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Sycamore board appoints interim treasurer, approves Gallup contract contingent on legal review and passes personnel and budget items
Summary
The board appointed Brody Berson as interim treasurer, extended related contracts, approved a Gallup culture-and-climate survey contract contingent on legal review of student-data protections (amendment passed 4–1), and adopted routine personnel and budget items including a modified tax budget request and monthly financial report.
At its regular meeting following the finance work session, the Sycamore Community Schools Board approved a set of personnel and contract actions and set organizational dates for 2026.
Interim treasurer appointment and contract extensions: The board moved and approved the appointment of Brody Berson as interim treasurer and approved a two-year extension to the assistant treasurer contract beginning 08/01/2026. The roll-call votes on those personnel motions were recorded as all Aye.
Gallup contract with legal-review contingency: Administration presented a multi-year Gallup culture-and-climate survey proposal intended to run annually, with the vendor offering a pricing structure that locked rates for up to three years. Board members expressed support for Gallup’s reputation but raised concerns about student-data privacy, institutional-review-board procedures for surveying minors, parental consent and a proposal that still referenced another district in places. Doctor Lynn Steger said she was "a little disappointed" the proposal lacked detail about student research protections and suggested local firms or additional contract language. The board amended the motion to approve the Gallup contract contingent on a legal review focused on student-data protections; the amendment passed with Doctor Steger voting No and the motion carried on a 4–1 tally.
Other approvals: The board approved an agreement with school psychologist Jessica Brandon and an agreement with Comprehensive Concepts in Speech and Hearing Inc.; it also adopted a resolution to submit a modified tax budget for fiscal 2026–27 and approved the monthly financial report for the month ended November 2025. Interim treasurer Brody Berson reported the district’s cash balance at 37% (about 130 days), above the board’s 25% policy minimum, and highlighted some timing-related revenue items from Hamilton County.
Recognitions and calendar items: The board presented a commendation to Michael Miller, the district’s transportation director, with remarks from State Representative Karen Brownlee. The board set the 2026 organizational meeting for Jan. 7, 2026, at 6 p.m. in the Professional Learning Commons (11120 Kenwood Road) and discussed scheduling a financial retreat in early 2026 to finalize levy planning.
What this means: The interim treasurer appointment and personnel agreements provide administrative continuity during the transition; approving the Gallup contract subject to legal review signals the board’s willingness to collect staff/student/parent feedback while insisting on formal privacy protections. The board moved into executive session on personnel matters and announced it would not return to public session for further votes that night.
