Board actions: appointments, officer elections, agreements approved

The Crete Public Schools Board of Education recorded several formal actions and votes during its meeting, including an appointment to fill a vacancy, election of board officers, approval of routine business items and approval of two major agreements.

Appointment: The board voted to appoint Scott Penning to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Bill Lorenz. The motion was moved by Greg Holman and seconded by Vince Krejci. During roll call Holman, Krejci, Koontz, Mach and others voted yes; one member recorded an abstention. The motion carried and the appointment is effective immediately upon the board’s reorganization.

Board reorganization: As part of reorganizing the board, members took oaths and elected officers. The board elected Justin Koontz as president (formal roll call showed one abstention when Koontz abstained from voting for himself) and elected Greg Holman as vice president after nominations and a roll call vote. Vince Krejci was elected secretary by roll call; one abstention was recorded for the secretary vote. The newly seated board then reconvened under the new chair to continue the meeting.

Consent agenda: The board approved the consent agenda (designations, minutes, claims, staff adjustments, treasurer’s report). Board member Greg Holman noted a potential conflict of interest on specific checks (check numbers referenced in the meeting) and abstained from voting on those specific checks; he approved the balance of the consent agenda. The full consent agenda was approved by roll call.

Collective bargaining: The board approved the 2025–26 negotiated agreement with the Crete Education Association, representing a total package increase of 4.99 percent. The motion passed by roll call vote.

Contracts: The board approved the Mammoth Sports Construction agreement for preconstruction, design and construction services for the athletic facilities project (see separate article). The preconstruction charge authorized at this meeting was $144,550; the board will receive a guaranteed maximum price for actual construction at a later date.

Executive session: The board voted to enter closed session to discuss a matter described by the board as necessary for protection of reputation of individuals and the public interest; the motion to go into executive session passed by roll call. The board later reconvened from executive session and reported no action was taken that required approval.

Roll call records from the meeting appear in the public minutes and were used to record the outcomes listed above. Where individual votes were recorded verbally at roll call in the transcript, those names are noted above; if a roll call name was unclear in the transcript, the article notes the outcome and that roll call was used to carry the motion.