SE Illinois News

Community Unit School District 200 Board of Education met May 14.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The first regular meeting of the month of May of the Board of Education of Community Unit School District 200, DuPage County, Illinois, was called to order at the School Service Center, 130 W Park Ave., Wheaton, IL, by Board Vice President Julie Kulovits, on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at 7:01 PM. President Hanlon was absent, and Vice President Kulovits led the meeting.

ROLL CALL

Upon the roll being called, the following were present:

Board Members: Ms. Julie Kulovits

Mr. Dave Long

Ms. Angela Blatner

Ms. Katy Ebbesen

Mr. Erik Hjerpe

Mr. John Rutledge

Absent: Mr. Rob Hanlon

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 Member John Rutledge led the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance.

MODIFICATIONS TO THE AGENDA

None

RECOGNITIONS & ACHIEVEMENTS

Dr. Schuler and the Board recognized the following:

2024-25 Superintendent Art Recipients:

● Suvir Yadav - Lincoln

● Sadie Hill - Washington

● Brayden Feinsot - Edison

● Bella Morales - WWSHS

● Genessa Shankman - WNHS

IHSA Journalism State Champion:

● Emily Sklenicka - WWSHS

Architectural Board State Champion:

● Max Dudick - WWSHS

ESports Team State Champion (IHSEA Call of Duty Black Ops 6):

● Cesar Aguilar, Damian Arroyo, Alex Grajeda Escobedo, Griffin Hinger, Michael Riggs, Asher Williams

Illinois ProStart Culinary Invitational - First Place and Advancing to National ProStart Invitational (8th Place out of 48 states):

● Bella Zagal-Sandoval - WWSHS

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

Marcela Macias    Organic Life

SUPERINTENDENT REPORT

Dr. Schuler provided the following updates:

● The Student Ambassadors at WNHS and WWSHS reported on their high schools’ activities, athletics, and events from the past weeks.

● Dr. Schuler recognized the amazing group of Student Ambassadors and noted all of their accomplishments from the year. Recognized were:

○ WNHS - Luke Bellini, Carla Fonseca Gonzalez, Abigail Williams

○ WWSHS - Lauren Dedio, Max Dudick, Katelyn Groves

● Summer Months Recognition - CUSD 200 cares for and supports all students and staff, and recognizes that June is Pride Month, July is Disability Pride Month, and acknowledges the summer holidays, Juneteenth, and the Fourth of July.

● Staff Appreciation Week - Thank you to the community for the staff shout-outs; we received over 600 shout-outs. All of these recognitions went to the individual staff members who were acknowledged. Thank you to Alyssa Barry and her team.

● Graduation and Recognition of Staff Members - High schools introduced a new opportunity for seniors to recognize a staff member who impacted their experience in District 200 with an “impact award.” Seniors had the chance to visit the schools and present the award to the staff member. Three hundred seniors took the time to honor a staff member.

● Year-End Events - thanked the PTA Council for their annual scholarship event and the Student Excellence Foundation for the Distinguished Educator/Celebrate Our Stars Event.

● Good Luck to the Seniors - looking forward to the high school graduation ceremonies next weekend.

CONSENT AGENDA

1. Acceptance of Gift to Wheaton Warrenville South High School Girls Basketball Program– Recommend acceptance of gift to WWSHS girls basketball program as presented.

2. Approval to Post the Elementary, Middle and High School Student Handbook Updates for 2025-26 – Recommend approval to post the student handbook updates for 2025-26 for community review as presented.

3. Approval of High School Novels - Recommend approval of high school novels as presented.

4. Approval of Environmental Biology Textbook – Recommend approval of Environmental Biology textbook as presented.

5. Approval of Resolution of Appointment of the District Representative to the DuPage Area Occupational Education Systems (DAOES) Board of Directors for the 2025-26 School Year – Recommend approval of resolution of DAOES District representative for 25-26 as presented.

