The Communicator
District 47 Newsletter - Spring / Summer 2021
IN THIS ISSUE
Superintendent's Message
2020-21 School Highlights
Spring / Summer
Fall 2021
Financial Update
Operations Update
Board of Education Update
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FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT
These past 15 months have been nothing short of unusual. Throughout this past year, our school community has endured shifts from one learning model to another as we did our best to balance and prioritize teaching and learning in light of everchanging health and safety guidance from our local and state health departments, the Illinois State Board of Education and the CDC. This was trying on our families and staff as everyone juggled careers and children at home, in-person, and sometimes in quarantine.
I think we as educators have all realized that, despite the many challenges this year during the pandemic, we are stronger and more resilient than any of us had thought. In addition, we’ve learned some valuable lessons along the way and recognized there are some silver linings, too. These include:
Increasing the frequency of communication with both staff and families is critical during a crisis. Throughout the school year, the district sent weekly emails to families to keep them informed of decisions being made and the rationale behind those decisions.
Staff learning technology on-the-go created a teaching and learning environment of empathy and understanding in which students saw their teachers as learners.
Glitches in technology helped to develop everyone’s ability to problem-solve on-the-fly, building resilience in both teachers and students.
Remote learning engaged a subset of students with school anxiety/refusal allowing them to succeed at rates we haven’t seen before.
We have also experienced a heightened level of gratitude and appreciation for one another. Seeing kids back in our buildings and classrooms brought great joy to our teachers, administrators and staff. We have learned that, while we have honed our technology skills and become adept at collaborating and teaching and learning online, interacting in-person deepens our relationships and feeds the soul.
Lastly, we are grateful for our partnerships. This year, more than any other year in my tenure, has taught me the importance of staying connected with our community.
McHenry County Dept of Health (MCDH) - Superintendents have a newfound knowledge and appreciation for everything that goes into managing a public health crisis (like the COVID-19 pandemic) through our weekly calls with the county health department.
Crystal Lake Park District - When there was a shift in learning model, the park district worked quickly to adjust their E.T. schedules and staffing to meet our families’ needs.
School districts in McHenry County - When vaccinations became available, we partnered with other school districts in our county to staff and host vaccination clinics for our educators.
Willow Creek church - To accommodate working families during remote learning, Willow Creek stepped up to host a volunteer remote learning program for students. They also allowed district administrators to work out of their facility when only a certain number of employees could work on-site at the district office due to capacity restrictions.
Local churches - We have been fortunate enough to have each District 47 school partnered with a local church in the community. These partnerships have done amazing things to help meet our families’ needs during the pandemic.
While there are many things about this year that we wouldn’t want to repeat, some of these lessons learned and silver linings will forever change the way we view ourselves as educators and communicators and will alter our practices moving forward.
Dr. Kathy J. Hinz
Superintendent
SPRING 2021
D47 Vaccination Clinic
Virtual Student Art Show
District 47 Virtual 2021 Student Art Show
We invite the community to visit the District 47 Virtual Student Art Show. With a click, you can go from room to room (by grade level and school) at the historic Dole Mansion to see the creative works of District 47 students.
Start your virtual tour by clicking here: https://bit.ly/33cFNhs. Follow the tips below for navigating the art show.
Click the location icon next to your school name to begin.
Click the gallery grade level (K-2 or 3-5) you want to view.
Click anywhere on the slide to advance to the next school gallery.
Click The Dole icon at the bottom left of the screen to return to the home page.
Woods Creek 5th Grader Wins Sodexo Future Chef Contest
The 5th Annual Sodexo Future Chef Competition took place at Hannah Beardsley Middle School on Thursday, April 29. The culinary competition is open to all District 47 4th and 5th grade students. The goal of the competition is to educate students about healthy eating habits and inspire a love of cooking. This year’s theme was healthy comfort food. Judging was based on the following criteria:
- Healthfulness of recipe
- Ease of preparation
- Kid-friendly appeal
- Taste
- Table presentation
This year there were nine finalists, four judges and one grand prize winner. See student entries/recipes below and click here for a video of the event. All finalists received a certificate, medal, chef coat and apron as well as a backpack with cooking utensils. The grand prize winner also received a large basket of cooking supplies/utensils and a Fitbit.
Congratulations to Leonard Nowakowski, our 2021 Sodeox Future Chef!
