001Everyone, 7:01, let's call to order the meeting of the District 208 Board of Education. All rise. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Ms. Nardi, can you do a roll call, please? Here. Yes. Here. Um, do we have recognitions this evening, Dr. Skinkus? There are no specific recognitions. We have some student reports. Okay, let's move on to visitor statements, then. Do we have visitor statements for this evening? I believe I'm going to read a statement while you guys come on up. 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.
002Citizens 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 48 hours before the meeting to the superintendent. So, you guys are dressed for the weather. Yeah. Okay. Okay, hi everyone. We are students of the RBHS theater community. And we are currently putting on the show A Christmas Carol. You can see us in the RB auditorium from November 2nd to 5th. All proceeds come back to the RBHS theater computer community to help us in our endeavors. And we would absolutely love it if you came and
003watched us. And God bless us, everyone. THANK YOU. WHY DON'T YOU NAME YOUR CHARACTERS REAL QUICK? UM, I'm playing Ruth. I'm playing Topper. I'm playing one of the women. Tiny Tim. Martha {slash} boy. Fred. Ghost of Christmas Present. Okay, and tell us the dates one more time cuz you may not be on the microphone. Make sure. through 5th. November 2nd through 5th. Okay, we've got it. I've seen the um, social media on it, so I will certainly be there and I imagine many of my colleagues will as well. I will be there. Let's go ahead and if everyone's okay, we'll move student association up on the agenda as well, just to Oh, any other visitor comments? Thank you. I apologize. That's okay. I'll be quick. Maggie White, I am on board of the music and
004theater sponsors. Just want to reinforce the show on November 2nd through 5th, 7:00 p.m. The matinee on Sunday is at 2:00. Um, also wanted to um, just reiterate we are looking for any volunteers, concessions sponsors. We sell concessions candy, water, popcorn, um, snacks for the kids. This is going to be a very busy week. They're going to be here till like 7:00, 7:30 tomorrow. Um, tech crew even later, so um, appreciate any snacks, chips, uh, granola bars, whatever would help them out and avoid them missing cues going to the vending machine. So, we appreciate your support either way and look forward to seeing you in a few weeks. Thank you. Very soon. Yes, thank you. Any additional public comment? Okay. Hi, my name is Victoria Gentile, and um, I'm president of the choir board and
005triam board here at RB. And um, I'll just be giving a few updates on what's been going on in the music department. Um, for choir, we just submitted 20 chorus auditions and eight vocal jazz auditions for IMEA. Um, and district results came out and most of us are going and got in. Um, the vocal jazz district event is November 11th and the chorus district event is November 18th. Um, triam's been going great. We have so many new people this year. Um, I think like upwards of 50. Uh, we had an initiation last Friday. It went amazing. The whole band room was filled with people um, and it was just such a good environment. Um, in jazz band this year, we are trying a new system in the classroom where Mr. Baum and Mr. Loeb are
006teaching um, different ensembles in the same class period and it's been going great. We have one that's jazz band and one that's jazz ensemble. So, jazz ensemble is a little more challenging and counts for an honors credit. Um, it's been going amazing. It's so much fun. Uh, we're getting ready for our next concert on November 30th at Hauser and um, we just got our new holiday music for the holiday concert on December 6th and 7th. Um, and it's just been going great. So, thank you for your time. Thank you for your time. Appreciate it. Any additional public comment? Seeing none, are we comfortable taking SA out of order? Sure. No objection? Yes. Why don't you guys come on up? Hi, good evening, ladies and Thank you so much for having us tonight. We were so
007lucky that actually all of us are able to be here tonight. Okay, I'm going to start us off and kind of recap our what our homecoming week looked like. So, overall our homecoming week was a very big success. We had a lot of participation in the spirit week. Um, uh, in the past few years we have extended spirit week into the Monday after and we have a pajama day just kind of end off homecoming. And there was a lot of participation throughout the entire week plus that Monday after. Um, the pep rally was also a huge success. Um, we played some fun games, um, lots of students getting just hyped up for our homecoming, uh, excited for the football game that night. Um, and then also RBTV played a really big, um, part in our
008pep rally. They made about a 10-minute video that kind of recapped the quarter plus um, included some grade level competition games, which was very fun. Um, everyone has been talking about the video. Uh, the student that made it has been getting a lot of great compliments. Um, and then on top of the pep rally, the dance was a very big success. A lot of student attendance was great to see and we also had a couple new things such as the 360 camera and a photo booth, which was great. Can you remember to tell us your name when you come up just in what role you play in SA? That's okay. Um, I'm Bella Ventura and I'm the vice president. Thank you. So, I'm Emily Hernandez and I'm the president. Um, I'll starting um, we're going
009to start talking about like our community outreach uh, over the next couple of weeks. Starting with the blood drive. The blood drive will be run by Naomi and I. Um, and this will be the first of our usually two to three blood drives. One happens in November, another one in February and then if we can squeeze one in, we'll do one in May. Um, it is planned for Wednesday, November 8th. We unfortunately had pretty low participation in the past couple years since COVID. So, big goal of ours is just rallying students and um, I think it's just students this time around. I think next time we might reach out to the community, but uh, rallying students to come and donate if they're over the age of 16, if they meet all like the weight requirements