6. Approval of IHSA Annual Renewal – Recommend approval of IHSA annual renewal as presented.

7. Approval of Snack Vending Contract Renewal – Recommend approval of snack vending contract renewal as presented.

8. Approval of Organic Life, LLC Food Service Management Contract Renewal – Recommend approval of Organic Life contract renewal as presented.

9. Approval of the Resolution Directing Depositories - Recommend approval of the resolution directing depositories as presented.

10. Approval of the Resolution Appointing Treasurer, Approving the Treasurer’s Bond and Special Issue Bond for Lease Certificates – Recommend approval of the resolution appointing Treasurer, approving the Treasurer’s bond and special issue bond for lease certificates as presented.

11. Approval of Treasurer’s and Special Issue Bond Coverage – Recommend approval of Treasurer’s and special issue bond coverage as presented.

12. Designation of Interest Earnings for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 – Recommend approval of designation of interest earnings for FY24-25 as presented.

13. Approval to Increase Paid Lunch Price – Recommend approval to increase paid lunch price as presented.

14. Approval for Purchase of Network Access Points - Recommend approval for purchase of network access points as presented.

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

16. 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:

● #1: Gift to WWS - Thank you for the generous gift. This gift is not from a contractor with whom the district currently does business, but from someone who has a connection to that program.

● #2: Posting Handbooks - as part of an internship, two D200 admins and the regional superintendent took on the challenge of helping update the handbooks. This was a significant upgrade. Thank you to them for their assistance with this improvement.

● #3: High School Novels - any feedback received was shared with the Board, and all feedback was positive.

● #16: Personnel Report - introduced the new administrators listed in the personnel report, including Eleni Gajewski (Director of Elementary Instruction), Jennifer Rutkas (Director of Special Education), and the new Assistant Principal of Monroe Middle School, Jennifer Gorniak, who was not present.

● #9: Approval of Depositories - confirmed we continue to be secured by bonds for the excess, and everything is collateralized.

MOTION

Member Rutledge moved, Member Long seconded to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Upon a roll call vote being taken, the vote was: AYE 6, NAY 0. The motion carried 6-0.

POLICY POSTING CONSENT AGENDA

1. Approval of Cell Phone Policy Revision – Recommend approval to post the revised CUSD 200 smart device policy/procedure as presented.

There was additional information provided on the following:

● This is a continuation of a report presented to the Board last month, where we shared the process used, as well as the feedback from the CAC (Citizens Advisory Committee).

● At the beginning of the school year, the Board requested that the administration dedicate

time to this topic and suggested that it be explored further through the CAC.

● The process of developing a revised policy overlapped with the feedback process. If approved, this policy would be included in student handbooks and also exist as a standalone document on the district website.

● There is a specific section on the District website dedicated to proposed policies for public review and comment.

● The administration suggests voting on the language included in the policy to post and make any necessary adjustments before it returns for approval.

● Anticipating that the district's language will fully align with what is expected to be in the new law.

● The law would require implementation by the 2026-27 school year, and we would be accelerating that by one year. This would provide the district with an opportunity to understand what is working and what is not, and to consider any necessary adjustments.

There were comments and/or questions on the following:

● Ensuring the posting of the recommended revised policy is called out in the Board highlights document to create an opportunity for community feedback.

● Smartwatch access at the high school level will fall into the category of a cellular device.

● The elementary and middle school levels explicitly address wearable devices, while the high school level does not mention them and instead refers to limited access to cell phones and earbuds.

● The difficulty of policing this at the high school level; anticipating the law being passed with the language regarding wearable devices included. Will this be incorporated in the district policy language? There is a good chance the law will pass, and therefore before the policy comes back for approval, it will be codified in law.

● Is there any consideration given to labeling the lunch period as instructional time and banning phones during lunch to encourage socialization?

● Phone use during passing periods.

● The ACCESS period will be regarded as an instructional period. Note that the proposed state law allows for some discretion regarding a defined instructional activity during a class period.

● Student earbuds are prohibited; some feedback from students and teachers indicates that there may be difficulties in adjusting to this change.

