Board Update 6/12/23
Presentations
Agenda Item 4.0
D59 Education Foundation – 4.01
Representatives from the District 59 Education Foundation presented an overview of how they financially support CCSD59 schools. The foundation uses grant money to provide various events and educational opportunities for students, staff, and families throughout the year, including the annual District 59’s Got Talent Show.
Members invited families to learn more about the organization by visiting their website.
PUBLIC Hearing
Agenda Item 7.0
E-Learning Public Hearing – 7.01
As required by Illinois School Code, a public hearing was held to discuss the district’s e-learning plan. This plan authorizes the district to utilize an e-learning day in place of emergency school closing days, as an e-learning day option provides CCSD59 the chance to engage students in remote learning activities that will continue to advance learning during building closures. The e-learning plan will include plans for remote learning days, including up to five remote learning days in a given school year. It also includes online and non-technology based activities that will continue to advance student learning.
The board will then take action on the proposed updated plan at the meeting on July 10, 2023.
DISCUSSion Items
Agenda Item 8.0
World Language Curriculum Adoptions – 8.01
Strategic Goal (SG) 1: Student Growth and Achievement
Members of the CCSD59 Instruction Department provided an update on the curricular resources that have been piloted by World Language staff as part of the ongoing Curriculum Review Process. The resources for grades 6-8 are ¡Qué chévere! for Spanish, T’es branché for French, and En voz alta: Español para hispanohablantes, a Spanish resource designed for Spanish speakers. World Language staff reviewed resources in the fall of 2022 and piloted in the winter of 2022 and 2023, and these resources were determined to be the ones suited for recommendation.
The total cost for a six-year subscription and professional development is $167,411.20, a per-year investment of $27,901.86. The board will vote on these resources at the meeting on July 10, 2023.
Press 111 Policy Updates – 8.02
SG 3: Family and Community Partnerships
The Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) Policy Reference Manual provides a system for regularly updating policies to ensure legal compliance. Every policy is reviewed at least once every five years or as a result of state or federal, Illinois School Code, or Illinois School Board of Education (ISBE) regulation or rule changes. The administration also makes recommendations for policy revisions as needed. Additionally, the board of education is required by School Code to review select policies either annually or every two years.
Brentwood Facility Update – 8.03
SG 4: Stewardship of Resources
The board received a review of the information previously shared regarding space utilization at Brentwood Elementary. This included a recap of and summary of the feedback from the family engagement session held on April 25. The board will discuss potential solutions and review all relevant data in the coming months. The Educational Alignment Study, conducted by Wold Architects, is underway and a full report for Brentwood and the three junior high schools will be presented in the fall.
You can view the presentation here.
Action Items
Agenda Item 8.0
Approval of District 59 Education Foundation Donation for a One Year Subscription to the Calm App for All CCSD59 Employees – 9.01
SG 2: Inclusive Learning Environment
The District 59 Education Foundation is donating a one-year subscription to the Calm app for all district employees. The app supports employee mental health and builds resilience through better sleep, reduced stress and anxiety, and improved mindfulness.
The board approved the donation at the amount of $14,634.
Appointment of and Contract Approval for Holmes Junior High Principal – 9.02
SG 4: Stewardship of Resources
With the resignation of Mark Rasar from Holmes Junior High, district administration recently conducted a search for the new Holmes principalship. After an extensive process that included multiple interviews and leadership reference checks, Ms. Brandi Boyd, current Assistant Principal at Friendship Junior High, was recommended by the administration. The board approved Ms. Boyd for the position of principal at Holmes effective July 1, 2023.
Appointment of and Contract Approval for Ridge Family Center for Learning – 9.03
SG 4: Stewardship of Resources
With the transfer of Samantha Stone to Devonshire Elementary, district administration recently conducted a search for the new Ridge Family Center for Learning principalship. After an extensive process that included multiple interviews and leadership reference checks, Ms. Michelle Shabaker, current Assistant Principal of W.A. Johnson Elementary in Bensenville, Ill., was recommended by the administration. The board approved Ms. Shabaker for the position of principal at Ridge effective July 1, 2023.
Approval To Adopt Fiscal Year, Place 2023-2024 Tentative Budget On Public Display, And Set Date For Public Hearing – 9.04
SG 4: Stewardship of Resources
As part of the tentative 2023-24 budget process, the board previously discussed:
- Setting the dates for fiscal year 2023-24 as beginning July 1, 2023, and ending June 30, 2024
- Setting the date and time for the public hearing concerning the 2023-24 budget as 6:00 p.m. on Monday, August 7, 2023, at the Administration Center
The board approved the above budget schedule, and any suggestions or changes to the tentative budget will be reflected in the final 2023-24 budget to be presented for approval at the board meeting on September 11, 2023.
Approval to Direct School Treasurer To Transfer Interest Earned In The Debt Service Fund To The Educational Fund For Fiscal Year 2022-23 – 9.05
SG 4: Stewardship of Resources
As part of the district’s long-term financial plan, 100% of interest earned in the Debt Service Fund is to be transferred for use in the Educational Fund. The adopted 2022-23 budget includes a transfer of interest allocation from the Debt Service Fund to the Educational Fund, reflecting an estimate of the total interest earnings within the Debt Service Fund accrued during the 2022-23 fiscal year.
The board approved the resolution and authorized the school treasurer to proceed effective with the 2022-23 year-end closing process.
Approval to Direct School Treasurer To Transfer Interest Earned In The Working Cash Fund To The Operations and Maintenance Fund For Fiscal Year 2022-23 – 9.06
SG 4: Stewardship of Resources
As part of the district’s long-term financial plan, 100% of interest earned in the Working Cash Fund is to be transferred for use in the Operations and Maintenance Fund. The adopted 2022-23 budget includes a transfer of interest allocation from the Working Cash Fund to the Operations and Maintenance Fund, reflecting an estimate of the total interest earnings within the Working Cash Fund accrued during the 2022-23 fiscal year. At the end of each fiscal year, the district records interest earnings.
The board approved to authorize the school treasurer to proceed effective with the 2022-23 year-end closing process.
Approval of the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County donation to the Early Learning Center – 9.07
SG 4: Stewardship of Resources
The Early Learning Center has received funds to support waste reduction and reduce, reuse, recycle efforts from the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC). This organization manages municipal waste for its members.
The board approved the SWANCC donation to the Early Learning Center in the amount of $743.40.
