In this issue:
Congratulations to boys tennis state qualifiers
Congratulations to the following students who qualified for the IHSA boys tennis state final:
Congratulations to boys track & field state qualifiers
Congratulations to the following students who qualified for the IHSA boys track & field state final meet:
Suicide Signs and Symptoms: Let’s Talk About It
Recently, the GPS Parent Series hosted Dr. Jonathan Singer in a poignant conversation on youth suicide. He explained that “Suicide is not about wanting to die. It’s about not being able to imagine going on living the way things are.” Singer explored statistics and debunked myths. He also gave concrete advice on how we can talk to tweens and teens about their mental health. Read five essential takeaways from the presentation, view the Q&A, or watch a five-minute Teen Talk with Dr. Singer.
To receive detailed program summaries and be notified of upcoming events, sign up for the GPS weekly newsletter.
Highlights of May 27 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: Jay Bastian, Margaret DeLaRosa, Kermit Eby, Hetal Lee, Peter Nolan and Jim Shannon. Absent: Martha Mueller.
– the May 5, 2025 regular meeting minutes.
– the following personnel items:
LICENSED STAFF – EMPLOYMENT:
Name School/Position FTE Effective Date
Bolivar, Nereida East / Social Worker Interventionist 100% 08/11/2025
Hardt, Elizabeth North / FaCS Teacher 50% 08/11/2025
Hardt, Elizabeth South / FaCS Teacher 50% 08/11/2025
Kelly, Eric East / EL Teacher 20% 08/11/2025
Kelly, Eric East / Physical Education Teacher 30% 08/11/2025
Kelly, Eric South / Physical Education Teacher 30% 08/11/2025
McLean, Morgan West / Social Science Teacher 100% 08/11/2025
Onchuck, Barbara Dir / School Counselor (rehire) 40% 08/11/2025
Pratt, Yvette South / School Counselor 100% 08/11/2025
Reagan, A. Clay East / Department Chair, PE+Health+DE 60% 08/11/2025
Reagan, A. Clay East / Physical Education Teacher 40% 08/11/2025
Stock, Meghan South / Special Education Teacher 100% 08/11/2025
West, Brook South / Science Teacher 50% 08/11/2025
LICENSED STAFF – POSITION CHANGE:
Name School/Position FTE Effective Date
Fielder, Hannah East / Library+Media Specialist 100% 08/11/2025
SUPPORT STAFF – EMPLOYMENT:
Name School/Position FTE Effective Date
Siebert, Jenny South / Admin Assistant for Library 100% 05/12/2025
LICENSED STAFF – SUMMER SCHOOL/ESY EMPLOYMENT:
Name School/Position Term
Belter, Michala Transitions / ESY Teacher 06/05/2025-07/17/2025
Coerper, Kristian West / SS Bridge Teacher 06/09/2025-07/17/2025
Delap, Timothy North / SS Principal 05/15/2025-08/01/2025
Elsner, Hyon North / SS Bridge Teacher 06/09/2025-06/19/2025
Gallardo, David South / SS Teacher 07/07/2025-07/29/2025
Hinriksson, Charles East / SS Principal 05/15/2025-08/01/2025
Jensen, Katherine South / SS Bridge Teacher 07/07/2025-07/17/2025
Koeppen, Christopher West / SS Bridge Teacher 06/09/2025-07/17/2025
McGuire, Susan North /SS Teacher 07/07/2025-07/29/2025
Meister-Norton, Lauren West / SS Principal 05/15/2025-08/01/2025
Murry, Kerrissa South / SS Teacher 06/02/2025-06/19/2025
Slowinski, Todd West / SS Teacher 07/07/2025-07/29/2025
White, Michael South / SS Principal 05/15/2025-08/01/2025
SUPPORT STAFF – SUMMER SCHOOL/ESY EMPLOYMENT:
Name School/Position Term
Bhatt, Rajendra North / ESY Aide 06/05/2025-07/17/2025
Literskis, Julie West / ESY Aide 06/05/2025-07/17/2025
LICENSED STAFF – LEAVE OF ABSENCE:
Name School/Position Term Reason
Feierberg, Allyson North / World Languages (correction) 04/30-05/23/2025 Personal
SUPPORT STAFF – LEAVE OF ABSENCE:
Name School/Position Term Reason
Del Percio, Daniella East / Admin Asst to School Counseling 05/19-06/20/2025 Personal
SUPPORT STAFF – RESIGNATION/TERMINATIONS:
Name School/Position Effective Date
McCarthy, Margaret Dir / Administrative Assistant 05/23/2025
Washington, Dikiria West / Special Education Assistant 05/22/2025
– accepting the following donation: Anonymous, $2,500.00 to boys basketball at South.
