May 16, 2024 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. Consent Agenda **
Description:
Minutes of regular meeting held April 18, 2024
Minutes of closed meeting held April 18, 2024 May Bills Payable April Treasurer's Report Destruction of closed meeting audio recording from November 17, 2022 |
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V. Other Business
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VI. Public Comment
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VII. Superintendent’s Report – Recognition and Informational Items
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VII.A. Student of the Month
Description:
Finn Joiner will be in attendance so that we may recognize his accomplishments in being selected May Student of the Month.
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VII.B. Student Representative to the Board of Education
Description:
I am pleased to announce that junior student Casey McCleery has been selected to serve as the Student Representative to the Board of Education for the 2024/25 school year. We look forward to Casey being an active member of the Board, sharing the perspective of our student body on matters before the Board, and continuing two-way communication between students and the Board of Education. Casey was invited to attend the May and June meetings to shadow Julia. Welcome Casey!
New for 2024/25, we are in the process of creating a Superintendent/BOE Council to expand student voice. All four of the upperclassmen applicants for the student rep position will remain involved and meet with the superintendent, and possibly a Board member based on availability, on a regular basis. The concept is still in design, but we are excited about this new opportunity for expanded student leadership. |
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VII.C. Honors Night
Description:
Honors Night took place in the fieldhouse on May 8th where we recognized the achievements of 75 students. Through the generous donations of our Grant community we were able to distribute $50,750 in local scholarships that evening as well. It is always a wonderful ceremony that provides an opportunity to recognize the efforts these dedicated students have put forth the past 4 years. The Honors Night program is included for your enjoyment.
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VII.D. Lake County Educator of the Year Awards
Description:
Also on May 8th, the Regional Office of Education hosted the Lake County Educator of the Year Awards ceremony. Two of our teachers, Beth Miller and Kristen Arndt, were nominated for Lake County Educator of the Year awards. Two non-certified staff members, Cory Bowles and Craig Dewar, were nominated in their respective award categories. This event was a wonderful way to recognize the contributions of these individuals, with their families in attendance as well.
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VII.E. Hall of Fame 2024
Description:
The Hall of Fame Committee had the difficult task of selecting next fall’s inductees. I am happy to announce the following individuals will be recognized during homecoming festivities next September and recommended for induction into the GCHS Hall of Fame:
Further information will be forthcoming as we gather information from these individuals and prepare a news release in advance of the recognition. |
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VII.F. Principal’s Report
Description:
Dr. Schmidt will give his monthly Principal’s Report.
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VII.G. Student Representative’s Report
Description:
Julia Podgorski will provide her monthly report.
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VIII. Superintendent’s Report – Action Items
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VIII.A. Consolidated District Plan **
Description:
As a district that receives federal funds, we are required to have the Board of Education approve our annual Consolidated District Plan. The Plan provided permits districts to answer one set of planning questions to meet the requirements of all 12 of the federal grants that may be available. Recommend approval of the Consolidated District Plan as presented.
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VIII.B. School Board Policy Modifications – Second Reading **
Description:
Following a first reading last month, I am recommending changes to the following School Board Policies based on direction from the Illinois Association of School Boards and legal counsel:
Section 200 School Board 2:40 Qualifications, Term, and Duties of Board Officers 2:260 Uniform Grievance Procedure 2:265 Title IX Grievance Procedure 2:270 Discrimination and Harassment on the Basis of Race, Color and National Origin Prohibited Section 400 Operational Services 4:165 Awareness and Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and Grooming Behaviors Section 500 Personnel 5:10 Equal Employment Opportunity and Minority Recruitment 5:20 Workplace Harassment Prohibited 5:100 Staff Development Program 5:120 Employee Ethics; Code of Professional Conduct; and Conflict of Interest Section 700 Students 7:10 Equal Educational Opportunities 7:20 Harassment of Students Prohibited 7:180 Prevention of and Response to Bullying, Intimidation, and Harassment 7:185 Teen Dating Violence Prohibited The PRESS Update Memo is included to provide supporting information for all proposed changes. Recommend approval of the policies as presented. |
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VIII.C. Community Youth Network Counseling Support 2024/25 **
Description:
The Community Youth Network (CYN) Counseling Center is a Lake County nonprofit community counseling agency. They are a comprehensive mental health center that provides counseling, assessment, specialized treatment, prevention programs, case work services, and community education. We have partnered with CYN in past years to provide mental health support to students in need and assist us in proactively providing mental health supports. CYN will designate a social worker to be on campus one day per week to run social-emotional groups based on identified need, as well as provide additional support for struggling students and students in crisis. Recommend approval of a one-year agreement for CYN to provide one day of counseling services per week at a cost of $14,500.
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VIII.D. Lake County Health Department – Assessment and Counseling Services 2024/25 **
Description:
The Lake County Health Department (LCHD) and Community Health Center provide assessment and counseling services related to substance use and abuse. We are requesting to continue our partnership with LCHD to provide these valuable services to our students. Recommend approval of a one-year agreement for LCHD to provide 3.5 days of counseling services per week at a cost of $56,596.
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VIII.E. Pilot Clubs 2024/25 **
Description:
The administration is recommending we pilot the following three clubs in the 2024/25 school year:
Sponsors have been identified for each. If they have a successful pilot, they will be recommended to you for club approval next school year. |
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VIII.F. Overnight Travel Requests **
Description:
The Dance team is requesting to attend the Dance Team Union Championship in Orlando, Florida, from February 13-17. Four coaches and approximately 15 student-athletes will attend. The entire trip will be self-funded, with families paying the cost to attend and fundraising efforts to offset the cost.
