Illinois State Board of Education Finance and Audit Committee met Sept. 8.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
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.
Committee Members Present
Chairperson Chris Benson (in person)
Dr. David Lett (in person)
Roger Eddy (virtual)
Dr. Nike Vieille (virtual)
Members Absent
None
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
Dr. Melissa DiGangi, Director of Research
Kelsey Bakken, Learning Renewal Research Lead
Annie Rojas, Principal Consultant in Research
Cara Wiley, Director of Wellness
Barbara Moore, Director of Special Education
Amanda Elliott, Executive Director of Legislative Affairs
Dr. Jennifer Kirmes, Executive Director of Teaching and Learning
Dr. Ernesto Matias, Education Officer
Krish Mohip, Deputy Operational Education Officer
Dr. Erica Thieman, Director of Standards and Instruction
Martin McGreal, Director of District/School Leadership
Melissa Oller, Operating Officer
Tassi Maton, Internal Audit Officer
Robert Wolfe, Financial Officer
Scott Harry, Director of Budget
Dr. Sean Clayton, Director of Assessment
Irma Snopek, Policy and Communications Officer
Oriana Wilson, Executive Director of Programs
Jeremy Duffy, Legal Officer
II. Public Participation
There was no public participation.
III. Approval of Minutes: August 9, 2022
Dr. Lett made the motion for the Finance and Audit Committee to approve the August 9, 2022, meeting minutes. Dr. Vieille seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously by roll call vote.
IV. Presentation
A. 2022 Evidence-Based Funding 5-Year Evaluative Study
Dr. Dixon introduced this item and Dr. DiGangi presented on it. She discussed the timeline and the overall structure of the Evidence-Based Funding (EBF) 5-year evaluative study.
Ms. Bakken discussed the data collection process and the limitations to collection resulting from the pandemic, particularly for assessments. School year 2018-19 was the only year in which funding was provided exactly in line with the EBF formula and was fully properly assessed.
Ms. Rojas discussed results from research on funding adequacy and student achievement. She noted that many districts discussed difficult pre-EBF financial conditions that impacted the use of funding. Findings suggested that districts with greater need were receiving higher levels of funding as intended, and this increased their funding adequacy over the period of the study. Ms. Rojas emphasized the limitations on student achievement data from assessment. She noted that future years of study could provide a better sense of the effect from EBF on achievement data. She shared that student enrollment and assessment participation had dropped more than anticipated because of the pandemic, disrupting the analysis of EBF’s impact on assessment scores.
Ms. Bakken shared results from qualitative studies. Districts participating in these studies represented regions from across the state. Districts had utilized funding as part of the terms, and Ms. Bakken emphasized that many utilized increased funding as part of recovery from previous financial difficulty. Increased funding enabled districts to make staffing changes and improve the learning environment, and some administrators felt more able to focus on long
term planning for their districts. Ms. Bakken discussed challenges and pressure that administrators faced to prioritize funding allocation, given staffing issues, lower enrollment, still being below funding adequacy. The pandemic and no additional Tier funding in FY 2021 exacerbated concerns.
Dr. DiGangi concluded, emphasizing the overall positive impact of EBF has had for districts and addressing funding inequities; however, she noted that eight out of 10 students were in districts below 90% funding adequacy. She emphasized the prospective value of increased investment in EBF and continued evaluative study of its impacts.
Chair Benson extended the Board’s appreciation to Dr. DiGangi, Ms. Bakken, and Ms. Rojas for their efforts related to the study and said that Board members would likely want to follow up with more questions after fully processing the report. She noted that the full report would be available on the ISBE website.
Dr. Lett asked about why Chicago Public Schools (CPS) was analyzed separate from other tiers, and the large increase in CPS funding in 2022. Ms. Bakken responded, noting that CPS changing from Tier 1 to Tier 2 status would adjust future funding and that calculations were made prior to that adjustment. Mr. Wolfe affirmed that the report did not account for corrections to EBF calculations, and Ms. Bakken noted that the report was concerned with the impact of funds more than the distribution alone. Mr. Wolfe discussed changes to the funding formula to mitigate changes from pandemic-related enrollment decline. Chair Benson noted an interest in seeing how the tier shift for CPS could affect its operations in the future. Mr. Wolfe noted that it would be difficult to tell which trends would persist in the post-pandemic environment.
Dr. Lett emphasized an appreciation for increasing funding equity, but a need to focus on improving student performance over the next five years.
Mr. Eddy asked if concerns about increased CPS funding were related to inflated enrollment numbers. Mr. Wolfe affirmed that this was the case for 2022 but noted that enrollment inflation had benefited 80% of districts.
Mr. Eddy agreed with earlier statements about the shorter time frame and expects that a further five or 10 years of study would provide a more complete understanding of EBF impacts. Chair Benson emphasized this. Mr. Wolfe discussed the pre-EBF financial conditions, and that this period of study was one of recovery for many districts. Chair Benson agreed and noted that academic performance would take more time to fully evaluate.
