District 28 board approves communications director contract, school fees, e‑rate vendor and Meadowbrook gym MOU

The Northbrook SD 28 Board of Education on Feb. 25 approved a series of routine and project motions, voting unanimously among present members on each item and recording one absence.

Key outcomes

- The board approved the contract for Samantha Scheinman as director of communications and community relations; Scheinman is scheduled to join the district in July. The motion passed on a roll call of six ayes, with one member absent.

- The board approved minutes and the consent agenda, and accepted the financial report for the month ended Dec. 31, 2024. Each of those motions passed on roll calls with six ayes and one absence.

- The board adopted the 2025–26 school fee schedule. District staff said only two fee changes were proposed: a transportation fee likely to rise about 3% pending contract negotiations with First Student, and an increase to summer music lesson fees to align with teacher compensation. Most other fees remain unchanged. The motion to adopt the fees passed unanimously among members present (six ayes, one absence).

- The board approved a CDW (e‑rate) contract for infrastructure items eligible for the federal E‑Rate discount program (district staff said the federal discount covers approximately 40% of eligible costs). Vote: six ayes, one absence.

- The board approved a memorandum of understanding with DLA Architects for the Meadowbrook gymnasium project. District staff said professional‑services fees will be incurred this fiscal year and next; construction spending is not expected until after summer and could be funded through the referendum if voters approve it or via short‑term borrowing if the referendum is not successful. The MOU vote was six ayes, one absence.

- The board moved to enter closed session to discuss personnel and legal matters; the motion passed with six ayes, one absence. The meeting recording ended after the closed session motion.

Votes at a glance

1) Contract approval — director of communications and community relations (Samantha Scheinman) - Motion text: “Do we have a motion to approve the contract for the director of communications and community relations?” - Mover/Second: not specified on the public record - Vote record: Member Silverschack — yes; Member Arms — yes; Member Bazer — yes; Member Weinstock — yes; Member Cassidy — yes; President Gallinson — yes; Member Beef Tank — absent - Tally: yes 6, no 0, abstain 0, absent 1 - Outcome: approved

2) Approval of minutes - Tally: yes 6, absent 1 - Outcome: approved

3) Approval of consent agenda - Tally: yes 6, absent 1 - Outcome: approved

4) Financial report (month ended 12/31/2024) - Tally: yes 6, absent 1 - Outcome: approved

5) 2025–26 school fee schedule - Motion: approve the 2025–26 school fees (transportation fee increase anticipated ~3%; summer music lesson fee increase) - Tally: yes 6, absent 1 - Outcome: approved

6) CDW / E‑Rate contract (infrastructure) - Motion: approve contract for items eligible for E‑Rate federal discount (~40% discount cited by staff) - Tally: yes 6, absent 1 - Outcome: approved

7) Memorandum of Understanding — Meadowbrook gym (DLA Architects) - Motion: approve MOU with DLA Architects for Meadowbrook gym design and related work - Tally: yes 6, absent 1 - Outcome: approved

8) Motion to go into closed session (personnel/legal) - Tally: yes 6, absent 1 - Outcome: approved (closed session entered)

What board members and staff said

Superintendent Pearson and staff provided context for several items: the transportation fee change reflects negotiations with First Student and broader post‑2020 contract increases; the CDW contract is tied to the district’s E‑Rate filing and staff cited an approximate 40% federal discount for eligible services; and professional‑services work for the Meadowbrook gym will be paid across this and next year, with construction funding dependent on referendum outcomes or short‑term borrowing if the referendum fails.

The Meadowbrook gym discussion included timeline and technical notes: the district expects completion in winter 2025–26 and said the gym must meet storm‑shelter building codes, which affects structural design and how the gym connects to the school. The district said it has met with the park district about a future partnership, but no park‑district financial commitment was made for construction.

No votes at the meeting changed the Young Explorers program; the public comment period focused on that program but the board did not take action on it.