001Okay, the board of education is now resuming its June 18th, 2026 regular board of education meeting. Thank you for your indulgence as we're running a few minutes behind. Would everyone please rise for the pledge? There we go. >> Thank you. I pledge to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> All right, welcome everyone to our June 18th, 2026 regular board of education meeting. We are kicking off our first meeting of the summer, which means it's a great time to reflect on the past year. I have a few remarks before we jump in. Uh, as you all know, June is LGBTQIA+ pride month, which is a time to celebrate inclusion, belonging, and acceptance. We were
002proud to have participated in the Village of Buffalo Grove Pride Parade last Sunday, and we thank all the students, family, staff, and community members who joined us. Tomorrow we will commemorate Junth, marking June 19th, 1865, when news of emancipation finally reached enslaved people in Texas, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. This holiday serves as a reminder of our ongoing pursuit of freedom, freedom, equality, and justice for all. Other items that are newsworthy, summer hours are now in effect at the District 21 Health Center with offices open from 8:00 a.m. to 3 PM through July 31st. Families needing school physicals or health services for the upcoming school year are encouraged to schedule an appointment. Mark your calendars for the back to school bash on Saturday, August 8th at 10 a.m. at the
003Wheeling Park District Pavilion in Heritage Park. There will also be a 5K fun run prior to this event in support of local organizations. I'd also like to remind families to remember to register their children for the 202627 school year. Completing registration early helps us prepare for a smooth start to the school year. Finally, I want to acknowledge an unspeakable tragedy that affected our community last week. a student at Riley suffered a terrible accident and passed away. He was eight years old and he also had a sibling at Tarkington. May his memory be for a blessing. Please keep his family and our communities in your minds and hearts and join me in a brief moment of silence. Thank you. For those inclined, while the family has requested privacy, there is a GoFundMe established. Please reach out
004if you wish to contribute. I'd like to acknowledge some of our elected officials joining us tonight. I see Sher Clump from the Wheeling Park District. Always wonderful to see you and we appreciate that you come. Any individual physically present at our meeting tonight wishing to address the board must complete a comment card and provide it to Miss Del Rail. Written public comments may also be submitted by emailing us at district21cccsd21.org. Let's go ahead and move into staff communication uh superintendence report. The first item is special remarks from organic life. Dr. Connelly. Well, I'll just have our folks from Organic Life come forward. Um, they wanted to uh say a couple words to the board uh after the conclusion of a school year. So, ladies, welcome. >> Good evening everyone. Um, my name is Alison Brown
005and I am the food service director manager and this is I am Don Pestold. I am the assistant food service manager. We'd like to say thank you for providing us with the time to speak tonight. And then on behalf of organic life, we would like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude and for being our heart well sorry heartfelt gratitude for being a part of such an incredible district. Serving the Wheeling School District has been an absolute privilege of ours. And we are deeply thankful to be among a community with a superintendent, a school board, and parents who are so deeply invested um in the well-being and success of their children. We are grateful for the support that we receive from everyone in this community. Um and on behalf of the entire organic
006life uh team, we want to say thank you for your trust and support and we all wish you a wonderful and happy summer. love desserts. >> So, >> thank you very much. We appreciate it. >> Thank you both. The feeling is mutual. We appreciate the partnership and the wonderful food you prepare for all of our students in our community. >> Thank you. We appreciate it. >> Thanks. >> All right. Our second item is an update on the map design committee. >> Yes. Um so I wanted to provide just a quick update. um the map design committee um which of course are looking at our our boundaries um they met uh most recently on June 10th uh and that really the the purpose of their meeting that evening was to um gather and and take a
007look at and and consider um the feedback um that uh they received from the community um after the the three uh initial options were shared. Uh and there was an open house that was had at the right at the end of May. Um a survey um that had been out um in uh multiple languages really again seeking to gain feedback from from the community. Um the there were over 400 um surveys that were uh completed. Um there were a number of individuals that came to the open house and kind of you know through the course of the evening came in and and uh some you know completed the survey right there. Uh there was also some handwritten um surveys that were available that were completed uh that Walpert um who was of course facilitating the
