North Egypt News

Community High School District 99 Board of Education met Jan. 13.

Here is the agenda provided by the board:

The Board of Education, Community High School District 99, met in Workshop Session with Action Item at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, January 13, 2025 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 arrived at 6:40 p.m.

Also present were Hank Thiele, Superintendent; Gina Ziccardi, Associate Superintendent; Rob Lang, Assistant Superintendent for Staff Services; Scott Wuggazer, Assistant Superintendent for Student 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; Courtney DeMent, North High Principal; Arwen Lyp, South High Principal; Student Board Mmbers Rehan Hashim and Jason Trejo; and Juli Gniadek, Secretary.

There were no visitors.

1. STUDENT PERSPECTIVES - T99

Carolina Schoenbeck, T99 Coordinator, explained the goal of T99 is to prepare students for post- secondary and vocational opportunities and to have students out in the community. Jeri Smolek, T99 faculty member, stated the Hospitality Class allows students to explore the food service industry and acknowledged the community partners that welcome T99 students as part of their staff. Ms. Smolek noted students in the Hospitality Class can obtain a Food Handler Certificate which will aide them in getting a job in the community.

Transition 99 Hospitality Class students Chris Cohn, Byron Hodges and Jackson Omari shared how their Guest Lunches, held at T99, came into being and the different roles and responsibilities there are in the preparation and serving of the Guest Lunches. The students invited the Board to join them at their next Guest Lunch on March 5, 2025.

The Board thanked the students for coming to the Board meeting and sharing the information.

2. STUDENT BOARD MEMBER QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS

South High Student Board Member Jason Trejo shared students are working on senior and staff superlatives and expressed student concerns about the parking lot not being cleared after it snows. Rehan Hashim, North High Student Board Member, noted events including Theaterfest, the DECA contest and ILMEA at the end of the month.

3. RECEPTION OF VISITORS-PUBLIC COMMENT

There were no public comments. .

4. PRESENTATION OF DISTRICT 99 EDUCATION FOUNDATION CHECKS TO GRANT RECIPIENTS

Julia Beckman, District 99 Education Foundation President, stated the Foundation has donated close to $1M to the District. Donna Dawson, Foundation Grant Chair, introduced fall grant recipients Marybeth Senser, Phil Culcasi, Steve Zownorega, Colleen Reagan and Chris Rios, and provided information on the projects the grants supported.

Board members congratulated the grant recipients and showed their appreciation to the Foundation for providing the grants.

5. INDICATORS AND MEASURES - HIGH QUALITY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Travis McGuire stated consistent feedback is being gathered from all professional development opportunities to ensure it is of high quality.

Associate Principals for Curriculum and Instruction Jake Giblin (South High) and Keith Palz (North High) explained the professional development provided to certified staff is designed to be relevant and specific to all roles. They provided examples of Personalized Professional Learning (PPL) and Innovation Labs opportunities. Omar Davis (South High) and Ken Sorensen (North High) Associate Principals for Operations spoke about creating professional development opportunities for a diverse group of support staff including CMG staff, security team members, technology staff, paraprofessionals and administrative assistants.

The Board commended the staff for dedicating time to create valuable learning opportunities for the various staff groups. Student Board Member Hashim said he has benefited from teachers sharing their teaching strategies with their colleagues and that the collaboration has a positive effect on students.

6. SCOREBOARD ADVERTISING

According to Travis McGuire, even though the District has made efforts to secure advertising contracts He stated the for the new scoreboards, they have not been able to secure any agreements. Administration is recommending Scoreboard Media, who has a national reach, to secure advertising for the scoreboards. Dr. McGuire stated the District's attorney has reviewed the five year contract, which calls for Scoreboard Media to have exclusive rights to sell advertising and the parties splitting the revenue evenly. He assured the Board Scoreboard Media will follow the District's policy on the type of advertising that will be accepted.

Dr. Thiele stated the agreement with Scoreboard Media will be brought to the Board for approval at the next meeting.

7. REPAIRS TO SIDEWALKS, PARKING LOTS, AND BUS TURNAROUNDS

Dr. McGuire referenced the slides shared with the Board at the December meeting showing the condition of paved areas around the schools. He stated the District needs to submit to ISBE a Resolution stating the Board agrees the condition of the paving is a safety concern.

8. RESOLUTION DETERMINING THE NEED FOR REPAIRS TO SCHOOL SIDEWALKS, PARKING LOTS, OR SCHOOL BUS TURNAROUNDS.

Member Fuller moved and Member Dawson seconded the motion for the Board of Education to adopt the Resolution determining the need for repairs to school sidewalks, parking lots, or school bus turnarounds.

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

9. RECEPTION OF VISITORS-PUBLIC COMMENT

Bobbie Ann Dzado distributed information to the Board and presented a literacy improvement plan which includes removing cell phones from the classroom and removing all books that have specific language/words in them. She also quoted literacy rates from neighboring schools.

Dr. Thiele stated he would forward a digital copy of Ms. Dzado's handout to the Board.

President Renner thanked Ms. Dzado for her comments.

10. CLOSED SESSION

Member Pavesich moved and Member Dawson 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); and 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).

Upon the Secretary's roll call, Members Pavesich, Dawson, Espinoza, Fuller, Hagstrom, 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 8:00 p.m.

11. 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, and Juli Gniadek, Secretary.

12. ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business or discussion, Member Pavesich moved and Member Casten 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 9:31 p.m.

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