Cary CCSD 26 board approves easement amendment for new transportation center; site work to begin

At its Oct. 27, 2025 meeting, the Cary CCSD 26 Board of Education approved an amendment to a reciprocal easement, maintenance and use restriction agreement tied to the parcel where the district plans to build its new transportation center.

District treasurer Mr. Shepherd told the board the parcel the district purchased had preexisting access and use restrictions that Aldi recorded when it built its store. Shepherd said the district—s plan "conforms with that request" and that Aldi supports the plan. The amendment memorializes those access points and will result in a frontage road being closed off once district site improvements are complete.

During public participation, a resident, identified in the transcript as Miss Ritter, asked about the status of the "bus barn" and neighborhood concerns. An administrator responded that the district had been working with the village to secure building permits for the new site near Aldi and "we just received the go ahead to start site work over at the the site by by Aldi." The administrator gave a tentative completion date of June 1. Superintendent Dr. Thomas later reiterated that the village had cleared the district to begin site work and thanked Mr. Shepherd for his work in obtaining approvals.

A board member asked who would be responsible for upkeep of the drive that provides access to the store and district site. Shepherd said the district will work with Aldi and "we'll probably be entering into another agreement that we'll bring back to the board that will be a a shared cost arrangement for the the maintenance and snow removal of that particular drive." That later agreement was not part of the action taken at the Oct. 27 meeting.

The board also approved routine consent items by motion, including open-session minutes, bills and payroll totaling $2,816,856.19, a treasurer's report, and a McHenry County mutual aid agreement. The destruction of closed meeting audio recordings older than 18 months was discussed briefly; Dr. Thomas said recordings would be destroyed unless otherwise noted.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda (items 7.1–7.9, including bills/payroll of $2,816,856.19 and McHenry County mutual aid agreement): Approved (Roll call: Jason Jancic — yes; Dee Darling — yes; Mindy Hartman — yes; Bridget Sandlin — yes; Stacy Salt — yes; Julie Jetty — yes).

- Amendment to reciprocal easement, maintenance and use restriction agreement: Approved (Roll call: Jason Jancic — yes; Dee Darling — yes; Mindy Hartman — yes; Bridget Sandlin — yes; Stacy Salt — yes; Julie Jetty — yes).

Board members said they will return to the board with any additional agreements that allocate shared maintenance or snow-removal responsibilities with Aldi.