Community High School District 99 Board of Education met Oct. 17.
Here is the minutes provided by the board:
The Board of Education, Community High School District 99, met in regular 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; and Members Christopher Espinoza, Jennie Hagstrom, Terry Pavesich and Joanna Vazquez Drexler. Vice President Mike Davenport arrived at 6:32 p.m. and Member Sherell Fuller arrived at 6:33 p.m.
Also present were Hank Thiele, Superintendent; Gina Ziccardi, Associate Superintendent for Student Learning; Rob Lang, Assistant Superintendent for Staff Services; Jeree Ehtridge, Chief School Business Official; Jill Browning, Director of Communications; Student Board Members Luka Paulauskas and Kaitlyn Vincent; and Juli Gniadek, Secretary.
There were three visitors. A copy of the Visitor Roster is attached.
1. STUDENT PERSPECTIVES-SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL
Becca Snouffer and Annie White, South High jazz musicians, provided an overview of the first ever District 99 Jazz Camp which included an emphasis on learning the history and culture of jazz; working with guest artists Kevin Schoenbach, Ron Carter and Lenard Simpson; and a final performance at the Fischel Park Band Shell.
The Board thanked the students for coming and sharing their experiences.
South High students Lindsay Born and Nick Koch, two of eleven students that picked up trash after the Homecoming Game, shared this was the third football game they had cleaned up after and they plan to continue the practice with both basketball and volleyball games. They noted it started with a couple of people and more joined in.
The Board applauded the students for their desire to help take care of the new facilities.
2. GROVE EXPRESS FOUNDATION JUNIOR BOARD MEMBERS
North and South High students Sara Ryan, Lola Bogwill, Meida Kuzminskas, Addie Potter and Gina Liu shared their responsibilities as part of the Sponsorship, Merchandise, Race Day, PR and Marketing Committees for the Grove Express 5K, formerly the Bonfield Express, on Thanksgiving Day. The students provided information on how they are going to raise awareness at North and South High for both participation and volunteer opportunities for the race.
The Board thanked the students for sharing this information.
3. STUDENT BOARD MEMBER QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS
Student Board Members Luka Paulauskas and Kaitlyn Vincent reported on some of the events that took place during their respective Homecoming Weeks, including the positive experience of the dance occurring outside on the turf field. Student Board Member Vincent stated Red Ribbon Week is coming up and the last home football game will be a pink out at South High. North High's last home football game was a win against OPRF, and there was a great turn out in spite of the bad weather, according to Student Board Member Paulauskas.
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Member Pavesich moved and Member Davenport seconded the motion that the Board of Education approve the Minutes of the September 19, 2022 Business Meeting and the September 19, 2022 Closed Meeting.
Upon the Secretary's roll call, Members Pavesich, Davenport, Espinoza, Fuller, Hagstrom, Vazquez Drexler and Kupka voted AYE. The President declared the motion carried.
5. RECEPTION OF VISITORS - PUBLIC COMMENT
Rich Brennan, Laura Hois, Marcella Cheaure, Ilene Briner and Brian Sewell expressed concern about the process for notifying the community about changes to Board policies. Laura Hois and Ilene Briner requested the Board postpone the vote on policies.
Dr. Thiele addressed the Board stating he wanted the process for approving policies on the record. Before recommending policies and policy changes to the full Board, the Administration reviews new policies and policy changes and makes recommendations to the Policy Committee; the Policy Committee, after individually reviewing the policies, meets with Administration in a public meeting, posted in advance, to discuss the recommendations, according to Dr. Thiele. He stated next the policies recommended by the Policy Committee are provided to the Board and community, with revisions shown, for First Reading at a Board meeting; and then, at a subsequent Board meeting, the policies are brought forward for Second Reading and approval. Hank Thiele stated anywhere along the process Board members can and have offered comments and suggestions to the Policy Committee or Administration.
Dr. Thiele stated by using PRESS, a service the District pays for, the District is able ensure the District's policies keep current with changes in the law on a cost sharing basis. Member Davenport, who is a member of the Policy Committee, stated the Policy Committee reviews all policies and the process is very transparent. He also shared the District has a schedule in place for reviewing policies District 99 has and PRESS does not.
6. RECOGNITION
Dr. Thiele shared Board Secretary Juli Gniadek received the Holly Jack Outstanding Service Award in recognition of her service to the Board and will be recognized at the Joint Annual Conference in November and Wight & Company will also be recognized at the Conference for receiving the Award of Distinction for the North and South High Schools Master Facility Plan Projects.
Dr. Thiele announced this is Illinois Principals Week and Principals DeMent and Lyp are at the Illinois Principals Association Conference. He shared the District's building leaders were recognized with a small gift and also commended the leaders for their dedication in leading the staff and students.
7. CALENDAR YEAR 2023 MEDICAL, DENTAL AND VISION PLANS AND PREMIUMS
Dr. Thiele stated the Insurance Committee is made up of representatives from all employee groups and HUB, the District's insurance consultant. He shared the Committee recommends next year three, instead of six, health insurance plans be offered - a standard PPO Plan, a PPO Plan with an HSA and an HMO Plan. Open enrollment will occur next month and each employee will be provided an analysis comparing the Plan they currently have and the available options for next year, according to Dr. Thiele.
Hank Thiele stated this is an Action Item this evening and the Administration recommends the Board adopt the changes.
8. T99 UPDATE
Hank Thiele provided renderings of the proposed addition to T99, noting enrollment in 2016-2017 was 46 students and the projected enrollment for 2025-2026 is 94 students. He stated the renovations and build out will allow for a maximum of 115 students and will ensure our students stay in our community.
