001Good evening. I'd like to call to order the November 13th regular board meeting. Can I get a roll call, please? President Wowski, >> here. Vice President Boyd >> here. >> Is here. McFersonson >> here. Neil >> here. Heritage >> here, >> Sanchez >> here. >> Also present are Dr. Solamy, Mr. Vanbore, Miss Delia, >> Mr. Grass, Mr. Kayaso, Miss Laughen, Miss Moran, and Miss Panosco. >> Excellent. You guys would join me in saying the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance 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. >> I need a motion to approve the agenda as presented. Moved by Cynthia. >> Second by Sheena. Any questions or concerns? >> Roll call vote, please. >>
002Vice President Boy. >> I Fearson. >> Hi. >> Neil, >> I peritch. >> I Sanchez. >> Hi. >> President Wesk. >> I seven I zero. >> Motion carries. Right. For tonight, um we have two uh district achievements. we'd like to give out shout outs to um first to the uh district band program. So both WMS and WIS have their um fundraiser as they normally um do every year and it's really been popular probably the past four or five years they've done this fundraiser the double good um fundraiser and it's been fantastic but this year I think this is probably the highest one I remember seeing they raised over 54 well the raised amount was over 54,000 and I think they get 50% of that profit. So, over 20ome,000. Um, >> isn't that in crazy? Just
003really incredible >> job by the um students and their families and the um band parents association. Like really well well done. And it's a really short sales time. So, it really is impressive that they could, you know, um rally the troops and and raise that type of money. And I'm sure they will put it um to good use. I thought the um at the fall concert, I don't know how many of you guys were able to be there, but I thought Mr. um Collins and Mr. Kie really this year did particularly good job of highlighting the things that they were able to buy with the money. Um so they like really pointed out the different um really kind of expensive pieces of equipment that the band was able to purchase using previous dollars. So um
004I thought it was well done all around. And then uh second, just a big shout out and a thank you um to everyone involved with the AR. I know I'm not gonna steal the thunder here. They got the presentation later. Um but just I know that those can be overwhelming time in the building. Like we know that it's all, you know, stressful to keep testing the kids and trying to get them to be motivated and take it seriously. And um parents, same thing, making sure they uh get to bed on time and, you know, get well rested. And so really a big team effort and I'm really excited to hear all about the um incredible gains that were that were made. So thank you to everybody involved in those um testing, which ends up feeling
005maybe more high stake than they should, but it really is impressive the amount of work that goes into it. Um, audience comments. All right. Um, the consent consent agenda. I need a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented. >> Who was that? >> Desanda. >> Second by Jared. Um, as a reminder, um, all items are approved. um as a single motion unless removed before the roll call vote. And tonight we have the regular board meeting minutes of um October 16th in the personnel report including a paraprofessional resignation and a hire of a library aid and a paraprofessional um aid as well. Any questions or concerns? Right. Roll call vote please. McFerson >> I Neil >> I Sanchez. >> Hi. President Weski. Hi. >> Vice President Boyd. >> Hi, seven. >> I zero absent. >>
006Motion carries. On to um action items with discussion. I need a motion for the board to open discussion for the approval of bills and claims in the amount of 1,13,797.40 40 and payroll in the amount of $1,18,755.88 and to authorize payment. Move >> moved by Gina. >> Second by Rose. Anything you want to highlight for us, Dennis? >> Nothing particular other than the word has come out tomorrow. I believe how many tax books are coming out. Within a month, we should start seeing some tax revenue coming in. We did make that inner fund loan from education to go to McDonald's fund, which we did end up being about that 4,000. >> Thanks. >> Any questions for for Dennis? Dennis, that would bridge the gap between year to date and on on our report where it
007was like year to date and our expenditures and it was like yes that >> I mean it's going to help but you remember most of our tax revenue comes in in two payments. We get one typically in August now it's coming in actually November and then the other one comes in April. A lot of our revenue will come >> I'm going to assume it's that >> anything else. >> Okay. RO vote please. >> Neil. >> Hi. >> Ortiz. >> Hi. >> Parich. >> Hi. >> Mes. >> Hi. >> President Wesowski. >> Hi. >> Vice president boy. >> Hi. >> McFerson. >> Hi. >> Seven. I zero nay. Zero absent. Motion carries. Okay. Um, next I need a motion to open discussion for the approval of the tax levy resolution as presented. >> Second by Jared.
