Glenbard Township High School District 87 Board of Education meeting (September 22, 2025) 

Board Highlights feature a brief description of the action items and discussion items on the meeting agenda. Board Highlights do not replace minutes. The minutes are approved by the board and posted after the next regularly scheduled board meeting. Present: Jay Bastian, Margaret DeLaRosa, Kermit Eby, Hetal Lee, Martha Mueller and Pete Nolan. Absent: Jim Shannon.

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT:

1. The district received the following donation:Bruce Harrison, $100.00 to the football program at West.
2. Congratulations to the nine Glenbard students who have been named semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship competition: Sarah Crocker from East; Joshua Idiyaly and John Luu from North; and Jane Adduci, Eden Chan, Angela Jaeger, Sadie Jewell, Keaton Peter, and Lillian Svach from West. Semifinalists must advance to finalist standing in the competition by meeting high academic standards, receiving a recommendation from their principal and earning SAT scores that confirm the earlier qualifying test performance.
3. Congratulations to our Board of Education on being one of 42 boards of education to earn the Illinois Association of School Boards 2025 School Board Governance Recognition designation. This recognition acknowledges school boards that have engaged in activities and modeled behaviors that lead to excellence in local school governance in support of quality public education. Our board members participate in a variety of board development programs and events and develop the skills, knowledge and abilities that are key to good governance. Board members will be recognized at the 2026 Spring Division Meetings.
4. I wanted to take some time to share with the Board our newly released video highlighting the renovated Learning Resource Center at Glenbard East High School. The renovated space features a curtain wall to allow natural light, breakout rooms for collaboration, flexible small-group areas, and comfortable seating that creates a welcoming environment for students. I encourage Board members to visit East and see this impressive space in-person. (VIDEO)
5. On Wednesday, September 17, postcards were delivered to more than 64,000 households within the Glenbard District 87 boundaries. These postcards are part of our ongoing effort to keep families informed about the progress of construction projects across the district. In addition to providing updates, the postcards also invite families to sign up to receive regular construction news, ensuring that our community stays engaged and up to date as work on our Facility Master Plan continues. We have had several hundred visitors to our newly designed Facility Master Plan website since September 12th and close to 100 people sign up to receive ongoing project updates.
6. The Transition Program students ran a fall sale on September 18 and 19. Families and staff supported the students by making purchases, talking with them about their individual adult life goals, and chatting over a cup of coffee. The event was a great success, providing students with valuable opportunities to showcase their skills while engaging with the community.
7. September 15 through October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the many contributions, diverse cultures, and rich histories of the Hispanic and Latinx community. Across our four high schools and the Directions program, students and staff will be marking the month with special events and activities that highlight culture, music, food, and traditions. We invite families and the community to check out our school social media pages throughout the month as we share celebrations and stories that showcase the pride and accomplishments of our students.
8. We are looking forward to seeing families at the annual Glendale Heights Family Health and Safety Fair. We are among the event sponsors. The fair will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, October 1, at the Sports Hub, 250 Civic Center Plaza, in Glendale Heights.
9. We have reported administrator and teacher salary and benefits from the previous school year to the Illinois State Board of Education. We file this report each year.
10. We encourage community members to attend the GPS Parent Series events noted below. Details and webinar links are available at GPSparentseries.org.

• September 25 at 12 p.m. and 7 p.m. – Engaged, Competent and Sober: Raising Addiction-Resistant Kids in a Culture of Dependence
• September 30 at 12 p.m. and 7 p.m. – Explosive Child: Understanding Frustrated and Inflexible Children
• October 2 at 7 p.m. – Early Childhood Program in Spanish: Smart and Healthy Discipline for Young Children
• October 7 at 12 p.m. and 7 p.m. – The Craving Mind: Break the Cycle of Worry and Bad Habits
• October 9 at 12 p.m. and 7 p.m. – Why Before Where: Career Planning for the Next Generation

11. On August 13, 2025, the district received a Freedom of Information Act commercial request from Corebridge Financial, Terry Pasquale, requesting:

• A list with the following information for all employees in Glenbard District 87: name, title/job code and email address.

     The District has responded to this request.

12. On August 13, 2025, the district received a Freedom of Information Act commercial request from Starbridge FOI, Justin Wenig, requesting:

• A report reflecting all Glenbard District 87 transactions from January 1, 2022 to the present date.

