001The entire RV math team qualified for the ICTM state tournament. At the state competition, the math team placed 11th overall and had many individual teams place in the top 10. Congratulations to the following mathletes on a record-breaking season. For the Algebra 1 team that took seventh place, Harman Hugh, >> Is he a mathlete? Is he a mathlete? >> They're all out there already. >> Is it us? Come on, Harman. >> Did someone say math team? >> Charles Ip, >> Thank you. >> Emmett Knowles, Ethan Schmelling, Elijah Shure, Camden Tuesday. The Algebra 2 team that took eighth place, Joe Duffy, Sophie May, Ronen Facemire, Adreza Risha, Mitch Shoreman, Ian Spatzik. The Pre-Calculus team that took 10th place, Quinn Hendricks, Wyatt Hoffman, Zack Kowalski, Isaac Lee, Tabitha Brill Ye, and Zack Rosenfeld. >> Did you say Tabitha?
002>> The freshman sophomore eight-person team that took 10th place, Charles Ip, You get another a right? Emmett Knowles Ethan Schmelling Camden Truesdale Annika Beal Annie Dickerson Sophie Dickerson Wally Adamhof The junior senior eight-person team that took 10th place, Sophie May Ronan Pascemio Adrija Risha Ian Spasic Quinn Hendricks Isaac Lee Zach Rosenfeld and Jane Tellis. The oral team that took 10th place Elias Schryer and Sophie May. In addition to everyone named above we'd like to recognize Anna Basic a qualifier, Chuck Parslow Kylie Bryson David Santilli Alex Schryer Chloe Stasic Avery Strobel and last but not least, Jacob Savala. Folks, this is the entire team first time in school history math team to qualify for state. LET'S GIVE IT UP. AND I WILL STAND AND EDUCATE THAT HAS VALUED TO RB as a math team coach, Ms.
003Melissa Gordon. Ms. Gordon. And I will assist THE COACH MR. IPPOLITO. >> SO, these students know I like my spreadsheets. Um, they saw my spreadsheets after the regional competition when I told them what an amazing job they did. So, I went ahead and made another spreadsheet um in preparation for this meeting. I wanted to look at how often RB has gone down to the state competition. So, the Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the ICTM competition began in 1981. From 1981 to 2004, RB qualified students for the state competition in 1981, 1983, and 2001. With a total of 10 students competing in four different events. From 2005 until last year, 2025, RB has qualified students for the state competition every year. Ranging from 1 to 23 students. On average, we've had 10 students competing in
004three different events each year. In total, RB has taken 194 students who have competed in 58 different events over these 21 years. Of course, I'm going to give you a lot of numbers. I'm a math teacher, right? In five of those years, RB has brought home top 10 finishers. From 2005 until last year, three individuals and seven teams finished in the top 10. I was here 2 years ago praising the 23 students for being the largest group to ever qualify for the ICTM state math competition. Uh those 23 students competed in seven different events and we brought home one team finishing in the top 10. A couple of them are here with us today. A lot of them are working though cuz they're now seniors. Um I knew the group this year had a lot
005of potential after uh competing in the Lemont Invitational in January um where we finished fourth overall. The Lemont Invitational is a very tough invitational. Uh most of the schools there compete a division higher than RB does. Two years ago was the first time we ever placed at Lemont and we placed fifth. So we came home and I told them that next Friday, "Okay, you're one place higher than we were 2 years ago. You guys have the potential to get to state as the first time in RB history as a full team qualifier. But I also let them know I wouldn't be disappointed if it didn't happen. My motto is always we need to qualify enough students so Mrs. Gordon doesn't have to drive the mini bus. Right? IT'S A LONG DAY. WE LEAVE AT 6:00
006IN THE MORNING. WE GET back at 9:00 at night. I don't want to have to do the driving. So we need 14 or more students so we have too many kids for a mini bus. That's always our goal. So that was what I told them. I said, "I won't be disappointed but if you guys want this, I think it's within reach." We left the regional competition that day knowing we had 22 students qualifying for state in seven different competitions. The next day I got my spreadsheet out. I took the statewide results, made my spreadsheet, and found out that the overall the team finished 17th in the state. Typically they take the top 20 give or take. So, I told them the next Friday, showed them my spreadsheet and said, "We're going to be hopefully optimistic.
