I call this meeting of the Township High School District 211 Board of Education to order. May I have a roll call, please? >> Miss Baron >> here. >> Miss Caval >> here. >> Mr. Dumbrossski >> here. >> Mrs. Lopez >> here. >> Miss Russell
>> here. >> Mr. Van Dyk. >> Mr. Rosen Blum >> here. Please stand and join me in the pledge of >> allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. The next item on our agenda is an action item that the board enter close session to discuss minutes of meetings lawfully closed under the open meetings act. Appointment, employment,
compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees, security procedures, school building safety and security, and the use of personnel of personnel and equipment to respond to actual threatened or
reasonably potential danger to the safety of employees, students, staff, the public or public property. and collective negotiating manners between the public body and its employees or their representatives. May I have a motion, please?
>> Moved. >> Second. >> Any comments or discussion? May I have a roll call, please? >> Miss Baron, >> I. >> Miss Caval, >> I. >> Mr. Dumbrossski, I >> Mrs. Lopez, >> I.
>> Miss Russell, I >> Mr. Van Djk. Hi, >> Mr. Rosenlum. I The motion passes. Good evening. The next item on the agenda is an action item that the board of education return to open session. May I have a motion, please?
>> So moved. >> Second. >> May I have a roll call, please? >> Miss Baron, >> I. >> Miss Caval, >> I. >> Mr. Dumbrossski, >> I. >> Mrs. Lopez, >> I. Miss Russell, >> hi.
>> Mr. Van Djk, >> hi. >> Mr. Rosenlum, >> I will you please stand and join me in the pledge of allegiance immediately followed by a moment of silence. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay, the next item is some award recognitions. So, I will turn it over to Dr. Campbell.
>> All right. Good evening. This is an exciting evening as we move to recognize 34 place winners uh state place winners in their recent IHSA state championships for golf, boys cross country,
volleyball, unified soccer, and tennis tournaments from three of our high schools. I will turn it over to Mr. Eric Wowski who is our director of athletics and activities as we recognize these district 211 students that are surrounding the room this evening.
board of education and Dr. Campbell taking thank you for taking some time tonight to honor some talented state award-winning athletes. Um athletes, after I introduce your coach, as he introduces you to please get your medal, walk forward, stand here in in the center and be recognized. Uh we'll snap
a quick picture and then we'll move on. Additionally, any family members that are here as your athlete is introduced by their coach that we ask that you please stand and be recognized. Assisting me with the awards tonight will be FM High School principal Mark Langanger, Conan High School principal Julie Novak, and athletic director Eric
Hower, Hoffman Estates High School principal Mark Alther, and associate principal principal Lana Wells. So, we'll get started. Uh, Jeremy Malinowski. Jeremy Malinowski is a member of the Friend High School art department, an assistant girls bowling coach, and has just completed his seventh season as the girls head golf
coach at FM High School. Jeremy, Uh, good evening. Tonight I'm honored to recognize junior Aaliyah Brazo, who is joined by her father, Doug. Aaliyah had one of the most impressive seasons in girls golf history at friend.
I'll back that up. Um, she had the lowest score in the field in over half of our matches. that's called the medalist. Uh she placed third at the MSL championship, earning all conference honors. She had third at regionals to help the Vikings
win the team title and tied for 12th at sectionals, earning her first trip to the state finals. At state, Aaliyah showcased a phenomenal performance. She shot a 74 on day one, followed it with an even par 72 on day two for a 146 total, which is a new FM school record.
Her finish earned her seventh place overall and all state honors, making her the first all-state golfer at FEM in over 30 years. What an unforgettable season. We couldn't couldn't be more proud of Aaliyah and what she represents for our program and FM High School.
Thank you. >> Just keep going. All right, we'll move on to Conan Golf. Megan Heert is a member of the Conan High School math department, has been a member of the girls basketball and track and field coaching staffs, and is currently the head girls golf coach, a position she's held for the past 15
years. Uh, fun fact that Megan only started competing in golf her senior year of high school. And by the time she graduated college, her junior and senior year, she was competing in the NCA Division 3 National Championships. So, she's a heck of a golfer. Megan
All right, good evening. Um, my name is Megan Heert. I have the privilege of introducing Maline Gutierrez, who is joined by her parents, Jennifer and Omar Gutierrez. Um, tonight I'm honored to recognize Maline for an outstanding season highlighted by a tie for ninth
place at the state tournament. Um this year she shot 72, which is even par on day one and 75, a three overpar on day two, um for a total of 147. Even more impressive is that this is Maline's second straight ninth place finish at
state. She also finished ninth last year as a freshman and improved her two-day uh score by one stroke this year. Her state performance capped off a season full of strong results. Uh, Maline shot a 77 at sectionals to finish tied for
10th out of 112 golfers, a 73 at regionals for fifth place, and a 79 at conference for sixth place. She also earned second place finishes at both the Early Word invite and the Mount Prospect invite, um, helping lead our team to top finishes throughout the year. Beyond the
numbers, Maline is the kind of leader every coach hopes for. Uh she works year round on her game, leads by example in practice and competition, and is the first to encourage a teammate after a tough hole. She's an outstanding golfer, an outstanding teammate, and an outstanding person. And she represents our school with class. On behalf of our
program, I want to congratulate Maline Gutierrez on back-toback top 10 state finishes and an exceptional season of growth and leadership. We are very proud of her. All right, Matt Zalooki from cross country. Matt is in his 12th year of teaching and has been a member of the
math department at Fmed High School for the past six years. In addition to coaching boys cross country, Matt also coaches the distance athletes for the FMS track team. Matt, first of all, I'd like to thank the board of education, Dr. Campbell, for having us here uh to recognize these amazing student athletes. Uh here today
with his parent or his mother, Charice is junior Jack Jennings. This cross country season, Jack put together one of the best individual seasons a friend runner has ever had. He was our first MSL champion in over 30 years. He is a regional champion as well
as a sectional runner up. He then went on to earn all state honors by finishing 12th at the state meet, covering the three-mile course in 14 minutes and 22 seconds, an average of 447 per mile, the second fastest in friend high school history. In doing so, Jack helped his team more importantly to a 12th place
finish at the state meet as well as our first divisional title since 1984. This is Jack's second all state recognition as this past spring he finished seventh in the 3200 meter run at the state track meet. We look forward to seeing what Jack can do as this spring and as senior year. Um, and have been very proud of
what he's done for our program. Thank you. Alrighty. Friend volleyball. Peter Gavin is a member of the special education department at Palatine High School and has served as a volleyball coach at both Palatine and FM High School for the past 16 years. Pete was the head boys
basketball coach from 2019 until last year at Palatine High School and is now the has been the head girls basketball or head girls volleyball coach at FM since 2022. Uh Pete is also a proud district 211 graduate.
>> Thank you so much for having us. I am going to uh list off all the team members even if they're not here tonight. Uh Reese Newton, Kayla Chapulis, who is here, Ashara J,
Cali Clark, Greta Thompson, Kate Miller, Jackie Clumpert, CIA Andrianopoulos, Emily Carmason, Zoe Horn, Harper Neil,
Scarlett Zantara, Ella Castaloney, Marcelina Sabula, Zoe Bending, and Madison Drenth. And our parents as well. Thank you so much for coming. >> Good job. Good job.
>> Uh it was a magical special season for these girls. Um I couldn't be more proud of what they accomplished. part of what made them so successful were their friendships um and their dedication which is why we only have five here uh because the rest are right now
competing. Um we finished the season 31-9 um and ended it with a fourth place finish at state. It was an incredible year. Thank you very much. Okay. Heidi Davyy. Heidi Davyy. Uh,
Hoffman Estates Unified Soccer. Heidi started the Special Olympics program at Hoffman Hoffman Estates High School in 1989. She coached for many years previously. This year, she returned to coaching as the head coach. Heidi is also the
sponsor of the Hoffman Estates yearbook. Heidi. I am very proud to introduce the state championship unified soccer team from Hoffen Estates High School. A group of athletes who are amazing on every level. I'm going to start by introducing our
coaching staff without whom I could do none of the things I do with Special Olympics at Hoffman. Um Nicole Stacy who is not here and Carly Grapenthin who is here and is amazing. Thank you for everything you do. Um I'm going to call
I'm first going to announce the athletes who are not present and then I'm going to call up the athletes who are present and then say a little bit about this team. First, the athletes who are not here are Joseph Agalar, Selena Zang, Cergio Rentia, Mariana Pisan, and Yash
Patel. And now for the athletes who are here. Uh, with his parents, Alejandro and Lordis is Yasier Maro. With his parents, Alan Banka, and Annie Essay is Niko Banka. with her parents Schulpa and Yogesh
Patel is Kudi Patel. with his parents Sema and Mahesh Shaha is Arian Shaha with his mother Farzana Katun is Azan Sed with his mother. Jennifer Toy is Davin
Toy Bes with her parents Emmy and Glenn Trianza is Kira Troanza. And with his parents Matt and Cam is Luke Wyowski. I have done a lot of coaching of a lot of sports in my decades as an educator
and there is no team that I am more proud of than this team. There is no team that I would rather spend time with than this team. The support, the energy, the commitment, the love that you have
for each other and for the sport is heartwarming. And it has been an honor to be your coach this year. It is a gift from the universe that I got to coach this team. Thank you so much for who you are and parents. Thank you so much for have having raised these amazing
athletes, competitors, and human beings. Board of Education, thank you so much for taking the time to honor them. All right. And finally, we have Matt Marx, girls tennis at Conan High School. Matt Marks has taught in the business education department at Conan High School for the last 11 years. He has
been both the boys and girls head tennis coach for the past 12 years, uh, for 12 years, serving as the head of the boys and girls at Conit for the past six years. And Matt is also a proud District 211 graduate. Good evening and thank you to the board
of education for this opportunity. I'd also like to thank Eric Winkowski, principal Julie Novak, and athletic director Eric Hower for the constant support of our program. Tonight I'm honored to recognize two outstanding members of our girls tennis team. First
I'd like to introduce Nidi Kakar joined by her parents Mjunath and Sureka. Next I would like to introduce Advita Deepak joined by her mother Porna. Over the past three years, Nidi and Avita have been true cornerstones of our
program. During their time in the varsity lineup, Konet has been a three-time MSL conference champion, a threetime sectional champion, and their leadership helped us raise the bar each season. This year, they earned a sixth place finish in the IHSA 2A state finals
as a doubles team, contributing to the best finish in program history, fourth place as a team. Beyond their success on the court, they excel academically, lead through their involvement in extracurriculars, and make a meaningful difference in our Conan community. They
bring energy and commitment that make coaching them a joy. I'm grateful for all they've contributed to Kon tennis, and I'm proud to recognize them and their accomplishments tonight. Thank you. All right, we are trying to get this right as we make some changes. We were
wanting to have a photo with all of our athletes along with the board. So, if we can have all of our state champions, please come back to center fold. We're going to have our board members join everyone in a group photo and then we will move to our next agenda item.