010and health requirements. Um, so we've already started promoting that within student association and being a part of our committee, uh, those members are continuing to reach out past our club and into the rest of the school kind of promoting it. Uh, we will be hosting sign-ups for the blood drive next Wednesday and Thursday and then also Thursday morning before school. And if all goes well this year, donors will be entitled to a free ice cream and covers. Okay. Might want to get in on that. Uh, so my name is Alex Jacobs. I'm the student spokesperson on the exact board this year and I will I'm talking about the uh, cards for the veterans that will be kicking off uh, Friday, November 10th. The community will be held uh, with me and Lucy. Uh, this event
011will benefit veterans at Hines Hospital at Fisher's House. Uh, we are publicizing this event within uh, student association and we're all asking staff, classes, athletic teams to participate in this event as well. Uh, these cards will be personalized to express our gratitude for the veterans that have served our country and make sure that we are thinking about them over the holidays. Um, I am Hazel Hall. I am the treasurer and I will be running the Thanksgiving baskets community with Bella. Um, we have done this in years past and it has been a great success, so we are hoping to keep that up this year. Essentially, the Thanksgiving baskets are everything essential for a Thanksgiving meal including the turkey or a gift card for the turkey, potatoes, etc., other stuff. Um, and we deliver the all
012of the baskets to Community Support Services in Brookfield. Um, the Thanksgiving collect basket collection will end on November 15th and we are starting within the next couple of weeks, but we are focusing on the other committees a little bit more heavily right now. Um, we are only right now currently working on getting participation and generating interest within the school. Um, how it works is that the teachers and staff that are interested can create a basket within their classes or um, choose to donate money or purchase the $20 gift card for the turkey. Um, we hope to have both teachers and students participate in this. So, it's a um, big community RB community opportunity. We Our goal this year is to get 30 30 plus baskets to CSS. That has been a pretty constant figure in
013the past couple of years. So, we're hoping to remain at that. And it is especially important for us to you know, help around our RB community. So, this fundraiser is a really special part of the holiday seasons for our uh club. Thank you. I'm Naomi Gallace. I'm the secretary on the exact board. And this year there's something coming in late November, the coat and blanket drive, which is run by all six members of the exact board. And this is where the teachers let us know if they want to participate and we bring a box for their classroom. And so that them and their students can bring things like coats, hats, gloves, scarves, blankets, and boots. And then we are collecting through November 20th to December 7th. And all of We're hoping to collect 200 plus
014items that we can bring to the Salvation Army or yeah, the Salvation Army. And then from there the families get to come and like shop for the stuff that we've brought and also things like food and just other supplies that they'll need for the winter. So, yeah. And at the end of this first quarter, we collected our first notes of acknowledgement, which if you guys don't know notes of acknowledgement is where students can write notes, you know, expressing their gratitude, thanking staff members, not just teachers, you know, cafeteria workers, janitors, everybody in the building for, you know, everything they've done over the first quarter. So, it was a huge success this quarter. We had over 100 notes. So, we're hoping to keep that number up. We hope to keep the momentum up in the next
015quarter and throughout the rest of the year. And then even looking farther ahead, we're going to start planning some winter events for second semester. So, yeah. We hope to get Sorry. We hope to have another great quarter. Great. Thank you. I'm Lucy Drank. I'm the director of communications. Thank you. Any questions? Outside homecoming still a success? Yes. Yes, we love it. I actually could not imagine going inside for it. You guys have had great weather since it moved outside. Yes, we have. Amazing. All right. And you got a You got a new addition this week, but I think Are you guys speaking on the new thing in the cafeteria? Yes. Okay. Big hit? Yes. It might be a good blood drive reward instead of going off to college. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Keep
016up the good work. Thank you very much. Here you go. Why don't we move on then to the to the student advisors just so that we're all in the spirit of information sharing. So, if you don't mind giving your report right now and Dr. Freitas is not here this evening. So, it's all you. Um so, I'll be starting and I'll be speaking on behalf of Dr. Freitas delivering the principal's report. Okay. So, under teaching and learning for October, tomorrow, Wednesday, October 25th, we have our practice SAT National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Exam, which is the practice SAT that all juniors will be taking in building tomorrow. Students are expected to be in the field house or their alternate assignment location by 7:55. They're expected to bring a fully charged school issued Chromebook. Please note that no
017personal devices are allowed. Students may bring a pen or pencil and RB will be providing scratch paper for any work to be done. Students may bring a snack or water, but it must be stored under the desk. And no internet enabled devices such as smartphones or smart watches will be allowed within the testing areas and they will be confiscated before the test. Can they bring a calculator? I believe the testing software has a built-in calculator for whenever a question is needed. Moving on to school culture and operations, um in November on the on Friday the 10th, we have our Veterans Day celebration. At 8:30 there will be a breakfast for the veterans in the alumni lounge followed by the assembly at 9:30. And then classroom visits right after the assembly at 10:00. And the classroom
018visits will be veterans pairing up with teachers to discuss professional responsibilities and connect with students. Moving on to activities and athletics in October, just an hour ago today, Tuesday, October 24th, the student services team was involved in a college cost workshop where students were informed about cost of college and different supports to mitigate those costs. And looking forward into November, Wednesday, November 1st, there is a college planning tips for freshmen from 7:00 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the little theater. Thursday through Saturday, November 2nd through 4th as the theater department came in and said, the fall play, A Christmas Carol, will be hosted starting at 7:00 p.m. and then that Sunday, November 5th, the Christmas Carol will be at 2:00 p.m. in the auditorium. Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for adults. Monday, November
