February 14, 2023 at 7:00 PM - Regular Meeting

Description: 

The proposed calendar takes into consideration the 2023-2024 calendar of Lockport Township High School and the local LTHS feeder schools. We have tried to loosely match the winter and spring breaks. Also taken into account is the proposed start date. There have been no changes to the proposed calendar since the January board meeting.

Calendar Summary:

• The first day for staff is August 14.

• The first day for students is August 16. 

• Easter falls during the second weekend of Spring Break, therefore we will extend Spring Break to include Monday, April 1.

• Graduation will most likely be scheduled for the week of May 20, 2024 prior to Memorial Day weekend.  

Staff and parents have been notified of tonight's hearing. A copy of the proposed calendar is included in the electronic packet to which the public has access. I will answer any questions the audience may have Tuesday evening. 

Description:  Per Policy 2:230 Public Comments at Board of Education Meetings and Petitions to the Board 
At each regular and special open meeting, the members of the public and District employees may comment on or ask questions of the Board, subject to reasonable constraints. 
The individuals appearing before the Board are expected to follow these guidelines: 

1. Such a person shall submit a request in writing to the Board Secretary to address the Board. Such a request shall be received at least five (5) working days prior to the Board meeting and shall include said reason for the request.
2. At the meeting, a person who has complied with number 1 above shall inform the Board Secretary of his/her presence at the meeting.
3. Address the Board only at the appropriate time as indicated on the agenda and when recognized by the Board President.
4. Identify oneself and be brief. Ordinarily, such comments shall be limited to five minutes.  In unusual circumstances, and when an individual has made a request in advance to speak for a longer period of time, the individual may be allowed to speak for more than five minutes. 
5. The Board President may shorten or lengthen an individual’s opportunity to speak.  The President may also deny an individual the opportunity if the individual has previously addressed the Board on the same subject within the past 2 months. 
6. The Board President shall have the authority to determine procedural matters regarding public participation not otherwise defined in Board of Education policy. 
7. Conduct oneself with respect and civility toward others and otherwise abide by Board policy, 8:30, Visitors to and Conduct on School Property. 

Petitions or written correspondence to the Board shall be presented to the Board of Education in the next regular Board packet unless the Superintendent deems the matter to be urgent. 
 

Description:  On Tuesday evening we will be recognizing the recently attained educational milestone for a member of the D91 staff.

Description:  We will be recognizing the MG kindergarten student representatives and KG students of the month.

Description: 

We have received two requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act since the January 2023 meeting of the Board of Education. Please find the requests and responses attached.

Description: 

Attached is the suspension report for Kelvin Grove for the month of January 2023.  There were no suspensions at Milne Grove for the month of January 2023.

Description:  On Tuesday night we would like to provide an overview of the energy savings contract we have signed given the authorization of the school board in advance.  Mr. Pierson has prepared an overview of the contract information that is attached which includes what current electricity rates are as well as both our previous and new contract amounts.  In addition, copies of the energy contracts are included in the attachments.

Description:  On Tuesday night we would like to provide an overview of the FEMA Grant that was recently submitted and approved.  Attached you will find a copy of the grant submission that includes a total reimbursement amount for items that we had purchased to provide a safe and healthy school environment for our students upon returning from the pandemic.  These items were purchased using local dollars to help support the needs of our students and staff to reopen during the pandemic.  Our approved budget for this school year did not include any anticipated revenue for the FEMA Grant, so this approved allotment in the amount of $73,410.75 will be available to support other local expenditures moving forward.

Description: 

As you are aware, our district operates on a cash basis.  Through the financial management support we receive with PMA, they do an analysis of our cash flow throughout the year to determine if/when we will have additional cash on hand that can be invested to earn some interest instead of leaving it to sit in the bank.  Per the cash flow analysis and investment plan, the district can invest as follows:

Maturity Date	Amount	Investment	Rate
06/08/23	$900,000.00	Agency Discount Note	4.60%
06/22/23	$300,000.00	Agency Discount Note	4.62%
07/12/23	$260,000.00	Agency Discount Note	4.65%
08/03/23	$840,000.00	Treasury Bill	4.64%
08/17/23	$410,000.00	Agency Discount Note	4.67%
09/13/23	$500,000.00	FDIC CD	4.74%
09/15/23	$200,000.00	Treasury Note	4.56%
	$3,410,000.00

The approximate interest to be earned from the securities and CDs below is $74,378.  This money if typically not anticipated in our revenue budget and will get adjusted to our final account balances at the end of each fiscal year.  

