[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6177253,"mediaKeyId","5341004-1d1ceea87d6da88d869b7f99e2f9ddec","parentId",5341004,"title","DeKalb board approves staffing, differential payouts and school handbook; moves to finalize purchase of Normal Road property","audioSeconds",1010,"startMs",920000,"endMs",1930000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5341004-1d1ceea87d6da88d869b7f99e2f9ddec&start=920&end=1930","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5341004-1d1ceea87d6da88d869b7f99e2f9ddec/thumbnail_920000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6177253/Illinois/DeKalb-board-approves-staffing-differential-payouts-and-school-handbook-moves-to-finalize-purchase-of-Normal-Road-property","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6177253-d0038b2c32394da21ce662aa0fa57d06/orig.mp4?Expires=1770618834&Signature=VUU2CUKj21NposkSPpsvOrM0PbfsJiDjZ4mUzBGbfKFg4HAMuSX1sRinOa~JkG25-kU1N5FaRlRZm6upJnFIZJ2gpDwP1s7jtRd3SkeRjo0e-9nwojt5MGvLLQbieOZkw1X-vlklcTqDmrcOS2Z2JBLwArZgN~e2-pJQO1TL8IEIDVD~vgJn3ZdeKO5Jw-yXwpFCXGf5Vigcxa~bLtJr89csItnVYfRQokRa-DyE7YeZrazzuiRzcBOwItfOtnyRtwnHxrgU8s74LUH3hIfTXdEQFjS5ZnYbLYGrZ-ZRVpFNqOt0IHvEiv~Q~hhXatVP-lPK2PqYuEVUg9jMcBZSqA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","DeKalb CUSD 428","date","2025-07-10T00:13:24.453Z","article","At its meeting the DeKalb CUSD 428 Board of Education approved multiple consent and staffing items, heard an update on a new school building and directed staff to proceed with a draft resolution to acquire property at 1240 Normal Road.

The board approved the consent agenda (items 5b–5j), which included minutes, personnel actions, purchase order requisitions, an employment contract for an elementary restorative dean, and agreements for therapy services, speech and language services and Sunbelt staffing. A roll call recorded affirmative responses from board members including Nick Atwood, Steve Byers, Jose Jacquez, Christopher Boyce and Krista Bailey.

Trustees also approved specific agenda items on the night’s docket: the 2025–26 parent-student handbook; the differential committee recommendations totaling $77,412.49; and an increase of two registered nurse FTEs. The board approved a 0.6 FTE addition in driver’s education at DeKalb High School to increase capacity for behind-the-wheel instruction; staff said the program can currently accommodate 456 students (336 during the school year and 120 in summer) and that each student requires 12 hours behind the wheel (6 hours driving, 6 hours observing).

Board members received a construction update for the new building: blacktop work on the north parking lot is complete and visitor parking and landscaping are installed; playgrounds will be installed in July so they are fresh for opening; a digital marquee is planned and a formal ribbon-cutting is scheduled for Aug. 8 with a larger community celebration on Aug. 9.

Armir Doka, the district’s chief school business official, presented a draft resolution and background on a lease-to-purchase agreement with NIU that gives the district an option to acquire the building and land at 1240 Normal Road. Doka said the district completed payments ahead of schedule and under budget and recommended exercising the purchase option so the building starts the upcoming school year under district ownership. Trustees gave consensus to bring a formal resolution back to the board; no final purchase vote was taken that night.

The board also heard reminders about fall registration requirements: staff emphasized that families registering students in pre-K through fifth grade and new students must provide proof of residency; sixth through twelfth grades are not required to provide proof of residency at registration, according to staff remarks. District leaders reported the booster club needs an executive board and volunteers and that the athletics department will send a letter inviting volunteers.