008All right. Um, also you Dennis to walk us through this. Do you have a presentation? >> I do. Yes. Okay. Okay, so last month we talked a little bit about the parameters regarding the tax levy. Just kind of putting out the overall numbers. this uh month we're going to go a little further into more depth and then once the board is seeing that we'll put the notice out in the Chicago sometimes. I believe I provided the dates on the memo and then we'll have the hearing in December. So a lot of this information doesn't change from year to year. The overall tax levy is a major part of revenue source approximately 80% but a bit less but some of the co money we've been seeing come in and some of the other grants that will
009fluctuate from year to year 75% would be a solid number based on the last five years levy process starts by reviewing the needs of the district by individual fund. It really does start during the budgeting process every year. So when I'm developing the budget for the school district I'm also developing the loving at the same time. uh it includes reviewing current fund balances, annual expenses and other projects of large. So that's why we have to do them hand in hand. How much can the levy go up? So we are limited by the property tax extension limitation law which does limit us to the increase of the lesser of 5% of the consumer price index from December to December which did happen to come in at 2.9%. So the lesser thereof is the 2.9. So we
010are limited to an increase of 2.9% plus new property individual new property or expiring and stuff like that. So our new property historically which I do track from year to year been relatively low which will put us roughly about a 3% increase if what I project comes true but we never levy just to that 3%. We always go big. Uh roughly I get it as close to 5% as I can without going over. 5% is the increment taxation law. so that if we do exceed 5% we're required to go through a whole bunch of stuff which we do anyway anyways for transparency purposes but I try to avoid actually going over that threshold uh knowing that the county clerk will reduce our tax levy to be maximum law and the reason I do bump it
011as high as I can is there is an unknown factor at the time that like even today I don't know what the equalized assess value is going to be from last year's levy and that's needed in order comput this year's le. So what I do is I approximate out what I think it's going to be and then I stress test it saying okay what if the EAV goes down by $100 million will levy hold or if it goes up by $50 million is the levy going to and I run all kinds of tests against it if it holds then I bring it to the board for approval potential levy pitfalls again not maximizing so if we leave off a tiff one year that could be devastating to the school district to lose out on that
012money and then the tax levies can't just come back and recapture. There are several funds that are subjected to a ceiling rate which means that based on that equalized assessed value there's a maximum allowable amount that you can levy from year to year into that. So knowing IDAV and about where it's going to fall is it is important. So why do we ask for more? I kind of went into that just there's some unknown factors in there. don't know what they are and have to make sure that we're going to capture enough of a levy to ensure that we're not leaving any money on the table. I mentioned they do track stuff from year to year. So 2024 EAV, this is not the official version, but this is the one that they put out. It's
013a draft copy. So I have an approximate number of 547 million which is a slight decrease from the year previous but um I'm expecting that the the EAB is going to uh decrease slightly in the in the future year but not substantially but it has been stressed. So, one of the other reports that I like to bring to the board, which I do run behind, don't tell me. So, I can't bring you the 2024 one yet, but I do have the 2023 information, which just breaks out based upon our tax levy. How much of it is actually residential, how much is commercial, industrial, railroad, so forth and so on. Uh, so you can see we're predominantly a residential area. Most of our tax revenues do come from residents, right? I think it is important to
014bring that information forth so you can see where our tax dollars are coming from. New property growth. I do track this from year to year. As I mentioned, about 3% is where I'm projecting the overall levy with a 2.9% gap as far as how much I can increase from the previous year. Plus the new property growth of approximately 0.1 and slightly under gives us to around 3%. So if we're asking for 4.9, we've got a lot of cushion in there. I feel very comfortable with that number. Run all kinds of tests against it. Fund balances just always a good information to disclose this information to the public so that when we're going through this process just being as transparent as possible. So I just have the audited fund balances from June 30th of 2025. In
015previous years as well, we've gone through this. I believe last month we did something very similar and we'll probably do it again next month as well. just that we're putting it out there as you know as often as possible so that just anybody from the community did inquire it's available. All right. So the 2025 tax levy. So we start off with the 2024 extension. We know our 2.9% which is the property tax extension limitation law. We have our prior year's EAV. We estimate out what the new property is going to be based on that roughly.1%. Estimated new EAV. And again, this is just a number that I put out there, but I'm testing it all the way down to 450 million and all the way up to 6 million just to make sure that if
016anything in between happened, we're still not leaving any money on the table. So, the proposed new levy would be 16,130,000. It's a 4.94% increase from the previous year. And this just is on the uh capp fund levy. It's not on like our our service extension base or anything. So anything those regards I've excluded but capped fund 16,130,000 and knowing that the county will decrease that number at 16,130,000. It's probably going to be closer to 15,500 but we asked for more just so by fund roughly 225,000 for IMR and social security liability insurance 280,000 that's really where our legal fees and our general liability and some other insurance transportation fund 1 million25,000 we do get a large portion from the state of Illinois in regards to transportation so we don't levy as heavy ly there I
