September 9, 2024 at 6:00 PM - Regular Board Meeting Revised

1. Call to Order of Regular Board meeting at 6:00 p.m.

2. Roll Call

3. Pledge of Allegiance:  Marquette Elementary students

4. Approval of Agenda

5. The Mission of the Harlem Consolidated School District, as a vital part of the community, is to help diverse learners realize their unlimited potential by providing an educational program dedicated to academic excellence and the development of strong character in a safe and respectful learning environment.

7. Jason Blume, Assistant Superintendent for Communications & Community Relations

7.A. Awards and Recognitions

7.B. A moment of silence for Marquette Elementary Assistant Principal, Monica McWilliams, who passed away on August 27, 2024.

8. Comments from the Community

9. Approval of Bills

9.A. Payables Summary

9.B. Voided Checks

9.C. Payroll Voucher(s)

9.D. Accounts Payable Warrants

10. Communications and Committee Reports

10.A. Evelyn Meeks, Secretary

10.A.1. Next Equity & Social Justice Meeting:     September 4, 2024 @ 4:30 p.m.

10.B. Aaron McKnight, Board member

10.C. Rebecca Carlson, Board member

10.D. Larry Smith, Board member

10.D.1. Next Education Committee meeting:     September 4, 2024 at 4:30 p.m.

10.E. Megan Hastings, Board Member

10.F. Michael Sterling, President

10.F.1. Next Regular Board Meeting:     September 23, 2024 @ 6:00 p.m. (Public Hearing at 5:40 p.m.)

10.F.2. Next Policy Committee Meeting:     September 4, 2024 at 4:30 p.m.

10.F.3. Recommendation to release closed redacted minutes from January 1, 2024 through June 30, 2024

10.G. Kurt Thompson, Vice President

10.G.1. Next Business Services Committee meeting:     September 4, 2024 at 4:30 p.m.

11. Administrative Reports

11.A. Dr. Michelle Erb, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction

11.A.1. Recommendation to approve Student Travel Requests:

11.B. Josh Aurand, Assistant Superintendent for Business & Operations, Chief School Business Official

11.B.1. Recommendation to approve Resolution Declaring Surplus Property:

11.B.2. Recommendation to approve Facility Requests:

11.B.3. Recommendation to approve an Independent Contractor Agreement with Soy Bilingual Therapy LLC to provide speech and language testing and evaluation reports for 2024-25 school year at $1,000 per K-2 grade students and $1,400 per 3-12+ students, paid with IDEA Grant

11.B.4. Recommendation to approve an Independent Contractor Agreement with Christina Gouchenour to provide bilingual psychological evaluations at a cost of $900 per academic assessment per student and $1,100 per academic and congnitive assessment per student, paid with IDEA Grant Funds.

11.B.5. Recommendation to approve an Agreement with Lighthouse Speech Therapy to provide speech and language services at a cost of $110 per hour and not to exceed 3 days per week for 10 weeks, paid with IDEA Grant funds.

11.B.6. FY25 Tentative Budget discussion or questions

11.B.7. Recommendation to approve an Agreement with Gordon Flesch Company to provide 7 copiers (4 at Administration Center, 1 at Transportation Department and 2 at Harlem Middle School) for a total cost of $82,799

11.B.8. Recommendation to approve a one-year subscription with Panorama Education for the Harlem High School Improvement Team at a cost of $9,975, paid by the high school building budget

11.B.9. Recommendation to approve a Professional Development Agreement with the Regional Office of Education for Teacher Institute Day, September 27, 2024, for a cost of $5,449, funded by Title II

11.B.10. Recommendation to approve Resolution Authorizing Superintendent or Assistant Superintendent For Business & Operations To Execute Documents Contemplated By The Option To Solar Energy Lease and Easement Agreement

11.C. Dr. Shelley Wagner, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources

11.C.1. Recommendation to approve Personnel Agenda & Addendum

11.C.2. Resignations

11.D. Dr. Terrell Yarbrough, Superintendent

11.D.1. Freedom of Information Act Request (FOIA) submitted by Owen Wang of Rockford Sun on August 19, 2024 requesting information on teachers and the District's response dated August 23, 2024, with inclusive documents.

11.D.2. Freedom of Information Act Request (FOIA) dated August 22, 2024, submitted by Owen Wang of Rockford Sun, requesting additional teacher information and the District's response dated August 29, 2024, with partial inclusive information.

11.D.3. Freedom of Information Act Request dated 8-27-24 submitted by Owen Wang of Rockford Sun requesting information on student activities and clubs, and the District's response dated 8-27-24, noting the website where these activities are found.

11.D.4. Freedom of Information Act Request (FOIA) submitted by Owen Wang of Rockford Sun on August 29, 2024, requesting copies of the School Calendars for 2024-2025, and the District's response with responsive information dated August 29, 2024.

11.D.5. Freedom of Information Act Request (FOIA) submitted on August 30, 2024, from Owen Wang of Rockford Sun, requesting information on official enrollments for all schools for the new school year and the District's response dated August 30, 2024, denying the request at this time.

12. Consent Agenda

12.A. Approve Personnel Agenda & Addendum

12.B. Approve Student Travel Request(s)

12.C. Approve Facility Request(s)

13. ACTION ITEMS

13.A. Approve Resolution Declaring Surplus Property

13.B. Approve release of redacted closed minutes from January 1, 2024 through June 30, 2024

13.C. Approve an Independent Contractor Agreement with Soy Bilingual Therapy LLC to provide speech and language testing and evaluation reports for 2024-25 school year at $1,000 per K-2 grade students and $1,400 per 3-12+ students, paid with IDEA Grant

13.D. Approve an Independent Contractor Agreement with Christina Gouchenour to provide bilingual psychological evaluations at a cost of $900 per academic assessment per student and $1,100 per academic and cognitive assessment per student, paid with IDEA Grant funds

13.E. Approve an Agreement with Lighthouse Speech Therapy to provide speech and language services at a cost of $110 per hour and not to exceed 3 days per week for 10 weeks, paid with IDEA Grant funds

13.F. Approve an Agreement with Gordon Flesch Company to provide 7 copiers (4 at Administration Center, 1 at Transportation Department and 2 at Harlem Middle School) for a total cost of $82,799

13.G. Approve a one-year subscription with Panorama Education for the Harlem High School Improvement Team at a cost of $9,975, paid by the high school building budget

13.H. Approve a Professional Development Agreement with the Regional Office of 
Education for Teacher Institute Day, September 27, 2024 for a cost of $5,449, funded by Title II

13.I. Approve Resolution Authorizing Superintendent or Assistant Superintendent For Business & Operations To Execute Documents Contemplated By The Option To Solar Energy Lease and Easement Agreement

14. Announcements and Discussion:  

15. Executive Session to discuss Employment of Personnel (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1), Negotiations (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(2), Selection of a Person to Fill a Public Office ( 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(3), Pending Litigation (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11), Student Discipline (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(9), Placement of Individual Students in Special Education Programs and Other Matters Relating to Individual Students (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(10), Purchase or Lease of Real Property for the Use of the District  (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(5), Setting of a Price for Sale or Lease of Property Owned by the District (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(6), Self-Evaluation, Practices and Procedures or Professional Ethics (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(16), Sale or Purchase of Securities, Investments or Investment Contracts (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(7), Security Procedures (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(8), Establishment of Reserves or Settlement of Claims as provided in Local Government and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act (5 ILCS 120/2(c)12), and Discussion of Lawfully Closed Meeting Minutes (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(21).

16. ACTION ITEMS AFTER CLOSED SESSION

17. Adjournment