HF Board Notes 10/15/2024

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 HF community in understanding the workings of the Board of Education. The official minutes can be found on the HF website in the School Board section once approved by the Board.

Meeting Date: October 15, 2024

HF Senior Gabe McKinney was selected by the Student Government to serve as a student liaison to the Board of Education. Gabe will attend each meeting to share student voice at the board table. At this meeting, Gabe shared that the HF Theater department is very appreciative of the support from the Board as well as some student concerns centered on lunch prices related to portion size and the cleanliness of some of the north building bathrooms. Also attending the meeting was student representative Junior Anaya Mootry who will serve in Gabe's absence.

President Gerald Pauling shared that the League of Women Voters and Delta Sigma Theta hosted a voter registration event at HF and will do so again next semester. He is thankful for their efforts to educate students about their right to vote. He also thanked Pam Jackson and Chris Riedel for coordinating the Superintendent search efforts, the Board for their dedication, the support of Suzette Diaz and Pat Gnaster, and The Alma Group who was hired to coordinate the search. Stakeholder panel interviews were held Monday and the Board met with candidates Tuesday. He anticipates an announcement of the new Superintendent in early November.

Vice President Nathan Legardy welcomed Gabe and Amaya as student representatives to the Board. He knows they represent the study body very well.

Board Member Steve Anderson thanked the League of Women Voters and The Chronicle for co-hosting a forum about how to run for school board. He, Michelle Hoereth and others shared their experience as Board members. The Career Fair is next week and he is looking forward to engaging with students on behalf of his company. He is looking forward to Dad Squad, too. He also encouraged the community who are interested in common sense gun laws to seek information.

Principal Dr. Clinton Alexander thanked staff and students for their concerted efforts to continue a positive atmosphere at HF. He also gave kudos to Department Leads for their hard work on goal alignment and the work they are doing with their departments. He is excited to welcome the Dad Squad next week. So far, 87 dads are signed up and he hopes to reach 100.

Director of Communications and Community Engagement Carla Erdey shared there are many engagement opportunities taking place this week. Una Noche Cultural was tonight, PINKtober for Breast Cancer Awareness has special events all this week, Unity Day to encourage kindness, acceptance and inclusion is on Wednesday, and GLAAD Spirit Day in support of LGBTQ+ youth is on Thursday.

Board Member Pam Jackson presented the Personnel Committee Report. She thanked Interim Directors of HR Dr. Tim Kilrea and Dr. Jim Gay for their report on potential improvements for the HR function.

Board Vice President Nate Legardy presented the Planning Committee Report. Two major topics included the IB Audit and New Courses. He asked for additional information to come to the Planning Committee on ways to improve the IB program. Course proposals were also discussed and voted on later in the Board meeting.

The HF Administration shared an overview of the Charting the Course Strategic Plan for 2024-2029.

In the fall of 2023, Homewood-Flossmoor High School embarked on a journey to chart a course to guide the school through the 2028-29 school year. An inclusive Strategic Planning Committee comprised of stakeholders who have a vested interest in HF’s students, school and community navigated the process with the needs and hopes of the local community at the center.

Working with Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr., founder and chief executive officer of Revolutionary ED, the team reviewed perception data from a comprehensive survey, focus group and interview process, as well as academic, social emotional, discipline and behavioral health data. In a series of meetings spanning from September to April, the committee conducted SWOT analysis of the data to identify areas of focus, theories of change, strategic planning goals and potential metrics.

At this meeting the HF Administration outlined the resulting Theories of Change, 5-Year and First Year Goals, Key Performance Indicators and Actions. The presentation slides are linked below.

The Board of Education approved four new course proposals for the 2025-26 school year including Consumer Economics, and Professional Textile Construction, English 3: LGBTQ+ Lives and Literature, and English 4: Global Voices in Literature.

• Minutes: Special Board Meeting on September 30, 2024 and Regular Board Meeting on September 17, 2024.
• HFSSA Memorandum of Agreement and HFEO Memorandum of Agreement.
• 2024-2025 Parent Teacher Discipline Committee Appointments.
• Business: Approval of Expenditures $5,188,710.59 4.7 Approval of Imprest Fund, $27,456.17, Ratification of Payroll, $3,045,053
• Personnel: Retirement/Resignation/Employment Contracts including Retirement of David Klawitter, effective at the end of the 2027-28 school year, Extra Responsibility Contracts – Activity Assignments totaling $13,131.63, and Auxiliary Contracts totaling $29,800.00
• Submission of an application for the FY2025 Round 1 School Maintenance Project Grant with the Illinois State Board of Education.

• The District 233 School Board meets at 7:00 p.m. in the school's Viking Room - unless otherwise indicated. Upcoming meeting dates:

  • November 19, 2024
  • December 17, 2024
  • January 21, 2025
  • February 18, 2025
  • March 18, 2025
  • April 15, 2025
  • May 20, 2025
  • June 17, 2025