The River Trails School District 26 Board of Education held a meeting on Tuesday, February 1, 2022. It was conducted on Zoom due to ongoing concerns with the current COVID-19 surge. Here are the highlights:
- Board President William Grimpe delivered an update on the superintendent search following Dr. Nancy Wagner’s announcement that she would resign after this school year. The Board will hold a special meeting on February 7 to interview search firms to assist in the process. They will vote on a firm following these interviews.
- River Trails Education Association representative Bob Kastner made a statement on behalf of his fellow members. He thanked the Board for a positive working relationship and expressed “sadness” about Dr. Wagner’s upcoming departure from the district. He said she has been an “asset to the community” and specifically thanked her for her leadership over the past two years.
- The Board approved a calendar for the 2022-2023 school year.
- Dr. Lyndl Schuster, assistant superintendent for business services, made several presentations and recommendations on a variety of operations issues. These included:
- Infrastructure upgrades at Euclid and Indian Grove that would occur over the next several years. The Board voted in favor of allowing FGM Architects to proceed with schematic designs for these projects. This portion of the process is expected to last through August 2022.
- A partnership with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) of Greater Chicago for a permeable paver parking lot and rain gardens at River Trails Middle School. This partnership includes a $650,000 grant from the MWRD that will help fund the project. The Board approved the partnership and project.
- Information about a $478,552 grant from the Department of Justice towards security upgrades at each of the district’s schools.
- The purchase of an electric bus courtesy of a grant from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency for $288,215.53. The Board approved this purchase.
- Details about the district’s transportation contract with Grand Prairie Transit. The Board voted in favor of extending the contract for an additional year.
- A proposal on the district’s food service plan options for the 2022-23 school year. The Board approved posting a job description for “Director of Food Service” and salary parameters.
- An update on the electricity supplier for the district. Dr. Schuster and Dan Whisler, director of buildings and grounds, will continue to explore options and make a recommendation at a future meeting.
- Infrastructure upgrades at Euclid and Indian Grove that would occur over the next several years. The Board voted in favor of allowing FGM Architects to proceed with schematic designs for these projects. This portion of the process is expected to last through August 2022.
The next regular board meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 15 at River Trails Middle School, if conditions allow for an in-person meeting. You can email the board at boe@rtsd26.org.