On Monday, Sept. 26, Kaneland Community Unit School District 302 hosted their regularly scheduled board meeting at 7 p.m. in the sixth-grade team room at Kaneland Harter Middle School. All board members were present at the meeting. Following the Pledge of Allegiance and roll call, some Kaneland community members were recognized during the superintendent salute.  

     On Aug. 26, Kaneland played Andrew High School (AHS), and as fans came in through the gate at the football game, Dawn Decker, a security officer at Kaneland High School, noticed a fan from AHS having mobility issues. 

     “I was a guest at the game against Andrew High School (AHS). I have mobility issues, and the staff did everything possible to accommodate me. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me as I do not go to many games. Please thank them for transporting me across the field before and after the game,” read District Superintendent of Schools Dr. Todd Leden from an email written by Kim Gay. 

     Decker was recognized and given a certificate. High school physical education teacher John Pavlak and Athletic Office Administrative Assistant Stephanie Douglas were also recognized, but neither were at the board meeting. 

     KHS Principal Dr. James Horne recognized senior Jack Gusinde as a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist.

     Following the recognition of Kaneland community members, it was announced that Tyler Student Information System (TylerSIS) has partnered with Infinite Campus for SIS during the public hearing. 

     The master facility plan on whether Kaneland can move forward with a fieldhouse took up most of the meeting. 

     When discussing ways to reduce the cost, District Associate Superintendent Dr. Julie-Ann Fuchs mentioned how they cut costs before, leading to parts of the schools not having all the amenities. 

     “We needed to cut costs, and we did when building the McDole and Blackberry elementary schools. There is no air conditioning in the east gym, auxiliary gym and wrestling room at the high school. We wanted more than we could afford, and we made decisions not based on needs but the money instead,” Fuchs said. 

     District Board President Teresa Witt brought up how they had already asked the community what they thought the school should do, and that the fieldhouse was closer to the bottom of the list and how people think with their pocketbooks. The board members assumed that when people saw how much the field house would cost, the price deterred some survey participants away. 

     “The community ranked what they wanted in the survey, and the fieldhouse was seventh on the list. We also know the community members’ tolerance is $70 million max,” Witt said. “[The board] said we were going to ask the community, and we were going to do what they wanted, but now there are certain people in certain parts of the community that want something different.”

     While they did decide what at this board meeting, they will discuss options at the next meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 12, and they will vote at the meeting on Monday, Oct. 24.  

     After announcing the new business, it was time for the superintendent’s report. The new student ambassador, senior Lindsay Yost, gave a recap of homecoming week at the high school and shared how Kaneland sold one thousand tickets to the dance.

     While there were no public comments during the first opportunity, Elburn resident Scott Pozen later shared a comment thanking the board for everything they have done so far. 

     Due to Columbus Day being on Monday, Oct. 10, the next board meeting will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 12.