H-F Board Notes 5/16/2023

This is a summary of the happenings at the Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School District 233 Board of Education meeting. It is not the official meeting minutes, but rather a summary to assist the H-F community in understanding the workings of the Board of Education. The official minutes can be found on the H-F website in the School Board section once approved by the Board.

Meeting Date: May 16, 2023 - Board Reorganization

Board President Gerald Pauling shared that it has been a very busy month for HF. He is happy to see everyone working to create a great environment for our students. He applauded Dr. Alexander who worked tirelessly to assure all seniors we knew of had a prom experience.

Superintendent Dr. Scott Wakeley shared kudos to Dr. Alexander and staff for making sure our students enjoyed prom. He shared that ticket sales broke down to 78% seniors, 10% juniors and 12% outside student guests. Six students attended the extended prom event. He also shared that the school and Village of Flossmoor are sending a joint letter looking for speed reduction for Governors Highway by the school entrance.

Principal Dr. Clinton Alexander shared that prom had an awesome turnout at Motor Revel Row. Students looked great and had a great time. The extended prom was held on this past Friday for those who could not attend the initial prom. He also shared that HF has had weeks of celebration and recognition with 500 students honored, Teacher Appreciation Week celebrated each day with themes, giveways and fun and last night NHS induction welcomed 120 students. The celebrations continue with Honors Convocation and a Pep Rally and BBQ for seniors last day.

Board Vice President Nate Legardy applauded the administration for its handling of prom. He attended the student awards night with 500 students being honored. It was a great reminder of how many great things are happening in our school community. It saddens him to see a small number of community members taking to social media to tear down our school community, as he sees how many great things are happening at HF. He also attended Institute Day and was excited by Dr. Alexander's pep talk that focused on change and how we continue to move forward by reflecting on our organization and making plans to move forward. He also shared that he is proud of our seniors and he challenges them to discontinue the tradition of throwing paper on their last day which makes a significant mess that needs to be cleaned up. Dr. Alexander is working with students to create new traditions.

Board Member Steve Anderson congratulated Dr. Wakeley on the marriage of his daughter this past weekend. He shared remarks regarding mass shootings in our country and encourages people to get angry and get involved to make a better future for our nation's children. He expressed frustrations about concerned individuals going to the television media to express concerns instead of working with the administration who cares about our students, families and community. He concluded that his two sons are moving on to be productive adults with the foundation they received here at HF.

Board Member Michelle Hoereth shared that she wishes more community members engaged with the Board of Education and hopes the Board will seek ways to do this. She congratulated HF for assuring Decision Day 2023 celebrated students taking all paths after graduation.

Board Member Pam Jackson echoed Steve Anderson's comments regarding individuals taking their concerns to the television media instead of the school where they can be addressed. She recently attended a baseball game, awards ceremony, Decision Day 2023, National School Public Relations Association luncheon for Distinguished Services Awards for Dr. Wakeley, Pat Gnaster and the Communications Team, as well as a Jack and Jill Foundation event to raise awareness and funds about homelessness. She hopes students will be actively engaged in student government and attend Board meetings to see how decisions are made.

The Board of Education honored HF SkillsUSA state qualifiers who competed at the 2023 SkillsUSA Illinois Career Competition Championships, held at the Peoria Civic Center in Peoria, IL. The Automated Manufacturing Technology team of Charley Dieringer, Nestle Gomez and Jackson Grace took First Place. The last time (pre-pandemic) that HF competed was in 2019 when the team also took first place for Automated Manufacturing Technology. This competition simulates a miniature factory where one member of the team is the CAD designer, another team member programs the CAM tool pathway program, and the third team member actually sets up the CNC equipment and cuts out the parts. They worked for over four hours during their competition.

In addition, Aydenn Harris participated in the Related Technical Math competition, and all members participated in the SkillsUSA Illinois delegate session to nominate, vote upon, and install the state officer team.

The Board of Education approved replacing the 9.5-month Department Chair of Career & Technical Education position with a 12-month position titled Director of Career Pathways and Workforce Development as recommended by the Superintendent.

