SE Illinois News

Community Unit School District 200 Board of Education met Nov. 13.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The first regular meeting of the month of November of the Board of Education of Community Unit School District 200, DuPage County, Illinois, was called to order at the Lowell Elementary School, 312 S President St., Wheaton, IL, by Board President Rob Hanlon, on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, at 7:00 PM.

ROLL CALL

Upon the roll being called, the following were present:

Board Members: Mr. Rob Hanlon

Ms. Julie Kulovits

Mr. Dave Long

Ms. Angela Blatner

Mr. Erik Hjerpe

Mr. Brad Paulsen

Mr. John Rutledge

Also in Attendance: Dr. Jeff Schuler, Superintendent

Ms. Alyssa Barry

Mr. Matt Biscan

Ms. Melissa Murphy

Dr. Brian O’Keeffe

Dr. Chris Silagi

Mr. Jason Spencer

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Board Vice President Julie Kulovits led the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance.

COMMUNICATION WITH THE HOST SCHOOL

Dr. Jackie Rodriguez, Principal of Lowell Elementary School, welcomed all to the school. She noted the dedicated, hard-working team who work alongside her and is inspired by the strong partnerships with parents, caregivers, and local organizations. Members of the Lowell student

council, along with their staff sponsors, presented their mission, highlighted some service projects and events, and thanked the Board for all they do for the District 200 students, staff, and families in the community. In honor of School Board Member Appreciation Day, the students presented the Board Members with cards.

MODIFICATIONS TO THE AGENDA

None

PUBLIC COMMENTS – Agenda Items & Non-Agenda Items

In accordance with Board Policy 2.230, members of the public wishing to offer public comment had the opportunity to do so. A public comment sign-up sheet was made available until 7:00 p.m. at the meeting site. The Board Meeting was available for viewing via live stream on the District’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/communityunitschooldistrict200.

Per Board Policy, the Board may shorten the time allocation for each person to less than three minutes to allow the maximum number of people the opportunity to speak. The Board did not shorten the time allocation for each person to speak due to the number of speakers.

Speaker Topic

Farida Tavawala Appreciation

SUPERINTENDENT REPORT

Dr. Schuler asked the Student Ambassadors at both WNHS and WWSHS to provide a report on each of their high school’s activities, athletics, and events that have taken place in the last weeks. The Student Ambassadors are also partnering with Ms. Melissa Murphy to conduct some interviews on different career readiness experiences to gain insight into how we can expand those opportunities into the future and how they are helping students learn about their future careers.

Dr. Schuler provided the following updates:

● Student Ambassador Work Projects - There are two work projects the District has partnered with the Student Ambassadors on to engage them in projects that are on the Board’s work plan for the year. This includes partnering with Ms. Murphy on some of our Career Pathways work and foreshadowing some work they will do, helping the administration look at the cell phone policies.

● Community Thank You - over 28,000 community members support the referendum (68% yes votes). Dr. Schuler forecasted what is next for the middle school projects. The professional services teams have begun to gear up - Perkins & Will on the architect side have started to build out their team to support the projects with a focus on timelines and implementation plans. Accelerating the timeline will allow substantial completion by the summer of 2027. To do that, there will have to be some enabling work that will happen as early as this summer. The teams are focused on developing the Summer 2025 construction documents. Anticipate bringing a complete update to the Board at the January COW meeting. This update will include any adjustments made in the plans to realize cost efficiencies and focus on the phasing plan through the three years of construction. The administration anticipates having two bid packages in front of the current Board in the Spring. There is a lot of work to do now that the referendum has passed.

● School Board Member Appreciation Day is Friday, November 15th. Dr. Schuler thanked the Board Members, noting they are all volunteers who care about our community and our kids.

● Communication Effort for the referendum - Thank you to Alyssa Barry for all of the work, both in print communication and video communication. INSPRA awards were received for some of those projects related to the referendum, the community engagement effort, and the video series.

● National School Psychologist Week - District 200 has 32 school psychologists who work in our buildings and do a great job. We are appreciative of their work.

