In this issue:
GPS author to equip students with essential skills needed in all careers
The GPS Parent Series: Navigating Healthy Families will present Stop Calling Them Soft Skills: The Essential Skills Employers Seek with educator and author Trevor Muir at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 28, via Zoom. Go to the GPS Parent Series website for details and the link to this webinar.
A recent U.S. survey indicates the primary reason individuals are dismissed from their jobs is the lack of what often get labeled as soft skills: critical thinking, communication, collaboration, adaptability and confidence.
Muir will challenge the outdated terminology and explore why these ‘soft skills’ are actually essential in the modern workplace. He will share strategies on how families and educators can integrate and teach development of these critical competencies in schools and at home.
Continuing professional development units are available for this program.
Muir has gained international recognition for the innovative teaching methods and inspiring content he creates to empower teachers and students. Muir is the founder of The Epic Classroom. Muir will address the Glenbard teaching staff at their 87 Fest.
Please share information about this event with friends and relatives.
To be placed on a reminder list for GPS events or submit a question in advance, contact Gilda Ross, Glenbard District 87 student and community projects coordinator, at [email protected] or 630-942-7668.
Opoka and Faulkner named Coaches of the Year
Congratulations to Glenbard West boys basketball coach Jason Opoka and girls basketball coach Kristi Faulkner on both being named Coach of the Year by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association. Their girls and boys basketball teams each won an IHSA sectional championship and advanced to the state quarterfinals in Class 4A. It marked the first time in school history that both programs won sectional titles in the same season.
Highlights of April 14 board meeting
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: Kermit Eby, Bob Friend, Hetal Lee, Rosemarie Montanez, Martha Mueller and Jim Shannon. Absent: Margaret DeLaRosa.
– the March 24, 2025 regular meeting minutes and closed session minutes.
– the following personnel items:
LICENSED STAFF – EMPLOYMENT:
Name School/Position FTE Effective Date
Arzeta, Amairany North / School Counselor (rehire) 100% 08/11/2025
Benedetti-Sich, Lucia South / EL Teacher (rehire) 25% 08/11/2025
Benedetti-Sich, Lucia South / World Language Teacher (rehire) 75% 08/11/2025
Bierly, Brittany West / Math Teacher (rehire – 2nd sem) 12.5% 01/05/2026
Bowen, Shawn East / Science Teacher (rehire) 60% 08/11/2025
Bowen, Shawn East / Special Education Teacher (rehire) 40% 08/11/2025
Bribiesca, Jessica South / FaCS Teacher (rehire – 2nd sem) 20% 01/05/2026
Campos, Tanya West / School Nurse (rehire) 90% 08/11/2025
Cikesh, Melissa West / Library-Media Specialist (rehire) 100% 08/11/2025
Czabaj, Brenda West / World Language Teacher (rehire) 25% 08/11/2025
Edwards, Travis South / Social Worker Interventionist 100% 08/11/2025
Glavas, Jeannine East / School Nurse (rehire) 90% 08/11/2025
Heino, Linda East / School Psychologist (rehire) 25% 08/11/2025
Li, Ying North / World Language Teacher 60% 08/11/2025
Luif, Jaclyn Transition / Special Education (rehire) 85% 08/11/2025
Millard, Tony East / Assistant Principal for Athletics 100% 07/01/2025
Scanlan, Rachel North / EL Teacher (rehire) 90% 08/11/2025
Shedbalkar, Shaheen Directions / Social Worker Interventionist 60% 08/11/2025
Smith, Shane South / Social Science Teacher (rehire) 100% 08/11/2025
Spilotro, Raffaella North / World Language Teacher 25% 08/11/2025
Thompson, Kristen North / Mathematics Teacher (rehire) 25% 08/11/2025
Thompson, Kristen South / Mathematics Teacher 45% 08/11/2025
Wells, Laura West / EL Teacher (rehire) 70% 08/11/2025
West, Danielle West / FaCS Teacher (rehire) 50% 08/11/2025
Windle, Kerry North / School Nurse (rehire) 90% 08/11/2025
LICENSED STAFF – SUMMER SCHOOL/ESY EMPLOYMENT:
Name School/Position Term
Amberg, Jenna Transitions / ESY Teacher 06/05/2025-07/17/2025
Furukawa, Julia West / Summer School Teacher 06/02/2025-07/29/2025
Mizell, Thomas North / Summer School Teacher 06/06/2025-07/17/2025
Mowinski, Michael East / Summer School Dean 06/02/2025-07/29/2025
Pierre, Reinedy Transitions / ESY Teacher 06/05/2025-07/17/2025
SUPPORT STAFF – EMPLOYMENT:
Name School/Position FTE Effective Date
Green, Colleen North / Admin Assistant to Dean 100% 04/08/2025
SUPPORT STAFF – SUMMER SCHOOL/ESY EMPLOYMENT:
Name School/Position Term
Brusca, Linda Transitions / ESY Aide 06/05/2025-07/17/2025
Schwebl, Courtney North / ESY Aide 06/05/2025-07/17/2025
Zima, Makayla North / ESY Aide 06/05/2025-07/17/2025
LICENSED STAFF – CHANGE OF POSITION:
Name School/Position FTE Effective Date
Roberts, Kelly South / Library-Media Specialist 100% 08/11/2025
LICENSED STAFF – LEAVE OF ABSENCE:
Name School/Position Term Reason
Krol, Anne West / World Language 09/17/2025-05/22/2026 Personal
SUPPORT STAFF – RESIGNATION/TERMINATIONS:
Name School/Position Effective Date
Wilson, Brenen West / Special Ed Assistant 04/04/2025
– accepting the following donations: Anonymous, $8,500.00 to the varsity dance team at South. Anonymous, $5,000.00 to the boys volleyball team at West. Carol Stream Travel Baseball, $500.00 for uniforms/baseballs/equipment at North. Tina M Ashton, $10,000.00 to boys basketball at North. Culvers of Lombard, $1,004.90 for Share Table initiative support at East. Athletics Boosters, $1,000.00 to Relay for Life at East.
