December 12, 2023 at 7:00 PM - Regular Meeting

Description:  Per Policy 2:230 Public Comments at Board of Education Meetings and Petitions to the Board 
At each regular and special open meeting, the members of the public and District employees may comment on or ask questions of the Board, subject to reasonable constraints. 
The individuals appearing before the Board are expected to follow these guidelines: 

1. Such a person shall submit a request in writing to the Board Secretary to address the Board. Such a request shall be received at least five (5) working days prior to the Board meeting and shall include said reason for the request.
2. At the meeting, a person who has complied with number 1 above shall inform the Board Secretary of his/her presence at the meeting.
3. Address the Board only at the appropriate time as indicated on the agenda and when recognized by the Board President.
4. Identify oneself and be brief. Ordinarily, such comments shall be limited to five minutes.  In unusual circumstances, and when an individual has made a request in advance to speak for a longer period of time, the individual may be allowed to speak for more than five minutes. 
5. The Board President may shorten or lengthen an individual’s opportunity to speak.  The President may also deny an individual the opportunity if the individual has previously addressed the Board on the same subject within the past 2 months. 
6. The Board President shall have the authority to determine procedural matters regarding public participation not otherwise defined in Board of Education policy. 
7. Conduct oneself with respect and civility toward others and otherwise abide by Board policy, 8:30, Visitors to and Conduct on School Property. 

Petitions or written correspondence to the Board shall be presented to the Board of Education in the next regular Board packet unless the Superintendent deems the matter to be urgent. 
 

Description: 

On Tuesday evening we will be recognizing Mrs. Sharon Bruemmer and Mrs. Shannon Detman who have been instrumental in our partnership with Citgo Refinery in Lemont.  

Description:  We will be recognizing the KG students of the month and Chess Club members.

Description: 

We have received two requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act.  The first request was asking for our most recent Indoor air Quality Assessment (IQA) and the second request was requesting information about our district literacy program.  See attached for the requests and responses.

 

Description:  Attached is the suspension report for Kelvin Grove for month of November 2023.  There were no suspensions at Milne Grove for the month of November 2023.

Description:  I have included this item on the agenda for those who attended the conference to share any information from the sessions attended with the other members during the meeting on Tuesday.

Description: 

Below is a list of revised/new/updated policies and exhibits from Press Policy Issue 113 are being brought to the Board of Education for a first reading as a part of the January committee of the whole meeting. Please look over the included update memo and the policies.  A board discussion will take place before the January board meeting to discuss and finalize any changes (if any).  Changes will be made as the Board deems necessary and submitted for official Board approval as part of the January board meeting.

 

Description:  Attached you will find a tentative list of winter break projects that have been identified by Mr. Pierson to be completed when students are not in session. Please be prepared to ask any questions you may have on the items listed. 

Description: 

Included are documents regarding the 2023 Final Levy. The information being presented today is for the approval of the final levy.  The following forms and documents are included:

2023 Certificate of Tax Levy - This is the actual levy document that, if approved, will be submitted to the Will county clerk. 

2022 Levy Resolutions - These are the resolutions and certifications for adopting the levy that are included in the submittal to the Will county clerk.

1. Certificate of Compliance with Truth in Taxation

   1. Certificate of Publication

   2. Truth in Taxation Notice

2. Certificate of Tax Levy Ordinance

2022 Tax Extension Worksheet - This shows detailed information on estimates, comparisons to prior year’s extension, and the different levies. 

 

Below are definitions of terms that may be helpful in the discussion:

Levy - Amount of property tax revenue requested

Extension - Amount of property tax revenue approved

EAV-Equalized Assessed Valuation. This is very close to 1/3rd of Fair Market Value of properties. New Construction - New property on the "tax rolls". This could include construction, improvements, annexations, and TIF dissolutions. 

Tax Rate-Rate applied to EAV to result in extension. Tax rate = Extension/EAV

CPI - Consumer Price Index (All Urban Consumers). This is essentially the rate of inflation used. 

PTELL-Property Tax Extension Limitation Law. This law caps the amount of revenue the district may receive from property taxes. 

Limiting Rate - the tax rate calculated by PTELL that, in essence, caps the current year extension by the rate of inflation

 

A few minor reminders regarding the tax levy: 

• At least 20 days before the District adopts the levy, the Board must estimate the amount of the levy. If the estimated amount is more than 105% of the amount extended for last year’s levy, the district must conduct a Truth in Taxation hearing. 

• Bond and Interest is not levied by the district; this was setup when debt was incurred and the county will extend the taxes necessary. 

• The requested levy needs to provide enough contingency in order to protect against incorrect estimated New Construction and potential change in existing EAV. Otherwise, loss of revenue can occur.

•  Specific fund estimates are determined based on fund balances, expenditures, and other revenues. 

• Existing properties, in aggregate, are increasing at the rate of CPI (inflation), 5%. 

• This does not mean that individual property taxes will increase by 5%. Each individual property tax will change based on the changes in assessed value. 

 

Description:  On Tuesday evening we will discuss the bid recommendation.  Please see attached for the recommendation from the architect.

Description: 

RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the IPRF (Illinois Public Risk Fund) Contract for Workers’ Compensation in the amount of $26,210.
BACKGROUND:
The District has had a contract with  the IPRF since July of 2012 for workers’ compensation. To date we have been very pleased with the service we have been provided with through IPRF. The premium cost from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023 was $20,139.00.
The proposal we received for January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024 is $26,210. In addition, we have received a preferred loss ratio grant in the amount $2,684.  The increase is due to the increase in payrolls for Class Code 9101 and 8868, which are estimates not actual.  We will be reviewing the payroll numbers again and resubmitting new numbers if necessary, since the rates are generated off our projected payroll numbers.
It is my recommendation that the Board of Education approve the contract for workers’ compensation services through Illinois Public Risk Fund for January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024.

Description:  The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the District or legal counsel for the District, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee or against legal counsel for the District to determine its validity. [1] However, a meeting to consider an increase in compensation to a specific employee of a public body that is subject to the Local Government Wage Increase Transparency Act may not be closed and shall be open to the public and posted and held in accordance the [the Open Meetings Act].  5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1), as amended by P.A. 99-646