May 19, 2026
Elmhurst District 205
Board of Education Meeting Highlights
Spotlight and Recognitions
York High School Senior Receives Diploma
Ricardo Morales, a senior at York High School, was selected to deliver the Student Reflection Address at this year’s graduation ceremony. Ricardo wrote and auditioned with an exceptional speech and was chosen by the administration for this distinguished honor. Unfortunately, Ricardo was unable to finish delivering his speech and walk across the stage to receive his diploma during the ceremony. Tonight, we were grateful for the opportunity to properly recognize and celebrate his graduation by formally presenting him with his diploma.
York FCCLA Students Recognized for State Success
The Board recognized York Community High School FCCLA students for their accomplishments at the 2026 Illinois FCCLA State Leadership Conference in Springfield. York students earned a combined 10 Gold Medals, 11 Silver Medals and one Bronze Medal across a variety of competitive events. Three students also qualified for the National FCCLA Leadership Conference this July in Washington, D.C. Madison Kleinberg qualified in Culinary Arts, Sadie Gravin qualified in Interior Design and Edith Garcia qualified in Event Management.
Bryan Students Earn Top Honors at IMSA Math Contest
The Board recognized Bryan Middle School students for their outstanding performance at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA) Math Contest, one of the state’s most rigorous middle school mathematics competitions. Annabelle Wang and Michael Johnson tied for first place in the 7th Grade Individual Contest, while Bryan earned first place in the 7th Grade Individual School competition. Bryan students also earned multiple team honors and placed second overall among six schools in their division.
York Students Recognized in National Merit Scholarship Program
The Board recognized 17 York Community High School students who earned recognition in the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program based on their performance on the 2025 PSAT/NMSQT. Students recognized included Emma Braathen, Madelene Braathen, Emma Browne, Anders Dochoff, Jacob Ferreri, Dylan Golomb, Grey Hopkins, Micah Jones, William Kellam, Jake Lisowski, Ryan Poulos, Stella Rosso, Sophie Saldanha, Ryan Schwager, Ved Sule, David Taub and Ignas Žemaitaitis. The honor places the students among the nation’s highest-performing academic achievers.
Edison Elementary School Spotlight
Edison Elementary School Principal, Larry Joynt, shared a presentation highlighting commitment to student success, continuous growth and creating a supportive and inclusive environment for all students.
Reports and Presentations
Technology Department Shares Operational, Instructional Updates
The Board received a Technology Department update highlighting how the district supports student learning while maintaining a focus on operational efficiency and cybersecurity. District leaders also shared that strategic initiatives, including copier contract optimization and system consolidation, resulted in approximately $254,000 in cost savings. The presentation also highlighted ongoing work in AI integration, digital citizenship, media literacy and infrastructure improvements ahead of the 2026–27 school year.
Safety and Security Committee Reviews Emergency Communication Enhancements
The Board received an update from the district’s Safety and Security Committee regarding its ongoing review of enhanced safety and emergency communication systems through a Request for Proposal process. District leaders shared that the review included collaboration with school administrators, Board of Education members, Elmhurst Police and Fire personnel, and regional safety experts. Potential enhancements discussed included expanded emergency alert capabilities, backup communication systems and improved student reunification tools designed to strengthen coordination and preparedness during emergencies. The committee is reviewing references and plans to return at the June Board Meeting to make a formal recommendation for updated security services.
Consent Agenda
Board Reviews Updates to Facility Rental Usage Agreement
District administrators presented proposed updates to the Facility Rental Usage Agreement ahead of the 2026–27 school year. Recommended changes included the addition of setup and teardown fees for longer events, updated custodial fee structures and the inclusion of Elmhurst-based for-profit organizations in Category E. The proposed adjustments are intended to create a more cost-neutral rental model for District 205 while providing clearer expectations and more consistent fee structures across rental types.
York Performing Arts Department Receives Piano Donation
The Board approved a $5,550 donation to the York High School Performing Arts Department consisting of a Yamaha upright piano and music stand donated by Megan Bogolia Busjeta, a 2014 York graduate, with support from her parents, Jacki and Michael Bogolia. District officials shared that the donation will help accelerate updates to York’s music practice room piano fleet and provide students with continued access to high-quality instruments for instruction, practice and private lessons.
Board Approves 2026–27 Meal Rates
The Board approved meal rates for the 2026–27 school year as part of the district’s participation in the National School Lunch Program. Under the approved rates, elementary and middle school lunches will increase to $3.90, while high school lunches will remain at $4.50. District officials shared that the adjustment helps maintain compliance with federal Paid Lunch Equity requirements while supporting the costs associated with the district’s food service program and equipment needs.
District Continues Partnership With DAEOES Career and Technical Programs
The Board approved the appointment of David Beedy, Director of STEM Pathways, as the district’s representative to the DuPage Area Occupational Educational System (DAEOES) Board of Directors for the 2026–27 school year. District officials also highlighted the continued partnership with the Technology Center of DuPage, where York students have access to a variety of Career and Technical Education pathways, including nursing, firefighting, welding, cosmetology and EMT programs.
