001Good evening. Um, I'd like to call to order the April 24th board of education regular board meeting. Can I get a roll call vote, please? President Wazowski, here. Vice President Boyd here. Martiz here. Pzak here. Neil here. Eric here. Sanchez here. Also present are Dr. Schlei, Mr. Bambour, Miss Stealtho, Mr. Grass, Mr. Kayasa, uh, Miss Moran, and Miss 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. Um, I need a motion to approve the agenda as presented. Moved by Mary. Second. Second by Cynthia. We need to approve everything. Any questions or concerns vote, please? Vice President Boyd. Izz. Hi. Neil, I Sanchez. Hi. President Wowski.
002I seven Iron Z. Motion carries. Um for district achievements, I will keep that brief. 108. Um just a real shout out to everyone at the end of the school year. There's all these fantastic um the fine arts fest and the concerts and the choirs and the talent shows and the um destination imagination and the musical is coming up, right? So all these amazing things and you know hopefully you all have had a chance to attend something and I when I sit there as I sat in the band concert last night I just think like we have incredible kids. I mean, our students are kind and talented and um the staff is dedicated to to making them um feel their best and do their best and it really is a wonderful time of the year. So,
003thank you to everyone, parents, students, um uh faculty, staff, everyone just pushing us through to the end of the year. Um audience comments. We have one. All right. Welcome. Hello. Hello. Good evening. Good evening. Hi. So, I'm the director of the musical here, Pearson Terry. If you don't know who I am, hello. Um, I work with Miss Vanessa and uh, Miss Concan on our musical. And, um, we're doing Kais Musical Junior this year. Um, wanted to formally invite you all to attend May 8th, 9th, and 10th. Um, we have Thursday, Friday, Saturday shows. Thursday, Friday are 7 7 and then Saturday is at 2 PM. So the kids have been working so hard. They've been doing such a good job. Um we just had a really great run through tonight. So we're excited to bring
004through the whole show about a week and a half ahead. So we're really excited to start that this year. And I have one more thing I want to tell you. Eighth knife head. together. Together, everyone together. Come on, let's have some fun together. We're there for each together. Come on, let's do this. And now it's time for c. I finally figured it out. That all our dreams, that's what it's all about. Everyone together's where we belong. together. [Music] We're all [Music] stand up in the air. That's the way we do it. Let's get to it. Thank you all. Yeah. You want to make an audience comments? Come on up, Don. I'm I'm My name is Mr. Slagger. I used to be board president four years ago already. Um you guys just remind me of my
005kids. Got three kids. They all theater here and my oldest daughter who's now 31 years old still does community theater and it all started here. So um you guys sounded great. This is just the beginning. And uh keep it up. Have to make sure I get here. Yeah. And what were the events? May 8th night in the 10th. Nice. Thank you. Thank you guys. Wonderful. Thanks for coming out and have a great rest of your practice. Awesome. Good job. Nice job, guys. Beautiful. So exciting. Yeah. Really? May 8th, 9th. It was really I go every year. So I guess this year too. So exciting. Uh, any other audience comments? Any other surprises you have for us? Nobody can order that one. I was wondering why that speaker was here. I should have been quicker on
006the update. All right, so moving on to business after that fun celebration. Um, I need a motion uh to approve um the consent agenda as presented. Uh, Gina Gina. All right. As a reminder, consent agenda items are those items, minutes, business, or personnel matters that are routine in nature. Any item may be moved from the consent agenda to action items with discussion. All items on the consent agenda are approved with a single motion unless removed before the roll call vote. And tonight, we have the open and closed meeting minutes for March 20th and April 7th in the personnel report. uh as well as the uh calendar amendment to rescend our unused emergency emergency dates. Any questions or concerns? All right, roll call vote, please. I peritch. I Sanchez I. President Wesowski. Hi. Vice President Boyd.
007I seven I zero nay zero absent. Motion carries. All right. And we're a little out of order tonight on the agenda. As you guys could probably tell, we moved close session up um so that if we had guests arriving for the reorder meeting, they wouldn't have to sit through it. Um so I need a motion for the board to um retire into close session to discuss the appointment employment compensation discipline performance or dismissal of specific employees. litigation when an action against, affecting or on behalf of a particular public body has been filed or is pending before a court or administrative tribunal. Uh let's see head uh collective negotiating matters between the district and its employees or their representatives or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees and the placement of individual
008students in special education programs or other matters relating to individual students. Moved by Mary. Second. Second by Rose. Any questions or concerns? Roll call vote, please. Neil. Hi. Ortiz. I President Woodowski. Hi. President. I motion carries. We are at close session at 6:15. All right, good evening. The board is back in session um for April 24th. Um we have action items with discussion. Um, I need a motion to open discussion for the approval of bills and claims the amount of 400,000 $400,576 and payrolls in the amount of $1,71,6367. Moved by Mary. Second. Second by Gina. Anything you want to highlight for us, Dennis? Nothing particular. In regards to the categorical revenue coming in, I I did see that they had set up payment coming up. So that got me. They haven't put out anxiously awaiting
009and that will be our fourth payment here. Typically we see one that lags from the previous year. We get three of our current ones and then you have that final one. Any questions for Dennis on the bills, gains, and payroll? Hi roll call vote please. Hi I Sanchez. Hi. President Wesowski. Hi. Vice president boy. Hi Izza. I Neil. Hi. Ortiz. I seven I zero. N zero. Next. Motion carries. Uh next we have the memorand of understanding. I need um Oops. We need a motion to open discussion for the approval of the memorandums of understanding between the board of education in the Westchester Education Association and the Westchester Support Staff Association regarding the district insurance committee. Moved by Rose, second by Jared. Talked about this. Obviously, it's a close session item. So, um, we need to
010keep our any questions generic, but does anyone have any public questions? Okay, roll call, please. Hi, President Walowski. Hi, Vice President Boy. I pic. All right. Next, we have the lunch contract. I need a motion for the board of education to open discussion for the approval of the lunch contract for the 2526 school year as presented. Jared and then Cynthia. All right. Okay. And this was um we kind of talked about it at the last meeting, but here is the the contract while it did go up a little bit, it is not going to necessitate necessitates um us to increase the lunch fees or the breakfast fees for the f for the upcoming school. No, but it is pretty clear that after that we're bumping up right on that ceiling. We'll have to reassess this
011next year. And this is the first year of our sort of time first year of the four years of renewals. Any other questions for Dennis request because we went to competitive build bid last this this year we're under our first year. Next year will be the first year renewal and up fourth without having to go to bid again. Any questions? All right. Roll call vote, please. President Wasowski. Hi. Vice President Boyd. Hi. Hi. Neil. Hi. I remain motion carried. Next, I need a motion to open discussion for the approval of student fees for the 2526 school year as presented. moved. Moved by Gina. I can second it. Um, there were no changes to the school the student fees approved. So, we're just rolling over last year till this year. Any questions or concerns? All right.
