The Bremen Community High School District 228 Board of Education on Tuesday approved a package of fiscal and administrative items, including the district’s bills and payroll, a tentative 2025 tax levy, a welding memorandum of understanding with District 510, multiple low bids for a planned renovation at 1710 First Avenue, and a set of personnel recommendations.

The actions come as district finance staff warned of a local property-tax delay that makes it “unlikely” the district will receive significant property-tax revenue before December. Finance staff reported approximately $58,300,000 in operating cash as of Sept. 30 and said the district will continue to use existing fund balances while monitoring disbursements of state grant funds.

Board votes and motions

- Bills, addendum to bills, payroll and CVS bills: moved by Mr. Whitcomb, second by Mr. Patterson; approved by roll call (Whitcomb: Aye; Patterson: Aye; Lott: Aye; Elise: Aye; Ressler/Resnick: Aye).

- Tentative tax levy for 2025: moved by Mr. Patterson, second by Mr. Whitcomb; approved by roll call (Patterson: Aye; Whitcomb: Aye; Lott: Aye; Elise: Aye; Ressler/Resnick: Aye).

- Welding memorandum of understanding (MOU) between District 228 and District 510: moved by Mr. Patterson, second by Mr. Whitcomb; approved unanimously by roll call.

- Bid awards for renovation at 1710 First Avenue: the board recommended and approved low, responsible bidders across multiple trade packages for a project that includes demolition and renovation of office and meeting spaces. Notable base bids (as presented to the board): Midway Contracting Group LLC — demolition base bid $80,000; Bruckner and Sons (plumbing) — base bid $139,990; Globe Electric Company (electrical) — base bid $431,000; Quality Mechanical Inc. (mechanical) — base bid $269,975; Nelson Fire Protection Company (fire suppression) — base bid $80,839; DBM Services (general trades) — base bid $939,000. Alternates and add-ons were listed and considered; the board approved forwarding the recommended awards for full-board acceptance.

- Personnel: retirements, resignations and new hires were presented and recommended to the board; administrator contract renewals for two named administrators were included and the board approved the personnel recommendations by roll call.

Why it matters

Approving a tentative tax levy is the first formal step in the district’s property-tax process; final adoption occurs after required public notice and hearings. At the same meeting district finance staff signaled continuing cash-flow management while awaiting county and state disbursements, which affects timing for payments and capital project cash requirements. The construction bids set the procurement path for a renovation project at a district-owned building; awarded contractors and bid totals will determine the immediate capital commitments.

What board members said

Board members moved and seconded the motions in a sequence of roll-call approvals throughout the meeting. No recorded dissenting votes appeared on the items covered in this story.

Clarifying details

- Finance: district staff said it is unlikely the district will receive significant property tax revenue prior to December and that staff completed a cash-flow analysis showing approximately $58,300,000 in operating cash as of Sept. 30.

- Construction scope: the bid solicitation covered demolition of approximately 1,212,600 square feet at the main level, renovation for offices/workstations/conference/public boardroom, plus alternates for approximately 2,500 square feet at the lower level and furniture/electrical/service work. (Details were read into the record by staff presenting the bid results.)

What’s next

The board listed its next regular meeting as Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m.; the tentative levy will follow the district’s public-notice and adoption timeline, and board staff will proceed with contract finalizations for the renovation bids.

Votes at a glance

- Minutes approvals (regular and closed, 09/16/2025; 10/14/2025): approved by roll call.
- Bills and payroll: approved by roll call.
- Tentative tax levy for 2025: approved by roll call.
- Welding MOU with District 510: approved by roll call.
- Renovation bid awards for 1710 First Avenue (multiple packages): approved by roll call.
- Personnel items (retirements, resignations, hires, administrator contracts): approved by roll call.

Sources: meeting presentation of finance data and bid tabulations; roll-call votes recorded in the meeting transcript.