
Across the Board in D303
Notes from the District 303 School Board Meeting
Meetings are tentatively being held in the Thompson Middle School LRC, located at 705 West Main Street. A permanent meeting venue will become available later this year.
May 13, 2024
Meeting memos, presentations and other documents in BoardDocs
School Board
Joe Lackner, Vice President
Matthew Kuschert, Secretary
Kate Bell
Thomas Lentz
Becky McCabe
Ed McNally
For Action
Individual items up for approval by the Board, generally introduced in prior committee meetings.
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Designation of Depositories
Motion Passed 5 yes, 2 abstain
The Board approved the resolution designating depositories for school district funds in accordance with Board Policy 4:30 Revenue and Investments.
Separation Agreement with Tenured Teacher
The Board approved a separation agreement with a tenured teacher.
Setting the 2024-2025 School Board Meeting Calendar
Motion Passed 7-0
The Board approved the School Board meeting calendar for July 2024 - June 2025.
Election of Officers
Seated Board members annually elect four officer positions.
Election results are as follows:
- Board President: Heidi Fairgrieve | Member
- Board Vice-President: Joe Lackner | Member
- Board Secretary: Matthew Kuschert | Member
- Board Treasurer: Justin Attaway | Chief Operating Officer
Superintendent's Report
Dr. Paul Gordon shares updates on District initiatives as well as school, staff and student activities.
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Cooperative Education Program
The Board heard from East High School Business Education Teacher Shannon Stone about the Cooperative Education (Co-Op) program. This work-based learning program enables juniors and seniors to receive high school credit for having a part-time job.
There are two courses, Co-Op 1 and Co-Op 2, that build professional skills through resume writing, budgeting, plus prepare students to live on their own and explore options after graduation. The classes currently serve roughly 60 students and provide employment opportunities across multiple St. Charles area partner businesses.
Stone was joined by Capree Hardy, a senior at East High School who is currently working at Urban Counter as part of the Co-Op 2 course. Hardy said the program has been an integral part of her high school journey for the past two years.
"The Co-Op program has provided me with a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience and insights into the professional world, while being mentored and advised on my decisions," said Hardy. "I've not only earned a paycheck but also acquired practical skills and knowledge that are transferable to any aspect of life. From customer service to problem-solving, every task I undertake at work contributes to my growth and development as a well-rounded individual."
High School Athletic Review
Background
Last year, the Board of Education asked District administration to begin reviewing programs within the system, including the high school athletic programs. The purpose of the review was to share the programs' strengths and successes and identify areas for growth or improvement.
Executive Director of Secondary Education Dr. Audra Christenson worked with Renee Reynolds, a retired District 303 high school administrator on the audit. The review participants included parents of athletes, student-athletes, and school staff. The school staff included coaches, and all stakeholders were identified from the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years.
This extensive review took place over several months beginning in September 2023 and included multiple meetings, focus groups, a comprehensive survey and analysis of the feedback received. Based on the findings, the District identified strengths, opportunities for growth, and considerations for change. Strengths of the athletic programs included player selection based on skill and knowledge, coaches, and communication. From a growth standpoint, the survey indicates opportunities to establish a philsophy for athletics, code of conduct updates, and more professional training for coaches. Using this data, the District will further explore potential improvements regarding facility safety and equitable resources across both high schools.
Recommendation: This presentation was for informational purposes only and there is no recommendation at this time.
Professional Learning
Pam Jensen, Senior Director of Professional Learning, presented on staff development opportunities and their alignment with the Strategic Plan. Staff are provided with multiple opportunities to participate in professional learning throughout the year. The goal is to provide educators with skills and tools so that students will be able to meet college and career benchmarks. These offerings are aligned with the District's Strategic Priorities: Effective Collaboration, Instructional Coherence, and Culture of Dignity.
There are various types of professional learning that is available to educators. That includes courses, embedded professional learning within classroom settings, a mentorship program, curriculum-based professional learning, and learning connected to Professional Learning Communities (PLCs).
Both 15- and 30-hour professional learning courses are offered three times a year synchronously and asynchronously. Educators help shape these course offerings through surveys. Course descriptions include which Strategic Priorities the learning outcomes align with, which help educators determine which courses to select. Additionally, the District's New Educator Academy each fall provides foundational knowledge and Strategic Plan guidance before teachers begin the school year.