● Cybersecurity Tabletop Exercise - Mr. Jason Spencer and his team worked with the Department of Homeland Security to put this tabletop together. Over 20 staff members participated in this half-day project/training exercise on the critical role of cybersecurity, what a cyber attack would look like, and what our response would look like in the District.

CONSENT AGENDA

1. Acceptance of Gift to Wheaton North High School Boys Basketball Program – Recommend acceptance of gift to WNHS boys basketball program as presented.

2. Approval to Post Curriculum Content for AP Precalculus Course for Community Review– Recommend approval to post AP Precalculus course curriculum for community review as presented.

3. Approval to Post Curriculum Content for Dual Credit Social Media Marketing Course for Community Review – Recommend approval to post Social Media Marketing course curriculum for community review as presented.

4. Approval to Post Curriculum Content for Dual Credit Introduction to Literature Course for Community Review– Recommend approval to post Introduction to Literature course curriculum for community review as presented.

5. Approval to Post Curriculum Content for Engineering Essentials High School Course for Community Review– Recommend approval to post Engineering Essentials high school course curriculum for community review as presented.

6. Approval to Extend Four (4) Existing Maintenance Truck Leases with Vehicle Leasing Associates LLC for Twelve (12) Months – Recommend approval to extend four maintenance truck leases with Vehicle Leasing Associates LLC for twelve months as presented.

7. Approval of Bills Payable and Payroll – Recommend approval of bills payable and payroll as presented.

8. Approval of Minutes – October 9, 2024, Regular Meeting, Open, October 23, 2024 Committee of the Whole, Open, November 7, 2024, Special Meeting with IASB, Open and Closed, and Approval to Destroy Recordings of Closed Sessions Prior to June 2023 As Allowable by Law – Recommend approval of the minutes as presented and approve the destruction of recordings of closed sessions prior to June 2023 as allowable by law.

9. Approval of Personnel Report to Include Employment, Resignation, Retirement, and Leave of Absence of Administrative, Certified, Classified, and Non-Union Staff – Recommend approval of the personnel report as presented.

There were comments and/or questions on the following:

● # 2-5 Approval to post new course curriculum content: Appreciation for the high school teams for putting together four new course proposals, which align with the District’s Vision 2026 strategic plan.

MOTION

Member Paulsen moved, Member Long, seconded to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Upon a roll call vote being taken, the vote was: AYE 7, NAY 0. The motion carried 7-0.

POLICY POSTING CONSENT AGENDA

1. Approval to Post Revised Policy 2:260 Uniform Grievance Procedure for Public Review and Comment – Recommend approval to post revised policy 2:260 for public review and comment

There were comments and/or questions on the following:

● The HR/Policy Committee held this policy back at the last meeting and spent additional time reviewing it. The committee felt comfortable bringing the policy forward for approval to post for public review.

MOTION

Member Rutledge moved, Member Kulovits seconded to approve the Policy Posting Consent Agenda for public review and comment as presented. Upon a roll call vote being taken, the vote was: AYE 7, NAY 0. The motion carried 7-0.

POLICY APPROVAL CONSENT AGENDA

1. Approval of Revised Policy 5:100 Staff Development Program – Recommend approval of revised policy 5:100 as presented.

2. Approval of Revised Policy 7:20 Harassment of Students Prohibited – Recommend approval of revised policy 7:20 as presented.

3. Approval of Revised Policy 7:185 Teen Dating Violence Prohibited – Recommend approval of revised policy 7:185 as presented.

There were comments and/or questions on the following:

● These policies were posted for committee review, and no community feedback was received.

MOTION

Member Long moved, Member Paulsen seconded to approve the Policy Approval Consent Agenda as presented. Upon a roll call vote being taken, the vote was: AYE 7, NAY 0. The motion carried 7-0.

