Board Highlights

This newsletter features highlights from District 97 Board of Education meetings.

Click here to access full meeting agendas and packets. Recordings of our meetings are also available on our YouTube page. For more about our board, visit www.op97.org/boe.

Collaborating to Shape a More Efficient and Equitable Donation Process

We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of our community, whose donations make a meaningful difference in our schools. During the Dec. 10 meeting, the District 97 team shared updates about our draft Guidelines for Giving, which aim to simplify and improve the process for reviewing and approving donations that go to the board for approval, while also ensuring they align with district priorities, policies, and equity goals.

This work was informed by valuable input from school principals, parent-teacher organizations (PTOs), and district staff.

What's Next?

• Based on the Board discussion at the Dec 10 meeting, the Guidelines for Giving document will continue to be revised with feedback from interest holders, especially PTOs.

• Donations that go before the Board of Education for approval will be reviewed through this three-question process:

• The Administrative team will continue to work with interest holders through 2025 to bring the process of accepting donations that require Board approval, and those that do not, in alignment.

What's Not Changing at this Time?

• PTO donations at the schools can continue as they have since the beginning of the 2024-25 school year.

We are grateful for the collaboration of staff and PTOs to improve this process, and remain committed to making the donation experience efficient and impactful for everyone involved.

Click the following links to learn more about this work and view the Dec. 10 presentation: Recording | Slides

During the Dec. 10 meeting, the board approved funding for the Access to Algebra pathway which aims to increase access to Integrated Math I before high school.

As previously shared in the Nov. 12 Board Highlights, the District 97 Core Instruction team presented a proposal shaped by community/student feedback and data. The approved plan includes targeted outreach for underrepresented students and updates to the program’s timing and structure to foster inclusivity and support for all learners.

To learn more about the math program review and recommendations, click the following links from Nov. 12, 2024: Recording | Slides | Memo

To view the board's discussion from Dec. 10, click here.

What’s Ahead: Registration for Access to Algebra will open in January 2025. The Core Instruction team is also planning a future community update that provides more clarity on math courses offered in District 97. Stay tuned!

On Dec. 10, the District 97 team shared exciting updates about our commitment to workforce diversity and strategic staffing. These efforts are rooted in our equity policy, which aims to recruit, support, and retain a diverse and culturally competent team that reflects the diversity of our students.

Key Highlights:

• Workforce Diversity: We are taking intentional steps to hire and retain more teachers and leaders of color, as well as male educators, to ensure our students see themselves represented in their classrooms.

• Strategic Staffing: Plans are in place to use staffing and enrollment data to better meet the needs of each school and to create an equitable distribution of resources. This includes targeted support for students with diverse learning needs.

• Professional Development: District-wide training will help staff deepen their skills to provide equitable and inclusive learning environments for all students.

To learn more, click the following links: Recording | Slides

We’re looking forward to sharing more information about these initiatives in early 2025.