Community Unit School District #201 Board of Education met Dec. 16.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
CALL TO ORDER
On December 16, 2025, at 6:36 p.m., Leah Conover called to order the regular meeting of the Community Unit School District 201 Board of Education.
Roll Call
Members Present: Leah Conover, Carlos Hevia, Kevin Marren, Alexandria Mil
Adina Hoover arrived to the meeting at 7:40 p.m.
Members Absent: none
Also present: Superintendent Jack Baldermann, Ron O’Connor, Assistant Superintendent of Finance and HR, and the Superintendent’s Administrative Assistant, Shannon Cossairt.
Pledge of Allegiance
President Conover led the Assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
November 18, 2025
Motion by Ms. Mil, second by Mr. Marren, to approve the minutes of the November 18, 2025, regular meeting of the Board of Education, as presented.
Ayes: Conover, Hevia, Mil, Marren
Nays: None.
Motion Carried.
November 18, 2025 – Closed
Motion by Mr. Hevia, second by Mr. Marren, to approve the minutes of the closed session of the November 18, 2025, regular meeting of the Board of Education, as presented.
Ayes: Conover, Hevia, Mil, Marren
Nays: None.
Motion Carried.
December 2, 2025
Motion by Mr. Marren, second by Mr. Hevia, to approve the minutes of the December 2, 2025, special meeting of the Board of Education, as presented.
Ayes: Conover, Hevia, Mil, Marren
Nays: None.
Motion Carried.
December 2, 2025
Motion by Ms. Mil, second by Mr. Marren, to approve the minutes of the December 2, 2025, special meeting of the Board of Education, as presented.
Ayes: Conover, Hevia, Mil, Marren
Nays: None.
Motion Carried.
PROCEDURAL/ACTION ITEMS
Motion by Mr. Hevia, second by Ms. Mil, to approve the appointment of Timothy Hoerman to the Board of Education of Community Unit School District 201 to fill the vacancy of Jessica Radogno until the April 2027 Consolidated Election and Heather Franklin to the Board of Education of Community Unit School District 201 to fill the vacancy of Lauren Zekiri until the April 2027 Consolidated Election.
Ayes: Hevia, Marren, Mil, Conover,
Nays: None
Motion Carried.
President Conover swore in Timothy Hoerman and Heather Franklin.
CLOSED SESSION
Motion by Mr. Hevia, second by Ms. Mil, to enter closed session for the purpose of discussing specific employees, student discipline, and potential litigation.
Ayes: Hevia, Marren, Mil, Hoerman, Franklin, Conover Nays: None
Motion carried.
The Board entered closed session at 6:42 p.m.
The Board returned to open session at 7:17 p.m.
PUBLIC HEARING ON TENTATIVE TAX LEVY
The Board President, Leah Conover, calls the Public Hearing to order regarding the Proposed 2025 Tax Levy at 7:17 p.m..
Ron O’Connor, Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Human Resources, gave a presentation to the Board to recap the 2025 Tax Levy presented on November 18, 2025. His presentation included the following:
● 2025 Levy Calendar
● Definitions
● What are the steps in property taxation?
● How do property taxes work?
● Consumer Price Index
● Last Year’s Extension
● This Year’s Levy
President Conover asks if there are additional comments from the members of the Board of Education regarding the proposed 2025 Tax Levy. There are no questions.
President Conver asks if there are any public comments concerning the proposed 2025 Tax Levy. There are no questions.
The president declares the Public Hearing on the proposed 2025 Tax Levy is closed at 7:29 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT
No one presented public comment.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion by Mr. Hevia, second by Mr. Marren, to approve the consent agenda as presented:
1. Personnel Recommendations:
● Garett Witt, Teaching Assistant
● Robert Slowik, Jr. High Volunteer
● John Sleeper, Jr. High Volunteer
● Resignations,
● Retirement
2. Approval of Additional November and December 2025 Expenditure Report
3. Ratification of November 2025 Regular Payroll
4. Student Tours – Westmont High School and Westmont Jr. High
5. Approval of 2025-2026 Concussion Oversight Team 6. Approval of Concussion Protocols
Ayes: Hevia, Marren, Mil, Franklin, Conover
Abstain: Hoerman
Nays: None.
