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.
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The Lyons Township High School District #204 Board of Education conducted a Regular Action Meeting on Monday, September 20, 2021, in Room 103 at North Campus. The following items occurred during the meeting:
Public Hearing
The Board held a public hearing on the fiscal year 2022 LTHS budget. No public comments were made.
Communication
- Local resident Ricardo Martinez asked the Board to make a five-year commitment to air condition all building classrooms.
- Elizabeth Coffey, parent of freshman, acknowledged the hard work and critical work performed by the district’s paraeducators and encouraged the Board to approve the paraeducator contract as soon as possible.
- President of the LT Education Association Andrew Johannes reiterated support of masking and vaccines as essential to maintaining a safe and healthy learning environment. He noted the faculty’s solidarity with the paraeducators in their contract negotiations. He expressed concerns over a staffing shortage, particularly in the Health Office and Special Education paraeducators, and is hopeful the upcoming Career Fair will help alleviate the shortages. He also noted support for next year’s school calendar, yet voiced concern over the early start date and the potential issues with heat. Finally, he voiced appreciation that Parent Teacher Conferences will be virtual this year and noted the great showing at the recent staff tailgate.
Student Council Report
Student Representative to the Board Aamina Qureshi noted there have been large turnouts for the start of many clubs this year. Student Council has been busy preparing for Mr. LT as well as Homecoming, which will be hosted outside for first time. Other upcoming events include the annual Improv Comedy Show and the first meeting of the LT Reads Book Club. In the meantime, class boards are looking for fundraising opportunities and event planning. She added that many fall sports are half way through their seasons with several top finishes so far. She also noted that Latinos Juntos collected donations for the new CARE space during the recent Pet Parade, where LT was well represented.
Superintendent’s District Report
- The District will post its itemized compensation reports for all district employees on the website as required.
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Dr. Waterman congratulated LT’s 5 National Merit Semifinalists: Connor Crowe, Charles Cundiff, Alexander Kuehnle, Ana Ochoa and Luke Stockbridge
- Six FOIA request was received this past month:
- Eagle 3 Analytics: Any/all email communication between the Lyons Township Treasurer’s Office and District 204
- Charles Hitzeman, Parent: LT’s 2021 bus transportation amendment with First Student– followed by a second FOIA for the original bus contract and all amendments
- Jim Stirn: Requested all current District 204 Bylaws, signed Oaths of Office for all current District 204 Board members, and information on the Districts ESSER II funding
- James Holderman of Protect Parents Rights: Request for all emails to/from any and all employees of LT to/from any and all representatives of the University of Illinois and/or Shield Illinois from Aug 22 – Sept 8
- Patch reporter David Giuliani: Requested any communication to/from the Lyons Township Treasurer's Office since Aug. 1, 2021, on any differences on the status of money in the treasurer's office.
- Smart Procure: Requested any and all purchasing records from May 20, 2021 thru September 19, 2021
- The National Alliance on Mental Illness has identified September as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month to help promote awareness and recognition around the issues of suicide prevention and how to have appropriate and meaningful dialogue regarding the topic of mental health. The LT website details the ways that LT will bring suicide awareness to light this month.
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LT is proud to celebrate Latinx Heritage Month. This year’s theme, Esperanza: A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage and Hope, celebrates the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. The observation starts September 15 and ends October 15. September 15th is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries. At LT, classes have been invited to a Virtual Poetry Talk with Noel Quiñones: Beyond the Black / White Binary: Exploring the Inner Ethnic Conflict of Latinidad on October 5th. In addition, Dr. Rowe will launch the LT Reads Book Club on October 15, with Elizabeth Acevedo’s The Poet X, a book which centers on the experiences of a Latina through poetry and storytelling.
- LT is gearing up for its annual Homecoming celebration on October 2 when we will welcome six class reunions and other alumni. We will also celebrate the induction of three alumni into the Hall of Fame. The honorees will be recognized throughout Homecoming weekend. Dr. Douglas Brash, Class of 1969, along with classmate Senator Christine (Hoy) Radogno, as well as Douglas Scott, Class of ’50, who will be honored posthumously.
