May 21, 2025 Regular Meeting

Agenda and Minutes:

Agenda

Minutes

Meeting Summary:

During its Regular Board Meeting held on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, the Board of Education accomplished the following items.

1.      Administered the Oath of Office to new Board Member, Mr. Matt Merboth

2.      Approved the minutes of the April 23, 2025, Reorganization Meeting and Regular Meeting and the May 13, 2025, Special Meeting

3.      Dr. Jim Helton of IASB provided an update on the Executive Search Process for the Superintendent position.

4.      Mr. Matt Rebholz presented the Division Spotlight, discussing the PE/HE/DE division, including the new personal fitness course.

5.      Provided opportunity for public comment.

6.      Approved monthly L-P bills, ACC bills, payroll, and financial statements.

7.      Received correspondence from the Zebron family.

8.      Dr. Wrobleski presented the Building and Grounds Committee Report.

9.      Mrs. Taliani presented the Finance Committee Report.

10.  Mrs. Alcorn presented the Policy Committee Report.

11.  Dr. Wrobleski presented the Superintendent’s Report, sharing information on the tax levy extension and being able to reduce the tax rate by 3 cents, graduation, a FOIA request, the projected decline in the chronic absenteeism rate, and Ms. Lance provided an update on the reduction in discipline issues connected to the new electronic device policy.

12.  Mrs. Cushing presented the Principal’s Report, sharing information on end of year activities, looking ahead to registration, and the Academic Success Program proposal.

13.  Dr. Lange presented the ACC Director’s Report, sharing information on the support the Zebron family received from the CNA program staff and students, the ACC Signing Day, and new technology coming to programs next year.

14.  Mr. Baker presented the Communication Report, sharing information on recent communication projects and plans for the coming year.

15.  The Board thanked Dr. Chris Gibson for his service to L-P and wished him well in his new opportunities as a superintendent.

16.  Adopted Resolution 2025-9 approving the tentative amended L-P FY25 Budget and place it on public display

17.  Approved awarding contracts to the following:

                                                              i.      Halm Electric Ottawa, IL for the Exterior Lighting, Paving, and Site Improvements Project ($428,058):

1.      Main Building Exterior Lighting, Base Bid B for $229,850

2.      Chartres and 5th Streets Pole Lighting, Alt Bid B1 for $138,500

3.      Courtyard (Inside of ‘E’) Light Fixtures, Alt. Bid B2 for $42,500

4.      Add for Kim Cypher Wall Packs, Alt Bid 3 for $9,661

5.      Add for Kim Cypher Wall Packs in Courtyard (Inside of ‘E’), Alt Bid 4 for $7,547

                                                            ii.      Universal Asphalt, Lasalle, IL for the Exterior Lighting, Paving, and Site Improvements Project ($1,080,000):

1.      Sitework Chartres and 5th Streets, Base Bid A for $646,000

2.      Sealcoat Main Campus Parking Lots, Alt Bid A1 for $130,000

3.      Sealcoat Dolan Lot and Replace Walks, Alt Bid A2 for $44,000

4.      East Gym Parking Lot Rebuild, Alt Bid A3 for $221,000

5.      Athletic Comp. Track Parking Lot Crack Fill, Alt Bid A4 for $21,000

6.      Athletic Complex Soccer and Tennis Lot Crack Fill, Alt Bid A5 for $18,000

                                                          iii.      AK Plumbing of IL, Inc., of Wood Dale, IL, for the Concession Space Remodel Project ($84,655)

                                                          iv.      Pizza Hut for the 2025-2026 school year

                                                            v.      Prairie Farms – Escalator Bid for the 2025-2026 school year

                                                          vi.      Alpha Baking for the 2025-2026 school year

18.  Approved letting bids for the Track Replacement Project

19.  Approved submitting building permit applications for the following summer 2025 projects:

                                                              i.      Main Roof and Masonry

                                                            ii.      Main Lighting, Paving, and Sitework

                                                          iii.      Sip-N-Savor Phase II

                                                          iv.      East Gym/ACC Paving and Roof Repairs

                                                            v.      Dolan Health Occupations Suite Renovation

20.  Approved submitting application for statement of completion for the following projects:

                                                              i.      Main Building Amendment 85 – Counseling Office Renovation

                                                            ii.      Main Building Amendment 86 – Counseling Office Ceiling Replacement

                                                          iii.      Soccer Building Amendment 1 – Tennis Court Renovation

21.  Approved the following Application for Occupancy and/or Statement of Completion for the Dolan Building Elevator Modernization Project:

                                                              i.      Application for Occupancy

                                                            ii.      Dolan Amendment 10 Statement of Completion

                                                          iii.      Dolan Amendment 11 Statement of Completion

22.  Approved the 2025-2027 Boys Swim Team Intergovernmental Agreement between L-P, Ottawa High School, Streator High School, Putnam County High School, and Earlville High School

23.  Approved the Memorandum of Understanding between the LaSalle-Peru Township High School District 120 Board of Education and the LaSalle-Peru Federation of Teachers, Local 604 to rename WYSE Coordinator (Differential Level IX) to ACES Coordinator (Differential Level IX)