0196th is the official start date of our winter sports and athletics. And then as Vinnie mentioned earlier, there was a reschedule for the Hauser Jazz Festival and that will now be Thursday, November 30th from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Hauser Junior High. And that concludes the principal's report. Good job, Joe. Way to pivot to under questions. Nice job. Thank you. Sorry, my Chromebook just died on me. For student advisors, Board of Education report for the month of October for teaching and learning, Thursday, October 19th, parent-teacher conferences. Um I know I for my parents it went super well. And I heard that other parents really enjoyed having that online version communicating to teachers because it it helps a lot more with like jobs and especially if parents have like long rides from like from work to
020home. I know that helped between that slot to just like be able to go home, check in with their students' teachers and be able to have that online to have a better form of like just communication and then also just presence for students to be there with their teachers. And then for school culture and operations in October, on Mon- this past Monday, on the 23rd, we had the opening of our coffee bar. I tried it today. It was honestly amazing. I liked the coffee. What is the name of the coffee bar? That's what I am The cafe. The cafe. We didn't really I don't know how they landed on that. Okay, I just I liked it. I I thought it was super good. Yeah. And then on November, on Wednesday through Thursday, um 1st through
0212nd, OLAS is hosting an ofrenda, an altar, in the school atrium. Um it's also They're also having some teachers um if they uh would like to set up a picture of a loved one so that we can present it for the Dia de los Muertos, which is also from November 1st to November 2nd. Um Dia de los Muertos is celebrated um a lot in Mexico where it's a day where we appreciate a loved one or an animal or a close family friend who has passed and we celebrate them by having their picture up, having some candles, having their favorite food, anything to remind us of what they loved. And then for activities and athletics in October, Wednesday, 18th, band and orchestra concert, mariachi band club had their debut. Congratulations to all the performers, Bulldogs. And
022then on Monday, 23rd, Latin American history and OLAS students went on a field trip to the National Museum of Mexican Fine Arts and the Chicago neighborhood of Pilsen to walk around the neighborhood, look at some murals that they have around in the neighborhood, talk about the art, talk about the significance, the history, and what it means in Latino culture for students to learn more about background. And also to give the students a wider or a better perspective of what the class of Latin American history teaches and why is it important to learn more about that subject. And then congratulations to our conference champions in the following sports, boys and girls cross country. And that concludes And girls volleyball. But that concludes the student advisor Yeah, that was very comprehensive. Thank you. Thank you. Yes. Thank
023you both. Any questions? Comments? Keep them Okay. Then going back, Dr. Skinkis' discussion information items and our district goals, we need an update on those. So, I've just been providing I've been asking the admin team to provide the one-page chart and then I've been asking them to add any comments. Um and in bold, uh you can see the weekly blast on our communication. That's one of the goals I'm working directly on with Miss Fletcher. Dr. Freitas and Miss Augustine updated that they did the SEL survey on 10/17. So, you can see this is just a short progress check for all the board members. Any questions or comments from anyone on this? No? Okay, thank you. Um the annual financial report the first read we're not quite there yet, but Yes, good evening. It's a very
024rough first read. Um they uh were not finished and so I asked them to give that asked them to give us whatever they could. Um and so that's why it's a little uh complicated to understand, but I wanted to get something in the board packet. So, um annually the board reviews uh the district's audit. That will take place um on November 14th when our auditor will be here to go over the audit um in person and highlight the important things um for the board to pay attention to. Um this year with the delay in property tax collection um it made it hard for the auditor to to complete everything on time, but we will have it done this week as a uh uh a completed draft um and that draft will include the summary of
025the audit, which is called the management's discussion and analysis. That's like at the beginning and that's the part that the board really wants to pay attention to. Um that's the easy part that's easier to understand and so I'll highlight that when I have Dr. Spatana share that out with the board. Um so, at this point um you know, there there really isn't a whole lot you necessarily need to to look at. And then additionally um the district is required to conduct a single audit again this year due to receiving over $750,000 in federal awards. Uh we do anticipate having to do that next year um and then it really just depends what other grants possibly come up cuz we are close to that threshold. So, it's it's possible we have to continue to do this
026moving forward. I Yeah, I just knew we were on the cusp, so I thought this was maybe the last year. Not that it truly matters. I was just more little We had like $200,000 in uh SR3 money that we were spending that hit this past fiscal year. Um I think that's really what put us over the edge. But we are done with the SR spending. Yes, we are done. So, so it's other grants that would trigger the single audit. Gotcha. Okay. And we'll see a draft then an actual draft. Uh hopefully um Dr. Spatana will be able to send it out to the board by Friday. Okay, perfect. Thank you. Yeah, my question was related to the headings. I didn't know what to concern myself with or what the numbers were directly related to. So,
