Peoria Standard

Illinois State Board of Education met Nov. 21.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

1. Roll Call

Chair of the Board Dr. Steven Isoye called the meeting to order at 10:47 a.m.

Chair Isoye announced that the Board meeting was being audio-cast live over the internet and video recorded.

Chair Isoye asked the clerk to call the roll. A quorum was present with seven members attending in person. Superintendent Dr. Tony Sanders was also in attendance.

Members Present:

Dr. Steven Isoye, Chair of the Board

Dr. Donna Leak, Vice Chair

Dr. Christine Benson, Secretary

Dr. Sherly Chavarria

Roger Eddy

Laura Gonzalez

Dr. Patricia Nugent

Members Absent:

Dr. James Anderson

Dr. Anna Grassellino

Staff Present

Dr. Tony Sanders, State Superintendent

Jo Ireland, Board Services Coordinator

Kim Clarke, Executive Assistant to the State Superintendent

Isabel Schoeman, Special Assistant to the State Superintendent

Kristen Kennedy, Chief Legal Officer

Dr. Kimako Patterson, Chief of Staff

Dr. Jason Helfer, Chief Education Officer – Instruction (virtual)

Jennifer Saba, Chief Education Officer – Operations

Tassi Maton, Chief Internal Audit Officer

Melissa Oller, Chief Operating Officer

Edobor Efam, Chief Information Officer

Irma Snopek, Chief Policy and Communications Officer

Ann Whalen, Chief Advisor to Early Childhood Transition

Dr. Nikki Combs, Director of School/District Improvement

Jackie Matthews, Executive Director of Communications

Joyce Gronewold, Executive Director of Specialized Instruction

Dr. Christine Paxson, Executive Director of Improvement and Innovation

Rae Clementz, Data, Accountability and Assessment

David Turovetz, Director of Charter Schools

Nick Heckel, Supervisor of School/District Improvement

Milton Leathers, Director of Accountability

Tom Bazan, Director of Budget and Financial Management

Dr. Ronda Dawson, Executive Director of Teaching and Learning

Maureen Font, Director of Data Strategies and Analytics

2. Public Participation

Chair Isoye reminded those in attendance of the Public Participation Policy and the sign-up procedures for today’s meeting.

Dr. Chris Murphy, chief strategic growth and communications officer of Concept Schools, spoke about Horizon Science Academy (HSA) McKinley Park. He listed the many achievements of HSA McKinley Park and stated that as a result, there is currently a waitlist for enrollment of over 200 students. This led to the school’s submission of a material modification application requesting permission to bifurcate HSA McKinley Park’s current K-12 campus and move the high school to a nearby vacant school, which would allow for an increase in enrollment of 299 students over five years. Dr. Murphy stated that HSA McKinley Park’s application was denied last year, and it has incorporated Dr. Sanders’ feedback to readjust enrollment increase requests and pursue significant community engagement. He said there is community support for this school expansion and additionally requested that all documents be included in the consideration of HSA McKinley Park’s application, as the school was recently informed that the 2023 documents are no longer considered to be relevant.

Terry Williams, a McKinley Park community member and parent, spoke about the school. He was accompanied by two other parents from HSA McKinley Park. Mr. Williams stated that there is strong support from parents for the expansion to a second building. He spoke positively about the environment fostered by the school and its impact on families and children, adding that the size of the school does not affect its ability to care for its students. He gave his wholehearted endorsement for this opportunity.

Tiffany Martinez, a parent of two students at HSA McKinley Park, spoke positively about her children’s experiences at HSA McKinley Park and the strong school community. Ms. Martinez expressed her avid support to expand the high school and asked on behalf of the greater McKinley Park community that the Board approve this material modification application.

Mike Zunica, president of De La Salle Institute, spoke in support of HSA McKinley Park. He stated that in the past De La Salle has occupied the building that HSA McKinley Park hopes to use for its expansion. He said De La Salle continues to pay $150,000 annually in maintenance fees for a building it no longer uses. Mr. Zunica said that these costs pose an obstacle to providing adequate financial aid to students at his school. He stated that HSA McKinley Park's expansion has the full support of the cardinal of the Archdiocese of Chicago, the ward alderwoman, and other school leaders, and that De La Salle hopes to collaborate with HSA McKinley Park in any way possible. He said that the removal of this burden would better allow De La Salle to provide a high-quality education to its students.

