Board Briefs

The Community Consolidated School District 21 Board of Education meeting was held on Thursday, March 19, 2026. The full meeting agenda can be found on Diligent, while a livestream of the meeting can be viewed on our YouTube channel.

Todd Rohlwing, director of safety and security, officially introduced Officer Denys Wolf of the Buffalo Grove Police Department as the new school resource officer (SRO) for the Cooper strand of schools. Officer Wolf will serve as a dedicated presence across the Cooper strand, fostering positive relationships with students, staff, and families while supporting a safe and welcoming school environment. The Board welcomed Officer Wolf and expressed appreciation for the continued partnership between the district and local law enforcement.

The Board celebrated the conclusion of this year's Annual District 21 Spelling Bee, recognizing the talented students who rose to the top of what continues to be one of the district's most beloved academic traditions. Congratulations to this year's top three finalists:

• First Place: Ethan T. from Cooper
• Second Place: Aadvik K. from Tarkington (pictured)
• Third Place: Abigale L. from London

In a remarkable feat, all three finalists claimed the exact same placements as last year's competition, a testament to their dedication, perseverance, and love of language. The Board congratulated these outstanding students and thanked the staff, families, and volunteers who make the Spelling Bee such a cherished event each year.

The board recognized three students who represented the district with distinction at the Junior ILMEA All-State Performances, held January 29-30 in Peoria. This year's event carried special significance as it marked the second year an All-State Choir was offered at the junior high level and the first year band and orchestra students were invited to participate, making it a milestone moment for young musicians across the state.

District 21 was proud to have three students rise to this level of achievement:

• Cora W. of Cooper, All-State Choir
• Sebastian M. of Holmes, All-State Orchestra (Violin)
• Ellie F. of Holmes, All-State Orchestra (Cello)

The board congratulated Cora, Sebastian, and Ellie on this outstanding honor and thanked the district's music staff for their exceptional work in preparing students to compete and perform at the highest levels.

Lewis Roberts, executive director for human resources, recognized a group of teaching assistants who have earned their Learning Behavior Specialist 1 (LBS1) licensure through the Bachelor of Arts in Education program offered by Lake Erie College. This job-embedded program is uniquely designed for educators working in schools as paraprofessionals or long-term substitutes, allowing candidates to complete their bachelor's degree while gaining the instruction, coaching, and hands-on classroom experience needed to become effective teachers.

The board proudly recognized the following teaching assistants on this achievement:

• Lori Eisner
• Ann Gutierrez
• Arya Harkuni
• Andrea Hernandez
• Alex Turnbull
• Mikayla Wassell

Board President Jessica Riddick took a moment to recognize several of her colleagues for earning distinctions through the Illinois Association of School Boards Board Leader Recognition Program, which honors school board members for the individual time and effort they devote to learning, leadership, and service to the public education community.

The Board was proud to celebrate the following honorees and their respective distinctions

• Jessica Riddick: "Established" board leader
• Vice President Debbi McAtee: "Distinguished" board leader
• Member Bill Harrison: "Distinguished" board leader
• Member Arlen S. Gould: "Legacy" board leader

The Board congratulated each honoree on their commitment to continuous growth and their dedication to the students, staff, and families of District 21.

Roberts and Rachel Cutro, behavior specialist, presented on behalf of the Joint Committee on Climate and Culture, providing the Board with an overview of the committee's ongoing work to align the strength of the district's culture to its classrooms. Central to this work was a climate and culture survey completed by district staff earlier this year, the results of which are helping to shape the committee's priorities and direction.

• 4.11: Approval of 2026-2027 Returning Administrator Contracts - APPROVED
• 4.12: Approval of Employment Agreement - Student Services Coordinator - APPROVED
• 4.13: Approval of Employment Agreement - Special Education Coordinator - APPROVED
• 4.14: Approval of Bid for Asbestos Removal at Cooper Middle School - APPROVED
• 4.15: Approval of FY27 General Office Supplies Bid # 2701 - APPROVED
• 4.16: Approval of Demolition Expenses for Hintz Road Property - APPROVED

The Board approved the appointment of Katharine Flanagan as the district's next Director of Special Education, following a thorough and competitive search process conducted by district administration. Flanagan brings a wealth of experience to the role, having served as a special education teacher, special education case manager, and most recently as the Director of Special Education in the Salem School District in Salem, Wisconsin. Her depth of experience and strong credentials made her the standout choice from an impressive field of candidates.

Riddick highlighted a meeting of the Finance & Operations Committee, which included a discussion to modify London's parking lot ingress and egress; revenue projections for FY27, FY28 and FY29; and an overview of the district's FY25 financial audit.

Two board members shared updates on the sections of the district's 2025-2028 Strategic Plan for which they serve as "champions."

• Riddick provided an update on the "Social-Emotional Growth" goal, reporting that discussions are underway regarding plans to move forward with PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) strategies. An upcoming April meeting will include parent attendance, and the board will engage in conversations around existing policies and practices related to bullying, behavior, discipline, exclusionary discipline, and bus conduct.
• Member Iliana Guzman, championing the "Meeting the Needs of Unique Learners" priority, shared that she has been meeting with staff to review an evaluation of current programs and practices aimed at meeting the needs of ESL and bilingual students.

McAtee highlighted a recent meeting that included a brief discussion on the signage relating to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement from each of the member districts, among other updates.

Harrison recapped ED-RED's monthly meeting on March 6 and previewed the next meeting in April, as well as the June 11 Mini Summit, a "four-hour joint annual conference."

Harrison recapped his attendance of the first full meeting of the IASB Board of Directors, among other updates.

Gould provided updates on the organization's planned new office space, including some zoning issues it has encountered, among other updates.

The student representatives to the Board of Education shared updates from their respective schools and discussed their takeaways from the last meeting of the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council.

The next regular meeting of the Board of Education will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at the Community Service Center and Administrative Office, 959 W. Dundee Rd., Wheeling.