Board Update 9/11/2024
Board recognition/presentations
Agenda Item 3.0
Wold Educational Alignment Assessment Report – 3.01
Wold and Nicholas gave a summary of the Educational Alignment Assessment. They focused on the Educational Adequacy Survey, which looked at how District buildings are being used now, their potential capacity, how well they meet the District’s current and future learning needs, and what changes are needed to improve them.
Based on these findings, the Board of Education is planning the next steps to create a Long Range Facility Master Plan. This plan will look for solutions to improve our facilities and will consider other important areas like programming and boundaries for the next 10 years and beyond.
For more information, you can view the full presentation here.
Superintendent Reports
Agenda Item 5.0
Monthly Updates 5.02
Superintendent Bresnahan provided updates on projects that are currently happening in the district across multiple departments. Key highlights include, but are not limited to:
- iReady Fall Benchmarking results to be shared at October 2 Board of Education meeting
- Professional learning happening across the district
- Elementary SEL implementation resulting in positive feedback
- Remaining two Parent Education Series events occurring on October 15 at Friendship and November 7 at Holmes
For additional information and the full presentation, please click here.
NSPRA Communications Audit – 5.03
The Communications Department received the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) Communications Audit Report. This report reviews the District’s overall communication program, pointing out what is and what is not working and how things can be improved.
There will be a Communications Committee meeting on Wednesday, October 2 from 6:00-7:00 p.m., before the Board of Education meeting. Community members are invited to join. At the meeting, there will be a high-level summary of the report’s findings and next steps. The main goal will be to create a long-term strategic communications plan. The Communications Department will work with the Board of Education on this process.
TDP Review – 5.04
The Instruction leadership team shared an overview of the District’s Talent Development Program (TDP) with the Board of Education. They covered various topics, including:
- The difference between TDP and the Gifted Education program
- How students are identified for TDP placement
- Curriculum in TDP
- How TDP is communicated to families
- Next steps and areas for growth within TDP
For additional information and to view the full presentation, click here.
DL Assessments – 5.05
The Dual Language team shared an overview of the District’s Dual Language program with the Board of Education. They covered various topics, including:
- State Dual Language requirements and guidance
- Assessment in Dual Language
- Dual Language goals for the 2024-25 school year
For additional information and to view the full presentation, click here.
Summer Programing – 5.06
The Summer Programming lead, along with three Assistant Principals who served as summer principals, shared highlights from Summer LEAP (Learn, Explore, Achieve, Perform), Enrichment/Interventions, and Extended School Year (ESY) programming. The presentation included the following:
- Details on program offerings
- Curriculum
- Summer school statistics
- Special events
- Feedback from families
To view the full presentation, click here.
action items
Agenda Item 7.0
Adoption of Budget: Fiscal Year 2024/25 – 7.01
The District’s proposed 2024/25 budget has been on public display since July 1, 2024, meeting the thirty (30) day requirement.
The Board of Education approved the budget, which is declared to begin on July 1, 2024 and end on July 30, 2025.
Approval of Policies Recommended by IASB – 7.02
The Illinois Association of School Board (IASB) Policy Reference Manual is a system used to keep school rules up-to-date and legal. Policies are reviewed at least every five years, or sooner depending on state, federal, Illinois School Code or Illinois School Board of Education policy changes. District administration can also make recommendations for policy revisions as needed. The Board of Education is also required by School Code to review select policies either every year or every two years.
The Board of Education reviewed and approved policy recommendations in the IASB Press Update #115.
Approval of District 59 Education Foundation Donation – 7.03
The District 59 Education Foundation would like to donate a total of $2,000 to the District sponsored parent workshops. There are three scheduled for next year and the foundation has agreed to sponsor a third of the workshops.
The Board of Education approved the donation from the District 59 Education Foundation for $2,000 to sponsor a third of the District sponsored parent workshops for next year.
Approval of Salt Creek PTO Donation to Salt Creek Elementary School – 7.04
The Salt Creek PTO would like to donate to the Salt Creek P.E. Program in the amount of $3,460. The goal from their APEX Fun Run was to help support the purchase of heart rate monitors for the Salt Creek P.E. program. With this donation, 20 heart rate monitors along with chargers, storage containers, and software will be purchased from the Heart Zones which will be covered by the entire amount donated by Salt Creek PTO.
The Board of Education approved the $3,460 donation from Salt Creek PTO to Salt Creek Elementary School to purchase HR monitors from Heart Zones for the Salt Creek P.E. program.
Discussion items
Agenda Item 8.0
Prepare 2024 Tax Levy and Set Date – 8.01
Cook County taxing districts adhere to the Truth in Taxation Law. This law requires the District to estimate the necessary amount of its aggregated levy not fewer than 20 days before taking action to adopt the levy.
Regardless of the levy amount, the district considers it a good practice to continue with the spirit of the Truth in Taxation Law by complying with notification and public hearing requirements. This resolution authorizes the administration to proceed with the preparation of the 2024 levy and to announce the public hearing date of November 13, 2024.
You can watch the discussion here.
Prepare 2025/26 Budget – 8.02
The Illinois School Code requires an annual budget to be prepared in tentative form. The tentative form shall be made available to public inspection for at least 30 days prior to final action.
You can watch the discussion here.
Aware of Bids for Addition at Brentwood Elementary School – 8.03
On August 22, 2024, 38 bids were opened for nine bid packages representing the various trades resulting in bids and alternates that total $11,002,609. Work will commence in September with substantial completion scheduled prior to the start of the 2025-26 school year. A 3.5% construction contingency will be added, as this is standard practice, the amount of $385,091 for a total of $11,387,700.
They will approve the bids at a Special Board Meeting September 16, 2024.
You can watch the discussion here.