Business
The FY 22 budget was approved. Director of Business Services Stachacz noted that two changes were incorporated since the tentative budget was reviewed in August, including an additional $1 million in revenue from Corporate Personal Property Tax and an additional $250,000 was added as transportation expenditures. The budget includes a substantial increase in building renovations, with a total of $4.3 million of capital projects included in the budget, which is much higher than in recent previous years. The bulk of the capital projects will go toward air conditioning the North Campus Fieldhouse and B- and C-wings at South Campus. The net result is that the budget is now balanced with total expected revenue of $87.1 million and $86.9 of expenditures in the operating funds, creating a surplus of $125,000.
The Board reviewed 2022-2023 curriculum change proposals as a first review. The proposals include several new classes: Yoga, Geometry in Construction, Data and Probability and Sustainable Urban Agriculture. In addition, Introduction to Healthcare Careers is proposed and is designed to create a career pathway to nursing, pre-med or physical therapy.
The Board approved two new administrative assistant positions for the Director of Equity and Belonging and the Director of Student Services.
In addition to the NC Fieldhouse air handler replacement project, which will add air conditioning to the facility, and adding a cooling tower/chiller at SC to air condition all of B-wing at South Campus, the Board approved an additional scope of work to air condition the remaining areas of C-wing at South Campus. Once bids come back, the district will examine pricing and timing to ensure all work can be completed during the summer months, without displacing students or classrooms in the fall.
The Lyons Township Treasurer Office has a meeting scheduled for Thursday, September 23, to discuss potential action regarding proposed distribution of quarterly interest allocation and a presentation on fund balances. LT is in the midst or leaving the TTO, and to date, the TTO has refused to release $6 million of LT assets or provide financial information or documentation. The BOE authorized the filing of a lawsuit against the Township Trustee of Schools regarding the withdrawal and financial separation of the District from the jurisdiction of the Trustees.
- Two new bridge programs were added in English and math so students could review their skills and be ready for the next course in a sequence. Bridge enrollment was provided at no-cost to the students.
- Expanded Edgenuity section for students who were making up classes that they did not pass. In total, 163 students participated in these new courses.
- Continued with online virtual school for Consumer Education with 336 enrollments.
- A total of 24 age-group athletic/activity camps ran with 3, 150 students.
Eggerding discussed the 2021 Summer Workshop Report, noting there were 16 workshops offered totaling approximately $35,000 in District funds and $72,000 spent from grant resources. Workshops supported all teachers in clarifying grading practices and new syllabi development, new course development in math, science and physical education, improvements to lab safety, English sequence restructuring and curriculum coordination in Algebra and environmental science. Summer work also included Professional Learning Team coordination, IncludED training for students and teachers, and preparation and training for a rollout of 1 to 1 computing.
The following student trip was approved: Operation Snowball, Camp MacLean, Burlington, WI – November 2021
PUBLIC COMMENT
- Victoria Franzese, an LT graduate from LaGrange, expressed concern about the quality of education as exhibited by recent test scores and urged the Board to stop teaching Critical Race Theory.
- Jeanette Quirk, longtime local resident whose daughters graduated from LT, thanked the Board for their commitment to providing a safe and civil school.
- Judy Kaiser questioned the hiring of a director of equity and belonging and stated she would prefer the focus shift to reading, writing and math.
- Liz Layden, LT graduate and mother of LT graduates, thanked LT administrators and teachers for doing an amazing job while trying to navigate during such a challenging time. She added that teachers take risks on behalf of all students with the goal of keeping students in school, safe and healthy. She stated that everyone has a collective responsibility to take measures, including wearing masks, to keep students safe.
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100 S. Brainard Ave.
LaGrange, IL 60525
(708) 579-6300
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