012Roll call vote, please. President Boyd. I Neil. Hi. Ortiz. I P. Hi. Sanchez. Hi. President Wesowski. Hi. 9 080. Motion carries. All right. Uh, next I need a motion. Oops. For the, uh, board to open discussion for the approval of the fiscal year 2026 nonassociation support staff salary placement schedule revisions as presented. Moved by Mary, second. Second by Cynthia. Dennis, if I am correct, this is just placing on the um salary schedule for the um the staff that are not part of a bargaining unit. Correct. So this is a exercise that we do every year. So nothing changed. uh there's been change typically 60% of the raised by utilized to replace they don't want the salaries placement schedules going up at the same rate as our employees or people coming in they're going to be
013making the same we take a lesser rate to increase the placement for new employ and this is just for new hires coming in that are not part of a collective bargaining agreement which have already established salary schedules here we are with the salary schedule so I update So in this first motion is to do the salary placement and the next motion is I think what you're talking about to actually even this one I hear this one every year. Yeah, the placement schedules they do go up every but they only go up by the known raises that already been established for the for the for the unis. Yes. So, and it's it it's it's a it's a correlated number. It's not like it's the same, but you give them some progression. It's not exactly the same
014though, right? It's the same. I want to say it's 70 or 60%. I'd have to go back to my work papers, but it's the same number that we a certain percent a percentage of it, but it's it's not equal is what I'm saying. It's not equal to the to what the union has. No. Right. That's what I meant. Percentage of Gotcha. Good question. Any others? All right. Roll call vote, please. I hi. President Wasowski. Hi. Vice President. Hi. I zero. Motion carries. Next. I need a motion to open discussion for the approval of the fiscal year 2026 nonassociation support staff salary compensation revision as presented. Oops. Now moved. Thank you. Second Jerry. So now Dennis this one is actually giving the salary the increase. Correct. Person by person. this one. In the past, we've typically
015extended whatever the WSSA has to the non-UN members. That's been like that. Um, before I put here, that's exactly what I did here. 4% is a known number. It's in the WSSA contract. I took the flow percent and applied it to each of our non-UN members who are employees. And here's where we Any questions or concerns on that one? All right. Roll call vote, please. Neil, hi. Ortiz. I President Wesowski. Hi. Vice President Boyd. Hi. Hi. Seven. I zero. Zero. Motion carries. Next, I need a motion um to open discussion on the approval of um the Baker Tilly Warchild Ross engagement letter to provide auditing services for the fiscal year 20 for the 2025 school year. Is that 256? Oh, yeah. Yeah, yes, yes, yes, yes. 25 school year. I got by Mary by Cynthia.
016All right. Anything you want to highlight on this one, Dennis? So, they didn't increase the fees um directly, but what they did was they tacked on like a 5% technology. I was anticipating around a 5% increase. got really excited when I started reading it and it said no increase in the fees and then I saw this tiny section down there by I mean it's two in one half dozen than the other as long as in total our fees only going up by 5% that's kind of what I anticipated rather presented like that but any questions on Roll call vote please. I hi President Wowski. Hi. Vice President Voyage. Hi. Hi Neil. Hi. Z. Motion carries. Right. Um, I need a motion to um open discussion for the approval of the retirement resolutions for Cheryl Brown,
017Christine Hartman, Scott Pope, and Cynthia Sha as presented. Moved by Gina, second by Rose. And before we get into any um discussion, I just want to take a moment uh to acknowledge that these four staff members have worked for the district for a collective 104 years. Oh man. Mr. Pope um is retiring at 25 years, Miss Sha at 32 years, Miss Hartman at 18 years, and Mrs. Brown at 29 years. So really incredible. Um you know to see that to see that longevity in a district is just something you don't you don't always see especially these days. So um it's not a question but that's my comment. Kudos to them. Any questions or concerns or comments anyone would like to make? And are all four of these able to come to the district? No. Actually
018we're hoping I know three are not. one potentially. Okay. It just Yeah, they have things going with it. Yeah. Yeah. Well, incredible. Um, questions or concerns before we vote. Okay. Roll call vote, please. I know. I vice president. I seven eyes. Motion carries. And next, I would like um we need a motion to uh open discussion for the approvement of the retirement resolution honoring board member Mary Douglas Pinesiac as presented. Can I move? Yes. Moved by Mary. Second. Second by Cynthia. Any questions, concerns, comments? Thank you. any comments that anyone would like to make? I'm going to make mine during board president's report. So, any anything any other board member wants to congratulations to you and happy happy return. Come visit us on Thursdays. We know you'll listen to the meetings. Wonderful. All right, we're
019going to send you legislative report. All right, roll call vote, please. Oh, yeah. Sorry. I'm going to do a board president's report and you'll and I'll punt it to you. Yeah. Uh roll. Yes. San Dress. Hi. President Wasowski. Hi. Vice President Boyd. Hi. Music. I zero. You need to motion carries. She wants the jab, right? At 7:34. All right. So, we got a couple discussion items with no action. Um, chances are we will see them at the next board meeting for action. Um, the first one is um a Chromebook purchase. Uh, there is a memo in here from Jacob, but are you guys Dennis, are you speaking to that? Speak a little bit to it. I know he's going to dive deeper into this in the future. Um, believe you're correct in that, Courtney. time
020will tell us. Uh so I do know that he's been talking a lot about the age of our fleet and that the typically we see about a 10% u loss rate in regards to Chromebooks, but the loss rate over the past few years was not just our district. This is something I know through several West 40 meetings talking with tech directors. We're just seeing like a 20 to 25% rate. So it's much higher. I think our district might be slightly less than that, but it's still higher than the 10% weaving. So I know that he's really been working around the forage to keep our fleet up and running, but it's just to the point where we need to start replacing. Now remind me again when we purchased the devices before, wasn't it around COVID time?
