Downers Grove Grade School District 58 swears in newly elected board members and elects Darren Hughes president

The Downers Grove Grade School District 58 Board of Education on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, declared the results of the April 1 election, administered oaths to four newly elected members, elected Darren Hughes board president and Kerath Doshi vice president, approved a $10,388.94 board secretary stipend for 2025–26 and set its regular meeting schedule.

According to information from the DuPage County Election Commission, Darren Hughes, Katie Thomas, Melissa Ellis and Nicole Bernard were declared elected to four-year terms on the District 58 board. The board then administered the oath of office; each new member repeated the oath that begins, “I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office … in accordance with the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the State of Illinois, and the laws of the State of Illinois to the best of my ability.”

The swearing-in was followed by brief remarks from new members. Katie Thomas, identified in the meeting as a newly elected board member for District 58, said, “I am thrilled to be able to serve my community in this way, and I am looking forward to working with all of you and helping 58 continue to grow and make sure that it serves the needs of our community and each and every one of our students.”

The board then moved to its reorganization business. Darren Hughes was nominated and elected president by roll call vote; members voting “aye” on the roll call included Member Olczyk, Member Thomas, Member Bernard, Member Doshi, Member Ellis, Member Hannes and Member Hughes. Kerath Doshi was nominated and elected vice president by a subsequent roll call.

The board approved establishing a board secretary stipend of $10,388.94 for the 2025–26 school year; the transcript records that the stipend for 2026–27 will be determined based on the approved pay-rate increase for administrators for 2026–27. The board then appointed Melissa Jervis as board secretary for a two-year term and formally established its regular meeting calendar: the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Downers Grove Civic Center, with the fourth Monday of each month reserved for instructional-program or operations items requiring more detailed consideration.

The board also adopted committee and representative assignments. The transcript shows appointments including Darren Hughes as policy committee chair, President Hughes and Member Olczyk on the financial advisory committee, Vice President Doshi as chair of the district leadership team with Member Hannes, Member Ellis as LEND representative, Member Bernard as health and wellness liaison and Vice President Doshi as the Education Foundation representative. The board adopted a resolution appointing Member Emily Hannes as its SASID representative and Member Katie Thomas as alternate.

Before the reorganization agenda, the meeting included recognition of departing board members Tracy Weiner and Greg Harris. Tracy Weiner delivered prepared remarks reflecting on her six years on the board and earlier civic engagement, recalling the district’s pandemic-era work, curriculum updates and a successful $179 million referendum passed in November 2022. In her remarks Weiner said, “My mom always said to leave something better than the way you found it,” and described the district’s fiscal and curricular steps taken during her tenure.

Public comment included a statement from Katie Hircus, identified as DGEEA president representing the Highland attendance area, thanking Greg Harris and Tracy Weiner for their service and calling Weiner “a true supporter and advocate of the educators of District 58.”

The reorganization meeting concluded after the roll-call votes and committee appointments. The board adjourned sine die at approximately 7:45 p.m.