Bremen CHSD 228 board approves 2024 tax levy, $654,000 laptop purchase and $50,000 ISBE grant

The Bremen Community High School District 228 board at its regular meeting approved the 2024 tax levy and a package of routine fiscal and personnel items, including a $654,000 purchase of 600 Lenovo X13 laptops and an application for a $50,000 Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) school maintenance grant to support an electronic smart-lock project.

Board members also approved a rental memorandum of understanding with South Suburban College, a revised 2025–26 school calendar, the district's December bills, payroll and addenda, and several personnel recommendations. After the votes the board moved into a closed session to consider personnel matters as allowed under state law.

Why it matters: the laptop purchase and the ISBE grant application have direct budgetary and operational effects for district classrooms and building security, while the tax levy establishes revenue the district may collect in 2025. The actions taken are routine school-district governance but involve six-figure technology and security expenditures and personnel changes that affect staffing.

Key votes and motions

- Approval of prior meeting minutes (Nov. 19, 2024 regular and closed meeting minutes): motion moved by Mr. Whitcomb and seconded by Ms. Motley; roll call recorded unanimous approval.

- Approval of Dec. 10, 2024 Committee of the Whole minutes: motion moved by Ms. Motley, second by Mr. Whitcomb; roll call recorded unanimous approval.

- Approval of December bills, addendum, payroll and custodial bills: motion moved and seconded as announced at the meeting; roll call recorded unanimous approval.

- 2024 tax levy and associated resolutions (Agenda item 4.2): moved by Ms. Gleeson and seconded by Ms. Lott; roll call recorded unanimous approval.

- Rental memorandum of understanding (MOU) between District 228 and South Suburban College (Agenda item 4.3): presented by district staff and recommended for approval by the superintendent; motion made and the board voted aye by roll call.

- Revised 2025–26 school calendar (Agenda item 4.4): presented and recommended by staff; motion moved and seconded and approved by roll call.

- ISBE school maintenance project grant application for electronic smart locks, $50,000 (Agenda item 4.5): presented by Dr. Boswell and recommended by the superintendent; motion moved by Mr. Whitcomb, seconded by Ms. Motley; roll call recorded unanimous approval to submit the application.

- Purchase of 600 Lenovo X13 laptops, $654,000, vendor CDW (Agenda item 4.6): board discussed the recommended purchase to refresh staff computers; motion moved by Mr. Whitcomb, seconded by Ms. Motley; roll call recorded unanimous approval.

- Personnel recommendations (Agenda item 5.1): presented by Dr. Gaudens and recommended to the board for approval. Items approved included retirements (Gail Richter; Michael Young), a change of position (Connie McSweeney; Darcy Walker mentioned), a resignation (Jada Burks), and new hires (Stephanie Ramirez; Megan Jankowski; Herb Offord; Tamar Clark). Motion moved and seconded by board members and approved by roll call.

- Motion to move to closed session to consider appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees (statutory authority cited at the meeting): motion moved by Mr. Whitcomb, seconded by Ms. Motley; roll call recorded aye votes and the board recessed to closed session.

Details and clarifications from the meeting

- Laptops: the board approved a recommendation to purchase 600 Lenovo X13 laptops at a total purchase price of $654,000 through vendor CDW to refresh staff devices used daily.

- ISBE grant: the board approved applying for a $50,000 ISBE school maintenance project grant; the district indicated the funds would support the electronic smart-lock project.

- Tax levy: the board approved the 2024 tax levy and associated resolutions; the meeting record shows the item was presented for full board approval and passed by roll call.

- Rental MOU: the board approved the rental memorandum of understanding with South Suburban College as presented.

- Personnel: the board approved the personnel slate presented by the district's human resources representative. The transcript lists the names above as recommended for board approval.

- FOIA: the district reported completion of two Freedom of Information Act requests since the prior regular meeting: one from Matt Stockwell (Data Branch) seeking purchasing records from January 2020 to present (request completed) and one from a representative of a workflow/solutions vendor seeking copier and lease service documents (request completed).

What the meeting did not do: the board did not take votes on policy changes beyond the items listed, and there was no recorded public comment on agenda items. Several student and staff recognitions and program presentations took place earlier in the meeting; those were ceremonial and not the subject of board votes.

Next steps / follow-up: the ISBE grant application will proceed as approved; procurement steps for the laptop purchase will follow district purchasing procedures; the board will return from closed session with any authorized public action recorded in future meeting minutes.