Meeting Summary and Briefs: Frankfort School District 161 for November 19, 2025

Frankfort School District 161 Meeting | November 19, 2025

The Frankfort School District 161 Board of Education’s November 19, 2025 meeting was dominated by discussions of future district initiatives, including a detailed presentation and debate on launching a hot lunch program and a split vote on a pilot program for new teacher laptops. The board directed the administration to move forward with a soft launch plan for hot meals at the junior high but expressed a desire for a cautious timeline. The board also narrowly approved a $27,873 pilot for new MacBook Airs, with two members voting against it due to concerns about mid-year changes for staff. For more details, see the full stories on these topics.

Additionally, the board unanimously approved its preliminary tax levy estimate, recognized an outstanding teacher and its public relations specialist, and approved a settlement agreement in a legal matter.

Board Approves $1.23 Million in Bills
As part of its consent agenda, the board approved the bill list for November 19, 2025, totaling $1,234,159.72. Notable expenditures included $248,619.80 to American School Bus for transportation services, $229,209.12 to LWASE District 843 for special education services, and $174,342.81 to Quality Control Systems Inc. for an HVAC project.

Settlement Agreement Approved
Following a closed session, the board voted 6-0 to approve a settlement agreement for Case No: 2024 CV2160. Details of the settlement were not made public.

SCO to Form Separate Entity
The board approved a request from the Summit Hill Community Organization (SCO) to discontinue its use of the school district’s Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN). This move will allow the parent-teacher organization to formally establish itself as its own separate entity.

K-4 Science Curriculum Pilot Underway
The board received an update on a new science curriculum pilot for kindergarten through fourth-grade classes. Teachers are currently testing two programs: “Experience” by Savvas and “Inspire” by McGraw Hill. The pilot focuses on programs with strong hands-on materials and alignment with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).

Retirements and Resignations Approved
The board approved several retirements, including that of Michael Clark, effective December 31, 2025. Five other staff members were approved for retirement at the end of future school years. Resignations were accepted from Catherine Hayek, Jessica Palmer, and Stacey Alki, and the board approved the non-renewal of probationary staff member Lucia Vega Franco.

FOIA Request Fulfilled
The district reported it had fulfilled a Freedom of Information Act request from Justin Wenig of Starbridge FOIA Records. The request, originally submitted on October 17, sought purchase order information and financial transaction reports from July 1, 2022, to the present. The district completed the request within the legally required timeframe.