007It's not a guarantee, but it looks like you're qualifying." And sure enough, they did. They are the first team in state and RB history to qualify the entire team for the state competition. There are 10 events in the ICTM math competition, and at regionals, three of the 10 event teams placed in the top 10. So, I was hopeful we would come home with one top 10 finisher. That's what I was hoping for. However, these students absolutely blew me away. Almost brought me to tears at pizza that night. We ended up with six of the 10 teams placing in the top 10. As Dr. Freitas said, Algebra 1 placed seventh, Algebra 2 eighth, Precalculus, freshman-sophomore eight-person, junior-senior eight-person, and the two-person orals team all placed seventh. Overall, RB placed 11th. It is almost unheard of for
008a first-time full team state qualifier to have so many top 10 finishes and finish that high in the competition. Even the um competition, the uh the chair of the contests came over to me at the end and just was amazed. She's like, "I can't believe what you guys did." She goes, "Teams don't do this. They qualify, but they don't finish the way RB did." These students have worked hard all year. They put in extra time, many extra hours, asking me for more materials to get ready for these competitions, and I can't even tell you I can't even put into words how proud I am of each and every one of them. They have just risen above and beyond anything I ever expected. And I'm very hopeful for the future. >> Nice job. >> Congratulations. How
009many returning students do you have for next year? >> There were seven seniors. So, 20 Oh, we have a freshman going to IMSA. So, subtract eight. So, 25 of the 33 of two of them. 24 of the 33 will be returning. I'm hoping this will help us recruit, too. >> That's a quorum. That's awesome. Lots of hardware. >> Good job, everybody. Good job, guys. >> We have another history-making group. Boy, here we go. Congratulations to our RB eSports team on qualifying for the IHSA state tournament for the first time in school history. At state, sophomore Declan Gibbs placed third in the Super Smash Brothers solos. The Mario Kart team, Jade Aboud, Rowan Douglas, Will Herman, Matt Feeney, and Ethan Schilling placed 13th in state with the championship team beating them by only four points. We're
010extremely proud of our history-making Bulldogs. Students, will you hear your name? Please come on up. Jade Aboud. ROWAN DOUGLAS MATT FEENEY DECLAN GIBBS WILL HERMAN DANIEL OWENS and Ethan Schmeling. Okay. And now we would like to recognize the e-sports coach, MISS WALSH. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM SO, I did I did I don't do a lot of spreadsheets, but I did a little math on um how our e-sports team has done this year. Um we had over 103 days of practice at about 2 hours each. That means the kids are coming and playing and practicing in person um and they're learning how to play the games with each other. It's a like non-internet collaborative experience. Um the IHSA has only had e-sports for about 5 years. Um so, it is the first time in
011history we've gone to uh state as a team, but also this is our first full year as a team. So, that's really exciting as well. Um we're the youngest on average team in IHSA uh history for e-sports because I only had freshmen and sophomores qualify for state. That means um unless they go to Illinois Math and Science Academy, also that we'll have um a really good team for a long time. And uh we It's incredibly hard to make it out of sectionals because to go to state for e-sports, you have to get first or second place in your event in one of eight sectionals in the state. So, last year we went to sectionals at DePaul and we didn't place at all. Then this year we went to sectionals at Batavia and we got fourth
012place in Super Smash Brothers Crew, second place in Mario Kart, and second place in Super Smash Brothers solos. And then so then Declan and then the Mario Kart team went on to state and Declan got third place in state, which was really incredible. And like we said, our Mario Kart team only lost by four points to the championship team. So, that just tells you you know that there's a lot more to come for them. So, we're very excited you know for our new year and everything we're going to be able to achieve while they're still at RV. >> Thank you, Megan. >> Those are some very slick uniforms. I think they're really No, I'm just saying I think the the uniforms are pretty slick. >> Thank you. Mr. Man and got them and designed them
013for us. So, yeah. It's very It's very cool. Especially to be seen, you know, legitimately as a team you come when you're looking the same, you have you know, your good decorum, you know, you're you're showing other schools how a brand new team can really still make up the gap fast. So. >> Nice job, Megan. >> Another history-making team. Love reading this. Today we are celebrating RBTV's most successful award season in program history. RBTV secured 10 nominations at the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Awards with six of those nominations going to Liam Enright, the highest for a single student in one year. Three projects earned first place, best sports story created by Alex McQueeney, Jacob Garcia and John Isaacson, best community public relations piece created by Kai Hendricks, Mason Misliniski, and Charlie Rhodes,
014and best cinematography, which goes to Jacob Garcia. Our students also succeeded at the Midwest Media Educators Association Festival, finishing with three first place winners. Charlie Rhodes for best PSA and demonstration video, Aidan Shaw and Colin Semino for best live talk show. Congratulations to all of our hard working student creators. Both of you, when you hear your name, please come on up. Colin Semino. Liam Enright. Jacob Garcia. KAI HENDRICKS. JOHN ISAACSON. ALEX MCQUEENEY. CHARLIE RHODES. MASON MISLINISKI. AIDAN SHAW. AND R.J. IWANICKI. CONGRATULATIONS, CHAMP. OKAY, COLIN, do you want to join us here? Thank you both. Thank you. Guys, we're really proud of you. Uh unfortunately folks, Mr. Horcher cannot make it this evening. He had prior engagements, but you may all be very proud of us. Congratulations to the most awarded in the class in school