Nicole Lee, 11th Ward alderwoman, spoke about her personal experience with the public school system in Chicago and as a parent who understands the stress caused by the competition for admission to quality high schools. She stated that there is currently no such high school in the 11th Ward and the surrounding area and that fighting for educational opportunity, especially in high school, is one of the top three issues for her constituents. Alderwoman

Lee expressed her belief that the addition of HSA McKinley Park’s high school campus would be beneficial to students across the 11th Ward and the entire near south region. She reflected on the thorough community-engaged process that HSA McKinley Park has engaged in with the active support of students from the 11th Ward. She concluded with a statement of her full support for the bifurcation of HSA McKinley Park's campus.

Cindy La, director of Children and Youth Services at the Chinese American Service League (CASL), spoke in favor of HSA McKinley Park. She described CASL’s mission as a social service agency in Chicago’s Chinatown neighborhood with a goal of creating an equitable future for individuals in the community at all stages of life. Ms. La spoke on how her youth program staff and early childhood team members who live and grew up in the 11th Ward and know firsthand the struggle to find a good school in the area. She stated CASL’s support for HSA McKinley Park moving its high school to the 11th Ward because many families CASL serves are concerned about finding a good school for their children due to lack of choice in the area. She expressed her belief that families will leave the community and city in search of better options, and many families living in the 11th Ward do not possess the resources to send their children to a school out of the district. She has seen the competition for high school affect how families approach topics such as obtaining special education resources for their children. Ms. La asked the Board to consider HSA McKinley Park’s expansion and the potential impact it could have on her community.

Anjalee Ramirez, a ninth grade student at HSA McKinley Park, spoke about the importance of her school community and teachers in her life and the many opportunities she has been able to pursue. She stated that she and her classmates are very excited about the possibility of having their own high school building where they can learn and grow and asked Dr. Sanders and the Board to approve HSA McKinley Park's material modification application.

Seat Vedziovski, principal of HSA McKinley Park, spoke about the school’s current situation in which it serves all students, K-12, in the same building with a modular addition. He then gave a summary of HSA McKinley Park's diverse student population, the majority of whom qualify for free and reduced-price lunch and added that the school delivers a high-quality education to its students as the top performing charter school in the state of Illinois despite the challenges it faces. Mr. Vedziovski said there is a critical need for expansion to better accommodate current students and allow more students on it long waitlist to enroll, stating that the current space constraints limit HSA

McKinley Park's ability to serve more families and provide learning opportunities. He pointed to the former De La Salle campus as the solution to this problem as a move-in ready space that is optimal for a separate high school campus. Board Services Coordinator Jo Ireland said that Mr. Vedziovski could send any additional information for the Board’s consideration to bireland@isbe.net.

Allison Jack, senior director of Charter Growth and Support at the Illinois Network of Charter Schools, spoke on HSA McKinley Park. She began by thanking David Turovetz, ISBE director of Charter Schools, for his clarification during the committee meetings that state-authorized charter schools are open to all students and do not have selection criteria. She said that HSA McKinley Park is an incredible school and asked the Board to consider the expansion of the school’s campus, which would allow for the admission of over 200 students on the school’s waitlist. She expressed her belief that the recent closure of many charter schools has led many families to abandon the public school system and encouraged the Board to consider HSA McKinley Park's application to help keep students in the public school system. She listed numerous public servants and community organizations in favor of the expansion, citing the community’s need for a high school, the unique opportunities provided by HSA McKinley Park, and the school’s outstanding proficiency levels for the widespread support. Ms. Jack urged Board members to expand access to this opportunity to more students.

Nicolas Roacho, an HSA alumnus, spoke about his personal journey with HSA McKinley Park and how impressed he is with the growth of the school. Mr. Roacho shared that he believes that the school needs to continue to grow, highlighting the opportunities offered at HSA McKinley Park and the necessity of offering those opportunities to more students. He expressed his hope that the Board approve HSA's material modification application.

Leo Spiegel, a student at Senn High School, spoke on physical education exemptions for arts students. He voiced concerns on behalf of arts students at Senn and parents that the previously provided PE and computer science exemptions for arts students in their junior and senior years of high school are no longer being accepted. This change in policy has resulted in the Senn High School administration cutting 38% of arts programming at the school. Mr. Spiegel noted that students in International Baccalaureate programs across Chicago are still able to obtain these waivers because they are in college preparatory programs. Mr. Spiegel presented his argument that arts courses similarly prepare students for college and careers and named the numerous positive opportunities they receive at Senn. He stated that arts courses provide better preparation for Senn students’ futures than PE. He showed the Board a petition signed by school community members demonstrating widespread support for this initiative and expressed interest in meeting with members of the Board to discuss the matter further. He additionally provided letters with more information to the Board.

