Sycamore CUSD 427 Board President Newsletter: March 12, 2026

A Message from Michael DeVito, Board of Education President

As we move through this quarter, our focus remains tied to our mission and vision: to provide an ideal learning experience where students and staff are engaged, while empowering all learners to succeed in their world.

The strength of our schools lies in our core values. The individuals who serve on your Board, many of whom grew up in these very classrooms, bring a unique blend of professional expertise and a deep, personal love for Sycamore. Whether we are discussing curriculum enhancements, facility maintenance, or new safety technologies, our decisions are always guided by what is best for our students and the dedicated staff who support them.

In this edition of our newsletter, we invite you to get to know the people behind the dais. We are parents, educators, engineers, and lifelong learners, but above all, we are your neighbors. We are honored to serve this district and look forward to partnering with you to ensure Sycamore remains a place where "life offers more."

Meet Your Board Members

Beth Marie Evans 

A local small business owner for 26 years, a licensed minister, and a certified life coach. She holds a B.S. in Education from NIU. Mrs. Evans joined the board with a resolve to keep District 427 on a "track towards excellence." She is a published author and has dedicated years to chaplaincy and prayer coordination. She serves as a Board Representative to the Sycamore Education Foundation, a member of the Board Parent-Teacher Advisor Committee, and a member of the Behavioral Intervention Committee.

Alex Grados

A 2022 graduate of Sycamore High School and a current Accountancy student at NIU with a desire to pursue Public Administration professionally, Mr. Grados brings an extremely unique voice, one of recent graduates. He believes that recent students offer a unique and necessary perspective on district operations. He enjoys connecting with current students to ensure their needs are met. When not studying or working in NIU’s Division of Admin and Finance, he enjoys late-night runs and bike rides through the community. Alex’s role on the Board Policy Committee has been transformative to the work of the School District. The committee, composed of Mr. Copple, Mr. Zantout, and Mr. Grados, has reviewed policies and revised them to ensure district practices align with Board goals and meet or exceed statutory compliance while putting the needs of students forward.

Christian Copple

A Sycamore graduate and attorney at the Kane County Public Defender’s Office. Mr. Copple earned his law degree from NIU after attending the University of Iowa. This background strengthens the work of our Board Policy Committee, where he holds a seat. A father of three, Christian is driven by a passion for public service and advocacy for those in need. He aims to ensure the district remains open, accessible, and student-first, playing an integral role on the Board’s Parent Teacher Advisory and Behavioral Intervention Committee.

Alan Zantout

A proud Sycamore High School alumnus and Director of Engineering at IDEAL Industries. He holds degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Iowa. With a family history of educators and school board service, Mr. Zantout brings an "innovation mindset" to the board, focusing on solving challenging problems through collaboration. Mr. Zantout’s cross-disciplinary skills make his work on the Board’s Teaching and Learning Committee extremely impactful.  He has served as the co-president of the Southeast PTO, where two of his three children attend school.

Cole Regnery

A lifelong Sycamore resident and college math professor, Mr. Regnery holds a BS and MS in Pure Mathematics from NIU and is currently pursuing an Educational Doctorate in Community College Leadership. This background makes him extremely well-positioned to serve on the Board’s Business Service Committee. He is a past graduate of the Sycamore School District and believes education is the bedrock of society. His firsthand experience with the "hard work of learning" informs his decision-making on the board. He served as President of the Sycamore Pumpkin Festival Committee and is an active member of the Rotaract Club of Sycamore.

Nathaniel Russell Jr.

Our newest member was appointed in January 2026. Mr. Russell is a Senior PTC Operations Engineer at Metra Railroad with a deep background in safety-focused technical operations. A father of two boys in the district, he is passionate about creating environments where students thrive emotionally and academically. He has spent five years as a coaching coordinator for Sycamore Youth Football and Cheer and served as Vice President of the South Prairie Elementary PTO.

