SE Illinois News

Community Unit School District 200 Board of Education met June 11.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The first regular meeting of the month of June of the Board of Education of Community Unit School District 200, DuPage County, Illinois, was called to order at the School Service Center, 130 W Park Ave., Wheaton, IL, by Board President Rob Hanlon, on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at 7:00 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

Ms. Katy Ebbesen

Mr. Erik Hjerpe

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 Katy Ebbesen led the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance.

MODIFICATIONS TO THE AGENDA

Board Member Blatner requested that Consent Agenda item #12 (Approval of the Resolution in Support of Vision 2030) move to an Action Item (#1).

RECOGNITIONS & ACHIEVEMENTS

Dr. Schuler and the Board recognized the following:

● IHSA 300M Intermediate Hurdles State Champion

WWSHS Student - Amari Williams

PUBLIC COMMENTS – Agenda Items & Non-Agenda Items

In accordance with Board Policy 2.230, members of the public wishing to offer public comment had the opportunity to do so. A public comment sign-up sheet was made available until 7:00 p.m. at the meeting site. The Board Meeting was available for viewing via live stream on the District’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/communityunitschooldistrict200.

Per Board Policy, the Board may shorten the time allocation for each person to less than three minutes to allow the maximum number of people the opportunity to speak. The Board did not shorten the time allocation for each person to speak due to the number of speakers.

Speaker Topic

Lisa Maher Gratitude

SUPERINTENDENT REPORT

Dr. Schuler provided the following updates:

● This year’s Student Ambassadors introduced the 2025-26 Student Ambassadors from WNHS and WWSHS.

● It was a fun spring athletic season at the high schools, with WN and WWS meeting several times in the playoffs for girls softball and soccer, and boys volleyball.

● Construction is underway on the middle school projects as well as summer capital projects. Fifteen of the district's buildings are undergoing some work. It is amazing to see the coordination taking place regarding facilities work.

● In partnership with the Wheaton Police Department, weekly neighborhood roll calls have returned. Emphasized the importance of safety in all our schools and the collaboration with our schools and local police departments.

● Reminder to the community and the Board: three new Parent Advisory Committees are forming, and applications are being accepted until July 3rd.

● Reminder to the community that we will continue monthly Mobile Food Pantries throughout the summer months. Volunteer availability is more limited during summer, and additional help is always appreciated. The food pantries and backpack programs have continued after the pandemic to support those in need.

● The Board was provided with a summary of the 2024-25 gifts and donations they accepted this year. The total for 2024-25 is just under half a million dollars. PTAs, Boosters, and other community organizations were thanked for their support. Emphasized the volunteer hours and community support that back the donations.

CONSENT AGENDA

1. Acceptance of Gifts from Wheaton North High School WINGS Booster Club – Recommend acceptance of gift from Wheaton North WINGS as presented.

2. Approval of Schoolwide Title I Program for Pleasant Hill, Emerson, Bower, Hawthorne, Sandburg, and Washington Elementary Schools – Recommend approval of these elementary schools for Title I schoolwide programming as presented.

3. Approval of Consolidated District Plan - Recommend approval of the consolidated district plan for FY26 as presented.

4. Approval of Resolution Authorizing the Execution of a Shared Parking Agreement between CUSD 200 and St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church – Recommend approval of the parking lot use agreement between CUSD 200 and St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church as presented.

5. Approval of Liability Insurance Renewal with CLIC – Recommend approval of the liability insurance renewal with CLIC as presented.

6. Approval of Workers’ Compensation Renewal with SELF – Recommend approval of the workers’ compensation renewal with SELF as presented.

7. Approval of Printshop Paper Bid – Recommend approval of printshop paper bid as presented. 8. Approval of Xerographic Bond Paper Bid – Recommend approval of xerographic bond paper bid as presented.

9. Approval to Refresh District Copy Machines and Print Equipment – Recommend approval to refresh district copy machines and print equipment as presented.

10. Approval of Revision of Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) Bylaws – Recommend approval of revision of CAC bylaws as presented.

