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Board Highlights are meant to provide highlights of each Board of Education meeting, and are not intended to be an all-inclusive recap. Please click on this link to view a complete recording of the May 9, 2025, special/reorganization Board of Education meeting.

During its meeting, the Board approved an amended budget for Fiscal Year 2025. In his presentation to the Board, Dr. Brian O’Keeffe, Assistant Superintendent for Business Operations, explained that an amended budget was necessary to account for funds related to the passed $151.5M referendum in November 2024. The referendum debt issued in March 2025 will not appear on residents’ tax bills until the spring of 2026, as it is tied to the 2025 tax levy and beyond. The 2024 tax bill that recently arrived in mailboxes reflects the last payment for previous debt.

During its meeting, the Board and the Classified Employees Association (CEA) finalized a new, three-year collective bargaining agreement for 2025-28 school years. Representatives from the District and the Classified Employees Association (CEA) held ten bargaining sessions to reach this agreement. The District and the CEA commenced bargaining for a successor agreement on September 18, 2024. 

A summary of the agreement can be viewed on the Board Meeting Agenda or by clicking on this link. Some of the key outcomes of the agreement include:

Medical Insurance:

• Full Time employees will receive a 80% Board share, 20% employee share for HMO insurance. This will apply to all employees, regardless of years of service or position classification.

• Full Time employees will receive a 60% Board share, 40% employee share for PPO insurance (for employees who accessed a PPO or HDHP as of March 1, 2025). The existing 50% Board share, 50% employee share stays in place for new entrants into the PPO or HDHP plans.

Salary and Compensation:

• All returning employees in 2025-2026 will receive an increase over their 2024-2025 base hourly wage. 

  • $0.75/hour LTA (Teaching Assistants)  

  • $1.00/hour Employees in all Grades other than LTA and C2 including Attendance Secretaries

  • $1.25/hour Grade C2

• For the 2026-27 school year, a fixed increase of not less than 3.00% (floor) and not more than 4.00% (ceiling) over the base hourly wage earned by each CEA member in the 2025-2026 school year.  

  • A blended CPI will be used to determine the annual increase. The CPI used for Levy 2024 and Levy 2025 will be averaged.  

• For the 2027-28 school year, a fixed increase of not less than 3.00% (floor) and not more than 4.00% (ceiling) over the base hourly wage earned by each CEA member in the 2026-2027 school year.  

  • A blended CPI will be used to determine the annual increase. The CPI used for Levy 2025 and Levy 2026 will be averaged.  

• Behavior Technician - Differential 

  • An LTA who has successfully completed a 40-hour Registered Behavior Technician Certification program, and who is working in an Instructional High Needs Self-contained classroom will receive $4.00 for BTech plus $2.00 for a high needs instructional classroom for a total of $6.00 over base salary. This increase will be classified as extra duty.

During the meeting, Dr. Jeff Schuler and the entire Board of Education, recognized outgoing Board Member Brad Paulsen for 12 years of dedicated service to CUSD 200. After three terms on the Board, Brad Paulsen did not run for reelection and this marked his last meeting.

At their meeting, the Board of Education welcomed new Board Member Katy Ebbesen and re-seated Rob Hanlon, Angela Blatner and John Rutledge who were all elected to serve 4-year terms. Additionally, the Board voted for Rob Hanlon to serve as President, Julie Kulovits as Vice President, and Dave Long as Secretary.

The Board approved the 2025-26 Board of Education Meeting, which includes dates for all Regular, Committee of the Whole and Coffee with the Board meetings.