027I appreciate that and I know that paragraph in the actual audit gives a full picture of what was looked at. So, I contemplated I look forward to that. I contemplated about not putting anything in, but I figured to try to be transparent it'd be better to have something in this board book. So, that's why I put the in complete my question was how do I not look stupid while trying to look through this. So, We need to check Chris and how long how big that is. If it's too big, we'll send it to Mary Ann and Mary Ann can upload it to board book. I think we've done that in the past. Okay. So, then they have access to it. That might be an easier way to do it too. Right. Right, that way it'll
028be on the It's on the board's protected site. Okay. Okay. Any questions on the the very early draft of the audit? I think we can wait till we have something more meaty to to jump into. Additional discussion items. Any discussion items from anyone? Okay, moving on. We we did jump around a little bit and have the SA report. Um there's no president's report. Dr. Spatana's superintendent's report. Uh thank you. Uh first quarter ended October 13th. Yes, we are already heading into almost finishing up our second week of the uh second quarter. Parent teacher conferences were conducted on Thursday. Um and as stated in my previous reports, it's been a great school year thus far. Cafeteria library library HVAC replacement project uh we are still dealing with some open punch list items. And uh Dr. Spatana's
029returned uh to work with Burm and our architect and engineer are just all falling together right at the same time so that we can uh work with our sub contractor to get a couple things working correctly here before the winter starts, but we still have some open items there. Um we were supposed I'm kind of related to this, but not really. Are those plantings coming in this fall or this spring? That's related to the landscape project. Yes. Uh the landscape project those will come in more this spring. They're going to look like they're trimmed up. Um but we have a deer problem, but we think we might have solved that. We had somebody go to a local barber shop and pick up hair and spread the hair around by the planting. So, we're hoping that
030will help because they've been eating I've never heard of that as a plants. Yeah. Caroline's nodding her head like yes, it works. Yes, I didn't know that. Um so, cafeteria project still open. I I apologize I had originally put on here complete. We were supposed to do commissioning Thursday. That's going to be pushed back. Um coffee bar is in, open, students love it. It seems to be going great. So, we're just now we're working through all the operational kinks and making sure everybody gets their smoothies, lattes, mochas uh on time and uh in order and can get to class on time. So, we're working through all that. Uh Kylie Fletcher uh just stepped out. She was our our communications person released her RB review, which was a quarterly newsletter last week. Hard copies of the
031newsletter will be dropped off at all the local libraries, village halls to hopefully reach the community members who are not accessing electronic updates. We have also been running bi-weekly advertisements in the Landmark and the hard copy and digital versions with upcoming events and the ability to sign up for electronic communication. So, we're really trying to hit that audience um that was in the survey that said if they didn't have a student here. Um so, we're working on that. Uh thank you to Miss Zales, Mr. Novak, and Mr. Van Hurst for attending the school board workshop on diversity, equity, and inclusion last Saturday. Um next month there will be one school board meeting November 14th and we will have a few presentations including the auditor, the parent groups providing their annual update to the board of
032education. So, um next week's agenda will be a little thicker. Uh I have been asked to present to a peer evaluation our peer evaluation system we have implemented at RB to the University of Illinois principal leadership graduate program. Uh Miss Lindquist, um Mark Helgeson, and Jessica Morrison will also be joining me to provide additional insights from both the management and union perspectives on how the model was developed and the positive impact uh we are seeing here at RB with teacher collaboration and instructional practice. Uh we're actually doing that tomorrow. Uh superintendent advisory councils uh facilities advisory council has been scheduled now for November 9th. Thank you to Laura and Nick for getting back to us. And the finance advisory council will also be in the morning of November 9th. Uh both of those will occur
033on Zoom. Finally, um the board received a copy of the survey in their weekly update to please fill out a quick uh input survey uh for the assistant principal of athletics. That survey also went out to all the head coaches, uh executive board members for the booster club, and then uh each coach was to select one or two student representatives from their program uh to also fill out the survey to help give us some input of what um stakeholders are looking for in the next assistant principal of athletics. We will be doing a multi-round interview process. Um and the goal is to have a candidate to the board uh by January. Did the student advisors to the board also get a copy of that? I will if not I will make sure they do. And
034that concludes uh superintendent's report for October 24th. I just had one question. Do we know on the parent-teacher conference uh did our uh did the teachers say they thought they were mostly uh that most of the parents participated? Do we know what the participation rate was? Uh I don't have that in front of me tonight, so I'll have to get back to Okay, so next Yeah. I'm not sure we would even have tracked it in the past. No, they would check it off in their grade books. How many of their How many of parents of their students came? So, we would know. I know we had a spillover and some teachers were actually doing conferences on Friday and Saturday cuz they didn't have enough time slots. Yeah, so then next I I mean I would
