School Board Agenda & Packet Summary – Blue Island – July 21, 2026

Meeting Information

• Public Body: Cook County School District 130 Board of Education
• Organization Type: school-district
• Government Body: school-boards
• Meeting Title: Regular Board Meeting - Jul 21 2026
• Meeting Date: 2026-07-21
• City: Blue Island
• County: Cook County
• State: illinois
• Meeting Source URL: https://district130.community.diligentoneplatform.com/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&id=245
• Meeting Listing URL: https://district130.community.diligentoneplatform.com/Portal/
• Public Body Website: https://www.district130.org/board-of-education
• Meeting Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpwbPNJkfNhl4A8ImXq-S0w/streams
• Video Channel URL: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpwbPNJkfNhl4A8ImXq-S0w

What Community Members Should Know

Cook County School District 130's July 21, 2026 regular meeting centers on preparing for the 2026-2027 school year while making several operational, personnel, facilities, and governance decisions. Much of the agenda consists of contracts intended to maintain educational services, student safety, technology, communications, and specialized instructional support.

One of the most significant public decisions involves selecting a flooring option for the Nathan Hale Middle School gymnasium renovation after the Board requested additional pricing at its June meeting. Another facilities item recommends safety-related site improvements at Lincoln School. The Board is also beginning the superintendent search process with assistance from School Exec Connect and establishing the timeline for adoption of the FY2027 district budget.

The district is also preparing for staffing challenges by approving temporary educational staffing, bilingual speech-language services, interpretation services for multilingual families, professional development contracts, technology renewals, and safety-related software. Personnel actions include hiring an Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, teachers, safety liaisons, support staff, and accepting multiple resignations.

Financially, the district reports an operating cash balance of approximately $66.3 million, seeks approval of more than $3.84 million in expenditures and payroll, and announces receipt of $141,000 in School Improvement Grant funding from the Illinois State Board of Education for six schools. The meeting also begins the statutory review process for custodial service bids and considers approval of a litigation settlement negotiated in closed session.

Major Discussion and Action Items

Nathan Hale Middle School Gymnasium Renovation

The Board is expected to decide how to proceed with renovating the Nathan Hale Middle School gymnasium floor. Members requested additional information during the June meeting after discussing maintenance costs, athletic performance, durability, and compatibility with planned door replacements.

Administration presents two alternatives:

• Premium maple hardwood athletic flooring with custom court striping, mascot logo, finish system, and athletic wall base.
• Taraflex resilient sports flooring with custom striping and mascot graphics.

The Board must determine which alternative to pursue before the project advances. The renovation affects middle school athletics, physical education, facility maintenance, and future capital planning.

Superintendent Search Begins

Representatives from School Exec Connect will meet with the Board during closed session to begin planning the search for the district's next superintendent.

Topics include:

• Stakeholder engagement.
• Development of a leadership profile.
• Candidate recruitment strategies.
• Overall search timeline.
• Key phases of the hiring process.

Although no hiring decision is expected at this meeting, the discussion establishes the framework for one of the district's most important governance responsibilities.

Specialized Educational Staffing

Several agreements address staffing shortages in specialized positions.

Amergis Educational Staffing would provide:

• A temporary fourth- and fifth-grade special education resource teacher at Paul Revere Intermediate School from August 14 through approximately September 25, 2026.
• A sixth-grade science teacher for Nathan Hale Middle School during the 2026-2027 school year.

The packet explains these assignments are intended to maintain continuity of instruction and ensure compliance with students' Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).

Student Services for Multilingual Families

The Board is asked to approve agreements supporting legally required educational services.

The Acutrans agreement provides interpreters and translators for IEP meetings, evaluations, conferences, registration, disciplinary meetings, and other school activities involving families with limited English proficiency. Funding comes through the IDEA grant.

A separate agreement with Bilingual Speech Solutions addresses the nationwide shortage of bilingual speech-language pathologists while allowing the district to continue providing evaluations and services in students' native languages as required by state and federal law.

