McLean County Times

McLean County Unit School District 5 Board of Education met April 17.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

A McLean County Unit District No. 5 Board of Education meeting was held Wednesday, April 17, 2024, 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: Mark Adams, Kentrica Coleman, Stan Gozur, Amy Roser, Alex Williams, Kelly Pyle. Members absent: Jeremy DeHaai.

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

At 5:46 p.m Roser moved and Williams 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 and

•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

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 as mandated by Section 2.06.

Roll Call: Ayes: Adams, Coleman, Gozur, Roser, Williams, Pyle. Nays: None. Motion carried.

3. RECESS

At 6:12 p.m the Board recessed to public session

4. RETURN TO PUBLIC SESSION

At 6:30 p.m. Roser moved and Adams seconded to return to public session. Roll Call: Ayes: Adams, Coleman, Gozur, Roser, Williams, Pyle. Nays: None. Motion carried.

Also present: Superintendent Dr. Kristen Weikle, Assistant Superintendent Michelle Lamboley, 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 Communications/Community Relations Dayna Brown, Leslie Webb, Director of Multilingual Services, Tom Rockwell, Operations Manager of Buildings and HVAC.

5. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

6. FOCUS ON STUDENTS AND GOOD NEWS REPORTS

A Good News - Grove Energy Star Rating

Tom Rockwell presented Sarah Edwards, Principal of Grove, with Energy Star Rating.

B Good News - EJHS Wrestling Team

Brett Pappocia introduced 1st and 5th state finalist individual performances.

C Good News - NCWHS IWCOA Award Winner

Angie Codron introduced E. Willock who received IWCOA accolades.

D Student Advisory and Action Team (SEAAT)

Dr. Shelvin gave a SEAAT update with Jr. High and High School students.

7. SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS

Weikle said Unit 5 has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The National Association of Music Merchants Foundation for the third year in a row. Now in its 25th year, the Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students.

She also shared that the Unit 5 Educational Foundation is hosting the 2nd annual Unit 5 Educational Foundation 5K walk/run this Sunday, May 5. The one-mile walk/run begins at 2 pm and the 5K at 2:30 pm. This will be a fun and affordable event for individuals, families, or groups to participate in. There is still time to sign up. Information is available on the Unit 5 website.

This month we recognize and celebrate a number of employee groups. Earlier this month we celebrated Paraprofessionals Day. Paraprofessionals provide support to students in PreK-12. We also recognized our assistant and associate principals who support students, staff and families. The first week in April was National Library Week. Our school libraries provide students spaces to collaborate, study, and read for school and enjoyment. April is National Occupational Therapy Month. Unit 5 has a number of occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants who support students' learning, self-care, and social skills. Later this month is Administrative Professionals Day. Our administrative professionals support and assist students, families, and staff. Thank you to all the educators and employees for your dedication to Unit 5 students.

May 6-10 is staff appreciation week and she wanted to publicly recognize the amazing work our staff does to ensure that students are able to learn and grow. Each employee contributes to the education and success of our students. She encouraged our families and community members to drop the staff in their students' lives a note of thanks during staff appreciation week.

She went on to introduce Sarah Crowder, the new Principal of PJHS, Scott Vogel, the new principal of Sugar Creek Elementary, and Brett Papoccia, the new Junior High Athletics Director.

8. PUBLIC COMMENTS

Julie Hagler. Topic: improvements/changes to reporting of standards based grading. Patrick Volkman. Topic: alleged child abuse reported to DCFS. Jessica Vorreyer. Topic: alleged child abuse reported to DCFS.

9. RECESS

At 7:20 p.m the Board recessed.

10. RETURN TO PUBLIC SESSION

At 7:30 p.m the Board returned to public session

11. REPORTS

A DELT - Family and Community as Agency strand

Dr. Shelvin introduced Leslie Webb, Director of Multilingual Services who presented the 2023- '24 objectives focused on District communication with multilingual families. Including community partnerships.

B Capacity Study

Matt Cropper presented on the completed capacity study. He went on the discuss Established class size range assumptions. Determined high and low building capacity; optimal for buildings' Elementary enrollment to remain near middle of ranges.

Compared building enrollment to building capacity using a stop-light color system.

Roughly 90-100% of utilization at Elementary is recommended, as students are typically stationary throughout the day.

Roughly 80-85% of utilization at Jr High and HS is recommended, due to needed room for student migration throughout the day.

Demographic report by building, including Race and Lunch Code.

Elementary results skewed by neighborhoods and building programs.

