May 13, 2026 at 7:00 PM - Board of Education Meeting

A consent agenda consists of items that are, by general agreement, acceptable to all Board Members without discussion and can be approved by a single vote.  The Consent Agenda shall include items of a routine nature on which the Board of Education has received sufficient background information to take action on the items presented for approval.  Typically, the following routine items are included as part of a Consent Agenda: 1) minutes; 2) bills for payment; 3) periodic reports; 4) personnel; and 5) resolutions that are adopted annually.

A. To consider information regarding 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, or specific volunteers of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee, a specific individual who serves as an independent contractor in a park, recreational, or educational setting, or a volunteer of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1)

B. Collective negotiating matters between the District and its employees or their representatives, or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees  5 ILCS 120/2(c)(2)

C.   To consider a student discipline/residency/transportation matter 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(9)

D.   To consider pending litigation 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11)

E.  Security procedures, school building safety and security, and the use of personnel and equipment to respond to an actual, a threatened, or a reasonably potential danger to the safety of employees, students, staff, the public, or public property 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(8)

F.   The purchase or lease of real property for the use of the District, including meetings held for the purpose of discussing whether a particular parcel should be acquired. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(5)

As part of preparations for 2026/27 student transportation services, the district is reviewing the serious safety hazards locations. The determination as to what constitutes a serious safety hazard must be made by the School Board on an annual basis, in accordance with guidelines promulgated by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) in consultation with the Illinois State Board of Education.

In accordance with Section 8-2 of the Illinois School Code, the School Treasurer is required to execute a bond, and the bond must be approved by at least a majority of the members of the Board. The Board of Education has appointed Gregory Volan, Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Business Operations as School Treasurer. 

The district has maintained a cumulative record of potential safety and security enhancements based on recommendations from a previous safety audit conducted by Wold Architects and ongoing feedback from building staff. The safety team recently convened to establish a formal process for the budgetary prioritization of both short-term and long-term security projects.

The safety team recommends moving forward with installation of environmental sensors in all Junior High School restrooms. D59 takes drug possession and use extremely seriously. Proactive educational approaches and behavioral supports and partnerships are in place to support students. Environmental sensors detect the presence of vapor and other chemical substances, serving as a monitoring tool to address student health and safety concerns. The proposed Triton sensors are compatible with the district’s existing security camera software; in the event of an alert, hallway cameras can be reviewed to identify individuals entering or exiting the area. Following a review of available technologies, the safety team has identified these sensors as the preferred option based on their specific technical specifications and integration capabilities. Pending board approval, the goal is to complete the installation for the start of the 2026-2027 school year. 

The estimated initial cost for this project is $51,428.00. There is an ongoing subscription cost of 4,988.00 annually.

A Health Life Safety Survey is required for Illinois public schools every 10 years, overseen by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). Licensed architects or engineers will inspect fire safety, structural integrity, electrical systems, and environmental conditions.

The process phases are as follows:

• Field Survey & Report Site Visits

• Safety Reference Plans

• Life Safety Amendments

The final output is a safety report that is prepared following the survey and is the official document categorizing items as urgent or required.

The financial breakdown is as follows:

Architect Cost:

• Typical market rate is $0.20 per sq foot which is a cost of $201,366

• Our target was to reduce this cost by 25% or $50,342

• Additionally we are also required to do the Building Renumbering & Emergency Mapping project. The cost quoted for this project by the architect is $52,500

• The architect has agreed to do both of these projects for $191,297 which is a cost savings of $62,569

Civil Engineer Cost:

• Original cost was $82,500 or $5,500 per site (15 sites)

• A revised quote was provided for $70,000 or $5,000 per site (14 sites; Holmes & ELC combined)

• We are currently still in the negotiation process

Grove: Nicole Kitzinger, Sarah Dzak, TR Johnson, Dr. Brett Gallini, Tom Luedloff, Dr. Nicole Robinson

Holmes: Nicole Kitzinger, Michelle Notini, Dr. Brett Gallini, Tom Luedloff, Rachel Jobski, Ben Grey

Friendship: Nikki Eddy, Ryan Bookler, Dr. Brett Gallini, Dr. Katie Ahsell, Susan Savage, Tom Luedloff, Rachel Jobski, Ben Grey