All right. I can't get everybody Thank you to our athletes and congratulations again. All right, I'd like to invite Mr. Matthew Marks to the front. You couldn't get away from us that
quick. Front and center, Mr. Marks is the 2025 boys tennis 2A coach of the year. Selected by the Illinois High School Tennis Coaches Association. He has led the Conan boys team to five seasons and also coaches the girls team,
earning regional coach of the year honors in 2023. Under his leadership, the boys team earned its first ever state medalist, went 15 and five last season, and placed second at the 2AHSA state tournament with every state
qualifier, earning all state honors. Mr. Mark teaches business education as we heard previously and is the second in in his second year as Kenet dean of buildings and ground. He is known for fostering a supportive, competitive team culture and for his dedication to
helping students thrive both in the classroom and on the court, exemplifying our district 211 value of inclusion. Congratulations, Mr. Markx, and thank you for all you do.
I have something to present to you. And here is his certificate. So before we go on, I want to just take a moment and on behalf of the board um and our district, number one, congratulations to all our outstanding
student athletes on your recognition. in every way that you have participated and triumphed. And secondly, thank you parents and family. I am also parent of two former student athletes and I know
several of us are and the understand the dedication, time, commitment, sacrifice that you all have gone through in order to see your children um succeed and have all those wonderful pride pride and
proud moments like tonight for your students. and thank you and congratulations to you as well. So, thank you all so very much. We are going to continue on. Um the next item on our agenda is public comments.
>> Actually, if I can intervene real quick before we go to public comments. Um I just want to we have things backdropping behind us. As we have entered into the holiday season, I want to be the first of many to wish our students, staff, and families and community members a safe
and relaxing, enjoyable winter break. As we approach it of the last day our kids are entering into finals weeks and next week, uh, next Friday, we will enter into our winter break. I have a few friend high school students who have joined me this evening from the T 145
144 applied technology class for freshmen taught by Mr. Paul Hardy. These students worked in their class to create a beautiful cutting board for each board member, showing appreciation for the work you do each day and every day on behalf of Township High School District
211. Students, please approach the deis. >> They are going to give each board member this token of appreciation. Happy holidays to you and thank you for all that you do. >> My friend, students, please stand in the middle. Miss Campbell,
>> board members, please look at the great work that these students did and students, thank you for coming out and jo and joining us on this evening. We really appreciate all that you do and to your teacher, Mr. Paul Hardy. Thank you and congratulations. >> All right, now I'll turn it back over.
Well, thank you for turning it back over to me so I can personally thank on behalf of myself and my my colleagues for the beautiful craftsmanship. Not only does it have the 211 emblem on the front, but on the back it says proudly
made by these students the from this from this particular school in Palatine, Illinois. And so that is all in engra in what do you call it? um burned burned into the the cutting boards and they are
a work of art. So, thank you all. Thank you to the students who did this and again, thank you family and friends and the the student athletes for all that you've done and the recognition that you've you've earned and bringing our school district to the state level,
right? and getting that state recognition for our little northwest Chicago community uh in our district. Very proud moment. So, thank you all. >> Bloom, if I could just if adults would like to learn how to make a beautiful cutting board. You can take our woodshop
classes, which I have done at Palatin High School, taught to adults. In the evening, you'll see our community bulletin that used to be hard mail, now it's emailed, but we do offer wood shop classes if you would like to make a matching one yourself. >> They're beautiful. >> Awesome. Thank you.
>> All right, so back to the next item on the agenda is public comments. So for those of you who are here for recognition, you're more than welcome to stay. Um or you don't need to. But next on our agenda is public comments.
>> Thank you. Thank you. >> Goodbye. >> I taught Kira. >> Okay. Okay. Miss Lopez. >> Miss Lopez, >> did you see the picture behind you of the kids? Okay, I'll I'll get them to
you. >> Okay, we are glad. I will make an announcement. Okay. Okay. All right. We will, as we transition, I'll make an announcement and have you all stand in just a second. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. >> Yes.
>> Hello. >> Yes. Yes. He made my picture. Yes. Yes. Okay. Yes. I promise. that we you know what we'll >> Oh, we'll follow up. Let me follow up. Yes.
>> Yeah. >> Yes. We'll just capture that information. >> She'll she'll Mr. um Shoemaker will capture it and then we'll follow back up with you all for the hear. Okay. Thank you. >> All right. We are going to return back
to our meeting. Um, as before again, we we have a few surprises that have uh kind of captured us. I uh will talk about this a little bit later on as I share my 100 day plan. But I do want to recognize we did have some students who are part of my superintendent student
council group. Um, I encourage them as they begin to learn and understand and be involved in this work alongside with us to join a board meeting. Could I have those students who are here tonight that came just to stand and just wave and say hello? They did join us this evening
from the superintendent's advisory council. Thank you all for being here. >> Great. Okay. Next on our agenda is public comments. The board welcomes your participation and values hearing from our community.
Please remember this is a meeting of the board held in public, not a dialogue. So board members will not respond or answer questions during this time. Comments should focus on school district matters. And to protect privacy, please
do not mention or identify individual students. We ask everyone to speak with respect and civility so each voice can be heard. Vulgar, obscene, libalist language or interruptions will not be tolerated. If you have concerns about
district staff or board members, please follow the district's communication protocols so they can be addressed appropriately. Please note, this meeting is recorded and livereamed. It is being watched by people from across our community,
including neighbors, staff, parents, and students. Therefore, we ask that you value the procedures and decorum of our meeting, being nice and respectful of those at the podium so they may be heard. When I call your name, please
come to the podium and state your name for the record. You may also choose to state if you are a resident of the district. You will have three minutes to share your comments. Please note that your time may not be given to another speaker
and the time on the display will guide you. If you'd like a response from the superintendent, please leave your contact information with ten with Mr. Tenniper at the end of this table. Thank you. The first person to speak this evening
is going to be Georgia Moravski, followed by Nikki Hubard. >> Do I need to repeat my name? >> You can if you'd like. >> Georgia Morowski. Um, so you guys all
received an email with my statement and my daughter's on it. You've already read it. It was slightly more personal. It had a little bit more information, but I want to speak just so there's a record. Um, I am here this evening to discuss
inappropriate conduct um by Lionel Clark along with another wrestling coach um and the need for the district to inform parents when teachers or coaches are suspended or terminated due to inappropriate behavior. You've all read
about the inappropriate contact coach Clark had with my daughter. I have edited that portion out of this statement for her privacy. The past two months or so have been one of the most difficult and stressful things we've ever had to deal with. The uncertainty
my daughter felt on whether or not to come forward with what she had to say. The uncert uncertainty as to whether or not her coach was fired or suspended, whether or not she would have to see him again. her concern for her fellow wrestlers who also experienced
inappropriate contact. My stress as a mother knowing that I would have and have on numerous occasions trusted that man to take my daughter on trips staying in hotels or dorms. the insurmountable anger I felt that not one
person from the school or district contacted me about his behavior, his behavior with my daughter or other wrestlers until after reading this statement. Um, how many other students have had inappropriate contact with
these educators and coaches? I'm going to assume the district still cannot answer that because they've done absolutely nothing to investigate whether or not there are other minors who have something to say. I've seen multiple group and personal text
messages from current and former students who have had personal contact with Coach Clark after his termination regarding uh the incident. He's assuring them that he did nothing wrong. It was a misunderstanding. telling them that he's
already working at a new new school and everything is fine. Um, can someone explain to me why he's allowed to have another job in another district and work around kids while there is a criminal investigation going on? Um, I have to implore the school board to implement
some type of rules regarding inappropriate teachers from or conduct from teachers and um, coaches and giving parents the right to know about this behavior if they have been suspended or terminated. Parents should be contacted
and asked to talk to their children about this behavior. That's it. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Next is Nikki Hubard, followed by Annette White. >> Hi, my name is Nikki Huard. I'm a senior
at Hoffman Estates High School. I understand that there was an ongoing investigation at school and with the police, but participants like me from the girls wrestling team were not once notified. I personally had to find out that I was not the only wrestler from
Hoffman who was affected by Lionol Clark Johnson from an article in the Daily Herald. I reported my situation to the police Saturday, November 8th. But only today, December 11th, after my mom had a call with the superintendent, was I
called to the office and talked to by my counselor. I am disappointed in the administration at Hoffman Estates's high school high school for claiming to value accountability, communication, and safety. While wrestlers like me were not informed with the situation or even
offered an explanation, I believe all students and parents should be first first be informed by the school if any situation of sexual harassment or any inappropriate conduct occurs. Not only has Hoffman Estates High School
in the district 211 failed at communicating, but they had failed at protecting and providing for their students. Lionel Clark Johnson was suspended for two days in January of 2024 regarding similar issues and even then not one parent or student was
contacted. This seems to be a reoccurring issue with the 211 district as not only was it Lionel Clark Johnson that was fired for inappropriate conduct with a minor but also Kevin Beers. two wrestling coaches that were permitted to
be alone with minor minors for extended periods of time having private practices, hotel stays, and weekend trips where there were no other adults, let alone parents present. Protecting students should be the district's biggest biggest priority, but it seems
keeping a reputation is a larger priority. I am appalled and disgusted not only at the actions of Lionel Clark Johnson and Kevin Beers but also the actions of Hoffman Estates High School in District 211. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Next is Annette White. >> Hello. Um, I know you're set to improve uh approve a 4.3 levy increase. Um, my taxes I live in the area of 211. Um, my
taxes are already pushing $10,000. Um, for a 1,700 square foot ranch. Um, I'm also in school district 54 who just chose to borrow 70 million which, um, I understand next year is going to increase my tax bill by $90. And for
each of the next three years, it'll be an extra $180. And now, um, school district 211 is set to increase the levy. Um, my understanding is that you got a 17.7 million from the land sale in 2020, and
I was just wondering where the accountability is for that money that now you're asking for an additional um, 4.3 levy increase. Um, and I was just wondering if there was anywhere on the website where that's allocated. It's
just with next year being a reassessment where it's going to hit on the second tax bill, I just don't understand how people can um whether having the school districts increase the money as well, increase the tax bill. Thank you.