015history. So, we're really proud of you. Give it up FOR OUR ATHLETES. >> THANK YOU BULLDOG. THANK YOU. >> GO GET YOUR CERTIFICATE as well. We got you. >> I do like watching their content. It's good stuff. Congratulations. >> Our Special Olympics Bulldogs competed in the track and field regional at Marmion Academy, and multiple students qualified for the state competition this June at Illinois State University. Evan Sofeski, Blaine Shernock, Tony King, and Isaiah Gaitan will compete in the 4 by 1 relay. Evan Sofeski will compete in the 50-m run and softball throw. Isaiah Gaitan will compete in the 100-m run. Kamara Gunn and Tony King will compete in the softball throw. And Jeffrey Cole, Luis Hara, Katie Dolezal, and Mateo Torres all competed very well and did their best. Congratulations to our Bulldogs. When you
016hear your name, please come on up. JEFFREY COLE, KATIE DOLEZAL, ISAIAH GAITAN, KAMARA GUNN, LUIS HARA, TONY KING BLAINE SHERNOW EVAN SOFESKI AND MATTEO TORRES. We would like to invite head coach Mr. Cain and assistant coach Mr. Hammer. COME ON UP. >> WE JUST WANT TO THANK THE ADMINISTRATION, the student body, and the rest of the staff for all the support. We had nine total kids compete at the spring track regionals. Five of them qualifying for the state games in June. And with many of them having multiple opportunities to be state champions. So, we're very excited about the progress that they've made and the support that we had. Thank you so much. >> Good job, guys. Good job, Cain. >> Congratulations. >> Good job, Blaine. >> So, we're going to go slightly out of order
017and talk about the new student advisors to the Board of Education. >> Yes, Madam Superintendent. On May 6th, 2026, nine outstanding candidates from the class of 2027 were interviewed for the role of student advisor to the Board of Education. The interview panel included Dr. Skinkus, myself, Ms. Gaska, and Mr. Williams, who were impressed by the talent and dedication shown by all applicants. After thorough consideration, two students were selected to represent the student voice for the 2026-2027 school year. Betsaira Arvizo Pereira And I just got to say cuz I I think his name is great, the life force warrior, Katayan Smith. We congratulate Betsaira and Katayan on their appointment and look forward to their valuable contributions. Their first official meeting as student advisor will take place on August 11th. >> Congratulations. >> I'll have the speaker
018company outside for pictures, please, okay? >> And you're welcome to stay for the rest of the meeting. Just as you're as this year's college, we'll let you know. >> Madam President, that concludes our recognition ceremony. >> Thank you, Dr. Fields. >> So, under information items, we also have some FOIA reports. So, there were um three four FOIAs. The responses were submitted in your packet. Um Rochelle Smith, Michael Henry, John Wakefield, and Marcus Webb. And the responses to those FOIAs are included in the Board of Education's packet this evening. >> Thank you, Dr. Skinkis. Um there is no President's report. We do have a Superintendent's report. >> Superintendent's report, Senate Bill 637. No new updates at this time. I'm currently still waiting a response from the zoo regarding its discussions with the Forest Preserve and to
019the tentative agreement we had reached with the zoo uh on a plan and a design. Um I will update the board in closed session on more of those details. As a reminder, the commencement for the class of 2026 is this Friday or next Friday, excuse me, Friday, May 22nd. Um it is one of the largest graduating classes we've had at RB in a very long time, so uh please plan accordingly. Save yourself enough time to uh get into the gymnasium and gather your seats. If it's a nice day, I encourage everyone to walk. >> Park possible. >> Um >> It's closer. >> Tentative budget, the board will review a first read for the FY27 budget tonight. Dr. Smetana will make that presentation. We are early in the process. This is coming off, I believe, the
020April 30th actuals. So, we're uh this is early in our process of budget development. The board will see another tentative budget in June that will ask the board to approve so that we have some spending authority throughout the summer. The final budget does not get approved till September. Uh in regards to staffing, vacancies for next school year are mostly filled. Um additional recommendations will be forthcoming in June. And then we had uh one question submitted by a board member in regards to the contacting legislature and regarding um one of the recent bills that's up in regards to uh teacher remediation. Um you know, as an educ- you know, I think the board's aware of this, but I am a member of the Illinois Association of School Administrators, the Illinois High School District organization, and I
021also personally pay for um an I PAC membership. And so, those are three different groups that have dedicated uh staff members to working with the lobbyists and working with legislators on legislation that impacts the schools. So, I get regular updates, so I know the uh the one comment was submitted through the IASB. I probably get 10 of those a day on different bills and different legislation that they want us to voice our opinion on. So, I do regularly submit like um you know, the slips either pro or against Uh um and we fill out the witness slips and then if possible we do reach out to our West 40 to our West 40 group to our local administrators. This summer we're scheduled to sit down with the head of the Senate Don Harmon and and
022have a meeting with a few of us superintendents to talk about continuing having open dialogue with superintendents in West Cook whenever those legislative matters come out. So as you saw what Ms. Rusko received from the school board association I receive probably 10 of those a day and and and I'm regularly active with those. Not only with our local legislators a lot of time you get one of their staff members or you just get a voice message so you just leave your your opinion but also then we file different slips to the to the committee meetings and things like that. In regards to our state advisory councils our superintendent not state sorry. Superintendent advisory council's facilities is June 2nd is Mr. Durkin and Nick Novak. Finance is June 4th and that's Mr. Caputo and Ms. Salas
