District 75 School Board Meeting Notes
March 14, 2023
Budget Discussion
The first draft budget for FY 2024 was presented to the D75 Board of Education Tuesday. The tentative budget will be presented on April 15 and is expected to be adopted on May 23. Once again we have a balanced budget.
Staffing Proposal - Board Approved
The District 75 Board of Education approved an increase of 2.5 full-time staff members on Tuesday. The move included a 0.5 staff reduction at Carl Sandburg School, the addition of two part-time positions at Mechanics Grove and the addition of two full-time positions in special education at Carl Sandburg. The two schools that will increase are Washington and CSMS. The changes are based on both student needs and enrollment numbers.
Special Board Meeting - Board Approved
Due to the election in April, the School Board will host a special board meeting on Thursday, May 11 at 5 p.m. to meet the 40-day timeline for reorganizing the Board. The School Board will seat the new board members and reorganize officer positions.
Ray Rose, Vice-President
On behalf of the District 75 Board of Education
District 75 School Board Meeting Notes
February 21, 2023
Mid-Year Playbook
Principals from Carl Sandburg, Mechanics Grove and Washington schools presented updates to the School Board on the activities taking place to prepare for the next trimester. Each principal talked about reasons for celebrating their progress and stated some ideas for support or improvement. The district is on target in reading (both English and Spanish) and math to meet the goal of reaching proficient or higher in 11 of 12 goal areas. Superintendent Kevin Myers gave accolades to our students, staff and leadership teams for the progress they’ve made academically.
Mundelein High School referendum presentation
The MHS Building Committee presented a report on the Mundelein High School $175 million building referendum on the April 4 ballot. The committee said that many of the common areas are nearing the end of their life span and District 120 will continue spending money on repairs until the space is improved. The committee’s plan calls for the renovation of aging common areas such as the auditorium, kitchen and cafeteria. While the high school program continues to achieve success, the physical facilities are the constraint. The limitations are impacting both academics and activities and creating difficulties with scheduling. The facilities plan will include the addition of a large multi-purpose room, a new competition gym and new space for an enhanced Career and Technical Education program. The plan also calls for a ring road around the campus to alleviate traffic congestion and the development of additional outdoor athletic/recreational facilities on offsite district-owned property.
Job Descriptions - Board Approved
The School Board approved the addition of an administrative assistant for the Facilities/Maintenance/Construction Department. This position will be a shared service position, shared with Mundelein High School District 120.
Kevin Holly, President
On behalf of the District 75 Board of Education
District 75 School Board Meeting Notes
January 24, 2023
Teaching and Learning: ASPIRE Academy
District administrators presented a report on the ASPIRE Academy. Due to a general shortage of teachers in the field of education and the need for bilingual educators, Mundelein High School is capitalizing on home grown talent and creating a course pathway for students interested in becoming educators. This semester District 75 is preparing its teachers to be cooperating mentors to host interns from Mundelein High School in their classrooms. The program will start with an orientation meeting at the beginning of the next school year. MHS students would spend three days a week in D75 schools during the full-year course for high school seniors. The students will rotate between Washington, Mechanics Grove and Carl Sandburg Schools, assisting teachers and sometimes working one-on-one with students. More than 30 D75 teachers expressed interest in hosting interns.
Sleep Study Results and Next Steps
The District 75 Board heard a report from Rush University’s Sleep Study Survey that was completed in October by about 500 people for all grades, K-12. Both District 75 and District 120 shifted their bell schedules at the beginning of the 2022-23 school year, with a later start time for older students and an earlier start time for younger students. Overall, the data reflects the most benefits from families in grades 6-12 and the most concerns at grades K-2. The District 75 Administration will review the feedback and report back to the Board any potential options to address the feedback provided.
