November 17, 2025 Board Briefs

The Community Consolidated School District 62 Board of Education meeting was held on November 17, 2025. The full meeting agenda can be found on BoardDocs, while a livestream of the meeting can be viewed on our YouTube channel.

Director of Community Relations Jennifer Tempest Bova began the meeting by recognizing the seven community members who make up the Board of Education and give their time to support the staff and students as part of School Board Member Appreciation Day (November 15). In addition, the 830 staff members in the district were recognized for their service and commitment as part of American Education Week (November 17-21).

This year’s Winter Card Design Contest winners were announced with over 70 submissions this year. District 62 extends its deepest appreciation to Frisbie Senior Center visitors and our community leaders who served as judges to determine this year’s winners.

All submissions will be on proud display at the Des Plaines Public Library during the month of December.

Congratulations to the 2025 Winter Card Contest Winners:

1st Place: Zayuri Medina, Grade 7, Algonquin Middle School

2nd Place: Grace Jacks, Grade 6, Iroquois Community School

3rd Place: Therese Hernandez, Grade 8, Chippewa Middle School

The district presented its 62Stories video that highlighted the process behind the development of the new logos for District 62.

Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services Amy Cengel, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services Dr. Ramona DeCristofaro, Director of Multilingual Programs Elizabeth Juskiewicz and Curriculum Coordinator and Data Specialist Christina Bowman provided an overview of District 62’s student performance.

The purpose of the student performance monitoring presentation is to provide the Board of Education with a review of District 62’s performance in key areas:

• IAR: The Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) is the state assessment and accountability measure for Illinois public schools. IAR assesses the new Illinois Learning Standards incorporating the Common Core in English Language Arts and Mathematics for 3rd-8th grade students.
• ISA: The Illinois Science Assessment (ISA) is administered to students in 5th and 8th grades. The assessment is aligned to the Illinois Learning Standards for Science incorporating the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).
• ACCESS: The English language proficiency exam based on the WIDA Standards for English Language Development. This assessment includes items in all domains of language: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. These domains are assessed within content areas such as math, science, and social studies. This assessment is for all children identified as Multilingual Learners (ML) in grades K through 8.
• DLM: The Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) is administered to students in grades 3-8, with the most significant cognitive disabilities. The IEP team determines which students qualify and participate for alternate assessment. Students who take DLM assessments are instructed and assessed on modified standards called Essential Elements. Essential Elements are grade-specific expectations that are modified for what students with the most significant cognitive disabilities should know and be able to do.

A copy of the presentation can be accessed here.

The Board approved the Tentative 2025 Tax Levy and authorized the Administration to publish a Public Hearing Notice.

The levy model includes a projected increase for New Property Equalized Assessed Value (EAV), which could include new property from house starts throughout the district and the expiration of a Des Plaines Tax Increment Finance (TIF) district. Based upon the increase in the 2024 Consumer Price Index, Urban (CPI-U) of 2.9% and the projected increase in the New Property EAV, the tax rate model has calculated an increase of 4.95% in the overall projected 2025 levy dollars from the prior year. The increase over the prior year does not include the Debt Service Fund Levy. As of December 1, 2024, the district retired all outstanding debt. The Board of Education may continue to abate the recapture levy, which has ranged between $800,000 and $2.1 million since it became available four years ago.

The timeline for the 2025 Levy adoption will continue as follows:

• 12/03/25 Administration publishes a Public Hearing Notice in the local paper
• 12/15/25 Board holds a Public Hearing on 2025 Levy
• 12/15/25 Board adopts the 2025 Levy
• 12/30/25 Administration files the 2025 Levy with the County Clerk prior to this date

As part of the district’s Full Day Kindergarten implementation, bids were solicited for construction and renovation work at Central and North Schools.

Based on design work conducted by STR Partners, the district’s architect, bids were prepared by Pepper Construction Company and were opened on November 7, 2025. As typical with this scope of work, bid packets were broken out by trade. Pepper Construction reviewed and verified the bids results with each low bidder to ensure responsiveness. While the initial base bids from each school were lower, after verifying the bids, the lowest, responsible bidders were awarded the work at a slightly higher cost.

The total bid results tallied $17,287,021. The estimated final cost to this work is $23,724,265 with management fees, contingent costs, construction items, and allowances factored into the final cost.

As budgeted, to pay for the Full Day Kindergarten (FDK) implementation, the district will need to transfer cash balance from the Educational Fund to the Operation & Maintenance (O&M) Fund.

Administration would like to transfer $35 million at the December 2025 Board Meeting. This transfer will probably cover construction expenses through the end of the fiscal year. Any necessary transfers needed to complete the construction work will likely occur in FY2027.

There will need to be a public hearing at the December 2025 Board Meeting and a posting will be placed in the local newspaper.

Administration has been providing monthly and yearly financial reports for many years. Now included in this reporting will be a five-year financial projection that will be shared annually with the Board of Education.

The included report projects district revenues, expenses, and fund balances starting next fiscal year and running through the end of fiscal year 2031. This report was discussed at the November 2025 Board Meeting.

A few major assumptions used in creating this projection include:

Revenues

• CPI 3.0% in CY2025 and returning to the historical average of 2.5% in later years
• Interest earnings will decline with Full Day Kindergarten related decline in fund balance
• State Aid will be unchanged
• CPPRT to be $5.0 million each year
• Federal Funding will not be reduced

Expenses

• The same number of staff are employed by the district
• Year pay increases are sharply reduced with the expiration of existing CBAs
• Health insurance increases at 5% a year
• Transportation costs increase at 5% a year
• Cost savings from retiring staff are factored in the projections

Administration recommended leaving instructional and SPARK fees unchanged in the coming school year. Administration shared a chart with bus fees charged at neighboring districts. More information was requested and further discussion as to whether District 62 should raise bus fees new year will take place at the December Board meeting.

Board Member Tina Garrett reminded the Board to contact her if there were any questions regarding resolutions in anticipation of the Triple I conference.

President Massa thanked North and Central Schools for hosting the Board of Education. Mrs. Massa enjoyed her time at the ELC Family Halloween Night. In addition, she attended Fall Fest at Forest. Mrs. Massa appreciated the opportunity to visit schools. ED-RED held a meeting a few weeks ago. There is long-term legislation surrounding the delay with Cook County taxes. The next ED-RED meeting is at 1:30 p.m. on December 5.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Michael Amadei has been attending PTC meetings to answer questions especially as they relate to Full Day Kindergarten. He added that student safety will always be the priority as it relates to construction at the schools. Work at North School will begin next month.

Dr. Amadei has met with parent and community groups as it relates to immigration support. Dr. Amadei recently met with community leaders and expressed his gratitude for the surrounding organizations in the community that do so much to support students.

The Kiwanis Club was acknowledged for their generosity to donate shoes for children. The Des Plaines Youth Commission has funded a viewing of an educational documentary, LIKE. The film focuses on the use of technology and social media and the effects on the brain. Middle school students will watch this during advisory this year.