035hope that there was well attended and that teachers are able to talk to most parents for the students that they see. Makes sense. Um moving on Dr. Spatana. Good evening. Tonight I'll provide the board with financial information for the month of September, which represents 25% of the fiscal year. Uh first report is our monthly summary report and the total operating revenue for the month was $504,586 with 54% coming from evidence-based funding, which is our state funding, 25% from federal and state grant reimbursements, and 21% from local fees. Um the total operating expenditures for the month were $2,573,377 with 72% towards salary and benefits, 7% for building level supplies, primarily um instructional software and textbooks, and 7% for special education tuition. Um on the next set of reports, the summary of revenue shows that the district
036has received 6.8% of our budgeted revenue for the year. This uh percentage is slightly higher than this time last year, which was 5.6%. The summary of expenditures shows that the district has spent 29.8% of our budgeted expenditures and this amount is similar to last year, which was at 28%. Um the district will continue to deficit spend for the next 2 months, so that would be October and November um due to the delay in property tax revenue again um for the second time uh the second year in a row. Um, normally we would receive that money in August, um, but we will be set to receive some of that money in November from the escrow accounts, and then the rest of the money in December. And in working with the township treasurer, um, due to the
037fact that we're receiving some, uh, money from, uh, escrow accounts, uh, he is okay with letting us, um, deficit spend a little bit if we need to, knowing that the money's coming in in December. So, we will not need to do a working cash loan this this time around. Um, the statement of revenue and expenditure reports, uh, for the month of September for all of the board accounts was included, um, as always. There was a question on this report. Um, the Board of Education Paid Services account, uh, was at 230 237% of the budget. Uh, this was due to the township treasurer expense being miskeyed. Uh, those uh, accounts are off by one number. Uh, so we're doing a journal adjustment to, uh, put that in the right account. And that's almost $16,000. So, once
038that happens, that account will be in budget. But that's exactly what we use these reports for is catching, uh, mistakes like that. Um, there was no questions on the student activity account summary for the month of September, which I included in the report as well. Uh, there were a few other ancillary question on the on the working cash loan, right? Since we're not going to proceed with that, which is which is good news. So, anything we need to execute with the township treasurer to allow us to deficit spend? Um, no, because it's just in the Ed Fund that we uh, we will. So, so the escrow is sufficient to Correct. Okay. Thank you. Um, you're welcome. The paid quarterly building a rental report was included for the board's information. Um, this only includes paid, uh,
039rentals for the first quarter, which is July through September. Um, the surplus for this quarter was $4,538.92. This amount is lower from this time last year, um, but sometimes with rentals it's hard to compare year-to-year and quarter-to-quarter, um, because for example, we had the pool payment, uh, was a few days late, and so that hit in October, which then now hits in quarter two. Um, and so that's where things can become a little misleading. And then we also did have a bigger fall rental from last year that chose not to return this year, and that was utilizing the gym space. So, it's a combination of both of those things as to why, in comparison from last year, we were down, um, about $10,000. So, I guess my question on that, and this maybe is more
040for, uh, if anyone on the board has thoughts, is that it's it's because those pool payment has slipped or Bulldogs or whoever, it's never quite an accurate year-over-year snapshot of the quarter. So, is there a different way to present this, whether it's, you know, outstanding and receivables or to do the year-to-date and not do it by quarter? Cuz I I feel like that that every time we get the the building rental report, there's always a significant deviation from the prior cuz it's not apples to apples. Yeah, I don't um, I can Why don't we Why don't we do look into it and bring it to the Finance Advisory Council. Um, it's tricky cuz a lot of this a lot of the analysis has to be done by hand, so that's why I paused to kind
041of wrap my head around what's feasible, but, um, let me put my head together with, uh, uh, the business office and see what reports we can pull automatically, and then see what we can put together that makes more sense, and then I'll present something to the Finance Advisory Council. you. I'm not I'm not looking to reinvent the wheel. I just know that it's a, um, you know, if there's a group that has not paid their bill and they're a quarter or two quarters in arrears, I would expect you to identify that. But this is I feel like now for the last couple years just with there's just been a misalignment from quarter over quarter. So, thank you. Yep. And then lastly, um, I touch on this a little later in, uh, school maintenance project grant,
042but, um, the district is in the process of exploring the feasibility of solar panels. Uh, the district administration, myself, uh, Dr. Skinkis, and, um, Erm Greschawski, our building manager, um, met with a solar consultant through Nania Energy. Um, the district's used Nania Energy for at least the past five years, um, if not longer, to, um, help us secure energy contracts at the best price, um, participate in energy, um, incentives, and then they were really instrumental in helping us, uh, resolve the energy-related issue when we had the, um, gas issue, um, over Christmas Eve last year, and that was because the gas meter was too small and we couldn't get Nicor out here for the longest time. They were able to step in and help us. So, that's the same, um, company that we're using uh,
043to help us with, um, exploring solar. They have hired, uh, a person who only does solar panels, um, and so we will be presenting that to the Facilities Advisory Council to go over the feasibility study, um, and then discuss that with the entire board. I imagine we'll also bring it to the Finance Advisory Council cuz there's a cost associated with that as well. And that concludes my report for this evening. And we're going to discuss in more depth the solar panels on November 9th with Nania uh, Facilities. So, we won't have the actual cost. Um, I'm going to prepare the Finance Advisory Council. I think that meeting is scheduled prior to the Facilities. Um, so we could just prepare them. Um, and I think you're covering that a little bit tonight in the maintenance grant.
