November 9, 2023 at 7:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting
| Agenda |
|---|
|
I. Call to Order
|
|
II. Pledge of Allegiance
|
|
III. Roll Call
|
|
IV. Consent Agenda **
Description:
Minutes of regular meeting held October 19, 2023
Minutes of closed meeting held October 19, 2023 November Bills Payable October Treasurer's Report Destruction of closed meeting audio recording from May 19, 2022 |
|
V. Superintendent’s Report – Recognition and Informational Items
|
|
V.A. Student Recognition
Description:
Zuzanna Janicki will be in attendance so that we may recognize her accomplishments in being selected November Student of the Month.
|
|
V.B. Faculty Recognition
Description:
Courtney Spreitzer will be in attendance to recognize her receipt of the first Excellence in Education Award of the school year.
|
|
V.C. Board of Education Member Recognition
Description:
November 15th marks School Board Member Day in Illinois. This year’s School Board Members Day theme is "Learn Together, Lead Together." On behalf of the entire Bulldog community, we thank you for the active role you play in supporting the learning of all District 124 stakeholders and for your continued leadership and support of our shared educational vision.
|
|
V.D. Evidence-Based Grading Pilot Update
Description:
Dr. Noisey and several faculty members will be in attendance to present an update on the Evidence-Based Grading Pilot that has been taking place first semester.
|
|
V.E. School Report Card Review
Description:
School Report Cards were released on October 30, 2023. The District 124 Report Card and several other related resources have been provided for your review. A detailed presentation is planned to review Report Card results.
|
|
V.F. School Board Policy Proposed Changes – First Reading
Description:
I am recommending changes to the following School Board Policies based on direction from the Illinois Association of School Boards and legal counsel:
Section 2 Board of Education 2:20 Powers and Duties of the Board of Education; Indemnification 2:120 Board Member Development 2:200 Types of Board of Education Meetings 2:220 Board of Education Meeting Procedure Section 4 Operational Services 4:10 Fiscal and Business Management 4:60 Purchases and Contracts 4:130 Free and Reduced-Price Food Services 4:160 Environmental Quality of Buildings and Grounds Section 5 Personnel 5:210 Resignations 5:220 Substitute Teachers 5:250 Leaves of Absence 5:330 Sick Days, Vacation, Holidays, and Leaves Section 6 Instruction 6:15 School Accountability 6:50 School Wellness 6:230 Library Media Program Section 7 Students 7:60 Residence 7:160 Student Appearance 7:190 Student Behavior 7:270 Administering Medicine to Students 7:290 Suicide and Depression Awareness and Prevention Section 8 Community Relations 8:30 Visitors to and Conduct on School Property The PRESS Update Memo is included to provide supporting information for all proposed changes. Policies with non-material changes, including those with legal reference and footnote updates only, will be modified administratively and are not presented for change. The proposed policy changes are presented as a first reading only this evening. They will be presented for a second reading and potential action at the December meeting. |
|
V.G. Joint Annual Conference / IASB Resolutions Committee Report
Description:
The IASB/IASA/IASBO Joint Annual Conference is a just a week away. As one of the nation’s largest state education conferences, we expect this to be a premier learning opportunity. Included in your packet is a link to the Resolutions Committee Report that will be discussed at the IASB Delegate Assembly. Ivy Fleming will represent the Board of Education at the Delegate Assembly on Saturday, November 18th at 10:30 a.m. and will provide an update on resolutions being considered. A folder including conference details and ID badges will be available at the meeting. Conference details, including time and location of sessions, can be found at https://www.iasb.com/conference/.
|
|
V.H. Principal’s Report
Description:
Dr. Schmidt will give his monthly Principal’s Report.
|
|
V.I. Student Representative’s Report
Description:
Julia Podgorski will provide her monthly report.
|
|
VI. Public Comment
|
|
VII. Superintendent’s Report – Action Items
|
|
VII.A. Calendar 2024/2025 **
Description:
Recommend approval of the 2024/25 calendar as presented.