017would say roughly about a third of our funding for that comes from the state of health educational fund of 12 million building fund 2 million working cash fund 250,000 and special education of 125 for the total of 16 million130 how does that look compared to last year now last year 2024 numbers are actual numbers so the IMRF and social security we're bringing it down slightly we don't I don't like to bring down it lots drastically I like to do it over time that I try to maintainly about half a year to threequarters of the year of fund balance within the fund. And if we do start getting up higher than that, I will start to bring down the value, which is why you're seeing that fund going down a little. Liability insurance, again, 280,000. Last
018year we did 300,000. Uh transportation fund roughly about the same as last year. Educational fund went up slightly. Building fund roughly about the same. Working cash fund about the same. and special education felt about the same. So, it's pretty comparable. Once I do get those reserve balances in place and we know our expenditures going to see big swings as far as who I'm letting money through, it should be pretty consistent. So, we build up in excess and I have to move money to a different fund and typically that's going to be our educational fund because 80 plus% of our expenditures come from that. Oh, one of the other things I like to bring forth is just the tax rates from the surrounding districts. Again, I don't have the 2024 information. I don't even have our
019license value from 2024 although the tax rates, but I imagine by next year this information will be out for 2024 bringing them, but uh you can see Brookfield would range at 4.8, but not 4.4. I tried to pull schools around the area just you can see how we're lining up, especially when we're predominantly residential. So, it's really important for us to keep that figure in mind at 2.8 89. It's relatively, you know, kind of middle to low end there. And for a residential base, you know, it's nice that they're not 4.8 because much higher. Just want you to see some of those runs and stress tested this thing just to make sure that we're not put in the position where we're leaving money on the table. That's it. Do this again next month. Do we
020have any questions on it? It's one of the most important things that I do. Three things when it comes to my job. Levy, budget, and payroll. have to get those three right or else could happen. [laughter] >> Didn't something happen in the green? >> Is it the green >> 105. >> Uhhuh. >> They overt taxed the community. >> A big no no. >> Yeah. >> Isn't that great? Uh so we will you'll publish on December 2nd and then we will conduct the public hearing and adopt the officially the tax levy at the next board meeting. >> Right. And I should tell you when I talked about the truth and taxation I exceeding that 5%. We follow that law regardless like even though we don't have to just for transparency purposes I want to make sure
021that everybody within Westchester knows what we're doing and it's publicly available. We put it out on the website. publisher of the paper. We trying to be as transparent as possible. >> We go through the process even though we don't technically have to, but we they go through it for us and for the um community. Any questions on that? And we actually have a a motion to approve the resolution. Correct. >> We do. We're putting this one on display. >> Okay. So this is to the motion tonight is to approve it so we can have it on display and then we final do the final one in December. >> Yes. Okay. >> Does that make sense? >> All right. Roll call vote please. >> I Parage. >> Sanchez. >> Hi. >> President Wesowski. >> Hi. >>
022Vice President Boyd. >> Hi. >> Pearson. >> Hi. >> Neil. >> Hi. >> Seven I zero n motion carries. >> All right. Thank you for staying up there, Dennis, because next we I need a motion for the board of education to open discussion for the approval of the maintenance grant as presented. >> Is that Stephanie? >> Second by Deshonda. All right. So, I know you mentioned this last time. This is the actual proposal for the grant, >> correct? Um, so I gave a memo just kind of outlining some of the things we're looking to do with the grant dollars and pulled it up right now with >> So a few things we're looking to do. We're having some roofing issues this year where we're noticing some leaks in some areas. Um, we did have about
023six years ago rubberized surface put on top of our roof. Fortunately though, counter flashing is the area of project six years ago which uh roughly went up around $35,000 up there and just have the river walk and pick up the worst areas working from this building. Identifying those and then funding those stopping any potential leaks and water damage throughout connection with that. Another one of the issues that brought to my attention windows here at this building. Uh we have a number of windows that just over time have need service and like to bring out a window company to repair the insides of them so that they're open and closing properly without anything ever happening. Get fresh air into the building. Those things will work. But then on the other side of it again with that
024water protection, a lot of our sealants around those windows like 25 plus years old, got a lot of windows and I'm looking to have somebody go through and seal all from the outside to stop any kind of watering like that from getting in. One of the things we did at the intermediate school, which I liked a lot, um the exterior of the building, just doing a power washing using an acidic uh chemical to remove a lot of buildup on the limestone. Maybe just do a beautifification process to pop. So, I'd like to do something like that with the flashlights, the power washing, the windows repair. Oh, and then the hard. We've done a lot on doors here at this school. We have a lot of doors. For instance, like this door over here that's, you
025know, it's a nice door. There's no need to replace it, but the hardware doesn't match the new hardware that we're putting in. So, they to order some hardware and put that in. So, that least on the existing doors that I have to get replaced. We'll have the matching hardware. And the reason I want to do that is because the new hardware that we're putting in has the ability to lock the door from inside of the classroom. The existing hardware that we have doesn't. So, we're rolling out what they're calling 911 keys in the event of an emergency, a teacher doesn't have to open the door and go outside the room to lock the door shut. They could just this would be inside a little bit more secure. So, just to complete the project, replacing the
026hardware around existing. >> Is that in all the schools? >> That's the middle school, right? >> Uh we have been rolling it out at the intermediate school too. The primary school does not have the older doors like the intermediate and middle school did. However, when we're done with that project to make the determination continue to roll out the hardware or do we have to upgrade the doors at the school? So, the dorm project's been a couple years now ongoing. Probably have another year of it at the intermediate school before it's completely done. anticipate by the end of this year that the middle school will be fully upgraded as far as all the older 1950 doors being out of there and replaced with newer doors. But again, I didn't do anything to the somewhat newer doors
