Board RECAP

The District 211 Board of Education met Thursday, October 19, 2023, in the Board Room of the G.A. McElroy Administration Center. The following is a recap of key items acted upon and reviewed by the Board.

The pre-meeting slideshow showcased Hoffman Estates High School's 50th anniversary.

Watch it here.

National Merit Scholars

The Board recognized the following students who have been selected as National Merit Scholarship finalists:

• Praanav Aiyar - Fremd High School

• Thomas Applebaum - Fremd High School

• Thomas Border - Fremd High School

• Evan Carl - Fremd High School

• Emily Costigan - Fremd High School

• Siddarth Dayeneni - Conant High School

• Aditya Gupta - Fremd High School

• Jillian Harvey - Fremd High School

• Piyanshu Jha - Hoffman Estates High School

• Joseph Jiang - Fremd High School

• Chethan Karandikar - Fremd High School

• Anvith Kotha - Conant High School

• Grace Lee - Fremd High School

• Arnav Mandal - Fremd High School

• Levyn Mathew - Fremd High School

• Yashas Mattur - Hoffman Estates High School

• Aedan Mayschak - Conant High School

• Isaac Menning - Palatine High School

• Jacob Myers - Fremd High School

• Liam Nance - Fremd High School

• Henry Oh - Fremd High School

• Devanshu Pandya - Hoffman Estates High School

• Jason Park - Conant High School

• Adarsh Prathap - Fremd High School

• Adithya Raman - Hoffman Estates High School

• Pranaav Senthilkumar - Fremd High School

• Avi Shah - Conant High School

• Aidan Smith - Palatine High School

• Stephanie Tian - Fremd High School

• Katherin Wei - Fremd High School

• Jack Xu - Fremd High School

Highest Possible Composite Score on the ACT

The Board recognized Hoffman Estates High School student Yashas Krishna Mattur for scoring a 36, the highest possible composite score on the American College Test (ACT).

Illinois Art Education Association 2023 Early Professional Art Educator of the Year

The Board recognized Hoffman Estates High School art teacher Machala Leno, who was selected by the Illinois Art Education Association as its Early Professional Art Educator of the Year.

School districts are required to prepare an annual tax levy that sets the amount of revenue necessary through local property taxes to support school district operations for the following budget year. Property taxes play an important role in financing for District 211 and are the primary source of annual revenue, comprising more than 80% of total revenue.

District Chief Operations Officer Lauren Hummel and Controller Barb Peterson presented the proposed 2023 tax levy to the Board. You can view the presentation slides here.

The Board approved the minutes from the Regular Meeting of September 21, 2023.

The Board accepted the donations of $3,500 from Palatine Township; $1,000 from The Price Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee; $12,000 from the Goodman Family Foundation; $6,000 from the Rotary Club of Schaumburg-Hoffman Estates; $2,000 from Richard Baader, through the District 211 Foundation; and $10,000 from Ally Financial, Inc., through the Palatine High School Pirate Booster Club.

The percent of District 211 students eligible for free or reduced-price meals has increased by 5.9% over the 2022-2023 school year. Per Illinois School Code and Board of Education Policy, students who qualify for meal benefits may also qualify for applicable academic fee waivers. They may also receive fee waivers for additional items this school year, including driver education, AP testing, locks, PE uniforms, graduation cap/gown, and summer school tuition. More information is available here.

Public Act 101-0652 states that all law enforcement agencies must implement the use of body worn cameras for all law enforcement officers by the specified schedule and indicates the requirements of body worn camera usage.

As required by law, the body worn camera will be attached to the uniform of the School Resource Officer (SRO), and the SRO will not activate the body camera except in the following situations: any self-initiated activity where it is previously known or facts develop that a custodial arrest will be made or other law enforcement-related activity will occur; any self-initiated activity where it is previously known or facts develop that the questioning or investigation will or is reasonably likely to be used in later criminal charges; when feasible, when the contact becomes adversarial, the subject exhibits unusual or aggressive behavior, or circumstances indicate that an internal complaint will likely be filed; and as otherwise required by State law.

More information is available here.

The Board received an update on the safety and security review conducted by District administration and various law enforcement agencies. More information is available here.

The Board reviewed and discussed the proposed 2023 tax levy. It will be reviewed a second time at the November 9 Board of Education meeting, when the Board will determine the proposed levy amount for 2023. More information is available here.

It has been the longstanding commitment of the District to provide safe, functional and adaptable facilities which contribute to the educational program and have a positive impact on student achievement. The Board reviewed an update to the current 10-year master facility assessment plan and capital improvement plan.

More information is available here.

The Illinois General Assembly enacted laws to provide a market structure for electricity and natural gas purchases. The legislation allows consumers the opportunity to choose an energy supplier based on favorable rates and terms. In 2021, District 211 utilized the services of Nania Energy Advisors to help procure electricity and natural gas services for the District to evaluate the rates for service contracts for energy delivery, contract for service evaluation and conduct a live auction for energy supply services.

The Board authorized the Superintendent to renew a contract with Nania Energy Advisors for the purpose of conducting a Request for Proposal and energy auctions for natural gas services for the District. More information is available here.

The Board conducted an initial review of policies H. Negotiations; BCE Board Appointments; BCBA Board Officers; BCCA District Treasurer; JFCO Behavioral Intervention Policy; BDDD Quorum; and JHFD Student Use of Automobiles and Parking. The Board will conduct a second review at the November 9, Board of Education Meeting.

The Board reviewed resolutions proposed by the Illinois Association of School Boards and determined their position as will be voiced by the Board’s delegate at the 2023 IASB Conference. More information is available here.

The Board approved the proposed school year calendar for the 2025-2026 school year, and also approved the 2026 summer school calendar.

The Board approved a revised calendar for the 2024-2025 school year.

The rationale for the revisions is available here.

In 1976, the Board of Education approved the first foreign exchange trip for the District. With the exception of the last three years, the Board has granted yearly permission for students to participate in foreign exchange trips to a variety of countries including Germany, Austria, France, Spain, China, and Costa Rica.

The Board approved six proposed foreign exchange trips for the summer of 2024. More information is available here.

The Board approved the pre-approval Form for Future Expense Reimbursement for Anna Klimkowicz to attend the North Cook Division Dinner Meeting on October 30, 2023.

The next meeting of the Township High School District 211 Board of Education will be November 9, 2023, at the G.A. McElroy Administration Building. Closed session will begin at 6:30 p.m. and open session will start at 7:30 p.m.