023and then policy advisory Mrs. Ms. Salas and Mr. Williams is May 27th. And that concludes my superintendent report for this evening. >> Thank you Dr. Skinkis. >> Dr. Fontana. >> Good evening. Tonight I'll provide the Board of Education with financial information through the month of April which represents 83% of our fiscal year. The monthly summary report shows that the total operating revenue for the month was 11 million 51,224 dollars with 89% coming from property tax, 5% from federal and state grant reimbursement and 4% from evidence-based funding which is our state funding. Total operating expenditures for the month were 2,452,927 dollars, 79% towards salary and benefits, 8% on transportation and 5% on special education tuition. The monthly financial statements, uh this is summary of revenue shows that the district has received 91.3% of our budgeted revenue
024for the year. This percent is just a slightly lower than this time last year at 95.8% and again this is due to the timing of property tax. Um Nothing really has changed when I'm comparing budget to actual. We're still chasing about 1.6 uh million dollars in revenue from what I had budgeted for. Um so we did receive uh a lot of revenue in property tax this month, but I provided real-time data the last board meeting, which is why we're still chasing uh that amount of money. The summary of expenditure shows that the district has spent 80% of the budgeted expenditures for the year and this amount is tracking to where we were uh at this time last year. As always, I included the statement of revenue and expenditures for board accounts as well as the
025activity accounts. Um I have some additional reports for the board tonight as well. Um I provided first the annual wellness committee report. Um every year we provide the board with uh an update on what we are doing internally to meet the wellness guidelines for staff and students that align to board policy 6:50. Um so we continue to offer our wellness screening to all of our faculty and staff. Um we did that on September 25th and we had 92 members of uh our staff participate, which is really great. Um And so because of all this action, but then also a lot of the actions um in the report, we're on track for the sixth year in a row to meet our insurance tier one and tier two incentive. Um so we'll earn a small portion of
026our insurance premium back for the district. Um There was a continued focus in wellness on mental health as well as CPR training uh for sophomores. Um and then uh they expressed, uh, how the wellness classes have really benefited from remodeling of the weight room. Um, the the new layout and the new machines have really allowed for PE, uh, classes to spread out and be more effective down in the weight room. Um, also PE continues to hold the showcase in November before registration, um, so that students can see all of the 12 different options that they can register for before they sign up for courses. Um, for staff, we continue to offer, uh, yoga after school led by, uh, Marissa Daverton. Um, and this year we have held a pickleball contest to promote physical activity. We
027had 30, uh, staff members participate and a lot of staff members, uh, that chose to go and watch as well. >> 30 is a really significant. >> Mhm. Yeah, it was a really great event. >> I got to give a shout-out to Mr. Mannion. Him and I, we made it to the semi-finals. >> Who are you giving a shout-out to? So, thank you to my assistant principal, Dave. If you're watching, I appreciate you. We won, too. We won, too. >> Who got your video? >> So, who won? It was, I believe, uh, Mr. Weiss >> I believe you got it. >> Yeah, I know exactly. Uh, the tennis COACH OF COMEBACK. >> MOVING ON. WE HAVE our paid facility rental for the third quarter. Um, so this is any paid rentals, uh, that we received
028from January 1st through March 31st. Um, for this quarter, the district collected $44,149 in revenue and expended $13,986. Um, of the revenue from this quarter, 43% of it came from facility space charges with the majority of rentals being in the field house. Um, year-to-date, we have collected $66,841 and and have expended, uh, $20,075. The surplus from rentals is used to offset, um, costs related to the upkeep of facilities. We're on track. We anticipate to probably collect about 80,000 um in revenue altogether this year for um rentals. Um I also provided two updates uh for the board uh that I received today. Um first is the faculty cafeteria update. So, at the November board meeting, the administration discussed remodeling and repurposing the faculty cafeteria into a faculty cafeteria as well as a conference room. Uh we
029included that in the school maintenance grant and that got approved by the board as well as uh the state. So, we are in the process of finalizing the design and I plan to work through the detail plans with the facility advisory council, which meets on June 2nd. Um but I wanted to update the whole board as well. It is possible to address this project um potentially, we're thinking this late summer doing the demo before um faculty and staff come back and then split the room into into two phases. It's a small project. Um so, the timeline would be to go out if if all goes as planned, if if all if all doesn't go as planned, we will table it for next uh summer. But if all goes as planned, uh we would go out
030to bid in June and ask the Board of Education to approve the bids in July and then um ideally complete the work um sometime in September. >> So, on on that front, Dr. Spatana, if you're meeting with the advisory council on the 2nd and then you would present plans to the board at the next meeting and then be quickly after you would have to have the bid documents ready to >> Yes, correct. >> hit the street. Okay. >> plan would be to go out to bid um like mid-June, um have it go out for 3 weeks, and then have uh the board approve it at the July board meeting. >> Okay. So, that's a very aggressive time frame. >> Yes. That's what I said, like if all goes as planned. Um it doesn't always go