Professional Learning and Instruction

The district recommends approving multiple professional development agreements supporting English language arts, mathematics, and science instruction.

The framework emphasizes:

• Data-driven instructional practices.
• Teacher capacity building.
• Curriculum implementation.
• School improvement planning.
• Alignment with Title I and School Improvement Grant priorities.

Consultants include literacy specialist Meghan Hargrave, mathematics consultant Sharon Rak, the University of Illinois Metro Chicago Mathematics Initiative, and Science Curriculum, Inc. led by Dr. Carol Baker.

Technology and School Safety

Technology recommendations include:

• A one-year Hāpara Hall Pass subscription for the district's three middle schools to digitally manage student movement and reduce classroom disruptions.
• Renewal of essential district software including Clever and Raptor Visitor Management.

The packet states these technology purchases qualify for statutory bidding exemptions applicable to software and related technology services.

Custodial Services Review

Following closed session, the Board may identify which custodial services bidder should proceed through Illinois' required statutory review process.

Importantly, no contract award is scheduled. Instead, selecting a bidder begins additional legally required cost comparisons, discussions with the bargaining representative, a public hearing, and further Board consideration before any final outsourcing decision could occur.

Financial Matters

The Board is asked to approve expenditures, transfers, and payroll totaling approximately $3,844,217.03.

Major fund totals include:

• Education Fund: approximately $2.74 million.
• Building Fund: approximately $376,969.
• Transportation Fund: approximately $46,170.
• Tort Fund: approximately $680,069.

The June payroll totals approximately $1.06 million across district funds.

The district reports an Operating Funds cash balance of approximately $66.3 million for June 2026.

The Illinois State Board of Education awarded $141,000 in FY2027 School Improvement Grant funding:

• Lincoln Elementary School: $50,000.
• Nathan Hale Middle School: $31,000.
• Nathan Hale Intermediate, George Washington Elementary, Paul Revere Intermediate, and Whittier Elementary: $15,000 each.

Grant funds will support evidence-based school improvement planning, professional learning, and instructional improvements.

Policies, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Governance

The Board will consider multiple resolutions approving operational agreements covering educational staffing, communications support, translation services, bilingual speech-language services, professional learning, Aurora University internship placement, digital hall pass software, and annual technology renewals.

The packet also outlines the superintendent search process and the timeline for FY2027 budget adoption.

Several agreements cite Illinois School Code provisions or federal special education requirements supporting procurement exemptions or legal obligations to provide educational services.

Reports, Presentations, and Informational Updates

Informational reports include:

• Superintendent's monthly report.
• Business and Financial Services report.
• Curriculum and Instruction report.
• Human Resources report.
• Student Services and Accountability report.
• Financial report.
• FOIA activity report documenting eight requests received during July.
• Outstanding Illinois Comptroller voucher update indicating FY2026 payments have been processed.

The Finance Committee minutes summarize the district's financial outlook, noting approximately 87% of projected revenue had been received and 82% of expenditures made as of May 31, 2026. Personnel costs represent roughly 65% of district expenditures, while administrators also reviewed grants, major vendors, capital projects, and FY2027 funding projections.

Personnel, Appointments, and Organizational Matters

Personnel recommendations include hiring:

• John Dudzik as Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources.
• Michael Battistoni as teacher.
• Three School Safety Liaisons.
• Paraprofessional.
• Crossing guards.
• Lunch aide.

The Board is also asked to accept multiple certified and classified resignations, including teachers, a counselor, paraprofessional, and a registered school nurse who never began employment.

Following closed session, the Board may consider dismissal of a non-licensed employee and several Step 4 SEIU grievance determinations. Specific personnel details beyond those listed publicly are not disclosed in the packet.

