A video recording from tonight’s meeting will be available on the District 54 YouTube channel once it has finished processing.
Call to Order
Moment of Reflection
Board President Nicholas Scipione called for a moment of reflection for the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001.
Public Comment
No one asked to speak.
Enrollment and Classroom Usage Update
District 54’s sixth-day student enrollment for kindergarten through eighth grade in 2025 was 14,460, slightly lower than last year’s 14,576. While individual school enrollments fluctuate, the district has adequate facility space to support its instructional programs, with an average class size of 21 students for elementary and junior high schools.
Freedom of Information Act Requests
District 54 received and replied to six Freedom of Information Act request since the last report to the Board, related to compliance reports, purchasing records, staff contact information, moving company records, transportation contract, and employee and financial reports.
Consent Agenda
The Board approved the following items on the Consent Agenda.
- The minutes of the regular and closed session Board of Education meetings on August 8, 2025
- Resignations, dismissal, termination, retirements and employment of personnel
- Checks dated August 8 and 22, 2025
- The treasurer’s reports on cash and investments for July 2025
- The monthly update of revenues and expenditures for July 2025
- The posting of the administrator and teacher salary and benefits report to the district’s website
- The purchase of security camera hardware and software
- The release of closed-session minutes for meetings held on 12 dates in 2024 and 2025
- The destruction of the verbatim records of the closed-session school board meetings held on Feb. 21, 2024, for which approved minutes already exist
President’s Report
Board President Nicholas Scipione thanked staff, students and families for a wonderful start to the school year. He also thanked Beth Tikvah for their donation of school supplies, and Illinois State Superintendent Tony Sanders for visiting Lincoln Prairie School.
District 54 and the District 54 Education Foundation were well-represented at the Village of Schaumburg Septemberfest. He thanked everyone who participated in the Septemberfest Foundation fundraising events, walked in the parade or performed.
Lastly, he invited everyone to attend the District 54 Foundation’s Run to Read on Sept. 28 at Dirksen School.
DCAC Report
Board Member Bob Kaplan shared that the District Citizens’ Advisory Committee members expressed their thanks to Barb Hengels for her 16 years of service to the committee. DCAC also had a presentation about the district’s summer camps and a second presentation from four music teachers explaining music opportunities for District 54 students.
D54 Foundation Report
Board Secretary Mary Kay Prusnick asked everyone to eat at Raising Cane’s on Sept. 17 as 15% of all sales will go to the Foundation if you mention this fundraiser. She also encouraged everyone to sign up for the Run to Read.
On Nov. 8, the SEA/SEEO will host their annual Craft & Vendor Fair. All proceeds from that event will go to the Foundation and be used to support District 54 families in need. They are currently looking for vendors and crafters. Click here to sign up.
New Business
- The Board appointed representatives to serve on the Budget and Legislative Networking Committee for the 2025-2026 school year.
- The Board appointed representatives to serve on the District Citizens Advisory Committee for the 2025-2026 school year.
- The Board approved a resolution authorizing the issue and sale of educational fund tax anticipation warrants, not to exceed $50,000,000, as a result of the delay in the distribution of the second installment of Cook County property taxes.
- The Board approved a resolution abating the $27,000,000 in the working cash fund and transferring the money in that account to the educational, the transportation fund and the operations and maintenance fund.
- The Board approved a resolution of intent to issue working cash fund bonds not to exceed $70,000,000.
- The Board set a public hearing for 7 p.m. October 9, 2025, concerning the board’s intent to sell the aforementioned bonds.
- The Board approved a resolution expressing intent to use the bond proceeds to pay for the addition at Lincoln Prairie, as well as roofing and site improvements throughout the district.
Announcements
Board Members praised the student groups that performed at Septemberfest and those that volunteered with the Foundation that weekend. They also thanked Pilot Pete’s for donating all the proceeds from the event.
Board members attended an Elk Grove Village partnership luncheon last month and is invited to the Hoffman Estates Chamber of Commerce event with legislators tomorrow. The Board is also walking in the Elk Grove Village parade on Sept. 20.
Adjournment
The Board adjourned at 7:52 p.m. to enter closed sessions for employment/appointment matters.