>> Thank you. So that concludes public comments. Next on the agenda is a public hearing on the proposed tax levy. And the recommended action is that in accordance
with section 5/17-1.3 of the Illinois school code, cash balances are reported in item 6C of tonight's meeting agenda and the public hearing on the proposed 2025 tax levy of Township High School District 211
um be opened. May I have a motion, please? >> So moved. >> Second. May I have a voice vote, please? All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> I. >> Anyone opposed, please say nay. Okay. We're going to follow the same
procedure for comments on the levy hearing that were used during public comment. However, no one signed up to specifically speak about the levy. Um, we did have Miss White speak about the tax levy during public comments. Is there anyone in our audience that maybe
did not have an opportunity to sign up but would like to speak about the tax levy specifically? Okay, there is none. So, the recommended action is at the public hearing on the proposed 2025 tax levy of Township High School District 211 be closed. May I have a motion, please?
>> So moved. Second. >> May I have a voice vote, please? All those in favor, please say I. >> I. I. >> I. >> Anyone opposed, please say nay. The motion passes. The hearing is closed. Okay.
The next item on the agenda is an action item to adopt the resolution censuring board of education member Peter Dumbrossski as recommended and submitted by Steven Rosenlum, District 211 Board of Education President. May I have a motion, please?
>> So moved. Second. >> Um, okay. So, may I have a roll call, please? >> Miss Baron, >> I. >> Miss Cavl, >> I.
>> Mrs. Lopez, >> I. >> Miss Russell, >> I. >> Mr. Dumbrossski, >> nay. >> Mr. Van Djk, >> hi. >> Mr. Rosenlum, >> I. So, we're going to open this item for discussion at this point. And I will
start by reading the resolution and the recommended action regarding it. So this is also included in the agenda item and it reads, "Whereas the board of education of Township High School District 211 has received information
regarding the conduct of board member Peter Dumbrossski which was in violation of his sworn duties as a board member, board policy, board protocols, and the oath of office. Whereas the Illinois School Code 105
ILCS510-16.5 states that each school board member before taking their seat on the board shall take an oath of office. Whereas the oath of office provides in pertinent part that board members shall encourage and respect the free expression of
opinion by my fellow board members and others who seek a hearing before the board. while respecting the privacy of students and employees. Whereas board policy BBF, board of education member ethics, provides that
board members quote should meet his or her responsibility to the community by not releasing confidential information unquote. Whereas the board of education protocols provide that board members quote respect the confidentiality of
privileged information and will not divulge conversations, discussions, or deliberations that take place during a closed session meeting." unquote. Whereas after the district board meeting on November 6, 2025, board member
Dumbrossski divulged on social media confidential information relating to conversations and actions that occurred during the close session meeting. These actions failed to meet the professional standards for an elected representative or the minimum standards expected of any
district employee or board member. And as a result, board member Peter Dumbrosssky's actions have negatively impacted the trust and confidentiality expected of board members in support of the students, staff, fellow board
members, and community of district 211. Whereas censure by a public body is a collective judgment of condemnation of one of its members for behaviors or actions that violate laws or policies as well as formal public act of disapproval
disapproval of a member's unacceptable conduct. Now therefore be it resolved by the board of education of Township High School District 211 as follows. Section one that this board finds that board member Peter Dumbrossski failed to
faithfully perform his official duties as a board member and violated the oath of office, board policy BBF and board protocols. Section two, that the board hereby censures and formally expresses its disapproval of board member Peter
Dumbrossk's conduct described above. Section three, that the board does hereby direct board member Peter Dumbrossski to properly perform his duties as a board member by understanding his role as a member of this board, abide by the oath of office,
board policy, and board protocols, and cease and desist from disclosing confidential information. section four that this resolution shall be in full force and effect upon its adaptation.
Before we vote on adoption of this resolution, I open it up to any comments or discussions from any board member. >> I have some comments I would like to make. >> Mr. Drosski, >> I'd like to start by stating the board
of education's role is to stand for the community. The board acts on behalf of the community. is not the role of this board to prioritize the school district at the expense of the community. The district depends on the community. The community does not depend on the district. There is a synchronicity, but
there is no symbiosis. The events that have led to the centure are both sad and convoluted. I am saddened that while answering questions to a group of community members via a private message, my trust was betrayed and screenshots without context were delivered to the board president. The board president
decided to speak to each board member individually prior to contacting me directly. By that time, I've had discussion with another board member about the topic and had to decline per public act 97-504. If board members engage in a chain of one-on-one discussions to reach a
consensus, they may also violate the law. I say convoluted because to discuss controls on spending taxpayer dollars on the agenda, we as a board must speak as one voice and agree to have that discussion at a future board meeting. No single board member, officers included,
has more authority than any other board member. Yet, here is an agenda item for my censure that appears to have used direct resources to de develop without public awareness or public action. Either this censure action was placed on the agenda through a consensus of board
members outside of a meeting or was placed independently by the board president. This is the exact reason the open meetings act exists to hold public bodies accountable. This is done by questioning votes and actions and the public body responding. Open meetings act and freedom of
information acts are two different laws. The freedom of information act is the mechanism used when the public body stops answering questions from the community. Foya was and is not intended to be a safety net for use when elected officials lack critical thinking skills to respond to constituents. Our
community is frustrated with a lack of transparency, myself included. As representatives of our constituents, there are two ways to approach this role. The first is to position ourselves as being elected to act on behalf of those that have voted us to the role. They would need to trust that the action
taken are on their behalf and above question. This would allow an elected individual impunity without having to justify or rationalize a vote or an action. The other approach is to discuss with our constituents and explain our actions while asking for input and dialogue. I choose the latter. The vote
taken at the November 6th meeting had been concluded and all information I shared was information that would be available via FOYA. Board members have training regarding FOYA and NOMA. Penalties for violating laws fall on the members of the board of education. Close sessions are not mandatory and are choice when certain exemptions are met.
There is a reason our vote and actions taken are in public. There's nothing that requires a closed session. Every close session discussion could take place in open session. The intent of a closed session is to provide protection for the district and the community. It is not to shield general discussions
from public scrutiny. At what point does the board think that silence on the reasons for their vote at the November 6 board meeting protects the community? When the board voted to terminate two staff members in the community asking why, it should be our obligation to explain the action, educate the community, and protect our children.
This board should not continue to work in silence that only acts to protect former employees. That silence is now being forced upon me tonight. Thank you, District 211 Board of Education. But no thank you. I will continue to provide answers to the community when I'm asked about my actions taken in public. I will defend the community and the district
with information, knowledge, and education. Please vote as you see fit, but taking this action to silence me with the intention of protecting staff that violate our policies does not align with the values of our community. After more than 10 years of service to this district and community, my actions have and will continue to define my
character. >> Does anyone else have anything to say from the board? >> Yes, >> Miss Caval. >> Yeah, I'm just taking a minute. Um, aside from the comments that I'm going
to make, I think the most pressing response to the excuses just provided is that those actions did not protect anyone.
They did not protect the students who came forward. They did not protect the staff members as was implied. They didn't protect board members or the general community. They actually they put the actions of the board and the people that we are charged with
protecting at significant risk. So if uh that was your intention, it was very badly carried out. Confidentiality is the foundation of trust. And when that trust is broken, consequences ripple outward. The consequences of Mr.
Dumbroski's actions are as follows. Staff cannot trust us with their personal information. Students and families cannot trust us to safeguard their privacy. We cannot trust one another to uphold our shared responsibilities. And the administration as well as any outside agencies, legal
representatives, and anyone who must share sensitive information with this board will rightfully question whether that information will remain secure. Why is this so serious? Because in close session, we regularly discuss matters of great sensitivity, individual student
discipline, staff disciplinary cases, active litigation, and detailed school safety measures. Students and staff who come before this board do so with the understanding that their due process rights will be respected and their privacy protected. After Mr. Mr.
Dumbroski's disregard for his obligations. No student or staff member can reasonably have confidence that their information will remain confidential as long as he remains at this table. And when I say confidential, I mean meeting the legal standard. I
don't mean protecting everyone from uh learning anything about the district. I mean very basic common sense requirements that are spit out that we are supposed to follow. The district is a public institution governed by the open meetings act and
the act exists to ensure that our work is conducted transparently and that all members of the public have equal access to the information we legally can share. And by disclosing confidential materials to his selected group of individuals,
Mr. Dumbrosski not only violated that trust but also created an unfair dispar disparity in access to district information. something that's fundamentally at odds with the principles of open government he so routinely likes to profess he believes in his actions reflect poorly on him but
they also reflect on us his fellow board members and for the sake of restoring trust and reaffirming our con commitment to the law protecting the integrity of this board as a collective Mr. Dumbrossk's disregard for confidentiality must be formally censored.
So I also have some comments to make that is the board of education has limited ability to dis to discipline each other through certain actions and the censuring of a board member is not something that should be taken lightly. Rather, this censure resolution and
recommendation is in response to a very serious situation or action by a board member that undermines the very integrity of this board of education and requires our immediate action. I have no doubt that Mr. Dumbroski is fully aware
of his responsibilities as a board member since being originally elected to the board in 2015, including the oath of office, district 211 board member ethics policy BBF and our current and pre and
and previous board member protocols. Regardless of the context associated with his actions, the fact is that he violated his fiduciary duties and breached these very important aspects of
this of his elected position. As board members, we are held responsible for maintaining the trust and integrity the office requires. While the inclusion of providing transparency to the public, it is also important we maintain
confidentiality of specific and sometimes required information supporting the privacy of our students, staff, and community. Not only did Mr. Dumbowski's actions violate established policies and protocols, but it has also
negatively impacted the very trust, confidentiality, and integrity that our community, students, and staff expect of this board of education. In adopting this resolution, there is no intent to infringe on board member Peter
Dumbrossk's rights as a member of the community or an elected board member, but rather it is that he performed that he perform his duties under the guidelines, legislation, oath of office, board policies and protocols members of
this board have agreed to follow. I ask my fellow board members to join me in approving and adopting this censure resolution to highlight the significant level of the violations conducted by Mr. Dumbrossski and direct him not to do
such actions and behavior again as a member of this board of education. Does anyone have anything else that they would like to add? Hearing none. >> Can I add? >> Yes, Miss Baron. >> I think Go ahead. If someone else is going to talk,
>> Miss Baron. >> Okay. Um I think we just heard a bunch of sorry excuses from uh you know a board member regarding his actions and um in no shape or form is anyone trying to silence
anybody. We are just trying to protect the confidentiality um that we are sworn into to do so. um to not disclose, right, information that's confidential regarding our staff, our students. And um he knew what he was doing. He chose
to only disclose that information with the select group of people instead of disclosing it out in public because he knew what he was doing was wrong. Um I hope that by us doing um coming forth with this resolution it is um understood
that we take confidential confidential matters um very serious and that we will uphold the confident those confidential matters um that our students are the families our staff are trusting us with. Um so yeah that is all that I have to
say. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you, Miss Baron. Right. At this point, I'd like to uh request a roll call vote to adopt this censure resolution as presented. May I have a roll call, please?
