[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_25":26},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5},"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","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_27":28,"_29":30},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[31,75,87,99],{"_32":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":73},"mediaId",5978039,"mediaKeyId","5845929-b9d06e968fd0d07e820444a505490900","parentId",5845929,"title","Board elects Carrie Devitt as board secretary; seat vacancy applications open through Oct. 1","audioSeconds",34,"startMs",484000,"endMs",518000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5845929-b9d06e968fd0d07e820444a505490900&start=484&end=518","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5845929-b9d06e968fd0d07e820444a505490900/thumbnail_484000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5978039/Illinois/Board-elects-Carrie-Devitt-as-board-secretary-seat-vacancy-applications-open-through-Oct-1","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5978039-e559b93217437e1e9c724ce532f03dee/orig.mp4?Expires=1769843088&Signature=YjgSsYf81mKIsEBkFhHrUNVVUZIqHMwVfE6aVb0IjF~b755UccVIVwGYEkt-X1RNcWSuPUlj021DCB-V0488ZkOaat8ZcWAuFhCj~-d3g1AnzP-9r3f5LMMGG0ltizers0xrmNNjEOoigxdbPTtFqgCM1MvSRC5ijaRElnjl~5KDSUgnjLI4His6C~Jyfvsa7lIGW~fsjtKiWmYqC39RP6~457w~9u3N14p7vMyhyfHgonVH4ner5F-T51D9b9rnSwkMMNgz5JYLoZudxtf3L2Cy~fWgGs4i9KGejcGu47bCv4Gt0kkVgdnZ8Dici9WcbQtJgWJahLAwe2yL6hgQxw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Wheeling CCSD 21","date","2025-09-19T13:11:55Z","article","The CCSD 21 Board of Education on Sept. 18 elected Carrie Devitt to serve as board secretary after the resignation of former board secretary Degmar Kalinowski.

Board President announced the vacancy created by Kalinowski's resignation and said the seat will be filled for the remainder of the term, which expires in April 2027; applications to fill the vacancy are open through Oct. 1.

Nominations for board secretary were opened and a motion nominated Carrie Devitt. During the roll call for the secretary position the board recorded votes of yes from Arlen Gould, Carrie Devitt, Debbie, Jessica and Ileana; the motion carried and the chair announced, \"You were elected.\" Trustees congratulated Devitt and circulated the necessary forms for signature after the meeting.

The board encouraged interested candidates to apply and said members are available to answer questions about the appointment process.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","CCSD21 Board Of Education Meeting - September 18, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Following the resignation of board secretary Degmar Kalinowski, trustees nominated and elected Carrie Devitt as board secretary pro tem voted in by roll call; the board announced an open application period through Oct. 1 to fill the vacant seat through April 2027.","taxTitle","Wheeling CCSD 21, School Boards, Illinois","taxId",38576,"location","Illinois","headline","","shortSummary",{"_32":76,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":77,"_40":78,"_42":79,"_44":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},5978045,"Board hears enrollment update; district seeks middle-school teachers amid higher middle-grade section sizes",104,1661000,1765000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5845929-b9d06e968fd0d07e820444a505490900&start=1661&end=1765","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5845929-b9d06e968fd0d07e820444a505490900/thumbnail_1661000.jpg","/articles/5978045/Illinois/Board-hears-enrollment-update-district-seeks-middle-school-teachers-amid-higher-middle-grade-section-sizes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5978045-dc0c69bc79d0dbcb70b06f8a98d37302/orig.mp4?Expires=1769843088&Signature=kVu6uJvGBQYwZnFalw0SESPB9xyPp2ojSJfU9MjT~1b5oiU0kyqgvMYWIgS4rtEr6oVmKUl7AVsvhzfLrgtups82szvpQCReLxzdv1Kz8i-xBPIlm5hFgTFuovTtp6vIt8Ez0xoDCDkSOaFnNdyDEVXdUgEU0jpxR~orYTgNOBGhA26TZWn8wWzsBoCLtb8XrgbM21mOTjGAdCGOE9TOwy5cMRCvnzbcfV4rfZyxKWrsRtPrl0QG5FMdF--4ORKIqvz85CNARs3puF1~tRns28y5v4ayvXRztI6ag437jY4fATbsJ-OLbI2IYLxXq61MFmoaG2KFw8yjA-SOL2xeOw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District staff told the board on Sept. 18 that several middle-school sections are larger than the district guideline and that the district is actively recruiting to fill teacher vacancies, notably at Cooper Middle School where resignations before the school year increased section sizes.