Building Pathways | April Highlights
The Board received a video summary of highlights and accomplishments from across District 303. Videos showcasing the previous month's activity are shared at each regular monthly Board meeting during the school year.
Videos are produced by the Communications Department and the highlights are also shared in various ways across the District's platforms, including social media and electronic newsletters. The video shared on May 13 provided a snapshot of activities from April 2024.
Alumni, Community Celebrate 95th Anniversary of Lincoln
Hundreds of former and current Lincoln Elementary School students and staff joined community members to celebrate the 95th anniversary of the building on May 10. Attendees enjoyed visiting their old classrooms, meeting with their former students, colleagues and teachers, and took part in various activities.
Lincoln is being repurposed this summer to house the Transition Program as well as meeting space for professional learning and Board meetings.
Educator of the Year Awards Banquet
Nine employees from District 303 were recognized at the Kane County ROE's 2024 Educator of the Year Awards Banquet on May 3.
Nominees from District 303 included four employees from East High School: Business Education Teacher Adam Boyer, World Language Teacher Taylor Cyr, Counselor Maura Kenny, and Paraprofessional Jamie Veyette. North High School also had four nominees: Administrative Assistant Carrie LaFreniere, Assistant Principal for College and Career Readiness John Peters, World Language Teacher Julia Sanderson, and LRC/Media Specialist Ben Wagoner. Student Support Interventionist Jamie Snyder from Davis Primary School was also nominated.
Taylor Cyr and Jamie Snyder (pictured), received the Early Career Educator Award and Educational Service Personnel Award, respectively. Congratulations to our award winners and all our nominees!
Elementary and Middle School Registration Due June 1
Last Day of School is May 30
A reminder that the last day of school for District 303 is Thursday, May 30. This date accounts for the three emergency days that were used earlier in the school year.
Into Focus Publication
The latest Into Focus publication, spring edition, is now in mailboxes. The spring edition includes an update on construction at the Haines Center and future home for the Early Childhood Program, as well as stories on the Seal of Biliteracy Program and gains in English language arts (ELA) proficiency.
Data Dashboard
The Data Dashboard provides a monthly summary on the health of District 303. This chart, which
will be updated monthly on the District website, provides an overview of nine important measurements in the categories of Academics, Belonging and Operations.
Reports to the Board
The following summaries were provided by Board committee chairs on meetings that took place in April. Additional information reports may be provided, as requested by the Board.
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Learning and Teaching
In April, the committee learned students had recently shown an 8-point improvement in their CommonLit benchmark assessment. There were also multiple curriculum resource recommendations brought forward, including ones for middle and high school social studies, middle and high school French, middle and high school science, and K-5 music. In addition, the committee continues to receive updates on plans to revise the comprehensive high school experience based on audit findings.
The next Learning and Teaching Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 21 at 5:30 p.m.
Business Services
The committee continued in April to receive department budget reports, plus heard several recommendations for services related to athletic trainers, capital projects, moving and equipment expenses, and transportation video surveillance upgrades. There were multiple food service items, including meal pricing and vendor services for elementary and middle schools, plus technology-related updates.
The next Business Services Committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 30 at 5:30 p.m.
Policy
The committee in April reviewed updates to the student handbooks for elementary, middle and high schools for the 2024-2025 school year.
The next Policy Committee meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 10 at 5 p.m.
Consent Agenda
Grouped agenda items up for approval in one action.
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Motion Passed 7-0
The consent agenda included items such as:
- Minutes from previous committee meetings
- Personnel reports
- List of bills, treasurer's report, and payroll
- Financial reports
- Athletic trainers
- Capital projects transfer
- Transportation video surveillance equipment
- School meal pricing and food services
- Automated system controls upgrade
- Lincoln moving services
- Wasco fast pitch contract extension
- Wasco playground accessible swing
- Annual student device rotation
- Network switching refresh
For Information
Informational reports are typically provided monthly to the Board. There is no action taken.
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District 303 Financial Report
Mid Valley Financial Report
FOIA Requests
District Enrollment