● A reminder that the state law establishes minimum requirements. Policies and procedures will be developed once the law is passed. We prefer not to speculate too much until we see it, and some procedures are developed.

MOTION

Member Ebbesen moved, Member Rutledge seconded to approve the Policy Posting Consent Agenda as presented. Upon a roll call vote being taken, the vote was: AYE 6, NAY 0. The motion carried 6-0.

ACTION ITEMS

#1 Termination of Contract with Evans and Son Blacktop, Inc. for Summer 2025 Paving/Concrete Work

In December 2024, it was recommended that Evans and Son Blacktop, Inc. be awarded all work related to the Summer 2025 Paving project that was publicly bid, with the bid opening occurring on November 21, 2024. The Board of Education approved this recommendation on December 11, 2024.

In early May 2025, CUSD 200 was made aware of concerns that Evans and Son Blacktop, Inc. may not be able to meet all project and legal requirements defined in the agreement between the parties. Based on this information, CUSD 200 legal representation determined that it would be in the best interest of CUSD 200 to terminate the agreement with Evans and Son Blacktop, Inc. and award the base bid and all alternates to the second lowest bidder, Abbey Paving Solutions, Inc. Abbey Paving has confirmed that they will be able to complete the work as defined in the bid documents. A separate action item contains a recommendation to award the Summer 2025 Paving contract to Abbey Paving.

There was additional information/comments on the following:

● Dr. Schuler shared that the district received notification today that Evans and Son has voluntarily withdrawn its bid. Therefore, instead of the Board terminating the contract, the Board was asked to accept Evans and Son Blacktop's withdrawal of the original bid. This action puts the district in the same position.

It was recommended that the Board of Education modify the original recommendation and accept the withdrawal of the original bid from Evans and Son Blacktop, Inc., for the Summer 2025 Paving Contract as presented.

MOTION

Member Rutledge moved, Member Blatner seconded that the Board modify the original recommendation and accept the withdrawal of the original bid from Evans and Son Blacktop, Inc for the Summer 2025 Paving Contract as presented. Upon a roll call vote being taken, the vote was AYE 6, NAY 0. The motion carried 6-0.

#2 Approval to Award Summer 2025 Paving/Concrete Bid to Abbey Paving Administration identified and prioritized paving/concrete rehabilitation projects at Wheaton North High School, and paving/seal coating projects at Hubble Middle School, Johnson Elementary School and Madison Elementary School. These projects are included in the District's capital plan and were reviewed and recommended by the Facilities Committee. Bids were structured to include a Base Bid and six (6) Alternates.

The bid opening was held on November 21, 2024. Fifteen (15) contractors picked up the bid package and five (5) responded. The Base Bid is for work at Wheaton North High School, with the Alternates for additional work at Wheaton North High School, Hubble Middle School, Johnson Elementary School and Madison Elementary School. In December 2024, it was recommended that Evans and Son Blacktop, Inc. be awarded all work related to this project. The Board of Education approved this recommendation on December 11, 2024.

In early May 2025, CUSD 200 was made aware of concerns that Evans and Son Blacktop, Inc. may not be able to meet all project and legal requirements defined in the agreement between the parties. Based on this information, CUSD 200 determined that in its best interest, to terminate the agreement with Evans and Son Blacktop Inc. and award the base bid and all alternates to the second lowest bidder, Abbey Paving Solutions, Inc. Abbey Paving has confirmed that they will be able to complete the work as defined in the bid documents at the price that was submitted, which was $1,356,616.00 ($3,967.72 above the bid submission from Evans and Son Blacktop, Inc.)

There was additional information/comments on the following:

● This action will secure a new contract to complete the work this summer.

● The administration met with the Abbey Paving ownership group last week to confirm that everything outlined in the contract, from the base bid to the alternates, could be completed. It represents a substantial amount of work across the district.

● This results in an aggregate difference of less than $4,000 between the two companies.

