Taylor board approves three‑year calendar, buys buses and truck, ratifies teacher contract

The Taylor School District Committee of the Whole on March 4 approved a three‑year district calendar, authorized the second phase of a bus‑replacement plan and ratified the district’s collective bargaining agreement with the teachers’ union.

The board voted to approve the district calendar for the 2026–27, 2027–28 and 2028–29 school years as presented after administrators said the multi‑year plan was developed with the teachers’ union and aligned professional development to instructional time. “I am so proud that we are doing three years out,” one board member said, calling the continuity helpful for families and staff.

Assistant director of transportation Nishan, who presented the procurement requests, said the district is requesting four full‑size buses as part of phase two of the replacement program and a replacement wrecker truck to maintain the fleet. “We just want to make sure we have those backup buses…we’re getting the fleet a little bit newer,” Nishan said. The motion to purchase four buses from Midwest Transit Equipment totaled $628,176 and carried by recorded voice vote (6–0 where noted, Schufeld excused). The board also approved purchase of a 2027 International HV607 truck for $357,929.40 as part of the same phase and procurement process.

On labor, the board moved to ratify the Taylor Federation of Teachers (AFT Local 1085) agreement. A board member announced a conflict under section 12.03 of the revised school code and recused themself from that vote; the ratification carried 5–0 with the recusal. “Therefore, I recuse myself from voting this matter,” the member said before leaving the vote.

The meeting also approved multiple administrative contract rollovers for executive, curriculum and human resources positions. The board approved a two‑year rollover for the administrative assistant to the superintendent, Rebecca Evola, with salaries read into the record as $72,962.03 for 2026–27 and $75,163.09 for 2027–28. Several human‑resources administrative assistant rollovers were approved; some salary lines were read aloud during the meeting. (One salary line in the transcript appears corrupted in the record and will need clerical clarification.)

The board approved the consent agenda, overnight conference requests and other routine items before recessing into closed session for negotiations and later adjourning.

Votes at a glance
- District calendar (three‑year): approved (carried 6–0, Schufeld excused)
- Phase‑2 purchase of 4 full‑size buses (Midwest Transit Equipment): approved, $628,176
- Phase‑2 purchase of 2027 International HV607 truck: approved, $357,929.40
- Taylor Federation of Teachers contract ratification: approved (carried 5–0; one recusal recorded)
- Multiple contract rollovers for administrative positions: approved

What’s next
The purchases proceed under the district procurement processes described at the meeting; staff will post the approved calendar on the district website. The board adjourned after returning from closed session with no additional action reported.