North Egypt News

Community High School District 99 Board of Education met Feb. 3.

Here are the minutes 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, February 3, 2025 at the Administrative Service Center.

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

Also present were Hank Thiele, Superintendent; Gina Ziccardi, Associate Superintendent; 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 – SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL

DeAngelo Gerald, South High Dean and Black Student Union (BSU) sponsor, shared purposes of the BSU include promoting cultural awareness, providing a safe space and breaking stereotypes. He noted all students are accepted in the BSU, not just Black students. Ky'm Young, South High senior and BSU Vice President, relayed how important meetings with the deans and administration are in making the students feel more connected. Going forward, according to Ms. Young, the BSU would like to grow the number of male members and increase school-wide awareness of the club.

The Board thanked Mr. Gerald and Ms. Young for their presentation.

2. STUDENT BOARD MEMBER QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS

Both Mr. Hashim and Mr. Trejo spoke positively about the incoming freshman night held at both schools. North High Student Board Member Rehan Hashim shared 22 DECA students went to State. Jason Trejo, South High Student Board Member, noted the Black History Month showcase will be occurring during Resource on February 5 and 6.

3. RECEPTION OF VISITORS - PUBLIC COMMENT

There were no public comments.

4. AI IN THE SCHOOLS

Dr. Lang shared AI professional development is ongoing for staff to learn the possibilities for AI use in the classroom, such as for differentiated instruction and feedback on learning. Lisa Lichtman, North High Instructional Coordinator, provided information on the roll out of AI for staff use and noted the tools currently being used by staff are MagicSchool and Diffit. Staff members Ryan Reyes, South High English teacher; Milanka Vasilic, North High EL Social Studies teacher; Diana Baukol, South High Spanish teacher; and Paula Fernandez, Instructional Coach and Diversified Instruction instructor; explained how they are using AI in the classroom to support student learning. Keith Palz, North High Associate Principal, summarized the takeaways from the Listening Sessions on AI at both schools, which included: the need for clear guidance, AI literacy is essential, the need to support those who are hesitant to use AI, and ensuring academic integrity on the part of students.

The Student Board Members shared examples of how they have used AI.

5. DATA FROM JANUARY 6, 2025 INSTITUTE DAY - RELATIONSHIP MAPPING

Dr. DeMent and Ms. Lyp presented data from the Relationship Mapping exercise all staff members completed, which consisted of individuals marking which students, from a list of the entire student body, the staff member has a trusting relationship with. Data reported by the Principals, based on the exercise completed by staff, includes: North High students have an average of 6.9 relationships and South High students have 6.8; 170 North High students and 154 South High students have 0-1 relationships; freshman have the fewest relationships; females have more relationships than males; free and reduced lunch status has no impact on the number of relationships a student has; and a student with only 0-1 relationships is not an indicator of low grades.

Courtney DeMent stated in both buildings the names of the students with 0-1 relationships was provided to staff. Arwen Lyp shared the CSSS staff is taking the lead on connecting with these students. Additionally, Ms. Lyp noted Access teachers at South High and North High will be asked to interview their students who are not involved in athletics or activities to learn if there are barriers preventing student involvement.

6. 2025-2026 STUDENT FEES - NO CHANGE

Dr. Thiele stated no fee increase is recommended for next year and therefore no Action is required.

7. SCOREBOARD ADVERTISING

Dr. McGuire stated, based on direction from the Board, he has negotiated a revised contract with Scoreboard Media. The new contract contains an exit clause so that after 18 months, if Scoreboard Media has not met 75% of the anticipated gross revenue, the District can exit the contract. He noted the revised contract also includes a stipulation that the post-termination commission is based on the percent of advertising sold.

8. APPROVAL OF MEDIA LICENSE AGREEMENT WITH SCOREBOARD MEDIA

Member Fuller moved and Member Hagstrom seconded the motion for the Board of Education to approve the Media License Agreement with Scoreboard Media.

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

9. RECEPTION OF VISITORS - PUBLIC COMMENT

There were no public comments.

10. CLOSED SESSION

Member Espinoza moved and Member Hagstrom 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).

Upon the Secretary's roll call, Members Espinoza, Hagstrom, Fuller 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 8:15 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; and Members Christopher Espinoza, Sherell Fuller and Jennie Hagstrom. Terry Pavesich, Vice President, and Members Kara Casten and Ken Dawson were absent.

Also present were Hank Thiele, Superintendent; Gina Ziccardi, Associate Superintendent; and Juli Gniadek, Secretary.

12. ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business or discussion, Member Fuller moved and Member Hagstrom seconded the motion that the meeting be adjourned. Upon the unanimous voice vote of the four members in attendance, the President declared the motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 9:29 p.m.

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