021A little bit after CO or right around in that time we we did a big overhaul. It was right before right before CO. Yeah. And it's about five years that I just was trying to correlate the time frame to say to us about ahead of where we should have been, but it's due to that loss rate that we've been experiencing. We've gotten our I'm going to let him speak more to this because he's he's going to know a lot more than I will, but I did pick his brain a little bit here and I wanted to make sure I can give you as much information as possible. is going to come back with with the full detail on this one. But the loss rate is a big one. Yeah. Life expect. That's what I was
022going to say. That's that's why I brought up the point about what we got. That's that's probably why rights this time. Yeah. So in this and if I'm looking at the memo, right? So the this purchase he's aiming to replace all the student devices at the middle school and then the existing middle school Chromebooks would be repurposed for the intermediate and primary school and that strategy will enable us to support our Chromebook fleet for an additional two years. Yeah. All right. So more kind offormational this is coming to us in the pipeline. If there's any questions or that you want to make sure information that you want to see, um, you can share it now or get it to Phil and I. So, in Jacob's presentation for May, we can make sure that he's addressing
023those. Okay. Um, next we have um, oops, I'm all over the place. Server upgrade discussion. So, another again, there was a memo in there from Jacob. Anything you want to highlight for that one? Sure. Now, this one does apply also with the Chromebook one. That's why he put the approximate cost in there because he's having a really hard time perhaps getting quotes. So, he's like they're like, "Okay, we'll give you a quote, but it for 10 days. What good is this?" Because the price is going to change. So, he put an approximate number about for the devices, but I know he's having a hard time with that. So, he's going to be getting a solid number for the board meeting. uh that way he will go ahead and uh execute with the vendor subsequent to
024it but he's got to be within that time. So expect Friday night Monday gets back numbers. Okay. But back to the servers. So this is actually an item I've kind of been pushing on too. It's our server trying to get as much life out of them as possible. But if one of these goes down, our data gets lost, something along that nature, we got to make sure that we have stuff that's uh reliable. And not to say that our stuff isn't like some of those servers are older than started here. Five years what you get out of a Chromebook, these services, they've served their useful life and equipment, it's up and running. So, I know he had a plan uh potentially two approaches he was going to take with it. I'm not sure. I haven't
025read the memo, so I apologize, but one approach was to do half now uh in this upcoming year and then the other half in the following year just to spread the cost over years better. Um and I think that's the one that you want. Let me just ask because he mentioned about the tariffs. Is it possible that we can expedite this purchase even though he's trying to delay it or or estimating that June or July? Could we potent potentially get it ear earlier that we would see less impact? Is that something that you could just put down to ask them about? Absolutely. You know, I I do know that it comes down to paying for it. So, this purchase isn't your budget. So, we have we authorized the purchase in June, paid for it. So
026we have three to $500 tax in this year's budget. What would be the repercussions though? What would be the difference if we the tariff? Would it be worth it to you know what I'm saying? You got to weigh that. So when it comes down to finances, we could either the budget or as long as we're within 10% the overall fund. Okay. I guess I would like to see what that difference would look like. So like say for example, we wage we get them now. we save $20,000 or $30,000 or $40,000 even though it's not in the budget. I'm just giving some numbers out there. But if we wait until after the tariff and it's going to cost us $60,000 more, then it might be worth it to them in the budget. Do you see what
027I'm saying? I do. My understanding have already started going up, right? Specific. hard to tell what price would be in July, but uh we can certainly come with the numbers and I can tell you that this purchase would not exceed our overall educational fund budget by that would need. Okay. Okay. The board was okay with knowing that we're going to be over budget reveal that I think it would be worth it to do it. Like I said, as soon as possible, I think that's effective. I'm giving furniture for middle school and our spender just sent us an email saying price are going out the bank. So I told them I said I need it by Friday and we're getting it out because I don't we're going to get hit with it and I I don't
028know what it's going to be. So that's a good point that you brought that up. Absolutely. Okay. Um next we have um the discussion for the 2526 staffing discussion. Again this is just the first pass edit. We'll we approve it probably at the main meeting. Correct. Um, so this is the um I'm sorry, can we put it up? I should have done the other ones too, but um the estim you know the average class size um is based on the sections. So it looks like all of the sections across the board are staying the same. um which is great, which kind of helps out some of the class sizes that were a little bit bigger in seventh grade. Not that I'm looking at seventh grade in particular. Not that I have a seventh grader. Um
029but it does look like they would be moving down to five sections, which is the number. Is is seventh grade correct? We're 28.5. I call these numbers with Mr. Leven. Oh my god. And again, I don't think you see 29 in every class, but um four sections. Yeah, they only have four sections this year. That's a lot. There is 29. Yeah. So, this this would definitely be better having them next year be at five sections. The only real change is adding a PE. Sorry. You want to speak to that? It's just that Greg, you know, right now he has been the way the schedule works out, he's been pulling teachers changing their schedule that could cover he has his um then there's a couple people who are certified then sometimes it's about um having people
030with the to go to the girls rooms so it's just getting to be very difficult it's not going to have that kind of flexibility so we did have a point for each e teacher a couple years ago it's just we have to add one now and just make it and probably we've we've gone to two double blocks here too like ELA is a double period math is a double period so that makes the scheduling tricky to kind no I just the teachers he has he's had one like a teach like Blair would do one period some would do one period they have to teach next year and it's just what it is the section okay it's something that's not in here, but if you know at WMS, we have a student advocate through West 40.
