D102 Newsletter-The latest news for you

Superintendent's Message

District 102 Families,

With 24 days of school left, it is hard to not be excited about summer and a return to some “normalcy”. Park Junior High is preparing for in-person graduation ceremonies, elementary schools are planning ways to celebrate the sixth graders who will be moving on to Park Junior High next year, the state-mandated IAR test will begin on Monday, May 3, and before you know it we will be wrapping up the school year on the students’ last attendance day, June 4.

While we close out this school year, we excitedly plan for next year and full-day in-person learning. As we continue to meet with teachers, work as an administrative team, and review practices for a return to full-day in-person for Fall of 2021, we are working through the final details. While we presented an overview of what next year will look like, we are preparing a document to outline the nuances of how full-day in-person will look different from how we have always structured school. Areas such as how lunch will work, student spacing in the classrooms, and a focus on filling in any learning gaps, along with continuing to accelerate learning opportunities to meet the needs of all of our students are at the forefront of our work. While we will be living with the endemic of COVID-19 for the foreseeable future, we are clearly seeing the light at the top of the well.

There are still learning days left in this school year. Our teachers are continuing to work to engage students in both hybrid and remote lessons as the warmer weather and sunshine beckons. We have developed a summer school program for students currently in grades K-7. We encourage any family who feels their child would benefit from additional work on current grade level materials and standards to register for our Bridge Summer Program. For those families who would like to see their child continue to stretch and enrich their current grade level learning, we encourage you to sign them up for the Destiny Summer Program. All of these programs are free for the next two years, thanks to funding from the Federal government. Sign-up through Pushcoin.

We recognize this has been less than an ideal year for most people. Yet our children have learned more than we realize. I have seen children at all levels demonstrate more independence, focus, increased technology skills, and yes, academic growth. There will be continued work to be done and learning gaps to fill. Our teachers, staff, and administrators are committed to supporting our students as we all move forward.

Kyle

April Board Meeting Review

On April 29, the D102 Board held their regular Board Meeting. With the approval of the agenda, public comment was followed by the swearing-in of a new D102 board member, Jessica Mandra, and returning board members Ed Campbell and Mike Melendez. The board elected its new officers and set the meeting dates for the 2021-22 school year. Mike Melendez will continue to serve as President, Dr. Ed Campbell as Vice President, and Leah Werab as Secretary. The board also thanked Dorren Gertsen-Briand for her time on the board. Dorren replaced Michael Thomas in October 2020.

James Robinette, Congress Park Principal, gave his annual presentation to the board. James along with Assistant Principal Lynette Campbell and Instructional Coach Erika Bolte shared the challenges and successes of the CP staff and students from the past school year. The adjustment to smaller class sizes allowed for the staff to build stronger relationships with the students, and they praised the PTO for creating new activities that brought the community together during the school year.

Dr. Finch and the building principals reported on Math and Reading data that had been collected and reviewed strengths, challenges, and next steps.

Dr. Schumacher gave updates on his visits to other local districts with Kathy Boxell, David Ontiveros, and Joe McCauley and discussed the back-to-school plan for the fall. He stressed that are still details to still be worked out and reiterated that D102 will be back in school full-time for the 2021-22 school year.

You can listen to the entire board meeting here. To access the board notes, click here.

The next regular board meeting is scheduled for May 27.

New Board Member

Summer School Update

Due to federal grants awarded to D102, the Destiny: Imagination, Dual Language, and Summer: Bridge programs will now be offered without a cost to D102 families. If you have already registered and paid for these programs, a refund was recently placed in your Pushcoin account.

Transportation options are also available at no cost. Buses will pick up and drop off from Congress Park, La Grange Community Center, Cossitt School, and Ogden Avenue School. Times will be determined based on ridership. Transportation is also free. Please purchase at the time of registration.

ROBINETTE WINS AWARD

District 102's James Robinette, Principal of Congress Park Elementary School, was recently awarded one of the 2021 John Ourth and Dr. Fred Singleton Professional Development Scholarships sponsored by the Illinois Principals Association.

Scholarship grants assist individuals in the pursuit of graduate study, attendance at national conferences, and attendance at other relevant professional development to further the capacities of school administrators to be instructional leaders.

Congrats James!

Director of Instructional Equity and Accountability

We are pleased to announce the appointment of current Barnsdale Road Principal, Kathy Boxell, to the role of Director of Instructional Equity and Accountability. This grant-funded role was added to support the District's equity initiatives and to help the District leverage data to support greater access, opportunity, and excellence for all students. The Director of Instructional Equity and Accountability will support the District's equity work, coordinating and managing instructional data, and provide coaching support to the principal team. Ms. Boxell's dedication, experience, and leadership in the district will now serve all of District 102.

This leaves the Principalship at Barnsdale vacant. We will be posting the position in the next few days and begin the search for an outstanding candidate to lead Barnsdale Road School. We will be working with the Barnsdale Staff and PTO as we put together an interview team of stakeholders.

SURVEILLANCE SCHEDULE UPDATE

As we near the end of the school year we are adjusting our surveillance schedule. As our community rates have declined and our own surveillance system has had few referrals, we are adjusting our schedule for the last month of school. A parent is always welcome to contact the nurse if they have a concern and would like to have their child tested during a week that they are not scheduled to participate.

Week of May 3-Regular Testing Schedule
Week of May 10-Park Junior High
Week of May 17-All elementary schools
Week of May 24-Park Junior High

Currently, there will be no surveillance testing during the last week of school.

Teacher Appreciation Week

Teacher Appreciation Week is May 3-7. District 102 would not be where we are this year without the dedication and collaboration of our teachers and staff. Please take the time to write a note, send an email, etc. and let them know how much they are appreciated.

OGDEN AVE. RESURFACING PROJECT

The Village would like to advise residents that the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) plans to resurface Ogden Avenue from I-294 to Edgewood Avenue beginning Monday, April 26, 2021. The project scope will consist of milling and resurfacing the existing pavement, intermittent sidewalk and curb replacement, and thermoplastic pavement markings. The contractor for the work is K-Five Construction Corporation.

Construction is expected to occur throughout the summer with an anticipated completion date of July 31, 2021 depending on weather. Generally, the contractor will be working between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

To construct the project, Ogden Avenue will be limited to one lane in each direction during various periods of the project. The significance of these lane restrictions is that we anticipate substantial traffic congestion along this roadway and surrounding area especially during the early morning and evening commutes. We recommend that motorists select alternative routes to avoid the anticipated congestion along the roadway. Please drive safely through the area.

Thank you in advance for your patience and cooperation. We will work with IDOT and the contractor to minimize the inconveniences associated with this project. The result will be an improved roadway that will provide many years of service.

Should you have any questions regarding this project please contact the Illinois Department of Transportation at (847) 705-4300 or the Village of La Grange, Department of Public Works at (708) 579-2328.

VACCINATION INFORMATION

Any resident, age 16+, living in the Lyons Township High School District can register to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at LT North Campus on Monday, May 3 (1st dose) and Monday, May 24 (2nd dose).

All LTHS District residents: Log in directly to the Albertsons/Jewel Osco site.

https://kordinator.mhealthcoach.net/vcl/1619279381875

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