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Board reviews summer internships, 'grow‑your‑own' certification guidance and non‑certified pay increase details
Summary
The board discussed a one‑student applied skills internship at the bus garage, certification support for staff through grow‑your‑own paths, and non‑certified staff 3% raises approved on May 13; trustees sought documentation that employees enrolling in certification were enrolled by January 2025 and discussed timelines for program completion.
Human resources and instructional staff discussed several personnel items during the work session: a limited applied skills summer internship (one student placement), the district’s 'grow‑your‑own' professional pathway for classified staff seeking certification and the non‑certified employee agreements reflecting a 3% pay increase the board approved at the May 13 meeting.
Staff said the applied skills internship places one student as a bus helper during summer school with a not‑to‑exceed stipend of $600. Trustees asked about start and end dates; staff said the summer internship aligns with summer school dates and that one student had already completed a previous term.
Trustees also questioned details of the district’s grow‑your‑own plan, which supports classified staff obtaining educator licensing and administrative credentials. HR staff said the district recommends partnering colleges (Chicago State, Calumet College) but clarified employees may enroll in any accredited program. The district’s expectation — relayed by HR staff and discussed with trustees — is for participants to finish the required certification within approximately two years, although the board did not adopt a formal deadline; trustees asked for a mechanism to request extensions for staff who make demonstrable progress.
On compensation, staff presented non‑certified employee agreements reflecting the previously approved 3% raise; trustees noted pay scales are inconsistent across groups and asked that the board review the salary schedule for alignment. The transportation bargaining unit contract amendment (Article 7 and related appendices) was also discussed; staff said wage corrections were added to the appendix and clarified that certain days (e‑learning and professional development) require driver attendance and training as provided in the collective bargaining agreement.
Board members asked for documentation showing certain summer‑school‑eligible staff were enrolled by January 2025 (as eligibility rules were discussed); HR committed to provide enrollment evidence where applicable. The session was informational and no hiring or disciplinary actions were taken during the work session.
