Budget Hearing
The board held a public hearing about the 2020-21 fiscal year budget. During the hearing, the administration presented and the board discussed the proposed final budget for the 2020-21 fiscal year.
2020 Summer School Report
Teachers Sue Grady and Sarah Porod provided the board with a report about the 2020 summer school program. In their report, Grady and Porod, who served as the co-principals for summer school, provided a recap of the program from an instructional and operational standpoint. They also shared budget considerations and recommendations for next year’s program.
You can access additional information about the 2020 summer school report and next year’s program recommendations by visiting
https://bit.ly/2ROlnpm.
Good News
Below are the good news items that Hinsdale South and Hinsdale Central shared during the meeting.
Hinsdale South
Principal Arwen Pokorny Lyp announced that the following individuals have been named semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program:
- Carson Kotecki
- Bryn Larson
- Dhruv Vaze
Principal Pokorny Lyp also recognized and congratulated the 68 individuals that have been inducted into Hinsdale South’s National Honor Society, and thanked Nick Chavarria, Hinsdale South’s activities director, for his work in organizing the Buzz-By materials pick up.
Hinsdale Central
Principal Bill Walsh announced that the following individuals have been named semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program:
- Chloe Attlan
- Aryan Bahl
- Dov Chen
- Qing Dang
- Kai Dubauskas
- Mikhail Essa
- Amer Goel
- Ethan Greenwald
- Ajay Jejurikar
- Yahya Junejo
- Thomas Kusak
- Sidh Leekha
- Henning Ley
- Marit Ley
- Joseph Marek
- Sean Millman
- Kaitlin Mrksich
- Benjamin Newton
- Derek Song
- John Tischke
- Jessie Wang
- Katherine Wilson
- Aileen Yang
- Kaitlyn Zhu
Recovery-Revitalization-Restore Committee Update
Members of the Recovery-Revitalization-Restore (R3) Committee, which is composed of teachers, department chairs, and building and district administrators, provided the board with an update regarding the district’s return to school plan, including details about the phased-in approach the committee is proposing for the resumption of in-person instruction.
Below are several of R3’s recommendations.
- Bring approximately 25% of the student population back on campus for in-person instruction beginning the week of Oct. 5. That percentage was determined based on the metrics featured in the in DuPage County Health Department’s (DCHD) Return to School Framework.
- Move to a condensed block schedule starting the week of Oct. 12 that will feature 65-minute classes and 10-minute passing periods. We are keeping the block schedule to maintain a continuity of instruction as we transition to in-person learning. However, we are condensing it to reduce the amount of time between classes and make passing periods more uniform in length. These changes were based, in part, on feedback we received from students, staff and parents/guardians.
- Forgo the use of Edgenuity for students who are learning from home full time in favor of synchronous instruction on a daily basis that is led by their current teachers and delivered primarily via Zoom.
The update also included information about the current health conditions at the district, county and state level, as well as staffing and safety considerations. A detailed communication about the R3 Committee’s update and our phased-in approach to in-person instruction was sent to students, staff, parents/guardians and community members today (Sept. 25), and can be viewed by visiting
https://bit.ly/3jdBwAA.
Committee Reports
Members of the joint Facilities and special committee provided the board with a report from their meeting on Sept. 18. During this meeting the committee:
- Received an update on the status of the remaining Phase 1 projects.
- Discussed the projects slated to be completed during Phase 2, which is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2021. The Phase 2 projects include various life safety and infrastructure upgrades, site paving upgrades, classroom upgrades, roof replacements, etc.
- Received a financial update regarding Phase I and the referendum work overall. Currently, the estimated budget for the scope of work is 0.46% above the $139.8 million bond proposition that voters approved in 2019.
You can access the committee report, which includes the financial update and full list of Phase 2 projects by visiting
https://bit.ly/33YkX5h.
Members of the Finance Committee provided the board with a report from their meeting on Sept. 17. During this meeting, the committee discussed the district’s transportation contract with First Student. The committee recommended that the district continue to fund the transportation contract at the 80% threshold through Oct. 2.
Members of the Parent-Teacher Advisory Committee provided the board with a report from their meeting on Sept. 17. During this meeting the committee:
- Received an overview of the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act from the district’s legal firm.
- Listened to a presentation from the Math Pathways Team about their recommendations for the district’s math curriculum. The presentation included an outline of the team’s process and approach, information about the team’s collaboration with our teachers and feeder schools, and details pertaining to the implementation of an integrated math pathway.
- Discussed the district’s return to school plan and provided feedback on the shift to in-person instruction.
You can access the committee report, which includes information about the work of the Math Pathways Team and return to school plan, by visiting
https://bit.ly/3mRnMOc.
