DuPage County board hears students’ testimony, debates member-sponsored nonprofit grants

Sarah Miller, executive director of Green Halo Scholars, told the DuPage County Board on July 14 that her nonprofit supports about 120 first-generation and low-income students across seven partner high schools — six of them in DuPage County — and asked the board to consider a $25,000 county grant to cover textbooks, replacement laptops, exam prep and equipment for health-care students.

Three Green Halo scholars gave emotional, first-person accounts of how the program changed their prospects. Romina Papavera Gonzalez, who graduated from Downers Grove South High School and will attend the University of Michigan in the fall, said Green Halo helped her navigate FAFSA and the application process. Antonio Vasquez, a recent graduate of Downers Grove North headed to Augustana College, said Green Halo provided the laptop and one-on-one help that made college possible. Amari Alexander, now at Clemson University, described mentorship and test-prep support that helped him earn admission and scholarships.

Melissa Burke, Green Halo’s director of college success, told the board the program operates on a modest annual budget (as described to the board), relies heavily on volunteers, and posts strong outcomes: she reported a 96% retention rate through graduation and a 90% four-year graduation rate for the scholars tracked. Burke said the $25,000 request would pay for recurring material needs that the program currently cannot cover.

Board members broadly praised the students’ presentations and many expressed support for Green Halo. Member Garcia framed the proposal as an effective, equity-focused use of county resources for a defined, low-income population. Member Hoenig and others emphasized the mentorship and sustained college supports Green Halo provides beyond typical high-school counseling.

At the same time, several members urged caution about the process for awarding funds. Member LaPlante said she supported the organizations but opposed advancing individual, member-sponsored grants without an administratively transparent, countywide application mechanism; she argued an open process was more equitable and would reduce the risk of preferential treatment. Member Desart raised a similar concern about inadvertent favoritism when members nominate organizations they know personally. Members Zay and Galassi countered that the new process — requiring a member to sponsor a request, review by the chair and a vetting step by the state's attorney before board consideration — increases transparency by bringing requests before the full board rather than handling them in committees.

Chair Conroy said the state's attorney will evaluate each request against state statute and that certain expenditures (for example, direct scholarships) may be disallowed; if the board supports an organization, staff and the state's attorney would draft a precise agreement limiting allowable expenses. The chair also identified ARPA interest as the likely funding source for the small-grant pool previously set aside by the board.

The board did not take a final funding vote on the Green Halo request at the July 14 meeting; members were asked to secure majority support within their districts and to bring any agreed items back to the full board with the state's attorney’s recommended language. The chair urged members to coordinate with one another and with staff to ensure legal compliance and transparency.

The board moved next to other agenda items and later recessed into executive session without resolving all new-business funding proposals.