The District 58 Board of Education held a Regular Meeting on Monday, Jan. 13 at the Downers Grove Civic Center. View the agenda to access meeting presentations and documents. The meeting video will be posted on the District’s YouTube page.
School Report: Kingsley School
The Kingsley School Student Council led the Board and audience in the Pledge of Allegiance and gave a report on their recent and planned service projects and school fundraisers. Kingsley PTA President Kate Vogus shared some of the PTA’s goals for this year, which include improving communication and identifying ways to better support low-income students. She also shared some of the many programs and activities that the PTA offers the Kingsley community.
Principal Chuck Brewster reviewed the school’s assessment data and school improvement goals. In recent years, Kingsley focused on literacy, and their data showed improvements in this area. This year, they shifted their focus to math and developed school goals related to improving mathematical fact fluency. Assistant Principal Dr. Eleni Gajewski shared how the school incorporates positive psychology to improve the culture, through fun school-wide activities, positive student office referrals and a staff compliment journal. She also shared an analogy that connected the spontaneous synchronization of metronomes and fireflies to school culture. She used this analogy to show how positive energy can spread to others and help school teams sync together to achieve common goals.
Spotlight on our Schools: Fiscal Year 2024 Audit Report
District 58’s independent audit firm, Miller Cooper & Co., Ltd., formally presented District 58’s fiscal year 2024 audit report. Auditor Betsy Allen reported that the audit found no material weaknesses. However, the audit did note that while all financial transactions were accounted for, some capital expenditures and federal/state program revenues were assigned incorrect codes in the budget’s ledger. Ms. Allen shared that recent construction in District 58 meant that there were more financial transactions than usual last fiscal year, which likely contributed to this issue. Recommendations were made to ensure District 58 properly coded all of its financial transactions moving forward. Chief School Business Official Todd Drafall will implement all recommended changes with the Business Office.
Later in the meeting, the Board formally accepted the fiscal year 2024 audit report.
Superintendent’s Report
Superintendent Dr. Kevin Russell provided several updates, including:
- Winter Assessments: The winter assessment period is underway. All grade K-8 students are taking the MAP assessment in reading and math; many students will also take the aimswebPlus assessment as well. Individual student reports will be sent home after testing is completed. Staff will review student data during professional learning Mondays in early February.
- Elementary Lunch: This month, District 58’s elementary schools joined the National School Lunch Program and partnered with Open Kitchens to deliver daily boxed meals. Approximately 280 meals are served daily to elementary students.
- PowerSchool Data Breach: The Technology Office has been working with PowerSchool to understand the scope and implications of the PowerSchool data breach that the District was informed of last week. The District is also working with both PowerSchool and other affected school districts to take proactive steps to further protect its data and systems in the future. District 58 takes data privacy very seriously and will continue to enhance its data privacy practices.
- Special Services and PUNS: The Special Services Office encourages families of students with significant disabilities to enroll their child in Illinois’s PUNS database. PUNS is the first step toward accessing vital state-funded services, such as respite care, in-home supports, therapies and more. It helps identify and prioritize each family’s needs as services become available, regardless of income. For more information or to begin the enrollment process, contact Tiffany Williams, the District’s PUNS coordinator, at tiffanywilliams@dg58.org.
- Construction: Middle school construction is progressing on schedule. Drywall installation has begun in the middle schools’ new additions. Summer 2025 construction planning is underway, with pre-construction activities on track.
- Education Foundation News: The Education Foundation will hold its Harlem Wizards fundraiser and family event on Sunday, Jan. 19 from 6-8 p.m. at Downers Grove South. The world-famous Harlem Wizards will play the Downers Grovetrotters, a basketball team comprised entirely of District 58 staff. It’s a fun event and all proceeds support the Education Foundation. Buy tickets and learn more at www.58foundation.org.
Business Report
Assistant Superintendent for Business Todd Drafall shared that revenues and expenditures are overall on budget. A State transportation reimbursement payment that was expected in December has not yet arrived and is not included in this month’s report.
Committee Reports
Superintendent Dr. Kevin Russell reported on the Jan. 8 Legislative Committee meeting. The committee reviewed draft questions for the upcoming Legislative Breakfast event, which will take place on Jan. 31 at O’Neill. Several elected officials, including U.S. Congressman Sean Casten, U.S. Congressman Bill Foster and several local representatives and senators, will participate.
During the Meeting, the Board Also:
- Approved minutes from the Dec. 9 regular meeting and all items in the consent agenda.
- Adopted the policies from PRESS Issue 117 and the District 58 Capital Reserve Funding Policy.
- Approved 2025-26 school fees.
- Approved middle school and elementary school furniture purchases from Henricksen at a cost of $485,513.42. These purchases are related to summer 2025 construction work at the middle schools and Phase II elementary schools.
To view documents related to the above actions, please view the meeting agenda.
Upcoming Events
- Monday, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m.: Financial Workshop at O’Neill
- Wednesday, Jan. 29 at 3:45 p.m.: Legislative Committee Meeting at the Downers Grove Civic Center
- Friday, Jan. 31 at 7 a.m.: Legislative Breakfast at O’Neill
- Monday, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m.: Regular Board Meeting at the Downers Grove Civic Center
District 58 Board of Education members are: Darren Hughes, president; Gregory Harris, vice president; Kirat Doshi, Melissa Ellis, Emily Hanus, Steven Olczyk and Tracy Weiner, with Dr. Kevin Russell, superintendent; and Melissa Jerves, board secretary.