031that way with construction, so if it doesn't, the plan is just to table it for and do it next summer. >> Got it. >> And the financing for this is the school maintenance grant and then there was a >> Oh, yes. few hundred thousand 200,000 roughly in capital development fund. >> Correct. And and the money that's sitting in capital development has come from past school maintenance grants because we get that money retroactively. >> The school maintenance grant, that's the one that that large application you fill out, right? >> No, no, that's a shorter one but it's it's a grant where the state will match up to $50,000 for work. The challenge with that one is once you submit the grant there you're not allowed to make any amendments. So you have to really choose your
032projects carefully so that you know that those are the projects that you're going to achieve in that timeline. The next update I have is the solar panel project. I was hoping I'd have a more thorough update. But I have a short update so the international building code IBC was updated in 2024. The initial solar panel project was designed under the old one in 20 2021. And so um the Verde has had to adjust the number of modules which are solar panels. And so we're going to have to likely reduce that by about 90 in order to be in compliance with the updated tornado loads and snow drift loads that is part of the updated of building code. So we've been going back and forth and we're still waiting on the final design as well as
033project cost incentives and payback timeline. I should have an update by the end of this week. I do anticipate the project not starting on May 26th which was initially planned but so it probably will be delayed a couple of weeks but they also believe that the project will be shorter in terms of the install on the back end as well. So, I would hope I I I shouldn't say hope. I will definitely have a more comprehensive update for the board and so I can provide that obviously to the facility advisory council on June 2nd, the finance in terms of finance advisory council in terms of cost and then I can provide an update on in a Friday update as well as then publicly to the board at the at the next board meeting. >> So,
034on this one, do we need permits? Pull permits? >> Verde does that. >> Verde does. Okay. And was it Verde that looked at the wrong building code or how how just walk me through the chronology here cuz I'm not with when we approved this and based on the building code changes. >> Yes, they designed it under 2021. They initially did the design for us I believe in August and the initial one came out in February. So, there was about like that 6-month window and we did not we were not made aware of it until they went to go do the permitting process. And that's how it got that's how we had to hit pause and update based off of the the new requirements for the tornado and snow drift. >> Okay. And they will so
035Verde will then do um they'll do the projection costs of electricity reduction. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> So, we're going to update they're going to update everything and then I'll provide all of that with the board. >> Okay. Thank you. >> It's being reduced by 90 modules. How many total were there or will there be? >> Um I still believe they'll be over 800. They're supposed to be it'll still be a very large project. >> Right. >> You know, for us. It it will just be reduced a little bit. >> Thank you, Dr. Smetana. >> You're welcome. Thank you, Dr. Freitas. >> Believe it or not, board members, in a week to quit rain, the commencement begins. Holy cow, this been a wonderful, wonderful year. And now we got to think about June because summer
036school starts. On the 1st, we will have session one of summer school. Uh students can do credit recovery for the following courses: algebra, geometry, English, biology, applied chemistry, US history, world history um using our Apex online program. And in person, we offer US government for seniors and health for juniors. Also on the 1st, we have camp college application seminars offer um offered for incoming seniors. And it's an opportunity for them to research colleges and university, complete the FASFA form, the common application, and learn how to write an effective essay. July 6th, session two of summer school begins and we will only offer credit recovery opportunities. On the school coaches and operations, uh our student board members will go over the events, but we have our end-of-the-year bulletin, which our community has had it for 2
037months now. A lot of exciting things happening have happened already. Also linked there, we have our summer school and athletic camp registration. The deadline uh is May 29th for enrichment and academic programs, and there's no deadline for the athletic programs. It's open until filled. The RBHS student parking application deadline is June 30th. Notifications of approval will come out July 6th. The residency portal has opened. It opened on May 5th, and it closes on June 1st. You know, the portal, parents have to upload the documents. They have the water bill, the lease, the mortgage. They wait for approval, then they get a link for their in-person appointment. But that step has to be completed first. We approve the documents, then we send a link for the appointment. This past uh weekend, we had the Feed Six
038Meal Packing Volunteer event. Our superintendent and his family was there, and it was great to see our B come together as a family to support our local needs, because we have people in our community that, you know, that are struggling with the cost of of food and prices and gasoline. So, Feed Six volunteers get together to pack meals for families. On the 13th, tomorrow, the um is the monthly boosters meeting, 7:00 p.m. right in this very room. Also, on the 13th, the PTO will be meeting at 7:00 p.m. in the faculty cafeteria. On the 18th is an annual tradition by the PTO, they'll be giving the final survivor pack to all students. Imagine a kind of a sack lunch with snacks, with chips and candy, so students have the energy uh they need for final