Bill Curtin, Illinois policy director at Teach Plus, spoke on teacher leadership. He reminded the Board that teacher leadership was one of the top 10 most requested budget items during the fiscal year 2026 budget hearings. He stated that an October 2024 report published by Teach Plus titled “The Dice Roll: Illinois’ Haphazard Teacher Leadership System – And How to Fix It” convened focus groups across the state to identify how teachers begin to identify themselves as leaders. The report found that the two main ways that teachers become leaders are they are either asked to step up as a leader by someone who is already a leader or become leaders before they even enter the profession. Mr. Curtin identified these mechanisms as haphazard and inequitable. He reminded the Board of the positive impact of teacher leaders and shared the numerous organizations that have come together to create the Teachers Lead coalition championing investment in teacher leadership. Mr. Curtin called on the Board to invest $500,000 in teacher leadership in a new fashion rather than simply acknowledging teachers who excel, which he believes is a relatively small ask compared to the size of the agency’s budget.

Ms. Ireland reminded all public participants that they may email additional information for the Board to bireland@isbe.net.

Chair Isoye thanked all public participants for attending the meeting and wished them safe travels in the snowy weather.

3. Presentations

A. East S. Louis and North Chicago Updates on Strategic Plan in Accordance with Public Act 101-643

Chief Financial Officer Dr. Matt Seaton introduced the presenters on East St. Louis and North Chicago updates. He welcomed Superintendent Arthur Culver from East St. Louis, along with members of his cabinet, to present first on his district’s strategic and financial plan.

Superintendent Culver shared his district’s vision to support students’ needs in all aspects of life so they are prepared for their futures. He noted the five goals of East St. Louis’ strategic plan:

• Academic excellence,

• Financial stewardship and accountability,

• Safe and healthy environment,

• Strategic partnerships, and

• Committed and highly effective staff.

Superintendent Culver then invited Chief Academic Officer Jennifer Brumback, Chief of Schools Keisa Garrett, and Chief School Business Official Delfaye Jason to present. Ms. Brumback shared a celebratory update from the 2023-24 Illinois Report Card that all East St. Louis schools received a summative designation of Targeted or above for the first time, with every school but two receiving the designation of Commendable, despite numerous economic challenges faced by students in their schools. Ms. Garrett presented growth in metrics, such as 9th graders on track and reading and math performance, in the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) across schools. She acknowledged a slower rate of progress in math, leading to the district’s plan to focus on numeracy. Ms. Garrett highlighted some challenges in the district, including high chronic absenteeism, a high mobility rate, and an influx of new students. Ms. Jason transitioned to the financial plan, which is built off of the district’s strategic plan. She updated the Board on an increase in district revenue and higher salaries and benefits, as well as the near complete spending of all Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds that were received. Ms. Jason additionally noted a district trend of increasing balances and projected that balances will continue to increase in the next three years. Dr. Culver concluded by sharing the challenges that are specific to East St. Louis, from a high poverty rate to a high community crime rate. He said he is proud of the district’s progress in face of these challenges, attributing this success to the district’s strong strategic plan and its focus on academic excellence and character development. He thanked the Board members for their partnership and promised they will see even more progress.

John Price, superintendent of North Chicago School District 187, and Gregory Volan, the district’s director of Finance and Operations, presented their strategic and financial plan updates next. Mr. Volan began with updates on the financial plan, sharing that the district is ahead of its financial projections. It continues to see revenues and ending fund balances that exceed expectations. While expenditures have grown, spending is in line with revenue growth. He provided updates, such as that the district has been able to invest $35 million in capital improvement projects over the past five years. Mr. Volan highlighted that the introduction of Evidence-Based Funding (EBF) in 2018 has led to a needed increase in revenue for the district. However, the district has received smaller tier increases since 2022 and thus a much slower rate of growth for its largest revenue source, which concerns their team. Another positive update was that federal impact aid continues to increase for the district and it expects to continue to qualify for significant impact aid over the next five years. The financial goals for the district in the future include slowing expenditure growth, increasing teacher salaries to a competitive level with other districts, and accommodating the increase in student enrollment witnessed in 2024. Superintendent Price then shared updates on academic achievement. He shared that using internal metrics, the district has seen record high proficiency and meeting of growth targets in math and similar but less stark growth in reading proficiency and meeting of growth targets. He expressed concern over Spanish reading proficiency levels decreasing in the past year. Positive trends in math and reading proficiency also were seen in IAR performance data. Superintendent Price also highlighted small growth in attendance rates but expressed a desire to improve in that area. He concluded by sharing the district’s plans to review and revise the strategic plan across departments.

