North Egypt News

Community High School District 99 Board of Education met Nov. 18.

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, November 18, 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; Tammy Maksa, Director of Business Services; Courtney DeMent, North High Principal; Arwen Lyp, South High Principal; Student Board Member Jason Trejo; and Juli Gniadek, Secretary.

There were no visitors.

SUPERINTENDENT ITEM - RECOGNITION

Dr. Thiele stated last Friday was School Board Members Day. He recognized the Board and thanked them for all they do to support the students and staff of District 99. Dr. Thiele noted Board members are volunteers.

Those in attendance thanked the Board for their service to District 99.

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Member Pavesich moved and Member Dawson seconded the motion that the Board of Education approve the Minutes of the October 21, 2024 Business Meeting; the October 21, 2024 Closed Meeting; and the November 4, 2024 Workshop Meeting.

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

3. RECEPTION OF VISITORS-PUBLIC COMMENT

There were no public comments.

4. CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE

South High Associate Principal Jake Giblin shared the past criteria for participation in Capstone Courses included taking two of the following: an AP or dual credit course, the highest level course in a pathway, or an honors level/grade weighted course. He provided data on enrollment in Capstone Courses by year for the past five years, with the average being 33.3% of total school enrollment. Keith Palz, North High Associate Principal, stated the District is now looking at cohort data instead of annual data and presented the new criteria for determining participation in a Capstone Course, which includes having one of the following: a career based work experience, an individual student experience, or any of the previous criteria listed. He stated, for the Class of 2023 through the Class of 2025 (estimate), the average percent of graduates enrolling in a Capstone Experience was 95.0%.

5. 9TH GRADE ON TRACK AND PSAT/SAT

Gina Ziccardi stated 9th Grade on Track comprises 8.33% and SAT 15% of the District's School Report Card designation. The State defines 9th Grade on Track as earning five credits without Summer School and not failing more than one semester of a core course, according to Ms. Ziccardi. Data presented by Gina Ziccardi showed 96.3% of 2023-2024 freshmen were on track, which is higher than last year and higher than the District 99 five year average.

Ms. Ziccardi presented data on the percentage of students who meet or exceed Illinois benchmark SAT scores in Evidence Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) and Math. She pointed out District 99, State of Illinois, and DuPage County High School District percentages, for both EBRW and Math, are slightly down this year. Gina Ziccardi provided data on the Class of 2025 average growth from the PSAT 8/9 to the PSAT 10 to the SAT for students who were in District 99 for all three tests.

6. FACILITY AND CAPITAL PLANNING 2025-2026

Dr. McGuire reviewed items that will come out of the FY26 budget, including District-wide purchases ($312,000) of large repair and maintenance services; bleacher inspections and repairs; FFE; grounds repairs; fieldhouse painting; and two driver education vehicles. Building specific items in the FY26 budget, according to Travis McGuire, include additional BluePoint items, garage rooftop replacement and new 3rd floor bridge windows at North High ($305,500) and, at South High ($250,000), classroom divider walls, furniture and flooring. He shared new fieldhouse flooring will come out of the FY27 budget and is planned for the summer of 2026. Dr. McGuire stated Fire Prevention and Safety Funds will be used for paving and energy conservation measures, including solar panels and LED lighting. Dr. McGuire stated ISBE requires a Public Hearing if Fire Prevention and Safety Funds are used for paving.

7. SCHOOL MAINTENANCE PROJECT GRANT APPLICATION

Jeree Ethridge shared funds from the grant will be used for the garage roof replacement at North High. She stated the application requires Board approval and the Board must commit $50,000 to the project. Dr. Thiele stated this is an Action Item this evening.

8. TENTATIVE 2024 TAX LEVY

The Board will be asked to approve the tentative levy at this meeting, at the December meeting the Administration will seek approval of the final levy and in April the District will receive the final levy figures from the County, according to Ms. Ethridge. She stated the proposed increase is 4.24%, which includes Debt Service. Ms. Ethridge noted, since the increase is less than 5%, the District does not need to hold a hearing.

9. IASB RESOLUTIONS AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

Member Dawson stated he is honored to be District 99's representative at the delegate assembly at the Joint Annual Conference. He reviewed the six Resolutions the IASB Resolutions Committee is recommending for adoption. A list of the Resolutions the Committee was not recommending was displayed. Dr. Thiele inquired if any Board member believed Member Dawson should vote against any of the Committee's recommendations. No Board member had objections to Member Dawson voting as the IASB Resolutions Committee recommended.

10. FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUESTS

Dr. Thiele reported the District received and responded to Freedom of Information Act requests and they are posted on the District's website.

11. CONSENT AGENDA

Member Espinoza moved and Member Dawson seconded the motion for the Board of Education to approve the Consent Agenda as presented which includes: A. Personnel Report - Appointment- Certified; Leave of Absence-Certified; Appointment-Classified; B. Personnel Report - Retirement- Certified; Resignation-Classified; C. October Financial Pages; D. Student Trip; E. Resolution of Statement of Completion for Health/Life Safety Amendment - Amendment #9; F. Acceptance of Donation - District 99 Education Foundation.

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

Dr. Thiele and the Board thanked the Foundation for their generous donation.

12. APPROVAL OF SCHOOL MAINTENANCE PROJECT GRANT APPLICATION

Member Pavesich moved and Member Fuller seconded the motion for the Board of Education to approve the School Maintenance Project Grant Application, as presented.

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

13. APPROVAL OF TENTATIVE 2024 TAX LEVY

Member Pavesich moved and Member Espinoza seconded the motion for the Board of Education to approve the Tentative 2024 Tax Levy in the amount of $112,670,385, as presented.

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

14. OLD BUSINESS

None.

15. NEW BUSINESS

None.

16. RECEPTION OF VISITORS - PUBLIC COMMENT

There were no public comments.

17. REPORT ON LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION NETWORK OF DUPAGE (LEND)

Member Hagstrom reported Representative Bill Foster was a guest at the October 25, 2024 meeting. She stated he provided several reasons why he was not in favor of eliminating the U.S. Department of Education. The feasibility of a specific license for school bus drivers was also discussed, according to Member Hagstrom.

18. REPORT ON SCHOOL ASSOCIATION FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION IN DUPAGE COUNTY (SASED)

Dr. Thiele reported SASED has been performing facility studies.

19. REPORT ON DISTRICT 99 EDUCATION FOUNDATION

No report.

20. REPORT ON ILLINOIS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BOARDS (IASB)

Member Dawson shared he is looking forward to the workshops, learning about best practice and networking at the Joint Annual Conference this weekend.

21. REPORT ON DOWNERS GROVE PLAN COMMISSION

Member Fuller reported there are two new commissioners.

22. SUPERINTENDENT STATEMENT

Dr. Thiele stated the Administration recommends canceling the December 2 Workshop meeting. There were no objections from the Board.

23. UPCOMING BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING

President Renner announced the following meeting date:

December 16, 2024 Regular Business Meeting - 6:30 p.m. – ASC

24. ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business or discussion, Member Espinoza moved and Member Dawson 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 7:50 p.m.

https://go.boarddocs.com/il/csd99/Board.nsf/Public