ACTION ITEMS

Approval of Resolution and Final Contract for Guaranteed Energy Savings with Performance Services, Inc. for Summer 2025 Work

In 2012, the Board of Education entered into a performance contract with Performance Services, Inc. (PSI) to perform a series of projects based on their District-wide evaluation of all of our buildings. After nine project years, the District re-bid performance contracting services in 2021 and once again selected Performance Services. Inc. as the preferred partner of CUSD 200. In conjunction with the District's capital plan, we have chosen to complete several items that are Condition 1 on the priority list and can be accomplished in the summer of 2025 through the Board of Education's Sherman Dergis capital allocation. The goal is to modernize, address comfort issues, replace control systems, and upgrade aging systems.

Staff and the BOE Facilities Committee reviewed the scope of work in the proposal and determined that projects at Bower Elementary, Emerson Elementary, Hawthorne Elementary, Johnson Elementary, Wheaton North High School, and Wheaton Warrenville South High Schools are to be included in the summer of 2025 Sherman Dergis capital allocation. The total cost for all projects is $2,326,212. Attached to the Board report was the Fourth Amendment to the Installation Contract with PSI, a Resolution to enter into a Guaranteed Energy Savings Contract with PSI, the Improvement List for the projects, and the Open Book Pricing breakdown for all of the work. These projects will qualify for Com Ed/Nicor rebates, estimated to be in the amount of $28,000. In addition, the projects would provide for energy savings, estimated at $50,300 per year.

There was additional information on the following:

● This information was reviewed with the Facilities Committee at their recent meeting.

● This will be the 14th summer of partnering with Performance Services.

● The plans in place specifically help the District with energy efficiency upgrades.

● There are guaranteed performances that must be met, and if those savings are not met, Performance Services will cut a check to the District for the difference between the guarantee and what was achieved.

● The proposed scope of the work for this coming summer will be targeted projects instead of whole school projects.

● The project cost is approximately $200,000 under PSI's original estimate.

There were comments and/or questions on the following:

● This is one of the two primary components of Sherman Dergis. The remainder of the work should come to the Board for approval in December.

It was recommended that the Board approve the resolution and the Fourth Amendment to the Installation Contract in the amount of $2,326,212 with Performance Services, Inc., as presented.

MOTION

Member Paulsen moved, Member Rutledge seconded that the Board approve the resolution and the Fourth Amendment to the Installation Contract in the amount of $2,326,212 with Performance Services, Inc. as presented. Upon a roll call vote being taken, the vote was AYE 7, NAY 0. The motion carried 7-0.

Approval to Post Proposed 2025-26 and 2026-27 School Calendars

The district calendar committee is comprised of district staff and administration. Their purpose is to create a school calendar that follows the state requirements. Balancing school calendar requirements with community, staff, and student feedback, the District calendar committee has created calendar proposals for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school year.

Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services, Mr. Matt Biscan, provided a PowerPoint and review of the Proposed Calendars for 25-26 & 26-27. This included information on the following:

● Final Exam Survey Feedback - Student Responses

○ 1,041 Total Responses

○ 51% WWS, 48% WN

○ 90.1% prefer final exams before winter break

● Final Exam Survey Feedback - Staff Responses

○ 194 Total Responses

○ 50.5% WWS, 49.5% WN

○ 76.3% prefer final exams before winter break; 12.9% prefer finals after winter break, 8.8% have no preference

● Calendar Survey Feedback - Families & Staff

○ Designed to provide feedback on four areas: consistent start day, consistent end day, full Thanksgiving week, full holiday break

○ 1,878 responses - 61.2% parent/guardian, 38.8% staff member

○ Most important statement: Full two-week winter break

○ 2nd most important statement: Full week break at Thanksgiving

○ 3rd most important statement: Consistent end date

○ 4th most important statement: Consistent start date

○ Survey participants were asked if they preferred to start later in August if that would mean attending school on Mon, Tue, and Wed of Thanksgiving week: 65.5% said no, and 34.5% said yes

There was additional information on the following:

● The goal moving beyond this year would be to come back in the fall and look at the out-year so that we are always a year ahead moving forward. There is value in getting the Board into a cycle where you always have an approved calendar that is a year ahead.