11. Approval of the 2025-26 Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) Roster – Recommend approval of the 2025-26 CAC roster as presented.

12. Approval of the Resolution in Support of Vision 2030 – Recommend approval of the resolution in support of Vision 2030 as presented. (Moved to Action Item #1)

13. Approval of Bills Payable and Payroll – Recommend approval of bills payable and payroll as presented.

14. Approval of Minutes - May 8, 2025 Special Meeting/Board Reorganization, Open and Closed, May 14, 2025, Regular Meeting, Open, May 21, 2025 Special Meeting, Open, and Approval to Destroy Recordings of Closed Sessions Prior to January 2024 As Allowable by Law - Recommend approval of the minutes as presented and approve the destruction of recordings of closed sessions prior to January 2024 as allowable by law.

15. Approval of Personnel Report to Include Employment, Resignation, Retirement, and Leave of Absence of Administrative, Certified, Classified, and Non-Union Staff – Recommend approval of the personnel report as presented.

There were comments and/or questions on the following:

● #4 - Thank you to St. John’s Church, which entered into the formal parking agreement with the District for Franklin staff and guests. This was important to the City of Wheaton as part of one of the variances for the middle school project.

MOTION

Member Kulovits moved, Member Rutledge seconded to approve the Consent Agenda as modified (moving item #12 to an action item). Upon a roll call vote being taken, the vote was: AYE 7, NAY 0. The motion carried 7-0.

FACILITIES APPROVAL CONSENT AGENDA

1. Approval of Resolution and Final Contract for Guaranteed Energy Savings with Performance Services, Inc. for Summer 2025 Middle School Capital Project Work (Project Issuance 1) – Recommend approval of resolution with Performance Services for summer 2025 capital project work (project issuance 1) as presented.

2. Approval of ROE Building Permits for 2025-26 Middle School Capital Projects – Recommend approval of the ROE building permits as presented.

There was additional information provided on the following:

● #1 - Performance Services is not handling any of the middle school capital work, but we wanted to ensure that the mechanical systems installed in the middle schools are compatible with the mechanical systems in all our buildings. These systems provide Dr. O’Keeffe and his team with the ability to monitor what is happening in each of our buildings. We did not want two separate systems operating in parallel. This will significantly benefit District 200 in the long term.

MOTION

Member Ebbesen moved, Member Long seconded to approve the Facilities Approval Consent Agenda as presented. Upon a roll call vote being taken, the vote was: AYE 7, NAY 0. The motion carried 7-0.

POLICY POSTING CONSENT AGENDA

1. Approval to Post Revised Policy 4:15 Identity Protection for Public Review and Comment – Recommend approval to post revised policy 4:15 for public review and comment as presented.

2. Approval to Post Revised Policy 4:80 Accounting and Audits for Public Review and Comment – Recommend approval to post revised policy 4:80 for public review and comment as presented.

3. Approval to Post Revised Policy 5:10 Equal Employment Opportunity and Minority Recruitment for Public Review and Comment – Recommend approval to post revised policy 5:10 for public review and comment as presented.

4. Approval to Post Revised Policy 5:20 Workplace Harassment Prohibited for Public Review and Comment – Recommend approval to post revised policy 5:20 for public review and comment as presented.

5. Approval to Post Revised Policy 6:150 Home and Hospital Instruction for Public Review and Comment – Recommend approval to post revised policy 6:150 for public review and comment as presented.

6. Approval to Post Revised Policy 7:180 Prevention of and Response to Bullying, Intimidation, and Harassment for Public Review and Comment – Recommend approval to post revised policy 7:180 for public review and comment as presented.

7. Approval to Post Revised Policy 7:185 Teen Dating Violence Prohibited for Public Review and Comment – Recommend approval to post revised policy 7:185 for public review and comment as presented.

8. Approval to Post Revised Policy 7:190 Student Behavior for Public Review and Comment – Recommend approval to post revised policy 7:190 for public review and comment as presented.

