Meeting Summary and Briefs: Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 for April 16, 2026
Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 Meeting | April 16, 2026
The Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 Board of Education met on Thursday to review comprehensive financial forecasting, expand the athletic training staff, and execute major infrastructure purchases. The Board celebrated an upgrade of the district’s bond rating to Aa3 by Moody’s Investor Service, representing the highest credit rating in the district’s history. Assistant Superintendent Michael Duback presented a five-year financial forecast showing stable operating fund balances, and the Board voted to place the Tentative Amended FY2026 budget on display to accommodate a GASB accounting rule change regarding capital leases. Additionally, the Board approved a $463,875.62 contract with FieldTurf USA for a new auxiliary turf field at Central campus, and a $483,000 agreement with the Illinois Bone and Joint Institute that adds a seventh full-time athletic trainer to the district’s roster.
Mokena Mayor Warns of Statewide Zoning Preemption: During the correspondence portion of the meeting, Superintendent Dr. Scott Tingley shared a letter received from Mokena Mayor George Metanias regarding Illinois House Bill 5626. The proposed legislation would mandate minimum residential densities and substantially eliminate local municipal zoning authority, placing it under state control. Tingley noted the potential negative impacts on the school district. “That would be challenging for school districts in terms of you put large-scale developments [in], and basically say, ‘Okay, it’s a multi-unit, you’re going to have to educate those students,’ but then we don’t have the impact fees collected, the infrastructure is not there,” Tingley explained, promising to keep the Board updated on the bill’s progress in Springfield.
Student Council Presidents Present Final Reports: Student Council Presidents Aiden Stockrahm (Central), Prachi Panchal (East), and Addison Rosco (West) delivered their final reports of the school year to the Board. Panchal highlighted Lincoln-Way East’s recent selection as a Blue Ribbon Award recipient, which was celebrated at a ceremony at the Governor’s Mansion in Springfield. Rosco reported that West currently boasts the highest number of students taking AP exams in the school’s history. The Board thanked the students for their service and presented them with certificates and vouchers for Lincoln-Way apparel. Stockrahm plans to study biomedical engineering at either Northwestern or UIUC; Panchal will attend UIUC for chemistry on a pre-med track; and Rosco will attend the University of Arizona to major in nursing.
Special Education District 843 Update: Board member Dana Bergthold provided an update from the Lincoln-Way Area Special Education District 843 governing board. Bergthold reported that due to an increase in enrollment, the Stellar program will be expanding to the junior high level next school year, ensuring students have a familiar educational structure as they advance in grade level.
Financial Reports and Invoices Approved: The Board unanimously approved the presentation of invoices for March 20, 2026, through April 16, 2026, totaling $3,946,927.65. The Treasurer’s Report for March 2026 was also approved, noting a total cash balance of $54,020,123.46 across all funds. Administration noted that 55 percent of budgeted operating revenues have been received and 71.1 percent of operational spending has occurred, keeping the district firmly on track with its budget projections.
Coaching Staff Expands for Girls Flag Football: As girls’ flag football continues to grow as an officially sanctioned sport, the Board of Education approved several coaching hires to support the program. According to the personnel report, Julia Czart and Scott Gardner were hired as Assistant Girls Flag Football Coaches at Lincoln-Way Central, while Jonathan White was hired as an Assistant Girls Flag Football Coach at Lincoln-Way East. Additionally, Brian Gibson was approved as the new Head Girls Basketball Coach at East, and Kristopher Fiore was hired as the Head Boys Golf Coach at East.
Board Approves Out-of-State Travel for Students: The Board unanimously approved three out-of-state travel requests for student groups. The Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) teams from East and Central will travel to San Antonio, Texas, from June 28 through July 2, 2026, for the national competition. The Central Girls Cross Country team will travel to Verona, Wisconsin, on September 4, 2026, for a regional invitational. Finally, the West Choir and Madrigals were approved for a trip to Los Angeles, California, in March 2027, where they will participate in university clinics.
Student Activities Accounts Remain Healthy: The district’s Student Activities Fund reported a strong balance of $2,323,505.38 for the month ending March 31, 2026. While three specific accounts—Central Girls Soccer, Central Cheer, and the East Class of 2027—showed temporary negative balances, administrators assured the Board that this was purely due to timing. The deficits were caused by upfront uniform purchases and vendor deposits, and the accounts will return to positive balances as soon as upcoming prom ticket sales and fundraising proceeds are deposited.
District Advocates for Full Funding of Mandated Grants: Superintendent Dr. Scott Tingley presented a legislative report highlighting a statewide advocacy push regarding the structural funding imbalance in Illinois schools. According to a flyer provided in the agenda packet, while the state continues to invest in Evidence-Based Funding, mandated categorical grants (MCATs) for services like special education and transportation remain severely underfunded. The district is joining organizations like SCOPE and LEND in advocating for the state to fully fund MCAT reimbursements to prevent escalating costs from shifting onto local property taxpayers.
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