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Board of Education Special Meeting Minutes

Date: November 3, 2017

Time: 10:07 a.m.

Place: Warrenville Public Library

APPROVED: January 19, 2018

IO 1.0 CALL TO ORDER by President Heidi Mueller at 10:07 a.m.

1. Roll Call

1.2. Board Members Present: Heidi Mueller, Patrick Griffin, David Green, Jennifer Vidis, Dr. Heather Dalmage

Board Members Absent: Dr. Tresa Dunbar Garrett

1.3. Others present: Dr. Sophia Jones-Redmond, Superintendent of Schools; Dr. Bambi Bethel-Leitschuh, Director of Special Education; Ricardo Johnson, Director of Career and Technical; Esther Yahnig, Assistant Legal Counsel; Dr. Joyce Nelson; Principal Mike Zarco; and Maurice McAllister, Recorder.

AI 2.0 CONSENT AGENDA

2.1 Approval of Agenda

President Mueller motioned to move the approval of the November 3, 2017 agenda. Member Green motioned to approve the agenda and Member Griffin seconded.

Voice Vote

Aye: Unanimous

Nay: None

Motion Carries

2.2 Approval of Minutes

President Mueller motioned to move the approval of the Minutes for

September 15, 2017. Member Vidis moved to approve the September 15, 2017 minutes and Member Griffin seconded.

Voice Vote

Aye: Unanimous

Nay: None

Motion Carries

IO 3.0 Public Participation

No public comments.

IO 4.0 PRESIDENT’S REPORT

President Mueller touched on the letter to Dr. Peter Leone, IDJJ Court Monitor. She mentioned that the focus was on IDJJ hiring process as it relates to teacher hiring at St. Charles. The current hiring process is not producing a benefit to IDJJ because too many hands are in the process and the school district is losing qualified teachers as a result. The Department feels that by removing our current hiring process as it relates to qualified teacher only, the oversight will be a low risk move because teachers are already licensed to our process. Why are we doing this? Our current process takes much longer to get teachers hired so by creating our own background process and contracting our own oversight, the School District may get qualified teachers on board much sooner. This process would take legislative approval but we are recommending this change. Central Management Services (CMS) is opposed to leaving this process out but is agreeable to IDJJ meeting with them. This process would change for licensed positions only and not the Rutan positions. The Rutan positions would follow the current hiring process.

IO 5.0 SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

IO 5.1 New Staff

Dr. Sophia Jones-Redmond mentioned that the School District has hired new staff since our last meeting and they would personally introduce themselves to the board. Mr. Ricardo Johnson is the new Career and Technical Director; Dr. Joyce Nelson, new Principal at Maya Angelou, Alternative High School; and Mr. Mike Zarco, new Principal at Samuel Sublett Alternative High School.

Mr. Ricardo Johnson – Director of Career and Technical mentioned that he comes to the Department with many years of experience in audits, grant administration, entrepreneurship, community service and education. Prior to his employment as the CTE director with IDJJ – School District #428, he was employed as an internal auditor and grant administrator with Metra. After ten years of management employment with Metra, he opened a Subway restaurant in Flossmoor, Illinois where he employed a crew of high school students through community partnerships with nearby high schools. He looks forward to utilizing

his professional background, education, networking skills, and other talents to provide CTE-related opportunities for the students of IDJJ – School District #428. He mentioned that he is committed to the mission of our school district and he embraces the responsibility of preparing our students for post-secondary career opportunities available through our partnerships with Lake Land College, Lewis and Clark Community College, Youth Build, and other community service organizations.

Dr. Joyce Nelson, Principal, Maya Angelou Alternative High School mentioned that she has worked at all levels of education, pre-school through college for over eighteen years. She has served as a transformational leader and has had the opportunity to impact low performing schools through student academic growth over conservative years. She believes as a transformation leader, she can build trust and guide young ones to their dreams. Her goal is to see what each of student goals are and have them see where they can go in life with it.

Mr. Mike Zarco, Principal, Samuel Sublett Alternative High School mentioned that he is humbled and motivated to be the key leader at Samuel Sublett School. He has 15 years of professional educator experience in Spanish, Social Studies, and Physical Education along with Football, Track and Wrestling Coach in Middle and High School arenas. He has three goals: Commitment, Communication - Collaboration, and Trust. He realizes that St. Charles has been a revolving door over the last year and a half but people will see the systemic changes in 6, 8 and 12 months from now. We are continuing to move forward and you will see the energy going forward. Once again, thank you for this opportunity to join the Juvenile Justice family.

IO 5.2 School Board Policy Plan Update

Esther Yahnig, Assistant Chief Legal Counsel mentioned that the Superintendent along with legal has reviewed and edited Chapters 1 through 4 of the school board policies with the subcommittee and they have edited the policies prior to this meeting. The first four chapters are policies based on what we do at IDJJ, so they are slightly different from traditional school system policies.

