001Next is audience to visitors. Do we have Oh, yes. >> Cody Mo. >> Cody, >> he's in the house. >> Guess I don't need to introduce myself. Um, so I I wanted to come tonight to uh in my role as chief of staff with the city of Marian to share um something about some of your students and a couple of your teachers. So if I didn't write it down, I would wander. So I'm going to stick to my script if that's okay. Um on Thursday, October 9th, uh the city of Marian hosted a hands-on workshop titled Community Pride in Action. The purpose of this workshop was to demonstrate how quickly positive change can take root when people are willing to show up, give their time, and work shoulder-to-shoulder for the good of our neighbors. The
002concept behind this event was simple. Could a group of volunteers create something mean meaningful in a neighborhood in just one day? To test that question, city staff identified an empty lot at the corner of Concord and Midway Court, uh, just across the street from the homes that the building trades class are building from us. a space with potential but no amenities and uh not yet any identity. Before the workshop, another staff member and I spoke directly with residents living around the lot to ask what they would like to see and just as importantly what they did not want to see out of that community park or that that neighborhood park. We didn't want to build at a neighborhood. We wanted to build with it. Those ideas and preferences were brought into the workshop as the
003starting blueprint and some idea starters. 15 adults registered to participate in the workshop. The furthest away was the mayor of Pontiac, Illinois. They expected to design a concept, make a material list, and map out feasible build tasks. What no what none of us fully anticipated was the level of leadership, creativity, and hands-on presence we received from students from Marian High School. Mrs. Heather Pulley arrived with 14 of her FFA students ready to work. And Mr. Lester James arrived with 16 of his building trade students equally ready to roll up their sleeves as they do daily uh right near the site. And from that moment forward, the students were just not just helpers. They became partners in design, planning, problem solving, and execution. They took ownership of the space as though it belonged to them. And
004in many ways now it does. They regroup regrouped some of the original design concept into smarter, more buildable features. They developed the materials list, worked through measurements, assigned roles, took leadership initiatives, improvised where needed, and kept morale really high all day long. When lumber arrived, they carried it. When tools were needed, they fetched them. When design questions came up, they worked them out together. They didn't wait to be told what to do. They already knew how to step in and get it done. By midafternoon, we didn't just have progress. We had a park. Again, we started at 9:00 a.m. that morning. a real usable neighborhood space built from scratch in a matter of hours, shaped by the hands of local students who cared enough to give more than the bare minimum. And I realized that
005it was probably exciting that they got out of class all day. So I I understand that's part of it, too. Residents stopped by throughout the day wanting to thank the students. And I have since gotten calls from others in the neighborhood who wanted us to know how much the improvement meant to the people who live near it and have for decades. the consultants that we brought in to help us with the workshop um have done this this kind of thing around the nation um and they they do a lot of conferences where they speak at people. They tell us how to empower municipal officials like myself on on community redevelopment projects. But this was the first of its kind. They wanted to test this concept. And so these consultants uh professionals who do do this
006work in cities across the country remarked repeatedly about the quality of students involved. One of the consultants uh by the name of Phil Ike who runs a company called Storyville made a statement u that I think was probably the most profound statement of the day. He said anyone who speaks negatively about quote kids these days haven't met these kids and I thought that was uh pretty special. >> There's a lot of talk about the challenges young people face but far too little recognition of the good that is right in front of us. These students didn't just build a park. They model leadership, initiative, civic pride, and personal responsibility. And those traits don't appear out of thin air. I know they're taught, nurtured, and reinforced by strong educators that are here in this system. That is
007why I wanted to be equally clear in recognizing the work of Mrs. Pulley and Mr. James. The character of these students is a reflection of the adults guiding them. Adults who are teaching life skills that stretch far beyond the classroom. skills like teamwork, service, craftsmanship, respect, patience, how to contribute to something larger than oneself. These are the kinds of teachers who don't just prepare students for a test. They prepare them for a community and really life. As a city, we talk a lot about economic development, momentum, and and what Marian looks like 5 years, 10 years from now. But I'll tell you plainly, when you see young people, as we did that day, give this kind of e effort without hesitation, you stop hoping for a bright future and start recognizing that it's already here.
