001Please uh rise for the pledge of allegiance. Right behind me. 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. The mission of Sunny Brook School District 171 is to maximize student achievement by cultivating critical thinking skills, innovative instructional practices, and a collaborative school, home, and community partnership. Roll call. Tim, yes, present. Nicole Thompson, present. Hill Serene Smith, present. Desire present. Derek present. Any person wishing to address the board about an item that is on the agenda should do so when that item is up for discussion. Visitor statements will be limited to two minutes per person. A total of 30 minutes will be allocated for visitor comments. All comments about items not on the
002agenda will be held until the visitor statement at the end of the meeting. Items related to personnel issues will be redirected to the appropriate administrator. We are at item F. Recommend motion to approve the regular board of education meeting minutes of April 14th, 2025. Close session minutes of April 14th, 2025. School board meeting minutes of April 28th, 2025. May expenses in April payroll in the amount of $1,611,139.39 as presented. Motion second. Motion by Thompson. Second by Thompson. Yes. Yes. Smith. Yes. Ambrose. Yes. Yes. Okay. Item G, communications. You have anything? No. No. Okay. Item H, informationational items. Foyer requests smart procure requesting any and all purchasing records from January 14th, 2025 to current as presented. Okay. Board reports. Does anyone have anything? I don't. No. We are at item J, administrative reports. Dr. Erica Milhouse,
003Pettis, superintendent. First and foremost, I want to thank everyone for coming out today and being with us as we dedicated um two trees to um just our own personal fallen heroes. So, I'm appreciative of that. I also want to remind everyone that the last day of school is June 3. We need our students to continue to come to school up until June 3rd. I also want to let you know that we did um the dental process did come out and officially for the entire school year we did 160 we played 160 lovely little individual teeth. So I'm appreciative of that as well. That's it. Okay. Dr. Lori Orange Strand. I have nothing this evening. Thank you. Okay. Mr. David Shrader. Nothing for me tonight. Thank you. Miss Julianne Green. Oh, not here. Okay, let's talk.
004Dr. Mike McGawen. Uh oh, look at this. So, uh good evening everybody. Uh first and foremost, um just a reminder, registration is open. Please, please, please, if you have not registered yet, um please jump online. Uh same procedure as always. Log into P school, fill out your forms. If there's any questions with residency, things of that nature, we will uh one of the office staff will reach out to you. Uh but should take no more than two or three minutes uh per student that you have and uh you know get you ready and set for next year. It really does help us for our planning and that's the key thing is um with early registration is the earlier everybody gets registered uh the better off we can be when it comes to planning sections and
005things of that nature. So a lot of help to us. So the other thing is if um you have not had an opportunity yet um as you can see up here on our display that we do have a new website uh went live just a couple of weeks ago. Um so just to kind of we just want to hit on a couple key things uh with our website and answer any questions that anybody has. But as you can set tell um in the nine years I've been here this is probably our biggest and best refresh that we've done. um and it really shows is again we're worried about our curb appeal of our buildings uh which is extremely important but our web appeal is just as important as well um to make sure that we
006are making things easy for everybody to find um in a pleasing way and I think that's one of the key things with the new website um is making everything very easy for people to find. Um, one thing I do definitely want to point out is, as you notice, we have a lot of construction um, going on at Heritage. And for any of you who have seen it, it is going super fast. So, not to steal the thunder of anybody else in the room because that's not my baby, that's Dave and Dr. Pettis's. But um for those you want to see the the speed at which they're working. One of the new areas that we have added to our website is under departments we have added a facilities and maintenance area um which you can go
007directly in through there to see or you can pop right here construction updates um and you will see it's about our board meeting tonight. was no any other warning. Um, and you'll be able to see where I'm out there taking pictures almost every day because there is something new to see um, almost every day on construction. So, please uh, utilize that page uh, for those who want to see and plus once it's closed in. It's a little hard to see what's going on in the inside. We're going to help keep you a breast of what is going on in the inside. Um but anything else that you might need um you know anything from you know looking at enrollment any questions that anybody might have about enrollment. We think we've covered everything um in here
008and all these do branch down uh for you to be able to look and answer any questions that you might have um with it. Is there any questions or anything else on the website specifically anybody wants to see um or any questions they have related to it? language. Yes. Um, for anybody who does need the website in another language, at the upper right hand corner, there is a translation button that will pick anything from the Google uh library, which is 250ome languages. Um, so feel free to, you know, change it in any which language you need. Thank you. Mrs. Chantel Camber. Yes, I have a report. We are winding down. I'm so excited. Okay, so students participated in track sess sectionals this past Saturday. Uh three of our students advanced to state finals and they'll
009be competing this upcoming Friday or Saturday in Peoria. So we going to wish them well. Our eighth grade dinner dance is this Thursday. Told y'all we winding down. This Thursday at 6 o'clock at Dream Palace. Um, and then the promotion ceremony is seven days thereafter. Next Thursday, May 29th at six o'clock. And that event will also be livereamed. On Monday, June 2nd, students will be stepping up to their next grade level. I talked about that at the last meeting. Our current students will follow their next grade level schedule um and get a preview of what their school year, their new school year will look like, and the kids really look forward to that. Um, the last day of school will be celebrated in true heritage fashion. will be doing a silent party. Fun times. I
010actually just sent out the permission slip today. So, silent parties are always the best parties. We would think that they're silent, but they're not. They're just as loud as any other party. But the kids have fun. The teachers have fun. They give us two different stations, so the teachers can listen to the old school music while the kids are listening to the new school music. It's always a good time. Um, we have 10 days left. I thought I'd let you guys know that there's 10 days left. Our current theme for seven mindsets this month is the time is now. How appropriate to bring about change. You must not be afraid to take the first step. We will fail when we fail to try. Does anybody have any questions of me? Have a super fantastic day.
