Board Member Appreciation Day
Dr. Scott Warren, Superintendent, expressed his appreciation for board members and their commitment to District 103 and its students during School Board Appreciation Day, November 15.
"On behalf of the D103 community we extend a heartfelt gratitude for our dedicated members who serve on our school board. All of you play a pivotal role in shaping the success and well being of our students, staff, and community," Dr. Warren told the Board. "Your commitment to fostering a positive learning environment, advocating for educational excellence, and making tough decisions for the good of our schools is commendable…Thank you for your selfless service and being champions for education," he said.
Celebrating Success
Half Day students shared an experience of inquiry based learning by recreating a REACH activity from the fifth-grade science classes for the school board. Students lead board members through an activity to determine if common household liquids were acidic or alkaline.
Public Hearing on Tax Levy
An overview of the tax levy and process was presented to the Board and community during a public hearing. Later in the meeting the Board approved the 2023 tax levy of $37,510,000. The levy assumes an increase of 5 percent over last year’s levy based on the Consumer Price Index plus new growth, said Patrick Palbicke, Assistant Superintendent for Business.
Approval of School Fees
School fees for the 2024-2025 school year were approved by the Board. The fees include an early bird discount for the full day kindergarten program, an early bird discount for a possible early childhood extended day initiative, and an early childhood transportation fee for community peer students.
2024-2025 School Calendar
The Board approved the school calendar for the 2024-2025 school year. The calendar is similar to past calendars in regards to breaks, institute days, and teacher conferences. Most Teacher Inservice days are scheduled around breaks due to more student absences on those days and to provide as many consistent five-day weeks as possible. Much of the D103 calendar breaks align with Stevenson High School’s schedule with the exception of the start and end dates. The first day of school for D103 students is Wednesday, August 21, 2024, and the last day of school is Tuesday, June 3, 2025.
Community Peer Program
The district plans to pilot an early childhood extended day program for community peer students and students with Individualized Education Plans for the 2024-2025 school year, Dr. Gina Finaldi, Director of Student Services, shared with the Board. The extended day program will be offered five hours a day five days a week for $8,400 for the school year. The extended day program and the half day (morning and afternoon) early childhood blended classrooms will align their start and end times with Sprague School’s K-2 times. The time change will allow the district to offer busing for $400 a year for community peers. The district will provide more information about these options in December.