008effort for us compiled. Um so uh it was notable that that um we kept the survey open um all the way up until um well actually it's still open. I'll get to that in a moment. Um kept it all the intent was to keep it open all the way to uh June 9th, the day before um the MAP committee was to meet. Um but we had over a hundred responses come in in the final 24 hours um before the committee met. So when the committee came together um you know they really wanted to be able to take the time uh to really take a look at at what all of that feedback said. Um they are taking this very seriously. They understand um the the the the need to take time to uh do the
009best work they can. They understand that it's not likely that that a recommended recommendation that comes out of them will make everybody happy. Um but they really want to try and make sure that whatever they present to you um as a recommendation moving forward um are is well considered uh and is is is taken in as much uh community feedback as possible. So um with that uh they made the determination that they were not ready um that they needed to continue their work. um they will be they will be continuing their work um into July. Um the survey itself remains open. Um one of the things the committee really would like to hear more from um specific areas of the district um notably um our our field Whitman Twain uh attendance areas. Um so we
010are um really going to work over the next several weeks to try and and get more uh residents from that area. We had some palm cards uh that were printed out that have QR codes that can access um the uh the the survey. We're also going to be sending postcards um to um specific uh addresses in those zones um to uh to try and and really get um you know some more feedback from that area. um in in two of the three options um that uh that were um presented initially, the the the lion share of the impact was really going to be in that sector. Um and so um they really want to make sure that they hear more um from from that area in particular. So um we're continuing on uh with those
011efforts. Um the survey remains open. It never closed actually um but it will remain open until um July 15th. Um, so I would not anticipate um that the the map committee will be ready uh to provide this board with any recommendations. Um, I don't think they'll certainly will be ready in July. Uh, we'll see uh what they feel in terms of being able to to present um any kind of recommendations in August. Um, but at this point, um, and I think this is just fine, uh, because we want to make sure that that, um, you know, that we're taking the time that we need to make these, uh, you know, the these determinations and for you to have what you need to, um, be able to make a good decision. Uh, I would not anticipate,
012um, the board, um, taking any action on this until sometime this fall. Um, I think that that's, uh, kind of a a realistic, uh, timeline that we're on at this point. So, um I will tell you that um you know I had the opportunity to um say hello. uh I'm not in the meetings um but to be able to say hello and and uh to the to the committee uh to thank them for what you know for the work that they're doing to reassure them that we want them to take the time they need to take um that this there is not a deadline that you know ex that the deadline is our own right like no one is externally telling us we have to make this decision or you know that their work needs
013to be done by a certain time so um I just reinforce that with them um I will tell you that in my conversations with Walpert um the their conversations amongst the committee are are reportedly extremely um serious. Um they they are really, you know, sharpening their their pencils and are taking it very seriously. No one is driving a specific agenda um you know, they really are trying to work very hard to make sure that that whatever they um provide to you as potential recommendations um is, you know, what is going to well serve the district and the community as a whole. So um so that's the update from the map committee um and um again um I just want to um thank those uh committee members um from the work for the work that they're
014doing because uh it is not an easy task um that we have asked them to take on. So, I'll answer any questions to the best of my my ability, but >> I I would just say see thank you for slowing it down, taking your time, having sat on this board the last time we did uh district redistricting and a mistake was made because it was rushed. Thank you for taking your time. >> Well, the the credit goes to the committee, right? So, I I will take your thanks and pass that to the committee. they are the ones that made the decision that they needed to continue to work. >> Um, so just to clarify, after all of this feedback is given, the committee goes through it, they potentially make some changes, will they propose like
015kind of set this out again where we share these new proposed plans, ask for feedback again or at that point are they taking feedback, making changes and then proposing a plan? >> Yeah. So, I think that that um what their intent is to do just that is to I don't know that there will be another specific meeting. Um you know, it might be I I don't know that they've made that determination yet. I can check I can double check and and with Walpert and kind of see what they're what they're visualizing, but um yeah. So, like for instance, if they have, you know, option A, um, and then they go through and like, okay, we've got now an option A1 or A2 because they've modified it, whatever the case may be, it's to really kind
