District 15 Board of Education News
June 14, 2023
The District 15 Board of Education meeting was held on Wednesday, June 14, 2023. The full meeting agenda as well as the minutes from its May 10, 2023 meeting, can be found on the BoardDocs website. A livestream of the meeting can be viewed on our Youtube channel.
Pledge of Allegiance: John G. Conyers Learning Academy
Students from Conyers Learning Academy who operate the CLA Beverage Cart led the Pledge of Allegiance. As part of the Multiple Needs program, students have sharpened their vocational skills by running the CLA Beverage Cart. For the past two years, every Tuesday, the CLA staff have had the amazing opportunity to purchase a beverage of their choice, ranging from Coffee, Hot Chocolate, Hot Tea, Iced Tea, Lemonade, and even a monthly Specialty Drink!
Students in our Primary Classroom support by sorting and counting the different ingredients and materials needed. The students in the Intermediate and Middle School classrooms prepare the drinks based on each staff member's individual order. Students deliver beverages to the different classrooms and offices throughout the building. Students collect the money, make change, and punch their card so staff can earn a free drink. According to Principal Matt Warren, the Beverage Cart has been a great opportunity for the students and a great morale boost for the staff throughout the year. Thank you to Mateo P., Noah T.A., and Maria P.G. for helping us by leading the pledge AND for bringing Dr. Heinz and the Board of Education such delicious drinks. They truly helped make our meeting delightful!
Student Recognition: PTA Reflections
The Northwest Suburban PTA Council had 88 students from District 15 participate in the Reflections PTA Art Program this year sponsored by the National PTA. Six District 15 students won honorable mention or distinguished artist awards at the Illinois PTA level. One District 15 student, Olive H., had a photography project advance to the National PTA level.
Congratulations Olive! We are so proud of your hard work and artistic talent!
Staff Recognition: District 15 Mechanics
District 15’s Mechanics were selected as Staff Members of the Month for the Above and Beyond recognition following a nomination by Mary Wulff.
Mary shared that our mechanics are a vital part of District 15. More than half of the District's students are bused to school on buses that our mechanics fix and maintain. If by chance a bus breaks down, the mechanics not only bring another bus out to where the driver and students are, but they also help to ensure that everyone gets transferred to the new bus safely. In addition, the mechanics also take care of the food delivery trucks that bring nourishment to our students, the mail trucks that deliver important mail to all our schools, the maintenance trucks that help to keep our schools up and running, and the warehouse trucks that help deliver educational materials and any other supplies our schools may need. During the pandemic, when we were delivering food from our buses, our mechanics helped to unload them when they came back.
Our mechanics all truly go above and beyond, and we are so honored to recognize such an amazing group of staff members!
Staff Recognition: Meggan Gannon
Meggan Gannon was selected as a Staff Member of the Month for the Above and Beyond recognition following a nomination by Gray M. Sanborn Administration. Meggan initiated a Summer Fun Bag project for newcomer students at GMS. She wanted to make sure that all newcomers had some fun summer games and toys when they left Sanborn for summer break. Meggan collected donations from the community and staff and each student left with a bag full of fun! The students and families were invited to Sanborn after school to pick out their special items in person so it was an extra special event. We greatly appreciate Meggan's passionate heart and dedication to ensuring families new to our country have summer fun this year!
Thank you, Meggan! We are honored to recognize such an amazing staff member for going Above and Beyond!
Community Recognition: Parent Mentors
We were honored to celebrate sixteen parents who have served as parent mentors in District 15 for one or two school years as part of the Illinois State Board of Education Parent Mentor Grant. District 15 partnered with the Community Resource Center (also known as the POC) to administer this grant and to bring the Parent Mentor Program to Virginia Lake, Lake Louise, and Jane Addams.
Together these parent mentors have volunteered in our District 15 classrooms for over 4,000 hours! They have assisted teachers, interacted with students, and supported instruction, and they have actively engaged in weekly professional development sessions focused on instructional practices, leadership development, and career opportunities. This team has steadfastly supported one another throughout these two years, and they have formed a powerful network to bridge historical gaps in parent engagement within immigrant communities. Their passion is inspiring and transformative, and we were grateful to have the opportunity to recognize their efforts at the Board of Education meeting.
Community Recognition: Harper College National Honors Society Donation
This fall, students from Harper College reached out to D15 with the hope of helping students with materials, specifically art supplies. As part of a service project for the Harper College Honors Society, two students – Varshitha Akella and Sonia Ajakaiye – organized a team of Honors Society members to raise funds to support student art education. These students worked with District 15’s Instructional Coordinator Beth Rihtar, who consulted with our art teachers to get a list of supplies that all students could use. Supply requests included crayons, colored pencils, cap erasers, scissors, pencils, and other basic supplies.
Thank you to the Harper College Honors Society, and their organization sponsor, Professor John Garcia, for their efforts and generous donation. District 15 has enjoyed its partnership with a community organization within our boundaries that benefits so many from Palatine and our surrounding community, and we appreciate your advocacy for arts in our schools.
Resolution declaring the intention for alternate bonds and working cash bonds
The updated budget presented to the Board in May included a revised budget for Moving 15 Forward, of $119M up from $110M and $67M down from $76M to address the needs outlined within the 5-Year Master Facility Plan. Due to the increased scope and cost escalation, in order to stay within the $186M budgeted for Moving 15 Forward, a number of projects have, unfortunately, been moved into 6-10 Year Master Facility Plan and in some cases, beyond.
