Innovation Grows with Technology Initiative
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Learning First, Technology Second is the focus of expanding students’ access to technology and infusing classroom learning with innovation. Judi Epcke, Instructional Technology Coordinator, discussed the first year of the program and what’s ahead for next school year at the July 23 board meeting.
Students in sixth grade, third grade and kindergarten received personal iPads last school year. Sixth-grade students were allowed to bring the iPads home to complete homework assignments and projects as needed. All kindergarten and third-grade devices remained at school.
Next year, all junior high students will have iPads as will kindergarten, first-grade, third-grade and fourth-grade students. Existing laptop computers and ipads will be deployed for use to second- and fifth-grade classrooms. Student iPads have a limited number of apps that are uploaded by the district. A comprehensive Internet filtering system is always active on the device, even outside of school.
Providing students with personal devices is just one small part of the program. Ms. Epcke offered a glimpse into the transformation of classroom instruction through five instructional goals:
- Increase student opportunities to effectively use digital tools to present evidence of learning;
- Infuse the district’s curricula with innovative technological practices;
- Teach our students to be safe, respectful, and reflective users of technology;
- Design professional learning opportunities for staff to learn about innovative instructional practices;
- Build parental knowledge through education programs tailored to their needs.
For next year, some additions and modifications will also be implemented based on student and staff feedback, including:
- “Launching Lessons” have been designed to give students more specific support on how to set up and operate iPads.
- School websites will contain information such as: apps lists, tips and tutorials, and digital citizenship resources for parents.
- A digital citizenship curriculum developed with resources from Common Sense Education will be implemented for all grades and include resources for parents.
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Math Program Review Continues Through the Summer
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Dr. Kris Raitzer provided a report updating summer progress on the math program review.
July’s work, facilitated by Kristen Clegg, a consultant whose expertise is math curriculum development, and new Math Instructional Specialist Nikki Penherski, focused on the junior high curriculum. The junior high team revised the pacing calendars and created screening assessments. Pacing calendars ensure that units of study align with learning standards, the proper time is allocated to the most important units and that the units are timed to maximize student preparation for important assessments. Screening assessments are administered at the beginning of the year. They assess prerequisite skills so teachers can promptly intervene if students have learning gaps from the previous year.
Work also included cross-checking units of study between the elementary and junior high curriculum for sequence and continuity. The junior high math instructional specialist is also collaborating with the math/science coordinators from neighboring districts.
A representative from the College Board, which created PSAT, will work with math and ELA teachers in August and meet with parents in September.
Curriculum guides are also being revised in preparation for fall parent curriculum nights.
“With this math program review, we are improving teaching and learning. Our goal is to go beyond test scores; we want to grow and enhance our entire math program and instructional practices to help every child reach their potential,” Dr. Raitzer said.
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Tentative Budget Funds Programming Needs,
Capital Improvements
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New property development along with steady local, state and federal revenues are helping support a tentative operating budget for 2019-20 that is 2.8 percent higher than last year’s spending.
District 28 is continuing to invest in the school buildings through fund reserves. Using reserves is like paying for home improvements with a savings account instead of a home equity loan. Meadowbrook School is undergoing interior renovation and asbestos abatement at a cost of $1.1 million that is being funded from reserves. Maintenance and safety projects at other buildings bring total capital improvements to $1.3 million.
Total spending adds up to $43.3 million, which is $2 million over revenues. However, when capital projects totaling $1.3 million, and contingency funds of $800,000, are excluded, spending is in line with projected revenues of $41.2 million.
Local revenues comprise 95 percent of the district’s total revenues. While property owners’ tax bills fluctuate with assessments, the total amount the district collects is constrained every year by the Consumer Price Index and new developments within the district boundaries. The consumer price index is 2.1 percent. The remainder of the local revenue increase is tied to new development in the village.
The bulk of the district’s operating budget is spent on staffing, with 83 percent going to salaries and benefits. Two new positions, a physical therapist and an adaptive physical education teacher, will replace contracted services; and two new teachers are being added, a junior high math instructional specialist and a special education teacher.
New curriculum materials for junior high literacy, district-wide social studies resources and additional supports for grammar and math are included in this year’s budget. Technology expenses are aligned with the implementation of the district’s purchase of iPads for students for the Learning First initiative, which is expanding to include grades 1, 4, 7 and 8.
The tentative budget will be on public display at the district office or can be downloaded for review beginning Aug. 1. The Board will hold a public hearing and vote on the budget at its regular meeting on Sept. 24.
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Principals Report Offer Glimpse of School Year
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Each school year is filled with an impressive number of activities and goals to support student learning and development. District 28’s principals provided an overview of the many facets of the school year to the Board of Education in a special report.
Academics, social-emotional supports, special events for families, student services programming, safety, and student clubs are among the many parts that come together to make a successful school and enrich students’ experiences.
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Cooking, left, is one of the most popular courses offered at Northbrook Junior High. Students test their engineering skills in building a water tower, right, as part of STEM for grades 1-2, which was offered for the first time this year at Westmoor School.
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Student Enrichment the Focus
in Summer School, ESY
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When school is out for the summer, the school doors stay open in District 28. Summer School and Extended School Year programs began on June 10.
Summer School offered 131 classes for students in first through eighth grades and had an enrollment of 606 students. The classes were held until July 3.
Extended School Year involved 41 special education students, and offered academic and enrichment classes, as well as field trips, as part of the program. The ESY program ran until July 12.
This year, the programs were split between Westmoor School for grades 1-4 and NBJH for grades 5-8. This allowed for smoother traffic at both schools during student drop-off and pick-up.
The Summer School program is self-funded through registration fees and had 65 teachers this year. Classes range from games and STEM activities to woodworking, cooking and sports. The program continues to be popular, with enrollment growing from 523 in 2015 to 606 this year.
Summer School Principal Meghan Dames will review this year’s program and feedback to prepare for next year. Both teachers and parents had positive feedback about splitting the program between the two schools.
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Three Teachers Join District 28 Faculty
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Three teachers were approved by the Board of Education for the 2019-20 school year to fill vacancies: Michelle Lee, Early Childhood Teacher at Westmoor School, Allison Rubenstein, second-grade teacher at Westmoor, and Jennifer Lee-Stewart, orchestra teacher. Learn more about them and see all the new teachers and administrators joining the District 28 team on our
New Staff webpage
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Costs to Video Record Meetings Reviewed
The Board reviewed the concept of video recording board meetings to increase communication with the public.
There is an estimated cost of $10,000 for the first year in equipment and staff time, and an annual cost of about $4,200 in staff time to record, edit and publish the meetings. A survey of nearby comparable districts shows four of 19 comparable districts record meetings. Viewership of each month’s recording varies from an average of 10 to 60 views.
Board members discussed the cost-benefit and tabled the matter until a full communication plan is reviewed in August.
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Work Continues at Meadowbrook
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Meadowbrook School renovation is progressing on time to be completed for the start of school.
The work includes asbestos abatement, carpet replacement, cabinetry replacement, along with plumbing and electrical upgrades where needed. Every classroom and hallway is also being re-painted to completely refresh the building. The $1.3 million project is being funded with district reserves.
Right, a Meadowbrook classroom nears completion with new carpet, cabinets and fresh paint. Each wing will use a different accent color.
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STAY CONNECTED TO WHAT'S HAPPENING IN DISTRICT 28!
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#TLC28 #Innovate28
District 28’s official hashtags! You can search the hashtag on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram to monitor posts from teachers, administrators and the district accounts. These hashtags help us tell the story of Teaching, Learning and Caring in District 28 and the innovative teaching and learning around Learning First.
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