016of try and get some of that information out there um and see if there's any additional um, you know, feedback that that would come through that. >> So, in regards to the survey, like this is your chance, right, to provide your feedback. So, obviously all these steps are >> it's the current chance, right? You know, there will be opportunities once that once they kind of solidify their recommendations that obviously at that point then it once it comes to you at the board level, then you'll go through your process and hear from the community and and >> phrase it differently. If they present to us, let's say in October, since you since you said the fall, just to use October as an example, we could hear the presentation, the community could hear the presentation, yet we
017may not have to make a decision in November, allowing the community to still give feedback to what was presented to us. Absolutely. Before we decide in November or December >> again, that >> what we choose to do, if anything, >> 100%. And and again the process by which you once you have the the recommendations the process that you choose in terms of how you want to deliberate you know get questions answered engage with the with the community again is entirely at your direction. So you decide when you're ready to to to vote on it. >> And one more clarification. Could this potentially as this keeps getting pushed back for rightful reasons? Could this potentially then set back when we want to put these changes into effect? >> Absolutely. Again, you will determine when these boundaries
018go into effect. That is no one else's decision but yours. So, what we've said is that at at the earliest, this could be 2728 school year. If you make the determination, if we're still working on this in December >> and you make the determination that we do not implement next year, we don't implement. We implement when you tell us it is time to implement. >> Okay. And sorry, another clarification. I've asked this question before, but are we continuing on our side of things to look at where our programs are being held and how that could potentially free up spaces within our buildings? >> Yes. >> Prior to because I know there's some spaces in particular that are more overcrowded than others. Like are there ways for us to alleviate that >> prior to any of
019these changes going into effect? There are some um I will say that our most of our programs, our special programs with the outside with with the exception of our our bilingual programs which is really populationdriven um most of our specialized programs are already placed in areas that are not overcrowded. Um, and I think one of the things to keep in mind is that once the the new boundaries are set, it may reshuffle and and so there may be some relocation of special programming that will need to occur. Um, uh, uh, preschool, for example. Uh, we have we have several sections of preschool over at at Whitman. Um, fewer sections at Tarkington, but, you know, sections that are there as well. um depending on the the impact of new boundaries um it is unlikely that Whitman
020would be able to host that many sections of preschool and so we would need to relocate um programs like that. >> I just know last year it was around like July and August there was some confusion about what some of the numbers were based on how students in certain programs were affecting those numbers. So, I'm hoping as we get an enrollment update at some point, we'll have like some pretty like determined numbers and there won't be so much confusion as to who accounts for those. >> The confusion was relegated to one specific program, >> correct? >> Um, in one building and I think that we have successfully remedied that situation. >> Great. >> Yeah. >> All right. Thank you very much. We uh again thank the committee and look forward to their decision when they
021are ready to bring it to us. Um okay, next is public comment section. The board will allow any individual present to share a public comment for up to three minutes. Such comment should not include a discussion of personnel matters which should be brought directly to the attention of the appropriate school official. Thank you very much. During public comment, the board and administration listen to comments but may not respond to the public. And Miss Deliel has just handed me several comment cards. We'll start with Ben Coleman. Hello, my name is Ben Kman and I am the current president of the District 21 Education Association. We represent most of the people who work here in District 21. I'm happy to report that my summer is going really well. Both of my kids are home safe. My son
022returned home from a a year-long study abroad in Barcelona after visiting something like 20 other countries that most people have never heard of. They will both be going off to college in the fall. my son for his last year at the University of Illinois and my daughter for her first year at Washington University in St. Louis. I'm excited for both of them and happy that both were able to find a college that fit them well. I'm also happy to report that I will be returning to Cooper in the fall as a project leader, hopefully continuing to teach eighth grade medical detectives and seventh grade flight in space. It looks like I will also be sponsoring a media club and an esports club at Cooper, as well as possibly a Dungeon and Dragons club. I'm happy
