Batavia School Board Meeting – December 16, 2025
At the end of the year, the school district will be debt free for the first time in known history! Also, we’re joining a class action suit against social media companies, and much more…
Student and Staff Recognition
- Esports Program Success: The Board received a presentation from the Esports coach, a special education teacher, highlighting the program’s rapid growth over the last year.
- Participation & Performance: The team consisted of 28 students competing across six titles; all 28 qualified for playoffs, and 19 advanced to state competitions. The team was described by a peer coach as a “juggernaut” to be reckoned with.
- State Results: The team achieved significant success, including a second-place finish in Mario Kart (losing only to a two-time champion), a third-place finish in Marvel Rivals, and a third-place individual finish in the game Brawlhalla.
- First State Champion: The Board recognized the high school’s first-ever Esports State Champion, a junior who secured the number one seed in Brawlhalla and finished with a 13-2 record.
- Commitment & College: Students committed over 10 hours a week to the team. One senior captain has signed to play esports collegiately at Carthage College.
- Future Growth: The program expects over 45 students to compete across 12 titles in the upcoming spring season. Coaches are working toward allowing public attendance at matches, which are currently streamed via Twitch and YouTube.
Curriculum and Instruction
- Amplify CKLA (Core Knowledge Language Arts) Implementation:
- Classroom Observations: Board members who observed the new curriculum in elementary classrooms noted that it covers grammar, vocabulary, writing, and reading comprehension in single sessions. While third graders adapted quickly, fifth graders faced more challenges adjusting to the increased rigor after years of a different curriculum.
- Instructional Strategy: Instructional coaches are currently working with teachers on engagement strategies to scaffold students up to the high rigor required by the new materials.
- Expansion to Middle School (Grades 6-8):
- Teacher Consensus: After reviewing 12 resources, the middle school team selected Amplify ELA as their preferred resource.
- Implementation Strategy: Although initially planned as a smaller field test, the administration recommended a full implementation for the middle school. This decision was made because the co-teaching model (used for IEP and EL students) makes it difficult for only one teacher on a team to use the new material. Teachers expressed a strong desire to “learn together” rather than fragmenting the grade levels.
- Timeline: Professional learning is scheduled for January 5, 2026, with implementation beginning in the second semester.
- Cost and Contract Details:
- Contract Structure: The Board approved a five-year contract that includes consumable and digital materials.
- Savings: The administration negotiated a 50% reduction in shipping costs, saving the district roughly $45,000.
- Cost Breakdown: While the total expenditure is large, the administration broke it down to approximately $29,000 per grade level per year, or roughly $4,000 to $4,500 per classroom.
Strategic Priority: Belonging
- Presentation on Belonging: The Director of Student Services and District Behavior Manager presented “Belonging” as a core strategic priority, defined as the extent to which students feel personally accepted, respected, included, and supported.
- Measurement Tools: The district measures belonging using Panorama student surveys (asking questions such as “How much respect do students at your school show you?”), attendance data, discipline data, and focus groups.
- Framework for Action: The strategy relies on two drivers:
- Skills: Explicit instruction in social-emotional learning (SEL) aligned with state standards and the “Portrait of a Graduate” attributes.
- Learning Conditions: Creating predictable, safe environments where relationships can thrive.
- Current Initiatives:
- High School: Focusing on student voice in extracurriculars to ensure students see themselves represented.
- Middle School: Deepening “CHAMPS” implementation to target student engagement and equity of voice.
- District-Wide: 23 staff members will attend a CASEL exchange in February for training on engaging instruction and mental health, later sharing this knowledge with building leadership teams.
- Survey Expansion: The district is launching Panorama surveys for educators and families to gain a broader perspective on school climate.
Financial Reports and Tax Levy
- Truth in Taxation Hearing:
- Reason for Hearing: A public hearing was required because the proposed levy request exceeded a 5% increase over the prior year’s extension. This was driven by a desire to capture new property value.