Description:  Every four years, the Regional Office of Education is required to conduct a compliance visit to validate the district’s recognition status with the Illinois State Board of Education.  During the month of January, the district submitted online evidence to the ROE and hosted the in-person review on Thursday, February 2nd to complete the compliance review.  The district has been notified from the ROE that we have fulfilled the requirements as reviewed during the compliance visit and have been recommended for full recognition status to ISBE.  The final report has been attached for your review. 

Description:  On Tuesday night we would like to provide an update on where we are with the School Maintenance Grant Project.  Mr. Pierson has prepared some information for you to review ahead of time that will be discussed at the board meeting.  Through the discussion, we would like to come up with a two-year plan to implement the access control system (key fobs) on all keyed doors within the school district.

Description:  On Tuesday night we would like to provide an overview on a possible ComEd Lighting Grant Project.  Mr. Pierson has prepared some information for you to review ahead of time that will be discussed at the board meeting.  Through the discussion, we would like to determine whether the board would like us to proceed with the grant process for approval of the project in March or if we should postpone the project with anticipation it may still be available next fiscal year.

Description:  Review minutes of meetings lawfully closed, whether for purposes of approval or semi-annual review. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(21).

Description: 

RECOMMENDATION

Approve the 2023-2024 school calendar as presented.
 

BACKGROUND

Information has been shared with the Board and staff. Staff and parents have been notified of the hearing held at the beginning of the meeting this evening.

It is recommended the Board of Education approve the 2023-2024 school calendar as presented.

Description: 

RECOMMENDATION

It is recommended that the District 91 Board of Education increase the current student registration fees, technology fees, activity/athletic fees, and band fees by 5% (CPI) per student.

BACKGROUND

Each year the Board of Education needs to establish school fees for the following school year. Below are the dates we are tentatively planning for registration:

 

• Online kindergarten registration will open on March 20, 2023.
•  Kindergarten in-person appointments will be on April 120, 2023 by appointment only at Milne Grove, for those who have not completed the online registration and/or need assistance.
• Early bird registration for returning students will be from May 1 - May 31, 2023. We would offer the final date of Wednesday, May 31st for in-person early bird registration from 3-6 pm to be held in the Kelvin Grove foyer (door 4).
•  New families may register beginning with regular registration on June 1, 2023.  

Currently, the district does not charge an "activity fee" for clubs. Art, Science, nature, debate clubs, etc. may charge students a fee, but it goes into the club’s activity account for supplies. These fees do not go into the general account to pay the sponsors.

The athletic fees (fees paid for each athletic activity in which a student participates) offset the cost of supplies, tournaments, supervision, and coaching fees. The band fee helps to offset the cost of the school instruments and director fees.

Additionally, the textbook fee includes the pro-rated annual cost of the chrome books and cases that were purchased in order to implement a 1:1 technology model for all students in the district starting the 2021-2022 school year.
 

RECOMMENDATION

It is recommended that the District 91 Board of Education increase the current student registration fees, technology fees, activity/athletic, and band fees by 5% (CPI) per student.  We also recommend removing the late payment fee and keeping all fees the same after June 1st regular registration as we did this past school year.

Resulting 2023-2024 Fees:

 

*All amounts have been rounded to the nearest whole dollar.

Description: 

RECOMMENDATION

To continue the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with LTHS District 205 to have Quest provide food service to District 91 as a satellite program for the 2023-2024 school year with the increases as listed below.
 

BACKGROUND

During the 2020-2021 school year, the cost per meal was increased by $.05. 

For the 2021-2022 school year, the cost of each breakfast was increased by $0.10, each lunch was increased by $0.35, and each snack increased by $0.15.

Per the intergovernmental agreement, the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years will have a cost-per-meal increase by $.05.

