News
September 9, 2025
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Glenbard News for September 9, 2025

In this issue:

  • September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day
  • Glenbard North Influencer Club receives Glendale Heights recognition
  • Glenbard Transition programs fall sale on Sept. 18-19
  • Glen Ellyn Children’s Resource Center seeking volunteers for after-school tutoring program
  • GPS Parent Series author to shine light on the secret strengths of introverts
  • Strong executive function starts with students being able to “see” themselves completing tasks
  • Highlights of September 8 board meeting


September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day
World Suicide Prevention Day (Sept. 10) is organized by the International Association for Suicide Prevention in partnership with the World Health Organization.

The 2025 theme for World Suicide Prevention Day is “Changing the Narrative on Suicide”. This theme calls on us all to challenge harmful myths, reduce stigma, and foster open, compassionate conversations about suicide and suicidal behavior. It is about shifting from silence and misunderstanding to openness, empathy, and support — creating environments where people feel able to speak up and seek help. Find out more about World Suicide Prevention Day at this link.

If you’re in crisis, there are options available to help you. You can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at any time to connect with a trained crisis counselor. For confidential support available 24/7 for everyone in the U.S., call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org, or visit https://go.usa.gov/xyxGa.


Glenbard North Influencer Club receives Glendale Heights recognition
On September 4th, Glenbard North’s Influencer Club was recognized by Glendale Heights Village President Rebecca Giannelli and the Village Board of Trustees for outstanding service to the community. The club recently created a promotional video for the village’s Teal Dot campaign, raising awareness about safe driving.

GBN’s Influencer Club is a group of approximately 200 students who create daily school news, interviews, food reviews, game shows, trending videos and more. Their creative work has been featured on ESPN, House of Highlights and CBS MaxPreps. Follow the GBN Influencer Club on Instagram, Tik Tok and YouTube to see their latest content and join the fun.


Glenbard Transition programs fall sale on Sept. 18-19
The Glenbard Transition programs will host their fall sale on Thursday-Friday, Sept. 18-19 at the Glenbard Transition Vocational Center (301 S. Swift Road in Addison). Thursday hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday hours are 10 a.m. to Noon.

Shop for a variety of mums, handmade fall crafts and seasonal coffee shop treats. All proceeds go towards supporting the Glenbard Transition programs.


Glen Ellyn Children’s Resource Center seeking
volunteers for after-school tutoring program
Interested in giving back to the community in a meaningful way?

The Glen Ellyn Children’s Resource Center volunteer application for the 2025-26 school year is open! GECRC’s school-year program will begin at their five sites on September 15; they are in need of volunteers to commit to one or more days per week when they can work with students for one hour after school.

Current volunteer tutors need to log in to their account, make changes to any information that has changed and answer any new questions. New volunteers will need to complete a brand-new application.

If you know you can volunteer at some point in the school year, but not right away (for example, you might have a fall sport or commitment and can’t start volunteering until January), please still apply now so GECRC knows how many volunteers they have in their pool throughout the school year.

Applications are linked here: https://www.gecrc.com/volunteer/

E-mail [email protected] with any questions.


GPS Parent Series author to shine light on the secret strengths of introverts

Glenbard West Principal Ben Peterselli is showcasing this year’s GPS Community Read selection, “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking” by Susan Cain. The young adult version of the book is titled “Quiet Power: The Secret Strength of Introverted Kids.” The books explore the underappreciated capabilities and contributions of introverted individuals in a culture that often favors extroverted traits.

The author comes to GPS for virtual events on Sept. 17 at noon and 7 p.m. with practical advice on how to thrive and create environments that support both types of personalities. Cain will be in conversation with noted psychologist Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman.

Details and Zoom links can be found on Cain’s speaker page at GPSParentSeries.org. View the full lineup of renowned speakers in the GPS brochure. To subscribe to the weekly GPS reminder email, click here.


Strong executive function starts with students being able to “see” themselves completing tasks
Recently, the GPS Parent Series welcomed Sarah Ward and Kristen Jacobsen in a program titled “Organizational Skills for School Success.” The duo explained how executive function isn’t just about having a planner — it’s about building a mental image of what success looks like and rehearsing that mentally to make it real. Read five essential takeaways from the presentation, or view a clip along with the Q&A.

To receive detailed program summaries and be notified of upcoming events, sign up for the GPS weekly newsletter.


Highlights of September 8 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, Martha Mueller, Pete Nolan and Jim Shannon.

