North Egypt News

Community High School District 99 Board of Education met March 6.

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. on Monday, March 6, 2023 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; Jill Browning, Director of Communications; Jeff Bergholtz, Director of Human Resources; Arwen Lyp, South High Principal; Student Board Members Luka Paulauskas and Kaitlyn Vincent; and Juli Gniadek, Secretary.

There was one visitor. A copy of the Visitor Roster is attached.

1. STUDENT PERSPECTIVES

North High students Amneet Kaur and Kate Peterson, who are members of the North High Chapter of the Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA), spoke about how the Club prepares students to be leaders and for future careers by teaching skills that can be used outside of class and apply to the real world. The students shared their experiences at the State competition, where eleven North High students placed in the top ten in their events and four students placed in the top four, which qualified them for nationals.

The Board thanked the students for their presentation.

2. STUDENT BOARD MEMBER QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS

Luka Paulauskas, North High Student Board Member, shared the successes of the Varsity Scholastic Bowl Team, Boys Swim and Dive Team and the Boys Basketball Team. She noted upcoming events at North include the musical Chicago, Women's History Month activities and the Pretty in Purple Fashion Show. South High Student Board Member Kaitlyn Vincent shared the Winter Dance had the largest attendance in school history and the Girls Gymnastics Team won State. Respect Week, which is intended to foster belonging, and the Orchesis Show are approaching events at South High, per Ms. Vincent.

3. 2023-2024 STAFFING RECOMMENDATIONS

Dr. Lang explained the recommendations made this evening are outside the sectioning process, where staffing is determined by student course requests. He stated 3.2 FTE of the requested 4.0 FTE is tied to growth in the Special Services Department and at T99 - specifically a total of .8 FTE for Special Services Coordinators at the buildings; and at T99, based on increased enrollment, a 1.0 FTE District Outplacement Coordinator, a 1.0 FTE Teacher and .4 FTE Speech Language Pathologist. Also, according to Rob Lang, administration is recommending 1.0 FTE to make the PATH Coordinator position in both buildings full time.

4. MARCH 3, 2023 INSTITUTE DAY - STAFF DEVELOPMENT FOR SUPPORT STAFF

Dr. Thiele shared on March 3 all District staff members had planned institute activities, which included a conference specifically designed for support staff. Jeff Bergholtz shared Scott Wuggazer; Maria Georgiou, Support Staff Association President; and he chair a Support Staff Professional Learning Committee, comprised of administration and support staff representatives, to learn the interests and needs of support staff, and, based on that input, developed the schedule for March 3. Mr. Bergholtz presented the support staff schedule for March 3, noting there were three keynote speakers in the morning covering Restorative Practices, Equity Practices and Trauma Informed Practices. He shared the afternoon focused on training for the specific employee groups. Dr. Lang pointed out, previously, Institute Days were for teachers only, but District 99 has moved to invite support staff to participate in Institute Day activities throughout the year. He stated March 3 is the first time a full day of professional activities was planned specifically for support staff on an Institute Day.

5. RECEPTION OF VISITORS - PUBLIC COMMENT

There were no public comments.

6. CLOSED SESSION

Member Davenport moved and Member Fuller 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); collective negotiating matters between the District and its employees or their representatives, or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(2); 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, Fuller, Hagstrom, Pavesich, Vazquez Drexler, Espinoza and Kupka voted AYE. The President declared the motion carried.

President Kupka stated, after the Closed Session, the Board would reconvene in Open Session to adjourn and no Action would be taken.

The meeting adjourned to Closed Session at 7:19 p.m.

7. 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.

8. ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business or discussion, Member Davenport moved and Member Fuller 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 8:21 p.m.

https://www.csd99.org/boe/past-meeting-minutes