Meeting Summary and Briefs: Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 for December 18, 2025

Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 Meeting | December 18, 2025

The Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 Board of Education met on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, to finalize several major end-of-year items. Significant actions included the adoption of a $92.5 million tax levy and the awarding of a $24.4 million contract to BEAR Construction Company for district-wide HVAC and mechanical upgrades. The board also authorized a $731,000 purchase of 1,750 Lenovo laptops for incoming students. While academic reports showed the district maintaining its high “Exemplary” and “Commendable” state ratings, financial reports highlighted a $400,000 shortfall due to state funding proration.

News Briefs:

Manhattan Support Gratitude:
The board received a formal letter of gratitude from Manhattan School District 114 Superintendent Dr. Damien Aherne. Dr. Aherne thanked Lincoln-Way for providing crisis support staff and counseling resources following the tragic loss of two Manhattan Junior High students during the fall. He specifically praised the grace and professionalism of the Lincoln-Way team during the community’s difficult time.

Online Summer School Advisory:
The District 210 Advisory Committee presented findings on the feasibility of transitioning summer school to an online format for 2026. The committee reported that while online options provide flexibility, parents and teachers remain concerned about academic integrity and the impact of AI. The board plans to review a formal proposal in January, potentially distinguishing between “credit recovery” and “get ahead” courses.

Scoreboard Replacement Grant:
The board approved an application for a $50,000 School Maintenance Project Grant from the state. The funds will be used as a dollar-for-dollar match to replace aging and malfunctioning scoreboards at the baseball and softball fields of all three district high schools. The total impact of the state reimbursement will cover half of the project cost.

Lincoln-Way North Future Use:
Superintendent Dr. Scott Tingley updated the board on feasibility studies for the Lincoln-Way North building. He reported ongoing conversations with an autism-focused school and Lincoln-Way Area Special Education District 843 regarding leasing office and classroom space. Tingley emphasized that any future use must be budget-neutral and advantageous to the district’s financial health.

Personnel Report:
The board approved the December personnel report, which included the resignations of Assistant Boys Volleyball Coach Amy Bernhard and Winterguard Director Susan Liva. Several new hires were confirmed, including Head Girls Lacrosse Coach Amy Bechstein and several new bus drivers. Six retirements were also noted, with effective dates through June 2030.

Policy Updates Approved:
The board completed the second reading and final approval of several policy updates provided by the Illinois Association of School Boards (PRESS). The updates address legislative changes regarding student behavior, immigration law enforcement requests, and evaluations. The new policies are intended to align district operations with updated state statutes effective Jan. 1, 2026.