● The calendar committee has been meeting since mid-August.

● The two levers that the committee used as a guide to help create the calendars were the student feedback at the high school level regarding final exams and where they fall (before or after winter break) and what is valued within the calendar from surveying parents, families, and students.

● You can do some things with the calendar, but you can’t do everything.

● District 200 is a unit district, so depending on the age/level of students, you may have a different perspective on what the calendar means to you.

● Columbus/Indigenous Peoples Day - There was strong feedback from the union about the value of that day on the calendar and the timing and placement of the day as a non-attendance day.

● There is a Friday start date recommended for students on both calendars. Staff begins on Wednesday. This would allow staff to focus on acclimating students to the classroom on that Friday.

There were comments and/or questions on the following:

● The Friday start date as it relates to our partnering Park Districts providing options for childcare (which had been an issue in the past with partial weeks). There will be some programming for families during the first week (Mon - Thu).

● Appreciate getting back to two years of calendar for the community to plan around and appreciate the staff, student, and community feedback on some of the key decision points.

● Initially skeptical of the Friday start date, but based on feedback from admins, teachers, and Board peers at other districts, the rationale makes sense.

● Appreciate the work to educate the Board on the process used to establish the calendar.

● Community survey - providing more open-ended options for feedback in the future would be beneficial.

● Friday start - uncertain how that will be received. Historically, the Wednesday start rationale was to not jump into a whole week; EC and Kindergarten will have a full first week of school.

● Winter Break on the 2026-27 calendar - think we will see absenteeism with split weeks. The DuPage ROE offers suggested break dates.

● 2026-27 Calendar - December 21 and 22 will be finals days at the high school.

● Adjusting the 2026-27 calendar if needed.

● Columbus/Indigenous Peoples Day - reviewed our benchmark districts, as well as other districts in the area, and most do not have school on that day.

It was recommended that the Board approve the posting of the calendars for community review as presented.

MOTION

Member Hjerpe moved, Member Kulovits seconded that the Board approve the posting of the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school calendars for community review as presented. Upon a roll call vote being taken, the vote was AYE 7, NAY 0.

The motion carried 7-0.

ORAL REPORTS

2024 Proposed Property Tax Levy

The school code empowers the Board of Education to levy taxes to support the public school system. If the levy request exceeds 105% of the previous year's aggregate extension, a public notice and hearing are needed before the official levy is adopted. The Board of Education is limited to an increase no greater than the Consumer Price Index (CPI) from the previous year under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL or "Tax Cap"), plus any anticipated new construction.

Annually, the Board of Education reviews a levy proposal prepared by the Administration. The 2024 proposed tax levy was previously discussed with the Board Finance Committee on November 7, 2024. The proposed tax levy, which provides for less than a 5% increase, was presented to the Board. Based on the proposed tax levy being less than 5% over the prior extended levy, no Truth in Taxation Public Hearing would be required.

Assistant Superintendent of Business Services, Dr. Brian O’Keeffe, provided a PowerPoint presentation on the 2024 Tentative Levy, which included information on the following:

● Levy Terms (Tax Cap - PTELL, CPI, EAV, Tax Rate - Limiting Rate)

● Consumer Price Index (CPI)

● CPI History and Projections (2019-2029)

● EAV Analysis (2023-2029)

● Tax Year 2023 Township EAV (Milton, Naperville, and Winfield Township)

● Tax Year 2023 EAV by Class (Residential, Farms, Commercial, Industrial Railroad)

● EAV Analysis (2024 - 2029)

○ Total EAV Analysis (Dollars)

○ Total EAV % Change

○ Existing EAV % Change

○ New EAV Growth

● EAV, CPI & Tax Rate

● Five-Year History of Tax Rates (2019 - 2023)

○ By Fund - Dollars & By Fund - Bar Chart

● Tax Rate Comparison 2021-2023 - Unit Peers (Districts 220, 200, 205, 204, 203, 303)

● Debt Service - Levy Year Payments (2022 - 2025)

● Fund Balance History (2019-2023) By Fund and Percentage

● Cash Fund Balance @ 6/30/2024

● How is the Extension Calculated?

