Bremen CHSD 228 board reviews academic gains, OKs curriculum change to add JROTC diploma track

The Bremen CHSD 228 Board of Education on Nov. 25 reviewed district academic results, heard a Junior ROTC (JROTC) presentation and approved curriculum changes intended to boost graduation outcomes.

A district academic presenter summarized the Illinois report card data, saying the district’s four-year graduation rate reached about 90 percent after several years of steady improvement and that the district’s average ACT score was 15.7 versus a state average of 18. The presenter highlighted gains in ELA proficiency, described growth-percentile measures, and said English‑learner enrollment is up to roughly 18 percent. The presenter also walked the board through impending state accountability changes for 2026, including a composite proficiency score and a move from separate ELA/math growth measures to a combined growth metric, and noted ‘consistent attendance’ will replace the chronic-absence metric.

The board heard a JROTC briefing from Colonel Michael Prescott and cadet representatives. Colonel Prescott outlined the program’s mission and weekly structure and said current enrollment is about 66 cadets across grade levels with plans to double enrollment next year through districtwide outreach. Kenneth Allen Battle, introduced as a student participant, described his own turnaround in the program and recommended enrollment.

In curriculum business, the board approved handbook changes to rename the course 'Introduction to Criminal Justice' to 'Intro to Criminal Justice and Law' and to add Junior ROTC 2. Directors also approved shifting the Excel program from a certificate of attendance toward diploma-track coursework; presenters said the change is expected to help raise the district’s graduation counts, though some gains may appear in five- and six‑year graduation reporting.

District staff noted other items discussed included school-safety planning and a facilities update reporting prompt snow‑removal response, a communications award from the National School Public Relations Association, and ongoing recruiting efforts for paraprofessionals and custodial staff.

The board set aside multiple consent items for full-board consideration or approval, including bills/payroll and a recommendation to forward a 2025 Country Club Hills Plaza tax-abatement resolution to the full board. Staff also said the district will submit a School Maintenance Project Grant application for the full $50,000 to support Tinley Park domestic water and lighting upgrades; the grant is a dollar-for-dollar state match and requires the board to reserve matching local funds.

The meeting concluded business items with personnel recommendations, including a recommendation that a current special-education teacher become athletic director at Tinley Park effective July 1, 2026, and a motion to move into closed session to consider personnel matters under the Illinois Open Meetings Act. The motion to enter closed session was moved by Mister Patterson and seconded; a roll-call vote was recorded.

The board also logged several Freedom of Information Act requests and the status of those requests, and staff reported receiving initial FY25 financial statements showing no audit findings and an approximate 12 percent increase in fund balances compared with fiscal 2024.

The board’s next procedural step on several consent items is full-board consideration; no final adoption of ordinances or long-term contracts was recorded in the public portion of this meeting.