SE Illinois News

Community Unit School District 200 Board of Education met May 8.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

A special meeting of the Board of Education of Community Unit School District 200, DuPage County, Illinois, was called to order at the School Service Center, 130 Park Ave., Wheaton, IL, by Board President Rob Hanlon, on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at 6:30 PM.

ROLL CALL

Upon the roll being called, the following were present:

Board Members: Mr. Rob Hanlon

Ms. Julie Kulovits

Mr. Dave Long

Ms. Angela Blatner

Mr. Erik Hjerpe

Mr. Brad Paulsen

Mr. John Rutledge

Also in Attendance: Dr. Jeff Schuler, Superintendent

Ms. Alyssa Barry

Mr. Matt Biscan

Ms. Melissa Murphy

Dr. Brian O’Keeffe

Dr. Chris Silagi

Mr. Jason Spencer

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Board Member Brad Paulsen led the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance.

CLOSED SESSION

Collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives, or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees 5 ILCS 120/2 (c) (2).

MOTION

Member Paulsen moved, Member Hjerpe seconded to adjourn the meeting to closed session pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2 (c) (2). Upon a roll call vote being taken, the vote was AYE 7, NAY 0. The motion carried 7-0. Action will take place following the closed session.

The meeting adjourned to Closed Session at 6:31 PM.

RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION

Roll call was taken, all seven Board Members were present, and the open session was reconvened at 7:00 PM.

MODIFICATIONS TO THE AGENDA

None

PUBLIC HEARING

Approval to Open the Public Hearing on the FY25 Amended Budget

The Board of Education must hold a Public Hearing on the FY25 Amended Budget.

MOTION

Member Hjerpe moved, Member Long seconded to open the Public Hearing on the FY25 Amended Budget. Upon a roll call being taken, the vote was: AYE 7, NAY 0. The motion carried 7-0.

PUBLIC COMMENTS ON HEARING

None

Approval to Close the Public Hearing on the FY25 Amended Budget

The Board of Education must approve closing the Public Hearing at the conclusion of comments.

MOTION

Member Long moved, Member Hjerpe seconded to close the Public Hearing on the FY25 Amended Budget. Upon a roll call being taken, the vote was: AYE 7, NAY 0. The motion carried 7-0.

ACTION ITEMS

#1 Approval of the Resolution Adopting the Amended FY25 Budget

The Illinois School Code, ch. 105, ILCS 5/17-1, requires the Board of Education to adopt an annual budget within the first quarter of each fiscal year (by September 30). The Board of Education approved the FY25 budget on September 11, 2024.

An Amended Budget must follow the same process as the Original Budget. A 30-day public inspection period and a public hearing must precede the budget adoption. The FY25 Tentative Amended Budget has been available for public inspection since March 12, 2025, and a public hearing was held on May 8, 2025.

The FY25 Amended Budget document to be filed with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and the Regional Office of Education was attached to the agenda item. The ISBE Budget Form includes activity accounts as now required. Changes from the Tentative Amended Budget were reviewed with the Board at the meeting. The operating budget is balanced as required.

Dr. Brian O’Keeffe, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services, provided a FY25 Final Amended Budget Review. This included information on the following:

● Fiscal Year 2025 Amended Budget Calendar

○ January through May 2025

● Series 2025 General Obligation School Bonds: March 2025 Bond Bid Summary

○ Winning bid rate - 3.55% submitted by J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, and is 51 basis points (.51%) lower than the projected rate in pre-Referendum analysis (4.06%)

○ $74,305,000 General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2025

● Series 2025 General Obligation School Bonds: March 2025 Bond Sale Details

○ Net Proceeds: $76,000,000; Final Maturity: January 15, 2041; Call Provision: January 15, 2034; Tax Status: Tax Exempt; Underlying Rate: AA+ by S&P; Municipal Advisor: PMA Securities, LLC; Bond Counsel: Chapman and Cutler, LLP; Underwriter: J.P. Morgan Securities, LLC

● FY25 Amended Budget: CUSD 200 Budget Funds

○ Fund 10 (Education), Fund 20 (Operations & Maintenance), Fund 30 (Debt Service), Fund 40 (Transportation), Fund 50 (IMRF/Social Security), Fund 60 (Capital Projects), Fund 70 (Working Cash)

● FY25 Final Amended Budget Changes

○ Education (Fund 10): Decrease in Tax Revenue, NSLP Reimbursement, and CPPRT; Increase in Interest Earnings, Pupil Activities, Drivers Ed, Private Facility & Orphanage Reimbursement; Decreased Expenditures for Salaries & Benefits

○ Operations and Maintenance (Fund 20): Decrease in Tax and Rental Revenue; Increase in Interest Earnings and Impact Fees; Increase in Architect/Construction Expenses

○ Debt Service (Fund 30): Increase in Tax Revenue, No Change for Expenditures

○ Transportation (Fund 40): Decrease in Tax Revenue and Interest Earnings; Increase in Fuel and State Transportation Reimbursement; Increased Costs for Pupil Transportation (Regular and Special Education)

