The District 146 Board of Education held its regular monthly meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, January 13, 2025 at the Robert Procunier Administration Center.
The meeting began with the recognition of band and choir students who were chosen to participate in the Illinois Music Educators Association (ILMEA) Junior Honor Band and Junior Honor Chorus. ILMEA is a statewide organization that recognizes the finest musicians throughout Illinois. The students were chosen to perform with the Honor Band and Junior Honor Chorus after submitting recorded auditions to ILMEA.
The Board congratulated the students and presented them with certificates. Those recognized were Mercy Adegunle, Fallon Bergthold, Anthony Borst, Aisha Choughale, Rebecca Dallis, Gianna Edwards, Jayleen Esparza, Kharren Falcatan, Ellen Gazze, Teresa Konrath, Holland Lenters, Vivienne Lewkow, Terry Lusby, Ezequiel Miranda, Leah Morrissy, Ana Bella Orona, Noelle Ricard, John Schwider, Elijah Selim, Annabelle Shaw, Ben Skanberg, and Caroline Solle.
During the meeting, the Board heard the following from Superintendent Dr. Jeff Stawick:
- Kindergarten registration for the 2025-2026 school year will open to families on January 17. Students who turn five years old by September 1, 2025 are eligible for kindergarten.
- Central Middle School and the Tinley Park Police Department are holding an Internet Safety Meeting for all District families on January 22 at CMS. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m., and families have an opportunity to submit questions in advance.
- During the January 6 Institute Day, staff members participated in professional learning sessions focused on the Politics of Location, Executive Functioning, the Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) Model, Professional Learning Community (PLC) Collaboration, the Illinois Literacy Plan, Literacy Maps and Resource Review, Problem-Based Learning (PBL) Curriculum Planning, and the Cycles of Improvement.
- The District partnered with Tinley Park, Oak Forest, and Orland Park regarding the Cook County Paid Leave Ordinance. The three communities agreed to invoke their home rule provision so the District can continue honoring the time off policy included in existing union contracts and Board Policy.
- Central Middle School’s sixth grade students and staff raised over $1,500 for the not-for-profit Water for Sudan this fall. The class received word that they have raised enough funds over the last few years to co-sponsor a well in South Sudan. Once the well is completed, the class will receive images of the well along with information about the community members who will benefit from it.
- Julie Drew, a fifth grade teacher at Kruse, is battling a recurrence of cancer. On December 11, during the Kruse Winter Sing, Julie was surprised by Dowling Legacy and Retirement and the Gradient Gives Back Foundation with one year’s worth of mortgage payments. Julie is a single mother who recently purchased a new home. Julie’s story was broadcast on several local news networks and shared nation-wide by ABC.
- The Curriculum Department has made revisions to the District’s Title I plan. The revisions were explained to the Board, who will be asked to approve the plan at the Regular February Board Meeting before the application is submitted to ISBE.
The Board also heard the following:
- Kevin Bissell of Cherry Bekaert, LLP presented an overview of the District 146 Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2024.
- The President of the Teachers Union gave an update on the happenings at each of the schools before the break and since returning.
- Jeff Charleston, Director of Business and CSBO, presented the Quarterly Investment Report.
The Board took the following action at the meeting:
- Approved the Vision 2030 Resolution.
- Approved gifts made to Kruse Education Center and its students from community businesses and organizations. The donations were part of the surprise donations to teacher Julie Drew in December.
Before adjourning, the Board met in Closed Session to discuss personnel matters.
The minutes of the January meeting will be available on BoardDocs once approved by the Board of Education at the next meeting. A recording of the meeting can be viewed on the District's YouTube Channel.
