The May 12, 2025, board meeting covered various topics, including the addition of a first grade teacher at John Stewart Elementary School and the Crown Community Development TIF litigation. All board members were in attendance except for Ryan Kleisner.
Superintendent Kurt Rohlwing began the meeting by introducing the newest member of Kaneland’s administration: Coordinator of Curriculum Development Lauren Vaclavik. He then congratulated McDole Elementary Principal Brian Zerfas for his title as Administrator of the Year, which was awarded by the Illinois Association for Health, Physical Education, and Dance. Afterwards, Harter Middle School Principal Brian Faulkner commemorated English Language Arts (ELA) teacher Kari Pitstick, Kane County’s Middle School Educator of the Year. Rohlwing then announced staff members retiring this year, including Director of Fox Valley Career Center Dr. Rick Burchell, high school guidance counselor Andrew Franklin, paraprofessional Pam Bertellotti, fire science instructor Gary Baum and English Language Learner (ELL) teacher Michelle Hanson.
The Illinois State Board of Education identified McDole Elementary School to be a targeted designation school, in which they will be given additional state funding to make improvements to the school. Zerfas gave a presentation on how that was carried out throughout this past year. With a team of teachers and staff in the school, they created a school improvement plan to implement in the coming years. The goals of this plan included improved i-Ready and Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) scores, as well as students meeting their self-made goals.
Due to an increase in residents in the area and subsequent larger class sizes, Director of Human Resources Dr. Chris Adkins requested that the board approve the addition of a first grade teacher to John Stewart Elementary School. Additionally, Adkins asserted that the district has been able to rehire four or five staff members who were let go due to staff cuts, and he said that these roles will be filled by a laid off teacher. The addition of one teacher was approved by the board 6-0.
The board then moved on to discussing the possible litigation against Sugar Grove regarding the Crown Community Development TIF. District Attorney Kevin Gordon reported that a meeting held between himself, a few board members and the new Sugar Grove Board President Susan Stillwell went favorly.
“It was a positive first baby step towards resolving this situation,” Gordon said.
The board ultimately decided to continue to move forward with the litigation by a vote of 6-0.
Rohlwing discussed Kaneland IgKnight Personalized Learning Academy’s (KIPLA) exhibition night, where students got the opportunity to present projects such as poetry, art and science experiments. He then highlighted senior Hudson Giannini for being named one of the Fox Valley Career Center’s Students of the Year. He congratulated varsity boys basketball coach Ernie Colombe for being named Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year for the sixth time. Rohlwing reminded the board that graduation will be held on Sunday, May 18, at Northern Illinois University’s Convocation Center. President Bob Mankivsky congratulated the graduating class and specifically commemorated the special education students for their hard work and perseverance.
The next Kaneland school board meeting will be held on Monday, May 28.
