Illinois State Board of Education Finance and Audit Committee met April 5.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
I. Roll Call
Chairperson Chris Benson brought the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. Roll call was taken, and a quorum was present with four members. She verified that each member could hear one another and follow the discussion, and that they were able to testify.
Members Present
Chairperson Chris Benson
Roger Eddy (virtual)
Dr. David Lett
Dr. Nike Vieille (virtual)
Other Board Members Present
Staff
Dr. Carmen I. Ayala, State Superintendent
Kirsten Parr, Board Services Coordinator
Kim Clarke, Executive Assistant to the State Superintendent
Dr. Brenda Dixon, Research and Evaluation Officer
Carisa Hurley, Director of Early Childhood
Amanda Elliott, Executive Director of Legislative Affairs
Dr. Dana Kinley, Executive Director of Systems of Support
Dr. Jennifer Kirmes, Executive Director of Teaching and Learning
Dr. Ernesto Matias, Education Officer
Jennifer Saba, Executive Director of Regional Services
Maureen Font, Director of Data Strategies and Analytics
Melissa Oller, Operating Officer
Tassi Maton, Internal Audit Officer
Robert Wolfe, Financial Officer
Irma Snopek, Policy and Communications Officer
Oriana Wilson, Executive Director of Programs
Jeremy Duffy, Legal Officer
Dr. Erica Thieman, Director of Curriculum and Instruction
Joanne Clyde, Director of Multilingual
Jeremy Mehochko, Director of Project Management
Christine Paxson, Director of ESSA/IL-EMPOWER
II. Public Participation
There was no public participation.
III. Approval of Minutes: March 1, 2022
Dr. Lett made the motion for the Finance and Audit Committee to approve the March 1, 2022, meeting minutes. Mr. Eddy seconded the motion, and it passed by roll call vote.
IV. Closed Session
Dr. Lett moved that the State Board of Education go into closed session for the following exception item:
A. 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)
It was further moved that Board members may invite anyone they wish to be included in this closed session. Dr. Vieille seconded the motion, and it passed with a unanimous roll call vote.
The open meeting recessed at 9:33 a.m. The open meeting reconvened at 10:41 a.m.
V. Review of Contracts and Grants Over $1 Million – for April Approval
A. Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million – -- IGA with West 40 Intermediate Service Center #2 for ARP EANS (EANS II) Vouchering and Services
There were no questions for this item.
B. Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million - Approval of the One-Year Intergovernmental Agreement with Northern Illinois University for the Illinois Report Card, My Data Dashboard (formerly Ed360), and 21st Century Learning Center
There were no questions for this item.
C. Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million – Approval of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund II Grant with Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies-Spanish Language Early Childhood Enrollment Campaign
Chair Benson asked if the initiative will help encourage enrollment, and the answer was yes.
Dr. Vieille asked if the team is outreaching in other ways, such as in the community and talking to parents. Ms. Lori Orr, policy implementation director at the Governor’s Office, noted that the team is working on a Request for Proposals that will support a local approach.
Chair Benson asked if this initiative is for a short-term or long-term basis. Ms. Orr noted that it be both short term and long term.
VI. Review of Contracts and Grants Over $1 Million – for May Approval
A. Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million - Approval of IGA with ROE #9 to administer Learning Technology Center
Dr. Matias and Dr. Thieman presented on this item.
Chair Benson asked what the evaluations consist of. Dr. Thieman noted the team is looking at the number of educators, number of students, and demographics. She added that the statewide district technology survey is now required, and the team is finalizing that data currently and hopes to provide that information in a Board update next month.
B. Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million – Approval of Request for Proposals for Summer Migrant Education Programs
Dr. Matias and Ms. Clyde presented on this item.
Mr. Eddy asked if the grant amount was the same before fiscal year 2023, and the answer was yes.
Chair Benson asked if the districts feel like they have enough time with this initiative, and the answer was yes.
Dr. Lett asked if the funding goes to the Regional Office of Education (ROE) or the Local Education Agency. Ms. Clyde noted that the funding goes straight to the program. She added that it is not strictly for school districts, but also for community-based organizations and community colleges.
C. Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million – Approval of Preschool Development Grant Birth – 5, Year 3 – National Louis University
Dr. Matias and Ms. Wilson presented on this item.
