Board Update 3/13/23
Presentations
Agenda Item 4.0
Juliette Low: Service Learning Through Our Community Connections – 4.01
Students and staff from Juliette Low Elementary presented to the board about their school’s theme of “We Are One!/¡Somos uno!”
Students shared their experiences of coming together with the Juliette Low community through school events, including Veteran’s Day celebrations and volunteer opportunities in the Kids Care Club, which helps stock local food pantries.
The presentation is available here.
SEL Overview – 4.02
Members of the Student Services and Assessment Department gave a presentation on how social emotional learning (SEL) is provided in the district. The presentation included the definition of SEL, how SEL is included in the district’s strategic plan goals and classroom and school-wide programming, implementation into the classroom climate and management plan, and examples of integration into student learning.
The presentation can be viewed here.
Special Announcement
The board approved a motion to hold a discussion on Consent Agenda Item 6.06, Approval of the Second Amendment and Goals to the Superintendent’s Performance Based Contract, before taking action on the extension.
The board detailed how the established procedure has provided board members and the superintendent the opportunity to explore a contract extension typically 18 months in advance of the current contract expiration date. In keeping with this timeline, the board and superintendent began discussions and negotiations in January. This process took place in closed session as the board does for all personnel matters in the district.
The board approved the two-year extension to the superintendent contract as outlined in the meeting agenda. You can view the beginning of the discussion here.
Discussion Items
Agenda Item 7.0
Resource Allocation Plan – 7.01
Strategic Goal (SG) 4: Stewardship of Resources
Each year, the district allocates, reallocates, and assigns personnel resources following guiding principles and drivers that align to the district vision and strategic plan. These drivers include equity, student needs, research, data analysis, and fiscal responsibility. The review process utilizes assessment data, instructional language needs, enrollment size, class/section size, schedules, facility capacity, staff licensure requirements, and other relevant information.
The board received an overview of this process at the meeting on February 13, 2023.
Through an in-depth and collaborative process, leadership made recommendations as outlined in this presentation at this meeting on March 13, 2023. The board voted on the resource allocation later in the meeting as outlined in Item 8.02.
2023 – 2024 School Year Pay Bus Fee – 7.02
SG 4: Stewardship of Resources
Each year, the board approves the pay bus fee for the coming year. This is the amount a family will pay to have their child transported if it is determined that the student is non-eligible for free transportation.
The proposed pay bus fee for the 2023-24 school year is $525, a 6.1% increase compared to the 2022-23 school year rate. Seven students currently pay for these services.
The board will vote on the pay bus fee at the board meeting on April 10, 2023.
Transportation Bid – 7.03
SG 4: Stewardship of Resources
Upon review of transportation bids for the 2023-24 school year, Safeway is the recommended provider for both general education and special education transportation. Safeway has already guaranteed drivers and buses, and the company currently “rents” drivers to districts.
By consolidating the transportation services with Safeway, the cost will be $6,232,394.48, a savings of $3,377,541.60 as compared to other transportation bids.
Other transportation companies are also increasing rates 4% and 4.5% every year, while Safeway is offering a 2.8% annual increase.
The board will vote on the award of the transportation bid at the board meeting on April 10, 2023.
Asphalt Bid for Salt Creek and John Jay – 7.04
SG 4: Stewardship of Resources
The board discussed opening the bid process for asphalt work in the parking lots of Salt Creek and John Jay Elementary.
The board will award the bid upon further discussion at the board meeting on April 10, 2023.
Asphalt Bid for Friendship – 7.05
SG 4: Stewardship of Resources
The board discussed opening the bid process for asphalt work in the parking lots of Friendship Junior High.
The board will award the bid upon further discussion at the board meeting on April 10, 2023.
Action Items
Agenda Item 8.0
Approval of the K – 8 Literacy Curriculum – 8.01
SG 1: Student Growth and Achievement
As part of the ongoing CCSD59 curriculum review process, the literacy program for kindergarten through eighth grade has been under a planned evaluation and review. Areas of need and key elements have been identified through this process, and the CCSD59 Literacy Council and Dual Language Leadership Team recommended the following resources be adopted as universal core resources:
- Grades 6 – 8 English Language Arts – StudySync (McGraw Hill)
- Grades K – 5 English Language Arts – Into Reading (HMH)
- Grades K – 5 Spanish Language Arts – Adelante (Benchmark)
The board viewed a presentation at the meeting on February 13, 2023 which detailed the literacy curriculum recommendations, the curriculum framework, critical features of each curricular resource, and teacher testimonials.