    The District has responded to this request.

13. On September 2, 2025, the district received a Freedom of Information Act request from DuPage Policy Journal, Owen Wang, requesting:

• Names and honors of all students in Glenbard high schools recognized by the College Board as AP Scholars.

    The District has responded to this request.

14. On September 2, 2025, the district received a Freedom of Information Act request from Public Info Access LLC, CT Mills, requesting:

• District purchases and contracts for core curriculum, instructional technology, and common assessment software, specifically for the 2024-2025 school year up to the present date.

    The District has responded to this request.

15. On September 8, 2025, the district received a Freedom of Information Act request from DuPage Policy Journal, Owen Wang, requesting:

• Copies of the contracts for all school principals in the district, as well as copies of all active teacher contracts/collective bargaining agreements.

    The District has responded to this request.

16. On September 8, 2025, the district received a Freedom of Information Act request from DuPage Policy Journal, Owen Wang, requesting:

• Names and destination high school of all graduates from your middle schools.

      The District has responded to this request.

17. On September 8, 2025, the district received a Freedom of Information Act request from John Stonebridge, requesting:

• How much money has been moved in the district from the education fund to the operations and maintenance fund to be ultimately moved to the capital improvement fund in the last five years including this year, as well as a by-year breakdown.

    The District has responded to this request.

18. On September 11, 2025, the district received a Freedom of Information Act request from Jill Moldenhauer, requesting:

• The cost spent per pupil for students in the Glenbard Transition program.

    The District has responded to this request.

THE BOARD APPROVED:

– the September 8, 2025 regular meeting minutes and closed session minutes.

– invoices for payment.
September 22, 2025
Education Fund                                         $570,296.35
Operations & Maintenance Fund      $594,069.74
Debt Service                                               $350.00
Transportation                                            $122,060.88
Capital Projects                                         $860,180.51
Interim – Checks                                       $0.00
Interim – Wire Transfers                        $0.00
TOTAL                                                              $2,146,957.48

– the following personnel items:
LICENSED STAFF – EMPLOYMENT:
Name                              School/Position                                                        FTE        Effective Date
Bielski, Leah              East / EL Science Teacher (overload)            10%             09/02/2025
Pietras, Jonathan    East / Tech & Engrg. Teacher (overload)      10%             08/14/2025

SUPPORT STAFF – EMPLOYMENT:
Name                                 School/Position                                                  FTE         Effective Date
Chalcak, Christian      East / Special Education Assistant          87.5%           09/08/2025
Nowak, Vicki                  West / Admin Asst. to the Librarian          50%              09/15/2025
Sampson, Diane          North / Building Sub Coordinator             100%            09/22/2025

SUPPORT STAFF – RESIGNATION/TERMINATION:
Name                                School/Position                                                            Effective Date
Brusca, Linda              South / Special Education Assistant                        09/17/2025
Parduhn, Michelle     DO / District Accounting                                                 09/15/2025

– five excursions. 

– permanent fund transfer-Capital Projects Fund. We project that our days cash on hand will be 197.5 days at the end of fiscal year 2025. The Board has indicated that dollars in excess of our 180-day days cash on hand target should be considered for capital project investment. Given the need for additional capital improvements for the upcoming budget year, we propose a permanent fund transfer of $3,000,000 from the Education Fund (Fund 10) to the Capital Projects Fund (Fund 60). This transfer (and the debt service transfer) will bring our days cash on hand down to approximately 191 days, still in excess of the Illinois State Board of Education’s (ISBE) target of 180 days cash on hand.

 – permanent fund transfer-Debt Service Fund. The Illinois Program Accounting Manual requires that all debt expenditures, principal and interest, be paid out of the Debt Service Fund (Fund 31).

DuPage County levies tax dollars for Glenbard’s previously approved referendum debt. Glenbard cannot levy dollars for non-referendum debt, such as our alternate revenue source bonds, etc. Therefore, we need to make a permanent fund transfer from the Operations and Maintenance Fund (Fund 20) to the Debt Service Fund (Fund 31) to ensure there are sufficient dollars on hand and the Debt Service Fund does not go into a negative position.

A permanent fund transfer of $654,365.00 is required at this time to support operating debt payments.

