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Community Information Page

By Jones, Nichole

Welcome to our Community Information Page.

The following is provided in an attempt to keep the school community informed and allow for easy access to information about things happening in and pertaining to our school district.

 

Report to the Community Click HERE to view. (Oct. 2023)

 

Finding yourself needing help? Reach out to this local crisis text line.

 

We are excited to announce that we have partnered with the YMCA to offer
before and after school child care for students K-5th grade. 

For more information and pricing options, click HERE.

For questions or to enroll - contact the Y at 815-933-1741.

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     The FBI's Child ID App. Putting Safety in Your Hands

Click on the image above to get more information about a free, new tool from the FBI
(the first created by them) to help parents in an emergency if separated from their child.

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Use of ARP-ESSER III Funds Plan

Bullying Incident Report - We have made it easier for anyone to report a bullying event they believe they have witnessed. Reports can be made anonymously. Click here for an incident report.

District Assessment Reporting
The third annual District Assessment Survey is now available. Link to assessment survey results.

                                               

Herscher CUSD #2 Attendance Information
Click HERE to view our Parent Guide
Parents/Guardians,

We have had several occasions where we have closed school or released early for weather-related issues. I would like to review the options for how the school district deals with these issues.

These options are as follows:
1. Close all schools for the entire day.
2. Release all  early. (1:30 p.m. for all buildings)
3. Start all schools late. (9:45 a.m. for all buildings)
 ***There may be emergency situations that would dictate that we close just one school in the District.

Some other criterion for closing schools for the entire day are below:
1. Sustained wind chills measuring - 30 degrees.          
2. Heavy snow and windy conditions.
3. Extreme icy conditions.                                              
4. Heavy fog that is not supposed to break.
5. Combination of the above criterion.

Some of the criterion for releasing early:
1. Sustained temperatures above 94 degrees with accompanying humidity above 55%.
2. Dangerous storms heading our direction. (This may cause us to shelter-in-place as well.)
3. Other emergency situations.

Some of the criterion for starting school late:
1. Heavy fog that is expected to lift.                                 
2. Icy conditions that are expected to get better.
3. Severe cold that is expected to get better.                   
4. Moderate snow that is expected to be cleared.
5. Combination of the above conditions.

We now have three options to deal with weather-related issues. It is my intention to announce these decisions as early as possible (preferable the night before). If we release early, we will release all schools at 1:30 p.m.. If we start late, we will begin school at 9:45 a.m. for all schools. (The late start is a new option, so please plan accordingly.) As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Thank you for your help in making the Herscher School District the best in the area!
Dr. Richard S. Decman, Superintendent of Schools

Click here for Child Care Weather Watch Tables regarding temperatures,wind chills and the heat index

District Owned Items Declared as Surplus
BIDDING RULES:
-Individuals must be at least 21 years of age to place a bid.
-Bids must be received in a SEALED envelope.
-A separate bid form must be used for each separate item you bid on. Only multiples of the same item (ex. "3 tables") can be on the same form.
-Bids may NOT be canceled once submitted. All bids are to come sealed and will remain sealed until the opening.
-All bids are considered legally binding. Please be sure you are able to complete the purchase at the time you acquire the items should you be the winning bidder. Please seriously consider your bid before placing it.
-Once bids are opened and reviewed, the highest bidder will be contacted. If the bidder does not come in to purchase/pick up the item(s) within 5 business days from initial contact, the next highest bidder will be contacted.

PAYMENT and POSSESSION:
-Items won are to be paid for in full no later than the day items are picked-up.
-Delivery is not available.
-All items must be paid for in cash or via official bank check/money order.
-NO PERSONAL or BUSINESS CHECKS.
-All items must be picked-up within (5) business days of being contacted.

ADDITIONAL TERMS:
-Herscher CUSD #2 reserves the right to withdraw any item from the auction at any time, without additional notice.
-All items are sold in "as is" condition.
-Devices are available in "as is" condition. There is no guarantee devices function. Operating systems, office programs and other applications are not included. Accessories such as power cords, AV cords, adapters, mice, keyboards, etc. not included.

-Must provide proof of insurance and be able to present a destruction of data certificate for bids pertaining to: laptops, desktops, servers, switches, ipads, and other enterprise grade equipment that may contain sensitive data.
-Herscher CUSD #2 reserves the right to reject any bid.
-In the event of a tie, the earliest received bid will win.