031They uh at the state level, they passed some legislation that allows the student advocate to be brought down to the K through five. So, I reached out to West 40 early in the year and I said, "Hey, is there any opportunity we can get? I want to be on that list." He's like, "I'll put you on a wait list." I called him. I checked in maybe about a month and a half ago. He's like, Good news, we can get you. But if you remember, if you're on the board a couple years ago, we paid initially that 70,000 upfront. So that the first year we had to pay for the advocate and then the grant kicked in and then the grant kicked in and there was like a cost of um uh you know, they take
032a percentage of the uh of the EVF money. they through their grant covered that 70 though it's going to cost us upfront not that amount the EVF money will kick again but would it's minimal so we're going to get the person and it's going to be at intermediate bill so um for three four and five that student advocate will be able to support up to 25 kids so Sean is meeting with them and talk about the person like who to find and we're just kind of laying out the the brown worm. So you can see here as a reminder there's parameters of who can be assigned to that case load. So it wouldn't be so and usually they focus on kids that have grades behavior you know and uh uh you know it's also parental.
033I was going to say like a really the parent, you know, you had the communication with the parent. The parent has to agree to it and then they kind of have this check-in and it's just a really great support which then I could, you know, because now we have the social worker going between two buildings. We could move to have the social worker at primary, the two social workers at primary because this work that they're doing is similar and it's support, you know. So, it's an awesome thing to have. It doesn't impact our you know like our budget like we have to pay upfront but really sort of to ask here is the PE teacher and just another one they get to know the kids they get to know Oh absolutely the parents and if
034you know Mr. Yeah. And now relationship develop and and that's a great point. And now when those kids transfer over to sixth grade, they'll already have, you know, some work that then he he or she could speak to um the advocate the advocate here and just like our advocate here talks to the high schools, the advocates because the high schools have so there's a constant collaboration. So Yep. So, any questions? I guess the real the the only real FTE change is the WMSB t-shirt. Any questions or concerns with that? All right. I think we're ready for next next meeting. Um, next is the review of the canvas of the school board election. So, just to read into record the official uh certificate of results provided by the Cook County Clerk's Office naming to Shondaanda McFersonson,
035Gina Sanchez, and Dana Wasalowski as winners of the April 1st, 2025 schoolboard election. Um, thank you very much. So, those are our results. Um, information items, correspondence. There was one correspondence in there. I got a little award from IASB for doing some student le or doing some leadership training, I guess. Um, thank you for including that, Laura. Um, then board president support. Um, I just want to take the opportunity um for myself and for the board to thank you, Mary. This has been a journey we've been on together since 2017. We um started at the same time. So, um, we learned together and we grew together. So, I just want to thank you personally and on behalf of the board for your many years of, um, serving our district and our families and our students.
036Um, I know that I I know you care for all students, but I really do appreciate the passion that you gave, especially for our diversity committee and and our diverse learners. I know that was something that was um special point for you and I I always appreciated you advocating for them as well as our accelerated programs as well. So I know that those were you know um something that was always you know at the forefront of your mind and I always appreciate you advocating for them. So thank you. We will miss you. We will celebrate you again at the district dinner. Um, but it will be it'll be strange for especially for me. I I only know the board with you on it. So, it'll be strange um uh to not come in here and
037see you, but I I wish you well and you know, you have lots of opportunities to spend some more time with your kids who are busy busy busy. Um, so thank you to you and your family for your time. And I'm going to yield some time of the board president's report to Mary. When did you text me this morning? Mhm. Happy last day. Yeah. Oh, I forgot. Anyways, um thank you so much. Uh uh I think I started my SD92 and a half journey. My kids got enrolled and then since then I've been an active parent the school district. I even remember doing um a lesson plan on single demayo for the second breeders two years in a row um in with complete battle in the class. It was so fun. Um anyways, I wrote
038down some points that I wanted to say. uh then uh after that I think I started attending the school uh board meetings now and then here and there and uh became a part of uh district discipline committee which was fun with the PBIS and all those all those things I remember I was there and uh then became a part of the education committee and that time um one of our former board members was last uh asked me to run for the school board. I thought um okay, why not um and um yeah, I ran. It was um a c it was an independent race and it was a lot of fun going and knocking on the doors of people seeing there are lots of dogs in our in our community like whenever I knocked I
039saw a dog come out you know but um u it was fun but getting on the board it was not that fun hard work yeah it's a lot of hard work and um and commitment um and Um at this uh point I want to thank uh Mrs. Vicki Olowski and u Carolyn Wilhight you know who helped me a lot during my initial years u board I have something to think I guess um wait uh yeah some of the administrators uh Mr. Lee Mrs. Yo, I don't know how many meetings we've had in the primary and um to Jacob Kumar Dennis our former secretary Mrs. Bagner, current Secretary Vanesco for all your assistance and um who else I should be thanking you my soon to be former board colleagues. Thank you so much for the four
040years and the eight years and uh Mr. Seli I need accelerated program Mary you need to wait so um thank you um we have a wonderful accelerated program both in reading and math and one thing I'll ask you I will not be asking you during your suprint report here it comes yeah what I would like to see is that our school district are celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month just like the other cultures celebrate and honor um their cultures, you know. Yeah. And that's it. That's that advocacy. I love Mary. Yeah, definitely. Yeah. He said that he will be doing something. He said you're doing something, but I'm not going to ask you what you're going to do, but you know, I hope you're doing something. It's It's almost May. It is almost last
041meeting you said we doing something. I don't know what something is, but I think something. Yeah, I think there was an email. Am I right? I think we got an email about it. Yeah, March. In March, I Yeah, I laid out what I was going to be doing after. I can't remember what it said, but it it was there. So, yeah. Thanks everyone. Thank you. I think you got some work in your tank. Maybe you go back to 209. Oh, yeah. I am already on the high school with 209, but we had a meeting yesterday. We both going to have two kiddos our next year. Thank you, Mary. So, thanks everyone. Thank you. You're next up for legislative report. Oh, yeah. Yeah. You're not done yet. I I literally thought I'll be done in 15
042minutes and I'm like I didn't even open the boat up. I'm like, "Okay, I'm done." Like, you know, uh we'll be just having this stuff. And then I was looking at the legislator. I still wanted to go and check the advocacy and I see the reports. I text I call Miss Panaskca and then I texted Mr. So Amy saying hey just ask Miss Panaska to call me. So just this morning I put up the legislative report. Thank you Miss Panaskca. So I have to read the committed to the end. Yeah. I didn't want to go crazy. I just wanted to do it. So let's see. Let's see. Uh we have okay not so some good news from the department of education as we know so um department of education issue letters to state education agencies
