September 9th, 2025 - BOE Micro Main Government Meeting, Student Achievement and Operations Meetings

001[Music] again. [Music] Again, [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Oh yeah. Oh [Music] Regular micro meeting. Can we have a roll call, please? >> Miss Fabian present. >> Miss Hannah, Miss Lensing, Mr. McBride, Miss Ramirez, Mr. Riddle, President Rodriguez. >> Here we do have a quorum. >> And Miss Belooki, would you please lead us in the pledge of allegiance? >> I'm here. Now we have now we have >> she was here a minute ago. >> I was we do have a quorum. >> Yeah. >> Is that correct? Okay. >> You do now. >> Okay. Pledge of 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. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Next item on the agenda

002is opportunity for public comment. Do we have a signup sheet? Thanks. Okay. When I call you in, please come to the microphone. Uh you'll have three minutes to make your comments and please state your name. Um first name on the list. Good evening. So, I just like to talk tonight about uh superintendent goals that y'all are going to vote on tonight. Looking at them, I think be honest, these are some weak goals for a superintendent that's been in our district this long. um 1.5% for so I'd like to know what the baseline data is for the read and growth goals because if it's only 1.5% is the baseline the baseline must be really low. Um, and why is this on um why this on attainment in instead? And let's see. And then one of the

003other goals is there's I see we added the E uh ELLL on there. Why don't we have any any goals on D the DL department? Most of our schools are designated DL. A lot of the problems is with DL. So why don't we have any goals around the DL? And then a goal I think it was number three about our financial situation. We should already be doing that. We don't know what's coming down right now with spending in that. We should be looking at that not by March of 2026. That should be happening now and being changed now. We should be watching our spending because we don't know what's coming down. But looking at these goals and comparing them to last year, to me, these are some real low goals. You know, we expect more

004of out of our students than we do on this. You know, you got to have a lot of to run for as a student board member. We expect more from them. You know, they got to have 2.0 GPA, they got to have this, they got to have that, they got to write this. And to have a superintendent in this district this long, and that's the goal, 1.5%. Is ridiculous. We got to do better. And I hope you guys either vote no or hold it over. and come up with some better goals than this. This is every year it's just repeated year after year. Either it's the same goals or we slightly change them with with low percentages for improvement out of 12,000 students and we can do better. That's all I got tonight. >> Thank

005you, Mr. Sebecki. Next item on the agenda is uh close session. I'd like to call for a motion to move to close session to discuss matters that fall under the following categories that are exceptions to the Illinois Open Meeting Act. Uh C1, specific personnel appointment, employment, compensation, performance, and dismissals. C2, negotiations, and C1 legal matters. Motion by Miss Fian, second by Miss by Miss Hannah. Uh all in favor roll call vote, please. Miss Fabian, Miss Hannah, Miss Lensing, Mr. McBride, Mr. Ramirez, Mr. Riddle, President Rodriguez. >> Yes. Motion carries. We are now in close session. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] I'm [Music] a world. Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] You yourself. [Music] Hey, [Music] hey, hey. [Music] I'll be happy. [Music] Heat. Heat. N. [Music] Oo. Ooh. Io. [Music] W. [Music] Ooh. Oh, [Music] heat. Heat. Heat.

006[Music] Heat up here. Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Uh-oh. [Music] again. [Music] Hey [Music] Hey. [Music] I love you. [Music] Happy. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] I'm [Music] a [Music] Heat. Heat. N. [Music] You will [Music] Yeah. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. N. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] I'll be happy. [Music] You yourself. [Music] ooh [Music] you know Oh. [Music] Oh. [Music] Woah. W. [Music] Ooh. Oh. Oh, [Music] hey. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Uh-oh. [Music] Hey [Music] again. [Music] Sh. [Music] Hey, hey, hey. Yeah. [Music] Love you. [Music] for me. Hey [Music] Again, [Music] we get it. [Music] I'm just [Music] Hey. [Music] Hey. Hey. [Music] I'm [Music] a [Music] I'm [Music] Get [Music] yourself. [Music] Heat. [Music] Hey, hey, hey. [Music] I'll be happy.

007[Music] You yourself. [Music] Ooh. [Music] Oh, [Music] ooh. [Music] Woah [Music] woah woah. Oh. [Music] Hey. Hey. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Hey, Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. N. [Music] Uh-oh. [Music] again. [Music] Hey [Music] Hey, hey, hey. [Music] You hold you. [Music] Hey. [Music] Hey. Hey. Here we go. [Music] I'm [Music] just [Music] Heat. Heat. N. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] You yourself. [Music] Hey, hey, hey. [Music] I'll be happy. [Music] You yourself. [Music] Ooh. [Music] Io. [Music] Woo! [Music] Woo! [Music] Oh, [Music] hey. [Music] Wow. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat up here. Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat up here. [Music] Heat. [Music] Uh-oh. [Music] Okay. [Music] Hey. Hey. [Music] Hey. [Music] Hey. Hey. [Music] Love you. [Music] Happy [Music] again. Heat. Heat. [Music] Oh yeah. [Music] Oh

008yeah. [Music] I'm [Music] a world. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] You will again. [Music] Hey [Music] Hey, hey, hey. [Music] I'll be happy. You [Music] yourself. [Music] Oo you a a Oh, [Music] hey. [Music] Woah [Music] woah. [Music] Oh, [Music] hey. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat up here. Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Uh-oh. [Music] again. [Music] Hey [Music] I love you. [Music] Baby. [Music] Again, [Music] the world [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Oh, the world. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] You will yourself. [Music] session at 6 p.m. to discuss matters that fall under the categories of the following exceptions to the Illinois Open Meetings Act. C1, specific personnel appointment, employment, compensation, performance, and dismissals. C2, negotiations. C11, legal matters. At this point, I would

009like to ask for a motion to go into open session. >> Motion by Miss Lensing. >> Second by Miss Fabian. Can we have a roll call vote, please? >> Miss Fabian, yes. Miss Hannah, Miss Lensing, yes. >> Mr. McBride, Miss Ramirez, >> Mr. Riddle, President Rodriguez, >> yes. Motion carries. We are now in open session. Next item on the agenda, item seven, purchases and contracts. >> I I think we're on personnel, right? >> Personal and contracts. Item seven. >> There is nothing. >> Okay. Well, I have um >> I have the agenda that was in um four docsel >> chose person. Okay. Personnel items. >> It is the recommendation that the board of education accept the administration's recommendations to approve the appointments, retirements, and accept the resignations and terminations as found on schedules F10002, L949,

010T317, and G660. >> We have a motion. >> Motion to approve. >> Motion by Miss Fabian. >> Second by Mr. Mr. Ramirez, any discussion on the motion? >> I know. I'd just like to say that we are losing um uh an administrator that has been in our district long before I know I've been here going on uh I'm in my 29th year and uh he's been here five six years before I came and so um um Mr. uh Angel Figureroa. Um he will be missed um around district 60 and um I have nothing but um but but respect for uh Mr. Figareroa and the dedication that he has demonstrated throughout the years um here in the district and um thank you Mr. Figureroa for just hanging in there, being here over the years through teaching,

011through um administrative leadership, um being the principal of your school and so thank you so much for that and you will be missed. >> Thank you, Miss Daniel. >> I like Miss Hannah. Um, I want to thank you for going first because as I sat back and I was thinking, how do we say um, congratulations on your new endeavor, Mr. Figureroa? I thought who would be more befeing beating, it's not coming out. Who would be the best person to state that, Miss Hannah? And I'm glad you did. um as one of the longest board members that as the senior board member that we have here on behalf of district 60 and myself um not only are you a colleague in the work, you're a friend, you're a confidant and part of my cabinet, you've been

012with me since the first day I walked in. I believe I met you even prior to walking in. You always had a welcome smile. You always had uplifting words. You always said the right things I needed to hear when I was frustrated or when I needed to calm down and you were calming me down. I know that you have given this district 30 plus years of your life. You shared your family has shared you with us and you've shared your family with us. You have been there for many students as a teacher, as a principal, um, working with adults and still students as the associate superintendent of human resources. Your dedication, your loyalty, your integrity, that role is a very difficult role in any organization. It's a compliance role. It's a yes or no role.

013I mean, it can be soft and warm. When we needed teachers, you found a solution. There was a national teacher shortage. We had shortages in DL and EL and in science and in math. And you you were recruiting in Spain. And then you said, Teresa, I'm going to Puerto Rico. Then after Puerto Rico, I'm going into the Philippines. And officially now he has opened the doors so that we can start recruiting in Mexico. And for anyone that's in the recruitment business knows it's very very hard to recruit from Mexico, but Mr. Figureroa and his team always got it got it done and you continue to get it done. Just looking out with your staff being here, I know that you have been a role model for them and your cadence within our district goes beyond

014anything that I can say. So, as behalf as a Latina counterpart with you and a friend in the work, I just want to thank you on behalf of District 60. I want to thank you for your loyalty. I want to thank you for your dedication. And I just want to thank you, Angel, for always putting District 60 before even your own needs. And I recognize that. And so, enjoy retirement. You will be missed. He is not gone as of yet. we will have the fiesta. Um, and God bless you and your family. >> Thank you, Mr. Sensa. >> Mr. McBride, >> can I just add he's not gone. >> I just >> And he won't leave. I hope you all understand this. I know how to find you. >> Yeah. >> And we're going to

015>> I'm sure we will be calling on you. >> Try to draw back in. >> So, don't enjoy retirement too much. Don't get too comfortable. >> Mr. McBride. >> Well, Mr. Figarero, I'm going to miss your army jokes. I know that much. Uh, also too, I want to say one thing about Angel. Uh, every day I always go to the Lincoln Center. I don't know why. I think is my second home and he's the he's the first one I see when I walk in that door. Also, if I come there uh in the evening, he's the last one to leave. So, that that shows me dedication about you. And you al also remind me I'm here. Look around. But um u Angel u I wish you good luck and uh I just kind of I

