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Warren Township HSD 121 board approves Costa Rica student trip, campus paving contract extension and multiple district actions
Summary
The Warren Township High School District 121 board on April 21 approved a new student trip to Costa Rica, a campus parking-lot contract, a one-year food-service extension and several routine items including the parent-student handbook and an expulsion, while administrators warned of rising insurance costs and discussed erosion risks at district-owned Gal Beach.
The Warren Township High School District 121 Board of Education voted April 21 to approve several motions ranging from student travel to vendor contracts and routine district matters.
The board unanimously approved a staff-led field trip to Costa Rica in March 2027 organized by Spanish teacher Maline Rutzy and run through EF Tours. Rutzy told the board the trip—marketed as “Warren’s Cultural Adventures”—will cost students “just under $4,000” and include optional activities such as snorkeling and zip-lining; she said EF offers a global protection plan and scholarships. The motion passed by roll call with all members voting yes (Squire, Fields, Martinez, Anderson, Carlson, Pope, Damonte).
On capital work, the board approved awarding the base bid for the Oplane campus parking-lot project to the contractor recommended by the district’s civil engineer. The packet notes the engineer recommended Chicago-land paving for the base bid; the motion recorded by the board referenced “Land Paving Contractors, Inc.” The vendor and the district will finalize contract details.
The board also approved a one-year extension for the district’s food-service contract with Quest Food Management Services, Inc. Quest representatives described recent program changes—expanded menu options, student feedback mechanisms and plans to accept Apple Pay—and said participation at Warren has risen compared with prior years.
Administrators asked the board to approve health and related insurance premiums for 2026–27 with the Educational Benefit Cooperative. Chris Green said the increase will be substantial, noting it "almost completely swallows up the savings from the retirements" and represents "over a million dollars a year" in added district expense; the motion passed on roll call.
Other items the board approved by vote included the consent agenda (personnel recommendations, contracts, audit engagement letters and bills paid totaling $745,427.92 and an account transfer of $32,557.46), the 2026–27 parent-student handbook, approval of summer maintenance and technology workers, and an employment/structural change to a student-services looping model (a negotiated agreement). The board also voted to approve the expulsion of student number 2026-13 for two calendar years.
Why it matters: The packet combined both routine, recurring district business and decisions with operational and budgetary implications. The approved insurance premium increases will add material ongoing costs to the district budget; capital work and the parking-lot award will affect campus traffic and safety; and the approved travel program expands off-campus learning but also creates new access and financial-aid questions for families.
What’s next: Administration will return with contract documents and implementation details for capital projects and personnel changes. The village’s proposed assistance on a separate property discussion (Gal Beach) is expected to return to the board for a vote after administrators negotiate a memorandum of understanding.