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT:

  1. The district received the following donations: Anonymous, $150.00 to the Flag Football program at South. Richard Mays, $100.00 to the Football program at West.
  2. On August 29, Glenbard South welcomed WGN’sAround Town TV crew to campus for a special live broadcast to shine a spotlight on the school community. Raider Pride was on full display as students and staff participated in live interviews, musical performances and athletic demonstrations.
  3. On September 1, Glenbard North boys soccer players were featured on ABC7 Chicago as part of a unique campaign to raise awareness about men’s health and teen suicide prevention. The segment highlighted a “golden toilet” traveling to Chicago-area schools, sparking meaningful conversations in a creative way. Partnering with Buddy’s Helpers and other community leaders, our student-athletes helped bring attention to this important cause during National Self-Care Awareness Month.
  4. September is National Suicide Prevention Month. At Glenbard District 87, the safety and well-being of every member of our Glenbard family is our highest priority. If you or someone you know is struggling, students are encouraged to speak with a trusted adult at school, such as a counselor, social worker, dean, teacher, or principal for support. Our district website offers up-to-date mental health resources, crisis lines, and tips for helping a friend; pleasevisit for details. For 24/7 confidential help, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, and in an immediate emergency, call 911.
  5. Glenbard East recently celebrated the ribbon cutting of its newly renovated library—the first major update since 1989. The renovation features a striking new glass curtain wall, updated furniture, and modern collaboration spaces designed to support today’s learners. This bright, flexible environment offers students a welcoming place to study, connect, and grow, reflecting our ongoing commitment to creating innovative learning spaces across the district.
  6. The week of September 17-23 is Constitution Week. It marks the 238th anniversary of the drafting of the U.S. Constitution. Our schools are Illinois Democracy Schools, which are recognized for providing high-quality civic learning opportunities for all students.
  7. Glenbard Parent Series (GPS) continues to offer free, high-quality programs for families, students, school staff, professionals, and the community. As the nation’s premier parenting education and family support network, GPS provides weekly access to world-renowned speakers who share valuable tips, tools, and strategies on topics that matter most to families. Programming is designed to support every age and stage of life.
    We encourage community members to attend the GPS Parent Series webinars noted below. The link to each event is available at GPSparentseries.org. Looking ahead, we have:
  • September 9 in-person event at 7 p.m. at Glenbard West – Rules for Living Life at the Center
  • September 11 at noon and 7 p.m. – End Reactive Parenting Habits and Create Peace at Home
  • September 17 at noon and 7 p.m. – Community Read – Quiet Power: The Secret Strengths of Introverted Kids and Adults
  • September 18 at 7 p.m. – B-PAC event presented in Spanish: Practical Tools for Wellbeing in Challenging Times
  1. We are looking forward to parent-teacher conferences, which will be held on October 22 and 23. Parent-teacher conferences will be conducted via Zoom and in-person. This is a valuable opportunity for families to connect with our educators to discuss their students’ academic progress.
  2. On July 25, 2025, the District received four Freedom of Information Act requests from Marty Boyd, requesting:
  • All executed contracts for the years 2020 through 2025, along with an invoice ledger for that time period for the following vendors: Grand Stage, Henry Bros., Kiefer USA and Kriha Boucek LLC.

      The District has responded to this request.

  1. On July 30, 2025, the District received a Freedom of Information Act request from Marty Boyd, requesting:
  • Construction start dates and targeted completion dates for all the new secured Glenbard West exterior entrances and Biester Gym main entrance as referenced in the current District 87 referendum work.

      The District has responded to this request.

  1. On August 15, 2025, the District received a Freedom of Information Act request from Lori Saguto, requesting:
  • The list of applicants for the vacant District 87 Board of Education position.

      The District has responded to this request.

  1. On August 18, 2025, the District received a Freedom of Information Act request from DataBid, Tania Campbell, requesting:
  • The bid opening tabulation or apparent low bidder for the Glenbard West High School Addition Bid Release 6.1 Project.

      The District has responded to this request.

  1. On August 20, 2025, the District received a Freedom of Information Act request from Robert Dobosz, requesting:
  • All executed contracts with Gilbane for the years 2020 through 2025, along with an invoice ledger for that time period.

      The District has responded to this request.

  1. On August 25, 2025, the District received a Freedom of Information Act request from Grace Daigel, requesting:
  • All letters dated August 25, 2021 – August 25, 2025 from the Office of the Attorney General with determinations that Glenbard District 87 had violated the Open Meetings Act.

      The District has responded to this request.

THE BOARD APPROVED:

– the August 25, 2025 regular meeting minutes and closed session minutes.