Click HERE for our Bid Form
By submitting a bid, prospective purchasers acknowledge acceptance of these conditions.

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District Budgets

2023-2024

23-24 Tentative Budget

2022-2023

22-23 Tentative Budget

2021-2022

2020-2021

20-21 Tentative Budget

19-20 Amended

2019-2020

2018-2019

2017-2018 Amended

2017-2018

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FOIA Requests (Freedom of Information Act) 
District FOIA Officer: Supt, Dr. Richard S. Decman. Requests should be directed to Dr. Decman: 501 N Main St., PO Box 504, Herscher IL 60941 or via email. The fee for black and white, letter or legal sized copies may not exceed 15 cents per page. However, no fees may be charged for the first 50 pages of black and white, letter or legal sized copies provided to the requester. (Requests received during the last 18 mos. found below)

No requests received August 2021.

Received: Sept 7, 2021 - From: Angel Tormis, SteepSteel, LLC - Duration to Complete: 4 days  Topic: copies of all active leases/licenses for cell towers, rooftop antennas, or other wireless installations on property owned or managed by district, along with 24 months of associated payment histories.

Received: Sept. 16, 2021 - From: Vince Espi, LocalLabs.com - Duration to Complete: 2 days  Topic: List of all materials in district that fall under the 1619 project; list of all books written by authors Ibram X. Kendi or Robin DiAngelo that are used in curriculum or libraries in your school district.

Received: Sept 28, 2021 - From: Vince Espi, LocalLabs.com - Duration to Complete: 3 days  Topic: data of any faculty or student with (a) COVID -19 positive results, (b) COVID-19 like symptoms, or (c) close contacts to a confirmed COVID-19 case that were reported to the local health department over the previous seven days; please provide all details that were provided to the local health dept.

Received: Sept 30, 2021 - From: Janie Jordan, Data Research Partners LLC - Duration to Complete: 2 days  Topic: employee's first/last names, e-mail addresses, title/position & primary campus/dept location.

Received: October 5, 2021 - From: Katherine Smyser, NBC Universal - Duration to Complete: 1 day  Topic: Documents, data, and/or spreadsheets showing all unclaimed funds under the control of district which have not been reported/transferred to the IL State Treasurer; unclaimed property which district has reported and/or transferred to the IL State Treasurer & all claims for unclaimed property due to the district from the IL Treas.

Received: October 13, 2021 - From: Zoe Yalcin, SmartProcure - Duration to Complete: 1 day Topic: Purchase Order #, Purchase Date, Line Item Details, Line Item Qty, Line Item Price, Vendor ID #, Name, address, contact & email address from 7-13-2021 to current.

Received: October 22, 2021 - From: Vince Espi, LocalLabs - Duration to Complete: 1 day  Topic: Contracts & documents relating to business with Panorama Education: copy of signed contract, list of all payments made to Panorama, copies of all materials used by Panorama in training/curriculum per the contract, &  list of all teachers & classes (students) who have been exposed or instructed to Panorama materials.

Received: Nov 5, 2021 - From: Rebecca Harms - Duration to Complete: 5 days  Topic: emails sent & received between Rich Decman, Herscher CUSD2 Board of Ed, Il State Board of Ed, Il Dept of Public Health, Kankakee Dept of Public Health, Gov. Pritzker's office and Herscher CUSD2's legal representation that contains any of the following key concepts or terms: mandatory COVID testing, teacher/staff quarantine, teacher/staff exclusion, Rebecca Harms.

Received: Nov 8, 2021 - From: Karen Garcia, SmartProcure.com - Duration to Complete: 4 days  Topic: First name, last name, position title, department, director phone, business phone, email address & office address for all current employees

No requests received December 2021.

Received: Jan 11, 2022 - From: Zoe Yalcin,  SmartProcure.com - Duration to Complete: 2 days  Topic: Purchase Order #, Purchase Date, Line Item Details, Line Item Qty, Line Item Price, Vendor ID #, Name, Address, Contact Person and their Email Address, from 10.13.21 to 1.11.22.