– three excursions.
– administrative appointments. The Glenbard Assistant Superintendent for Teaching & Learning search process has now been completed. Administrative team members, teachers and one educational support staff member from the department interviewed the candidates and provided valuable input. Questions during the three rounds of interviews were focused on the Glenbard Profile of an Educator, the Profile of a Graduate and district goals. On Tuesday night, Dr. LeViis Haney was appointed as Assistant Superintendent for Teaching & Learning. He will begin his new role on July 1, 2025.
The Director of Communications search process has now been completed. Administrative team members, teachers and one educational support staff member from the department interviewed the candidates and provided valuable input. Questions during the three rounds of interviews were focused on the Glenbard Profile of an Educator, the Profile of a Graduate and district goals. On Tuesday night, Tyler Carter was appointed as Director of Communications. She will begin her new role on July 1, 2025.
– new textbook adoptions 2025-26. The 19 new textbook and novel titles proposed for adoption have been reviewed and approved by the department chairs in the curricular area, the assistant principals for instruction and the principals at each building where the course will be taught. They were reviewed by the Student Performance and Achievement Committee on April 23, 2025.
There are two new textbook adoptions this year, one for Biology Honors and an additional textbook for dual credit English 1101 and 1102. The other titles are all novels for English courses.
For the English department, there are 17 new novels. Of the 17 titles, 15 are for student-choice units. Over the past seven years, the English departments have steadily increased the opportunity for students to read high-interest novels as a part of literature circles. With literature circles, students are offered a choice of several books that all focus on a similar theme. Literature circles allow for student choice, reflect an ability to differentiate and are designed to increase student engagement. These recommendations also fit the thematic studies connected to other units within each semester and reflect diversity in a number of areas. Purchasing these novels in OverDrive allows the district to purchase titles on demand – a quick and cost-efficient process.
– textbook agreement – Bedford, Freeman and Worth. Glenbard uses seven textbooks from the Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishing Group (BFW) and this contract is up for renewal this year. The textbooks are used for AP Microeconomics, AP Macroeconomics, AP Environmental Science, AP European History, AP Psychology, AP English Language and Composition, AP Statistics, Psychology and Psychology 2.
AP Environmental Science, AP European History and AP Psychology have been updated within the past year and have new editions, including alignment with the new AP test redesigns. The books are completely digital and available for use offline. The district will receive a few print copies of the new editions for placement in the libraries for students with specific needs. BFW is providing all teacher materials and print textbooks at no additional charge.
BFW is able to offer the district a three-year contract for these textbooks, with three equal payment installments and no finance charge. This is helpful for budgeting and financial management.
The total contract amount is $466,117.30 with three equal installments of $155,372.44, each due by October 1 of 2025, 2026 and 2027.
– textbook agreement – Cengage. Glenbard uses five textbooks from National Geographic Learning/Cengage Group and this contract is up for renewal this year. The textbooks are used for Sociology, Accounting 1, Business Law, AP U.S. History and AP Physics.
The books are completely digital and available for use offline. The district will receive a few print copies of the new editions for placement in the libraries for students with specific needs. Cengage is providing all teacher materials and print textbooks at no additional charge.
Cengage is able to offer the district a two-year purchase agreement for three years of access to these textbooks, with two equal payment installments and no finance charge. This is helpful for budgeting and financial management.
The total contract amount is $150,388.04 with two equal installments of $75,194.02, each due by July 1, 2025 and July 1, 2026.
– textbook agreement – Pearson. Glenbard uses eight textbooks from Pearson Education, Inc. and this contract is up for renewal this year. The textbooks are used for AP Biology, Physics Honors, Algebra 2 with Trigonometry, Algebra 2 with Trigonometry Honors, AP Calculus, Precalculus, Precalculus Honors and AP Precalculus.
The books are completely digital and available for use offline. The district will receive a few print copies of the new editions for placement in the libraries for students with specific needs. Pearson is providing all teacher materials and print textbooks at no additional charge.
Pearson is able to offer the district a three-year contract for these textbooks, with three equal payment installments and no finance charge. This is helpful for budgeting and financial management.
