October 2023 Board Meeting Recap
Fremont School District 79
Regular Board Meeting
Gabriela Whipple, Board President, congratulated the 7th-grade White girls basketball team and the girls soccer team on their recent Patriot Conference championships. Principal Appreciation Day and Bus Driver Appreciation Day each recently took place with both of those groups being acknowledged for their contributions. The School Board held a work session on October 2 as part of its development plan with the Illinois Association of School Board field specialists. They discussed strategic ways to ensure our community is well-informed and has access to two-way communication opportunities as the District plans for its future.
Dr. Trisha Kocanda, Superintendent of Schools, remarked on District highlights connected to the Strategic Plan. Middle school students and staff participated in Unity Day in connection with October being National Bullying Prevention Month. Student social emotional health was highlighted during a Parent University event held October 16. The District earned five communications awards from the Illinois School Public Relations Association. The PTO's annual Trunk or Treat was held last weekend, serving as a terrific community engagement opportunity.
Board of Education Recognition
This month's recognition was for three members of the Fremont Middle School Student Council. The student council is composed of volunteer student leaders who plan various activities, including dances, color run, spirit weeks, fundraising, service projects, 8th-grade class shirts, and more. Thank you to Luka, Lucy, and Evan for all that they do for the betterment of their school community.
Ivy Fleming, Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations, presented the Tentative 2023 Tax Levy. The final levy is scheduled for adoption at the November 27, 2023, Board meeting with a Truth-in-Taxation Hearing. The tentative levy (the amount we request) is based on the prior year’s extension, Consumer Price Index (CPI), new construction, and Equalized Assessed Valuation (EAV). The District is subject to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL) which limits the increase to CPI or 5%, whichever is less (excluding new construction and bonds).
The 2023 levy is built on new construction valued at $11.5M, CPI at 5%, and EAV at $1,071,799,977. With these factors, the levy is 6.41% higher than the 2022 extension as it captures unknown new property growth and a 5% CPI tax cap for existing property owners. Although the District is asking for this amount, the amount we receive is less. The tax resources will be used to fund high needs areas related to: 1) Improving recruitment and retention of staff in part by supporting the recent staff market adjustments. 2.) Implementation of education initiatives in support of the new strategic plan. 3.) Maintain and address capital facility needs.
Communications and Marketing Plan
Nick Brilowski, Director of Public Relations, provided an overview of the District's Communications and Marketing Plan for the 2023-2024 school year. The Plan has four primary areas of focus:
- Implementation of a District rebrand;
- Development of the Parent University program;
- Enhancing the District's employee recruitment and retention efforts; and
- Supporting implementation of the Strategic Plan.
Additionally, FSD79 has created a marketing plan with the objective of marketing the District in order to gain recognition both within and beyond our immediate community.
Dr. Kocanda updated the Board on the District's involvement in the planning phase of the proposed 700-acre Ivanhoe Village development located just northeast of the FSD79 campus and entirely within the District's boundaries. FSD79 and District 120 are urging the Village of Mundelein to host regular meetings with both districts, while awaiting the developer’s dataset to complete impact analysis. In the meantime, FSD79 is conducting a comprehensive Fremont-specific demographic forecasting report and preparing to launch a community-driven Educational Master Facility Planning in order to properly plan for our future growth.
Informational Items
Dr. Brian Bullis, Assistant Superintendent of Learning, provided an update on the District's student growth and achievement. ISBE summative designations were shared with our schools all earning at least “Commendable” status once again this year and our PK-2 students and staff earning “Exemplary” status for the second year in a row. Fall 2023 NWEA MAP scores demonstrated that six of our eight grades met or exceeded their growth projections in math, while five of our eight grades met or exceeded their growth
projections in reading.
Prairie Crossing Charter School Funding Overview
District administrators recently attended a public hearing for the renewal of the contract for Prairie Crossing Charter School. FSD79 objects to the renewal until the outdated charter funding formula is modernized as significant funding is currently diverted from students at our District. We receive about 3% of our revenue from the State for a total of ~$1.7 million. Roughly $600,000 is diverted to Prairie Crossing. Nearly 35% of our State allocation flows to the charter school, which currently serves 43 students (2% of our enrollment), requiring our local taxpayers to offset this loss.
An update was shared with the Board regarding the District’s usage of SEDOL services and associated costs on the heels of SEDOL's comprehensive Special Education Program Review Report in September.
The FSD79 School Board established the following goals for the 2023-2024 school year:
- Target strategic areas for the Board to grow in “best practice” with focuses on Community Outreach, and Equity-based Governance.
- Continue to broaden a governance network.
With those goals in mind, the Board has created an action plan inclusive of development opportunities for this school year.
Board Member Recognition Awards
Board members Gabriela Whipple, Maria Simoncelli, and Aga Macoch have achieved the Established Board Leader status, while Michael Jandes was honored with the Annual Merit Recognition for 10 years of service as a board member.
The Consent Agenda and Following Action Items Were Approved:
IASB Resolutions
Intent to Levy 2023 Taxes
2024 School Maintenance Project Grant
Intergovernmental Agreement between District 79 and District 75
Resignation Agreement
To view the Board Packet materials from the October 23, 2023 Meeting, click here.
Fremont School District 79
Address: 28855 North Fremont Center Road, Mundelein, IL
Phone: (847) 566-0169
Website: fsd79.org
Twitter: @FSD79
Instagram: @FSD79
YouTube: youtube.com/FSD79