Michael DeVito

A resident since second grade, I am deeply committed to the schools and community that raised me. With a family history rooted in District 427, including my wife’s years as a Sycamore educator, I am passionate about ensuring our district thrives for the next generation, including our two sons, Charles and Elliott. From my professional work in insurance and academia to my leadership roles in local festivals and service clubs, I strive to lead with a 'community-first' mindset. I am proud to serve as Board of Education President.

Board Highlights

At our recent Board meetings, several important topics were covered:

Board As A Whole:

Board Organizing Policy

• Superintendent Selection: The appointment and evaluation of a superintendent is the most significant responsibility of the Board of Education, and we are proud to have completed this rigorous process. Beginning in the fall of 2025, the Board engaged with the executive search firm Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates (HYA) to ensure access to top candidates, including those who might not have been actively searching. Their network and reach helped the Board connect with outstanding leaders who aligned with the leadership profile developed for our district. Our process began with the development of a leadership profile built from a series of one-on-one interviews, focus groups, a parent forum, and a district-wide survey. We instructed our search firm to help facilitate numerous focus groups, which involved spending hours with parents, teachers, administrators, community members, and other stakeholders. The input gathered from these conversations helped create a Leadership Profile that served as our roadmap throughout the search. After evaluating a talented pool of candidates, the Board narrowed the field and arranged multiple rounds of interviews. The Board conducted several interviews, and approximately 30 representatives of parents, staff, and the community were also selected to meet with and interview candidates. After multiple rounds of intensive interviews, the Board selected Dr. Kristen Campbell as the right leader for our district. We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Kristen Campbell as our new Superintendent, effective March 1, 2026. Dr. Campbell joins District 427 with a wealth of leadership experience and a student-centered philosophy that aligns perfectly with our Spartan values. She most recently served as Assistant Superintendent of High Schools for Oswego Community Unit School District 308. Her background also includes service as a principal, an adjunct professor at Trinity International University, and nine years in the classroom as an English teacher. Dr. Campbell holds a Doctorate of Education from Concordia University Chicago and is dedicated to “growing forward together” while remaining deeply rooted in Sycamore’s traditions. We look forward to the vision and expertise she brings to the future of our district.
• Board Vacancy Appointment: Following the relocation of board member Ms. Heather Tomlinson, the Board of Education initiated a formal process to fill the resulting vacancy. This process involved a call for candidates from across the community who met the township's restrictions for residency. The board underwent a series of interviews to find a leader who matched the district's commitment to student success and operational excellence, and on January 20th, 2026, the Board officially appointed Mr. Nathaniel Russell Jr to fill the position. Mr. Russell stood out as an exceptionally qualified candidate, bringing a unique blend of professional discipline and community dedication.  
• Sycamore Educators Association (SEA) Negotiations With the Board of Education: We are nearing the end of a collaborative bargaining process with the Sycamore Educators Association (SEA) for the renewal of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement set to expire on July 1, 2026. Upon finality of this agreement, a joint follow-up communication will be issued.
• $50,000 Facilities Grant: A November application for a $50,000 facilities grant stemming from the work and review of our Business Service Committee in cooperation with district administration led to a wonderful success, as the District was recently awarded this $50,000 annual grant to support much-needed school maintenance. The discovery and application of this grant is just another wonderful success to come out of the hard work put in by our Board of Education, its subcommittees, and administration. 
• Superintendent Evaluation Process: Updates were approved for the Superintendent evaluation process and instruments in accordance with the annual review cycle of the instrument, further aligning the board’s practices to state statute, board policy, and best practices. 

Board Learning & Teaching Committee:

Charter

• ELA Resource Adoption: Members reviewed the K-5 ELA pilot (Amplify CKLA, 3rd Edition) and requested a detailed professional development plan and concrete cost implications.
• Zero Hour Spanish: The committee reviewed and recommended a "Zero Hour" Spanish class for 8th graders, which allows for high school credit without losing elective time.
• Curriculum Roadmap: The committee requested an update to the district’s "Curriculum Review Cycle" to give staff a long-term adoption schedule.
• Data Dashboard: The committee reviewed progress on a community-focused dashboard designed to link Board goals to student, school, and district metrics like longitudinal growth.