● Projected 2024 Tax Rate Extension

● 2023 Tax Levy Extension Breakdown (Operations & Debt Service)

● 2024 Tax Levy extension Breakdown Operations & Debt Service)

● 2024 Levy Proposal

● Major Levy Considerations

○ Budgeted Contracts & Inflationary Cost Increases, Levy Collection (May-June 2025) Included in 2024-25 Budget, Capture New Construction (Estimated $50.0M), Continued Uncertainty in Mandated Categorical State Funding, Funding of Projects Identified in Capital Plan

There was additional information on the following:

● The tax levy is one of the most vital aspects of what we do because the vast majority of our revenue funding comes specifically from property taxes.

● Property Tax Extension Limitation Law - from a year-over-year operating perspective, and irrespective of new construction, we are not able to ask the Board to approve a levy that is greater than 5% or what CPI was from the previous year in aggregate for that operating levy.

● CPI is measured from December to December and is estimated to finish at 3% at the end of the year.

● EAV is anticipated to be over 9%. This is partially due to housing market values (for tax LY24 starts at 8% and moves past 11%). The school district does not determine the value of homes - the market determines what the final sale value of homes is, but from a taxing perspective, that is done by the Township Assessor. D200 is in three different townships.

● The other major piece related to EAV is new construction - any new value as of January 1st of that calendar year. If we do not capture it dollar for dollar, we lose it in perpetuity times growth. The township assessors are anticipating $44 million plus dollars in new growth (noted Arden apartment complex, Naper Commons, and any other type of tear down or enhancement).

● 2026 is a reevaluation year in DuPage County.

● The symbiotic relationship between EAV and taxes - as EAV increases, the tax rate decreases. With a significant spike in EAV, we are anticipating a solid reduction in the tax rate.

● The Board and District do not determine home values, tax rates, or extensions - this is done at the county level.

● When compared to our unit peers, we are near the lowest side of tax rates.

● The fund balance for FY 23 was at 32.3%. The FY24 audit is in final review and will be presented to the Board next month. We are anticipating a number close to the previous year, which is sitting well within the medium range of the Board’s policy for fund balance.

● Cash fund balance @ 6/30/24 - two different levers: the budget is on a cash basis, and the financials are based on an accrual basis. Assumptions of what should have been received or spent in July and August are always brought back into the prior fiscal year. The District collects more than 50% of its taxes in the Spring.

● How is the extension calculated? There is a lot of information and factors that go into it. It is simply a math equation.

● The operational levy increase comprises 3.40% from CPI and an estimated 1.26% from new construction.

● The 2024 levy proposal would project an overall tax increase of 4.25%.

● Although there will not be a truth-in-taxation hearing, any questions from the public that come up during the final levy presentation will be answered.

● The continued deterioration and proration of mandated categoricals (transportation and private facility reimbursement for the prior year).

There were comments and/or questions on the following:

● The 2026 readjustment year that occurs every four years.

● The CPI used for the extension calculation is from December 2023 (the previous December is always used).

● Tax rates for special ed - D200 are lower than comparable districts; reasons for this.

● Breakdown of reserve funds vs. target for those reserve funds. Do not have specific targets for each individual fund that makes up operating funds; look at it as a whole.

● What is the breakdown of EAV by class for D200 vs. comparable districts?

● The amount of property not on the tax roll - i.e., churches, county complex, forest preserve, and the impact on potential EAV. Also, any TIFs (tax increment financing districts). There is one TIF in Wheaton and two in Warrenville, and the impact on EAV.

● Levying enough to capture all of the new construction/new growth is critical.

● The balance between property values and tax rate.

● TIFs (two in Warrenville and TIF 3 in Wheaton) and when they are scheduled to roll off/expire.

● From a governance perspective, what are the other things the Board should consider? Whether or not you access the 3.4% CPI or all of the new construction.

