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February 2022 Board of Education Meeting (2/14/2022)

Added Feb 14, 2022 •

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call this meeting to order School Board of Education Community High School District 218 the regular board meeting at a 6:30 on Monday February 14th 2022 we are at the District administration Center and we need to have a roll call please Mister secretary thank you mister president and tell him my present in cats secretase open presents work at a quorum thank you we need to say the Pledge of Allegiance I pledge allegiance to the United States of America nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all since we moved out here. we are on agenda item number number four would be resolutions and conversations and we do not have any resolutions and commendations this evening to be ready everybody down item number five would be comments from the public related to the meeting agenda items and I've been instructed this evening to read the policy first before we have anybody's feet so humble, is it the policy of state and Middle High School District 218 comments will be held in accordance with the Illinois open meetings act and Board of Education policy 2 colon to 300 is me public comments will be 30 minutes. We're going to limit of 20 minutes of one particular topic, shall be made the board and general board members will not engage in debate or certification for the time of the public, individuals will have a limit of five minutes. We're their individual I will give you 30 second time limit warning and then we'll tell you when the time is complete at which time you will be expected to stop by after that, she'll be made with respect and sympathy towards others and she'll abide by foreign policy 830 okay so that would be 20 minutes I want topic and I see that we have public comment saying and sheets which we have one two three four five five at the time we can meet in person. It's 5 minutes on the topic I believe this is the same topic that everybody wants you want to call Mary Bohn sorry Cathy O'Shea I got the time hello this is done can you hear me let me know when to start I am Katherine O'Shea two of my children have graduated here in 2014-2017 I have a my youngest is a senior who's going to be graduating in May so what do you mean all I like the first acknowledge that your position at it as school board members is not an easy one you are inundated with critical decisions that affect the whole district from curriculum to budgets to construction bids on District grounds to sports equipment extracurricular activities policing health and safety policy etcetera no one field of your individual expertise covers all of what is asked of you or is it expected to which is why there are questions discussions debates and internal and external resources to help draw for you to make your decision one of the resources is the law we including you have been dealt a bad hand we teach our kids to respect authority and when that Authority had to be challenged it wasn't easy it's not only okay but crucial to question even those trusted individuals regardless how high up the ladder they have climbed and to request the necessary information you need in order for you to make your informed decision as you all know my helping my son with a District 218 plane is on the lawsuit with attorney Thomas Devore that was ruled on February 4th 2022 by judge Kershaw while we ask for a class-action to include all students in the name district judge I did one better the mandates were ruled unlawful and void which pasta which puts due process back in play for all the kids isn't it discriminatory practice to the other students when my son is the only child in the district who can exercise is due process rights I asked you that many school districts over 520 right now have eliminated the man. Turner school policies only 146 of the districts were on the lawsuit so they're all understanding with the lawsuit and tail not part of it the entire the entire ruling by judge Kershaw I asked you respectfully to honor judge bushes ruling and discard the voided mandates as we know policy cannot supersede law thank you build build what is Berea evening a local resident who lived here for 39 years the kids went to school here and I don't know what to say to you know I read a lot of online televised press media comments about the stress of mastering stress and roll Ernie that your from friends who are teachers about that same stress and that stress is understanding stressful for teachers page parents and children and the stress is given by a few people has a reason the precautions against the spread of coping should be ignored but what about the stress of losing someone to covid today there are nearly 920 combative covid in the US and many Health authorities think that figure is actually understated we are ranked number one in the world for Kolkata callatis and the backstage vaccinations and masking mandate reduced number L120 thousand families are missing a family member or more than one member mothers fathers brothers sisters grandparents and aunts and uncles are gone leaving a hole in those families Mission address Play song will dismiss those  talking about for morbidities which is the new term for most of us come over these like diabetes heart disease obesity tonight with you or 34 million people in this country have diabetes are diagnosed pre-diabetic about 750,000 people in the US have a heart attack each year and 42% of the US population is considered obese these comorbidities are quite, we ignore these people are people with comorbidities less