039exams. On the 22nd of May, we have commencement, class of 2026. We'll be celebrating our student Our outgoing student advisor is right next to me. And for activities and athletics, on the um we actually just had boys lacrosse senior night. It was a change wonderful event yesterday. I was present there. Really proud of everyone. And on June 22nd, we have the band new member orientation. More information is found in our summer school packet, but there's so many band events. The 4th of July parade, marching band, all sorts of band. So, lots of information there. So, if students are musically inclined, there's lots of band opportunities. And with that said, I would like to turn it over for one last time to our outgoing student advisor to the board, Anna Arya. >> All right. So, for
040teaching and learning in May, from the 4th through the 15th, uh we have AP testing. Um very excited for our last AP test. I have my last one tomorrow for Spanish lit. Um but I'm looking forward to it, because Mr. Tinoco brings tamales and um drinks for us before the Spanish Lit test, so that's like a hallmark of his class. And yeah. >> And the next week, from the 18th to the 21st, are final exams, which we're not participating in. >> And then, moving on to school culture and operations in May, May 1st was cap, gown, and graduation ticket distribution during all the lunch periods in the atrium. So, students received different color um tassels based on where they're graduating, and um we get four tickets for um the main gym and two tickets for
041a live stream in the little theater. And there's also grad cap decoration guidelines and different um tassels and cords based on different honors. >> And then, last week, on May 7th, RB had their annual Apollo Awards, where we get recognized as our musicians and their artwork in their years at RB. And it was just a great um event. I was there um for like a cappella. It was just great. >> Saying one more last time like that, friends. >> And then, on the 11th, there was a spring rock band concert from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the little theater to help put an end to a year, another year of rock band, and all the people were excited to go to that as well. >> On May 13th, so tomorrow, we have our local scholarship
042breakfast. We'll be in the auditorium beginning at 8:00 a.m. And I'm just really grateful for this outreach and support that RB's giving cuz like we both got scholarships, and all my friends did, too. So, it's exciting. >> And then, on the 14th, we have fine arts awards recognition ceremony to recognize people going into fine arts um at a collegiate level at 7:00 a.m. in room 201. >> Also, on the 14th, after school, students can pick up their yearbooks from the field house and see what Rouser has prepared for us this year. >> Um on the 14th, as well, we have senior awards at 6:00 p.m. in the main gym. Um Hannah and I will both be there um seeing the different awards that we get, and um I all the hard work that the class
043of 2026 has put in. On the 15th, there's a theater banquet from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the auditorium and cafeteria. This is a really fun time where we get to enjoy a year of theater. Um Miss Fischer and her husband Neo put together a really fun senior video every single year, so we get to watch that, um have a dinner, chat with other people, sign yearbooks. It's a really great end to our time in our B theater. And then the 18th, we have senior sunrise at 6:00 a.m. on the in the stadium or the field house, depending for rain. Um I've been looking forward to this since my freshman year, just to be around all the other people, take lots of nice pictures, celebrate where we're going off to college, and have a fun
044time. >> On May 22nd, before the commencement ceremony, there's a mandatory graduation rehearsal at 11:00 a.m. in the main gym. So, all students have to come in to rehearse, of course. >> And then in lieu of a senior picnic afterwards, so that people get more time to get ready for graduation, there will be a senior breakfast, um courtesy of the PTO, at 9:30 in the field house for anyone who wants to come and have a breakfast along last breakfast alongside their classmates. >> And then at 6:30 p.m., we will be graduating. Ceremony will take place in the main gym, and you know, I'm just excited to see all of our friends like graduate. Um under activities and athletics on May 12th, just today, we had our spring art show, and um it's just showcasing all
045our students' incredible artwork, and they're supporting Empty Bowls charity that day. Thank you. Thank you. >> So, yeah. >> Thank you. Well, I will start. You know, go ahead after Freeman. >> Bulldogs, on behalf of our Board of Education, our superintendent team, we're extremely proud of your service. We have certificates of appreciation for you. That's for you, Hannah. Same for Harrison, and that's for you, Aryan. >> I just wanted to say to both Aryan and Hannah, you guys have I I hope this was a good experience for you. It's a good experience for us to have your insight and feedback and be a part of the civic process in this way as a student advisor to the board of education. And each year, I feel like the role evolves a little bit further. And so,
046hopefully we have your exit surveys completed that the board does take seriously and and helps guide us as we work with the the next two students that were identified earlier. We're so happy to see all that you do and come back and visit us. Thank you. Please, anyone else? >> Thank you so much. Congratulations on all your success. >> Thank you. >> Enjoy the East Coast. They talk funny out there. >> Congratulations to you both. >> Thank you for being willing to be vulnerable and then take our questions. You know, you were there representing the student body many times and having to give us insight on what students are talking about cuz we're not in the cafeteria, we're not in the hallways. And so, you're our ears and thank you for being willing to do
047that. And uh let us know what what you are hearing. >> Hana, I just wanted to say thank you for your enthusiasm. You always brought really good insight and I could always count on seeing, you know, your smile which I think always helps all of us get through especially some of the tougher materials. Ariana, I really appreciate all the practical ideas. You always were really insightful on all the things. And the other thing that I'm never going to forget is your performance in in Legally Blonde which I just think was just fantastic. I thought that was a wonderful show and I thought you were one of the big stars of that. So, thank >> Well, we should Should we do a picture with the board and that be all? >> Yes, yes. Would you like
