North Egypt News

Community High School District 99 Board of Education met Nov. 4.

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, November 4, 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 and Jennie Hagstrom. Member Sherell Fuller was absent.

Also present were Hank Thiele, Superintendent; Gina Ziccardi, Associate Superintendent for Student Learning; 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; Courtney DeMent, North High Principal; Arwen Lyp, South High Principal; Student Board Members Rehan Hashim and Jason Trejo; and Juli Gniadek, Secretary.

There were no visitors.

1. STUDENT PERSPECTIVES – NORTH HIGH SCHOOL

Zain Haque, Araz Bhuyan, Nicholas Filopoulos, Faiyaz Raihan and Kathy Toledano, members of the North High Languages and Cultures Club, shared the meetings bring cultures together, are a safe space for people learning English, and have both social and educational components. Mr. Filopoulos stated the Club is designed to unify, and he likes to say at every meeting, "We rise by lifting others.”

The Board commended the students for creating a welcoming space for students who do not speak English and are from different cultures.

2. GROVE EXPRESS FOUNDATION JUNIOR BOARD MEMBERS

Members of the Grove Express Junior Foundation Board Lily Eddington, Finley Werner, Andjela Culafic and Lily Bowerman informed the Board that the funds raised at the Thanksgiving Day race are donated to the Downers Grove community. They shared how the experience, and the ability to choose a committee, helps prepare them for activities and opportunities outside of school and how their hard work pays off by providing donations to the community and District 99. On race day, a D99 student will sing the National Anthem, both school mascots will be in attendance, and North and South will compete to have the most volunteers and participants at the race, according to the students.

3. STUDENT BOARD MEMBER QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS

Student Board Members Rehan Hashim and Jason Trejo both touted the successes of their fall sports teams, specifically football and volleyball. Mr. Hashim, North High, provided feedback on the Homecoming Dance and possible areas for improvement. The success of the Halloween Fun Fair was shared by South High Student Board Member Trejo.

4. SCHOOL REPORT CARD

Ms. Ziccardi stated again this year both schools received the summative designation of Commendable by the Illinois State Board of Education based on data reported on the Student Report Card. She explained graduation rates make up the bulk of the score and the schools did not have any underperforming subgroups. Both schools showed an improvement in chronic absenteeism and demonstrated improved index scores, with North High increasing from 87.23% to 89.71% and South High from 84.09% to 86.44%, according to Ms. Ziccardi.

Dr. Thiele shared ways to improve the District's index scores include increased staff participation in the spring climate survey, reducing chronic absenteeism, and ensuring 9th grade students are on track.

5. UPDATE ON REVISIONS TO BOARD POLICIES RELATED TO DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT AND COMPLAINTS

Dr. Thiele stated the policies are continuing to be worked on.

6. TEN-YEAR SAFETY SURVEY FINDINGS

Dr. McGuire stated the Ten-Year Safety Survey is required of every district every ten years and District 99's was completed this summer. He explained the District's architects, Wight & Company, will submit the survey documentation to the Regional Office of Education, following the Board vote on the application at the November 18 Board meeting. Travis McGuire presented the items and the cost of the improvements in the three categories: Category A, which needs to be completed in one to two years, will cost $360,000; Category B, with a five year completion, has an estimated cost of $3.6M; and Category C, recommended to be completed in the next ten years, at a price of $1.4M in today's dollars. Jeree Ethridge stated the Fire Safety Fund has some funds in it.

7. RECEPTION OF VISITORS-PUBLIC COMMENT

There were no public comments.

8. 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 six members in attendance, the President declared the motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 7:23 p.m.

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