Board Briefs

The Community Consolidated School District 21 Board of Education meeting was held on Thursday, July 24, 2025. The full meeting agenda can be found on BoardDocs, while a livestream of the meeting can be viewed on our YouTube channel.

OrganicLife District Manager Allison Brown and Dawn Petzold, assistant director, thanked the board and the district for the recent food service contract extension for the 2025-2026 school year. "Serving the Wheeling school district for the past 10 years has been an absolute privilege."

Board President Jessica Riddick announced the board members who will champion each of the five areas of the district's new strategic plan. This champion will act as a liaison between the board and the administration as the district implements its strategic plan goals.

• Teaching and Learning: Carrie Devitt
• Meeting Unique Needs of Learners: Iliana Guzman
• Social and Emotional Growth: Jessica Riddick
• Home, School and Community Engagement: Debbi McAtee
• Securing the Future: Bill Harrison

Lewis Roberts, executive director for human resources, provided a late July update on trends for student enrollment, class sectioning, and staffing needs for the 2025-2026 school year.

• 5.14: Approval for the Use of the Let's Talk System from K-12 Insight - APPROVED
• 5.15: Approval for Replacement Elementary School Teacher Desks and Office Furniture - APPROVED
• 5.16: Approval of Contract Amendment with First Student - APPROVED

The board approved a resolution placing the 2025-2026 tentative budget on public display for a minimum of 30 days before being considered for adoption at the September 18, 2025, regular meeting of the Board.

The board voted unanimously to appoint Natalie Milo-Nicolasin as the new assistant principal of London Middle School. She joins the district from Skokie and Morton Grove School District 69, where she most recently served as the director of student activities.

The board voted unanimously to appoint Georgia Londos as the new assistant principal of Kilmer Elementary School. She joins the district from Chicago Public Schools, where for the past 14 years she has served as a literacy and social studies teacher, as well as a middle school department head.

Riddick recapped the meeting of the Finance Committee, which heard a presentation from Michael Zagar, director of finance/CSBO, about the tentative FY26 budget, as well as a presentation from Glen Michelini, director of operations, on tentative construction projects during the summer of 2026.

Vice President Debbi McAtee said she is working closely with the NSSEO on its reorganization, which includes setting up meetings with representatives from all of the feeder districts.

Board member Bill Harrison previewed ED-RED's annual Legislative Breakfast, which will be held at the District 21 Community Service Center and Administrative Offices on Aug. 1.

Harrison previewed the Consortium of State School Boards Associations' federal advocacy conference, which will be held in Washington, D.C., in September.

Board member Arlen Gould discussed updates on the organization's potential relocation, as it has overgrown its current facility.

The next regular meeting of the Board of Education will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 21, at the Community Service Center and Administrative Office, 959 W. Dundee Rd., Wheeling.