[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6122425,"mediaKeyId","2694932-7e5a3513f380773b02ec310e635870f9","parentId",2694932,"title","Votes at a glance: Oak Park ESD 97 board actions on collective bargaining, raises, gifts policy and program funding — March 18, 2025","audioSeconds",303,"startMs",4273000,"endMs",4576000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2694932-7e5a3513f380773b02ec310e635870f9&start=4273&end=4576","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2694932-7e5a3513f380773b02ec310e635870f9/thumbnail_4273000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6122425/Illinois/Votes-at-a-glance-Oak-Park-ESD-97-board-actions-on-collective-bargaining-raises-gifts-policy-and-program-funding-March-18-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6122425-48198ccc38bf1c9c4cdc1ef9ade08ab7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141727&Signature=PEbODMPEKZgx9uoDlQKtoKpP-YmBcLSHz6P9pMhUcpcSe714tbp2VRq4a~HI5np9y204wB4tFGryJYcwUstAuDJMgQSfPjnkfjeD9H1Kkf62Bl4CICmJJ9GahQ8OEmbXqy4rTygFGyJ17-H5bVHOCLgvpFDrAbGC6Q~wtH4zlkfzCE1ZvLkTM00jLulqsnjGuffycK3g5UfeJOlIAubQsIi5fnGoRMrqGabbPKtgeBlQdrpqlNmI5ZQloSWI2SsX2y-Bw4rt3fVJfh2TE8y6i9x2hSzoMu2mU-ifQglTcaK12CIWLCvVeH7T6gQq0eIzCpPr0fyEwUhEnp3UKc2o1g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Oak Park ESD 97","date","2025-03-19T20:54:15.037Z","article","At its March 18 meeting the Oak Park ESD 97 Board of Education recorded multiple formal actions. The votes below summarize motions, recorded roll‑call results where available, and next steps.

1) Tentative agreement with Oak Park Teachers Association
- Motion: Approve the tentative agreement with the Oak Park Teachers Association.
- Vote: Motion carried (roll call recorded: Moore — yes; Scurlock/Sperla — yes; Kim — yes; Burns — yes; others listed as absent). The board noted it had been six years since the last full contract negotiation and thanked negotiating teams.

2) Administrator salary increase (retroactive)
- Motion: Approve a 3.4% increase for district administrators, retroactive to 07/01/2024.
- Vote: Motion carried (roll call recorded: Moore — yes; Sperla — yes; Kim — yes; Burns — yes; Carney absent; Herb Johnson absent). Implementation to align with payroll and fiscal reporting.

3) Donation/gift policy threshold increase (Board policy 8.8)
- Motion: Increase the threshold value of gifts that require board approval from $500 to $5,000.
- Vote: Motion carried (roll‑call recorded in meeting; multiple yes votes recorded). Staff indicated they will update procedures and communicate the change.

4) CAST 2025 summer programming funding
- Motion: Approve the 2025 CAST summer program as presented, not to exceed $59,375.
- Vote: Motion carried (roll call contained yea and nay votes; motion passed). Staff will deliver a full line‑item budget at a future meeting.

5) Access to Algebra — additional staffing
- Motion: Approve additional staffing for the district’s Access to Algebra program (three additional staff requested).
- Vote: Motion carried (roll call recorded with mixed yes/no votes; motion passed). Administrators will proceed with hiring and report on implementation.

Notes on voting and process: Some roll‑call names in the audio record were abbreviated or variable; the board minutes should be consulted for the official typed roll call. Where staff requested more time to provide supporting documentation (for example, CAST budget breakdown), board members asked for that documentation to arrive before final implementation steps.

Ending: Staff will align contract and salary changes with payroll and financial reporting cycles and return with requested budget detail and implementation updates at subsequent meetings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Regular Meeting - Mar 18 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The District 97 board approved a tentative teachers’ agreement, retroactive administrator salary increases, raised the board approval threshold for gifts, approved CAST summer funding and authorized additional staffing for Access to Algebra.","taxTitle","Oak Park ESD 97, School Boards, Illinois","taxId",38380,"location","Illinois","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6122429,"District 97 presents ISBE/Press policy updates including Title IX procedural changes and added curriculum requirements",109,3073000,3182000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2694932-7e5a3513f380773b02ec310e635870f9&start=3073&end=3182","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2694932-7e5a3513f380773b02ec310e635870f9/thumbnail_3073000.jpg","/articles/6122429/Illinois/District-97-presents-ISBEPress-policy-updates-including-Title-IX-procedural-changes-and-added-curriculum-requirements","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6122429-3e1d9de313cfda949a6876d501116373/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141727&Signature=nzpG7Q6DnuKBR1q35tPpldLVJA-nKQ2GEOTF5ciCBijibB7QBL3ZChyUt~Z~mkvwDVQ1fjUkIaivFMetb78xWBOLU6J4bnfdxbvxW1wnqAuPjQfaqKMNXKg4SROO0fsUf52kLD-ZdXG7X3c9jd1p4XWmgavkCd9vvbiJm6N~C-H5b9XBOQ4VL6ZiV4ZK-tppu2ipsg9TE8p~FM9NuNH3j00PD5Ay~pRtw8sD0pSeDWKzRPOfdid4itei~oV5Pwd2S29UvjjT6IIGCGXntvoiPPH8L0dA~JRSxx2MvTDrrKdo3WXibCo3MmvDyjGNROMoNLBM72unW7l2sIDmiDy4mg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District 97 staff presented updates to board policy language sourced from ISBPress issue updates during the March 18 meeting. Luis Rodriguez, who presented the policy packet, said most changes were minor editorial updates; four substantive revisions were highlighted for board feedback and future adoption.