The Department is working on creating an email address for the School Board. This email address would be for the general public to make comments or inquiries to the Board of Education and its members. The email system will be monitored by the School District and all inquiries will be sent to the Board of Education.

There are three trainings requirements for all board members in order to be in compliance by law. Esther Yahnig will send the link to each member by email. The trainings are as follows:

• Ethics Training;

• Open Meetings Act Training; and

• Mandate Reporter under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act by DCFS

In addition, subcommittees will need to be formed to set Expectations and Goals; Curriculum and Technology; Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS); Interventions and Special Education Subcommittees for the School District.

Esther mentioned that by mid-December she plans to have the next board policy subcommittee meeting to review and discuss the final chapters for board policies. In addition, once all chapters are completed the Board will need to approve the manual in its entirety.

IO 5.3 Governor Rauner’s Proclamation to IDJJ – School District on School Naming

Dr. Sophia Jones-Redmond mentioned that a request was forwarded to the Governor’s office requesting to recognize our schools at IDJJ – School District #428 marking this special occasion by Proclamation. The request was approved by the Governor’s office and the official school naming cutting ceremony took place, Wednesday, November 1, 2017 at all five of our schools. The official ceremony was marked by presentations from State Representatives and State Senators, the Major of Grafton, and the Executive Team at IDJJ all being present at the ceremony and presenting the Proclamation, Plaque and School Banner to each of the school’s Principals. This was a wonderful occasion for youth and staff since many has never experienced a school naming before. Thank you to everyone who had a part in marking this great occasion.

IO 5.4 Administrative Retreat

Superintendent Jones-Redmond mentioned that the School District’s Administrative Staff met together in Harrisburg to tour Booker T. Washington Alternative High School and attend a discussion with David Fischer with Quo/Vadimus. Quo/Vadimus is already contracted with the Department but we found it necessary to extend his contract to include the School District so he can work directly with our employees. His first presentation to the school district was on the subject: How Trauma and Youth Development Impact Challenges and Create Opportunities for the students. His first discussion will filter to each of the schools for more focus training geared towards each individual school’s environment. His plan is to visit each of the schools in the coming months. His presentation and format of his instruction was included with the packet of information proved to each of you.

IO 5.5 School District Staffing

Superintendent Jones-Redmond mentioned that the School District is continuing in our efforts to capture qualified teachers in our classrooms. We are planning to contract with Delta T. Group Consulting Agency. Delta T. will help in capturing educators for Samuel Sublett Alternative High School for now and possibly extending out to the other schools in the future.

IO 5.6 Vocational and Post-Secondary Programming Across the School District

Update

Superintendent Jones-Redmond mentioned that the Vocational and Post-Secondary programs across the state will be handled by Ricardo Johnson, Director of Career and Technical. We are currently in discussion with Lake Land College on expanding services to Maya Angelou and Thurgood Marshall Alternative High Schools. Lake Land College must first receive permission from local colleges in the area to agree on Lake Land College providing services as a college in their county/communities.

IO 5.7 September Special Education Reports

Dr. Bambi Bethel-Leitschuh reviewed and discussed the Special Education Monitoring reports with the board. She mentioned that the School District is doing well as it relates to the completed Individual Educational Plans (IEP) with an average district wide rate of 88.9% overall. Generally, between 35% and 40% of students enrolled in IDJJ schools receive special education services. The school district has been pushing to finish more IEPs for youth in IDJJ custody, the ultimate goal being 100% completion. The School Counselors are working in partnership with the Special Education Coordinator to complete the data. We are currently working with Aftercare in completing exit packets on the youth who leaves our schools so the youth transitions to their new school smoothly.

IO 5.8 September Principal Data and Education Reports

Superintendent Jones-Redmond mentioned that the Principal Data and Education Reports are very crucial to the School District because we can see all schools performance as it relates to high school and GED diplomas issued at any given month. As of September 2017 the School District issued 142 diplomas so far this year.

AI 6.0 BOARD DISCUSSION ITEMS

Board Member Dalmage motioned to include the alignment with each board member assigned to a school as an ambassador. This alignment is approved as follows:

Member Patrick Griffin assigned to Maya Angelou Alternative High School

Member Jennifer Vidis assigned to Samuel Sublett Alternative High School

Member Heather Dalmage assigned to Thurgood Marshall Alternative High School

Member David Green assigned to Booker T. Washington Alternative High School

Member Tresa Dunbar Garrett assigned to Glencliffe Academy Alternative High School.

This alignment is approved as stated above, moved by Member Vidis and seconded by Member Dalmage.

Voice Vote

Aye: Unanimous

Nay: None

Motion Carries

IO 7.0 ADJOURMENT

Meeting adjourned at 11:51 a.m.

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Bruce Rauner

Governor

Heidi Mueller

DIRECTOR

1112 South Wabash Avenue, 2nd Floor

Chicago, Illinois 60605

Telephone: (312) 814-3848 / TDD: (800) 526-0844

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