Community High School District 99 Board of Education met Dec. 12.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
The Board of Education, Community High School District 99, met in regular session at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, December 12, 2022 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, Jennie Hagstrom, Terry Pavesich and Joanna Vazquez Drexler. Member Sherell Fuller arrived at 6:45 p.m.
Also present were Hank Thiele, Superintendent; Gina Ziccardi, Associate Superintendent for Student Learning; Scott Wuggazer, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services; Mark Staehlin, District Controller; Jeree Ethridge, Chief School Business Official; Jill Browning, Director of Communications; Courtney DeMent, North High Principal; Arwen Lyp, South High Principal; Student Board Members Luka Paulauskas and Kaitlyn Vincent; and Juli Gniadek, Secretary.
There were two visitors. A copy of the Visitor Roster is attached.
1. STUDENT PERSPECTIVES - SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL
South High students Catherine Hewawissa, Johanna Rodeck, Dante Chavez, Kai Kim and Juliana Urgello, who are all members of Changemakers, presented to the Board on the Intergenerational Workshop that was held on two block days in November. They explained students and staff were partnered to share stories about, "A Memorable Day You had as a Student." Positive takeaways the students shared from the experience included being more comfortable in the hallway, reforming a bond with a past teacher, being 'eye to eye' with a teacher, getting to know another teacher, a sense of community and gaining a different perspective on people.
Mr. Val Vetri and Ms. Inma Galan, Changemakers sponsors, shared staff feedback on the activity, which included that it was meaningful, good to engage with students outside of instructional time, a powerful moment and that they had similar experiences as the students at the same age.
Ms. Lyp noted the connection to the District's Strategic Plan of providing a belonging and caring environment as well as a rigorous curriculum.
The Board thanked the students for sharing their experience and leading the activity.
2. STUDENT BOARD MEMBER QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS
North High Student Board Member Luka Paulauskas shared some of the activities North High students are participating in to help others during the holidays, which include, collecting Toys for Tots at a boys' and girls' basketball game; the IWILL Club collecting used holiday lights; and the Empowerment Club purchasing and stuffing stockings. A gingerbread house competition and snow globe pictures are some of the festivities planned, according to Student Board Member Paulauskas.
Kaitlyn Vincent, South High Student Board Member, spoke about the holiday play and cocoa in the Commons. She mentioned the upcoming North versus South girls' basketball game, final exams and that everyone is looking forward to break.
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Member Pavesich moved and Member Fuller seconded the motion that the Board of Education approve the Minutes of the November 21, 2022 Business Meeting and the December 5, 2022 Closed Meeting.
Upon the Secretary's roll call, Members Pavesich, Fuller, Hagstrom, Vazquez Drexler, Davenport, Espinoza and Kupka voted AYE. The President declared the motion carried.
4. RECEPTION OF VISITORS-PUBLIC COMMENT
There were no public comments.
5. CONSENT AGENDA
President Kupka and the Board recognized Glenn Berg, South High alum, for the Berg family donation in honor of Carole Berg. Mr. Berg provided background on the Berg family in Woodridge, his experience at South High, and his mother, Carole Berg. He stated the family is thrilled his mother's art supplies are being donated to the school. The Board thanked Mr. Berg for the generous donation.
President Kupka recognized the donation by Beth Renchin for the girls' varsity soccer team.
Member Davenport 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 Appointment-Administration; Transfer of Position-Classified; Leave
Leave of Absence-Classified; Appointment-Classified; B. Personnel Report Retirements-Certified; Retirements-Classified; C. Financial Pages; D. Student Tour; E. Acceptance of Donation - In Honor of Carole Berg from the Berg Family; and F. Acceptance of Donation - Beth Renchin.
Upon the Secretary's roll call, Members Davenport, Vazquez Drexler, Espinoza, Fuller, Hagstrom, Pavesich and Kupka voted AYE. The President declared the motion carried.
6. 2023-2024 CURRICULUM PROPOSALS
Gina Ziccardi stated there are four new courses being proposed and three course title changes being recommended.
Pat Fardy, South High CTE Chair, and Brian Veit, North High CTE Chair, presented the name change of the course Keyboarding/Keyboarding Lunch to Keyboarding Technology. They stated the new course will be a dual credit course through COD and will qualify as general education credit.
South High Fine Arts Chair Jerry Lowrey presented the course name change of Digital Music to Digital Production, which will now make evident a tangible career pathway. He also shared a change in the name of Singers Lab to Singer's Studio, in an effort to bring more students into the Fine Arts who may not want to participate in a choir or perform in public.
Chris Esposito, South High Social Studies Chair, and Mike Roethler, North High Social Studies Chair, introduced Civics, Economics & Society, a course for English Learners (EL). They explained this new course will meet the third year social studies, civics and consumer education graduation requirements while providing supports to EL students.
