Board Meeting Recap- December 2024

Dec 17 2024

1.01 Welcome and Call Meeting to Order (Mr. Angel, 4:15): Mr. Angel officially opens the meeting.
1.02 Pledge of Allegiance and Moment of Silence (Mr. Babjak, 4:21): Led by Mr. Babjak.

2.01 2024 Corporation Christmas Card Design (5:07): Mia Clausen (Lake Street Elementary) and Emili Miloshevska (Jerry Ross Elementary) honored for their winning designs.

2.02 Col. Wheeler Spell Bowl Team (9:55): Team wins 1st in Lake County and becomes a state finalist. Team: Shayaan Khan, Solomon Mazhawidza, Alyssa Nelson, Roan Radulla, Elizabeth Spencer, Ambriella Linden, Sofia Gligorova, London Hynes; Coach: James Hensley

2.03 CPHS Latin Club (15:33): CPHS 2024-2025 Latin Club for winning 1st place overall for Best Publicity Portfolio and Best Club Swag, 2nd place overall for Club of the Month, 4th place in Local Digital Scrapbooks and Activities Contest, and 5th place in Local Publications Contest at the National Junior Classical League Convention - Team: Nic Collier, Sammie Ipema, Annelise Jacobi, Gibson Mehrle, Hayden Smith, Joe Stewart, Jackson Vrlik, Luke Waldschmidt; Sponsor: Jeremy Walker

2.04 Scott Babjak (19:24): Honored for 8 years of dedicated service on the school board.

3.01 Suspend Regular Meeting (22:44): Motion approved to open the public hearing.
3.02 Patrons’ Comments (23:05): No comments registered.
3.03 Resolution #856 Education and Operations Fund (23:12): Mr. Ruess explained the need for a $5M additional appropriation, divided into $2M for the Education Fund and $3M for the Operations Fund. The increased costs stemmed from unanticipated growth in special education enrollment, rising utility expenses tied to construction projects, and higher transportation costs. He noted that additional revenues, such as higher-than-expected interest income and increased state funding due to special education growth, would cover these expenditures, ensuring the district remains financially stable. The appropriation process is typical for December since each calendar year’s budget is set the school year before.
3.04 Resume Regular Meeting (26:50): Public hearing closes.

Approval of the November meeting minutes, personnel agenda, employment recommendations, and voucher checks.

6.01 Project Lead the Way Gateway Grant (Mr. Gianfermi, 28:13): Approval to apply for $20,000 for middle school STEM programs, including VEX Robotics kits.
6.02 Course Additions – CPHS (Mrs. Ramirez, 29:42): Approval to introduce a Sculpture course at CPHS for the 2025-2026 school year.
6.03 Updated Policies (Mr. Equihua, 31:13): Policy updates include provisions for animals on school property, employee reference checks, and federal grant administration.
6.04 Year-End Procedures (Mr. Ruess, 33:19): Approval for temporary fund transfers and issuing checks prior to board approval to close the 2024 financial year.
6.05 Vehicle Replacement (Mr. Ruess, 34:50): Approval for $131,197 to replace three service vehicles with funding from GO bonds approved earlier this year.
6.06 2025 Bus Bids (Mr. Ruess, 36:06): Approval of $1.23M for nine new buses using the GO bond funds.

7.01 Superintendent’s Discussion Groups (37:49): Updates shared from community groups.
7.02 Director of Elementary Education (Dr. Ciochina, 38:54): Highlights include gratitude for staff and a focus on D.A.R.E. graduations.
7.03 Director of Secondary Education (Mrs. Ramirez, 40:50): Reflections on student achievements and holiday performances.
7.04 Assistant Superintendent (Mr. Gianfermi, 42:38): Recognition of community-driven holiday initiatives and staff support.
7.05 Chief HR Officer (Mr. Equihua, 43:44): Updates on new teacher performance and well-being.
7.06 Chief Financial Officer (Mr. Ruess, 46:15): Recognition of cafeteria upgrades and successful financial processes.
7.07 Director of Communications (Mrs. Allen, 47:05): Launch of career-related articles and videos, focusing on life skills taught in trade classes.
7.08 Superintendent of Schools (Dr. Terrill, 48:14): Praise for the Holiday Spectacular performance and reflections on the board's teamwork and community.

8.01 Other Business (49:45): Preparations for January board reorganization meeting. Tentative date of January 8th.

9.01 Appreciation Statements (50:22): Board members express gratitude for the holiday season, teachers, and the community, with heartfelt tributes to Mr. Babjak for his years of service on the board.

10.01 Motion to Adjourn (1:05:31): Meeting adjourned by Mr. Angel.

District