Glenbard District 87 Board of Education meeting highlights (3-23-2026)

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: Tod Altenburg, Jay Bastian, Margaret DeLaRosa, Hetal Lee, Martha Mueller, Pete Nolan and Jim Shannon.

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT:

1. Glenbard District 87 held the 52nd-annual Honors Band Festival on March 10th in Glenbard North’s Livingston Auditorium. This concert featured nearly 140 outstanding band students from all four Glenbard high schools that combined together to present the Honors Concert Band and Honors Symphonic Band performances. The Honors Concert Band was conducted by Dr. Rachel Maxwell from Elmhurst University and Honors Symphonic Band was conducted by Dr. James Ripley from Carthage College. Events like the Honors Band Festival highlight the strength of our collaborative spirit and the high standard of talent in our schools. Thank you to the teachers for their mentorship and to the students for sharing their artistry with the Glenbard community.
      
2. The annual Voices of Glenbard concert took place on March 3rd at Glenbard East. Nearly 300 singers from all four high schools assembled as three groups – D87 Mixed Choir, D87 Advanced Mixed Choir, and D87 Advanced Treble Choir. The groups were conducted by Mr. Colin Bannon (former Glenbard North choir student and currently a high school choir director), Mrs. Laura Johnson (current Glenbard North choir director), and Ms. Kate Lee (choir director at Maine East High School). Students rehearsed throughout the school day with these guest artists, and performed a wonderful concert in Biester Auditorium that evening. The student talent on display was truly inspiring.
      
3. Congratulations to the Glenbard Transition Gold basketball team on winning the state championship at the Special Olympics Basketball Tournament, hosted by Illinois State University. In the championship game, Glenbard battled back from a 22-point deficit to secure a 70-63 victory over the Gage Park Jazz team. Congratulations to our athletes and coaches for their teamwork, determination, and unstoppable energy!
      
4. Glenbard District 87 recently hosted two Career Exploration Community Forums, bringing together students, families, educators, and community partners to help shape a shared vision for preparing students for life after high school. Participants explored workforce trends, reviewed student outcome data, and highlighted programs like Glenbard College Core and Career Pathway Endorsements. This work will continue through a district steering committee (2026-2028) focused on analyzing feedback, defining program structure, building staff capacity, and planning implementation. The goal is to ensure every Glenbard student graduates with both a diploma and a vision for their future.
      
5. On Friday, March 13, Glenbard East hosted a career fair, providing students the opportunity to explore a wide range of future pathways. More than 50 professions were represented, including agriculture, cosmetology, pharmacy, barbering, medicine, plumbing, public safety, finance, retail, speech-language therapy, and veterinary services. The event offered valuable real-world exposure, helping students connect their interests to potential career opportunities.
      
6. The district received the following donations: Mr. and Mrs. Mays, $100.00 to boys track and field at West. Mr. and Mrs. Herbst, $100.00 to boys track and field at West.
      
7. Our spring break begins on March 30. The schools and administrative center will be open during spring break with staff available to assist students and families. Classes will resume on April 7.
      
8. Congratulations to our Glen Ellyn Chamber of Commerce Community Award winners from Glenbard District 87. Our distinguished student award winners of service (Youths of the Year) were Cayce Westbrooks (Glenbard West) and Riven Wisniewski (Glenbard South). Also a big congratulations to the Glenbard Educator of the Year, Melissa Pero (Glenbard South). Superintendent Santee stopped by to congratulate the winners before the band festival, and Principal Sean Byrne and Principal Ben Peterselli spoke on behalf of our award winners. It is always a very special evening.
      
9. We encourage community members to attend the GPS Parent Series events noted below. Details and webinar links are available at GPSparentseries.org.
   • March 24 at noon and 7 p.m. – College Admission Essentials from ”The College Essay Guy”
   • April 8 at noon and 7 p.m. – Parent Yourself First: Become The Parent You Want to Be
   • April 9 at noon and 7 p.m. – early childhood event – Coping Skills to Address Anger and Challenging Feelings

THE BOARD APPROVED:

– the March 9, 2026 regular meeting minutes and closed session minutes.