9. Approval to Post Revised Policy 7:210 Expulsion Procedures for Public Review and Comment – Recommend approval to post revised policy 7:210 for public review and comment as presented.

10. Approval to Post Revised Policy 7:270 Administering Medicines to Students for Public Review and Comment – Recommend approval to post revised policy 7:270 for public review and comment as presented.

11. Approval to Post Revised Policy 7:310 Restrictions on Publications; Elementary Schools for Public Review and Comment – Recommend approval to post revised policy 7:310 for public review and comment as presented.

12. Approval to Post Revised Policy 7:315 Restrictions on Publications; High Schools for Public Review and Comment – Recommend approval to post revised policy 7:315 for public review and comment as presented.

There was additional information provided on the following:

● All policies were reviewed with the Board HR/Policy Committee and are part of the most recent issue of PRESS. The remaining policies from the PRESS issue will be included in an upcoming Board agenda.

MOTION

Member Hjerpe moved, Member Kulovits seconded to approve the Policy Posting Consent Agenda as presented. Upon a roll call vote being taken, the vote was: AYE 7, NAY 0. The motion carried 7-0.

POLICY APPROVAL CONSENT AGENDA

1. Approval of Cell Phone Policy Revision

Per interest expressed by the Board of Education, the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) has spent time this year reviewing cell phone/cell device policies. The goal of the policy exploration was to develop a plan that would create a learning environment with fewer distractions for students and staff, while still providing the flexibility and responsibility of cell phone possession where appropriate. At the April Board of Education Meeting, the study and engagement process was reviewed, along with the feedback from CAC. Based on that feedback, the administrative team has continued to work on a revised set of expectations. This process balances the interests expressed by our stakeholder groups.

CUSD 200 has engaged in a process to revise the cell phone/smart device policy at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Feedback was provided by students, staff, parents, and community members regarding this topic. It was recommended to the Board for Approval to vote on this revised handbook language.

There was additional information provided on the following:

● Dr. Schuler summarized this item, including how the process started and progressed to the current action item.

● The administrative team worked on writing the document that was posted for review.

● The goals of the adjustments made included consolidating all of our cellular phone and device expectations into a single document that were previously scattered across different locations, and incorporating it into the District 200 student handbooks.

● The document at the elementary and middle school levels largely codifies current practices regarding phones. It also includes new language related to wearable devices, watches, and other wearables. Our buildings have shown interest in gaining clarity on this.

● At the high school level, the most significant change is in defining instructional time and making it clear that phones are off and out of sight during instructional time. This could be in a caddy or in a backpack. One specific method for storage was not specified.

● Feedback was received and provided to the Board, and it was noted that there are a variety of perspectives and a range of opinions surrounding this topic.

● This policy can remain a work in progress in future years as we observe and learn what works and what doesn't work.

● It was acknowledged that the state did not pass the law they were considering related to cell phones and related devices. Some advocacy groups believe that the bill is not done and will revisit it during the veto session, and the lack of time in the legislative session may have been an issue.

There were comments and/or questions on the following:

● Appreciate the good intentions of the policy.

● Hesitation about the process related to the smartwatch/device component, and the absence of survey questions and feedback on these devices.

● The importance of continuing to work on this policy.

● Concerned about specific aspects of the policy related to defining instructional time, especially regarding study halls and access periods. Also share concerns about smart watches, device storage, and connecting with students during safety situations.

● Concern about wearables at the high school level not being classified as limited access.

● The need to clarify instructional time more clearly.

It was recommended that the Board vote on the revised CUSD 200 Smart Device Policy/Procedure.

MOTION

Member Rutledge moved, Member Ebbesen seconded to approve the Policy Approval Consent Agenda as presented. Upon a roll call vote being taken, the vote was: AYE 5 (Rutledge, Ebbesen, Blatner, Long, Hanlon), NAY 2 (Hjerpe, Kulovits). The motion carried 5-2.