– August 5, 2025 and August 20, 2025 gross payrolls.
August 5, 2025                                       Gross Payroll            Net Payroll
Education Fund                                     $3,988,710.10          $2,355,635.00
Operations & Maintenance Fund  $51,839.57                 $31,093.76   
Transportation Fund                            $1,632.26                   $927.50

August 20, 2025                                      Gross Payroll            Net Payroll
Education Fund                                       $4,536,909.22         $2,721,895.63
Operations & Maintenance Fund    $58,226.73                $37,942.96
Transportation Fund                              $1,633.38                   $1,136.86         
Total Payrolls                                             $8,638,954.26        $5,148,631.71

– invoices for payment.
September 8, 2025
Educational Fund                                     $586,086.67
Operations & Maintenance Fund      $227,957.96
Debt Service                                               $0.00
Transportation                                           $15,805.24
Capital Projects                                        $3,757,269.48
Interim – Checks                                      $215,491.26
Interim – Wire Transfers                        $3,621,305.71
TOTAL                                                              $8,423,916.32

– the following personnel items:
SUPPORT STAFF – EMPLOYMENT:
Name                             School/Position                                                          FTE                Effective Date
Ciske, Connor           North / Science Lab Assistant                            93.75%           08/28/2025
Parduhn, Michelle   DO / District Accounting (date correction)   100%               09/04/2025
Rogers, Xavere        East / Special Education Assistant                  87.5%              09/03/2025
Turner, Melvin           North / Study Hall-BIA Supervisor                    93.75%           08/27/2025
Zurik, Samah            West / Special Education Assistant                  60%                 08/28/2025

SUPPORT STAFF – CHANGE OF POSITION:
Name                       School/Position                                                   FTE                Effective Date
Cooper, Lisa         DO / Executive Administrative Asst.        100%                09/15/2025
Grant, Chad         Transitions / Special Education Asst.       81.25%            09/08/2025

– accepting the following donations: Glen Ellyn Raiders Basketball Club, $2,300.00 to girls basketball at South. Glen Ellyn Raiders Basketball Club, $2,300.00 to boys basketball at South. Glen Ellyn Raiders Basketball Club, $1,900.00 to girls basketball at South. Glen Ellyn Raiders Basketball Club, $1,900.00 to boys basketball at South. Anonymous, $2,600.00 to the football program at South. The Alec Pierce Charitable Fund, $1,000.00 to the flag football program at West. The Alec Pierce Charitable Fund, $4,000.00 to the football program at West. Pekin Insurance, $1,000.00 to the football program at East.

– two excursions. 

– new board member oath of office and election of vice president. Board President Margaret DeLaRosa administered the oath of office to reappointed Board Member Martha Mueller. The board then made a motion to elect the office of Board Vice President. Upon the initial nomination of Board Member Mueller for the role of Board Vice President, Board Member Mueller responded, “While I appreciate your continued support for the benefit of this board, I respectfully decline.” The board elected Board Member Hetal Lee to the office of Board Vice President.

– 2025-26 budget hearing.
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 2024-25:

1)  Balanced budget in operating funds – the District 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 cash flow requirements.

3)  Solvency position was achieved for the 16th year in-a-row. The District estimates 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
The District has published the 2025-26 budget calendar and are on track to review and approve the district budget consistent with our plan and timeline. The District is presenting a budget that indicates a net operating surplus in 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 transfer to Debt Service Fund = $2,718,730
  • Net operating surplus = $217,121 (Gross operating surplus less transfer to Debt Service)

– ACT prep program agreement 2025-26 – Progress Learning. District 87 has offered a free test prep for 11th grade Glenbard students with the purpose of allowing access to quality test prep for all students. The program has evolved over the years based on feedback from students, teachers and administrators. In 2019, Glenbard partnered with an outside vendor (Academic Approach) to deliver the test prep course instruction outside of the school day.

The district wants to provide a more equitable way that all 11th grade students can experience ACT prep. We have explored a variety of online ACT preparation programs and have selected a product by Progress Learning. Progress Learning’s ACT solution will meet the district’s specified goals by providing the following:

  • A PreACT/ACT diagnostic and benchmarking tool, which includes three full-length benchmark assessments that provide immediate data to help identify student strength and improvement areas and plan interventions. The instructional diagnostics pinpoint student performance by skill and standard and track mastery of high-impact ACT concepts across subjects.
  • Materials such as ready-to-use PreACT/ACT curriculum, with individualized learning paths, practice questions and support videos for every standard assessed on the exam.
  • Multi-level reporting, which allows administrators to view performance data at district, school, classroom and student levels. The reporting provides clear data to inform grouping, reteaching and intervention, as well as measures progress over time to align instruction with college readiness goals.
  • Assessment results render within minutes of completion at student, teacher and district levels, which deliver actionable diagnostic and benchmarking insights to drive instruction and support accountability goals.
  • Assessments which fully support ACT accommodation and accessibility requirements, including extended time, text-to-speech options and other visual support tools.
  • Professional development which annually includes two full-days of on-site training and four custom 60-minute virtual webinars. Additionally, a dedicated enterprise customer success manager who will provide monthly check-ins, custom usage reports, data analysis, school-level coaching, yearly account reviews and strategic planning to ensure long-term instructional impact.

