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The District 64 Board of Education held a regular meeting on Thursday, December 19, in the Hendee Rooms at the Jefferson Early Childhood Center. You can watch or listen to a meeting replay on our YouTube page.
Update on Referendum Bonds
We received an outlook on the financial market to help the School Board determine when to issue the bonds from the 2024 Referendum. Elizabeth Hennessy, managing director at Raymond James, and Tammie Beckwith Schallmo, senior vice president/managing director at PMA Securities, presented the market trends, possible referendum financing plans, and a draft timeline.
Three potential options were recommended to the Board:
Option 1: Issuing all of the $89.1 in referendum bonds at once in February 2025.
Option 2: $65 million issued in February 2025 and $24.1 million issued in February 2026.
Option 3: $45.1 million issued in February 2025 and $44 million issued in February 2026.
This was not an action item, but after thorough input, the Board said it would like a plan based on Option 2. The January 23 regular board meeting will include a public hearing on the debt limit for referendum bonds, and the Board will vote on the bond sale parameters.
Adoption of Final 2024 Tax Levy Resolution #1351, Instructing the County Clerk How to Apportion 2024 Tax Levy Extension Reductions Resolution #1352, Authorizing Tax for Illinois Municipal Retirement Purposes Resolution #1353
Motion Approved
Committee Reports - Finance and Facilities Committee Meeting
The committee talked with the new construction manager for the Emerson-related referendum projects and reviewed the plan together. The committee was impressed with the presentation and the thought of integrating systems with what’s being implemented at other schools.
Noel Mendoza, Director of Facility Management, gave an overview of the new playground that will be installed at Carpenter Elementary School this summer. He explained how he narrowed down potential companies to install a new playground and why we are moving forward with Burke and Play Illinois. The Carpenter PTO has been tirelessly working on this project for more than a year by fundraising and collaborating with staff and experts on plans for an all-inclusive playground for children of all abilities. Thank you to the Carpenter Playground Committee and the Carpenter PTO for helping make this a reality!
“I just want to say thank you,” said Superintendent Dr. Ben Collins to the Carpenter PTO members sitting in the audience. “This is going to be a huge win for our whole community. It’s going to be cool to drive by and see those playgrounds at our schools and see our kids playing on them all the time.” Our other elementary schools will work with Burke to design their new playgrounds, and the plan is to have Carpenter, Roosevelt, and Washington’s playgrounds done this summer with the rest of the schools the following summer.
Approval of Limited Notice to Proceed Agreement with Ameresco to Purchase Equipment
Motion Approved
Superintendent Update
Dr. Collins presented an overview of the Strategic Plan & his Superintendent Goals heading into 2025.
Approval to Opt-Out of Cook County Paid Leave Ordinance
Motion Approved
Student Disciplinary Decision/Action – Student 2025-01
Motion Approved
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