December 6, 2023

At the Dec. 5 Barrington 220 Board of Education meeting, the Board of Education recognized Arnett C. Lines Elementary School, which received the 2023 National Blue Ribbon Award. Last month Lines principal Dr. Ken Hyllberg and Lines STEM Teacher Sarah Dowdy traveled to Washington, DC to attend the National Blue Ribbon Award Ceremony. They were accompanied by Dr. Craig Winkelman, Superintendent of Schools. Click here to view the recognition at the Board meeting.

Arnett C. Lines is one of only 20 (16 public) schools across Illinois and 353 (313 public) schools nationwide to be honored with this prestigious recognition. 

Arnett C. Lines also earned the Blue Ribbon Award in 1994 and 2008. Barrington 220 schools have now earned a total of 12 National Blue Ribbon School awards. Those schools include: 

• Barrington High School: 1993 
• Arnett C. Lines Elementary: 1994, 2008, 2023
• Barbara B. Rose Elementary: 2014 
• Countryside Elementary: 2016 
• Grove Avenue Elementary: 1992, 2007, 2016 
• Hough Street Elementary: 2015 
• Roslyn Road Elementary: 2013, 2019

At the Dec. 5 Board meeting, the Board recognized the achievements of the Barrington 220 Special Olympics athletes. During the 2022-23 school year, the athletes competed in basketball and track & field. They are led by Head Coach Jessica Suprenant and Special Olympics Athletic Director Kelsey Strauch. Click here to learn more about the athletes and their achievements! Click here to view the recognition.

At the Dec. 5 Board meeting, the Board recognized BHS junior Scout Storms, who won the IHSA Girls Cross Country 3A State Championship last month. She posted a winning time for the 3-mile race of 16:38, making her the first state cross country champion in BHS history! As a team, girls cross country finished 3rd at state. The team is coached by Deborah Revolta. Click here to view the recognition.

At the Dec. 5 Board meeting, the Board held a public hearing for the estimated 2023 tax levy, which is the first step in the process to establish a final levy of property taxes to support the district in 2024. Barrington 220 collects property taxes from Kane, Lake, Cook, and McHenry Counties, and property taxes account for approximately 80% of the district's annual operating revenues. If approved, the district expects to receive an overall levy increase of 5.5% compared to last year, however, it is requesting a 6.3% increase in the event new construction is larger than expected. This is inclusive of capped funds and debt service obligations. Based on projections, the total expected tax revenue to be collected in 2024 is $158,062,300. The Board is anticipated to approve the final tax levy on Dec. 19.

As part of the tentative levy, the Board will not issue Debt Service Extension Base (DSEB) this year. This will save local taxpayers approximately $2.5 million.

In his Superintendent's Report and her Board President's Report at the Dec. 5 Board meeting, Dr. Winkelman and Sandra Ficke-Bradford shared their condolences with the family of a BHS wrestling coach and long-time educator who unexpectedly passed away before a wrestling practice at BHS last week. Tim Dunn worked for many years in the social studies department before retiring in 2008. He also coached wrestling and football, and continued coaching wrestling in his retirement. He was born and raised in Barrington and often shared his love of history with the students.