Safety Web Page/Impact of District Safety Committee

The District safety committee is comprised of local law enforcement and other community partners. Their expertise assists the district in vetting new ideas around school safety and providing guidance in creating new practices and policies.

Mr. Matt Biscan, Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services, along with members of the District Safety Committee: Franklin Assistant Principal Joe Kish, Wheaton Fire Chief Robert Brill, Warrenville Detective Sargeant Jeff Downey, and Wheaton Police Deputy Chief Ryan Conway, talked about the experience and expertise they bring to the District as part of the Safety Committee, which included information on the following:

● Creating a safety web page within the CUSD 200 District website that outlines the efforts made regarding safety in our schools.

● Keeping all our students and staff safe and the District Safety Committee is a big part of that.

● The safety committee informs us about safety ideas and decisions that must be vetted.

● The history and context of the D200 safety committee, which was formed due to Columbine.

● The safety committee has been at the forefront of creating protocols and policy, and keeping relationships and the line of communication open between the school district, local first responders, and vested community agencies. It is fluid, evolving, and continues to grow.

● Noted the work on standard operating procedures and common language, training and drills on various topics, and the underlying theme of everything being prevention.

● The marriage of school safety with the social emotional well-being of students and staff.

● State code requirements vs. D200 practice regarding the number of meetings with first responders. D200 has been meeting with them monthly for two decades.

● Fire safety - focus on prevention, inspecting all school buildings, and providing recommendations to the facilities department to ensure all schools are safe.

● Fire and Police Departments work closely together, conducting joint training and participating in tabletop exercises to ensure all are prepared should any incident occur.

● First responders collaborate with the District to understand different perspectives and safety from the educator’s point of view.

● Local law enforcement visits to buildings - meeting staff, teachers, and students to learn about the community of the schools, as well as the layout of the building when school is in session.

● The experience each of the first responders brings to the safety committee.

● ALICE, Night Locks, and DARE programs - the District partners with law enforcement on these programs.

● There is a high level of trust between the entities on the committee.

There were comments and/or questions on the following:

● The composition of the safety committee.

● The safety web page on the D200 website.

● The preventative nature of safety, as well as the physical nature of it.

● The District being known for a high safety standard - how do we know this? Noted the feedback from the county partners and the 5Essentials survey results from students. The district standard - How do people feel when they come into the building every single day?

● Suggestions and feedback from the community - taking the ideas and bringing them to the experts on the committee who have a broader view of the safety plan.

● The PREPaRE model overview - provides a safety structure for the District; the structure of incident command at every building, preventative safety measures, and the steps post-crisis (including the social and emotional aspects).

● The safety committee includes members of local private schools. While there is no sitting national representative on the committee, members can access resources on this level. An example of this was a guest speaker from the Secret Service presenting on different measures regarding school safety to the group and committee members attending national safety conferences.

● Concern that not all staff and students worry and do not feel safe. Noted the open input groups in place - Board members bringing agenda items to the table, bringing ideas to Mr. Biscan to review with the safety committee, members of the leadership team meeting with groups of students at every secondary school, and staff members bringing ideas to building leadership.

● Ensuring that if ideas are developed through the safety committee that are important and resources are needed, the committee feels empowered to bring those to the Board.

● The committee members individually attend different professional development opportunities, which is very helpful.

● Appreciation for the work the first responders are doing, including drills and tabletops, to prepare.

● The safety web page on the D200 website has depth and different layers of safety. Providing enough information to community members, staff members, students, and parents to show all of the efforts being made regarding safety. Not being able to share everything we are doing with safety efforts.

● Being cautious of the new middle school plans and how much of the floor plans should be shared - a balancing act.

● Interaction with other school districts and what they are doing in terms of safety. Noted a safety precaution measure being trialed at a local district.

● Threats are always evolving, and safety is constantly changing. The amount of training our first responder partners undergo is immense, and confident they are bringing that training and wisdom to our safety committee. Appreciation for their commitment to ongoing training.

