BOARD BRIEFS is a summary of the most recent Lyons Township High School District #204 Board of Education Regular Action Meeting. 

Please note BOARD BRIEFS is not an official transcript of the meeting.
The Lyons Township High School District #204 Board of Education conducted a Regular Action Meeting on Monday, August 16, 2021 in Room 103 at North Campus. The following items occurred during the meeting:

PUBLIC HEARING
LADSE FY 22 Budget: No public comment.
 
COMMUNICATION
  • Community member Ryan McQueeney provided a statement urging the district to invest in more turf fields and a modern fitness center for students and the community.
 
  • LTEA President Andrew Johannes addressed the Board and stated that as LT enters its third year of pandemic learning, there is both excitement and apprehension. The Association noted its support for masks, vaccines and SHIELD testing. He expressed appreciation to both associate principals for detailing a heat plan to accommodate unairconditioned classrooms. He went on to welcome LT’s 14 new teachers and thanked Bobette Pulliam for leading the week-long induction and mentoring program. Finally, he thanked both school nurses for all their hard work in helping keep LT safe. 
 
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION REPORT
Senior Aamina Qureshi informed the Board that the Class of 2025 got off to a great start with Freshman Experience Day. She noted that fall sports have begun and invited the Board to attend LT’s first home football game on Friday, August 20, for the Blue/Gold game. She also said that numerous clubs and activities are starting as well, and will be ready to showcase at the upcoming Co-Curricular Night. Aamina also noted the South Campus mural has been completed and that the project was initiated by the Transition Academy students and looks stunning.
 
SUPERINTENDENT'S DISTRICT REPORT
  • Opening of 2021-2022 School Year: Superintendent Dr. Brian Waterman said 4,052 students and 550 staff members will return this week for full in-person learning. LT’s Back-to-School Plan honors important health and safety guidance from local, state and national health departments. He extended a big thank you to all who played such an important role in planning the return to in-person learning, plans which began to take shape last March.

  • Back-to-School: This week began with Freshman Experience Day and welcoming the Class of 2025. Next, all staff will participate in an Institute Day, followed by an All Staff Welcome. On Thursday, August 19, all students will return for in-person learning and the start of the 2021-22 school year.

  • LTCAC Meetings for 2021-2022: Dr. Waterman highlighted the LT Community Advisory Council roster that will be approved later in the meeting, noting that the LTCAC is a valuable committee that helps link the community and the school. The first meeting is scheduled for September 15.

  • New Hires: Superintendent Waterman welcomed and introduced South Campus Associate Principal Greg Gardner, who was officially hired at the June BOE Regular Action Meeting. Greg Gardner began teaching Art at Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School, then became the Art Department chair at Mother McAuley. He served as Fine Arts Department chair and director of Student Activities at Hinsdale Township High School for five years and then as an assistant principal at Carl Sandburg High School for seven years.

  • Monthly FOIA Report:
  1. Commercial request for gym uniform bid results
  2. Request from the Council of Carpenters for executed contracts between LTHS and LaForce Inc., Quattrocki’s M&R Landscaping and Scheck Mechanical Corp., for FY 2019. The request also included correspondence, certified payroll and any documents disclosing and/or identifying general contractors/subcontractors
  3. A local resident and parent request for recent enrollment and Immunization data
  4. Patch.com reporter David Giuliani requested all communication and documents pertaining to LTHS and Turning Point USA
  5. SEIU (Service Employees International Union) Local 73 requested employee data for all members and non-members represented by SEIU Local 73
 BUSINESS
  • The Board adopted the LaGrange Area Department of Special Education (LADSE) FY 22 budget.
 
  • The FY 22 tentative budget was approved. Director of Business Services Stachacz noted that there will be a small deficit, with $86 million in revenue and $86.8 in expenditures projected. The main reason for the deficit is due to increase in building renovations. In total, there are $4.3 million of capital projects included in the budget, which is much higher than in recent previous years. A final budget will be presented at the September Regular Board meeting.
 
  • The Board authorized the creation of bid specifications to publicly bid summer 2022 projects. The projects include SC parking lot and concrete work, NC Fieldhouse air handler replacement, Bennett Field track painting, repair of a water leak on the north side of NC, plus regular maintenance and life safety projects. In addition, 23 SC B-wing unit vents will be installed, along with a SC cooling tower/chiller, which will provide air conditioning all SC B-wing classrooms. The projects are estimated at $7 million. Funding will come from three grants totaling $3 million, $1.5 million in budgeted dollars and the remaining $2.5 from district fund balances.

  • The Board approved a resolution to intervene in Property Tax Appeals Board proceedings involving commercial and industrial properties that are seeking large reductions in assessed valuation. If left unchallenged, the District would see large refunds to the property owners. The intervention is to challenge the appeal, if appropriate, to minimize the amount of refund from the district.

