Board approves reimbursements policy, governance handbook and multiple contracts; vote on destroying closed-session audio fails

The District 128 Board of Education took several formal actions Sept. 29, approving policy and contract items and rejecting a proposed destruction of two closed-session audio recordings.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution regulating expense reimbursements (board policies 2:125 and 5:60): Motion to approve carried. Mover: Deshmukh; second: Fliegel. Recorded roll call included Deshmukh (Aye), Fliegel (Aye), Kotwal (Aye), Poland (Aye), Austin (Aye), Batson (Aye). Outcome: approved.

- Reaffirmation of the Board Governance Handbook: Motion to reaffirm carried. Mover: Deshmukh; second: Austin. Recorded roll call included Fliegel (Aye), Kotwal (Aye), Poland (Aye), Austin (Aye), Batson (Aye). Outcome: reaffirmed.

- Employment of employees (routine hiring approvals): Motion carried on roll call. Recorded roll call included Katwall/Kotwal (Aye), Poland (Aye), Austin (Aye), Batson (Aye), Deshmukh (Aye), Fliegel (Aye). Outcome: approved.

- Agreement for 2026 Vernon Hills High School graduation at Rosemont Theatre: Motion to approve the agreement for $44,650 (a 3.84% increase over the prior year) carried. Mover: Poland; second: (recorded). Roll call included Poland (Aye), Austin (Aye), Batson (Aye), Deshmukh (Aye), Flegal (Aye), Kotwal (Aye). Outcome: approved; contract amount: $44,650; effective for 2026 graduation.

- Additional bids for Libertyville High School cafeteria remodeling: Motion to award bid packages for additional concrete and acoustical ceiling work in the amount of $378,393 carried. Low bidders reported: Schaeffkes Brothers (concrete) and Integrated Specialty Contractors (acoustical ceilings). Recorded roll call included Batson (Aye), Deshmukh (Aye), Fliegel (Aye), Kotwal (Aye), Poland (Aye), Austin (Aye). Outcome: approved; award total: $378,393.

- Proposed destruction of closed-session audio recordings (02/25/2024 and 03/18/2024): The item was pulled for separate vote and the motion to approve destruction failed. Recorded responses during roll call included Batson (No), Deshmukh (No), Fliegel (No), Katwal (No), Olin (No), Austin (No). Outcome: motion did not pass; recordings retained per board discussion.

Other notes: Trustees also voted to move into closed session under multiple statutory exceptions and announced there would be no action following closed session. A set of routine consent-agenda items was approved earlier in the meeting by roll call.

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