027that have the older hardware. Just wanted to complete a building so we could focus more on intermediate about the primary as well. >> Just a quick question. So at the top it initially said the Westchester middle school but then from one through three it has middle school and then I mean one and two has middle school and then last three do not reference the middle school. So are we doing more than just the middle school? >> All projects are done at the middle school. When it comes to the maintenance grant they consider it a project if all the like I can't split it up like this unless all the projects are >> at one field. Okay. >> That's why we've been facilitating the maintenance grant whenever it's got offered. Last year was at the intermediate
028school. This year we're bringing it over to the middle school and trying to knock out some things here. It's nice because it's a $50,000 dollar fordoll matching up to 50,000. So roughly around what 130,000 is what I was approximating and 50,000 part from the CFO. >> And these are estimated numbers too. They're not solid quotes. I'll still have to go through the quoting process. Make sure that we're getting quotes to accommodate fees and that numbers will come more as we're approaching that May June time. start gathering actual. >> Are we looking at some of the ones that we've used in the past at the other schools or you going to be trying to just do something new like some new contractors? >> I try to use the same wonderful Facebook. >> Okay. >> I mean,
029I try to get it right minimal three quotes, >> right? >> But if we're having an issue with the contractor, yeah, we want >> Okay. And do you think it looks like you have listed out the priority of the projects per the grant um like the emergency and then health and life safety? How do you feel like do you think that our grant is likely to get approved? Do you think it's you know is it sort of >> based on the funding that they're putting out there which was $20 million in the past? Most of our all of ours have been that a permanent improvement which is number four which is what this one falls under as well and I have yet to have one not so I feel very confident that if we apply
030for it that we will get great any other questions for this call vote please >> hi Vice President >> Pearson >> Neil Seven eyes, zero nays, zero absent. >> Carries. >> Thank you. [clears throat] >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> So, next we have um discussion item with no action, the 2024 school report card discussion. >> You got the >> [clears throat] >> This is >> No, I sent you the >> book. Are you using? >> I am. It's so weird. >> She's using it, too. I had to use it. >> I'm using it, too. >> Yeah. On one slide, you have to go slide by slide. On the next one, you can scroll it. And if I'm trying to match your words, it seems like it's more than that. >> That's how Yeah, [laughter] >>
031but it also I'm not sure like to go page to page to get the thing. >> Yeah, but I'm using it too. >> Are you board dots or board book? >> I was too afraid. >> Shame. It's really nice and new design. >> It's in January, right? Like the >> harvest. >> All right. Good evening. So, I am going to go over u kind of high level overview of our our schools and then the schools will go deeper in our state of the schools. WMS will be February 5th. WIS will be February 19th. WPs will be March 19th because by that time we'll have midyear data math data. I'll be finished 19th and then mark >> February. I'll quiz you at the end [laughter] staff. I know you're going to be on top. epic state
032of mind. >> So, I have a lot of lot of good information, a lot of good news and and I just want to be upfront. Um because I know that while the state adjusted to I AR cut scores this year to better align with college and career readiness, the gains we're seeing in our district reflect real progress, not just a scoring shift. um our improvement is evident as I'm going to go over not only in our proficiency rates but also in the student growth percentiles and scale scores which are unaffected by cut score. So even if they change the cut score doesn't impact the fact that the scale score was what it was in the growth that we're seeing. So, um, having said that, all three schools are commendable. Um, that's excellent. And I I
033know that MS was like 1.5 points away from being exemplary. Um, when I go over their growth and when Greg goes over, you're really going to see a a huge um, shift. So, next slide. So, this is ELA proficiency by subgroup. And if you remember us for subgroup for years um you know we have a proficiency a lot of times we've been below the the state averages. The state average is on the right. Okay. And our district is on the left. So overall um we were as a district 3 through eight we are 52.6% of our students are at or above grade level. The state average is 52.4. Then you go into the different sub. So, our females, you know, are higher, the males are just below, our Asian population is just below, or actually
034there's a there's a discrepancy. Um, our black students are above, our Hispanic students are above, our white students are above, our students with disabilities are slightly below, our English learners are above, our student IEPs are slightly below, and our lowincome kids. So, a lot of those several of those groups um they're all important, but the ones I think where we consistently saw gaps with with the state and especially in achievement was our black, our Hispanic, um our sped and our low income. But like now three out of those four are above and these are proficiency rates. So, really cool to see our percentage above 50 above 50%. Next slide. when they do their presentation, are they going to show us as compared to last year or >> Yeah. So, you could see here now like
035this chart is always something that's important and I and I like I'll come up here. >> I love how you >> I like to trace it over time so you you follow colors. >> So, for our um current eighth graders, which I know we have a couple sitting in here, right? So, if you saw in 2002, they were at 18.3. If you follow them all the way to seventh grade, they're now 65.2. So they went from 18 to 65. So 18 in when they were fourth graders in 2022, they were at 18%. Then in fifth grade 28.4, fourth grade 49.1, fifth, 7th grade 65.2. Next year it'll be e the eighth graders right now. And if you look over time in each grade, so these in 2023 these third graders, then 24.3, then 49.6, the