Substantive changes noted by staff include:
- Title IX handling: The proposed change removes Title IX complaint procedures from the district’s Uniform Grievance Procedure (UGP) language and clarifies that complaints under Title IX follow federal Title IX grievance procedures (which can change under federal rulemaking).
- Complaint roles: The update names district coordinators and complaint managers for harassment and discrimination complaints, clarifying who receives and manages such complaints.
- Health and safety curriculum: The curriculum policy would add mandated instruction on the dangers of fentanyl and resource conservation/climate change education beginning in 2026.
- Career development: The policy would add a requirement for career‑development activities for students in grades 6–8.

Luis Rodriguez said most edits are administrative and that the policy committee reviewed substantive wording in advance of a public reading and a vote at a future meeting. A board member asked whether the coordinator and complaint manager roles differ; Rodriguez explained complaint managers typically receive and handle initial reports while the coordinator provides oversight and support.

Why it matters: Changes to grievance and curriculum policy clarify internal roles and reflect state/federal requirements, particularly where Title IX procedures are governed by federal regulations. The board will receive the final draft before a formal adoption vote.

Ending: Staff said they will publish the proposed policy updates for public review and return for a board vote at a subsequent meeting.","District staff reviewed proposed board policy changes sent by ISBE/Press, including removing Title IX references from the UGP procedure, naming Title IX coordinators/complaint managers, adding mandated instruction on fentanyl dangers and new career‑development requirements for grades 6–8.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6122434,"District 97 presents facility master‑plan findings; roofs, HVAC and LED retrofits flagged as near‑term needs",530,3208000,3738000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2694932-7e5a3513f380773b02ec310e635870f9&start=3208&end=3738","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2694932-7e5a3513f380773b02ec310e635870f9/thumbnail_3208000.jpg","/articles/6122434/Illinois/District-97-presents-facility-masterplan-findings-roofs-HVAC-and-LED-retrofits-flagged-as-nearterm-needs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6122434-450ab66cb6e5de64ac9ec62d74d2c167/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141727&Signature=KYXSlgA5~EO9MwDsUIdd~~jcBrwCS5rF8q1UooL6z3I3cqeUTJXRZfOo3Klc3LN6av8j2k~VpjaaCRTiwrhfv0shvEyBu2XqU3FEzF2w6gJ59UJKMvRjOWFWU6Tc7AZx6LEg~YK~ny-4j7mG-UcneCbAHJdpGBn1hEnvGhYsTX~A9PfJx1la9cOanL8Z1JKbJHbHGpv0n5rTHQvSBwxOdOIkjmmtxg2PS71tDM6saQE4Hjeg1~26vF-GislqUY-4HmdCY7~ZH9r4CgZofrAL-Ak7zYhkRvOavumawdNueB8pc-cjJPFZQ-IP2zKwECJ~bNE8~l2pOfg1lCkuXRl-JQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District 97 consultants and staff presented a facilities master‑plan update and a draft of required maintenance work at the March 18 board meeting, highlighting roofing replacements, plumbing and mechanical concerns, and potential energy efficiency projects that may be eligible for rebates or grants.

Why it matters: Consultants reported many roof sections across middle and elementary schools are at or near the end of useful life and should be addressed within the district’s short‑term planning horizon. One presentation slide showed multiple roof sections flagged in “red” indicating imminent replacement needs.

What presenters said: Jennifer (district facilities lead) and Megan Simmons (consultant) summarized space‑use plans, capacity analysis and a draft architectural assessment. The report noted several roof areas at Brooks and Julian are in poor condition and that a replacement approach using modified‑bitumen roofing with a 30‑year warranty is being considered. Tom Bates, who spoke about roofing strategy, said it is common practice to replace roof sections rather than piecemeal repairs. “It is very typical in every district I’ve been in that we go section by section on roofs,” Bates said.

