Quincy Reporter

Community Consolidated School District 181 Board of Education met Jan. 27.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Call to Order

The Regular Business meeting of the Board of Education of Community Consolidated School District 181, DuPage and Cook Counties, Illinois, was called to order by Board President William Cotter at 6:00 pm on January 27, 2025, at Hinsdale Middle School, 100 S. Garfield Ave., Hinsdale, IL.

Roll Call

Jean Duggan, Recording Secretary, took roll call. Board members present were Margaret Cooper, Margaret Kleber, Grace Shin, William Cotter, Sinead Duffy, Michael Martin, and Asim Aleem. Also present, Dr. Hector Garcia, Superintendent.

Pledge of Allegiance

William Cotter led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Executive Session

William Cotter made a motion to adjourn into Executive Session at 6:05 p.m. to discuss personnel and safety. Meg Cooper seconded the motion. On roll call, the following members voted “Aye”: Margaret Kleber, Grace Shin, Margaret Cooper, William Cotter, Michael Martin, Asim Aleem, and Sinead Duffy. ”Nay”: None. The motion carried.

Call to Order

Jean Duggan, Recording Secretary, took roll call at 7:08 p.m. Board members present were William Cotter, Margaret Kleber, Grace Shin, Margaret Cooper, Sinead Duffy, Asim Aleem, and Michael Martin. “Nay:” None. Also present, Dr. Hector Garcia, Superintendent.

Board of Education Celebrations

The Board celebrated the launch of the newly redesigned district website. The updated website features a more modern design, improved navigation, and enhanced functionality.

The Board recognized and celebrated the winners of the district-wide spelling bee held on Wednesday, January 22nd, at Hinsdale Middle School. Students from across the district competed, with Celsey from HMS taking first place, Ayla from Madison School placing second, and Liam from CHMS placing third.

The Board of Education recognized Kelly Pelak, a teacher at Hinsdale Middle School, for receiving the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching at its meeting on Monday.

This prestigious national award honors teachers who demonstrate distinction in the classroom and dedication to improving STEM education. Pelak, along with three other teachers from the Chicago area, will receive $10,000 and a trip to Washington, D.C., for a recognition ceremony and professional development events.

Public Comment

Warren Ali, a District 86 Board of Education Candidate, addressed the Board.

Erika Jones, a Clarendon Hills resident and Walker parent, addressed the Board regarding student access to technology.

Action Items

School Fees

Catie Norton, Director of Financial Services, shared that the administration recommends school fees to the Board of Education each year for the following school year. District 181 billed $1.28 MM and collected $1.24 MM year-to date in student registration fees for the 2024-25 school year (approximately 3.6% still outstanding this year vs. 6.3% outstanding last year). Before 2023-24, District 181 had not collected approximately 8-10% of registration fee revenue annually. While we started reducing the % of unpaid fees last year, the Administration has developed additional processes in 2024-25 to continue dramatically reducing the amount of unpaid fees across all areas.

Ms. Norton shared that the administration is proposing the following:

● Offering a $25 discount to encourage early registration to help the district better plan for a more accurate number of students and related staff for the 2025-26 School Year.

● Increase the Kindergarten Fee to match the Grade 1-2 Fee now that the district will provide a full-day kindergarten program in the Fall.

● One small change to optional fees. HR Monitors are provided at cost to students. The cost increased from $17 to $19.

● Continue to apply field trip fees based on the individual cost per field trip (including transportation).

William Cotter made a motion to approve the 2025-26 School Fees as presented. Asim Aleem seconded the motion. On roll call, the following members voted “Aye:” Meg Cooper, Sinead Duffy, Bill Cotter, Grace Shin, Margaret Kleber, Asim Aleem, and Michael Martin. “Nay:” None. The motion carried.

Resolution to Prepare Tentative Budget

Ms. Norton shared that Section 17-1 of the Illinois School Code requires the Board of Education to approve a resolution designating an individual(s) to develop the 2025-26 budget in tentative form each year. The tentative budget includes revenues and expenditures anticipated during the fiscal year. It contains a statement of the estimated cash expected to be on hand at the beginning and end of the fiscal year.

William Cotter made a motion to approve the Resolution to Prepare the Tentative Budget. Sinead Duffy seconded the motion. On roll call, the following members voted “Aye:” Meg Cooper, Sinead Duffy, Bill Cotter, Grace Shin, Margaret Kleber, Asim Aleem, and Michael Martin. “Nay:” None. The motion carried.

Informational Items

Food Service Presentation

Catie Norton, Director of Finance, Kerri Creachbaum, District Manager, and Laura Allgaier, Food Service Director at Hinsdale Middle School, co-facilitated a Food Service Presentation, highlighting the great things happening in the district’s food service program, which Quest Food Management Services manage.

The partnership began in 2008, and the current agreement is from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2026. Quest is responsible for costs associated with the service, including all labor, product, and direct costs. Quest bills the families and collects the revenue directly. Quest charges an administrative fee of 3.5% and a management fee of 2.35% on all program sales (minimum annual fee of $25,000). District 181 receives any net profit that remains after all labor, product and direct service costs, and management fees have been paid.