	2020-2021	2021-2022	2022-2023	2023-2024
Lunch	$3.45	$3.80	$3.85	$3.90
Breakfast	$2.05	$2.15	$2.20	$2.25
Snack (PFA grant)	$1.10	$1.25	$1.30	$1.35
Additional Milk	$.50	$.50	$.50	$.50

 

The additional cost we charge over what LTHS charges us for the food helps to subsidize the District’s cost for personnel to prepare and serve meals. Snack costs for the Early Learners’ Program is covered by the PFA grant.

 

It is recommended the District 91 Board of Education approve the continuation of the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with LTHS District 205 to have Quest provide food to District 91 as a satellite program for the 2023-2024 school year. Meal rates for 2023-2024 will be $3.90 per lunch, $2.25 per breakfast, $0.50 per additional milk, and $1.35 per snack for the preschool program.

Description: 

MOTION to approve:

Approve the purchase and installation of a new door security system in the amount not to exceed $250,000.
 

RECOMMENDATION:

As part of the school maintenance grant for this fiscal year, the district will be purchasing a new door security system that will replace key locks with fob locks on both exterior and interior doors for all current keyed locations.  

 

BACKGROUND:

In the fall, the school board committed to the school maintenance grant in the amount of $50,000 local dollars to match the state grant of $50,000.  While working with various vendors to receive quotes, we requested that the quotes include the price to install key fobs on classroom/office doors throughout each of the buildings.  To complete this entire process all at the same time and save 10% by purchasing by the end of February before costs increase, we are able to complete the entire door security system for all current keyed doors for a price not to exceed $250,000.  We anticipate applying for the same school maintenance grant in 2023-2024 due to the need to complete all interior doors, which would put us closer to the final amount necessary to update all district-keyed doors with the new access controls.

 

Description: 

Recommendation: 

To adopt the updated/revised/new policies below as presented during the first reading at the December meeting and discussed during the board discussion meeting prior to the regular meeting.

Description:  RECOMMENDATION

Closed session minutes noted in the table provided as "open" are no longer considered to be confidential and can be opened. Closed session minutes as noted with "closed" should remain closed as they contain information still considered to be confidential.

To destroy existing taped closed session minutes through July 2021.  The required 18-month period for saving taped minutes has expired allowing us to destroy these tapes.



BACKGROUND

We are required by law to review the Closed Session minutes every six months to determine if they still need to remain closed. We are also required to tape closed session meetings and save such tapes for a period of 18 months.

I will provide copies of the closed session minutes (marked confidential) for you to review during the scheduled closed session. 

It is my recommendation that the Board of Education open the closed session minutes that are marked with "open" in the table as information is no longer considered to be confidential. Closed session minutes labeled "closed" in the table should remain closed as they contain information still considered to be confidential.

In addition, it is recommended that the board approve the destruction of taped closed session minutes through July of 2021.  The required 18-month period for saving taped minutes has expired allowing us to destroy these tapes.
 

Description: 

RECOMMENDATION

Accept the monetary donation from American Water in the amount of $901, a monetary donation on behalf of the Harry Garrett Memorial Fund to the Parent Athletic Association in the amount of $1000, and various donations for the KG LRC, MakerSpace, and Speech Path.

 

BACKGROUND

We received a monetary donation from American Water in the amount of $901 on behalf of their employee incentive program.  Thank you to Mr. Dorion for choosing Lockport School District 91 as his choice for the employee incentive.  

A monetary donation on behalf of the Harry Garrett Memorial Fund has been made to the District 91 Parent Athletic Association.  Mr. Garrett was a long-time supporter and coach of the D91 PAA programs.  

In addition, we received a donation from Mrs. Plagman that included an assortment of books and manipulatives to be used in the KG LRC, MakerSpace, and Speech services.  See attached document for more details.

Description:  The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the District or legal counsel for the District, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee or against legal counsel for the District to determine its validity. [1] However, a meeting to consider an increase in compensation to a specific employee of a public body that is subject to the Local Government Wage Increase Transparency Act may not be closed and shall be open to the public and posted and held in accordance the [the Open Meetings Act].  5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1), as amended by P.A. 99-646