  •  A one-year contract amendment for the 2021-22 school year with First Student was approved by the Board. The amendment contains the expected 4.9% increase to the cost for routes and new language that requires LT to pay for 174 days of services regardless of whether the service is actually utilized. The amendment serves as an insurance policy of sorts so that in the event of a school closure, there will be sufficient drivers for LT bus routes when school resumes. Without the guaranteed payment, First Student may lose drivers and families may be without transportation. 
 
  • The Board established Committee Meetings of the Whole on the second Monday of each month at 7:30pm, preceding a Regular Board meeting on the third Monday of each month.

  • 2021-22 Planning Update: Superintendent Waterman reiterated that LT’s mitigation efforts will include frequent vaccine clinics, mandated masks, an up-to-date COVID-19 community dashboard, hand sanitizer stations, point of care testing, SHIELD saliva testing, and air ventilation. Principal Dr. Jen Tyrrell noted that back-to-school plans included a Class of 2024 locker decorating event, plus Freshman Experience Day when more than 1000 freshmen were welcomed to their campus. Upcoming events include Institute Day for 500+ staff and a staff BBQ, plus the first official day of school on August 19 with all students in-person for a half day and an afternoon for LT Fest. August 20 will include a full day of social emotional learning, with scaffolded lessons to help equip students to feel confident and connected to LT.
  • The Board approved the employment of two new district leadership positions:
Director of Equity and Belonging Dr. Jennifer Rowe
Dr. Rowe began her career in education in 2005 as an English teacher at Waubonsie Valley High School. In 2009, she served as a dean of students at Metea Valley High School for 10 years, and for the past two years, served as executive director of Educational Equity at Indian Prairie School District 204. She received a bachelor’s degree in English from University of Ohio and earned a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction and a doctoral degree in Education from Loyola University, Chicago.
Director of Student Services Leslie Owens
Owens has been with District 204 for 15 years. Last school year, she served as the division chair for Student Services, and prior to that, she was the Special Education assistant division chair for three years. As a Special Education program coordinator for eight years, she worked closely with students and families and served on the department leadership team, helping improve the efficiency of the department and implement professional learning for Special Education teams. She also worked as a school psychologist at both the LaGrange Area Department of Special Education and Utica Community Schools.
  • The Board approved the employment of a new Division Chair for Counseling and Student Support Services, Andrew Eder. Andrew Eder began his career in counseling in 2005 as an admissions counselor at Lewis University. Two years later, he joined Loyola Academy as a guidance counselor then as a college counselor. In 2010, he transitioned to Highland Park High School where he served as a school counselor for eight years. Most recently, he served as the director of guidance at Victor J. Andrew High School for the past two years.
  • The Board also approved the employment of four teachers, bringing the total of new teachers to 14 for the 2021-22 school year.
Bryan Aloisio: Physical Education
Master of Arts, 2017 -Michigan State University / Bachelor of Science, 2009 -Michigan State University
Candace Jackson Fauth: Science
Master of Education, 2017 -Northeastern Illinois University / Master of Science, 2010 -University of Illinois at Chicago / Bachelor of Arts, 2006 -University of Illinois at Chicago
Brielle Hawrysz: Science
Master of Science, 2009 -Purdue University / Bachelor of Science, 2005 -St. Xavier University
Luke Jansen: Social Studies
Bachelor of Arts, 2018 -University of Iowa
Allison Laskowski (Madonia): Social Studies
Master of Arts, 2020 -University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill / Master of Arts, 2019 -Pace University
Bachelor of Science, 2015 -National Louis University
Britt Lindahl: Math/Science
Master of Arts, 2018 -Aurora University / Bachelor of Science, 2013 -University of Illinois
Brendan McCormack: Business Education
Bachelor of Arts, 2015 -Illinois North Central College
Brittany Milovanovic: Art
Bachelor of Arts, 2009 -DePaul University
Edward Petrak: Special Education
Bachelor of Science, 2020 -University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Natalie Petrevski: Science
Master of Education, 2018 -University of Illinois / Bachelor of Arts, 2014 -University of Illinois
Bianca Spalla: Mathematics
Bachelor of Science, 2020 -Northern University
Brooke Spencer: Student Services
Master of Arts, 2020 -Lewis University / Bachelor of Arts,2013 -Aurora University
Victoria Steinbrunner: Science
Bachelor of Science, 2017 -Northern Michigan University
Kylie Tunk: Social Studies
Bachelor of Science, 2019 -Illinois State University

PUBLIC COMMENT
The following parents/community members addressed the Board noting their objections to LT’s mandated mask policy and questioned its medical necessity: Dessi Marinov, Molly McShane, Janelle Towne, Mike Marinoff, Maria Terziski, Paul Kenna, Elizabeth Slezak, Bill C, Pamela Ristau and Steven Goodwin.
 
Senior Leslie Mendoza disputed the denial of a Turning Point USA chapter at LT.
 
Becky Lorentan invited the Board to attend the CommUNITY Diversity Unity Rally to be held September 12, along with "Diversity Days" scheduled for September 10-11.
100 S. Brainard Ave.
LaGrange, IL 60525
(708) 579-6300