Cary 26 board adopts budget, staffing and multiple referendum projects; approves transportation center site plan

The Cary CCSD 26 Board of Education approved a balanced fiscal year 2026 budget resolution and a series of contracts and site plans tied to the district’s recent referendum at its Feb. 24 meeting.

The board approved the consent agenda, which included the FY26 balanced budget resolution and routine minutes and finance items. The consent motion included total bills and payroll listed at $5,442,764.99.

The board then voted on individual items requiring separate action:

- Settlement agreement and general release: After discussing the matter in closed session, the district disclosed and voted to approve the settlement agreement and general release that had been discussed in closed session, as required under Illinois law. Vote: Anne Santucci — yes; Stacy Salt — no; Julie Jetty — yes; Dee Darling — yes; Mindy Hartman — yes; Jason Jancic — no. Outcome: approved.

- Staffing and intervention plan for 2025–26: The board approved a staffing plan that administrators described as net neutral for the education fund and that includes 8.5 full-time equivalent certified interventionists. Vote: unanimous among voting members present. Outcome: approved.

- Technology plan for 2025–26: The board approved a multi-phase technology plan that includes classroom display purchases (phase 1), infrastructure and a phase‑2 software licensing component described by staff at $72,200. Administrators said costs shown in the plan are broken out by funding source (referendum versus Title I) in the materials. Vote: unanimous among voting members present. Outcome: approved.

- Sixth–eighth grade science curriculum renewal with McGraw Hill: Board approved a renewal contract of up to five years in the amount of $107,263.52. Vote: unanimous among voting members present. Outcome: approved.

- Briargate roof replacement: The board approved the architect‑recommended lowest responsive bid from DCG Roofing Solutions for $1,031,000. Vote: unanimous among voting members present. Outcome: approved.

- Briargate and Oak Knoll window replacement: The board approved Auburn Corporation’s bid for $838,250 for replacement windows at both Briargate and Oak Knoll. Vote: unanimous among voting members present. Outcome: approved.

- Briargate renovation: The board approved Manuso’s General Contracting’s renovation bid for $1,931,367. Administrators said the contract includes classroom casework, flooring, ceilings, LED lighting and other building updates, and the bid requires completion before the next school year. Vote: unanimous among voting members present. Outcome: approved.

- Audio intercom/PA upgrades: The board approved proposals from Audio Enhancement for Briargate, Oak Knoll and 3 Oaks at a combined total of $886,034.41, which administrators said falls below architect estimates and includes added safety and classroom audio features. Vote: unanimous among voting members present. Outcome: approved.

- Transportation center site layout: The board approved the preliminary site layout for the district’s new transportation center on the property the district purchased adjacent to an Aldi. Administrators said the plan will next proceed through village zoning and that the intergovernmental agreement with the village covers access and related items. The item passed with one no vote: Dee Darling voted no; other voting members voted yes. Outcome: approved.

Administrators described sequencing for remaining referendum work and said the district will bring additional projects forward as renovation schedules progress. Several bids and projects were discussed as part of the district’s first phase of referendum-funded construction work this summer.

The board adjourned after completing the agenda. Details of individual vote tallies are recorded in meeting minutes and the public roll calls taken during the meeting.