● Abbey is in the process of developing a schedule for the summer paving work.

● The Board has hired Abbey on numerous occasions in the past to perform work.

It was recommended that the Board of Education award the Summer 2025 Paving Base Bid and all six (6) Alternate bids to Abbey Paving Solutions, Inc. of Aurora, Illinois in the amount of $1,356,616.00 as presented.

MOTION

Member Hjerpe moved, Member Rutledge seconded to award the Summer 2025 Paving Base Bid and all six (6) Alternate bids to Abbey Paving Solutions, Inc. of Aurora, Illinois in the amount of $1,356,616.00 as presented. Upon a roll call vote being taken, the vote was AYE 6, NAY 0. The motion carried 6-0.

ORAL REPORTS

School Safety Review and Update

School safety is a vital component of an effective and nurturing learning environment. Assistant Superintendents Matt Biscan and Chris Silagi provided a Comprehensive School Safety presentation summarizing some of the annual and new efforts to create a safe learning environment. This included information on the following:

● Three Guiding Questions:

○ 1) What is the District’s framework for safety and how is it implemented?

○ 2) What safety measures have we successfully implemented this school year?

○ 3) What are the next steps the District is taking in comprehensive safety?

1) What is the District’s framework for safety and how is it implemented?

● The Importance of Being PREPaREd - The PREPaRE Model

○ P - Prevent and prepare for crises

○ R - Reaffirm physical health & welfare, and perceptions of safety & security

○ E - Evaluate psychological trauma risk

○ P - Provide crisis interventions

○ a - and

○ R - Respond to mental health needs

○ E - Examine the effectiveness of crisis preparedness

● Framework for School Safety, Prevention and Recovery - Comprehensive Safe School & Crisis Response Plan

○ School mental health procedures

○ School disciplinary policies

○ Multitiered academic and social-emotional screening & interventions

○ School Crisis Plan (Response, communications, & reunification protocols; Psychological triage & assessment; Multitiered crisis interventions)

○ School security policies

○ Employment screening procedures

○ Multihazard/vulnerability assessments

● Prevention

○ SEL Website

○ SEL Framework (Relationships, Mindset, Learning, Emotional Wellness, Behavioral Wellness)

● Prevention - Relationships and Mindset

○ Student-Teacher Relationships (96% of students surveyed report being connected to school through a trusted adult)

○ Athletics/Clubs/Arts-Co-curriculars (76% of HS students participated in at least one co-curricular activity)

○ Belief in Students - Care (Mindset pillar of SEL framework - Hire and Develop)

● Prevention - Behavioral Wellness

○ Supportive Environment (96th percentile amongst all Illinois School Districts - source 5Essentials)

○ Clear Expectations for Success (Tier 1 Framework / Leadership Teams / Training)

○ Student Discipline Support Team Meetings (11.3% at least one referral / 2.3% more than three referrals)

○ Interventions When Necessary (Range of Individualized Supports)

● Prevention - Emotional Wellness

○ Connectedness / Relationships (Proactive Strategies and Mapping)

○ Assessment and Action (Risk Assessments / B-SAD / SAEBRS / Attendance / ASQ / Student Leadership)

○ Supports and Interventions (Student Services / Referral GPS / EWC - Emotional Wellness Coordinators / Individualized Programming)

● Prevention - Learning / Proactive Programming

○ Early Learners (Jefferson / Head Start / Camp Kinder)

○ Decision Making / Safety (DARE / Internet Safety / Can’t Do, Can’t Say / Erin’s Law / Health)

○ Direct Instruction (School-Wide Expectations / Classroom Expectations / Handbooks)

● Safe Schools Initiative (U.S. Secret Service Special Agent) conducted a study following the Columbine School shooting.

○ One of their findings - “Connection through human relationships is a central component of a culture of safety and respect.” This is still valid today.