043who were required to certify with the anti-discriminatory um obligations under title six uh of the civil rights act of 1964 and the recent Supreme Court um case students for fair admission versus out. I think we are familiar with that. We might have right. Um then it was shared by the ISB that the Illinois State Board of Education had previously provided the certification and that they would comply with title six and Supreme Court cases and as they also indicated that it would not be collecting assurance from local schools. That's an important piece. Then next we have the revocation of SR funds. So, so the USDA revoked Illinois's request for extension in federal contin. And let's get to Mr. President's U executive orders. It's improving education by empowering parents, students, and communities. And he also signed an
044executive order on March 20th to shut down education department was not very happy with the schools in reading and math. So he believes giving power to the states being there and what's the last one restoring public loan forgiveness. It's a lot I think. So, so you can go ahead and click that. And then we have IASB, tons of house bills and state bills. Um, it's a lottery which are not to read. So, please um have a pleasure reading bills. And that's my last report. Excellent. Thank you. Thank you. All right. ISB West Cook, anything. foyer request. There was um doozy. This might be the highest I've seen. Oh yeah, there were 14 foyer requests in the month of March. So, thank you Laura. Um she is always very um professional and uh prompt in fulfilling
045those foyer requests. So, we greatly appreciate that. Um superintendent's report. All right. Um well, I want to thank Mary um for your service. You have been here since day one. I you know I know you weren't you or Dana weren't on the team that picked me but you absolutely stepped in from day one and uh you have been a part of the original um board that I have known. Uh you've always um you've been always you know committed to instruction and making sure we were challenging every student. we always thought about every student. You always um were honest. Uh and you never, you know, wavered from sharing your opinion. Um and I mean I admire that. I knew where I stood with you. Um and that was it was important, right? And and I also
046uh respected the fact that you were my Facebook uh police. She would, hey, did you see this thing? Oh, I didn't see it, mayor. Okay. Well, you got to check it. So you were always watching. It's uh and another thing um anytime we had a an event that the district was a part of or that we were hold like you always were represented. You always were you know you always moved to the front. You were up in front and you were whether it was your kids in there or it was like you know you you you took pride in those events. It was at the park you were there. you know, you just always uh represented the district. So, we appreciate that. Uh and I, you know, can't wait to see where both of your
047children end up in college. I know that's the next phase of what you're doing. Absolutely. Don't be a stranger to us. That's important. And as far as the AsianPacific Month, you know what what I did say in that email and if if you didn't get a chance, but we are um I said we're committed to recognizing and celebrating a month meaningful ways. Throughout May, students will participate in classroom activities, hear messages during announcements, and have access to materials that help them learn about the history, tradition, and contributions of the Asia-Pacific community. This approach is going to give students more time and opportunities to connect with and appreciate the culture. As we look to move towards the future, we're looking at ways to honor more cultures representing our student population. And one idea we are bouncing
048around is a cultural night that could bring together several cultures. Um, and we're going to update that next year like because we don't want to just, you know, as you said, like if we have this one, we're not, you know, we want to be mindful of all the different cultures because, you know, we have like uh our population is um there are some cultures that are more heavily represented, but then we have tons of different cultures and so I think it's kind of cool if we bring them all so no one is feeling left out. So that's where we're we're headed at. We'll start in May. Uh and with that I want to welcome uh Miss McFerson. It's awesome. I know we have had interactions and you've been active and participant and I know you're
049participate a lot of things outside of school district. So it's awesome that you are um a connected uh connected to community and you're going to be a great voice for you know not just your children but to all children and you're going to fit in awesome with this board. So, in a couple minutes, you'll be up here. But, you know, we look forward to there's a lot to take in, but you know, you'll see everybody on here has the same goal, and it's to, you know, to make sure our kids are leaving here successful, making sure we're we're we're fighting for all. So, we really awesome that you you're going to be joining us. Uh, as far as school things are happening, state testing is winding down this week. Like, they're they're making makeups for
050ISA. the science test. We have to hand everything into the state by the end of the month. I'm not sure. We may have like some preliminary stuff by the end of the year, but like it we're not going to get anything until October because they are adjusting the ratings. So, it'll be a while. Um, we have the end of the year celebration next Thursday. So, I'm looking forward to How many people do we have signed up or coming? Uh, 85. 85. So, it'll be a good number. Um, Parent Square. parent square sign up. We've been uh slowly but surely people have been downloading the app. I think we're like at 25% but a lot of people have signed up. They're getting those messages. We're going to continue to message that. Um in my message in
051May, we'll have registration information coming and then this Saturday we have a busy day. I mean the park is have like their grand reopening. High ridge the Yeah. Yeah. And then we have uh the prek health fair uh from 11 to 1 at WPS and then the bike rodeo from 1 to 4 at WIS. So I'll be bouncing back between both things. More than welcome to come. But you know we are next week we are in May and that is our last full month. It's so as you said, tons of things happening and it's it's crazy between musicals and dances and uh band and graduation and you know, we're we're we're here. So, awesome. It's all good. Thank you. Any questions for Phil? Um we also have um the administrative reports. So, again, thank you
052to all the administrators. There's always a a great wealth of information in there. We have a few of them with us tonight. Do you have any questions for the ones that are here or any questions for the ones that aren't here that you want us to relate and get back to? All right. Um audience comments for our second audience comments. Okay. Yep. Um the uh dates and meetings of interest are in there. The one thing I forgot to mention in board president's report was that um there is the village of Westchester, I know we've talked about this, they're not doing the celebrate Westchester dinner, but they're doing the hundredyear um celebration dinner instead. Um so we're hopeful that or we think that it would be a good um show of community spirit that we have
053at least um somebody attends. Um, I'm happy to attend if anyone wants to come with me if you're interested in coming. May 17th 17th. May 17. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, of the RSVPs are due the first. Yeah. I thought RCP by the first. No, this one. It's May 17th. It's a Saturday. Um, but we need to let um because you need to purchase the ticket, correct? Okay. May 1st. So, we need to let her know by Monday. What do you think? How How would you like us to let you know? It's not. Yeah. Here. May. No, May is Wednesday. Okay. That's certainly Just let me know. Maybe Tuesday. No, Thursday is the first. Yeah. Let me know by when. I just look at the time. It's 6:00 at night. What day is that? A Friday.