048to go over there, please? >> Yes, you come Can you You to come stand behind us? And then everyone kind of scooches. >> Perfect. >> Come on around this way. Just mix up your backdrop a little bit. Yeah. We can all kind of pile in here. >> Let's get Arianne in the uh in the middle. In the middle, guys. In the middle, guys. And we'll step back. >> Arianne. >> Stand up. >> There we go. >> All right. >> Okay. Okay. Sorry. >> You guys scooch in a little bit. >> Yeah. Like we like each other. Here we go. >> Thank you so much. >> Good job, guys. >> Congratulations to both of you. Yes. We'll see you in a a week. Seven days. How many days? >> I get to finish the meeting. >>
049Okay. I I believe we're here for visitor statements this evening. Sir, if you would. I'm going to read a short statement while you come up if you don't mind. >> Yep. >> Uh the Board of Education welcomes and encourages the participation of its citizens in the business of the school district. There are two points in the meeting where visitor statements are scheduled. Citizens are welcome to raise questions or make comments at either one. Comments will be limited to 3 minutes per individual and cannot be combined. Please note the Board of Education will not answer questions or engage in dialogue during visitor comments. If a person would like additional time to address the board, such a request should be submitted in writing 24 hours before the meeting to the superintendent. So, if you can give us
050your name, and then we'll start the 3 minutes. >> I'm Edward Naumann. I'm a pastor at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in in Brookfield, just one block south of the library. Uh I have two boys here at RB. One's a junior, and one's a sophomore, Martin and William. And uh wanted to start by saying how much I appreciate um the teachers here and all the effort they've made uh with my children's education. And uh also principal uh Freitas also uh always willing to uh give an ear to me. And uh want to especially uh thank the board for their support for the music programs, uh the the marching band and the choir. Uh both my boys have particularly enjoyed those programs. Uh I did want to uh I guess I there's no dialogue, but but ask
051the board um uh to what extent the the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations and policies are considered in particular uh earlier this year uh they came out with some guidelines specifically regarding the use of technology uh which was very I thought well nuanced in that it considered uh different ways in which technology is used, uh what is positive and helpful, and what is harmful for children. And if the board had already considered that or is still in the process of considering those recommendations. My personal experience with the kids uh is that um apart from their exposure to cell phones on the school campus, uh the Chromebooks have been a mixed bag, a mixed blessing as it were, in that uh though they have access to educational resources on them, they also have not had uh
052consistent protection during their classes from the temptations of distractions in the form of computer games and YouTube in particular. And so that's my first concern. I I would encourage the board uh to do further staff training, especially in how to use GoGuardian, not just to block out some websites, but to block out all distractions during the classes so that the children are not tempted. And for me as a father, this is probably my primary concern. It's not just the time that is wasted off task during the lessons, but that I as a father have told my boys, "Thou shalt not get distracted during thy classes." Um and that you know, sad to say, my kids find themselves continually unable to do this. And >> 30 seconds. >> while we could blame them for this, I
053I also understand that they are children and self-control is not something that comes immediately or necessarily even naturally to them. So I would like to see that further protections are given to them. And this I consider also to be a moral issue and an issue of integrity and the formation of the whole student body and soul. >> Thank you. We appreciate your feedback. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Are there any dissent? >> There are no questions for this action item. So would you >> So would you be so kind, Ms. Gaskins? >> The Board of Education, Township High School District 208, Cook County, Illinois takes the following action on the listed consent agenda items. Approves minutes from the meetings held on April 14th and April 28th, 2026, open and closed sessions as presented in
054the May 12th, 2026 Board of Education packet. >> So moved. Do we have a second? >> Second from Mr. Williams. All in favor? >> Aye. >> Any objections? That carries. Under old business, life safety items, capital improvement sustainability, we heard about the solar panel project that more will be coming on that front. >> And the cafeteria, thank you, Dr. Skinkus. Uh Press Plus Policy 121 is still um the the advisory council is scheduled to meet, as we heard, later on this month. So, that's not a fur vote. >> We had one comment submitted by Ms. Orozco that I will include with the press uh policy about physical colon 280, I believe it was, in regards to uh amending that language on the superintendent uh developing the grading system. And I sent that out to the
055board as part of our comment. I'll put that in the Press Plus. >> Thank you. So, we can talk it and then and then um bring it back to the full board for approval or dissemination. Um textbook adoption. >> There were no comments submitted. This was presented last week. I think we're good to go. >> And seeing no comments, please Ms. Gaska. >> The Board of Education Township High School District 208, Cook County, Illinois approves the adoption of the following textbooks for the 2026-2027 school year. AP Spanish language student and teacher resources, earth science digital textbook licenses, French all levels workbooks and teacher resources, reading all levels workbooks and digital licenses, Spanish 3 teacher resources only, as presented in the May 12, 2026 Board of Education packet. >> So, moved. Do we have a second?
