Thursday's Board of Education meeting included an important milestone for District 30, as the Board approved the Strategic Plan that will guide us for the next five years. I am extremely proud of this plan because it is the result of true community collaboration. Just consider the numbers:

• The Strategic Plan team was made up of more than 60 volunteers who dedicated so much of their time and expertise to developing our new Mission, Vision, Values; Strategic Goals; and Portraits of a Student, Adult and School System.
• As the team developed every piece, our entire community was invited to give feedback, with hundreds upon hundreds responding to a series of surveys.
• Community members also offered feedback that influenced this plan during four "Conversations with the Community" sessions last fall.
• Input from over 200 District 30 staff members also influenced the plan through climate and culture surveys.
• And, of course, every District 30 student was given the opportunity to share their voice in surveys and classroom Q&As during the year.

I encourage all in our community to read the Strategic Plan and learn how each initiative in District 30 will now align with its goals. Together, we now share a common focus, values and goals that will take us to new levels of success in caring for the whole child.

Sincerely,

Dr. Emily K. Tammaru

Superintendent of Schools

The Board of Education unanimously approved the 2024-29 Strategic Plan, which was created throughout this past academic year. The Strategic Plan team included more than 60 volunteer students, parents, teachers and staff, community members – and every resident in the community was invited to be a part of the process and give input on their work along the way.

This plan outlines District 30's Mission, Vision, Values and Strategic Goals, as well as characteristics that should be embodied by students; parents, teachers and adults who influence their growth; and the school system as a whole.

Student Services Director Mrs. Lauren Schulman, Assistant Director Mr. Erik Brekke and District 30 Inclusion Specialist Ms. Jessica Boraca presented a report on the department's 2023-24 efforts and continuum of services.

They noted that multiple new professional development initiatives over the past year have helped the Student Services Department increase its capacity to create more meaningful, inclusive opportunities and greater participation in PLTs (professional learning teams).

Next year, the team said staffing will increase student contact time with certified special education teachers, while social-emotional support will also be a focus with the addition of a social worker at each school.

Dr. Melissa Hirsch, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, provided an update to the Board regarding the work done by the District 30 K-5 literacy committee. The district is in the process of updating instructional guides and reviewing curricular materials in order to best meet students' needs, maximize growth and ensure the implementation of the most current, well-researched practices.

One outcome of the committee's work has led to a pilot of new English Language Arts (ELA) resources. This upcoming school year, teachers at the elementary level will pilot two researched-based products to ultimately recommend a new resource for districtwide adoption. The group is slated to bring a recommendation to Board by January and, if approved, full scale implementation would begin in the 2025-26 school year.

Data retreat: Dr. Tammaru recapped the inaugural District 30 data retreat, which included a team of over 30 teachers and administrators who met over two full days to examine data from the past academic year and develop school improvement plans for the 2024-25 academic year. Dr. Tammaru noted that math data places District 30 in the top 1 percent nationally, while ELA (English Language Arts) data is in the 93rd percentile or better nationally in every grade level.

She added that the group is keenly focused on improving methods to collect data that "tells the story of the whole student, their involvement, belonging and impact of attendance." The retreat concluded with a school improvement plan draft for each school that is aligned to the five strategic goals of the 2024-29 Strategic Plan.

Enrollment and staffing: Dr. Tammaru thanked Wescott Principal Dr. Chris Brown and his team for vetting the three new teachers approved for the 2024-25 school year. She noted Wescott had an excellent candidate pool.

Dr. Tammaru also shared that 90 percent of District 30 families have enrolled for the 2024-25 school year and took advantage of the enrollment discount before May 31. She encouraged remaining and new families to register as soon as possible, in order to ensure optimal staffing for each school.

Board Member Dr. Stephanie Yohannan reported that the Character Counts in Glenview committee is now meeting quarterly with six students from Glenbrook District 225 participating. The group will observe the national Character Counts week starting October 21.

She also reported on the Village of Glenview's 125th anniversary of its incorporation on June 20, which is the inspiration for a slate of festivities and initiatives this spring and summer, including: honoring Hometown Hero military veterans; the new village mural on Lake Street on the public works building, and the annual Summerfest themed around the anniversary.

Board members completed their second read of PRESS (Policy Reference Education Subscription Service) 114 updates and approved the changes. Many of the changes within the policies were not substantive. Minor changes include updates to the Title IX policy to align with legislative changes.

The Board approved the hire of the following Wescott staff members: Kate Bulzoni, 2nd-grade teacher; Annie Edelheit, 1st-grade teacher; Melissa Piron, 4th-grade teacher. Please join us in welcoming them to District 30!

The Board of Education consists of seven members elected from the general public to serve the entire Northbrook/Glenview School District 30 Community. The Board provides governance for the district by hiring and evaluating the superintendent and approving a budget, policies, and goals that align with the district's strategic plan. Board members are:

• President -Jeff Zuercher
  
• Vice President - Ammar Rizki
• Zivit Blonder
  
• Keith Karchmar
• Pamela Manicioto
  
• Patrick Wang
• Dr. Stephanie Yohannan

Northbrook/Glenview District 30 exists to create a community that craves learning, fosters resiliency, and cares deeply for every student. District 30 serves more than 1,200 students in pre-K through 8th grade across Willowbrook, Wescott and Maple Schools.

Email: communications@district30.org
Website: district30.org
Location: 2374 Shermer Road, Northbrook, IL, USA
Phone: 847-498-4190