○ IMRF (Fund 50): Decrease in Tax Revenue; Increase in Interest Earnings; Increase in Benefits

○ Capital Projects (Fund 60): Decrease in Tax Revenue; Increase in Interest Earnings; Increase in Architect/Construction Expenses

○ Working Cash (Fund 70): Increase in Interest Earnings

● FY25 Final Amended Budget - Overview

○ Revenues, Expenditures, and the Difference for Funds 10 through 70

○ Deficit Budget Summary Information for Operating Funds Only (Funds 10, 20, 40, 70)

○ Deficit is due to BOE pre-approved Safety & Security Upgrades

● FY25 Budget Comparison - Original vs. Amended

○ Revenues, Expenditures, and the Difference for Funds 10 through 70 for the Approved FY25 Budget vs the FY25 Amended Budget

○ Deficit Budget Summary Information for Operating Funds Only (Funds 10, 20, 40, 70) for the Approved FY25 Budget vs FY25 Amended Budget

● FY25 Final Amended Budget - Operating Funds

○ Operating Budget Summary (All Funds Except Debt Service, IMRF, and Capital Projects) - Includes Total Revenues and Expenditures, the Operating Balance, the Transfer to Capital Funds Amount, and the Operating Deficit*

○ *Deficit is due to BOE pre-approved Safety & Security Upgrades

There was additional information/comments on the following:

● The reason for the amended budget is the successful referendum last November and the issuance of the first debt related to the referendum in March.

● This debt is not included in the 2024 tax levy reflected in recent property tax bills; it will be incorporated into future tax levies.

● The Board's decision last year to invest TIF surplus dollars from the City of Wheaton in FY24 for safety and security upgrades, including cameras, door swipes, and other safety improvements at the buildings.

● With the bond proceeds, the Board has been able to reimburse itself for any out-of-pocket expenditures that occurred in advance of the referendum.

● The District has had a balanced operating budget for the past fifteen years.

● The total amount the District spent, for which we received reimbursement, was just under $1.3 million prior to the referendum; in aggregate, when the bond proceeds were received, the total was just under $3 million.

It was recommended that the Board of Education approve the resolution as presented.

MOTION

Member Long moved, Member Hjerpe seconded that the Board approve the resolution to adopt the amended FY25 budget as presented. Upon a roll call vote being taken, the vote was AYE 7, NAY 0. The motion carried 7-0.

#2 Approval of the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Classified Employees Association for 2025-2028

The collective bargaining agreement between District 200 and the Classified Employees Association (CEA) will expire on June 30, 2025. Representatives from the District and the CEA held ten bargaining sessions. The District and the CEA commenced bargaining a successor agreement on September 18, 2024. The CUSD Administration Team reviewed the agreement with the Board of Education in Closed Session. The agreement calls for a three-year contract (2025-26, 2026-27, 2027-28).

Assistant Superintendents Biscan and O’Keeffe highlighted the agreement, which includes changes to medical insurance, salary and compensation adjustments, language revisions, and committee recommendations.

There was additional information/comments on the following:

● Our most valued asset in the school district is our employee groups.

● The changes to the medical insurance were a significant component of the contract.

● The biggest change is that all full-time employees within the CEA bargaining unit who are currently using or wish to use HMO insurance will transition to a standard 80/20 share (80% Board/District and 20% employee). This change will affect all employees, regardless of years of service or positional classification. For those employees who were using PPO or HDHP as of March 1, 2025, the split will be 60/40.

● All returning employees in 2025-26 will receive an increase over their 24-25 base hourly wage.

● All changes fall in the five-year budget projections.

● Highlighted the Behavior Technician position and differential updates.

● Thank you to Penny Coyle, a tremendous advocate for her employee group.

● Board Member Long will be abstaining from the vote since his wife is a member of the CEA in the District.

It was recommended that the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Classified Employees Association for 2025-2028 be approved as presented.

MOTION

Member Paulsen moved, Member Kulovits seconded that the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Classified Employees Association for 2025-28 be approved as presented. Upon a roll call vote being taken, the vote was AYE 6 (Paulsen, Kulovits, Blatner, Hjerpe, Rutledge, Hanlon), NAY 0, ABSTAIN 1 (Long). The motion carried 6-0-1.

APPROVAL OF OUTSTANDING MINUTES

The Illinois Association of School Boards states that the outgoing board members may approve the minutes of board meetings that have not yet come up for approval before the new board members are seated. This action is merely an approval of the record of business already conducted.

Approval of Outstanding Minutes - April 9, 2025 Regular Meeting, Open and Closed, April 12, 2025 Coffee with the Board, Open, and April 23, 2025, Committee of the Whole, Open and Closed.

There was no further information or comments regarding the agenda item.

It was recommended that the Board of Education approve the minutes of April 9, 2025, Regular Meeting, Open and Closed, April 12, 2025, Coffee with the Board, Open, and April 23, 2025, Committee of the Whole, Open and Closed as presented.

