Board approves fees, personnel moves, security upgrades and support for Illinois Vision 2030

The Township High School District 211 Board of Education at its January meeting approved a package of motions that included student-fee changes, personnel actions, facilities work and a policy resolution.

The board approved a set of student user fees and related charges for the 2025–26 year, including keeping the driver-education behind-the-wheel fee at $250, retaining the late transportation-registration fee at $35 (late payments after July 1, 2025), and setting 2026 summer-school transportation at $60 per semester. Breakfast and lunch prices were also acted on as part of the same item (details in the board packet and staff presentation); Ms. Hummel told the board the district must move toward the USDApaid-lunch-equity threshold (identified in the presentation as $4.01) and that the district had increased rates enough to comply with the 10-cent minimum increase requirement when needed.

Board members pulled the instructional textbook and supply fee for separate discussion. The administration originally recommended $170; Board member Margaret Barron moved to amend the recommendation to $75 and the amendment passed. The board then approved the textbook instructional supply fee at $75 per student for 2025–26. During the debate Ms. Hummel said the estimated consumable supply cost per pupil for the current year is about $247, a figure board members cited when weighing whether to reinstate a larger fee.

The board approved several personnel and governance actions: reorganizing assistant-principal positions (including converting 10-month assistant principals to 12-month positions and elevating some positions to associate principal), accepting retirements listed in the agenda, and appointing Ryan Zack as director of multilingual programs and community outreach effective July 1, 2025, at a gross salary of $157,500. The board also approved a one-day unpaid suspension for an employee identified as Monique IG and a three-day unpaid suspension plus a notice-to-remedy resolution for an employee identified as Wayne Ores/Aras.

On facilities and operations, the board voted to award the replacement of fire alarm and graphic control-panel systems (including contingency funds) as presented in the agenda.

The board voted to release a list of closed-session minutes (the minutes listed in the agenda) "no longer require confidential treatment," as presented.

The board adopted a resolution expressing support for Illinois Vision 2030; the motion passed after some members voiced reservations about particular funding mechanisms and standards but the resolution was carried by roll call.

A motion to enter closed session late in the meeting to discuss minutes and personnel matters failed on roll call; several members voted "no." Earlier in the meeting the board had voted to go into closed session and then return to open session as part of the agenda.

Votes at a glance (outcomes as recorded at the meeting): - Motion to enter closed session (early in meeting) — approved (roll call recorded in transcript). - Return to open session — approved (roll call recorded). - Consent agenda (with removal of minutes of 12/12/2024) — approved. - Approval of minutes of 12/12/2024 — approved (one abstention recorded for Mr. Bradley). - Student user fees and related meal/pricing items — approved (see board packet for full line-item detail). - Instructional/textbook/supply fee — initial recommendation $170; amendment to $75 approved; final motion to set fee at $75 passed (one dissent recorded: Mr. Dombrowski voted no on the final motion). - Curriculum committee report and related recommendations — approved. - Recognition of reorganization of assistant principal positions (conversion to 12-month roles, elevation of certain positions) — approved. - Award for replacement of fire alarm and control panels (with contingency) — approved. - Support for Illinois Vision 2030 (resolution) — approved (one or more board members registered dissent during discussion; final roll call carried the motion). - Release of listed closed-session minutes — approved. - Acceptance of retirement requests for named staff — approved as listed in the agenda. - Employee disciplinary actions (Monique IG: one-day suspension; Wayne Aras: three-day suspension and notice to remedy) — approved. - Motion to enter closed session later in the meeting (to discuss minutes and personnel) — failed on roll call. - Appointment of Ryan Zack as director of multilingual programs and community outreach at $157,500 effective 07/01/2025 — approved.

The board also received information items (Freedom of Information Act update, SCRIMP risk-management pool update and a final ESSER report) that were presented for information and will be returned to in future meetings.

Board members asked for and received clarifications on several items during roll calls and discussion. Several votes were roll-call recorded and appear in the official minutes; readers should consult the district agenda packet and minutes for the exact tally lines.