Mr. Eddy highlighted the upcoming North Chicago SD 187 board elections in April 2025 and in 2027 and shared his excitement about the community establishing an elected board with a strong foundation provided by this team. He congratulated Superintendent Price, who has led the district since 2017, for the large role he has played in that progress. Mr. Eddy then asked if the period of time to select candidates for the board elections went well, and Superintendent Price confirmed that it went smoothly under the supervision of current board Chair Dora King.

Dr. Leak commended Dr. Culver for his remarks and urges him to share them with other superintendents and education officials. Dr. Sanders echoed this sentiment and congratulated both districts on incredible financial and academic progress. He commented on the incredible progress made in East St. Louis since the publishing of the 1991 book “Savage Inequalities.”

Chair Isoye suggested a rearrangement in the schedule to move into closed session and resume with presentations afterward. Dr. Leak moved to go into closed session.

B. 2023-2024 Illinois Report Card.

Executive Director of Data, Accountability and Assessment Rae Clementz and Director of Data Strategies and Analytics Maureen Font presented on the 2023-2024 Illinois Report Card. Before the presentation began, Dr. Sanders thanked the data team for its hard work on putting together the Report Card, discussing

data with school districts, and disaggregating the data by many school groups. He expressed his pride in Illinois’ leadership and asked Board members to explore the data further on the Report Card website.

Ms. Clementz and Ms. Font highlighted that Illinois has demonstrated nation-leading recovery in the wake of the pandemic as one of the few states that has been able to spend down its ESSER funding. For example, the Report Card shows the highest ever level of English language arts (ELA) proficiency for Grades 3-8 and the highest graduation rate on record. Recovery is lagging more in math and in high school, and Ms. Clementz posited that slow progress in high school can be partially attributed to the lack of student growth accountability in high school, adding that that metric will be introduced in the coming year. She noted that the state also will be launching a comprehensive numeracy plan to align with the new Illinois Comprehensive Literacy Plan, which has resulted in the great ELA proficiency progress. Much of the state’s growth is seen across all student groups and races, but equity gaps persist. For example, chronic absenteeism is down across all ethnicity groups but remains high and is highest for high school and Black students. Ms. Clementz and Ms. Font shared that advanced Career and Technical Education (CTE) coursework enrollment is increasing. They also focused on record growth in the number of teachers across the state and growth in teacher diversity, but noted that Black teachers are retained at the lowest rate. Student enrollment also is increasing among Asian, Hispanic, multilingual, and English learner students.

Dr. Leak thanked the data team for the comprehensive breakdown by subgroup and commended Ms. Clementz for her work building leadership in South Cook County, invigorating her team, and making herself accessible for help. Ms. Clementz credited Dr. Sanders and Dr. Patterson for their leadership in building partnerships with Regional Offices of Education and shared her love for helping districts. Dr. Sanders reflected on the positive education growth in the state of Illinois and praised members of the ISBE team for being accessible in the field and building an excellent partnership. He invited Ms. Clementz to introduce her new team member, Director of Accountability Milton Leathers, and the Board welcomed him. Dr. Sanders then asked Dr. Nikki Combs to introduce Supervisor of School/District Improvement Nick Heckel. Chair Isoye gave closing remarks on how steady growth results from steady support, which is reflected in the Report Card, and praised messaging that included an equity scorecard and its impact on districts that had not considered equity factors previously. Dr. Benson shared that members of the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) were very excited to see the Report Card results and may reach out to discuss them further with ISBE.