2021 Sodexo Future Chef Finalists and Recipes:
Finnegan Dobbels - 4th grade, West
Megan Harrison - 5th grade, North
Saihaan Hassan - 4th grade, Husmann
Piper Hein - 5th grade, Woods Creek
Leonard Nowakowski - 5th grade, Woods Creek
Ava Petersen - 4th grade, North
Emme Reall - 5th grade, Glacier Ridge
Keira Smith - 4th grade, Glacier Ridge
Madilynn Stipati - 4th grade, Woods Creek
District 47 Administrator Recognized with Distinguished Service Award
Congratulations to Sandi Correa, District 47’s Director of Information Services. Sandi was honored today at the 2021 Distinguished Service Awards program sponsored by the Illinois Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association (INSPRA). The statewide Distinguished Service Awards program honors those whose efforts have enhanced education and conveyed its importance to the community on behalf of their schools and districts.
Sandi Correa oversees the Student Information Services (SIS) team of five, who manage student registration and the student database system, run the parent help desk, and provide support for other systems used by D47 departments and schools. This year has presented unprecedented challenges for Sandi and her team as the district has carried out hybrid learning. Throughout the many challenges and changes this school year, Sandi has successfully led her team and diligently worked with all departments, school admin teams and transportation to ensure clear communication and a smooth transition. Congratulations, Sandi!
Celebrating D47 Retirees and Quarter Century Club Members
We’d like to highlight and thank District 47 staff members who are retiring this year as well as those who have reached a milestone of serving the district for 25 years. See below for a complete list of this year’s retirees and Quarter Century Club (QCC) members. You’ll find a special video tribute to some of our retirees at the link below:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6oeQbeVgF0nyFxBAbnJPJMl_58RlYng_
2020-21 RETIREES
Susan Anderson - 8th Grade Sped LBS1 Resource Teacher, Lundahl
Edelmira Arredondo - Paraprofessional, Canterbury
Karen Belke - Social Worker, Husmann
Judy Bottalla - Administrative Assistant, Bernotas
Kari Braun - 7th Grade Social Studies Teacher, Bernotas
Doria Casanas - Administrative Assistant, Wehde
Nancy Dalman - 8th Grade Science Teacher, Bernotas
Melody Digrazia - 7th Grade Sped-LBS1 Resource Teacher, Lundahl
Paula Gagnon - Paraprofessional, West
Jack Glauner - Custodian, Woods Creek
Tina Grade - Paraprofessional, North
Sue Juarez - Reading Interventionist, Glacier Ridge
Patty MacNally - EC 8th Grade Language Arts Teacher, Hannah Beardsley
Brenda Martinez - Paraprofessional, Glacier Ridge
Raul Perez - Custodian, Indian Prairie
Helen Puesta - Occupational Therapist Assistant, Indian Prairie
Debra Rokusek - Psychologist, Husmann
Marlene Ruiz - Paraprofessional, Wehde
John Sandor - Custodian, CORE/Husmann
Yvonne Scott - Occupational Therapist, South/North
Molly Sedivec - Band Teacher, Woods Creek
Pam Sengstock - Administrative Assistant, South
Diane Shute - 6th Grade Math Teacher, Lundahl
Jessica Smith - Library Information Specialist, D47 Middle Schools
Lori Thill - 4th Grade Teacher, Husmann
Sarah Van Vianen - Speech Language Pathologist, Wehde
Saundra Zehrer - 8th Grade Language Arts Teacher, Hannah Beardsley
Terry Walke - Administrative Assistant, Hannah Beardsley
Rene Wolke - Paraprofessional, Wehde
QUARTER CENTURY CLUB
Sarah Bauman-Brackmann - Kindergarten Teacher, North
Deanna Campioni - Paraprofessional, Woods Creek
Jennifer Campisi - 8th Grade Social Studies Teacher, Bernotas
Marlene Filskov - Paraprofessional, North
Dr. Kathy Hinz - Superintendent, CORE
David Keenan - Instructional Coach/Facilitator, Bernotas
Janet Kociszewski - Nurse, Canterbury
Lisa Kolasinski - 3rd Grade Teacher, Glacier Ridge
Rita Ludwig - 2nd Grade Teacher, Indian Prairie
Brenda Martinez - Paraprofessional, Glacier Ridge
Lucino Mejia - Custodian, Indian Prairie
Brad Morrissey - Health/PE Teacher, Lundahl
Joyce Russo - Paraprofessional, West
Guillermo Salas - Custodian, Lundahl
Yvonne Scott - Occupational Therapist, North
Diana Smithana - Speech Language Pathologist, Indian Prairie
James Stone - 7th Grade Science Teacher, Bernotas
Jessica Toussaint - Health/PE Teacher, Lundahl
SUMMER 2021
Free COVID PCR Testing for District 47 Families
In May, in partnership with Rapid Control and Medstar Labs, District 47 started serving as a host site for free COVID PCR testing for D47 staff, students and families. Test kits may be picked up on weekdays throughout the summer at the CORE Center (300 Commerce Drive, Crystal Lake) between 7:30am and 3:45pm; appointments are not necessary. Individuals can enter the vestibule through Door 2 to access the kits and a form. Instructions for the swab test are posted on the wall in both English and Spanish; individuals are encouraged to take a photo of the instructions to refer to at home. Completed tests can be dropped off in a collection box outside Door 2 at the CORE Center and will be picked up daily by Medstar. Results are typically available within 48 hours.
