Stephanie Berquist

The Board of Education meeting included the recognition of retiring staff members and a student success update from Jefferson Elementary regarding the 'One School One Book' literacy initiative. Administrative appointments were approved for the upcoming school year. The board also approved several business items, including a facility management agreement, a memorandum of understanding with the local police department for surveillance access, network cabling remediation, the McHenry County Regional Safe School Program participation, fire safety repairs at Crosby Elementary, gym floor maintenance, technology infrastructure proposals, a food service management contract, a public hearing notification for the fiscal year 2026 budget amendment, an instructional empowerment contract, and an audio enhancement project.

The board meeting included discussions and actions on various topics such as approving an AED proposal, an intergovernmental cooperation agreement for crisis response, opening and closing the hearing for the 2025 Tax Levy, approving SchoolWorks for the evaluation of District Supporters of Multilingual Learners, a farmland lease agreement, the resolution to sell or dispose of District property, and the termination of a substitute teacher. The board also appointed a Board Secretary for the 2025 IASB Delegate Assembly and approved the Personnel Report. Additionally, the Superintendent presented an 18-month plan for the District.

The meeting included a student success update from Washington School and a discussion on the upcoming Fall Family Language Night. The board addressed the personnel report and approved the instrument from Quinlan & Fabish. They also approved the McHenry District 15 Special Education Shared Services agreement for the 2025-2026 school year. Additionally, the board approved the resolution to sell and or dispose of District property, the addition of door card readers and licenses from Monarch, the District-wide network upgrade from CRW Inc., the Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement for Mutual Assistance, and the Full Engagement Program Community Engagement Proposal from EO Sullivan Consulting. The Superintendent reported on FOIA requests and achievements of Hornet Athletes. The Illinois State Board of Education will release the 2025 Illinois Report Card to the public on October 31, 2025.

The meeting included discussions and decisions on several key items. The board approved the District's medical plan transition from United Healthcare to BlueCross BlueShield, continuing coverage with Delta Dental, EyeMed, and the Standard for life insurance. Additionally, the personnel report was approved. The board also approved the Memorandum of Understanding between Harvard Community Unit School District No. 50 and the Harvard Education Association, IEA-NEA, allowing the District to contract with a third-party vendor to produce health services during bus transportation for the 2025-2026 school year.

The board recognized Jason Henning as Big Brothers Big Sisters of McHenry County's First Social Worker of the Year and AP National Awards recipients. The board discussed cellphone usage based on public participation. The board approved the consent agenda items, personnel report, 2025-2026 Harvard Community Unit School District 50 budget, Notification of a Public Hearing on the 2025 Levy on November 20, 2025, JJJA Maintenance & Construction to be awarded the snow plowing contract for the 2025-2026 season, the Second Reading of PRESS 119 and D50 Adaptations, resolution to recycle outdated technology, and Clare Korosec from AnthroMed Education as Crosby Elementary Social Worker. The board also discussed committee reports, FOIAs, and additional meeting dates.