– Resolution by the Board of Education to Approve the 2025-2026 Budget of Township High School District Number 87, DuPage County, Illinois.
Review of 2024-25 Fiscal Year Pre-Audit Actuals
Our preliminary, unaudited actuals indicate that Glenbard met its three primary financial objectives for fiscal year 2024-2025:

1. Balanced budget in our operating funds – we will achieve a net operating surplus of $6.6 million, after permanent fund transfers are made to the Debt Service Fund.
2. Tax anticipation warrants (TAWs) were not issued; Sufficient dollars were on hand to meet our cash flow requirements.
3. Solvency position was achieved for the 16th year in a row; we estimate that our days cash on hand at the end of the year is 197.5 days, which is higher than the Illinois State Board of Education’s (ISBE) target of 180 days cash on hand.

2025-26 Tentative Budget Proposal
We have published our 2025-2026 budget calendar and are on track to review and approve the District 87 budget consistent with our plan and timeline. We are presenting a budget that indicates a net operating surplus in our operating funds for the upcoming school year. The budget funds all staff and program needs for the upcoming year.

Operating Budget: 

• Operating revenue = $194,896,132
• Operating expenditure = $191,960,281
• Gross operating surplus = $2,935,851
  Permanent Operations & Maintenance Fund transfer to Debt Service Fund = $2,718,730

• Net Operating Surplus = $217,121 (Gross operating surplus less transfer to debt service) 

– policies & procedures for second reading & adoption. 5:240 Suspensions; 5:310 Compensatory Time Off; 5:270-AP1 Confidential Employees; and 4:180-AP3 Grant Flexibility; Payment of Employee Salaries During a Pandemic (delete).

BOARD INFORMATION/DISCUSSION ITEMS INCLUDED:

– academic Board goals report for Glenbard West. Principal Ben Peterselli and the West administrative team presented the Glenbard West Board goals, including the following data:

• Overall passing rate
• Cs or better grade
• Rigorous course sequence
• SAT 1010+ / ACT 19+
• Early college experience
• Early college credit
• Post-secondary plan
• Athletics and activities
• Staff diversity

– food service program update and halal food service amendment. OrganicLife has begun its third year as Glenbard’s food service provider. Each year, we have seen incremental growth in participation across both breakfast and lunch service throughout the district.

We continually strive to improve the variety of the offerings provided at our schools. One area of focus for this year is to expand the options that are reflective of the diverse cultures from our families. We have received feedback over the past few years from students and parents expressing interest in providing halal menu items. There have been various bills and legislative discussions on this topic, but no requirement has been implemented by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). The main concern is the increased cost to produce halal-certified meals. We have run modest surplus balances in the food service program over the past several years. Surplus funds are typically used to make improvements to the food service areas and to purchase new equipment as needed.

We believe, regardless of any requirement, that it is time for Glenbard to implement halal-friendly food service offerings starting this year. Our intention is to begin implementation at Glenbard West in October and then follow at our other high school sites in January. We are in the process of working on branding, signage, and communication materials for our buildings and our families.

The Board will be required to approve an amendment to our existing ISBE food service contract to allow for an increased meal charge for the halal meals served. We can continue to claim reimbursement from ISBE as part of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) process.

– Glenbard group insurance program renewal.
Blue Cross PPO and HMO
The renewal proposal for Glenbard was received from BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS) and reviewed by administration and the Glenbard Insurance Advisory Committee (IAC) on August 13, 2025 and September 10, 2025.

Following the review of plan change options by Insurance Advisory Committee, Administration and Alera Group/GCG Financial representatives, the decision was made to accept the 5.3 percent increase to premiums without adopting plan changes for January 1, 2026.

The resulting four-tier monthly premiums, effective January 1, 2026, are as follows:

• The Blue Advantage HMO premiums: $707.53 for employee only; $1,682.40 for employee/spouse; $1,562.22 for employee/child(ren); $1,915.23 for family.
• The HMO Illinois premiums: $761.22 for employee only; $1,996.59 for employee/spouse; $1,883.55 for employee/child(ren); $2,059.18 for family.
• The PPO premiums: $1,498.02 for employee only; $2,632.26 for employee/spouse; $2,486.76 for employee/child(ren); $3,373.00 for family.

The Board of Education pays 87 percent of the single premium and 57 percent of the dependent premiums.   

Delta Dental Renewal
Delta Dental provided the District with a two-year renewal. The administrative fee will increase 5 percent from $4.22 per employee per month (PEPM) to $4.43 PEPM and will be guaranteed through December 31, 2027.

