Meeting Summary and Briefs: Crete-Monee School Board for February 17, 2026

Crete-Monee School Board Meeting | February 17, 2026

Overall Meeting Summary
The Crete-Monee School District 201-U Board of Education met on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, to handle a variety of personnel, financial, and administrative tasks. The Board approved a retirement incentive agreement for the teachers’ union and finalized the 2026-2027 school calendar. Additionally, the Board rescheduled its March meeting to avoid conflicting with the primary election and discussed legal strategies regarding Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts.

The meeting began with a celebration of student achievements in athletics and the arts. Superintendent Dr. Kara Coglianese provided updates on a recent staff improvement day and the district’s celebration of Black History Month. The Board concluded the evening by entering a closed session to discuss personnel matters.

News Briefs

Personnel Changes: The Board approved a personnel report detailing several staffing changes. New hires include Kara Hosman as a science teacher at Crete-Monee Middle School and Nancy Cordero as a cadre teacher at Crete-Monee High School. The Board also accepted the resignation of Assistant Principal Adekunle Adegbemi from Balmoral Elementary, effective June 30, 2026.

Student Achievement: Board President Maurice Brown highlighted recent student successes. The wrestling team sent two students to state competition, with one wrestler winning the sectional championship. Additionally, the district’s Show Choir performed well in recent competitions. The boys’ basketball team is hosting regionals at the high school, with games scheduled for the upcoming weekends.

Black History Month Activities: The District is actively celebrating Black History Month across all schools. Activities include wax museums at two elementary schools and a month-long curriculum at the Early Learning Center. Superintendent Dr. Kara Coglianese noted that specific events are taking place daily, and Board members are encouraged to attend upcoming assemblies and concerts.

Policy Updates Approved: As part of the consent agenda, the Board approved “Press Plus 120,” a batch of updates to Board policies to ensure alignment with current laws and regulations. The update includes revisions to policies regarding Board Member Development, Committees, and Harassment.

Future Board Meeting Date: The Board agreed to move its March meeting from Tuesday, March 17, to Monday, March 16, 2026. The change was made to comply with state laws prohibiting school board meetings on election days, as March 17 coincides with the General Primary Election.