deserving of our concern not speaking to this meeting and others that I've attended the people who serve on the board Albany serving on the board I mostly unpaid you are a friends or neighbors you volunteer answer because you care community and part of that caring as a concern for the safety of community in the schools and before anybody here stands to condemn board members or call them out please consider how you would feel in that situation no one on this board is your and I'm speaking here is your enemy we're here because we care about our community and the safety of everyone thanks okay August Road shorty family hello my name is Charlie Charlie and I'm a senior of Richards High School in light of recent events on February 4th made the mask mandate null and void the process made such a decision. What's the lawsuit however you choose to still enforce it once students instead says it stops I don't like either last time I was here most of the board say it has spots how the mask will be off as soon as possible but guess what we still have these things on it seems now that the board doesn't acknowledge nor care what the stairs insurance thing well here's something for you all to think about students parents and staff just like these masks not just small numbers like 10 or 20 but hundreds Maybe even thousands you're tired of having our lives controlled and endangered by your decisions when our school had a bomb threat our first bomb threat mind you the board's policy was to keep the students inside we say I'm locked down until past donation times this phone now what the board's policy to remove anyone not wearing a mask from the building get the disc cares at all about our lives and safety remove this math policy if you do not remove the mask policy the students will take charge of the situation some have already started if you don't wish use of time and money from having the fight multiple lawsuits please remove this policy thank you this argument over the match Band-Aids needs to stop now it's been 2 years when will you guys realize that this is not really done any good between masks and the vaccine people have contracted this virus the virus isn't prejudiced it's all of you who guys who are people are going to get the virus regardless the vaccine status or whether they were wearing masks this is here the same mass should not be I'm sure you've all heard about the February 4th Sangamon County judge emergency mask mandate and guidance from the governor of Illinois Department of Public Health and Izzy was null and void The Mask mandates are illegal while the government's Governor is hoping to get the ruling overturned mind you open it has not been so the ruling is still in effect. How was school district throughout the state have follow the ruling that is still in effect they have enough sense to realize that it's just a matter of time y k last meeting we were at the board said that if they could change it they would pull that was a lie because you haven't you can make your difference now my son has been repeatedly sent home from school since last week they sent him for what no mask cuz it's the rule of running pritzker your district is denying my seven education for what it does no one any good this mandate is null and void you say it doesn't affect us since we were not listed as part of the law laws are laws for all it was ruled null and void thank you and really write a whole lot of guys but for two years everyone's been running around hiding behind a mask and I feel very much a that it did unlawful since day one judge has ruled that it is unconstitutional and it is time to remove the glass from the children guys there are a lot of children that we wish to have the mask off so they can express their emotions shoulder smiles again oh you guys know that you have the power to do it now so if you would please remove the mass for children do you have one more Chris Evert my name is Tricia Seibert I'm here tonight cuz we are clearly no longer in a state of emergency last night people across this country gathered and bars in at House Parties to watch the Superbowl with some 70,000 what's fans but this morning our kids are back in math for school and makes zero sense our kids are the least vulnerable population and are suffering the most I have two children one of the sophomore Richards he has been able to tolerate the mask definitely hasn't enjoyed his high school experience my 7th graders another story The mandates of the school atmosphere took a toll on him I started noticing a drastic difference in his behavior and personality I can tell that the way things are going in our schools is having a negative effect on his mental health I am now homeschool mom because I recognize the importance of mental health our schools are ignoring the mental health of our kids and that is probably far more dangerous to these kids think it ever was we are ignoring mental health despite the fact that so my kids are suffering from severe anxiety depression and considering or attempting to commit suicide the suicide rates among our youth are disturbing to say the least my nephew was a sophomore at Richards High School up until a few months ago he is a super fit and healthy fifteen-year-old almost fainted twice at school due to anxiety and being in a mask and after you almost fainted what did his teacher do but a mass spec on his face during the first bomb threat we received this year find a few texts his mom was my twin sister and said I don't think there is but I don't want to die in school that was the last day he stepped foot in Richard's he is also no homeschooled we pay all this money and taxes