Glenbard District 87 Board of Education meeting highlights (2-9-2026)

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, Hetal Lee, Martha Mueller and Pete Nolan. Absent: Jim Shannon.

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT:

BELONGING & CONNECTEDNESS

1. This Black History Month, Glenbard District 87 honors the stories that shaped our past, the voices leading us today, and the future being built by our students and staff. Throughout the month, we will be highlighting Black history and excellence across the district through daily Black History announcements, staff spotlights, Soul Food Fridays, celebrations of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, movie nights, and our African American Read-In, which promotes literacy while uplifting the voices of African American authors. We proudly celebrate the leadership of our Black Student Unions and Black Student Associations, whose work uplifts culture, strengthens community, and ensures Black history is not only remembered but lived, learned, and carried forward in Glenbard.
      
2. In recognition of National Women & Girls in Sports Day, Glenbard District 87 proudly celebrated the achievements, dedication, and leadership of our female student-athletes across all four high schools. As part of this celebration, Glenbard East hosted a special event highlighting opportunities for girls in sports, featuring guest speakers from the Chicago Winds women’s tackle football team, who shared their experiences and encouraged students to pursue athletics with confidence and purpose. This day served as an important reminder of the impact sports have in building teamwork, resilience, and leadership skills, and we are proud to support and celebrate the many young women across the district who compete, lead, and inspire both on and off the field.
      
3. Glenbard District 87 is proud to announce Live Life Well Week 2026, taking place February 16-24, with this year’s theme, “Your Story Is Just Beginning”. The week is designed to promote optimism, empowerment, and well-being, reminding students that they have the strength and support to shape their own meaningful futures. The week will kick off on Make a Difference Monday (February 16) with a district-wide service opportunity at the Glen Ellyn Park District’s Ackerman Sports & Fitness Center, where students are invited to volunteer by making blankets for children with cancer. Throughout the week, the Students for Students Club, SADD Club, Physical Education Departments, and other student organizations will lead a variety of activities in each building focused on healthy self-care, service, and positive decision-making – reinforcing Glenbard’s commitment to supporting the whole child and encouraging a Live Life Well mindset across the district.
      
4. Glenbard will be hosting its fifth-annual Multicultural Performance Night from 7-9 p.m. on Friday, February 13 at Glenbard East’s Biester Auditorium.
   This special event began as a student-led collaboration among multiple clubs across all four high schools in District 87. Its mission is to celebrate cultural diversity and bring students, families, and the community together through music, dance, and meaningful shared experiences.
   This year’s theme is “Love Without Borders” — a celebration of unity, empathy, and connection that goes beyond language, culture, and background. Through powerful performances, students from all four Glenbard high schools will showcase how love, respect, and understanding can bring us together as one community.
      
5. Congratulations to the following student who qualified for the IHSA boys bowling state final tournament:

• Glenbard East student Geovonni Clayton. Head coach is Steve Bair.
     

6. Congratulations to the following students who qualified for the IHSA competitive dance state final competition:

• Glenbard South students Delaney Ewald, Veronica Lenart, Claire Long, Olivia McFarlin, Kate Miller, Isla Moran, Olivia Ocasio and Caroline Reese. Head coach is Haley Kruis.
• Glenbard West students Jane Adduci, Ava Beil, Isla Braun, Maddie Chiang, Juliet Cline, Emme Derma, Ce Ce Dunne, Carmen Guerrero, Lillian Knapp, Heather Landgraf, Lauren Lynch, Marin McCollam, Elie Nicholas, Eleanor Prester, Lily Rinaldo, Madelyn Schaffnit, Amelia Smoter, Audrey Todd and Hudson Weiss. Head coach is Kaitlin Valdick.
     

7. Congratulations to the following students who qualified for the IHSA competitive cheerleading state final competition:

• Glenbard East students Angel Hill, Daija Trice, Claire Olsen, Makayla Hagenbart, Mariah Smith, Courtney Coletto, Keira Carr, Madison Leicht, Wyatt Wilson, Michael Acuna, Nicholas Logalbo, Carsyn Corral, Liyah Adams, Margo Nunamaker, Allison Yuknis, Yolanda Gonzalez Estrada, Leighann Schreiber and Makayla Beasley. Head coach is Kelly Dolan.
• Glenbard North students Adrienne Staffa, Adriana De Assis, Alexa Fogle, Andrea Hernandez, Andrea Lopez, Ella Klemenswicz, Francesca Ciaccia, Gabi Gutmann, Giana Dettloff, Giana Galto, Hailey Dove, Kaily Esquivel, Kailyn Lee, Kayla Otte, Kayla Sethna, Lia Kadisak, Marissa Santiemmo, Meadow Robles and Victoria Brock. Head coach is Stephanie Braheny.
     