Dr. Lett asked about how school improvement and associated factors were measured in the qualitative study. Ms. Bakken said that ISBE identified student growth through assessments and asked qualifying districts to participate in the qualitative study. Identified factors contributing to improvements were self-reported, but there were some factors that were consistently apparent among participants, with additional staff as an example.
Chair Benson thanked the team again for its work on this study.
V. Closed Session
Dr. Lett moved that the Finance and Audit Committee go into closed session for the following exception items:
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)
B. Discussion of minutes of meetings lawfully closed under this Act, whether for purposes of approval by the body of the minutes or semi-annual review of the minutes as mandated by Section 2.06. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(21)
He further moved that committee members may invite anyone they wish to be included in this closed session. Mr. Eddy seconded the motion, and it passed with a unanimous roll call vote.
The open meeting recessed at 10:29 a.m. The open meeting reconvened at 11:29 a.m.
VI. Semiannual Review of Closed Session Minutes
Dr. Lett moved that, pursuant to Section 2.06(d) of the Open Meetings Act, the Finance and Audit Committee has reviewed the minutes of its closed sessions for March 1, 2022; April 5, 2022; May 3, 2022; June 2, 2022; and August 9, 2022.
He moved that the Finance and Audit Committee certifies that the need for confidentiality still exists for all of the closed session minutes for March 1, 2022; April 5, 2022; May 3, 2022; June 2, 2022; and August 9, 2022, and these minutes should be approved and remain closed.
He further moved that the Finance and Audit Committee approves the destruction of all closed session verbatim recordings from March 2, 2021, and prior.
Dr. Vieille seconded the motion, and it passed with a unanimous roll call vote.
VII. Review of Contracts and Grants Over $1 Million – for September Approval
A. Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million - Approval to Award a Sole Source Grant to the Simon Wiesenthal Center for Operation of the Mobile Museum of Tolerance
Dr. Thieman presented on this item. There were no questions from committee members.
B. Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million - Approval to Award a Sole Source Grant to the Peoria Public School District 150 for Fine Arts and Other Programs
Dr. Thieman presented on this item. There were no questions from committee members.
C. Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million - Approval to Release and Award an Invitation for Bids for ISBE to Enter into a Competitive Bid for Illinois Standards-aligned Assessment Content to Administer the Illinois Assessment of Readiness in Grades 3 through 8
Dr. Clayton presented on this item. There were no questions from committee members.
D. Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million - Approval of Sole Source Grant to After School Matters Ms. Wiley presented on this item. There were no questions from committee members.
E. Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million - Approval of Intergovernmental Agreement with Eastern Illinois Area Special Education to Execute the Specific Learning Disability Support Project
Ms. Moore presented on this item. There were no questions from committee members.
VIII. Review of Contracts and Grants Over $1 Million – for October Approval
A. Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million - Approval of the Release and Award of the FY 2023 Elementary and Secondary Relief Digital Equity Formula Grant
Dr. Thieman presented on this item. She discussed its role in upgrading technology for schools with out-of date or an insufficient number of devices.
IX. Internal Audit Updates
A. Current Audits
i. Fiscal Year 2022 Financial and Compliance Audit
ii. FY 2022 Statewide Single Audit
Ms. Maton presented on these items. She noted that they are both underway and that ISBE is continuing to provide information to the auditing firms. She anticipates they will take many months to complete research and reporting.
X. Discussion Items
A. Grant Schedule Update
Dr. Matias and Mr. Mohip presented on this item.
Dr. Matias introduced and summarized the grant schedule.
Mr. Mohip shared that the grant releases had come earlier for districts, and that the overall schedule had been spaced out. He noted that this was based on feedback and enabled a more accessible grant application and attainment process for a wider range of districts.
Dr. Matias concluded by discussing future work, the process of creating an initial grant list for FY 2024 and incorporating further feedback from districts.
Dr. Lett thanked the team for the work on this project and asked about adding visual comparisons to previous years in the presentation for the full Board.
Mr. Mohip expressed appreciation for the team’s efforts. Chair Benson thanked members as well. B. FY 2024 Budget Hearing Update
Mr. Wolfe discussed this item. He provided an update of the scheduled date and locations for budget hearings and noted that the size of the budget hearing participation form had been condensed. Chair Benson encouraged that feedback from all types of participation be considered carefully in the budget drafting process.
Mr. Eddy asked about virtual attendance links for the grant hearings. Chair Benson said they would be available, and that Board members are invited and encouraged to attend.
XI. New Business: Items for the Next Agenda
There were no new items.
XII. Next Meeting: October 6, 2022
XIII. Adjourn
Dr. Lett moved to adjourn. Mr. Eddy seconded, and it passed by unanimous roll call vote. Chair Benson adjourned the committee at 11:48 a.m.
https://www.isbe.net/Documents_Board_Meetings/090822-FA-Minutes.pdf
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