for the schools and our kids can't even utilize them because you are ignoring what is best for their help these kids menu for my already dealing anxiety issues has sat through countless locked out this year due to bomb and shooting threats and they can't even see the faces of the people there sitting next to through these emotional scary times we have failed these kids for this pandemic now is the time to change that now is the time to give these kids a choice when this all started two years ago we didn't have we didn't know if it was we didn't have vaccines we don't know how to treat cold it but that has all changed there's been plenty of opportunity for everyone over the age of 55 who wants to get vaccinated to do so if we are following the science and you are telling us to trust these vaccines to keep our kids safe then why don't we trust the vaccine and if you are vaccinated why are you still living in fear why are you trying to make the kids feel like they are responsible for your help and why do we think that is okay to put that burden on our children we need to stop encouraging our kids to live in fear we have Massey's kids for so long that they've lost their identities they are hiding behind masks and are now free to remove them we have to start undoing the damage we have done he's just now give these kids a chance to adjust to normal life in school this year before the school year ends let them see their classmates faces for the first time to socialize and have the opportunity to make new friends I hope the for that weed the people of elected will choose to do what is best for all the kids please don't let us our money and politics make the decisions for you or kids are counting on you Philipp Plein yes you can who were the 20 minute increments my name is Jamie Sue who work for those that don't know me most of the Peace where do a lot of the board members do I'm going to start Mine by reading an email that I sent to you guys signed with 16 other parents most of whom are in this room a week ago and none of us ever sees response other than by one board member who had the courage to respond your superintendent Harding and District 218 board members we do below sign District 218 parents implore you to lift a mask mandate for chsd218 immediately two years into this hand. we parents should have the right to decide what is best for our own children you lifting the Mandate takes no one's rights away all that would do is give everyone a right instead of only some people could still choose to wear a mask if they feel that's the best option for them we also feel it is unfair how to make this decision this Choice as you did implementing a lot of this nonsense without the board's input we are crossing an immediate emergency public meeting for the board to vote on this issue as parents and students voices should be her we're confident that you heard about Judge Cristo is t r o is you Friday February 4th 2022 why we know you are waiting clarification from lawyers and insurance companies at least that's what you're telling the public her order is very specific and quite simply spelled out will cannot enforce an order or Saturday Tunes who do not follow it John named plaintiffs are included in the t r o and the governor's order is Nolan void there really should be no confusion on that several districts in Illinois have since gone masks optional the closest to us being Burbank Payless Orland Lincoln way I could go further south or we can go to our neighboring District 126 which is Oaklawn alsup School several of the schools even sat in their releases specifically that they were not named in the t r o but it's televised they fall under the non named plaintiffs we find it very hard to believe the district lawyers would see a different than what is other District lawyers do you said in your email yesterday now a week ago we understand that there are strong opinions on both sides of this issue and even people that are neutral as well we are not trying to pick a side we are however attempting to follow the Mandate imposed on us by the sea in Illinois if you are not trying to pick a side you would make a mask optional and give everyone the right to choose their for choosing no side let's be honest masks aren't working anyway if they were the district and other districts around wouldn't have had as many students and staff absences due to covid as we did a few furthermore the numbers are down exponentially I actually just looked at the district site when I was in the parking lot coming in here and for the district and not just Richards you guys have it listed as 98.84% healthy 0.56% confirmed and probable and 0.59% close contact I've been a healthcare worker for a coming up on 18 years in August Master not for the healthy the mass don't stop the virus this is disgraceful what's being done who was the gentleman that raised his hand in the back you can wait on a serve a legal I didn't mean you to get up and down but I talked to legal counsel and he said this is absolutely the last so thank you sir so my name is Thompson public been in this 4 years and I just want to let you guys know that the let's not bring it this time ago I don't know if y'all remember segregation's bossy a brother with the school early and I remember him telling me stories of him going out the back door cuz they're trying to turn the buses over it was really really ugly and history repeats itself and it's starting to again how covid-19 children shoulder specially in this District but we did have a loss right in front of the high school due to a crime that was being committed war kids died in the city of Chicago gun violence