011Thank you, Mr. Joseph Kent. All right. Good evening. And good evening. I echo everything that Miss Cambridge said. The only thing is as the year is winding down, it seems like more stuff is winding up. It's just an odd thing. Uh this uh Thursday, the 22nd, we the spring concert is about to happen over here. The name of the game is exposure. So, we'll have a little bit of our ukulele club on display, a little bit of our dance club on display and a little bit of our choir on display. For the parents, it'll be at 1:30. So, an open invitation to any of the board members that would like to get your music going. That was a wonderful thing. Um, and then Wednesday the 28th, that's our field day. Um, teachers have been working
012very hard to get things together. Last year was outstanding. I dare to say this year is going above and beyond. So please if you want to get your play on, we ask the board members to come on in. We will find something for you to do. Then uh the second uh June 2nd, that's our end of the year celebration for our prek program. And so again, those kids, we have a number of kids moving from prek going right into our kindergarten classes. And that's the feeder system that we want to begin working. So, K prek and kindergarten have been working together pretty closely. These students are ready to move on. This is their end of the year celebration. And if that's not enough for you, on June 3rd, the last day, we ask you to
013drop on by. Our kindergarteners getting into the official grades. Now, our kindergarteners will be having their end of the year celebration moving on to first grade. So, there is something for everybody. Don't be shy. Just come on in. We have a place for you. Have a good evening. Thank you. We are at item K. Uh K1 is recommend motion to approve the resignation of Miss Alma Austo, teacher Nathan Hill School effective today, the last day of school for the 2024 2025 school year as presented. Motion second. Motion by [Music] Yes. Smith. Yes. Ambrose. Yes. recommend motion to approve the resignation of Miss Kila Dockery, teacher Nathan Hill School, effective on the last day of school of the 2024 2025 school year as presented. Second motion by Smith. Second by Terrell. Yes. Thompson, yes. Brooks, yes.
014Smith, yes. Ambrose, yes. uh to approve the resignation of Miss Kyle Wilson par profofessional Nathan Hill School effective May 6, 2025. Motion second by Thompson. Yes. Thompson. Yes. By Smith. Yes. Ambrose. Yes. To approve the employment of Mr. Richard CL Car. Okay. All right. It's Charlad. Thank you. Thank you. Just want to make sure I say his name right. Financial literacy teacher Heritage Middle School salary of $55,915. Step 10 of Lane BA effective for the 2025 2026 school year as presented. Motion. Second. Motion by Terrell, second by Ambrose. Terrell, yes. Thompson, yes. Bur, yes. Smith, yes. Ambrose, yes. Uh, to approve the employment of Miss Britney Hoskin, currently a long-term substitute teacher to a fifth grade self-contained teacher, Heritage Middle School, salary of $55,46. Step three of lane MA plus9 effective at the beginning of
015the 2025 2026 school year as presented. Second by Smith by Ambrose. Yes. Thompson. Yes. Bur. Yes. Smith. Yes. Ambrose. Yes. to approve the classroom lease agreement between Sunny Brook SD1 171 and Echo for the 2025 2026 school year as presented. Motion second. Motion by second by yes. Thompson. Yes. Yes. Smith. Yes. Ambulance. Yes. To approve the capital projects 2025 change order number two in the amount of $25,737.60 for the unforeseen excavation soil issues as presented. Motion second. Motion by second by Thompson. Yes. Thompson. Yes. Bur. Yes. Smith. Yes. Ambrose. Yes. To approve the purchase of new Heritage Main Office cubicles and chairs and installation from Frank Cooney in the amount of $22,821.76 as presented. Motion. Second. by second by Thompson. Yes. Thompson. Yes. Yes. Yes. Amber, yes. To approve the tuck pointing and brick facing
