Public Meeting Agenda: August 11, 2026 at 10:00 AM - Regular Meeting of the ECHO Executive Board of Directors

A. Pledge of Allegiance

B. Roll Call

C. Adoption of Agenda

D. Presentation of Agenda Items & Questions/Comments from the Public

Description: Public comments are limited to three (3) minutes per person. At this time, the Board President will call on those who have requested to make Public Comment. Please understand that the Board will not respond to comments made during Public Comment but may direct the Superintendent to address the matter at a later time.

E. Approval of Consent Agenda Items #1

E.1. Minutes:

June 9, 2026 - Regular Meeting
June 17, 2026 - Special Meeting

E.2. Payroll Report:

June 30, 2026
July 31, 2026

Description: June, 2026

06/05/2026

$769,065.65

06/18/2026

$194,048.03

06/30/2026

$242,514.56

TOTAL

$1,205,628.24

July, 2026

07/02/2026

$139,764.88

07/16/2026

$194,595.38

07/30/2026

$180,884.12

TOTAL

$515,244.38

E.3. Accounts Payable Report:

June 30, 2026
July 31, 2026

F. Committee Reports

Description: The ECHO Standing Committee Chairpersons or their designee will report on items presently in progress.

F.1. Policy Committee

F.2. Finance & Personnel Committee

F.3. Curriculum Committee

G. Administrator's Reports

Description: The Board will be updated on items presently in progress by the ECHO Central Office Administrators.

G.1. ECHO Central Office Administrators

G.1.a. Mrs. Brenda Murillo, Director of Finance & Operations/CSBO & Dr. John Gibson, CSBO

G.1.a.I. Financials

G.1.a.II. Member & Non-Member District Tuition Report

G.1.a.III. FY25 Audit Presentation

Presenter: Nick Cavaliere, BakerTilly, LLP

G.1.a.IV. BakerTilly Engagement Letter

G.1.a.V. FY27 Tentative Budget

G.1.a.VI. Chase Bank Account Resolution

G.1.a.VII. 403(B) Plan Contract Update

G.1.b. Mrs. Diane Barnes-Maguire, Director of Human Resources

G.1.b.I. Staffing Report

G.1.b.II. Independent Contractor Agreements

G.1.c. Mrs. Megan Drangsholt, Teaching, Learning Assessment Specialist

G.1.c.I. Program Enrollments

G.1.d. Ms. Tracy Avant-Bey, Director of Technology

G.1.d.I. Technology Department Updates

G.1.e. Mr. Vicente Castillo, Director of Buildings & Grounds

G.1.e.I. ECHO Facilities Update

G.1.e.II. HVAC Bid Specs

G.1.e.III. FY27 Prospective Project Budgets

G.1.e.IV. 3E Project Plaque

G.1.e.V. ECHO School Pool Discussion

G.2. Superintendent's Report

G.2.a. When Girls Get Together Memorandum of Understanding

H. Unfinished Business

H.1. Approval of the 2026–2030 Collective Bargaining Agreement Between the ECHO Executive Board of Directors and the ECHO Employee Association IEA/NEA

H.2. Classroom Lease Cost Discussion

H.3. Approval of FY2027 Classroom Lease Rate and Classroom Lease Agreements

Thornton School District 154
Calumet City School District 155
Sunnybrook School District 171
Thornton Township High School District 205

I. New Business

I.1. Approval to Reschedule the September Board Meeting

I.2. ECHO Board Committee Assignments (2-Year Term)

Policy Committee
Finance & Personnel Committee
Curriculum Committee

Description:

In accordance to ARTICLE II - ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION, Section II - Standing Committees of the ECHO Articles of Agreement, there shall be three (3) Standing Committees: Curriculum and Assessment, Finance and Personnel, and Policy, consisting of Public School Superintendents or Designee of Member Public School Districts.
Five members are selected to serve on each of the Committees and shall serve for a term of two (2) years beginning July 1 of the same year. The sixth member shall be the ECHO Board President, who serves in an ex officio capacity. One member will be selected to serve in the capacity of alternate should a quorum be needed within any committee. After the first term served all terms will be for a two-year period. In the event of a vacancy in an unexpired term, the new superintendent of the same district will complete the term.