is violence than Coleman and the only reason why it doesn't matter around here because it doesn't affect us what it does even though I didn't go to the school here to private school good times here and eighties I was the only one in summertime driver's ed that fail to a Badman teacher who failed me try going to Oak Lawn roller it for your teenagers as you're the kid that fell driver's ed these kids are good sending off this year please please let's drop the mass let's have your diplomas hi their hand let's have a long walk out of the gym smiling do bulldogs okay so public comments are closed at this time roll 20 minute Mark I've been advised we moved on to another agenda item which is agenda item number 5 Disney is comments number 6 is a opportunity to respond to the public and or remember board members, I asked you first make a comment will you ask I would ask that any other board members including this board member we keep it to the 5-minute lemon as the public please thank you thank you mister president I think I went for coming out tonight this is your Community High School District and your participation is essential it said on the PA as we go through our day but kindness lead the way I know many people have strong opinions on both sides of the Mask issue no matter what position we need to be kind and understanding of the other side but as long as other no matter what our position maybe do not let this issue divided household or destroy friendships she was wonderful with the cross the line into condemnation is not if I cross the line any will any of my comments on this issue I sincerely apologize to anyone that I may have offended that was not my intent I asked for the last issue be placed on tonight's agenda after hearing for many parents and community members I also wanted it on the agenda in case the governor rescinded or modified his executive order before I board meeting and in hopes that our Council would be able to find Authority for it to go for as of this moment none of this has occurred with court numbers down drastically and vaccines readily of I believe now is the time to make masks optional I'm for Parental Choice local control and freedom I am personally absolutely against mask mandates and strongly believe the overwhelming of our communities do not want ask or remote learning ever again when I heard that other local school districts were going to ask optional I wanted to join them and make masks optional at 2:18 I look for every Avenue that would allow us to go masks optional here at 2:18 after consultation with bertelson one of our legal counsels I was advised that we do not have the authority to file to not file the governor's executive order and at the downstate lawsuit applies only to name party while I am an attorney myself I cannot give legal advice to this board I asked Council how is it possible that many other districts are masks optional and was called the answer relates to the unlikely enforceability enforcement I should stay and Punishment however just because there may be no punishment doesn't justify the ACT issue comes down to Authority and what we have the power to do as a lawyer I took an oath to uphold the law I can't say that just because I don't like it I won't follow it multiple attorneys not this including bardoli send multiple including and including our insurance Insurance Council said not to take action tonight it is not my role to provide be going to Alice's or say what the district can or cannot do that is why we employ attorneys this Council said it was legally proper tool my action items stand tonight I would I also would Advocate strongly forth immediately immediate passage to overturn the Mandate at 2:18 it pains me drastically to say this but when the axe and I to regard him just call tonight I will have to make a motion to postpone action until such time consulate visors that we have the legal Authority the reasoning why we don't have authority as it was put me back on so it's simply that the loss would only last name party in the class was not certified by the court please no put Pony action does not defeat the item once we have authority I will request an emergency meeting to make masks optional 218 I know this will upset a lot of people here it upsets me to I'm deeply disappointed but haven't have an ethical and legal obligation to follow the governor's executive order for Council if I had any wiggle room in this matter for the items to be all I would trust me I'm not happy that I did not issue the executive order and I'm not counsel for the district a simple analogy given to me was it robbing a bank that is not guarded with no. chance of getting caught doesn't make doesn't mean that you could rob that bank and wouldn't be violating the law doesn't allow you to give them to me so I would love to have my item go for and asked the board to vote tonight but for Council leaders don't have the authority to do that and I have to file a sar I want to go I'll be done I'll respectfully ask this for later tonight to put the own action on the advice of Love full of Turney's thank you and that pains me to say that it really does right now District Attorney's blood-sucking turn the truth, okay it's close number seven is approval of consent agenda items this is an action item I need a motion to bring it to the floor please Savages The Dark Crystal trailer car jack is in that don't happen in Oak Lawn play the motion to bring a forklift have a first and second I got you can tell her that start with a v so 7 approval of the minutes board meeting January funniest theater 2020 special board meeting January 20th 2020 2218 payment of