● CUSD 200 Safety Committee

○ Dedicated to fostering a safe and supportive learning environment by guiding and supporting the district in implementing comprehensive school safety best practices ○ Lead, Promote, Assist, Evaluate

● School Safety - Things We Can Control (supported and identified by Homeland Security and the FBI)

○ Lock Your Doors, Know Your Kids, Perform Your Threat Assessments, Know Your Safety Procedures

2) What safety measures have we successfully implemented this school year?

● CUSD 200 Safety-Related Accomplishments 24-25

○ Nightlock Installation at the Elementary and Middle Schools

○ PREPaRE Trainings (EOP Subcommittee Formed & Working; Crisis Team Developing Functional Annexes - Mental Health)

○ ALICE Trainings

○ Creation of a District Safety and Security Webpage

○ Creation of a District Safety Committee Framework and Purpose

○ Improved Gaggle Reporting Process (Data Tracking)

○ Employment Screening Procedures

○ BASP Video Doorbells

○ Visitor Management System - Verkada

○ South Side Tabletop Exercise

○ In-District Full Scale Law Enforcement Drill - Franklin (Increased collaboration between Public Information Officers and Alyssa Barry)

○ Active Threat Response Conference Attendance - Hubble (Hosting again this summer)

○ Increased School Walkthroughs - WPD

○ Neighborhood Roll Call Participation (partnering with local law enforcement)

○ Monthly Safety Moments (sent to all staff)

3) What are the next steps the District is taking in comprehensive safety?

● Next Steps - SEL

○ Utilize Crisis Team to develop specific annex plans aligned to PREPaRE model

○ Expand Student Leadership Groups to the elementary level

○ Develop strategic partnership with DuPage Crisis Center to serve students’ needs ○ Expand Tier 1 Behavioral programming to include updated staff training and implementation assessment

○ Integrate growth mindset professional development into staff learning plan

○ Continue: Attendance Improvement Plan; School Connectedness Work; Student Discipline Support Teams; Proactive Programming - SOS, DARE, Camp Kinder, Internet Safety, Parent Education; Balanced SEL Assessment Framework

● Next Steps - Physical Security

○ Nightlock Installation at both High Schools (hope to complete this summer)

○ Continued Nightlock Training at all levels (will be a year-to-year training)

○ Middle School Capital Projects (New Camera System, Door Swipe Options)

○ All Staff Displaying Employee ID’s

● People and Relationships - A Physically and Emotionally Safe Environment → PREPaRE

There was additional information on the following:

● When it comes to safety, we focus on both upstream efforts related to safety (the SEL work and connectedness initiatives we undertake) and the responsive measures implemented in response to incidents that occur.

● This is a reminder to the Board that at the start of the last school year, there was significant community conversation and discussion about the need to assess certain safety elements, which we have accomplished over the past couple of years. We continue to be in a better position.

● Expect an annual safety report for the Board detailing our past activities and plans for the upcoming twelve months, always recognizing that safety conditions can change at any moment.

● Safety is a topic that is frequently thought about and discussed daily, not because it is a problem, but because it is important to everyone, including students, staff, families, and the Board.

● The PREPaRE model is the gold standard in school safety and serves as the safety umbrella for all our efforts—prevention, response, recovery, and mitigation. The PREPaRE model provides a framework for schools to prevent and respond to crises while aligning with federal guidelines from the U.S. Department of Education and Homeland Security. It emphasizes training, planning, and response.

● The PREPaRE model provides evidence-based resources and consultations to help schools enhance their safety and crisis management plans. It is multifaceted, offering a collaborative approach that involves various school staff and community partners. Additionally, it is comprehensive and adaptable to any crisis situation and specific location. Key principles include the Incident Command System.

● The comprehensive safe school & crisis response plan minimizes confusion and maximizes the safety of everyone involved.

● There are multiple components of the PREPaRE plan that align with the district’s social-emotional learning framework.

● When our kids are connected to school and have an adult they believe cares about them and their learning, emotional stressors decrease, and safety increases. This is an important preventive measure. Co-curricular activities, arts, clubs, and athletics serve as a means for the district to connect kids to school.