– invoices for payment.
March 23, 2026
Education Fund                                      $1,655,992.50
Operations & Maintenance Fund   $    574,326.78
Debt Service                                            $                   0.00
Transportation                                        $     407,819.35
Capital Projects                                      $ 2,249,027.91
IL Munic. Retire/Soc Sec.                  $                   0.00
Interim – Checks                                    $                   0.00
Interim – Wire Transfers                     $                   0.00
TOTAL                                                        $ 4,887,166.50

– the following personnel items:

LICENSED STAFF – EMPLOYMENT:
Name                               School/Position                                                    FTE                Effective Date
Sylvester, Anthony   North/Assistant Principal for Athletics      100%            07/01/2026

SUPPORT STAFF – EMPLOYMENT:
Name                                   School/Position                                                 FTE                Effective Date
Hussain, Lubna             West/Special Education Assistant           87.5%           03/06/2026
Panacchia III, James  DO/District Engineer – Plumber                100%            03/20/2026
Neff, Maria Clara           DO/Executive Admin. Assistant to the
                                              Superintendent & Board Secretary          100%            06/11/2026

LICENSED STAFF – LEAVE OF ABSENCE:
Name                             School/Position                                                          Term                           Effective Date
Doyle, Erin                 South/English                                         03/19/2026-05/22/2026      Personal
Masse, Kristen         North/School Counselor & Eng.    08/10/2026-05/24/2027       Personal

SUPPORT STAFF – RESIGNATIONS & TERMINATIONS:
Name                                   School/Position                                                                            Effective Date
Cirilo, Angel                    East/Building Manager                                                            03/06/2026
Jaskowiak, Kathleen   West/Special Education Assistant                                    05/22/2026
Weaver, Lorena              West/EL Bilingual Interpreter                                               05/22/2026

– accepting the following donation: Anonymous, $886.88 for girls basketball sectionals tickets at South. 

– two excursions.

– new board member oath of office. Board President Lee administered the oath of office to new Board Member Tod Altenburg.

– board election of Parliamentarian. The board elected Board Member Pete Nolan to the office of Board Parliamentarian.

– Resolution of the Board of Education Directing the School Treasurer to Transfer Funds from the Operations & Maintenance Fund to the Debt Service Fund. The Illinois Program Accounting Manual (IPAM) 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 & 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 $2,064,365.00 is required at this time to support operating debt payments.

– policies & procedures for second reading & adoption. 7:180 Prevention of and Response to Bullying, Intimidation, and Harassment; 7:255 Students Who are Parents, Expectant Parents, or Victims of Domestic or Sexual Violence (NEW); 7:255-AP1 Students Who are Parents, Expectant Parents, or Victims of Domestic or Sexual Violence (NEW); 7:340 Student Records; 7:340-AP1 School Student Records; and 7:340-AP2 Storage and Destruction of School Student Records.

– campus security services contract extension. Prudential Defense Solutions, Inc. proposed an extension for continued security services for the 2026-2027 school year. Prudential partners with the Glenbard schools and staff to provide monitor/security services at North, East, West and South campuses. The rate of services increase includes a market competitive adjustment to the base pay for three key positions, as well as the addition of a new role.

– electricity program. Glenbard District 87 is a member of the Illinois Gas Cooperative (IGC). As part of this membership, we partner with NextEra/Entel, which serves as a consultant for natural gas and electricity procurement and related energy needs.

The district’s current electricity supplier is Constellation. The existing program structure is a hybrid model combining an index adder with a fixed energy rate. The index adder is $0.00289 per kWh for the term of December 2024 through June 2027. The fixed energy-only rate is $0.04243 per kWh for the term of December 2024 through June 2026.

The district currently holds a fixed energy strike price of $0.04275 per kWh through June 2026. Market rates for the subsequent term are presently trading between $0.04885 and $0.04958 per kWh. As the market progresses, it is necessary to adjust the existing strike price from $0.04275 per kWh to $0.04895 per kWh to better align with current market conditions. We anticipate an opportunity to purchase early this spring, prior to the typical increase as we approach the summer months.

The current electricity index adder agreement expires in June 2027. Administration requested authorization for the Assistant Superintendent for Finance & Operations to execute the following:

• A new electricity index-adder agreement for a term of up to 36 months beginning in June 2027.
• Fixed rate agreement(s) at a strike price of $0.04895 per kWh or lower, applicable to any term within the existing or future index-adder structure.