016know that uh you're a role model for a lot of people. and I watched that when you was over at North School as a principal and uh I just wish you all the luck in the world and I'm sure you'll do well. Just keep marching like you've been marching. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. McBride. Anybody else? I just want to say, Mr. Figaro, when I heard that you were retiring, it was very sad. It's a very sad day because you've been with us for so long and you've been the rock. you're the one that's always there and you always have a smile on your face and you always have a greeting and you always seem to have the answer to whatever problems everybody's uh talking about. And so I it's sad to know that

017you're going to be leaving, but on the other hand, I'm happy to know that you have had so much success in your time with District 60. I'm happy to know that now you'll be starting another chapter of your life. And um I don't know what it is yet, but I'm sure you have some plans and and this will give you a chance to do some of the things that you've wanted to do, spend more time with family, maybe do some things you didn't have a chance to do while you were working for the district. And I just want to say that uh don't expect to go too far because we know where to find you and we're going to try to draw you back in in one way or another. So, thank you for everything

018you've done. [Applause] I do believe we have an administrative appointment. We have not >> We need to take the vote first. >> We have not voted yet. >> Thank you, Miss Lenchead of myself. >> That was just discussion on the motion. >> Okay. Uh, no other discussion on the motion. Roll call vote, please. >> Miss Fabian, >> yes. >> Miss Hannah, >> yes. >> Miss Lensing, pass. >> Mr. McBride, >> yes. >> Miss Ramirez, >> yes. >> Mr. Riddle, President Rodriguez, >> yes. Motion carries. Item 8B. Oh, no. You have the appointments. >> Yeah. At this time, I'd like to welcome Mr. Alfredo Gutierrez, who previously served as a bilingual data supervisor at Rockford Public Schools, District 205. He will now serve as the manager of EL student data and assessment with a starting salary

019of $90,000. Congratulations, Mr. Gutadis. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Thank you. Now moving on to item 8B. >> It is the recommendation that the board of education approve the amendment 18 to the superintendent contract setting forth her performance goal for 2025 through 26 school year and authorize the board president to sign the amendment. >> We have a motion. >> So moved. >> Motion by Miss Fabian. >> Second. Second by Mr. Ramirez. Any discussion on the motion? >> Miss Hannah. The um the goals were talked about and discussed um among the board and the superintendent and um they uh were agreed upon as um mutually uh by the board. However, um I am of the mindset that um that the goals should be a little bit more ambitious uh only because of the length of time that um

020that Miss uh and Superintendent Placencia has been here and that um I personally am looking more for um attainment. Many of you know that I am a an attainment person when it comes to um student achievement. Um I'm not for all the growth uh because it sometime does not uh get to the end results that we really want and that is um grade uh level u attainment and so um I'm going to I'm going to pass on this vote. >> Thank you Miss Anna. Any other discussion, Miss Lensing? >> Um, so I just I want to draw a clear distinction between the goals and the KPIs. So for the goals themselves, um, and it's in the attachment C. Um, for goal one, it's looking at our students that are engaged with SEAL supports um, and

021extracurriculars and tutoring before and after school, etc. to increase and reach students um at an overall at least 31%. I'm appreciative of this because we did have some tweaks to how it was done last year. So, I'm glad we are targeting students to make sure that they're engaged with school because if they're engaged with school, it's going to impact their academics in an indirect way because if they're excited to come, then they can actually come. Um, right. And so with goal two, I'm really appreciative that we're looking to focus on pacing of our new reading curriculum. Again, this is a reading curriculum that we have promised to the teachers will be in place in our district for 5 years. It is not going to change for them. And so this allows them to become masters

022of the curriculum itself. Last year was the first year, so it's understandable that they weren't on pace, but we still want to make sure that's a focus. So I'm really appreciative of this goal. For goal number three, um I do hear the public comment concern that this should be ongoing. The unfortunate situation is that we are in unprecedented times. So while yes, budget is always a concern, we have to think in multiple layers because we don't know what's going to happen. So there has to be anticipation from all sides so that we as a district can still service our students. That's our primary goal. Um, and then I'm really happy with goal four as well because we're going to really target and focus on engaging with our stakeholders, our students, our staff, our family, the

023larger community. This is huge and we have a sense of belonging built into this goal. So those goals I am very supportive of. With Miss Hannah, I am year after year um concerned with these KPIs. The KPIs are the benchmarks. based off of uh the Illinois report card. And so those metrics come from there and fuel whether or not those targets are hit. The frustration I have with these is that I want them to be real real stretch goals. And I understand that this year is a complex year, but I also don't think that we should have a bonus on the table when we're having to have multiple conversations about our district's financing. So for that reason, because I support the goals but not the KPIs, I will also be passing. >> Thank you, Miss

024Lensing. Any other discussion? Roll call vote, please. >> Miss Fabian, >> yes. >> Miss Hannah, >> yes. >> Miss Lensing, >> Mr. McBride, yes. >> Miss Ramirez, yes. >> President Rodriguez, >> yes. Motion carries. >> Item nine, financial reports. It is the recommendation of the administration that the board of education ratify the 1st September 2025 of board bills, manual check request payments, and old national bank insurance payments for the period of August 20th, 2025 through September 2nd, 2025. The accounts payable board payments for the period of August 20th, 2025 through September 2nd, 2025 total 1,23,272. The manual check requests payments for the period of August 20th, 2025 through September 2nd, 2025 total $2,546,695.35. Though national bank insurance payments for the period of August 20th, 2025 through September 2nd, 2025 total $2,713,51452. Do we have a

025motion? >> So moved. >> Motion by Miss Favian. >> Second by Mr. Ramirez. Any discussion on the motion? >> Roll call vote, please. >> Yes. >> Miss Hannah, >> Miss Lensing, >> pass. >> Mr. McBride, >> yes. >> Mr. Ramirez, >> yes. >> President Rodriguez, >> yes. Motion carries. >> Item 9B, open the hearing on the FY2526 original budget. We need a motion to open the hearing. I make a motion that we open the budget hearing for um February, excuse me, September 9th, 2025 for the uh Brad hearing of the budget. >> Second >> motion by Miss Hannannah to open the hearing. Second by Miss Lensing. >> Um roll. Any discussion on the motion? Roll call vote, please. >> Miss Fabian, >> yes. >> Miss Hannah, >> yes. >> Miss Lensing, >> yes. >> Mr.

026McBride, >> yes. >> Miss Ramirez, >> yes. >> President Rodriguez, >> yes. Motion carries. Hearing is now open. And I want to point out that this is a public hearing and we're going to hear a presentation by finance department. And um public will have a chance to weigh in, make comments, ask questions. Thank you, Miss Pulk. board president, board members, superintendent, colleagues, and community. Uh it is our pleasure tonight to present to you uh the original budget adoption information for FY26. The information that I am going to present tonight mirrors what we presented before, but uh as is customary, we're going to go over this presentation so that you can once again hear it. Next slide, please. Um, I want to read the superintendent's uh commitment for this year. This is uh you've heard it

027before, but I'm going to read it verbatim. WPSCI aims to optimize resource utilization while prioritizing the delivery of high quality education for students, fostering a supportive work environment for staff, and nurturing collaborative, trusting, and respectful relationships with all stakeholders, including parents and community members. Much of this information you heard in the goals. Next slide, please. Uh as you all are aware uh we do the strategic budget process as opposed to rolling over and so there's some advantages um that we have in doing so. One would be aligning the resources with educational goals. another stakeholder engagement because you all know that we have three uh budget workshops and we also have a budget development committee uh meeting that we have uh continuous assessment um resource management and then obviously financial uh success which is ultimately uh

028the goal of the district to have the resources available to be able to do uh what we need to do and that is to prioritize the education of our students. Next slide please. Uh this is also again reiterating why we shifted from the traditional perceptions of a budget to what we call strategic resource allocation. Again, uh this is a part of the superintendent's goal which is financial and I want to go over what is on the right side which I think is extremely important and that is to plan. Plan for developing the resources prioritizing uh the needs. You've heard us say that multiple times throughout the years. uh explanation. Uh we do that during during the budget workshops and although also you'll see that when you see the expenditures coming through in uh our reports.

029Uh institutional incentives um we have a lot of those uh empower the departments to engage. uh we transitioned to the SBB uh process um so that the autonomy is now in the schools and supported by uh the districts. uh predictor of our annual finance. Obviously, uh the budget process is extremely important and predicting where we're going to be at the end because the budget itself is an estimate or predictor of uh what we're going to spend throughout the year and a predictor of what revenues we're going to receive. Okay? And then baseline measure of accountability because the board of education as this information is presented to you and also the public to hear it they have the opportunity to ask questions and the board uh to approve and adopt the budget that is presented to

030you. Next slide please. This is again I won't go over this slide. It's again reeniterating um the advantage of strategic uh budget planning uh with the outcome the measurable outcome to be the ultimate goal. Right. Next slide please. Uh this is the budget calendar. We're required to have a budget calendar and before uh the budget is to be adopted uh we must have the budget on public inspection for 30 days of which we did. Uh in the board agenda item you'll see the days in which it was placed in the local newspaper and tonight we're doing the budget hearing and then after we do this hearing then the board is going to be asked to adopt the budget as presented. Next slide. We had that budget development uh committee of which two uh board members

031were a part on April uh the 25th. Uh we had representatives from every level of uh the district uh staff as well as parents and community members. At that time during the Zoom meeting, information was presented by the superintendent as well as the deputies and uh constituents were able to ask uh questions uh as they heard that information come forth and staff was able to answer those questions. I'm hopeful in a sufficient manner because we didn't have any follow-on questions come our way. Next slide. This slide is is very important because these were the general assumptions that were made in the prepar preparation of this budget. One, we assume that the taxes would remain level. I want to again ask the board, you know, that's what was going to come. I wanted to again ask

032the board to consider uh to not leave the taxes level as uh you saw in the slide that we had and um I think it was budget workshop two or three. We showed you the impact uh that has been on the district because we've kept the taxes level. So again, we're asking uh you when that time comes again that we have to submit our tax extension that you allow us to uh levy to our maximum extent. Um we're assuming that the TRS will not shift to the local school district. Uh that has been looming uh across the state. Uh but that uh laws have not been passed. So that right now it's not shifting to the school district. So the assumption in this budget that that is not going to happen so far that there