To meet the resulting anticipated expenses, a 1.8 percent increase is recommended and has been accepted. The monthly premiums self-funded dental plan will be: $56 for single and $138 for family.   

The Board of Education pays 100 percent of the single premium or 40 percent of the family premium.

Navia Benefit Solutions
Navia Benefit Solutions continue to provide the administration of Section 125 Flexible Spending Accounts and COBRA with no change in administrative fees. 

Group Life & Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D), Long Term Disability (LTD) and Voluntary Life Insurance
During this renewal period, Alera Group submitted an RFP for the following coverage lines:

• Basic Life and AD&D
• Voluntary Term Life
• Long Term Disability
• Voluntary Critical Illness Plan
• Voluntary Accident Plan

Lincoln Financial is the incumbent carrier and submitted their renewal with no rate increase for the next two years. Three carriers responded to the RFP – VOYA, Principal and National Insurance Services. Principal’s proposal came in lower than all other proposals and offers approximately $20,000 in savings for district paid benefits and $20,000 in savings for the voluntary Accident and Critical Illness plans. Principal also provided a rate guarantee for three years.

Principal has reviewed the Lincoln plan documents and will match all provisions including waiver of premium, reduction schedules and retiree benefits.

Voluntary Life rates through Principal will remain the same but will have the following plan enhancements:

• Guaranteed Issue of $250,000 (previous under Lincoln was $200,000)
• Maximum coverage of $500,000 (previous under Lincoln was $300,000)
• Improved reduction schedule for coverage after age 65
• True open enrollment offered for all staff during the upcoming open enrollment

Accident and Critical Illness policies will offer same or enhanced benefits with lower premium.

Alera Group/GCG Financial made the recommendation for Glenbard to accept the Principal proposal and move the coverages listed above from Lincoln Financial to Principal effective January 1, 2026.   This recommendation has been accepted by Administration and the Insurance Advisory Committee. 

Vision
The District provides vision coverage with Delta Vision on a voluntary basis. There will be no plan design changes for this fully insured plan for the 2026 plan year. Delta Vision’s rates are increasing 2 percent but will be guaranteed for two years until December 31, 2027. This is the first increase for vision since the Delta Vision plan was first introduced in 2012. 

Employee Navigator/bswift – Benefit Technology Resources
The benefit administrative system has been a valuable addition to the Human Resources (HR) Department for transmitting electronic data to carriers. Over the years, the complexity of the district’s benefit plan and contribution structure has outgrown the capabilities of the current Employee Navigator system.  Alera Group/GCG Financial has a partner company who is a reseller of bswift enrollment systems and was able to negotiate bswift pricing equal to the current Employee Navigator pricing. The HR staff has begun the process of transitioning to bswift and the open enrollment for the 2026 plan year will be in the bswift system. The administrative fees for the online enrollment system are included in the Medical Projections.

Employee Assistance Program
The District provides the Employee Assistance Program through Perspectives Inc., which was acquired by AllOne Health in 2023. AllOne Health/Perspectives continues to provide the most comprehensive and cost-effective program for the District. The renewal for these services came in with a CPI increase of 2.5 percent to $1.85. The fees are included in the Medical Projections. 

Plan Consulting Services
GCG Financial, LLC, an Alera Group Company, has served as the Plan Consultant for all benefit programs. The current agreement expires December 31, 2026. Consulting fee expenses are included in the Medical Projections.

– master plan capital projects update. In April 2024, the District received approval for a $183 million referendum. This will contribute to a minimum of $312 million of capital project improvements over the next decade. Since June 2024, Gilbane and Wold Architects have led bi-weekly building meetings to get feedback from building and district administration on use and location of spaces that will be incorporated in future capital project bid specifications. Schematic design and design development has been completed and we are now in the bid document and bidding phase for all four schools.

Quarterly, we will be presenting updates on our design progress at the Finance and Facilities Committee meeting. All Board members are encouraged to attend. This version summarized the discussion at our committee meeting. Our progress and the timeline for our design work for the remainder of the calendar year was discussed. 

– school calendar 2026-2027 and 2027-2028. The 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 Glenbard District 87 school calendars were reviewed by district administrators, the Glenbard Education Association (GEA) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). The 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 school calendars were presented to the Board for discussion.