– six excursions.
– Equal Opportunity Schools collaboration agreement. The district submitted for approval the extension of our collaboration agreement to continue our partnership with Equal Opportunity Schools (EOS) for the 2025-26 school year. After discussing our partnership options with our school leadership teams, the district has decided to continue our partnership with EOS at the sustain level that will provide all of the technical tools and data analytics that are essential to the process of identifying all students who have the assets to be successful in an Advanced Placement and/or dual credit course. At this partnership level, on-site consultation is limited, but the district has found that EOS staff has been very supportive and flexible in their willingness to schedule ad hoc conference calls and webinars to consult with district staff throughout the year.
The cost per school is $14,000, which includes a $6,000 discount per school and a district discount of $5,000 due to partnership with EOS as one of the inaugural Illinois partners in 2015-16. There is no change in the cost of the agreement from last year. The total agreement amount is $56,000.
– 2025 custodial, maintenance and grounds services bid. The district currently contracts with ABM for custodial, maintenance and grounds services. The original contract, in which we are currently in the 13th addendum, dates back to 2006. District administration felt it was in our best interest to do a comprehensive bid. While evaluating the district’s needs, current full-time equivalent per building, staff training and quality, existing equipment, existing policies, and future needs were taken into consideration.
The public bid opening took place on March 4, 2025, where the district received a total of five bids. From that, four of the bidders were invited to present and interview with our team. The team included Glenbard assistant principals of operations, assistant principals for athletics, building managers and district representatives.
The board awarded the custodial, maintenance, and grounds services bid to GSF, USA Inc. (Rosemont, IL) for the duration of a five-year contract in the amount of $21,674,595.93.
– general education transportation services bid results. The district currently contracts with Safeway for its general education transportation services. In July 2025, alongside Glen Ellyn District 41, we began the first year of a five-year contract with Safeway. With a rocky transition at the start of the year, the overall performance has improved. However, a few failed days in the second semester prompted a desire for District 41 to review their potential options.
Based on District 41 board’s interest to go out to bid again, District 87 went out to bid on February 11, 2025. On March 5, 2025, we publicly opened the transportation bids. We received a total of three bids. We are under no obligation to accept any bids at this time. District 41 and District 87 hold separate contracts with Safeway and retain the option to continue under our existing contract if desired.
After conducting a thorough review of the current service performance, and taking into consideration the new bids and current contract amount, administration recommended that the district continue its partnership under the current contract with Safeway.
– maintenance vehicles purchase. The district’s maintenance department currently has six vehicles. Four of them are used by the engineering team, one by the mail carrier and one by the construction owner’s representative. The district recommended a different type of vehicle for the engineering team based on the specific use for appropriately storing and accessing supplies and materials. Enterprise Fleet Management assisted in finding three cargo vans to replace existing pick-up trucks that are no longer efficient to operate and maintain.
The district recommended continuing the relationship with Enterprise Fleet Management as they have access to a large inventory of vehicles nationwide. The board accepted the five-year lease agreement with Enterprise Fleet Management, allocating three new vehicles for the district’s maintenance department in the amount of $117,378.
– permanent fund transfer – 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, the district needs to make a permanent fund transfer from the Operating and Maintenance Fund to the Debt Service Fund 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 $1,474,990 is required at this time to support operating debt payments.
– policies and procedures for second reading and adoption. 4:80 Accounting and Audits; 4:80-AP1 Asset Protection; Equipment Inventory and Disposal; 4:80-AP2 Annual Audit; 4:120 Food Services; 4:120-AP1 Food Services; Competitive Foods; Exemptions; 4:120-AP2 Food Services; 4:140 Waiver of Student Fees; 4:140-AP1 Fines, Fees and Charges – Waiver of Student Fees; 4:140-AP2 Student Expenses; and 5:270-AP1 Confidential Employees.
– athletic and physical education school towel service agreement. The district recently rebid athletic and physical education towel service for three one-year terms for school years 2025-26, 2026-27 and 2027-28. Current service includes two times per week service at Glenbard North and Glenbard West and one time per week for Glenbard East and Glenbard South.
Bids were opened on April 10, 2025. There were four bidders: Marberry Cleaners & Launderers LLC (current services provider), Cintas, Now Linens and Vestis Uniforms.
The administration will conduct a full bids evaluation and due diligence process. The district intends to bring this bid response for award at the April 28, 2025 board meeting.
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