more than worth it. But thank you. I know that that was a lot of effort to create that solve that jigsaw puzzle of where everything fits in so that the year ends as well as it began. And I'm sure they're all super excited to see the new facility when they return next school year. Thank you. Next, you'll see that I did approve a field trip that is an overnight and so just excited for our wrestling team who qualified for the state competition and tournament. I'm excited
024for them and wish them good luck. And then there are several just important dates and other items that I would like to share with the board. So we did at Middle School South host a the Lake County spelling bee. It was one of three events and really want to shout out first, Mr. Dangler, he did a phenomenal job and I wish it was shared with me from the regional office of education. Just how incredible that experience was because of his leadership and certainly want to thank him for that. And then we had several individuals from our staff who were a part of this process and want to give them a little bit of recognition as well. You'll see all of their names up there and certainly had three judges from Sarah Adams, which was exciting.
025My understanding is the regional office has already told Mr. Dangler they're excited to do it there again next year because he was so accommodating and it was such a great experience. So a big shout out and thank you to everybody involved in that process. And then for the first time, at least since I've been here, we participated in the Lake County Institute Day. So it's a kind of countywide Institute Day. We were one of the three locations that house the Institute Day. And I would just say again, our high school administrators as well as our curriculum and instruction department just outdid themselves in making sure that that event ran so smoothly. And I would be remiss if I also did not give a huge shout out to technology. The system that they put in place
026to ensure all of our presenters were able to access technology in the way they should was just unbelievable. So way to go to everybody who was involved. And then lastly, Mr. Jackowitz, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. He did a lot to ensure that that partnership between Lake County Regional Office and our district went smoothly. All of our rooms were ready to go. He made sure the parking was was the way it should be. So he definitely went above and beyond to make sure that all of our participants had a great experience. And I should not have said lastly, because I also want to acknowledge District 95 showed up well. And there were several staff members who presented to their colleagues across Lake County and just want to give them a shout out
027as well and really appreciate all that they did to make sure that we had a successful day as well as the county had a successful day. And then our District 95 annual art festival was on the 12th, which was the same night as a spelling bee in February. And so really another outstanding event. My apologies. I was unable to attend because I was presenting at another conference with Mrs. Stallion. But my understanding is it was amazing. Students were able to showcase just awesome, awesome pieces of art. And so we did have, I believe, a couple of board members who may have been present and so appreciate Ms. Tim and Dr. Pinter attending that event. And then also I had an opportunity. I was invited to Middle School North to attend their assembly. And so that
028was an exciting opportunity to watch both adults and students engage in front of their peers and have a great time. Very loud in that space because everybody was so excited. But you can see Principal Crawley, she is racing and she's got some things in her spoon that she's going to drop off to that Red Bull. And she's competing with the student next to her. She had a good time. Lots and lots of activities. And then on the right hand side, you'll notice today I had an opportunity to join Isaac Fox in their assembly, which was incredible. And you'll see that there's a teacher up there who participated and was a good sport. But it almost felt like a little bit of magic tricks and just excitement. The energy in the room was unbelievable. Their PTO
029partnered with the administration and the staff there. When they get to a certain point and students have earned so many positive paws, they call them, they end up getting some sort of assembly or some sort of positive activity. And so this was what they got for earning that that privilege through their positive behavior. And then for the first time ever, they met their mascot. So Isaac the Fox showed up and it was roaring in that space. The kids were so excited. So that individual, who I happen to know who it is, did an amazing job of encouraging a lot of positive praise himself. So a great experience, so much fun. And then lastly, you'll notice that we have some dates that get us to the end of the school year almost. And so excited to
030make sure that you have these on your calendar. I believe and I hope this is not incorrect because we actually have two charts going. But I believe that we have Mrs. Warren and Mr. Goldberg signed up for the March 18th breakfast from the board. It's at Spencer Loomis. I don't have the time there, but I believe it is seven fifteen a.m. I'm looking at Mrs. Malik. I believe that's right. Thank you. The division meeting is scheduled. The board's self evaluation. I know Mrs. Maloney was working with you to make sure that we had that date covered. And so it is April 25th is the date that most of you were able to attend, if not all. And then additionally, just to let you know, we typically have the retreat in the summer, which we go