023that the principles at Cooper were willing to try these ideas out. I think that's a pretty good segue into the important point that I want to make tonight. This is a negotiation year for us and it has been a long time since the last negotiation. I want to start this conversation now because I don't think it has to be contentious or adversarial. I think that our association is strong, diverse, skilled, and successful. I think we want to stay that way. I think we want to continue working at schools where staff and administrators support each other and try new things, finding where they belong, where they have space to be creative and take time to learn, to recover from illness, to start a family, to change and grow. I'm going to work hard to make this
024process a transparent conversation about helping all of us succeed together. I've spent quite a bit of time trying to listen to staff here at District 21, and I think we're all ready for this. We look forward to working with you to make this upcoming negotiation a victory for everyone. Thank you, Ben. Um, Steve Williams. Uh, my name is Steve Williams. We live in the Tarington area and my grandson who is nine years old is at Tarington in third grade. What I'm concerned about and asking if for instance you put this into effect in the 27 28 year since he's going to be in fifth grade at that time can as it was I believe the last time this happened there was a grandfather clause of one year I'm asking that the board highly consider that
025now whether or not we're ultimately affected from what I could tell and Dr. Connley was fantastic at explaining this to me why like three times because I didn't understand it but he was fantastic and Bill Harrison's fantastic too. There's the only two I talked about. I just want to make sure that that is a consideration because under the plans if I read it correctly and I explain it third plan would be the only one that affected us. I believe that's correct from where live on Ver Lane and Wheeling. I believe that's correct. I'm concerned that if it was the third plan or something like that that my grandson would have to hopefully he'd be grandfathered in for fifth grade. I'm going to assume that's a good possibility. I'm not saying it's permanent. I'm not, you
026know, but going to homes where a lot of his friends may not be going, I don't think is fair. I I'm I'm going to be brutally honest. I'm a very toting grandfather and you know I I just want to make sure that this is done. I hope what everybody's saying about this the stuff is in the up and up and everything like that because I think it's only fair to the parents and the students and frankly I'm a ghasted that there aren't more people here talking to you people and trying to explain to you guys what we might want and what you would consider. So I would just appreciate if you would consider something like that and thank you very much for giving me the time. Thank you very much. I appreciate your comments. Um,
027Elizabeth Williams. >> Hi. Um, I've graduated or I finished at Holmes a long time ago. I'm 44. I'm going to be 44 this year. So, I've been a student in the district. My mom was also a teacher in the district, a retired teacher in the district. Um, my son is that's my father and my son and I live with my parents and the area that we live in in Tarington's attendance district is a bit of a small area for Tarington. And for me, I would greatly appreciate if this redistricting happens and it goes into effect for the 2728 school year that it would my son would be grandfathered into his last year at Tarington because I don't think it's very fair for him to have to go to another grade school for just one year.
028And I know this may not sound the best because I did finish at Holmes, but Holmes was a different school when I was there. um from I think 94 to 96. Um I haven't heard the greatest things about homes. Um I think there's some issues at homes. Um and I personally want my son going to the best school that he can go to and he would be going from Tarkington to London and then probably to Wheeling High School. Well, yeah, he would go to Wheeling High School. So for me, it's really important that my son stays and has stability and continuity that I believe every kid anywhere deserves. And so I hope you guys will take into consideration that there should be grandfathering in if it's the 2728 school year for all the fifth graders
029in the in the school district. Right. Thank you for your comments. Um all right. Um, Cass, have we received any written comments? Give you those for safekeeping. Okay, thank you, Cass. Uh, moving right along into our consent agenda. We received nine Freedom of Information Act requests this month, and there are no board conference and travel expenses for the board to approve. Uh, I reviewed the financial documents with Mike Zagger, and he answered all my questions sufficiently. Uh, and we had some good discussion about the current state of our district finances and what we can expect over the next coming months. Um, does anyone need anything pulled from the consent agenda? >> Yes, we want to pull item Q. >> Item Q. Um, can I please do we have to do the motion to postpone that