The total contract amount is $222,297.57, with three equal installments of $74,099.19 each due by July 1 of 2025, 2026 and 2027.
– Resolution to Appoint School Treasurer and Approve Treasurer’s Surety Bond. The Illinois School Code requires regional superintendents of schools to file an affidavit with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) showing which treasurers of school districts in their region are properly bonded. This affidavit must be filed by September 1 of each year.
The School Code requires each treasurer of a school district to be properly bonded. The penalty of the bond shall be 10 percent of the amount of all bonds, notes, mortgages, moneys and effects of which the treasurer is to have custody. The bond shall be increased or decreased from time to time, as the increase or decrease of the amount of notes, bonds, mortgages, moneys and effects may require. The bond shall be payable to the township trustees of schools over the district or payable to the school board of the district, whichever is applicable. The bond shall be filed with the regional superintendent of schools.
The district has worked with insurance broker Arthur J. Gallagher to identify a carrier that would provide Glenbard with the most competitive rate. Glenbard’s treasurer must be bonded at 10 percent of $153,438,000 or $15,343,800.
The annual cost to purchase the surety bond through Liberty Mutual is $9,206.
The resolution appointed Seth Chapman as school treasurer through June 30, 2026 and authorized the treasurer surety bond per school code requirements.
– 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 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.
The following board committee assignments have been determined:
Communication, Legislation & Partnerships Committee:
Finance & Facility Committee:
Policy Committee:
Student Performance & Achievement Committee:
IASB Representative:
PEP Representative:
LEND Representative:
GAP Representative:
– Consideration and Ratification of Letter Agreement Terminating Agreement with ABM Industry Groups, LLC. On April 14, 2025, the board approved the 2025 custodial, maintenance and grounds services bid, awarding the new contract to a new vendor, GSF USA, Inc. Based on the current contract with ABM, the transition is scheduled to take place on June 30, 2025.
Reviewing the capital improvements plan for this summer, all events taking place at each building during the summer, and summer school programs, administration concluded that an earlier transition will be more beneficial to the district and will allow for an opportunity to provide a more successful transition plan for both vendors, as well as for a proper execution of the summer cleaning services.
Administration requested an addendum to the previous board-approved one-year renewal contract for custodial, maintenance and grounds services for the 2024-25 school year with ABM. The primary change is the revision of the last day of service, from June 30, 2025 to June 6, 2025. ABM has agreed to the adjustments. The payment for June will be revised to reflect $83,656.08 for services provided and up to an additional $16,000 to account for employee paid time off expenses.
– Resolution Approving Liability Insurance Coverage for School Coaches Related to Park District Summer Camp Activities and Memorandum of Agreement with Glenbard Education Association. Glenbard partners with our local park districts to support summer camp programming. While many of our coaches help to run these camps, we utilize the park district to handle the registration process and back-end support. Coaches are not directly employed by the district, but are rather contracted staff through the park district. This has led to a potential gap in liability coverage for these coaches. To best support our GEA staff who help to run the summer programming through the park district, we have worked with our insurance broker to ensure appropriate coverage is in place. The best way to accomplish this is for the board to pass a resolution acknowledging that our staff is conducting summer camps as contracted employees of the park district.
Approval of the resolution, along with a memorandum of agreement with the GEA, will ensure proper coverage is in place should a claim be placed against summer camp staff.
– SchooLinks agreement renewal. In recent years and in alignment with our district Work Plan, Glenbard has increased the focus and intentionality around student college and career pathways and postsecondary plans. Since that time, we have decreased summer melt, added support for first-generation college students, helped students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and graduate with clear postsecondary plans. As we learn more about what is needed to ensure all our students are supported, we believe that SchooLinks provides the additional resources and support needed to enhance our work and support all of our students.
SchooLinks is a modern, robust college and career readiness platform, offering over 80 interactive experiences including interest discovery, career exploration, college management, academic and postsecondary planning. SchooLinks is used by schools to ensure that every student has a plan for post-graduation that is based on their desires and experiences. The SchooLinks platform ensures that counselors can easily keep track of where every student is in their college and career planning, while also unifying communication for students, staff and parents. SchooLinks streamlines four-year plans, pathways management, internships, and industry partner management – so that counselors can spend meaningful time with students in-person and handle caseloads effectively. The platform surfaces actionable insights to enhance postsecondary outcomes to meet districts’ needs.
