Aledo Community Unit School District 201 Board of Education met Jan. 27.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
CALL TO ORDER
On January 27, 2026, at 6:01 p.m., Leah Conover called to order the regular meeting of the Community Unit School District 201 Board of Education.
Roll Call
Members Present: Leah Conover, Heather Franklin, Carlos Hevia, Timothy Hoerman, Adina Hoover, Kevin Marren, Alexandria Mil
Members Absent: None
Also present: Superintendent Jack Baldermann, Ron O’Connor, Assistant Superintendent of Finance and HR, and the Superintendent’s Administrative Assistant, Shannon Cossairt.
Pledge of Allegiance
President Conover led the Assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.
CLOSED SESSION
Motion by Dr. Hoover, second by Mr. Marren, to enter closed session for the purpose of discussing specific employees.
Ayes: Mil, Marren Hoerman, Hevia, Hoover, Franklin, Conover Nays: None
Motion carried.
The Board entered closed session at 6:02 p.m.
The Board returned to open session at 6:21 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Public comment was given to the Board by Courteney Templeton, Gail Zielinski Reid, and Judy Wilson.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
January 13, 2026
Motion by Mr. Marren, second by Ms. Mil, to approve the minutes of the January 13, 2026, regular meeting of the Board of Education, as presented.
Ayes: Mil, Marren, Hoerman, Hevia, Hoover, Franklin, Conover Nays: None.
Motion Carried.
January 13, 2026, closed
Motion by Mr. Hevia, second by Mr. Marren, to approve the minutes of the closed session of the January 13, 2026, regular meeting of the Board of Education, as presented.
Ayes: Mil, Marren, Hoerman, Hevia, Hoover, Franklin, Conover Nays: None.
Motion Carried.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion by Mr. Hevia, second by Dr. Hoover, to approve the consent agenda as presented:
1. Personnel Recommendations:
â—‹ Resignation
2. Approval of Additional December 2025 Expenditure Report
3. Approval of the January 2026 Expenditure Report
4. Ratification of December 2025 Regular Payroll
5. Approval of Title Change
Ayes: Marren, Hoerman, Hevia, Hoover, Franklin, Conover, Mil Nays: None.
Motion carried.
INFORMATION and DISCUSSION
1. Presentation of Monthly Financial Statements
Mr. Ron O’Connor, Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Human Resources, provided an update on District finances. He reported that the Operating Fund is currently balanced. The District is facing several challenges; however, one factor noted is that it has received only 32% of the State of Illinois-mandated categorical funds to date. Dr. Baldermann and Mr. O’Connor have been monitoring meetings with staff to ensure the District continues to provide high-quality education while maintaining fiscal efficiency and sustainable programming.
2. WHS Sign
At the December 16, 2025, and January 13, 2026, meetings, the Board discussed purchasing a new electronic sign for WHS. The Board had tabled the vote at the January 13, 2026, meeting so they could have time to gather more information about the use of the funds under the trust. The decision of the sign is the school board’s, as the District already has possession of the funds from the trust. The Board members discussed whether this was the right time to make the purchase and to use the Hackbush Funds. The Board will vote on the WHS sign later in the meeting.
ACTION ITEMS
1. Approval of Purchase of Electronic Sign for Westmont High School Utilizing Hackbrush Trust
Motion by Dr. Hoover, second by Mr. Marren, to approve the purchase of an electronic sign from Sign Outlet, utilizing the Hackbrush Trust, in the amount of $47,715.00, as presented.
Ayes: Hoerman, Hoover, Franklin, Marren
Nays: Hevia, Conover, Mil
Motion carried.
2. Approval of Extension and Amended Superintendent Contract
Motion by Mr. Hevia, second by Mr. Marren, to approve the extension and amendment of Superintendent Jack Baldermann’s contract; as such, the new contract will be valid from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2030.
Ayes: Hevia, Hoover, Franklin, Conover, Mil, Mrren, Hoerman Nays: None.
Motion carried.
SUPERINTENDENT REPORT
Communication
Superintendent Baldermann asked Mr. Joe Smith, Director of Facilities, to provide an update on the heating issues at the high school over the weekend. Mr. Smith reported that at no time were classrooms deemed unsafe. While temperatures in some classrooms were lower than normal, the lowest recorded temperature was approximately 62 degrees. Facilities staff were present in the building over the weekend and were aware of the boiler issues at the high school. The boiler was repaired on Monday morning, and classroom temperatures began to rise shortly thereafter.
FOIA Request
Recent FOIA requests are attached in BoardDocs.
BOARD REPORTS
Mr. Hevia would like to give a shout-out to the WJHS Wrestling Team. They did an amazing job. Thank you to Coach Wisbrock and the assistant coaches.
FUTURE MEETINGS AND EVENTS
Finance and Facilities Committee Meeting
Feb. 10, 5:30 p.m.
Westmont Village Hall
CUSD 201 Regular Meeting of the Board of Education
Feb. 10, 6:30 p.m.
Westmont Village Hall
SIP Dismissal Day – Check with your building for times
Feb. 11
CLOSED SESSION
Motion by Mr. Hevia, second by Mr. Marren, to enter closed session to conduct a Board Self-Evaluation with an IASB Representative.
Ayes: Hoover, Franklin, Conover, Mil, Marren, Hoerman, Hevia
Nays: None.
Motion Carried.
The Board entered closed session at 7:25 p.m.
Adina Hoover exited the meeting at 8:59 p.m.
The Board returned to open at 9:02 p.m.
COMMUNICATIONS
None at this time.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Ms. Mil, second by Mr. Marren, to adjourn the January 27, 2026, regular meeting of the Board of Education at 9:03 p.m.
Motion unanimously passed.
https://go.boarddocs.com/il/cusd201/Board.nsf/files/DR2MRF5C7D9A/$file/1.27.26%20Regular%20Minutes.pdf