Received: Jan 11, 2022 - From: Jonathan Fagg, ABC7 Chicago - Duration to Complete: 1 day  Topic: Documentation of remote learning equipment reported as missing, damaged, broken, stolen or otherwise unavailable for use. Please provide information in aggregate including (if available): type of device, school that device-assigned student attends, date of issuance, data or report of loss, and any other relevant information. In addition, documentation showing the total number or remote learning equipment assigned.

Received: Jan 18, 2022 - From: Douglas Schnell, Springfield IL - Duration to Complete: 1 day  Topic: Names/titles of school staff at Limestone Middle School; Names/titles including contact info for all school board members; Name/contact information of school district attorney; Name/contact info of transportation director; district copy of students with a disability and the ADA; what agency does the Herscher School District contract with for students having an IEP.

Received: Jan 19, 2022 - From: Nathan Mihelich, IRTA - Duration to Complete: 1 day  Topic: Name & email for any certified staff who are retiring this year.

Received: Feb 15, 2022 - From: Gregory Dorsey - Duration to Complete: 5 days  Topic: Identify means for the public to speak at Education Board Meetings, other than being directed to the School District web site; What process is in place to accommodate persons w/o internet access to participate in the public address portion of the Education meetings; Why no attempt to accommodate a public speaking form during the Education Board meeting dated 14 Feb 2022 by notification prior to the start of the meeting; What policies/procedures are currently in place and/or are recommended to ensure that community members and/or interested parties can have a voice at future Education Board meetings.

Received: Feb 15, 2022 - From: Gregory Dorsey - Duration to Complete: 5 days  Topic: In accordance with Community Letter dated 15 Sept 2021, COVID infection status would be updated weekly-lated (sic) COVID update is dated 28 Jan 2022, please explain why this has not been adhered to as stated in the aforementioned Community Letter; Identify the person(s) accountable for providing this info / updating this info to the District web site; Identify with whom the responsibility of COVID contract tracing is done within the school district, if done at all; For the health and welfare of the community, how is this info being given to those w/o internet access.

Received: Feb 15, 2022 - From: Gregory Dorsey - Duration to Complete: 5 days  Topic: In accordance with Community Letter dated 6 February 2022, paragraph 5, references a CDC recom-mendation in the implementation of "mask optional" approvals...There is no link to verify this info as pervious (sic) Community Letter(s) ie: dated 10 January 2022; Please provide the exact source & citation of the reference through the CDC and provide the citation in its entirety to include any additional COVID mitigation recommendations.

Received: Feb 15, 2022 - From: Gregory Dorsey - Duration to Complete: 5 days  Topic: Please identify any & all funds received through the State and/or Federal sources to be used in the mitigation of COVID over the past 2 years; Please identify any/all expenditures over the School District & specifically for the Bonfield Grade School used in the mitigation of COVID, ie: increased sanitation supplies, overtime used in physical facility cleaning, procurement of mitigation devices to include but not limited to shielding of desks, & purchase of air quality enhancement devices over the past 2 years; Please identify the vendors, type of item, procurement dates & associated charges for all mitigation devices purchased over the District & specifically Bonfield Grade School over the past 2 years; Please provide School District staff policy, directives, memos and/or emails which give directives to COVID mitigation/sanitation procedures over the last year and specifically those directives affective Bonfield Grade School; Please provide how the COVID miti-gation of students/staff distance is being implemented throughout the district and specifically at Bonfield Grade School; Please explain how/why the COVID mitigation practice of distance was not enforced or coordinated into the seating arrangement during Education Board meeting dated 14 Feb 2022.

Received: Feb 16, 2022 - From: Gregory Dorsey - Duration to Complete: 4 days  Topic: Please provide the Herscher School District policy on remote learning & the utilization for remote learning "snow days"; Please provide any & all staff directives given regarding remote learning / snow days for the 21-22 school year in the form of but limited to memorandums, emails, verbal directives, etc.; Identify those specific policy and/or directive that identify the ability to service the needs of students with additional needs in the event of snow days and/or other situations when remote learning would or could be instituted; If remote learning is not authorized, please site the policy directive and responsible or governing body for that disapproval; If remote learning is authorized for "snow days" please site the policy directive and responsible governing body for that approval.