044Correct. And then we we do have Nania, uh, the two consultants from Nania set to present, uh, to the board on November 14th, um, if the Advisory Council decides that that's the direction that we want to go. For the maintenance grant. For the maintenance grant, but they would they would discuss the solar panels and the options associated with the solar panels. If we choose to not do, um, the solar panels on the maintenance grant, and we go a different direction, they could I still I think it'd be a good for them to present if not in November at a later date before we go out to bid. Okay? Yes. You thinking that the November agenda's getting It's getting thick. Yeah. Auditor. The time the timing isn't really dependent on the grant. It's, uh, also dependent
045on at what point the district what timeline the district wants to follow for completing the project as well. Okay. You and I can follow up with that with Facilities. I mean, they may just come one month later, to December, or we'll figure that out. Um, I'm just a little worried about There's a lot of Yeah. a lot of activity. Okay, understood. Any questions for Dr. Smetana from anybody? Anyone? Um, old business, I don't think we have any on tonight's agenda, Dr. Skinkis. No, I updated life safety, so Well, I jumped in my on my landscaping question. the landscaping, uh, if the board has seen there the the landscaping was completed out in front. The initial phase of the patio has been installed. The tables are being installed in November, the permanent picnic tables. And then,
046uh, there is, uh, Dr. Smetana is getting a a quote for a wall to be put around about a half of the patios so that there provides additional seating besides the five permanent picnic tables. So, moving on to new business, we have the IASB resolutions for the November conference. There's only five on here for consideration this year, which is quite a departure, um, because I is the board prepared to do a thumbs up, thumbs down on these tonight? You want to do a first read? Yeah, they Yeah, they just came not too long ago, so Okay. So, so we'll do a, um, at our next meeting so that Ms. Resca, as our representative at the conference, knows where the board stands. Like I said, there's only five of them this time, which is shockingly low.
047Yeah. Um, and so we six, not five. Need new glasses. Five. Yeah. Uh, so we should be prepared to do a quick review of that. I don't think we need to necessarily have any discussion, but make sure we read the packet. There's a lot of information in there. Um, anything else on those? No? Um, school maintenance project grant also a first read. Mhm. Um, this is also a rough first read, uh, due to the timing. Um, but as many of you are familiar, we've had the school maintenance grant, uh, awarded to us before. It's a up to $50,000, um, grant program, but you also have to spend it's a matching program. So, you have to spend 50,000 to get 50,000. So, in essence, it has to be a project worth, um, $100,000, if you're going
048to ask the state for the full amount. Um, last year we used the grant to offset updating the auditorium lighting to LED lighting. The year prior to that, we used it for the car charging stations, EV charging stations, as well as, um, updating the bathroom partitions throughout the building. Um, we've kind of touched on one of the projects already, but we have two projects in mind for the board's consideration. Um, the tricky part with this grant is, unlike the other grants, once the grant is submitted, the grant cannot be amended. Um, and so at all. And so if you deviate from what you initially submit the grant for and you get awarded, you have to give that money back to the state. So, that is the tricky nature of this grant. Uh, the district also
049has two years to spend the money from when it was dispersed. So, my guess is this grant would be dispersed sometime in December or January. So, that would be 2 years from that that we would have to report that we've spent all of the money. So, December of 2025 or January of 2026. This grant also needs board approval, which is why I'm putting it in tonight as a first read and wanted to share some ideas with you and then we will need approval at the next meeting. So, the first option would be to apply the grant towards the installation of solar panels. This is a state priority within the grant and like I said, we'll discuss it with the finance and facility advisory councils. The earliest that this project would complete could be completed if
050the board decided to go with solar panels and wanted to move ahead right away would be the summer of 2024. So, that's the earliest that that project could be completed. So, we would have to go out to bid for that project. The second option is for the completion of the additional culinary lab that we have talked about briefly with the board, which would provide more students with the ability to take culinary classes and the ability to receive dual credit, which we currently cannot do because we don't have an industrial kitchen space for the students. The administration's meeting with the district's architect later this week to review a draft mock-up of the culinary lab and then again, we would share it with the facilities advisory council and discuss it the financial aspect with the finance advisory
051council. The earliest that that project would be completed if the board decided to move forward with that project would be summer of 2025. I would not be this coming summer. Both projects would need to tap into the district's reserves and almost the full capacity to complete the projects. So, that's something that you know, we will need to consider with the board. The second project, the culinary space is is further away in terms of a timeline, but at this point I would be leaning towards applying the grant for that project as it directly impacts students and um possibly should be prioritized over the solar panels, but certainly something for the finance and facility advisory council and the entire board to weigh in on. So, we don't need to make a decision tonight. Like I said, we'll