– updated board member committee assignments 2025-27. Glenbard has four Board committees: Communication, Legislation & Partnerships Committee; Finance & Facility Committee; Policy Committee; and Student Performance & Achievement Committee. Each committee is comprised of three Board members, two community members and an administrative liaison. In addition, a member of the Board of Education serves as a representative of the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB), Partnership for Educational Progress (PEP), and Legislative Education Network of DuPage (LEND), Glendale Heights Governmental Agency Partnership (GAP) and Glenbard Insurance Committee Representatives. All Board committee assignments are two-year terms. Due to a recent vacancy on the Board of Education and subsequent new Board member appointment, the committee assignments have changed. The following Board committee assignments have been determined:

Communication, Legislation & Partnerships Committee:

• Tod Altenburg, Board Member Chair
• Jay Bastian, Board Member
• Margaret DeLaRosa, Board Member

Finance & Facility Committee:

• Jay Bastian, Board Member Chair
• Tod Altenburg, Board Member
• Pete Nolan, Board Member

Policy Committee:

• James Shannon, Board Member Chair
• Martha Mueller, Board Member
• Pete Nolan, Board Member

Student Performance & Achievement Committee:

• Martha Mueller, Board Member Chair
• Margaret DeLaRosa, Board Member
• Pete Nolan, Board Member

IASB Representative:

• Pete Nolan

PEP Representative:

• Jay Bastian

LEND Representative:

• Pete Nolan / James Shannon

GAP Representative:

• Jay Bastian / Margaret DeLaRosa / Hetal Lee
     

BOARD INFORMATION/DISCUSSION ITEMS INCLUDED:

– Distinguished Service Award. It is a rare privilege to honor an individual whose professional expertise is matched only by his deep, personal roots in our community. The Board recognized Todd Faulkner for his extraordinary service to the Glenbard Township High School District 87 Board of Education – a tenure defined by wisdom, integrity, and an unwavering devotion to the students we serve.

For 43 years, Todd Faulkner with Franczek has served as more than just legal counsel; he has been a steady hand through shifting educational landscapes and a tireless advocate for the district’s mission. Todd Faulkner and his team have navigated complex negotiations, provided sound governance, and protected the district’s interests with the heart of a true advocate. He has ensured that our Board could focus on what matters most: the success and well-being of our students.

Thank you, Todd, for your years of brilliant service and for being a true champion for the Glenbard Township High School District 87 community.

– Inspire … Empower … Succeed Awards. Congratulations to the West recipients of the district’s Inspire … Empower … Succeed Award: Scott Cushman (math teacher); Wendy Rosario (administrative assistant to assistant principal for operations); and Rita Stone (social sciences teacher). The award recognizes faculty and staff members who: demonstrate exceptional levels of initiative or innovation; exceed expectations and make a positive difference for students; and demonstrate outstanding student service or achievement.

– awards & recognitions. The Board recognized the following 2025-26 Glenbard West parent leaders for their support and dedication to the district:

• Glenbard West Boosters: Matt and Alison Hunt (Presidents); Dave and Christina Lavin (Committee Chairs); and Colleen Bigelow (Committee Chair).
• West Nation Parent Group: Katie Bare (Committee Chair).
• Friends of Forensics: Lisa Love (President).

The following West students were recognized:

• IHSA Speech State Series
  • Ezra Mezidi – 1st Place, Prose
  • Ezra Mezidi and Grace Mullin – 1st Place, Dramatic Duet Acting
  • Lily Wiedholz – 3rd Place, Informational Speaking
  • Grace Rangira – Head Coach

– data and standardized assessments report. The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has updated the summative designations for the 2025 School Report Cards, and all Glenbard High Schools are rated “Commendable.” This report analyzed student achievement on the ACT based on proficiency benchmark scores, Glenbard average scores compared to Illinois, and Glenbard achievement in literacy and math compared to similar districts in Illinois. This report also discussed Glenbard’s comprehensive plan for increasing student achievement on the ACT by leveraging an aligned curriculum, rigorous and college-level coursework, free test preparation for all juniors and student supports.

Key takeaways:

• All four Glenbard High Schools are rated Commendable by ISBE.
• Glenbard ACT average is 7.5 percent higher than the state.
• Glenbard students outperform the state average in literacy, math, and science.
• Glenbard students are more proficient in math when compared to districts with similar socioeconomic status.
• A record 68 percent of Glenbard students are earning college credit before they graduate high school.
• Glenbard students who enroll in a four-year college have a 92 percent graduation rate, compared to 71 percent nationally.