bills and Max Fables agenda item 12 is recommendation of the superintendent concerning staff Personnel Personnel list number 2022 do any board members want anything taken off the consent agenda this evening green on please take us to the Luxor no cuz I miss Collier resident house keys. Thank you Adam is old business and item number 8 is all business we do not have any old business 210 this evening I'm just take it down to the words to the superintendent 9 a.m. technology update are there any questions from the board of discussion on agenda item I'm sorry machine Google and Microsoft once we once we put them into the sky turn on a compressor California report discussion turn on Briggs & Stratton IC is general maintenance report any questions or discussion 39 princess dolls 290 is foia request any questions for discussion on this item turn on Reese's down to Nine East just a business managers update questions discussion what we talked about it are money the root options for the board to look at it when we get to that information I do it any other questions to agenda item 9f the Safety and Security report and questions Ariana resist on 29g is articulation and Equity update are there any questions or discussion on this I just dropped a 9h is report an evaluation of Institute Day January 4th 2022 any questions any comment turn on Reese's down to 9i is the 20 21 22 school year October PS 84 report are there any comments or questions on that dresser I received the call I'm about to go from one of our higher-performing conference schools assistant superintendent for curriculum instruction asking what have we done with preparing our kids for the SAT and myself in the district or seeing doctor Feeney looked in the the data I went and looked at a r test scores from 2019 to 2021 in terms of growth and you'll see her on page five and six at urw we actually saw two of our three schools have the significant increase while schools. have you maintained a math mostly little decrease in one school but overall a very positive growth for our schools during a pandemic so it's very positive. thank you dr. Harding and all the teachers and staff test scores have been super super big issue for me I'm passionate about those I want to increase and this is evidence that everything you are doing is on the right track the good work and business this is wonderful news for the district to hear that our test scores are unproven congratulations to all the teachers that everyone was over and over another for talks about it this is 18 is a great place. thank you all okay Princess Diana 9j is report of the first semester grade distribute distribute ation any questions or comments do another positive put this report together again we start looking into do some comparative analysis and you know we did see p.m. or college preparatory math few years ago with raised in a barn terms of our standards and the resource and and really weren't working and revising our curriculum to a higher standard we did realize a 5% increase in see your C or above grade for 2019 22 2021 as well and a slight increase in our English and social studies courses so other positive piece of data recognize okay thank you we just down to nine cases workouts at further investment report is there any questions on that turn on braces on a 9 Ellis information on the PA 1 0 2 Dash 0 5 1 prior year adjustment of the 2021 property tax levy is there any questions or discussion on the Levee Xbox make responses you just kind of review of what we talked about if you're okay with that then we can come back next month Anna Bateman or not for your approval we have is this law that has the adjustments it'll go back on for the tax rolls herself talk about abatement we talked about it with the property just wanted to set some boundaries automatically be added back onto the tax roll so when we looked at the at the finance committee looked at what are the options available to us and options are to fully Abate partially Abate or to not amazing and have those dollars come rolling back yet they have to do a full Anan and also to others where we would retain 500,000 or retain a million of those dollars so what would that look like on a tax bills for someone with a home of 300,000 for 200,000 gallons so we laid those out on it and a discussion on that also led to really looking at what this would mean if we did Reserve any we really should say these are specifically for specific project so tonight you have a listing that was prepared by mr. Hubbard and it does step out projects that were filled to the top section is all the projects the plan for these next two years and the funding source for them hello there. The less you have the completed already so how much has already been spent right below the budget that they had how much has been spent already and once remains but out of what's remaining we still have the project below that that we had slaves but have not occurred yet two of those were obligated to one of those we have beds for but we have not presented those bids for the board to approve yet so this is for you to consider you're deciding what you would like to do whether you would preserve anything or not no we look at this we're also think that these and adjustments will not be the same amount every year so it's just more than likely follow the flow of the reassessment years 3 years properties are reassessed peels process appeals board looks at those and sometimes they're reduced so we expect a higher amount of those in the years of reassessment and then following it'll go down yet so this amount that you have this year is prom year after year after year I'll