Received: Feb 16, 2022 - From: Gregory Dorsey - Duration to Complete: 4 days  Topic: Please provide the HHS criteria, eligibility & policy of the photos of student athletes displayed at HHS; Please identify the responsible person(s) who select, procure & maintain the displays; Please identify the number of, by name & eligibility, all minority student athletes over the past 20 years; Please identify by name & year of eligibility the number of minority student athletes who's (sic) photos are a part of the display currently; Please explain and/or provide a plan actions with time line, to correct the number of minority student athletes eligible & those currently displayed if any, or if there is a desire to; Please provide the total minority demo-graphics for the HHS over the past 20 years.

Received: Mar 17, 2022 - From: Jonathan Fagg, ABC7 Chicago - Duration of Complete: 1 day  Topic: Reconsideration forms or other forms that challenge library books, including: title of the book (or other library resource) being challenged, action requested in such a challenge, & the outcome of such challenges, details on the reason for the challenge, whether the book (or other library resource) was a part of a curriculum or official program, such data over time, from Jan 2018 up until the most current data at the point of production, such data electronically, any available info on the challenger, any other available aggregated data relevant to such challenges.

No requests received April 2022.

No requests received May 2022.

Received: June 23, 2022 -  From: Zoe Yalcin, SmartProcure - Duration to Complete: 1 day Topic: Purchase Order #, Purchase Date, Line Item Details, Line Item Qty, Line Item Price, Vendor ID #, Name, Address, Contact Person and their Email Address, from Jan 11, 2022 to current.

Received: July 1, 2022 - From: Nathan Mihelich, IRTA - Duration to Complete: 2 days  Topic: Name & email address of any certified staff (teachers, admin., nurses, counselors etc.) who have announced their retirement for any date or year in the future. Please also include the year they plan to retire.

No requests received August 2022.

No requests received September 2022.

No requests received October 2022.

Received: Nov  1, 2022 - From: Sheri Reid, SmartProcure - Duration to Complete: 1 day Topic: Purchase Order Number, Purchase Date, Line item details, Line item quantity, Line item price and Vendor ID#, name, address, contact person and their email address. Jan 11, 2022 to current.

Received: Nov 9, 2022 - From: Sheri Reid, SmartProcure - Duration to Complete: 1 day  Topic: Purchase Order Number, Purchase Date, Line item details, Line item quantity, Line item price and Venodr ID#, name, address, contract person and their email address. Oct 31, 2022 to current.

Received: Dec 8, 2022  - From: Katy Smyser, NBCUniveral - Duration to Complete: 22 (extension granted) Topic: Documents and materials concernind David Martin Murphy including employment and/or volunteer files, his applications for employment, coaching or volunteering, disciplinary files, compliants and commendations, correspondence or emails regarding Mr. Murphy, investigative reports or police reports, all communications to or from the IL Dept of Children and Family Services, all communications to or from parents or students and claims, lawsuits, separation or resignation agreements, and records of any judgments or settlements regarding Mr. Murphy which were approved or paid by the district, school board or through your district's insurance.

Received: Dec 14, 2022 - From: Vince Espi, LocalLabs - Duration to Complete: 1 day Topic:  Records of the following data points for all current school board members: full name, date of birth, home address, first day of service and was this board member appointed or elected.

Received: January 26, 2023 - From: Nathan Mihelich, IRTA - Complete: 1 day Topic: name and email address of any certified staff retiring at the end of this year.

Received: January 27, 2023 - From:  Josiah Chatterton, Local Labs - Complete: 5 days Topic: Employee information, specifically teachers, with the following data points for years: 2020, 2021 and 2022: first name, last name, position/title, department, pay rate, year to date gross.

Received: March 2, 2023 - From: Jay Jones, SMART Local 265 - Complete: 1 day Topic: construction and/or maintenance work planned this year for any building owned or leased by the district: HVAC, Architectural Metals used for weatherproofing and/or ornamental purposes, Gutters and/or Downspouts, New Installation and/or replacement of lockers, New installation and/or replacement of toilet partitions, Kitchen renovations, current HVAC maintenance contracts.