The additional scope required from the original concept is partly due to the following:
Bringing greater parity to kindergarten rooms size through renovation and additions. Our target is to standardize kindergarten rooms between 900-1100 sq ft. Doing so supports programmatic changes that will be brought forth as part of a full-day kindergarten experience;
Increased Resource classroom space to support student services;
Growing ELL enrollment in a number of communities and additional classrooms spaces needed in a number of schools; and
Increase space requirement for art and music itinerants for 5 and 6 section schools.
View the full presentation here.
Presentation: FY24 Tentative Budget
Diana McCluskey, Chief Business Official, presented the tentative budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year. The tentative budget has a deficit for the operating funds of ($872,686). A zero-based budget approach was used for large expenditures such as curriculum and technology. Federal COVID Relief Grant revenues are included of approximately $4M. This money will have to be spent by September 30, 2024. The full-time equivalent positions budgeted for CTC are 1,020 versus the actual 983 for FY23. The Operations & Maintenance Fund includes a $2.7M transfer to the Debt Service fund for principal and interest on the $36M of alternate bonds anticipated to be issued in Fall 2023. Moving 15 Forward construction projects of $109M are included in the Capital Projects Fund expenditures. FY24 Capital Projects revenue of $84M is from the $79M sale of bonds anticipated Fall 2023 and a $5M transfer from O&M Fund. FY23 Capital Projects fund balance will have unspent revenues from the February 2023 bond sale that will carry over to FY24. All Funds deficit of ($24M) is mainly due to the FY23 carryover of fund balance in the Capital Projects Fund to FY24 to cover a portion of the $109M expenditures.
View the full presentation here.
Overview of Current Bus Fleet and Initial Research on Electric Buses
Dr. Claire Kowalczyk, Deputy Superintendent, Thomas Bramley, Director of Transportation, and Diana McCluskey, Chief Business Official, provided an overview of the District’s current bus fleet and initial findings on research regarding electric buses.
Committee Reports
ED-RED Committee
Board Member Annerino shared that the legislative session is done for the spring and will return in the fall. The new student arrivals legislation did not make it into the final budget and will be looked at in the fall. The student hearings legislation passed and will soon be signed into legislation. The professional development legislation passed and is now waiting for the Governor's signature. A book ban legislation just came out this month. We will find out more about it once it is implemented.
one-five Foundation
Board Member Taylor shared that the one-five Foundation once again had its staff tributes program. Thank you to everyone who came out for the Foundation’s first Family Fun Run/Walk! The one-five Foundation’s annual meeting is on August 8. The Foundation is currently looking for new trustees to join the board!
Finance Committee
Board representatives Hunt and Wang shared that the finance committee met on June 13 and viewed the bond presentation shared at the June 14 meeting.
Equity Committee
Board Members Khan and Ader shared that the next strategic plan will be brought to the Board in August for review. Samantha Ader also wished a Happy Pride Month to our community.
Board Policy PRESS 111 Second Reading and Discussion
The Board engaged in a second reading of Policy 111 and had a discussion.
The following Board policies were up for second reading from PRESS 111:
2:110 Qualifications, Term, and Duties of Board Officers
3:40 Superintendent
4:60 Purchases and Contracts
5:30 Hiring Process and Criteria
5:90 Abused and Neglected Child Reporting
5:125 Personal Technology and Social Media; Usage and Conduct
5:150 Personnel Records
5:170 Copyright
5:260 Student Teachers
6:135 Accelerated Placement Program
6:230 Library Media Program
8:20 Community Use of School Facilities
View the policy in BoardDocs.
Action Items
- 9.1 Certified School Nurse FTE Increase - approved
9.2 Human Resources Support Staff Restructuring - approved
9.3 Approval of Personnel Report: Administration, Certified, and Non-Certified - approved
9.4 Approval of ESPA Amended Negotiated Agreement (2017 Contract) Years of CBA 2023-2027 - approved
9.5 Resolution declaring the intention to issue Working Cash Fund Bonds in an amount not to exceed $40,000,000 for the purpose of increasing the District’s Working Cash Fund, and directing that notice of such intention be published in the manner provided by law. - approved
9.6 Resolution authorizing the issuance of General Obligation School Bonds (Alternate Revenue Source) in an amount not to exceed $40,000,000 pursuant to the Local Government Debt Reform Act of the State of Illinois, as amended, for the purpose of altering, repairing and equipping school buildings and facilities, constructing building additions and improving school sites. - approved
9.7 Approval of Board Policy Second Reading Press 111 - approved
9.8 Student Disciplinary Decision / Action – Student 2023-01 - approved
9.9 NSSEO Contract for 2023-2024 School Year for Student Services Professional Development, Consulting, and Audiological Services - approved
9.10 Bid Award #23-017 Laser Bond Paper - approved
9.11 Bid Award #23-018 Fresh Bakery Products - approved
9.12 Bid Award #23C-205CS – Carl Sandburg Track Improvements - approved
9.13 Bid Award #23C-206FCW - Frank C. Whiteley Drainage Improvements - approved
9.14 Approval of Finalsite Contract - approved