052be discussing both projects with the advisory councils, but at the November 14th board meeting, we'll be making a recommendation for the grant to include one of these and I will need the board to vote and approve the grant at that time in order to submit the grant application. So, if we if you look at this, you know from from a board's perspective, you know, either either either the project will be tapping into our surplus. Remember we talked about the culinary lab, but the industrial kitchen we're planning that to try to line up with 2025 when when some of the bonds come off the books and we'll get an increase in our levy for that one year. And so, we will have a surplus and so, using that surplus to do the culinary kitchen, approximately about
0531.8 to million dollars. Okay, then the solar panels are probably close to 900 to let's say one point let's you know, around a million dollars. Now, those can pay for themselves within about 5 to 7 years of you know, the the lowering our energy costs. So, the initial money that we'd be fronting, we'd be lowering our energy costs and make that money back over 5 to 7 years and then the next 10 to 15 years, we're reducing our energy bills, which will help our overall sustainability and efficiency, right? So, I think the thing that Kristen's talking to you about tonight is as regards to this grant um I mean, nothing has been voted on or just right? Anything can happen, but if there was one that was probably concrete that we know we want to
054do, it's probably the one for the students, right? We're turning down close to 100 students if not more per year that are signing up for foods classes and we don't have enough space. So, we know we need to build a second kitchen. And if we're going to do it, we should do it so that we can have a dual credit program for kids to get the college credit. So, that's why she's she's leaning towards the school maintenance grant going towards that because if if you know, if you as board members were prioritizing like well, this sustainability is an important aspect for us, right? We can go through this and numbers could change or the the bids could come in way higher and for the solar panels and it may not be the right time to
055do it. But if we already commit to the grant, we could be on the hook for the grant, right? Is this this is an annual grant? No, it's when the state has excess money, they decide to do it and there's no rhyme or reason. There's no guarantee. It has been running annually for about 2 or It ran in 2017 and then it ran in 2020 and then it ran in 2022 and then it ran last we said we're back to back here. Okay. Are there Oh, I'm sorry. Go ahead. Go ahead. I was wondering if there probably would there would likely be other grant opportunities available for solar panel installation. There very well might. You know, the other issue that Kristen and I are exploring and we'll do this with the facilities group and and
056with the the board presentation. When you do solar panels, there's two options. Right? You can either install and own the solar panels, which means all the upfront cost is yours. Or they have a third party program where a third party comes in, installs the solar panels for you, but then they reap a lot of the benefits, right? You still have cost savings on your energy bill, but all the comment rebates and those things go to the third party. So, if we're going to do this, the right way to do it is us to own them and and and we have enough in surplus. I mean, we're talking with both projects about a total of 3 million dollars. Is that fair to estimate? Yes. So, I mean, we have that. I mean, we're not flushed, but
057I mean, we're we're at close to 60, 58%. So, we want to I mean, we have enough if you take out the the money for the field that we still have in there waiting. Hopefully, we'll get that answers on that soon. Right. Um I'm thinking the student first perspective is probably the best way to go. And none of them would fall under life safety cuz we're coming up on a new 10-year We are It's good catch. We are and I asked if the if the solar would and and they do not. No. They do not. I I guess I'm leaning towards saying 50,000 is a drop in the bucket for both projects. on either project. I mean, we want it. We we want that to be a part of it. Um I guess I'm looking
058more if it has to be spent in 2 years. Do we know that the lab culinary lab is is underway? We know that the project has to be completed in 2 years. Yes, we wouldn't need to have the entire project completed. I mean, the goal is to have it completed by summer. Yes, but we just need to show that we've spent 100,000 so that we can keep our 50 and they get their 50. I think with between the design and um the design phase probably alone, the district will spend 50 in probably use the other 50 to match. So, we could probably be okay there. And that would definitely happen within the next 2 years if we're looking to start construction in summer of 25. Right? So, Yeah. Um Don't need to make a decision
059tonight. I I just want you guys to think about that. And I know that culinary space is a concern with regard to sections and space. Well, we're we're cooking on electric stoves. They're the same stoves you would see in an in an apartment or you know Oh, it's just space, I mean. Yeah, it's just space and it's and it's and it's not right. There's not enough room to do an assembly line or do a a prep line and And we finally have the staff to offer students dual credit, but we don't have the space and the equipment to do it. Has has all the discussion already been had about how solid dual credit would be with Triton or we looking into other avenues? Is there a just with regard to um To make sure we
