September 21, 2026 at 6:30 PM - Regular Board of Education Meeting

A. Call to Order

B. Pledge of Allegiance

C. The mission of Sunnybrook School District #171 is to maximize student achievement by cultivating: critical thinking skills, innovative instructional practices and a collaborative school, home and community partnership.

D. Roll Call

E. Any person wishing to address the board about an item that is on the agenda should do so when that item is up for discussion. Visitors' statements will be limited to two minutes per person. A total of 30 minutes will be allocated for visitor comments. All comments about items not on the agenda will be held until the Visitors' statements at the end of the meeting. Items related to personnel issues will be redirected to the appropriate Administrator.

F. Recommended Motion:
Recommended Motion: To approve the minutes of the August 10, 2026 Regular Board of Education meeting minutes, closed session meeting minutes, September expenses and August payroll in the amount of $1,760,044.54, as presented 

G. Communications

H. Informational Items:
Ms. Aaliyah Mayfield

I. Board Reports

J. Administrator Reports:
Dr. Erika Millhouse Pettis, Superintendent
Dr. Lori Owens Stranc, Assistant Superintendent
Mr. David Shrader, Chief School Business Official
Dr. Mike McGowan, Technology Director
Ms. Juliann Greene, Director of Pupil Services
Mrs. Chantelle Cambric, Principal, Heritage Middle School
Mr. Joseph Kent, Principal, Nathan Hale School
Policy Committee:
First Reading:
Policy 2:230: School Board:
Public Participation at School Board Meetings and Petitions to the Board
Policy 3:70: General School Administration:
Succession of Authority
Policy 4:175: Operational Services:
Convicted Child Sex Offender; Screening; Notifications
Policy 5:40: General Personnel:
Communicable and Chronic Infectious Disease
Policy 5:70: General Personnel
Religious Holidays
Policy 5:110: General Personnel
Recognition for Service
Policy 5:140: General Personnel
Solicitations By or From Staff
Policy 5:240: Professional Personnel
Suspension
Policy 6:70: Instruction
Teaching About Religions
Policy 6:80: Instruction
Teaching About Controversial Issues
Policy 6:190: Instruction
Extracurricular and Co-Curricular Activities
Policy 7:30: Students
Student Assignment and Intra-District Transfer
Policy 7:80: Students
Release Time for Religious Instruction/Observance
Policy 7:130: Students
Student Rights and Responsibilities
Policy 7:330: Students  (Rewritten)
Student Use of Buildings - Equal Access
Policy 8:10: Community Relations:
Connection with the Community
Policy 8:70: Community Relations:
Accommodating Individuals with Disabilities
Policy 8:10: Community Relations:
Connection with the Community
Policy 8:70: Community Relations:
Accommodating Individuals with Disabilities

 

K. Recommended Motions:
 

K.1. Recommended Motion:
To accept the resignation of Mr. Nicholas DeGrispino, Paraprofessional, Nathan Hale School, effective immediately, August 18, 2026, as presented. 

K.2. Recommended Motion:
To accept the resignation of Ms. Maria Vergara, Secretary, Nathan Hale School, effective immediately, September 9, 2026, as presented. 

K.3. Recommended Motion:
To approve the resignation of Ms. Amanda Alcantar, Paraprofessional, effective immediately, September 15, 2026, as presented. 

K.4. Recommended Motion:
To approve the Intermittent Family Medical Leave (FMLA) for Ms. Juliann Greene, Director of Pupil Services, effective September 14, 2026, as presented.

K.5. Recommended Motion:
To approve the Intermittent Family Medical Leave (FMLA) for Mrs. Shanna Koonce,
Nurses' Assistant, Nathan Hale & Heritage, effective for the 2026-2027 school year. 

K.6. Recommended Motion:
To approve the Family Medical Leave (FMLA) for Mrs. Amy Pelke, teacher, Heritage Middle School, effective August 11, 2026 until approximately October 16, 2026, as presented. 

K.7. Recommended Motion:
To approve the retirement of Mrs. Terri Pasko, teacher, Nathan Hale School, effective at the end of the school year 2026-2027, as presented. 

K.8. Recommended Motion:
To approve the Intergovernmental Cooperative Agreement with the Lansing Public Library and Sunnybrook S.D. 171, effective August 1, 2026, as spresented. 

K.9. Recommended Motion:
To approve Sunnybrook Chief School Business Official, Mr. David Shrader, and Bloom Township Treasurer, Mr. David Ricker, as authorized signers of the Sunnybrook S.D. 171 account ending in 0448 at Old Plank Trail Community Bank.

K.10. Recommended Motion:
To approve the Heritage Track Change Order for Lime Stabilization in the amount of $158,590, as presented. 

K.11. Recommended Motion:
To approve the door replacements in Heritage gym (2) and room 196 and door repairs in rooms 157 and 133 in the amount of $10,365.18, as presented. 

K.12. Recommended Motion:
To remove and replace three Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) panels at Nathan Hale in the amount of $12,852.00, as presented. 

K.13. Recommended Motion:
To approve the replacement of the existing Heritage Gym wall pads and the installation of additional new wall padding at Heritage Gym, in the amount of $22,346.00, as presented. 

K.14. Recommended Motion:
To approve the submission of the School Maintenance Grant Application to ISBE in the amount of $50,000 for Summer 2027, as presented. 

K.15. Recommended Motion:
To approve the employment of Mr. Jesse Bartuzik, Art teacher, Heritage Middle School, salary of $54,314, (Pending contract negotiations for 2026-2027), Step 1 of Lane MA+9, effective August 17, 2026, as presented. 

K.16. Recommended Motion:
To approve the classroom lease agreement between Sunnybrook S.D. 171 and Exceptional Children Have Opportunities (ECHO) for the 2026-2027 school year, as presented. 

K.17. Recommended Motion:
To approve the employment of Ms. Jashanique Burt, Heritage Middle School, Paraprofessional, salary of $21.50 per hour, effective September 22, 2026, pending successful background check results, as presented. 

K.18. Recommended Motion:
To approve the employment of Mrs. Cassie Hill, Secretary, Nathan Hale School, salary of $21.50 per hour, effective September 22, 2026, pending successful background check results, as presented. 

K.19. Recommended Motion:
To approve the employment of Ms. Katrina Steele, Paraprofessional, Nathan Hale School, salary of $21.50 per hour, effective September 22, 2026, pending successful background check results, as presented. 

K.20. Recommended Motion:
To approve the employment of Ms. Mariah Jenkins, Paraprofessional, Nathan Hale School, salary of $21.50 per hour, effective September 22, 2026, pending successful background check results, as presented. 

K.21. Recommended Motion:
To approve the ECHO Collective Bargaining Agreement, ECHO Administrator contracts and Independent Contractors, as presented. 

K.22. Recommended Motion:
To approve the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) for the Superintendent Search firm for Sunnybrook S.D. 171. 

K.23. Recommended Motion:
To move in to closed session for the purpose of the appointment, compensation, student discipline, performance for dismissal of specific employees of the district. Superintendent Relations. 5ILCS 120/2 (c). 

L. Visitors' Statements

M. Adjourn Meeting