Board approves bond parameters, transportation renewal and consent agenda; hires new athletic director

The Adlai E. Stevenson High School District 125 Board of Education approved several business items during the meeting, including a parameters resolution ahead of a bond sale, a transportation contract renewal and a consent agenda that included personnel actions.

The board voted to approve a parameters resolution authorizing the issuance of "not to exceed $15,000,000 general obligation limited tax school bonds, series (noted in materials as series 2005), of consolidated high school district 125, Lake County, Illinois," for the purpose of increasing the district's working cash fund. District staff said the parameters resolution sets the rules for the forthcoming bond sale and that a final resolution and related parameters would return to the board after the sale. The board approved the resolution by voice vote, recorded as 6–0.

The board also approved a renewal agreement with First Student for student transportation using option 2, which district staff reported would lock in an overall cost pattern that the district determined to be the lowest‑cost option over the contract term given projected rate changes (staff summarized the average increase as roughly 4 percent and said option 2 best fit the budget). That renewal was approved 6–0.

As part of the consent agenda the board approved personnel and other routine items including the recommended hire of Dwayne Bates as athletic director, effective July 1. Bates was introduced during the meeting as a former Northwestern football player who later worked in education and served as an athletic director at another district; the hire was included on the consent agenda and approved without separate roll call.

The board also received a first reading of the student guidebook; no final action on the handbook occurred at this meeting. The consent agenda and business motions passed unanimously in recorded votes of 6–0 where noted.

Votes at a glance: • Parameters resolution authorizing up to $15,000,000 in general obligation limited tax school bonds for working cash fund — Approved, tally recorded as 6 yes, 0 no. • Renewal of transportation agreement with First Student (option 2) — Approved, 6 yes, 0 no. • Consent agenda including hire of Dwayne Bates, athletic director (effective July 1) — Approved, 6 yes, 0 no.

District staff noted the bond sale was scheduled to occur the following morning; final bond parameters would be returned to the board after the sale.