Public hearing on bonds for fine arts addition - Board Approved
The School Board passed a resolution to execute and distribute $4.5 million in working cash bonds to help finance an addition with a stage at Carl Sandburg School. The resolution sets forth the maximum terms and conditions of the bond issue. The structuring would be purposely configured to have the most minimal impact on the taxpayers as possible. It would also provide the District with the flexibility to fund other long-term projects such as life and safety improvements in the future and District 75 would retain its stable financial rating.
Summer School Stipends - Board Approved
The School Board increased the stipend allowed for the Summer School Leader positions to be in alignment with the hourly rate associated with the summer school teaching staff in the 2022-2026 collective bargaining agreement. Last year the Summer School Coordinator (serving as a principal) and Summer School Site Leader (serving as assistant principal) were paid based on teacher salaries. However, teacher salaries have increased with the new collective bargaining agreement. The two positions will increase from $45 to $50 per hour.
Intergovernmental Agreement: Long-term Substitute - Board Approved
School Districts 75 and 79 negotiated an agreement to permit Fremont District 79 to utilize a District 75 long-term substitute employee for one-day a week as long as the employee is not fulfilling an assignment at District 75. The agreement will allow both districts to better serve Ukrainian students at their schools. District 79 will reimburse District 75 for any days worked at Fremont schools.
Strategic Plan - Board Approved
The District 75 School Board approved the goals for the Strategic Plan, lining them up in accordance with the values the School Board listed in its proposed plan. The goals are:
- Show continual improvement in literacy and math annually based on the appropriate standardized assessment.
- Implement revised curriculum and assessments aligned to state and/or national learning standards that support and enhance innovative and vision-focused practices and programming to foster high-level achievement.
- Increase the number of school-community partnerships through events, communication, outreach and school culture.
- Inform the Board annually on how the shared-service dollars were reallocated and shared service opportunities were increased.
- Maintain fiscal stability and equitable spending practices.
- Develop 21st century facilities plan to provide excellence in educational and extracurricular opportunities.
Board Vice President Ray Rose said the District goals become the foundation for which everything we do, going forward, will be built on. The next phase is the action plan in which the Administration will make action plans to achieve the goals set by the Board.
Kevin Holly, President
On behalf of the District 75 Board of Education
District 75 School Board Meeting Notes
December 13, 2022
Public hearing on bonds for fine arts addition - Board Approved
The School Board held a public hearing regarding its intent to sell $4.5 million in working cash bonds to help finance an addition with a stage at Carl Sandburg School. A portion of the funding for the project would come from funds the district has previously saved with the remainder coming from the bonds.
The structuring would be purposely configured to have the most minimal impact on the taxpayers as possible. It would also provide the District with the flexibility to fund other long-term projects such as life and safety improvements in the future and District 75 would retain its stable financial rating.
Job Descriptions - Board Approved
The School Board approved revised job descriptions for four positions and added a job description for a new position, a second payroll clerk. Like the current payroll clerk, the position will be a shared service role with School District 120. This new position allows both districts to have a backup position in payroll as well as provide more effective service for each district.
Insurance Program representatives named - Board Approved
The District 75 Board of Education named its Chief Financial Officer T. Rancak as its representative to the Northern Illinois Health Insurance Program (NIHIP) and its Human Resources Coordinator Tina Routledge as its alternate representative.
FY24 Registration Fees - Board Approved
The School Board agreed to a slight increase in the registration fees for Fiscal Year 2024 while changing the process to make programs, field trips and clubs more equitable and accessible to all students. Fees for grades pre-K to fourth grade will increase from $117 to $120 in FY24; for fifth grade they will rise from $168 to $170; in sixth and seventh grades from $220 to $235; and in eighth grade they will remain at $235.
By combining the costs for technology fees, educational field trips (not including Camp Duncan or Springfield), end-of-year celebrations, clubs and one free Tier I activity, District 75 will have one single fee waiver process for those in need of financial assistance. Families who cannot afford certain fees will no longer have to go through a multiple fee waiver process and all children, no matter their financial status, will have access to the same experiences including band, field trips, sports, clubs, intramurals.
