Board Update October 2024
News and Highlights from the Board of Education meeting
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
Facilitating Team Prepares For 2nd Community Workshop
The second Community Engagement Workshop will be held Monday, Oct. 28, beginning at 6 p.m. at Northbrook Junior High. The Facilitating Team, a group of 15 community and parent volunteers working with district leaders and staff, is gathering feedback from the community on the district’s needs and options for funding.
At the Oct. 28th workshop, a presentation will provide more detailed information on district finances and building needs. Workshop participants will also learn about four options for next steps and have the opportunity to express their preferences.
“The Facilitating Team has done an outstanding job by asking great questions and being very thoughtful about the process. They are really committed and have helped shape the direction of the plan,” Dr. Jason Pearson said.
Building tours are scheduled at each school in November. There will also be an electronic survey that will be open to all residents and parents in the community in November. The district is working with the firm Creative Entourage to help with community engagement and public opinion research.
The Facilitating Team will continue to meet and review feedback. The team will make a report to the Board of Education at a special meeting in December. The Board of Education will use the report to determine next steps.
The Facilitating Team includes parents, residents and district leaders.
Get Involved!
Attend the Community Engagement Workshop from 6-8 p.m. Monday, October 28th at Northbrook Junior High gymnasium, 1475 Maple Ave. The public is welcome. RSVP
Take a building tour to see targeted areas of need firsthand.
11/13/24 - Westmoor Building Tour, 6-6:30 p.m.
11/14/24 - NBJH Building Tour, 6-6:30 p.m.
11/20/24 - Greenbriar Building Tour, 6-6:30 p.m.
11/21/24 - Meadowbrook Building Tour, 6-6:30 p.m.
Participate in the electronic survey. All parents and workshop participants will receive an email with a link to the survey. The survey link will also be sent via text message to registered voters. A postcard with a QR code to access the survey will be mailed to district homes. A link to the survey will also be posted on the district website and shared on our social media channels.
FINANCE
Estimated Tax Levy Set For November Approval
Every year, the district must adopt a tax levy to request the maximum dollar amount that can be received from property taxation. Local property tax revenues fund about 85 percent of the district’s operations.
The tax levy is subject to the limitations of the Property Tax Limitation Law (PTELL), otherwise known as the tax cap, and restricts the growth in property tax revenue to the lesser of 5% or the annual change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the previous calendar year. The 2023 CPI was 3.4%
This year, the district will receive new property tax revenues from the Skokie/Dundee Tax Increment Finance (TIF) district that the Village of Northbrook terminated this year. With the combination of the terminated TIF, the unknowns, such as changes in equalized assessed valuation and new property, and a CPI of 3.4%, the district is proposing a levy increase of 9.97% over the prior year’s extension.
However, the actual amount the district will receive is calculated by the assessor’s office within the Truth in Taxation Law constraints. The Board of Education will hold a public hearing on November 19 before adopting the new levy.
Library Grant Helps Enrich Learning Opportunities
The district receives an annual state grant to support library media services. The grant, which is awarded based on student enrollment, is rotated among the district's four schools. This year Northbrook Junior High will receive a grant of $1,625.
Librarians foster a love of reading and help students develop essential literacy skills. They teach students research skills such as accessing databases, using proper citations, avoiding plagiarism, and digital citizenship. They inspire and engage students with author visits, book award programs and themed reading activities, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Kris Raitzer said while discussing how the grant is used.
STAFFING NEWS
Welcome to Team 28!
The Board of Education approved the following staff hires.
Charity Davis is a long-term substitute for Northbrook Junior High. She most recently worked at Evanston-Skokie School District 65 as a 7th-grade special education teacher. She has a bachelor’s degree in elementary and special education from Indiana University.
Please welcome the following support staff:
- Deepti Bansal, classroom assistant at Westmoor;
- Grace Bush, special education assistant at Greenbriar;
- Kathleen Corcoran, special education assistant at Greenbriar;
- Nicholas Crain-Flor, administrative assistant at District Office;
- Claudia Daniluk, classroom assistant at Meadowbrook;
- Alyssa Incrocci, classroom assistant at Greenbriar;
- Marisa Martin, special education assistant at Meadowbrook; and
- Carla Smith, special education assistant at Greenbriar.
Get acquainted with our new educators and staff members with the New Staff Directory
Want to Know More?
Livestream/Archive Video
The Board of Education meetings are live-streamed on the District 28's YouTube Channel. The live streams are also archived for later viewing.
Next Meeting is November 19th at 7 p.m.
The next regular meeting of the Board of Education will be held at 7 p.m. November 19th in the HOH Community Room at the District Office, 1475 Maple Ave., Northbrook. The meetings are also live-streamed on the District 28 YouTube channel.
Visit Northbrook28.net for more information