033would be no fiscal impact other than what we're going to show you in this budget uh based upon executive orders or the elimination of the department of education. Um there is no guarantee. The legal office uh Miss Kathy Brander Brock, myself, superintendent, the deputies, and others are constantly reviewing the executive orders and possible fiscal impacts. And so, uh in this presentation, we're going to show you some of the grants that have been impacted or reduced. Uh but our assumption in the creation of this budget is that other than those things that we're going to point out to you, there is no fiscal impact uh to this budget. Um we're assuming that there's no um unexpected at this point spikes in compensation. Um that I'm just going to leave it right there. We're assuming that there's

034not going to be any huge spikes or increases in compensation. Uh no additional delays or reduction in categorical aid which is grants. Um we still have a number of grants um that we do not have the application open by ISBY. Um so we made assumptions based on historical data and that's the best that we could do right. Um so our assumption in this budget that there's not going to be uh any significant reductions in the the grant allocations uh from what we are proposing. We're also, as I've said here, uh, assuming that there's not going to be any delay in funding, in particular, evidence-based funding, which we've not had in the the the recent years, but there was a time that the state did uh reduce our payments. So, in this budget, we're assuming that

035there's no delays. Um I said the next bullet and then that the district and it has started to do this to implement cost cutting measures to to really look at um uh processes uh request expenditures uh to see if there's uh places where we could reduce some of the cost. Uh, one of the things that I want to uh point out here is that um uh the with the board's concurrence a priority was to uh give raises to uh personnel. And so with those raises to personnel um we have to be mindful of how we're spending the money in other areas. That was discussed uh when the board prioritized uh those raises. Okay. Any questions on this slide? >> Oh, I don't have a question, but since you opened it up, I just have a

036compliment. Um, with these general assumptions, I really appreciate the conservativeness that you've taken in order to prepare for the budget without completely hamstringing or restricting the district because at the end of the day, we're here to educate our kids and provide them with a um full education, not just the academic piece, right? and that includes our staff and support staff, etc. Um, so I just wanted to compliment you that I feel like you struck a balance between those. >> Thank you, >> Miss Cutting me. Um and you are looking at a reduction of at least $3.9 million. Um is that okay implementation of cost cutting measures resulting in a reduction of at least $3.9 million due to reduction in revenue. Right. >> Okay. And I am going to put forth um um some items that

037I have been looking at in terms of um you know where we can reduce spending because everybody knows I've been talking about this for at least over a year now about cutting the spending. Okay. District spending. So I just think that uh at this at this time when we are talking about our budget and when we're talking about reduction um particularly $3.9 million. I I number one I want to know where we're going to be reducing because uh anything that hinders or impacts classrooms, student educations. I there there's many more things uh that are not essential that um I believe we should look at and um we just have to do smart spending to make smart spending decisions. And so, um, I am proposing that, uh, in order to reduce, um, the spending to get

038to that $3.9 million that we reduce outside rentals for district meetings and events, and we really have a lot of them. and paying for um outside venues when we have uh school buildings that um meetings and events can be held in. >> Can I pause you, Miss Hannah? >> I apologize. I do I agree with everything you're saying and I'm excited for that list. I want to say that we have seen an example of that um with the events for the Hispanic Heritage. So, I'm glad to see there's an example and I believe you're wanting more of that. >> Yes. And um my other um items are the use of we we pay millions of dollars for our food service and we should utilize them and we should get our money's worth not just um

039in serving the students but um we should use the district food service for um for all of our meals that meals for meetings. Um uh every time there's food, we should be utilizing our district um our district food service and that would put um thousands, tens of thousands out of the budget. um the administrative travel that um that needs to be reduced. Um and we definitely need to cut out the outside consultants that um that we continuously bring into the district. And I call it basically a duplication of service that we're spending um funds for. And also to um and to stop the outside law firms unless it is absolute absolutely necessary and that there should be a limit of the amount of um legal expenditures that um that the board should agree on. But

040those things I certainly hope are um are taken seriously and looked at first before we start uh uh cutting anything in classrooms away from students any kind of afterchool programs, tutorings or anything. We need to look at all of the uh non-essential spending that we're doing in the district. >> Superintendent u thank you Miss Hannah for your very thoughtful list and I will state that we have looked at some of the areas that um you had named I believe it's about seven or eight of them. I do want the board of education to know that our priority is not to cut direct services to students. An example of that will be tutoring, extracurricular activities, clubs. We're not looking to cut in any of those areas for this upcoming school year as is reflected in the

041budget. As um Miss Pope goes through the budget, she will explain where we are looking at um cost-saving factors for our district for this current school year. Um and so my suggestion, if you have questions now, please ask, is as she's moves forward, I do believe it will give you another prism to see this overall budget and how it will impact day-to-day operations at DIS in district 60. um and ensuring that we are providing direct services to all of our students. >> Miss Fabian. >> So for me, I just don't want to make general blanket statements on what exactly to cut and who exactly to use because we don't know what that's going to look like and if it's a cost savings or not. So I'm glad that you said that there's more to this

042presentation and we'll dive deeper. I think it also helps, you know, when we're able to see the full presentation ahead of time to make sure that then our questions are answered um and you're ready to to respond. So, um but for me, thank you for letting us know we're going to have uh more details, but I think we as a board need to be looking at those things as they pop up. >> Thank you, Miss Fen. Go ahead, Miss Poke. >> Yes. Um just uh to elaborate a little bit more on that last bullet statement. Um every Monday or at least once a week uh the deputies and I and the superintendent are meeting to discuss uh the budget andor any challenges that we're having uh with the budget or anything that um I see

043that is happening uh with the budget. And we have discussed um some measures uh uh initial steps that we're going to take to look at as cost cutters. One of them being um food as you've identified. Um another possibly uh being uh some PD as you've uh identified. Uh and there's some other things. And again, um I don't think it's so early to to go over every single thing right now because we're we're looking at the budget. We're seeing uh we've talked about this progress monitoring. if we're getting return on investment, we need to look at all of those things before um we just cut because maybe um there's some impact positive impacts that we're getting from um those expenditures and we need to have those type discussions. Uh can I move on >> please?

044>> Okay, next slide. I know this is a little small for you, but we wanted to present um the grants, what we put in the original budget document in that second column and then what the new estimates uh are in the current budget that we're presenting to you and then what the difference is. You'll note that there is a difference of $2.8 8 million in what we originally presented to you at budget workshop uh three. Uh this is not due to an error uh that we made, but it's more information that's coming out from Isby about what the grants really are. And I think we told uh told the board that in in the previous budget workshops that it's an estimate because we don't know. We simply don't know. But now that we know what

045evidence-based funding is, that's one of the um biggest reductions. Uh because we were estimating a 4.1% increase, which is what uh was approved for evidence-based funding, but when they allocate to each of our districts, our allocation went up, but it wasn't as high as we thought it was. So, uh it's $2.2 uh $2 million less than what we had uh projected. I think we got something like $4 million uh more. In the newspaper, you probably saw 6.1 that we got a 6.1 increase, but remember we have learn charter school. So, some of our money goes directly to learn charter school. So, we ended up with possibly a $4 million increase. And in that budget document, if you looked at it, we increased it like six six million, right? So that was one of the biggest.

046Another was um the IDA flowth through in uh past years. Um we had a huge rollover uh because we didn't spend the prior year's uh total grant and so last year we maximized the grant and I applaud that. Right. We maximize uh usage of the grant. So we we uh project that we're not going to have as large of a rollover coming into 26. And so there in lies uh with the current year allocation and what we project is going to be the rollover from prior year budgets. Uh it's a reduction from what we had in the original budget document of approximately $1.3 uh million. Again that is not a mistake. it is simply uh looking at what the numbers really are right coming in and so it's a shift from that budget document. So

047the others are smaller. We're not going to go one by one. You could see it there. But those were the biggest numbers that would make up that $2.8 million uh difference between the original budget document and what we're proposing now. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Go ahead, M. Um did so we we lost our am I looking this correctly? Oh no that's not right. We lost the EIR >> EIR ended. >> Oh that ended yes okay >> yes it ended. Okay. >> And so, uh, we, uh, at the time that I did the budget document, we had not claimed the final dispersement from the Department of Education, but we got that money in, I think, on the 29th, right, Brian? Just before year end, right? So, I had to take it out because we got it

048the prior, you know, prior year 25. >> And we're not going to get that anymore. >> The grant closed. That's correct. Yes. And so the other difference you're probably asking yourself why you're saying 3.9 and not 2.8. Well, we had a a estimate of what the beginning fund balances were going to be in uh the budget. And so that that shifted as well once we closed the year uh and we had a better uh uh estimate of what the fund balance is unawited estimate of what the fund balance is going to be. So that's what makes up the difference. And so we were looking at adjusting the budget 3.9 million. >> Yeah. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. The going going back and maybe this the superintendent question. the EIR grant. >> Mhm. >> That's the

049science grant. >> That is Amazon was in charge of that one, >> right? And so if this if this budget ended, right, and it's no more, what are we going to do with those um staff members that came under this grant? Miss P Miss Malookuski, it's Miss Malookuski is making her way to the podium. >> Evening. Good evening, Board of Education community colleagues. Um, in collaboration with Dr. Zan, who did lead wonderful work around this grant, um, the majority of the grant was for materials that went directly to the classroom. There was uh science materials u new desks and tables um lot of equipment for kids in in the realm of science. We did have a lot of professional development also that provided teachers with hands-on training for the STEM teachers to to learn some

050of the new science practices. We did have a stipen built into the grant for Dr. Zan to be uh the liaison between the department of education and all the uh requirements for the paperwork for compliance purposes. And we did hire an external consultant as a requirement of the grant. Um, but they were a professor and so we do not have any full-time staff employed through this grant. It was professional development for our STEM teachers. It was classroom materials for our science labs at our elementary level and it was um some additional stipens for the uh two Dr. Zan and the external consultant. So there are no staff members impacted. >> Okay. And so the consultant is we're no longer needing them. >> Correct. and m uh Dr. Zan is going to go back into what

051she was doing before. >> Dr. Zan took on the responsibilities of the grant in addition to being a principal. It was amazing. So um she did all of the work of her principal ship during the day and then she would do additional work be beyond the work hours and weekends to execute the grant compliance. So she will no longer have to take on that extra burden and focus and be able to focus on just her principal ship. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Next slide, please. >> One of the questions we uh get all the time is where is it that most of the money come from? And we see here that most of our money comes from the state. 71% of our money comes from the state because that's where evidence-based funding uh is.

