Board News
September 14, 2022
Pledge of Allegiance
Plum Grove Junior High Students who are part of PGTV, or Announcements Crew, lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Students also shared the value they see in this club. Everyone was impressed with their thoughtful and insightful comments.
Staff Recognition - Custodial and Maintenance Staff
District 15’s maintenance and custodial staff go above and beyond each and every day to ensure we have safe, secure, clean, and functioning facilities for our students, schools, and communities. The District thanked our maintenance and custodial teams for all they do for our District.
Staff Recognition - Mental Health Staff and Staff Members from CSJH and CR
The District recognized the individuals who, following the unthinkable tragedy of losing 5 students in late July, immediately assembled to create a plan, knowing our communities’ need for support to process the loss would be immense.The administrative and clinicians involved made a tremendous contribution at a critical time.
Superintendent’s Report
Dr. Heinz reported on the opening weeks of school and shared how hard our staff is working to bring a sense of excitement and normalcy to their daily work with students. She updated the Board on the Moving 15 Forward plan that addresses three major areas of improvement: Repair and Restore Facilities, Update Learning Spaces, and Improve Student Transitions. The plan would also bring Full-Day Kindergarten to our elementary schools. Learn more about the plan at www.ccsd15.net/Moving15Forward. Dr. Heinz shared that she will be hosting one virtual and five additional in-person Moving 15 Forward Informational Meetings on the following dates:
- September 28 - Virtual Meeting
- October 6 - Thomas Jefferson Elementary School (Thomas Jefferson Middle School if the measure is approved)
- October 11 - Winston Campus Junior High
- October 13 - Plum Grove Junior High
- October 20 - Carl Sandburg Junior High
- October 25 - Walter R. Sundling Junior High
She provided information on voting dates as follows:
- Mail ballot applications for the November 8 election are now being accepted
- Early voting takes place from October 24 through November 7, 2022
- Election Day is November 8, 2022
Presentation of the FY23 Budget
Diana McCluskey, Chief School Business Official, and Josh Schoot, Director of Fiscal Services, presented the final FY23 budget to the Board of Education. The tentative budget was presented to the Board on June 8, 2022. As part of the budgetary process, a public hearing was held at the August 11, 2022 meeting.
Ms. McCluskey gave an overview of the Evidence-Based Funding (EBF) model the State of Illinois uses to allocate funds to school districts. First, the State determines the Adequacy Target which is the cost of meeting the needs of the district’s student body. Second, the State determines how much local revenue the district receives called the Local Capacity Target to meet the Adequacy Target. Each district is assigned a Tier level based on their ability to meet the Adequacy Target. District 15 is Tier 2 and has enough local revenue (mostly property tax income) to cover between 79% - 83% of its Target.
Property tax bills will be mailed late this year and this impacts the district’s cash flow. Property owners are also receiving the Triennial Reassessment notice on the value of their property. The reassessments are coming in higher, some 40% higher than the previous valuation. Ms. McCluskey emphasized that Cook County School Districts are subject to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL) which limits the increase in property taxes to the lower of the December CPI or 5%. Meaning, whichever number is lower, 5% cap or previous years CPI, is the maximum rate of a tax increase. The current property tax bills are subject to the December 2020 CPI 1.4% increase. Tax Anticipation Warrants will likely be required to meet the expenditures of the District in December.
Approximately $10M in Federal COVID relief grant dollars will be utilized in FY23. These dollars will be applied toward increased staffing and supplies to address academic learning loss and social-emotional health of students.
As a large and diverse district, we are committed to ensuring our students have the materials, programs, services, and staffing necessary to meet their academic, social-emotional, and behavioral needs. The expenditures in the Education Fund are needed in FY23 to achieve these goals as well as address learning loss and achievement gaps that the multi-year COVID-19 pandemic created. In order to address these areas of need, a one-time transfer from the Transportation Fund to the Education Fund of $4,750,000 will be needed. The Transportation Fund balance is currently higher than necessary based on annual expenditures. This transfer helps balance the Education Fund and reduces the fund balance in Transportation.
The overall budget includes revenues equaling $206,462,960 and expenditures of $209,850,984. Projected June 30, 2023 ending operating fund balance of $67,423,297 continues the 34% fund balance that the District has been able to maintain over the last several fiscal years.
The Board of Education must adopt and sign-off on the budget annually no later than September 30.
Communications Department Presentation
Rebecca Latham, Chief Communication Officer, presented the Board of Education with an overview of the Communications Departments as well as data tracking its impact. Latham also discussed the department's efforts with emergency communications and community outreach, and shared information about the #ProudToBe15 campaign.
She reported that Dr. Heinz created the hashtag #ProudToBe15 when she returned to the District as the Superintendent. Since then, the District has used the hashtag to share points of pride. In addition, the District began reaching out to those in our community who are proud to be a product of District 15 and encouraged them to share their stories. Families and community members can share their reasons for being #ProudToBe15 through this link. People who are proud products of District 15 can share a memory or a photo through this link.
Committee Reports
one-five Foundation
Dr. Heinz presented on behalf of Board Member James Taylor and shared that the Foundation will be hosting a Family Fun Run/Walk on October 15. This event is open to all. Proceeds will support the teacher mini-grant campaign. Register for the event today!
Equity Committee
Board Members Samantha Ader and Zubair Khan shared there was nothing to currently report, but they are planning to participate in the Strategic Planning committee.
ED-RED Committee
Board Member Frank Annerino shared that there was nothing new to report.
Finance Committee
Board Members Wenda Hunt and Anthony Wang shared there was nothing new to report.
Board Policy
The Board reviewed three policies:
- 4:110 Transportation (First and Second Reading)
- 5:240 Suspension (First and Second Reading)
- 6:060 Curriculum Content (Second Reading)
Board Policy 6:060 was a topic of Board discussion. Board member Hunt suggested language changes regarding words within the policy, specifically the use of Black and African American throughout the policy.
Dr. Kowalcyzk shared that to ensure the policy remains aligned with statute, Illinois School Code and ISBE, legal council was consulted and suggested caution in language changes. They shared that it is important for the District to ensure that its curriculum aligns with the School Code and ISBE regulations, as well as ensure that its policy consistently sets forth these requirements. For these reasons, and because the policy is the Board’s statement regarding the District’s curriculum, the legal team recommended the policy reflect the statutory language.
However, in an effort to take into consideration a Board member’s request, it was suggested that we replace the word, “Black” in the policy with “African American/Black.”
Administration will make additional revisions and bring this policy back for approval at the October meeting. No action was taken on the other policies brought forth.
Action Items
- 9.1 Approval of Personnel Report: Administration, Certified, and Non-Certified - approved
- 9.2 Adoption of FY23 Budget - approved
- 9.3 Approval of Clear Channel Amendment to Lease - approved
- 9.4 Approval of Intergovernmental Agreement between Community Consolidated School District 15 and the City of Palatine Park District - approved
- 9.5 Approval of Resolution Loaning Funds from Transportation Fund to Educational Fund of the District - approved
- 9.6 Approval of Resolution Regarding Tax Anticipation Warrants - approved
- 9.7 Approval of Special Education Teacher Contract Agency - approved