Cooperative Corner
August 2024
Greetings everyone!
As we approach this season of gratitude, I want to take a moment to express my sincere appreciation for each one of you. Your hard work, dedication, and teamwork have been instrumental in making this semester a success, and I am truly thankful for your contributions. This Thanksgiving, I hope you all take time to relax, reflect, and enjoy the company of loved ones. Please know that your efforts and talents are valued and I feel fortunate to have such a wonderful and committed team. I am also overwhelmed by the generosity of our staff during this holiday season. Whether it is supporting Feed My Starving Children, sponsoring a family via our Angel Tree, providing food for our food drive, or donating to Southeast's Workshop, SASED staff show up. I am proud of all of our kindness and proud to be part of our SASED community.
I want to thank the students and staff in our Transition Program for hosting a delicious Thanksgiving Feast this week. It was so great to see family, friends, and staff celebrating together. Dr. VanderWoude and I enjoyed the delightful hospitality of Rosemary and Chelsie (pictured above) at the event.
This past month I enjoyed visiting some of our high school students at Willowbrook High School as well as some of our EC students over in Villa Park. I had fun watching our students help "Pup" find his bone. In visiting our students at our new Lisle location, I was greatly impressed by the students and staff Halloween spirit. Fantastic costumes were donned by all! Our new Lisle site is spectacular and huge kudos to the staff there that have made that building as inviting and as warm as it is for our students and families.
This month I am excited to introduce Mr. Dan Lawler to our staff as our new Technology Director. Dan comes the private sector and has exceptional strategic and IT skills. I am certain you will all find him approachable and collaborative. He is working with our tech department to ensure all outstanding tickets get resolved. Dan will be visiting many of our classrooms in the upcoming months and I am certain you will all welcome him!
In closing, I am so thankful for each and everyone of our students, staff, and families. We all play a critical role in supporting all of our students. I hope you and your loved ones celebrate all you have to be thankful for this season.
Wishing you all a wonderful and joyful Thanksgiving!
Warm regards,
Dr. Kim Dryier
Special education cooperatives are organizations formed by multiple school districts that collaborate to provide specialized services for students with disabilities. These cooperatives aim to enhance educational opportunities for students with special needs by pooling resources, expertise, and funding to deliver more effective and comprehensive services than individual districts might be able to provide on their own.
As we continue working on our 5 year strategic plan, here are some relevant updates from this past month:
High Quality Staffing-We currently have 20.6 open positions within our cooperative. This is down by 6 when compared to last month. Two new partnerships with Calvin University and Midwestern were developed.
REMINDER: FOR ALL MEMBERS OF OUR SUPPORT STAFF ASSOCIATION:
Please refer to Section 5.1D of our collective bargaining agreement where it reads "any employee who refers a new employee for employment at SASED shall receive a referral bonus of $100.00." (Please read here for additional information.)
Culture Committee- The Culture Committee is excited to share the following opportunities for SASED Staff to get to know each other a little better.
Biggest Loser Competition
Starting January 6, 2025
Ending March 3, 2025 (8 weeks)
Let’s get ready for the New Year, New You! The SASED Coop will be sponsoring a cooperative wide Biggest Loser Competition. Working in teams of 3-6 SASED Employees, we will be able to support each other with healthy activities, better eating, and accountability. Participants will compete to lose the highest percentage of body weight over an 8 week period, with regular check-ins and support along the way. Team weight needs to be provided at the beginning of the competition, mid points throughout the competition, and at the end of the competition.
The cost of the competition is $10.00 per person. The Top 3 Biggest Loser Teams will receive the monetary pay out of the total cost collected.
Sign up here. This is a team competition. Teams should consist of 3-6 team members. Come up with a clever name for your team and let's get ready for some friendly, and healthy, competition. If you need help finding a team, place your name here, and you will be assigned to a team.
Strike up Some Fun! Join Us for Work Bowling Night!
Get ready for a night of strikes, spares, and friendly competition! We’re hosting a Bowling Night for all employees—whether you're a seasoned bowler or just looking for a good time, this is the perfect chance to unwind, bond with colleagues, and have some fun.