036third graders, 14.1, 45. So I like to trace it this way because this is the same group of kids traveling overtime. Yes. >> What data point is this? Growth. >> This is this is ELA over time. This is this is achievement. >> Achievement. Yeah. >> So you can see our achievement. Look at our sixth grade, seventh grade, eighth grade last year. That's a 60 That's over 60% of our kids in middle school were at or above grade level, which was huge. We hadn't seen that kind of 60% in a in a long time. >> But I think the message is the longer we have them, the better that they're doing. >> And this is the data is backing this up, right? >> No matter who, you know, whether they transfer, whatever, it's like the longer
037we have them. And that's the goal is to get them from, you know, primary, get them in early and and follow over time. All right, next slide. This is our overall reading performance by level. So, our level one, which is what we don't want to be above the state average, right? Uh level one, we're slightly below. Level two, um we're a little bit above three, we're a little bit in level four. So, we have about 11.8% 8% of our students are in level four. >> And remind me those are >> the achievement leveling, right? I'm sorry. >> Level four is exceeding. Level three is >> exactly. Yep. >> On target. >> Level three is meeting. Yes. >> Okay. Meeting. Level two is approaching. >> Uh yes. >> And then level one is below. Right. >>
038Right. So, um, that level three, I'm happy to see level four jump up and like when the schools talk, they will, to your point, Stephanie, they'll show you last year's to this year's. So, that's 11 11% of the whole population 3 through eight. >> Yep. Uh and you know seeing those level threes like there is there is a lot of opportunity for those 41.9 to to go like you want to just keep shifting everyone over to the right. Next slide. >> So now we get into growth. This is like we really we really kick butt in growth. So our overall growth was 60% the state was 50. Now look at the growth to what our kids are. Not only we always were struggling with achievement, but the growth was something that we were always getting
039to try to get to be. But now look at our growth. Our females, our males, still the Asian population is a little bit below, but our black students, our Hispanic students, 62.2% of our are they're at a growth level higher than the state. They're growing uh at a faster rate. our white students, our students with disabilities, our English learners, our students with IEPs are low income. So in reading, every group of students outside of our Asian students is is exceeding the uh the growth rate of the rest of the state. >> How do we differentiate students with disabilities and students with IEPs? >> Oh gosh, I get >> we ask that every year. I saw that too. >> And I know and I know we go through it and I look at it. It's in
040there. I think >> I think it's 504s. That's my guess. Yeah. 504s. >> Yeah. >> Next slide. >> So then you look at overall growth by grade level and you could see overall growth by grade level. So once again, now you break it down. So the district was 60, the fate was 50. So where did we see big growth in fourth grade? 54.5 the growth and the state was 50. In fifth grade 53.2 50 in sixth grade 64.3 the state was 50. Seventh grade 66.1 50 you know 50 is the state and then so our sixth seventh and eighth grade again their growth level really impressive and despite like I said despite even though that the scale the you know the cut scores change it doesn't change the scale the scale stays the same we
041still are exceeding the the the growth at a at a really significant level and as for the school report card it's finally where the next the school report card just so you know like as they're getting that rating um 50% of our score is connected to growth. So it's 25 for math 25 for reading. So when you're doing really well in growth you're going to get more points if they figure out seven and a half for for achievement for reading seven and a half for math. So it's 15. So it's like 50% 15 15 50% for growth, 15% for ELA and math achievement. It's like 5% for science and then there is different like you get attendance and there's five essentials. So there's different pieces but your bulk of the the overall the your um
042school designation comes from the growth. Um, so our math our math is up. Um, you know, we're at 38.4. So, didn't have the as big a gains in in math as we did in reading, but we're still seeing some uh, you know, averages that are above. So, once again, our females, our males, our Asian population, and you know, we don't have a huge Asian population. So that, you know, if you're talking about a small number of students, >> it's it's, you know, that that could be. But our black students in in in math are achieving higher than the state average. Same with Hispanic, our white students, our students with disabilities, our English learners, our student IEPs are just slightly below. And then our lowincome students. So I I'm just, you know, when we talk about
043diversity, one of the strengths of our district is diversity. And I'm happy that our kids are, you know, we're closing the gaps. Next slide. So, here's our math proficiency over time. So, you can see once again like where where we see those kids. Um, so those current eighth graders in 2022 when they were in fourth grade, they were at 14.9% of them were at or above grade level. Now, they're at 43.7. um fourth grade 28.3 now they're at 28. So that is like one of the places where they didn't uh you know you didn't see like this big growth. >> Um >> and these are current seventh graders are so in third grade in 2023 now that they're in fifth grade they're 37.5. You could see the kids that were graduating last year they started
044at 18.2 2. They ended at 41.8 last year when they graduated. So once again, the longer we have and there is one out there's one group that they're not over time, but the majority is again when we build and on um on a grade before and they go through the program and the teachers um are adhering to the program and using the different uh differentiation and using the different tools that we have. we're seeing impact >> and this might be something we can get into at the building level but do you think we could you know maybe they could dig into that the number in yellow that 29 to 18 that's a pretty significant decrease so I don't know if there's any >> you know go when they dig through the data they can see