Projects, Facilities, Infrastructure, and Operations

Major operational items include:

• Nathan Hale Middle School gymnasium floor renovation.
• Lincoln School safety-related site improvements through MCS, LLC.
• Digital hall pass implementation across the district's middle schools.
• Annual technology software renewals.
• Continued communications support for emergency and school safety messaging through Mekky Media Relations.

These projects are intended to improve student safety, facility quality, instructional continuity, operational efficiency, and emergency communications.

Public Hearings and Opportunities for Community Input

Public participation opportunities include:

• Public comments at the July 21 regular Board meeting.
• Future statutory public hearing before any custodial services contract may be awarded following completion of required cost analyses.
• Public display of the tentative FY2027 budget beginning August 15, 2026.
• Budget presentation on August 18, 2026.
• Public hearing before budget adoption scheduled for September 15, 2026.

Community Impact

Students may benefit from additional instructional staffing, bilingual speech-language services, enhanced interpretation services, updated technology, professional development for teachers, and gymnasium improvements.

Families who speak languages other than English would continue receiving interpreter and translation services during important educational meetings.

Employees may be affected by personnel changes, professional development initiatives, superintendent recruitment, grievance decisions, and future custodial contracting discussions.

Taxpayers may be interested in the district's financial position, capital investments, technology spending, grant funding, and the statutory review process before any custodial outsourcing decision is finalized.

Questions Community Members May Want to Ask

• What factors will determine the final gymnasium flooring selection?
• What timeline is anticipated for completing the superintendent search?
• How will School Improvement Grant funding be measured for effectiveness?
• What outcomes are expected from the professional learning investments?
• How will Hāpara Hall Pass affect student supervision and instructional time?
• What metrics will be used to evaluate emergency communications services?
• How long are the temporary staffing agreements expected to remain necessary?
• What additional public input will occur before any custodial contract is approved?
• How will bilingual service needs be monitored as enrollment changes?
• What major priorities will shape the FY2027 budget before adoption?

Important Dates, Deadlines, and Next Steps

• July 21, 2026: Regular Board meeting and initial superintendent search discussion.
• August 14, 2026: Temporary Amergis special education teacher assignment begins.
• Approximately September 25, 2026: Temporary special education assignment expected to conclude.
• August 15, 2026: Tentative FY2027 budget scheduled for public display.
• August 18, 2026: Board presentation of the tentative FY2027 budget.
• September 15, 2026: Scheduled public hearing and proposed FY2027 budget adoption.
• Future meeting: Additional statutory steps and public hearing required before any custodial services contract could be approved.

Key Takeaways

• The Board is preparing for the 2026-2027 school year through numerous operational agreements.
• A gymnasium renovation decision is one of the meeting's largest facility items.
• Superintendent search planning officially begins.
• The district reports approximately $66.3 million in operating cash.
• More than $3.84 million in expenditures and payroll require approval.
• Six schools will benefit from $141,000 in School Improvement Grants.
• Specialized staffing addresses shortages in special education and bilingual services.
• Technology upgrades emphasize student safety and operational efficiency.
• Custodial contracting remains under review and no contract award is planned yet.
• The FY2027 budget process continues through public display, presentation, hearing, and adoption.

Official Sources

• Meeting source: https://district130.community.diligentoneplatform.com/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&id=245
• Meeting listing: https://district130.community.diligentoneplatform.com/Portal/
• Public body website: https://www.district130.org/board-of-education
• Meeting video: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpwbPNJkfNhl4A8ImXq-S0w/streams
• Video channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpwbPNJkfNhl4A8ImXq-S0w

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, July 21 2026, Blue Island, Crestwood, Nathan Hale Middle School, gymnasium renovation, superintendent search, FY2027 budget, School Improvement Grant, Title I, Amergis Educational Staffing, Acutrans, Bilingual Speech Solutions, Mekky Media Relations, Hāpara Hall Pass, Clever, Raptor Visitor Management, Aurora University, Lincoln School, professional development, school safety, technology renewals, custodial services, SEIU, special education, multilingual families, Illinois school board