August 19, 2021 at 7:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting
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I. Call to Order
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II. Pledge of Allegiance
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III. Roll Call
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IV. Audience
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V. Consent Agenda **
Description:
Minutes of the regular meeting held July 15, 2021
August Bills Payable July Treasurer's Report |
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VI. Superintendent's Report
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VI.A. Presentation of New Faculty Members
Description:
We are very excited to welcome several new faculty members for the 2021/22 school year! We would like to provide a formal introduction to the Board of Education and share their education, experience, and interests.
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VI.B. School Year Planning Update
Description:
I will provide the Board with an update on the start to the 2021/22 school year and implementation of the Back to School Learning Plan. I will also review recent guidance as it relates to current mitigation strategies in effect.
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VI.C. Resolution – School Operations During COVID-19 Pandemic **
Description:
One year ago, the Board of Education adopted Resolution - School Operations During COVID-19 Pandemic for the 2020/21 school year. With that resolution having recently expired, legal counsel is recommending the Board of Education consider a nearly identical resolution for the 2021/22 school year. The resolution provides the superintendent with the flexibility to address changes that may be necessary to comply with public health requirements. Just as has occurred over the past year, the superintendent would confer with the Board of Education President regarding necessary changes and subsequently update all board members of potential modifications in operations. While we certainly hope there will not be as many changes this school year as there were last, we do want to be positioned to act quickly if we are required to.
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VI.D. Temporary Suspension of School Board Policy 6:190 **
Description:
In June, the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) approved a recommendation to modify the IHSA Scholastic Standing Bylaws (3.022 and 4.022) for the first semester of the 2021/22 school term. The modification permits students to be eligible to participate in interscholastic activities if they have passed three classes in the second semester of 2020/21, rather than passing the normal requirement of five classes. The Board modified the bylaws to "help ease scholastic issues brought about by remote and hybrid learning during the pandemic." Our SBP 6:190 currently reflects the normal requirement to pass five classes. As we want to support the change and expand participation opportunities, I am recommending we temporarily suspend SBP 6:190 through 12/31/2021.
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VI.E. Enrollment Update
Description:
Student enrollment as of August 11th is as follows:
Grade 9 449 Grade 10 444 Grade 11 450 Grade 12 510 Total 1,853 This is an increase of 18 students from last year. This number closely aligns with the Kasarda demographic report enrollment projection of 1,837 students utilizing the occurs as anticipated model. |
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VI.F. Fall Play and Spring Musical
Description:
I am pleased to report we are planning for a nearly normal fall play and spring musical! The fall play will be an Act 1/Act 2 show of Eurydice and Metamorphosis. We are looking forward to the spring musical, Seussical: The Musical. Highlights of each are provided below.
Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl "In Eurydice, Sarah Ruhl reimagines the classic myth of Orpheus through the eyes of its heroine. Dying too young on her wedding day, Eurydice must journey to the underworld, where she reunites with [a parent] and struggles to remember her lost love. With contemporary characters and ingenious plot twists, the play is a fresh look at a timeless love story." - Concord Theatricals Metamorphosis by Mary Zimmerman We will present four scenes from this modernized adaptation of ancient Greek myths and tell the stories of Midas, Eros/Psyche, and Baucis/Philemon. Each story teaches a universal human lesson in which our students and audiences will relate. Seussical: The Musical "The Cat in the Hat tells the story of Horton, an elephant who discovers a speck of dust that contains the Whos, including Jojo, a Who child sent off to military school for thinking too many "thinks." Horton faces a double challenge: not only must he protect the Whos from a world of naysayers and dangers, but he must guard an abandoned egg, left in his care by an irresponsible mother bird. Although Horton faces ridicule, danger, kidnapping and a trial, another faithful bird friend never loses faith in him. Ultimately, the powers of friendship, loyalty, family and community are challenged and emerge triumphant." -Musical Theater International |
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VI.G. Personnel ** REVISED
Description:
Recommend the employment of the following individuals:
Recommend accepting the resignations from:
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VI.H. Principal’s Report
Description:
Mr. Schmidt will give his monthly Principal’s Report.
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VII. Business Affairs
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VII.A. American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Plan **
Description:
The District is eligible to apply for ARP/ESSER III funds. I’ll provide a brief update on the use of those funds, in addition to holding the public hearing prior to the board meeting. We recommend approval of the plan to use the ARP/ESSER III funds and Back to School Learning Plan - August 9, 2021 Revision.
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VII.B. Evidence-Based Funding Model Update
Description:
The Evidence-Based Funding Model distribution for 2021/22 was released by the state last week and Grant is receiving an additional $346,510. We have maintained the Tier 1 designation in the funding model with an adequacy level of 67%. As a reminder, adequacy level is the amount of local resources available divided by the amount of money it has been determined is "adequate" to educate all students.
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VII.C. Agreement with Lake County Department of Transportation **
Description:
On August 3, 2021, Josh Staples, myself and representatives from Eriksson Engineering who represent the district, met virtually with Lake County Department of Transportation, and their engineering firm, Benesch, regarding the improvements of Route 59/Grand Ave/Washington St. The county is planning to target a letting date of April 12, 2022, with construction to begin in the summer of 2022. Lake County is requesting that the District donate the temporary easement and proposed right of way to the county. The value of that donation is $73,000. The improvements that the district won’t pay for, but will benefit from, total $177,000. I’d like to go over this with you at the meeting, but the administration recommends approval of the agreement as proposed.
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VII.D. School Maintenance Project Grant **
Description:
The Illinois State Board of Education has opened up the School Maintenance Project Grant. The School Maintenance Project Grant is a dollar for dollar state matching grant program providing awards up to $50,000 to grantees, exclusively for the maintenance or upkeep of buildings or structures for educational purposes. There is no limit to the cost of a project; however, grant awards will not exceed $50,000. Since we received the update from Lake County Department of Transportation regarding the intersection approval, we are planning to move ahead with the south parking lot reconstruction for the summer of 2022. We estimate that project to cost $868,395. The grant application must be presented to the Board for approval prior to submitting. Recommend approval of the School Maintenance Project Grant Application.
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VII.E. Additional Job Coach for Transition Program **
Description:
The Transition Program is a special education program that is offered to students with disabilities who require continued support after completion of their four years of high school. These students may need further instruction and guided practice in the areas of work-based learning, independent living, and community access to further their independence as determined by the student’s IEP team. The students in the program have a range of abilities and disabilities, and the goal of the program is to help each student reach their highest level of independence in these areas.
Our Transition Program has grown from last year. We went from 4 students at the end of last year to 11 students this year. As part of this program, students spend part of their day working at job sites in the local community to prepare them for work beyond school. With the number of students increasing, the number of job sites and students at those job sites has also increased. In order to effectively provide assistance to the students and their job site, we are recommending hiring an additional job coach. This person provides support to students and the community vocational settings while the student is in the job setting as well as when they are at Grant. Recommend approval to hire one additional job coach for the 2021-22 school year. |
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VIII. Other Business
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IX. Closed Session
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IX.A. Collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives. 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(2) **
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IX.B. The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1) **
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IX.C. Semi-annual review of closed session minutes. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(21) **
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X. Action Items from Closed Session Discussion
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X.A. Potential Board action regarding collective bargaining **
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X.B. Potential action regarding personnel **
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X.C. Potential Board action regarding semi-annual review of closed session minutes **
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XI. Adjourn
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