Finance Committee Highlights
- Tentative Budget: The tentative budget shows a slight surplus with $63.496 million in revenue and $63.312 million in expenditures. The district will abate taxes again this year.
- Culinary and Fashion Design Project: The committee reviewed drawings for these new/renovated learning spaces that will allow for the expansion of culinary opportunities including certifications with a professional kitchen as well as improved learning space for fashion design classes. Final cost estimates are to come for what is anticipated to be a $2.7 - $3 million project that will be ready for Fall 2023.
- Science Project: The committee reviewed preliminary drawings for the science building expansion. The district will apply for a $2 million Illinois Clean Energy Grant to offset costs of the project. The new science building will be a net zero energy building meaning it will generate enough energy to put into the grid to cover the energy it will use to operate. That would make it only the second school facility in the state to be net zero alongside Stevenson High School. The Board has extended the timeline for the bid process to allow the construction market to recover further before seeking bids. It is anticipated the building will be ready for learning in the 2023-24 school year.
Planning Committee Highlights
- Policy Manual Project: Following a seven-month project, the conversion of the policy manual using the PRESS service from the Illinois Association of School Boards is complete. The Board took action to approve the policy manual later in the meeting.
- Viking Learning Academy: Beginning this school year, the Viking Learning Academy will provide an in-house alternative instruction solution for students who need a different learning environment due to credit deficiency, school anxiety or other needs. Viking Learning Academy will allow students to be educated and supported by an H-F teacher, social worker and instructional assistant under our roof instead of attending the Ombudsman alternative education program. The first two years of the Viking Learning Academy will be paid for through a Community Grant.
- Flexible Learning Research: The committee applauded efforts to encourage innovation and future-focused thinking. They asked for detailed information regarding flexible learning models that have been discussed by an internal think tank of educators. Dr. Wakeley and Dr. Hester share information with the Board of Education regarding ongoing research into flexible learning models.
Policy Manual Conversion and Adoption
Following a seven-month review project led by Board Member Nathan Legardy in conjunction with Board Vice President Debbie Berman and Board Member Michelle Hoereth, the Board of Education completed a second reading of the Homewood-Flossmoor Board Policy Manual update and conversion to PRESS. The Board adopted the policies as presented with one amendment.
This utilizes the PRESS policy service from the Illinois Association of School Boards ensuring that school district policies are aligned with current and future laws and school code. This service also provides a completely searchable online policy manual that allows for easy access to Board Policies and streamlines the future update process.
Intergovernmental Agreement with Flossmoor School District 161
The Board of Education approved an Intergovernmental Agreement with Flossmoor School District 161, in accordance with the Illinois School Student Records Act amended by Public Act 102-0557 to allow elementary school districts and high school districts with overlapping attendance boundaries to enter into an intergovernmental agreement to share student records and student information without obtaining parental or student consent as recommended by the Superintendent. A similar agreement is already in place with Homewood School District 153.
Board Member Michelle Hoereth applauded this work as it will allow for better articulation among the school districts to aid in programming as students prepare to enter high school. She shared that this is an incredible step assuring both school systems have the data they need for continuous improvement and to support students.