The board approved the curriculum as outlined above, and the resource will be fully implemented for the 2023-24 school year. Currently, all junior high teachers are using StudySync, while teachers at the elementary level have been piloting Into Reading and Adelante. Both groups are proving scope and sequence input for full implementation next school year.
You can view this Curriculum Review Process Overview video the district shared in February for a deeper look on the impact of piloting resources for each subject and where that process stands for CCSD59.
Approval of Resource Allocation Plan – 8.02
SG 4: Stewardship of Resources
The board approved the 2023-24 Resource Allocation Plan Recommendations that were discussed in Item 7.01. These recommendations include the hiring of an additional 25 full-time employees to support programming and enrollment needs and an additional 11 full-time employees to support staff needs.
Approval of Sealcoating and Restriping Bid – 8.03
SG 4: Stewardship of Resources
CCSD59 has an asphalt maintenance program where approximately half of the district’s parking lots and playground areas have sealcoating and crack filling work performed every other year. This program is designed to prolong the life of the asphalt areas.
This summer, asphalt maintenance is scheduled at: Clearmont, John Jay, Juliette Low, Ridge, Robert Frost, Rupley, and Salt Creek.
The board approved the lowest responsive bid to perform the asphalt maintenance work, which was submitted by Pavement Systems Inc. for $44,471.
Approval of Utilities / Co-op Bid – 8.04
SG 4: Stewardship of Resources
The district’s energy contract with its current vendor, AEP Energy, expires in June 2023.
Illinois Energy Consortium (IEC) is Illinois’ largest electric and natural gas buying pool, providing electric and natural gas account management and supplying cost saving options to all public school districts. IEC is also a not-for-profit and joint energy buying program sponsored by the IASB, IASA, and Illinois ASBO.
To utilize this program, the district must enter into a Membership Participation Agreement with IEC and can begin with them as the new energy provider on July 1, 2023.
Comparing the district’s current electric rate with AEP Energy to the IEC rate, the district would save an estimated $18,829.03 annually.
The board approved the contract per the above summary specifications.
Approval of Brentwood Playground Bid – 8.05
SG 4: Stewardship of Resources
The board discussed replacing the playground equipment at Brentwood Elementary due to the age of the current structures. A call to bid will be issued for both the new playground materials and labor under the district’s 10-Year Facilities Plan.
The board approved for the administration to go out to bid to update the playground with the total cost not to exceed $500,000. The board will discuss the bids and vote on awarding of the bid at a future board meeting.
Approval of Food Service Contract Renewal – 8.06
SG 4: Stewardship of Resources
For the 2023-24 school year, the state of Illinois is allowing districts to choose to either renew their current breakfast and lunch contracts or go out to bid utilizing new bid rules.
No operational changes have been requested for the 2023-24 school year for the existing lunch program, therefore the increase is based on the allowable December consumer price index of 6.5%. There is no annual management fee for lunch or the junior high a la carte program, so the district has determined that renewing with Organic Life, the current food service provider, is the preferred option.
The proposed meal rates for the 2023-24 school year are as follows:
2022-23 2023-24
Reimbursable Lunches $3.9222 $4.1771
Management Fee per Lunch $0 $0
A la Carte Equivalent Fee $3.9222 $4.1771
A la Carte Management Fee $0 $0
Reimbursable Breakfast $1.7346 $1.8473
Management Fee per Breakfast $0 $0
The district will also continue to offer breakfast programs in 2023-24 according to the Childhood Hunger Relief Act (PA093-1086).
The board approved renewing the contract with Organic Life at the rates outlined above.
Approval of District 59 Education Foundation Donation – 8.07
The board approved a $1,348.69 donation from the D59 Education Foundation to be distributed as followed:
- The Empowerment Fund will receive $100 as a memorial donation to the district book bag program.
- The Early Learning Center will receive $498.69 for play sequence sets.
- Juliette Low Elementary will receive $500 for Pre-K orientation activities.
- Ridge Family Center for Learning will receive $250 for books for the Monarch Book Club.
Approval of John Jay PTO Donation – 8.08
The board approved a $2,745 donation from the John Jay PTO to John Jay Elementary that will be used to purchase a poster maker. This will allow staff to have better access to high quality visual aids to enhance their instruction.
Approval of Historic Wagner Farm Donation to Frost Elementary School – 8.09
The board approved a $635.05 donation from Historic Wagner Farm to Robert Frost Elementary that will be used to pay the per-student fee and transportation costs for a field trip to the farm.
