Development News for West Chicago, Illinois

District Proposes Wage Adjustment for Music Accompanist for 2026-2027 School Year

The district is proposing a tentative recommendation for miscellaneous wages for the 2026-2027 school year, to be formally presented on June 16th. These wages are not covered under collective bargaining agreements. The only wage increase recommended is for the music accompanist, from $25 to $28 per hour, aligning with ranges in other school districts ($28-$30/hour). The anticipated cost for this increase is estimated at $1,000, likely less. The district is seeking a new accompanist as the current one is departing. This tentative recommendation indicates that other miscellaneous wages currently meet district needs.

District Reviews Press Plus Policy Updates, Addressing Terminology Consistency

The district is reviewing Issue 121 from the Illinois Association of School Boards' Press Plus Policy Service, which includes 121 policy recommendations. A summary sheet with suggested changes has been prepared by the district leadership team. Feedback on these recommendations is requested from the board prior to a second reading and approval vote scheduled for the June 16th board meeting. Board member Rich noted that policies sometimes use 'student' and 'children' interchangeably, which could be problematic given the age range of students (16-24) and that state/federal statutes refer to them as 'children.' He emphasized the need for consistent policy language.

District Proposes Adding Staff Nurse and Second Family Liaison for 2026-2027

The district is proposing tentative recommendations for two additional support staff positions for the 2026-2027 school year: a staff nurse and a second family liaison. These additions follow the successful implementation of an administrative assistant and a family liaison last year. The proposed staff nurse position is for a support staff nurse, bringing the total nursing staff to two: one professional educator licensed nurse (PEL nurse) and one support staff nurse. Student traffic in the nurse's office has more than doubled, increasing demands on both nurses, especially the PEL nurse who has additional responsibilities related to special education and IEP meetings. The recommendation for a support staff nurse is influenced by the potential for the PEL nurse to also teach a nursing program course. The second family liaison position is intended to further enhance outreach efforts, support families, and assist with attendance initiatives. The total approximate cost for these two positions, assuming the nurse is a support staff role, is $50,000 plus benefits. If the nurse position is elevated to a PEL role, the cost will increase due to teacher contract scales. Board member concerns about 'service creep' and long-term financial commitment were raised.

District Proposes New Clubs and Activities for 2026-2027 School Year

The district is proposing a tentative recommendation for clubs and activities for the 2026-2027 school year, to be presented on June 16th. The appendix B committee, which meets three times annually, reviews clubs and activities. The memo includes eight clubs and activities for pilot programs and four to be established. Pilot programs are new for the upcoming year, with the district electing to pay 50% of the appendix B stipend to launch them, a change from previous volunteer-only arrangements. Established programs, which completed the pilot phase this year, will be paid at the full rate. The approximate cost for these eight pilot and four established clubs/activities is $15,000. The Mariachi band is noted as successful.