March 20, 2024

Update: Referendum Community Engagement February/March

At the March 19 Barrington 220 Board of Education meeting, the Board heard an update on the referendum community engagement process over the past few weeks and next steps regarding a potential referendum question on the November 2024 election ballot. The Board and district leaders have been collecting community feedback on 10 potential projects and three potential funding levels. The feedback was collected through the following methods:

• Referendum Advisory Committee Meeting #1
• Three in-person Community Engagement Meetings
• One virtual Community Engagement Meeting
• Community Phone Survey
• Digital Feedback Survey

The results will be shared with the Board at its April 2 meeting. The data will provide the Board and district leaders with a strong understanding of where the community stands on the potential projects and funding levels. Based on the data, district leaders will refine the list of projects and funding levels. In late April/May, there will be an additional round of feedback from the community, and the Referendum Advisory Committee on that refined list. The Referendum Advisory Committee will meet on May 20 to review the feedback to present a recommendation to the Board in June. Click here to listen to the update.

At the March 19 Board meeting, the Board approved both Brandon Stroh and Ben Thullen as Assistant Principals for Student Support at Barrington High School. Both will begin in their new roles on July 1.

Stroh currently works as the Assistant Department Chair for Student Services & Support at Barrington High School. He previously worked in the district as the Outplacement Coordinator/Special Testing Coordinator and Diagnostician/Special Testing Coordinator. He holds a bachelor's degree in Education with a specialization in Special Education from Western Illinois University. He also holds a master's degree in Special Education from Grand Canyon University and is currently pursuing a master's degree in Principal Preparation from Concordia University.

Thullen comes to Barrington 220 from Chicago Public Schools, where he currently works as an Operations Manager & Social Emotional Learning Coordinator for 26 schools. Before his current role, he worked as the Director of Climate and Culture at Jordan Community School within CPS. Thullen holds a bachelor's degree in Education from the Moody Bible Institute. He also holds two master's degrees, one in Educational Leadership from Northeastern Illinois University, and one in Social Work from the University of Illinois Chicago.

This month marks four years since the Barrington 220 community supported a $147 million school district referendum to transform educational spaces across the district. In his Superintendent's Report at the March 19 Board meeting, Dr. Winkelman shared that the district held its final two Build 220 ribbon cutting ceremonies last week at Barbara B Rose Elementary and North Barrington Elementary. Since August 2022, the district has held 15 ribbon cutting ceremonies to celebrate the completion of Build 220 projects across all schools. The construction projects have been completed on time and within budget. Click here to view photos of some of the completed spaces.

In his Superintendent's Report at the March 19 Board meeting, Dr. Winkelman shared that members of the district's safety and security team recently attended a conference that focused on school safety-related topics. The conference was hosted by LUDA (Large Unit District Association). Thanks to the community's support of the Build 220 initiative, Barrington 220 has greatly enhanced its safety and security measures over the past few years. Click here to learn more.

In his Superintendent's Report at the March 19 Board meeting, Dr. Winkelman shared information about a dog therapy reading program in Barrington 220 elementary schools. The “Read With Me" program is dedicated to improving literacy and involves reading to children with therapy animals present, allowing children to read to the animals in a nonjudgmental environment while encouraging reading skills. The program was initiated last school year in Barrington 220 in collaboration with SOUL Harbour Ranch. Click here to watch a video about the program!

In his Superintendent's Report at the March 19 Board meeting, Dr. Winkelman shared that he, along with other district leaders, recently attended the 25th anniversary gala for the Barrington 220 Educational Foundation. The funds raised from the gala will enhance the current BHS drawing and painting studio and ceramics room, as well as help create outdoor arts learning spaces.

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 March 19 Board meeting, the Board welcomed Laila Ephraim. Laila is an 8th-grade student at Prairie Campus. She shared many fond memories from her years at Prairie including participating in assemblies and the student vs. teacher basketball game. During her time at Prairie, she has also been involved in the school's Belonging Focus Group, which is a group of students who help try to make Prairie a more inclusive place to learn. Laila looks forward to taking an array of art courses at Barrington High School! Click here to view the recognition.