052And then uh the other part comes from uh federal and then local. Next slide, please. What do we project that we're going to be in our operating funds? As we always say, our operating funds, if you're looking here, is the education fund, the on andm fund, the transportation fund, and the working cash fund. Okay. No expenditures come out of the working cash fund, but the working cash fund serves as like our internal uh bank account. So, we're able to loan the money uh to other funds. And if you remember, you all uh approved a resolution to allow me to be able to uh loan the money between the funds when there's low cash flow. So, we're projecting that as of 1 July of 25 that the education fund would have a beginning balance of about

053$51 million, edund 9.8 million, uh transportation about 8.5 million, and um the working cash fund about 41.5 million. So that leaves about $111 million across the beginning fund balances for the operating funds. The revenue we're looking at getting uh in the education fund from all sources, the local, the state, and the federal. About $245 million. About $8 million in fund 20. about $14 million in the transportation fund and about $128,000 in working cash and revenue. And so you'll note that uh the revenue that we're projecting is about $267 million. Okay. So the next line, those are the projected expenditures. Any question? Okay. So you'll note that uh the projected expenditures in the education fund is about $268 million and fund 20 is about uh $10.7 million. Transportation is about um $16 million. So we have

054expenditures so about $294.7 million. So, the fund balances are as noted here. We're looking at uh June of 26. Uh about $28 million in the education fund, seven in um the ONM fund, transportation fund, about 6.5, and no expenses obviously, and working cash. So, we're looking at having as a fund balance 41.5 or 41.6 $6 million. So, leaving about $83 million uh in the bank in terms of operating funds. This is where the health of the district lies. The other funds, although you might see some negative numbers there, that doesn't determine the health in the Isby financial profile is these funds. Okay. So Miss Pope um clarify something please. The projected revenue by fund um is as it uh is um appearing and the projected expenditures by fund. It's also appearing here and the projected

055expenditures versus the projected revenue. You got more expenditures than revenue. Could you please put that in perspective for me? I mean, I'm thinking I know what it is, but I don't want to not. >> Yes. Um, uh, every time we present this budget, that is your question. So, I anticipated that one. uh and that is the current year revenue over or under expenditures has always been under that has been uh since we had ARA right when we came out of the negative fund balances and I won't go through that story again but when we came out of the $12 million negative in the education fund and the nearly $5 million in the transportation fund. We uh allocated the IRA money appropriately and we shifted it where we had a positive $12 mill million in the

056education fund which was a $24 million swing. >> Okay. So, having done that, we know that if we retain the same staff that we were going to have to uh spend from the balance. I mean, that's just what we were going to have to do. So, if you go back to all of those documents, the current year, excluding the beginning fund balance, you would just erase that. But from the money that you get in that year and the money that you spend in that year, it was negative. But we had enough money in the bank to sustain us. All right. So that has been I just thought about that talking about a number. >> Are you saying it kind of wiped out the negative fund balances? Is that what you're saying? >> Oh yeah. When

057we got the IRA money? Absolutely. >> Yep. >> We were we were getting tax anticipation warrants. We were getting TAWs >> to make payroll. >> Oh yes. I'm aware of that. Yes. But what I'm saying to you is that last school year our budget um it reflected that our balances and our funds were in the red. >> No, we've never been in the red overall. We've been in the red current year. >> That's what I'm asking. >> Oh, yeah. That's been for years. >> That that that current year. >> Yeah. >> Okay. And so that it's not red anymore. >> It is red. >> She said it though. >> Yes, it is. It is red. The current year, what we're getting in the current year and what we're spending in the current year is negative.

058>> Right. But we have a beginning fund balance that doesn't put us in the red. >> Okay, I get that. We're positive and and so with these proposed cost cutting measures, that's not going to happen in this budget moving forward. Well, we're hopeful that that it is um the budget that we are presenting to you tonight matches what we have in the ledger. Everything matches. What we uh talked about that we would uh cut or reduce has been reduced in our ledger. We would not stand here, I promise you, and present to you a budget that does not match what's in the ledger. It does match, but but we are hopeful that we're going to continuously monitor the expenditures to make sure that we're maximizing those. I think that that's what we said in budget

059uh workshop three. And then also the goal uh that the superintendent has is that uh the reports that we will present to you dur during our uh monthly reports, financial reports, you're going to see it, right? Because it's going to have the fund balances and the treasurer's report. It's going to be there, right? And then periodically, I don't know what the superintendent wants to call it, whether it's a town hall meeting or a financial update, um we're going to present information to the board about where we are financially. But the budget that we are presenting to you tonight is the budget that currently sits in the financial system. Miss Lindsay. >> Okay. So, this is where my brain is going. So, if we look at the education fund, fund 10. >> Yes. >> Right. The

060projected beginning balance as of July 1st this year is around 51 million. >> Yes. >> The projected ending balance is 28 million. >> Yes. >> We're just going to rough call it, cut it in half. >> Yes. The working cash fund can help support other funds should they go negative. Correct. >> Temporarily. >> Yes. >> Right. So, this does not look good for me when I'm picturing two, three, four years out. Is that a fair assessment or am I missing something? >> No, that's fair. But one of the things that I want to point out too, >> okay, >> the budget is a living document, right? And so it is the worst case scenario. >> Um, when I look at budgets in the office and I've done this for years and probably Mr. Rodriguez and

061Miss Hannah remembered this, we would present three three different budgets, right? uh and that is the best case probable and the worst case >> that's what we would present >> right even though we're not presenting that information to you publicly and my office we are looking at the budget and the budget that we are presenting to you tonight borrowing any surprises is the worstc case scenario assuming that everything that everybody asked for is going to get spent. Right? Again, the assumption that there aren't any surprises that we're not aware of. This is the worst case scenario. Has the worst case scenario happened throughout the years? No. But in the budget office, we have to assume that everything that's asked is going to be spent. And that information has to be presented to the board of

062education to present a clear message to you as I have to the superintendent to let her know where the district is financially. >> And I appreciate that. And I think that understanding is important for the community because that quick level snapshot is going to raise alarm. And so the context around that I think can help people kind of take a step back and breathe and not get to an alarmist level. So thank you. >> Yes. I I think that is something that we need to monitor because this is the reality of where we are and uh we need to be aware of it. Okay. Any other questions here? Next slide. The other funds which are not our operating funds. Uh one of the other things I wanted to point out um let me go back

063to that other slide. Inside of that $41.5 million, we have about $18 million that's sitting in there that's from the bond, that working cash bond, that $30 million working cash bond that we got. We have about $18 million that's still sitting there that we eventually will have to move out into capital projects. We go through operations and then we go into capital projects. So eventually that money is going to have to go out. We have to spend it within five years. Okay, next slide. Um fund 30 debt service. Um we're looking at ending with about 2.5 on&m we're looking at ending with about $4.5 million. You'll see uh fund 60 is about 19.8. 8 million. And that fund, I want to uh kind of point out, buried in there is about a $4.8 million uh

064deficit that existed eons ago. It pre-existed most of us who are here, right? So, it's buried in there. So, really, uh you take that 4.8 million, then that difference is how we've built that up. But again, we have money that's in the working cash fund that's from the bond that we will move to funds uh 60. Uh fund 80 uh we're looking there at about $7.7 million uh deficit there. And then fund 90, we're looking at about a $4.5 million. So overall, there's a deficit fund balance. Uh uh we're looking at $16 million in the nonoperating um funds with the bulk of it being in fund 60 capital projects. Okay, next slide. So, this is just a picture of those side by side to see overall that we're projecting that we're going to end uh

065in the bank with about 67 uh million uh overall borrowing uh surprises. Okay. Uh the budget that we're presenting to you tonight does not require a deficit reduction plan. It does not require a deficit reduction plan. Um, we wanted to show you uh the expenditures by fund and object. Object being salary, benefits, purchase, services, supplies, capital projects, and other objects and non-cap uh equipment. And so at your leisure, you can look at that. It's the same uh bottom line numbers as we had in the proceeding. um uh slides. However, we just did it so you could see it by those object categories. Any questions there? I appreciate that you did that because I was going to ask at the end of it if you could do that just so that people at home would be

066able to see what each um fund was. So, thank you. >> You're welcome. And uh of course you can see salaries in that third column. That's where the bulk of it is, right? Salaries 268 million of the whole budget. And then benefits, we're projecting about uh 11 million. Next slide. We did the same thing by the functions of instruction, support services, community services, uh payments to other district, debt, and then contingency. uh you'll see that instruction and support services has the bulk of uh the monies. The uh board member many many years ago um asked us to show if the money was going mostly into instruction and so we just kept presenting it this way. So you'll see that the bulk of the money is going into uh instruction. Yes. Yes, ma'am. And and now

067does that um does that bind item under instruction does that include the salary uh and benefit for Okay. So in actuality in actuality all of that instruction money is that it's only a percentage of the money that is actually for students. >> Not necessarily. >> I understand. >> Okay. I I I understand about them semantic. Okay. But what I'm saying is that in all honesty, the bulk of the instruction, $16 million is not going directly to the student. And it is for salaries and benefits of staff. You you understand what I'm saying? See, okay, let let me clarify something. I am talking about increasing the fund for student outcome. >> Okay. for student outcome and I understand where you all say that the salaries for the teachers and stuff go is directly for students right