8. Congratulations to Glenbard North and West students who received Scholastic Art Awards within the Suburban Chicago region.

• Gold Key awards – Agostino Bordignon (North, photography); Aubrey Santos (North, sculpture); Ashley Stevens (West, mixed media).
• Silver Key awards – Bred Cane (West, drawing); Brooke Esquivel (West, two awards in mixed media); Sara Munoz (North, photography); Alyssa Perez (North, photography); Axl Hyde (North, experimental photography).
• Honorable Mention – Agostino Bordignon (North, photography); Quinn Doyle (West, drawing); Brooke Esquivel (West, art portfolio); Malvina Fijalkowski (North, film & animation); Lyla Trejo (North, ceramics & glass).
• Gold Key award winners will have their work judged at the national level and are eligible for scholarship awards. The Scholastic Art Awards is the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious recognition program for creative teens.
     

9. Congratulations to the following students and coaches on the Transition Gold Special Olympics basketball team who won the regional tournament and will be advancing to the state tournament at Illinois State University on March 13-15.

• Players: Sal Bucaro, Mia Foster-Simbulan, Isaiah Hayes, Jamian Holder, Ivan Khiev, Luke Perry, Payton Perry, Misha Rivera, Cameron Santos, Kelly Webb
• Coaches: Justin Payne, Dustin Guevara, Thomas Hoder
     

10. Glenbard East will host a Community Construction Forum on Thursday, February 12, at 6:00 p.m. in the school library, providing families and community members an opportunity to learn more about upcoming construction plans and campus improvements. School leaders will share updates on the project timeline, anticipated impacts, and next steps, while also answering questions from attendees. The forum is part of Glenbard District 87’s ongoing commitment to transparency, community engagement, and keeping stakeholders informed as construction projects move forward.
       
11. Glenbard West hosted a Community Traffic and Parking Forum on January 22, bringing together school and district leadership, construction partners, and local officials to share updates about the next phase of construction approaches. The forum included an overview of the project timeline, campus logistics, traffic management changes, and proposed plans to address parking needs during construction, with a strong focus on safety and community collaboration.
    Families and community members are encouraged to visit the district’s Construction Updates page to learn more about construction projects taking place across Glenbard District 87 and to sign up for ongoing updates as work progresses.
       

LEARNING & SUCCESS

12. 2026 summer school registration is now open for all four Glenbard schools. These summer opportunities include get-ahead credit courses that enable students to complete graduation requirements, as well as bridge and enrichment courses (non-credit). Links to summer school registration forms can be found on the Glenbard district website.

PASSION & PURPOSE

13. Students and families are finalizing their course requests for the 2026-27 school year. Counselors have been meeting with students to select courses that align with their post-secondary plans and challenge them to be in the most appropriate rigorous course. This coming year will be the first year of our Glenbard College Core, allowing students to begin earning up to 15 hours of highly transferable general education college credit at no cost from the College of DuPage within the school day.
       
14. Glenbard District 87 is inviting educators, community members and leaders to share their voice in a two-evening Career Exploration Community Stakeholder Forum on March 3rd and 11th. The purpose of the evening will be to reflect on how we can improve the high school experience into a purposeful “launchpad” for students with intentional learning about career options. Recognizing that rigorous academics are only part of the equation, we aim to integrate intentional career programming into our system for every student in Glenbard.
    By connecting classroom learning with real-world professional insights, this work will help students to “dream up” their futures and navigate their post-secondary paths with greater clarity, ultimately saving them time and money. Participants in the community forum will analyze the need for these programs and brainstorm ways to bridge the gap between local workforce needs and student preparation. 

DISTRICT BUSINESS

15. The district received the following donations: Ms. Gower, $100.00 to the Math team at South. Mr. Pope, $100.00 to the Math team at South.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

16. We encourage community members to attend the GPS Parent Series events noted below. Details and webinar links are available at GPSparentseries.org.

• February 10 at noon and 7 p.m. – You Are Not Alone: Navigating Your Child’s Mental Health with Wisdom from Experts and Real Families
• February 11 at noon and 7 p.m. – virtual and in-person – Dream Big: My Entrepreneurial Journey to Break New Ground
• February 12 at 7 p.m. – B-PAC in Spanish – Active Parenting: Foster Leadership and Life Skills
• February 19 at noon and 7 p.m. – Bright Kids Who Can’t Keep Up: Strategies to Improve Academic Performance and Processing
     

THE BOARD APPROVED:

– the January 26, 2026 regular meeting minutes and closed session minutes.

