Frankfort 157-C Board Awards Electrical, Plumbing Contracts; Tables Basketball Camp Fees

Frankfort School District 157-C Board of Education Meeting | April 21, 2026

Article Summary: The Frankfort School District 157-C Board of Education on April 21, 2026, awarded multi-year electrical and plumbing services contracts and approved two new assistant principal contracts and several new student clubs. The board tabled a pair of summer basketball camp proposals after a member raised the prospect of charging fees to offset staffing costs.

Board Actions Key Points:

• The board approved a recommended electrical services contract with Excel Electric and a plumbing services contract with AMS Mechanical Systems, both on 7-0 votes.
• Two assistant principal contracts for Grand Prairie Elementary — Jaqueline Major and Rebecca Kramer — were approved for July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
• New clubs approved include a Literary Magazine and a Cozy Coloring Club, both at Hickory Creek Middle School.
• Boys’ and girls’ basketball summer camps were tabled to the May meeting to determine a possible camp fee.

FRANKFORT — The Frankfort School District 157-C Board of Education on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, moved a series of contracts and personnel items to approval while setting aside summer basketball camp proposals for further study. All recorded votes carried 7-0, with all seven members present after Board Member Francesco D’Avola arrived at 7:05 PM, shortly after the meeting was called to order at 7:03 PM.

The board approved a recommended electrical services contract with Excel Electric, on a motion by Secretary Brian Skibinski seconded by Paul Aleck. At the prior month’s meeting, Director of Business and Operations Dr. LeeAnn Taylor had recommended Excel as the lowest responsible bidder, noting that the incumbent’s rates were higher and that Excel’s proximity meant it would not bill the district for travel time. The board separately approved a plumbing services contract with AMS Mechanical Systems on a motion by Kociolek seconded by D’Avola. Taylor had earlier recommended the plumbing award based on the lowest hourly rate and an existing reliable partnership with the district.

In personnel action, the board approved two administrator contracts for Grand Prairie Elementary School: Jaqueline Major and Rebecca Kramer, both as assistant principals for the term July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. The motion was made by Aleck and seconded by D’Avola.

The board also approved two new extracurricular activities at Hickory Creek Middle School for 2026–2027 — a Literary Magazine and a Cozy Coloring Club — each on a 7-0 vote.

Basketball Camps Tabled

A third extracurricular item, covering girls’ and boys’ basketball summer camps at Hickory Creek, did not advance. Kociolek said he would like to explore implementing a fee for the summer camps to offset the cost of staff for the program. Wernet suggested the topic be tabled until the May meeting so that administration could determine a potential summer camp rate, and the board agreed.

The board further approved its April personnel report on a motion by Aleck seconded by Nagel. The report included Teagan Davis as a 1.0 FTE permanent substitute at Chelsea Intermediate School at a daily rate of $215; Marissa Elia as a 1.0 FTE third-grade teacher at Chelsea at a salary of $53,067; Nicole Fleischman as a 1.0 FTE principal secretary at Hickory Creek at an hourly rate of $23; and Caryn Haberkorn as a 1.0 FTE permanent substitute at Hickory Creek at a daily rate of $215. A leave of absence request for Bianca Carroll was also approved.

The board closed its action with a consent agenda — covering payment of bills and the March treasurer’s report — approved on a motion by Aleck seconded by Kociolek. The meeting adjourned at 10:20 PM.