North Egypt News

Community High School District 99 Board of Education met Sept. 12.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The Board of Education, Community High School District 99, met in Workshop Session at 6:30 p.m., at the Administrative Service Center. 

Upon the Secretary's roll call, the following Board members answered present: 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; Gina Ziccardi, Associate Superintendent for Student Learning; Rob Lang, Assistant Superintendent for Staff Services; Scott Wuggazer, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services; Mark Staehlin, District Controller; Jeree Ethridge, Chief School Business Official; Jill Browning, Director of Communications; Lisa Bollow, Director of Special Services; Ryan Doherty, Director of Student Experiences; Courtney DeMent, North High Principal; Arwen Lyp, South High Principal; Student Board Members Luka Paulauskas and Kaitlyn Vincent; and Juli Gniadek, Secretary. 

There were no visitors. 

North High students Topher Ferris, Allison Mulvey and Michael Logan shared some of the activities the 110 North Stars leaders planned and participated in during Freshman Orientation to make incoming freshmen and transfer students become familiar with the building; feel safe and comfortable; and meet new people. 

The Board showed their appreciation to the students for helping the freshman and transfer students feel welcome. 

1. STUDENT PERSPECTIVES 

2. STUDENT BOARD MEMBER QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS 

Luka Paulauskas, North High Student Board Member, spoke about the purple out at the first home game, which happened to be the North South game, and some of the activities planned for next week's Homecoming. South High Student Board Member Kaitlyn Vincent shared the planned activities this week for Homecoming. 

3. STRATEGIC PLAN-SUPERINTENDENT REPORTS 

Dr. Thiele advised the Board this year, as reports are presented, it will be demonstrated how each ties to the Strategic Plan and aligns with the Strategic Directions, Goals and Tasks of the District. 

4. SUMMER SCHOOL AND ESY REPORT 

Ryan Doherty reported there were 288 students enrolled in Summer School and an additional 67 students received 39 credits through Credit Recovery. He noted grade distribution was on par with the regular school year, 58% of the students reported they took Summer School to repeat a course and only 5 students who enrolled in Summer School dropped out. 

Lisa Bollow explained Extended School Year (ESY) is required by law for some eligible special education students. She noted, prior to 2020, District 99 students were serviced by SASED for ESY and in 2020 District 99 held its own virtual ESY program. Ms. Bollow stated since 2020 District 99 has provided ESY services internally; the number of students has continually increased; it is less expensive for District 99 to serve our students than to have them serviced by SASED; and there is the additional benefit that our students are taught by District 99 staff. 

5. SAFETY AND SECURITY UPDATES 

Dr. Thiele reported ALICE drills were conducted during Access with follow up during Resource. He noted the areas of focus and changes being implemented in safety and security this year. Hank Thiele stated the District will be entering into a new IGA with the Downers Grove Police Department based on the state law that all officers, including School Resource officers, must wear body cameras. Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing were also performed, according to Dr. Thiele, to assess the District's cybersecurity. 

6. UPDATE ON HYBRID BLOCK SCHEDULE 

The Student Board Members and the School Principals shared feedback from students and their own personal observations on the hybrid block schedule. Positives noted by the group include brain breaks; students have more time to ask questions and build relationships with teachers; students do not need to find time during the day to learn about certain topics (scholarships, FAFSA, college admissions, etc.), they are part of the school day; students being in the same Access group all four years; more self choice for students; and teachers, during their professional development time, are helping their colleagues and providing reflective feedback. 

Some areas for future consideration or in need of additional focus shared by the group include additional brain breaks; overcrowding during some lunch periods; many assessments occurring on the same day; teachers needing support with the pacing of lessons; and more "fun" Resource topics to start the year. 

The consensus of the group was students and staff overall like the new schedule, are adjusting to it and are doing well. 

7. STATE ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES OVERVIEW 

Dr. Thiele and Ms. Ziccardi provided detailed information on the Academic Indicators and Student Success Indicators found in the School Report Card, to be released on October 27, 2022, noting the area with the most weight (50%) is Graduation Rates of 4, 5 and 6 year cohorts. Dr. Thiele pointed out students of color and free/reduced lunch students are disproportionally represented in absenteeism; students of color are disproportionally underrepresented in advanced placement courses; and students with free/reduced lunch are less likely to be involved in two or more co-curriculars. 

Gina Ziccardi and Hank Thiele introduced the Equity Journey Continuum, a new set of metrics the State will be rating school districts on. School districts will be assigned an equity level between 1 (large gaps in equity) and 4 (minimal gaps in equity) in three categories: Student Learning, Learning Conditions and Elevating Educators. Dr. Thiele stated work on these metrics ties into the District Values of Care, Trust, Belong, Prepare and Evolve. 

8. MASTER FACILITY PLAN - FINAL FINANCIAL REPORT 

Mark Staehlin stated $136,600,000 in bonds were purchased for the MFP and there is $264,845 remaining; and the bonds generated $1,533,500 in interest, of which $750,000 was spent on the T99 phase I build out, which leaves $783,500. Mr. Staehlin shared $3,900,000 will be taken from the Working Cash Fund and added to those two sums to provide $4,948,345 in funding for the T99 expansion. Dr. Thiele shared meeting the needs of T99 is being accomplished without any additional taxes. 

Mr. Staehlin noted that in 2018, four bond issuances were planned for the MFP, which would have resulted in the bonds being paid off in 2040. He stated there were only three issuances, due to very low interest rates, which resulted in the bonds being paid off four years earlier. Mark Staehlin stated the District kept its promise of only raising taxes $65 per year on a $300,000 home. 

9. RECEPTION OF VISITORS - PUBLIC COMMENT 

There were no public comments. 

10. OTHER 

Member Pavesich, liaison to the District 99 Education Foundation, thanked those who attended the Block Party and the North staff and CMG group for their work in making it a success. 

11. CLOSED SESSION 

Member Davenport moved and Member Pavesich seconded the motion that the meeting be adjourned to Closed Session for the purpose of discussing 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, a 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); and litigation, when an action against, affecting or on behalf of the District has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal, or when the District finds that an action is probable or imminent, in which case the basis for the finding shall be recorded and entered into the minutes of the closed meeting. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11) 

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

President Kupka stated, after the Closed Session, the Board would be adjourning. 

The meeting adjourned to Closed Session at 9:06 p.m. 

12. 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; Gina Ziccardi, Associate Superintendent for Student Learning; Rob Lang, Assistant Superintendent for Staff Services; and Juli Gniadek, Secretary. 

13. 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 10:23 p.m. 

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