008If you take nothing else from my comments tonight, hear these two messages. One, your teachers are forming the kind of citizens our community needs. And two, your students represented Marian at the highest level with pride, integrity, skill, and character. I'm grateful to the students, to the teachers, and to the district for sharing them with us on October 9th. It was a meaningful day for one neighborhood, but also a reminder of what can happen when the city and school district work together in ways that bring hands-on learning into the real world impact. Marian has a bright future. Midway Court has a bright future, not someday, but right now, because our young people are already there showing us the way forward. So, thank you for uh hearing me out tonight. and we took a bunch of pictures
009that day and I wanted to present you with a photo album of kind of our project. >> We did have academic excellence today. >> Thank you so much. >> So much. >> That looks so good. >> Thank you. >> Absolutely. Any questions about the event or >> the people involved? >> I probably will later. >> Okay. All right. Well, it was it was phenomenal. And uh one closing comment. Um all of Mr. James' students at 3:00 when it was time for them to wrap up and go home came around to every adult that was there, shook their hands and said, "Thank you for letting us be a part of this day." And like I mean it was just one thing after another like ready to go back out there and do the next project. Like
010um but really impressive young people and Mrs. Pulley and Mr. James also, as you know, I hope are rather impressive themselves. So thank you. >> Thank you so much. Thanks, Cody. >> That's That's amazing. That was a cool project. That was great. >> Uh Mea here. >> Mr. President, I move we approve the consent agendment consisting of the minutes from the September 23rd, 2025 regular meeting in close session as presented. bills, the September supplemental bills and October bills for payment as presented. Donations as oh no, I'm sorry. Elementary school compact and family engagement policies. Approval of the elementary compact family engagement policies ESSA title one is presented. >> Second. >> Okay. Is there any discussion? Do you want to talk about the compact? What just what that is real quick? >> Um it's just a
011requirement for title one command. We do it every year and it's typically at this meeting. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Okay. A second. Go ahead and call RO. >> Wesley. >> Yes. >> Moore. >> Yes. >> Okay. Um we're tableing eight. Uh um you can No, you can go ahead and do it. There were some there was some questions about that. >> Oh, okay. Never mind. Yeah. Okay. >> Um Okay. >> New business. Madam President, I'd like to make a recommendation to approve the following personnel recommendations as presented. Employment. Stacy Thomas, attendant secretary assigned to Maran High School effective October 22nd, 2025. coaching. Nathan Black, Marian High School volunteer assistant, boys and girls wrestling coach, effective for the 2025 2026 school year. Cody Dorflin, Marian High School volunteer assistant, girls track and field coach, effective for
012the 2025 2026 school year. Bailey Warner, Marian High School choir assistant, effective for the 2025 2026 school year. Resignations. Jay Taylor, attendant secretary, assigned to Mar High School, effective October 10th, 2025. Kaylee Grenell, school nurse, assigned to Mar High School, effective January 5th, 2026. Kennedy Thompson, new supervisor, assigned to Adam School effective October 3rd, 2025. >> Second. Go ahead and discussion. >> Go ahead and call, please. >> Yes. >> Waller, >> yes. >> Whiteford, >> yes. Yes. Harrison. >> Wesley. >> Yes. >> Moore. >> Yes. >> Madame President, I'd like to make the recommendation to approve the following personnel recommendations. Ivania Daniel, Spanish teacher assigned to Maran High School, intend to retire at the end of the 2029 2030 school year and implementing the terms of the most recent contract agreement with regards to TRS
013adjustments. >> Do I have a second? Secondhaller. >> Yes. >> Whiteford. >> Yes. Wesley. >> Yes. >> No. >> More. >> Yes. >> Okay. So, the ISAB IASB delegate and alternate. I'm I think there's only two of us going. Is that correct? >> So, myself will be the delegate and Mrs. Lawler will be the alternate. If I can have a recommendation for that. >> Madam President, I move we award electric contract to homefield energy for 17 months at 009787 per kilowatt hour January 26 through June 22. >> We can let's just do that one since he Let's Okay, we can do that one. >> Second. >> Any question about the electricity contract? >> Go ahead and call roll. >> White. >> Yes. >> Thunder. >> Yes. Wesley, >> yes. >> Wire, >> yes. >> Waller,
014yes. Moore, >> yes. >> I thought you already did when you said who was doing it, but recommend president as ISBA delegate and the vice president's ultimate to the 2025 joint annual conference. >> Okay, great. Can I get a second, please? >> Second. >> And go ahead and call. >> Yes. Wesley, >> yes. Yes. White. >> Yes. >> More. >> Yes. >> Okay. Technology reports. >> Nothing. >> Okay. >> Maintenance. >> No. >> Do we need air conditioners today? A >> Aon. No. >> No. >> That's resolved itself more ways than one. Huh? >> Okay. And superintendent report. Nothing further. Okay. Assistant superintendent report. Nothing. Treasurer report. >> So September 30th, uh, we ended the month with 21,591,245.19. We're 25% of the way through the fiscal year. Um, overall the revenue is at 7.58%. and
015exper funds. So revenue is 8.35 transport on expenses at 22.6% is at 278 >> all needed and unjustified. >> First payment is due November 14th. >> So hopefully by the end of December we'll have our >> second payment due January 16. So maybe by the end of February we'll have >> okay all right okay we are going to oh yes >> move that we enter close session for the person of personnel the purpose of appointment compensation discipline performance dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel to the public body including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee to the public body or Legal council for the public body to determine its validity litigation when an action against affecting or on behalf of particular public body has been filed. It is
016pending before a court administrative tribunal or when a public finds that an action is probable imminent in which case which the b case case the basis for the finding must be recorded entered into the minutes of close session. >> Second go and call roll please. Uh Wesley, >> yes. >> Waller, >> yes. White, >> yes. >> Bundren, >> yes. Moore, >> yes. Uh there will not be any action taken after we come out. Um but I do want to let everybody know there's going to be a special board meeting on Wednesday, October 29th. We will open in open session, but we will go into close for school board training. So, um just letting you know about that. The next regular scheduled schoolboard meeting will be Tuesday, November 18th at six o'clock. Okay.