Date: Thursday, January 30, 2025
Time: 4:00-6:00 pm
Location: Lisle Lanes 4920 Lincoln Ave, Lisle
COST: $15.00 per person + 4.75 for shoe rental
Don’t miss out on the fun! Sign your team up here before January 16, 2025 to reserve your spot. We can’t wait to see you there and roll some strikes together!
Let’s bowl! 🎳
Facility Planning- SASED will be working with Arcon Architects to complete a Space Utilization Study to help us identify the space needed for all our programs. You may be invited to participate in a stakeholder group to provide information and insight. This is an exciting time for SASED and I thank you for your assistance with Arcon.
Our Board of Directors met on Wednesday, November 20, 2024. Remember-our Board of Directors Meetings are now taped. You can find the posting of the recording on our website on the Board of Directors tab. It will be posted the Friday after every Board of Directors Meeting. A summary of this month’s Board Meeting includes:
Vien-Phong Trinh, from Arcon and Associates presented a proposal to conduct a Space Utilization Study. Dr. Dryier will move forward with the proposal.
Our Board approved our consent agenda, including our personnel recommendations, new University partnerships, and policy first read.
Conversation for room assignments for ESY and next year started. It is hoped the classrooms for ESY and next school year will finalized at the January Board Meeting
Clarification to our lease agreements was presented. You can see the clarification document here.
The rekeying at Southeast has been put on a temporary hold as options for key fobs are being explored.
SASED Enrollment report was reviewed. Our program enrollment is holding between 380-390 students.
The HR report identified 20 unfilled positions, down from 26 last month.
The Finance Committee continues to work on the disbursement of Medicaid Cost Settlement Funds.
The Board Meeting will rotate to Southeast and Lisle in the upcoming months.
The Illinois Department of Human Services released a “Guide to PUNS.” You can find it here.
Also, parents, don’t forget, our first SASED Parent Advisory Meeting of the year will be held on Wednesday, December 4, 2024 from 6:00 pm-8:00 pm at the SASED Administrative Center (2900 Ogden, Lisle, IL) ALL PARENTS AND GUARDIANS are welcome! We hope you will join us!
Previous Resources:
Shared Journeys: Staff and Parent Experiences at SASED Video988
We are talking a break from surveys this month. More reason to be thankful!😃
Last month's survey data:
We had 33 staff members share their professional goals for the year as well as their progress, challenges, and helpful strategies. Professional goals ranged from improved organization, to better IEP writing, to increased student engagement. Time continues to be a challenge in reaching our goals. Helpful strategies included talking to colleagues or supervisor, making and sticking to schedules, strong communication, and self grace. Thank you to all that shared your goals. I would love to get updates on your professional goals and if you have ideas on additional needed supports, please let me know.
(Surveys are open to SASED Staff only)
Your Thoughts and Ideas Truly Matter
At SASED, we are united in our mission to enhance communication across our cooperative. We deeply value each and every opinion and encourage all stakeholders to share their thoughts and ideas. Your suggestions are not only welcomed but are essential in helping us reach our shared goals. By working together, we can build a vibrant and supportive culture that enriches the everyday experiences of both our students and staff! Please share your thoughts and suggestions here or click on the suggestion box. Please know, your email address is being collected to allow for potential further dialogue regarding your idea/suggestion.
Here are some articles helping all of us survive the holiday season.
“How to Slow Down and Savor the Holidays”
“Six Ways to Keep Your Cool During the Holidays”
Previous Readings:
10 Evidence-based instructional strategies for the classroom
COVID-19 Pandemic triggers 25% increase in prevalence of anxiety and depression worldwide
"Trauma Informed Teaching Strategies"
"Why Teachers Should Be Trauma Informed"
"How to Practice Self Compassion: 8 Technique and Tips"
Why does a duck have feathers?
To cover its butt quack
What happened before a crow bar was invented?
Crows mostly drank at home
Submitted by Deborah Wetherill’s son
Please continue to submit your jokes to Dr. Dryier at kdryier@sased.org.
SASED Celebrates Our Amazing School Psychologists!
