Board Member Appreciation Day
Superintendent Scott Warren took a moment to thank the seven members of the school board as part of Board Member Appreciation Day, which was Friday, Nov. 15. Dr. Warren said, “Your leadership and vision are a part of our school district’s success…Thank you for being champions of education and stewards of our mission…Your dedication is an inspiration to us all.”
Celebrating Success!
The Daniel Wright Math Department shared with the Board how it incorporates the “Building Thinking Classrooms” research-based approach to teaching students. This approach encourages student ownership, promotes collaborative problem solving, helps students persevere, and fosters inquiry-based learning, teachers shared at the meeting.
Student Involvement in Board Meetings
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Katie Reynolds informed the Board of the continued research on involving student voices in school board meetings. Dr. Reynolds and Board Member Michael Weaver reviewed student involvement in area school districts’ Boards of Education. Dr. Reynolds has begun to outline the process that students would take to participate in D103 board meetings, with the expectation that students will participate in the fall of 2025.
Bus Lease
D103 will solicit bus bids in early December. The district is considering replacing its 32 school bus fleet with newer models, which it typically does every five years. The District has tentatively been approved for a $1.12 million grant to purchase electric buses to enhance the fleet.
Graduation Ceremony
Dr. Warren shared procedures with the Board for the eighth-grade graduation ceremony. Eighth-graders are invited to select a staff member to hand them their diploma during the ceremony. After surveying students last year, it was determined that 84 percent of students would like to continue this tradition. The procedures outline the practice.
The date for eighth-grade graduation has been changed to Wednesday, May 28, 2025. Stevenson High School published the first day of summer school as Tuesday, June 3. This date is too close to the original graduation date, which was scheduled for the evening of Monday, June 2. The only date available at SHS the week before summer school is May 28.
School Fees
Assistant Superintendent for Business Patrick Palbicke informed the Board that the district is considering a 3.4 percent increase in school fees for the 2025-2026 school year compared to what D103 families paid this year. The Board will discuss fees further at its next meeting.
Levy Approval
The Board approved the 2024 tax levy of $38,540,000. The levy is an increase of 4.60 percent over last year’s extension based on the Consumer Price Index of 3.4 percent plus new growth.
