Kendall County Times

Oswego Community Unit School District 308 Board of Education met Oct. 21.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The Board of Education of Community Unit School District 308, Kendall, Kane and Will Counties, Illinois, met in a regular session in the Community Room at Oswego East High School.

Note for file: All roll call votes are shown in alphabetical order in these minutes; however, during the Board Meeting votes are called out in accordance with Board Policy 2:220

1. Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 8:48 a.m. by President LaTonya Simelton

1.1 Roll Call:

Upon Roll Call the following members answered present:

Dominick Cirone, Eugene Gatewood, Jennifer Johnson, Dr. Amy Murillo

Jared Ploger, LaTonya Simelton, Mary Jo Wenmouth

Members Absent (at roll call):

None

Administration Present:

Superintendent, Dr. Andalib Khelghati

Assistant Superintendent for Student & Staff Services, Dr. Heather Kincaid

Others:

ACB Consulting, Ann Cummins Bogan

Recording Secretary:

Ursula Studer

1.2 Pledge of Allegiance

2. Public Comment

2.1 Opportunity for the Public to address the Board of Education

There was no public comment at this meeting.

3. Work Session

3.1 Mission, Vision and Board Agreement

Dr. Khelghati started out the meeting with welcome and introductions and the purpose for today.

Ann Cummins Bogan from ACB Consulting asked everyone to join in a circle to get focused on the day and identify their own priorities for this meeting.

The Board members shared their excitement about being on this new journey, building a strong foundation, supporting the team and being an effective Board.

Ann Cummins Bogan introduced herself and shared her story of starting out as a teacher and later, on building her own consulting company. Ann helps in creating workforce collaboration and strong systems. Everyone has a place on the team.

Dr. Khelghati asked to review the Board Agreements while focusing on our six values.

• Collaboration – Collaboration is a key part of the success of any organization, executed through a clearly defined vision and mission and based on transparency and constant communication.

• Dignity – When it comes to human dignity, we cannot make compromises. -Angela Merkel Dignity does not consist in possessing honors, but the consciousness that we deserve them. – Aristotle

• Humanization – The four characteristics of Humanism are curiosity, a free mind, belief in good taste, and belief in the human race. – E.M. Forster

• Integrity – Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching. –CS Lewis

• Empathy – Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. -Wendy Mass

Empathy has no script. There is no right way or wrong way to do it. It’s simply listening, holding space, withholding judgment, emotionally connecting, and communicating that incredibly healing message of “you’re not alone.” -Brene Brown

• Courtesy – Really big people are above everything else, courteous, considerate and generous – not just to some people in some circumstances, but to everyone all the time. – Thomas Watson

Psychological safety is a big part of this also. How can we lift our Core Values through the implementation of the Board Agreements. The Board members took some individual reflection time to activate the six values. Pair an agreement with a value and explain why.

Following that, the Board members paired up to discuss further.

Notice was taken that just about all Board Agreements fall under our six values. The Board discussed interaction with the press relative to the Board President. Board members will refer press inquiries to the Board President as the spokesperson for the Board.

Some Examples:

Humanization –

o Interacting at school visits and other activities – holding space for all that share through encounter

o Thinking about how to engage the community we do not “typically” engage with

o Caring about all stakeholders – recognizing everyone’s lived experiences

Collaboration –

o Be prepared and present as Board member

o Ask questions before meetings

o Demonstrate proactive communication

o How do we include additional people – does everyone have their space or do we redesign in order to accommodate the person or idea

Empathy –

o If going to advocate, give Board members the time to digest and understand your perspective Integrity –

o Any violation is a reflection on all

o Do not reply all to any Board emails – Board attorney will provide a memo to give more clarity 

o One individual can email the Superintendent and Board President

o Ensuring we are doing the right thing regardless of who is watching

o Integrity of information we receive – we need to have good information

o Every person’s perspective can be right, do not judge

o When errors are made, acknowledge the error and discuss plans for correction and moving forward

o Continue to put thoughts in the Board evaluation form. Comments are most helpful

o Establish Board partners to spend time in meetings, vetting questions, having conversation and being succinct

o Desire to be transparent

Dignity –

o No surprises for Board members or Administrators

Courtesy –

o Questions ahead of time, be prepared

o Thoughtful of administrators, each other, and community members

The suggestion was made, that items the District knows about, are brought forward to committee and information as far ahead as possible, so Board members have more time to review before having to vote.

ACB Overview of a Systems Approach to Continuous Improvement

Ann Cummings Bogan discussed the framework, focusing on six key components to effectively drive the design and progress monitoring of systems’ continuous improvement efforts. These six components serve as the foundation to design, assess and continually improve leadership teams throughout the District. This framework can be applied in any organization.

