Special Presentations and Recognitions

Staff gave a presentation about ongoing equity efforts, including introducing work surrounding an Equity Advisory Council.

Representatives from the Women Empowered and Educating the Community Coalition (WEEC) gave a presentation about the organization’s purpose and some of the work they are focusing on regarding African American students. 

Action Items

The Board of Education voted to approve the amendments to policy 6048, Isolated Time Out, Time Out and Physical Restraint, as presented in second reading.

The Board of Education voted to approve fees to be waived pertaining to the Trunk or Treat Event that is to be hosted by The Beacon Place. This event was October 25 at the Carman-Buckner parking lot. The cost of the rental is $120.

The Board of Education voted to approve the purchase of IQWST in the amount of $76,728. IQWST is for middle schools only. IQWST (Investigating and Questioning our World through Science and Technology), which transforms adolescents into scientists, was developed over a decade by science education, literacy, and learning science specialists.  Students investigate questions relevant to their lives by conducting investigations; collecting and analyzing data; developing and using models to explain phenomena, and engaging in argument from evidence, all in a literacy and discourse-rich environment.

The Board of Education voted to approve the purchase of Achieve 3000 in the amount of $535,442. Achieve3000 is a supplemental online literacy program that provides nonfiction reading content to students in grades Pre-K through 12, and focuses on building phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, reading comprehension, vocabulary, and writing skills. Achieve 3000 will be utilized by the 5 middles schools grades 6th-8th.

The Board of Education voted to accept the low responsible and responsive bid from  Waukegan-based Stuckey Construction, with a bid totaling $111,000 for toilet renovations at Hyde Park Elementary. Added to Stuckey Construction’s bid is an architect fee of 8% payable to STR Partners LLC. a project contingency fee of 10% of construction costs, and the advertisement cost of $208.29, and an asbestos abatement cost of $17,500.00 for a total project budget approval of $148,588.00.

The Board of Education voted to adopt the amendments to Policy 7060, Individual Education Programs, as presented for second reading.

The Board of Education voted to adopt COVID-19 Board Resolution #7 suspending the mandatory retention of students who do not meet minimum academic or attendance standards for the 2020-2021 school year due to the interruption in learning caused by the novel Coronavirus 2019.

The Board of Education voted to approve the purchase of 11,300 Dell Chromebooks/Carrying Cases/Plastic Clam Shells and licenses. This purchase is needed to upgrade outdated devices and these Chromebooks will be used to support the Remote Learning Strategy and 1:1 Chromebook initiative from PreK-12 grades. The cost for 11,300 Chromebooks is $4,442,238.

The Board of Education voted to approve the purchase of an engraver machine to facilitate the Chromebook inventory. This purchase is needed to upgrade the outdated existing engraver. The cost for the engraver is $ 38,981.

The Board of Education voted to ratify the Superintendent's decision to allow students who are required to provide proof of immunizations and/or health examinations but have not done so to continue to attend school in a remote capacity only and that the Board of Education suspend that portion of policy 6030 that would otherwise exclude these students from school until health forms are received, as set forth in the attached resolution.

Financial Items

The Board of Education voted to adopt the Resolution to abate the levy for Tax Year 2020 for Principal and Interest on the $7,000,000 Taxable General Obligation Bonds (Alternative Revenue Source) Series 2016. The purpose of this resolution is to abate the annual payment for principal and interest of the Taxable General Obligation Bonds and provide for the payment from the Operations and Maintenance Fund where resources are obtained from the tax levy, but with the significant difference that these resources would be subject to the property tax cap. In essence, additional taxes will not be imposed on the District's taxpayers to pay for the QSCB liability.

Personnel Items

The Board of Education voted to approve the resignations and appointments of 12 employees. 

The Board of Education voted to approve the merger of two parent support positions in the EL and FACE departments. This will streamline communication from the district to the community.

The Board of Education voted to approve the restoration of 3.0 FTE Psychologist. 1.0 FTE Social Work Intern, and 2.0 FTE Speech and Language Pathologist that was eliminated in the switch to the Infinite Visions program at a cost of $369,000.

The Board of Education voted to approve the revised and restated Deputy Contracts. This Board action concerns the modification of employment contracts of Eduardo Cesario and LeBaron Moten, as previously approved in December 2019, to restate the base salary data included in each contract.  The gross salary due to each employee has not been changed.  The revised contracts clarify that performance goals are to be amended annually.  Further, each contract adds an annuity provision.  All other provisions remain the same.

The Board of Education voted to  approve the recommendation of Administration to give a 4% raise to all Non-Union personnel, with employees with single health insurance coverage only, contributing .32% of their pay towards single health coverage, and those with dependent coverage paying 35% of any increase in dependent rates from FY2020, per plan type, as determined by Blue Cross Blue Shield, the District's Insurance Carrier. The Administration has successfully negotiated several union contracts which resulted in an average raise of 4%.  Therefore, the Administration recommends a 4% raise for all Non-Union personnel (excluding those under separate agreement).  Non-Union personnel are not entitled to step or lane movement.  Additionally, Non-Union personnel are aware that not all the settled contracts include employees contributing towards single health insurance coverage; but agree that their willingness to contribute is in the best interest of the District. Pay increases will become effective July 1, 2020, or on the anniversary date of eligible employees, as determined by their hire date.

Information Items

The Board of Education reviewed resolutions related to Juneteenth National Freedom Day, Indigenous Peoples Day and Columbus Day.