October 18, 2023

Barrington 220 to offer free full-day kindergarten

At the Oct. 17 Barrington 220 Board of Education meeting, the Board supported the district's recommendation to implement free full-day kindergarten at all Barrington 220 elementary schools, beginning at the start of the 2024-25 school year. Full-day kindergarten will extend core instruction (math, science, literacy, etc.) throughout the school day. It will eliminate the district's fee-based Kindergarten Enrichment Program.

In addition to implementing full-day kindergarten at all elementary schools, the Board supported the district's recommendation to create a free full-day kindergarten lab program at Barrington High School. This opt-in program will also begin at the start of the 2024-25 school year. The "K-Lab" will include two kindergarten classes (46 students total), and it will provide unique learning opportunities to students, thanks to its location at BHS. Students will be enrolled in the program utilizing a lottery system similar to the district's Spanish Dual Language and Chinese Immersion programs. More details about the K-Lab will be provided in the coming months. Click here to listen to the Board meeting presentation.

At the October 17 Board meeting, the Board continued its discussion about possibilities for new fine, visual, and performing arts spaces at Barrington High School. The design work for these new spaces was an identified project within the $147 million dollar referendum that Barrington area voters approved in 2020. The cost to build these new spaces was not included in the referendum.

The Board is considering Concept Option 2, which was one of the three options architects presented to the Board at its Oct. 3 meeting. At this time, the Board would like to seek community feedback about Option 2 in order to refine the option, so that architects can create a more visual 3D rendering of it. The Board will discuss the manner in which it plans to gain community feedback at its next meeting on Nov. 7. Click here to listen to the Board meeting discussion.

• Option 2: This option involves building a new auditorium and renovating existing fine arts classrooms. The renovation will also result in a larger band room, a larger choral room, a larger orchestra room, as well as larger and more dressing rooms. The new auditorium would have approximately 969 seats and be ADA-accessible. This option also involves building a production shop and a new fine arts lobby. The projected estimate is $52,000,000 - $57,020,000. Click here for details.

Click here to view the presentation from the Oct. 17 meeting.

Board approves 2024-25 BHS course offerings

At the Oct. 17 Board meeting, the Board approved BHS course offerings for the 2024-25 school year. Each year the high school engages in a process to propose changes to the BHS course guide. These changes include new course additions, deletion of courses, and changes to titles, weights, audience, prerequisites, or course descriptions. Click here to view a presentation that outlines this year's changes. Click here to view the current BHS course guide.

At the Oct. 17 Board meeting, the Board unanimously approved a new 5-year contract for Barrington 220 educators. Members of the Barrington Education Association (BEA) ratified the agreement on Oct. 11. The contract includes a more competitive starting salary ($58,138) to attract and retain high-quality teachers, in addition to strengthened professional development and expanded training for teachers. The new contract is effective immediately and extends through the 2027-2028 school year.

At the Oct. 17 Board meeting, the Board heard an update on student enrollment numbers in Barrington 220. Thirty days into the 2023-24 school year, the district's total enrollment was 8,043 students, which is a decrease of 178 students compared to last school year. This decrease aligns with the results of a demographic study the district conducted in 2022 with demographer Dr. John Kasarda. Dr. Kasarda's report anticipates a decrease in student enrollment over the next couple of years, followed by an increase. The 30-day enrollment figures are a snapshot in time. Enrollment will fluctuate during the school year as it has in the past, and the district will continue to monitor it accordingly.

Countryside student recognized at Board meeting

This school year one student from each Barrington 220 school will make a special appearance at a Board of Education meeting to share an update about all of the great things happening at their school. At the Oct. 17 Board meeting, the Board welcomed Olivia Hoffmann. Olivia is a 5th-grade student at Countryside Elementary. She shared that STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) is one of her favorite subjects in school and she and her classmates are enjoying the new STEM lab at Countryside, which was made possible by the district's Build 220 initiative. In addition, Olivia is looking forward to the upcoming 5th-grade Halloween party! Click here to view the recognition.

In his Superintendent's Report at the Oct. 17 Board meeting, Dr. Winkelman shared that the BHS Fields of Dreams complex has been named "High School Field of the Year" by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association! This award recognizes top fields/stadiums in the nation for their flawless ground maintenance and exceptional playing surfaces. The Fields of Dreams complex recently underwent a total renovation thanks to the community's support of the Build 220 initiative, as well as many community donors. Click here to view drone video of the Fields of Dreams shot by BHS-TV.

In his Superintendent's Report at the Oct. 17 Board meeting, Dr. Winkelman congratulated Barry Altshuler, Board Vice President, who was selected to be a part of the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) Board Leader Recognition Program. Altshuler is one of 21 Board of Education members in the IASB Lake Division to be selected for the program. It recognizes school board members for individual time and effort devoted to learning and leadership activities provided by IASB, and for service to the public education community.

In his Superintendent's Report at the Oct. 17 Board meeting, Dr. Winkelman shared that Barrington 220 schools will engage in various activities next week to celebrate National Red Ribbon Week. Red Ribbon Week is the nation's largest and longest-running drug-use prevention campaign. Click here to learn more.

At the Oct. 17 Board meeting, the Board held special public comment on the 2023 proposed Illinois Association of School Board's (IASB) resolutions. Every November school boards from across the state send a delegate to the IASB conference in Chicago. At this conference, the delegates vote on which resolutions IASB will pursue in the upcoming legislative sessions. This year’s conference will take place Nov. 16-19. Click here to view the 2023 resolutions.