Galesburg Reporter

Illinois State Board of Education North of Chicago Community School District #187 Independent Authority and Financial Oversight Panel met Aug. 26

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

1. Call to Order / Roll Call

(Time: 6:01pm) Mrs. King called the meeting to order, members present: King, Johnson Jones, G Coleman, Riley, T Coleman, Gonzalez, and Collins

2. Moment of Silence/Pledge of Allegiance

3. Motion to Approve Meeting Agenda as Presented

(Time: 6:04pm) Motioned by Johnson Jones, second by Gonzalez. Passed 4-3 (Collins, T Coleman, G Coleman - Abstained)

4. Special Presentations

A. RANG! - Attendance Incentive App - Brian Malkin - Rang CEO - Rang is an attendance rewards program designed to incentivize students and families for attending school. The program has shown significant improvements in attendance rates, with chronic absenteeism dropping from over 9% to 1.2% in participating schools.

B. Chicago Voyagers - Postponed to future board meeting

5. Audience Participation:

(Time: 6:22pm) WIlliam Coleman - Think Tank of North Chicago - Suggested that the board consider training through Think Tank on structural violence and the impact on the community.

(Time: 6:25pm) Trenton Taylor - NCCHS Alumni - North Chicago Community High School Alumni and Community Member - spoke to the board mentioning that it is important that the board as a whole is always working together.

(Time: 6:28pm) Greg White - LEARN Charter President - Requesting that the board consider the Contract Renewal for LEARN Charter and encouraging them to visit LEARN Charter

(Time: 6:32pm) Rocio Vazquez - LEARN Parent and Employee - Support for LEARN Charter

(Time: 6:37pm) Rayon Edwards - North Chicago Resident - Concerns regarding board not properly reviewing policies before voting and lack of transparency and engagement with the community regarding policy changes

(Time: 6:41pm) Donette Bishop - LEARN Charter Parent - Support for LEARN Charter

(Time: 6:43pm) Erin Martinez - LEARN Charter - Support for LEARN Charter

6. Superintendent’s Report

(Time: 6:45pm) Dr. Price presented the monthly superintendent’s report that included the following information: Student Achievement, Communication, Human Resources, FACE, Operations and Construction Update

7. FOIA Report

8. Motion to Approve IA Minutes

(Time: 6:59pm) Motion to approve July and August Special Board Meeting minutes made by Riley, second by Johnson Jones. Passed 5-2 (T Coleman and Collins - Abstained)

Open Session Closed Session

July 22, 2025 Board Meeting (IA/FOP) July 22, 2025 Board Meeting (IA/FOP)

August 12, 2025 Special Board Meeting (IA)

9. Motion to Approve Consent Agenda - As Presented (Items A-C, E-G, I-M) Change Items D and H (Discussion)

(Time: 7:03pm) Motioned by G Coleman, second by Gonzalez - Passed 7-0

Motion to Approve Item D

(Time: 7:05pm) Motioned by Johnson Jones, second by T Coleman

Motion to Amend the Wording of Item D

(Time: 7:11pm) Motioned by T Coleman, second by Gonzalez - Passed 7-0

Motion to Approve Amended Item D

(Time: 7:15pm) - Passed 7-0

Motion to Approve Item H

(Time: 7:22pm) Motioned by Johnson Jones, second by Collins - Passed 7-0

A. Treasurer’s Report for June 2025 (updated)

B. Accounts Payable for July 26, 2025 – August 29, 2025 in the gross amount of $5,638,835.28

C. Payroll for July 2025 in the gross amount of $1,105,045.31

D. Approval of the Reinstatement of Carlos Smith as an Approved School Volunteer Carlos Smith is Eligible to Apply to Become an Approved School Volunteer

E. Approval of Agreements with Contracting Agencies and Individuals for Related Service Providers (i.e., Speech and Language Pathologists, School Psychologists, OTs, PTs, etc.) and one Teacher $2,257,614

