CHSD 128 board approves routine agreements, elects officers and tables RISE Aquatics contract

The CHSD 128 Board of Education took a bundle of routine actions at its May 18 meeting, approving several intergovernmental agreements, budget‑related items and personnel procedural items, while postponing a vendor contract tied to an upcoming facilities outage.

Key approvals: By unanimous roll call the board approved a reciprocal reporting agreement with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, renewed an intergovernmental agreement with Libertyville High School District 70 for shared physical therapy services, adopted the 2026–2027 textbook list, approved the district consolidated plan for federal Title grants and IDEA funds, and authorized the FY27 treasurer’s bond (recommended at $11 million) and the FY26 audit engagement with Baker Tilly. The board also approved updates to educational support professional staffing and a memorandum of agreement with the teachers' union to address health‑insurance contributions.

Elections: With no competing nominations, the board elected Wes Polen as vice president and confirmed Nina Austin as secretary; both were approved by unanimous roll call.

Tabled item: Board members declined to approve an updated agreement with RISE Aquatics for 2026–2027 at this meeting. Members said they lacked clarity about how the anticipated Vernon Hills High School pool HVAC outage and revised practice schedules would affect third‑party users; the board asked staff to return with a clearer schedule and stakeholder discussions before executing the updated contract.

Votes at a glance (roll-call outcomes reported in open session):
- Consent agenda: Approved (Aye: Austin, Deshmukh, Fleegle, Kotwal, Polen, Simpson)
- Vice president (Wes Polen): Elected (unanimous)
- Secretary (Nina Austin): Elected (unanimous)
- Reciprocal reporting agreement (Lake County Sheriff): Approved (unanimous)
- Intergovernmental physical therapy agreement with District 70: Approved (unanimous)
- RISE Aquatics agreement: Motion to approve tabled pending clearer schedule and language (no approval)
- FY27 treasurer’s bond: Approved (unanimous)
- FY26 audit engagement (Baker Tilly): Approved (unanimous)
- Consolidated district plan (Title funds): Approved (unanimous)
- Textbook adoptions: Approved (unanimous)
- Updated ESP staffing: Approved (unanimous)
- Teachers’ MOA on health insurance contributions: Approved (unanimous)

Why it matters: The approvals authorized routine contracts and fiscal safeguards required for district operations. The decision to table the RISE Aquatics agreement reflects a tension between district facility priorities (school programs first) and external users; the board prioritized confirming operational logistics before committing to a vendor schedule and fee update.

Next steps: Staff will refine the schedule and contractual language related to the pool outage and RISE, and return to the board with additional clarity. Other approved items will proceed as part of district administration and fiscal planning.