This agreement is for three years, from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2028. Year one of the agreement will include training for staff, curriculum alignment and data implementation. The cost breakdown of the agreement is as follows: year one = $55,110; year two = $57,856; and year three = $60,680.
– memorandum of understanding with College of DuPage – dual credit. As discussed at the April 23, 2025 Student Performance and Achievement Committee meetings, this memorandum of understanding with the College of DuPage (COD) will allow Glenbard to offer students the opportunity to participate in dual credit course offerings. This agreement aligns with the first board commitment: “We are committed to ensuring a course sequence that prepares students for college, the global workforce and personal success, regardless of their academic preparedness upon entering ninth grade.”
In alignment with the Dual Credit Quality Act, the purpose of this dual credit partnership is to help our students and families (1) reduce college costs, (2) speed up the time to degree completion, (3) improve curriculum alignment to college and workplace expectations, (4) facilitate the transition between high school and college, (5) enhance communication and collaboration with COD, and (6) to offer opportunities for improving degree attainment for underserved student populations.
For the 2025-28 academic years, this agreement will allow Glenbard schools to offer our students the opportunity to enroll in the following dual credit courses:
Each of these dual credit courses will be offered to Glenbard students at no cost, and will allow students the opportunity to earn 3 college credit hours per course.
Students will need to meet the prerequisite of a 2.6 GPA on a 4.0 scale with a minimum of five semesters, or ACT composite score of 20 or higher, or English language arts (ELA) score of 20 or higher, or English subscore of 18 or higher, or composite SAT score of a 950 or higher to enroll in English Composition 1/2 and Fundamentals of Speech Communication, and a math SAT score of a 530 to enroll in General Education Math.
Some of these dual credit courses are a part of the Illinois Articulation Initiative, which means that these courses are transferable for college credit among more than 100 participating colleges and universities in Illinois.
– policies and procedures for second reading and adoption. 6:280-AP1 Assignment of Grades and Credit; 6:315 High School Credit for Students in Grade 7 or 8; 5:110 Recognition for Service and Attendance; 5:160 Release of Employment and Wage Information (new name); 5:170 Copyright; 5:180 Temporary Illness or Temporary Incapacity; and 5:255 Leave of Absence – Teacher Exchange Type Programs.
– awards & recognitions. Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 District Art Awards:
– student spotlight. The following students were recognized:
Senior student liaisons to the Board of Education 2024-25
Student liaisons to the Board of Education 2024-25
– wellness initiative – Empower Health. The board approved the administration and payment for the onsite biometric screening and flu vaccines for district employees by Empower Health in Fall 2025 as a part of the 2025 annual projections/budget.
In 2017, the district began engaging Empower Health for the onsite Panel C and flu vaccine services. Prior to this time, the district utilized CHC Wellbeing for these services.
The cost for the screenings and vaccinations are expensed to the health insurance costs. Each participant receives a personal medical report emailed to their designated email address. They can share this information with their primary care physicians to take positive steps toward individual health and wellness. The district does not receive any individual results of these screenings. Empower Health provides the district with an aggregate group report which provides a broad picture of the district population’s health risks. The information contained in the summary can be used for future planning aimed at reducing targeted health risks and improving the overall health of the employees. This report also provides insight so the benefits team is able to provide educational materials relevant to district-specific health concerns, thus better supporting members. Catherine Loney, Glenbard’s Plan Consultant, reviewed the Empower Health summary report for the wellness screening event.
Loney recommended the district utilize the services of Empower Health for the upcoming wellness screenings in October 2025. Empower Health has provided three packaged prices for consideration. Prior to 2024, Option 1 (Panel C only) was utilized. With increased interested in the stand-alone A1c test, and better understanding of the value of this test, the district began offering Option 2 in 2024. This option includes the Panel C plus the A1c for all participants. Loney recommended the continuation of the Option 2 offering.
Minimum participation per site – 25 participants of the screening and 25 flu vaccines for each of the four onsite events. Three screening participants for the remote screening program and three screening participants via the health provider form (seeking treatment through their primary care physician). Glenbard has not experienced any unmet minimums for the onsite screening events since offering this program.
There is no change to the screening and flu vaccine cost over the 2024 pricing, so it is anticipated there will be no increase to overall cost of the program for 2025.
