Summit Hill School District 161 Board Meeting | September 17, 2025

The Summit Hill School District 161 Board of Education held its regular meeting on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, where it approved the district’s budget for the 2025-2026 school year and took several other key actions. The roughly $40 million budget was passed unanimously following a public hearing. While projecting an overall deficit, officials explained this was part of a strategic plan to pay off district bonds early. For more details, see the full story.

In a significant move to enhance school security, the board formally introduced Will County Sheriff’s Deputy Justin Farkas as the district’s first full-time School Resource Officer. Farkas, a 16-year law enforcement veteran, will be based at the junior high and serve all four district schools. More information is available in our detailed report. The board also appointed longtime educator Deniz Aslan as the Interim Director of Curriculum for the remainder of the school year, filling a vacancy left by the departing John Snipes.

Other actions included approving a charter for a new special scouting unit, recognizing a new student board member, and honoring a nurse with the district’s Summit Award.

New Student Board Member Appointed
The board officially appointed and administered the oath of office to Lea Calzaretta, an eighth-grader at Summit Hill Junior High, as the new student member of the Board of Education. In her introductory speech, Calzaretta emphasized her desire to ensure student voices are heard. “My goal is to have every student heard and to share every idea… so no child will ever feel unheard in this district again,” she said.

DJR Nurse Receives Summit Award
Christine Dote, a nurse at Dr. Julian Rogus School, was honored with the September Summit Award. Dote was nominated by a parent for her exceptional compassion and dedication in caring for a student with type 1 diabetes. The nomination letter highlighted her constant communication with the family and her efforts to go above and beyond, including teaching the student a missed lesson while he was in her office for medical care.

Board Authorizes Bids for District-Wide Repairs
The board approved several items on its consent agenda authorizing the district to seek bids for major maintenance projects. These include parking lot and play surface striping, seal coating, and sewer repairs; stage curtain cleaning, re-fireproofing, and a potential replacement option at the junior high; and fire sprinkler repairs throughout the district. The sprinkler repairs were prompted by a five-year inspection that identified necessary maintenance, including a failed connection point at Dr. Julian Rogus School.

Public Comment: AI Misuse and District Communications Concerns Raised
During public comments, parent Lisa Brace expressed concern over the district’s use of the Bright Arrow communication system for what she described as advertisements for outside businesses. She also urged the board to add policies to the student handbook regarding the misuse of artificial intelligence to create inappropriate images, citing recent cases in other districts that resulted in felony charges for students.

Public Comment: Departing Administrator John Snipes Praised
Jody Eshi, a 25-year district employee, spoke in praise of departing Director of Curriculum John Snipes. Eshi credited Snipes for his support and leadership, which she said was instrumental in her career and in the successful implementation of the Reflex Math program across the district’s elementary schools. “None of it would have been possible without your leadership, your encouragement, and your belief in your staff,” Eshi said.

Snow Removal Contract Extended
The board approved a one-year extension of its snow and ice removal contract with Alpine Snow Management Inc. for the 2025-2026 winter season. This is the second and final extension allowed under the original 2023 bid. The district will be required to go out for a new public bid for the service for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

Board to Consider $150,000 for New Custodial Equipment
The board discussed a future proposal to approve a $150,000 budget for custodial cleaning supplies and new equipment. The funding would allow for the purchase of new, properly sized floor machines for each building, saving the district over $18,000 in financing costs. The board will consider the approval at a future meeting.

Personnel Changes Approved
As part of the consent agenda, the board approved the retirement of Darlene Schultz, effective October 15, 2025, and the resignations of Director John Snipes, Sarah Sarabia, and Halle Byrne. The board also approved the employment of several new staff members, including Marsha O’Neill as an FMLA teacher and Lauren Neubauer as an Interim Administrative Liaison at Summit Hill.