Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School District 233

Key discussions focused on clarifying details regarding the tuition for the Early Childhood Development program, confirming it supports the College and Career Pathways endorsement. There was also discussion about a proposed revision to Policy 5:240 (Suspension) that would increase the Superintendent's authority regarding unpaid suspensions to ten school days, aligning with state law. Under New Business, the agreement for the Pathways Teaching Endorsement Program was tabled for revisions. Informational updates were provided regarding staffing for the 26/27 school year, noting the addition of approximately six teachers to support advanced coursework and the reallocation of Compass resources. The committee entered and returned from an Executive Session held to consider matters related to employee appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal.

The Planning Committee meeting covered several substantive topics related to college and career pathways and academic planning. Discussions included an update on articulation with feeder districts regarding residency policies, with plans for a joint board meeting in April to establish collaborative goals for the upcoming school year, focusing on literacy and assessments. The committee received a positive update on the You Matter 2 pilot program, detailing student engagement, micro-credential attainment, and plans for expansion. Significant discussion centered on emerging technology, specifically the need to potentially draft a policy prohibiting the use of Meta Glasses due to privacy and safety concerns discovered through testing. Furthermore, the committee reviewed the Calculated Excellence presentation outlining continuous improvement cycles, including goals for college, career, and life readiness and professional excellence. Other topics included reviewing national trends in career and technical learning from AASA articles, advancing a proposal for a Certiport subscription to offer MOS certification and early college credit, and discussing a proposed partnership with Kaplan for ACT preparation services for all juniors. Finally, the committee unanimously approved moving forward a recommendation for the purchase of Anatomage Tables and subscriptions to expand authentic anatomy visualization experiences, and received an update on the International Baccalaureate verification process, which is on track for final verification visits soon. The committee also reviewed the requirements and implementation plan for required workplace learning experiences.

The agenda for the Personnel Committee meeting includes several items under Old Business (none listed) and New Business. Key new business items involve the Tuition for Pathways Teaching Endorsement Program Agreement, AP/IB Proctor Recruitment, AllOne Health Renewal, requests for several sixth assignments (Scriptwriting and Directing, Engine Repair, Engine Performance/Automotive Electrical, AP English Literature and Composition), requests for four 1.0 FTE Dean Assistant Positions, discussion of Non-School Sanctioned Student Trips, and discussion regarding heyC AI Modern Staff Development. The agenda also schedules an Executive Session to address personnel matters.

The meeting agenda for the Planning Committee included Old Business (none listed) and New Business items. Key discussions during the detailed minutes from the previous meeting covered updates on the Partner District Articulation, focusing on residency alignment with feeder schools and planning a joint board meeting for April 30. An update was provided on the 'You Matter 2' pilot program, detailing student engagement and micro-credential earnings, with a proposal set for later board review. Significant concern was raised regarding student safety and privacy related to the use of Meta Glasses, leading to a strong committee recommendation to draft a building-wide usage prohibition policy. The committee also reviewed progress on the Calculated Excellence initiative, summarized articles from the AASA Journal concerning career and technical learning, discussed a proposal for MOS Certification via Certiport for early college credit, and reviewed a substantial ACT Preparation partnership with Kaplan for all juniors. Further, the committee unanimously approved moving forward the recommendation for the Anatomage Table and subscription for health science pathways, received an update on the International Baccalaureate (IB) verification process with a final visit scheduled for March, and reviewed implementation plans for Workplace Learning Experiences and essential employability competencies.

The Board of Education convened a special meeting, which included an executive session to consider student disciplinary matters. Following the executive session, the Board took action on several student cases. Specific actions included approving the recommended expulsion of one student for two calendar years, approving the recommended expulsion of a second student for one calendar year with subsequent placement at Parkland Academy, and approving Agreements in Lieu of Expulsion, along with funding for alternative educational placements, for three additional students.