The Cook County School District 130 Board of Education held its July 21, 2026 regular meeting at 6:00 p.m. at the Eisenhower Cooperative, 5318 W. 135th Street in Crestwood. The meeting covered routine financial and personnel business, specialized student services, school safety, professional development, technology, facilities projects, the developing superintendent search, the Fiscal Year 2027 budget, school-improvement grants, labor matters, custodial services, employee grievances, and pending litigation.
A substantial portion of the district's operational business was handled through the consent agenda. The agenda included the June 16 regular and closed-session minutes, June 9 Finance Committee minutes, expenditures and payroll, Personnel Report 2027-001, and Resolutions 2027-001 through 2027-008. Those resolutions covered temporary and contracted teachers, emergency communications support, interpretation and translation, bilingual speech-language services, professional learning, a university social-work internship, a digital hall-pass system, and technology renewals.
Several of those agreements were intended to preserve services where staffing or specialized expertise is difficult to obtain. Amergis Educational Staffing was identified to provide a temporary fourth- and fifth-grade special education resource teacher at Paul Revere Intermediate School from August 14 through approximately September 25, 2026, as well as a sixth-grade science teacher at Nathan Hale Middle School for the 2026-2027 school year. The packet explains that the temporary special-education assignment is intended to maintain students' Individualized Education Program services during a full-time teacher's absence.
Language access and specialized services were another major theme. The Acutrans agreement provides interpreters and translators for activities such as IEP meetings, evaluations, parent conferences, disciplinary meetings and registration, with the services funded through the district's approved budget using an IDEA grant. The Bilingual Speech Solutions agreement responds to what the district described as a nationwide shortage of bilingual speech-language pathologists and continues a relationship that has existed for more than ten years. These services are tied both to student needs and to state and federal requirements governing meaningful language access and special education.
Facilities and school safety also received attention. For the Nathan Hale Middle School gymnasium floor renovation, the Board had two alternatives before it: premium maple hardwood athletic flooring and Taraflex resilient athletic flooring. The discussion reflected interest in the capabilities and long-term usefulness of hardwood, including its suitability for athletic competition. The transcript records a motion and affirmative votes on the gymnasium project, although the automated transcript is not sufficiently clear to identify every individual vote or reproduce the motion-maker and seconder reliably. Separately, the Board considered and approved the Lincoln School site-improvement proposal involving MCS, LLC; discussion referenced safety-related work around the west-end parking area and noted that additional timing information from the city was not yet available.
The superintendent search generated some of the strongest public interest. School Exec Connect was scheduled to brief the Board in closed session about stakeholder engagement, development of a leadership profile, candidate recruitment, the anticipated timeline and other phases of the search. During public comment, residents questioned why this initial discussion was being conducted privately and asked how the public would participate. A Board response indicated that this was an initial planning discussion and that information and opportunities for community involvement would be shared as the process developed.
Labor relations and custodial services were another significant issue. An SEIU representative reported during public comment that the union membership had ratified a tentative custodial and maintenance agreement and asked the Board to approve it. Another union representative opposed contracting out custodial work and argued that vendor staffing-hour estimates demonstrated that existing district custodians had been understaffed. After closed session, however, the Board did not award a custodial contract. Instead, it voted to move forward with the legally required review of the HES bid. Illinois law requires additional steps—including a cost comparison, consultation with the bargaining representative and a public hearing—before a final outsourcing decision can be made.
The Board also took several personnel-related actions after closed session. The transcript records approval of the dismissal of a non-licensed employee and Board action on five Step 4 SEIU termination grievances. Because the transcript contains transcription errors in several personal names and vote-call identifications, this summary does not reproduce uncertain names. The Board also approved a proposed settlement agreement concerning pending litigation involving Integral Construction, Trane U.S. Inc., and related parties, authorizing the Board President and Superintendent to execute the documents needed to finalize it.
Financially, the district reported an operating-funds cash balance of $66.3 million for the month ending June 2026. As of July 2, the Illinois Comptroller had processed all district payments for fiscal year 2026. The district also received $141,000 in FY2027 Title I, Part A, Section 1003 School Improvement Grant funding for six schools, with Lincoln Elementary receiving the largest allocation at $50,000.