Mr. Eddy asked what the plans are with the additional funding. Zach Allen, workforce policy coordinator at the Governor’s Office, noted that the project will build upon the early childhood competency-based curriculum work the team conducted during Year 2. He added that the team will work on a bilingual endorsement and a special education endorsement, will translate curriculum into Spanish, and will build a competency-based curriculum. He also noted that the programming is not only housed at National Louis University but also shared with other higher education institutions.
Chair Benson asked if the team is using the funding to work on the teacher pipeline, and the answer was yes.
D. Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million - Approval to Release FY 2023 IL-EMPOWER Continuation Grant Allocations Exceeding $1 Million
Dr. Matias and Ms. Paxson presented on this item.
There were no questions for this item.
E. Approval of Fiscal Year 2022 Mandated Categorical Appropriation Transfers
Mr. Wolfe presented on this item.
Mr. Eddy asked when the special education private facilities appropriation was last funded. Mr. Wolfe noted he will share that information with the committee as soon as possible.
VII. Internal Audit Updates
A. Current Audits
i. FY21 Financial Audit
Ms. Maton noted that both audits are moving forward and there are no definitive dates at this time.
ii. FY21 Statewide Single Audit
VIII. Discussion Items
A. Legislative Update
Ms. Elliott presented on this item. She noted that legislation was filed to appropriate funding to the Shawnee and Galatia districts. She shared that House Bill 48-13, which addresses the lowest-bidder requirement for school lunches, was amended. She noted that House Bill 57-40, which would add a graduation requirement for financial literacy, was just filed. She shared that SJR-52 regarding the resolution that would have allowed waiver results was not moved in time.
Ms. Elliott shared that all ISBE initiatives have passed both chambers. She added there is conversation about reducing professional development by 20 percent. She noted that legislation that prohibits ISBE from administering assessments for K-2 passed both chambers. Legislation regarding waiving teacher evaluations for tenured teachers if there is an emergency order also passed. School construction legislation passed both chambers. Legislation that implements emergency rules on special education placement in non-approved facilities passed both chambers, and legislation that requires ISBE to develop a template for districts to verify employment history is also moving on. She finally noted that the team is still waiting to see what the final budget will include.
Dr. Lett asked for more information about Shawnee and Galatia, and Mr. Wolfe provided that information. Dr. Lett asked if the districts are asking for a one-time appropriation request, and the answer was yes.
Mr. Eddy noted the one-year fix and asked if the formula fixes it by adding additional revenue. Mr. Wolfe noted the appropriation will not have an impact on the Evidence-Based Funding (EBF) formula. Mr. Eddy wondered if in future years the districts lose revenue, would the solution be in the formula? Mr. Wolfe noted there will be discussion with the Professional Review Panel impact subcommittee, where the team will look at potential recommendations to formula changes.
Mr. Eddy asked what tiers Shawnee and Galatia are in. Mr. Wolfe noted Galatia is a Tier 1 district and Shawnee is Tier 4 district.
Dr. Lett asked if April 8 is still the last date of the legislative session, and Ms. Elliot noted this is still the plan.
Mr. Eddy asked about the Right to Read Act. Ms. Elliott noted the bill is not moving. ISBE is planning on having a summer convening to share information on literacy, which will help inform legislation moving forward.
B. Grant Schedule Update
Dr. Matias and Mr. Mehochko presented on this item. They discussed the funding opportunities planning calendar and showed specific application windows from February to April.
C. ESSER Dashboard
Dr. Matias presented on this item and shared the draft Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) dashboard to the committee.
D. School District Financial Profile
Mr. Wolfe presented on this item. He shared that the profile results were good and noted that 746 districts are in recognition status and five districts are in watch status. He added that the additional funding from EBF and emergency ESSER funds and interruptions in the school year have all resulted in additional funds. He also will give an update to the Board regarding the accounting rule change.
IX. New Business: Items for the Next Agenda
X. Next Meeting: May 3, 2022
XI. Adjourn
Dr. Vieille moved to adjourn. Mr. Eddy seconded, and it passed by roll call vote. Chair Benson adjourned the committee at 11:38 a.m.
https://www.isbe.net/Documents_Board_Meetings/040522-FandA-Comm-Minutes.pdf
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