Addison SD 4 board approves personnel changes, contracts, calendar and terminates 1999 IGA with park district

The Addison SD 4 Board of Education approved multiple routine and substantive items at its March 20 meeting, including personnel actions, contract extensions and an intergovernmental agreement termination.

The board approved accounts payable totaling $2,102,220.38 and payroll for February 2024 totaling $3,940,592.76 after motions carried on roll call. The personnel report approved hires (for example, licensed hire Damian Kieltica), several resignations and retirements (including Ellen Constantopoulos, Enrique Pantaleone and Robert Wotas), changes of assignment and ESP staffing updates; the board congratulated retirees during the vote.

The board approved a resolution recommending nonrenewal/dismissal of probationary teachers Ritu Bindra and Ellen Lipinski. Administration presented the resolution and the board approved it following a motion by Jeremiah and a second by Zach.

The board also approved an amended 2023–24 school calendar to extend the last day of the school year to Thursday, May 30, 2024, to account for emergency days used earlier in the winter.

On procurement and services, the board approved a one-year extension of the district's regular-education transportation contract with First Student for FY25; the administration said the FY25 contract reflects a 9% increase to route rates, which the presenter noted is lower than the 10–15% increases being reported by neighboring districts. The board also approved a one-year addendum with Berry Landscaping reflecting a 3% increase in service costs. A food-service RFP is underway; vendor tastings are scheduled for April 2–3 and contract approval will return to the April meeting.

Administration recommended and the board authorized notice to terminate the 1999 intergovernmental agreement with the Addison Park District that governed a jointly used gym attached to Army Trail Elementary School. Administration said the original agreement officially ended in 2020 and that notice provides a two-year period during which usage remains status quo; the district noted that, if it takes full ownership at the end of that period, the gym could be made available for evening and weekend use by the school and rented in ways that would benefit the district. "If Addison School District 4 were to take action to take full ownership of this gym, we as a school district would then potentially be able to utilize this space in the evenings and weekends in ways that would positively impact the school district," an administration official said.

Board members asked whether the park district would continue to use the facility during the notice period and who would be responsible for security; administration and board members said security and usage details will be addressed in follow-up discussions as part of facility-use and rental agreements.

The board approved the 2024–25 calendar of board meeting dates, moving meetings to the third Wednesday of each month. The meeting adjourned after routine closing items.