The meeting concluded with a unanimous motion to adjourn.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","DeKalb CUSD 428 Board Meeting 7/1/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The DeKalb CUSD 428 board approved consent agenda items including staffing changes, a $77,412.49 differential committee distribution, the 2025–26 parent-student handbook and additions to nursing and driver's education staffing; staff reported progress on a new building and plans for August ribbon-cutting and community events.","taxTitle","DeKalb CUSD 428, School Boards, Illinois","taxId",49811,"location","Illinois","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6177256,"DeKalb reports nearly $932,000 energy savings from ESSER-funded HVAC controls upgrade",184,941000,1125000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5341004-1d1ceea87d6da88d869b7f99e2f9ddec&start=941&end=1125","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5341004-1d1ceea87d6da88d869b7f99e2f9ddec/thumbnail_941000.jpg","/articles/6177256/Illinois/DeKalb-reports-nearly-932000-energy-savings-from-ESSER-funded-HVAC-controls-upgrade","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6177256-41921e1d54f9d3ecca6ef1a6e170e62e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770618834&Signature=T1oAm2gnifnT2R9N9rODlohWF2GB4LU1ccZkELd-R-YlSybU8kAndP0An7dJj-XeZxFRPSIwNvS8puJB6qqaCYVjKiZy3xpmI6dkxUREdaFGy3MSGMZns~Jcv2eYuujehZnlVux9f5Kk7qOhlYVrjvi2cyp83g03iUprP-Fvm785GQmnl1lbCp~jXqci2gw0LZdicUj8yRia1bQ08f6YTwntJ-8WmJkLnZP428KU3StyY1JOehnR263NwKxBfuX~dAtfdI6LoCCJHOxvDvboMV7CccT2XEERhSpvODBTgaRpgJzgAz0GpYarIcgm7dJTMv4co3N7jM2OaoRIWKrpRg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","DeKalb CUSD 428 reported substantial energy savings from a districtwide digital controls upgrade that was paid for with federal ESSER funds and offset in part by ComEd rebates.

Tammy Carson, the district’s director of facility and safety operations, told the Board of Education the project—implemented beginning in September 2021 and completed in November 2022—focused on software and control upgrades rather than major equipment replacements. “It originally cost 2 point, almost $2,100,000. Fortunately again, it was all ESSER funds,” Carson said.

Carson said the system allows remote management of HVAC settings, integrates occupancy sensors and links event calendars so heating and cooling operate by room schedules rather than manual overrides. The automation reduced unnecessary runtime at large or irregularly used facilities such as the high school. “We anticipated saving $280,000 a year. We’re currently on track for a 4.6 years of ROI,” Carson said, adding that the district has recorded approximately $932,000 in cumulative savings to date—about $233,000 more than originally projected.

Board members asked clarifying questions about month-to-month differences across buildings. Carson said some older buildings likely were running more often than necessary before the controls were added and that automating schedules and calendars produced the biggest gains.

Carson noted that the project depended on staff training and calendar management: building users and office staff must tie rooms to events for the system to function as intended. She said rebates from the local utility, ComEd, reduced net costs and freed district funds for other uses.

