Palos CCSD 118 board approves multiple personnel actions, rejects exterior-improvement bids and OKs payrolls

The Palos CCSD 118 Board of Education voted on a series of personnel and financial items at its April meeting, approving several dismissals, appointing an assistant principal, rejecting exterior-improvement bids and authorizing payroll and vendor payments.

The board approved an "resolution of honorable dismissal" for five certificated staff members — Marina Galovich, Colleen McKinnon, Michelle Metzke, Anna Negley and Rosalie White — and separately approved a dismissal resolution for a first-, second- or third-year teacher, Haley Zlanga. The board also approved a resolution dismissing one education support employee, Marissa Thanos. Each of those motions passed on roll call votes recorded in the meeting transcript.

The board rejected all bids received Feb. 27, 2025, for the district's 2025 summer exterior-improvement project at all buildings and later appointed Sarah Leahy as assistant principal at Palos South Middle School effective July 1, 2025. Under its consent agenda the board approved starting wages for paraprofessionals and full-time playground supervisors at $18.90, bus drivers at $20.20, janitors at $16.75, and part-time playground staff and interns at $16.00. The board also approved a 5.5% salary increase for all nonbargaining-unit employees for the 2025-26 school year, the district's plan to use Title I, II, III, IV and IDEA federal funds for 2025-26, a library-media grant report, and the 2025-26 student behavior plan.

The consent agenda included personnel reports listing new hires and resignations, minutes from previous meetings and authorization of payments. The board authorized bills payable dated April 9, 2025, in the amount of $1,383,589.99 and payrolls dated March 14, 2025 ($892,324.62) and March 28, 2025 ($886,820.37).

All motions recorded in the transcript passed on roll call. The transcript records the yes votes for each motion by named board members in the roll calls that followed the motions.

Why it matters: The personnel actions remove or change district employees' statuses and the wage and budget approvals set near-term district compensation and spending levels. Rejection of the exterior-improvement bids means the district will either rebid, revise the project scope, or delay the work pending further action.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution of honorable dismissal (Marina Galovich; Colleen McKinnon; Michelle Metzke; Anna Negley; Rosalie White): Motion passed on roll call. Recorded yes votes: Mrs. Johnson; Mr. Kelly; Mr. Peiser; Mrs. Perez; Dr. Baker; Mr. Cox; Pam Paris (board president). Mover/second: not specified in the transcript excerpt.

- Resolution of dismissal (first/second/third-year teacher) (Haley Zlanga): Motion passed on roll call. Recorded yes votes: Mr. Cox; Dr. Baker; Mrs. Perez; Mr. Peiser; Mr. Kelly; Mrs. Jensen; Pam Paris. Mover/second: not specified in the transcript excerpt.

- Resolution of dismissal (education support personnel) (Marissa Thanos): Motion passed on roll call. Recorded yes votes: Mr. Cox; Dr. Baker; Mrs. Paris; Mr. Peyser; Mr. Kelly; Mrs. Jensen; Pam Paris. Mover/second: motion text present; mover/second not named in transcript excerpt.

- Rejection of exterior-improvement project bids (bids received 02/27/2025): Motion passed on roll call. Recorded yes votes: Mrs. Johnson; Mr. Kelly; Mr. Peiser; Mrs. Perez; Dr. Baker; Mr. Cox; Pam Paris. Mover/second: not specified in the transcript excerpt.

- Appointment of Sarah Leahy as assistant principal, Palos South Middle School (effective 07/01/2025): Motion passed on roll call. Recorded yes votes: Mr. Cox; Dr. Baker; Mrs. Paris; Mr. Pizer; Mr. Kelly; Mrs. Johnson; Pam Paris. Mover: recorded as motion at transcript time; second recorded.

- Consent agenda (items 11a'i): Included starting wages, a 5.5% nonbargaining salary increase for 2025-26, Title I/II/III/IV/IDEA plan for 2025-26, library media grant report, the 2025-26 student behavior plan, personnel reports (certified and classified hires/resignations), approval of minutes (03/11/2025 and 03/18/2025) and authorization of bills/payrolls. Motion passed on roll call. Recorded yes votes: a full roll call is recorded in the transcript for that vote with named board members voting yes.

What the record shows and does not show: The motions and roll-call tallies are recorded in the meeting transcript; specific movers and seconders are not always identified in the transcript excerpt and therefore are listed as not specified where not spoken on the record. The motions as recorded are formal board actions; the transcript does not record further details about next procedural steps for the rejected bids (for example, whether the district will rebid or revise scope).

Ending: The board indicated it would possibly take additional action following a closed session; no further specifics about follow-up steps on the exterior-improvement bids or staffing resolutions were recorded in the public transcript.