068and I understand that okay I understand that however okay the students I need more resources that direct to them. >> Mhm. >> Okay. So, I mean, I I'll marinate them. >> I have a quick question on that. Would it be helpful to have a subtotal under the instruction to call out exactly what's for benefits and salaries and what's for other components of instruction? Yes, actually the ISBY budget document that uh we've attached uh provides clarity and uh so that that to respond to you uh Miss Hannah, you have a lot of expenses that's in the support services that are directly in the school. You have principles, you have social workers, you have nurses, you have a lot of things that's not in the 1100 or instruction uh category, but it directly impacts student learning. So,

069it's not as easy to look at just that category of instruction and say that the other areas are not impacting uh academic achievement because it is. >> Okay. Right. And I'm marinated. I'm done. Okay. You know how they say that? Um uh help me. Yeah. with this student like per capita. >> Uhhuh. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Do do you understand what I'm asking? >> What it cost to educate a >> student each student >> Okay. That's what I'm talking about. >> Yeah. >> That we need to raise that. >> Yes. I I definitely agree with you. I I um Isby if you're listening uh we're at 71% adequacy. So we're still tier one. So we're not getting um the the >> yeah the maximum or the level of funding that's required to really uh increase

070that sufficiently at least how we want to increase it. But I believe that uh these numbers show that a lot of the money is going into the schools whether it's facilities, whether it's um you know direct instruction through uh teacher salaries, through the the supplies, the equipment, all of that. It's it's it's added in uh in a formula much more complicated that I could stand here to explain to um create that per capita And the last I look at it, we were something like 14,000. Don't quote me, but the I just looked at it just recently. I think we were somewhere around there. So, we weren't very low at all. I mean, given the fact that the board has over the years put millions into capital >> and that's going to change because of the

071enrollment, right? The the funding is going to change because of the enrollment. I can't really um uh say that because if enrollment in other school districts is going out down approximately the same then it is based on enrollment across all of the districts that are like us >> does >> yes >> isby does it >> yes >> across >> right that's why I I you know it's hard for us to project or predict we look look at what is asking for as an increase to evidence-based funding and we kind of use that number to do the projection, but uh how they allocate the money, you know, I don't know. We just >> And we also know that other districts like statewide, we've been seeing a decrease of students in our public schools. >> Yeah, that

072is true. Any other questions? Next slide. Questions? [Music] like to ask if anybody out there has any questions or comments they'd like to make. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. >> And thank you to your staff as well. >> All right. Next item on the agenda is u closing the hearing. I'd like to ask for a motion to close the hearing on the FY2026 original budget. >> I make a motion. Motion by Miss Hannah, second by Mr. Ramirez. >> To close the hearing. Roll call vote, please. >> Miss Hannah, >> yes. >> Miss Fabian, >> yes. >> Miss Lensing, >> yes. >> Mr. McBride, >> yes. >> Miss Ramirez, >> President Rodriguez, >> yes. Motion carries. The hearing is now closed. Item D. Would you like to read that? >> Yes. It is the

073recommendation of the administration that the board of education approve the FY2025206 original budget as presented on the official Illinois State Board of Education ISBE document which are summarized in the budget presentation for ease and review. I make a motion. >> Motion approved by >> the adoption of the um FY2025 budget. >> Second. >> A motion by Miss Hannah, second by Miss Lensing. Any discussion on that motion? Roll call vote, please. >> Miss Fabian, >> yes. >> Miss Hannah, >> yes. >> Miss Lensing, >> yes. >> Mr. McBride, >> yes. >> Mr. Ramirez. President Rodriguez, >> yes. Motion carries. >> Okay. Uh, Miss Pulk, would you please Where's Miss Pulk? >> Oh, would you please tell us what the next steps are? Just outline it so everybody understands the process. Once the board of education signs

074this document, which we're about to give to Jasmine, >> then we have to forward uh that document to the state board of education and then a copy also to the uh regional office for publication on the state's website. >> Thank you very much. Okay. Item 10, student discipline matters. Miss Lindsy, you wanted to make a comment on that? I just want to make a general comment that I'm really happy that we're starting the year where we're not seeing any items on this component to the agenda and I'm hoping that continues as long as possible. >> Good job everybody. >> Amen. Thank you. Okay, item 11. Uh motion for adjournment. >> Moved. >> Motion by Miss Lending to second by Miss Fabian. All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Motion carries. Meeting is adjourned. Don't go

075away. We have two more meetings. Yep. >> We're going to take a 5m minute recess before we start the next meeting. [Music] Are you [Music] missing? [Music] Hey, [Music] hey, hey. [Music] Are you [Music] Oh. [Music] Hey. Hey. [Music] Okay. [Music] You will Heat. Heat. N. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] I'll be [Music] you yourself. [Music] ooh. [Music] Oh, [Music] hey. [Music] Woah [Music] woah. [Music] Oh, [Music] hey. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat up here. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Can I get your signature by your name? >> Miss Hannah, we're going to get started. >> Put me in an initial. Okay, it is 8:20. I would like to call to order. >> Can everybody's attention, please? >> No. Right next to you. >> Can everybody's attention, please? >> Board

076members, like to call to order the Tuesday, September 9th, 2025 operational services committee meeting. Can we have a roll call, please? >> Miss Favian, >> present. >> Miss Lensy, >> present. >> Miss Hannah, >> yes. >> Mr. McBride, >> yes. >> Mr. Riddle. Miss Ramirez, >> yes. >> And President Rodriguez >> here. >> We do have a quorum present. Item number three is approval of the meeting minutes. And these are the minutes of the August 12th, 2025 operational services committee meeting. Do we have a motion to approve? >> Motion by Miss Ling to approve. >> Second by Miss That was close by Miss Hannah. >> Miss Ramirez. >> Ramirez. Okay. I'm glad we have three judges. Uh um do we have any um comments? Corrections, changes to the minutes. Can we have a roll call

077vote, please? >> Miss Fabian, >> yes. >> Miss Lensing, >> yes. >> Miss Hannah, >> yes. >> Mr. McBride, >> yes. >> Mr. Riddle, >> Miss Ramirez, >> yes. >> And President Rodriguez, >> yes. Motion carries. Minutes are approved. Item four, discussion items for possible board action. Mr. Motton, >> yes. Good evening, uh, members of the board, staff, community, superintendent. >> Is your mic on? >> My mic on? >> Yeah. Yes. All right. Good evening again. So, we don't have any discussion items for you this evening. We do have four information items. I'm going to reference the information items for you. Uh we do have staff members here who can assist if there are any questions. Our first information item is item A, approval of architect selection for denial life safety survey. Okay. Item B

078is the architect certification of annual temporary facilities report. Miss >> um the timing of this I I feel I say it every year. Um, these mobile classrooms, 10 of them go back to 19 or not 10, 1 2 3 4 5 six or seven, six. Six go back to 1996, right? So, they're very >> uh old structures. I understand given the current climate that we are in it's not going to be a high priority but I am hopeful that the uh review of these is ongoing and looking for opportunities to where we can move away from the mobile classrooms >> and and um Mr. Motton, when I was looking at um at the um the reports, the facility reports, there were um there were um the uh um meetings. Just wait, let me because there's

079some things that are not acceptable. um on um yeah on that um uh when about those mobile classrooms there they there there's a uh several of them that according to how they were evaluated >> kind of downright dangerous. So, I think an example of that, Miss Hannah, that you're referring to is so at Glenn Flora, is the roof and flashing in good condition was marked no. >> Can Can I speak? Can I see this, please? Thank you, cuz I can get mine. >> And um the uh and I went through every last one of these and there were some very disturbing um uh in general and several of them had the uh exterior exper uh appearance of the building. It it it's not good. Okay. But that's not they were talking about the roof. uh

080the roof and um the flashing. Um >> Mr. Motton, do you know if it's roof or flashing or potentially both when that's marked? >> Both. Yeah, potentially both. >> Got it. >> It is, but like it's combining two things into one sentence. >> So it's Yeah. Very different price structures. >> Yeah. And then the restrooms um there um are the restrooms clean, adequate and operable condition and properly vented uh ventilated says no. And that that's unacceptable. But I my question um when I looked at that um either are they going to be repaired, removed or what are you planning to make those structures safe for our students and our staff because I know I walked into one of them and I thought I was going to go through the for okay and >> we don't

081want anything like that to take place. So what's your plan? >> Yes. >> For those uh for those uh mobile class >> Yeah. So thank you for the question as well as the comment. I'll I'll do my best to address both. Um, as was stated earlier, 29 years in service for a majority of these mobile units, I believe all with the exception of one at Clark Elementary. Um, and this is a process we go through every year. Our architect of record certifies occupancy and we do minor repairs with the understanding that at some point we will need to have an elimination plan for these mobile units. This has been a subject of conversation on the capital improvement committee uh for quite some time. Um, and it is going to continue to be it is a

082cost, but it's also how are they being utilized that would go into that discussion compared to other priorities throughout the um throughout the district. So, that will be a subject of conversation, Miss Hannah, and I know you're going to be one of the representatives on the capital improvement committee this current year. Um, and we'll definitely be discussing it as we have in years past either to remove or to consolidate some of these structures based on age and conditions as you've seen them in the report over the years. >> And uh I I remember when we brought those mobiles into the and I also thought we were supposed to keep those um for a certain amount of time and have has that time expired and just it do anything or what what what are what what's

083going to happen? So these units, a majority of them have exceeded their projected life and we've been maintaining them on an annual basis to utilize the space for the schools for our students. >> But that was when our enrollment >> was high. >> And so I that's why I think that now we need to be doing some reviewing because of the drop in noted Miss Hannah. >> Thank you, >> Miss Lindsay. >> Oh, sorry. I just wanted to comment like when I was going through it's around 28 classrooms of of kids in these units. And I just double checked it's only two two of them are at um the Clark Elementary which is a 2016 one. So, >> thank you. >> That's a lot of kids. Thank you. >> All right. Our next agenda item

