News from October 20, 2022 Board of Education Meeting

The District 64 Board of Education held a regular meeting on Thursday, October 20th, 2022, at Washington Elementary School. The meeting highlights included:

VIEW MEETING VIDEO

Student and Staff Recognition

• In the midst of National Principal Month and Principal Appreciation Week, Board members offered their gratitude to all of the building administrators in the District. 
  • “I’m just amazed at how well connected they are to their individual school communities. So thank you to the principals,” said Board President Dr. Denise Pearl. 
  • Board member Larry Ryles read an excerpt about principals. “You shepherd over our flock. You protect, educate and keep safe our herd. You lead them, so they don’t get lost. You never cease to protect them and keep them safe. We recognize as we parents do; they are our greatest gift. You are our principal, and we thank you for it.” 
  • “It wasn’t until I sat on this board and realized what principals do for our schools,” said Board member Tom Sotos. “Without our principals, these schools could not operate. Period. End of story. So I just want to thank each and every one of our principals. Past, present, and future ones because we’ve had great ones, and we have current great ones. So thank you.” 

Welcome to Washington Elementary School

• Not only was the Board meeting held at Washington Elementary School, but Principal Angela Brito and Assistant Principal Janet Van Arsdale gave a presentation on what’s happening at their school. The dynamic duo focused on sharing the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) initiatives in their building. 
  • Washington has a “PAWS” program which is individual awards that are passed out in common areas of the building. Students get PAWS tickets for demonstrating expected behaviors that are modeled and practiced. The PAWS are a way to reinforce those positive behaviors. 
  • Click here to hear more about the PAWS program and what Brito and Van Arsdale do to encourage a healthy and positive learning environment.

Jefferson & Elementary Schools Construction Update

• Dr. Adam Parisi, Chief School Business Official, and Tony Bersani, Director of Facility Management, provided the Board with a construction update as the projects are nearly completed. 
  • Work outside the schools continues to wrap up over the next few weeks. Once things are finished, the temporary fencing will come down, and any playgrounds affected by the construction will be restored. 

Presentation of Preliminary 2022 Proposed Tax Levy and Discussion of Second Installment of Cook County Property Tax Bill Delay

• CSBO Dr. Parisi talked about the Tax Levy process and that this is only a tentative presentation because of unusual events occurring in Cook County, including actual extension amounts, equalized assessed value (EAV), and new property amounts not being available. 
• The next sequence of events will be: 
  • Nov. Board Meeting
    • Tentative Tax Levy will be presented
    • Levy Resolution will be passed
  • Dec. 2022
    • Levy notice will be published in the newspaper
  • Dec. Board Meeting
    • Truth in Taxation Levy Hearing will be held
    • Board approves 2022 Tax Levy Certificate
    • CSBO files Tax Levy Certificate with County Clerk
• Dr. Parisi discussed the ramifications of delay in sending property tax notices to taxpayers and the impact on the District.
  • “This delay is outside of the District’s control. We are thankful we do not have to issue tax anticipation warrants as several districts in Cook County do to meet payroll and accounts payable obligations. Also, there is an advantage to having healthy fund balances to weather these challenging times, and District 64 does currently,” said Dr. Parisi.

Resolution #1298 Loaning Funds from Education Fund to the O&M Fund

• Motion: Approved

Resolution #1299 Directing the Transfer of Funds from the Working Cash Fund to the Bond and Interest Fund

• Motion: Approved

2022 IASB Resolutions & Assembly Delegate

• Motion: Approved
• The Board voted whether or not to support several Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) items which will be voted on at the IASB Delegate Assembly on Saturday, November 19, 2022. 
  • You can watch the Board’s discussion on the resolutions by clicking here. 

Discussion & Approval of Substitute Teachers Pay Increase

• Motion: Approved
• District 64 will raise the in-person substitute teacher rate for the 2022-2023 school year by $4 per day, from $146 to $150. 
• “Specifically, due to the substitute teacher shortage, the administration believes that it is important to continue to position ourselves near the top of what surrounding districts are paying so that we are able to fill open positions on a regular basis. It should be noted that the number of available substitute teachers has dwindled significantly since the pandemic,” wrote Dr. Joel Martin, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources. 

Approval of Recommended Personnel Report

• Motion: Approved

Consent Agenda

• Motion: Approved

Approval of Minutes

• Motion: Approved