New Family Registration for 2021-22 School Year
New student registration for the 2021-22 school year began June 1. All families are encouraged to register their student(s) as early as possible as this helps with appropriate staffing and class size. Please follow the instructions below to begin the registration process:
Navigate to the D47 website (D47.org) Parents > Registration
Click the link to fill out and submit the 2021-22 New Student Registration Form.
You will receive an email with a link to register your child within 48 hours of submitting the form.
Click the link to complete and submit your child’s registration.
The legal guardian registering will be required to provide several documents as well as a photo ID. For information on the documents you will need for registration, please refer to Registration Requirements. Student Fees are due by the first day of school and may be paid by cash/check or online via ParentVue. If you have questions, please contact Student Information Services at 815.788.5000.
MCHELP - 24/7 Free, Anonymous Mental Health Support
The MCHELP app is a free anonymous mobile app that allows adults and students to confidentially text or talk to a trained, licensed mental health counselor 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. MCHELP is now integrated with other mental health services and resources in McHenry county. To download the app, search “mchelp” from the iOS App Store or Google Play store. If you already have the app, you’ll need to manually run the update unless the "auto update" option is activated in your phone settings. For more information, click here:
https://www.mc708.org/mchelp-app/.
Free Summer Meals for Crystal Lake Youth
Free Breakfast and Lunch for District 47 Families
Beginning Tuesday, June 1, District 47 families will be eligible to receive free breakfast and lunch meals for their children from 3pm to 6pm at Glacier Ridge Elementary School (1120 Village Road, Crystal Lake). This initiative is part of the USDA’s extension of free meals benefit due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The food distribution will be a drive-up service held weekly on Tuesdays throughout the summer from 3pm-6pm at Glacier Ridge. Families will be provided meals for the week -- 5 breakfasts and 5 lunches for each student. Students attending summer school will receive a "grab 'n go" bag each day that will include lunch and breakfast.
Free Summer Lunch Program for Crystal Lake Youth
Starting June 1, a program sponsored by the Northern Illinois Food Bank will provide free boxed lunches to any child in Crystal Lake 18 years of age and younger. The Summer Lunch Program will run weekdays, (Tues., 6/1 - Tues., 8/17) from 11am to 1pm at Ladd Park, 521 Coventry Lane in Crystal Lake. In case of rain, lunches will be served at Vineyard Church, 7105 Virginia Road in Crystal Lake (next to the CVS). No registration is required. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, food will be distributed as a grab-and-go, drive-up service. Volunteers will follow health department and CDC social distancing guidelines and wear face coverings. Questions about the Crystal Lake Summer Lunch Program can be directed to Kathy Sullivan at 815-861-9893 or sullcl5@aol.com or Betty Koch at 815-382-5221.
District 47 Summer School Programs
District 47’s Extended School Year (ESY) and Title I/III summer school programs start Monday, June 7 and run through Thursday, July 1 for eligible students. Both summer school programs will be held in-person and virtually, Monday through Thursday from 8am to noon at Glacier Ridge Elementary School and Wehde Early Childhood Center.
Preschool/Early Childhood Registration for 2021-22
District 47's Wehde Early Childhood Center is housed within Glacier Ridge Elementary School, located at 1120 Village Road in Crystal Lake. Wehde provides general and special education programming for 3- and 4-year-olds. Registration is now open for the 2021-22 school year. For information about Wehde or to register your child, call 815-788-3100 or visit the website at http://www.d47.org/wehde.