Motion carried.
INFORMATION and DISCUSSION
1. WHS Sign
Westmont High School is seeking to purchase a new electric sign to replace the existing one located in front of the school. Jamie Mahmoud, Lorrie Erzamus, Courteney Templeton, and Larissa Zelisko spoke to the Board about the purchase. The funds for the purchase would come from the Hackbrush Trust. The estimated cost of the project is $45,000. The Board will vote on the item at its meeting on January 13, 2026.
2. Policy First Reading
Prior to the Board meeting, on December 16, 2025, the Policy Committee met to discuss updates to policies from PRESS. PRESS is an annual subscription and is an online resource for sample policies, exhibits, and procedures. All policy updates are included in BoardDocs. The Board will present the policy changes and updates for a second reading and approval at the meeting on January 13, 2026.
3. PRESS Plus
The District looked into the pricing for PRESS Plus, which is an online resource to assist in the publication of policies and updates. The cost of the service includes customizing the Board policies. Customization involves the work of the whole Board and is a long extensive process. The Board will discuss this further during the Board Self-Evaluation at the January 27th meeting.
4. Board Reporting from IASB
Conference
Alex Mil, Adina Hoover, and Kevin Marren attended the IASB Joint Annual Conference the weekend of November 21, 2025. The members shared the information they received at the different sessions they attended.
ACTION ITEMS
1. Resolution to adopt 2025 Tax Levy
Motion by Mr. Marren, second by Mr. Hevia, to adopt the resolution setting the 2025 Tax Levy, as presented.
Approve as presented.
Ayes: Marren, Mil, Franklin, Conover, Hoover, Hevia Abstain: Hoerman
Nays: None
Motion Carried.
2. Approval of Suburban School
Cooperative Insurance Pool (SSCIP)
Insurance Agreement Renewal
Motion by Ms. Mil, second by Mr. Marren, to approve the Suburban School Cooperative Insurance Pool (SSCIP) and Cyber Program in the combined amount of $185,013.00 as presented.
Ayes: Mil, Hoerman, Franklin, Conover, Hoover, Hevia, Marren Nays: None
Motion carried.
3. Approval of Authorization for
Treasurer to Pay Additional December 2025 Expenditures
Motion by Mr. Hevia, second by Mr. Marren, to authorize and direct the Treasurer to pay bills received in December 2025 for the 2026 fiscal year, as presented.
Ayes: Conover, Hoover, Hevia, Marren, Mil
Abstain: Hoerman, Franklin
Nays: None
Motion carried.
SUPERINTENDENT REPORT
Communication
Superintendent Dr. Baldermann announced that the District will be hosting three separate conferences this year.
Dr. Baldermann also discussed a presentation he has included in BoardDocs. The presentation is data on the District and how we rank. The information comes from the Illinois State Board of Education, University of Chicago, Chicago Magazine and the data analysis company ECRA.
FOIA Request
Recent FOIA requests are attached in BoardDocs.
BOARD REPORTS
Adina Hoover would like to compliment a job well done for all the winter concerts the District had last week.
PUBLIC COMMENT
No public comment at this time.
FUTURE MEETINGS AND EVENTS
Winter Break
Dec. 22, 2025 – Jan. 2, 2026
Teacher Institute/No Student Attendance
Jan. 5
CUSD 201 Regular Meeting of the Board of Education Jan. 13, 6:30 p.m.
Village Hall
COMMUNICATIONS
None at this time.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Ms. Mil, second by Dr. Hoover, to adjourn the December 16, 2025, regular meeting of the Board of Education at 8:49 p.m.
Motion unanimously passed.
https://go.boarddocs.com/il/cusd201/Board.nsf/files/DQAVPV81C2C8/$file/12.16.25%20Regular%20Minutes.pdf