MOTION

Member Long moved, Member Rutledge seconded that the Board approve the outstanding minutes as presented. Upon a roll call vote being taken, the vote was AYE 7, NAY 0. The motion carried 7-0.

RECOGNITIONS & ACHIEVEMENTS

Dr. Schuler and the Board recognized the following:

Board of Education Member Brad Paulsen

Board Member Paulsen was thanked for his twelve years of volunteer service and dedication to the Board, District 200, and the community. Mr. Paulsen reflected on his service as a member of the Board of Education, and the other Board members offered their comments about him and his time on the Board.

ADJOURN SINE die

MOTION

Member Paulsen moved, Member Rutledge seconded to adjourn the meeting Sine die to conduct the reorganization of the Board. Upon a roll call vote being taken, the vote was AYE 7, NAY 0. The motion carried 7-0.

The meeting was adjourned Sine die at 7:28 PM.

President Hanlon invited new Board Member Katy Ebbesen to join the Board table.

ROLL CALL

Upon the roll being called at 7:29 PM, the following were present:

Board Members: Mr. Rob Hanlon

Ms. Julie Kulovits

Mr. Dave Long

Ms. Angela Blatner

Ms. Katy Ebbesen

Mr. Erik Hjerpe

Mr. John Rutledge

ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF CERTIFIED ELECTION RESULTS Attached to the Board packet was a copy of the certified election results for the April 1, 2025, election received from the DuPage County Election Commission.

It was recommended that the Board accept the April 1, 2025, Certified Election Results as presented.

MOTION

Member Hjerpe moved, Member Blatner seconded to accept the April 1, 2025, Certified Election Results as presented. Upon a roll call vote being taken, the vote was AYE 7, NAY 0. The motion carried 7-0.

OATH OF OFFICE

Mr. Hjerpe led the newly elected and current Board Members as they recited the Oath of Office.

APPOINTMENT OF A TEMPORARY PRESIDENT

Member Long moved, Member Kulovits seconded to appoint Dr. Jeff Schuler as the temporary President to oversee the election of a new President. Upon a roll call vote being taken, the vote was AYE 7, NAY 0. The motion carried 7-0.

NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF PRESIDENT

Dr. Schuler presided over the election for President of the Board and requested nominations from the Board table for President.

Member Rutledge nominated Rob Hanlon for President of the Board. There were no other nominations; therefore, a second was not required.

Upon a roll call being taken for Rob Hanlon to be President, the vote was: Yea 7, Nay 0.

Rob Hanlon was named President of the Board of Education and assumed the duties of running the meeting.

NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF VICE PRESIDENT

Member Hjerpe nominated Julie Kulovits for Vice President of the Board. There were no other nominations; therefore, a second was not required.

Upon a roll call being taken for Julie Kulovits to be Vice President, the vote was: Yea 7, Nay 0. Julie Kulovits was named Vice President of the Board of Education.

NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF SECRETARY

Member Kulovits nominated Dave Long for Secretary of the Board. There were no other nominations; therefore, a second was not required.

Upon a roll call being taken for Dave Long to be Secretary, the vote was: Yea 7, Nay 0.

Dave Long was named Secretary of the Board of Education.

ACTION ITEMS

Adoption of the Board of Education Meeting Calendar for 2025-2026

The Open Meetings Act requires that prior to the beginning of each school year, the school board must set a schedule of the time and place of its regular meetings. The proposed 2025-2026 Board of Education Meeting Calendar was attached to the Board agenda item. All regular meetings and Committee of the Whole meetings begin at 7:00 PM.

There was additional information/comments on the following:

● This meeting calendar begins with the July 2025 meeting.

● This is a reminder to the Board regarding two special meetings scheduled for May 21st and June 25th, specifically regarding Phase 2 of the middle school capital projects and the approval of construction bids.

● This calendar follows the same pattern we have always followed, with regular meetings taking place on the second Wednesday of every month.

● The calendar also includes five Committee of the Whole meetings (on the fourth Wednesday of certain months) and four Coffee with the Board sessions on Saturday mornings.

● A reminder that regular Board Meetings begin at 7:00 PM and rotate among the school buildings during the months that school is in session.

It was recommended that the Board of Education adopt the 2025-2026 meeting calendar as presented.

MOTION

Member Rutledge moved, Member Kulovits seconded that the Board adopt the 2025-26 meeting calendar as presented. Upon a roll call vote being taken, the vote was AYE 7, NAY 0. The motion carried 7-0.

PUBLIC COMMENT

None

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION

There being no further business to come before the Board in Open Session, Member Long moved, Member Blatner seconded to adjourn the meeting. Upon a voice call being taken, all were in favor. The motion carried 7-0.

The meeting adjourned at 7:38 PM.

https://cusd200public.ic-board.com/Attachments/ad041173-186f-45f0-8665-3682ad70aa26.pdf