The Fiscal Year 2027 budget remained in development rather than being adopted at this meeting. The district planned to place the tentative budget on public display August 15, present it to the Board August 18, and hold the public hearing and adoption process September 15. These dates give residents concrete opportunities to follow the district's financial planning before final adoption.
Major Discussion and Action Items
Consent Agenda and District Operations
The consent agenda bundled a wide range of routine and operational matters into one action. It included prior meeting minutes, Finance Committee minutes, expenditures, transfers, payroll, student activity balances, the personnel report and Resolutions 2027-001 through 2027-008.
The resolutions collectively addressed staffing continuity, emergency communications, language access, specialized student services, professional learning, student social-work training, school safety technology and renewal of existing technology systems.
The transcript records the Board moving to approve the consent agenda as presented, with the agenda describing item 3E as amended. Because portions of the roll-call transcription are garbled, individual votes and the identities of the motion-maker and seconder cannot be reported reliably from the available text.
Amergis Educational Staffing
Resolution 2027-001 addressed two staffing needs for 2026-2027. Katrina Garnett was assigned as a temporary fourth- and fifth-grade special education resource teacher at Paul Revere Intermediate School from August 14 through approximately September 25, 2026. The purpose is to maintain special-education instruction and IEP supports during a full-time teacher's absence.
Brittany Brown was assigned as the sixth-grade science teacher at Nathan Hale Middle School for the 2026-2027 school year. The packet states that the agreement provides the school with a qualified, appropriately licensed middle-school science teacher.
Emergency and School-Safety Communications
Resolution 2027-002 continued access to Mekky Media Relations, Inc. for communications assistance during emergencies and school-safety situations. The district described the service as limited, as-needed support for developing and distributing information when coordinated public communication is necessary.
The practical purpose is readiness: the agreement allows the district to obtain specialized communications support during an emergency without suggesting that the consultant will handle routine district communications.
Interpretation and Translation Services
Resolution 2027-003 concerned Acutrans interpretation and translation services. The services support parents, guardians and community members with limited English proficiency during IEP meetings, evaluations, conferences, disciplinary proceedings, registration and other school activities.
The district connected these services to Illinois special-education rules and the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The fiscal impact identified in the packet is funding through the district's approved budget using the IDEA grant.
Bilingual Speech-Language Services
Resolution 2027-004 continued the district's relationship with Bilingual Speech Solutions, LLC. The administration reported extensive efforts to recruit bilingual speech-language pathologists directly but said a nationwide shortage continues to make those positions difficult to fill.
The district has worked with the provider for more than ten years. The agreement is intended to maintain timely evaluations and speech-language services in students' native languages when required and to support compliance with Illinois special-education rules, IDEA and federal language-access requirements.
Professional Learning
Resolution 2027-005 covered professional-learning consultants in English Language Arts, mathematics and science. The packet identifies Meghan Hargrave for literacy, Sharon Rak and the University of Illinois/Metro Chicago Mathematics Initiative for mathematics, and Science Curriculum, Inc., associated with Dr. Carol Baker, for science.
The district's stated goal is job-embedded professional learning that improves teachers' instructional capacity and ultimately student performance. Anticipated funding sources include federal Title I and Title I School Improvement grants.
Aurora University Social Work Internship
Resolution 2027-006 approved an affiliation agreement with Aurora University for placement of a social-work intern at Lincoln Elementary School. The arrangement provides a school-based training placement while adding support within the school setting.
Hāpara Hall Pass and Technology Renewals
Resolution 2027-007 concerned a one-year Hāpara Hall Pass subscription for the district's three middle schools. The digital system replaces paper hall passes and allows real-time management of student movement. The district identified safety, reduced classroom disruption and protection of instructional time as its purposes.
Resolution 2027-008 covered FY2026-2027 technology software renewals, including materials associated with Clever and Raptor. The packet states that these software purchases and renewals are exempt from competitive bidding under the cited Illinois School Code provision.
