Niles Elementary School District 71

Minutes

Regular Session

Date and Time

Tuesday September 15, 2026 at 7:00 PM

Directors Present

Georgia Chronopoulos, Jackie Jaime, Matt Glancy, Matthew Holbrook, Victoria Luz

Directors Absent

Dexi Karabatsos, Kenny Krueger

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 Sep 15, 2026 at 7:02 PM.

II. Presentation of New Staff

A.

New Staff Members were introduced to the Board.

The new staff members included:

Carli Antuna, Amanda Garcia, Emily DeLaVega, Natalie Lasaru-Harris, Teresa Gamble, Leah Hood, Teagan Quill, Aolani Marquez, Marhawit Beraki. 

 

III. Public Comment

A.

There were no comments.

Teachers in Attendance included:  Liz Lawrence, Michelle Baum, Kellie Conklin, Kim Perez and Sarah Goodrich.

IV. 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).

 

V. Budget Hearing

A.

Call to Order

The Budget Hearing was Called to Order at 7:57 pm by Matt Holbrook, Board President.

B.

Presentation of the 2026-2027 Budget

C.

2026-2027 Budget

Ken Kaufhold, CSBO , presented the 2026-2027 Budget to the Board.

D.

Public Comment on Budget

There were no comments.

 

E.

Adjourn

Budget Hearing was adjourned at 8:10pm.

VI. Acknowledging Communications to the Board of Education

A.

Communications

There were magazines from IASB for the Board members.

VII. Consent Agenda

A.

Motion to Approve the Consent Agenda

Matt Glancy made a motion to approve the minutes from Regular Session on 08-11-26.
Matthew Holbrook seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Jackie Jaime
Aye
Victoria Luz
Aye
Georgia Chronopoulos
Aye
Matthew Holbrook
Aye
Dexi Karabatsos
Absent
Kenny Krueger
Absent
Matt Glancy
Aye

VIII. Discussion and Action Items

A.

Motion to Approve Accounts Payable

Matt Glancy made a motion to Approve Accounts payable in the amount of $610, 255.63.
Matthew Holbrook seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Matt Glancy
Aye
Dexi Karabatsos
Absent
Matthew Holbrook
Aye
Jackie Jaime
Aye
Victoria Luz
Aye
Georgia Chronopoulos
Aye
Kenny Krueger
Absent

B.

Approval of Minutes of the Finance Committee Meeting held on August 11, 2026.

Matt Glancy made a motion to approve the minutes from Finance Committee Meeting on 08-11-26.
Matthew Holbrook seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Matt Glancy
Aye
Jackie Jaime
Aye
Georgia Chronopoulos
Aye
Victoria Luz
Aye
Dexi Karabatsos
Absent
Kenny Krueger
Absent
Matthew Holbrook
Aye

C.

Approval of the 2026-2027 Budget

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

D.

Approval of the IGA Reciprocal Reporting

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

E.

Approval of Board Policies

Matt Glancy made a motion to Approve Board Policies as listed: 2:230, 5:40, 5:70, 5:240, 6:70, 6:80, 6:190, 7:130, 8:70, 2:30, 3:40, 3:50, 3:60,3:70, 4:120, 4:175, 5:110, 5:140, 5:185, 7:30, 7:80, 7:345, 8:100.
Matthew Holbrook seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Georgia Chronopoulos
Aye
Matt Glancy
Aye
Matthew Holbrook
Aye
Dexi Karabatsos
Absent
Kenny Krueger
Absent
Jackie Jaime
Aye
Victoria Luz
Aye

IX. Informational Items

A.

NTDSE Report

Member Holbrook attended this month's NTDSE  BOE meeting.  The discussions were about Staff pay, Air Conditioning and the retirement of Christina Dimas.

X. Administrative Report

A.

Admin Report

B.

Admin Report

Strategic Plan Activities:

Advance Learning and Innovation 

  • PLC 
  • HMH PD
  • Special Education Teacher Professional Development

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

  • Student Devices
  • Cleartouch Panel Update 

Meet students' increasing social emotional needs.

  • Athletic/Extracurricular Update 
  • Calm Halls Update 
  • PBIS
  • Recess

Engage and expand community and parent resources

 

Community Building 

  • 8th Grade Car Wash 

 

XI. 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 8:30 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Matthew Holbrook