Call to Order
Public Comment
No one asked to speak.
Discussion – Enrollment, Staffing and Facilities Use
District 54 annually looks at the sixth-day of enrollment to account for late registrations. The sixth day of student enrollment was 14,516 which is slightly higher than last year’s number of 14,438. While fluctuations in individual school enrollments continue to be monitored, adequate facility space still exists. District 54’s class size average is 21 students in elementary and junior high.
While there is a nationwide teacher shortage. District 54 has been proactive in attending job fairs, conducting early screening interviews and hiring exceptional employees to fully staff all of our schools for the start of the 2023-2024 school year. District 54 also knows the importance of growing our own teachers. This fall, the district welcomed 44 student teachers this fall, up from 23 last year. Working with these future teachers, provides the district with the opportunity to hire individuals who have already been trained in the District 54 curriculum and systems.
Freedom of Information Act
Two Freedom of Information requests were replied to since the last report to the School Board. Details can be found in the FOIA Memo.
Consent Agenda
The School Board approved the following items on the Consent Agenda.
- The minutes of the regular and closed-session Board of Education meetings on August 10, 2023
- Resignations, retirements, termination, employment and salary adjustments of personnel
- Checks dated August 11 and 25, 2023
- The treasurer’s report on cash and investments for July 2023
- The monthly update of revenues and expenditures for July and August 2023
- A recommendation to approve the Medicaid billing agent
- A recommendation to post administrator and teacher salaries and benefits
- The purchase of technology licensing and support
- The release of closed-session minutes for eight meetings held during the 2022-23 school year
- The destruction of verbatim records of the closed-session school board meetings on February 10, March 2 and March 10, 2022, for which approved minutes already exist
Report of the Board President
Board President Jim Pye spoke about the amazing start to the school year with the all-staff kickoff event on August 16 and welcoming back students on August 21.
He spoke about the recent Schaumburg Septemberfest parade and thanked the District 54 Grizzlies Special Olympics athletes and coaches for walking with the School Board. He also thanked the volunteers who supported the District 54 Education Foundation by parking cars or working in the food booth.
Jim congratulated the recipients of the 2023 District 54 Ensuring Student Success Awards including Collins Principal Nell Haack, Dooley Teacher Ayako Abe, Einstein Coach Michelle Roth, Link Volunteer Joe Smolenski, Warehouse Specialist Joe Havel, and the Campanelli Child Study Team.
He announced that Terri McHugh, District 54’s community relations executive director, was elected the North Central Region Vice President for the National School Public Relations Association.
The District 54 School Board earned the School Board Governance Recognition from the Illinois Association of School Boards, acknowledging boards that have engaged in activities and modeled behaviors that lead to excellence in local school governance in support of quality education.
Jim invited everyone to the annual District 54 Run to Read this Sunday, Sept. 17, at Dirksen School. The morning kicks off with school mascot races at 7:30 a.m. Visit sd54.org/runtoread to learn more.
Superintendent Andy DuRoss provided an update on communication vehicles in District 54. Board members commented that in addition to digital and print publications, communications and public relations occurs from attending events and engaging with people in the community in person.
District Citizens Advisory Committee Report
Board Member Barbara Hengels shared that DCAC heard an overall of the extended learning opportunities for staff and students during the summer.
Foundation Report
Board Member Bill Harper announced that if you order from Lou Malnati’s in Schaumburg on Sept. 20, 20% of proceeds will be donated to the Foundation. In addition, on Sept. 23, the SEA and SEEO are hosting a Craft and Vendor Fair with proceeds supporting the D54 Foundation.
New Business
- The Board had the first reading of revisions to the following board policies:
- Consumable Materials Fee – 4.140a,
- Basic Instructional Program – 6.60 and
- Prevention of and Response to Bullying – 7.180.
- The Board appointed Steve Miller as the assistant superintendent of business operations for the 2024-25 school year.
Adjournment
The Board adjourned at 7:50 p.m. to closed session for school matters.