Aged mechanical equipment: Staff identified an air‑handling unit serving a cafeteria and fifth‑grade pod that is decades past its expected life (presenters cited an age estimate of about 46 years). The district said it is evaluating whether to replace units with gas like‑for‑like systems or move to electric units with an eye toward future electrification and grants.

Sustainability and funding: The district is coordinating with a cross‑agency sustainability exchange to identify incentive programs, rebates and other external funding that could offset lighting retrofits and electrification costs. Staff said LED retrofit work for auditoriums and electrification incentives from utilities may offset a significant portion of retrofit costs.

Timing and costs: Presenters provided order‑of‑magnitude cost estimates for near‑term projects (example: several roof sections estimated in the low millions across multiple buildings) and said the typical procurement timeline makes summer bids challenging without accelerated planning. Board members asked whether roof replacement would occur this summer; facilities staff advised that planning, design and bidding typically push procurement to fall if not started immediately, and that a summer 2025 mass roofing project would be difficult to execute without prior plans.

Next steps: Consultants will finish the architectural assessments, compile required maintenance recommendations and return to the board with prioritized projects and estimated budgets, with an update planned for June 10.

Ending: Board members asked staff to outline potential grant and rebate sources and present a prioritized, budgeted list of required maintenance for board consideration at a future meeting.","Consultants presented a district facilities assessment identifying aging roofs, an end‑of‑life air‑handling unit and possible energy retrofit opportunities; the board was told roofs are near or beyond service life and replacements should be prioritized.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6122439,"District 97 unveils middle‑school master schedule to increase daily core instructional time and elective choice",261,764000,1025000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2694932-7e5a3513f380773b02ec310e635870f9&start=764&end=1025","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2694932-7e5a3513f380773b02ec310e635870f9/thumbnail_764000.jpg","/articles/6122439/Illinois/District-97-unveils-middleschool-master-schedule-to-increase-daily-core-instructional-time-and-elective-choice","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6122439-6f7b7ce43e035352ee94b7cf4d280e57/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141727&Signature=bvu03ka7s4ufbSe3lmltG-RZmohwVxisnS2ZvRZYu4p9Aso4DbeajTOI39xQyDFtMV-PqtM4WegMWEWdDKT4ENiVonOg3x0FQx3px-e5S8tY~9npyAEsGdGiLv9fJjZ3DSIVUp1y1iSZejEFnTx7ZdK1W6gIuo16h4UcUBRXT9M06dUoobvpaFTDTOFP34d5xoU9HpEai2mN~Xe6YcWPiltn73tYjZAyBn0zViT8ofCScH1Zpar8paVmsPJxCBPZRGX7ZL-fi~MpLwk2LLq4CvC3FixFVJfRGpiR00nMBFF60gcGkUZf3uqu1EfI6xySBdW7RxfNmRG9oxS7L9LA5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District 97 administrators and a middle‑school redesign team presented a new master schedule to the Board of Education on March 18 that shifts from an alternating (A/B) 75‑minute block model to daily 50‑minute core classes for grades 6–8, with the stated aim of increasing instructional frequency, elective choice and alignment across the two middle schools.

The presenters included Luisa Leon (a sixth‑grade parent who served on the redesign committee), Samantha Tracy (special education teacher at Julian), Mallory (eighth‑grade ELA teacher and department chair at Brooks) and Nick Filipowski, principal at Julian. Luisa Leon told the board, “We are happy to report that this design is actually able to be run by the PowerSchool system,” signaling the schedule’s technical viability for staffing and enrollment systems.

Nut graf: The redesign replaces the every‑other‑day 75‑minute class with daily 50‑minute meetings for core English language arts, math, science and social studies. District presenters said the change increases weekly instructional minutes for each core subject from about 188 to 250 minutes and yields roughly 110 additional hours of core instruction across a student’s sixth‑through‑eighth‑grade experience.

Key elements presented
- Core instruction: Daily 50‑minute cores (ELA, math, science, social studies) rather than alternating 75‑minute blocks; presenters estimated a weekly increase from 188 to 250 minutes per core subject.
- Electives: Students would choose a year‑long daily elective (band, orchestra, world language, art, speech/drama, debate) plus a rotating AB elective that could be trimester or year‑long, increasing choice and exploration.
- Advisory/“What I Need” (SOAR/Win Time): The schedule pairs a universal social/SEL/enrichment block with lunch in a 72‑minute window; staff described the block as “What I Need” time for both enrichment and intervention, to be structured over subsequent months.
- Continuity across campuses: District staff said both middle schools will adopt the same bell schedules and course offerings to ensure consistent student experience and allow teacher collaboration across campuses.

