Batavia Illinois – The 5th Ward

Public Comment (Labor, Technology, and Curriculum)

The board heard from union representatives and community members expressing concerns over bargaining, perceived inequities in elementary school policies, and the unchecked use of screen time on district devices.

• A Union Representative emphasized the importance of good faith bargaining for the upcoming contract year and expressed solidarity with the Roxanna Education Association.
• A Community Member pointed out inequities at HC Storm, noting it is the only elementary school without a designated snack time, potentially violating the district’s wellness policy (Policy 6050).
• Multiple speakers raised alarms that full-day kindergarten scheduling has reduced physical education to once a week, arguing this violates state law (ILCS Section 27705) and district Policy 6060.
• Advocates presented a petition with 691 signatures demanding parent access to the Lightspeed parent portal—a software feature costing the district $64,948 annually—to monitor and restrict YouTube usage on student Chromebooks.
• Community Members cited data showing elementary students average 49 minutes of daily screen time, arguing this hinders foundational learning, and urged the board to establish a temporary technology advisory committee under Policy 2150.

Consent Agenda & Administrative Reports

The board efficiently approved recurring administrative tasks, financial distributions, and routine reporting necessary for standard district operations.

• The board unanimously approved the consent agenda, which included previous meeting minutes, payroll bills, personnel retirements, and donations from the Batavia Mothers Club and the Batavia Music Buffs.
• A District Administrator confirmed the granting of five recent FOIA requests and presented the first treasurer’s report for the 2027 fiscal year, noting no financial anomalies.

Summer Construction Update

District leadership reviewed the completion and ongoing progress of the “warm, safe, and dry” facility initiatives to ensure buildings were prepared for the incoming student body.

• A District Administrator reported on comprehensive flooring replacements at AGS and JB Nelson, transitioning hallways from VCT to luxury vinyl tile (LVT) and gyms to a soft vinyl roll product.
• Louise White received new windows, tuck pointing, a secure entrance sequence, fully renovated kindergarten rooms, and a refreshed library.
• HC Storm underwent extensive exterior updates, including new storm drains, a water main, and newly paved asphalt parking lots, successfully navigating delays caused by 20 to 25 inches of summer rain.

Girls’ Flag Football Program Approval

The board debated the official inclusion of girls’ flag football as an interscholastic sport, weighing enthusiastic student demand against administrative failures to follow standard implementation protocols.

• The Superintendent formally apologized for bypassing established board approval and union consultation timelines prior to launching the program.
• A District Administrator noted the program has already garnered 35 participating students, begun practicing, and scheduled 13 games.
• Funding the estimated $10,000 to $15,000 in coaching stipends will require adjustments through the stipend committee, while a $2,500 grant from the Chicago Bears and booster club support will help offset uniform costs.
• The board approved the program, with one dissenting vote from a Board Member who expressed support for the athletes but formally opposed the administration’s circumvention of established policy.

FY2027 Budget and Fund Transfers

The board formally adopted the upcoming fiscal year’s budget, navigating a complex financial landscape where stagnant state funding is heavily outpaced by escalating operational costs.

• The adopted budget forecasts $108 million in operating revenue and $101 million in spending; however, an $11.6 million transfer to the Capital Projects Fund results in a nearly $5 million deficit for the year.
• A District Administrator highlighted that increased spending is primarily driven by a 15% spike in employee health insurance premiums and rapidly rising special education tuition.
• Despite being a Tier 4 district receiving only $5,111 in new evidence-based funding, the district has lost nearly $2 million over two years due to state reductions in mandated categorical (MCAT) reimbursements for transportation and special education.
• Following the budget’s unanimous adoption, the board approved a resolution transferring $11,655,855 to the Capital Projects Fund to cover the costs of ongoing facility construction and repairs.

Property Tax Assessment Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA)

The board approved a cost-sharing agreement with local municipal partners to collectively protect the residential tax base against commercial property tax appeals.

• The district currently spends $10,000 to $15,000 annually in legal fees to intervene when commercial entities appeal their property valuations.
• The IGA distributes these legal costs proportionally based on tax rates among the school district, the City of Batavia, the Batavia Park District, the Batavia Public Library District, and Waubonsee Community College.
• The school district will serve as the liaison and cover the vast majority (approximately 80%) of the costs, and the board approved the agreement unanimously.

Policy Updates (Bullying and General Policy)

The board addressed mandated policy adoptions, focusing on its anti-bullying framework and routine statutory updates provided by a state legal organization.

• A District Administrator requested authorization to submit the district’s bullying policy (7-180) to the State Board of Education by the September 30 deadline.
• Board Members requested that future evaluations of the bullying policy’s effectiveness be presented contemporaneously with the district’s annual late-spring data snapshot to better analyze year-over-year incident trends.
• The board authorized the Board President to sign the required submission statement and subsequently approved a slate of general policy updates resulting from a quarterly review by the PRESS legal organization.

Entities Mentioned

Type	Name
Educational Institutions	Batavia Public School District 101, HC Storm, Louise White, JB Nelson, AGS, Hooverwood, Rotolo Middle School (RMS), Batavia High School (BHS), Waubonsee Community College, East Aurora
Government & Regulatory Entities	State Board of Education, State of Illinois, Kane County Board of Review, Property Tax Appeal Board, City of Batavia, Batavia Park District, Batavia Public Library District, City of Aurora
Private Companies & Contractors	Lightspeed, Google Workspace, YouTube, PowerSchool, GSF, Fox Excavating, Baroque, Organic Life, Chicago Bears
Community Organizations, Unions, & Associations	Batavia Education Association (BEA), BESPA, Roxanna Education Association, Batavia Mothers Club, Batavia Music Buffs, IHSA, PRESS, BIC, Mooseheart

Author: Jim Fahrenbach

Documents: https://bps-101.community.diligentoneplatform.com/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&Id=387