– Parents Alliance Employment Project. Glenbard District 87 has partnered with Parents Alliance Employment Project (PAEP) to provide support and links to the students in our Transition Programs (the Southern and Northern Sites). Employment supports include job training, placement, interviewing and job shadowing. In the last few years, a larger number of students have been dependent on employer-paid jobs in the area. As we move forward with PAEP, they will include training for our staff on job coaching duties and practices that remove barriers to independent employment. PAEP also agreed to work with us, without a large increase, at both sites as we increase our programs. Therefore, this contract represents a one-percent increase from the prior year’s contract (increase in this renewal is due to benefits and personnel cost only) to $145,800 in 2026-2027 through 2027-2028. No increase will occur during the second year of the contract, therefore renewal for two years is more efficient.

– Connect Academy agreement. In response to severe discipline and in lieu of expulsion, schools offer alternative education to students. The Connect Academy agreement allows us to offer appropriate education to these students at a school titled ReConnect Academy. ReConnect Academy offers specialized, alternative education for 40 general education students.

This partnership will offer a supportive and restorative environment which includes counseling, English learner support and post-secondary/career planning. The program was designed to foster student growth, accountability and academic progression, at a total annual cost of $792,000.

– Glenbard North solar update. The Glenbard North solar project went live in April 2025. Performance Services, Inc. was approved to perform the project which was approved by the Board of Education in July 2023. The cost projections included a projected tax credit from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of $1,047,710. The tax credit filing is the responsibility of Lauterbach & Amen (auditors) hired by the district in June 2025. District administration was notified in January that the tax credit filing had not been completed and that the staff member responsible for the work was no longer with the firm. These delays were not communicated to the district in a timely manner, potentially resulting in the tax credit not being received in this fiscal year, which was part of the fiscal year 2025-2026 operating budget revenue.

The currently active solar array is generating just over 1 MW which was subsequently determined by the IRS final regulations (issued in June 2025) to trigger a prevailing wage and apprenticeship threshold that results in an increased cost (including penalties and interest) to the district.

Administration has been working with Lauterbach & Amen, PSI and the IRS to develop a solution and to ensure the appropriate paperwork is filed as soon as possible.

– 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: 2/27/2026
REQUESTOR & COMPANY: David Arvayo (Painters District Council No. 30)
REQUESTS SUMMARY: I request copies of the documents listed below related to the Glenbard Township High School District 87, West Addition and Renovations Bid Release 6.

Specifically, I am seeking records for any contracts that have been awarded or are pending approval that include: (1) drywall taping and finishing of seams in preparation for the application of paint/coatings; (2) the installation of glass panels—such as windows, doors, or mirrors—together with any associated metal framing systems and hardware used to secure the glass; and (3) projects involving the application of paint/coatings or wall coverings to new or existing surfaces for protective or decorative purposes and/or to comply with specific regulations.

• Request for Proposals (RFPs) and/or Request for Quotes (RFQs).
• List of identified stakeholders for this project(s).
• Contractor reference letters submitted by the contractor(s) awarded relevant contracts or subcontracts.
• Pre-bid walkthrough meeting sign-in sheet(s).
• Bid opening sign-in sheet(s).
• Bid tabulation sheet(s) used to evaluate qualifying bids
• If the contract does not require board approval, I request a copy of the applicable statute or ordinance authorizing your public body to engage the services of a private contractor without board approval.
• If the lowest responsible bidder has not yet been awarded a contract for this project, please provide the date of the meeting at which the contract award will be considered.
• General contract and all related painting, drywall finishing, and glazing subcontracts, as necessary to verify compliance with the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act. If these subcontracts are not in your possession, please obtain them from the general contractor; failure to do so will result in an Illinois Attorney General Request for Review.
• If employee background checks are required under this contract or pursuant to Section 21.9 of the Illinois School Code, please provide copies of such background checks for all employees authorized to work on this project.
• If workers are required to sign-in to access this project, I request copies of all related sign-in sheets.
• Submitted invoices associated with contracts and subcontracts meeting the criteria of this FOIA request.
• Certified payroll records related to contracts and subcontracts meeting the criteria of this FOIA request.
• A certificate of participation in a United States Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship Program.

   
DATE RECEIVED: 3/12/2026
REQUESTOR & COMPANY: Jennifer A. Burke (KBC Law Group)
REQUESTS SUMMARY: For school years 2020-2021 and 2021-2022, records showing:

• The number of high school students enrolled at the Technology Center of DuPage from Glenbard Township High School District 87.
• A list of courses or programs in which high school students from Glenbard Township High School District 87 were enrolled at Technology Center of DuPage.
• Amounts invoiced or paid from Glenbard Township High School District 87 to DAOES/Technology Center of DuPage.