Carson recommended the board receive an annual update and said the district will continue to realize savings after the initial investment payback. The board did not take further action; the presentation was informational.","Tammy Carson told the board that a districtwide digital HVAC controls upgrade funded by ESSER grants and ComEd rebates cost about $2.1 million and has yielded roughly $932,000 in cumulative cost avoidance so far, reducing the expected ROI from 6.1 to about 4.6 years.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6177260,"DeKalb board says yes to collaboration with Sycamore only if ELDC stays on DeKalb property",696,153000,849000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5341004-1d1ceea87d6da88d869b7f99e2f9ddec&start=153&end=849","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5341004-1d1ceea87d6da88d869b7f99e2f9ddec/thumbnail_153000.jpg","/articles/6177260/Illinois/DeKalb-board-says-yes-to-collaboration-with-Sycamore-only-if-ELDC-stays-on-DeKalb-property","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6177260-960386bcd17a7ef43ba7204c4a973316/orig.mp4?Expires=1770618834&Signature=ls4fzOqzXHM6PcO5yumIVv8QK2M7cYCU9JMMttry3FxIujOWB0KtB3ky270NZmSmuHqRDO-r28aSEJp1xALrJT9zAU6QnT-kndhB80M9uSvJOV13UkWr3qwUDIKF5XVCLp~k6heyUZBQMPzxtAQZizB-BOgZdJ~T5uW8EGdpbiiJA-iAWqH~iJrMfxxyXlczFxflIfW4vlLwRkjgGoO50j14YYNyowRSMODeP61Jw9klwaCUbgIY3GsUZofnDg6JAV1F-P0tXg-~Cvl1VUPz3X9crK0cBJQHARATz1pGj4Bg685wujhArSZEYtRfESq4pVFyV~XlxWumiI4tacf7wQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The DeKalb CUSD 428 Board of Education expressed conditional interest in a joint Early Learning Development Center (ELDC) with Sycamore but directed staff to pursue collaboration that would locate the program on DeKalb property.

Board members discussed the proposal after a site visit to Sycamore’s new education center on Bethany Road, a building described in the meeting as a former NICOOR office. Dr. Garcia Sanchez, speaking for the district leadership team, said the Sycamore board president had suggested a cooperative agreement to move DeKalb’s ELDC into Sycamore’s offices, build out classrooms there and transport DeKalb students to Sycamore.

The board raised three consistent concerns: construction and remodel costs, recurring transportation costs to move students out of district, and student safety because Sycamore’s administration offices would sit across central walkways from potential ELDC classrooms. “There would be two different spaces where children would have to cross where other adults coming from the outside into the building would also cross,” Dr. Garcia Sanchez said, citing safety concerns.

Tammy Carson, the district’s director of facility and safety operations, said architects are reviewing whether Sycamore’s site has enough on-site space for the district’s required classrooms and sufficient playground, parking and separate bus drop-off areas. Carson said the Sycamore building’s multi-level, 1970s-era design and interior stairs create circulation challenges and that the district must verify whether outdoor recreational space would require students to cross a parking lot.

Carson and Dr. Garcia Sanchez also noted schedule and funding concerns. Sycamore’s leadership told DeKalb officials that, given current fund balances and tax revenue, Sycamore would not have capacity to take on a major renovation for about five years. “I don't know that that necessarily meets the time frame that we would be looking to launch the ELDC for our students,” Dr. Garcia Sanchez said.

Board members urged alternatives, including building out DeKalb’s own space and inviting Sycamore to co-locate within DeKalb facilities. One board member summarized the group’s direction: the board is open to collaboration but prefers that the district host the ELDC. “I am hearing it sounds like we have consensus from the board that we'd like to let Sycamore know that we're open to collaboration, but we would like it to be done under our facilities and within our district,” the board president said.

As a next step, staff — led by Carson and Dr. Garcia Sanchez — will draft a response for the board to send to Sycamore, run the draft by the district communications manager and circulate it to trustees for feedback and final sign-off.

Discussion-only items and unresolved details remain. The district said architects are producing preliminary square-footage and site plans and that staff will return with high-level cost estimates by July. The board did not approve a contract or take a formal vote to move ELDC to Sycamore; trustees instead provided direction to staff to pursue a collaborative option that keeps the ELDC located on DeKalb property.","After touring Sycamore’s former NICOOR office, DeKalb CUSD 428 trustees expressed concerns about cost, safety and transportation and directed staff to offer collaboration only if DeKalb hosts the Early Learning Development Center on district property.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

DeKalb board approves staffing, differential payouts and school handbook; moves to finalize purchase of Normal Road property

DeKalb reports nearly $932,000 energy savings from ESSER-funded HVAC controls upgrade

DeKalb board says yes to collaboration with Sycamore only if ELDC stays on DeKalb property