Board Highlights

Creating equitable and engaging learning environments is a key priority for District 97. To support this goal, the district is redesigning the middle school master schedule to better meet the needs of all students.

During the November board meeting, leaders from Brooks and Julian Middle Schools shared updates on the redesign, which aligns with the district’s goal of ensuring universal student success. The goal of this redesign will be to provide equitable access to a culturally responsive, standards-based curriculum for students by creating consistent structures across both middle schools.

The guiding principles of the redesign are based on the values of the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE), District 97’s equity policy, and Illinois State Board of Education standards. These principles will ensure the new schedule will be:

• Responsive: Tailored to students' unique needs and voices

• Challenging: Focused on high expectations to support student growth

• Empowering: Giving students ownership of their learning

• Equitable: Ensuring inclusive and just opportunities for all students

• Engaging: Fostering a relevant, interactive environment

Last school year, the middle school team made key updates to prepare for the schedule redesign, including aligning course names with state standards, establishing a common bell schedule, and phasing out the IB curriculum. Over the next couple of months, the redesign team will be engaging students, families, and staff through surveys and focus groups to gather feedback, with plans to present a proposed master schedule by February 2025.

This process will lay the groundwork for a new middle school master schedule that will be implemented in the 2025-26 school year.

You can view the full presentation by clicking the following links: Recording I Slides

District 97 is committed to creating inclusive and dynamic learning environments that promote universal student success. Each year, our building leadership teams (BLTs) create detailed school improvement logic models to plan, implement and evaluate school improvement initiatives.

All 10 schools will be presenting their school improvement logic models at board meetings throughout the 2024-25 school year. On Tuesday, Brooks Middle School presented their school improvement logic model, showcasing their strategies for creating meaningful change in student experiences and outcomes.

Brooks Middle School is focused on creating a more connected and engaging school community, while also increasing academic growth and achievement in English Language Arts (ELA) and Math.

Key strategies include setting clear expectations, recognizing student achievements with incentives like “Brooks Bucks” and the school store, and promoting student leadership through activities led by the student council. Instructional practices are being improved with Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles and focused professional development to enhance clarity in teaching and feedback.

Brooks is also using specific academic strategies, such as interactive reading and writing exercises for ELA and techniques like “Show Call” in math, to encourage participation and deepen understanding this school year.

You can view the full presentation by clicking the following links (specific school portion of the presentation is linked above): Recording | Slides

Information about future school logic model presentations will be shared ahead of board meetings via our Weekly Wrap-Up newsletter.

The District 97 Core Instruction team presented a proposal to expand and improve math pathways, ensuring more students can access advanced math courses, including algebra, before high school.

The proposed plan, shaped by community and student feedback, as well as program data, would improve accessibility, with targeted outreach for underrepresented students and updates to program timing and structure. By fostering a more inclusive approach, the district hopes to support students in reaching their full potential in math.

The final proposal will go to the District 97 Board for approval on Dec. 10. Stay tuned for more updates!

During Tuesday’s meeting, Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Sheila Johnson and financial consultant Rob Grossi presented the district’s preliminary 2024 tax levy proposal, designed to maintain high-quality educational services while ensuring fiscal responsibility. The tax levy funds programs and services for our students and supports investments in our facilities to keep our schools safe and welcoming.

District 97’s financial strategy prioritizes a balanced operating budget each year, in line with Board Policy 4:12, which requires sufficient cash reserves.

For 2024, the proposed tax levy totals $97.88 million, a 3.4% increase from last year. For a homeowner with a $400,000 property, this increase would mean an estimated additional $150 in property taxes annually. The board is expected to finalize the levy during its business meeting Dec. 10.

Click the following links to learn more about the tax levy process and the proposal for 2024: Recording | Slides

The District 97 Board of Education will hold its regularly-scheduled business meeting on Dec. 10, 2024.

Meeting agendas, recordings and materials can be found on our new Diligent platform: https://op97.diligent.community/Portal/