● Meeting with student leadership groups across our district throughout the year.

● A pillar in our SEL framework involves discussing with our administrators and school staff about how to care for our kids and hire personnel who exhibit both strong care and the ability to connect and relate to students, while also showcasing a belief that children can achieve high levels of learning.

● Monitoring student discipline - members of the administrative team and the student support team meet several times a year with all the grade 6-12 school teams to review data on behavior and discipline, identify themes, and discuss potential interventions that may be necessary. Based on the data, a small percentage of students require additional support.

● The district invests significant time and effort into the assessments we conduct from a preventative perspective. Some of our actions focus on emotional well-being and safety. The district has strict protocols for risk assessments - evaluating the risk of harm to oneself or to others. There are crisis teams that regularly analyze this data.

● B-SAD is a follow-up to our Signs of Suicide programming.

● Early Learners - noted the increased enrollment at Jefferson ECC, one hundred students in our Head Start preschool program, and our third year of full implementation of the Camp Kinder program.

● Development of the Can’t Do, Can’t Say programming - designed for younger students, and what should not be said or done in school, and why. This is a preventative factor for our students.

● Looking at school safety from a holistic standpoint.

● The training of our first responders and local law enforcement extends well beyond our region and state.

● ALICE trainings are done in conjunction with local law enforcement on a regular basis.

● The DuPage Crisis Center is set to open in August.

● Introduced to the leadership teams - a process for staff assessing and reflecting upon how they are managing behavior in their classrooms.

● Our building leaders work diligently to create a physically and emotionally safe environment for everyone in our buildings.

There were comments and/or questions on the following:

● Data analytics - are we able to identify students who are the victims of repetitive behaviors (such as bullying)? This information is not automatically produced in our data analytics system, but we believe our teams, through their structures, are staying on top of it.

● From a districtwide perspective, we have not seen any significant trends in the types of disciplinary incidents this year.

● The post-pandemic increase in serious behavior issues among younger children has noticeably declined this year.

● If students are told not to say or do things, is there any concern that this blocks the flow of information that would alert us to a problem?

● The District Safety Committee meets monthly during the school year.

● EOP Subcommittee is a group working on Emergency Operation Procedures within the PREPaRE mode.

● Nightlocks are metal devices that are anchored to either the door frame or installed in the floor. If a lockdown is called, there is a piece in a small box next to every door that is slid in to secure the door.

● “Annex plan” used in the PREPaRE model is another term for a mini-plan.

● Ensuring we have the right depth in the Safety Committee, with Mr. Kish moving on after next year, as well as other staff changes.

● Ensure that all exterior building doors, not just those with swipe access, remain locked. How can we ensure this happens? There is a vulnerability concerning safety regarding certain doors.

● BASP program supervisors have participated in safety training exercises, but not in tabletop exercises.

● Board investment in safety—are there any other resources (financial capital, human capital, legislative advocacy) needed from the Board to assist in this area?

● Contract workers and training on nightlocks, ALICE, and lockdown procedures.

● A question about whether law enforcement responds to a building when paramedics are called.

● Overall, hospitalization numbers this year are not elevated, but there was an increase at the middle school level.

● Look-alike weapons and their behavioral consequences. The “see something, say something” program was noted in relation to this.

Open Session Minutes – May 14, 2025 Page 10

● Consequences for situations involving altercations where students record or film them. Should we discourage students from filming? This issue is not specifically addressed in the student handbooks.

● To date, there has not been a student expulsion this year. The District has not altered expectations for student behavior.

● First responders have floor plans for our buildings.

● Interior district doors are numbered on the outside, but not all have numbers on the inside. This is a conversation for our District Safety Committee.

● Are nationwide safety incidents more related to internal students or external individuals? The data suggests it varies by education level (internal for high school and external for other levels). Our safety framework emphasizes both aspects.

● There is a balance between having appropriate safeguards and asking all our adults to be alert and aware at all times of something that may not appear as it should.

