Community Unit School District #201 Board of Education met Jan. 13.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
CALL TO ORDER
On January 13, 2026, at 6:32 p.m., Leah Conover called to order the regular meeting of the Community Unit School District 201 Board of Education.
Roll Call
Members Present: Leah Conover, Heather Franklin, Carlos Hevia, Timothy Hoerman, Adina Hoover, Kevin Marren, Alexandria Mil
Members Absent: None
Also present: Superintendent Jack Baldermann, Ron O’Connor, Assistant Superintendent of Finance and HR, and the Superintendent’s Administrative Assistant, Shannon Cossairt.
Pledge of Allegiance
President Conover led the Assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.
CLOSED SESSION
Motion by Ms. Mil, second by Mr. Marren, to enter closed session for the purpose of discussing specific employees and other matters relating to individual students.
Ayes: Mil, Marren, Hevia, Hoerman, Franklin, Hoover, Conover Nays: None
Motion carried.
The Board entered closed session at 6:33 p.m.
The Board returned to open session at 7:49 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
December 16, 2025
Motion by Dr. Hoover, second by Ms. Mil, to approve the minutes of the December 16, 2025, regular meeting of the Board of Education, as presented.
Ayes: Mil, Marren, Hevia, Hoerman, Franklin, Hoover, Conover Nays: None.
Motion Carried.
December 16, 2025, closed
Motion by Dr. Hoover, second by Mr. Marren, to approve the minutes of the closed session of the December 16, 2025, regular meeting of the Board of Education, as presented.
Ayes: Mil, Marren, Hevia, Hoerman, Franklin, Hoover, Conover Nays: None.
Motion Carried.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Public comment was given to the Board by Mark Forzley, Keith Nega, and Judy Wilson.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion by Mr. Hevia, second by Dr. Hoover, to approve the consent agenda as presented:
1. Donation for Westmont High School and Westmont Junior High School from Downers Grove Panthers Cheerleading.
Ayes: Marren, Hevia, Hoerman, Franklin, Hoover, Conover, Mil Nays: None.
Motion carried.
INFORMATION and DISCUSSION
1. Budget and Staffing Timeline
Mr. Ron O’Connor, Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Human Resources, shared a timeline of events for the budget and staffing process in BoardDocs for the Community and Board to see. Mr. O’Connor utilizes PMA Forecasting tool. He will work with the District to review the needs of the students and the District. The Board would like to know if the planning process could start earlier in the year.
2. Finance and Facilities Recap
On October 28, 2025, the Finance and Facilities Committee met. Using the information gathered from that meeting, the Committee plans to meet again on February 10, 2026. The committee in October discussed how they would like the administration to work on plans, including health, life, safety, and working cash bonds.
The Board is requesting more information on plans and timelines for the upcoming meeting on February 10, 2026. They have also decided to schedule a second meeting on February 24, 2026, to review. The information wanted includes:
● Timelines of working cash bonds: when do they retire?
● Timeline of events if going for a referendum.
● TIF: is an extension being requested, and dollar amounts.
● Comprehensive list of revenue and needs.
● Fund Balance
● Project timelines
3. Policy Second Reading
The Board received the updated policies from PRESS on December 16, 2025. The Board has a second opportunity this evening to review the policies and discuss. There are no questions on the policies being presented. The Board will vote on the policies later in this meeting.
ACTION ITEMS
Approval of Policies
Motion by Ms. Mil, second by Mr. Marren, to approve the policies, as presented.
Ayes: Hevia, Hoerman, Franklin, Hoover, Conover, Mil Marren Nays: None.
Motion carried.
Approval of Purchase of Electronic Sign for Westmont High School Utilizing Hackbrush Trust
The Board conducted a straw poll to table this item. They would like more information about the purchase and legal counsel to advise on a “restricted gift.”
Straw poll results: 5 in favor of tabling action item, and 2 opposed to tabling.
This action item will be tabled.
Approval of Westmont High School Student Early Graduation
Motion by Mr. Hevia, second by Ms. Mil, to approve Student X’s early graduation from Westmont High School.
Ayes: Franklin, Hoover, Conover, Mil, Marren, Hevia, Hoerman Nays: None.
Motion carried.
SUPERINTENDENT REPORT
Communication
Superintendent Baldermann is happy with the start of the second semester. Growth is not guaranteed; we have to keep working hard.
Superintendent Baldermann would also like to invite Board members who can attend the DuPage Division Meeting on February 3, 2026.
FOIA Request
Recent FOIA requests are attached in BoardDocs.
BOARD REPORTS
Arlana Bedard, IASB representative, will be present at the next meeting on January 27, 2026, to conduct the Board self-evaluation. The board meeting time will be changed to a 6:00 p.m. start time.
Also, a shout-out for the fall sports teams.
PUBLIC COMMENT
No public comment at this time.
FUTURE MEETINGS AND EVENTS
No School Martin Luther King Day
Jan 19
South School Family Night
Jan 20, 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
South School
Daddy Daughter Dance
Jan 24, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
WHS
CUSD 201 Board Meeting
Jan 27, 6:00 p.m.
Village Hall
CLOSED SESSION
Not needed at this time.
COMMUNICATIONS
None at this time.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Mr. Marren, second by Dr. Hoover, to adjourn the January 13, 2026, regular meeting of the Board of Education at 9:20 p.m.
Motion unanimously passed.
https://go.boarddocs.com/il/cusd201/Board.nsf/files/DQLL6954FD0F/$file/1.13.26%20Regular%20Minutes.pdf