Nathan Hale Middle School Gymnasium Renovation
The Board revisited the Nathan Hale Middle School gymnasium floor after requesting pricing and specifications in June. Two alternatives were presented: premium maple hardwood athletic flooring with court striping, graphics, finish and wall base, and Taraflex resilient athletic flooring with game striping and graphics.
Discussion included the usefulness of hardwood for athletics and future programming. The transcript records a motion on the FY2027 Nathan Hale Middle School gymnasium renovation and affirmative responses. The available transcription does not clearly preserve the complete motion wording, motion-maker, seconder or individual roll call, so those details should not be inferred.
Lincoln School Site Improvements
The Board considered safety-related site improvements at Lincoln School, with the packet recommending approval of a proposal from MCS, LLC.
The transcript records an approval motion and discussion of work near the west-end parking lot. Staff indicated that specific information from the city about timing had not yet been received, leaving at least part of the implementation schedule unresolved.
Superintendent Search
School Exec Connect was scheduled to meet with the Board during closed session to discuss how the superintendent search would be structured. Topics included stakeholder engagement, creation of a leadership profile, candidate recruitment, the anticipated timeline and major search phases.
Residents specifically questioned the use of closed session for this early stage and asked when the community would see information or have input. A Board response described the session as an initial opportunity for Board members to determine their needs and indicated that information would later be shared publicly.
No superintendent was selected at this meeting.
Fiscal Year 2027 Budget
The tentative FY2027 budget remained under development. The district's published schedule called for the tentative budget to be placed on public display August 15, followed by a Board presentation August 18 and a public hearing and anticipated adoption September 15.
This was an informational item rather than final budget adoption.
School Improvement Grants
ISBE awarded the district $141,000 in FY2027 Title I, Part A, Section 1003 School Improvement Grant funding. Allocations were:
- Nathan Hale Middle School: $31,000
- Nathan Hale Intermediate School: $15,000
- George Washington Elementary School: $15,000
- Paul Revere Intermediate School: $15,000
- Whittier Elementary School: $15,000
- Lincoln Elementary School: $50,000
The money is intended for evidence-based school-improvement practices, professional learning and implementation and monitoring of School Improvement Plans. The administration was to submit the required continuation application to ISBE. The agenda expressly identified this as an informational item.
Custodial Services and Statutory Bid Review
The district had completed competitive bidding for custodial services, but Illinois law requires additional procedures before a school district may enter into an outsourcing contract.
Those procedures include comparing anticipated contract costs with current district costs, meeting with the exclusive bargaining representative to discuss the comparison and alternatives for keeping the work in-house, conducting a public hearing and considering the cost information before final action. The packet explicitly stated that no custodial contract would be awarded on July 21.
After closed session, the Board voted to proceed with the required statutory review of the bid submitted by HES. This advanced HES for further review but did not constitute final approval of an outsourcing contract.
Employee Grievances and Dismissal
The Board went into closed session under statutory categories covering personnel, collective bargaining, security, litigation, claims and other confidential matters.
After returning to open session, the Board approved the dismissal of a non-licensed employee and acted on five Step 4 SEIU termination grievances. The transcript records affirmative votes and approval on these matters, but several names and roll-call identifications are unreliable in the automated transcription. Accordingly, uncertain personal names are not repeated here.
Litigation Settlement
The Board considered a proposed settlement concerning pending litigation involving Integral Construction, Trane U.S. Inc., and related parties. Legal counsel had negotiated the agreement and reviewed its terms with the Board in closed session.
The Board approved the settlement as presented and authorized the Board President and Superintendent to execute the documents necessary to finalize it. The available packet text does not disclose the settlement amount or other confidential terms.
Votes, Decisions, and Direction
- Consent agenda: The Board approved the consent agenda, including the listed minutes, financial items, Personnel Report 2027-001 and Resolutions 2027-001 through 2027-008. The available transcript does not reliably preserve the complete individual roll call.
- Resolution 2027-001: Approved the Amergis Educational Staffing assignment agreement covering temporary special-education staffing at Paul Revere Intermediate School and sixth-grade science staffing at Nathan Hale Middle School.
- Resolution 2027-002: Approved the Mekky Media Relations, Inc. agreement for as-needed emergency and school-safety communications support.