FALL 2021
School Supplies
School supply lists for the 2021-22 school year are posted on school websites. District 47 will be providing many of the items once again this year to help offset the cost of school supplies for families.
D47 Adopts New Middle School Social Studies Curriculum
Over the past several years, District 47 middle school social studies teams have been aligning current curriculum to the Illinois Social Sciences standards and exploring resources to support this endeavor. Based on the recommendation of the middle school social studies committee, District 47 added a primary resource called Teachers’ Curriculum Institute (TCI) during the 2020-2021 school year. The TCI middle school social studies curriculum aligns to the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies. TCI provides hands-on learning experiences and an integrated literacy component that spans multiple genres and encompasses diverse viewpoints. It also promotes active citizenship. According to its website: “At TCI, we believe in providing equitable and engaging learning opportunities to all students and empowering them to become engaged citizens who will change the world.”
For the 2021-2022 school year, District 47 Library Information Specialists will support the continued implementation of the TCI middle school social studies curriculum. The committee will continue to meet over the summer to engage in professional development and create common assessments.
An elementary social studies committee was formed this spring and will also meet over the summer to begin exploring the opportunity to align the elementary social studies curriculum with the learning standards.
New District 47 Leadership
Rebecca Morton - Director of Dual Language and English Language Learners (ELL)
Rebecca Morton has served as an English Language Learner specialist at Woods Creek Elementary School for the past six years. Prior to her experiences in District 47, Mrs. Morton taught grades 1-3 in Grayslake Community Consolidated School District 46 for a collective 12 years. She has served on District 47’s ELL committee, and also as a PBIS building coach, new teacher mentor and teacher leader for a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence event in her previous school districts and has volunteered for the Crystal Lake Summer Lunch program for the past four years.
“Rebecca is committed to supporting students and families,” said Christina Moran, assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction and assessment. “She is a proactive leader with strengths in communication and collaboration and has a passion for supporting second language acquisition.”
Mrs. Morton has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in special education from Northern Illinois University. She also holds an ELL endorsement from National Louis University and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Aurora University. She is a Crystal Lake resident with children currently enrolled in District 47’s dual language program.
Aaron Knoth - Assistant Director of Student Services
Aaron Knoth will be the assistant director of student services for the 2021-22 school year with the goal to assume the director position on July 1, 2022.
Mr. Knoth has been with District 47 for the past 14 years, serving for the past three years as an assistant principal at Hannah Beardsley Middle School. Prior to that he served as an instructional coach at Hannah Beardsley, an iCoach (technology coach) at Woods Creek Elementary School, and a math teacher at Bernotas Middle School. Over the years, he has served on numerous committees, including the district’s curriculum adoption committee and the “Future Ready” task force.
“We congratulate Aaron on his new position and know his experience as an administrator, coach and educator will serve him well in this role,” said Dave Jenkins, assistant superintendent of technology services.
Knoth holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Illinois State University; a master’s degree in curriculum instruction (with a focus on technology integration) from National Louis University; and a master’s degree in instructional leadership from Aurora University.
FINANCIAL UPDATE
COVID Relief Funding
Since the pandemic began in March 2020, District 47 has been awarded a total of $7,428,193 in federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds distributed in three phases. ESSER funds are intended to address the impact that COVID-19 has had, and continues to have, on elementary and secondary schools across the nation. ESSER funds have enabled the district to prioritize health and safety in its facilities and enhance educational programming for students.
Phase 1 is referred to as the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) act. In this initial phase, the district received $515,170 that was used to fund additional 1:1 technology devices for students. These funds were critical in providing continuity of instruction as classrooms moved from school buildings to a remote setting.
Phase 2, referred to as ESSER 2, granted the district $2,130,511. These funds are being used to improve and enhance air filtration systems in classrooms and offices and HVAC systems in several buildings. Initial estimates from a 2018 assessment study totalled $15.7 million for five schools. The grant request for these funds was completed in the spring of 2021 and planning for these projects is currently underway.