Following extensive conversations at the administrative level and with the Insurance Advisory Committee throughout 2024, the My Empowerment Plan was implemented in Fall 2024 as a year-round wellbeing incentive program. This program launched with the 2024 screening events and tracks quarterly wellbeing activity among participants. When participants reach a set amount of activity, they earn a gift card incentive. This program is facilitated by Empower Health. In the first quarter, 172 participants earned the incentive; 22 participants earned the incentive in the second quarter.
– postsecondary matriculation update. The board’s first belief and conviction states, “We are committed to ensuring a course sequence that prepares students for college, the global workforce and personal success, regardless of their academic preparedness upon entering ninth grade.” The board has had this important goal of student postsecondary success at the forefront for many years, and for good reasons. This work also aligns with the Pathways area of our district Work Plan. The highlights and priorities in this year’s report include:
The report provided an overview of Glenbard student data on a variety of postsecondary metrics, including college enrollment, college persistence, summer melt and college graduation. All of our schools are aligned to the Illinois PaCE Framework, which is organized around the areas of career exploration and development, postsecondary education exploration, preparation and selection, and financial aid and literacy. This serves as the foundation for our postsecondary and pathways initiatives to ensure that students have the most comprehensive college and career planning available. We believe these strategies will continue to ensure that we increase the postsecondary preparedness and success of all of our students.
– capital projects bid release #3. Design and bids are complete for Glenbard East administration and cafeteria additions. PSI designed and bid all of the mechanical systems and bids were received on May 5, 2025. Wold performed the architectural design and projects with bids received and opened by Gilbane on May 14, 2025. The district was pleased with the bid coverage and quality of contractors that participated in the bid process. Additionally, the total cost of bids recommended are well below the budget estimate.
Gilbane recommends the following, based on the bid results and scope reviews:
PSI recommends the following, based on the bid results and scope reviews:
Total bids for Gilbane and PSI recommended for approval for bid package #3 is $10,260,218 (inclusive of Gilbane’s estimated site services budget of $400,000).
– driver’s education fee waiver request. Five years ago, Glenbard received a mandate waiver from the Illinois General Assembly that allowed us to charge a higher fee for behind-the-wheel instruction than what is allowed under state law, pursuant to Illinois School Code 105 ILCS5/27-24.2. Presently, state law allows a driver’s education fee of up to $250. The district has charged families $350 for many years and the board approves this fee amount on an annual basis.
We are seeking the continuation of that waiver for another five years – the maximum length allowed. We provided documentation to support our waiver request that reviews the innovative nature of our program, which includes the use of simulators, and information that shares the success of our students in this program by identifying percentage of students that pass the behind-the-wheel course. Students that perform well in the course are well-informed and are more prepared to be safe drivers in the future.
The process of seeking the waiver entails several steps, including holding a public hearing on the proposal. The actions and timeline for this activity are as follows:
– 2025-26 student accident insurance contract renewal. Glenbard currently provides student accident insurance coverage for our students. Our broker, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., marketed this program and our incumbent provider AIG Insurance responded with a competitive premium cost. AIG has an A rating, which is an Excellent rating through the AM Best financial strength rating guide. The policy provides comprehensive coverage for all students participating in school-sponsored activities and sporting activities. This coverage is secondary to all other collectible insurance policies.
Tackle football is not covered by this plan and parents must purchase optional coverage for this sport in advance of an accident. This information is communicated to families as part of our annual registration process and our football coaches make families aware of this optional coverage as well.
The 2025-26 annual premium cost for the district for this program is $99,500, which is a 2.0 percent increase from last year. The premium is priced based on history of claim activity. The coverage/ benefits for our students are the same.
– 2025-26 student accident insurance – catastrophic coverage. High schools in Illinois are required to provide catastrophic insurance coverage for students participating in Illinois High School Association (IHSA) sanctioned athletic events. Glenbard is required to provide a certificate of insurance proving compliance with the plan of coverage promulgated by the IHSA.
Glenbard currently utilizes Gerber Life Insurance Company as our provider. The proposal from Gerber remains flat at $3.10 per student participating in IHSA athletic events. We project 3,865 participants for 2025-26 for a total premium cost of $11,961.50. This policy provides for a maximum benefit of $5 million. Gallagher’s Public Entity & Scholastic Division proposed the Gerber Life Insurance program to Glenbard.
This policy provides coverage for athletes & student managers; student athletic trainers; marching band; cheerleaders and dance team; Special Olympics basketball, track & field, and cheerleading.
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