July 17, 2025 at 6:00 PM - Regular Board Meeting

Description:  Call to Order. Secretary to the Board will take attendance.

Description:  Individuals wishing to speak during public comment must complete the Public Comment Form and submit it to the Board Secretary prior to the start of the meeting. Members of the public may speak during this portion of the meeting. Comments are limited to five minutes. Board members will not respond to public comments or questions during "Public Comments". Should total Public Comments approach or exceed a cumulative time of 30 minutes, the Board may suspend additional Public Comments until immediately prior to the Board and Superintendent Comments portion of the agenda.
 

"Board Policy 2:230. At each regular and special open meeting, members of the public and District employees may comment to or ask questions of the School Board, subject to reasonable constraints. The individuals appearing before the Board are expected to follow these guidelines:

• Address the Board only at the appropriate time as indicated on the agenda and when recognized by the Board President.
• Identify oneself and be brief. Ordinarily, comments shall be limited to 5 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 5 minutes.
• Observe the Board President's decision to shorten public comment to conserve time and give the maximum number of individuals an opportunity to speak.
• Observe the Board President's decision to determine procedural matters regarding public participation not otherwise covered in Board policy.
• Conduct oneself with respect and civility toward others and otherwise abide by Board Policy, 8:30, Visitors to and Conduct on School Property."

Description:  "Board Policy 2:220 The President shall designate a portion of the agenda as a consent agenda for those items that usually do not require extensive discussion before Board action. Upon the request of any Board member, an item will be withdrawn from the consent agenda and placed on the regular agenda for independent consideration." There will be no separate vote on these items unless a Board Member so requests, in which event the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered as the first item after approval of the Consent Agenda.

Description:  Consistent with Board Policy 2:220, the Board is asked to approve meeting minutes, and, once approved, open session minutes become public.

Description:  Approval of personnel report.
Approval of Physical Therapy Assistant job description.

Description:  A log of closed session meetings and topics is attached. The Board is approving that these closed session minutes from January 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025, which have been approved previously (June 18, 2025 to be approved this evening), are maintained as confidential.

Description:  Verbatim records, which constitute the audio recordings of closed sessions, are subject to destruction once those recordings are 18 months old. The minutes of these meetings remain on file.

Description:  Pursuant to Board Policy 4:80 Accounting and Audits, the Board is asked to approve the sale or disposal of the following district personal property as listed in the attachment.

Description:  Approval of RCSEA/RCS MOU Mentoring Program
Approval of RCSEA/RCS MOU JW Eater Overload Stipend
Approval of RCESP/RCS MOU Custodian Vacation Roll for July 1, 2025
Approval of RCSEA/RCS MOU Vertical and Horizontal Articulation Stipend
 

Description: 

Each year, the Board is asked to approve updates to the family-student handbook as well as employee handbooks. Handbooks are updated annually by administration in order to comply with changes in state and federal law as well as to address issues that may have arisen in the previous school year. 

Summary of Substantive Changes: 2025-2026 Student and Family Handbook

1. RISE Academy Section: Added a detailed section outlining the assignment, expectations, and procedures for students placed at RISE, the district’s alternative learning environment.

2. Birthday Parties/Class Treats Policy: Revised to prohibit parent-supplied treats for birthdays. Only pre-packaged treats are allowed for select school celebrations.

3. Weapons Policy Expansion: Added explicit prohibition of toy weapons, including Orbeez guns, Nerf guns, and any item designed to launch a projectile. These are treated as disciplinary violations subject to suspension or expulsion.

4. Safe2Help Illinois & Threat Assessment: Introduced policies supporting anonymous reporting and formalized threat assessment teams in line with school violence prevention standards.

5. Non-Discrimination and Harassment: Clarified protections under federal law; new detailed investigation procedures for discrimination, harassment, and retaliation including step-by-step complaint handling.

6. Free & Reduced-Price Meals and CEP Policy: Expanded to include adult meal prices, clarification that applications are not needed due to CEP status, and district responsibilities under USDA guidelines.

7. Technology Use Language: Added more detailed disclaimers about acceptable use, data access, and personal responsibility for misuse or damage of district devices and systems.

8. New Appendices: Appendix C (Kindergarten Early Entrance Appeal Form), Appendix E (School Medication Authorization Forms), Appendix F (Request to Observe Form and Volunteer Waiver), Appendix G (Parent and Family Engagement Compact).

9. Family Contact Procedures: New section on how to contact students during the school day, emphasizing minimal disruption and coordination through the school office.

10. Transportation and Safety: Clarifies rules on bicycles, scooters, skateboards, and includes new references to AEDs, carbon monoxide detection, lead testing, and unsafe school choice provisions.

RCS 2025-2026 Staff Handbook. Summary.

1. Driving & Vehicle Use - If using a personal vehicle for work, staff must have a valid license, insurance, and a safe vehicle. Staff must get written approval to drive students in personal or district vehicles. Driving records will be checked each year, and any traffic violations or license changes must be reported to HR within 7 days. 
2. Leaves - Dock days are only for approved protected leave (like FMLA). If unpaid leave is used and not covered by law, staff must pay the full cost of benefits. Taking time off without approval may lead to discipline. If personal leave is denied, staff must separately request unpaid leave. Time off without approval may result in discipline.
3. Injury Reporting - All injuries must be reported immediately, even minor ones, and submit required forms within 24 hours.

Description: 

1. This is a contract change order to add additional door and door frame replacement currently being done by Broeren-Russo. This project is paid for through ISBE's School Maintenance Grant ($50,000; a matching grant) with the balance paid by RCS. Doors and frames are being replaced at multiple campuses.
2. CSES (Center for Special Education Services) contract renewal for the contractual psych evaluations for the 25-26 school year.
3. Fey Speech Services contract for speech language therapy services for the 25-26 school year.

Description:  06-22-2025 CT Mills; Public Info Access LLC; esnetworkllc1@gmail.com: directory information.
6-27-2025 Owen Wang; Chambana Sun; foia@chambanasun.com: A list of all graduates in the past 5 school years with the following fields: Graduation years; Names; Hometown; Gender.
6-30-2025 Owen Wang; Chambana Sun; foia@chambanasun.com: Will the school math team from your high schools attend the annual (July) Mu Alpha Theta convention? If so, who will be attending, and who is sponsoring the trip?

Description: 

Tentative Budget: The Fiscal Year 2026 Tentative Budget will be posted at least 30 days prior to the September Board Meeting in order to meet statutory posting requirements.  The budget hearing will occur at the September Board Meeting with anticipated Board approval at the same meeting.

Description: 

4:55 Use of Credit and Procurement Cards; 4:60 Purchases and Contracts

Description:  The following Administrative Procedures and Exhibits are being added to the public facing Board Policy Website.

• 2:260 AP1 Guidelines for Investigating Complaints Filed Under Policy 2:260, Uniform Grievance Procedure, and Allegations of Misconduct
• 2:260 AP2 Nondiscrimination Coordinator and Complaint Manager

• 2:265 AP1 Title IX Response
• 2:265 AP2 Formal Title IX Complaint Grievance Process
• 2:265 E Title IX Glossary of Terms

• 5:120 AP2 Employee Conduct Standards
• 5:120 AP2, E1 Expectations and Guidelines for Employee-Student Boundaries

• 6:230 AP Responding to Complaints About Library Media Resources
• 6:230 AP, E Library Media Resource Objection Form

• 6:260 AP Complaints About Curriculum, Instructional Materials, and Programs
• 6:250 AP, E Curriculum Objection Form