● If teachers and staff/employees feel unsafe, they must say something. This is the same as we tell the students. The Board is committed to creating a safe environment.

● Homeland Security and the FBI say schools should focus on four things - lock your doors, know your kids, perform your threat assessments, and know your safety procedures. Focusing on these four things creates a safe setting for your students and staff.

DISCUSSION ITEMS

Discussion of IASB Resolutions and Direction for Delegate Voting

Each year the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) holds an annual conference. At the annual conference, resolutions are reviewed which have been submitted for consideration. Resolutions that are adopted then become items the IASB works to change or implement. The Delegate Assembly takes place at the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) Joint Annual

Conference in November. Board Member Erik Hjerpe will represent the Board as the Delegate for the November meeting.

Board members received the resolutions at the October meeting and identified those for consideration that needed additional information prior to discussion. The Board discussed the resolutions, which will be voted on at the 2024 Delegate Assembly meeting on November 23, 2024.

Board Delegate Erik Hjerpe provided additional information on the IASB Delegate Assembly, which included the following:

● Feedback from the Delegate Assembly: What to Expect Webinar

● Appealed resolutions are now for consideration (resolutions 7, 8, 10). These resolutions originally received a “Do not adopt” recommendation from the Resolutions Committee. Since they were appealed, they will now be presented to the Delegate Assembly for reconsideration.

● Expected floor action and delegate decision-making latitude - due to appealed resolutions, some floor action discussion and debate may take place that will either require a vote not anticipated at this time or could lead to a change in vote to comply with the general intentions of our Board. Therefore, it is suggested the Board give extra consideration to the decision-making latitude granted by the Board to Delegate Hjerpe (vote precisely as the Board indicated or whether to base it on the floor discussion and vote in the spirit of the Board with some greater latitude).

There were comments and/or questions on the following:

● There was not an opportunity to get clarification on the resolutions during the webinar. The session only covered “flow and procedure.”

● A reminder that the delegate assembly process is to vote on how we want IASB to lobby.

● Resolution #5 on health care coverage - believe there would be no financial implications for our District.

● We live in a big state with a lot of districts with a variety of opinions and have different geographies to cover. The needs and dynamics are different for all, and we appreciate the guidance from IASB.

● Board members agreed with the IASB recommendations of resolutions to adopt and not adopt, agreed with the “Do not adopt” for the appealed resolutions now for consideration - #7, 8, and 10, and were comfortable giving Delegate Hjerpe decision-making latitude.

BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS

Board Facilities Committee

The Board Facilities Committee met on November 6, 2024. The meeting notes were attached to the agenda item. There was additional information on the following:

● Most of the facilities meeting discussion was reviewed during the consent and action item discussion.

● Summer 2025 Sherman Dergis work is expected to be roofing, flooring, and paving work, which will come to the Board in December, and elementary playground work, which will come to the Board in January.

● There was discussion around compressing the overall schedule for the middle school projects with three different bid packages expected to be awarded by the end of 2025. The plan to accelerate the early design work was noted as a reason for this being possible.

● Noted every bond referendum in the Chicagoland area, outside of Kane County, passed, representing $1.5 billion going into the construction market.

Board Finance Committee

The Board Finance Committee met on November 7, 2024. The meeting notes were attached to the agenda item. There was additional information on the following:

● Most of the finance meeting discussion was centered on the referendum update and the tax levy presentation.

● Received an update on the FY24 audit, which is substantially complete. The District will be going to an RFP for the audit since we are at the end of five years.

● Working on an updated agreement with PMA Financial Network.

Board Human Resources/Policy Committee

The Board Human Resources/Policy Committee met on November 4, 2024. The meeting notes were attached to the agenda item. There was additional information on the following:

● The committee reviewed policy 2:260 and worked through some follow-up questions as to how that policy interacted with other policies. This was on tonight’s agenda and was approved for posting.

● PRESS Issue 117 has recently come out, and the committee will continue to review those policies at their next meeting.

OTHER REPORTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS

● Positive comments regarding the sound, and it was great to hear better around the Board table tonight.