054It is a Saturday, May 17th at 6:00. Jesus. And please don't feel obligated. I mean it I'm willing to go just to be our representative. I'm there by myself. It's totally fine. I will probably drag Mark with me, but like if anyone else wants to go, um, just let Laura know by by Wednesday. Laura, I don't want I don't want our president to be there. guys didn't notice. I changed my mind. Yeah, long. Okay, I have to go. You have to see your plat. So, it's let Lauren know by Wednesday. Got it. And at that point, I would like to ask Vice President Boyd to lead the swearing in both of myself, Gina, and Deshonda. All right. So, I'm gonna have you come on up here, the closing of the meeting. Oh, pretty much. Yeah.
055Yeah. Do you want us to Laura? You want her to like do break up a little bit? I would do like line by line like that first one probably needs to be broken up a little bit. Like I would read it and then have them read back to together. All of it or just the top part? Think you're supposed to do okay separately? No, all you could all do it together. Oh, okay. So, she's going to read it a little bit. So you would read it and then they repeat it back. Got it. She reads the next line, they repeat it back. So when you say the I then I'll say my name. Okay. Okay. I Wasowski, Shondaanda McFersonson, Gina Sanchez do solemnly swear or affirm that I will faithfully discharge do solemnly swear that
056I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of the member of the board of education of Westchester school district. The duties of the office of member of the board of education of the Westchester school district two and a half. Can you just read a paragraph to break that one up? That's what she said. Long in accordance with the United States, the Constitution of the United States of Illinois, and the laws of the state of Illinois to the best of my ability. in accordance with the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the State of Illinois, and the laws of the state of Illinois to the best of my ability. I further swear or affirm that I further swear or affirm that I shall respect taxpayer interest by serving as a faithful protector of
057the school district assets. I shall respect taxpayer interest by serving as a faithful protector of the school district's assets. I shall encourage and respect the free expression of opinion by my fellow board members and others who seek the hearing before the board while respecting the privacy of the students and employees. I shall encourage and respect the free expression of opinion by my fellow board members and others who seek a hearing before the board while respecting the practice of students and employees. I shall recognize that a board member has no legal authority as an individual and that decisions can be made only by a majority vote at a public board meeting. I shall recognize that a board member has no legal authority as an individual and that decisions can be made only by a majority vote
058at a public board meeting. I shall abide by majority decisions of the board while retaining the right to seek changes in such decisions through ethical and constructive channels. I shall abide by majority decisions of the board while retaining the right to seek changes in such decisions through ethical and constructive channels. As part of the board of education, I shall accept the responsibility for my role in the equitable and quality education of every student in the school district. And as part of the board of education, I shall accept the responsibility for my role in the equitable and quality education of every student in the school district. I shall foster with the board extensive participation of the community, formulate goals, define outcomes, and set the course for Westchester School District 92 and a half. I shall foster
059with the board extensive participation of the community, formulate goals, define outcomes, and set the course for Westchester School District 92 and a half. I shall assist in establishing a structure and an environment designed to ensure all students have the opportunity to attain their maximum potential through a sound organizational framework. I shall assist in establishing a structure and an environment designed to ensure all students have the opportunity to attain their maximum potential through a sound organizational framework. I shall strive to ensure a continuous assessment of student achievement and all conditions affecting the education of our children in compliance with state law. I shall strive to ensure a continuous assessment of student achievement and all conditions affecting the education of our children in compliance with state law. I shall serve as education's key advocate on behalf of
060students and our community's school or schools to advance the vision for Westchester school district 92 and a half. I shall serve as education's key advocate on behalf of students in our community schools to advance the vision of Westchester school district 92 and a half [Music] and I shall strive to work together with the district superintendent to lead the school district toward fulfilling the vision of the board has created fostering experience for every student in the areas of academic skills, knowledge, citizenship, and personal development. I shall strive to work together with the district superintendent to lead the school district towards fulfilling the vision the board has created, fostering excellence for every student in the areas of academic skills, knowledge, citizenship, and personal development. Congratulations, lady. Congratulations. Congratulations. Now, let's get to work here and pretty soon
061you'll be back up here. We got one more thing to do. I miss your food. That was almost there. It was a lot. I remember you, didn't you? You just did. So, now I need a motion for the board meeting to adjourn. Send DA by I always second. Moved by Mary. Who was the second? Second by Cynthia. All right. Can I get a roll call vote, please? President Wesowski. I. Vice President Boyd. I. Sanchez. I. Arinich. Hi. Ortiz. I. Neil. Hi. zero nays. Motion carries. You're fine. The board is adjourned at 8. Wow. I'd like to call to order the April 24th board of education reorganization meeting. um for the reorganization meeting. Unless there are any objections, I would like to appoint myself as president promp and Rose is secretary promp to begin the meeting.
