Board of Education Highlights

At the June 26 governing meeting, the Board approved the Parent and Student Handbook for the 2025-26 school year. For FY26, the Parent and Student Handbook will be offered in a new digital format on the district website, or you can download a printable version in English or Spanish.

The Woodland School Board of Education Governing meeting was held on July 24, 2025. Please see below for a summary of highlights from the meeting, or we welcome you to watch the meeting HERE.

Thank you for your continued support of Woodland District 50!

This summer, the Technology Department invited Woodland stakeholders to volunteer to help complete a variety of tasks to help Woodland prepare for the the 2025-2026 School Year. Volunteers were invited to lead the Board of Education in the Pledge of Allegiance at the July meeting.

A. Dual Language Immersion Framework 2025-2030

The Teaching and Learning Department presented the Dual Language Immersion Program Framework (2025–2030), a comprehensive and research-driven guide developed in partnership with DLI Educators and the Association of Two-Way and Dual Language Education (ATDLE). This framework outlines the district’s vision, values, instructional practices, and policy commitments to provide high-quality bilingual education for our students.

The Board of Education appreciates the donations from generous supporters to help enhance programming in the district.

• Intermediate: FORCE4GIVING donated $77.58 to Woodland Intermediate to be used for student supplies.

The total donation amount for July 2025 is $77.58. This brings the total donation amount for the 2025-2026 school year to $77.58.

Under Consent Agenda is where you will find approval of Board Meeting minutes, Policy Revisions, and approval of the monthly Financial Reports, Treasurer Reports, and Board Payables for the month. These reports are posted to the website after the meeting.

• Approval of STAR Renaissance Assessment Suite - Progress Monitoring -The Board approved the purchase of STAR Assessment student progress monitoring platform to replace Fastbridge at a cost of $94,641.18. It offers a suite of assessments in English and Spanish for PreK through 8th grade. The assessment tools are designed to support educators in effectively measuring and promoting student growth in reading and mathematics.

• Approval of PTAB Law Firm Appointment - The Board approved the Resolution Authorizing Intervention in Proceeding before Property Tax Appeal Board for tax year 2024. If the Board of Education wishes to intervene on proceedings in front of the Property Tax Appeals Board which may have a financial impact on the District and its taxpayers, it must formally select its representative in order to be recognized by the appeals board. The District is selecting the law firm of Petrarca, Gleason, Boyle & Izzo, LLC as it representative in these cases.

• Approval of Copier Center Device Renewal - The Board approved the five year lease for copiers with Xerox at an annual cost of $42,544. The current five year lease with ProvenIT ends in December. Woodland went out for bid in July and selected Xerox as the new vendor.

• Approval of Board Membership in State and National Board Organizations - The Board approved annual membership in ED-RED and the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) at a total cost of $20,304.00. These agencies provide the school district with support and advocacy throughout the year.

• Approval of Board of Education Meeting Minutes Closed and Regular Minutes 6-26-25; Closed and Open Special Meeting Minutes 7-7-25 and Policy Committee Minutes 7-10-25

• Approval of Monthly Financial Reports, Treasurer Reports for the month of June and Board Payable list for the month of July 2025

The business that takes place under "Action Items" is first reviewed by the Board of Education at the previous monthly governing meeting under "Reports/Discussion Items". An item will first be presented as a Report or Discussion item for the Board of Education members to be introduced to the topic and allow time for questions, review, and revisions before that item is moved to the Action Items portion of the agenda for a vote the following month.

• Approval of 5.0 FTE School Van Drivers and Job Description - The Board approved the addition of five full time school van drivers, and the job description that goes with the position. The School Van Drivers will be responsible for ensuring the safe, timely, and secure transportation of students to and from school.

• Approval of 1.0 FTE Administrative Assistant for Educational Services and Job Description - The Board approved the job description and one full time Administrative Assistant for Educational Services position to better assist the department with the increased confidential workload at a cost of $58,240.00.

• Approval of Additional 4.0 FTE Paraprofessionals Throughout the District - The Board approved adding four additional full time paraprofessionals throughout the district due to student needs. These positions are essential to ensure student safety, access to learning, and compliance with IEP requirements.

• Approval of the Restorative Practices Facilitator - The Board approved the appointment of Jennifer Plescia as the Restorative Practices Facilitator at the Intermediate School.
  
