June 9, 2021 at 7:00 PM - Board of Education - Regular Meeting

Description:  Carol Botwinski, Board President, called the meeting to order at ________________.

Good Evening. With changes to the CDC and IDPH guidance, we are now able to return to in-person Board meetings with seating for the public. Further, individuals who have been fully vaccinated are not required to wear a mask, but may do so if they choose. We will continue to provide a Livestream option for those who wish to view our meeting from home. As appropriate, we may also provide remote participation options for board members, guests, and presenters. 

Description:  PRESENT: Mr. Bednar, Mrs. Botwinski, Mr. Greidanus, Mrs. McClaney, Mr. Novak, Mrs. Paul and Mrs. Peters.

ABSENT: No one.

ALSO PRESENT: Dr. Don Angelaccio, Superintendent, Dr. Amy Zaher, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction, and Mrs. Amy McPartlin, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations.

Description:  We will be led in the Pledge of Allegiance by the MacArthur American Legion Award recipients.
 

Description:  At each regular and special open meeting, members of the public and District employees may comment to or ask questions of the Board of Education. If you would like to address the Board, please complete a Visitor Participation Form and present it to Mrs. O'Donnell, our recording secretary, at this time. The Board will be prepared to address those comments related to the agenda within a reasonable time.

Description:  Congratulations to Ann Walker and Larry Czarkowski for their years of service to District 23.

Description:  Betsy Ross Principal, Craig Curtis, defended his dissertation on May 27 and we congratulate him on earning his doctorate and for this significant accomplishment.

Description:  Mrs. McPartlin has provided an update on the PTO's support of our District staff and families throughout the year.  We thank the PTO for their ongoing contributions during the 2020-21 school year. 

Description:  June 8, 2021: Registration and Housing Opens

Description:  Kevin will report.

Description:  Gonca will report.

Description:  Carol will Report.

Description:  Tonight's Consent Agenda include the approval of the minutes from the Regular Meeting and the Executive Session on May 12, 2021 and the Personnel Report.

 

Description:  Attached is the memo recommending payment of the voucher lists for materials, supplies, and services paid since the last BOE meeting. In addition, the District payments for salaries and insurance benefits during the previous month are included for approval. Those documents are all included for your review.

 

Description:  Mrs. Maria Stavropoulos, Director of Technology and Dr. Amy Zaher, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction will present a summary of technology planning based on data gathered through a COSN peer review process. 

Description:  Dr. Angelaccio will provide a brief overview of data and next steps related to the District 23 plan for Full, in-person return in August.

Description:  At the conclusion of each trimester, the administrative team prepares a summary of Strategic Plan activities that have been completed. Dr. Angelaccio and team have provided the update document. 

Description:  Dr. Angelaccio has provided a memo to update the Board on the status of enrollment. 

Description:  Mrs. McPartlin has shared an update on the 2021 Summer Furniture Orders.  In addition, Amy, along with Dr. Cam Nystrom, Mr. Chris Alms and staff from MacArthur have developed a two-phase plan for updating the furniture in the Library Media Center. 

Description:  At this time, administration recommends cancelling our scheduled July 14, 2021 Board meeting. No action items will be presented and all other Board business can be accomplished without a meeting. 

Description:  Mrs. McPartlin presents a resolution that allows for the transfer of money from the District’s Working Cash Fund to its Operations and Maintenance Fund and, ultimately, to its Capital Projects Fund.  The resolution has been issued to include the amount of $3,006,550.32 which is the amount of bond proceeds that will be deposited in the Working Cash Fund at closing. 

Description:  The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) requires districts to renew their food service contracts on an annual basis. The proposed renewal with Organic Life reflects an overall increase of 3.9%.  This evening, Mrs. McPartlin is requesting the Board's approval of the Food Service contract with Organic Life for the 2021-22 school year.

Description:  The District has currently received two proposals for its Workers Compensation Insurance program for FY22.  Both proposals provide a savings from the FY21 amount.  Following review, Administration is recommending renewing with its current provider (Illinois Counties Risk Management Trust) for an overall savings of 7% from the FY21 rates. 

Description:  Following our Request for Proposal process, Mrs. McPartlin has prepared a recommendation to award Pentegra with the contract to install new audiovisual equipment in each of our schools.  Also attached is a "not to exceed" proposal from City Service Electric, Inc. for the high voltage work required to install the new screens and projectors at each site.  Both proposals will utilize a portion of our ESSER II allocation to create/enhance our large group learning spaces. 

Description:  At each regular and special open meeting, members of the public and District employees may comment to or ask questions of the Board of Education. If you would like to address the Board, please complete a Visitor Participation Form and present it to Mrs. O'Donnell, our recording secretary, at this time. The Board will be prepared to address those comments related to the agenda within a reasonable time.

Description:  Adopting Board Policy 6:185 as presented and recommended by IASB PRESS would provide flexibility in responding to student needs that may not be provided through ISBE resolution. 

Description:  According to Board Policy 2:220, the Board must conduct a semi-annual review of Executive Session Minutes, and also review audio recordings of closed meetings to determine whether:
(1) there continues to be a need for confidentiality, or (2) the recordings no longer require confidential treatment and are available for public inspection. Additionally, after 18 months have passed since being made, the audio recording of a closed meeting is destroyed provided the Board approved its destruction. The Board’s past practice has been to appoint the Secretary to review these minutes in a meeting with the Superintendent and make a recommendation at the following Board meeting.