Members of Insurance Committee provided the board with a report from their meeting on Sept. 16. During this meeting the committee:
- Reviewed and discussed the district’s current insurance plan costs and next year’s renewal rates in advance of the open enrollment period that begins in November.
- Reviewed dental plan benchmark data and voluntary benefit options.
Members of the Policy Committee provided the board with a report from their meeting on Sept. 14. During this meeting the committee:
- Reviewed revisions to policies 2:220 (Board of Education and Meeting Procedure) and 4:180 (Pandemic Preparedness).
- Reviewed policy updates related to the U.S. Department of Education’s updated Title IX regulations.
The board voted to release the draft minutes from these meetings as part of the consent agenda.
Policies for First Read
The board conducted a first reading of policies 8:80 (Gifts to the District) and 8:90 (Supporting Organizations). The board will conduct a second reading and consider approving these policies at its next meeting.
Consent Agenda
The board approved the consent agenda as presented. The consent agenda includes personnel, stipends, board bills and meeting minutes. Please visit
https://bit.ly/3mMR54I to access the consent agenda items beginning under number nine.
Approve the 2020-21 Fiscal Year Budget
The board approved the final budget for the 2020-21 fiscal year. The proposed final budget was presented to the board during its committee of the whole meeting on Sept. 10.
Approve Fund Transfer Resolution
The board approved a fund transfer resolution for the 2020-21 fiscal year, which you can access by visiting
https://bit.ly/2ZX4YU7.
Approve Policies 2:220 and 4:180 on First Read
The board conducted a first reading and, based on the Policy Committee’s recommendation, approved policies 2:220 (Board of Education and Meeting Procedure) and 4:180 (Pandemic Preparedness).
Approve Policy Revisions Related to Updated Title IX Regulations on First Read
The U.S. Department of Education updated Title IX regulations and requires school districts to implement a detailed grievance procedure for complaints related to sexual harassment. With this in mind, the board conducted a first reading and, based on the Policy Committee’s recommendation, approved revisions to the following policies:
- Policy 2:260 (Uniform Grievance Procedures)
- Policy 5:10 (Equal Employment Opportunity and Minority Recruitment)
- Policy 5:20 (Workplace Harassment Prohibited)
- Policy 5:100 (Staff Development Program)
- Policy 7:10 (Equal Educational Opportunities)
- Policy 7:20 (Harassment of Students Prohibited)
- Policy 7:180 (Prevention of and Response to Bullying, Intimidation and Harassment)
- Policy 7:185 (Teen Dating Violence Prohibited)
In addition, the board conducted a first reading and adopted policy 2:265 (Title IX Sexual Harassment Grievance Procedure).
Board President’s Report
Board President Kevin Camden noted that he wants students back in the classroom and believes the district is doing everything it can to realize that goal.
Superintendent’s Report
Superintendent Tammy Prentiss mentioned that she looks forward to continuing to work with the Parent-Teach Advisory Committee to help advance the district’s strategic plan. She thanked the staff for everything they did to make the in-person administration of the SAT possible on Sept. 23 and 24. She also reported that she and Secretary Hirsman attended an exit ceremony for a young adult from our Transition program, and shared that it was a phenomenal and special experience.
2020-21 School Year Calendar Updates
Dr. Chris Covino, the district’s assistant superintendent for academics, presented the following changes to the calendar for the 2020-21 school year:
- Oct. 15 will be converted from a Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) examination day to a regular student attendance day (e.g., Thursday’s block schedule).
- Oct. 16 will be converted from a COVID-19 remote learning day (e.g., Wednesday remote learning schedule) to a regular attendance day (e.g., Friday block schedule).
The district originally allotted two days for the PSAT (Oct. 14 and 15). The second testing day (Oct. 15) was scheduled for students that need additional accommodations. However, it has been determined that one testing date will sufficiently meet the needs of all our students.
Financial and Treasury Reports
Per its regular cadence of reporting, the administration provided the board with the financial and treasury reports for August 2020. You can access the financial reports by visiting
https://bit.ly/3hWb5y7 and the treasury report by visiting
https://bit.ly/3iYgTIz.
FOIA Requests
The board received information about the FOIA requests that have been processed since its last regular action meeting. This information included the names or titles of the individuals and departments who helped respond to the requests, a summary of the records that were requested and who asked for them, and trend data about the number of requests that have been processed and the legal fees the district has incurred in responding to them.
Operational Calendar and Future Agenda Items
The board reviewed and discussed its operational calendar for the year and possible agenda items for future meetings. You can access additional information about this agenda item by visiting
https://bit.ly/3mLnBUH.