A staff presenter said the district posted openings through its main recruiting system, Frontline, and uses LinkedIn and targeted outreach to invite candidates to apply. He told trustees that as of the meeting only one applicant had applied for a recently reposted middle-school position.

The presenter gave section-level detail: at Holmes sections were between 28 and 29 students; at London seven of eight sections were at 28 and one at 30; Cooper had the largest increases. He also described instructional supports in affected classes: multiple science sections are co-taught (three listed) with EL co-teaching and several sections have TA support; social-studies sections include special-education co-teaching and some with TA support. The district is continuing to hire teaching assistants and one-on-one aides where needed.

Board members asked about recruitment options and whether the district would use long-term substitutes to bridge gaps. Superintendent Dr. Connolly cautioned that the district would not hire underqualified candidates simply to reduce class size: \"we're not gonna hire somebody just to, you know, mitigate classroom size concerns at the middle school,\" he said, noting concerns about candidate quality and the timing of available applicants (many hires spike in December with new graduates).

Staff described other short-term options if numbers rise further, such as offering overage pay to teachers willing to give up a planning period and take an extra section. Trustees asked that principals continue regular check-ins with teachers in larger classes and that the district monitor staffing and report back.

The district said it had hired some support staff already and expected to fill additional TA openings in the coming days.","District staff reported open teaching positions, higher middle-school class sizes at Cooper, Holmes and London, and ongoing recruitment steps including Frontline and LinkedIn outreach; trustees discussed long-term sub options and supports in co-taught and TA-assisted classes.",{"_32":88,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":89,"_40":90,"_42":91,"_44":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},5978049,"District 21 rolls out \"Let's Talk\" safety and bullying reporting tool, staff expect 24-hour response window",302,714000,1016000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5845929-b9d06e968fd0d07e820444a505490900&start=714&end=1016","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5845929-b9d06e968fd0d07e820444a505490900/thumbnail_714000.jpg","/articles/5978049/Illinois/District-21-rolls-out-Lets-Talk-safety-and-bullying-reporting-tool-staff-expect-24-hour-response-window","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5978049-97f6e8e785823410f68642f9e1611980/orig.mp4?Expires=1769843088&Signature=G8l~40HWTOCNKdW1xrHoPP69o7Fim7WywpIOFx3Poktg~R2NmHludIpgsd8JeW3Cu-zuB6lai8eB5Nj5673i5W5T-6Yk7i5AnCDwlo3u1K-2LftsZQr3aOYQXXkMFGYosjTGCLhlyaMeQNfYx50evpXd5-6ExBksrc4QanTAl59m6unahqKabThWdEpMOyrgb8q0SN~VxbQa62010XJE0ATIHTCpPAGD0OuZPN24lNiv5d8NJBPHTh832x4-VIp39qAKfl7n6js5iePl2cbZj7-oSnL6TlgQDenuoe2AB9gyQN9JfHlg4P2xqKLiSbWEFZAQOIxOpQRf9nMD0N0dNg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The CCSD 21 board received a live demonstration of Let's Talk on Sept. 18, a new district reporting tool for bullying, safety and HR concerns that district leaders said is available on the website, via a home-page tile and pinned to every student Chromebook.

\"Let's Talk is a is a system we brought online at the beginning of the school year that really gives, students, parents, staff, and community members an opportunity, to register any kind of concerns,\" Superintendent Dr. Connolly said, adding that users may submit reports anonymously.

Chief Operating Officer Mike Francini demonstrated the web form and said the public-facing modules include a bullying tip line and a safety and security tip line; an HR tip line is password-protected for staff use. Francini said the form includes language options in English, Spanish, Russian and Ukrainian, allows file attachments and provides an option to submit anonymously.

\"We've had about 13 total dialogues already, and they've all been closed successfully,\" Francini said. He told the board the district is tracking user type (about 54% parent/guardian, 23% employees and 23% students) and that 92% of submissions have been concerns, with 8% questions.

Francini described the notification and follow-up process: HR tip-line submissions go to Lewis Roberts (the designated HR receiver); bullying and safety reports route to Director of School Safety Todd Rolling, building principals (and assistant principals or deans where applicable) and Francini, with email alerts to staff. He said the district has asked staff to respond within 24 hours and aims to close most cases within five days.

Students and board members asked whether students had been introduced to the system and when the district would provide guidance on what constitutes bullying versus rudeness. Francini and school leaders said principals have introduced the tool to staff and students, parent communications have been sent and the district will distribute posters and educational materials in October's Bullying Awareness Month.