Action Items
District Approves Continued Partnership for School Nursing Services
The Board approved the district’s annual agreement with Edward-Elmhurst Health for school nursing services for the 2026–27 school year. District officials shared that the updated agreement includes salary increases for nursing staff and a reduced administrative fee, while keeping the overall contract increase below 1 percent from the previous year.
Board Approves Continued SASED Representation
The Board approved the district’s continued representation on the School Association for Special Education in DuPage County (SASED) Governing Board. Beth Hosler will continue serving as the district’s representative for a two-year term, with Kelly Asseff serving as the alternate representative. District officials shared that District 205 has partnered with SASED for more than 20 years to support specialized special education services for students.
Board Approves Administrative and Non-Union Compensation
District administrators shared updated compensation plans for administrators and non-union employees for the 2026–27 school year. Administrative salaries will increase by 2.7 percent, while non-union hourly employees will receive a 3 percent increase. The updates also include increases to substitute teacher pay and starting hourly rates for administrative assistants and food service employees as part of the district’s efforts to attract and retain high-quality staff.
Superintendent's Communication & Communications Highlight
Seniors Visit Elementary
With the conclusion of graduation, our PTAs proudly continued the meaningful tradition of welcoming graduating seniors back to their elementary schools. More than 400 seniors participated, representing every District 205 school. Each celebration began with a special video featuring elementary school interviews and photo slideshows capturing memories from students’ elementary and middle school years. Seniors then walked the halls of their former schools as current elementary students lined the hallways, cheering, clapping, and celebrating their accomplishment.
Graduation & Promotion Celebrations
We are excited to celebrate two important milestones in the lives of our students and school community. On Sunday, we honored our graduating seniors as they crossed the stage and officially began their next chapter. Families, staff, and students came together to celebrate the Class of 2026 during a joyful, and windy, ceremony at York. Tomorrow evening, we will continue the celebrations as our 8th grade students are promoted to high school, marking another important milestone in their District 205 journey of excellence.
College & Career Pathway Endorsements and Technology Center of DuPage Recipients
Tonight, we are proud to recognize students who have completed the requirements for the College and Career Pathway Endorsement as well as students completing programs through the Technology Center of DuPage. The College and Career Pathway Endorsement is a statewide designation that recognizes students who have demonstrated readiness for both college and careers through rigorous academic and career-focused experiences. To earn this endorsement, students complete four major components: an individualized postsecondary plan, professional learning and work-based experiences, career-focused coursework connected to industry credentials, and demonstrated academic readiness in reading and mathematics.
Students also participate in meaningful workplace experiences, complete early college credit opportunities, and develop professional skills such as resumes and personal statements. These recognitions reflect not only academic achievement, but also commitment, career exploration, and future readiness.
We are proud to recognize our 2026 graduates who have earned the College and Career Pathway Endorsement in Education. These students have explored careers in education through coursework, professional learning experiences, and career-focused preparation. Their work reflects a commitment to leadership, service, and supporting future generations of learners.
Please join District 205 in congratulating the following students:
Sophia Ali
Erin Collins
Lauren Czernicki
Sophie Fallen
Emily Franchi
Tara Freund
Anna Gibson
Erin Horn
Gabrielle Markarian
Samuel Moser
Julia Niewola
Lucas Prine
Hannah Schmit
Sophia Sendelbach
Samantha Szejner
Giselle Wood
We are also proud to recognize students earning the College and Career Pathway Endorsement in partnership with the Technology Center of DuPage through the Cosmetology program. Through this partnership, students gain hands-on technical training, industry knowledge, and real-world experience that prepares them for postsecondary education and careers in the cosmetology field. These students have demonstrated professionalism, persistence, and technical skill throughout the program.
Please join me in congratulating the following students:
Sarah Abusaid
Hope Bakievska
Dayany Garcia
London Light
Evelyn Scully
Olivia Stockard
Lyric Tamms
Cathleen Thacker
Kyley Tudela
And finally, we are proud to recognize additional 2026 graduates completing programs through the Technology Center of DuPage in the areas of HVAC Technology, Medical Assisting, Welding Technology, Fire Science, and Construction Technology. These programs provide students with advanced technical training, industry-aligned experiences, and opportunities to earn credentials while still in high school. The students recognized tonight have pursued highly specialized pathways that prepare them directly for employment, apprenticeships, military service, or continued postsecondary study.
We congratulate each of these students for their dedication and commitment to career readiness:
HVAC Technology: Jakub Ceglinski
Medical Assisting: Huzaifa Chandabhai, Ibraheem Haswarey, John Kania, and Samantha Tomlinson
Welding Technology: Myles Conrad, Aaron Dankha, Michael Dwyer, and Issa Saleh
Fire Science: Gregory McCall, Christian Ramirez, Construction Technology, and Edi Vazquez
On behalf of the district and Board of Education, congratulations to all of our pathway endorsement and Technology Center recipients. We are incredibly proud of their accomplishments and look forward to all that they will achieve in the future.
COMMUNICATIONS HIGHLIGHT: