Minooka CHSD 111 board hears update on PowerSchool data breach, community feedback on Canadian National intermodal plan and construction timelines; several FY25

A district staff member told the Minooka Community High School District 111 board on Jan. 15 that a recent cyberattack on the PowerSchool student information system exposed identifying information and is under investigation.

The staff member said, “PowerSchool actually paid off the hackers, which we have no idea. I know they brought in a company, to help them with that along with the FBI.” The staff member said the data released so far appeared to be limited to names, birth dates and addresses and that the district is monitoring developments and awaiting a written report.

The update came alongside other local items the board discussed: a community open house hosted by the Canadian National Railroad on an intermodal project; construction project drawings reaching 95 percent and a February bidding timeline; concerns about temporary power requirements for a planned CTE addition; and capacity pressures for the Grundy County Special Education transition program.

Why it matters: the breach involves student-identifying data and a national vendor the district uses for student records; the intermodal project and school construction both have local traffic and facilities implications that could affect transportation and program delivery.

On the Canadian National presentation, the district staff member said the railroad’s Jan. 14 open house was “very well attended by our community” and that residents expressed concerns respectfully. The board did not take a formal position; the discussion recorded in the minutes was limited to the staff member’s summary of the event and an expression of hope that community feedback would inform future railroad outreach.

Facilities and construction updates noted that design drawings for current building projects have reached 95 percent completion and that the district expects to go out to bid “that second week in February,” a facilities committee speaker said. The board was told it could expect a clearer cost picture when bid returns are received.

Officials also reviewed timing for two major projects: a field house with an anticipated groundbreaking in April and a CTE (career and technical education) addition planned for June. The CTE work will require the district’s main transformer to be disconnected, and the board was told the district will evaluate generator size and which building systems need to remain operational during what staff estimated could be “maybe a week, 2 at the most.”

The board received a briefing on special education facilities from a committee speaker who said Grundy County Special Education is expanding its transition program and is running “tight on space.” The speaker said the transition program is due to grow by 16 students next year and that about 80% of those students are from Minooka Community High School.

Finance and calendar: Miss Ritschko, a board member, reported December revenues across all funds of $39,200,000 (about 53% of the annual budget), and year-to-date revenues of $79,500,000 (about 107% of the annual budget). She said the December revenue figure included receipt of $37,000,000 in debt certificate funds. December expenditures were reported as $5,300,000 and total year-to-date expenditures as $40,000,000 (about 50% of the annual budget). Miss Ritschko said the board will hold a special meeting on Jan. 29 to consider issuing working cash and funding bonds for the field house and CTE projects.

The board approved the 2025–26 school calendar. Key dates presented: opening institute days on Aug. 11–12, student start on Aug. 13, Thanksgiving break the Wednesday–Friday of the holiday week, winter break Dec. 22–Jan. 5 with students returning Jan. 6 and an institute day Jan. 5, spring break the week that includes Easter with a return on the following Monday (presented as the 7th), and a projected last day of May 20. The board approved the calendar by voice vote.

Votes at a glance: the board approved the consent agenda; a shared-services/outsourcing report; the 2025–26 calendar; certified and noncertified seniority rosters; closed-session minutes from Dec. 18, 2024; approved needs-of-absence requests pending proper documentation; hired two support staff candidates (Katie McCullough and Elise Velasquez, pending paperwork and background checks); approved a list of extracurricular volunteers for 2024–25; and approved a memorandum of understanding regarding nurse pay rates. In most roll-call votes recorded on the audio, the named board members voted “yes”; no recorded roll-call “no” votes were reflected in the transcript and the clerk announced motions carried.

The board moved into an executive session to discuss minutes, personnel matters, student discipline and collective bargaining; the open session adjourned after a final voice vote.

Less-critical items: the Educational Foundation reminded the board that the Denim and Diamonds fundraiser is scheduled for March and that 150 tickets are available. A foundation meeting was scheduled in the board room the following day at 4:30 p.m.

The board did not set a formal policy position on the Canadian National intermodal project during the meeting and did not receive a finalized PowerSchool incident report during the Jan. 15 session; staff said a report is expected soon.