Jr High and High demographics run close to District averages.

Review of feeder schools:

100% of one Elementary building feeds into a Jr High (no split)

Jr High buildings have mixed feeds into High Schools

Live/Attend Metrics compares number of students that live within a building's region receiving Unit 5 services against whether they attend their local neighborhood Elementary

Updated plot maps also created and shared with District, but not presented during Board meeting.

Dr. Weikle - Capacity usage report assumes possible (but undesirable) option of IMC, Music, and Art rooms as general classroom space, which is not Unit 5's objective. Capacity usage also does not consider mass service areas like cafeterias, gymnasiums, hallways, lockers, and offices

C 1st Reading of Board Policies, Administrative Procedures and Exhibits

1 Section 2: Board of Education

2 2.155 Risk Management Program

3 Policy 2.165 Protection from Suit and Liability Insurance

4 Section 4: Operational Services

5 Administrative Procedure 4.60-AP1 Purchases

6 Section 7: Students

7 Policy 7.160 Student Appearance

8 Policy 7.300 Co-Curricular Athletics

9 Exhibit 7.300-E1 Agreement to Participate

10 Exhibit 7.300-E2 IHSA IESA Preparticipation Physical Evaluation

11 Exhibit 7.300-E3 Authorization for Medical Treatment

D 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 04.17.24

12. CONSENT AGENDA

Weikle reviewed 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 03.20.24 Regular Minutes

B Personnel Matters

C Payment of Bills and Payrolls

D Approve Finance Department Reports

1 February 2024 Financial Statements

E Approve Requests for Authorization to Use Fire Prevention and Safety Funds

1 Northpoint Amendment #15

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

G Approve of Destruction of Audio Recordings of Closed Minute Sessions from April 1, 2022 through September 30, 2022.

H Proclamation for Staff Appreciation Week, May 6-10, 2024

! Approve 2023-2024 Last Day of School

J Approve 2024-2025 Board of Education Regular Meeting Schedule

K Approve Overnight Trip Requests

1 Overnight Trip Request - NCHS FBLA

2 Overnight Trip Request - NCWHS Speech

3 Overnight Trip Request - NCHS FFA

Roser moved and Coleman seconded to approve the agenda as presented.

Roll Call: Ayes: Adams, Coleman, Gozur, Roser, Williams, Pyle. Nays: None. Motion carried.

13. ORGANIZATION OF THE BOARD

A ELECTION OF OFFICERS

1 Appoint Temporary Chair

Roser nominated and Williams seconded to appoint Curt Richardson as temporary chair until election of a new Board President.

2 Election for Office of Board President

Temporary Chair asked for nominations for Board President, Pyle nominated DeHaai. There were no other nominations. Richardson delcared DeHaai elected Board President by acclamation.

3 Election for Office of Vice President

Temporary Chair asked for nominations for Board Vice President, Gozur nominated Coleman. There were no other nominations. Richardson delcared Coleman elected Board Vice President by acclamation.

4 Election for Office of Secretary

Temporary Chair asked for nominations for Board Secretary, Adams nominated Williams. There were no other nominations. Richardson delcared Williams elected Board Secretart by acclamation.

14. BOARD REPRESENTATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING REPORTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS AND COMMENTS

Williams appreciative of secretary appointment. Reminder for Board members to file Economic Interests report by May 1.

Roser mentioned PRESS updates on Policy Committee. Appreciation for efforts of outgoing Board president, and welcome to future Board officers.

Gozur applauded Good News reports and highlights yearend student spotlights/shows. Coleman appreciative of vice president appointment. Applauded Good News reports, particularly SEAAT's involvement. Applauded Curt Richardson's effort on Policy Committee. Adams provided Facilities Committee update. And informed of upcoming grant winner announcement for Beyond the Books Foundation. Look ahead to Employee Appreciation Week and focused on self-care. Applauded Good New reports. Raised awareness for April's Fair Housing Month.

Pyle first shared a statement on behalf of JD ("Out of state work commitment..."). Reminder for Unit 5 Education Foundation Walk/Run. Curriculum Committee update included Jr High and HS transition to Illustrative Math. IL DOE adopted Literacy plan, and families can complete Literacy Landscape survey online. Curriculum Committee and Board reviewed feedback on SBG, with upcoming task forces. Final sign off as president.

15. ADJOURNMENT

At. 8:26 p.m. the Board adjourned.

https://meetings.boardbook.org/Documents/CustomMinutesForMeeting/1482?meeting=628930