Vote to allow attendance by all board members remotely and to allow board members who qualify under Illinois law to vote and make/second motions.

The EMSA Board proposes a closed session to discuss specifically items enumerated below and in accordance with the Open Meetings Act which provides:

(c) Exceptions. A public body may hold closed meetings to consider the following subjects:
        (1) 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,***

Public comment: The time for public comment will take place at the end of the meeting due to the online nature of our gathering. If anyone would like to participate, we ask that you comment with your first and last name, your comment/question and the best way for us to contact you (if you want feedback) in the comments bar provided on screen. We welcome this and consider it seriously, but we cannot respond immediately unless the President or meeting chair decides that an immediate response by the board is needed and can be made during public comment, s/he will refer it to the appropriate person for a brief response. Due to this virtual format, individual comments and questions submitted will be read into record at the end of the meeting.

In order to allow more public input, the Board welcomes written comments or inquiries submitted before the meeting to board@emsacharter.org.

There have been no FOIA requests made since the May Board Meeting.  

The draft Minutes of the June 20, 2023 Meeting of the Finance & Operations Committee are attached.  

Attached is the final draft of the FY24 Budget, reflecting Board and Finance Committee feedback.  

Construction is on schedule for occupancy August 21, 2023, and on budget.  Teachers should expect to have access to their classrooms/offices for setup on Monday August 14th.

Construction updates are being sent to staff and parents regularly.

Master Planning Committee will report on uses for the $100,000 in bond borrowings which the Board directed in December 2022 that it would reserve for use on special projects around the campus.  Those funds are available to use for those purposes as they will not be needed for the Admin Project itself.

ISBE and EMSA have finalized the first Charter Renewal for the next five-year term.

DCEO presented EMSA with a Grant Agreement for our $300,000 capital grant which we immediately signed and returned. We are waiting on the executed Grant Agreement.

ISBE audited EMSA in both federal/state grants from FY20-22, and the CACFP after-school food program for FY23.  There were no findings for/about EMSA.

ISBE is about to approve Quest Food Management Services as EMSA's food vendor for SY23-24.  Much more information will be presented to parents through EPTC and back-to-school events about next year's food program.  EMSA's goal is to increase participation significantly while holding prices constant, and improving food quality, attractiveness, and nutrition within the limits set by the federal food programs.  

Given the $100,000 portion of construction contingency was set aside by Board Resolution in December 2022 and is still available to be used on special projects, the Committee voted to recommend the Board approve the following expenditures:

1.  Up to $30,000 to be used to create fifteen parking spaces by the existing roadway near the Silo, removing maple (but not walnut or oak) trees, with asphalt paving and removal of the existing tree-borne lighting for the Dorm pathway.

2.  Up to $11,000 for rain garden extension in the area east of the Middle School driveway, and to the northeast of the Admin Building.

3.  $23,800 for asphalt paving replacement near the I-25 entrance, as well as certain traffic safety improvements.

4.  $6,290 for Neil Building door strengthening.

5.  $2,500 for installation of signage to warn drivers that tresspassing is not allowed, and that the campus is under video surveillance.

Total recommended:  $73,590.

VOTES:

1. Board Nomination

2. Board Chair Appointments

If no Executive Session, adjourn meeting.