Accelerated Programming Plan - Board Approved
The School Board approved the District 75 Accelerated Learning Plan, setting up an application process for those requesting early entrance to kindergarten or first grade, acceleration to a higher grade level in a single subject area, or acceleration to a higher grade level in all subject areas. The plan sets specific guidelines for the application process including application deadlines. It fulfills a requirement by the Illinois State Board of education.
Kevin Holly, President
On behalf of the District 75 Board of Education
District 75 School Board Meeting Notes
November 15, 2022
Working Cash Bonds - Board Approved
The School Board took the first step toward issuing $4.5 million in working cash bonds to help finance a new fine arts addition to Carl Sandburg School. A portion of the funding for the project would come from funds the district has previously saved with the remainder coming from the bonds.
Public Hearing on Working Cash Bonds sale - Board Approved
The School Board passed a resolution to hold a public hearing in December on its intent to sell $4.5 million in working cash bonds. The bonds will be used to help finance a new fine arts addition to Carl Sandburg School.
Adoption of Tax Levy - Board Approved
The District 75 Board of Education adopted both the tax levy resolutions and the certificate of tax levy. The estimated levy is a formal document that sets the amount of property tax dollars that can be levied by a taxing district for the operation of the school district. The 2022 levy, the total amount of taxes imposed by the district, and capped at no more than 5 percent higher than the previous calendar year, totals an estimated $19.3 million. No one commented during the Public Hearing on the 2022 levy.
Specialized Transportation - Board Approved
The School Board agreed to purchase two mini buses and hire two drivers for specialized transportation services. Currently, the district spends $200,000 annually to a transportation company to provide three special education bus routes. While the buses and drivers will save the district an estimated $136,000 over four years.
School Calendars - Board Approved
The School Board agreed to adopt proposed school calendars for the next two years. While these initial calendars are subject to change, it does provide parameters and some key dates for future planning. Highlights for the 2023-24 calendar include a starting school on Aug. 16, winter break from Dec. 23 to Jan. 8, spring break from March 25-29 and school ending on May 23. The 2024-25 calendar includes a start day of Aug. 15, winter break from Dec. 20 to Jan. 7, spring break from March 24-28 and school ending on May 28.
Shared Services Declaration - Board Approved
The District 75 Board reaffirmed its shared services agreement with Mundelein High School District 120 which was originally adopted in 2018 and began in 2019. The benefits of the Shared Services model include financial efficiencies and staff efficiencies. By the end of fiscal year 2023, the two districts are projected to have saved more than $9.1 million from the sharing of services.
Teaching and Learning Update
Administrators and teachers presented an update on the District 75 Teaching and Learning program. The District is in its third year of working with literacy consultants who are helping staff in reading, writing and foundational skills development. Staff is focused this year on small group instructional practices, consistent writing instruction and the inclusion of literacy in other areas of the district including at libraries, in the middle school social studies curriculum and by encouraging reading for the District 75 community.
District Learning Data
Staff presented a brief update on data it has been monitoring throughout the implementation of literacy and math initiatives. At this point, the data shows improvement for students in grades 3-8 compared to the learning loss during the summer of 2021.
Kevin Holly, President
On behalf of the District 75 Board of Education
District 75 School Board Meeting Notes
November 8, 2022
Shared Services Update
The District 75 and District 120 Boards of Education met to review their Shared Services declaration and reaffirm their support of the model that began in 2019. The benefits of the Shared Services model include financial efficiencies and staff efficiencies. The number of staff employed under the shared services model has grown from 12 in 2019 to 27 today. By the end of fiscal year 2023, the two districts are projected to have saved more than $9.1 million from the sharing of services. Those savings continue to be reinvested back into programs that benefit students and improve student achievement.