>> Miss Baron, >> I. >> Miss Caval, >> I. >> Mr. Dumbrosski, >> no. >> Mrs. Lopez, >> I. >> Miss Russell, >> I >> Mr. Van Dyk, >> I >> Mr. Rosenlum, >> I. The motion passes.
>> I have a fiveinut recess. >> Yes, we are going to take a fivem minute recess for personal reasons. Okay, welcome back. The next >> are you there? >> Just >> Miss Baron, are you with us? Okay, thank you. So, next item on our agenda is the
consent agenda. Does any board member have anything they would like to have removed from the consent agenda? Okay. I don't see my >> the motion. Are you looking for the motion? >> Yeah. >> Um, approval of minutes. The consent
agenda be approved as presented. >> Attached. >> Thank you. The next item is that the consent agenda be approved as presented. May I have a motion, please? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Any questions or concerns? May I have a roll call, please? >> Miss Cavl,
>> I. >> Mr. Dumbrossski, >> I. >> Mrs. Lopez, >> I. >> Miss Baron, >> I. >> Miss Russell, >> I. >> Mr. Van Dyk, >> I. >> Mr. Rosenlum, >> I. The motion passes. Next on our agenda, our board updates
and information. The first is our Freedom of Information Act requests. That is an information item. Next is the ending fund balance information. That is also an information item.
Next is student user fees introduction. This is an information item. Next is the student board of education representative models. This is an information item regarding this particular item. I
encourage those who are in our audience watching live streamed or via video recording to take a look at this item on our agenda. It is it is really a very very interesting item and an exciting opportunity for our district.
Next on our agenda is unfinished business. This is an action item that the board of education approve the amount of $290,71 as the 2025 tax levy for Township High School District 211 as submitted by
Kathy Zalooki controller treasurer CSBO and Lauren Hmel, Chief Operating Officer CSBO, and as recommended by Dr. Judith Campbell, superintendent of schools. May I have a motion, please? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Any questions or comments?
>> If I can just make a quick comment. Um I believe the amount that was read into the motion was um inaccurate. I maybe to correct that for the the record if we >> So correcting the amount is $290,71,000. >> Thank you very much.
>> Thank you. So I do have a comment. Every year the board of education and district are required to set and levy an amount of money to cover our school and district budget and expenses. Each year we are required to designate the amount of this levy and during the following
year we approve a budget using those dollars. In recent years we typically have not used all of the funds we have available maintaining a reserve in case of an emergency. In fact, policy DCA
requires that quote to move forward with financial planning and operational budgeting initiatives, the board of education should target an operating fund balance excluding non-spendable fund balance of
approximately 33% of the next year's expenditures representing a four representing four months of operations." unquote. Every year when we consider and prepare to approve a new levy, we hear from people across our district asking about
the levy and reserves and often expressing concerns about possible increases in the levy. I have never heard from anyone supporting much less requesting an increase in their taxes or our school district's tax levy.
Each year, the administration presents the board of education with a tax levy proposal and explains as part of that proposal why we as a board should approve an increase in the levy and taxes to ourselves and our fellow residents.
This includes covering expected costs and projecting long-term financial stability of the district. Property taxes are our source of more than 80% of the revenue this district receives for operational purposes. Without it, we
will lose over 80% of our annual funding income. Of course, we cannot approve a zero levy. That would be like a household budgeting with zero income and living off of whatever is in their savings account to cover all of their living expenses.
Since I joined this board more than eight years ago, the District 211 Board of Education has approved an increase of the maximum allowed by law in all but one of those years. We are we also were able to abate the
levy we approved, lowering the levy amount actually charged to taxpayers after it was approved and submitted to the county clerk's office. We are experiencing record expenses in our households. Groceries, utilities,
gas, services, medical care, mortgage rates, and other household obligations continue to stretch beyond what many people can afford. Property taxes have risen across our community. While expenses to the district are also higher, we need to li to look internally
to control or lower expenses. Identify and delay nice to have purchases and work hard to increase other sources of revenue such as grants and fundraising. In fact, we have been doing this and there is a request for
the board to approve a grant application on this evening's agenda. In the past, I've also suggested we consider bringing on a staff member at the district level to seek out and help our district get grants from local, state, federal, and other sources.
Some of our neighboring districts have done this, and it has not only paid for itself, but helped them fund several programs and other needs. On more than one occasion, I did not vote in favor of the proposed tax levy.
Such was the case just last year. Our district faces a very difficult situation where our forecasted expenses will surpass our forecasted revenue by such an amount that we will begin dipping into our reserves to pay our
expenses. This is forecasted to continue for the next several years to the point where we will go below our earlier mentioned operating reserves fund balance target. I believe we are also at a point where
nice to haves have already are already being cancelled or delayed. Our staff and this board work very hard to make sure these are not causing a negative impact on our students safety,
education, and well-being. This is an important time in our district and I believe we need to approve the recommended levy in order to maintain the high level of educational programs and staff our community has come to realize and expect in district 211 while
realizing our very challenging financial situation. Tonight, let's do what we know we can and need to do in order to support our district and community. and as difficult a decision as it is, approve the levy as
proposed. >> I'd like to add some comments. >> Mr. Dumbrosski. >> Thank you, Mr. President. I oppose this property tax increase for the following reasons. Uh the most recently approved budget indicated a total fund balance of over 45%. Our our current IMRF is in an
asset position. There are no outstanding life safety projects required. Compounding more revenue before the next budget cycle will only encourage additional bund uh budget expenditure and not result in decreased spending. Our neighbors receiving the most recent property tax bills experience increases
between 15% and 20%. An additional levy increase at this time will be beyond insult to injury. This board represents the community and should consider this impact. Some might argue that the assessor and appeal boards are responsible for the burden shift onto residential property owners. This is only the distribution portion and does
not resolve the need to discuss overt taxation. If this board wishes to review the unfair burden that the largest tiff district in Cook County creates, I welcome that discussion. The cid the current Meridian development in Shamberg is still paying property taxes on the
2014 base EAV of 205 million while the current EAV of 409 million. and the last year has resulted in over a 20 million um increment taxes that are sub subsidized by surrounding properties in the district. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Any other board members? Mr. Van Djk, >> I guess I I'd be curious, Mr. Rosenbloom, um you voted against the levy in the past. What makes this levy voteable uh for you to approve compared to the
ones in the past that you voted against? Thank you for the question. In the past, we didn't have the the forecasted decline in our reserves as what was presented to us during one of our recent presentations. >> And then to the to the point of the the
tip districts, do we take an active role in in opposing tip districts because it affects us so negatively? >> Miss Miss Hmel. >> Um There are there is a joint review board
um where um members of the board can vote in support. However, it is not the approving authority for the the establishment of the TIFF. Um I believe that in the TIF that Mr.
Dumbroski is speaking about. I was not in this role at that time, but I believe that um the district voted in opposition of creation of that tiff. Um and um it is unfortunate that it is a a um shift
of tax burden onto the existing taxpayers. Um however, with the establishment of the tiff, the hope is that it generates new AOV and ultimately at the end would um lessen that burden. But it's, you know, a 23-year period.
>> So, um, I appreciate your comments. Thank you. I appreciate your comments. Um, you know, a lot of times when we have these discussions, it's brought forward from various community members, myself included, actually before um I ran for
the board initially and had to learn a whole bunch of things about the way we pay for schools in Illinois that I didn't know before as a voter who was just generally angry about um property tax attorneys and the system set up in
here in Illinois. And um you know, a a commonly banned about thing I I believed at the time too before I learned more was that um you know, why aren't we running this more like a business? As an example, it's because this is completely
alien to the way that a business is structured. you know, a business can look at its balance sheet and make yearover-year adjustments without um most of their decisions beyond investment decisions um having such a significant impact on
their ability to make future decisions about their let's say profit margins. And this is to say that levies have a compounding effect. They don't exist just in a present moment. So, um, it really puts not just property
taxpayers like ourselves, but, um, people who sit at this side of the table between a rock and a hard place because you're not having to make a decision just for this year or just for this budget projection. You're having to make a decision that's going to impact
um, you know, the board potentially 15 years down the track. And we've seen wild swings in economic conditions. You know, me being a millennial, certainly within my lifetime, but we've seen how fast things
can change. And so to sit and uh deliberate over the 15-year ramifications of a decision that you make in one instance, knowing that those conditions can change so drastically, it makes the it makes these decisions
really difficult. because you're not just making it based on this single year. You know, this single year we technically have reserves. Although, if you look at the um uh the item that was just in the section above about our fund balances, you'll
see our reserves at work. I mean, have Miss Hmel have the tax have uh has Cook Yeah, Cook County still hasn't paid the tax revenue. So, the way that we're meeting our current day-to-day obligations, paying of staff, uh,
keeping the lights on, because the thing is, um, you can't just close like a business. Students show up every day regardless, and they expect to have a teacher in the room that is paid regardless, and the buses have to run regardless. So, like, you have to pay. You can't just not pay and not teach
kids and not pay teachers and not have transportation. You pay regardless. The question really becomes um how efficiently are you paying and whether or not you're paying interest. Are you paying uh with your reserves, for example, to cover the fact that Cook County just decides not to pay its
collected tax revenue for months on end and leaves us to foot the bill or do you have to be in a position like other districts around us where we don't have reserves and then we have to issue debt? Thus, we actually heard from uh the third speaker in public comment that um
a different district who doesn't have the reserves has had to issue debt and that's also pushing up her property tax bill because you the money has to come from somewhere. And so, um I really agree with your statements.
