Board Briefs

The Community Consolidated School District 21 Board of Education meeting was held on Thursday, March 20, 2025. The full meeting agenda can be found on BoardDocs, while a livestream of the meeting can be viewed on our YouTube channel.

Amy Breiler, director of teaching and learning for literacy, and Dr. Rob Drewry, literacy equity coach at Cooper Middle School, offered a recap of the District 21 Spelling Bee, which saw 27 fourth through eighth graders compete to be crowed the district's top speller. The first and second place finishers from the bee, Ethan T. and Aadvik K., were on hand for the recognition.

Cassandra Young, director of communications and community engagement, and Dr. Joe Arduino, principal of Tarkington Elementary School, recognized Tarkington fifth grader Maya S. on being recognized as the Village of Wheeling's 2025 Citizen of the Year. Maya is the youngest-ever recipient of the award.

Amy Breiler thanked our amazing community partners, including the Indian Trails Public Library, the Prospect Heights Public Library, and the Buffalo Grove Rotary, for their support in spreading literacy throughout our district over the past school year.

Steve Hamann, art teacher at Holmes Middle School, unveiled a new painting commissioned by the district to be hung in the waiting area of the district office.

Board President Debbi McAtee announced that the board was formally recognized by the Illinois Association of School Boards for its exceptional governance practices, one of 46 school district boards out of 863 in the state to receive this designation.

Further, the following board members were individually recognized:

• IASB Established Board Leader: Jessica Riddick, former board member Staci Allan
• IASB Annual Merit Recognition as a Distinguished Board Leader: McAtee, Bill Harrison
• IASB Annual Merit Recognition as a Legacy Board Leader: Phil Pritzker, Arlen Gould

Pritzker shared a recent meeting with the district's external auditing firm, Baker Tilly, to review the audit for the 2024 fiscal year. He said this marked the fifth year the district received an unmodified audit opinion from the firm, the highest rating one can receive.

McAtee highlighted the organization's monthly meeting, and said the biggest project being worked on right now is a potential in the change of the governing system.

Harrison highlighted the organization's monthly meeting, where Dana Stoerger, executive director of legislative affairs for the Illinois State Board of Education, spoke to their initiatives in the current legislative session, including a bill to bar expulsion of students in grades K-2, and a desire to extend Alternative Learning Opportunities Program services to grades K-3. He said the next member meeting will be held on April 4.

Harrison said the association held a virtual advocacy meeting on March 14, with a brief presentation on the governor's budget address. He added there are a number of proposed grants for teacher recruitment, which are expected to expire by the end of the year.

There was also a brief recap on some proposals, including four different bills to either ban or limit cell phones in schools.

Gould said the NCISC was set to meet during the week of March 24, and had no update at this time.

Gould said there was nothing to report until the April 1 election.

Harrison said he was delighted to attend the Jazz in the Meadows competition, where all three middle schools sent a band to perform.

Gould highlighted his attendance at three elementary concerts over the past week, and said he was "awed" by what was happening at the elementary level.

Riddick welcomed Moretti's Restaurant to the Wheeling Town Center. She also congratulated London on its Spring Bucket Band and Sensations concert. She further wished each middle school luck as they rehearse their spring musicals.

McAtee recapped her attendance at several events over the past month, including Tarkington's fourth and fifth grade musical and Twain's Scholastic book fair.

Student Board Representatives Santiago C. of Cooper, Karla P. of Holmes and Aiden D. of London conveyed to the board how the district can increase student voice in its schools.

Robert Gurney, assistant superintendent of human resources, provided an overview of the tentative class sizes for the 2025-2026 school year.

• 6.11 Approval of Three-Year Agreement with Clear Armor for Security Enhancements to District Buildings - APPROVED
• 7.5 Approval of Permanent Fund Transfer from Operations & Maintenance to Capital Projects to Pay for Facility Upgrades - APPROVED

The next regular meeting of the Board of Education will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 24, at the Community Service Center and Administrative Office, 959 W. Dundee Rd., Wheeling.