The “Wishtree” program, cell phone policy discussion, and the use of consultants, is it too much?
Agenda and Meeting Opening
- (00:47) The meeting begins with an adjustment to the agenda, adding discussions about potential construction tours for the board and the use of consultants within the district.
“Wishtree” Belonging Campaign at JB Nelson Elementary
- (02:25) Ashley and Nicole from JB Nelson Elementary School present their “one book, one JB” initiative centered around the book “Wishtree.” The campaign’s goal is to cultivate a sense of belonging and inclusion among students.
- (03:35) The project aims to show that all students belong, foster a love for reading, and connect literacy between school and home. Activities include a kickoff skit with staff in costumes, a real “wish tree” in the school’s courtyard where students and staff have hung their wishes for the year, and weekly riddles related to the book.
- (05:57) To ensure accessibility for all families, community members and staff, including Superintendent Kim, have recorded audio chapters of the book, which are available online.
- (07:57) Weekly trivia questions are held to keep students engaged, with winners receiving prizes like gift certificates to the book fair.
- (08:48) The campaign will conclude with a family literacy night on November 20th, where families can make their own wishes to add to the tree, participate in book-related activities, and come together as a community.
Public Comments
- (12:10) Haley: A parent from Louise White Elementary, addresses the board regarding her child’s recess being punitively withheld. She states that her concerns have been dismissed by the administration and requests a response from the board about the district’s compliance with the state law mandating 30 minutes of daily recess.
- (13:52) David: Representing Birth to Five Illinois, he speaks on the importance of early childhood education and his organization’s work to support families with young children in the community.
- (17:13) Drew (BPS Partners): Discusses the increasing complexity of student needs, especially in high-needs programs. He also commends the district for recent building improvements and congratulates the Batavia High School art teachers on being named a School of Distinction by the Illinois Art Education Association.
Student Ambassador’s Report
- (19:55) Student Ambassador Kaio provides an update on high school activities.
- Sports: Football has a 3-1 record, boys’ soccer is having a successful season, and other sports like tennis, volleyball, cross country, swimming, and girls’ golf are also performing well.
- Clubs and Events: The student section at football games has been very energetic. Other recent events included Class Olympics and a successful Homecoming week. The new library is open, and Key Club held a sale to benefit neuroscience research. An attendance challenge is underway, with the freshmen class currently in the lead.
- Arts: The marching band won first place at their first competition. An improv show is scheduled for October 1st, and the musical “The Little Mermaid” will run from November 6th to 9th.
- Middle School: Middle school students are participating in the high school musical and marching band. Other middle school activities include cheer, cross country, volleyball, and football.
Consent Agenda and Financials
- (24:49) The board approves the consent agenda, which includes meeting minutes, personnel reports, payroll, and the acceptance of donations.
- (26:15) A discussion on the insurance benefits plan reveals that changes to the plan saved over a million dollars, limiting the premium increase to 8%, which is below the industry average of 16-18%.
Board Business and Discussions
- (29:43) Use of Consultants: The board discusses the process for approving and evaluating outside consultants. Members requested more detailed rationale for hiring consultants, including defined goals, alignment with district priorities, and metrics for measuring success, particularly for contract renewals.
- (47:03) Math Curriculum Implementation: An update on the new math curriculum reveals that while the content is strong, the implementation has been challenging and labor-intensive for teachers, especially in its first year. The board acknowledges the hard work of the teachers and the importance of supporting them through this transition.
- (56:01) Bavia Foundation for Educational Excellence Hall of Honor: The board recognizes the eight new inductees into the BPS 101 Hall of Honor and encourages the community to submit nominations for the 2026 class.
- (1:00:21 & 1:13:27) Board Policy Readings: The board holds a first reading for a policy to change the term for board officers to one year and a second reading for policies concerning home and hospital instruction, access to electronic networks (including AI), student behavior, and student support services.
- (1:02:15) Summer Construction Recap: Mark presents a visual recap of the summer construction projects, showing the before and after of the new office and music room at Storm Elementary, and the updated LRCs at the high school and Rotolo Middle School.
- (1:18:04) Activity Bus Purchase: The board approves the purchase of five activity buses that were previously leased, as buying them is more economical than entering a new lease.
Board and Administration Comments
- (1:22:40) The superintendent congratulates the high school’s fine arts department for their state-level recognition.
- (1:25:01) A board member initiates a discussion on several topics:
- Communicating Building Improvements: The idea of creating videos to showcase recent school renovations to the community is well-received.
- Gun Safety Education: A discussion about the district’s policy on teaching safe gun storage and whether the current implementation is sufficient.
- Cell Phone Policy: Concerns from parents about the consistency of the cell phone policy enforcement across different schools and classrooms are raised. The board agrees to gather more information on this.
- (2:12:19) Another board member shares a personal story to emphasize the importance of understanding the root causes of student absenteeism and also expresses concern for the safety and well-being of Latina and immigrant families in the community.
Closing
- (2:24:07) The meeting is adjourned at 9:24 p.m.
Meeting Docs: https://go.boarddocs.com/il/bps101/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DJPN2E5DC923
Author: Jim Fahrenbach
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