4. Discussion | Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Hearings

Dr. Seaton led the discussion on the fiscal year 2026 budget hearings. He was joined by Tom Bazan. Dr. Seaton reflected on the three budget hearings held in October and the record number of budget requests received by ISBE this year, nearly twice as many as those submitted for the FY 2025 hearings. He said that this was the first step in the budget process alongside internal discussions at the agency about prioritization. He asked Mr. Bazan to share information about the upcoming timeline. Mr. Bazan stated that next month ISBE will bring in members from the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA) to talk about projected available revenues for FY 2026. Projections are made by consulting the governor’s published estimates for FY 2026 and COGFA, and they can together be used with public and internal input to form the Board recommendation for the FY 2026 budget. Dr. Seaton highlighted that the Board memo includes a breakdown of requests by topic, with the most requests for CTE, a large increase in requested funding for EBF, and significant asks for Social-Emotional Learning Hubs and the Resilience Education to Advance Community Healing (REACH) initiative. He also noted there were 40 requests for capital funds for school construction, and while that will be noted in ISBE’s budget book and communicated to the legislature, that money does not flow through the ISBE budget and instead would come from the Capital Development Board.

Dr. Nugent asked if there are different sources of funding for various after-school programs listed on the memo. Dr. Seaton explained there are multiple lines for after-school programs in the FY 2026 budget -- normal after school programs, After School Matters, and two member initiative line items. He added that there were no requests for increases in funding for those line items, only requests for continued funding. He clarified that if the memo does not indicate a request for an increase next to a line item, that just means the request was for continued funding.

Dr. Benson commended the finance team for making voices heard through the budget process. Dr. Seaton responded that the finance team is actively conducting a survey on how the budget hearing process went and will incorporate that feedback for next year as well.

Dr. Sanders said that the budget is an evolving process based on ever-changing forecasts on what is available to spend, and ISBE will take all sources of input and recommendation to the Board, but all signs are showing that FY 2026 will be a tight fiscal year and that must be recognized.

Dr. Nugent asked for an explanation of the difference between capital improvements and CTE capital improvements. Dr. Seaton clarified that regular capital improvements are related to school construction while CTE capital improvements are related to CTE projects specifically. Dr. Nugent asked if the CTE funds were for area vocational centers (AVCs). Dr. Seaton answered that the $25 million request for CTE capital improvements covers AVCs, co-ops, and school districts that administer their own CTE centers.

Chair Isoye thanked everyone who supported the budget hearing process this year.

5. Closed Session

Dr. Leak moved that the State Board of Education go into closed session for the following exception items:

A. The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees, specific individuals who serve as independent contractors in a park, recreational, or educational setting, or specific volunteers of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee, a specific individual who serves as an independent contractor in a park, recreational, or educational setting, or a volunteer of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity. However, a meeting to consider an increase in compensation to a specific employee of a public body that is subject to the Local Government Wage Increase Transparency Act may not be closed and shall be open to the public and posted and held in accordance with this Act. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1)

B. Litigation, when an action against, affecting or on behalf of the particular public body has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal, or when the public body finds that an action is probable or imminent, in which case the basis for the finding shall be recorded and entered into the minutes of the closed meeting. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11)

She further moved that Board members may invite anyone they wish to be included in this closed session. Dr. Nugent seconded the motion, and it passed with a unanimous roll call vote.

The open meeting recessed at 12:33 p.m. to go into closed session. The open meeting reconvened at 1:17 p.m.

6. Public Participation

There was no further public participation.

7. Consent Agenda

Chair Isoye reviewed the items under the Consent Agenda. There were no questions.

Dr. Nugent moved that the State Board of Education hereby approve the Consent Agenda. Dr. Leak seconded the motion, and it passed with a unanimous roll call vote.

The following motions were approved by action taken in the Consent Agenda:

Approval of Minutes

*Plenary Minutes: Oct. 16, 2024

The Illinois State Board of Education hereby approves the Oct. 16, 2024, meeting minutes.

Approval for Adoption

*Approval for Adoption – Part 180 (Health/Life Safety Code for Public Schools) Various Updates The State Board of Education hereby authorizes the state superintendent to submit the proposed rulemaking for Part 180 to the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) for second notice.

Further, the Board authorizes the state superintendent of education to make such technical and non-substantive changes as the state superintendent may deem necessary in response to suggestions or objections of JCAR.

*Approval for Adoption - Part 226 (Special Education) Various Changes

The State Board of Education hereby authorizes the state superintendent to submit the proposed rulemaking for Part 226 to JCAR for second notice.

Further, the Board authorizes the state superintendent of education to make such technical and non-substantive changes as the state superintendent may deem necessary in response to suggestions or objections of JCAR.