060don't spend the money and not get dual credit. Well, and understand that if if the impetus is to do this because of dual credit, is that already uh fairly well locked down? I think we've been told that Yes, it's mapped out and we've been working with Triton to make sure we understand what the equipment needs would be to make sure that the course is mapped over to the our curriculum. to do with a new lab, for sure. Right. We also did a site visit to Leyden, who has several dual classes a dual credit classes for culinary with Triton. They are able to run those right now? Mhm. Okay. And we were able to talk to them about their challenges with dual credit in the culinary space, but then also what equipment they have that is
061required and what's kind of above and beyond. Okay. Are we able to get a temporary set up for the culinary program, find kitchen that's certified program if we're ready to run sooner? We do not have that on camp. You mean if we're ready to run sooner? If we were able to offer those courses and have them count towards dual credit, is there a certified kitchen where we could Not at campus. Not at campus or close in the community? We have not explored that, to be honest with you. And that's something that you're That would be a big thing to try to bus kids for 50 50 minutes. Remember, you only got 50-minute class. Yeah, that would also pull kids from two other classes because they'd have to get transported there, so they'd have to eat
062a class period to go there and then eat a period to transport back. Yeah. But our cafeteria, was it wasn't called? Well, there Yeah, but that's being used for our satellite program and the prep of our meals for our students. So, you can't have a class in there if they're cooking and prepping and doing all that. But at the end of the day All right. Our cafeteria is used 3:30, 4:00. I mean, they're prepping the meals for the next day. They're prepping the sandwiches for the next day. Cleaning each day. Yeah. So, we're already through '23 '24, so really you're talking one more year and then this would be hopefully '25 '26 when you're ready to rock and roll. So. Yeah. Okay? That would be fantastic. And there's a limit. You can only apply for
063one of the grants. Correct. Yeah. But you could if they offer it next year Correct. then you could do it for the solar. Absolutely. Or in 2 years or whatever. Well. Yeah, actually the solar Assuming depending on the timing of solar if we if the board had decided to already start it. True. Worst case scenario is you have to give the state the money back. So, are we making is next week We'll make the recommendation to you This is not the first read recommendation. No, it's got to be approved. That's why we wanted you to have this discussion. I'm sorry, not for the grant. I'm talking about for the solar panels. Yes. Solar panels if if we come to you on the 14th with the solar panels, we'll have the speakers here to give you
064And yes, that would be like a first read. Okay. But you'd be done applying for the grant after first read expecting that we're on board, which I am, but I just need to make sure that we agree to that. I I just think the way this is all fallen out and with with Kristen's absence and now coming back and the returning to I'm thinking it's better to probably spend the 50,000 on the kitchen. Uh cuz there's a lot of moving pieces with the solar. Sure. Um but we'll have a recommendation for you on the 14th, but I want you to be prepared to hear out both should we need to apply for a grant. Yeah, I would just be concerned about the timing with the kitchen. That was my only And then that becomes a
065use it or lose it scenario, right? The solar is Like we already he said like with all the expenses of beforehand with the architect and the planning and all that stuff. Within the first 18 months, we'll have over 50,000 being billed from the architect and design engineering. I mean, the other thing to consider too is over 50. We have to spend 100 and then they would give us 50 back. Well, could we buy the equipment like when we did the HVAC systems, we bought the equipment before we installed it because it was cheaper to buy it up now and that way Correct. We could. So, if we were buying the stoves and things like that Absolutely. And if the board decides to move forward with both projects, then you know, this discussion's kind of a
066pointless. Unless there were um another opportunity next year, right? Correct. Which we don't know. we don't know when the opportunities come up and we also don't know the timing. Like when they come out And it has to be a new project. The timing is not necessarily the same. It has to be a new project, right? It can't be. Yes, it cannot be an existing project. Okay. I think we got some good dirt. I think even just talking through that it helps us for our thought process on our recommendation. I think that's the last item. It looks like it is. There's no additional visitors here. No discussion items were requested. Any of any consideration of items for future meetings from anyone? Seeing none. Matters for closed session. We have appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal
067of specific employees of the public body, student discipline, individual student matters, purchase, sale, or lease of real property, probable, imminent, or pending litigation, collective negotiations, and school safety. Mr. Durkin, could you read us in? The Board of Education Township High School District 208, Cook County, Illinois enters closed session for the purpose of considering closed session matters as presented in the October 24, 2023 board agenda packet. Second. Second from Mr. Van Horse. Yes. Okay. 7:55.