Niles Elementary School District 71

Minutes

Regular Session

Date and Time

Tuesday May 19, 2026 at 7:00 PM

Location

Media Center

Directors Present

Dexi Karabatsos, Georgia Chronopoulos, Jackie Jaime, Kenny Krueger, Matthew Holbrook, Victoria Luz

Directors Absent

Matt Glancy

Guests Present

Debra Jordan, Erica Smolinski, John Kosirog, Katie Russ, Ken Kaufhold, Laura Guarraci

I. Opening Items

A.

Roll Call and Pledge of Allegiance

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

Matthew Holbrook called a meeting of the board of directors of Niles Elementary School District 71 to order on Tuesday May 19, 2026 at 7:03 PM.

II. Public Comment

A.

Public Comment

There were none.

III. Closed Session

A.

Closed Session

  • Closed Session for the Discussion of minutes of the meetings lawfully closed under the Open   Meetings Act as described by 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(2). 
  • Consider the appointment, employment, compensation, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the District 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(9).
  • Student disciplinary cases as described by 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(9). 
  • Litigation, when an action against, affecting or on behalf of the school board has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal, or when the school board fines 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.

IV. Recall To Order of Open Session

A.

Open Session

Meeting Reconvened at 8:42 pm.

V. Acknowledging Communications to the Board of Education

A.

Communications

There were none.

VI. Additions or Changes to Agenda

A.

Changes to the Agenda

There were none.

VII. Consent Agenda

A.

Motion to Approve the Consent Agenda

Matthew Holbrook made a motion to approve the minutes from Regular Session on 04-21-26.
Jackie Jaime seconded the motion.

The Finance Committee Minutes from April 21, 2026 and the Consent Agenda were also approved with this vote.

The board VOTED to approve the motion.

VIII. Discussion and Action Items

A.

Motion to Approve Accounts Payable

Matthew Holbrook made a motion to Approve Accounts Payable in the Amount of $872,163.81.
Kenny Krueger seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Matthew Holbrook
Aye
Dexi Karabatsos
Aye
Matt Glancy
Absent
Jackie Jaime
Aye
Kenny Krueger
Aye
Victoria Luz
Aye
Georgia Chronopoulos
Aye

B.

Approval of 2026-2027 Board Calendar

Kenny Krueger made a motion to Approve the 2026-2027 Board Meeting Calendar.
Matthew Holbrook seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Dexi Karabatsos
Aye
Matthew Holbrook
Aye
Matt Glancy
Absent
Kenny Krueger
Aye
Jackie Jaime
Aye
Victoria Luz
Aye
Georgia Chronopoulos
Aye

C.

Approval of the Director of Business Services/CSBO Contract

Kenny Krueger made a motion to Approve the Director of Business Services/CSBO Contract.
Dexi Karabatsos seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Jackie Jaime
Aye
Kenny Krueger
Aye
Matt Glancy
Absent
Victoria Luz
Aye
Georgia Chronopoulos
Aye
Matthew Holbrook
Aye
Dexi Karabatsos
Aye

D.

Approval of the Following Board Policies

Matthew Holbrook made a motion to To approve the following Board Policies.
Kenny Krueger seconded the motion.

2:200, 2:220, 2:250, 4:165, 5:30, 5:250, 5:330, 6:65, 6:100, 6:15, 6:170, 7:20, 7:50, 7:100, 7:185, 7:240, 7:260, 7:300, 8:90, 7:220, 7:230, 7:280

The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Matt Glancy
Absent
Dexi Karabatsos
Aye
Jackie Jaime
Aye
Kenny Krueger
Aye
Victoria Luz
Aye
Matthew Holbrook
Aye
Georgia Chronopoulos
Aye

IX. Informational Items

A.

NTDSE Report

President Holbrook attended the NTDSE BOE meeting.  Items discussed included, change of meeting day and new contraxt negoiations.

X. Administrative Report

A.

Admin Report

Strategic Plan Activities:

 

Advance Learning and Innovation 

  • PLC Leadership 
  • ELA/Math Committee
  • Special Education Teacher Professional Development
  • Recruiting and Retaining High Quality Special Education Staff 

Responsibly embrace technology to empower creativity, problem solving, collaboration, communication and learning.

  • Technology Student Device Collection 

Meet students' increasing social emotional needs.

  • Athletic/Extracurricular Update 
  • PBIS
  • Recess

Engage and expand community and parent resources

  • 8th Grade Events 

Community Building 

  • Staff v. Student v. Alumni volleyball event 
  • Young Authors
  • End of Year Luncheon
    • Carol Provost
    • Linda Kraus
    • Jeanette Mendez
    • Maria Radko 

 

 

XI. Superintendent's Report

A.

Advance Learning

1. PD Plan 26-27

2. Committee System Reorganization 26-27

B.

Embrace Techology

1. Draft AI Guidelines

C.

Meet Social Emotional Needs

D.

Steward Resources

1. Insurance Committee Review

2. Addition repair Update

E.

Engage Community

1. FOIA Requests: There were none

2. District Enrollment

XII. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 9:26 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Matthew Holbrook