● Co-curricular participation has increased by 10% since 2019.

● Are there practical, cost-effective solutions for the exterior doors that are currently not alarmed and have no swipe access? Noted that the doors that do have this are creating a signal if that door is left open for a window of time. When the door swipe project was done, we identified which entries are used most regularly. There was a request to determine the financial impact of installing this on all doors. The suggestion for the safety committee experts to examine the value of assessing the additional doors for swipe access. Also, as door work is done in the future, is it prudent to make those upgrades?

● Are we identifying those students who are not connected to co-curricular activities? Represents nearly a quarter of high school students. Among those students, some are engaged in activities outside of school, while others have a job. Noted the focus on the after-eighth-grade and after-freshman-year students.

● Consider having our student ambassadors focus on how to engage their peers in activities and gather their perspectives on this.

● Support for having the safety presentation be a regular May update to the Board.

BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS

Vice President Kulovits identified the committee assignments for the upcoming year: ● Facilities Committee - Dave Long (Chair) and John Rutledge

● Finance Committee - Erik Hjerpe (Chair) and Katy Ebbesen

● HR/Policy Committee - Julie Kulovits (Chair) and Angela Blatner

Board Facilities Committee

The Board Facilities Committee met on April 16, 2025. The meeting notes were attached to the agenda item. There was additional information on the following:

● Member Rutledge noted the minutes were accurate.

● We are on track for all the upcoming middle school work, with the bids now out.

● Summer 2025 work - roofing, HVAC, auditorium, and playground work will be done at various District buildings, totaling approximately $7.8 million.

● Looking forward to the upcoming groundbreakings for the middle school projects.

Board Finance Committee

The Board Finance Committee met on April 17, 2025. The meeting notes were attached to the agenda item. There was additional information on the following:

● Member Long noted that the conversation focused on three items: policy renewal for medical and dental insurance, the bond issuance investment plan, and the FY25 amended budget, which has since been approved by the Board.

● The proceeds from the first bond issuance have been received; the time between receipt and spending the proceeds, and paying close attention to the timing and arbitrage implications.

Board Human Resources/Policy Committee

The Board Human Resources/Policy Committee met on April 10, 2025. The meeting notes were attached to the agenda item. There was additional information on the following:

● Member Kulovits noted the main discussion item was on the cell phone policy.

● Discussed SB2427 - the bill that appears likely to become law, which also addresses cell phone policies for school districts.

● Discussed Accelerated Placements, which were presented and discussed at the April Committee of the Whole meeting.

REPORTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS

Board members noted visits to/participation in the following:

● Board business - it is the time of year to submit any proposed resolutions through the IASB resolution process. Board members were asked to reach out to Member Hjerpe if they had thoughts on any proposed resolutions.

● Visits to adopted schools

● District arts and year-end recognition events

● WWSHS production of “Mean Girls”

● WNHS Spring art show and congressional art award

● WNHS production of “Sound of Music”

● Teacher appreciation and Student Excellence Foundation “Celebrate our Stars” Events

● Transition Center Prom

● Edison Middle School Counseling Advisory Committee meeting

WRITTEN REPORTS

Monthly Financial Reports

FOIA Report

Board Communication Log

Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) Report

TOPICS FOR FUTURE DISCUSSION

Middle School Capital Projects Update

● Request to add the following topics for future discussion:

○ An update on the process/document to capture Board topics for future discussion

○ An update on the high school grading system

NEXT REGULAR MEETING

June 11, 2025, 7:00 PM, School Service Center

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Wednesday, May 21, 2025 - Board of Education Special Meeting, 6:00 PM, School Service Center

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION

There being no further business to come before the Board in Open Session, Member Ebbesen moved, Member Long seconded to adjourn the meeting. Upon a voice call being taken, all were in favor. The motion carried 6-0.

The meeting adjourned at 8:58 PM.

https://cusd200public.ic-board.com/Attachments/a99c659a-6e5d-4b7a-9f86-d86b4443a271.pdf