Board approves donations, contracts and student trips; consent agenda includes hires and stipends
Summary
The board approved the consent agenda and several operational items: a $5,000 donation from East Galena Township for GEMS STEM, an annual snow‑removal contract, discretionary stipends, hiring of two paraprofessionals, and overnight student trips to East Troy, Wis., and Washington, D.C.
At its regular meeting the Galena Unit School District board approved a package of operational items, including donations, contracts, personnel actions and student trips. The board approved the consent agenda, which included hiring two paraprofessionals who were not on the August roster. The board voted to accept a $5,000 donation from East Galena Township to support the GEMS STEM program. The board also approved an award for snow removal and salt application to Ultra Fencing (vendor listed in agenda) for the 2025–26 school year; staff said the contract amount declined slightly this year because construction reduced some parking areas that otherwise would be serviced. Discretionary stipends were approved for a GEMS chess club advisor and a middle‑school cross‑country coach; the board described these as one‑time, program‑specific payments. Overnight trips requiring board approval were authorized: a sixth‑grade overnight trip to East Troy, Wisconsin, and a Washington, D.C., trip scheduled for June 26–29, 2027. Board members noted that the earlier Bridle Tech option is no longer available and praised the substitute East Troy itinerary as an alternative. Motions on these items passed on roll call votes.
