January 23, 2025 at 6:00 PM - Regular Meeting

1. CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL - (6:00 p.m.) 
 

GOVERNING BOARD

District 67
Noel Lorenzana / Katie Leslie (Alternate)

District 68
Noelle Sullivan / Jeffrey Sterbenc (Alternate)

District 69
Mark Chao / Fernanda Perez (Alternate)

District 70
Pamela Alper / George Karagozian (Alternate)

District 71
Matt Holbrook / Joe Kuffel (Alternate)

District 72
Jacqueline Bujdei / Estera Tomuta (Alternate)

District 73
Frank Santoro / Atanu Das (Alternate)

District 73.5
LaTasha Nelson / Maureen Jacob (Alternate)

District 74
John Vranas / Kevin Daly (Alternate)

ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM MEMBERS
Tarin Kendrick
Kathy Gavin
Candice Hartranft
Christine Perry
Sheila Arad
Joy Singh
Christina Dimas

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

3. AUDIENCE TO VISITORS
 

4. PRESENTATION
I Am Project art exhibit - L. Frisch
Occupational Therapy Services - L. Barros, S. Donohoe, M. VanAcker

5. INFORMATION/ACTION: CONSENT AGENDA
Recommended motion:  I recommend that the Governing Board approve the Consent Agenda, which includes the Open Session Minutes of November 13, 2024, Closed Session Minutes of November 13, 2024, the Personnel Report, and Accounts Payable reports for November 30, 2024, and December 31, 2024, as presented and recommended by the Executive Director.

5.A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

5.A.1. Regular NTDSE Governing Board Minutes 

5.A.2. Regular NTDSE Governing Board Minutes - Closed Session 

5.B. PERSONNEL

5.C. ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

6. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS

6.A. Executive Director: Tarin Kendrick

6.A.1. Facility Study Update

6.A.2. Strategic Plan Update

6.A.3. Purchased Services Meetings

6.A.4. Magic School AI

6.A.5. CASE SELI

6.B. Director's Report: Candice Hartranft

6.C. Principal's Report: Chris Perry

6.D. Supervisor's Report: Sheila Arad

6.E. Technology Report: Joy Singh
 

7. BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS

7.A. Finance/Facilities Report: Kathy Gavin

7.B. Policy Report: Mark Chao

7.C. Collaborative for Curriculum (CFC) Report: Noelle Sullivan and John Vranas

8. DISCUSSION ITEMS

8.A. Proposed 2025-2026 Calendar

8.B. Proposed 2025-2026 Twelve-Month Employee Calendar

9. CLOSED SESSION
Recommended motion: I recommend that the Governing Board enter into closed session to discuss the following:
Personnel
The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees, specific individuals who serve as independent contractors in a park, recreational, or educational setting, or specific volunteers of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee, a specific individual who serves as an independent contractor in a park, recreational, or educational setting, or a volunteer of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity. However, a meeting to consider an increase in compensation to a specific employee of a public body that is subject to the Local Government Wage Increase Transparency Act may not be closed and shall be open to the public and posted and held in accordance with this Act. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1). 

10. ACTION ITEMS

10.A. Second Reading of PRESS Policies, Issue 117, October 2024
Recommended motion: I recommend that the Governing Board approve the following new and amended NTDSE Board policies from PRESS Issue 117, October 2024, as recommended by the Policy Committee and the Executive Director:

2:105 Ethics and Gift Ban, 2:110 Qualifications, Term, and Duties of Board Officers, 2:120 Board Member Development, 4:30 Revenue and Investments, 4:60 Purchases and Contracts, 4:150 Facility Management and Building, 4:170 Safety, 5:10 Equal Employment Opportunity and Minority Recruitment, 5:20 Workplace Harassment Prohibited, 5:90 Abused and Neglected Child Reporting, 5:120 Employee Ethics; Code of Professional Conduct; and Conflict of Interest, 5:125 Personal Technology and Social Media; Usage and Conduct, 5:230 Maintaining Student Discipline, 6:270 Guidance and Counseling Program, 7:10 Equal Educational Opportunities, 7:100 Health, Eye, and Dental Examinations; Immunizations; and Exclusion of Students, 7:180 Prevention of and Response to Bullying, Intimidation, and Harassment, 7:200 Suspension Procedures, 8:10 Connection with the Community

10.B. Destruction of Closed Session Recordings
Recommended motion: I recommend that the Governing Board authorize the destruction of audio recordings of its closed meetings, as listed in the attachment, and to which closed meetings' official minutes have been approved and no litigation under the Open Meetings Act is pending, as recommended by the Executive Director.

10.C. Release of Closed Session Minutes
Recommended motion: I recommend that the Governing Board approve the continuation of confidentiality of the closed meeting minutes, as outlined in the attachment, and that they not be released at this time, as recommended by the Executive Director.

10.D. Tuition Reimbursement Agreement for Teachers of the Visually Impaired
Recommended motion: I recommend that the Governing Board approve the Agreement between Niles Township District for Special Education #807 and Jerika Smith and Theresa Persaud-Abas regarding tuition reimbursement for Teachers of the Visually Impaired, as presented and recommended by the Executive Director. 

10.E. Admin. Assistant to the Executive Director Retirement
Recommended motion: I recommend that the Governing Board approve the compensation package for the retiring administrative assistant to the Executive Director, as presented and recommended by the Executive Director.  

10.F. FY 24 Audit and Financial Statements
Recommended motion: I recommend that the Governing Board approve the FY 24 audited financial statements, as prepared by Lauterbach and Amen, LLP, as presented and recommended by the Audit Committee and the Executive Director.

10.G. Summer Construction - Pod 4
Recommended motion: I recommend that the Governing Board award the construction contracts to the lowest, responsive, responsible bidder as identified in Exhibit A as per the NTDSE Governing Board’s existing contract with Nicholas and Associates and as outlined in the bid documents.  The contracts are assigned to Nicholas and Associates to act as construction manager at risk (i.e. general contractor) upon Board approval and as presented and recommended by the Executive Director.

11. COMMUNICATIONS: Tarin Kendrick

11.A. Student Enrollment Data

11.B. Staff Recognition - Inspired Staff

11.C. FOIA Report

12. ADJOURNMENT
Recommended Motion: I recommend adjourning the meeting of the Governing Board.

13. CALENDAR NOTES
February 17, 2025 - Non Attendance Day
February 27, 2025 - Parent/Teacher Conferences - 4:00 P.M.- 7:30 P.M.
February 28, 2025 - Institute Day
March 5, 2025 - Parent/Teacher Conferences - 4:00 P.M.- 7:30 P.M.
March 19, 2025 - Finance Committee Meeting - 5:00 P.M. - NTDSE  Administrative Center
March 19, 2025 - Governing Board Meeting - 6:00 P.M. - NTDSE Administrative Center