The Special Olympics team is requesting to attend the State competition June 7-8 in Bloomington, Illinois. The two coaches will travel with 6 student-athletes. Total costs for the District are $526.25. Two students on the Bass Fishing team qualified for the IHSA Bass Fishing State Competition at Carlyle Lake, in Carlyle, Illinois. The two coaches will travel with 2 student-athletes May 15-18. Total costs for the District are anticipated to be $2,447.58. Recommend approval of the overnight travel requests as presented. |
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VIII.G. Co-Curricular Sponsors 2024/25 **
Description:
The administration is recommending approval of the co-curricular sponsors for the 2024/25 school year as presented.
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VIII.H. Fall Coaches 2024/25 **
Description:
Recommend approval of the fall coaching staff for 2024/25 as presented.
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VIII.I. Personnel ** REVISED
Description:
Recommend the employment of the following individuals:
Recommend accepting the resignation/retirement letters from:
Family and Medical Leave Act request from Therese Feuling, beginning 4/17/2024, to be taken on an intermittent basis. |
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IX. Business Affairs
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IX.A. 2023/24 Amended Budget **
Description:
The 2023/2024 budget has been amended to include additional grants and revenue received by the district. The budget has also been amended to include expenses that occurred this year which were not included in the original budget, including increases in special education transportation costs, tuition for students in therapeutic day schools, and additional expenses related to school operations. Per statute, the amended 2023/2024 budget has been on display for 30 days. Recommend approval of the amended 2023/2024 budget as presented.
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IX.B. Resolution Authorizing Accounting Transfer(s) to Capital Projects Fund **
Description:
As part of the 2023/2024 budget, a transfer from the Operations and Maintenance Fund to pay for one-time facility renovation and upgrade expenses is needed. This resolution explains the $1,500,000 accounting transfer from O&M to Capital Projects. These funds will be used to pay for the construction of the weight room addition. Recommend approval of Resolution for Fund Transfer from Operations and Maintenance to Capital Projects.
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IX.C. Resolution Abating the Working Cash Fund of Grant Community High School District 124, Lake County, Illinois **
Description:
As part of the amended 2023/2024 final budget, I have included a transfer of $742,547 from the Working Cash Fund to the Transportation Fund to cover the deficit for 2023/2024 and a transfer of $3,000,000 from the Working Cash Fund to the Capital Projects Fund to pay for construction of the new weight room. Recommend approval of Resolution Abating the Working Cash Fund of Grant Community High School District 124, Lake County, Illinois.
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IX.D. 2024/25 Tentative Budget **
Description:
I will be uploading the tentative 2024/2025 budget numbers to BoardBook next week, prior to the meeting. I have attached the assumptions utilized to create the budget. I will go over the tentative numbers with you at the meeting. Per statute, the tentative budget must be on display for 30 days. It will be on the July agenda for hearing and approval. Recommend placing the tentative 2024/2025 budget on display for the statutory 30 days.
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IX.E. Quest Food Service Management Contract 2024/25 **
Description:
This past year, we continued our partnership with Quest Food Services. Highlights this year of what we have been able to introduce as a result of the partnership includes the opening of the Dawg Bowl, which is our inhouse coffee shop, the expansion of a deli line where students can get made to order sandwiches and wraps, more student voice in options in the commons and senior commons, and additional planning for new options in 2024/2025. Attached is a proposed agreement with Quest Food Services for consulting in 2024-2025. The agreement mirrors our agreement for last year, except the cost to reimburse the Quest manager that is onsite with our kitchen staff is going up 4.2% due to salary and benefits cost increasing. The consulting fee and structure is staying the same, with set deliverables that need to be completed prior to the whole fee being paid. Recommend approval of the Food Service Consulting Agreement for 2024-25 with Quest Food Management LLC as presented.
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IX.F. Medical Rate Renewal **
Description:
Last year, we held rates steady except for a slight increase due to the stop loss policy increasing premiums. This year, we have seen a rise in claims, but our reserves have again held steady due to increased lives on the plan. Lakes Region Benefit Cooperative met with us, and we have over 90 days of reserves. There is a slight increase in monthly premiums tied to fixed fees increasing only on the PPO Plan B, which is tied primarily to our stop loss policy renewal. We are recommending a slight rate increase this year on the PPO Plan B, a $0 rate increase on Plan C and the High Deductible Plan, as well as the option to offer a Blue Cross and Blue Shield HMO. We surveyed staff and the HMO was an option that was requested by many.
I am recommending the monthly rates for 2024-2025 as shown below: Plan B Current 23/24 Proposed 24/25 Employee $ 774.51 $ 785.66 Employee+Child $2,017.95 $2,029.10 Employee+Spouse $2,182.11 $2,193.26 Family $2,559.09 $2,570.24 Plan C Current 23/24 Proposed 24/25 Employee $ 701.02 $ 701.02 Employee+Child $1,826.87 $1,826.87 Employee+Spouse $1,973.38 $1,973.38 Family $2,118.42 $2,118.42 High Deductible Plan Current 23/24 Proposed 24/25 Employee $ 425.60 $ 425.60 Employee+Child $1,102.17 $1,102.17 Employee+Spouse $1,190.21 $1,190.21 Family $1,277.38 $1,277.38 HMO Illinois Current 23/24 Proposed 24/25 Employee $ 791.27 Employee+Child $1,564.69 Employee+Spouse $1,494.13 Family $2,323.15 |
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X. Closed Session
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X.A. The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1) **
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X.B. Other matters relating to individual students 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(10) **
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XI. Action items from closed session discussion
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XI.A. Potential Board action regarding personnel and compensation **
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XI.B. Potential Board action regarding matters relating to individual students **
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XII. Adjourn
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