Kendall County Times

Oswego Community Unit School District 308 Board of Education met Nov. 6.

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 at Bednarcik Junior High School in the Cafeteria.

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 – Executive Session (6:00 p.m.)

The meeting was called to order at 6:03 p.m. by Vice President Eugene Gatewood

1.1 Roll Call:

Upon Roll Call the following members answered present:

Dominick Cirone, Eugene Gatewood, Ms. Jennifer Johnson, Dr. Amy Murillo, Jared Ploger, Mary Jo Wenmouth

Members Absent (at roll call):

LaTonya Simelton

2. Closed Session

2.1 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; 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(2) Collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives, or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees and individuals

A motion was made by Mr. Jared Ploger, second by Ms. Mary Jo Wenmouth, to 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; 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(2) Collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives, or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees and individuals

Final Resolution: Motion Carried 6-0

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

The Board of Education entered closed session 6:06 p.m.

2.2 Return to Open Session

A motion was made by Mr. Jared Ploger, second by Mr. Dominick Cirone, to return to Open session

Final Resolution: Motion Carried 7-0

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

The Board of Education returned to open session at 6:59 p.m.

3. Call to Order – Public Session (7:00 pm)

The meeting was called to order at 7:07 p.m. by Vice President Eugene Gatewood

3.1 Roll Call:

Upon Roll Call the following members answered present:

Dominick Cirone, Eugene Gatewood, Jennifer Johnson, Dr. Amy Murillo Jared Ploger, Mary Jo Wenmouth

Members Absent (at roll call):

LaTonya Simelton

Administration Present:

Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Andalib Khelghati

Associate Superintendent of Educational Services, Faith Dahlquist

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

CFO/CSBO, Raphael Obafemi

Executive Director of Communications, Theresa Komitas

Executive Director of Human Resources, Dr. Bryan Zwemke

Director of Finances, Amanda Sitar

Others Present:

Attorney Maureen Lemon, Ottosen DiNolfo Hasenbalg and Castaldo, as well as employees of the District and members of the community.

Recording Secretary:

Ursula Studer

3.2 Pledge of Allegiance

Pledge of Allegiance was led by Board Vice President Eugene Gatewood

4. Welcome

4.1 Vice President Gatewood will Welcome the Public and Introduce Dr. Khelghati

Mr. Gatewood thanked everyone for attending and that the Board values this opportunity for us to work together to find common ground to better our schools and our community for the sake of our children. Collectively, we can lay a foundation of trust upon which more good work can happen.

Dr. Khelghati shared that it’s a sign of a healthy community when the Board prioritizes engaging your voices in a formal manner. I was excited to learn of these Forums when I came to the District, it’s a way to create more engagement and hear more voices around the table.

Tonight, we will focus on some of the data from the 5 Essential survey that is administered every year. What are the factors of student achievement, for every student in every building. We have heard the parent voices in this survey and now we would like to look deeper at the specific items and how we can make them a reality.

5. Small Groups

5.1 Vision on Community Engagement with Stakeholders

Dr. Khelghati introduced Faith Dahlquist who will lead the activities. There are also several members of our leadership team that will be sitting at each of the tables.

Ms. Dahlquist opened with a quote:

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has – Margaret Mead

Each group will collaborate on ideas for more community engagement, more ways to hear voices. Tonight, we will work on the culture and community engagement.

Each table shared out what they discussed and learned:

Isabelle Gershon – student at OEHS, shared that they discussed sensibility, how they can make everything more accessible to all parents. Some still want paper copies, there are language barriers and access to child care and internet. Create a balance.

Ms. Johnson added that every family looks different and not everyone has the same access to everything. Create ways to connect all families.

Second table talked about everyone needing and wanting to be involved. What each family is able to contribute is different across the Board. What are the barriers that parents face from being more involved and how can we support our teachers better. It’s about building trust.

Tyler Boecker – student at OEHS, shared that they talked a lot about communication and building trust. Connectedness, making sure that people have access at any point.

Jared Ploger – a question that was asked is how do we make parents want to come to school, not feel obligated to come to school. A chance to better understand and relate with our world becoming more diverse. We have to model respect and dignity if we want it in the classrooms. Parent Academies; parents want to learn how to be better. Without trust you can’t build that foundation. Every interaction is an opportunity to learn how to engage.