- Resolution 2027-003: Approved the Acutrans agreement for interpretation and translation services.
- Resolution 2027-004: Approved the Bilingual Speech Solutions, LLC agreement for bilingual speech-language services.
- Resolution 2027-005: Approved agreements with professional-learning consultants and organizations for English Language Arts, mathematics and science.
- Resolution 2027-006: Approved the Aurora University affiliation agreement for a social-work intern at Lincoln Elementary School.
- Resolution 2027-007: Approved the Hāpara Hall Pass proposal for the three middle schools.
- Resolution 2027-008: Approved FY2026-2027 technology software renewals.
- Nathan Hale Middle School gymnasium: The transcript records a motion and affirmative vote on the FY2027 gymnasium renovation project. The transcript does not preserve enough reliable wording to state every roll-call detail or motion attribution.
- Lincoln School site improvements: The transcript records approval of the MCS, LLC proposal concerning safety improvements.
- Closed session: The Board voted to enter closed session for the statutory purposes identified on the agenda and later returned to open session.
- Non-licensed employee dismissal: Approved after closed session. The transcript's rendering of the employee's name is not sufficiently reliable to reproduce it here.
- Five Step 4 SEIU termination grievances: The Board acted affirmatively on five grievance determinations after closed session. The transcript contains unreliable name transcription, so individual employee names are omitted.
- Custodial services: The Board approved proceeding with the statutory review process for the HES bid. This was not a custodial-services contract award.
- Litigation settlement: The Board approved the proposed settlement involving Integral Construction, Trane U.S. Inc., and related parties and authorized the Board President and Superintendent to execute the necessary documents.
Where the transcript contains garbled speaker identifications, this summary does not attribute motions or seconds to individuals.
Financial Matters
The consent agenda included expenditures, expenditure transfers and payroll for June 2026 through July 21, 2026, together with the Student Activity Account cash balance.
The district's financial report showed $66.3 million in operating-funds cash for the month ending June 2026. The Budget Balance Report tracked expenditures to date.
As of July 2, 2026, the Illinois Comptroller had processed all payments owed to the district for fiscal year 2026 through the reimbursement and categorical-program process described in the packet.
The district received $141,000 in FY2027 Title I, Part A, Section 1003 School Improvement Grant funding. Lincoln Elementary received $50,000; Nathan Hale Middle received $31,000; and Nathan Hale Intermediate, George Washington Elementary, Paul Revere Intermediate and Whittier Elementary each received $15,000.
Interpreter and translation services under the Acutrans agreement are to be funded through the district's approved budget using the IDEA grant.
Professional-learning agreements are anticipated to use Title I and Title I School Improvement grant funds.
The tentative FY2027 budget was not adopted at this meeting. Public display was scheduled for August 15, a Board presentation for August 18, and the public hearing and budget-adoption meeting for September 15.
The materials reviewed for this summary do not establish reliable final dollar amounts for every vendor agreement, the Nathan Hale gymnasium work, the Lincoln site improvements, the potential custodial contract or the litigation settlement. Those amounts should therefore not be inferred.
Policies, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Governance
The Board considered Resolutions 2027-001 through 2027-008 as part of the consent agenda. Together they establish or continue contractual arrangements covering staffing, emergency communications, interpretation, bilingual speech-language services, professional learning, university field placement, student-movement technology and software systems.
The Acutrans and Bilingual Speech Solutions materials emphasize compliance with state and federal requirements governing special education and meaningful participation by families whose primary language is not English.
Hāpara Hall Pass and the technology renewals were treated as software-related purchases exempt from ordinary competitive bidding under Section 10-20.21 of the Illinois School Code.
The custodial-services matter involves a separate statutory process under Section 10-22.34c of the Illinois School Code. Advancing HES to statutory review does not authorize a contract. Cost comparison, bargaining-unit consultation, a public hearing and Board consideration must occur before final action.
Governance and transparency were also raised by members of the public, particularly concerning the superintendent search and earlier Board leadership decisions. These were public concerns rather than formal findings by the Board.
Reports, Presentations, and Updates
The Board received or had available monthly reports from the Superintendent and the Business & Financial Services, Curriculum & Instruction, Human Resources, and Student Services & Accountability departments.