Phase 3, referred to as ESSER 3/ARP (American Rescue Plan), has estimated that District 47 will receive $4,782,512. The application to request these funds will be available in July. This phase requires that school districts allocate 20 percent of the funds for activities that address learning loss and include responding to the social-emotional needs of students. In this phase, District 47 plans to direct funds to support Reading Recovery, social-emotional and equity learning, and other curriculum areas. ESSER 3 funds will also be used to continue HVAC projects mentioned in Phase 2.
Should you have any questions or feedback about ESSER funding for District 47, please email business@d47.org.
District 47 Recognized for Outstanding Financial Reporting
For the past 35 years, Crystal Lake Elementary District 47 has received a certificate of excellence in financial reporting award by the Association of School Business Officials (ASBO) International. ASBO recognizes school districts that have met the program’s high standards for financial reporting and accountability. Sponsored by VALIC, the Certificate of Excellence award confirms a school district’s commitment to financial accountability and transparency.
The community is the backbone that supports the District, especially during continued financial uncertainty at the state level. Local property taxes account for approximately 76 percent of the District’s budgeted revenue. We recognize the pandemic has financially impacted many of our families and we remain committed to being fiscally responsible and helping to meet the diverse needs of our community.
For the 2021-22 school year, student fees will remain flat and the district will once again help offset the cost of school supplies by purchasing many of these items in bulk for our families.
For more information about District 47 finances, including our annual budget and financial statements, please visit our website at www.d47.org.
OPERATIONS UPDATE
Summer 2021 Projects
Planned Health/Life Safety projects for summer 2021 primarily include the replacement of exterior doors and windows throughout the district. These projects, prioritized by the district’s architect based on immediacy, are estimated at $224,000. Other miscellaneous summer projects include the replacement of classroom furniture with flexible seating at Canterbury, Husmann and North Elementary Schools; installation of new flooring and window treatments; and painting, concrete, paving and landscaping improvements and other miscellaneous work to maintain and improve facilities.In addition to these summer projects, air purifier units will be installed in classrooms, offices, and common areas as part of the ESSER 2 grant related to enhancing air filtration. ESSER funds will also be used to fund other planned HVAC-related projects (see Financial Update). All related required bids have been presented to the Board of Education for approval per Board policy.
BOARD OF EDUCATION UPDATE
The District 47 board of education meets monthly at the CORE Center, 300 Commerce Drive in Crystal Lake. Since COVID restrictions have lifted, meetings are now held in-person as well as virtually via Zoom. Below are links to minutes from recent board meetings. Additional information about board members, meeting dates, agendas, FOIA requests and more can be found on the District 47 website under the Board of Ed tab.
May 17, 2021 Board Meeting Minutes
April 19, 2021 Board Meeting Minutes
March 15, 2021 Board Meeting Minutes
BELOW: Meet our two newly elected board members!
Dr. Debra Barton
Debra Barton’s career in education spans 33 years, having served as a special education administrator for 19 years in McHenry School District 15 and Cary Elementary School District 26 and a special education teacher for 14 years before that. Barton retired in 2020 and looks forward to continuing to serve the educational system in her community by being an elected member of the District 47 school board.
“Now that I have retired, I look forward to investing my time in the community where I live and putting my experience to good use,” said Barton.
Over the years, Barton has served as a scout leader and church and school volunteer. She earned her doctoral degree in curriculum and instruction from Northern Illinois University. Barton has been a resident of Crystal Lake since 1994 and has two children who attended District 47 schools.
Dr. Tim Mahaffy
Tim Mahaffy has been an educator for 30 years. After serving as superintendent and business manager of the Fox River Grove School District 3 for the past 13 years, he is retiring at the end of the 2020-21 school year.
Before serving as superintendent, Mahaffy was a principal, assistant principal and middle school teacher. In 2020, he was recognized with a superintendent of distinction award by the Illinois Association of School Administrators and was named principal of the year in 2008 and assistant principal of the year in 1998 by the Illinois Principals Association. Mahaffy has served as a board member of the Special Education District of McHenry County (SEDOM) and a community youth coach over the past 30 years.
While he is retiring as an educator at the end of this year, Mahaffy cares dearly about the quality of education in our region and especially in the district in which he lives. “With the amount of time that our children spend in schools, we must provide the best learning opportunities and socially/emotionally sound environments for our community. Outstanding educators working collaboratively with parents and community define the excellence of District 47 schools.”
Mahaffy earned his doctoral degree in educational leadership from National Louis University. He has been a Crystal Lake resident since 1994 and has had two children attend District 47 schools.