031over action plans and superintendents goals. We have not yet confirmed a date that everybody can be present. So I am asking that you complete this next go around. If we can't find a date, I'll have a conversation with Mrs. Maloney to make sure that we get a date scheduled for the summer. The one in the spring in April is with the IASB representative Laura Martinez. And then, yes, thank you, Mrs. Malik. It is at seven fifteen for the breakfast. Lake County Awards night is coming on May 6th from five to nine thirty or thereabouts five o'clock. I think that's when they start opening the doors. I would ask that if you can, that you show it's an awesome night to celebrate across the entire county. We have a lot of district staff members who will
032be recognized. It would be great if we could have board representation. If you would like to go and put that on your calendar, please let Kate know. And then our graduation coming Sunday, May 17th. So please make sure that that is on your calendar. As you might recall, you come about 45 minutes before the ceremony and we meet inside the high school. We do. I will get those for you. Mrs. Malik is looking them up. May 20th, starting at five and seven thirty. OK, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Dangler. All right. And so that is all I have for you this evening. Thank you, Dr. Gault. Moving on to reports to the board, Dr. Armano and Dr. Gault shared the county school facility sales tax information in the board packet. Dr. Gault is prepared to
033share some additional information alongside Dr. Armano and Mr. Jackowitz. So Dr. Armano actually took all of the information and put it into a voiceover. So he's very good at this now. So we're going to go ahead and let a different individual share the information with you. Good evening, board members, administrators and stakeholders. Thank you for the opportunity to present this overview. Tonight, I will provide a clear and factual explanation of the county school facility sales tax CSFT, including its authorization, structure, permitted uses, limitations, distribution process and the steps required to place it before Lake County voters. Let's begin. The purpose of this presentation is to deliver objective factual information concerning the proposed county school facilities sales tax as a potential new countywide revenue source for school facility purposes. What is the county school facility sales
034tax? This is a unique and limited revenue source, which can be approved by voters to support school districts in Illinois. It was authorized by the Illinois General Assembly in 2007 and allows counties to impose up to a 1% sales tax. Tax revenues generated from the county school facility sales tax may be used exclusively to fund school facility related expenses and investments, along with the employment of school resource officers and mental health professionals. Revenues may not be used for salaries other than those related to school resource officers and mental health professionals, operational costs, direct instructional expenses, buses or furniture fixtures and equipment. The county school facilities tax is not new to Illinois schools. It has been passed in at least 58 counties across the 102 counties statewide. The map shown here provides a quick visual as
035to where residents have already supported this tax for school facility. What is taxed and what is exempt? The tax applies to general merchandise in the existing sales tax base. That shared, there are numerous items not taxed, including items such as unprepared foods like groceries, prescriptions and over-the-counter medications, vehicles, anything purchased at the wholesale level, and services. Let's look at how the tax adjusts the cost of goods purchased. If current sales tax is 6.25%, a 1% county school facilities tax increases it to 7.25%. Effectively, it would be an additional $1 per $100 of qualifying sales. Let us now review the distribution process for voter approved county school facilities sales tax revenues. Following qualified purchases, the Illinois Department of Revenue collects the tax and withholds its standard administrative fee of 2%. The remaining funds are transmitted to
036the county's regional office of education, who also withhold 1% of collections for administration costs. The regional office then allocates the revenues to each school district in the county on a per pupil basis proportional to student enrollment. In this way, the funds follow the student and directly support facility, school resource officer, and mental health professional needs within their respective school district. There are two options for having the county school facilities tax placed on the ballot for voter consideration. Option one is for the county board to pass a resolution. Option two is for school boards representing more than 50% of county enrollment to pass resolutions for their district. There are two paths for board of education leaders across the county to take. The board may elect not to advance the resolution for a public vote by Lake
037County residents. The board may vote to approve the resolution. If this path is chosen, the county school facilities tax will be placed on the resident ballot, provided the required minimum threshold is met. When school boards representing more than 50% of the resident student enrollment in the county adopt resolutions, the regional superintendent must certify the question to the county clerk, and the county clerk will then place the following language on the ballot for voter consideration. Shall a retailer's occupation tax and a service occupation tax, commonly referred to as a sales tax, be imposed in Lake County at a rate of 1% to be used exclusively for school facility purposes, school resource officers, and mental health professionals? The county school sales tax timeline has been developed based on statute and feedback from Lake County school districts. It
038is recommended that school districts choosing to adopt a resolution supporting the county school sales tax for their district do so by June 30th, 2026. The county clerk must have the resolutions not later than August 16th, 2026, which meets the requirement of being at least 79 days before the election. The November 2026 is the targeted election for placing the question on the ballot. If approved, the sales tax effective date would be July 1st, 2027, with distributions to school districts anticipated to begin as early as November 2027. Administration is looking for direction on how to proceed with the county school facility sales tax resolution. There are three options up for consideration. One, bring back to the Board of Education more information on the county school facility sales tax prior to the resolution for a vote. Two, bring