056>> I'll second. >> Second from Mr. Novak. If you'd do a roll call, please. >> Mr. Kukugo? >> Yes. >> Mr. Durkin? >> Yes. >> Ms. Gaska? >> Yes. >> Ms. Frasor? >> Yes. >> Mr. Novak? >> Yes. >> Mr. Williams? >> Yes. >> Ms. Taylor? >> Yes. >> Under new business, payment of bills. >> The bills were adjusted. Tammy sent out the email this afternoon to highlight pieces there on the action sheet, Southwest Regional Publishing. $860 was a move from the original remove from the original packet you received last Wednesday. >> Were there any questions submitted? Any this evening? Ms. Gaska. >> The Board of Education, Township High School District 208, Cook County, Illinois, approves the payment of bills as presented in the May 12, 2026 Board agenda packet. >> So moved. Second, please.
057>> Second from Mr. Williams. Good roll call. >> Yes. >> And the um tentative budget for 2027, this is a first read this evening. We've been hearing some of it. >> Dr. Smetana will cover it. This is remember this is a report. This is from the April 30th actual, so there's still two months of bills to be paid and expenses to be paid. Uh Dr. Smetana, you want to point out any highlights to the board? >> Uh so currently the district is anticipating a small surplus next year, $164,510, but this is going to change, you know, could change either way. Um it really depends on um a few big things over the next few months. The biggest being uh evidence-based funding, which is our state funding, and that does not get finalized until um August.
058Um so I have a placeholder in there right now. Um the best place to uh look when you're looking at the tentative budget for the first time is by looking at the revenue and expenditure assumptions. Those are the bigger items that impact the budget overall. Um you know, obviously this changes a lot. We'll enter the May 30th uh May 31st actuals um and have that ready for the June board meeting, um and then we'll do that again um probably in August. We probably with the timing of 4th of July will not make the July board meeting. And so then the next time the budget will be updated will be in the August meeting as well. >> Very preliminary. >> Yep. And then we have a finance advisory coming up soon to discuss my details with
059you. >> Okay. >> June 4th. >> But please encourage everyone to review the the revenue assumptions and the expenditure assumptions, provide questions. Dr. Spatana is a font of information and will gladly respond. Thank you. Uh flag football activity account, what is this? >> So as as we talked about last week, we did apply for a grant for flag football and we did receive a donation. So the district is looking I should say the high school is looking into potentially running a flag football club, but we were received a donation. There really no contingencies as long as we eventually pursue some type of flag football. Um and so we need an activity account to store that money. >> Any questions? Comments? You can move forward then, please. >> Um the Board of Education Township High School
060District 208 Cook County, Illinois approves the activity account for flag football as presented in the May 12th, 2026 board agenda packet. >> So moved. Can I get a second? >> I'll second. >> Second from Mr. Novak. We need a roll call, please. >> Ms. Resnick? >> Yes. >> Mr. Novak? >> Yes. >> Mr. Williams? >> Yes. >> Ms. Sales? >> Yes. >> Mr. Costudo? >> Yes. >> Mr. Burke? >> Yes. >> Mr. Gasper? >> Yes. >> Uh visitor statement second opportunity. I'm looking for you if you have a if you have a second issue. Seeing none, Board of Education discussion items. Does anyone from the Board of Education have an additional discussion item for this evening or future meetings? >> I want to add one for future. Uh our magazine that we received had couple
061excellent articles on um artificial intelligence, AI. >> Which magazine? >> The IASB about looking at AI through a governance lens and because it's it's not going away. So, um if you've all got your magazine or bringing that in, um I think that would be worth our time taking a little few minutes to discuss that. >> And I think this press plus policy pack >> Yeah, we're going to talk >> addresses some of that as well, some of those. >> Yeah, so we could have some conversations, ongoing conversations about AI as it develops and >> Mhm. >> becomes more a part of everyday school. >> Any other comments for current or future meetings from anyone? >> Uh matters for closed session with appointment and employment compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employee of the public
062body as represented in the HR packet, student discipline, individual student matters, purchase, sale, or lease of real property, probable, imminent, or pending litigation, collective negotiations, school safety, and superintendent's annual evaluation. >> The Board of Education Township High School District 208, Cook County, Illinois enters closed session for the purpose of considering the closed session matters as presented in the May 12, 2026 board agenda packet. >> So moved. Second. >> Second from Mr. Durkin and a roll call to go to closed. >> Mr. Williams? >> Yes. >> Mr. Davis? >> Yes. >> Mr. DeFilippo? >> Yes. >> Mr. Bergersen? >> Yes. >> Mr. Yastrow? >> Yes. >> Mr. Rosasco? >> Yes. >> Mr. Nowak? >> Yes. >> Okay. It is 7:58. We'll be downstairs in 7 minutes.