– invoices for payment.
February 9, 2026
Education Fund                                     $   168,108.44
Operations & Maintenance Fund  $    547,921.27
Debt Service                                           $                  0.00
Transportation                                        $   592,919.34
Capital Projects                                     $   194,049.19
IL Munic. Retire/Soc Sec.                 $                  0.00
Interim – Checks                                   $1,855,473.61
Interim – Wire Transfers                    $6,132,755.23
TOTAL                                                       $9,491,227.08

– January 5 and January 20 payrolls.
January 5, 2026                                     Gross Payroll            Net Payroll
Education Fund                                     $4,796,880.60          $2,861,562.67
Operations & Maintenance Fund  $       43,211.20           $      25,823.01
Transportation Fund                            $         1,633.38           $             869.23

January 20, 2026                                  Gross Payroll            Net Payroll
Education Fund                                     $5,096,373.47          $2,920,685.69
Operations & Maintenance Fund  $        47,413.68          $       23,172.43
Transportation Fund                            $         1,633.38          $              740.52

Total Payrolls                                           $9,987,145.71          $5,832,853.55

– the following personnel items:
SUPPORT STAFF – EMPLOYMENT:
Name                             School/Position                                                    FTE                Effective Date
Reese, Nicole           West/Bldg. Switchboard Receptionist      100%            02/04/2026

LICENSED STAFF – CHANGE OF POSITION:
Name                              School/Position                                                   FTE                Effective Date
Kichka, Robert          North/Department Chair, PE/Hlth/DE       100%            08/10/2026 

SUPPORT STAFF – LEAVE OF ABSENCE:
Name                              School/Position                                                          Term                                          Reason
Edwards, Keisha      East/Special Education Assist.      10/01/2025-02/06/2026 (rev.)        Personal 

– accepting the following donations: Carol Stream Youth Travel Basketball, $1,000.00 to girls basketball at North. Carol Stream Youth Travel Basketball, $1,000.00 to boys basketball at North.

– one excursion.

– Glenbard West, Bid Release #6 – recommendation to award for Gilbane (Wold Design) and Performance Services Incorporated (PSI). Glenbard North, Bid Release #4N-A – recommendation to award for Gilbane (Wold Design) and PSI. Design and bidding have been completed for the Glenbard West addition and interior renovations. Gilbane and PSI bids were received on January 14 and January 19, 2026.

Gilbane recommends the following based on the bid results and scope reviews: 20 contractors for the West work in the amount of $24,759,219, plus an additional $2,150,000 budget for site services and $3,494,815 for insurance, bonding, staffing and fees for a total of $30,404,034. The theatrical seating, landscaping, site concrete/paving and theatrical lighting bid packages are being re-bid. Alternates 01, 03a, 03b, 06, 07a and 07b have been rejected. Alternates 02, 04 and 05 are recommended for acceptance.

PSI recommends the following based on the bid results and scope reviews: nine contractors for the West mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) work in the amount of $18,235,269. Alternates 6.2C and 6.3A have been rejected. Alternate 6.4A is recommended for acceptance.

PSI also has bid the replacement and relocation of the generator for Glenbard North. PSI recommends approval in the amount of $864,382 for this work.

– Glenbard East Bid Release #3 change order. During the excavation and the installation of the helical anchors at the cafeteria addition, an existing 18-inch thick by 10 foot by 20 foot concrete pad was discovered. This pad had to be removed so that the helical anchors could be installed. The cost to remove this pad resulted in an additional cost of $56,011.

At the administration addition, an existing section of an old foundation wall was discovered. The removal of this resulted in an additional cost of $4,031.

Another added cost came about due to the poor conditions of the existing soil at the cafeteria addition. This necessitated that the helical anchors had to be installed at a much deeper depth than was originally designed. The added depth resulted in an additional cost of $65,464.

The total cost of these three issues amounts to $125,506. There is a $50,000 allowance that we plan to use to help offset this additional cost. This results in an increase of $75,506 to the cost of the project.

– resolution to approve preparation of the 2026-2027 budget. Each year, the Board is required to authorize the Superintendent and/or Assistant Superintendent for Finance & Operations/CSBO to prepare the budget as required by School Code 105/ILCS 5/17-1. The resolution confirms the Board’s approval for preparation of the 2026-2027 budget.

