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Burbank SD 111 honors student authors and a teacher award; staff report curriculum, facilities and vendor updates
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Summary
At the Feb. 25 board meeting Burbank SD 111 recognized Young Authors winners and an ISBE awardee, and administrators reported on curriculum adoptions, a proposed 4.1% Whitsons food-service renewal, technology pilots, and planned facility projects including an indoor play space recommendation.
Burbank School District No. 111 highlighted student and staff achievements and heard multiple administrative program updates at its Feb. 25, 2026 meeting.
Principals Tom Martin and Tara Wrobel introduced the Young Authors Contest winners for each grade; the district champion received a hardcover printed book and each grade-level winner received a STAR recognition pin. Ashley Hines announced that Angela Sexton, a teacher at McCord Early Learning Center, received the Illinois State Board of Education's 2026 Those Who Excel Award of Excellence; the board presented a plaque and offered congratulations.
Assistant Superintendent for Business & Finance Dr. Ana Ochoa told the board that the Illinois State Board of Education completed an administrative review of the School Nutrition Program and issued two minimal findings, noting overall compliance with federal and state requirements. Dr. Ochoa said she will ask the board at a future meeting to approve a renewal agreement with Whitsons, the district's food-service vendor, with a proposed 4.1% contract increase.
Curriculum staff reported several instructional items: Michaela Faust described a partnership with Reavis High School that placed 11 interns in district classrooms and noted presentations of finalist options for K–5 science and social studies curriculum adoptions. Teaching and learning staff reported completion of ACCESS testing, MTSS interim data meetings and ongoing induction and coaching cycles. Technology director Robert McCartney said the district is piloting a new visitor check-in system at Kennedy, McCord and Tobin and is working on an automated sync between HR and E-Finance via PowerSchool.
Facilities director Joseph Ficker said ten-year Health/Life Safety surveys are underway, thanked partners for graduation planning at Reavis field house, and anticipated a March recommendation for indoor play-space equipment at McCord and bid work for Liberty stage lighting.
During public comment residents urged greater transparency and strategic planning: Donna Kriegseis suggested moving to two meetings per month to allow time for items such as superintendent search and collective bargaining; Frank Kriegseis distributed a comparative spreadsheet and urged the board to ensure tax dollars are prioritized for student outcomes.
The board did not take a final vote on the Whitsons contract at this meeting; Dr. Ochoa said a formal recommendation including scope, projected costs and timeline will come to the board at a future meeting.