039forward the county school facility sales tax resolution for board consideration. And number three, do not bring forward the county school facility sales tax resolution for board consideration. Thank you again for the opportunity to provide this overview this evening. At this time, I turn the discussion back to our superintendent, Dr. Kelly Gault. I'm actually going to go ahead and turn it over to Mrs. Maloney if you have questions or if you would. At the end, we do expect some sort of direction. Sure. All right. I'm seeking questions or input from board members. Doug, do you want to start? Sure. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. I guess this is, I'm sure, a question really more for the ROE, but the county has the ability to decide whether it's .25, .5, .75, or 1%. They've
040gone for the maximum 1%. I'm curious to know what's the logic behind that. Why do we have to do that? And I'm just going to say something I said previously. We live in one of the highest tax states in the country. And I mean, I'm a hard no on this no matter what. I just don't think I want to, we want to burden our taxpayers with yet another tax because in this local area here, that would put the sales tax at 9%. And so that's a lot. And we're very fortunate. I realize that. And this is like we're well resourced. There are many others who are not. And I appreciate that. But I think that, you know, the great state of Illinois needs to find better ways to fund public education rather than put completely
041put the burden back on the taxpayers again. So but I would like to know why the ROE has decided that they're going to go for the full 1% versus a smaller increment, which I think that might make it more palatable to some. But I guess I'd like to see and also like to see. I know when our superintendent was here, he talked about how much revenue it would generate at 1% and a substantial amount of money that would be collected. And obviously, I'm assuming it's a linear progression of half if we do half a percent, half that. But I'm wondering what the calculation on needing the full 1% was. I'd be I'd be curious about that. But right now, today, as I sit here, I'm, you know, the board can decide what it wants to
042do as far as bringing the resolution for. But I I'm a definite no. Thank you. I don't know if you know whether or not Kelly, what the thought process behind the 1% versus the lower amount? I would have to ask because the only the only number that we were given was 1%. Lisa, do you want to go? I do have a question. How often are sales taxes remitted? Is it monthly or is it quarterly? It is monthly. It is monthly. So is this something that if it were to pass and start occurring that we would be seeing funds? We would be receiving funds monthly from this. I think there's a little bit of a beauty to that because, you know, our 90% of our budget, our income comes from property taxes, which is two big
043checks a year. And then the state, we get four checks a year. And the federal government, I want to say we get four. Quarterly. Probably four again. And we do, of course, have registration fees and such. But I would argue the majority of that is at the beginning of the school year. So having an income source beyond interest that is coming in somewhat regularly, there is there is a beauty to that for our cash flow and and finances. And I think what we're being asked is if this is something that we should pose to the taxpayers at large, which I actually think is fair. That's what that's what governments about. We vote on things and the majority rules. So I am not opposed personally to putting that out. I don't know if we're going to
044be asked to lobby to support people to vote for this or not. I think that's a totally different question. I think really what we're being asked now is if it's something that we feel is appropriate to put out to the general public to vote on. So you are correct. That's what you're being asked. If regardless of what the Board of Education would decide would decide related to the resolution, should we reach that threshold across the county? My understanding is that we what we would be required to do would be to say how we would use the money so that when voters do go to the polls, they understand how they're given district would utilize those funds should it be approved by the voters. And so that's not to say that we would be saying we
045support or we don't support. But here's how we would use the money should it come to our district. So it's more of an informational kind of that's my understanding. And that is the other thing that I have to say I do like about this, especially being in a more affluent district in that the money is directly following the student. The the total amount of money they say how many students do we have and the equal amount follows each student. It doesn't matter where they live. It doesn't matter what grade they're in. Doesn't matter. And so there is a beauty to that that these funds if the taxpayers were to approve it, they know it's directly coming and affecting every single student equally throughout Lake County. And that's something that's somewhat appealing to me personally as
046well. So thank you. Thank you, Lisa. Dr. Pinter. Yeah, I remember when Dr. Connor came. He said that it was something like over 50 percent of the folks that would be paying this tax are not from like this area. So we would actually, from what I understand, be benefiting from outside of Lake Zerk and Hawthorne Woods. But it would benefit Lake Zerk Hawthorne Woods. Do you remember it was like over 50 percent? I believe it was about 52 percent. Fifty two percent was more than the 50. Yeah. So I guess my question is, let's say we wanted to hire somebody who was a mental health professional because that's one of the people that we could use this money towards. So theoretically, I want to make sure I understand this, we could hire that person and
