Consent Agenda
The Board approved the consent agenda as presented. The consent agenda includes personnel, stipends, board bills, and meeting minutes. Click on the link to access the meeting agenda and then scroll down to see Consent Agenda items beginning under number 3.
Agreement for Professional Services – Board-Certified Behavior Analyst
The Board voted to approve a proposal for a partnership with the Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD). The proposal provides for a board-certified behavior analyst two days per week at the high schools and at the Transition Center to serve students with autism. The cost for CARD services will be funded through the IDEA grant.
Bid 19-004: Native Landscape Maintenance Services
The Board voted to award Bid 19-004 Native Landscape Maintenance Services to Tallgrass Restoration LLC for a three-year contract for a total amount of $20,295.
Board
President’s Report
Board President Bill Carpenter talked about the misinformation being spread in the community about the April 2 referendum and the cuts the Board approved December 17 and encouraged people to get factual information directly from the District.
Administration
Superintendent
Superintendent Dr. Bruce Law shared with the Board that he has contacted IHSA about eligibility for students who may choose to attend private school because of the cuts made to athletics on December 17. Because IHSA is the entity that decides eligibility and they do so on a case-by-case basis, Dr. Law has asked them to put together a document that D86 can share with families to help answer eligibility questions. That document will be sent to school families when it is available.
Dr. Law also shared with the Board that both schools will be hosting events to make sure rising ninth graders understand the many athletic and activity options available to them despite the cuts and that current families can attend those events as well.
Communications
Referendum Education
The Board discussed its plans for educating the community about the April 2 referendum, indicating that there are misinformation campaigns deliberately trying to confuse D86 residents. Board members expressed the importance of providing facts to the community to make an informed decision, regardless of how they vote. The Board directed Administration to use and acquire resources needed to educate the community for the April 2 vote.
Academics
Curriculum Leadership Structure
The Board approved the curriculum leadership structure as proposed. In the proposal, Assistant Superintendent for Academics Dr. Carol Baker defined what the term
curriculum equity
means, as well as the structure and timeline for implementation. Dr. Baker said that the full curriculum equity work would be completed by the 2022-23 school year, for every course in every department. The Board modified the proposal so that curriculum equity in English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies and World Language would be achieved in two years. The Board also requested that reporting on progress of the work be quarterly.
Calendar Committee Recommendation for 2019-2020 School Year Calendar
The Board reviewed the draft 2019-20 school calendar. The draft calendar includes six Flexible Learning Days, and Emergency Days only at the end of the school year as required by ISBE. The proposal includes a recommendation to use Remote Learning Days when inclement weather makes travel to school unsafe rather than holidays second semester as potential Emergency Days. Specific details of this component were covered under the eLearning Pilot Proposal later in the agenda. The item will come back for a vote at February 19 meeting.
eLearning Pilot Proposal
The Board reviewed an eLearning Pilot Proposal that explains how eLearning could be used to have instruction on testing days on April 9 and 10. Testing days traditionally have affected all students’ learning, even those students not testing. Freshmen and sophomores will pilot eLearning on April 9, when the juniors take the SAT. April 9 is already a non-attendance day for seniors. On April 10, juniors and seniors will pilot eLearning while freshmen and sophomores take PSAT tests. On a student’s respective eLearning pilot day, students will be working remotely on assignments provided by their teachers. What is learned from this pilot of eLearning will be used in next year’s planned Flexible Learning Days. This is the next step in extending the 1:1 Instruction Environment outside the classroom. More details will be provided to families in the coming weeks.
Marking Period Committee Recommendation
The Board reviewed the recommendation from the Marking Period Committee. This committee, comprised of parents, students, teachers, a Board member and administrators, examined the value of reporting grades at the end of the first and third marking periods. The committee recommended eliminating marking period grades for first and third quarter but providing progress reports to parents. Students would still have semester grades. This item will come back to the Board at the February 19 meeting.
Business
Financial and Treasury Reports December 2018
Per regular cadence, Administration provided to the Board the financial and treasury reports for December 2018. Chief Financial Officer Josh Stephenson also shared with the Board that PTELL came in at 1.9 percent. The January 2019 PTELL (Property Tax Extension Limitation Law) measures the change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) from December 2018 to December 2017. This number becomes the limiting rate for the 2019 levy, which funds the 2020-21 school year. Mr. Stephenson also noted that, excluding the self insurance fund, the budget is on track for the first six months of the year.
The meeting adjourned at 8:32 p.m.
