Board Happenings

August 11th: Back-to-School Night 6-7 pm (Elementary Schools Only)

August 13th: 1st Day of School (1-8 grade)

August 18th: 1st Day of School (Preschool-Kindergarten)

August 26th: MMS Back to School Night 5:30-6:30 pm (6-8th Grade)

Before beginning official board business, Superintendent Dávila invited everyone in attendance to observe a moment of silence in honor of and remembrance of Ms. Lisa Schaffer, a teacher at G. Stanley Hall Elementary School.

For 23 years, Lisa was a passionate educator with Marquardt School District 15, devoting her life to helping students learn, thrive, and reach their fullest potential.

Her kindness, dedication, and unwavering support shaped the heart of the G. Stanley Hall School community. Her legacy lives on in the countless lives she touched.

Forever remembered, forever missed.

At the August 4 Board Meeting, Dr. Rovel Pollock presented an amendment to the 2026–2027 school calendar to bring it in line with the district's newly adopted Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The key change is giving families two half-day conferences on November 13 and other half-day conferences in the spring March 5 and two full days on November 12 and March 4.. All four conference days are non-student attendance days, running from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

To make room for the added conference time, the student calendar has been extended through May 25 (previously May 21). The last day of student attendance will still be a half-day.

Dr. Pollock noted that the update keeps the district calendar consistent with the new CBA while creating more opportunities for family engagement.

A Huge Success: Back-to-School Bash Brings the Community Together

This year's Back-to-School Bash was a tremendous success, with over 1,200 community members in attendance. Superintendent Dávila extended her thanks to the schools' Booster Clubs, board members, and staff whose hard work and participation made the event possible.

A video highlighting the day's festivities was shared, capturing the energy and excitement of the celebration.

Our Updated Parent and Student Handbook Is Here

Our newly revised Parent and Student Handbook reflects our ongoing commitment to student success, safety, and family partnership. We encourage every family to review it and keep it as a go-to resource throughout the school year.

Present: Tunisia Macklin, Jessica Dominguez, Zahawa Saleh, Elisabeth Betancourt, Rodrigo Gutierrez, Jonathan Wells and Jean Randazzo

Public Comments: There were no public comments.

Superintendent's Report

FOIAs

• Spreadsheet link

Facilities Updates:

• Beautification project at Black Hawk
• Winnebago's HVAC
• Office renovations at Hall
• Office renovations at Reskin

Out-of-School Suspension Standardized Decision-Making Process Form

• Michael Szopinski, Chief of Staff & Communications, will present

School Year 2027 Academic Excellence Priorities & Student Outcomes - Presentation

• ELA Teaching and Learning Roll Out and Priorities presented by Kristie Langbehn, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning
• Special Education: Restructuring presented by Meesha Townsen, Director of Special Education

Taste Testing with Administrators and Board Members - 7/24/26

• New menu items, including Halal options for next year

2026 Glendale Heights Fest

• Fest Image

Back-to-School Bash Highlights

Board Reports

Elisabeth Betancourt

• 2026 Glendale Heights Fest - 7/9/26
• Back-to-School Bash - 7/31/26
• Conversations with individual Board Members
• Conversations with Mr. Ron Barnes
• Conversations with the Board's legal counsel
• Presented Superintendent Dávila with her annual performance evaluation.

Rodrigo Gutierrez

• Board Assessment Meeting - 7/10/26
• Conversation with the Board President
• Attended the Policy Committee Meeting - 8/4/26

Zahawa Saleh

• Conversations with the Board President
• IASB Board President’s Academy, 6/13/26
• Meeting with Superintendent, 6/16/26
• Meeting with BH principal and AP, 7/22/26
• Tasting Testing with Food Services and Administrators at MMS, 7/24/26
• Board Leadership Meeting, 7/30/26
• Back to School Bash, 7/31/26
• Conversations with parents regarding students
• Meeting with ICNA RELIEF representative regarding future opportunities for our district, 8/3/26

• Back-to-School Bash - 7/31/26
• Conversation with the Board President
• Attended Finance Board Committee Meeting -8/4/26

Jean Randazzo

• Attended Finance Board Committee Meeting-8/4/26
• Attended Executive ISBE Leadership Meeting

Rodrigo Gutierrez

• Board Assessment Meeting - 7/10/2i6
• Conversation with the Board President

Tunisia Macklin

• Attended Policy Board Committee Meeting-8/4/26
• Attended the Back-to School Bash-7/31/26
• Conversation with the Board President

Jessica Dominguez

• Policy Committee Meeting - 8/4/2026
• Finance Committee Meeting - 8/4/2027
• Conversation with the Board President
• Conversations with Superintendent Dávila

Consent Agenda (Approved)

Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting and Closed Session of the Board of Education held on June 9, 2026. Minutes of the Policy Committee held on June 9, 2026

Policy Committee Meeting - Jun 09 2026 - Minutes - Html

Board of Education Regular Meeting and Public Hearing of Fund Transfers | Reunión Regular de la Junta Educativa y Audiencia Pública Sobre Transferencias de Fondos - June 9, 2026 - Minutes - Html