045>> yeah what happened and that was a year before right so then that but that group rebounded it and went up from 18 that went up to 38 gotcha gotcha >> oh I see I see All right. So then math performance over time um you know our level threes are higher our level twos are higher than the state level. So we have a quite a few level twos um and we want to get those over to three and then our fours are below the state average. Right? We only got 5% of our students are um in a level four and above. Next slide. So math growth. So our math growth was solid. So here that's so so you see the discrepancy. So we have like 38% of our kids are meeting or exceeding but 51%
046the growth uh is 51% where the average of the state is 50. And then again once again look at every subgroup across the board. So our kids are outpacing the different subgroups that they're in. And once again, if I focus on black, Hispanic, students with disabilities, English learners, those populations which historically, you know, districts struggle with or that's why they're on, you know, they get on the on the the list of of uh needs improvement. Those are the groups. >> So on this one, it shows that the growth um for Asian students is above Yeah. >> state. are is our Asian population increasing or why is it so different on this one? just because they're that that the Asian population in math it that's it's not that that 62 is like that our Asian population
047is growing outperforming in math the average of the other Asian >> of the growth proficiency got >> so they're growing they're just not [clears throat] >> beating >> they're not beating >> got it and you'll see a lot of times when numbers are lower the growth will be higher for those lower numbers >> because you're you're making big gain It's harder to see it in the higher >> next slide. And so here again, here's your math growth by grade level. Um you could see that overall, but like in fourth grade they were slightly below, but fifth grade higher, sixth grade slightly lower, seventh grade and eighth grade just above. So there is opportunities for our growth, you know, like when a couple grades are are are slightly lower than the average and other grades picked
048as picked it up. So the schools, you know, they could they could dig into their each grade level. Next slide. Science achievement. Um, science was off a little bit this year. Um, I know that they changed the cut scores, but here they changed them differently. they like made it uh actually erased them as they were. So, I don't know if that threw us off, but like our eighth grade did well and our fifth grade really uh did not do as well as as what we thought they were going to do. So, overall we were 41.7 where the state was 44.6. So, females were right at the average of achievement. Males were a little bit below. Our Asian students were below. Our black students were above. Our Hispanic students were above. I I don't know why
049it's not available. It doesn't make sense like we would have enough, you know, for if >> between fifth and eighth grade, like you have to have 20 or more for group. I just got to ask them why they didn't show up here and are low income >> because I know to count as a subgroup, you have to have 20 kids. But I know between eighth grade and fifth grade, we have at least 20 the total. >> Yeah. Oh, from Yeah. Yeah. >> It's a total. It's not per even per grade. >> Oh, no. >> It's total. >> Yeah. That's really weird. >> Yeah. >> So, I don't know if that was some kind of mess up. I I'll, you know, I I did reach out, but like I think they're so bombarded I didn't get
050back. Next slide. And so, we could see that the district overall like our fifth grade was down to 27.9. Um, but our eighth grade was and the state average in fifth grade um was 40.2. So, we're below in science. But then the eighth grade was 57.9 and the average for the state was 45.1 and fifth grade I know a couple years ago we weren't teaching science but now we are teaching that's like it's it's part of its own program I bet they're actually teaching the subject I know we had kind of >> it was embedded >> right it was embedded but we felt yeah >> next slide so areas to celebrate you know ELA and proficiency rates increase significantly of mo across most grade levels. Growth percentiles exceeded state average in both ELA and math
051for nearly all subgroups. Strong improvement in grades four through eight with multiple grade levels posting double digit gains. All schools achieved commendable and then significant subgroup uh gains at Hispanic and white students outperformed the state of proficiency and growth. Um, I think we're areas where we have to focus, you know, continue to focus and I I know the schools will talk about it for continued targeted intervention in math and ELA, especially for our lower grades in K through three because if they're, you know, those are those grades and it it the statistics are pretty alarming if I think it's like if you're not on grade level by grade three, like 70 75% of the kids never get right. We know this. So, it's it's, you know, when when Laura goes into what they're doing, um,
052super important. and then um maintaining strong implementation of of tier 2 supports for students just below proficiency, focusing on you know our all our kids on our acceleration our accelerated students. Um, I know Stephanie has been putting some things in her reports about that and you know, we have some ideas about how we're going to continue to because I'm happy to see that those numbers are going up to especially in reading. Now we're up to like 11% of our kids almost 12% of our kids are exceeding. Uh, and then as far as science, like I I you know, we got to dig in with D strong in in our middle school, which is, you know, you have six, seven, eighth grade science, but I want to really talk with them to see how they could
053help inform our intermediate and kind of look at or review the alignment of our current science units to the NGSS standards, look at our inquiry based labs and hands-on investigations, which I know they do a lot here. see if we could replicate that like take a look at the science in in our fifth grade. Um, and then as a part of our strategic plan, which I'll get into, is developing that kind of dash, right? so that families could uh get these data visuals and that we could be moving forward. They could see this stuff kind of consistently and inform them about what they're doing cuz you know um I think if just sharing this report, people are going to look like, oh my gosh, it's 20 pages. But if I have just a dashboard where
054it's just putting up like you could just look at what my you know and and I saw a couple things on Facebook like where they're saying oh I saw in this report like you know and and one of the feedback from the the parents group was like telling our own story. Yeah. >> Like this is important for us to tell these stories. That's why you know and it's not about it's being honest too like whether wherever we're at but it's it's it's at least people like us controlling what because I don't know what data they're looking at. I know like real estate people use all kind like data from like 10 years ago. So like here's real live data. Here's where we're at right now. So like I said, this is an overview. I I
