Board requests elementary curriculum materials and orders technology, budget review amid deficit planning

Kaneland CUSD 302 board members asked administrators to put the district’s elementary curriculum materials on a future agenda for review and voted by consensus to pursue a technology and budget review as part of a broader deficit-planning process.

One trustee said, "The whole issue of the elementary curriculum or the lack thereof has really bothered me over the past 3 weeks, and it needs to be addressed sooner rather than later," pressing the administration to bring actual curriculum documents rather than a presentation so trustees could examine what is currently in use and how materials articulate across grade levels. Several trustees echoed requests that the KEA (teachers’ association), special-education staff and building-level teachers be included in the review.

Board members also discussed examining fixed costs, specifically communications and IT-related services and software licensing, as possible areas for cost savings or improved value. A trustee noted the district’s last comprehensive technology review occurred about four to five years ago and urged another look at whether current services provide the best value for the dollars spent. The administration said the district previously used a third-party vendor (SpyGlass) for such reviews and that contract and licensing reviews are ongoing; the district will bring initial capital-project information in November and five-year financial projections in early December.

Administrators said these items will feed into the district’s deficit plan and tentative budget process; no formal votes were taken on substantive policy changes at the meeting.

The board took several procedural votes earlier in the meeting, including approving the consent agenda and later moving into a closed session under Illinois Open Meetings Act sections 2(c)(1) and 2(c)(11).