9. RESTRUCTURING OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION
In 2023 Mark Staehlin and Rod Russeau will be retiring and in 2024 Jim Kolodziej will be retiring, a total of 75 years of experience, according to Dr. Thiele. He stated Mr. Russeau's position will be replaced with the new Assistant Superintendent for Learning Resources position; Colleen Davoren, Network Infrastructure Manger, will be promoted to Chief Technology Officer; the position of Director of Business Services will be posted this week; and Lisa Bollow, Director of Special Services, will become the administrator on site at T99. Dr. Thiele stated these changes result in a neutral number of positions.
10. FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUESTS
Dr. Thiele reported the District had Freedom of Information Act requests this month and they are posted on the District's website.
Hank Thiele noted Jill Browning, Lauren Miholic, Juli Gniadek, and he are all undergoing Freedom of Information Act training in order to take that responsibility over from Mark Staehlin.
11. CONSENT AGENDA
Member Pavesich moved and Member Vazquez Drexler seconded the motion for the Board of Education to approve the Consent Agenda as presented which includes: A. Personnel Report - Transfer of Position- Administration; Transfer of Position-Exempt; Transfer of Position-Classified; Appointments-Classified; B. Personnel Report - Retirement-Certified; Resignation-Classified; C. Financial Pages; D. Appointment of DCFS Liaison; E. Educational Tour; and F. Waiver of First Reading and Approval of Board policies 3.57, Assistant Superintendent for Learning Resources; 3.59, Director of Business Services; and 3.71, Chief Technology Officer.
Upon the Secretary's roll call, Members Pavesich, Vazquez Drexler, Davenport, Espinoza, Fuller, Hagstrom and Kupka voted AYE. The President declared the motion carried.
12. APPROVAL OF CALENDAR YEAR 2023 MEDICAL, DENTAL AND VISION PLANS AND PREMIUMS
Member Espinoza moved and Member Vazquez Drexler seconded the motion for the Board of Education to approve the calendar year 2023 Medical, Dental and Vision Plans and Premiums as presented.
Upon the Secretary's roll call, Members Espinoza, Vazquez Drexler, Davenport, Fuller, Hagstrom, Pavesich and Kupka voted AYE. The President declared the motion carried.
13. OLD BUSINESS SECOND READING AND APPROVAL OF POLICIES AND ADMINISTRATIVE
REGULATIONS AND DELETION OF POLICY 4.120
Member Davenport moved and Member Fuller seconded the motion for the Board of Education to approve the Policies and Administrative Regulations as presented and the deletion of Policy 4.120.
2.230, Public Participation at School Board Meetings and Petitions to the Board
3.10, Goals and Objectives
3.63, Director of Student Experiences
3.70, Succession of Authority
4.10, Fiscal and Business Management
5.40, Communicable and Chronic Infectious Disease
5.300, Schedules and Employment Year
6.60, Curriculum Content
6.135, Accelerated Placement Program
.6.140, Education of Homeless Children
6.195, Interscholastic Athletics Activities
7.15, Student and Family Privacy Rights
7.21, Notice of Non-Discrimination and Expectation of a Safe School Environment 7.285, Anaphylaxis Prevention, Response, and Management Program
7.315, Restriction on Publications; High Schools
8.20, Community Use of School Facilities
8.20 AR1, Facility Rental Fees
8.20 AR2, Regulations and General Conditions for Use of District 99 Facilities DELETE-4.120, Food Services
Upon the Secretary's roll call, Members Davenport, Fuller, Hagstrom, Pavesich, Vazquez Drexler, Espinoza and Kupka voted AYE. The President declared the motion carried.
14. NEW BUSINESS
None.
15. RECEPTION OF VISITORS - PUBLIC COMMENT
There were no public comments.
16. REPORT ON LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION NETWORK OF DUPAGE (LEND)
Member Hagstrom reported there is proposed legislation to expand the number of days a retiree can substitute and ISBE is working on the Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning Standards and tying some professional development requirements to teacher licensure.
Dr. Thiele stated he will be representing DuPage County and LEND on ISBE's Committee on Literacy and last week he served on the College of DuPage Student Success Committee.
17. REPORT ON SCHOOL ASSOCIATION FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION IN DUPAGE COUNTY (SASED)
No report.
18. REPORT ON DISTRICT 99 EDUCATION FOUNDATION
Member Pavesich reported the Food Truck Rally ended up in the black and is planned again for next year; Pizza Wars will be in the spring at South High; and Foundation Grant requests are due in November.
19. REPORT ON ILLINOIS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BOARDS (IASB)
Member Espinoza reported the convention is in November and Dr. Thiele stated the DuPage Division meeting is November 2.
President Kupka announced the following meeting dates:
November 7, 2022
November 21, 2022
21. CLOSED SESSION
Workshop Meeting - 6:30 p.m. - ASC
Regular Business Meeting - 6:30 p.m. - ASC
President Kupka announced when the Board comes out of Closed Session they will be taking a vote.
Member Pavesich moved and Member Davenport 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).
Upon the Secretary's roll call, Members Pavesich, Davenport, Espinoza, Fuller, Hagstrom, Vazquez Drexler and Kupka voted AYE. The President declared the motion carried.
The meeting adjourned to Closed Session at 8:09 p.m.
22. 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.
23. APPROVAL Of ResolutioN AUTHORIZING NOTICE TO REMEDY AND 10-DAY SUSPENSION WITHOUT PAY
Member Davenport moved and Member Pavesich seconded the motion for the Board of Education to approve the Resolution Authorizing a Notice to Remedy and 10-day suspension without pay to Melissa Carlson.
Upon the Secretary's roll call, Members Davenport, Pavesich, Vazquez Drexler, Espinoza, Fuller and Hagstrom voted AYE. Member Kupka voted NAY. The President declared the motion carried.
24. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business or discussion, Member Pavesich moved and Member Espinoza 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 8:41 p.m.
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