Received: April 10, 2023 From Vince Epsi, LocalLabs - Complete: 2 days Topic: Copy of district's mission statement; copies of any previous mission statements provided they have changed in recent past

Received: April 12, 2023 From Janie Jordan, Data Research Partners LLC Topic: Employees first and last names, e-mail address, title/position, and primary campus/department location Received: April 26, 2023 From Christine Harper, University of Kentucky - Complete: 1 day Topic: High School student's directory information.  Received: May 8, 2023 From Sheri Reid, SmartProcure Topic: Purchase order number. If purchase orders are not used a comparable substitute is acceptable, i.e., invoice, encumbrance, or check number 2. Purchase date 3. Line item details (Detailed description of the purchase) 4. Line item quantity 5. Line item price 6. Vendor ID number, name, address, contact person and their email address. 11/7/2022 to current.   Received: May 10, 2023 From Vince Espi, LocalLabs  Topic: Copies of all records (transactions, invoices, etc) and email correspondences with Lurie Children's Hospital form July 1st, 2022 to present day.  Received: June 5, 2023 From Sharmayne Soliman - Complete: 5 Days Topic: Current employees name, work location, school/department, title/position and district provided email address.  Received: June 8, 2023 From Vince Espi, Prairie State Wire - Complete: 5 Days Topic: Any contracts or agreements entered into between your school district and vendors providing Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) services from January 1st, 2019, to the present day. Invoices, payment records, or financial documentation related to payments made to DEI vendors during the specified period. Any reports, assessments, or evaluations conducted by DEI vendors, including their findings and recommendations. Communications, including emails, letters, and memos, exchanged between your school district and DEI vendors, discussing the provision of services or any related matters. Received: June 16, 2023 From Katherine Smyser, NBCUniversal Topic: All settlements resolving any Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuits; all judgements or other court orders requiring you to pay attorney fees, costs, and/or civil penalties in any FOIA lawsuits; all invoices from law firms for work on an FOIA lawsuits or Public Access Counselor reviews, where the lawsuit or the PAC review was ultimately decided in favor of the requestor; all claims made to an insurance company for coverage involving a FOIA action; all studies, reports, or other records calculating or referencing the cost of FOIA lawsuits or PAC reviews on an annual or other time-period basis. From January 1, 2013 to present. Received: June 23, 2023 From Josiah Chatterton, Prairie State Wire Topic: Current school board members, with the following data points if available: Full name (First, middle, last), Date of Birth, Home address, First day of service, Was this board member appointed or elected Received: June 28, 2023 From Lydia Simrayh Topic: Copy of the bid results for the concession/locker room building and new entrance canopy project bid on 6/8/2023. Received: July 11, 2023 From Vince Espi, Prairie State Wire Topic: Total spending on substitute teachers by school, for the past five years. Please provide the expenditure breakdown by year and school, number of substitute teacher days by school, for the past five years. Kindly provide the number of substitute teacher days for each year and school, Per diem/payment schedule for substitute teachers for the past five years. Please provide the per diem rates or payment schedule used for substitute teachers during each year within the past five years, Names of all substitute teachers, total days worked, and total payments made to them for the last five years. Please provide a list of substitute teachers who have worked within the school district for each year within the past five years. Additionally, include the total number of days worked by each substitute teacher and the corresponding total payment made to them. Received: July 26, 2023 From Katherine Smyser, NBCUniversal  Topic:Documents sufficient to show all communications (emails, letters, texts, board proceedings, or notes from phone calls) received by Herscher Community Unit School District 2, which include a request to reconsider, ban, and/or challenge any book or any other material in any of your school district’s libraries or classrooms including: The date of each such request; the title(s) of each book(s) or other material that was requested to be pulled from your shelves or classrooms, as well as any reason stated by the requestor; any response (email, letters, texts, board proceedings, or notes from phone calls) from anyone in your district, your school board, or individual school, to each request; the resolution of each request (i.e.: the book or material was removed completely; the book or material was partially restricted; the book or material remains on your shelves or in your classrooms; etc.), and documented threats that have been received by Herscher Community Unit School District 2, your school board, or any of your individual schools, librarians or teachers, via email, letters, texts, or voicemail recordings, that are related to books or other material kept in one of your libraries or classrooms. Received: August 3, 2023 From Joseph Michalski Topic: Student Letter issued on school letterhead to Mr. Michalski while attending Herscher High School  Received: August 5, 2023 From Sheri Reid, Smart Procure Topic:Purchasing records from 05/05/2023 to current  Received: September 11, 2023 From Janine Asmus Topic: Identify by employee name and email address each and every District employee who is certified as a school librarian and who is currently working in that capacity in the District's library/libararies/media centers this academic school year.

Miscellaneous District Reports