Morton District 201 board approves consent agenda including $7.66M in education payroll and multiple student discipline actions

The Board of Education of J. Sterling Morton High School District 201 approved its consent agenda during the May 13 meeting at Morton West Freshman Academy. Member Mark Kraft moved to approve the Consent Agenda and Member Fernando Godinez seconded; the motion carried with all listed members voting aye.

Consent items included payroll and bill approvals: education payroll of $7,659,863.69, building payroll of $976,641.71 and transportation payroll of $1,303.98. The minutes list two bills-for-payment entries for May 14, 2026: $184,946.73 and $5,867,526.30 (combined total $6,052,473.03). The consent agenda also encompassed travel approvals, facility requests, contract approvals pending legal review (Carnegie Learning; Pearson Education, Inc.), and bid actions including the Morton West masonry project.

The board recorded multiple student-discipline actions under the consent agenda. Case 491633 was expelled with no services for the remainder of the 2025–2026 school year and the entire 2026–2027 school year. Case 491065 was continued in the FC Re-engagement program through the end of the semester to permit final exams. Additional changes of placement include students 460773, 480852 and 473155 to alternative educational settings (Morton Alternative School PM program), with effective periods specified in the minutes.

Member Kraft’s motion to approve the consent agenda was recorded verbatim in the minutes: "Member Kraft motioned to approve the Consent Agenda." The minutes show the vote as Ayes: Members Godinez, Jaramillo-Flores, Kelly, Kraft, Murga, Pesek, and Villarreal; Nays: none; Abstain: none; Absent: Members Gallegos and Tomschin.

The board’s recorded approvals carry the standard caveat that certain contracts remain pending final legal review and negotiation.