062You want to um can I get a roll call, please? President Wesowski here. Vice President Boyd here. Ortiz here. McFerson here. Neil here, here here. Also present are Dr. Salmi, Mr. Gres, Miss Penusca, and Mr. Ka. We've already done the pledge, so we don't need to do that. It felt almost like it was inual. I felt like we had to do that. Um, I need a motion uh to approve the agenda as presented. Second, Gina Cynthia Any questions or concerns? All right. Roll call vote, please. President Wesowski, I. Vice President Floyd, I Neil, hi. I Paritch, I zero, zero. Motion carries. Any audience comments? Um, next we have um seating and reorganizing the new board. Um, the first item is the election of the board president, which is a two-year term. Um, I need I
063would like to open the um floor for any nominations. I'd like to nominate Janowski for the president. I second that. Thank you. Rosen Gina. Ros and Gina. Any other nominations? She's hiding. Hiding over there. All right. A motion was made by Rose and seconded by Gina uh that Dana Wasowski be nominated for the position of president of the board of education. The nominations are closed and um the ballot to be cast. Um roll do I need to read all this? The president will serve a two-year term concluding in April of 2027. When the question was called, the roll call vote was taken. So roll call vote, please. Vice President Boyd. Hi, Peterson. Hi, Neil. Hi, I Hi, Sanchez. Hi, President. Hi. Seven eyes, zero Naz. Motion carries. That's all right. Um, at this point, 8:36.
064Um, newly elected presidentowski. assume the position of the president of the board of education. All right. Thank you. We'll do that. Next for the election of the vice president, which is a one-year term, like to uh open uh discussions for any nominations. And I would like to move to nominate Stephanie Boyd as vice president. Second. and Cynthia got that. Thank you. Yeah. Any other nominations? Seeing none, I will close the nominations. A motion was made by Dana, seconded by Cynthia, that Stephanie Boyd be nominated for the position. Oops, I'm at the wrong one. I was speaking to president. uh for the the president or the position of vice president of the board of education that nominations be closed and a ballot be cast. A roll call vote please. President Wesowski I Sanchez I Neil I
065McFerson I vice president boy I zero zero abs. Motion carries and the vice president will serve a one-year term concluding in April 2026. So, next we will move on to the board secretary, which is also a one-year term. I'd like to open uh the floor to nominations, and I would like to move to nominate Rose Ortiz for board secretary. Second, second by Tashanda on the action. Uh any other nominations? Seeing none, we will close nominations. A motion was made by Dana and seconded by Tashonda that Rose Ortiz be nominated for the position of secretary of the board of education. The nominations were closed and a ballot cast. The secretary or ballot will be cast. The secretary will serve a one-year term concluding April 2026. Roll call vote, please. President Wesowski, I. Vice President Boyd, I.
066McFerson. Hi, Neil. Hi, Ortiz. I Parich. I Sanchez. I seven I absent. Motion carries. Oh, sorry. I missed the time. I got I press Yeah. 8:37. 8:37. All right. At 8:38, newly elected secretary Ortiz assume the position on the secretary of the board of board education. Yeah. All right. Um, next we have the calendar of meeting dates and times. Um, so again, uh, Laura, thank you for giving us two things there on the attachments and Tasha, you can see them, right? Okay, great. So, the one is sort of the the the regular school calendar, and she put in the green, the bright green would be our um suggested board meeting. So, you can see how that kind of flows with the rest of the the year. And then the other sheet is just a listing
067and you can, you know, kind of to keep us on track the possible discussion like the big discussion items that we know that happen every time the the levy hearings, the budget hearings, the state of the schools. Um, you know, just to throw out there, we can set the time of the board or the time of the meetings to be anything we want. Um, when I first started, they were at 7:00. Then I think we did 6:30. Now we're at 6. So if that's difficult for anyone um you know we can talk about adjusting that if needed you know um based on any child or work um issues um and if there's again uh if there's any major date changes that we need to be concerned about and throw that open to anyone for any
068questions concerns with dates and times I don't know. All right. It's still 6 o'clock. Still 7 o'clock. Um and then the remain So this is again for the fiscal year. The calendar we're approving is 2526 because we've already approved up until June. So we do have the remaining dates for 2425 is May 15, June 5th, and June 26. And then we'll start this new calendar with July. All right. Are the dates in here? Yeah. Oh, I see them now. Well, I just Which one are you on? It sounded like just like I was making sure the second one in June was here. Thank you. Yeah, like the attachments just have the ones going forward and then Yeah. All right. Uh, roll call vote. Oh, sorry. I had to do a motion. I'm so sorry, guys.
069I need to open I need a motion to open discussion. You're not in routine today on uh to approve the calendar meeting dates for May from May 2025 to July 2026 as presented. Moved by Cynthia. Second. Second by Gina. Now is there any discussion or questions or concerns? All right. Thank you guys. Roll call vote, please. S I Neil. I I Sanchez. Hi, President Wazowski. Hi, Vice President Boy. I zero back. Motion carries. All right. Um then representative appointments. Um thanks guys for giving me some good feedback here. So, um you know, these are the sort of kind of five six if you count the alternative um positions we have just for, you know, some extra things. I'm going to throw these out there if anyone really feels a burning passion. I know I talked
070to you guys some of these um so we can talk about it if there's something you're interested in. the legislative representative um Cynthia has expressed some interest in taking that over and has some um ideas for it. So um any objectives um if anyone's interested in that like speak up if not I'm going to appoint uh Cynthia as the legislative representative. Thank you. um the IASB delegate in the alternative appointments. These are again are our representatives to the um joint conference at the IASB um delegation. I think most of a lot of us have taken a turn at it. Um it's a good fun experience. It does unfortunately kind of eat into your time at the conference. So that's always a a bummer of it. Um, Gina has served the past four four years. Is
071that right? Did I Did you do No, I've done all four. Did you do the first one? Delegate. Delegate. I did delegate. That was during co she did it and then you did. But I think I did it my whole time. I've been here. I feel like you went on after I think you were before me. I was before Rose. Yeah. And then Rose came with the delicate. was doing and then right after that she came I think and I didn't do one year after that. I've done one only one year I think maybe two I don't remember it's been it's been a while it's been a while I think she has been doing it so we've got a backup like Gina's willing to do it and I'm willing to be her backup but we
072would throw it out there if anyone is interested in it. Um it does mean that you would need to attend the conference and we go Rose and I go every year anyway. Yeah, I don't mind doing it, but I do think um I was telling I would like to attend the conference next time. So, as long as I have a backup um like so I'm not doing it all four years, that's I'm fine with it. Yeah. Is anybody else interested? I thought Jared wanted to nominate Jared. You bought me last year, Jared. Are you sure? What's that? You followed me on it last time, remember? Are you interested, Tasha? You don't don't feel like you I know you've already spoken up about some other ones, too. So, um, ask any question. What are the dates?