055I think we should be really proud. Like it's awesome to see, you know, for us. I I the goal is is the minimum is like 50% which now we're at reading. Now it's 60 for reading and like let's get over 50 for math. Um, we still have work to go, you know, and the schools will dig into it and just excited about where we're going. >> Awesome. Do we have any questions for again? We'll the >> building level we'll get into, but anything >> questions for Phil. >> All right. See reading is turning. >> Yeah. But it's always like one thing h if one thing gains, one thing. Just keep it Yeah. And then the other way the other thought I had I was going to email you is I wonder the test taking strategies
056for science. I wonder how we could think about that because I know I've >> I think that's >> helped kids with uh ACT prep and thinking about test taking strategies has been one of the strengths. >> Yeah. Do we get I know we get data with that on for math but do we get data in the science or the IR about like how much time they spend like >> not time no what questions they got wrong which we already are diving into all that stuff >> and and you know and I and I didn't mention it but one thing that I do want to tell you if you notice the year be like we talked when we were sharing EL data um our access we had higher numbers of kids exiting >> and believe it
057or not one of the best strategies that we did was to have the conversation with the kids. And so the same thing with the IR Stephanie spent a lot of time talking with the grade levels about you know we focus a lot on on math which is understandable but I like this was and you know people were saying like this is the first time we really had conversations. So I think too that has a reason, you know, one of the number one ways that kids meet their goals is if they even know. Like so we're having a conversation. We're not like saying like you better do this or you're not. It's just like guys this is, you know, being aware, >> right? >> It's definitely spent a lot of time in the grade levels and
058the principles back that up and and so I think that that had to but for me to see in middle school especially to see like 60 almost 70% of our kids in reading like at or above grade level is pretty awesome. >> Yeah. Yeah. And the growth through the years >> and the growth through the years, you know, because I know when you're in a lot of times third grade, we're like, "Oh my gosh, like what's happening?" But like to see those kids, those same kids. So it's just like this progression. >> Yeah. Those are two powerful slides. >> And now we're, you know, now we are on the other end, you know, like we're some of the kids are coming through, you know, like the kids in kindergarten now have, you know, they're beyond
059the co, right? So now they're getting back to what we do. So we could >> spend that time. >> All right, guys. Thank you. >> Thank you. Nice job. >> All right. So for um correspondence, we received um the press memo issue. So um I know we got it via email and it looks like >> is it just print out for me? >> Yeah. >> Okay. There's a print out here if anyone wants to read it, but we did get this emailed to us. So, it's in your email. Um, is this for now or later? >> Later. >> Okay. And then, um, board president's report. I don't have anything except for the, um, the, uh, July conference is coming up in two two Saturdays. So, um, of those of us who are going, we can,
060you know, chat offline if we want to, you know, carpool. Um, if there's any I haven't looked at any of the sessions, but like if there's any sessions that for those of you who cannot go, if you want us to try to hit a session or see if we can grab materials, you know, let us know. Um, and then I know we say this every year and we do some years do it better than others, but if we want to be prepared, I guess at the December meeting to maybe speak about what sessions you went to or if it's easier just like type it up, you know, the the uh weekend after so it's fresh in your mind, we can, you know, set up a folder and share it that way, too. >> Who's going
061this year? Each of you are right. No, >> just the three of us and they want college. >> Okay. So, just the three of us. >> Perfect. All right. The legislative report. >> Yeah. So, and Tashanda, you might have [laughter] >> because everything has been changing and my first >> my first part in terms of federal news was are we still going to be on strike today, >> right? Because but we're not. We're not. So um >> we all came back >> first paycheck is >> literally >> 17. >> Yeah. Well and so my first point there was about furoughed federal employees. They >> had an injunction to stop >> um permanently laying off employees especially in the office of special ed um and SNAP. Um and so this legislative report really focused on the
062Illinois general assembly final veto session. Um and so they did not call the issues of the tier 2 pension reform and the HB3772 which was about discipline and the cell phones because they focused on these bills um about public health. So, Illinois creating their own framework with regards to immunizations, um, revenue stability, and then the, um, the House Appropriations, Health and Human Services Committee talked about Medicaid because that could potentially impact us with our employees and Medicaid and insurance and things like that. Um and then responding to ICE um they had passed HB1312 which just basically says that um you have to put um safeguards in daycarees facilities in daycare facilities, hospitals, schools, higher education. Um and it also allows for civil action against um people who are not following the constitution or the law
063when they're detaining you or arresting you. and they had already passed HB 3247 um which is where school districts cannot exclude students because of their immigration status or their parents. Um and then they also addressed the disillusion of the the dissolusion dissol dissolution. Yeah, >> it's not disillusion dissolution of the federal mediation and consiliation service um which was a school labor mediation service that they gave for free and then they took away the funding for that. So then 50 I think it was 50 states um where we would create it um statewide instead of federal like we would still have it but it would be funed statewide and then you know SNAP I think as of the last I saw was that they had to fund it right. Yeah. So, um, Pritskar signed he had