Press Policy 121

• Policies
• Draft Recommendations

Personnel

New Hires

1. Yolanda Hanna- Assistant Principal MMS 7/8/26
2. Dr. Alexandra Escobar- Assistant Principal MMS 7/8/26
3. Dr. Corina Herrera- Lead Psychologist 8/1/26
4. David Traslavina- EL Specialist MMS
5. Lily Brill- 5th Grade Black Hawk
6. Marla Chavez- 2nd Grade Black Hawk
7. Jordyn Martinez- 7th Grade Science MMS
8. Jeanette Bonilla- Secretary MMS
9. Blanca Hernandez- Paraprofessional Reskin
10. Lissette Roman- CSN Hall/District
11. Ashley Alvarez- 3rd Grade Black Hawk
12. Melissa Trippett- EL Specialist Black Hawk
13. Fatima Smith- 7th Science MMS
14. Yuliia Vus- Special Ed MMS
15. Allison Polakowski- 4th Black Hawk
16. Eshal Khan- Kindergarten Reskin
17. Marlin Flores- Social Worker MMS
18. Cynthia Lawrence- Paraprofessional Hall
19. Anna Gondek- Paraprofessional Hall
20. Craig Giovacchini- Teacher 3rd Winnebago
21. Karla Sanchez Munoz- 4hr FNS MMS
22. Hilda Gutierrez- Paraprofessional Reskin
23. Lacey Schedler- Interventionist Hall
24. Emily Zabel- Instructional Sped Teacher Reskin
25. Eric Johnson- 6th Math MMS
26. Jonathan Olson- PE Teacher Black Hawk

Transfers

1. Jade Whaley- 6th Math to Math Interventionist MMS
2. Kimberley Anderson- Perm Sub Hall to Sped Winnebago
3. Taryen Lannutti- Kindergarten Reskin to 1st Reskin
4. Kourtney Culver- Prek Winn to ECSE Hall
5. Maria Pacheco- Para BH to Reskin
6. Nutosha Fant- Sped Teacher Winnebago to Sped Teacher MMS

Resignations

1. Kenneth Smitley- Sped MMS
2. Alexandra Correa- AP MMS
3. Jennice Davis- AP MMS
4. Theresa Hutto- 1st Reskin
5. Julie Galanis- SW MMS
6. Jose Vidales- Sped MMS
7. Sedrick Halbert- 8th ELA/SS MMS (Rescind offer due to licensure status; was board approved on 6/9)
8. Michael Thorson- Payroll Coordinator 8/7/2026
9. Emily Carter- Paraprofessional Winnebago 7/30/2026
10. Cnthia McCarty- Paraprofessional Winnebago 7/29/26

Retirement

1. Anne McKenna- Stream/LIT Winn FY2030
2. Deborah Lomax- Sped Black Hawk FY2030
3. Sheila Gutierrez- Secretary Winn (Missing from Feb Agenda) FY2028
4. Linda Bryant Klaft- SW Hall- SY2026
5. Edward Torgerson- Science MMS FY2029
6. Paul Cardinal- District Maintenance 7/30/27

FMLA

1. Kristine Kale- Intermittent FMLA
2. Lluvia Domínguez- Intermittent FMLA
3. Kyle Harrington- FMLA 8/11/26-8/24/26
4. Alexa Lawrence- Personal LOA 9/29/2026-5/24/2027
5. Stefanie Marik- FMLA 8/7/26-10/30/26

Instructional Empowerment Contract

• IE Contract

Data Strategist Contract for SY 2026-2027

• Data Driven Ed, LLC Contract

ComEd Easement of Property

• Presented by Miguel Vargas, Assistant Superintendent of Finance & Operations/CSBO

• ComEd Easement
• Resolution to Direct Approval of Easement - Regional Board
• Resolution to Direct Approval of Easement - Marquardt

Approval of The Hiel Group's Contract (Holding Space)

• Hiel Group Contract

Bills

• Accounts Payable Fund Summary & Vendor Detail

Discussion/Action Items

FY27 Tentative Budget & Legal Notice

Presented by Miguel Vargas, Assistant Superintendent of Finance & Operations/CSBO, and Faye Kung-Li, Business Manager

• Workbook
• Presentation
• Legal Notice

Playground Repairs

Presented by Miguel Vargas, Assistant Superintendent of Finance & Operations/CSBO, and Marcos Rosales, Executive Director of Buildings & Grounds

• Green-Up Proposal

Safety and Security Assessment Agreement

Presented by Miguel Vargas, Assistant Superintendent of Finance & Operations/CSBO, and Marcos Rosales, Executive Director of Buildings & Grounds

• West 40 Agreement

Wheelchair Lift Repair/Replacement Proposal

Presented by Miguel Vargas, Assistant Superintendent of Finance & Operations/CSBO, and Marcos Rosales, Executive Director of Buildings & Grounds

• Garaventa Lift Proposal

Off Site Emergency Evacuation Agreements for SY26-27

Presented by Miguel Vargas, Assistant Superintendent of Finance & Operations/CSBO, and Marcos Rosales, Executive Director of Buildings & Grounds

• Evacuation off site for Black Hawk
• Evacuation off site for Hall
• Evacuation off site for Marquardt Middle School
• Evacuation off site for Reskin
• Evacuation off site for Winnebago

School Year 2026-2027 Parent and Student Handbook

• Presented by Michael Szopinski, Chief of Staff & Communication.

• Parent and Student Handbook

School Year 2026-2027 School Calendar (Amended)

• Presented by Dr. Rovel Pollock, Deputy Superintendent of Human Resources

• English Calendar SY26/27
• Spanish Calendar SY26/27

New Business

• There was no new business

Board Action After Closed Session

• Board approved salary adjustment for two special education coordinators and administrator.

This will be a Work Session for Board Members.