ROCHELLE — At its monthly meeting Tuesday, the Rochelle Elementary School District Board of Education and District Superintendent Jason Harper recognized district staff members that will soon be retiring at the upcoming end of the school year. 

Retiring teachers include Theresa Crystal (math teacher, Rochelle Middle School, 21 years experience), Kristen Kida (second grade, Central School, 20 years), and Margaret Taylor (preschool teacher, 20 years). Two support staff members will be retiring including Denise Montgomery (maintenance, 18 years) and Lester Davis (maintenance director, 20 years). 

"All of those folks are right around the 20-year mark, so it's about 100 years of service to District 231 and our community that will be retiring and enjoying their retirement," Harper said. "On behalf of the administration, teachers and staff here, we want to thank them for all of their great service to our students and community."

Personnel

The board unanimously approved personnel changes including the resignations of Becky Cox (principal, Tilton, end of current school year) and Justine Miller (eighth grade PE teacher, end of current school year), and the transfer of KIm Lumzy (Spanish language arts to English language arts, RMS, continues to work half-time as student growth coach).

Approved support staff changes included the retirement of Laura Montgomery (maintenance) and dismissal of Dawn Hasz (technology aide). 

Employment for the 2025-2026 school year was approved for Jenna Hale (fifth grade teacher, Tilton), Jack Patting (social studies teacher, RMS) and Shanda Schwartz (sixth grade science teacher, RMS). 

For extracurricular/extra responsibility changes, approved Tuesday were the resignations of Nathaniel Genobana (wrestling head coach), Karen Hall (volleyball head coach), Justine Miller (AM & PM supervision) and Trevor Silz (wrestling assistant coach) and the employment of Alex Bueno (seventh grade boys track coach), Jack Patting (wrestling head coach), Holli Rapp (seventh grade girls basketball head coach) and Chris Underwood (student council advisor). 

Buildings

Harper thanked district staff and the public for their patience with ongoing infrastructure projects that have started around May and Tilton Elementary Schools. 

May Elementary School is currently seeing upgrades to prepare it for its opening as a preschool in the fall after being closed since before the 2021-2022 school year. A grant the district received to allow for preschool expansion will move its offerings from Lincoln Elementary School to May School. Upgrades will include the fitting of seven classrooms, bathroom, and a playground, along with security and lobby improvements.

At Tilton School, the board has a $14.237 million renovation and expansion project that will begin this summer and be completed in phases through the summer of 2026. 

The district is tying in health life safety needs with recommended security enhancements and staff needs and wants, namely alleviating issues caused by limited space in the building. The district’s plans include a facelift of the existing building and additional space to be added in an expansion with additional classrooms, multi-purpose room, gym, library and music room space, ADA accessibility, technology and climate control.

Budget

The board will host an amended budget hearing at 5:50 p.m. ahead of its regularly scheduled June 10 meeting at 6 p.m.