Marie McLaughlin

Key discussions during the meeting included a presentation by SOAR high school students on the personal impact of the program, as well as staff reports. Action items focused on approving financial reports and the destruction of older closed session minutes, and the hiring of a long-term substitute teacher. The board also approved submitting a Maintenance Grant application, which includes proposed improvements such as replacing smoke/heat alarms and updating the intercom system. Furthermore, the board approved recommending revisions to Section 9.2 of the Joint Constitution concerning billing and distribution percentages to the Alliance Council for a vote. Informational items covered the status of centralized hiring, the annual review of the Reduction in Force (RIF) document, updates on policy revisions with Press Plus, and progress on the Procedural Manual with Bushue. The strategic planning section addressed the potential start-up of an autism room/program, and updates from ISBE regarding new IEP forms were shared. An upcoming Alliance Council meeting in January was noted, which will address the billing change and the hiring of a new Executive Director.

The meeting included the selection of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the L.E.A.S.E. Executive Committee, Denise Aughenbaugh and Rich Faivre respectively. The board approved items on the consent agenda, including open and closed session minutes from the previous board meeting, bank reconciliation, bills, and financial reports. Appointments were made to the L.E.A.S.E. Ethics Commission, and Janelle Gustafson was appointed as the L.E.A.S.E. Ethics Officer. The director was authorized to initiate the annual L.E.A.S.E. Needs Assessment to determine the need for new programs and services. The L.E.A.S.E. 2024-2025 audit was approved for distribution, and a new Walmart credit card was accepted. The resignation of a part-time custodian was approved, and the Executive Director search, brochure, and timeline were also approved with edits. Informational items included the SOAR Monthly Report, SOAR Emergency Operations Plan, a FOIA request, review of Co-Op LEASE Determination data, a billing survey, and a strategic plan update. Non-agenda items included discussion on possibly moving funds into an investment, and short term Certificates of Deposit for LaSalle State Bank will be explored.

The discussions covered the 2025-2026 budget, which included additional expenses for hiring personnel like an educational interpreter and a social worker, increased fees for Presence, SOAR projects, and the expense of hiring a BCBA, as well as an increase in IMRF benefit percentage. The board also discussed the 2025-2026 L.E.A.S.E. Alliance Council and Executive Committee meeting calendar, R.O.E. #35 Contract, resignation of staff, an increase in substitute daily rates, change orders for the SOAR Door/Entry project, the L.E.A.S.E. parking lot project, the L.E.A.S.E. strategic plan, and changes to L.E.A.S.E. billing. The board approved a resolution regarding written closed session minutes for public release, a resolution related to the employment of staff, and salary adjustments for staff.

The budget includes revenues from local, state, and federal sources. Local sources include ad valorem taxes, payments in lieu of taxes, tuition, transportation fees, earnings on investments, food service, district/school activity income, textbook income, and other revenue. State sources include unrestricted and restricted grants-in-aid. Federal sources include grants-in-aid. Expenditures are categorized into instruction, support services, community services, and payments to other districts and government units.

The budget includes revenues from local sources such as ad valorem taxes, payments in lieu of taxes, tuition, transportation fees, earnings on investments, food service, district/school activity income, textbook income, and other revenue from local sources. It also details flow-through receipts/revenues from one district to another, receipts/revenues from state sources including unrestricted and restricted grants-in-aid, and receipts/revenues from federal sources including various title programs and food service programs. The budget outlines expenditures for instruction, support services, community services, and payments to other districts and government units. It also includes a summary of cash transactions, estimated receipts/revenues, and estimated disbursements/expenditures for various funds.