Due to technical problems with sound, the video from the May 6 meeting will not be posted. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Recognize 2018-19 Student Liaisons and Welcome 2019-20 Student Liaisons
The Board recognized the 2018-19 student liaisons Liliana Bone from Hinsdale South and Sara Draddy from Hinsdale Central for their service. The 2019-20 liaisons were announced; junior Nautica Kindred will be the South student liaison and senior Jackson Hughes will be the Central student liaison.
Good News
Principal Walsh from Hinsdale Central and Principal Pokorny from Hinsdale South and shared recent good news from their respective schools.
Board Member Orientation and Strategic Plan Refresh
Administration presented a brief overview of each department as well as reviewed the goals of the Strategic Plan adopted by the Board in May 2018.
Consent Agenda
The Board approved the consent agenda as amended. 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 5.
Re-Adopt the Remaining 2019 Calendar of Board Meetings
The Board voted to re-adopt the calendar of Board meetings through the end of June 2019.
Appoint IASB Governing Board Representative
The Board President appoints the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) Governing Board Representative. Board President Nancy Pollak re-appointed Kathleen Hirsman as IASB Governing Board Representative.
Determine Board Committees and Appoint Board Committee Members
The Board of Education determines which Board committees it deems necessary and then the Board President makes the appointments to those Board committees.
- Facilities Committee: Co-Chairs Keith Chval and Kevin Camden, Marty Turek
- Finance Committee: Chair Kevin Camden, Erik Held
- Human Resources Committee: Chair Keith Chval, Kathleen Hirsman and Cynthia Hanson
- Insurance Committee: Chair Erik Held, Kevin Camden
- PTAC: No Board member chair, Erik Held and Cynthia Hanson
- Policy Committee: Chair Kathleen Hirsman, Cynthia Hanson
- Negotiations Committee: Chair Kathleen Hirsman, Kevin Camden, Erik Held
- Closed Session Minutes: Chair Kathleen Hirsman, Marty Turek
2020 Schedule of Board Meetings
The Board discussed a draft schedule of FY 2020 Board meetings. The proposed schedule moves regular meetings from Mondays to Thursdays. The
Open Meetings Act requires a schedule of the regular meetings of the Board at the beginning of each year stating the regular dates, times, and places of such meetings. The item will come back for a vote at the May 20 meeting.
Appoint 2019 and 2020 DAOES Board Representative
The District Superintendent has traditionally served as the DAOES Board Representative. Superintendent Law was appointed as the 2019 DAOES Board Representative. The Board approved a resolution to change the District's representative during the organizational year from Dr. Law to Superintendent Prentiss. The Board also approved a resolution to appoint Superintendent Prentiss as the DAOES Board Representative for the 2019-2020 organizational year.
Board
President’s Report
Board President Pollak asked Superintendent Prentiss and Principals Walsh and Pokorny to speak about the 2019
U.S. News & World Report “Best High Schools” rankings. Principal Pokorny noted that the rankings place both schools in the top eight percent of high schools in the state. Principal Pokorny also added that South’s graduation rate decreased to 88 percent, and that figure is the lowest of the top 50 schools by four percentage points. The graduation rate in the rankings calculates students who graduate with their four-year cohort. Principal Pokorny went on to explain that the lower graduation figure is impacted by special education students who have met graduation requirements but by law cannot receive their diploma if they wish to continue to receive transition services.
When looking at the 2016-17 data used in the 2019 rankings, Principal Pokorny said 20 students went on to the Transition Center or Bridge Program, representing 3.3 percent of the 2017 graduating class at South. Principal Prentiss explained that she has been asking the state for a “continuer code” so that the number of students who continue to receive services be broken out of the whole number, to give a more accurate look at the graduation rate. If the number of students continuing to receive services were excluded, the graduation rate at South for the class of 2017 would have been 93.3 percent.
President Pollak also mentioned community member interest in a mechanism to enable community member input and interaction with the Board. President Pollak said that the Board will be exploring that idea over the weeks and months ahead.
Parent Teacher Advisory Committee Meeting Report
The draft minutes of the April 23, 2019 Parent Teacher Advisory Committee (PTAC) were presented to the Board as part of the Committee's report to the Board and the Board voted to release the draft minutes.
Administration
Superintendent
Superintendent’s Report
Superintendent Prentiss thanked the Board for their well wishes and warm welcome on her first day as Superintendent May 1.
IHSA 2020 Membership
The Board of Education discussed renewal of its membership in the Illinois High School Association, which renews annually. The item will come back for a vote at the May 20 meeting.
Treasurer’s Bond for General Obligation Bond Issuance
The Board reviewed the invoice for an additional surety bond, which is required to issue the bonds for the bond proposition the voters approved April 2. The planned issuance of a general obligation bond by the District requires the District Treasurer to procure a surety bond to cover the additional cash proceeds that will be on hand. The item will come back for a vote at the May 20 meeting.
Engage Bond Counsel
The Board voted to engage Chapman & Cutler as bond counsel following the voters’ approval of the bond proposition on April 2.
Amendment to Financial Advisory Agreement
Attached is an amendment to the District's financial advisory agreement with PMA Securities, LLC. The amendment memorializes the intent to issue general obligation bonds in the amount of $70 million. All other terms remain in effect from the original agreement. Every future bond issuance will require an amendment. The item will come back to the May 20 meeting.
Construction Manager RFP
Board members Cynthia Hanson and Marty Turek were named as liaisons to the evaluation team who will make a recommendation to award a vendor the role of construction manager.
Owner’s Rep Proposal and Surveying Proposals
The Board reviewed a proposal from the District’s Owner’s Representative for referendum project support over the next 12 months. The Board also reviewed proposals from surveying vendors for referendum-related work.
Authorize FY 2019 Audit
As required by state statute, the Board must vote to authorize an audit of its accounts for FY 2019 by a person lawfully qualified to practice public accounting by June 30. The item will come back for a vote at the May 20 meeting.
RFP 19-016 Insurance Broker
The Board discussed insurance broker proposals for the consulting services related to the District’s benefit plans. Administration recommended awarding a three-year contract to Alliant/Mesirow Insurance Services for a total of $195,120. The item will come back for a vote at the May 20 meeting.
Designate Depositories for District Funds
The Board reviewed the proposed list of depositories for FY 2020. The Board will vote on depositories at the May 20 meeting.
Treasurer’s Bond Renewal
The Board reviewed the invoice for the continuation of the Treasurer’s Bond for FY 2020. The item will come back for a vote at the May 20 meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 8:06 p.m.