South High English Department Chair Tracy Sebastian introduced Speech Communication, a dual credit course through COD, and a course that most colleges require. She stated the Forensics and Oral Interpretation courses, which ran sporadically, will be eliminated.
Courtney White, North High P.E. Department Chair, and Scott Lange, South High P.E. Department Chair, shared information on Blended Wellness, a course for 11th and 12th graders who possess good time management skills and desire to free up more time during the day. They stated the class will include a curriculum with quizzes; a requirement of 150 minutes of exercise per week, which will be tracked with a fitness tracker; and individual meetings with the teacher every other week.
Karen Eder and Mike Heinz, South High and North High Science Department Chairs, respectively, presented Earth and Space Science, which will also have an Honors option. They stated Physical Science courses will be eliminated. The Chairs shared this additional option will offer students more choices in general, freshmen will have the option of taking either Earth and Space Science or Biology, and the additional course will move the District away from a sequence model.
Dr. Thiele stated this is an Action Item later.
7. HYBRID BLOCK SCHEDULE SURVEY
Ryan Doherty, Director of Student Experiences, shared the survey responses will also be provided to an outside consultant to ensure there is no bias. Mr. Doherty presented the context of what had occurred with the new schedule at the time the survey was administered, which was ten weeks into the school year.
Comments that reflected student, staff and family voices were presented by Ryan Doherty as well as the following recommendations that can be implemented this year: making the 'Student Support with a Pass' day consistent; providing ACCESS lessons, when possible, in a non-video format and differentiated by grade level; providing more time for 1:1 help in ACCESS; moving counselor presentations to ACCESS classrooms instead of large areas; and providing teachers more department time during Resource to apply the professional learning they have acquired.
Mr. Doherty also shared some areas of future focus that included changing the start time of 'C' lunch, rectifying the imbalance of academic courses for some students, adding enrichment courses and offering group study sessions. He stated he will be working with groups during January, February and March to obtain constant feedback and a survey will be administered again in March.
8. 2022 TAX LEVY REQUEST
Mark Staehlin stated the District had a Truth in Taxation Hearing and shared CPI over the last 10 years has averaged 2.2%, and that for the first time in 30 years, it is greater than 5%. Mr. Staehlin explained there is a cap of 5% on existing properties, even though the CPI is 7%, and that the District is requesting a Levy of 8%, which includes an additional 3% for new construction. He noted the District will not receive the full 8%. Mr. Staehlin stated there is an Action Item to approve the Levy.
Mr. Staehlin notified the Board that the District is required to provide the Board its Statement of Position at the time of the Levy request. He stated District 99 has been providing this monthly for 30 years.
9. FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUESTS
Dr. Thiele reported the District received and responded to Freedom of Information Act requests this month and they are posted on the District's website.
10. APPROVAL OF THE 2023-2024 CURRICULUM PROPOSALS
Member Espinoza moved and Member Pavesich seconded the motion for the Board of Education to approve the 2023-2024 Curriculum Proposals as presented.
Upon the Secretary's roll call, Members Espinoza, Pavesich, Vazquez Drexler, Davenport, Fuller, Hagstrom and Kupka voted AYE.
11. APPROVAL OF THE 2022 TAX LEVY
Member Vazquez Drexler moved and Member Espinoza seconded the motion for the Board of Education to approve the Certificate of Tax Levy, the Certification of Certificate of Tax Levy, and the Certificate of Compliance with the Truth in Taxation Law as presented.
Upon the Secretary's roll call, Members Vazquez Drexler, Espinoza, Fuller, Hagstrom, Pavesich, Davenport and Kupka voted AYE. The President declared the motion carried.
12. OLD BUSINESS
None.
13. NEW BUSINESS
None.
14. RECEPTION OF VISITORS - PUBLIC COMMENT
Glenn Berg addressed the Board, drawing from his experience giving surveys, and made some recommendations regarding follow up to the District's survey.
15. REPORT ON LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION NETWORK OF DUPAGE (LEND)
No report.
16. REPORT ON SCHOOL ASSOCIATION FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION IN DUPAGE COUNTY (SASED)
Member Vazquez Drexler reported SASED has seen a decrease in enrollment for the 2022-2023 school year, but anticipates a possible increase in January 2023. She also shared SASED is moving from a Board of Control, that includes school board members and superintendents, to a Board of Directors comprised solely of superintendents; and a Board of Governance which will be made up of school board members.
17. REPORT ON DISTRICT 99 EDUCATION FOUNDATION
No report.
18. REPORT ON ILLINOIS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BOARDS (IASB)
No report.
19. UPCOMING BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETINGS
President Kupka announced the following meeting dates:
January 9, 2023
January 23, 2023
20. ADJOURNMENT
Workshop Meeting - 6:30 p.m. - ASC
Regular Business Meeting - 6:30 p.m. - ASC
There being no further business or discussion, Member Davenport moved and Member Vazquez Drexler 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 9:03 p.m.
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