030first or can we approve the consent agenda? So, we'll move to approve the consent agenda minus item Q and then we'll come back and we'll move to postpone item Q to July. Perfect. >> Okay. May I please have a motion to approve and thank you for that. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All right. Jessica, >> yes. >> Debbie, >> yes. >> I vote yes. Arllin, >> Yes. Bill, >> yes. >> Angelica, >> yes. Motion carries. >> Okay. Okay. May I please have a motion to postpone item Q to the July agenda? >> So moved. >> Second. >> All right. Jessica, >> yes. >> Debbie, >> yes. >> I vote yes. Arlland, >> yes. >> Bill, >> yes. >> Angelica, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> Wonderful. Thank you, everyone. All right. You're being so
031efficient tonight. >> It's the summer. >> I know. Uh, all right. Our next section is board communication. Um, first we have the board champion updates. Uh, for my goal, which was social and emotional growth. Uh, I wanted to share that the district behavior committee met in June just after school led out to train building teams on the approaches that the committee developed for the next school year, including uh, things like when the classroom or specials and explos teachers handle discipline versus the principal or one of the APS. Uh, I also met with Sherry after that meeting individually to assess how the year went, the work of the committee, and her plans for next year. Uh, does anyone else have a board champion update for this month? >> Okay. All in all, I think it's it's
032really been an excellent program >> and I'm looking forward to year two of the strategic plan as we continue in our champion roles. And just a note uh on the strategic plan goals for year two. Um we're still working uh you know on on kind of refining them. Um and uh so I know I noted that my plan was to bring them to June. We're still working on them. Um so we will report back on what our year 2 goals look like based on the feedback that we received um at the end of April uh with the the original strategic plan team um and discussions internally. Um, so those are those are still not printed off yet >> and that that is fine then that's great. >> Um, all right. NSSO Debbie, do you have
033an update for us? >> Uh, yes I do. We had a brief discussion regarding our negotiations which are still ongoing. Uh, the budget was approved by all eight uh member districts. So that has gone into effect. We also approved the dissemination of the ICE resolution and signage to all districts for their approval and for direction on voting at our August meeting. So I will ask that we put that on next month's agenda so we can approve that particular verbiage. Um it is essentially the same resolution the 214 passed earlier this year. Uh we had a discussion on the human X survey which NSSO has moved to only doing in the spring because we have found that the fall survey results were skewed because everybody's just so happy to be back to work whereas it's you
034get more realistic when you do it in the spring. Um we are also beginning to do something rather than just having exit interviews. Um, we are going to be doing stay interviews. What's keeping you here? I mean, targeting specific people. It's like, why are you so happy? What makes this the place that you want to be? So, that's that's going to be that's going to be very interesting to to get the little >> the little nuances out there. Um, and also we had our graduation ceremonies from all three schools and ESY began and we have like almost a 90% participation in ESY. But that's it. >> All right. Great. Thank you, Debbie. Uh, Ed Red, Bill, do you have an update? >> Thank you. Yes, I do. Um, Ed Red held its last events of
035the school year, a member meeting focused on an end of the session legislative update and its annual mini summit. A copy of Bridget's presentation from the member meeting is available on the website if you would like to see that. Debbie, Mike, and I were able to attend the mini summit event. I listened to two breakout sessions on EBF and on advocacy. A key takeaway was from the uh advocacy piece. Although in the end SB 2914, the notice to remedy bill did pass over the opposition of ED Red, IASB, and others, the feedback that both Ed and ISB received from legislate legislators was that they had never previously seen the level of involvement from board members on an issue and it certainly gave them pause. While we may not win all of our issues, our advocacy
036can have an impact if we collectively use our voice. And that's it for Ed. Oh, >> that's great. Um, how about ISB? >> Have something there too, a little bit longer. Um, I had first of all, before I start into the update from the quarterly board of directors meeting, um, the North Cook board met to make its planning for our next year's events and we did name two people to the committee to replace two people who had, uh, retired and one of the people is sitting here with us today, Debbie Mcatee was named to the board. So congratulations Debbie to be named to the board and we'll see you at next year's meeting since we meet that frequently. So um I did attend the quarterly meeting of the ISB board of directors in Springfield earlier