be in Evan flow so with that information that you have an in your item here a list and the amounts that it would be for those home we're looking for guidance as to what you would want or next month report has any questions what you would prefer or individually what your thoughts are I can probably better recommend something to you if I understand where you're at we have a committee that have you are you going to meet Jamaica and then if we decided to go reserve some of the money to pay for some of these capital projects but then saves the taxpayers money because we're so I guess one of the other all we discuss was if you consider allowing that to occur now it is not as big as a burden and doesn't include interest if you were to later down the road have takeout box allowing it to come on now and take on some of those projects if I bit through this what the f*** is there going to be we almost need to study over. You know the first three years and see you know how is it going to fluctuate before we can say okay where we're going to do anything over this amount of money or you know what is that really going to look like this year is going to look very different than the next two years so I think we can't make a decision forever until we go through this cycle and see what the money's going to look like from year to year after discussing as whether that should be abated in full or part and you know I'm seeing the amount of projects that you have my suggestion would be you and not full of time that you receipts and expenditures together so you know if you were to decide to reserve either 500,000 or I could make her attorney to put it together a resolution for the okay so one more time what is the date that you need to know by call a we may need to call a special meeting today. We do not know fortnite item shop said we could bring that up with the monster I should call you recommendations on something else to talk about 2 as if we were going to hold some of that back we definitely wanted to Air Market for something particular so if we were to hold any of that abatement back we would say that this is going to go to X Y and Z projects well that's when I text mine was gone except what we need so we will become more knowledgeable about that on March 7th I'm sure you all the time that meeting thank you so much okay done the 9 a.m. is too many reports by board members are there any committee reports mr. President we had to Education Foundation sitting in it as well throw some dates out there the Arts Extravaganza will be taking place May 7th golf outing is set for June 7th and a lot of other things in the works for next year so please don't lose interest in US play down one of your Education Foundation members and join us for the fun vinegar went out to the teachers thank you very much bring this down to agenda item number 10 is new business and it is resolution designating a person are the 2022 tour $23 deposit which is an action item I need a motion to bring it to the floor please diamonds turn on ticket to vote Mister secretary vice president cats Mister Christian yes and president cuz I was 22 Institute day it's an action item I need a motion to bring it to the floor please I have a first and a second is there any discussion on this item I only question I couldn't hear who made the first motion thank you maybe it's time to Tennessee is quadrant agreement renewal this is an action item I need a motion I've heard a report on them house keys because you probably in agreement renewal action item I need a motion to bring it to the store please anything on this item turn on take a to vote sir my brother in cat this is Roy and it president is asking I think this started Sunday is resolution partially updating the 2021 tax levy as a result property tax relief Grant so I moved 39 s to avoid please vice president Impala this is Rob Collier motion carry thank you Sandy is resolution to stop enforcement of State mask policy this is an action item emotional bring it. I like to make a motion to postpone action until such time as appropriate is that a motion to motion to table same thing it's a motion to table this item do I have a second I have a first and the second is there any discussion on this Google Search Secretary of State Sister Christian to clarify on that with more information we've been waiting for the information from appellate court and or the governor or the state when we have the information we will certainly provide it to the board and you met at your option call a special meeting to decide that so that once we have the information I just looked at the site to see if the 4th District came down the road to expect a ruling today and we didn't get it yet once we have that I was told by I'm not handling this case you have insurance Council that is handling the matter how your insurance Council explain to me today that he would expect a ruling and he said in the next several days never never never the last I believe that you'll have some clarity to the ability of the the governor to continue with the Mandate and we certainly will provide that information to you so that you can make the appropriate decision at that time okay thanks for your service so we do not need to go into a closed session this evening you do not have to discuss anything in clothes so our last agenda items item number and I need a motion to adjourn the skating place I have a first and second all favor and I closed the meeting is adjourned thank you for done

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February 2022 Board of Education Meeting (2/14/2022)

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