This position will allow HF to focus more heavily on providing career pathway opportunities for students including credentials, certifications, dual credit, early college credit, career awareness, career exploration and career experiences such as work-based challenges, apprenticeships, and paid work. This position will engage with workforce experts in our local community and beyond. The state has 7 career clusters and multiple pathways that this position will help us organize and provide for students. We are actively working on education, culinary, manufacturing and autos endorsements. Business advisory councils connected to the pathways will also be managed by this position.

The Board of Education approved executing the year-to-year regular education transportation contract with Kickert Bus Company and a special education transportation contract with the Alpha Bus Company for the 2023-2024 school year for a total amount of $2,544,130 (an 8.5% increase over the prior year contract).

Dr. Lawrence Cook shared information regarding the transportation contract renewal with Kickert Bus Company and Alpha Transportation. HF has worked in partnership with our transportation contractors throughout the pandemic to assure that services would be available when we needed them given the impact of the pandemic executive orders.

Our contractors, like others across the country, continue to struggle with service related to the bus driver shortage. We continue to seek resolution to the challenges.

The Board of Education approved the execution of its option to extend the food service contract for the 2023-2024 school year with Quest Food Management Services for a $50,000 service management fee and a $150,000 operating fee for a total of $200,000.

Dr. Scott Wakeley shared that this school year and next, the school has absorbed the increase in food costs and has not passed those increases along to students and families. This amounts to about $100,000 per year that the school includes in its budget.

Dr. Cook shared that the offerings by Quest are a step up from the previous vendor. There has been a shortage of some food items that are popular with students. There have also been concerns with service. The district has the option to go out to bid next year if students and staff are still not happy with the service. Dr. Alexander has surveyed students about food service this school year and is working with the contractor to address concerns.

• Special Sine Die Meeting Minutes and Organizational Meeting Minutes, Closed Meeting Minutes Remain Closed and Not Available for Public Inspection
• Athletico Contract Renewal
• Cleaning Service Contract Renewal
• Approval of Expenditures, $2,580,289.08, Approval of Imprest Fund, $58,937.38, Ratification of April, 2023, Payroll, $2,909,122.64
• Retirements: Karen Olson effective June 30, 2025, Aimee Veal effective last day of Winter Break 2025
• Resignations: Matthew Bonges effective June 5, 2023, Kristine Marcordes, Art Teacher, effective June 5, 2023, Kristine Marcordes
• 2023-2024 Teacher Contract, Jamere Dismukes, P.E./Health/Driver Education
• 2023-2024 Administrative Support Staff Contract, Paula Lueder, Human Resources Specialist
• 2023-2024 Teacher Contract, Michael Camp III, World Language Teacher
• 2023-2024 Administrator Contract, James Schmidt, Assistant Principal
• Extra-Responsibility Contracts - Athletics, $5,891.00; Extra-Responsibility Contracts - Summer Academy, Summer Bridge, Summer School $199,745.41;
• Declaring June 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, 2023, school emergency days, as days of non-student attendance during the 2022-2023 school year, the first day of the official school calendar was August 15, 2022, and the last day of the official school calendar will be June 2, 2023, for a total of 182 calendar days and authorize the Superintendent to file this calendar change with the Illinois State Board of Education, as recommended by the Superintendent.
  
• Abatement of the Working Cash Fund (70) of the District in the amount of $20,000,000 and to authorize the School Treasurer of the District to permanently transfer the full abatement amount to the Capital Projects Fund (60) of the District, as recommended by the Finance Committee, Chief School Business Official and the Superintendent.
  
• Authorizing the purchase of Technology Requests in the amount of $867,514.00, as recommended by the Finance Committee, the Director of Technology, Chief School Business Official and the Superintendent.
  
• Managed services provided by Mindsight at a monthly rate of $4,600 as recommended by the Director of Information Services, the Chief School Business Official, and the Superintendent.

The final meeting of the 2022-23 school year will begin at 7:30 p.m. on June 20, 2023.

The Board of Education established meeting dates for the 2023-24 school year. Meetings will begin at 7 p.m.

• July 18, 2023 - canceled
• August 15, 2023
• September 19, 2023
• October 17, 2023
• November 21, 2023
• December 19, 2023
• January 16, 2024
• February 20, 2024
• March 19, 2024
• April 16, 2024
• May 21, 2024
• June 18, 2024