In addition, the administration provided a budget timeline that provides for a structured, transparent approach toward budget adoption.
   

BOARD INFORMATION/DISCUSSION ITEMS INCLUDED:

– 2026-2027 student fee schedule. Each year, District 87 Administration proposes a student fee schedule for Board review, input and approval. We recommend no increase to the registration fees for the 2026-2027 school year.

Registration and course fees are $225* (inclusive of prompt pay discount) and includes:

• Registration
• All course fees
• Handbook fee
• Student activity pass to all Glenbard events [excludes musicals, plays, and state series events (IHSA tournaments)]

* If not paid by due date, family will pay the standard registration rate of $250.

Technology Rental Device: The rental device includes iPad, case, charger, insurance, loaner program and technical support for an annual rental fee of $174. If account is current, returning students can take the device home over summer for use. Note: If a family has made four rental payments and their account balance is zero at graduation, title of device will transfer to student for zero buyout, in essence a “rent-to-own” program.

Digital Curriculum/App Fee: The annual digital curriculum/app fee is $85 and includes all digital licenses for textbooks, novels, learning management system software and district required applications. If digital curriculum is not available for a particular class and the student requires a textbook, that textbook will be rented to that student at no charge. The student will be responsible for caring for the textbook and returning it at the end of the course term in good condition. 

We will continue to provide course fee budget to departments for consumable instructional supplies, per base line budget previously established.

Optional Fees:

• Athletic fee remains at $175 per student/year and allows the student to participate in unlimited sports.
• Summer school “get ahead” courses remain at $350 per class.
• Behind-the-Wheel (driver’s education) remains at $350 per student.
• Parking on campus is $200 per year; off-campus is $100 per year (if assigned space).
• AP exam fees are referenced on the fee schedule. Students will receive their first exam at no charge.
• All incoming freshmen will be charged a fee for gym uniform set and will be issued a physical education uniform and lock during Back-to-School Week or initial days of school.

Fee Waivers: Administration feels strongly that we do not want income to be a barrier to participation.

We recommend continuing the procedures to assist families who have financial constraints. Fee waivers would continue to include families with household incomes through 185 percent of the federal poverty level (based on household specific data), which is above and beyond the standard 130 percent level.

– policies and procedures for first reading and discussion. 7:10 Equal Educational Opportunities; 7:70 Attendance and Truancy; 7:130 Student Rights and Responsibilities; 7:140 Search and Seizure; 7:250 Student Support Services; 7:250-AP1 Protocol for Responding to Students with Social, Emotional, or Mental Health Needs; 7:290 Suicide and Depression Awareness and Prevention; and 7:290-AP1 Resource Guide for Implementation of Suicide and Depression Awareness and Prevention Program.

– Freedom of Information Act requests. By School Code, a Board of Education is to be informed at its regular meeting of any requests made under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the status of the District’s response. Here are the recent FOIA requests to which the District has responded:

DATE RECEIVED: 12/29/2025
REQUESTOR & COMPANY: Bo Kim (UnionBids.com)
REQUESTS SUMMARY: I am looking for Bid Results/Tabulations and which Bidder was Awarded the project for:

• 12/17/2025 Glenbard Township High School District No. 87 – New Music Building Addition and Renovations Project at the Glenbard North High School – Bid Release 4 (DuPage County)
• 12/17/2025 Glenbard Township High School District No. 87 – 2026 Summer Addition and Renovations Project at the Glenbard South High School – Bid Release 4 (DuPage County)

DATE RECEIVED: 1/2/2026
REQUESTOR & COMPANY: Amber Reynolds (The Data Branch)
REQUESTS SUMMARY: The Data Branch is hereby submitting a public records request to your K-12 public school district for purchasing and expenditure data. Specifically, we request a spreadsheet or equivalent file containing all purchase orders issued between September 1st 2024, or January 1st 2025 if more convenient, and the present.

Scope of Request

• We are seeking records that reflect purchasing or procurement activity conducted by any school, department, office, division, or administrative unit within your district.

If a single consolidated purchasing report is not maintained, we are fully willing to accept:

• School-level or department-level purchasing data
• Segmented or partial purchasing reports
• Any regularly generated reports from your financial or ERP system
• Records grouped by individual schools, departments, or cost centers
• Requested Details (if readily accessible)

Please include any of the following fields that your system tracks:

• Purchase order number (or equivalent)
• Purchase date
• Vendor name or vendor ID
• Issuing school, department, or district office
• Line-item description
• Quantity
• Unit price
• Total price