This contract accounts for licenses for all 11th grade students in the district. The cost per building is $18,000, with a $1,800 large district discount ($16,200 per building). The total amount is $64,800.

Last year, our agreement with Academic Approach ($263,600.00) provided live in-person and virtual instruction for students that registered. In order to get the program running successfully this year, we will be utilizing some of the extra budgeted monies to cover the following expenses: student incentives/rewards ($1,000) per building; snacks for students during collaboration hour and PLC time ($1,500 E, N, W and $1,000 S); ACT support coordinator hourly pay ($49.89, approximately 120 hours) per building. The approximate cost to implement the program for the 2025-26 school year is $98,247.20.

– Resolution Approving Change Order and Emergency Contract – Glenbard South and Glenbard West Site Improvement Additional Costs. For this project, the District originally bid out landscaping and earthwork in February 2025. The contract was issued for work at both Glenbard South (tennis court relocation and replacement) and Glenbard West (Biester parking improvements). This past month, the District encountered several unanticipated issues related to soil quality and the condition of the existing stormwater detention system.

At Glenbard South, the District encountered poor soils and required undercutting to reinforce the site prior to the stone base being installed for the new tennis courts. At Glenbard West, the underground stormwater detention corrugated pipes were unstable and were required to be replaced. Subsequently, the soil surrounding the retaining wall was deemed to be of poor quality, unable to meet the structural bearing capacity requirements and requires reinforcement through the installation of rammed aggregate piers.

The costs for this additional work totals $907,610. The original estimate for this project was $6,570,175. The original bids came in substantially under budget at $4,208,583, with $1,843,923 awarded to Hoppy’s Landscaping. In June, the District brought back to the Board an additional cost of $278,240, related to permitting modifications required by DuPage County for the site work at Glenbard South; however, after further review and negotiations, this cost was able to be reduced to $231,540. With approval of this resolution, the total estimated cost for this bid package would be $5,547,894 which remains under the original budget.

BOARD INFORMATION/DISCUSSION ITEMS INCLUDED:

– 2025-26 newly hired licensed staff introduction. The following newly hired staff were introduced:

Glenbard East:        

  • Nereida Bolivar, Social Worker Interventionist
  • Malary Dornbos, Family & Consumer Science Teacher
  • Eric Kelly, Physical Education Teacher (and South)
  • Tony Millard, Assistant Principal for Athletics
  • Clay Reagan, Physical Education/Health/Drivers Education Department Chair
  • Anastasia Schikschnus, Art Teacher
  • Jordan Torres, English Learners Teacher
  • Noelle Tragasz, Business/Consumer Science Teacher

Glenbard North:

  • Elizabeth Hardt, Family & Consumer Science Teacher (and South)
  • Carrie McCann, Physical Education Teacher
  • Raffaella Spilotro, World Languages Teacher
  • Cristina Tinnirello, World Languages Teacher

Glenbard South:

  • Travis Edwards, Social Worker Interventionist
  • Kimberly Jablonski, Assistant Principal for Instruction
  • Yvette Pratt, School Counselor
  • Meghan Stock, Special Education Teacher
  • Frank Urman, English Teacher
  • Brook West, Science Teacher 

Glenbard West:

  • Irene Carrillo Rosal, World Languages Teacher
  • Nisha Heneghan, Social Studies Teacher (and East and South)
  • Malaika Khan, School Counselor (and North and East)
  • Kruti Parikh, School Counselor
  • Heather Scott, World Languages Teacher
  • Andrew Toniolo, Music Teacher

Directions

  • Michael Scolire, Science/Industrial Technology Teacher

District Office:

  • Tyler Carter, Director of Communications
  • LeViis Haney, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning
  • Dana Pryor, Controller
  • Susannah Wagner, Assistant Director for Teaching and Learning

 – student services year-end report 2024-25. The student services 2024-25 year-end report included a comprehensive picture of student services in Glenbard. Specifically reviewed areas included: special education, Transition programs and English learner supports. Integrating these supports in the schools and greater Glenbard community is necessary to ensure that each student is supported, engaged and develops skills identified in the Profile of a Graduate vision.

– 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 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 Operating 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.

– policies & procedures for first reading & discussion. 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).