The superintendent-search update involved School Exec Connect and covered stakeholder engagement, development of a leadership profile, candidate recruitment, timeline planning and the major phases of the search.
The district reported receiving eight Freedom of Information Act requests in the July report.
The FY2027 School Improvement Grant report identified $141,000 in state-administered federal funding across six district schools and described the funding as supporting evidence-based improvement practices, professional learning and school-improvement planning.
The financial report showed a $66.3 million operating-funds cash balance, while the Comptroller update indicated all FY2026 payments had been processed as of July 2.
Personnel, Appointments, and Organizational Matters
Personnel Report 2027-001 included certified and classified employment and resignations.
Publicly listed employment included Michael Battistoni as a teacher and John Dudzik as Assistant Superintendent - HR, with Dudzik's start date listed as July 1, 2026. Classified appointments included three School Safety Liaison positions beginning August 3, a paraprofessional beginning August 14, two crossing guards and a lunch aide beginning August 17.
The personnel report also listed several certified resignations effective May 22, including teachers and a counselor, as well as classified personnel changes.
The Amergis agreement provides temporary or contracted staffing for a special-education resource classroom at Paul Revere Intermediate and sixth-grade science at Nathan Hale Middle.
The district's agreement with Bilingual Speech Solutions reflects continued difficulty recruiting bilingual speech-language pathologists directly. The district reported extensive recruitment efforts but said the national shortage continues.
After closed session, the Board approved a non-licensed employee dismissal and acted on five Step 4 SEIU termination grievances. Because the automated transcript contains unreliable personal-name transcription, uncertain names are not reproduced.
Projects, Facilities, Infrastructure, and Operations
The Nathan Hale Middle School gymnasium renovation was a principal facilities item. The Board had requested pricing and specifications at its June meeting and considered premium maple hardwood and Taraflex resilient flooring alternatives on July 21.
The Board also considered Lincoln School site improvements for safety purposes and approved the proposal involving MCS, LLC. Discussion referenced work associated with the west-end parking area. The transcript indicates that staff had not yet received specific timing information from the city, so the complete implementation schedule remained unresolved.
Hāpara Hall Pass represents an operational change at the district's three middle schools. The one-year digital subscription is intended to replace paper hall passes with a real-time student-movement management system.
Custodial operations remain potentially subject to a major future change. The Board advanced the HES bid into statutory review but did not approve outsourcing at this meeting.
Public comment included significant discussion of labor relations, custodial services, Board transparency and the superintendent search.
An SEIU representative involved in negotiations for custodial and maintenance employees reported that the union had withdrawn its remaining unresolved proposals except for an issue involving waiver of a statutory right, accepted the district's other outstanding proposals, and ratified a tentative agreement. The representative asked the Board to approve the agreement and conclude the prolonged negotiations.
Another SEIU representative urged the Board not to contract out custodial services. The speaker compared district staffing hours with vendor estimates and argued that outside vendors' higher estimates showed that district custodians had been expected to clean schools with insufficient staffing. The speaker also emphasized keeping jobs within the district community. These statements were the speaker's position during public comment, not findings adopted by the Board.
A community member raised concerns about transparency and accountability, including the April 2026 removal of the Board President, the superintendent-selection process, employee grievances, turnover and retention. The speaker asked the Board to make the superintendent search criteria and community-engagement process clearer.
Another speaker focused specifically on the superintendent search and questioned why School Exec Connect's initial presentation was being handled in closed session. The speaker asked when the public would receive information and whether community members would have input into candidate selection.
A Board response characterized the session as an initial planning discussion and indicated that information would be brought back publicly as the search developed.
Questions and Answers
Why was the superintendent-search discussion being held in closed session?
Community members questioned why the initial School Exec Connect discussion was not public. A Board response indicated that this was an early planning session intended to help Board members understand the process and determine their priorities, with information to be shared with the community as the search developed.
What will School Exec Connect discuss with the Board?
The packet identifies stakeholder engagement, development of a leadership profile, candidate recruitment strategies, the anticipated search timeline and the key phases of the superintendent search.
