March 2025 Board Meeting Recap
Fremont School District 79
Prior to the formal start of the meeting, the Fremont Middle School eighth-grade jazz band performed a pair of songs in recognition of Music in Our Schools Month.
Regular Board Meeting
Board President Gabriela Whipple thanked the jazz band for their performance. She stated that the District continues to collaborate with Mundelein High School District 120 on advocating for a fair and reasonable impact fee agreement with the developers of Ivanhoe Village, while thanking community members for stepping forward to voice their concerns. Finally, she remarked on last week's annual Illinois State Board of Education Lake Division Meeting. Board members Shawn Killackey, Aga Macoch, Pam Shaw, Maria Simoncelli, and Whipple were recognized as Established Board Leaders, while Michael Jandes was recognized as a Distinguished Annual Merit Board Leader. Additionally, the Board was recognized as a recipient of the School Board Governance Recognition.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Trisha Kocanda acknowledged everyone who participated in or attended this year's annual Fremont PTO March Madness basketball game at Mundelein High School. This week is Neurodiversity Celebration Week, which recognizes the unique skills and talents of neurodivergent individuals while celebrating differences and empowering everyone. Ms. Davis and Ms. Temple were thanked for their efforts in developing activities at the intermediate and middle schools. Additionally, the District recently participated in a tri-annual ISBE compliance visit. The comprehensive audit concluded positive results. Finally, a variety of District representatives will be collaborating soon on planning District goals for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year.
Pledge of Allegiance
This month's Pledge of Allegiance was led by members of the Intermediate School PAWS Committee. The students also performed a presentation to the Board to inform them of some of their efforts to help create a positive learning environment at the school.
Board Recognition
In addition to recognizing the Intermediate School PAWS Committee, Intermediate School band teacher Lisa Bordelon and Fremont PTO President Stacie Brown were recognized as recipients of this year's ISBE Those Who Excel and Teacher of the Year Awards.
Presentations
STEM and Career Technical Education (CTE) Programming Strategic Goal Update
Assistant Superintendent of Learning Dr. Brian Bullis gave an update on the progress of the CTE/STEM Committee and future enhancements to District programming, aligned with the FSD79 strategic plan. Changes at Fremont Middle School for next year include the introduction of three new 8th-grade related studies CTE courses that will be piloted (a year-long rotation of Digital Art, Multimedia Design, and Video Production), the piloting of an entrepreneurship program (mxincedu) at each grade, and the planning for a STEM/CTE classroom renovation in the summer of 2026. District-wide updates included the upcoming adoption and pilot of a career interest and exploration resource (SchooLinks) at Fremont Intermediate School, a rebranding of our IS Technology class which will now incorporate more college and career readiness skills, as well as the pursuit of more career connections through all of our K-8 related studies courses.
Ivanhoe Village Development Negotiations/Detachment of Ivanhoe Village
Dr. Kocanda provided an update on the most recent negotiation session on March 13 between FSD79 and District 120 with the developers of the Ivanhoe Village project. The developers presented updated housing data that differed from the February 2024 SB Friedman report. Officials from the school districts are reviewing the new data with their consultants to try to determine the impact.
While the school districts remain committed to working with the developer to close significant financial gaps, the stark contrast between positions raises legitimate concerns about the feasibility of this project without imposing an undue tax burden or negatively impacting education quality. Of note:
- The development will require a new 1,000-student middle school as well as municipal water and sewer systems. In 2024 dollars, these projects are estimated to cost $130.2 million.
- Beyond Ivanhoe Village’s impact, the District faces ongoing facility maintenance, repair projects, and critical educational priorities.
- FSD79's initial proposal was for $90.1 million from the developers to cover 70% of the $130 million required for a new school and infrastructure improvements. The developers' contribution is estimated to total about $3.8 million—a small fraction of what is needed.
- A referendum will be necessary. However, current taxpayers should not bear the majority of the tax burden resulting from the Ivanhoe Village development.
Dr. Kocanda presented the board with the process of FSD79 seeking to detach itself from the Ivanhoe Village property and offer it to another surrounding area school district for possible annexation. This means the Ivanhoe Village development would be absorbed by another elementary school district and no longer be included in the FSD79 boundaries, eliminating the responsibility (including financial) of managing the impending enrollment growth created by this megadevelopment.
The FSD79 board would submit a petition filing with the Lake County Regional Office of Education (LC ROE). LC ROE would provide a copy of the petition to both the detaching and annexing school districts; and cause a notice of the petition and hearing to be published once in a newspaper that has general circulation within the area. LC ROE would hold a hearing to determine if the boundaries will be compact and contiguous and if the change in boundaries will benefit the educational welfare of pupils.
The Wirtz property is in the north central portion of the District and is not contiguous with any other school district. For the Wirtz property to be detached and annexed, the territory would need to include additional land connecting the Wirtz property with another district. There are three elementary school districts that could be approached:
Grayslake District 46
Libertyville District 70
Mundelein District 75
The board directed Dr. Kocanda to reach out the other school districts to determine if they would have any interest. The board will contact the Village of Mundelein officials so that they are aware of this interest in detachment. The board also discussed if litigation is another option.
Informational Items
2025-26 School Year School Schedule
A number of changes will be integrated into the K-8 school day schedule for the upcoming academic year. Each school will now be incorporating a morning meeting into their routines to give classes a chance to check-in, build community, and to be academically, socially, and emotionally prepared for the day. Each school will also be integrating What I Need (WIN) time during the academic day. This WIN time provides students the opportunities for extensions or interventions on what they are currently learning, while no new core instruction is taking place. At the elementary school, physical education will move from 5 days a week for 40 minutes to 3 days a week for 30 minutes (while adding 2 days of additional recess). The intent of this change is to decrease large class sizes, and provide a more instructional sound and developmentally appropriate duration for our young learners.
Fremont staff participated in an Institute Day on March 7 inclusive of a session with literacy partner The Reading League, kindergarten team Heggerty sessions, resource reviews by the staff at Lincoln Early Learning Center, professional learning community sessions, middle school CTE instruction planning, paraprofessional collaboration and learning, and more. Staff reported 94% satisfaction with the day's activities.
The Consent Agenda and Following Action Items Were Approved:
- Curriculum Recommendation: Middle School English-Language Arts Resource
- Technology Purchase: Apple & IT Savvy
- 2025-26 School Year Middle School Field Trips
- 2025-26 Administrative & Licensed Staffing Plan
- Resolution 25-19 Authorizing Disposal of School District Personal Property
- Release and Separation Agreement
To view the Board Packet materials from the March 17, 2025 Meeting, click here.
Fremont School District 79
Address: 28855 North Fremont Center Road, Mundelein, IL
Phone: (847) 566-0169
Website: fsd79.org
Twitter: @FSD79
Instagram: @FSD79
YouTube: youtube.com/FSD79