This is a very bitter pill to swallow. At the same time, I feel like it's really really important for me to second the message of part of the after effect of swallowing the pill is expected efficiencies. And we want to
keep those away from students as long as possible, but we've all looked at the, you know, grocery bills are going up, our food bills are going, everything is just going up. And so we want to keep those costs, you know, any any efficiencies that we find in cuts as far
away from students as possible, but you know, the kids keep showing up and we have to teach them. We have to do the best we can with the resources we have. And um I think that's for me the expectation that we're going to find efficiencies in the budget to the best of our ability um because kids show up
every day. And so um you know, and we got to be there to meet them. I just don't, you know, when I look and see like, well, we could under levy. Sure. I don't think that would save nearly as much money on people's property taxes as some believe. Um, but we could, and
then, uh, our budget balance, we can't pay the bills within two years and then we're issuing debt and that money just comes back on the property tax bill later. You know, none of this is hypothetical money, unfortunately. So, I know that we don't, as I've repeatedly said when I've had these arguments um at
this time of the year past, there's not a lot of fat in our budget to chew. There really isn't. We run a pretty tight ship. But, I mean, economic conditions being what they are, we're going to have to tighten the ship and we're going to have to make some harder choices, I think, in the future. And even if I'm not sitting at the board table, those harder choices are going to
have to be made by the board as a collective. So, >> and I have one more comment. Um, and that is um we often hear from people at public comments and sending us communications
um and sometimes ourselves um that you know this board represents you know we we take action and represent the community. I want to emphasize that we are the community. We are taxpayers. We
are your neighbors, your friends. We are parents, former parents, grandparents, soon to be parents of students in our school district. We have a vested interest
monetarily and otherwise in the success of our district and our community and how we do things. So, it sometimes interests me how we are looked at as separate
from members of the community, but I really want to emphasize we are members of the community just like you. And we sit on this board making very, very important decisions that affect all of
us and all of our families and all of our our our students and our community. And I really want to make sure that you keep that in mind that if we approve this levy increase, we're also doing it to ourselves.
We're going to be experiencing the same p pain points, the same levies on whatever size home we own and the assessed value is of our home and the impact that this is going to have on us next year, the year after and so forth.
So, I want everybody to keep that in mind. >> Yeah, my appeal was just denied. So, yay. But um I have one other thing I wanted to say is like um and people are well within their right to ask us to you know collect less. Absolutely. Um I
would love to have you know a flat levy. I would love to be able to afford that. But people never ask us to do less. That is never that's never anything that I've heard from any community member like to do less for our kids. It's the the ask is usually the reverse. We need more
personnel, more safety and security measures, more school counselors, more social workers, um more teachers to teach ESL classes, etc. Like, so there's a long list of demands um
that the community is well within their rights to ask too. Um but that's that's how the scale balances, right? Unfortunately, none of these things are free. So doing providing the absolute most that we can afford to do. It's a
it's a difficult balance to strike. >> Any other comments? >> If I may. >> Yes, Miss Baron. >> Yeah. Um thank you. So this is uh every year this is one of the hardest decisions that
um we have to make as board members. Um and it's not an easy decision and it's a very informed decision that we make. Um right, we're getting um financial reports every month. Um we're looking at right like the levy like this is a year like an ongoing process and so when we
make a decision each one of us are making it very informed. It is not like I said an easy decision once that time comes. Um and trust me you know I me and my husband look at our our tax you know bill and you know we feel it as well.
Um, and one of the things I don't want to compromise the education that we provide our students and all of the activities and the opportunities that we provide our students. I have a daughter who is a
junior um at district 211 and I'm just in awe of everything that is offered to her and every single uh opportunity that she can tap into to get her prepared for that next stage of life. Um, so I I
can't compromise that that opportunity that we have for our students because those students come back to our communities and they invest, right? They can be business owners. They can come back to our school and teach. So I'm investing in the future generations that
are coming back to our community. So um, that's where I, you know, I'm looking at all the numbers and I'm looking at everything that we provide. And so that's where I'm making uh, my decision today. Thank you. Okay, I think that concludes comments
and discussions. May I have a roll call, please? >> Miss Baron, >> I. >> Miss Caval, >> I. >> Mrs. Lopez, >> I. >> Mr. Van Djk, >> I. >> Miss Russell, >> I. >> Mr. Dumbrossski,
>> no. >> Mr. Rosenlum, >> I. The motion passes. The next item on the agenda is an action item that the board of education accept as anformational item and acknowledge
receipt of the June 30th, 2025 annual comprehensive financial report, ACFR, which includes the financial statements as prepared by Township High School District 211 and audited by Baker Tilly
US LLP certified public accountants as submitted by Kathy's Zalooki, Controller Treasurer, CSBO, and Lauren Hmel, Chief Operating Officer, CSBO, and as recommended by Dr. Judith Campbell, superintendent of schools. May I have a
motion, please? >> So moved. Second. >> Are there any questions or comments regarding this item? Dr. Campbell? >> Yes. So, it is my pleasure before we vote up on this item to introduce Sebastian Drosski, senior audit
supervisor with Baker Tilly, also District 211 alumni. With more than 10 years of experience at the firm, Sebastian has played a key role in our audit process and so he will now present on our audit report. >> Thank you, Dr. Campbell. So, yes, my
name is Sebastian Dowski. I'm a senior audit supervisor at Baker Tilly. Glad to be with you here tonight. I'll try to be brief. I know you have a lot still to get through. Um, before I get into the audits reports that we issue, I first want to just thank everybody that we work with, Lauren Hmel, Kathy, Sandy, everybody work within the business
office for all the hard work that they put in, not just to prepare for the audit, but respond to all of our requests during uh, fieldwork. We do ask for a lot of support, a lot of questions, and they do a great job in responding to everything. So, the first report I'll go over is the reporting and insights letter. So,
that's just a direct communication from us as the auditors to you, the governing body. It outlines the scope of the audit, what our responsibilities are for the audit, management's responsibilities, and then if there were any financial statement findings or internal control findings, those would be outlined in this report. So during
interim fieldwork, we come out and we take a look at all your key processes, your accounts payable, your payroll just to make sure that there's no operational risk that we might want to apply additional procedures to. And happy to say we do not have any findings in that in this report. Um, and then so there's
also additional information in here for future accounting standards that are coming down the pipeline. Uh, as well as um, some supplementary information for trainings and webinars and things like that. Also, our contact information is in here, not just mine, but also the engagement principles, Mike Malots. Um,
you know, we report to you as the governing body, although we work with the business office on the day-to-day, we are engaged by you to report to you on these findings if there were any. And so if you have any questions, not just here tonight, but in the future, we please, you know, reach out to us. We're happy to answer them. So then the annual
comprehensive financial report, that's going to be the bulk of the financial information as of June 30, 2025. Uh starting in the front, you have a summarization with with the management's discussion, analysis, and the transmitt letter. I highly recommend reading through those pieces of the acter. If
anything, it's a large report. It's over 100 pages, but the management disc discussion analysis and the transmitt letter, those are kind of like the cliff notes of the whole report. They'll give you a highle overview of what went on during the year in a narrative format with comparisons to the prior year. There's also a certificate from the
association of business school officials in the act for excellence in financial reporting that's awarded to the district that's based on the prior year acter. Um, and so we also anticipate the district receiving the same thing for fiscal year 2025. Our opinion letter is in the beginning of the report. So, it's
a four-page opinion letter. It's an unmodified opinion letter. It means that's the highest level of assurance that we can provide over the information in the report. Basically means anybody can pick up the report and rely on the information within as they assess the health of the district. And then you also have detailed dose of the financial
statements. In the back, you have actual to budget comparison schedules. And then the very back of the report, you have long-term trend uh analysis, statistical information, not just financial information, but demographic information as well.
And then outside of the ACTER, we issue an opinion on your annual financial report. And so it's the same information financial uh that's included in the ACER, but then we also look at some statutory compliance matters. All of that information gets compiled into a standardized form that gets submitted to
the state board of education and we also had an unmodified opinion on that. Um on page four of this report is the estimated financial profile score for the district and so the district received recognition status which is consistent with the prior year. It's the highest level that ISBY can award
districts for financial health. But the score in that profile score it did decrease from prior year. Prior year was a 4.0. This year it dropped down to a 3.65 65. And so the um there's four metrics involved in calculating that score and it's all outlined in that page.
Outside of the financial statement audit, we do perform a uniform guidance audit or a single audit over the district's federal uh grant spend. That audit has not been finalized and issued. Uh with the federal government shutdown, there was an administrative backlog with
finalizing what's known as the compliance supplement. And this is a nationwide issue. It's not specific to the district. It's outside outside of the district's control. And so what we did is we used a draft compliance supplement to audit the grants. So this particular fiscal year, we audited the
child nutrition cluster. All the testing is substantially completed. We don't anticipate issuing any findings. We will have a clean opinion on that report, but it's just an administrative thing with the fi of the final compliance supplement not having been solidified until just recently with the Thanksgiving break. And so once we get
all of our documentation wrapped up on that, we'll be able to issue that report. Uh those were my prepared remarks, but happy to answer any questions you may have. Well, first of all, thank you for coming this evening and thank you for bringing back uh yourself as an alum of district
211 and to show us what successful students such as yourself can do in the business community um with your financial background and and success. So, thank you very much for doing that and gracing us with your your presence as an alum. It always I I love when
alumni come back and are able to discuss and present and and share things with us like this. So, thank you for that. Um just so everybody knows as as has been mentioned, we are a public entity and a public organization and uh this report
um is available in the agenda in public content. So, if you want to read the 137 pages, you are more than welcome to do that if that is your thing or you want to read some of the highlights and the summaries. Especially, one thing I learned when I was first presented with
some of these reports is what to really look at. And then if you want to get into the the weeds of the report and more details, it's certainly there in other tabs. Um, but really, you know, look at the look at the beginning, look at the the summary letter and the
summary section, and then if you want to know more, you can dive into it and get even more. So, thank you for for coming out and representing Baker Tilly. And and really it's also really important to um to recognize that since I've been on
the board um we've always gotten very glowing um remarks and and ratings and audit results from our internal team that had we've always been told what a great job our internal accounting and finance
group does in keeping records and accuracy and keeping us out of court and fines and all those things that we never want to be in uh and really doing a stellar job and having such great great
ratings and feedback from your firm. So, thank you very much and thank you for the efforts that you've done and your firm has done in helping put this report together. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> Miss Baron. >> Yeah. I just wanted to also just say
thank you so much for coming tonight to present. Um, if I heard it right, I think Mr. Rosen Bloom said you're um, an alum, so welcome back. Um, and I just also want to say thank you to uh, Miss Hmel and Miss Zillinski for all your
hard work and dedication to the district. I so appreciate um your thoroughess um your ability to answer the hard questions and give us really accurate information and quick information as well when we ask for it. So again, thank you so much to both of you and all your hard work that you've
done. >> Thank you. >> Have a good night. >> No, we haven't. >> Okay. At this point, I'd like to ask for a roll call on this item, please. >> Mr. Mr. Van Djk. >> Hi,
>> Miss Baron. >> I >> Miss Russell, >> I >> Mr. Dumbrossski, >> I >> Miss Caval, >> hi. >> Mrs. Lopez, >> I >> Mr. Rosen Bloom, >> I. The motion passes. The next item on the agenda is the 2024 2025 popular
annual financial report PAFR of the board of education funds. This is a public item and I just want to mention for those who are watching this or either now or later that this is a
really um easy to understand document and report around our financials. So, if you're not a financy kind of person and you don't want to read 137 pages, this is very well
revised and interpreted information for just what it says um the the public and it's a popular a popular way of reading this report. So, I encourage you to take a look at it. Next on the agenda is an action item and that is that the board
of education approve the district to complete an application for the school maintenance program grant for the replacement of chiller equipment at Palatine High School and further that funds be allocated in the 2025 2026
and 2026 2027 operations and maintenance budgets for completion. of this project as submitted by Ricky Sparks, director of facilities and purchasing and Lauren Hmel, chief operating officer, CSBO, and as
recommended by Dr. Judith Campbell, superintendent of schools. May I have a motion, please? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Any comments or discussion on this item? >> Great to see a grant application. >> Um, what what would be the total cost of the the program
>> of the chiller replacement or Right. We just have the grant amount um as an offset. But what would be the total cost? >> That's the recommended bid total. >> It is >> is 3 million
35. Yeah, it's in the document. 3,35,370. >> Yes, it is in the introductory report for the grant. Um as Miss Keell just said, um but it was also approved earlier on the consent agenda this evening. >> Okay. Thank you.