For the 2023-24 school year, the food service program generated a gross profit of approximately $43,000. The District uses that money to help fund the lunch aides who help supervise the two middle school cafeterias and invest in equipment and supplies to continue to enhance the program for our students.

Ms. Creachbaum shared the Quest philosophies that help make the program strong:

● Quest’s Mission is to provide fresh, high-quality food, exceptional responsiveness, and intensely personal service

● Quest provides high-quality food choices for our students, including full meal choices at the two middle schools and free/reduced meals & milk at the elementary schools

● Many of the food items come from local farms in the Midwest Quest seeks student stakeholder input through Student Food Committees, impacting their long-term decision-making regarding new product offerings.

CHMS held a meeting in the Fall, and both CHMS and HMS plan to hold an additional Student Food Committee meeting during the second semester.

Quest has also worked to provide a variety of food choices, including vegetarian options, special promotional food items, and any required specialty meals. Improved allergen awareness via the addition of enhanced signage throughout both cafeterias, has allowed students to advocate for themselves when making lunch choices.

Full-Day Kindergarten Construction Update

Director of Facilities Mike Duggan, provided a progress report on the Full-Day Kindergarten construction projects.

Updates:

Covered projects at six elementary schools: Oak, Madison, Walker, Monroe, The Lane & Elm.

KR Miller

● Oak:

○ Construction of the four additional classrooms and two office spaces is progressing well. The project is on or slightly ahead of schedule for its projected February 2025 completion date.

○ Over winter break, the following work was completed:

■ Permanent heat completed

■ Installed and taped drywall

■ Permanent glass was installed in the renovated area, and in the addition

■ Installation of metal fascia

■ The punch list for the remodeled area was worked on

● Madison

○ Over winter break, the following work was completed:

■ Heat in the classroom portion of the addition was completed

■ Exterior window frames were installed

■ Framing for gypsum board softs in classrooms and hallways was completed

Mr. Duggan noted that the expected completion date for the Madison project is July 25, 2025.

RL Sohol

● Walker:

○ Since the addition is weather-tight, a lot of work was able to be accomplished over winter break:

■ Electrical rough-in within the walls

■ Metal stair pans and railings were installed

■ Concrete in pans was completed, and the stairway is now usable

■ Insulation and drywall work was completed

■ Exterior trim and gutters were installed

■ Rough plumbing was completed

■ Unit ventilators and controls were installed (heat)

Mr. Duggan noted that the expected completion date for the Walker project is mid-July 2025.

● Monroe:

○ Drywall softs were completed at Monroe over winter break.

○ Windows are scheduled to be installed in mid-February.

Mr. Duggan noted that the expected completion date for the Monroe project is July 18, 2025.

Lite Construction

● The Lane:

○ The following work was completed over winter break:

■ Window trim work

■ HVAC rough-in and controls and univent installation were completed

■ MEP rough-in continued

Mr. Duggan noted that the expected completion date for The Lane project is June 30, 2025.

● Elm:

○ The following work was completed over winter break:

■ Final grading and removal of construction fencing

■ HVAC and controls installation completed

■ MEP rough-in continued

Mr. Duggan noted that the expected completion date for the Elm project is June 30, 2025.

Mr. Duggan said he was pleased with the excellent partnership between the district and the three contractors. He noted how happy he was with the Construction Manager, Turner Townsend, and thanked the administration and the principals for their input and cooperation throughout the construction process. He said his main focus will be finishing the projects on time and within budget.

District Office Building Construction Update

Mr. Duggan shared that on October 21, 2024, the Board of Education approved the base contract award for remodeling the new district office building at 133 Ogden, Hinsdale, to Construction, Inc. of Lombard, Illinois, for $3,749,000. The Board of Education awarded the contract for the elevator modernization at 133 Ogden, Hinsdale, IL, for $184,895 to Suburban Elevator, dba Schindler East Dundee, IL, the lowest responsible bidder as recommended by the district architect after they reviewed the bidder responsibility criteria at the December 16, 2024 Board of Education meeting.

Mr. Duggan noted that the District is working with the Village of Hinsdale to get approval for the exterior Site Work so that the last portion of the work can be bid on as soon as possible. He said the exterior work is not a roadblock to Construction, Inc., as they continue to make significant progress on all required interior work.

Construction Status Update

● All demolition is complete

● Utilities have been contacted for the transition from several different services to one for the entire building

● MEP rough-in is ongoing

● Fire alarm rough-in is ongoing

● Elevator modernization has begun

● Weekly OAC meetings are ongoing and are very productive

● Furniture layouts are very close to complete, and the main furniture order has been placed

CSCI Overview

Mrs. Kristin Reingruber, Director of Assessment, Instruction, and Evaluation, shared that the district will administer the CSCI survey to gather feedback from students, staff, and parents on the school climate.

Highlights:

● Purpose of the CSCI: The CSCI provides a comprehensive assessment of school climate, measuring key dimensions like safety, teaching and learning, relationships, environment, and leadership.