047it might possibly be cheaper for us as a taxpayer. Like for me as a taxpayer, it could possibly be cheaper for using money from that over 50 percent that's putting the money towards the tax. Right. So what it would have is it would provide us with a direct revenue component to fund that as compared to that being something that was competitive with our typical funding availability. So the assumption that like I think some people might assume that like it's going to cost us more money no matter what. Like this is going to be a burden on the taxpayers. And I get that argument. But is that is that actually true in all cases? Like in the case that I just posed, it could actually be cheaper. Well, it's not necessarily cheaper because the individual cost
048for the salary and benefits for a mental health professional would be the same regardless of the revenue that would be paying for. I think what she's comparing it to potentially and you tell me if I'm wrong, I'm trying to follow is that because over 50 percent of the money paid in for this tax would be from others that it wouldn't be a burden completely on our community. I think that's what she's asking. Thank you. You're correct. I am correct. OK. Thank you so much. Alicia, is it money coming from outside of our county over 50 percent or outside of our district? Outside of the county specifically. So people from Wisconsin or people from Cook County or any of the neighboring counties to us, they come into Lake County. They spend their dollars and the tax
049would be applied to their purchases. Right. OK. That's all I have right now. I don't have any answer or opinion at the moment. So I'm still thinking it over. So thank you. Thank you. My comments are that and I I could say generally I would support very similar to Lisa. I supported being on the ballot because I support having the taxpayers having the option to choose. I am not inclined to want to lobby for it, but be that as it may, I am supportive of it being on the on the ballot. One of the points that hits home to me because they did make a big deal about the fact that this tax would be approximately 50 percent funded by those outside of Lake County. But bear in mind that many color counties are, you
050know, look at like Northern Cook or whatever, come into Lake, spend money because the tax burden, the sales tax burden is less in Lake County. And if we jack that up by one percent, the incentive to come to Lake County to spend money would be potentially less. So that 50 percent may go down. Just a thought or a comment. I am, like I said, supportive of putting it to get putting it on the ballot so that our taxpayers get to choose. I do think it's also important that our taxpayers understand that if 50 percent of the Lake County voters pass this, even if district 95 voters do not, it passes. So there's like having it on the ballot is also a control either way. And once again, I there's pros in us as a district
051having this money to spend on our mental health or facilities. And that is an exciting thing for me. I once again, I side with Doug in that the tax burden for our constituents is significant. So I don't I think having the opportunity to decide to decide and our vote matters. I like that, but I'm not going to advocate one way or the other. So do you have enough direction? No, I mean, I would say that because I didn't really answer that. And I think we should put it on the ballot, too, because it's it's up to the voters. I would put it to the voters. Also, you know, we're talking here about possible debt management tax relief. Right. So if we could use the revenue to pay down building related debt or provide a property
052tax abatement for the community. I mean, that's like a put that in bold. So especially if it's half of money that's not coming from us. So I believe we have at least four that say to go ahead and bring the resolution forward is what I hear. So from our standpoint, that takes a little bit of time to prepare. So we'll work with our team to prepare that. And then over the next two months, you should expect us to bring something back to the board. In the meantime, I would just ask that if you do have other questions that come up, if you wouldn't mind sending me those, I probably won't have the answer. So I will have to reach out to get those answers. But I'm happy to to reach out and gain any additional
053information that is needed. OK, and I think Doug's question is a valid one. I agree. We've only heard one percent. I think the first time I heard it could be a quarter, a half, three quarters or one was in your presentation. So I would like to get feedback on why, because if that I would guess that's part of the resolution. And I would argue there's probably other school boards that would also like that answer to to understand what exactly we're asking. I can get that information similar. I mean, what if and this I don't think would be OK. Like what if we say fine, we'll move forward with a quarter percent. But the rest of the counties, it does not work that way. Yeah, it would have to be the same like a percentage, whatever
054that is, is what the county moves forward with. I'll get that information. Thank you. Thank you for that presentation. And we're doing this very intentionally so that our constituents and our vast listening public is aware that this is out there and this is happening. We're trying to be as transparent as possible about this happening. So we do have board briefs. It will be a part of our board briefs included in that and we can make sure that we're intentional in my newsletter and communicating. Here's where you can get more information. And here's specifically what was discussed because we do want our community to know that this is something that's being discussed countywide. Thank you. The next item is the financial education series, this one being on financial projections. Mr. Nardiello, can you please play Dr.
