Board approves consent agenda, student fees and multiple capital contracts; construction finance update shows referendum near balance

The Arlington Heights SD 25 Board of Education on March 11 approved a slate of routine and capital items including the consent agenda, the 2025–26 student fees, several construction contract awards and a memorandum of understanding on bereavement leave.

The board’s business-and-finance discussion included a near-final construction finance update showing referendum revenue and expenditures nearly aligned. Finance and facilities staff reviewed how recent bids and project scope changes shifted previously shared estimates but said bond proceeds and interest will cover current obligations.

Board president’s designee called the roll and the consent agenda — including the personnel report, treasurer’s report, invoices and the Feb. 11 regular- and closed-session minutes — passed on a 5–0 roll-call vote. Board member Kevin made the motion and board member Anisha seconded.

On student fees for 2025–26 the board voted to approve a set of modest increases, including a 5% transportation increase for paid riders (matching the district’s bus-contract increase), a 25-cent increase to elementary and middle-school paid lunches, a 10-cent milk price increase, a 25-cent breakfast increase and a $5 rise in middle-school activity participation fees. The motion passed on a 4–0 vote; one member was not recorded on that tally.

The board awarded the Minor Window Replacement Phase 2 contract to Monarch Construction Company for $931,300 and assigned the contract to construction manager Nicholas & Associates; the motion passed 5–0. The board also approved three separate 2025 capital-project awards (general trades, HVAC and electrical) as recommended by staff and assigned those contracts to the district’s construction manager; the combined motion passed 5–0.

Separately the board approved a memorandum of understanding with the Arlington Teachers Association clarifying bereavement leave usage (including non‑consecutive use within a school year and retroactive adjustments for affected employees); that motion passed 5–0.

Construction-finance staff reported that total referendum-related contracts and all-in costs to date total about $78.378 million and that the district received roughly $78.5 million in bond proceeds plus interest projections; staff said the district expects to remain within the referendum funding envelope after anticipated interest, arbitrage adjustments and remaining projected summer work.

The board then recessed into closed session to continue previously announced topics; no formal action was taken in closed session.

Votes at a glance - Consent agenda (personnel report; treasurer’s report; invoices; minutes): Mover: Kevin; Second: Anisha; Outcome: Approved, roll call: Nearman yes, Jogi yes, Scapolato yes, Michael yes, Faso yes (5–0). - Student fees for 2025–26 (transportation, lunch, milk, breakfast, kindergarten consumables, middle-school participation fee +$5): Mover: Kevin; Second: Anisha; Outcome: Approved, roll call: Scapolato yes, Michael yes, Faso yes, Newman yes (4–0; one member absent/unrecorded). - Minor Window Replacement Phase 2 — Monarch Construction Company — $931,300: Mover: Kevin; Second: Anisha; Outcome: Approved, roll call: Scapolato yes, Michael yes, Faso yes, Nearman yes, Jogi yes (5–0). - 2025 capital projects (three awards: general trades $1,114,000 to RB Construction; HVAC $146,900 to Amber Mechanical; electrical $570,000 to Shoreline): Mover: Kevin; Second: Anisha; Outcome: Approved (combined vote), roll call: Michael yes, Faso yes, Nearman yes, Jogi yes, Scapolato yes (5–0). - ATA memorandum of understanding (bereavement leave non‑consecutive/specified retro adjustments): Mover: Kevin; Second: Anisha; Outcome: Approved, roll call: Faso yes, Nearman yes, Jogi yes, Scapolato yes, Michael yes (5–0).

Why it matters: The actions finalize near‑term financial commitments and operational fees that affect families, staff and the district’s capital schedule. The construction updates and contract awards move referendum projects into active execution and the MOU alters leave accounting and restores bereavement days for impacted employees.

What’s next: Staff said they will continue closeout work on phase‑1 projects this spring, finalize remaining allowances and monitor cashflows as bond proceeds are spent over the next 12–24 months. The board returns in April for its next regular meeting.