>> Any other questions or comments? May I have a roll call, please? >> Miss Caval, >> I. >> Mrs. Lopez, >> I. >> Miss Baron, >> I. >> Mr. Van Dyk, >> I. >> Miss Russell, >> I. >> Mr. Dumbrossski. >> I, >> Mr. Rosenlum.
>> I. The motion passes. The next action item is that the board of education approve the Illinois Association of School Boards ISB Press Student Board Policy Customization Services at an estimated cost of $14,420
as recommended by Dr. Judith Campbell, superintendent of schools. May I have a motion, please? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Any questions or comments? >> Dr. Dr. Campbell, my understanding is that even though there's initial outlay, um there's all the details included in
the agenda. People can read of course about the details of the service, but there is an initial financial outlay, but um it represents a dramatic savings in terms of uh staff time and resources deployed to do the same work internally. Is that correct? >> That is correct. Yes. Okay. Thank you.
>> Not only a savings of cost, but time. >> Yes. um that it will be significantly reduced versus our having to do it ourselves. >> Yes. If we were to have to uh provide this the services of reviewing our policies ourselves, it would take us a little bit over three years to complete
um as opposed to uh press assisting with 6 to 12 month >> time frame. Thank you. >> All right. May I have a roll call, please? >> Mr. Dowski. >> Hi. >> Miss Russell, >> hi. Mr. Van Djk. >> Hi,
>> Miss Baron. >> I >> Mrs. Lopez, >> I >> Miss Caval, >> I >> Mr. Rosenloom, >> I. The motion passes. Next action item is that the board of education approve the board of education protocols and superintendent communication guidelines
as presented. May I have a motion, please? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Any comments or discussion? >> May I have a roll call, please? >> Miss Caval, >> I. >> Mrs. Lopez, >> I. Miss Baron, >> I >> Mr. Van Djk, >> hi. >> Miss Russell,
>> hi. >> Mr. Dumbrossski, >> present. >> Mr. Rosenlum, >> I The motion passes. The next item is the board of education. Um, if there's anybody who would like to present a item
for future discussion. Okay, hearing none, we'll move on. The next are committee reports. The first committee report is that from NSSO. There are a couple of items in public comment um public content. One is the
article of agreement and the other is the audit report. Um so NSSEO had their governing board and superintendence council meetings last week. During the governing board meeting, we learned that a majority of the cooperatives member
districts approved the recommended article of agreement as received in the agenda for tonight's meeting. Tonight, I ask if any board member has any comments or questions related to the agreement. If not, and if there are no objections,
I will take um a ratifying vote from this board to the next governing board meeting to ratify these articles as our liaison to NSSO.
Are there any comments or concerns? Thank you. During the meeting last week, the cooperative received the independent auditor's report on the financials of the cooperative from the firm Asesian Business Solutions. The cooperative operates as a break even nonprofit
organization. You received the draft of the report in tonight's meeting agenda, which also the public has access to. Much like our audit report, they go through a very similar process on an annual basis. The cooperative received positive news
that a grant application for $750,000 to support the second phase of the Kirk School project was approved and received by the cooperative. NSSEO has some items coming up, including a professional summit for
member district staff on January 5th and a job fair on January 8th for the 2026 2027 school year. NSSO does not have a governing board meeting in January. They skipped January. So, the next meeting
will be on February 4th. I'd like to look to Dr. Campbell if she has any update from her superintendent council meeting. Thank you, President Rosa Bloom. Um, similar to what you've already shared um just that again looking forward to um coming to a
consensus around how we will move forward operating as a co-op in addition to um just similar uhly the superintendent and groups. We are just excited about the opportunity and and how we will propel forward. Um we feel
that it will give us a a better foundation um and also keep our ourselves closest to kind of the operations of the co-op. So, we're just looking forward to the changes that will be made. >> And if you look through the articles, I want to mention that um there has part
of this is an approval of a creation of a superintendent board at NSSO to give superintendent perspective um school level um understanding and
experience. Um some they will have the opportunity to give input, make decisions at a superintendent level, um provide feedback and recommendations to the governing board, which we will still have governing responsibilities
and be able to do things uh collaboratively with the the superintendent of our member districts. So very important and that's going to be starting uh after the after the new year. >> Absolutely. Thank you. Thank you for sharing. Yes. >> Thank you.
>> Okay, that's it for NSSO. Next on the agenda is Ed Reddd, Miss Russell. >> Yes, thank you. There is a written report that is included. I announced at the last meeting in November. I was unable to attend the ED meeting for the
first of the year um because we had a meeting at the same time. So, uh, the information that was provided from the November 6th meeting is from the minutes that were presented to the group and approved this past December. The meeting
was December 5th and it was a joint meeting with the school business officials. Um, Mr. Rosen Blum, Lauren Hmel and I attended virtually. Um there were well first of all the
issues based there were two of them big issues. The first was an explanation of or description I guess and requirements for use and repayment in case uh districts wish to uh uh do something
other than issue tax anticipation warrants. And there the four things are uh listed there. Um I'm glad that Miss Hmel was there because there are a lot of rules,
regulations, and laws that must be met. Um including uh the time that um uh loans need to be repaid. So um I know that we are not going to do that at
least at this point. Um, and so I appreciate all of that information. I will say there were several districts that are in dire straits. Uh, one, uh, mentioned not being able to pay employees.
So, we are in much better shape, although it's not wonderful of as you just heard. Um, and haven't had to take out any loans. And by the way, we can go to local banks and take out loans if we want to, too. That's another thing that's allowable which I didn't realize.
Um so it was an interesting discussion. Um the second thing that um I wanted to mention is that there is a um group a consortium of a 100 districts that have come together and have hired um the
group called ECRA. They're a data collection uh agency and they're looking at the programs for EL students throughout the state and collecting information about each of those to determine in fact which evidence-based
data um regarding student success in those various programs can be used to determine the best of those EL programs. Um if uh the people the I'm sorry the districts that are involved that form
the consortium can have data included there is a cost andor they can access the district student data um there is a cost for that too but if you are a member of ECRA you can be provided the data for free I don't know that we are I
didn't think so okay um so anyway we look forward to that information I'm sure that that will be um exceptionally helpful to many of our districts throughout the state with our um e students.
And then um they have the edrad has three uh legislative initiatives which I listed there. World language graduation requirement um MCAT funding. I'm sorry I use a lot of I call it alphabet soup for
education. MCAT is mandated categoricals. I don't know that everybody in our audience knows all those those things and uh neither should you. And um finally um the third one is about looking at law enforcement
off-campus procedure u which I thought was very interesting. And then finally, there was a um a hot bill which is still in progress, I guess. Um and it's Senate Bill 1873, and that is about the cell phone ban in
our classrooms. And um at this time, Edrad has taken a neutral position until um we see what kind of changes might be made in that bill. And finally, I will be requesting uh attendance at the next meeting, which is a legislative dinner
in January. and I'm assuming that others might want to attend also. And that's my report. >> Thank you. >> Next on the agenda is community and family services report. Miss Baron.
>> Yes. Thank you. Um the next uh United Palatine Coalition meeting is on January 28th at the um they're changing their meeting to the YMCA if you want to. It
starts at 11:00 a.m. and the meeting will begin at 11:30. Um if you want to join, there is limited space. So, please make sure you RSVP and you can um contact um you can email j
ojupcoalition.org to rp um and additionally they I just want to quickly highlight um some food pantries. I know uh in the last couple of months um you know
families might need a little bit more support um and so I just want to remind uh our families of the nearest food pantries which um would be Shamburgg Township, Elkrove Township, Hanover Township and Main Township do have food
pantries. So if you are um interested in um you know locating any of those um for any food um you're more than welcome to do so at those townships. And that is it. >> Thank you.
