April 13, 2022 at 7:00 PM - Board of Education - Regular Meeting

Description:  Carol Botwinski, Board President, called the meeting to order.

Good Evening. I call to order the Board of Education Meeting for Prospect Heights School District 23 for April 13, 2022 at ________.
 

Description:  PRESENT: Mr. Bednar, Mrs. Botwinski, Mr. Greidanus, Mrs. McClaney,
Mr. Novak, Mrs. Peters, and Mr. Smith

ABSENT: No one.

ALSO PRESENT: Dr. Don Angelaccio, Superintendent, Dr. Amy M. Zaher, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction, Mrs. Amy McPartlin, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations and Dr. Chrystyna Sroka Assistant Superintendent for Student Services.

Description:  We will be led in the Pledge of Allegiance by the Bulldog Ambassadors.

Description:  At each regular and special open meeting, members of the public and District employees may comment on or ask questions of the Board of Education. If you would like to address the Board, please complete the form and give it to Mrs. O'Donnell, our recording secretary.  

Description:  Special recognition of our PTO during volunteer appreciation month for their continued partnership and support of District 23 and our community. This year we highlight the volunteers who serve in the AVIC program for bringing engaging art lesson into the classrooms to provided expanded opportunities for our students.

Description:  Dr. Curtis and members of the Ross SIP team will share their presentation, highlighting their work toward their goals. 

Description:  Dr. Angelaccio will provide an update on the supports and services provided to our new refugee families. 

Description:  April is Volunteer Appreciation Month. We especially thank all who share their time and resources with District 23 to support our students and staff. April is also recognized as School Library Month. We appreciate our Library Media Specialists Ms. Hauschild, Mrs. Strachn, Mrs. Yager, and Mrs. McWilliams for their dedication and inspiration that leads our Media Centers into innovative and Future Ready places of learning. We also recognize Autism Awareness Month in April and thank all of our professionals who bring this specialized skill and expertise to serving our students and families. April 6th was National Assistant Principal Appreciation week so we'd like to recognize our outstanding AP Chris Alms.  Last, but certainly not least we celebrate Teacher Appreciation and Nurse Appreciation Week in early May. We thank all of our professionals for their dedicated service and contributions that make District 23 an amazing place in which students learn and grow. 

Description:  As an update, our families have received information and we have opened the process for registration. We encourage all families to register during the month of April. Registered families will receive payment requests for school fees in July. 

Description:  Dr. Angelaccio will provide a brief update on the status of our COVID response.

Description:  Cafe La Cave
2777 Mannheim Road
Des Plaines, IL. 60018
5:00-8:00 p.m.

Description:  Lincoln Junior High School
7839 Lincoln Ave, Skokie IL 60077 
"Responding to the Budgetary and Funding Impacts of Illinois" presented by Ralph Martire, Executive Director, Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, and Arthur Rubloff Endowed Professor of Public Policy at Roosevelt University.

Description:  Our District-Wide Staff Meeting will be held on May 23, 2022, from 3:00-4:00 p.m. in the MacArthur Gym.  We will honor our colleagues and retirees.

Description:  Mr. Novak will report.

Description:  Mr. Bednar will report.

Description:  Mrs. Botwinski will report.

Description:  Mrs. McClaney will report.

Description:  Tonight's Consent Agenda includes the approval of the minutes from the Regular Meeting and the Executive Session on March 14, 2022 and the Personnel Report.

Description:  Attached is the memo recommending payment of the voucher lists for materials, supplies, and services paid since the last BOE meeting. In addition, the District payments for salaries and insurance benefits during the previous month are included for approval. Those documents are all included for your review.

 

Description:  Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Dr. Amy Zahr, and representatives of the ELA Curriculum Committee will present their recommendation for the adoption of new literacy materials. 

Description:  Dr. Angelaccio will share an update regarding the Early Learning Expansion project. 

Description:  Presented as a first read tonight, the NSSEO has shared their budget for FY23. Next month, we will need to pass a resolution for a directed vote at their June Board meeting. 

Description:  The purpose of the Joint Committee for Purposes of Construction Work Oversight is to oversee the authorization of construction payments required by the submission of a change order submitted by the architect, construction manager or any general contractor in order to secure the public trust in the integrity and credibility of the construction process.  We would like to form this committee for the start of the 2022 Construction Season. Board members Greidanus and Novak have volunteered to serve on this Committee.

