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Wilmette School District 39 board meeting, Sep 28, 2026

1 h 39 min · 0 public speakers

Chronic absenteeism ▶ 48:28Reading and test scores ▶ 38:19

This board doesn’t post agenda times. Click a board member to jump to where they first speak; we list only members whose voice our check named. Video length 1 h 39 min.

  1. Who spoke · first speaks at
  7. Anne HartPresident
What happened

What happened at this meeting

Board adopts fiscal year 2027 budget and approves strategic plan annual goals 1:30:47

  • At a public hearing on budgets, a district staff member said the fiscal year '27 net deficit was right at about $3 million and the year was projected to end with a fund balance of roughly 42.9%. 15:08
  • District staff presented the strategic plan annual goals, high-leverage actions and measures that matter across five priority areas and recommended them for approval. 38:19
  • The board approved a consent agenda that included the strategic plan annual goals, a personnel report and second and final readings of board policies. 1:30:47
  • Anne Hart called for a motion to approve the WICSE fiscal year '27 budget and later announced that the motion carried. 1:35:17
Item by item (14)
  1. Call to order and roll call 0:02
    • Anne Hart called the regular meeting to order on Monday, September 28th, 2026, and asked the clerk to call the roll. 0:02
  2. Student broadcast presentation and pledge 0:27
    • Anne Hart welcomed the principal of Highcrest Middle School, who introduced Highcrest students to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. 0:27
    • Students and staff presented the history of the WHMS News broadcast, and a staff member said a grant for it was approved in 2017. 2:05
    • Anne Hart thanked the students and their families for attending. 8:26
  3. Approval of August minutes 11:12
    • Anne Hart sought a motion to approve the minutes of the August 24th, 2026 regular and executive session meetings. 11:12
    • Anne Hart announced that the motion carried. 12:08
  4. Public hearing on budgets 12:08
    • A district staff member said the fiscal year '27 net deficit was right at about $3 million, with a projected ending fund balance of roughly 42.9%, and that the district had just over $50 million in cash and investments at the end of May. 13:32
    • Allyson Paflas asked whether the June-to-September budget changes differed from those presented previously, and a staff member said they were exactly the same. 18:13
    • The staff member said the WICC budget was projected at $250,000 in revenues and expenditures, and Anne Hart said no audience members asked to speak. 18:31
    • Anne Hart said the motion to return to the regular meeting carried by general consent. 20:25
  5. Committee and liaison reports 20:25
    • Kristin de Castro said two potential summer 2027 construction projects were reviewed, including minor interior renovations and replacement of mechanical equipment using the ISBE 2027 maintenance grant. 21:14
    • Erin Stone said the administrative team reviewed the 2026⁠-⁠27 annual goals and the board discussed the District Strategic Advisory Team, the Community Review Committee and board governance. 22:49
    • Amy Poehling said the Educational Foundation is planning a bingo night on November 13th, and Judy Berlin said there are 5 resolutions before the IASB delegate assembly. 24:09
  6. Community Review Committee audit year 25:34
    • A speaker said the Community Review Committee faced challenges recruiting and keeping engaged members and would undertake an audit year, with a first meeting on October 10th. 27:08
    • Erin Stone said the effort was similar to one done in 2015⁠-⁠2016. 29:37
  7. Administrative announcements 32:10
    • A staff member said 82% of D39 families attended at least one curriculum night this year. 32:15
    • The staff member said the district received and responded to 8 written FOIA requests since the last meeting and received some property tax appeals. 35:41
  8. Strategic plan annual goals 36:45
    • A presenter described five priority areas: student learning and growth, student experience and community, professional experience and community, family experience and partnership, and stewardship of resources. 38:19
    • A staff member said one of the KPIs for stewardship of resources is a fund balance greater than 40%. 1:07:47
    • Anne Hart asked whether the dashboard would remain on the website and how the strategic plan video would be shared with the community. 1:20:31
  9. Summer school program review 1:22:09
    • A staff member said summer enrichment enrollment went from 203 students to 118 and cited expanded park district offerings and demand for full-day options. 1:22:16
    • Erin Stone asked how many students who qualify for extended school year participate, and a staff member said most do. 1:27:32
  10. Board policy second reading 1:29:44
    • A staff member said the second and final reading of board policies included a few adjustments based on feedback from the first reading. 1:29:44
  11. Consent agenda 1:30:12
    • Allyson Paflas moved to approve the personnel report, the strategic plan annual goals for 2026⁠-⁠2027 and second and final readings of policies including 7:180, Prevention of and Response to Bullying, Intimidation, and Harassment. 1:30:47
    • The motion also covered manual checks totaling $1,850,419.22 and accounts payable totaling $1,480,256.30. 1:32:58
    • Anne Hart announced that the motion carried. 1:34:21
  12. Fiscal year 2027 district budget 1:34:21
    • A motion was made to adopt the annual budget for the period from July 1st, 2026 through June 30th, 2027. 1:34:40
    • Anne Hart announced that the motion carried. 1:35:17
  13. Special education agreement budget 1:35:17
    • A motion was made to adopt the Willmette Community Special Education Agreement annual budget for July 1st, 2026 through June 30th, 2027. 1:35:26
    • Anne Hart announced that the motion carried. 1:36:01
  14. Closing and executive session 1:36:01
    • Anne Hart sought a motion to adjourn to executive session to discuss personnel, individual student matters, collective negotiations and closed meeting minutes. 1:37:11
    • Anne Hart announced that the motion carried and the board adjourned to executive session at 8:40 PM. 1:38:57

Written by software from the meeting's transcript and checked sentence by sentence against it.

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Video: posted by the district as “Wilmette Public Schools District 39 Board of Education Meeting September 28, 2026”