016repairs of the Nathan Hill rooftop mechanical room by Voit Masonry in the amount of $28,500 as presented. Second motion by Smith. Second by Ambrose. Yes. Thompson. Yes. B. Yes. Smith. Ambrose. Yes. Uh to approve the board of education meeting dates for the 2025 2020 26 school year. And you all can see the dates listed from July to June. Motion second. Motion by second [Music] by And before I take that roll call, I do want to point out one date on the calendar. Uh September 15th happened to be a national holiday. Happened to be my birthday. [Laughter] Right. You might as well tell us now. Thank you. Yes. Thompson. Yes. Yes. Yes. Uh recommend motion to rehire the following pair of professionals for the 2025 2026 school year as presented. Thank you. Samika D. Los Angeles,
017Denise Zor, Diamond Sanders, Alana Apple White, Viviana Lopez, Leia Mayfield, Tracy von Winsenberg, Carol Lynville, Carol Wallace, our Vargas, Carolyn Hillard, Kimberly Mayfield. Motion second. Motion by Thompson, second by Amber. Yes. Thompson. Yes. BS. Yes. Yes. Ambrose. Yes. Uh recommend motion to approve the position of dean of students at Heritage Middle School for the 2025 2026 school year. I have a question about that one. Sure. I was just wondering is this an administrative position? No. No, it's a teacher. Okay. Would will this be somebody with a have to have qualifications of like a have to have a type 75 recommended but not not necessary? Not necessary. Do we know the specific type of roles that this individual would be doing? Shared it with your union and unfortunately just I don't have that paperwork in front
018of me but I did send it to your union um executive to take a look at those responsibilities. Okay. Will it be taking away responsibilities of the current administration? We won't be doing CHC. So, it's taking the place of CC. It's taking place of CHC. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Any more questions? I had some questions, but I have to. However, you pretty much answered them. You pretty much answered all my questions. I was going to um we have and and thank you Dr. Pettis for pacifying me because I emailed her like it was no tomorrow and I thank you for giving me all this information as far as um what we were asking. Each board member has a small little synopsis of kind of like being a devil's advocate against the U deans of student.
019We have information stating that we have 82% 54 um infractions from last year to this year. And the 54 infractions pretty much had decreased significantly to 34%. and it was showing that our current interventions and our staff and our structures without a dean was already being effective as far as behavior issues. I felt that. Uh, and then you pretty much request, you pretty much was asking as far as an overlap as far as the services and I believe that some of this it could be substantially going to exactly what the assistant principal may be doing. So I again there was more clarifications that I had needed. Uh because the assistant principal manages probably pretty much disciplinary issues and positive behavior incentives, oversees peer mediation, data, the school store and behavior related reporting, rights and conducts,
020the 405 plan and collaboration with social worker and other staff with our existing capacity and already acknowledging that we're going to have a social worker and um counselors. I was thinking that instead of investing in another, but you already said it's not an administrator, that this district should leverage the training and incoming professionals to strengthen behavior frameworks. So, I'm looking more into can we do more um more education as far as with our staff and then I'm also looking at the funding in a long-term need for it because it said if there is a lack of clear and measurable success framework if the dean impact will be fully evaluated and the metrics and the benchmarks for success must be defined before implement you know before it's implemented. So again, I'm just looking at it overall.
