November 12, 2024 at 7:00 PM - Regular Meeting

Description:  Per Policy 2:230 - Public Participation at School Board Meetings and Petitions to the Board
During each regular and special open meeting of the Board, any person may comment to or ask questions of the School Board (public participation), subject to the reasonable constraints established and recorded in this policy’s guidelines below. The Board listens to comments or questions during public participation; responses to comments to or questions of the Board are most often managed through policy 3:30, Chain of Command. 
To preserve sufficient time for the Board to conduct its business, any person appearing before the Board is expected to follow these guidelines:

1. Address the Board only at the appropriate time as indicated on the agenda and when recognized by the Board President. This includes following the directives of the Board President to maintain order and decorum for all.
2. Use a sign-in sheet, if requested.
3. Identify oneself and be brief. Ordinarily, the time for any one person to address the Board during public participation shall be limited to five minutes. In unusual circumstances, and when an individual has made a request to speak for a longer period of time, the Board President may allow a person to speak for more than five minutes. If multiple individuals wish to address the Board on the same subject, the group is encouraged to appoint a spokesperson.
4. Observe, when necessary and appropriate, the Board President’s authority to:
   • Shorten the time for each person to address the Board during public participation to conserve time and give the maximum number of people an opportunity to speak; and/or b.
   • Determine procedural matters regarding public participation not otherwise covered in Board policy.
5. 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 in the next regular Board packet.

Description:  On Tuesday evening we will be recognizing D91 Leaders who demonstrate dedication and commitment to the Lockport SD91 family and community.  The leaders being recognized include the Board of Education, Administration, D91 Teachers Union Elected Leaders, and D91 Leaders At-Large. 

Description:  We will be recognizing the KG students of the month, Junior Beta Club members, and MG second-grade student representatives.  

Description:  We have not received any requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act since the October 2024 meeting of the Board of Education.

Description:  Attached is the suspension report for both Milne and Kelvin Grove for the month of October 2024. 

Description:  On Tuesday evening, the board members will receive their information for the Triple I conference.  In addition, a brief conversation will be held to discuss the conference sessions members are planning to attend, including the pre-conference sessions, so the board can gather as much information as possible to bring back to the whole board.

Description: 

Description:  Mr.John Michalesko from the auditing firm of Gassensmith & Michalesko, LTD. has prepared information for the school board to be shared at the meeting on Tuesday. 

Description:  Attached you will find the summative designation letter the district received from Illinois State Board of Education that will be included on our school report card.  On Tuesday evening, Dr. Wilkey will provide an update on the Illinois Assessment of Readiness results for the district this past spring of 2024. 

Description: 

During the FY23 and FY24 fiscal years, District 91 was able to attain the School Maintenance Grant through the state of IL to install key fobs on all interior and exterior doors to support the district with our goal of safety/security for our students and staff.  For the FY25 grant, we would like to continue the focus on the safety and security of our buildings with projects to include replacement and/or maintenance on exterior and interior doors that are beginning to fail in their mechanical system to maintain locked entrances.  In addition, the district would like to install additional security cameras in locations of Kelvin Grove that currently do not exist to have ongoing visibility of spaces for safety purposes.

In order to submit the grant, we would like to confirm commitment from the D91 Board of Education to utilize the FY25 budget funds in the amount of approximately $50,000 so we can receive the matching grant max of $50,000 from the state to complete the project this year.  On Tuesday evening, we will ask for board input on this proposal for the use of funds and support to move forward with the grant.

Description: 

Tonight we will have an action item to approve the estimated amounts necessary to be levied for the 2024 levy.  At this time, CPI is not over 5% for the 2023 tax levy, but we are anticipating the largest new property growth the district has seen in years.  In order for the district to capture new property, the board discussed levying above the 5% tax cap.  Per the county assessor’s preliminary numbers, new property is estimated to be ~$2.8 million, the highest the district has seen in recent years.  As we did last two years in this same situation, we will be levying over the 5%, so we can make sure we will capture our full entitlement with the new property.  

In order to levy above the 5% to capture our full entitlement, we are required to hold a Truth In Taxation hearing during our December meeting.  This will include publishing a notice in the paper with the time/date for a hearing at the December board meeting prior to approving the certificate of tax levy in December. 

Description:  On Tuesday night, Dr. Wilkey will provide an update on the summer project's progress since approving the project last month.  This will include an update on the abatement bid release and some project considerations in conjunction with construction work.

Description: 

Description: 

RECOMMENDATION

Accept the donations from the D91 Parent Athletic Association for new adjustable basketball hoops to be installed in the Milne Grove gymnasium.

 

BACKGROUND

The D91 Parent Athletic Association has been fundraising for awhile now with purpose to invest in adjustable basketball hoops to be installed in the Milne Grove gymnasium for younger students to use during physical education classes and for PAA basketball camps/teams.  We are very excited for this opportunity, as it will be utilized frequently by students.  It is my recommendation that the board of education accept this donation.

Description: 

RECOMMENDATION

It is recommended the Board of Education approves the disposition of district property including various COVID-related supplies.
 

BACKGROUND

During COVID, there were numerous additional supplies purchased to assist the district with keeping our staff and students safe from the spread of germs.  Now that we are past the pandemic, we are sorting through supplies that have been stored in each of our buildings that are no longer of use to the district.  Attached is a list of the supplies and materials we are looking to dispose of. 

Description: 

RECOMMENDATION

Accept the FY24 Audit and Annual Financial Report as presented by the district’s auditor.
 

BACKGROUND

Mr.John Michalesko from the auditing firm of Gassensmith & Michalesko, LTD. has prepared information for the school board to be shared at the meeting on Tuesday. It is my recommendation that the District 91 Board of Education accept the FY24 audit and Annual Financial Report (AFR) as presented.

Description: 

RECOMMENDATION
To approve the estimated amounts necessary to be levied for the 2024 levy.
 

BACKGROUND
The levy resolution being recommended will ensure that District 91 does not lose any dollars it is entitled to under a balloon levy. It will make sure that even if the most recent estimated EAV from the county clerk increases or decreases (within limits), the district will capture its full entitlement. This year, the district will ask for more than the 5% cap, therefore we are required to publish a notice AND hold a truth in taxation hearing before approving the certificate of tax levy in December.  

Before sharing the estimated levy amounts, I would like to provide our current projected fund balances for the end of FY24  as approved with the current year budget:

 

Fund	Estimated Ending Fund Balance June 30, 2025
Education (w/out student activity accounts)	$7,265,709
Operation & Maintenance	$222,387
Debt Service	$40,806
Transportation	$94,295
Retirement/SS	$431,854
Capital. Improvement	$1,946,902
Working Cash	$464,660
Tort	$23,487
Fire Prev. /Safety	$44,288
TOTAL	$10,534,388

 

The estimated aggregate levy recommended this year is as follows:
 

Education $5,052,345

Operation and Maintenance $1,077,971

Transportation $312,056

Working Cash $13,689

Municipal Retirement $156,135

Social Security $104,161

Fire, Prevention, & Safety $5,989

Tort $90,473

Special Education $57,107

Unemployment $8,128

Total Capped Levy $6,878,054 (not including Bonds)

Estimated Bond &Interest    $639,610

Total Estimated 2024 Levy $7,517,664

It is my recommendation that the Board approve the estimated amounts necessary to be levied for the 2024 levy.

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 January 2023.  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 January 2023.  The required 18-month period for saving taped minutes has expired allowing us to destroy these tapes.

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