Board discussion focused on implementation questions. Board members asked whether world language would become optional (presenters said it could be offered as an optional year‑long choice while still available at the high school), and how staffing and course enrollments might shift if students opt for music or design over language. Principal Filipowski and the team said there are multiple world‑language options, including year‑long, AB year‑long and a trimester world cultures option to preserve opportunities for language exposure.

Experts and staff also outlined transition work for fifth‑to‑sixth‑grade students, middle‑school connection events and parent outreach scheduled this spring. The team said next steps include final schedule building, student course selection this spring, and implementation for the fall semester after additional work with PowerSchool and staff professional development.

Ending: The board requested follow‑up details on lunch/minute allocations, staffing impacts for electives and specifics about the advisory/“What I Need” implementation. Administrators said they will return with finer scheduling details and examples before final fall implementation.","District 97’s middle‑school redesign team presented a new schedule that moves from alternating 75‑minute classes to daily 50‑minute core classes, increases weekly math and ELA minutes and expands elective options; staff will implement the schedule for fall after PowerSchool testing and further design work.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6122444,"Parent urges board to deny district funding for CAST summer theater; board approves $59,375 allocation",4626,102000,4728000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2694932-7e5a3513f380773b02ec310e635870f9&start=102&end=4728","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2694932-7e5a3513f380773b02ec310e635870f9/thumbnail_102000.jpg","/articles/6122444/Illinois/Parent-urges-board-to-deny-district-funding-for-CAST-summer-theater-board-approves-59375-allocation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6122444-62864915dd8e55571e40b76368b030be/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141727&Signature=i8mfJNcNUqGM2tWVVQXgVPOF0BUH4lJL8fITJVLKKZSHYPm7i0fkFnZuPD7tEWwzntUVAcWmmpJZtmkr8BxqNNCMRJ0GSYXt-Gt7pGEHiiEIcoiiaWwsLCUbv2R6tbqEpifUaw94KQJvO1Sis8FlQkt~sZG0HBbVunIHr15ZfXKQxkzNDI4fI-oI1-Po1cXcvTQDv1vFVMhOif5rq1DQRslB6y0sRpD1-nSGmiIWACtIGo2PeuQQ28iwuqFs4zGkgtLMGs9ui9g916WW4ipa7YNM7XgEBHN8htBm6z-e9e4zacTHfZRYLi96gAvF7taBrGfLT1Jyo2L-HNiLdHYsoA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Rachel Maddox, a parent of two District 97 students, urged the Board of Education on March 18 to deny district funding for the CAST summer theater program, saying the district’s limited tax dollars should prioritize academic interventions such as literacy.

Maddox described the role performing arts played for her children but said her daughter needed literacy intervention rather than a tuition-free summer theater placement. “D97 has a finite amount of taxpayer dollars and we have to make choices on where to spend our money. We cannot fund an extracurricular summer theater program when our students are not meeting benchmarks in literacy,” Maddox told the board during public comment.

Why it matters: The board considered a one-time payment to run CAST this summer. Board members debated whether the district should underwrite the program, charge tuition with scholarships as in the past, or require greater budget detail before approving taxpayer support.

Discussion and questions at the meeting focused on transparency of the CAST budget and whether the $59,375 figure covered only labor. Maddox said past leadership presented a $60,000 labor figure for roughly 75 students (about $800 per student) and asked where costs for licensing, costumes and set design were accounted for.

District staff said they did not have a full line-item breakdown available at the table. “I don’t have that information right now, but I can get it for you,” said Ebony, a district staff member who answered questions about the program’s timeline. Board members noted the timing pressure for summer programming but said staff could return with additional budget detail at the board’s April meeting.

Vote and outcome: After discussion, the board voted to approve the 2025 CAST summer program funding “not to exceed $59,375.” The roll call contained both yea and nay votes; the motion carried.

Context and next steps: Several board members requested a follow-up presentation showing a full, line-item budget and the district’s plan for tuition, subsidies or scholarships if the board moves away from fully district-funded programming. Staff said they could return with additional financial detail at the April 8 meeting, though doing so would compress the summer program planning timeline.

Ending: The board approved the funding as presented March 18; staff committed to provide a more detailed budget breakdown and to outline alternatives such as tuition with scholarship supports if the board revisits the item at a later meeting.","A parent told the Oak Park ESD 97 board she opposes using district tax dollars to fund the CAST summer theater program and questioned budget transparency. The board voted to approve up to $59,375 for the 2025 CAST summer program after a split vote.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Oak Park ESD 97 board actions on collective bargaining, raises, gifts policy and program funding — March 18, 2025

District 97 presents ISBE/Press policy updates including Title IX procedural changes and added curriculum requirements

District 97 presents facility master‑plan findings; roofs, HVAC and LED retrofits flagged as near‑term needs

District 97 unveils middle‑school master schedule to increase daily core instructional time and elective choice

Parent urges board to deny district funding for CAST summer theater; board approves $59,375 allocation