Kevin Holly, Board President
On behalf of the District 75 Board of Education
District 75 School Board Meeting Notes
October 18, 2022
Waiver Title Grant Schoolwide - Board Approved
The School Board will apply for Washington School to receive a Schoolwide Title Grant access. If approved, the waiver would allow the district to use federal funds on free and reduced services for programs that serve all students in the school. Currently Washington is limited to using Title Grant Funds to specifically targeted students.
The title grant funds are typically used schoolwide when a school poverty rate is at 40 percent or above. Washington falls slightly below that threshold, and would need a waiver to use the funds schoolwide.
Job Descriptions - Board Approved
The Board approved the updates to seven job descriptions. The job descriptions now include a statement that applicants have the ability to fluently speak, read and write in English and Spanish (preferred). The positions descriptions include jobs for secretary, administrative assistant, receptionist and clerk. These are not new openings; the jobs are currently filled.
Tax Levy - Board Approved
The District 75 Board of Education adopted a $19.38 million tax levy. The estimated levy is a formal document that sets the amount of property tax dollars that can be levied by a taxing district for the operation of the school district. A Public Hearing on the Tax Levy will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 15 at the beginning of the Board’s monthly meeting.
Strategic Planning
The Board of Education discussed the next steps in creating a District 75 Strategic Plan.
Each Board member will define their own vision of the five main goals listed on the strategic plan by the end of October. The Board will then meet to discuss the points and build a consensus. The point of building common goals, Board Vice-President Ray Rose said, is so the Board will be able to “monitor where we’re going so we keep moving in the direction we want.
“We’re building a foundation for the work we will be doing in the future,” he said.
Funding a fine arts addition
The School Board further discussed plans to finance a new fine arts addition to Carl Sandburg School. The Board last discussed the project during its Sept. 20 meeting and has since worked with various stakeholders to gather information and feedback. The cost of the addition, originally estimated at $4.5 million, is now expected to be somewhere between $5.8 m. to $6.8 m.
The district would need to borrow about $4 million in bonds to help pay for the project, about $1 million more than previously discussed. It is considering a financing option that would have the least impact on taxpayers while allowing the district to remain financially stable. To cover any unknown contingencies, the Board would consider using an additional $1 million in fund balance, if needed. A large portion of the funding for the project would come from funds the district has previously saved.
An update and recommendation will be discussed at the Nov. 15 School Board meeting.
Resolutions Committee - Board Approved
The Board of Education discussed and voted to direct Board Secretary Kristie Fingerhut, the District 75 delegate to the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB), to vote on resolutions on behalf of the Board. The IASB delegate committee will meet during the Triple I Conference in November.
Ray Rose, Board Vice-President
On behalf of the District 75 Board of Education
District 75 School Board Meeting Notes
September 20, 2022
Tax Levy
The District 75 Board of Education on Tuesday discussed an estimated $19.38 million tax levy, in preparation for adopting it in October. The estimated levy is a formal document that sets the amount of property tax dollars that can be levied by a taxing district for the operation of the school district. The Board will consider adoption of the estimated tax levy at the October 18th meeting.
Funding a fine arts addition
The School Board discussed plans to finance a new $4.5 million fine arts addition to Carl Sandburg School on Tuesday night, supporting an option that would have the least impact on taxpayers while allowing the district to remain financially stable. Board members called it a win-win plan that would help the community with minimal impact to taxpayers.
While the District would borrow $2.5 million in bonds to help pay for the project, it would make interest-only payments for the first two years. The structuring would be purposely configured to have the most minimal impact on the taxpayers as possible. It would also provide the District with the flexibility to fund other long-term projects such as life and safety improvements in the future and District 75 would retain its stable financial rating. About 40 percent of the funding for the project would come from funds the district has previously saved.
Dual Language Program Improves
The Board received positive news on the progress being made toward goals in the District’s Linguistic Department. Ryan Zak, Director of Linguistic Programs, told the School Board that we are on the pathway to becoming a premiere dual language district.