ACTION ITEMS

#1 - Approval of the Resolution in Support of Vision 2030 (Moved from Consent Agenda) The Joint Annual Conference held in Chicago in November 2024 was a fantastic professional development opportunity for the District 200 administrators and School Board Members who attended. One of the topics presented at that conference was an updated Vision 2030 plan. Vision 2030 was developed through an engagement effort that included input from more than 1,000 stakeholders, including locally elected school board members, statewide, from the southern tip to northern Illinois. It also reflects input from discussions with local educators who work tirelessly inside and outside of school buildings to improve outcomes for children from all backgrounds across Illinois. Development of the Vision 2030 blueprint was led by the Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA), Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB), Illinois Principals Association (IPA), Illinois Association of School Business Officials (Illinois ASBO), and Illinois Association of Regional School Superintendents (IARSS).

School districts across Illinois are being asked to express support for the goals and priorities of Vision 2030 by passing a resolution at a public meeting. A copy of this resolution was included in our Board packet, along with a document highlighting the priorities established through Vision 2030.

There was additional information/comments on the following:

● Dr. Schuler provided some background on the development of Vision 2030. Think of this as a strategic plan for a few of the umbrella professional organizations that the District is involved in. This strategic document helps guide some of the policy and advocacy work they do.

● A reminder to the Board that when you vote to support a strategic plan, you are voting to provide guidance in the work that is done. This does not mean you won't still vote on any item related to that, nor does it mean you are committed to supporting everything these associations propose.

● The importance of supporting the direction of the associations we belong to, even if we don't agree with everything that ultimately results from it.

● There will still be a process to vote during the legislative session at the Joint Annual Conference in November through our Delegate Representative, Erik Hjerpe.

● The realization that anything crafted for a state as large and diverse as Illinois won't fit perfectly into any one district is important. There are rural and urban districts, high-achieving and lower-achieving districts, among others. The aspirational themes included are relevant to our district; there’s a lot of value in them, and nothing is binding for us. We can overlook some aspects that are less applicable to our district.

● Not agreeing with some of the specified goals, including a complete reform of the assessment system and specific funding examples.

● Our District has already been doing some things mentioned in the blueprint, and this is a compliment to our administration.

It was recommended that the Board of Education approve the resolution in support of Vision 2030 as presented.

MOTION

Member Kulovits moved, Member Hjerpe seconded that the Board approve the resolution in support of Vision 2030 as presented. Upon a roll call vote being taken, the vote was AYE 5 (Kulovits, Hjerpe, Ebbesen, Long, Rutledge), NAY 2 (Blatner, Hanlon). The motion carried 5-2.

ORAL REPORTS

2025-26 Communications/Community Engagement Work Plan

At the July Board of Education Meeting, administrators will present proposed Vision 2026 Work Plans for the 2025-2026 school year for Board review and consideration. As we have done each of the last three summers, Board Members will have an opportunity to review the plans, ask any questions they have about the strategic priorities established for the upcoming school year, and provide additional feedback throughout the month of July. As proposed plans are developed for the upcoming year, priorities identified through the Superintendent Evaluation Process are certainly being incorporated into the strategic work plans.

While most of the work plans are being presented in July, the proposed plans for the Communications/Community Engagement Department were presented at the June Meeting before Mrs. Barry’s maternity leave. This provided the Board with an opportunity to engage directly with her around her proposed work plans in front of the July Meeting. Alyssa Barry highlighted some of the bigger items to be focused on for this upcoming school year.

There was additional information on the following:

● Consistent construction updates will be provided not only for the middle school projects but also for the capital project work we are doing throughout the district.

● Middle school updates will begin this week. A recent Wheaton North graduate will be interning and helping us capture the updates.

● This year, a lot of work was done on digital communications, including the district newsletter and the building-level newsletters. The district recognizes that print newsletters are needed to keep community members without kids in our schools informed. The plan is to send out print newsletters twice a year.

● The new parent advisory committees are currently being formed and will help us continue the work in our district. As of this morning, there were between 40 and 45 applications for the committees, indicating strong interest in these committees.