24.  Approved the 2025-2026 Student Handbook – 2nd Reading

25.  Approved the Blood-Borne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan for the 2025-2026 school year

26.  Approved a resolution assuring re-employment for the 2025-2026 school year

27.  Approved the following resignations:

                                                              i.      Mr. Aaron Guenther, Head Boy’s Tennis Coach, effective the conclusion of the 2024-2025 school year

                                                            ii.      Mr. Kevin Cavanaugh, Assistant Boys’ Tennis Coach, effective the conclusion of the 2024-2025 school year

                                                          iii.      Mr. Matt Guenther, Volunteer Assistant Boys’ Tennis Coach, effective the conclusion of the 2024-2025 school year

                                                          iv.      Mr. Troy Woods, Scholastic Bowl Sponsor, effective the conclusion of the 2024-2025 school year

28.  Approved the following appointments:

                                                              i.      Mr. Leo Trujillo, Assistant Boys’ Soccer Coach, effective for the 2025-2026 school year (replaces Mr. Zach Horton)

                                                            ii.      Mrs. Alexandra West, Student Council Sponsor, effective for the 2025-2026 school year (replaces Mr. Will Zukowski)

                                                          iii.      Mr. Ryan Skoog, Assistant Boys’ Basketball Coach, effective for the 2025-2026 school year (replaces Mr. Tyler Ptak)

                                                          iv.      Mr. Eric Bjerkaas, Substitute Math Club Sponsor (split with Mrs. Kaitlin Monahan), effective for the 2025-2026 school year upon approval of Mrs. Monahan’s FMLA maternity leave

                                                            v.      Mr. Shane Guenther, Assistant Special Olympics Coach, effective for the 2025-2026 school year (replaces Mrs. Kathleen Rebholz-Butke)

29.  Approved rehiring the following staff for the 2025-2026 school year:

                                                              i.      Mr. Scott Leonard, Network Administrator

                                                            ii.      Mr. Matt Baker, Director of Communications

                                                          iii.      Mrs. Sue Brooker, AAP Coordinator

                                                          iv.      Mrs. Jennifer Does, Business Manager

                                                            v.      Mr. Tim Tomminello, Director of Building and Grounds

                                                          vi.      Mr. Bobby Riahi, Director of Food & Nutrition Services

30.  Approved the following summer 2025 temporary positions:

                                                              i.      Summer School Staff:

1.      Aaron Beale, Math Teacher

2.      Tiara Bedenko-Hill, Business Teacher

3.      Eric Bjerkaas, Math Teacher

4.      Scott Blessman, Driver’s Education Teacher

5.      Dan Burkhart, Science Teacher

6.      Jim Cherveny, Driver’s Education Teacher

7.      Carrie Christman, Driver’s Education Teacher

8.      Matt Glupczynski, Social Science Teacher

9.      Patrick Goy, Driver’s Education Teacher

10.  Kevin Keating, Science Teacher

11.  Scott Lauer, Business Teacher

12.  Kaitlin Monahan, Math Teacher

13.  Abby Passini, Special Education Teacher

14.  Kyle Pytel, Driver’s Education Teacher

15.  Matt Rebholz, Physical Education Teacher

16.  Nick Stevenson, Math Teacher

17.  Brent Thomas, Special Education Teacher

18.  Alexandra West, English Teacher

19.  Wendy Zuchowski, AAP Teacher

20.  Alisa Bezely, Summer School Paraprofessional

21.  Dorothy Brandner, Summer School Paraprofessional

22.  Jodi Orlandi, Summer School Paraprofessional

23.  Connor Soenksen, Summer School Paraprofessional

24.  Kathy Baker, Special Ed Summer School Paraprofessional

25.  Vanessa Nikischer, Special Ed Summer School Paraprofessional

                                                            ii.      Summer Building & Grounds Extra Help:

1.      Randy Huebbe

2.      Jose Medina

3.      Nicole Girton

4.      Shane Guenther

                                                          iii.      Summer Technology Help:

1.      Nicci Gibson

31.  Approved the following maternity/FMLA requests:

                                                              i.      Mrs. Abigail Passini, beginning on or about Thursday, November 20, 2025, and returning on April 7, 2026. She will be using her accumulated sick days to cover the leave. 

                                                            ii.      Mrs. Kaitlin Monahan, beginning on or about November 7, 2025, and returning on February 2, 2026. She will be using her accumulated sick days to cover the leave.

32.  Reviewed and retained the following executive/closed session minutes:

                                                              i.      Regular Meeting Minutes, April 23, 2025

                                                            ii.      Special Meeting Minutes, May 13, 2025

33.  Approved recommended destruction of verbatim audio records from Executive Session held prior to November 1, 2023, per the Illinois Open Meetings Act, 5 ILCS 120

                                                              i.      November 15, 2023, Regular Meeting Minutes

34.  Approved the following employee transfer:

                                                              i.      Ms. Kate Lance, Associate Principal for Teaching and Learning, effective July 1,2025, to June 30, 2026 (replaces Dr. Chris Gibson)

35.   Approved the following appointment:

                                                              i.      Mr. Kalob Ramke, Help Desk Technician, effective May 22, 2025 (replaces Mr. Russell Anderson)

36.   Approved the Administrator and Classified Staff Employee Salary/Wage Recommendations for 2025-2026