Crete-Monee Board Approves Retirement Incentive Agreement, Sets 2026-27 School Calendar

Crete-Monee School Board Meeting | February 17, 2026

Article Summary: The Crete-Monee School District 201-U Board of Education approved a retirement incentive agreement with the teachers’ union and finalized the academic calendar for the 2026-2027 school year. The calendar sets the first day of school for mid-August 2026.

Crete-Monee School Board Key Points:

• Retirement Incentive: The Board approved a Memorandum of Agreement regarding a retirement incentive for the Crete-Monee Education Association.

• School Calendar: The 2026-2027 school year will begin on August 17, 2026.

• Breaks: Winter break is scheduled from Dec. 21, 2026, to Jan. 4, 2027; Spring break will run from March 29 to April 2, 2027.

• Last Day: The tentative last day of school is set for May 28, 2027, pending emergency days.

The Crete-Monee School District 201-U Board of Education on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, approved a new retirement incentive agreement for staff and officially set the schedule for the upcoming school year.

During the Action Reports portion of the meeting, the Board voted to approve a Memorandum of Agreement regarding a retirement incentive for the Crete-Monee Education Association (CMEA). The item was moved by Member William J. Sawallisch Jr. and passed via roll call vote.

The Board also approved the 2026-2027 school calendar as part of the consent agenda. According to the approved document, the first day of school for students in grades 1 through 12 will be August 17, 2026. Kindergarten students are scheduled to begin on August 19, 2026.

The calendar includes a winter break beginning Monday, December 21, 2026, with school resuming on Monday, January 4, 2027. Spring break is scheduled for the week of March 29, 2027. The last day of school is tentatively set for May 28, 2027, provided no emergency days are used. If all five emergency days are utilized, the school year could extend to June 7, 2027.

In other administrative business, the Board approved a district-wide school improvement day held the previous Friday. Superintendent Dr. Kara Coglianese reported that the event successfully provided training for every employee group in the district.

“We provided training for every employee group for that day,” Dr. Coglianese said. “We really trying to do in our district is provide growth. No matter what job you have here, we’re trying to grow you in the best way that we can.”