021Okay. But what I need you to know too, and I I'm sorry if you didn't see that in my correspondence to you, we previously had a technology integrationist coach, and we did not fill that position. We also have um a part-time custodian and two pair of professional positions that we have not fulfilled. So, we're not asking for another staff member to be added. We're just asking for the technology integration specialist to be reclassified to a dean because what I know for certain is um as I articulated that yes, our behavior in fractures have went down and I think that's large credit to the work that Mr. Dolan and Miss Kendrick has done through the houses. However, on the on the flip side of that, it takes us all day. And it really does take us
022all day because I've become the other assistant um principal at um Heritage Middle School because a lot of times we're having issues that deal with social media. And consequently, because of that, we spend a lot of time going spend a lot of time investigating, looking through tapes and things like that. And it could take us all day, and I mean all day from 8 to 3 doing parent phone calls. And so subsequently other things don't get done in the course of our day. So we have assumed some of those responsibilities and the teachers are here from here just can probably validate that they see us doing that a lot. One of the things also happened is that um our CAC program over there we we took we disbanded it at the end of the year
023um and the teachers um had an outcry for it. they felt that there was a need for it. But we we desperately need some assistance restructuring that program because I don't think the students is I am of the belief that the students did not take it seriously enough. They stopped in there to um just say hi and not look at it for mine to um reset their reset themselves and go forward with their day in a more positive manner. That's not what I perceive what was happening. So we are we've tried really hard for restorative practices and that has sometimes we're doing hits and miss with restorative practices when our our days and our times a lot we are doing it other times we are not. Um this upcoming school year as you know our
024counselor at Heritages Middle School is taking a year's long FMLA. Our social worker has retired. So the support staff over at Heritage Middle School will be all brand new people. So when you talk about training that it's going to take and I'm going to honestly say it will be Dr. Pettis me who will be working with them to train them to get them up the p up the part on just how to do the um social emotional aspects as it relates to a special ed perspective. And then when you go to the day-to-day um operation that the social workers do, I'm not quite sure if two brand new people will be able to hit the ground running. That is my hope. We're interviewing successfully for that, but as you as you may or may not
025know, um trying to obtain a social worker in today's um climate is not that easy. So, we've had to look at doing contractual people, too. And we've had some contractual people, they always don't have an invested interest in our students. So then when they don't always have an invested interest on the student, then it becomes administratively, we become the invested um people that invest more in the kids. So I can only speak for myself, but I do deliver social work services to um small groups of of of kids to the very best of my ability. So, um, we were looking to have a dean position to help us help monitor hallways, monitor cafeterias, help us with restorative practices. And that's not taking away from Mr. Dolan's job in my perspective. I mean, that's just my
026perception because uh, the dean would not be able to write the suspension notices that I just need someone sometime to help me go into classrooms and remove kids or talk kids off the ledge at times. And my other question was that I did propose whether schools were did we have now I spoke to Miss Cambridge briefly but will the schools have like a a dean or someone to be that [Music] premier who does not have one. Um a lot of the schools we we share a SRO which is um schools resource a police officer a lancing police officer. We share them with district 158 and 215. However, um you can speak to them for yourselves, but 171 utilizes them the least. I um I don't take pride in having the police calling on my kids.
027So that is not something I'm just not pro it. It's only time that we do call the police if it's if it's in a um a situation that happened in the community that I need help with. Other than that, we don't call the police to break up our fights. We we just don't do that because it's just I just don't believe in it. And I do not want a police officer coming into our schools and my kids my kids fearing them. I have my own ethical issues about that. So, and I know that we use them the least because the police department loves to tell me that we use them the least. I don't know if that's good for me or bad for me. So, anyway, I just need we were looking proposing having a
028an extra set of hands just help us navigate because our biggest struggle and some of my community knows this. My biggest struggle is social media and trying to control what social media what my what my lovelies do at the parks and then bring over to the school that has um that's consumed a whole lot of my day. And also I just I just wanted to add to what Dr. I actually called her about asking about what we could do to get a dean there because it does take a lot out of their day. Just knowing because I do have a seventh grader that's still at the school. I do know some of the things that are going on and sometimes it is harder like when I call Dr. Pettis, it's hard to get in contact
029with her because she is handling the things at the school. So I am still and not just my daughter, other kids at the school that I have in my company. So I hear about the stuff too. So knowing that a dean would be able to be that middle person that could help out with all that aside from all the other things that are going on at the school, I'm just saying it would be more help than it would hinder us. And also we do have positions that are sitting vacant and we want to be responsible with what we're doing and what we're saying. If we want to make sure the school's in a better position, we sometimes we do need to add things to that to make sure we're doing that. And two, I don't