This year the District started its roll-up of the 90:10 model where students would begin by working 90 percent of their lessons in Spanish and gradually reducing that by 10 percent per year. Other enhancements included professional development for bilingual program staff and co-teaching models for English learners. Bilingual Program teachers told the Board they are excited about their students’ progress and the collaboration among staff members from all three schools.
Paraprofessional Compensation Increase - Board Approved
The District 75 School Board on Tuesday increased the compensation for paraprofessionals $1.50 per hour and added a retention and attendance bonus for the 2023-24 school year. The District currently has seven paraprofessional openings and continually struggles to fill the vacancies. Since October 2020, the District has had one or more openings for paraprofessionals with as many as 11 openings at one time during the past 18 months. Compensation continues to be the most common reason for resignations.
The pay for paraprofessionals will increase from a starting rate of $15 per hour to between $16.50 and $18.75 per hour depending on the applicant’s level of experience, education and other skills. A retention bonus of $750 would be added in October 2023 for those hired prior to March 30, 2023 as long as they meet attendance requirements.
Superintendent Evaluation program - Board Approved
The Board of Education agreed to purchase one-half the cost of a $2,195 superintendent evaluation program called SuperEval. The web-based program is considered an effective and efficient tool for evaluating the work of the superintendent. The one-time cost would be split between Districts 75 and 120. The Board will be able to reassess the program after one year to determine if it wants to renew the program.
IASB Delegate - Board Approved
The District 75 School Board on Tuesday voted to make Board Secretary Kristie Fingerhut its delegate to the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB). The delegate would attend the IASB Delegate Assembly on Nov. 18 to vote on resolutions, hear from IASB officials and vote on officers.
Kevin Holly, Board President
On behalf of the District 75 Board of Education
District 75 School Board Meeting Notes
August 26, 2022
Equity Policy - Board Approved
This year the district accomplished many of its equity goals resulting in a more welcoming and inclusive experience for our students and families. On Aug. 23, the School Board approved the second and final reading for the new equity policy, officially making it part of the School Board Policy.
The committee considered resolutions and policies from other school districts, including Mundelein High School District 120. The District will continue to deepen its equity work to further the goals, impact and vision of the District 75 Racial and Ethnic Equity Policy.
Many thanks go out to the parents and staff members who served on the Equity Committee. The number of people and the diversity of people involved in creating the new policy is reflective in the policy itself, in that we want to do what’s best for all of our students.
Maintenance/Facilities
The Maintenance and Facilities Department oversaw a busy summer of construction, upgrades and repairs to our District 75 buildings. Director Dave Zaremba reported to the Board on Aug. 23, reviewing projects at all four school buildings and the East District Office. The projects include:
- East District Office - The addition of 10 new offices and two conference rooms.
- Carl Sandburg Middle School - New kitchen serving equipment; and a new sensory room (coming soon).
- Mechanics Grove School - A new mobile unit at Mechanics Grove School to be used for music and robotics programs as well as a teacher’s room; a newly renovated front office as well as expanded nurses room, copy and mail room; and new outdoor lights in front of the school.
- Washington School - New administrative offices at Washington School; A chair lift at the Washington School Library, adding more space and providing more independence to handicapped students by adding a button so they can operate the lift themselves; Resurfacing of the playground and the installation of accessible ramps with financial support from a Safety First grant; and new outdoor lights in front of the school.
- Lincoln School - Repair of brick and structural integrity following a car accident in the front of the school earlier in the summer.
Shared Services meeting Nov. 8
The District 75 School Board will meet with the Mundelein High School District 120 School Board on Tuesday, Nov. 8 to review the purposes of the Shared Services Program. Both School Boards have experienced some turnover since the Shared Services Program began in 2019, so it’s important to continue reviewing the purpose of shared services work. The meeting is open to the public.
School Board Conference - Board Approved
The School Board approved the expenditure of up to $6,900 for seven board members to attend the Illinois Association of School Boards Annual Joint Conference in Chicago. The conference, held from Nov. 18-20, is the premier training event for school board members, administrators and business officials.