Kisha Brown

Key discussions during the meeting included the Superintendent's Report, which acknowledged the Special Olympics basketball team's qualification for the State Tournament, and updates from the student representative. Personnel matters addressed included recommendations for resignations (including retirements), new employment/appointments, contract adjustments, stipend approvals, and leaves of absence. New Business items involved approving the second reading of revisions to the Board Policy Manual regarding PRESS Issue 120 Updates, authorizing an overnight stay for the IHSA State Chess Tournament, approving a Summer Bridge Course for elective credit, approving the Headrest Barber Business course, endorsing the Discipline Improvement Plan for 2025-2026, approving a 24-month contract with Flock Group, Inc., authorizing the preparation of the tentative budget for Fiscal Year 2027, approving the disposal of school property, and authorizing the administration to solicit bids for various maintenance projects including concrete work, asphalt/paving, steel work, and tuckpointing/masonry repairs. The Public Participation segment included updates on a "Giving Tuesday" fundraiser and a request for Board support for the Alumni basketball game. The Closed Session addressed student discipline, employee matters (including retirement extension and disciplinary actions), negotiations, and litigation, concluding with the approval of a retirement incentive MOU and the appointment of a new District Athletic Director.

The meeting agenda included a Board Member Resignation under the Superintendent's Report and recognition for outstanding students and Teachers/Staff of the Month from Bloom Trail. New Business involved action items such as recommending approval for an overnight stay for the Business Professionals of America Clubs' State Leadership Conference, approving contracts for virtual Spanish instruction services with Proximity Learning, LLC, and translation services with Heartland Translation Services for IEPs. Further approvals included a contract with Frontline for Educations' Frontline Central Program and a one-year extension of the door-to-door transportation contract with DLM School Bus Line, Inc. Facility use was also requested by Chicago Heights School District 170 for field and track practices. The session included a closed session to discuss student discipline, personnel matters, collective negotiating matters, pending litigation, and the review of closed session minutes, followed by potential action items for student discipline and approval of the January 26, 2026 closed session minutes.

The meeting included superintendent's reports featuring updates from student representatives of Bloom Trail and Bloom. Key activities included the recognition of December Outstanding Students and Teachers/Staff of the Month. The Board approved a Consent Agenda which covered personnel actions such as recommended resignations (including retirements), new employments, contract adjustments, stipends, and leaves of absence. New Business items involved approving the first reading of revisions to the Board Policy Manual concerning PRESS Issue 120 updates, authorizing an overnight stay for NJROTC Cadets for a Drill Championship competition, approving second-year property tax abatement requirements, and approving the 2025 Tax Levy documentation. Furthermore, the Board approved a resolution to abate the tax levied for the 2025 Qualified School Construction Bond Series 2017, authorized invoice payments to Jewel-Osco for Back-to-School Clinic services and Menveo vaccines, and officially adopted the 2026-2027 School Calendar. The session concluded with a Closed Session to address student discipline, personnel matters, negotiations, and litigation, followed by reconvening to Open Session to approve a discipline decision and the minutes from the previous Closed Session meeting.

This Discipline Improvement Plan outlines strategies to reduce exclusionary discipline and racial disproportionality by focusing on restorative practices, social-emotional learning, trauma-informed approaches, and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). The plan emphasizes data review, implicit bias training, and robust community partnerships to enhance student support and well-being, with specific action plans detailed for FY25 and FY26.

The meeting agenda included a Superintendent's Report covering Student Representatives and Special Olympics Basketball. New Business involved recommending approval for the second reading of numerous revisions to the Board Policy manual regarding various operational, fiscal, curriculum, and student conduct policies. Other action items included approving an overnight trip for the Chess Team contingent on qualification, approving a Summer Bridge Course as an elective, approving the Headrest Barber Business course funding, approving the Discipline Improvement Plan for 2026, and renewing a contract with Flock Group, Inc. for license plate recognition services. The Board also recommended approval for the Business Manager to prepare the tentative budget for Fiscal Year 2027, the disposal of school property, and soliciting bids for concrete work, asphalt/paving/sealcoat work, steel gates, and tuckpointing/masonry repairs at various district locations. The session included moving to a closed session to discuss student discipline, employee matters, collective negotiating matters, and pending litigation, followed by potential open session action items such as approving a retirement extension, an incentive memorandum of understanding, an Athletic Director appointment, and employee/student discipline decisions.