The Amergis assignment covers a temporary absence of the full-time teacher and is intended to ensure fourth- and fifth-grade students continue receiving special-education instruction and IEP supports. The assignment is scheduled from August 14 through approximately September 25, 2026.
Why is a sixth-grade science teacher being provided through Amergis?
The district stated that the arrangement ensures Nathan Hale Middle School has a qualified teacher appropriately licensed to teach middle-school science for 2026-2027.
Why does the district use Acutrans?
Acutrans supplies qualified interpreters and translators so families with limited English proficiency can participate meaningfully in IEP meetings and other school activities. These services also help the district meet state and federal requirements.
How are interpretation and translation services funded?
The packet states that the services will be funded through the district's approved budget using the IDEA grant.
Why continue using Bilingual Speech Solutions?
The district reports a nationwide shortage of bilingual speech-language pathologists despite extensive direct-recruitment efforts. The provider has worked with District 130 for more than ten years and supplies professionals capable of providing services in students' native languages.
What was the choice for the Nathan Hale gymnasium floor?
The Board considered premium maple hardwood athletic flooring and Taraflex resilient athletic flooring. Discussion included athletic use and the potential benefits of hardwood.
Did the Board approve an HES custodial contract?
No. The Board voted only to proceed with the statutory review of the HES bid. The packet explicitly states that no contract was to be awarded at this meeting.
What must happen before custodial outsourcing could be approved?
The district must complete a cost comparison, meet with the exclusive bargaining representative regarding the comparison and alternatives, conduct a public hearing and consider the required cost information before final action.
Students and families: The staffing and service agreements are designed to maintain special-education instruction, middle-school science instruction, bilingual speech-language services and language access. Families who need interpreters during IEP meetings and other school processes should continue to have access to those services.
Middle-school students: Hāpara Hall Pass will introduce a digital method of managing student movement at the district's three middle schools. Nathan Hale Middle School students will also be affected by the gymnasium renovation and the contracted sixth-grade science staffing arrangement.
Students at schools receiving improvement grants: Six schools will share $141,000 in FY2027 improvement funding. The money is intended for school-improvement planning, professional learning and evidence-based instructional practices.
Employees: Personnel appointments, resignations, contracted staffing and the post-closed-session personnel actions directly affect district staffing. Custodial and maintenance employees face additional uncertainty because the district is continuing the legal process for considering an outside custodial-services bid.
Custodial employees and their union: No outsourcing contract was awarded July 21, but HES was selected for further statutory review. That process specifically requires consultation with the bargaining representative and a public hearing before final Board action.
Taxpayers: Residents will have an opportunity to review the tentative FY2027 budget before adoption. The scheduled public-display, presentation and hearing dates provide opportunities to examine district revenues and expenditures before final Board action.
The broader school community: Selection of the next superintendent will have long-term implications for district leadership. Public commenters requested greater visibility into that process. The Board indicated that more information and community involvement would come as planning proceeds.
- When will the Board publish the superintendent-search timeline and explain specific opportunities for students, families, employees and residents to participate?
- What qualifications and leadership priorities will be included in the superintendent candidate profile?
- What specific cost comparison will be used when evaluating the HES custodial-services bid against continued district staffing?
- When will the legally required public hearing on custodial services be held?
- What alternatives to outsourcing will be evaluated with SEIU before a final custodial-services decision?
- What are the final costs and funding sources for the Nathan Hale Middle School gymnasium renovation and Lincoln School safety improvements?
- What performance measures will the district use to determine whether the Hāpara Hall Pass system improves safety and reduces lost instructional time?
- How will the district measure results from the $141,000 in School Improvement Grant funding at the six recipient schools?
- What strategies will the district continue using to recruit bilingual speech-language pathologists as direct employees?
- What major revenue, expenditure or staffing changes will residents see when the tentative FY2027 budget is released?
- How will the district evaluate the effectiveness of its professional-learning consultants in improving classroom instruction and student outcomes?
- What information about the Integral Construction/Trane settlement can legally be made public after the agreement is finalized?
Important Dates and Next Steps
- July 1, 2026: John Dudzik's listed start date as Assistant Superintendent - HR.
