North Egypt News

Community High School District 99 Board of Education met Aug. 2.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

The Board of Education, Community High School District 99, met in Workshop Session with Action Item at 6:30 p.m., at North High School. 

Upon the Secretary's roll call, the following Board members answered present; Nancy Kupka, President; and Members Christopher Espinoza, Sherell Fuller, Jennie Hagstrom, Terry Pavesich and Joanna Vazquez Drexler. Mike Davenport, Vice President, arrived at 6:33 p.m. 

Also present were Hank Thiele, Superintendent; Gina Ziccardi, Associate Superintendent; Rob Lang, Assistant Superintendent for Staff Services; Jeree Ethridge, Assistant Controller; Jill Browning, Director of Communications; Courtney DeMent, North High Principal; Ed Schwartz, South High Principal; and Juli Gniadek, Secretary. 

There were twelve visitors. A copy of the Visitor Roster is attached. 

STUDENT BOARD MEMBER QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS 

Jade Toledano, North High Student Board Member, shared information about upcoming events at North High, highlighting those intended to make all students feel welcome and the vaccination clinics. She stated everyone is excited to be back. Scarlett O'Hara, South High Student Board Member, highlighted orientation activities for freshman and sophomores designed to help them transition to the building and help ease their worries. 

2021-2022 RETURN TO IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION PLAN 

Dr. Thiele stated, since the Board met two weeks ago, the CDC, IDPH, ISBE and DCHD have all updated their guidance in the key areas of face coverings/masks and contact tracing/quarantining. He shared the goal is to keep students at school as much as possible and to best way to accomplish this, and follow the recent federal, state and local guidance, is to require universal masking indoors when DuPage County is in the Substantial or High Transmission Level. Hank Thiele noted, when the mask guidance is followed, contact tracing goes down to 3 feet from 6 feet and the quarantine period for unvaccinated people is 10 days, instead of 14. 

The Board discussed whether to use the DuPage County Transmission Level or the District's five most populous zip codes for determining Transmission Level. The consensus of the Board was to follow CDC guidance and use the county number to determine Transmission Level. 

Hank Thiele summarized the return to school plan, which includes: an 8 period day; mask wearing following CDC/IDPH/DCHD guidelines, with the recommendation updated each Friday; and continuing to offer opportunities for students, staff and the community to be vaccinated. 

Dr. Thiele stated the Board is being asked tonight to approve a Resolution that authorizes administration to make changes/modify policy when new guidance is received that needs an immediate response. He stated, if such a response is needed, he would confer with President Kupka, the Board would be informed and the change would be implemented; Board review would occur at the next scheduled Board meeting or a special Board meeting could be called. 

WORKSHOP MEETING WITH ACTION ITEM 

Dr. Thiele shared there were several questions after the last Board meeting regarding supports for students who are out of school for extended periods of time, such as for quarantining, a family emergency, mental health concerns, and medical issues. He stated students would continue to be provided instruction and opportunities to learn and that students would be supported as individuals. 

Gina Ziccardi reviewed additional personnel and resources available to students this year, including Student Success Coordinators; additional Interventionists, Social Work support and Nurses; increased FTE for EL and bilingual students; Resource Center redesign; expansion of STRIVE; full implementation of PATH; Paper online tutoring; and replacing Anonymous Alerts with Safe2Help, which is provided by the State of Illinois and provides 24/7 support. She stated the new positions are being paid out of the ESSER ARP grant. 

RECEPTION OF VISITORS - PUBLIC COMMENT 

Kevin Kuster expressed concern about how the District communicates information and Dan Boden advocated for parental choice regarding vaccinations and masking. 

TITLE IX TRAINING 

Kendra Yoch, attorney from Franczek, provided updated training on Title IX to the Board, including what constitutes sexual harassment under Title IX and the procedural requirements. Gina Ziccardi shared there are numerous people trained for each role, with both genders trained for the roles, 

LOCATION OF FUTURE BOARD MEETINGS 

Dr. Thiele stated the August 16 Board meeting will be at South High in the new auditorium He shared after that Board meetings will return to the ASC; school will be back in session and student programming and normal school activities will be occurring in the large spaces in the schools. Dr. Thiele encouraged large groups to delegate a representative to attend Board meetings, as space will be limited at the District office, and noted, if there is a major issue, an attempt will be made to relocate the meeting. He also shared, since COVID, Board meetings have been livestreamed, 

MASTER FACILITY PLAN PROGRESS 

Dr. Thiele displayed new pictures of the auditorium, Commons and outdoor eating area at South High and the Commons, Events Entrance and outdoor eating patio at North High. He stated the project continues to be on time and on budget.  

APPROVAL OF THE 2021-2022 RETURN TO IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION PLAN APPROVAL RESOLUTION 

Member Davenport moved and Member Pavesich seconded the motion for the Board of Education to approve the 2021-2022 Return to In-Person Instruction Plan Approval Resolution. 

Upon the Secretary's roll call, Members Davenport, Pavesich, Vazquez Drexler, Espinoza, Fuller, Hagstrom and Kupka voted AYE. The President declared the motion carried. 

Dr. Thiele stated Critical Race Theory is not a tool used in the District's work around equity and inclusion. He reinforced the District's dedication to making sure each student feels like they belong and are able to develop to their full potential. 

10. CLOSED SESSION 

Member Fuller moved and Member Davenport seconded the motion that the meeting be adjourned to Closed Session for the purpose of 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 District or legal counsel for the District, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee, specific individual who serves as an independent contractor in a park, recreational, or educational setting, or a volunteer of the District or against legal counsel for the District to determine its validity. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1). 

Upon the Secretary's roll call, Members Fuller, Davenport, Espinoza, Hagstrom, Pavesich, Vazquez Drexler and Kupka voted AYE. The President declared the motion carried. 

President Kupka stated after the Closed Session the Board would return to adjourn and no other Action would be taken by the Board. 

The meeting adjourned to Closed Session at 8:35 p.m. 

RECONVENE TO REGULAR SESSION 

The meeting was reconvened in Open Session with the following members of the Board of Education in attendance: Nancy Kupka, President; Mike Davenport, Vice President; and Members Christopher Espinoza, Sherell Fuller, Jennie Hagstrom, Terry Pavesich and Joanna Vazquez Drexler. 

Also present were Hank Thiele, Superintendent; Rob Lang, Assistant Superintendent for Staff Services; and Juli Gniadek, Secretary, 

ADJOURNMENT 

There being no further business or discussion, Member Davenport moved and Member Pavesich seconded the motion that the meeting be adjourned. Upon the unanimous voice vote of the seven members in attendance, the President declared the motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 9:12 p.m. 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1B8GTiRmQfsC64shJEGU7a-_HHf1Zlvx0LZ7KZh-iFco/edit