064signed an executive order saying that Illinois was going to give 20 million to the food banks, but then the federal government said that we it had to be funded. So, um, the tier 2 pension reform did pass um, one of the chambers and I thought it was just that the provisions are there for what they were talking about because I I've heard a lot about tier 2, but I wasn't familiar with it. So, it's there. And then um some of the other bills, the an artificial intelligence bill and some mental health services grants that pass both of the chambers and that were being introduced. >> Awesome. >> A lot going on. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. Any questions for Cynthia? Thank you for putting it all together. Um, West Cook, is there anything? I don't
065think so. Um, we got a space there for any board representative reports for chamber or public relations for community relations. >> I got the chamber thing, but it's the the lunchon is December 2nd. >> Okay. >> And they asked if anyone I know we'll send some people if anyone wants to go. It's like 11:30 at uh the place over there. >> 11:30 in the afternoon. >> Yeah. Is it a >> Yeah, >> I think that's something. >> Okay, foyer request. We had two in October. Thank you for handling those. [snorts] Um and then superintendent report. >> Okay. So, um good afternoon, good evening. Um first Veterans Day, um was just a great event in all the buildings. I got the CWIS. uh it used to be like a day off, but I think it's really
066a cool day to honor um learn about the the great people who have uh served and so each building did a presentation. Um the kids were really interactive. It was really packed at so that was awesome. >> So student assembly >> in all the buildings. >> Um we had our strategic team uh meeting. We had a planning meeting and Cynthia and Dana were part of it. And then today we met with our uh with our internal team and we put together strategies uh based on the feedback from that uh from our from our task force team and from our parent team. And now we are uh putting together strategies, timelines, and we're going to regroup with the task force to kind of run it by them to get some final feedback. And it it's probably
067going to be more like a like a one hour like an afterchool meeting. So we'll figure out and if people can't make we'll it'll I'll make it so they can get to me. Um and then uh we will look to like February to because this plan won't be implemented till July 1, right? So it's from 2026 on for five years. So we'll probably like approve it in February or so. Um because after I get all the feedback, we'll send it to the printers to, you know, West 40 will put it together, but the comm's team will make it nice and pretty and rock with that. I said the December 2nd um chamber lunchon uh is that Dennis and uh staff, myself, Jacob, we usually go. Dennis loves the raffles and uh usually >> just >>
068usually usually cleans up. Um and then you know November is really my favorite uh month because uh just a lot h you know like with the I know the snow on Monday through everybody and that was it was awesome you know having to think about sending that letter out you know to email and you know but once again we stayed open so that was good I don't think it was ever a doubt but anyway November is awesome because then it it's like you know you have a nice week of holidays and you have parent teacher conference conference. So, don't forget 24th and 25th parent teacher conferences. Um, I know Stephanie been working to schedule those things. So, hopefully, you know, you got an opportunity either be in person or remote. Uh, some of you don't
069have to worry about that anymore, but that's all right. Um, you know, and then, uh, we go into December and like before you know it, like we're hitting it hard. So, that's my report. Well, any questions for Phil? All right, so we have our list of the um administrator reports. So, lots of great information uh in those as usual. Um we got a few of them here. Any questions for the ones that are here? All right. Then, uh school board members recognition. >> Yeah. So, this is another reason why I like November. Um, you know, November 15th has been designated as school board members day in Illinois. Um, leadership for our community and our schools begins with, uh, the work of our local school boards. Um, they are frontline advocates providing a local voice in
070our public school systems. they serve and uh not for a paycheck even though I think sometimes it it's tried to pass through the those amendments but but instead it to protect the community's tax dollars and provide educational opportunities for every student and and that's one thing uh that I know about this board. So tonight we're going to take an opportunity to thank our school board members for their dedicated commitment and outstanding leadership to our district. Um, we talked to all of our schools and we have some cards for you guys. >> Um, that the kids made and passed those around. >> Awesome. >> Um, >> and it looks like we got some really cool >> You got some really cool gear. Uh, >> Thank you, Laura. >> Nice. >> You guys should wear them for
071the 4th of July. No, [laughter] >> like this. Well, with the rain we had last [laughter] >> rain. It's rain. >> But, you know, I think that uh once again, just on behalf of all of us, like we're we're really super fortunate to have a board that, you know, you guys ask good questions, you ask tough questions, you hold us accountable and and but you participate, right? like I was when stepped out, you know, uh you guys are involved in strategic planning, you're involved in committees, you want to be a voice at the table and you don't just advocate for your own, you know, we've got now people who have kids out of the district, you're still here serving, but that says a lot about you. >> Appreciate you. >> You hear me? [laughter] >>
072Awesome. Thank you. Um our second chance for audience comments. All right. Um, next I need a motion for the board to retire into close session to discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees. The litigation when an action against affecting or on behalf of particular public body has been filed or is pending before court or administrative tribunal or when a public body finds an action is probable or imminent. in which case the basis for the finding shall be recorded and entered into the closed um to the minutes of the closed meeting. Collective negotiating matters between the district and its employees or representatives or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees and student disciplinary cases or matters related to individual students. >> By Cynthia, >> second by Gina.
073Questions or concerns? Okay. Roll call vote please. >> Sanchez. >> Hi. >> President Wesowski. >> Hi. >> Vice President Boyd. >> Hi. >> Pearson. >> Hi. >> Neil. >> Hi. >> Ortiz. I >> Parich. I >> 7 I zero N. Z. >> Motion carries. >> 708. All right. You got something for us to sign. Okay. You going to take a break?