- July 1, 2026: Effective funding date associated with the FY2027 School Improvement Grant continuation application.
- August 3, 2026: Listed start date for three School Safety Liaison appointments.
- August 14, 2026: Temporary Amergis special-education resource teacher assignment at Paul Revere Intermediate School begins; a paraprofessional appointment is also listed to begin this date.
- August 15, 2026: Tentative FY2027 budget planned to be placed on public display.
- August 17, 2026: Listed start date for two crossing guards and a lunch aide.
- August 18, 2026: Tentative FY2027 budget scheduled for presentation to the Board.
- Approximately September 25, 2026: Expected end of the temporary Paul Revere special-education assignment.
- September 15, 2026: Scheduled public hearing and budget-adoption meeting for FY2027.
- Custodial services: The district must complete the statutory HES bid-review process, including cost comparison, union consultation and a public hearing, before any final contract decision.
- Superintendent search: School Exec Connect and the Board are beginning the search-planning process; further public information and stakeholder engagement are expected as the process develops.
- Litigation settlement: The Board President and Superintendent were authorized to execute the documents needed to finalize the approved settlement.
Key Takeaways
- The July 21 meeting addressed staffing, student services, safety, facilities, technology, finances, labor relations and the superintendent search.
- The Board approved a broad consent agenda containing Personnel Report 2027-001 and Resolutions 2027-001 through 2027-008.
- Amergis will provide temporary special-education staffing at Paul Revere Intermediate School and sixth-grade science staffing at Nathan Hale Middle School.
- The temporary Paul Revere assignment is scheduled for August 14 through approximately September 25, 2026.
- Mekky Media Relations will remain available for as-needed emergency and school-safety communications support.
- Acutrans will provide interpretation and translation services, with funding identified through the IDEA grant.
- Bilingual Speech Solutions will continue providing specialized services amid a reported national shortage of bilingual speech-language pathologists.
- Professional-learning agreements cover English Language Arts, mathematics and science and are expected to use federal grant funding.
- Aurora University will place a social-work intern at Lincoln Elementary School.
- The district approved a one-year Hāpara Hall Pass subscription for its three middle schools.
- FY2026-2027 technology software renewals include materials associated with Clever and Raptor.
- The Board considered two flooring approaches for the Nathan Hale Middle School gymnasium: premium maple hardwood and Taraflex resilient flooring.
- The Board approved the Lincoln School safety-related site-improvement proposal involving MCS, LLC.
- The superintendent search is in its early planning phase with School Exec Connect.
- Public commenters asked for greater transparency and community participation in the superintendent search.
- The tentative FY2027 budget is scheduled for public display August 15, presentation August 18 and a public hearing/adoption meeting September 15.
- The district received $141,000 in FY2027 School Improvement Grant funding for six schools.
- The operating-funds cash balance for June 2026 was reported at $66.3 million.
- The Board took personnel and grievance actions after returning from closed session.
- The Board advanced the HES custodial-services bid into the legally required review process but did not award a custodial contract.
- Public-comment testimony showed significant union concern about possible custodial outsourcing and existing staffing levels.
- Before any custodial outsourcing contract can be approved, the district must complete a cost comparison, consult the bargaining representative and conduct a public hearing.
- The Board approved a settlement involving Integral Construction, Trane U.S. Inc., and related parties and authorized execution of the necessary documents.
Official Sources
About the Public Body
- Name: Cook County School District 130 Board of Education
- Organization type: school-district
- Government body: school-boards
- Location: Blue Island, illinois
- County: Cook County
- Provider: diligent-community
Keywords
Cook County School District 130, Board of Education, regular board meeting, Blue Island, Cook County, Illinois, FY2027 budget, superintendent search, School Exec Connect, HES, custodial services, SEIU, collective bargaining, Nathan Hale Middle School, gymnasium renovation, Lincoln School, school safety, Amergis Educational Staffing, Acutrans, Bilingual Speech Solutions, Mekky Media Relations, Hāpara Hall Pass, IDEA grant, Title I, School Improvement Grant, professional learning, bilingual services, special education, technology renewals, litigation settlement
