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District 128 board approves MOAs, staffing report, capital contracts and administrative raises after debate
Summary
Trustees approved multiple routine and capital actions — including ESP and teacher‑evaluation MOAs, the certified staffing report and related employment recommendations, a suite of facility contracts (FMX service and FCA, parking-lot replacement, LHS cafeteria change order) and a market‑based wage band approach for 12‑month administrators — after discussion and at least one extended debate over tying raises to performance.
The Community High School District 128 Board of Education approved a bundle of labor agreements, staffing actions, capital contracts and administrative salary adjustments at its March 16 meeting, while several trustees pressed for a future review of whether and how performance should factor into administrative pay.
Key votes and contracts approved included the annual 2026–27 IHSA membership renewal for Libertyville and Vernon Hills High Schools; a memorandum of agreement clarifying longevity stipend credit for Education Support Professionals (ESP); a memorandum of agreement adopting a Marzano Focused Teacher Evaluation model and removing student‑growth measures from classroom evaluations consistent with recent state changes; the district’s annual certified staffing report and associated employment recommendations and honorable‑dismissal notices required by law.
On compensation, trustees debated a market‑based wage band framework for 12‑month administrators. Administration described the framework as a tool to keep administrator pay competitive with peer districts; some trustees objected that raises under the framework are not tied to individual performance and asked whether the superintendent could exercise discretion based on evaluations. Board members agreed to revisit the question in a more exhaustive discussion (suggested at a summer retreat) but approved the salary increases to be effective July 1.
Capital and vendor decisions approved by the board included a multi‑component FMX agreement for a work‑order and capital planning system (implementation fee + first‑year total $25,000; $20,000 annual thereafter) and a facility condition assessment (FCA) from FMX for $76,005.26; a Chicago Paving Contractors Inc. contract for Diamond parking lot replacement for $190,000; and a change order (OCODash02) for the Libertyville High School cafeteria project with Gilbane for $185,009.39 to cover delay‑related additional services and extend on‑site staffing to finish the project in April.
The board also approved an LHS 2027 graduation agreement with the Village of Hoffman Estates' Now Arena for $52,347. Finally, after a closed session to discuss employee matters, the board approved an administrator contract for Ben Rodriguez upon returning to open session.
Quotes and debate: Trustee comments illustrated the tension around compensation: one trustee said the system of banded increases has balanced district pay but another said the board should consider linking raises to performance, recommending a focused summer workshop to develop benchmarks and metrics. "If the board is interested in exploring pay for performance ... that would require a deeper conversation," a district administrator said, while trustees acknowledged the practical and contractual complexities.
What happens next: Administration will carry out approved contracts and planned staffing changes, implement the FMX system and FCA per the contract timeline, and the board indicated it will schedule a deeper discussion on linking administrative compensation to performance at an upcoming retreat or summer meeting.