|
|
VII.B. Overnight Travel **
Description:
The Wrestling team is requesting to attend the Ironman Wrestling Tournament in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, December 8-10. Just one student-athlete and coach will be attending, with the student’s parent accompanying. Costs will be covered through the Wrestling Activity Fund.
|
|
VII.C. Personnel **
Description:
Recommend the employment of the following individuals:
|
|
VIII. Business Affairs
|
|
VIII.A. Property Tax Relief Grant **
Description:
One part of the new evidenced-based funding from the state of Illinois that began in fiscal year 2019, is a property tax relief grant. The state has provided $49.3 million for new Property Tax Relief Grants in FY 2024 for eligible school districts. In return for abating a portion of taxes, qualifying districts received a state grant that is a portion of the tax relief they provide. As in previous years, I am recommending we apply for this grant. We are eligible to abate $2,095,951 and receive $1,886,525, which represents 90% of the abatement. I recommend we apply for the full amount.
|
|
VIII.B. Skyward Qmlativ Migration Quote **
Description:
The district currently uses Skyward School Business Suite and Student Management Suite for our school administration software. Skyward has continually updated their product. As a district, we currently work in two environments - one called PAC (point and click) which is web-based, and another which is called SMS 2.0 and is more traditional software housed on an offsite server. The reason we are in two environments is Skyward had not yet been able to upgrade the payroll process to the PAC side. They have now introduced an upgraded platform, called Qmlativ, which is more intuitive and user friendly, as well as does everything in one place. Additionally, we will have access to greater functionality by moving to Qmlativ.
The attached quote is for our district to move to Qmlativ in the summer of 2024. Skyward will begin with migration and training as early as December upon your approval. We are receiving a 15% discount to move to Qmlativ in 2024, so the cost will be $16,376 for the migration. The annual recurring fees will increase by $1,010.50 for a total of $28,807.50. Recommend approval of the Skyward Qmlativ Migration Quote. |
|
VIII.C. Audit 2022-2023 **
Description:
I’ve included the draft 2022-2023 audited financial statements for your review. The final audit has not yet been released by the peer reviewer who is working with our certified public accounting firm as required by the Illinois State Board of Education. If they are released prior to the meeting, I will bring the final copies to the meeting with me.
This year, in order to conform to the requirements, set forth in Governmental Accounting Standards Board Statement 34, which requires the use of modified accrual accounting for the district’s year-end financial statement, District 124 changed the way the audit is prepared from previous years. We have traditionally prepared the audit on a cash basis which is how we operate day-to-day with revenues recorded when received and expenditures recognized when paid. You will see that this year’s audit shows a significant decrease in fund balances tied to this change. We will discuss the change at the meeting and explain the impact on our financial statements. If we have the final report by the meeting, recommend approval of the Final 2022-2023 Audit. |
|
VIII.D. Albertson’s Companies Inc. 2019-2022 PTAB Appeals **
Description:
Albertson’s Companies Inc has filed appeals with the Property Tax Appeal Board for their 2019, 2021, and 2022 property assessment. Ares Dalianis from Franczek P.C. has represented the district and negotiated a settlement that reduces the loss of revenue from $78,500 to $11,273 for Grant High School, while still providing modest assessment relief in each year to the appellant. The appellant agrees to not file a direct appeal for the 2020 assessment year, which was not included in their original appeals. Finally, this settlement sets the assessment for 2023 at an assessed value of 1.95 million, which will preclude any further Property Tax Appeal Board appeals for the new quadrennial. I recommend the board approve the settlement as presented.
|
|
IX. Other Business
|
|
IX.A. FOIA
|
|
X. Closed Session
|
|
X.A. Other matters relating to individual students 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(10)
|
|
X.B. The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1) **
|
|
X.C. Student disciplinary cases 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(9) **
|
|
XI. Action items from closed session discussion
|
|
XI.A. Potential Board action regarding personnel **
|
|
XI.B. Potential Board action regarding student discipline **
|
|
XII. Adjourn
|