H-F Board Notes 12/19/2023

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: December 19, 2023

The Homewood-Flossmoor High School Board of Education honored Girls Varsity Basketball Coach Tony Smith for his 500th career win in his 20-year coaching career. He will be inducted into the Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame, as well. The Board expressed appreciation not only for achieving this milestone but for the lessons he teaches on and off the court.

The Board of Education approved abating nearly $2 million in property taxes back to the taxing body. This is an optional abatement that the school district has chosen to implement. This is in addition to previous property tax relief abatements totalling more than $20 million in tax money given back to taxpayers over the past several years.

Board President Gerald Pauling thanked the Board for attending the Special Board meeting at 5 p.m. this evening to hear an update on the Strategic Planning process. The report was very positive about the progress being made. He is looking forward to the January 19 Committee of the Whole full-day meeting where the Board can discuss important topics in detail.

Superintendent Dr. Scott Wakeley congratulated Coach Tony Smith for his 500th career win. He also thanked the School Board for its commitment to the strategic planning process including the special meeting to hear an update from Dr. Greg Hutchings, the consultant facilitating the strategic planning committee work.

Principal Dr. Clinton Alexander celebrated the 720+ students who earned the Silent Party incentive for academic and behavioral achievements, as well as the hot cocoa celebration this morning for all students.

The Board of Education took action on several financial agenda items, including:

• Adopted the tax levy resolution at 5% as presented at previous meetings.
• Adopted a Special Tax Levy Resolution for working cash around $300,000 which keeps the fund balance available for use as needed.
• Approved the Loss-Factor Resolution which covers any gap between the ask of the tax levy and what is received by the District.
• Adopted Reduction of Certain Fund Levies for the 2023 levy year which allows the district is determine which funds will be reduced if necessary.
• Authorized the President to sign the Certificate of Compliance with the Truth in Taxation Law.
• Approved the resolution to abate property taxes totaling $1,995,000 back to the taxing body.
  

At the previous Board meeting, Chief School Business Official Dr. Lawrence Cook provided context for the levy recommendation. The District is limited to growth in its tax extension on existing property to the lesser of the Consumer Price Index All Urban of December 31 of the previous tax year or 5%. Since the December 31, 2022, CPI was 6.5%, an increase of 5% over the 2022 capped extension was used to calculate the 2023 Levy. He recommended a tax levy in the amount of $45,848 million to the Board. This amount is before any tax abatements. Some reasons for this recommendation as discussed at the November 2023 finance committee meeting and November Board meeting are:

• Increased cost in salaries and benefits.
• Increased cost of goods and services.
• Not including renovations and additions, a projected $2.5M per year in maintenance project costs.
• The district’s reliance on local revenue at 59% of total projected revenue received to fund programming and to maintain its buildings and grounds.
• The revenues for this levy are generally received in two installments: once in spring of 2024 and again in August of 2024. Spring of 2024 is in this fiscal year. August of 2024 is in the next fiscal year.

• Regular Board Meeting Minutes, November 14, 2023
• Extended Field Trip – Baseball – PBR (Prep Baseball Report) Spring Break Experience
• Finances: Approval of Expenditures, $4,606,842.13, Imprest Fund, $35,927.32 and Ratification of November 2023, Payroll, $2,845,988.43.
• Personnel: Teacher resignation effective December 31, 2023, Mario Coleman, Science Teacher, Issuance of Notice to Remedy Letter to Employee, Employment of 2023-2024 Daryle Flaherty, Science, Extra Responsibility Contracts: Activities, $7,122.00, Auxiliary, $795.00, 6th Assignments, $69,060.49 add Athletic, $3,250.00
• Approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Homewood-Flossmoor Classified Staff Organization (HFCSO), an affiliate of the NEA-IEA. This provides retirement benefits to a long-standing employee while the union is negotiating a contract.
  

The Board also heard the Personnel Committee update including metrics personnel metrics, demographics, and other data. Director of Human Resources Jodi Bryant shared updates on the HR process review she is currently administering.

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

• January 16, 2024
• February 20, 2024
• March 19, 2024
• April 16, 2024
• May 21, 2024
• June 18, 2024