073It is the weekend. Usually, Thanksgiving. I don't know how that falls. This year, it will be the 22nd. It's it's uh goes the 21st, 22nd, 23rd, but we usually just go to 22nd. That's the day that's the day of the day meeting. I'm just checking and you can all we always is all of us could attend the conference itself. So you can always attend the conference and you don't have to be the delegate in order to attend the conference. No, the delegate what are the responsibilities? So the meeting before um the conference will uh get a packet of um the resolutions that are up for um votes. So we as a board will talk about how we would like our delegate to vote on our behalf. Okay. So the delegate goes to the conference in
074the do they call it the delegate assembly, right? Yeah. and we just represent the school and we vote on behalf of all the board about it and it just and it's it's a little uh it's crazy like like a pin pad they give you and you like press yes or no which is way better when I did it it was like a raise a hand and they were I never and there were counters all over the place and they raise your hand that they got and then it could get it was really when I when I was really emotion like a lot of people get up and speak their piece on it so it gets It's really, you know, people are passionate about the different things that they want. I really enjoy going these last
075few years, but it's been kind of the same thing. That's why I'm looking for something different, but it's uh you you learn about the things that matter in a rural community that we don't think about. Yeah. Uh so it's just a little guns in school is usually always on there. And again, that that's the one that really is very different from a rural, you know, where where their police department is so far away for the response time. And then for us the bourbon schools. I mean, that one usually is a pretty hot button topic. It's always on there. Dun. Yeah. Yeah, I'll do. Yeah. The delegate or the uh alternate? The alternate. Awesome. Okay, that's good. So, we can we can go about back and forth. We'll we'll talk about dates. Perfect. Perfect. Yeah. Okay.
076So, then um I will appoint Gina to serve as the delegate. I got so excited for like she said open it. I was like, "Wait, what are they? What was like be um and in the West District Chamber of Commerce, Jared has graciously served that before and he's ready to hand over the reigns because Tashanda is has um some interest in that one. So um I'll go ahead and appoint Tashonda as the Westchester Chamber of Commerce representative. um community relations. Uh Cynthia has done an amazing job. She is willing to keep it but also willing to like throw it out if anyone is interested. This person um really works with Laura in setting up um our sort of show in the parade and the back to school picnic. Um you really been key on um
077doing the sen senior lunches. Yeah. Is that what we call them? She was the That was hard. Ask for help because I would love to help in anything and I I don't mind. Yeah. I mean, if you tell tell me what to do, I'll have really enjoyed it. Seniors and Yeah. So, what I'm hearing is Cynthia's going to continue. She loves we're going to help you ask help with events and stuff. I don't I mean I'm I'm only a delegate when they get here so I can help. All right, the next uh Rose has been fantastic as our West Coing board. She is also willing to keep doing it but happy to throw it out there if anyone else has any interest in it. So this is um again the IASB has different regions. Our
078region is the West Cook. Um, so as a member of the governing board, I did it before Rose. Um, you help plan the two meetings that they have each year. There's a fall West Cook region meeting and a spring and you are just on the board to help kind of generate ideas of who the speaker would be, what the, you know, the topic of, the location. It's just twice a year, two events and usually one of them always seem to fall on one of our board days. So I don't always get to go but we get the we get the uh summary of everything and anyone have any interest in that one? I'm going to take somebody with to the dinner. All right, we will come to the dinner. So Ro, thank you. Also ask
079for help. Yeah. Awesome. Um then upcoming meetings of the board. Um it's not really a meeting of the board, but just a reminder we have the district dinner on um Thursday, May 5 to 8. May 1st. There you go. Do I sign up for that? I just put you as a yes. We always put you. Yes, I think I signed up too. You and we will have rules there. We have we don't have to do any speaking but we will participate in the presentation. Laura and um Phil are going to assign us. Um it starts at like people who make tenure right and then five year 10 year. So you'll be you'll tell us. Yeah. At a time award this year Bob Kong is getting the national board certification. Who is that? Who is nice?
080That's wonderful. He's been working hard at that. That's wonderful. We're going to recognize them as well. Perfect. Um and then we're also this year, which is a little different than last year or previous dinners, we are going to recognize our person of the year. Yeah. Um at this dinner since we don't have and we normally do recognize them, but it's a little shorter. So, we're going to make it a little grander. So, um often we'll have a table. will reserve a table for us that we can sit together and then um we'll have our little perfect then the upcoming board meetings just May 15th, June 5th, and then June 26. Thank you. Oh. Um, and then I need a am I missing the I'm laughing because it's always married is ready to adjurnn. Like she's
081on it every time we say it. We're going to need first time. I need a motion to adjourn. So move. There you go. New unofficial role. Yeah. Second. Second by Gina. Roll call vote, please. President Ozilowski. Hi. Vice president boy. I McFerson I Neil Hi Ortiz. I Parish. I Sanchez. Hi. Seven eyes. Zero. Zero absent. Motion carries. 852. 852.