● ROOMS rollout is a two-way communication platform that complies with SOPPA. It provides a tool for our community to find information within one app. The goal is to have a unified platform for the entire district. We are working on the best way to roll this out districtwide. Our focus is on providing training for both staff and parents. Although we initially planned to launch this in the upcoming school year, a decision was made to delay it for a year. The delay allows us to roll it out properly with sufficient training to ensure system-wide implementation and to optimize communication. Staff will continue to use systems that are SOPPA-compliant.

● Had 1:1 meetings with building principals to review the newsletter survey results. The community appreciates the newsletters and all the communication we provide. It was noted that there is so much information coming in, sometimes it is hard to determine what is essential and where to follow. The goal is to bridge some of that gap once the ROOMS app is rolled out to everyone.

● Communications audit - examined external communications and now plan to review internal communications at both the building and district levels. This will start after Alyssa Barry’s maternity leave.

● Branding - developing official guidelines on logo usage and protecting the District and our brand. Noted how some building logos have changed over the years, which prompted this action. We started at the middle schools due to their construction and renovation work to ensure consistency.

There were comments and/or questions on the following:

● ROOMS was piloted last year with athletics and activities at both high schools. Feedback from staff, students, and parents identified the need for improvements in training and the app itself. The provider of ROOMS has already made updates that address many of these concerns.

● Adoption and compliance related to a communications platform and ensuring safety; distinguishing between policy and operational procedures or guidelines. Some elements are connected to the social media digital communication guidelines. Recognized especially at the high school level, there is a lot of individual communication necessary for activities to occur, which was the reason for finding a safe platform that also complies with SOPPA. There is an opportunity to simplify the communications platform by identifying a single solution that works for parents who may have more than one child involved in multiple activities.

● There is a policy regarding the branding element and using a District brand or District name, which is hard to enforce without a consistent, singular brand.

● The dashboard indicators are primarily focused on digital connectivity and outreach. Are there any ideas for indicators that could support the new work plan items? In the communications area, it's difficult to quantify these metrics, but this is an ongoing effort.

BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS

Board Human Resources (HR)/Policy Committee

The Board HR/Policy Committee met on June 2, 2025. The meeting notes were attached to the agenda item. There was additional information on the following:

● Member Kulovits noted there were three primary topics covered in the meeting: ○ The cell phone policy and an update on the state legislation.

○ Reviewed several policies included in PRESS 118 and approved the items for posting on tonight’s agenda. Other policies are currently under review by staff and will appear on a future agenda.

○ The changes to the CAC bylaws that were approved tonight.

● It was noted that there had been a prior discussion with the CAC chairs regarding term limits and whether those should be adjusted due to the interest in CAC. Due to the establishment of the new Parent Advisory Committees, it was decided to postpone the discussion. However, the language concerning term limits was modified from a limit of five consecutive years to five total years.

REPORTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS

Board members noted visits to/participation in the following:

● The May Graduation and recognition ceremonies were great.

● Student Ambassador program - noted how this program has grown since it began.

● New Parent Advisory Committees - significant parent interest in these committees; connectivity points between these committees and the Board? The focus is on launching all committees. These are Superintendent committees vs. Board committees.

● Highlighted the Adopt a School program for Board members as a way for them to be engaged and connected.

WRITTEN REPORTS

Monthly Financial Reports

FOIA Report

Board Communication Log

TOPICS FOR FUTURE DISCUSSION

Middle School Capital Projects Update

FY26 Tentative Budget

Vision 2026 Work Plans for 2025-2026

NEXT REGULAR MEETING

July 9, 2025, 7:00 PM, School Service Center

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Wednesday, June 25, 2025 - Board of Education Special Meeting, 6:00 PM, School Service Center

● The upcoming Special Meeting will approve the middle school construction bids and is likely to be shorter than the May Special Meeting.

● The tech crew will not set up to stream this June 25th meeting.

● Will send a survey to the Board to determine if there will be a quorum for this meeting.

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION

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

The meeting adjourned at 8:05 PM.

https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/3696/CUSD200/5861882/Minutes_6.11.25.docx.pdf