030want the police called up there all the time either. I know how much they at 215 because I got somebody to go to school there, too. Okay. So, when I look at 215, 215 is a high school versus a middle school and that is a a completely different population. So, but they still have issues though. Oh, it's always going to be issues because that's what I'm saying. You're talking about some of the younger kids in the same household. So that you're talking about generational issues starting at the kindergarten level going all the way to the high school and I'm talking about fights starting here transitioning to high school. Okay. So if we don't if we don't try to try to fix it at this at this point where we are able to turn the mentality
031around then you do keep seeing the cycles of families fighting going on through the generations. So we so in that propos so in that one then we're gonna have a deina student here and they can help too because we have we're going to have behavior issues here. So it doesn't just start at fifth grade it starts from day one. You're correct. But but what I'm also telling you is that at Heritage Middle School and I'm saying this as a parent so I'm taking off the the uh school board hat. I'm telling you as a parent that hears and sees the things that go on is disturbing to me. And if we can start at the place where we know that there's an issue at kindergarten through fourth grade, you might not necessarily have a behavioral
032problem with the kids fighting and all that other stuff because I when my kids were here, my oldest is 23. My last one is coming through here. She'll graduate, God willing, next year. I've never seen as much violence as I had in these last couple years. And I'm telling And I'm telling you that from being one of those parents that's here all the time that's involved with these kids that these kids come to my house that I take on vacations that are with me in hotel rooms, everything to see some of them experience some of the things at the hands of other children because they have not experienced it. We need to get a handle on it. And I'm telling you that from my experience. This has nothing to do with want anybody to get
033a position. I'm saying for me because this is hurtful to me to see this happen at this stage for me to be at my last child graduating. And that's understandable cuz my child just graduated two years ago too. So she was experiencing things also. And that's when we developed the heritage houses. And that's when we had the seven mindsets implemented too. But we also have to take another step. We have to take it another step. So these are questions. No problem. These are questions. No problem. I'm just looking for my position. And I was just I have to I told you I was going to be devil's advocate. We got to look at it all all the way across the board holistically in order for us to decide what is going to be the best
034practices for our kids. So I have to I had to put I had show you both sides. Okay. All right. Thank you. Well, excuse me. I'm I'm not familiar with your procedure. I don't know if I'm allowed to speak or not, but I understand the importance of a dean. It's extremely important. I justart retired from Park Manor Elementary School in the city of Chicago. And I'm here on another issue, but a dean would take a lot of pressure off the principal and assistant principal. It's extremely important. Not only that, but the uh the thing that's going to be important with this dean, this dean must come in with great compassion and great love. That's going to be the biggest factor in there. and it have turned some things around at park manner, but we are
035still faced with some challenges. Absolutely. Don't get me wrong. And I understand your plight and I understand your your concern because we we must be budget conscious too because there's a lot of other things I think that he can do within the city of Chicago. But I'm not here to talk about that. I'm here to talk about the issue of what concerns me. But I believe the dean will play a significant role and you guys will see a big difference. I I promise you that. just make sure he's one that's committed to what he's doing and he's going to do it with great love and great compassion. Thank you. So I was so if I had a vote I would like I appreciate that. Are we ready to go? Yes. Okay. So again I need
036uh recommend motion to approve the position of dean of students at Heritage Middle School for the 2025 2026 school year. Motion second motion by Smith by yes yes BS yes yes yes to approve five board members and superintendent Dr. Eric Milhouse Pettis to attend the annual cube conference. All expenses paid September 10th through the 14th, Los Angeles, California as presented. Motion. Second. Motion by BS. Second by Car. Yes. Thson. Yes. B. Yes. Smith. Yes. Yes. To approve the part-time maintenance summer worker, Miss Cashache Smith, Heritage Middle School, salary of $13 an hour as presented. Motion. Second. Motion by Ambrose. Second by GS. Terrell. Yes. Thompson. Yes. Yes. Ambrose. Yes. Uh to approve the part-time summer maintenance worker Ronald Wit Heritage Middle School salary of $15 per hour pending successful background checks check results as presented.
037Second. Second by Ambrose. Yes. Thompson. Yes. Yes. Smith. Yes. Ambrose. Yes. We are at item L. Visitor statements. We have any statements? Yeah. Go over here. That's right. This is more impromptu. I'm Justin Bronstead. I'm one of the math teachers at Heritage Middle School. Um, I just wanted to say that this summer, for the first time in I couldn't tell you how many years, with my student council that I've been doing for 14 years, we're sending six kids to our leadership camp. So, that's the biggest number in I don't know how many years. And Miss Ambrose's daughter's one of them, and she's going to be our vice president for student council. Yes. So, we're really excited and thanks to Lori and the state of Illinois giving this paperwork so that we could actually get what
038$2,000. Yes. So, the kids only had to pay $100 to go to a weekl long camp as opposed to 500 bucks. So, just want to say thanks and just so you all know like the cool stuff that's happening at Heritage. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. Um, excuse me. My name is Corlet Dunbar and I'm coming on behalf of Nyla Dunbar who was um so mom we go we have to go into close session to to speak about we have any other visitor statements. Okay, we are uh at item M. Recommend motion to move into close session for the purpose of appointment compensation student discipline performance for dismissal of specific employees of the district and superintendent board relations. Motion motion by yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Okay. So, if if you all want to stay,
039you can, but we don't have anything to come back to do. We do have close session. Okay. That was good. That was a good one.