Next on the agenda is um the Illinois Association of School Boards report. Miss Baron >> Russell, >> I mean Miss Russell, I'm sorry, Miss Russell. >> Um the I wrote about the annual conference and um the people that
attended were Dr. Campbell, Miss Hmel, President Rosen Bloom, and then board members, Mr. Van Djk and myself. Um, I was the representative from the district 211 board. I attended the delegate assembly. All of the um 10 amendments to
their constitution and the one resolution were passed as presented. They also elected the new officers. Um and the uh vice president is actually from our North Cook division, Alba Alva
Crutzer. There were general sessions uh with three dynamic speakers. Very interesting. Um on Friday and Saturday, I've never seen so many workshops that we could attend. They were general topic
tracks and um I mentioned which um workshops I attended. Maybe in the next couple of months I'll be able to give you some more information about those mostly for new board members and for um looking at
student voice in the representation on the board. And then um we also attended evening activities, organization, receptions, dinner, and we got to see the Disney lights per parade, which was really exciting from a nice
warm vantage point. And I thought the conference was a real opportunity to network and build relationships, connect with old friends, learn and discuss issues, which made the three days very worthwhile. Thank you for allowing me to represent the district
211 as the IASB delegate and I look forward to attending again. >> Thank you. As a fellow attendee, I have a few comments to also make as the screen is coming down. Um one is that um
this conference was the largest attended conference of educational professionals in the country. They had just under 10,000 registered attendees. So, incredible number. Um, very and we
were there and we were represented pretty well. Um, I also attended some workshops and like like Miss Russell said, it was hard to pick which ones to go to. Um, and I included and they're in public content, uh, some of the the slides or handouts from those sessions
because when I go to these conferences, I don't go just to help educate me, but I go to help bring information back to share with my colleagues so that we can be a better board in support of what we do and what our mission and values are as a as a district. Um, so I was able to
do that as well. And um and um in one of the the documents that's included here, the slides and such is one on social media. F it says follow me social media, school boards and the first amendment, which is
an interesting topic for our school district and certainly this board of education. And there is an example of a um a case that has gone through um and um all I'm going to say is take a look
at it. It may sound familiar to you regarding social media and legal case. So, uh, so if you get a chance to to take a look at that, um, I am so proud of of us as a district and the people who came to the conference, um, I'm very
very proud of our our new superintendent who really made a huge impact on attendees that had an opportunity to meet her, on her fellow superintendent. uh she made a huge impact on me um as an
attendee and to be able to see uh the dynamics associated to that and and one of the sessions that I went to um was specifically on recruiting and retaining leaders of color,
so administrators and superintendent. And uh I attended that. Um and and it was a great experience to to learn um the statistics of of how how um how
challenging that is um not only in the country but in our state um to have leaders of color in our education system. And there were uh great attendees there talking and trying to brainstorm and discuss some ways that we
can um really try to encourage more diversity um in our in our school leaders and our educators. Um so it was a very informative session as well. Um so that's what I have to say about it. >> Great.
>> Okay. Next is Dr. Campbell's update. >> Yes. So, good evening again. And I will say normally for me, you would hear kind of updates that have taken place, but I'm excited to be able to share this
evening my uh post entry plan um as it relates to district 211 um following my 100 days. So, just bear with me a little bit. So, here the four L's framework was used to drive the model for my first 100 work days. Looking entailed me observing
the current state of our district. Listening consisted of me engaging stakeholders to understand experiences and needs. Learning allowed me to analyze themes, trends, and opportunities. Leading is what I along with others will do to use the findings
to guide the decisions and next steps aligned to our strategic plan. So, this 100day plan allowed me to establish a shared understanding of the district's strengths, needs, and opportunities, build trust through transparency, visibility, and active
listening, align next steps to our district's mission, values, and strategic priorities. as I will hold to the expectation that the work we do each day rises to the standard of excellence for every District 211 student. As stated here in this quote in tandem with
our mission that states, District 211 is here to serve the needs of diverse and of our diverse community by provid providing a relevant and rigorous learning experience. opportunities for involvement with strong support systems that empower each
of our students to reach their full potential, which is outlined in our district values as listed here that speak to the five values. Communication and accountability, equity and inclusion, financial integrity,
innovative learning, safety, wellness, and respect. My entry plan goal aligns directly with our five values as detailed here. Communication. This started for me with this board sitting here while also working to have this become part of
district 211's thread. As I look at our instructional model, programs, and support, it was important for me to observe these things through a foundational lens of equity and inclusion as we work to enhance the efficiencies and effectiveness of what
we currently have in place. Financial integrity was my third goal as I worked to listen to stakeholders and their perspectives around our resources, projects, and learning how these things are optimized operationally and fiscally. Innovative learning for me
entail looking at our current programs, teaching methods and technology initiatives while al also working to ensure we gain an understanding that learning entails supporting the whole child that includes academic but also social, emotional, and our
extracurricular opportunities. The last goal to prompt safety, wellness, and respect allowed me to look, listen, and learn about the critical issues that may be a barrier for student outcomes connected through the infrastructure all the way down to the perception data.
So, my stakeholder engagement included a series of listening sessions held at schools, at the district office, and community venues. School visits, one of the most rewarding parts of my role, allowed me to engage authentically with students and staff while learning the
unique strengths of each building I support. Each week, I connected with community partners through meetings that included the Rotary Club, Township meetings, co-ops, local business meetings, exploring potential partnerships with District 211. I also conducted group and individual meetings
that offered valuable perspectives on how to evaluate our work on behalf of our students. Across these enga engagement methods, the data reflect a clear theme to meet the evolving needs of every student. The board of education and superintendent must maintain a
relationship grounded in trust, authenticity, positivity, collaboration, and a strong team orientation. Transparent, consistent communication is essential to sustaining this dynamic and creating an environment while innovative can thrive,
innovation, excuse me, can thrive and challenges can be addressed proactively, ultimately strengthening the education experience for all of our students. So, there were over 47 school visits conducted since July 1 of 2025. To date,
I had the honor and privilege to attend approximately 33 student activities and events. I engaged in about 289 in-person listening and learning sessions with all stakeholder groups and had 50,194
views and ratings on social media sharings that included our back to school video and interactions with students, parents, and community members. So, here are the questions that were asked um across all of our groups. These
questions, however, naturally kind of revealed themselves without me having to ask them as the conversations began. I often found that stakeholders will begin by sharing the strength and then naturally transitioning into answering some of these questions that I desired to ask. At the time, stakeholders
express uncertainty about exact paths forward. um as they would say, I know I don't know what to do next. I just know that we can't keep doing the same thing. Across these three stakeholder groups, several bright spots consistently emerge. All groups express deep pride in
both the school and district. Stakeholders emphasize that district 211 is staffed by individuals who are highly committed to the work and dedicated to supporting our students. Students share that they feel a strong sense of belonging regardless of background,
race, or socioeconomic status. They also appreciate the wide variety of extracurricular opportunities, many which extended beyond just sports in general. Internal stakeholders highlighted the longevity and loyalty of staff. Once individuals begin working in
district 211, I often heard they rarely want to leave. Families and community members remain consistently connected and engaged, often due to general general, excuse me, gener generational ties to the district and the fact that many
community members also serve as staff or parents. This creates a cohesive, supportive system that people are proud to be a part of. External stakeholders spoke highly of the strong partnerships the district continues to cultivate. They also pointed to district 211's
long-standing history of success and the positive impact the success has across the community that we serve. So the themes that emerge around components of district 211's culture areas that may need to be changed, updated, or reconsidered included the
following. students shared that while academic expectations are high, they can sometimes fi feel high by default without intentional consideration of students social, emotional, and mental well-being. Students express that their
educational experience does not mirror that of previous generations and that some practices feel antiquated. They voice interest in more open and flexible learning environments that extend beyond the traditional four walls of a classroom. Students also raised
questions about class schedules, noting the need to examine the pros and cons of block schedules versus traditional schedule models. From the students lens, the way students and staff communicate and engage with one another need attention. Students believe they are
capable of self- advocacy, yet they recognize they still need guidance. They share that the manner in which they are addressed leaves some room for improvement. Ultimately, they want opportunities to participate, though not in every situation, in decisions that
directly impact them. Internal stakeholders raise concerns about organizational structures and the challenges these create between district and building level support, especially when structures diff are different across our sites. Staff compensation was also a theme particularly among
administrators who noted the impact compensation has on staff retention compared to our surrounding districts. Oh, I am still here. Across our internal and external stakeholders, communication and transparency emerge as consistent
themes. Stakeholders want the story of district 211 to be shared both the successes and the challenges with as much depth and clarity as possible. Another key point was a desire for district staff to be more visible in buildings and actively provide support.
This perception is one my team and I will continue to work in strengthening and redefining. Perspectives on safety and security varied by stakeholder groups ranging from concerns about physical safety models to emotional supports, programs, and structures. A
final theme centered on systemic change. Stakeholders acknowledged that while long-standing practices are not inherently wrong, the district must continue to evolve as the world evolves. This led me to summarize the feedback as follows. We must continue to strive to
function as a unified school system, not a system of individual schools with aligned goals that directly support students. Strengthening our coherence as one organization requires alignment from the board and the superintendent all the way to our families. Our students watch
how we model collaborative, student centered, datadriven work. They are looking to see how we align, support each other, and work toward the shared goal of success for all. So, as it relates to what I've shared, how does this align with the entry plan
goals? It's simply stated here. As you look at my entry plan goals and the goals we have listed here for the district, there is direct alignment. So within these first 100 days, there are several key initiatives that have already been set and in motion. A
standard of excellence has been established and continues to be embedded across all areas of our work. Visibility in our schools and at events will be a constant for me. To truly understand what is happening in our district and how to best support it, I must be an active participant in this work. Being
present with our students, staff, and community brings me much joy. We began by redefining communication practices between the board and myself, establishing a set of agreed upon methods that support clarity and consistency. These expectations are now
being outlined and defined across additional levels within our district. In October, I hosted our first superintendent advisory council, providing students a platform to share their perspectives and reinforce how much their voice matters. so much we still have a student who is sitting here
with us this evening. We also expanded our partnership with Harper College through the introduction of the College Now program which will offer students the opportunity to graduate with an associates degree while still in high school. Our administrative summit launched with professional learning
focusing on cultural competency through an equity lens setting the stage for future development in instructure instruction leadership and diversity. The board and I also engaged in a workshop centered on our roles, operations, and responsibilities. This
session was a valuable opportunity to clarify expectations aligned to governance policies and procedures. I look forward to hosting another workshop in the near future with you all. So leading forward, I will work with my
team to identify what we can increase equitably and relevant to academic growth, strengthening our students post-secary pathways, while also highlighting and lifting the many powerful stories we have to share. Safety and security remain a priority as we continue to put safeguards in place
for our daily operation and for the future. I will also ensure our organization structure aligned to the work required to district 211 beginning with our ultimate goal for students and outlining the systems essential to achieving that success. Lastly, we are
Township High School District 211, an educational institution serving the communities of Palatine, Shamberg, and Hoffman estates among others. However, learning does not start nor end with our students. If we are not continually
refining and reinventing ourselves, we can't fully serve them. Therefore, as we examine our professional development design, it is must be meaningfully supportive for our students and also for our staff and stakeholders who are
engaged in this work each day. So, my commitment, the next steps that I just shared with you are grounded in our strategic plan. And I don't want you to think that I just went a array and it was not. Um, in addition to the feedback
received, all of this was looked at in pulling this information together. I'm committed to building on the pride, talent, and relationships that define district 211. While addressing the areas that require our collective focus, that include strengthening our communication
and enhancing engagement while ensuring a safe, equitable, modern learning experience. This progress will be made as we work together. And I am confident as we unite in purpose that is powered by passion, we will create meaning and
last change, lasting change for each student that we have been privileged to serve. And with that, I say thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. Campbell. Very informative, well put together uh presentation and explanation.
appreciate your update. Um, are there any comments or questions from my colleagues? I will actually, if nobody minds, start to my far left with Mr. Van Djk. >> I just want to know if we could get a note for our student in the back for his homework for tomorrow.