084is TK elevator service agreement. >> All right. Item D, renewal of network technology innovation service agreement for the 2025 2026 school year. And we we do have a service um maintenance service agreement warranty. >> So m >> on our stuff. >> So this is a renewal for service. We do have a certain warranty for new items we've purchased, but we've these are for our video surveillance systems, which some are new, some are old. Mr. Wilson, you can come speak to it, please. Thank you. >> Good evening, board members community. U Miss Hannah, yes. All of our equipment comes with a manufacturer warranty on it. >> Okay. And after the manufacturer's warranty, we just have to kind of uh get get the cost. Well, >> the district has to pick up the cost of repairing after

085the warranty and stuff are gone. >> The cameras have a very long shelf life, Miss Hannah. And the service agreement provides for preventive maintenance. That's why we want to go into it. >> Okay. Okay. Very good. >> Thank you, Miss Wilson. >> All right. And we do have four reports for you this evening. Are there any questions on the reports that are attached? I know we um we've spent um 67 but just about 68,000 um in waivers and I remember when we first talked about even putting um putting it into policy and assigning in different categories and everything. But it appears that everybody that we are waving fees for exceed just about $69,000 for. Okay. um they're in the same categories and I didn't think that that was how we had struck the um the

086the the fee waiver. Um, I don't I don't I thought that we had like three uh categories of how we were going to be determining fee wavers, but it just seems like everybody got away. >> So, only certain categories can apply for fee waiverss. We're not going to be able to do fee wavers for all categories because that's how we structured it and I don't are you saying like what different categories are you seeing that >> I am saying that Mr. Could you explain u Mr. U >> sure >> the miss baby when I'm talking about the categories that I would >> right >> so so we currently have six categories now that we've added the facility waiver the facility request as a category >> some categories are not eligible for waivers some are eligible

087for partial waivers now so a majority of what's brought forward I believe it's category three category 4 if I'm not mistaken those are the only ones that are eligible for the waiverss so So that might be why you're seeing some consistency in how they're categorized because some categories are not eligible at all. I thought that when they when the organization made profits that that was when we did not wait but are >> am I wrong Mr. Milton because I may be following this wrong but my based off that question managers the board approves fee waiverss. Am I correct? >> That's correct. >> Right. So any fee waiver that was um put forward would have to be approved by the board. So if you're seeing a fee waiver or amount those have all been preapproved by

088the board. So that is up to the board and what your stance on on what you want to approve or not approve. But the the administration will always bring that forward >> for you to make that decision. >> But I want to clarify >> we don't get any fee waiverss for for profits because they're not eligible. >> So everybody on this list I don't I don't see anybody on this list that's a forprofit entity. I didn't I said, but I didn't say for profit because we have people that are going to um that are going to benefiting through money in what they're doing, but we're still waving fees. Even though they're nonprofit organizations, they're still going to be collecting money. Okay? And we're still going to be awarding wers to those organizations. >> That's something

089for the board to decide on a case by case basis. >> Yeah, it is. >> So, it's not out of our hands. >> I I get it. I understand. Thank you, >> Mr. Motton, >> that's that concludes our agenda. Oh, >> sorry. I thought we were I just want to make a quick comment about the Yman Creek primarily because Mr. Riddle's not here. >> Um, and he would have he would have made a comment, so I'll I'll make it in hisstead. Um, so there are still, according to the website, which is powermarket.io, there are still 1,313 spots remaining. I don't qualify because I live north of Golf Road. So, there are some location restrictions. Even though you live in Walkegan, if you live outside of the Illinois designated area, you don't qualify to receive this.

090So, I am jealous of everyone who does. So, please maximize on this benefit. Go ahead, get on powermarket.io. io look for Yman Creek and click on it to um sign up. If you do live nor on the northern northern side, if you are receiving services like SNAP or Medicaid, you can still qualify. So, go through the process. Please sign up. This is something that we're excited to bring to the community as a benefit. Please take advantage of it. >> Thank you, Miss Miss Lindsy, Miss Fabian. I also want to thank um the staff who put out that advertisement. Yes. For our families to know about it. I don't know if there's a way, well, I know there is a way, I should say. I don't know what department it would fall on to maybe create

091a quick video on how to get to that website, sign up, um and really explain how it works so that people are understanding that it is a discount to their um bill and it's not a catch. You're not switching services, etc., etc. The other thing that I know Mr. Riddle would have pointed out is the delays because I know he's been waiting and waiting and waiting. Um, >> and so again, I think it's just the frustration of the continual delays and hopefully we can get ourselves back on track at some point. >> If I if I may, um, in the spirit of Mr. Riddle, uh, So they do have an estimated commercial operation date of October 31st which is next month um with substantial completion December 12th. Um so so and you do notice the

092photographs at the end of the report. So so we are weeks away from this being fully operational. um and appreciate the comments on the the available applications as power market is navigating that and perhaps that can be part of a future update because there have been a lot of questions and comments on the application process as well as you know how many people have applied etc. So thank you for that feedback >> and thanks to Mr. Riddle for all of his concern and interest in this project. >> Yeah, well done Mr. Riddle. >> Okay, I'd like to ask for a motion to adjurnn. >> Moved second. Miss Lensing, second by Miss Favian. All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Motion carries. Meeting is adjourned at 8:38. >> Don't go away. We got one more. >>

093Good. [Music] Yeah, >> we're going to start. [Music] >> You still need some peels? >> Dr. Cesario, how are you? >> I'm well. Are we set? Okay, good. All right. I would like to call to order the uh September 9th, 2025 um student achievement meeting. Can we have a roll call, please? >> Mr. McBride. >> Yes. >> Mr. Riddle. Miss Hannah. >> Hannah will be right back. She has stepped out. >> Miss Fabian, >> present. >> Miss Lensing, >> sorry. >> Yes. >> Miss Ramirez, >> yes. >> President Rodriguez, >> yes, we do have a quorum present. >> Uh, next item is uh the approval of the minutes of the August 12th, 2025 meeting. Do we have a motion to approve? So moved. >> Motion by Miss Lindsay. We have a second. Second by Miss

094Ramirez. Any comments, corrections, changes to the minutes. Can we have a roll call vote, please, to >> Miss Ramirez? Mr. Riddle, Mr. McBride, >> yes. >> Miss Lensing, >> yes. >> Miss Fabian, Miss Hannah, President Rodriguez, >> yes. Motion carries. Minutes are approved. Next item on the agenda, information items. Dr. Cesario. >> Good evening, board president, superintendent, members of the board, colleagues, community members. Uh so before you you'll see a number of information items. The first one is uh a renewal of for ACT or preACT um assessments. This is to prepare our students that are familiarized with the um ACT exam, our high school students before they take that. Okay. Uh item B is a an opportunity for Dr. Fields to attend the aspiring superintendent academy for female leaders. she was um accepted into the

095program and uh this is an opportunity for her to uh develop her skills in in the leadership arena. >> For the record, Miss Hannah rejoined the meeting at 8:41. >> Miss Fabian. Oh, on the documents at the top it says estimated trip cost is 10,800 but then on the bottom says 9,800 and on our board it says 9,800. So, um, just trying to figure out the discrepancy in numbers and and the cost and then I mean that's a lot because I see it's just one person going and I see the registration cost is almost $5,000. >> Will she Yeah. For for one >> it's got three days, >> right? So, that's what I'm trying to figure out. Um, so it looks like she's going to all three dates. Um, is she getting some kind of

096certificate or is this a >> It is and I can let uh Miss Malookusi or Dr. Field speak to this, but it is uh it's not a professional development. It's a it's a coursework. So that you would be engaged in this um not only virtually but then also attend in-person sessions. So then the the question is I know that staff members have reimbursement for coursework. Would it not go from that instead of as a uh PD? >> Well, there's travel involved and therefore it has to be presented in front of the board as well. >> Okay. because of the travel >> and it wouldn't it wouldn't count against her benefit then for coursework >> to get to the course. >> Yeah, because I thought that this would be if I may. >> Yeah. I thought

097that this was um like an aspiring superintendent academy. And with all due respect to any and everybody, um I thought that this was um like like a school >> or schooling for your you know that this something that you wanted to do and I didn't know I wasn't aware that um that we paid for or the District 8 for um um uh individuals to go and to receive um school for superintendent. >> So, >> and I didn't know that. And it should be as Miss Fabian said, um uh education. >> Yeah. Like part of the part of her benefit. So benefits or something. >> So we can go back and look at that and then of course this is presented all of these items are presented for your consideration. So and the the feedback has

098been really helpful so we can go back and review that. Uh I'll make sure >> I think we're going to get some input >> and >> did Dr. Fields want to say did you want to speak to this Dr. Fields? >> Go ahead. >> I just want to give you your opportunity if you wanted to speak to it. >> Yeah. Um I would just clarify I would consider this professional development. >> Um although it is like an education track. It is a cohort structure but it is not like a lens your program or education credential towards any type of degree or certificate in that sense. It is professional development. It is more so leadership development or women in general that are in roles similar to myself. And so some of the skills directly align to

099a lot of our initiatives here. Um but yeah, it like you said, it is an honor to to really be selected for something like this to uh represent the district. >> Thank you, Dr. Fields. >> And what what is the total then? Is it 10 or nine? >> It's the nine. And that is an estimate um a high estimate and so obviously we'll try to secure things much less than that, but that is the high-end estimate. >> Thank you. Dr. >> All right. Our next item is um letters uh facilitator to train the trainers. Uh this is part of our uh core phonics program. And as I said in earlier meeting, um that's the the the uh travel and so forth. Um, we we should be looking to streamline some of this stuff because I

100believe that we have individuals in our district that um are already um already trained, educated, and knowledgeable about many of these things. So much so that they would be able to facilitate some many of the things that we pay our staff to go to. our staff is um educated and experienced enough, you know, where they could do it and we shouldn't um have to continue to um expend funds for the uh travel stuff. >> You're absolutely right. And in instances where we can do that, we do do that. Uh but there are often things that are specific and to the plan that we have and there are specific training that um we we have to send people out >> and so and when you got I guess maybe I've asked this question before. >> Mhm.