Board Business Service Committee:

Charter

• Joint Budget Meeting: The joint meeting of the Business Service and Learning and Teaching Committee surrounding staffing projections and the upcoming budget was postponed to April to allow for additional information to be aggregated and reviewed to better inform the recommendations to the board. Items such as contract negotiations, curriculum changes, State and Federal funding levels, as well as pending Grants are variables that play a part in this planning.  

Board Parent-Teacher Advisory Committee

Charter

• Bullying Trends: The committee analyzed a decrease in bullying referrals, noting that "Infinite Campus" coding has been improved to distinguish between general behavior issues and specific bullying.
• Restorative Practices: Members discussed the importance of documenting informal restorative conversations and student conferences; they requested that the administration explore a specific module in Infinite Campus for this purpose.
• Cell Phone Impact: The committee noted that new secondary-level cell phone policies are successfully reducing distractions and negative social media interactions during the day.
• Staffing Alignment: PTAC formulated a recommendation for the Board to review a Community Resource Liaison position to help families overcome barriers like transportation and mental health.
• Administrative Personnel: The committee recommended review of expanding Assistant Principal positions (specifically 2-3 at the elementary level) to better manage discipline and attendance efforts.

Board Policy Committee:

Charter

• Section 5 (Personnel) Reformatting: The committee completed a major reorganization of Section 5, categorizing policies into General Personnel, Professional Personnel, and Educational Support Personnel to improve clarity.
• Policy 5:220 (Substitute Teachers): This revision moves the district toward "PRESS" standards rather than strictly referencing the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). It specifically addresses external substitute teachers, as the current CBA lacks specific language for them.
• Section 3 (Administration): A preliminary review began on Section 3, specifically addressing the duties and authority of administrative personnel to better align with PRESS standards and legal recommendations. 
• Policy 4:80 (Capitalization Thresholds): The committee discussed a new $5,000 capitalization threshold and useful life schedules suggested by auditors. It was clarified that these schedules are for depreciation purposes only and do not mandate when physical items (such as carpeting) must be replaced. The committee is seeking a specific distinction from auditors between "infrastructure" and "buildings" to determine if current policy language is redundant.
• Policies 6:40 and 6:210: Revisions to align the policy manual with the Learning and Teaching Committee charter. Discussions clarified that while Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) provide essential feedback, the Curriculum Committee holds the authority for making ultimate recommendations. A requirement was confirmed that curricular materials be available for public review at least one week before a vote.

Student/Staff Recognition Spotlight

The Staff and Student Recognition Spotlight is a new initiative to highlight and celebrate the accomplishments of our students and staff members. During our monthly board meetings, we spotlight both students and staff who go above and beyond. To nominate a student or staff member, please visit our website.

• Matt Moore and Sarah Moore, Sycamore Middle School - Mr. and Mrs. Moore were recognized for their teamwork, encouragement, and dedication to helping students build confidence, take on challenges, and feel excited about learning every day.
• Lauren Peckham, Southeast Elementary School -  Mrs. Peckham was honored for her dedication to supporting students with patience, encouragement, and a commitment to helping every child grow in confidence and succeed in the classroom.
• Caleb Fruit and Evelyn Irwin, Sycamore High School - Caleb and Evelyn were nominated for earning perfect scores at the I8 Math Contest and helping lead the Sycamore High School Math Team to its 15th consecutive conference championship.
• Darcy Eggleson, OSCAR Jr. at South Prairie Elementary School - Mrs. Eggleson was nominated for creating a welcoming and joyful learning environment where young students feel excited about school and supported as they grow and learn.
• Aubrey Crawford, North Elementary School -  Aubrey was recognized for her leadership, kindness, and willingness to support younger students and include others.

Looking Ahead

Here’s what’s coming up:

Board As A Whole:

For a full list of upcoming Board and Committee meetings, please visit our website.