>> Did you say you wanted to give him homework or >> excuse a pass? >> Oh, maybe a pass for getting to school on time tomorrow morning. Is that Yeah, the clock is ticking. Miss Lopez, >> thank you.
>> Um, Dr. Campbell, thank you so much for that presentation. It was um, amazing. I have seen you just be so involved since you've started. Every single day has made such
a great impression on our community, our students, our staff. So, I just thank you so much for just being there and just doing all the things. It's absolutely amazing. And when I see you
at these events, you are always so in the moment. You're you're listening to the community. You're listening to the students. You're they're just very involved in you and you're involved in them. and I appreciate that. So, thank
you so much for everything that you you're do. >> My pleasure. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Caval. >> Thank you very much for the presentation. I'm thrilled that um I get to share this table with you. Absolutely thrilled. >> Thank you. >> But it's also late, so my gift to you is
to be quiet. >> Thank you. >> Okay, Miss Baron, >> thank you so much for the presentation. Um when we were selecting, you know, going through the whole candidate process for a new superintendent, one of
the main things that I wanted a candidate was somebody who was student first and you have shown that over and over and over again. How you are very student first. um whether that comes security and safety of our students, the
academic portion, the you know emotional being, the financial aspect, everything around you know you really center um that leadership around our students. So I really appreciate everything that you have done so far in their first 100 days. It doesn't feel like it's 100
days. Um, so again, just thank you so much for for that and um I'm I'm looking forward to seeing um you know the progress and more stats coming uh forth on and the progress that you have been making. So
thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Baron. Mr. Dumbowski. >> Yes. Uh thank you, Dr. Campbell. What most people may not be aware is that October 10th of 2024 about 7:45 p.m. Dr. Campbell presented all of this as part
of a plan. So, this is the uh accumulation of of everything that she had outlined and presented to us and and it's very impressive with the the outline that we were provided and the follow through. So, I'm I'm thoroughly
impressed with that. Um going through my notes, I've got probably about 15 pages of notes and and you hit on all of these topics and and they're all right here. The only thing I I did note that I didn't capture was I know that one of the goals was to um talk to some alumni
and catch some postsecary success. Um were you able to capture that or uh have a plan for some of that? >> So although the 100 day plan has uh been captured here, the work still continues. So I have spoken with alumni but I have
not uh captured that specific information. But as I continue uh the second round, I will be sure to follow up and share that with back to the board. >> Okay. Thank you very much. >> You're welcome. >> Thank you, Miss Russell. >> I appreciate greatly your presentation.
I guess I have um taught under several superintendent and certainly what I've just seen is unbelievably great and it was a joy to spend some time with you and your husband um at the conference and I like
I said I greatly appreciate you and am willing to help as much as I can for you to be able to be successful. >> Thank you. >> Thank you Miss Russell. So um I have a couple things. one is um I I echo Miss
Russell with regards to getting to know our superintendent um spending a weekend together um in a in a professional way um in the city and and outside of the boardroom, right? And
and in some in some aspects outside of being president of the of the school board. um really getting getting to know her and her husband and her family and from a different lens. Um I encourage people who may see her out and about the
community because she lives in our community um or at one of our school functions to, you know, don't stand and wait for her to come to you. I encourage you to approach Dr. Campbell. She's extremely
approachable, very the the word I wanted to use was engaging. She's very engaging with everyone that is part of our district. So, please take advantage of that and and really um
so happy with with your report and the information. Um I know that um in the plan is to set for this board to collaborate with you to set goals um you know numeric goals, performance goals,
student achievement goals, staff goals, things like that and we're going to get there. Um but thank you very much for the the very thorough report on your first 100 days. Uh which is so wonderful. So glad to have you on board.
All right. Next on the agenda is District 211 Board of Education. Also an opportunity for each board member to say anything and um and give any comments that you would like to um this evening. So before I give mine, does anybody have anything they'd like to say?
>> Uh President Rosen Bloom, I want to congratulate uh the Palatine High School Orchestra who gave a concert last evening that was wonderful. Well, I unfortunately was called into work at the last minute, so I was not personally able to attend, but I was assured it was recorded, so I'm
going to watch that tomorrow. Um, however, my husband and my son uh were there to watch my eldest child play violin and um actually I called in reinforcements. So, former board president Anna Clinquitz also attended
and used the seat and um I was assured that the concert was really wonderful. And so I'm looking forward to attending the next orchestra concert which is their spring concert for Palletine High School which will occur on Friday uh March 6th. So I'm really looking forward
to that. But um I know that me all like our high schools are doing a lot of winter programming at the moment and I've been um in the past to friend for example Hoffman Estates every any school you choose will will really blow you away with this the level of talent that
our students display. So congratulations to the orchestra. >> Thank you. So I I know our schools and districts have had have had and are having many functions uh in in including sporting
events, performing arts programs and concerts and much more. In fact, we're going to talk about some at least one of those coming up uh in the next section on the the calendar item. Um, with regards to uh Friend High School's upcoming craft fair, which is if you're
looking for a ginormous everything there craft fair, Friend High School um is a don't miss. I've gone every year since I can remember living in this community. Um, and so it's a great opportunity for
all kinds of different things. Um, so that's coming up this coming Saturday from 9 until 4 at Friend High School. So, um, so I know I'll be there and Miss Russell, I believe, is going to stop at an encourage any and everybody
in our community to take advantage of that. And I also want to thank Miss Russell for representing our district as our delegate at the delegate assembly. There were a few little tweaks made to how the assembly was run, but there were
some very important items that she represented and voted on behalf of this board and this district on some very important items that go to the state level for IASB to advocate and for them
to make some constitutional changes and like she mentioned um elect some board officers. So, thank you very much for your time over and above being a board member and representing us at the delegate assembly at the at the conference. So, thank you very very much.
>> And could I also as a board member I was a representative and spoke at two NHS ceremonies, one at Shamberg and one at Hoffman Estates um National Honor Society. I was an inductee as a junior in high school a few years ago and I
certainly was proud to be able to represent us in doing so. Um the students are absolutely amazing. The seniors that are in NHS were there. The officers of that organization. Um they
are very eloquent in speaking. The programs were fabulous. and each student had an opportunity to walk across the stage and be recognized in front of all their parents and other students that were there and other people. So, uh I
much much uh appreciated it. Thank you. And I hope to do a couple more. >> Thank you. And and one more thing before we move on to the the next item on the agenda is that I want to just take a moment um and wish everyone a very happy
holiday season and happy new year. uh for those who are in our audience um live and um online or watching via video. So, I hope you have a very very nice holiday season um across the
district. Thank you. The next item on the agenda is the upcoming events calendar. Um you could see on here we have the craft fair coming up on Saturday. Uh final exams are right around the corner. Um, and
then we go into winter break. Um, there are some days that the district office building will also be closed. So, you might take a note of those if you're if you're uh in need of of district level services. Uh, take a look at that. And
um and then um for anybody who's watching, the first day of the next semester after break will be January 6th. January 6th. And uh the next regular board meeting um will be on
January 22nd. So that's it for that item. Next on the agenda is close session. So the recommended action is that the board of education enter close session
to discuss minutes of meetings lawfully closed under the open meetings act. Appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees, security procedures, school building safety and security, and the use of personnel, equipment, and
equipment to respond to actual threatened or reasonably potential danger to the safety of employees, students, staff, the public, or public property. and collective negotiating matters between the public body and its
employees or their representatives. May I have a motion, please? >> So moved. >> Second. >> So uh before we get to the roll call, keep in mind that if you do not feel we need to go into close session and I think we completed everything, then you
will vote no on this item. May I have a roll call, please? >> Miss Baron, >> no. >> Miss Caval, >> no. >> Mr. Mr. Dumbrossski, >> no. >> Mrs. Lopez, >> no. >> Miss Russell, >> no. >> Mr. Van Dyk, >> no. >> Mr. Rosenlum,
>> no. >> The motion fails. The next items are those associated to um those under close session. And the first item is that is the
acceptance of retirement requests that the board of education in accordance with the master contract of the district 211 United support staff approve the retirement requests of Thomas Dilo effective May 2026.
Camille Prestia presita effective June 2026 and Mary Tyinsky effective June 2027 as submitted by Helen Miller director of
insurance and group benefits and Lauren Hmel chief operating officer CSBO and as recommended by Dr. Judith Campbell superintendent of schools. May I have a motion please? >> So moved. Second. >> May I have a roll call, please? Miss Russell, >> I >> Miss Baron,
>> I >> Mr. Dumbowski, >> I >> Mr. Van Djk, >> I >> Mrs. Lopez, >> I >> Miss Caval, >> I. >> Mr. Rosenlum, >> I The motion passes. Next item is administrative appointment for principal at James B. Cone High School. The motion
is that effective July 1st, 2026, Michael Smith be appointed as a principal at James B. Conit High School at an annual gross salary of $195,000 as submitted by Kurt Teniper, assistant superintendent for administrative
services and as recommended by Dr. Judith Campbell, superintendent of schools. May I have a motion, please? >> So moved. >> Second. >> May I have a roll call, please? >> Miss Caval, >> I. >> Mrs. Lopez, >> I. >> Mr. Van Dyk, >> I. >> Mr. Dumbowski, >> I. >> Miss Russell,
>> I. >> Miss Baron, >> I >> Mr. Rosenloom. >> I The motion passes. The third item is that the board of education approve the termination of employment of Karen Nardone. Further that the board secretary notify said
employee in writing of this action by the board of education as submitted by Kurt Teniper, assistant superintendent for administrative services and as recommended by Dr. Judith Campbell, superintendent of schools. May I have a motion, please? >> So moved. I second. I'm sorry.
May I have a roll call, please? >> Mrs. Lopez, >> I. >> Mr. Van Dyk, >> I. >> Mr. Dumbrossski, >> I. >> Miss Caval, >> I. >> Miss Russell, >> I. >> Miss Baron, >> I. >> Mr. Rosenlum,
>> I. The motion passes. Seeing as there are no remaining open items on tonight's agenda, the board president declares this meeting of the board of education adjourned.