Standing Committees’ Roles and Responsibilities: The role and responsibility of each Committee is to research, investigate and make recommendations to the ECHO Board, but the ultimate authority to make decisions will continue to reside in the Board. Committee minutes shall be reported to the ECHO Board at its regular meetings.
Meetings: The Committees shall meet at such times and places as deemed necessary by its Chairperson, upon request of the Superintendent/Designee, or by the call of three (3) members of the Committee.

I.3. First Reading of PRESS Policy 122

Policy Number	Title
2:230	Public Participation at Board of Directors Meetings and Petitions to the Board
5:40	Communicable and Chronic Infectious Disease
5:70	Religious Holidays
5:240	Suspension
6:70	Teaching About Religions
6:80	Teaching About Controversial Issues
6:190	Extracurricular and Co-Curricular Activities
7:130	Student Rights and Responsibilities
8:70	Accommodating Individuals with Disabilities
7:330	Student Use of Buildings - Equal Access
3:40	Superintendent
3:50	Administrative Personnel Other Than the Superintendent
3:60	Administrative Responsibility of the Program Administrators
3:70	Succession of Authority
4:120	Food Services
4:175	Convicted Child Sex Offender; Screening; Notifications
5:110	Recognition for Service
5:140	Solicitations By or From Staff
5:185	Family and Medical Leave
7:80	Release Time for Religious Instruction/Observance
7:345	Use of Educational Technologies; Student Data Privacy and Security
8:100	Relations with Other Organizations and Agencies

I.4. Approval of Consent Agenda #2

I.4.a. First Reading & Approval of PRESS Policy Issue 121

Policy Number	Title
2:200	Types of Board of Directors Meetings
2:220	Board of Directors Meeting Procedure
2:250	Access to Joint Agreement Public Records
2:260	Uniform Grievance Procedure
4:165	Awareness and Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and Grooming Behaviors
5:30	Hiring Process and Criteria
5:50	Drug- and Alcohol-Free Workplace; E-Cigarette, Tobacco, and Cannabis Prohibition
5:250	Leaves of Absence
5:330	Sick Days, Vacation, Holidays, and Leaves
6:65	Student Social and Emotional Development
6:100	Using Animals in the Educational Program
7:20	Harassment of Students Prohibited
7:50	School Admissions and Eligibility for Services
7:100	Health, Eye, and Dental Examinations; Immunizations; and Exclusion of Students
7:185	Teen Dating Violence Prohibited
7:240	Conduct Code for Participants in Extracurricular Activities
7:300	Extracurricular Athletics
7:220	Bus Conduct
7:230	Misconduct by Students with Disabilities
7:280	Communicable and Chronic Infectious Disease

I.4.b. Approval of FY27 Tentative Budget for Public Display

I.4.c. Approval of BakerTilly Engagement Letter for the FY26 Audit

I.4.d. Adoption of the Resolution Authorizing the Establishment of Imprest Accounts for Petty Cash and Change Cash and Setting Limits and Procedure for Their Use

I.4.e. Adoption of a Resolution Ratifying the Appointment of Brenda Murillo, Director of Finance and Operations, as ECHO Joint Agreement’s IMRF Authorized Agent, effective July 1, 2026, and approval and certification of IMRF Form 2.20.

I.4.f. Approval of VALIC Portfolio Director Group Master Application and Enhancement Form for ECHO's 403(b) Plan

I.4.g. Approval of FY2027 Independent Contractor & Staffing Agreements

Metro Behavioral Health, LLC/Ernestine Robinson
AMN Healthcare, Inc.
ExpertHiring, LLC
Shannon Horton
Lisa Johnston
DKennedy Consulting Services, LLC
Little Sunshine Speech Therapy, PLLC
Select Savvy, LLC
Speech Plus

I.4.h. Approval of Amended Contract for Custodial Services with Citywide Building Maintenance, Inc.

J. Closed Session

K. Possible Actions after Closed Session

K.1. Personnel Report - Approval of Resignations, Retirements and New Hires

L. Next Regularly Scheduled Meeting

M. Adjournment

August 11, 2026 at 10:00 AM - Regular Meeting of the ECHO Executive Board of Directors

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