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Minooka CHSD 111 board approves Chromebook purchase, multiple CTE and facility bids, hires assistant superintendent
Summary
At its Jan. 21 meeting the Minooka Community High School District #111 board approved a $347,060 purchase of 740 Lenovo Chromebooks (financed through American Capital), awarded multiple CTE and facility equipment bids, accepted resignations, and approved several hires including Dr. Kathleen Wilkey as assistant superintendent/CSBO.
The Minooka Community High School District #111 Board of Education approved a series of purchases, bid awards and personnel actions at its regular meeting on Jan. 21, 2026, including a $347,060 purchase of 740 Lenovo 300e touchscreen Chromebooks financed through American Capital and the hiring of Dr. Kathleen Wilkey as assistant superintendent/CSBO.
The board, led by President Laura Hrechko, voted to buy the Chromebooks by a motion from Jim Grzetich, seconded by Tim Juskiewicz; the purchase will be financed at $94,329 per year over four years for a total contract value of $347,060 and the motion carried with aye votes from Kooi, Juskiewicz, Hoyt, Brozovich, Grzetich and Hrechko. The district also approved a Vivi device‑management proposal (motion by Mike Hoyt, seconded by Bert Kooi) that sets a prorated first‑year fee of $1,625 and an annual cost of $16,250 for 130 devices for the following five years.
John Troy told the board the district received a $50,000 School Maintenance Project Grant that is planned for replacing the South Campus water heater this summer.
In a clustered set of procurement votes the board awarded multiple Central Campus and South Campus bids for career and technical education and facilities equipment. Among the awards were woodshop vendors Minooka Grain & Lumber ($4,935), Grizzly Industrial ($45,919) and Shop Bot ($60,221); metal fabrication and welding vendors Grizzly Industrial ($15,031) and Weldstar ($69,996); construction lab vendors Grizzly Industrial ($5,616) and Minooka Grain & Lumber ($16,737); auto shop vendors Minooka Grain & Lumber ($9,974) and Automotive Specialists ($70,154); a Fire Science award to Air One Equipment ($60,031); and South Campus Wellness Room and Fieldhouse equipment awards to Direct Fitness ($105,895), Aluminum Athletic Equipment ($66,694) and BSN ($18,579). The board also directed staff to reject and republish the South Campus weight room solicitation to narrow its scope.
Personnel actions included acceptance of several resignations and the approval of leaves of absence under the Family Medical Leave Act pending documentation. The board approved multiple hires: it authorized a three‑year contract (effective July 1, 2026) for Dr. Kathleen Wilkey as Assistant Superintendent/CSBO (FY2027 salary $175,000; FY2028–29 TBD) pending paperwork and a favorable background check; approved Michele Buscemi as Assistant Transportation Director at $70,000 annually (tentative start Feb. 9, 2026); and approved a first‑year probationary teacher hire, Justin Moscato, for Auto Mechanics for the 2026–27 school year. The board also approved several support‑staff hires and extracurricular appointments as listed in the meeting packet.
The board approved a resolution authorizing representation in property tax proceedings and accepted revisions to the intergovernmental agreement with the Channahon Police Department. The meeting moved into executive session to discuss personnel and other matters and returned to open session later the same evening; closed session minutes from Dec. 17, 2025 were then approved.
Votes at a glance: Vivi proposal (approved; motion Hoyt/Kooi); 740 Lenovo Chromebooks ($347,060; approved; motion Grzetich/Juskiewicz); woodshop, metal fabrication, construction lab, auto shop and fire science awards (approved); Wellness Room and Fieldhouse equipment awards (approved); South Campus weight room bids (rejected and to be republished); seniority rosters and field trips (approved); Dr. Kathleen Wilkey, Assistant Superintendent/CSBO (approved pending paperwork); Michele Buscemi, Assistant Transportation Director (approved pending paperwork); resolution for property tax representation (approved); IGA revisions with Channahon Police Department (approved).
The board adjourned at 8:34 p.m. Several actions — including employment offers and the Assistant Superintendent contract — were approved contingent on receipt of proper paperwork and background checks, as noted in the motions.
