Bremen CHSD 228 board approves contracts, insurance items and personnel changes; hears public request from therapy provider

The Bremen CHSD 228 Board of Education approved a slate of routine business and capital items at its regular meeting.

Administrators recommended awarding the lowest responsible bid for replacement of boilers at Sunny Park High School to Quality Mechanical for $849,584; the board approved the contract by roll call. The board also approved a recommended handheld-radio replacement project, which administration said had been negotiated down and would cost approximately $385,762 (transcript shows the figure as "$385,7622"). The district described vendor partners for the radio purchase as Tri Electronics and Motorola/Express.

The board approved funding for competitive athletic activities at $14,500 per school, a total of $58,000, and moved forward a series of policy and planning items: the FY2026 audit engagement letter, the July 1, 2026 property/general-liability and health-insurance agenda items, a district parent-and-family engagement policy, building and district Title I plans for 2026–27, and the consolidated district plan. A revised board meeting calendar reflecting a move to the new administrative center was also approved.

Personnel actions approved included retirements (listed in the personnel packet), leaves, resignations and new hires. Separately, the administration said the FY2025 audit team will be on site the third week of August.

During public comment, Jia Lucas identified herself and a colleague Melissa as representatives of a therapy provider that the speakers identified in the record as "Unaded Therapy Group." Jia Lucas described the organization as offering occupational, physical and speech therapy services and said it seeks to partner with the district for the 2026–27 school year to support students and IEP goals. "Our mission is to inspire hope, cultivate kindness, and foster a mindset that values wisdom without losing wonder," Lucas said.

Superintendent and staff reports highlighted academic and student-support items: a concept-recovery program that assigned about 100 students this spring and achieved roughly a 76% completion rate for earning credit; an ACT data workshop that identified reading (key ideas and details) as a districtwide area of focus and recommended increased emphasis on algebra and functions in math; and a pilot plan to roll out a universal mental-health screener with juniors next year (transcript names the screener as "terrorist metrics"). The special-education director noted three graduates who passed the Illinois Department of Public Health CNA assessment and that three Excel Special Olympics athletes earned second-place finishes at state competition.

Communications staff also presented a progress update on a website redesign and highlighted several national awards the district received for communications and student media, including recognition for photography and video work and the district magazine, The Light.

The meeting concluded after board member reports and announcements. The board set its next regular meeting for July 21, 2026, at 7 p.m.

(For full motion text, vote records and item-by-item details, see board agenda packet.)