• 2026-2027 District Goals Planning: The Board will be reviewing progress on existing goals. A goal-setting process is set to begin this coming April.
• Student Board Member: An eighth board member to the board of education is in the works after an August 13th, 2025, board adopted a revision to policy 2:40, which now allows for a student board member. This follows state legislation and IASB endorsement of the practice to help broaden the depth of discussion at board meetings. While a student board member holds no voting power, their voice is aimed to be a welcome presence in the deliberative process of public education. 
• Board Dashboard Launch: Work is nearing completion with a demo presented to the learning and teaching committee of a public, user-friendly dashboard that tracks progress in key areas of board and district performance. Final development and roll out is expected in the upcoming school year. 
• 2026-2027 Budget: Pending the “Joint Budget Meeting” of the Board of Teaching and Learning Committee and Board Business Service Committee, a proposed budget is set to be reviewed for the 2026-2027 year. 
• Transportation Routes: Transportation route designations, including hazardous routes, are underway to ensure consistent service and maximize state funding. Administrative work regarding the expansion of walking paths to improve accessibility and safety for students traveling to school is also ongoing.

Board Learning & Teaching Committee:

• Joint Budget Meeting: The joint meeting of the Business Service and Learning and Teaching Committee surrounding staffing projections and the upcoming budget was postponed to April to allow for additional information to be aggregated and reviewed to better inform the recommendations to the board. Items such as contract negotiations, curriculum changes, State and Federal funding levels, as well as pending Grants are variables that play a part in this planning.  
• ELA Pilot Program Review: The committee is evaluating data and stakeholder feedback from the English Language Arts pilot to determine the program's effectiveness and long-term viability.
• Graduation Requirements: Ongoing discussions are being held to review the current and future credit requirements and criteria students must fulfill to ensure they are equipped for success after graduation. 
• Course Offerings and Extracurricular Offering Schedule: Analysis of the variety and timing of academic classes and activities to maximize student participation and meet diverse interests.
• Instructional Resource Adoption: The review and presentation of these instructional resources underscores the careful selection of textbooks, digital tools, and classroom materials that align with state standards and support our current teaching goals.
• Curriculum Development Process Review: Evaluation of the system used to create and update our educational plans to ensure it remains efficient and rigorous is imminent.
• Staffing Forecast: A committee interested in future personnel needs based on enrollment trends to ensure every classroom and program is properly supported with qualified educators is pending review and discussion. 

Board Policy Committee:

• Policy 8:20 and 4:140: Pending review of fee schedules to align with past practice for building use. 
• Policy 7:40: Pending review for expanded eligibility for students participating in extracurricular activities. To allow more students residing in the district to take part in school-sponsored activities. 

Board Business Service Committee:

• Facilities Planning: We are reviewing a multi-year facilities plan provided by our architects to prioritize necessary infrastructure upgrades across our buildings.
• Debt Load & Servicing: The committee is analyzing our current and future debt structures to ensure we are managing our financial obligations responsibly.
• Budget Oversight: We are conducting a thorough review of the proposed budget, with a particular focus on strategic capital investments and purchased services.
• Fund Balance Restoration: Leadership is monitoring the August 2025 adopted "5-year glide path" to ensure we are meeting our goal for restoring the district's financial reserves after the prior year’s (2024) ISBE Financial Early Warning Designation.
• Grant & Tax Management: We are reviewing our annual grant applications and existing tax abatement schedule to balance district needs with taxpayer impact for potential opportunity growth. 
• Insurance Review: The committee is overseeing our annual insurance renewal process to ensure comprehensive protection for our district assets and staff.

Board Parent-Teacher Advisory Committee:

• Handbook & Discipline Policy: The committee is conducting its annual review of the Student Handbook to ensure our discipline policies are clear, fair, and effective.
• Climate & Safety Evaluation: Leadership is evaluating current safety initiatives and school climate data to identify areas for continuous improvement.
• Policy Implementation Review: We are analyzing last year’s discipline data to ensure our policies are being implemented consistently across all schools.
• Reciprocal Reporting: The committee is performing a check-in on our reciprocal reporting systems with local agencies to ensure seamless communication regarding student safety.