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District 128 board advances PE exemption review, approves staffing, contracts and capital work
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Summary
Trustees heard a presentation on PE exemptions and directed further study; the board approved MOAs on teacher evaluation and ESP longevity, staffing recommendations, administrator raises, and several facilities contracts and change orders including FMX and Gilbane work.
Trustees at the March 16 District 128 Board of Education meeting heard a detailed presentation about the district's physical-education exemption policies and approved multiple personnel, contractual and capital items.
Tom (Department of Teaching and Learning) told trustees the district is conducting a comprehensive review of PE exemption policies and practices to ensure compliance with Illinois law and the district's policy 6-310. The administration said it would convene student focus groups, align return-to-class timelines across Libertyville and Vernon Hills high schools, and produce recommendations for the board in April or early May. "The state of Illinois does mandate daily physical education for all four years of high school," the presenter said, adding that state guidance is vague about the precise timing when students must return to class after an athletic season ends.
Trustees asked questions about block scheduling, medical waivers, the 0-hour option, and how exemptions might affect course planning. Administration said exemptions require case-by-case review when students seek special scheduling for college or graduation requirements and that any changes to which courses qualify for exemption could be phased in to avoid disrupting students who already selected courses for next year.
On action items, the board approved: the annual IHSA membership renewal for both high schools (2026-27); a memorandum of agreement clarifying ESP longevity stipends; a MOA to adopt the Marzano-focused teacher evaluation model and remove mandatory student-growth measures for classroom evaluations (in response to recent state changes); and the certified staffing report and related employment recommendations for 2026-27, which the administration said would result in a net reduction of about 2.0 classroom FTE while increasing some building-based non-classroom support.
Trustees debated administrator compensation methodology at length before approving the recommended 12-month administrator salary increases under a market-based band system. Several trustees asked to explore pay-for-performance alternatives and requested a summer workshop to develop evaluation benchmarks before making structural changes.
The board also approved a one-year graduation-hosting agreement for Libertyville High School at the Now Arena for $52,347; a service agreement and facility condition assessment with FMX (first-year cost $25,000 including a $5,000 implementation fee; $20,000 annually thereafter; FCA $76,005.26); a $190,000 contract for the Diamond parking lot replacement; and a $185,009.39 change order for the Libertyville High School cafeteria project with Gilbane. Administrators said the cafeteria project is delayed to April and discussed tighter contract language and contingencies to address future schedule risk.
After an executive session to discuss employment matters, the board returned to open session and approved an administrator contract for Ben Rodriguez.
Board members emphasized transparency, consistent communication about exemptions, and careful oversight of large capital projects as next steps.
