After the Board: Highlights from the June 23, 2026 Board of Education Meeting

Dear Sycamore Community School District 427 community,

Thank you for taking the time to review After the Board, a brief recap of each month’s regular Board of Education meeting, designed to keep our community informed. Below are the major highlights from the Board of Education meeting held on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.

Superintendent Recap Video

In addition to this written summary, we are pleased to include a special video recap from our Superintendent, Dr. Kristen Campbell. This brief update is designed to keep you well-informed of district happenings and provide additional context from the meeting.

Administrative Leadership Team Complete

Over the course of June, the Board approved several key leadership appointments that complete the district's administrative leadership structure for the 2026-27 school year.

Recently approved appointments include:

• Dr. Maurice Davis - Chief Academic Officer
• Jeremy Bell - Chief Operating Officer
• Svetlana Popovic - Director of Learning & Teaching (K-5)
• Kristine Leider - Special Education Administrator
• Marc Gorecki - Assistant Principal, North Grove Elementary School
• Calla Stroh - Assistant Principal, West Elementary School

District leaders shared that the enhanced leadership structure is designed to strengthen accountability, improve operational efficiency, ensure compliance with local, state, and federal requirements, and provide stronger support for students and staff while remaining cost-neutral within the District's overall budget.

Transparency and Accountability

The administration announced the launch of the district's new Transparency and Accountability webpage. The page provides information about district finances, organizational initiatives, frequently asked questions, Board goals, and additional resources to help keep the community informed while offering opportunities for ongoing feedback.

Looking Ahead to the 2026-27 School Year

Superintendent Dr. Kristen Campbell shared updates on several initiatives that will guide the district's work during the coming year, including:

• Implementation of zero-based budgeting to ensure every expenditure is evaluated annually.
• Launch of a comprehensive strategic planning process that will engage students, staff, families, and community members in shaping the district's long-term vision, priorities, and future direction.
• Continued work toward maintaining a balanced budget and healthy fund balance.
• Development of district academic and financial dashboards.
• Creation of a comprehensive curriculum renewal cycle.
• Continued implementation of the Board of Education's 2026-27 District Goals.

Student Achievement Update

The Board received an update highlighting strong student performance during the 2025-26 school year, including:

• Sycamore High School maintained outstanding course pass rates of 95.5% during the first semester and 91.5% during the second semester.
• Every elementary school met the District goal of at least 50% of general education students achieving their fall-to-spring MAP growth targets in both reading and math.

Action Items

Board Action

During the June 23 meeting, the Board of Education approved several items that support district operations, student opportunities, and long-term planning, including:

Old Business

• Consideration to Approve Bus Hazard Study Review: Approved updates to bus routes following the district's annual transportation safety review to help ensure safe and reliable transportation for eligible students.
• Consideration to Approve Updates to Policies: Approved revisions to several Board policies, including updates that expand eligibility for homeschool and private school students residing within District 427 boundaries to participate in athletics and extracurricular activities, while also updating administrative, personnel, curriculum, and governance policies to reflect current laws and district practices.
• Consideration to Approve Memorandum of Understanding for School Resource Officer: Approved an updated Memorandum of Understanding with the Sycamore Police Department, continuing the District's partnership to support school safety and positive relationships between students and law enforcement.
• Consideration to Approve the 2026-27 Board of Education Meeting Schedule: Adopted the official meeting calendar for the upcoming school year.
• Consideration to Approve Proposed Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) Resolutions: Approved two legislative resolutions to be submitted to the IASB Delegate Assembly supporting increased local governance and advocating for sustainable state funding related to children's mental health services.

New Business

• Middle School and High School Novel Recommendations Discussion: Novel recommendations were presented to the board for consideration.
• Consolidated District Plan: Approved the District's annual Consolidated District Plan, ensuring continued compliance with state and federal requirements while supporting instructional programming and funding opportunities.
• District Financial Operations: Approved a resolution updating authorized signatories for District financial accounts to reflect current leadership.

Stay Connected

You can view the full agenda and attachments from the meeting on Dilligent Community. You can also view the full recording on YouTube.