101um in terms of like all of the different um PD and conferences that um that that are just say I'm going use this agenda here that are listed here. Were those sought out conferences or were the conferences like in uh invitation which they invite everybody across the country and so I'm asking again how are the conferences chosen >> so to go to >> this is specifically this is specifically related to the letters training which is aligned to our phonics program so that's that's what the the focus is here. So, we sought this out because it aligns to the work that that we've been doing uh in this area. In terms of the other ones, I'd have to look at them individually to talk to you about if if it was >> Yeah, because I'm talking

102about overall overall. So, just a general question, not this one right here. Sure. Um I think it it it depends on what the topic is and in some instances in most instances what we try to do is ensure that it aligns to the work that we're doing. That's the question first and foremost. How does this align to the the work that we're doing? How does it align to the goals that we have? Um so that's that's it. The second piece is if it is local, we prefer to do it local or if it's virtual to do it virtually. There are some as uh there are a couple later in here I think that the assist of technology being one off the top of my mind and correct me if I'm mistaken Dr. Bubbleitz I believe

103that's the that's one that that only happens in in wherever the location is. It's not one that we could bring somebody in. They have it one time a year. Um there's there's a few that they have in in certain locations, but we do try in an effort to be really cognizant of what how we're expending our funds. We do try to bring in folks. We do have our own people do the the training. Um but there are also opportunities that we we have to we have to go out. Can I ask one of the question? Okay. The um can you tell me because I've heard from right that um that that certain that administrators are limited to conferences. the number of conferences that they can attend and could you explain what >> do you want

104me to I can do it >> what that is because I am curious and where the limit and does everybody all administration have the same limit. >> So that's a great question. So again, in in in the line that we were just talking about in being conservative financially, we want to make sure that we're providing opportunities for people to go out. So for me, myself, I I did say to my team here, let's look at two. Let's map it out across the the the year, make sure that it aligns to our work. However, if you need to do uh one outside of those two or above and beyond those two rather, then please let's have a conversation about it. In addition to that, if you sit on a board or if you're representing WKEAN either

105because of your representation in association with an organization and or you're presenting then that would be something additional on top of that. >> Pardon me? >> No, no, I'm just that's >> it's different, right? It it's an opportunity to share what we're doing and celebrate the success of our team. But at the same time, the other note about limiting the number of times too is because if we're going out and learning things, there has to be an ample opportunity to implement those. So if you're going to something every month and there are multiple pieces, I I it it doesn't it doesn't align with trying to focus on something and getting really good at that, right? So just having that opportunity to do that and really implement and uh and really implement what you're learning so

106so that you we're not going to 10 different ones a year without having that opportunity to take it back and and practice some of those skills that they're learning >> cleansing. >> Oh, you opened a door, Dr. Ario >> because um when I joined the board two years ago, we got board concurrence and it still has not happened for report on how the administrative professional development has impacted student learning. >> So that's a bit of a rough spot for me because board concurrence was done and it was had and it still hasn't been done. Um, but I'm going to use this as a moment to say I think it would be beneficial, superintendent, to possibly have as one of our presentations every year. Here are the development items that we have invested in and these

107are the things we are inputting into our district and utilizing because Dr. Cesar, you just said you have to go out and learn, but then you have to come here and apply. So I think an annual semianual report on what those investments are resulting in in our district is a fair ask and if we need a board concurren a board concurrence for that I am happy to to request that. I hope. >> But outside of that, um can you confirm for me the percentage of staff that is would be appropriate to receive um letters training have been certified? >> I would have to ask um >> and if it's a followup for >> or or yes, you have that information available. Thank >> so we started two years ago >> offering letters training uh for

108teachers who wanted to opt in. Uh at the end of this year we will have trained approximately 40 teachers and we had some middle school teachers join us as well. Yes, they this train the trainer model will equip us to train every K5 teacher in a period of two years at a reduced cost of about $350,000. So that's the purpose of training in district facilitators. And then beyond that, every elementary would have their own letters trainer. So after the initial two-year implementation, every new teacher in the elementary would be able to be letter certified. >> I'm doing so many like I'm visibly excited, but there's just so much more in my head because of what we can do with this training. >> Yeah. So if you read the proposal from letters, it would have had

109we not hired a single new staff member, it would have taken us 20 years to certify all of our teachers at the rate we're currently moving. Our goal is to reduce that from a 20-year plan to a two-year plan. >> And this feeds into our goal of being the most literate city. So I'm excited. Thank you. But she there's one question and you got you already know that I am looking at um I I keep hearing K5 K5 K5 we're unit district and we have um we have middle school students we have high school students that needs the um that needs the uh the the the resource that supports >> you're absolutely right >> do and so you know I I keep hearing day five day five day five but what about 612 612 >>

110you're absolutely right and just to just to clarify it is a district-wide plan our literacy for all is a districtwide prek12 um so is as Pam I mentioned we're having people trained at at the teachers trained at the middle school level as well. I'm going to let Jen speak a little bit more about what we're doing at middle and high. Uh we we've not forgotten that. We know it's a continuum. We know we need to support students at all levels. Um we're also dealing with something else and making sure that we're building a strong foundation as well. So it the approach is a little bit different. I will let um Miss Roy de Sanchante speak speak to that. >> Thank you Dr. Good evening board. Um I think one thing to think of just to

111put it into perspective on the road map of uh from preschool all the way through 12th grade all those 13 years um is we we do say K5 a lot Miss Hannah and that's really around because it's that foundational skills and and the layers of uh the pillars to develop underneath them. However, we switch that language, especially for a student that does have all of those foundational skills and are at the attainment that you spoke of earlier, because we switch it to disciplinary literacy. Once we move past that, we we want to prepare our students with early foundational skills that build so when they get into contentbased subjects that it's through the lens of each discipline. And so, you know, we we've spoke about how do we have literacy through history? How do we have

112literacy through science? And how are we reading, writing, speaking, and listening across all of our disciplines. We're reading music, financial literacy, right? The multiple literacy piece. So a lot of it is when we really are pouring it into the theory of an if then if we build it here at those early ages and we pour all of our support and our teachers that are very very strong in that that it lifts and raises through that disciplinary literacy piece and it is absolutely true we do have students that are in middle school that are in high school that are still struggling to read with those foundational skills that we speak of within their K through five experience and and and beyond. And so what we've done and we're we're in our we're in we're in our

113second year of using I Ready at this time um specifically to speak to right now within middle school. And I Ready is a resource that when we when we fought really really hard and collaborated really really hard across all of our middle schools to insert an intervention block, we needed an intervention block in order to support the literacy the explicit literacy need of learning how to read. If we didn't have that, it's difficult to to put it into time and place when a pace is fast and this curriculum is here and it's moving. when a student needs really intense support, I Ready helps us do that in a structure of having um an intervention block, which is what we what I need a win block in our middle school. And in year one, which was

114last year of middle school, we started within our first year of creating a a comprehension intervention literacy block. students that were struggling at a second and third grade comprehension level that got an additional scoop of daily support and sometimes a few days a week support around comprehension. The cool thing was with I Ready and how it's supporting us is that we're getting so granular with our data and our staffs are is getting really savvy with the data that through their MTSS process. They're realizing and analyzing how well students are doing in areas that they're still struggling with that they needed explicit phonics even more deeper than just comprehension. We needed more. we're missing that that explicit phonics piece because that leads to that comprehension. So this year we had some trailblazing work we spoke of

115at the end of last year. I stood up here and was talking about the trailblazing last quarter that Lewis did for us. So now we actually have two intervention blocks that are happening at middle school. We're noticing the differentiated needs of our middle schoolers. We have students that are ready for that comprehension and they're in those comprehension um intervention block and we have students that are really still struggling to read and pull the print off the paper and they are receiving phonics intervention blocks and we continue training much like that letters piece through using I ready. It's very supportive and not only do we use I ready within intervention as multiacets which we won't go into today. Um but it extends into high school. So to to speak just briefly on the high school we

116do have an intervention course that supports students right now as a part of our system and structure and it's called a lit it's called lit lab. Um, specifically it's at Brookside. Um, it's for ninth and tth graders and we use data to triangulate uh data needs of students that are still struggling. They get this um course in their ninth grade year and they're getting the intervention through this course that supports their learning. We're using I Ready now to really keep this continual piece learning um this this continuity of learning across our middle school and our high school. So in this specific intervention block at the high school, they're using um I Ready and they started with comprehension. We actually do have a few sections that are getting the phonics just like our sixth graders are

117getting because to the point of advocating, they really do need it. Um, and there are other there is another layer, especially within our diverse learners that we're working on with 95% wrap. So, metaphorically, the wrap piece of really wrapping around the supports that all of our kids needs to Dr. Cesario's point from preschool all the way through 12th grade and and it really is catching fire and it is it really is a movement that um that we that we all support and we thank you all for continually speaking on it. And um it's it's a work in progress in the training. Um but I say all that to say to give you a little bit more information on that 612 piece. >> Thank you. >> Super fast on that. Superintendent, >> would it be possible

118because I think the priority of those classes is to make sure that the students are getting what they need. But it would it be possible to ask the teachers running those classes if they are open to having a board member visit here and there just to see because I think that's going to be very powerful for us. >> Sure. And what I was going to say actually um is that we're continually like today there were several every week there are tier one site visits where there are groups of people from I would say Lincoln Center but yes Lincoln Center and the educational services center directors um associate superintendents deputy superintendent going in to examine instruction in the work that we're doing because not only are we doing that we're progress monitoring what's happening to make

119adjustments. Miss Lensing, all board members are welcome to come. We we can share. >> I just don't want to intimidate a teacher. >> That's not I don't think it's intimidating at all. It's all focused more than three or two of us. >> Well, yeah, we we have it very organized. >> So, can I just jump in? >> So, I know that we have worked to set up um whether it was the data protocols or the tier one site visits where the board can get a taste of what that looks like. We will we'll work on something like that and circle back with the board. >> Great. Thank you. >> Okay. Because I do agree it could be intimidating if two or three we could also omay. So we'll work to set something up so the

