McLean County Times

McLean County Unified School District No. 5 Board of Education met Oct. 19.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

A McLean County Unit District No. 5 Board of Education meeting was hed beginning at - 6:30pm (Sign up for public comments will be open from 5:15pm - 6:15pm) at the Normal West High School, 501 N Parkside Rd, Normal, IL 61761.

1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL

Members present: Kentrica Coleman, Jeremy DeHaai, Stan Gozur, Alan Kalitzky, Amy Roser, Barry Hitchins. Members absent: None.

2. ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION(5:45p.m.)

At 5:47p.m. Gozur moved, Roser seconded to adjourn to closed session to discuss the following matter according to the exceptions provided in the Open Meetings Act and specified as follows:

•2(c)(1) The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity

•2(c)(2) Collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives, or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees

•2(c)(9) Student disciplinary cases

•2(c)(12) The establishment of reserves or settlement of claims as provided in the Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act, if otherwise the disposition of a claim or potential claim might be prejudiced, or the review or discussion of claims, loss or risk management information, records, data, advice or communications from or with respect to any insurer of the public body or any intergovernmental risk management association or self insurance pool of which the public body is a member and

•2(c)(21) Discussion of minutes of meetings lawfully closed under this Act, whether for purposes of approval by the body of the minutes or semi-annual review of the minutes.

3. RECESS

At 6:15 p.m. the Board recessed to return to public session.

4. RETURN TO PUBLIC SESSION

At 6:31 p.m. Gozur moved and DeHaai seconded to return to public session. Roll Call: Ayes: Coleman, DeHaai, Gozur, Kalitzky, Roser, Hitchins. Nays: None. Motion carried.

Also present: Superintendent Dr. Kristen Weikle, Chief Financial Officer Martin Hickman, Attorney for the District M. Curt Richardson, Executive Director of Operations Joe Adelman, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Dr. Kristal Shelvin, Director of Human Resources Roger Baldwin, Director of Communications/Community Relations Dayna Brown and Clerk of the Board Emily Kautz.

5. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

6. Appoint Secretary Pro Tempore

Gozur moved, and Coleman seconded to appoint Alan Kalitzky as Secretary Pro Tempore for October 19, 2022. Roll Call: Ayes: Coleman, DeHaai, Gozur, Kalitzky, Roser, Hitchins. Nays: None. Abstain: Kalitzky

7. FOCUS ON STUDENTS AND GOOD NEWS REPORTS

A Good News - NCHS Student

Dr. Adam Zbrozek, Principal of Normal Community High School, recognized senior A. Rai for being selected to speak during the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health

B Good News - Technology Education Association of Illinois Honorees

Kimberly Martin Boyd, Principal of EJHS, recognized Robert Scornavacco as Illinois Technology Association new teacher of the year award.

Elisa Palmer, Principal of KJHS, recognized Eric Rich who was names Illinois Technology Association teacher of the year.

8. SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS

Weikle presented highlights on the factual information that has been recently shared in regards to the question that will be on the November 8th ballot. She discussed the opportunities that are available for our students that are not available to students in other school districts in the McLean County. The question on the November 8th ballot will be around the Education Fund. This fund pays for the suport professionals such as Admin assistants, teaching assistants, etc. This fund also pays for supplies used in the classroom. If nothing is done about the deficit of the ed fund, the defecit will continue to increase. The state of IL continues to create mandate for the district to follow such as the minimum salary for starting teachers. This is an unfunded mandate in which the state has not provided a mechanism to fund this mandate. In almost 40 years, the Ed fund rate has not increased more than 10 cents. There have been efforts made by the district over the years to make up for the deficit. This district is asking for the public to vote yes on an 88 cent increase to the education fund at the November 8th election. There will be a vitural presention on Tuesday, the 25th at 7pm that the public is encouraged to attend and engage in.

She also shared some of her visits to schools and reminded parents that Parent teacher Conferences are scheduled November 7th and reminded families that students will not be in session on October 26th. The district does provide breakfast and grab and go lunches on early dismissal days. This week is Principal Appreciation Week and she thanked the Unit 5 administrators for all of their hard work and dedication to support students, staff, and families.

9. PUBLIC COMMENTS

Geralyn Miskulin - Spoke about the H.E.A.L. Foundation she started in her son, John's memory and the event they are holding on October 22, 2022.

Steve Mackoviak – spoke in about his appreciation for the information in regards to the referendum and his concerns for sensitive books in the school librarys.

10. REPORTS

A Requests for Information Pursuant to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act The District has received and processed the following requests for information:

1 FOIA List 10.19.22

11. CONSENT AGENDA

Weikle reviews and recommended the following consent agenda items for approval.

A Approval of Minutes

Minutes are not released for public viewing until approved by the Board of Education

1 Regular Session 09.21.22

2 Closed Session 09.21.22

B Personnel Matters

C Payment of Bills and Payrolls

1 Bill & Payroll Reports

D Approve Finance Department Reports

1 Financial Statements for August 2022

E Approve Semi-Annual Review of Closed Session Minutes of Meetings Lawfully Closed According to the Exceptions Provided in the Open Meetings Act

F Approval of Destruction of Audio Recordings of Closed Minute Sessions from October 1, 2020 through March 30, 2021

G Approve Fiscal Year 2023 School Maintenance Grant Program(SMGP) Application Certification and Authorize Chief Financial Officer to Deliver it to the Regional Office of Education and Illinois State Board of Education

H Elementary Title I Schoolwide Plans 22-23

I Approve Overnight Trip Requests

J Secure Storage Resolution

K Activity Fund Establishments

Gozur moved and Coleman seconded to approve the consent agenda as presented. Roll Call: Ayes: Coleman, DeHaai, Gozur, Kalitzky, Roser, Hitchins. Nays: None. Motion carried.

12. BOARD REPRESENTATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING REPORTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS AND COMMENTS

DeHaai spoke about how Safety Strands have been created. There is a facility committee meeting on Friday, 10/21 where they will discuss a few items including solar panals at more schools.

Roser thanked the Unit 5 staff who helped her family while participating in the Food Bank event.

Gozur mentioned that the auditors requested more time to review the District's finance. There will be a report by the auditors at a future meeting. He also mentioned that he attended the Bed Blitz and that the orgainzation is interested in creating "mini builds" and encouraged those that would like to participate to rach out to the organization. Kalitzky mentioned that the Unit 5 Foundation has rescheduled their Movie Night for another date to be determined. He encouraged the public to reach out with any questions in regards to the November 8th election and pointed them to the Unit 5 website for more information as well.

Coleman mentioned that Unit 5 was recognized at the Strong Kids event at the YMCA for its support of the organization. She also thanked all of the teachers and principals for all of their hard work.

Hitchins mentioned that he has attended hald a dozen PTO meetings to provide information on the

13. ADJOURNMENT

At 7:35 p.m. the board adjourned.

https://meetings.boardbook.org/Documents/CustomMinutesForMeeting/1482?meeting=551963