Description:  The District has received its final insurance renewal rate information for following insurance coverages:  Life, Accidental Death and Disability, HMO, PPO and Dental.  These are all fully or partially paid District insurance benefits.  The attached chart provides analysis on the rates for FY23 compared to prior years.

Description:  The Illinois School Code requires that Educational Support Personnel (ESP) be notified 30 calendar days before the end of the school year if they are to be honorably dismissed for the following school year. ESP are honorably dismissed when there is an anticipated decrease in the number of positions needed or a particular type of service. These individuals will have recall rights to positions if they become available. This will affect five Instructional Assistants.

Description:  Amy McPartlin will provide an update on the Business Office's plan to transition to a Modified Accrual Basis of Accounting.  The one-time additional expenditure amounts to $15,000 and will be budgeted in the FY2023 Auditor Services line item.

Description:  In accordance with the ongoing Projector Replacement Project, work will continue this summer at Betsy Ross and Anne Sullivan Schools.  Bids were solicited for the purchase and installation of Claridge whiteboards as a part of this project. The Recommendation is being made to the Board to accept the bid from Interior Investments, LLC in the amount of $57,189.19.

Description:  Bids were solicited for the removal of the existing whiteboards, chalkboards and tack boards, restoration of the base wall and repainting in preparation for the new whiteboards and projectors in all classrooms at both Betsy Ross & Anne Sullivan Schools.  Following a review of the base project and the alternate options, Capital Painting and Decorating, Inc. is being recommended to the Board for approval in the amount of $27,810.00.

Description:  Bids were solicited for the 2022 Seal Coating, Striping, Crack Filling and Concrete Services throughout the District. Following Committee approval, the recommendation is being made to award the bid in the amount of $41,189.89 to Patriot Pavement Services.

Description:  Bids for the 2022 Outdoor Learning Structures and Site Work were solicited by Arcon. They were received and opened on March 31, 2022. Following a review of all submittals, a recommendation is being presented to award the work for the Outdoor Learning Structures to Misfits Construction Company in the amount of $145,000.

As part of the Outdoor Learning Environments project, we are also  sharing a proposal from NuToys for site furnishings at the MacArthur, Sullivan and Ross sites for the total amount of $76,493.00.  As these items are being purchased through a cooperative contract, they are exempt from public bidding under the Illinois School Code. All work and site furnishings have been budgeted for in the ESSER III Grant.

 

Description:  A three-year bid for Snow Removal Services was awarded to Milieu Landscaping (Wheeling, IL) in 2019. The bid required vendors to submit flat rates for varying snow removal accumulations.  The approximate annual cost of these services was $36,000. The District reserved the right to extend the contract for a fourth and fifth year at a mutually agreed cost.  The District has negotiated a one-year extension at no additional increase. 

Description:  Following several months of negotiations and COVID delays, we are pleased to welcome the DAY Group back to District 23 on Sundays at MacArthur Middle School.  The rental agreement is in alignment with current District rental rates and has been approved for a 1 1/4 year initial term. 

Description:  Following discussion in both Buildings and Sites and Finance Committee meetings, Administration will be proceeding with early ordering of the summer furniture proposals based on increasing costs and significant lead times.  Orders will be placed using FY22 residual building supply funds as well as non-discretionary furniture allocations from each building's FY23 budget. All product is expected in late June or early July. The proposals have been attached along with a brief overview of the purchases.

Description:  The District received several recent requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act.  The first one was from Mr. Ted Novak requesting employee and Board Member information.  The second one was from ABC-7/WLS TV requesting information on "challenged" books. The remaining three requests were for construction contract information from Mr. Gerardo Mendez with the Illinois, Indiana and Iowa Foundation for Fair Contracting.

The Business Office provided the requested documentation and complied with all requests as required under the Freedom of Information Act.

Description:  Attached is a revised memo for discussion in closed session. 

Description:  The attached data will be discussed in closed session as the Board provides parameters to Mrs. Botwinski and the Labor Management Committee. 

Description:  This item is an action placeholder in the event the Board wishes to approve Non-PHEA salaries. Prior to action, the final approved compensation figures will be added to the document.