● Board members noted visits to/participating in the following:

○ Hawthorne Halloween parade

○ Longfellow PTA meeting

○ Lowell Veteran’s Day program

○ WN production of Frozen, Jr

○ Edison Advisory Council meeting

○ Monroe poetry and art class, and staff professional development

● Recognition for the number of parents, teachers, staff, and students who take various roles both in front of and behind the scenes for activities and productions at the schools.

● The level of extracurricular activities in the buildings and the direct tie in the amount of learning that occurs in the activities (noted communication, collaboration, resilience, grit, and problem-solving) is as important to the educational learning experience that occurs in the classroom.

● Thank you to those who drove the results of the school report card - teachers, WWEA, administration, and all of the staff who played a key role in driving the improvements we saw in the school report card data.

WRITTEN REPORTS

Monthly Financial Reports

FOIA Report

Board Communication Log

Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) Report

TOPICS FOR FUTURE DISCUSSION

2024 Tax Levy Approval

Fiscal Year 2024 Audit

● Working on a process for documenting and tracking the topics suggested for future discussion.

NEXT REGULAR MEETING

December 11, 2024, 7:00 PM, Edison Middle School

ANNOUNCEMENTS

December 7, 2024, Coffee with the Board, 9:00 AM, School Service Center

CLOSED SESSION

Collective Negotiating Matters Between the Public Body and its Employees or Their Representatives, or Deliberations Concerning Salary Schedules for One or More Classes of Employees 5 ILCS 120/2 (c) (2) and Student Disciplinary Issues 5 ILCS 120/2 (c) (9).

MOTION

Member Long moved, Member Paulsen seconded to adjourn the meeting to closed session for the purpose of 5 ILCS 120/2 (c) (2) and 5 ILCS 120/2 (c) (9). Upon a roll call vote being taken, the vote was AYE 7, NAY 0. The motion carried 7-0. Action will be taken following the closed session.

The meeting adjourned to Closed Session at 9:12 PM.

RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION

Member Long moved, Member Paulsen seconded to reconvene in Open Session. Upon a roll call vote being taken, the vote was AYE 7, NAY 0. The motion carried 7-0.

Roll call was taken, all seven Board members were present, and the open session was reconvened at 10:06 PM.

ACTION ON CLOSED SESSION ITEM

Approval of Student Discipline Appeal for Student S2024-25-01

A parent filed a request to appeal a suspension of their student. A hearing of that appeal was convened by the board-appointed hearing officer. The report of that hearing has been submitted to the Board for consideration and action.

The Board, in Closed Session, reviewed information regarding the appeal of disciplinary action against a student.

It was recommended that the Board take action on the student discipline appeal after deliberation.

MOTION

Member Hanlon moved, Member Paulsen seconded to uphold the suspension of student S2024-25-01 after reviewing the information regarding the appeal in closed session. Upon a roll call vote being taken, the vote was AYE 7, NAY 0.

The motion carried 7-0.

Approval of Student Discipline Appeal for Student S2024-25-02

A parent filed a request to appeal a suspension of their student. A hearing of that appeal was convened by the board-appointed hearing officer. The report of that hearing has been submitted to the Board for consideration and action.

The Board, in Closed Session, reviewed information regarding the appeal of disciplinary action against a student.

It was recommended that the Board take action on the student discipline appeal after deliberation.

MOTION

Member Hanlon moved, Member Long seconded to uphold the suspension of student S2024-25-02 after reviewing the information regarding the appeal in closed session. Upon a roll call vote being taken, the vote was AYE 7, NAY 0. The motion carried 7-0.

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION

There being no further business to come before the Board in Open Session, Member Hjerpe moved, Member Paulsen seconded to adjourn the meeting. Upon a voice call being taken, all were in favor. The motion carried 7-0.

The meeting adjourned at 10:10 PM.

https://cusd200public.ic-board.com/Attachments/84d1dbf9-d249-4e09-b2b7-5eab12951b70.pdf