037this month. A few of the highlights from the meeting. The association ran a modest surplus in the past fiscal year despite budgeting for a deficit. This was due primarily to a tradition of conservative forecasting and budgeting. The 2627 budget was also approved um and it projects a deficit at this time due to a combination of that conservative budgeting as well as an expect expectation of additional costs from the joint annual um conference. There were some security concerns that were raised after last year's conference. some events occurred just outside the conference that um raised people's uh eyebrows and so there will be additional security that ISB will be paying for going forward. Next, we uh did a an evaluation of the executive director, Kimberly uh Small. She received a pro uh positive review and and a
038one-year extension to her contract. And let's see, we received the first draft of the five-year strategic plan that many of you may have taken the survey for. Um, after the staff received feedback from the board, they'll be presenting a final plan at our next quarterly meeting. And that roll out then should occur shortly thereafter to all the member districts. And then finally, the next meeting of the board of directors will be toward the end of August in Collinsville. So, a little drive in advance. And that's it. >> All right. Um, I'll just add that I attended the IASB board president's academy last Saturday. We talked about the board superintendent relationship. We reviewed parliamentary procedure and had an opportunity to act out some scenarios using these hilarious little mini gavvels that I'm a little sad we
039weren't allowed to take home. Uh, we discussed >> hear about the deficit I just mentioned. Right. >> Okay. I'm just saying was hysterical. We were all Okay. We discussed best practices for orderly and effective meetings and we heard from some veteran board presidents in a Q&A about their experiences. Uh it was very valuable to me and I just wanted to acknowledge my appreciation that you allowed me to attend to improve my abilities to serve as your president. Uh if anyone wants to look at the materials that we received just let me know. Uh I am assuming based on the feedback it will be offered again. And I think this was only the second time they had offered it. Um, if anyone is interested in being a future board president, I would certainly encourage you uh
040to attend if it's offered in the future. Um, Arlland, do you have a North Cook ISC update? >> Right. You all received three pages from April. It's been an exciting month. I actually unfortunately had to miss the walkthrough of the new facility because I was sick last month when they did that. But we did a walkthrough of the new facility. We expect to take possession uh about August 21st. Uh we're growing in every direction. Our finances are solid. Uh facility planning continues even with the new facility with security and all the bells and whistles that we have to have in a school program today. Um our requests and demand and need for uh professional learning continues to grow. So that program is growing as well. Under student services, our uh ALOP program is up to
04182 students who will be helping our school districts with uh truency issues. So it's amazing to have been there from the time when it almost was closed by the state of Illinois to today when we the organization provides such important services for our schools. So, we continue to try to do the work we're doing and uh hopefully continue successfully. >> Great. >> Thank you, Arlon. Uh if anyone has any updates from local government or their liaison updates, please remember to send those in for inclusion in the July agenda. Um and now we are going to uh the next section on our agenda is a continuation of our close session. Uh we're going to go back into close session for Okay. Okay. Be it resolved, the board of education approves recessing the district 21 regular board
042of education meeting of June 18th, 2026 and reconvening in close session to continue the discussion of the items identified under the applicable exemptions announced at the commencement of the closed session. Is there a second? >> Second. >> All right. Jessica, >> yes. >> Debbie, >> yes. >> I vote yes. Arllin, >> yes. >> Bill, >> yes. >> Angelica, >> yes. Motion carries. >> Thank you. The board is now in close session. No action will be taken during close session, but we will be returning to open session afterward to consider action on one item. We will adjourn to our conference room. We have one action item which is the approval of the 2026 2027 superintendent's employment compensation. Uh be it resolved. The board of education moves to approve the superintendent's compensation as discussed. May I have
043a second? >> Second. All right, Jessica, >> yes. >> Debbie, yes. I vote yes. Arlland, >> yes. >> Ilana, yes. Phil, yes. >> Angelica, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> Excellent. Thank you very much, Dr. Connelly. Thank you board members for the always lively discussion. The next regular meeting of the board of education of district 21 is scheduled for Thursday, June 6, July 16th, 2026 at 7 p.m. I wish everyone a safe and happy Fourth of July holiday. May I please have a motion to adjourn our June meeting? >> So moved. >> Second. >> All right. Jessica, >> yes. >> Debbie, >> yes. >> I vote yes. Arlland, >> yes. >> Kiana, >> yes. >> Bill, >> yes. >> Angelica, >> yes. >> Motion carries. Okay, we are adjourned. Thank you everyone for joining us.
044Have a great evening.