120bird the board can see it >> um can observe it and and it's working. >> We're doing it weekly. So and it's in an effort to progress monitor the work that we're doing to make adjustments. We've already made adjustments from year one to year two and we'll continue um to do to do that. But it is a work in progress and it's work that's been happening for five years now. Um adjust making adjustments to the course offering guide at the high school level backwards mapping all all of the work. There there's there's a lot that went into this. So but thank you for the great questions. Thank you. Um this next item is renewal of Google education plus contract. So this is for the district to support our Gmail, our drive space, um additional classroom

121tools that we use, um Google meet controls, Google classroom controls for our teachers. Okay. Item E is Arubra CX upgrade of network equipment and um this is uh a requirement uh to help to upgrade our main distribution frame switches at Lincoln Center and Brookside. And this is needed to make sure that our our systems are working properly and up to date and that we are protecting ourselves. Um yes, Miss Hannah. Oh, you could have been I don't >> I just want to know would this fall under uh rate. >> This particular one does not but I can it it does not right. >> It does not. Yeah, this does not fall underate >> even though it switches and so forth. Dr. Qu >> that was the first question I asked too right >> but it

122it's it does not I can't remember the reason but here is uh Dr. equipment. >> I am hoping that the government don't cut out rate. >> Good evening. Uh no ear rate there are different uh requirements and because is for Lincoln Center. We do not have students at Lincoln Center. >> Yeah, I forgot about the building. >> There you go. >> Okay. >> Thank you, Dr. Quas. >> Okay. Um item F, attendance at the Council of Administrators of Special Education Conference. Um this is really just for folks that are in the field of special education. Uh topics covered our uh policy and advocacy and uh really to support our special ed administrators. >> Can I ask a general question on this one? Um I was going to hold the comment for Jay because there are

123some big kudos I think around that piece. Um, but given all of the work that was invested in our special education department over recent years, are we able to ever present at this conference? >> And Dr. Bubble, do you want to come up to speak? Dr. Bubbleitz and his team often do present at various conferences. I don't know if you're not present. >> I don't know about this one because this is >> Go ahead. Uh yes, it's something that we do look at. Um we were unable to we were going to and were unable to uh present at this one. Um but we look forward to doing more. I can tell you Dr. Caesar, Dr. Lenau have done um many presentations either in state and local or national. Uh one of the reasons I'm going

124to case is I am on the the case. It's a national uh national committee for legislation and uh policy. And so we work on informing legislature uh putting out um different statements on policy, special ed law, um and it's an opportunity for me to represent WKEAN in Illinois. So while I'm not presenting there, I'm with some of my colleagues on the committee where we do discuss some of that stuff. Um I can tell there's Dr. Poke. I give her some updates that aren't always very positive on the current state of our government and I'm able to inform uh Miss Placencia as well. So the I do represent us there but I'm not currently presenting at this one. That's a long way for Yes. >> Okay. Thanks. >> Uh I'm committee member on on the policy

125and legislation committee. Yeah, he did state that and it's you have a seat at the table. >> I guess I'm here. So, >> yeah, thank you for >> it's an extension of IAASC which is our local version for case and I am a board member and a and a co-chair of the similar um we call it legisla policy and uh advocacy. So, same thing but on a state level. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. Um, you may want to stay up here. The the next few are for you. >> Okay. Item G is attendance at the closing the gap assist of tech conference. And again, this is one I had mentioned earlier um when we talked about this and this is regarded uh regarding assist of technology. Um so

126it's specific to using technology to assist um a variety of technology to assist in uh ouru some of our students. Um this is not a computer necessarily. It's more specific and tailored to meeting their individual needs. Um Dr. Bubbles could speak at length about this if if there are questions I can happy to answer. So my question is not so much on the conference again. It's looking at the um expenses. It looks like transportation is zero and auto mileage is being calculated between $550 to $650 and it's two individuals. So are two individuals driving two different cars to Minneapolis? Number one. And number two, if so, is that really the most cost effective way? Because Minneapolis is not far. That airfare is between 100 and 200 bucks >> is yeah but but again are we

127choosing the most cost effective mode of transportation by having two people drive or was this filled out incorrectly >> I can't speak I haven't looked at those airfares um >> it doesn't have an airfare it's it >> yes because they are they are driving and >> can we together this address >> good evening how is everybody this evening Um, so I am one of the people who will be attending this conference along with two other staff members who are on the assisted technology team. So there will be three of us. Um, and we planned to drive so that we could eliminate a car rental when we get there. So the car rental plus airfare for three people would be more than the $500 that it would cost at 70 cents per mile between here and

128Minneapolis and Minneapolis back to here. >> So you are all driving together. That is correct. >> Okay. Cuz you guys have it on independent forms, >> right? Each each individual is required to have a PD form. So, >> no, I understand that. But I'm talking about the reimbursement for mileage >> is it should be only going to one person. >> We did only fill it out for one person. >> so I think it's on my form and the other two should be at zero. So, if you look at, let me scroll because it's a couple of forms in here. There's one form where it's not listed, but the rate is calculated as higher. So, uh let me check who's is this one? Uh Fitz Simmons Olsson. So, it looks like her total should be around

129910, but she wrote 1,500 and it looks like that 70 cents per mile is put in there. So, can we have that updated and fixed so we have accurate numbers? Absolutely. And then it would make more sense then that three of you are driving together versus um individually giving everybody mileage. So the ask is to review forms and ensure that the right dollar amounts are on the correct >> we will I believe it says estimated on there but we will we will do and we have been so I'll just reiterate that point to my team again that they have to make sure that every >> it does say estimated again what I'm looking at is it's saying that three different individuals are being are driving. So, >> point taken. >> That's what we're saying. >>

130We'll make sure that it only appears on one, >> right? But those that stuff should be caught and reviewed cuz the other one is it looks like Ver is also has the same issue. >> Well, we'll revisit those forms >> before the vote. >> Yes, >> Miss Hannah. >> Um, the assisted assistive technology, are you aware that we do have that in the district? you are aware. >> Yes, these are IP services for students for communication or motor skills or other needs. >> Yes, this is the committee. These are the people who do that. And so they've spent two years working on improving the services across the district. These are their goals uh for work. and we've created uh walkthroughs and other things to make sure that the the items are being used being used

131and being used correctly. Um and this conference is one of two across the nation that really bring in the folks uh who are innovative and bringing in new technology and even low tech and being creative with that. So yes, I am I am aware it is under the IDEIDA and this team has worked really really hard over the last two years to really um make this at the forefront of what we're doing for these kids. >> Yeah. And and just to let you know that it is um somewhere in special education this uh assistive technology has existed for the district. um for a while now whether we have had any particular students of late uh that needed the assistive technology. >> I know we've graduated students um with the assistive technology before. >> Yeah, we

132have several and and we had a uh our specialist Benver was here when I got here. So, we've been doing this for years. They do a great job. >> It has been being done for a number of years. >> Yes. >> Mhm. Okay. Well, I'm glad that um that hopefully this is going to be over and above what we are already doing. >> Yeah. Yeah. We we could probably share the data with you. >> Yeah. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um I item I attendance at the National School Social Work Conference. And um this is uh for our um social workers to enhance social emotional growth. Um and to other to network with other colleagues and again just to um look at other uh recent trends and identify um other supports in

133the area of mental health and uh behavioral um well-being for our students. Okay. Item J. Um this is the uh 2025 National Association of uh co-eing conference and uh this is for our um Walkegan High School team some team members at our Walkegan High School. Um they've been invited to present on day two of this conference uh to showcase some of the innovative practices. >> Congratulations. Yes. Let's get a clap for that because that's exciting. That's exciting. And again, the PD forms. Um, two things on here and it and I've asked this before and you can see that they try to squeeze it in that we have a separate line item that we update this form for one transportation, how we're getting there or the airfare and then have a separate line item for either

134ride share or transportation to and from airport to and from hotel um because that's not delinated out and sometimes people don't plan for that when it's not on the form. here. It looks like they planned for it. However, what I'm seeing is that everyone has a flight, which is fine, but then it looks like they have gas and car for each individual. So, is each individual going to the conference going to get a rental car and be reimbursed for gas? >> You have to come. >> You got to use the mic. >> It's not about being loud. It's about being captured for the audience at home. >> For the video. Yeah. >> So, what we did was we took the price of the rental for all four of us to share and divided it by

135four. So, each of us put 1/4 of it on our form. >> Unfortunately, that's confusing. >> That's very confusing. Number one, and two, >> not all four of you are going to be reimbursed, right? I'm assuming one person is getting that, right? So, yeah. So, whoever's getting the rental car, because not all four are you going to get the fourth of that, right, >> back and then it makes more sense for us to see. All right, four people, they got one car. >> No problem. >> But it was very thoughtful that you guys separated out. So, I thank you for that. >> All right. Um, I believe the last item here is the innovative school summit. And this our um director of student outreach, Oscar. Did I miss one? >> All right, hold on a

136second. Sorry about that. >> We'll jump it up. >> H attendance at the LRP special education legal conference. And um do you want to speak to this? >> Not if there's not any questions, so let's wait. >> Oh, all right then. Um, so we already went over I and then K's innovative school summit. Um, and this addresses learning loss and supporting positive behavior. I'm just going to take a moment here because it's at the bottom of um our development is that when we're going to these conferences and I include the board in this for those breakout sessions, it is my hope that we are being strategic with the opportunity and making sure that we are spreading out and covering the bases so that we can come together and maximize on the conference opport. opportunities. So,

137as the board goes to cube, for those of us that are to make sure that we're not double tripling up on the same breakout session, um is going to be more beneficial to our district. So, if that can just be a mindset within the teams that are going that have um a more choose your own style professional development, if we can have that as as a goal, that'd be great. Okay. Thank you very much, Dr. Cesario. >> With that, I'd like to ask for a motion to journ. So, >> motion by Miss Abian, second by Miss Lensing. Yes. >> All in favor? >> I >> oppose. Motion carries. Meeting is journed at 9:22 p.m. >> Night everybody. >> All right. What?