Francini also noted the portal allows back-and-forth messaging when reports are not anonymous, which helps staff get follow-up details and provide restorative or other responses.

Board members asked for periodic metrics; Francini said he provides a weekly report and will share summary metrics with trustees.","The board saw a live demonstration of LetsTalk, a multilingual reporting platform pinned to student Chromebooks and the district website; staff say 13 reports have been handled and the district aims to respond within 24 hours and close most cases within five days.",{"_32":100,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":101,"_40":102,"_42":103,"_44":104,"_46":105,"_48":106,"_50":107,"_52":108,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":109,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":110,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},5978053,"CCSD 21 board adopts FY26 budget showing modest revenue growth and rising benefits costs",227,2353000,2580000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5845929-b9d06e968fd0d07e820444a505490900&start=2353&end=2580","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5845929-b9d06e968fd0d07e820444a505490900/thumbnail_2353000.jpg","/articles/5978053/Illinois/CCSD-21-board-adopts-FY26-budget-showing-modest-revenue-growth-and-rising-benefits-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5978053-8560bd14a969c767925b6ba0a1b3b394/orig.mp4?Expires=1769843088&Signature=fj3v1ruQA45D67Bkj-Eqo08ZGXEGKZFSmllqrJ6ySYs3x~CPea-OT9hQVYKCgQ-OCjKFDqUrMHJNHOOhOhI7uDsE8eoBZEKQ6zQQ5GTt~2WoCQFZkacRWczObUUrZ3mDBWcDK93PF6hFOcLis6KaHWGB5eOSF-N5O9sEUPBMDq2thHEpTTkE2-15Xm1tft8QgZR3-ndILDCpLmUAM5TMFdvW4Cry68D-E0T49kKN-~dRIhvBHr32-G14tkQs~jZqayookRE0Z-83zpH0vxc5bIl4HimfwJWGScW1uBk7cc7SdITmY4IAXVKgpoX2Cjy3MsoPE8Bbqs8MO8arQkLArQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The CCSD 21 Board of Education adopted its fiscal year 2026 budget after a public hearing on Sept. 18, approving a spending plan the district said increases revenues 3.1% while expenses rise faster, driven by benefits, construction and other non-salary costs.

In a public presentation, Mike Zager, the district's director of finance, said the formal budget must be adopted by Sept. 30 and that the district will post it to the State Board of Education site. \"The formal budget is required to be adopted by September 30,\" Zager said during the hearing.

Zager told the board the budget assumes a 3.1% increase in total revenues and a 6.6% increase in expenses overall. Major revenue changes include a projected 5.3% increase in property tax receipts (partly from new property and a TIF distribution that came onto the district rolls last year) and a 2.9% rise in Evidence-Based Funding state aid. He also said the district expects interest revenue to decline and noted a one-time federal HRSA grant of roughly $1 million from the prior year that will not recur.

On the expense side, Zager said total purchased services rose 17.6% because of expected construction and related summer-project costs, and capital expenditures were budgeted up 27.3% to account for planned land and early-childhood center spending. Salaries and benefits, the district's largest cost, were projected to increase 5.2% overall; Zager highlighted a 12.8% jump in benefits costs driven by a projected 10.9% rise in health insurance rates and an 8.3% increase in dental costs beginning Jan. 1.

Zager said the child nutrition program shows increased revenue (13.3%) that largely offsets a higher food-service contract, and he noted that some federal grant categories appear lower in the initial allocations but that carryover and later allocations often arrive in November or December.

During the board vote to approve the budget \"as presented,\" board members recorded the following votes on the record: Jessica (yes), Debbie (yes), Ileana (yes) and Arlen (aye). The motion carried and board members signed the required approval documents following the meeting.

Board members and staff said the district remains within its fund-balance policy range: under the adopted budget the operating fund balance would be about 42.2% of expenses. Trustees asked staff to return periodic updates on insurance costs and other areas that could affect future budgets.

The budget presentation and adoption were part of a required public hearing and follow established school-code timelines for adoption and public posting.","The CCSD 21 Board of Education held a public hearing and approved the district's fiscal year 2026 budget, citing a 3.1% revenue increase and larger increases in benefits and construction-related expenses.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board elects Carrie Devitt as board secretary; seat vacancy applications open through Oct. 1

Board hears enrollment update; district seeks middle-school teachers amid higher middle-grade section sizes

District 21 rolls out "Let's Talk" safety and bullying reporting tool, staff expect 24-hour response window

CCSD 21 board adopts FY26 budget showing modest revenue growth and rising benefits costs