  
• Human Resources Report: Approval of Employment, Resignations, and Retirements - The Board of Education approved employment for the following positions:
• 2nd Grade Dual Language English Teacher
• 1st Grade Teacher
• 2nd Grade Dual Language Spanish Teacher (Visiting International Teacher, VIT)
• Kindergarten Dual Language English Teacher (2)
• English Language Arts Teacher (3)
• English as Second Language (ESL) Teacher
• Special Education Teacher
• Instructional Coach
• 5th Grade Teacher
• WELE Early Childhood Teacher (2)
• Music Teacher
• Playground Supervisor
• Registered Nurse
• Bus Driver
• Receptionist
• Family Coordinator
• Special Education Paraprofessional
• Office Assistant (2)
• Hall Monitor
• Guest Teacher

Michael Senol was appointed to the Woodland Board of Education in July 2025 to fill the vacancy created when Gari Matsey resigned. Mr. Senol took the Oath of Office at the July 24, 2025 Governing Meeting and then took his seat at the Board table. Congratulations to Board Member Senol, and welcome to the Board of Education!

Reports and Discussion Items are placed on the agenda as an introduction to a topic. If the topic will require a vote, it will be brought back under "Action Items" at the next regularly scheduled meeting. This allows Board Members to familiarize themselves with the topic and ask questions, or request additional information and modifications before voting on the matter. The following topics were introduced as a Report/Discussion Item at this month's meeting:

A. Written Report and Presentation on 5Essentials Survey Results -Dr. Robert Machak, Superintendent and Dr. Trisha Shrode, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning provided a written report and presentation on the results from the district’s 5Essential survey taken during the 2024-25 school year by staff, students and parents.

B. Written Report on Social Emotional Behavioral Mental Health (SEBMH) Professional Development and Coaching - Dr. Shrode provided a written report on the Professional Development Coaching and Supportive Programming to assist staff to support their SEBMH needs by utilizing an outside consultant for paraeducators, clinicians, classroom teachers and instructional coaches/specialists.

C. Written Report on Curriculum Writing Support - Dr. Shrode and Director of Curriculum, Assessment and Accountability, Dr. Elizabeth Sanchez-Szepesi provided a written report requesting the support of McTighe & Associates Consulting LLC in the form of onsite and virtual workshops as well as off-site reviews of curriculum development from Fall 2025 to Summer 2026 at a total cost of $92,250.00.

D. Written Report on Disposition of Technology Devices - Sheri Styczen, the Director of Technology and Innovation, provided written information on the disposition of technology devices that are obsolete, no longer functional or beyond economical repair. After Board consideration of approval at the upcoming August Governing meeting the devices will be given to RePower Logistics to recycle.

E. Written Information on Revised Board Policies - The Board Policy committee met on July 10, 2025 to review the Board policies listed below. Any verbiage to be removed is noted with a strikethrough, any verbiage to be added as suggested by the Illinois Association of School Board Policy Reference Education Subscription Service (PRESS) is in red, and any added verbiage suggested by the Policy Committee or administration is in blue.

• 2:260 Uniform Grievance Procedure
  Current
  Proposed
• 2:265 Title IX Grievance Procedure
  Current
  Proposed
• 4:15 Identity Protection
  Current
  Proposed
• 7:20 Harassment of Students Prohibited
  Current
  Proposed
• 7:50 School Admissions and Student Transfers To and From Non-District Schools
  Current
  Proposed
• 7:60 Residence
  Current
  Proposed
• 7:180 Prevention of and Response to Bullying, Intimidation, and Harassment
  Current
  Proposed
• 7:185 Teen Dating Violence Prohibited
  Current
  Proposed
• 7:190 Student Behavior
  Current
  Proposed
• 7:200 Suspension Procedures
  Current
  Proposed

F. Receipt of and Freedom of Information Act Request - There were seven Freedom of Information Act requests for the month of July.

A. Announcements and Committee Reports

• Written Report on IASB/State Update
• District Committee Updates

B. Board Improvements/Status Requests and Future Board Items

• Praire Crossing Presentation
• Student Ambassador to the Board
• Board Member Attendance Policy

You are always welcome to go back and review meeting materials, presentations, Board Payables, Finance Reports and the video recording from a regularly scheduled Board Meeting on the district website HERE (select the meeting date to view supporting materials). These items are typically posted within 24-48 hours after the meeting.

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