- New Property Value: The district is adding significant value to its tax rolls, including $12 million in new construction and approximately $15 million from the expiration of TIF District 1 (downtown Batavia).
- Assessment Increases: The Equalized Assessed Value (EAV) of the district increased by 11%, bringing the median home value in Batavia to approximately $450,000.
- Debt Retirement: The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) announced that the district will make its final bond payment on December 31, 2025, becoming debt-free for the first time in known history.
- Tax Impact:
- Levy Amounts: The Board adopted a levy of $92 million, though the district expects to collect just under $90 million.
- Rate Decrease: Due to the retirement of debt and rising property values, the tax rate is expected to drop by 9.8% (from 5.2 to 4.6).
- Homeowner Savings: The CFO estimated that the owner of a median-value home will pay approximately $300 less in school taxes compared to the prior year.
- Fund Balances: The district disclosed a total fund balance of $49 million as of June 30, which is expected to drop below $40 million due to capital spending on renovations.
Facilities and Operations
- Louise White School Renovations:
- Project Scope: The Board awarded bids for improvements including new security vestibules, converting rooms B0-B2 into two kindergarten classrooms, replacing windows/doors, and replacing the roof.
- Roof Condition: The current roof is the original from 1978, making it 47 years old.
- Cost Challenges: Bids for the project came in approximately 18% higher than the previous year, surpassing the budgeted 10-12% increase.
- Drivers of Cost: The Director of Operations cited tariffs on copper and electrical components, as well as significant price hikes in millwork (cabinetry/casework), as major factors. The electrical bid had to be re-issued initially because only one bid was received.
- HVAC Purchase: The Board approved a cooperative purchase for HVAC equipment (Trane units) for Louise White School via Omnia Partners. Some equipment, such as cabinet heaters, was purchased in a bundle earlier to avoid long lead times.
Litigation and Policy
- Social Media Class Action: The Board voted to join a nationwide multi-district litigation against social media companies.
- Rationale: The Superintendent noted this addresses Board concerns regarding student device usage and social media impact. There is no financial cost to join; fees would only be collected from a potential settlement.
- Board Policy Updates:
- Safety Act Compliance: The Board approved a policy update to align with the state Safety Act.
- Training Requirement: A Board Member requested language regarding mandatory staff training on the new safety protocols. Legal counsel advised against altering the policy text itself but suggested adding the training requirement to the administrative procedures, which the Board agreed to.
Board Development and Conference Report
Board members shared takeaways from the recent “Triple I” Joint Annual Conference:
- Superintendent Evaluation: Members attended sessions suggesting that Superintendents should perform a self-evaluation first, set prioritized goals, and document significant actions throughout the year. A mid-year informal check-in was also recommended.
- Hiring and Diversity: Members discussed the concept of “name bias” in recruiting and the importance of the district website reflecting diversity, as minority candidates often check the website to see if they will belong.
- Student Governance: A Board Member highlighted a session by Oswego School District regarding their student board members, noting that the presence of students at the table empowered both the students and the adults.
- Trust Building: A member reported on a session regarding trust in leadership, citing eight pillars (Clarity, Compassion, Character, Competency, Commitment, Connection, Consistency) essential for high-functioning organizations.
- Finance: A member attended “Dollars and Decisions 101,” which covered debt management and ROI, using simulations of school districts with failed referendums.
Administration and Closing Comments
- Community Support: The Superintendent thanked the community for the “Adopt-a-Family” program, which supported a record 394 students—an increase of over 50 students from the previous year.
- Board Member Tribute: The Board President and Superintendent formally recognized the Board Secretary for her dedicated service, presenting her with a gift and noting that the Board “cannot function” without her.
- Holiday Reflections: Board members offered well wishes for the holiday season, referencing Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Christmas, and expressing hope that the community finds rest and peace despite recent tragic events in the wider world.
Author: Jim Fahrenbach
Docs: https://go.boarddocs.com/il/bps101/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DLZKFY51B913
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