● Stakeholder Participation: The survey will be administered to students in grades 4-8, K-8 staff, and parents.

● Anonymous and Confidential: All responses will be anonymous, and no identifying information will be shared with the district.

● Results and Reporting: The results will be reported in the state report card and local media, informing the district's continuous improvement efforts.

FOIA Update

Dr. Garcia shared that the District received two requests and completed both since the last FOIA update at the December 16, 2024 Board meeting.

Consent Agenda

Personnel

Certified Licensed Educators

ResignationName Position Location Effective DateAshley Rasmussen Teacher Librarian CHMS End of SY 2024-25

HCHTA Notice of Retirement under the July 1, 2023-June 30, 2027 ContractName Position School Retirement dateWilliam Troy Huber Science Teacher HMS June, 2029

Classified Staff

Employment Name Position Location FTE Hourly rate Effective DateCaroline Klobach Instructional Assistant SpecializedOak 1.0 $20.90 January 27, 2025Dahea Lee Instructional Assistant Specialized Elm 1.0 $20.90 January 22, 202

Change in FTEName Position Orig. FTE & Location New FTE & Location Effective DateJuana Fulgencio Night Custodian .75 Prospect/Admin Ctr. 1.0 Monroe December 23, 2024

ResignationName Position Location Effective DateJohn Walsh Help Desk Tech Elm/The Lane December 20, 2024Kerry Kilbane RTI Tutor Madison January 15, 2025Jennifer Ortega Instructional Assistant Special Program Walker January 16, 2025Felicia Scott Instructional Assistant Enrollment Walker January 10, 2025Jennifer Robinson Instructional Assistant Special Program Walker January 24, 2025

Approval of Minutes

The Board was asked to approve the following minutes:

● Regular Business Meeting - December 16, 2024

Monthly Financial Report

The Board was asked to approve the monthly financial reports from December 2024.

Quarterly Financial Report

The Board was asked to approve the quarterly financial reports from December 2024.

Approval of Overnight Trips

The Board was asked to approve the 2025-26 Overnight Trips as presented.

BWP - Letter of Agreement

The Board was asked to approve the Letter of Agreement with the search firm, BWP, for the upcoming Superintendent Search.

Policy for Adoption

The Board was asked to adopt the following policies as presented:

● Policy 4:30 - Revenue and Investments

● Policy 4:60 - Purchases and Contracts

● Policy 5:10 - Equal Employment Opportunity and Minority Recruitment

● Policy 5:20 - Workplace Harassment Prohibited

● Policy 5:90 - Abused and Neglected Child Reporting

● Policy 6:60 - Curriculum Content

● Policy 7:10 - Equal Educational Opportunities

● Policy 8:10 - Connection with the Community

● Policy 2:105 - Ethics and Gift Ban

● Policy 2:120 - Board Member Development

● Policy 4:170 - Safety

● Policy 5:125 - Personal Technology and Social Media; Usage and Conduct

● Policy 5:230 - Maintaining Student Discipline

● Policy 6:135 - Accelerated Placement Program

● Policy 6:270 - Guidance Counseling Program

● Policy 7:180 - Prevention of and Response to Bullying, Intimidation, and Harassment

● Policy 7:100 - Health, Eye, and Dental Examinations, Immunizations; and Exclusion of Students

● Policy 7:200 - Suspension Procedures

Revised 2024-2025 D181 Assessment Calendar

The Board was asked to approve the revised 2024-2025 D181 Assessment Calendar as presented.

Committee Reports

Finance / Facilities Committee

● The Finance and Facilities Committee met on January 21, 2025. The topics for discussion were as follows: ○ Monthly Financials

○ Full-Day Kindergarten Construction Update

○ Food Service Presentation

○ District Office Building Construction Update

○ Quarterly Financials

○ School Fees

○ Resolution to Prepare Tentative Budget

Academic Success Committee

● The Academic Success Committee met on January 16. 2025. The topics for discussion were as follows: ○ CSCI Overview

○ District-Level Committee Updates

Gifts and Contributions

The Board was asked to accept the following gift with gratitude:

Donor Name: Mr. Ken Moy

Donation: $20,000 for the District Office Welcome Area

Beneficiary: CCSD 181 Staff and Students - A gift that reflects the District’s commitment to academic excellence and charitable giving, creating a welcoming space for all.

Value: $20,000

Payment of Bills and Reimbursements

Bills and reimbursements were presented in the amount of $2,869,962.48

William Cotter made a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented. Sinead Duffy seconded the motion. On roll call, the following members voted “Aye:” William Cotter, Margaret Kleber, Grace Shin, Margaret Cooper, Sinead Duffy, and Michael Martin. “Nay:” None. Absent: Asim Aleem. The motion carried.

Adjournment

William Cotter made a motion to adjourn at 8:03 p.m. Michael Martin seconded the motion. All in favor. The motion carried.

https://go.boarddocs.com/il/hccsdil/Board.nsf/files/DDZNUJ618AC5/$file/2025_01_27_Reg.%20Bus.%20Mtg.%20Min..pdf