HSD 152 board members recognized by state school board association

Harvey School District 152 board members were recognized by the state for their service.

The recognition is part of the Illinois Association of School Board Board Leader Recognition Program that “recognizes school board members for individual time and effort devoted to learning and leadership activities provided by the Association and for service to the public education community,” according to the association’s website.

The district’s honorees included board president Janet M. Rogers and Casey Nesbit for the Annual Merit Recognition, which is the association’s highest honor; member Myra Gardner as a Distinguished Board Member, members Teresa Cameron, Sandra Contreras, Linda Hawkins, and Joseph Whittington Jr., as Established Board Leader. 

“We do a lot of work and we don’t get paid for this position. This is something that we do to volunteer for our school and our local communities,” Rogers said. 

Board members were honored for the 2025 calendar year, and can be recognized every year.

Personnel changes

The district approved the resignation of a special education teacher, Maria Garret, effective March 6, 2026, and Craig Lee, a long-term substitute at Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School. 

In January, the district lost an occupational therapist. Nearly 12 percent of the district’s students have an Individual Education Plan, and 28 percent of students in the district have a specific learning disability, according to the Illinois Report Card for the district. 

There are additional vacancies as a result of retirements of long-term substitute teaching positions. The district will welcome a new school nurse at Bryant Middle School soon.

Fiscal health

The district budgeted $33 million to spend this year. So far, they’ve received 60 percent of anticipated revenue, with roughly $13.3 million remaining to collect due to continued delays receiving property tax revenue. This school year, the District received $1.7 million less revenue overall than previous years as federal COVID-19 relief funds have been exhausted.

Expenses for February were higher due to an increase in health insurance and property casualty insurance payments. As of March, the district’s fund balance is $41.4 million. In February, it was $40.2 million. According to district officials, the fund balance could finance the costs of just over one full academic year, assuming all expenses remain the same.