North Egypt News

Community High School District 99 Board of Education met Sept. 9.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The Board of Education, Community High School District 99, met in Workshop session at 6:33 p.m. on Monday, September 9, 2024 at the Administrative Service Center.

Upon the Secretary's roll call, the following Board members answered present: Don Renner, President; Terry Pavesich, Vice President; and Members Kara Casten, Ken Dawson, Christopher Espinoza, Sherell Fuller and Jennie Hagstrom.

Also present were Hank Thiele, Superintendent; Gina Ziccardi, Associate Superintendent for Student Learning; Scott Wuggazer, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services; Rob Lang, Assistant Superintendent for Staff Services; Travis McGuire, Assistant Superintendent for Learning Resources; Jeree Ethridge, Chief School Business Official; Jill Browning, Chief Communications Officer; Phil Howard, Chief Technology Officer; 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 Rehan Hashim and Jason Trejo; and Juli Gniadek, Secretary.

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

1. STUDENT PERSPECTIVES - NORTH HIGH SCHOOL

Mike Heinz, North High Science Department Chair, who took 20 District 99 students to a Global Leadership Summit, thanked the Board for supporting student travel and for inviting the students to speak to the Board. Mr. Heinz provided information on the Summit held in Berlin, Germany, which focused on water and society. He stated there were 800 students and 300 adults in attendance, with 28 countries and 30 states represented. North High students Megha Nambisan, Leela Khuntia, and Student Board Member Rehan Hashim and South High student Thania Perez-Reyes relayed how they met amazing people, experienced something outside their comfort zone, were able to explore different cultures and made connections in different parts of the world.

The Board thanked the students for sharing their experience.

2. STUDENT BOARD MEMBER QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS

South High Student Board Member Jason Trejo shared the Fall Sports Spectacular was amazing and mentioned the Access Choice Days, where students can receive extra help. North High Student Board Member Rehan Hashim spoke about the Activities Fair, where students can find their niche, and the counselor lessons for seniors on filling out college applications and soliciting letters of recommendation. Mr. Hashim pointed out that North High won against South High in the crosstown football game.

3. TITLE IX TRAINING

Gina Ziccardi, District 99 Title IX Coordinator, introduced Amy Dickerson, attorney with the Franczek law firm, who works with the District Title IX team. Ms. Dickerson presented to the Board updates to the federal statute that governs the process of investigating Title IX complaints for school districts. She stated there were no changes to the statute; only the implementing regulations changed.

4. CLIMATE SURVEY

Dr. Thiele stated the District has been using the 5Essentials survey, which was designed for elementary schools in an urban setting, and is provided to districts at no cost. He stated the District Leadership Team reviewed two other survey tools and recommends replacing the 5Essentials survey with the Comprehensive School Climate Inventory (CSCI) at a cost of $2,000 per school. The Board had no objections to the District declaring CSCI as its climate survey tool when ISBE opens the selection window.

5. 2024-2025 BUDGET UPDATE

When the budget was brought to the Board at its last meeting there was a $300,000 deficit, according to Dr. Thiele, and the District has made $200,000 in reductions since then. He stated the District has since learned from the State there will be a 32.6% decrease in CPPRT, which will result in an additional $400,000 decrease in revenue. Hank Thiele stated he is recommending the budget as is, with a $500,000 deficit. The Board discussed the implications of cutting $500,000 out of the budget and the consensus of the Board was to proceed with the deficit budget for this year.

6. SUMMER SCHOOL AND EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR (ESY) REPORT

Ryan Doherty shared 329 students participated in Summer School and 55 students took online credit recovery courses, with eight of those students graduating at the end of the summer. He stated grade distribution is consistent with that of the school year, there was an increase in enrollment in enrichment courses, and the main reasons students attended Summer School is for credit recovery and enrichment.

Lisa Bollow explained Extended School Year (ESY) is designed for special education students to help them maintain their skills over the summer. She shared this is the first year ESY has been held in the remodeled and expanded T99 building and 93 students participated. Of particular note, according to Ms. Bollow, was that 85% of the staff for the ESY program were regular District 99 staff members.

7. TENTATIVE SUPERINTENDENT LEADERSHIP EVENTS 2024-2025

Dr. Thiele presented the tentative list of leadership events he planned on attending this year as part of the Board's goal for him to be active and involved in local and national organizations. He noted Dr. Lang and he are presenting at the IASA Conference and he is presenting at the AASA Conference. The consensus of the Board was that Dr. Thiele should attend the conferences as presented.

8. RECEPTION OF VISITORS-PUBLIC COMMENT

A Public Comment was submitted via the online Public Comment Form; the Comment is attached. There were no other public comments.

9. CLOSED SESSION

Member Fuller moved and Member Dawson seconded the motion that the meeting be adjourned to Closed Session for the purpose of discussing collective negotiating matters between the District and its employees or their representatives, or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees.

Upon the Secretary's roll call, Members Fuller, Dawson, Espinoza, Hagstrom, Pavesich, Casten and Renner voted AYE. The President declared the motion carried.

President Renner stated after coming out of Closed Session the Board will not be taking any Action, other than to Adjourn.

The meeting adjourned to Closed Session at 7:55 p.m.

10. RECONVENE TO REGULAR SESSION

The meeting was reconvened in Open Session with the following members of the Board of Education in attendance: Don Renner, President; Terry Pavesich, Vice President; and Members Kara Casten, Ken Dawson, Christopher Espinoza, Sherell Fuller and Jennie Hagstrom.

Also present were Hank Thiele, Superintendent; Gina Ziccardi, Associate Superintendent for Student Learning; Scott Wuggazer, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services; Rob Lang, Assistant Superintendent for Staff Services; Jeree Ethridge, Chief School Business Official; and Juli Gniadek, Secretary.

11. ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business or discussion, Member Pavesich 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 9:37 p.m.

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