Regular Meeting - Mar 10 2026

The Oak Park Elementary School District 97 held a regular board meeting on March 10, 2026, with a focus on staffing and budget considerations for the upcoming school year. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing the proposed reduction in force (RIF) due to enrollment shifts and programming changes, aiming to balance class sizes and manage projected deficit spending in FY29. The board reviewed staffing plans, contractual guidelines, and the process for notifying and reassigning affected staff. Additionally, the board approved the use of $87,120 in Title 1 funds for supplemental student programming with Mathnasium and authorized a contract with Sentis for fiber services through the NEA cooperative, estimated at $41,635 annually. The board also discussed an upcoming e-rate funding action for firewall and licensing services valued at $33,000, scheduled for approval at the next meeting. Several agenda items were deferred to a future meeting due to weather concerns, including facility updates and summer 2027 construction contracts.