*Approval for Adoption - Part 401 (Special Education Facilities under Section 14-7.02 of the School Code) Various Changes

The State Board of Education hereby authorizes the state superintendent to submit the proposed rulemaking for Part 401 to JCAR for second notice.

Further, the Board authorizes the state superintendent of education to make such technical and non-substantive changes as the state superintendent may deem necessary in response to suggestions or objections of JCAR.

8. Discussion & Approval | Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million – Approval of the 1003 School Improvement Grants

Dr. Combs discussed this item. Chair Isoye reminded the meeting that the Board members had previously discussed this item during the Finance and Audit Committee Meeting of the Whole earlier in the day. There was no further discussion.

Dr. Chavarria moved that the State Board of Education hereby authorizes the state superintendent to release the FY 2025 Title I, Part A, Section 1003 School Improvement Grant application and provide grants in excess of $1 million over the four-year grant term to districts with schools newly designated for school improvement status in 2024 (i.e., Intensive, Comprehensive, and Targeted schools). Dr. Benson seconded the motion, and it passed by roll call vote. Dr. Leak abstained.

9. Superintendent’s Contract – Amendment to Agreement for Amended Performance Goals Chair Isoye stated that the superintendent and the Board developed these performance goals during the September Board retreat.

Mr. Eddy moved to authorize an amendment to the State Superintendent’s Employment Agreement to amend the performance goals. Dr. Nugent seconded the motion. Chair Isoye stated his excitement about these goals. The motion passed with a unanimous roll call vote.

10. Announcements and Reports

Superintendent/Senior Staff Announcements

Dr. Sanders informed the Board that ISBE held its all agency meeting on Oct. 21 and thanked the ISBE staff for coming together for the day in Bloomington. He added that he spoke at the Illinois Principals Association Conference in Peoria and brought members of the ISBE team with him, and he also spoke at the Illinois Alliance of Administrators of Special Education event. He shared his admiration for both events and his excitement for the upcoming Triple I Conference with school officials.

There were no senior staff announcements.

Chair of the Board’s Report

Chair Isoye shared that he attended the ISBE all-agency meeting and was able to understand the impact of gathering as a group. He stated that he also attended the NASBE conference alongside many other ISBE Board members and learned a significant amount while there. He spoke on the experience of attending a World Café event hosted by 2024 Teacher of the Year Dr. Rachel Mahmoud in Plainfield, how much he enjoyed the conversation, and his excitement to see this event expand to other districts in the area. He thanked Dr. Mahmoud for the invitation and Dr. Glenn Wood, the superintendent in Plainfield, for hosting him.

Member Reports

Dr. Nugent spoke on her positive experiences attending informational sessions at the NASBE conference, including one on indigenous peoples and indigenous learning in Illinois and one on early childhood education. She shared a document with a snapshot of the Early Childhood Education Illinois Yearbook with members of the Board.

Mr. Eddy informed the Board about an interesting presentation he attended on reconsidering graduation and performance metrics at the NASBE conference. He stated he also attended a conference hosted by the Arkansas board on strategies to recruit and retain teachers.

Dr. Leak updated the Board on her participation on the NASBE conference planning committee, which held its conference debrief this week. She shared that their takeaways were that vital components of the conference were the roundtable format with strong facilitators and giving time for engagement and reflection after each session.

Dr. Benson confirmed with Dr. Leak next year’s NASBE conference will be in Austin, Texas.

Ms. Gonzalez spoke positively about her experience doing a World Café with Dr. Mahmoud and her staff in her school district. She added that Dr. Mahmoud and the 2024 outstanding early career educator both visited the class she teaches at Aurora University with aspiring educators. Ms. Gonzalez expressed her pride in the work Dr. Mahmoud is doing and the data she is collecting.

11. Information Items

ISBE Fiscal & Administrative Monthly Reports

Freedom of Information Act Monthly Report

12. Motion for Adjournment

Dr. Benson moved to adjourn the Nov. 21, 2024, meeting of the Illinois State Board of Education.

Ms. Gonzalez seconded the motion, and it passed with a unanimous roll call vote. The meeting adjourned at 2:07 p.m.

https://go.boarddocs.com/il/isbe/Board.nsf/files/DBPMQE5C5668/$file/DRAFT%20Plenary%20Minutes%20-%20November%2021%202024.pdf