F. Approval of Teaching & Learning (T&L) Renewal of 6-12 Imagine Learning Edgenuity Services $26,780

G. Approval of ComEd Grant Acceptance - Phase Two of Site Improvement for NMSA and NCCHS (will not exceed) $5,000

H. Approval of Memorandum of Understanding with YWCA Head Start Program

I. Approval of New Special Education Temporary Classified Position at Forrestal Elementary $15,844

J. Approval of Forrestal Construction Project August Potential Change Orders $391,326

K. Approval of FY26 Consolidated District Grant Application Plan for Supporting all Federal Grant Areas

L. Approval of Steans Family Foundation Gifts & Grants Acceptance Form for Phase III WestEd 25-26 EL Program $100,000

M. Approval of Destruction of Closed Session Meetings Audio Recordings in Accordance with Board Policy 2:220

10. Old Business – Discussion/Action

A. Action – (IA/FOP) Approval of Joint Conference Attendance Practices

(Time: 7:24pm) Motioned by Johnson Jones, second by Gonzalez. Passed 7-0

B. Action – (IA/FOP) Approval of LEARN Charter School Renewal Agreement Tabled to September 23, 2025 Board Meeting

C. Discussion – (IA/FOP) Approval of Updated Policy 6:250

(Time: 7:27pm) Dr. Vincent Iturralde - Chief Operations Officer presented to the board - The updates and changes were made to the Volunteer and Chaperone handbook after the August 12, 2025 Special Board Meeting. Principals will set volunteer hours for their building.

11. New Business – Discussion/Action

A. Action – (IA/FOP) Approval of FY 2026 Tentative Budget $134,225,243

(Time: 8:05pm) Motioned by Johnson Jones, second by Gonzalez. Passed 4-3 (Collins, T Coleman, G Coleman - Abstained)

B. Action – (IA/FOP) Approval of Proposed Partnership with RANG! for Forrestal, AJK Academy, NMSA, and NCCHS $27,000 $29,400

(Time: 8:26pm) Motioned by Johnson Jones, second by T Coleman. Passed 6-1 (T Coleman - Nay)

C. Action – (IA/FOP) Approval of Intergovernmental Agreement with Lake County to Complete an Environmental Review for Construction Project at Green Bay $2,000

(Time: 8:28pm) Motioned by Johnson Jones, second by G Coleman. Passed 7-0

D. Action – (IA/FOP) Approval of Contract Award for the Removal of an Underground Storage Tank at Novak-King School $20,950

(Time: 8:30pm) Motioned by Johnson Jones, second by G Coleman. Passed 7-0

E. Action – (IA/FOP) Approval of Contract Award to Prime Produce for Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program $76,300

(Time: 8:32pm) Motioned by G Coleman, second by Johnson Jones. Passed 7-0

F. Discussion – (IA/FOP) Additional Costs for the Renovation of South School into District Offices $7.5 million

(Time: 8:33pm) Dr. John Price - Superintendent Presented to the Board - Additional costs for the South School renovation project, totaling $7.5 million, to relocate district offices and create community spaces. Funding will come from reallocating existing funds and interest income from bond proceeds.

G. Discussion – (IA/FOP) Board Process for Requesting Information from the Superintendent

(Time: 8:36pm) Dr. John Price - Superintendent Presented to the Board - A memo to establish a template / guideline for board members to request information from the superintendent to reduce back-and-forth communication. The goal is to ensure timely responses and clarify expectations for information requests from board members.

H. Information – (IA/FOP) Policy 4:170 - Safety and Security and Policy 4:190 - Targeted School Violence

(Time: 8:45pm) Dr. Vincent Iturralde - Chief Operations Officer - presented to the board the update on policy 4:170 and the relevance to the district’s crisis management guidebook. A targeted school violence program plan was developed by Dr. Price and Dr. Iturralde, which was included in the information packet for review.

I. Information – (IA/FOP) School Year 2025 Performance Summary -

(Time: 8:55pm) Dr. John Price - Superintendent presented a comprehensive SY 2025 performance summary to the board.

12. Executive Session – I move that we enter into a closed session under the exceptions set forth in Illinois Open Meetings Act as follows:

(Time: 9:07pm) Motioned by Johnson Jones, second by Gonzalez. Passed 7-0

● 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1) to discuss personnel matters

● 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(3) to discuss litigation matters

● 5 ILCS 120/2(8) to discuss student safety matters

13. Reconvene Open Session

 (Time: 9:40pm) Motioned by Gonzalez, second by Riley. Passed 7-0

14. New Business – Discussion/Action Continued

A. Action – (IA/FOP) Approval of Human Resources Reports – Appointments, Absences, Adjustments, Retirements, Resignations, and/or Separations

(Time: 9:41pm) Motioned by Johnson Jones, second by Riley. Passed 5-2 (T Coleman, Collins - Abstained)

B. Action – (IA/FOP) Approval of the Notice to Remedy

(Time: 9:42pm) Motioned by Johnson Jones, second by Gonzalez. Passed 6-1 (T Coleman - Abstained)

15. Adjourn

(Time: 9:42pm) Motioned by Johnson Jones, second by Gonzalez. Applied Roll Call Vote

https://www.isbe.net/Documents_Finance_NCIA/082625-IA-Minutes.pdf