Fifth table - one of the first themes was consistency. There isn’t much consistency between what each school is doing. Wellness was a theme, not everyone can come to us, there needs to be flexibility. The table discussed potential parent academies, changing curriculum nights to showcasing students. Systems change; some changes are needed to catch up with the times.

Ken Miller – shared that a lot of the discussion centered around barriers that keep us from having authentic communications, whether it’s about transportation, childcare etc. People need to know what to expect and how to expect it.

Dr. Khelghati shared that when he listened to the voices of this community, he kept hearing about division. What can bring us together is the fact that we all want to center our children and we all want excellence for them. We are pursuing educational and professional excellence. We are not there yet, but I believe we have a strong foundation. There is commitment and there is passion.

Mr. Ploger made a motion, second by Mary Jo Wenmouth, to move public comment ahead of Board member comments

Final Resolution: Motion Carried 6-0

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

7. Public Comment

7.1 Opportunity for the Public to address the Board of Education

Courtney McTurner – commented regarding the changes for the facility rentals. Many girl scout groups use the buildings for their meetings. With it being a non profit organization, it is important to keep the building rentals free.

Jessyka Quintero – thanked everyone for the opportunity to have this dialogue and is hoping that groups like this can get together more often. It would be great to have an opportunity like this for families that speak Spanish. Once different issues are brought to light, who will make sure that changes are made. How will progress be communicated to the parents. How can we create more ways for our EL parents to be involved.

Fil Torres – expressed concerns with FastBridge testing. His first grader scored well below and he questioned if a timed, fast test is a good way to gage what kids know.

Mr. Torres also mention the Hunt Club parking lot having a few large potholes. He suggested the school build a comprehensive facility plan. He also felt that our athletic fees are much high than our neighboring districts. Dual language should be offered to all that want it.

Sulochana Sowbhagya – also commented on our revised facility rental fees. Cub Scouts are a non profit organization as well that serve the children of our community after school. These charges will eventually raise the fees which will discourage parents from signing their students up. She asked for the District to exempt non for profit organizations from paying these charges.

Diana Calvillo – shared that she really hopes that something is going to come out of the great conversations that were had this evening. She also advocated for out DL/EL families, having 3 students in the program. Ms. Calvillo is part of BPAC and likes to be involved in the community. She brought up the challenge at the JHS, with no permanent teacher being present and the classroom being staffed with subs. This program needs more support.

Rachelle Koenig – thanked the Board and administration for putting on this program. She would like to see more, be engaged more. There is an opportunity to lean into us to get information to families that might not have the opportunity to be involved in the classroom and with Home and School. How could our District set up a tutor resource so parents don’t need to bother teachers to get that information.

Ashley Schopp – asked for some more extra activities for her children after school. Bringing parents and teachers together, learning about each other and getting more comfortable.

6. Board Member Comments

6.1 Final Comments from the Board

Dominick Cirone – felt like we opened the gates to open dialogue and we take ownership of failures not just successes. Mr. Cirone has children in the Dual Language program and we need to do a better job across the board, but he feels it’s a very strong program and he never regretted singing his children up.

Jennifer Johnson – shared that community members want more open dialogue, outside of the public comment format.

Jared Ploger – appreciated everyone coming together tonight. He cautioned that while he would love to see the EL program expanded, districts are struggling to hire teaching staff. People going in that field to teach are not keeping up with the demand.

Ms. Dahlquist shared that the exit slips can be used to answer some questions and to ask for an administrator to get back to them on a specific topic.

8. Action Items

8.1 Approval of Collective Bargaining Agreement with the OEA (Oswego Education Association)

A motion was made by Mr. Jared Ploger, second by Dominick Cirone, to approve the negotiated Agreement between Oswego Community Unit School District 308 and the Oswego Education Association (OEA), pending attorney approval

Final Resolution: Motion Carried 5-0-1

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

Abstain: Mr. Dominick Cirone

Mr. Cirone abstained from voting due to his wife being a teacher. He stated that everyone says to treat our teachers well and he believes that his contract does that.

9. Adjournment

9.1 Adjourn

A motion was made by Mr. Jared Ploger, second by Mr. Eugene Gatewood, to adjourn. All were in favor unanimously to adjourn.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried 6-0

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

Meeting Adjourned at 8:52 p.m.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/14T_EMPt-jfrbh4rTdgTl-hscnCTdH68z/view