ACB’s Building Blocks:

o Common Vision of Excellence

o Innovative and Responsive Strategies

o Data Driven Decision Making

o Impact Monitoring

o Accountability through Shared Commitments

o Robust Information Systems

Focus on PLCs to inform school goals and strategies which will then inform District priorities. The Board members were asked to do a team self-assessment to assess the current state as it relates to the six building blocks for excellence.

Ms. Cummins Bogan asked the Board members to discuss their vision for the students in this District, talk about shared belief’s, what student learning looks like and the capability of student learning in this district.

An effective Board has goals connected to curriculum and instruction, assessment and professional learning. There is a process in which the Board develops their goals, which are directly linked to the school improvement process.

The only way to have an effective leader in this District, is by having effective leadership. The Board members split up into small groups to work through their team self-assessment.

The Board members hung their posters and reviewed all as a group.

Board’s vision about student learning and description of student achievement

First Group:

o We believe that students can learn and have the right to do so

o Different students learn in different ways

o Every student can achieve their highest potential given the appropriate resources and opportunities

o Students cultures and lived experiences are assets in their learning

Increase the percentage of students scoring at a proficient level in Math and ELA Implement MTSS District wide – academic and behavioral.

Ms. Simelton stated that the common vision come from our community and it’s important to collaborate so a process can be put in place that stays throughout new Board leadership, which can change every two years.

Questions we need to ask: Are we a high performing District and if so, how do we make sure that the goals the Board endorses today, reflect the student achievement expectations that our community has.

Second Group - Process for Goal Development

o Structures for Collaboration and Mutual Trust

o Administration and Board work together to develop goals

o Board goals informed by building and their needs

o Clear and digestive information from administration to the Board

o Metrics need to be tied to dollars

o Regularly invested formal time to meet (face to face)

o Maintain informal channels of communication – email, text etc.

o The Board speaks with one voice

Third Group – District Priorities, Goals, Intentions, Ideas

o Data and Research driven

o Student Voice informed

o Culture & Climate are driven by our instruction, curriculum, assessment and PL 

o Curriculum instruction should prepare students for life

o Growth emphasis to identify gaps to align resources for desired outcomes

Mr. Gatewood stated that growth needs to be looked at for each individual school. Ms. Cummins Bogan closed this part of learning by reminding the Board members that the indicators on this framework that invited you to use your reflection is simply around the common vision. The Board discussed the strategies, what are the processes, what is the data. How do we make sure there is an impact and there is accountability. How do we ensure that people are informed. In this exercise, we wanted to assess the common vision, not only on the measurable goals, but also on your beliefs as an organization and where there resources should be allocated.

As we move into the afternoon where we actually discuss what the goals should be, we need to remember that we want there to be a clear understanding of your hopes for student achievement that reflect your beliefs; a clear process for making sure that the goals are developed in such a way that the voice of educators families and community are invited to participate; that there are structures and processes to build this team of seven Board members and the Superintendent as a mutually supportive and productive relationship. Once this is accomplished, we can open the door to a partnership with our Unions.

4. Closed Session

4.1 Enter Closed Session under statute(s): 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1) The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of certain employees and individuals

A motion was made by Mr. Jared Ploger, second by Mr. Eugene Gatewood, to enter Closed Session under statute(s); 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1) The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of certain

Final Resolution: Motion Carried 7-0

Aye: Mr. Dominick Cirone, Mr. Eugene Gatewood, Ms. Jennifer Johnson, Dr. Amy Murillo Mr. Jared Ploger, Ms. LaTonya Simelton, Ms. Mary Jo Wenmouth

The Board of Education entered closed session at 12:33 p.m.

4.2 Return to Open Session

A motion was made by Mr. Jared Ploger, second by Mr. Eugene Gatewood, to return to Open session

Final Resolution: Motion Carried 6-0

Aye: Mr. Dominick Cirone, Mr. Eugene Gatewood, Dr. Amy Murillo,

Mr. Ploger, Ms. LaTonya Simelton, Ms. Mary Jo Wenmouth

The Board of Education returned to open session at 3:45 p.m.

The Board members gathered in a circle for the closing activity of the day. There was not enough time for agenda item 5 (Work Session Part 2).

Optimistic Closure – everyone shared out how they felt after their work together.

o Learned how to best support Dr. Khelghati

o Great conversations and we know they have to be ongoing

o Agreement on where we want to go

o There is a sense of relief in knowing the direction and vision

o Feeling of being supported

o Exited to see the new partnerships and changes

6. Adjournment

6.1 Adjourn

A motion was made by Mr. Jared Ploger, second by Ms. Mary Jo Wenmouth, to adjourn.

All were in favor unanimously to adjourn.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried 6-0

Aye: Mr. Dominick Cirone, Mr. Eugene Gatewood, Dr. Amy Murillo,

Mr. Jared Ploger, Ms. LaTonya Simelton, Ms. Mary Jo Wenmouth

Meeting Adjourned at 3:50 p.m.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FbrcqhofdV1J49-FqBbvA_IkCTb3E9ic/view