REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF DWIGHT COMMON SCHOOL DISTRICT #232
Held in the Dwight Common School District Library On May 13, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.
Board President Jaime Mallaney called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
PRESENT: Lori Bowman; Mark Christenson; Marc Ellis; Ryan Kodat; Jaime Mallaney; Chuck Trainor
ABSENT: Brad Hansen
Also in attendance: Josh DeLong, Superintendent; Deb Conroy, Secretary; Julie Schultz, Principal; Micheal Bennett-Tejes, Asst. Principal
REDBIRD OF THE MONTH
Mrs. Schultz announced that Corilyn Hensel-McCullough had been chosen as the Redbird of the Month.
PUBLIC COMMENT None
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES OR REPRESENTATIVES
Mrs. Schultz’ report stands as read. She stated that they held the Kindergarten Registration Rally last night and it went very well.
Mr. Bennett-Tejes’ report stands as read. He reported that Scholastic Bowl won their Regional but were defeated at the Sectional competition.
Mr. Scheuer’s report stands as read.
Mr. DeLong announced that he and Mr. Connor have decided on a 36’ x 40’ shed/garage and he noted that we have approximately $35,000 in additional grant funding that will be allotted towards this storage shed.
He reported that bids were put out for the concrete work and Lovell Construction was the low bidder. He also noted that the floors will start to be ripped out on June 1st for the sewer project.
Mr. DeLong reported that the estimated combined EAV from Livingston and Grundy Counties this year was $6M less than expected, which means that we are leaving less money on the table based on the levy request that he submitted to the counties. The Livingston County assessors office told Mr. DeLong that they made an error when sending out their estimated EA V in the fall.
The tax rate ended up being $2.93, which is still $0.05 lower than last year. We had expected to leave approximately $250,000 on the table, but now that amount will be reduced to $100,000. This is the first year, maybe ever or at least in a long time, that the district did not tax to the allowable maximum.
Mr. DeLong reminded the Board that Graduation is next Thursday, May 21st at 7:00 in Kresl Gymnasium at the HS. He also reminded the Board that the Triple-I Conference will be November 20-22 in Chicago and anyone that wants to attend needs to let the District Office know.
CONSENT AGENDA
Items for consideration on this month’s Consent Agenda are as follows:
1) Minutes of the April 8, 2026 Regular Monthly Meeting
2) Bills
3) Authorize payment of June 2026 bills
4) Approve Resignation, Christine Stephens, 8th Grade Volleyball Coach
5) Approve Resignation, Sarah Jones, CLASS Basketball Sponsor
6) Approve Resignation, Corilyn McCullough, Scholastic Bowl Coach
7) Approve Resignation, Heather Boucher, Paraprofessional
8) Approve Employment, Emily Moore, Split Full-Time Substitute Teacher
9) Approve Employment, Amanda Vidito, Sub Paraprofessional
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Mr. DeLong held the second reading of a change to Board Policy 7:40, which would allow local, non-public students to participate in certain clubs or programs under certain conditions.
NEW BUSINESS
Mr. DeLong held the first reading of PRESS Policy 121 Updates, which focus on the Open Meetings Act and FOIA compliance, Title IX guidelines, student privacy and AI.
Mr. DeLong presented the list of Fall and Winter Coaches and Sponsors to be hired for the 2026-27 school year.
Included in the packet is the list of 2026-27 Board Meeting dates and times.
Mr. DeLong presented the 5-year food service bid renewal for Whitson’s Culinary Group. Whitson’s is our current provider and was the only bid received.
Mr. DeLong presented the proposed changes to the 2026-27 Student Handbook.
Mr. DeLong presented the membership renewal for the IESA for the 2026-27 school year for approval.
went into Executive Session at 6:27 p.m. to discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity; According to Section 2, subsection c, #1 of the Illinois Open Meetings Act; and, to discuss litigation, when an action against, affecting or on behalf of the particular public body has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal, or when the public body finds that an action is probable or imminent, in which case the basis for the finding shall be recorded and entered into the minutes of the closed meeting; According to Section 2, subsection c, #11 of the Illinois Open Meetings Act.
exited Executive Session at 6:36 p.m. Voice vote.
Mr. DeLong reminded the Board that instead of the regular meeting in June, there will be a joint session with the HS on Wednesday, June 24th in the HS Library starting at 5 pm.
adjourned the meeting at 6:37 p.m. V oice vote. All voted aye. Motion carried.
