October 10, 2024 at 7:00 PM - Board of Education - Regular Meeting

Description:  Kevin Novak, Board President, called the meeting to order.


Good Evening. I call to order the Board of Education Meeting for Prospect Heights School District 23 on October 10, 2024 at _________.

Description:  PRESENT:  Mrs. Botwinski, Mr. Greidanus, Dr. Long, Mrs. McClaney,
Mr. Novak, Mr. Nordmark, and Mrs. Peters.

ABSENT: No one.

ALSO PRESENT: Dr. Don Angelaccio, Superintendent, Dr. Craig Curtis, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, Mrs. Amy McPartlin, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations and Dr. Chrystyna Sroka Assistant Superintendent for Student Services.

Description:  Tonight's pledge of allegiance will be led by representatives from the Betsy Ross Ambassadors program.

Description:  At each regular and special open meeting, members of the public and district employees may comment on or ask questions of the Board of Education. If you would like to address the Board, please complete the pink form and give it to Mrs. O'Donnell, our recording secretary. 

Description:  We thank our amazing Instructional Coaches for their ongoing contributions to the professional learning and student support in District 23: Lisa Schmidt, Leslie Jasper, Kristene Ganek, Kelly Brockway, and Hannah Sutter. We also recognize our Special Education and Multilingual Specialists: Abby Cisneros, Carly Sullivan, Erin Lim, Nina Espinos, and Denisse Valladares.

Description:  The month of October  is recognized as National Principals month. 
We thank our principals: Dr. Lambatos, Ms. Gage, Ms. Meziere, Dr. Nystrom, and Mr. Kaper for their outstanding leadership!

Description:  Oct. 21-25, 2024 is recognized as National School Bus Safety Week. In District 23, we take this opportunity to thank our partners, First Student, and all of the drivers who serve our community. 

Description:  This annual review of our Special Education program found that we again met all requirements. 

Description:  On October 30, the Illinois State Board of Education will release the 2024 School Report cards and summative designations. While the information is currently under embargo, we are very pleased with the data we have seen and look forward to sharing it with the community. 

Description:  The Fall 2024 edition of the D23 Community Connections Newsletter will be mailed to all residents in early November after Community Relations Committee review.

Description:  Mrs. Samantha Alvaro will share a brief update on her work developing the Career Pathways Curriculum and an upcoming Open House.

Description:  Ms. Gage and members of the Ross School Improvement Team will present an overview of their goals for this year.

Description:  Mr. Novak to report.

Description:  Mr. Greidanus to report.

Description:  Mrs. Botwinski to report.

Description:  Tonight's Consent Agenda includes the approval of the minutes from the Regular Meeting and the Executive Session on  September 19, 2024, the Personnel Report and  Press Policy 116 second read.

Description:  This edition of PRESS is responsive to the federal Title IX updates that are not in effect. Our recommendation is to adopt these as presented.

Description:  Attached is the memo recommending payment of the voucher lists for materials, supplies, and services paid since the last BOE meeting. In addition, the District payments for salaries and insurance benefits during the previous month are included for approval. Those documents are all included for your review.

 

Description:  Dr. Curtis, Dr. Sroka, and Ms. Guza have prepared an overview of programs and services in District 23. Twice each year, they share a presentation to inform the Board and Community.

Description:  District 214 and its feeder Districts, including District 23, are proposing an Intergovernmental Agreement to share data and collaborate on program and curricular enhancements. Student privacy and confidentiality are maintained on the data housed via D214. 

Description:  Following discussion and approval by both the Finance and Buildings and Sites Committees, proposals are being presented for Board approval.  The first is the proposal for landscaping supplies in the amount of $13,250 for Matt Tures Landscaping.  The second is for the actual planting and installation services in the amount of $14,000 to Green Key Landscaping. This work represents the final phase of landscaping work on the Schoenbeck side of Betsy Ross, Anne Sullivan and the Grodsky Administration Buildings.

Description:  A two-year contract extension for student transportation services with First Student is being presented for approval by the Board.  The proposed renewal includes a 4.25% increase for 2025-26 and 2026-27.

Description:  Following discussion at the Buildings & Sites and Finance Committee meetings the District will be moving forward with participation in the ComEd Program for LED retrofit work.  We have worked with our legal team to review the ComEd Assessment Reports and develop vendor certifications and a formalized Program Agreement as included in the packet.  This work would begin in November at no cost to the school district and result in an approximate annual savings of $21,000/year.

Description:  Dr. Angelaccio is recommending the addition of two full-time substitute teachers to the 2024-25 staffing plan. 

Description:  At the upcoming Triple I Conference, each District is invited to send one representative to the delegate assembly. Following the selection of our representative tonight, we will meet to review proposed resolutions and bring a recommendation for a directed vote to our November meeting. 

Description:  Dr. Curtis has prepared the annual summary of Categorical Grants.  

Description:  Following discussion with Finance, the FY26 Budget Calendar has been attached for the Board's review.

Description:  In accordance with Public Act 103-0394, school districts are now required to report out the fund balances in the Educational, Operations & Maintenance, and Transportation funds when they are in the process of budget approval.  As the FY2024 AFR has not yet been completed, the amounts from FY21-FY23 are being presented as recommended by our auditor.

Description:  We need to discuss moving our regularly scheduled Board meeting to November 7th or scheduling a special meeting to meet the required timeline for posting and display of the Tax Levy.