055Romano's presentation? And I just once again, you can think like if you're bored to tears, you can thank me. And if it's fabulous and you think it's completely wonderful, you can thank Dean. But I think that this education series is a very important element of board learning. So good evening, board members, administrators and interested stakeholders. I'll be your presenter today, and I'm excited to welcome you to our next installment of the financial educational series spotlighting school district financial projections. Tonight, we're looking under the hood to better understand projections, what they are, why they matter and how we actually use them. So buckle up, because just like a top tier race team doesn't win by reacting to turns as they come, we use projections to look far down the track, anticipate the curves and accelerate toward
056a sustainable finish line for our students and community. Let's hit our first pit stop. What are these projections? They are our instrument panel and GPS rolled into one. Not guesswork, but realistic forecasts built on assumptions developed by administration and refined together with the Board of Education. Administration handles the engine work, board provides the steering input, and we document every detail transparently. This gives us clear sight lines on revenues, costs, cash flow and long term health. So we're never caught off guard. Under the hood, projections rev up with everything, local taxes, state and federal fuel, enrollment shifts, staffing needs, building maintenance, transportation routes, you name it. It's about combining historic data with educated thoughts on what is going to happen based on all the information available. This intentional effort is designed to keep a strong hand
057on the financial stewardship of district resources. Why hit the gas on projections? Check out these three key reasons. They steer strategic planning, guiding staffing, facilities and programs with precision. They optimize resource allocation, keeping us efficient and true to our fund balance policies like a well-tuned pit crew. And they boost community impact by supporting student growth through strong financial stewardship of taxpayer resources with transparent oversight. How do we put projections into drive? It's done through the district's four-phased budget development cycle that projects, then refines, then refines again, and then one last time with board involvement in every stage of the process to develop a balanced budget by projecting revenues, expenses and fund balances in alignment with policy for rock solid stability lap after lap. Administration is diligently looking for financial risks early, like radar detecting debris,
058so we make proactive adjustments instead of emergency swerves. This allows for guiding thoughtful investments in critical areas of programming, staffing and compensation, capital projects and operational improvements. Bottom line is that projections shift us from reactive pit stops to confident, forward-accelerating strategy, always putting our kids into the winning position. All of this brings us to the finish line on the topic of projections. If there are any questions or yellow flags out there, Dr. Romano would be happy to jump into the driver's seat to provide more clarity to the discussion. We sincerely thank the board and everyone watching tonight for your thoughtful attention to this look under the hood at what's really important about projections. Madam President, I now return the meeting. Thank you, Dean. Way to drive. Glad I had my seatbelt on for that. Does
059anyone have any questions? Thank you. Thank you, Dean. There are no items for discussion without action, so we move to discussion with action. Let's start by getting a motion and a second on the approval of the lease extension for the Tesla Road warehouse. May I have that motion? So moved. Second. Thank you, Doug, and thank you, Alicia. Is there a presentation or no? No presentation? It's a report? Okay. Anybody have any questions based on the report in your packet? Just kudos for getting what we needed. Yeah, thank you. Thanks for being proactive. And I'm still waiting for the tour invitation. When do you want to come? All right. Kate, this is Long. Please call the roll to approve the amendment to the lease agreement with the Tepler Family Limited Partnership for continued use of the
060570 Tesla Road Suite B in Lake Zurich through June 30th, 2027 at a monthly rental rate of $11,986 beginning July 1, 2026. With the early termination rights, five year renewal options capped at 3% annual increases, carpet reimbursement provision, if not renewed, and provisions for discussing lesser funded facility improvements and to authorize the assistant superintendent for business and operations or appropriate designee to sign the agreement on behalf of the board as presented. May I have that motion? So moved. Oh, I think we already did that. So please call the roll. Sorry. Ms. Tim? Yes. Mr. Goldberg? Yes. Mrs. Warren? Yes. Ms. Maloney? Yes. Dr. Pinter? Yes. All right. We are now going into closed session for the following reasons. The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees, specific individuals who serve as independent
061contracts in a park, recreational, educational setting, or specific volunteers of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee, specific individual who serves as an independent contractor in a park, recreational, or educational setting, or a volunteer of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity. However, a meeting to consider an increase in compensation to a specific employee of a public body that is subject to the local government wage and increase transparency act may not be closed and shall be open to the public and posted and held in accordance with the Open Meetings Act, 5 ILCS 122C1. Also, collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one
062or more classes of employees, 5 ILCS 122C2. Student disciplinary cases, 5 ILCS 122C9. May I have that motion? So moved. Second. Thank you, Doug. Thank you, Lisa. Please call the roll. Kate? Mr. Goldberg? Yes. Dr. Pinter? Yes. Mrs. Warren? Yes. Ms. Maloney? Yes. Ms. Tim? Yes. We will not be taking action after closed session this evening.