Join us in recognizing and celebrating all of our amazing school psychologists during the week of November 11-15! School psychologists are uniquely qualified members of school teams that support students' ability to learn and teachers' ability to teach. They apply expertise in mental health, learning, and behavior, to help children and youth succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally. School psychologists partner with families, teachers, school administrators, and other professionals to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments that strengthen connections between home, school, and the community. Click on this link to learn more about what our Psychologists do and the impact they make on each and every student they work with!
National American Education Week, November 18-22
This week is a time for school, families, and communities to support education and honor those who are making a difference in education!
We specifically honor our Education Support Professionals on November 20th. School support staff, also known as Education Support Professionals (ESPs), strengthen our schools, communities, and associations across the country. They play a vital role on the education team and in students' lives inside and outside the classroom. They keep our schools running and our students safe, healthy, and ready to learn every day. We love our ESP's... thank you for everything you do!
We also honor our Substitute Educators on November 22nd. We recognize that effective substitute teachers make a significant contribution to our programs as they serve as educational bridges when our classroom teachers are absent. Thank you for all that you do!
SASED honors our Governing Board and Board of Directors during School Board Members Day, November 15, 2024
SASED is governed by a board of eighteen elected School Board members, one from each of our eighteen members districts, and managed by a Board of Directors, the superintendents from those same districts. Today we honor and recognize school board members who have donated their time for this community and given their commitment toward making all of our member district's schools a welcoming, safe place for all students to achieve their dreams. Thank you for all that do!
Send a Little Sunshine
Please continue to send in your requests for a sunshine! The "You've Been Sunshined" program is a place where all staff can recognize and celebrate other staff, send a word of encouragement, or just celebrate them for a job well done. If you know of a staff member who could use a little sunshine and would like a little note of encouragement or celebration sent, please complete this form.
As the holiday season approaches, let's pause to appreciate the blessings we have. While the holidays bring excitement and joy to many, they can also be a challenging time for some, serving as reminders of lost loved ones, financial strain, or loneliness. This season, consider sharing your blessings with those in need. Below are some opportunities where you can make a difference.
SASED Angel Tree - Most of us are so blessed in our lives with love, good health, family and friends. Many of you have been asking about ways to give back and bless families that are maybe less fortunate than others. The Sunshine Committee is coordinating the Angel Tree project in collaboration with our social workers, where we have identified 16 SASED families that need assistance this year. If you are able, select a family to help brighten their holidays! You can even do this as a group! Make your selection on this sheet. If all of the families are spoken for and you want to help, you can add your name with someone else, this just means more gifts for the family. All items must be purchased, wrapped, and dropped off at SASED's central office no later than December 12th. Contact the Sunshine Committee at sunshinecommittee@sased.org if you have any questions.
Thanksgiving Meals - We are gathering food items for Thanksgiving meals this year and will donate them to families in need. If you would like to help, see the list below for items needed. Items will be accepted through November 25 at the central office. If you would like to donate a grocery store gift card to purchase perishables, you can do that as well. Any questions, please reach out to the Sunshine Committee.
SASED Holiday Party Invite - Thanks to everyone who shared party themes and game ideas. This year's event for staff will be an Ugly Sweater Party! We're going to have a great time with food, music, drinks, and games. We will even have a special prize for the ugliest sweater so get creative! Also, bring a wrapped present if you'd like to participate in the white elephant gift exchange. If you did not RSVP and would still like to attend, click here to RSVP. by November 22. If you have any questions, contact Senga at slowe@sased.org.
Santa's Workshop at Southeast
Southeast School will be holding their 9th Annual Santa's Workshop on December 17th.
What is it? A social/emotional program, Pathways at Southeast Alternative School, to teach students about Kindness. We will be hosting the 9th Annual Santa’s Workshop on 12/17/24. Students earn Kindness Tickets showing kindness to others in the weeks leading up to winter break. They will use these points to “purchase” gifts for their family in Santa’s Workshop.
How can you help? Please scour your basements and storage areas for gently used goods or donate new items. We are hoping each student can find something for their mom, dad, siblings, or special family members. We are also in need of gift tags and tape.
Where to Drop Off? We will be collecting donations at the Southeast Front Office Area starting December 7th: Address: 6S331 Cornwall Rd. Naperville, IL Phone: 630-778-4510.