✨📚 Board Meeting Highlights + Upcoming Town Halls Info!

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ September 20, 2024 ​ Dear District 57 Families, I hope you are all settling into your school routines, finding balance, and enjoying the continued warm weather as we transition into fall. It’s been wonderful seeing our students engaged and thriving in their classrooms, and I’m so grateful for the strong partnership between our families and schools. As we move further into the school year, I’m excited to share some important updates from last night’s Board of Education meeting. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Congratulations to Our Tenured Staff! ​ We are so proud to acknowledge our tenured staff members who have shown incredible dedication to our students and schools. At Fairview Elementary, congratulations to Amanda H. Fouch, 2nd Grade Teacher, and Cindy Buell, Emergent Bilingual Teacher. At Lions Park, we are honored to celebrate Carol M. Bemben, SOAR Teacher, Amanda (Mandy) Tainter, 2nd Grade Teacher, and Carolyn K. Zeffery, English Learner Teacher. At Westbrook, Carol A. Capra, LRC Director, and Cheron A. Zei, 1st Grade Teacher, are recognized for their hard work. Finally, at Lincoln Middle School, congratulations goes to Laura M. Juliano, Math Teacher, Linda M. Payne, Interventionist, and Lora Cremascoli, Special Education Teacher. We are so grateful for their commitment to making every day meaningful for our students! ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Public Hearing on the 2024-2025 Fiscal Year Budget ​ In addition to these wonderful recognitions, we held a Public Hearing on the 2024-2025 fiscal year budget, which was officially approved last night. Dr. Jason Kaiz, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations, presented a budget that reflects our commitment to maintaining fiscal responsibility while ensuring that resources are used effectively to create a safe and nurturing learning environment for all. We continue to rely heavily on local revenue, with 91.8% of our funds coming from these sources, primarily property taxes. Kaiz also reviewed our projected revenue and expenditures for the next fiscal year, which will help us stay on track with our strategic financial goals. You can see the slide presentation here and watch the public hearing here. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Advanced Learner Review ​ Dr. Kristin Vonder Haar, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, and Melissa Hinshaw from Northwestern Univeristy's Center for Talent Development presented our Advanced Learner Review. This review, which stemmed from our equity audit, provided valuable insights into how we can better serve our advanced learners. While we are proud of our above-average performance in reading and math, the review highlighted areas where we can continue to grow, particularly in supporting special populations. A task force will be established this year to help us address these priorities and ensure every student reaches their full potential. You can watch this Advanced Learner Review presentation here. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ MPESPA Contract Approval ​ I’m also pleased to share that the Board of Education officially approved the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Mount Prospect Educational Support Professionals Association (MPESPA). This contract defines employee rights, compensation, leave policies, and other important provisions. It was a long journey to reach this agreement, and I want to extend my sincere gratitude to MPESPA, the Board of Education, and our Human Resources Department for their dedication to the process. This agreement reflects our commitment to supporting all of our staff members as they continue to play a vital role in each student's success. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Upcoming Town Hall Meetings – Referendum 2024 ​ Before I wrap up, I want to remind you about our upcoming Town Hall meetings on the district’s Referendum 2024 ballot question. The next Town Hall is Thursday, Sept. 26 from 6:30-8 pm at Westbrook School for Young Learners (103 Busse Road). These meetings are a great opportunity to learn more, ask questions, and take a tour of our facilities. I encourage you to attend and spread the word to neighbors and friends so we can keep everyone informed and engaged. For more details, including how to submit a question or request a tour, please visit the Referendum 2024 section on our website, where we also provide information and FAQs about the referendum. ​ ​ ​ ​ Referendum 2024 Town Halls ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Thank you, as always, for your continued support. I look forward to seeing many of you at our Town Hall meetings! In the spirit of education, Mary ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Dr. Mary Gorr District 57 Superintendent of Schools Email: mgorr@d57.org Website: https://www.d57.org/ Location: 701 West Gregory Street, Mount Prospect, IL, USA Phone: 847-394-7300 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dist57/ Twitter: @dist57 ​ ​ ​

Friday, Sep 20 2024

Protecting Our Children: Safety Measures and Communi...

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ September 5, 2024 ​ Dear District 57 Families, Words cannot fully express the heartbreak and outrage we feel in light of yesterday's school shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia. The tragic loss of both student and teacher lives - in this incident, and all the others - is a reminder of the deep pain and trauma that violence brings to entire communities. It also starkly underscores the fragile state of youth mental health today, reminding us of the importance of vigilance, connection, and support. In District 57, we are committed to the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and families. Yesterday’s horrific event compels us all to reaffirm this commitment, and I want to highlight some of the safety measures in place in our district to protect our children and staff. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ See Something, Say Something ​ We have a See Something, Say Something form available on both our district website and in the ParentSquare "Links" section. This tool allows anyone—students, parents, staff, or community members—to report real or suspected incidents that raise concerns. It’s a simple, yet powerful way to share anything that might help prevent a future tragedy. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ See Something, Say Something ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ I Love U Guys ​ I also encourage you to revisit my August 30th Superintendent's Message, which outlined important details about our district's safety response protocols, including the nationally recognized "I Love U Guys" crisis response program that we follow. The steps we’ve taken to prepare for emergency situations can be found on our Keep Our Kids Safe webpage, which outlines everything from our crisis plan and reunification plan to our building security measures, prevention efforts, and your critical role as parents and guardians. ​ ​ ​ ​ Click for "I Love U Guys" Plan ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Safe Firearm Storage ​ Lastly, I want to be direct about gun safety. Firearm-related incidents are a growing national crisis, but many of them are preventable. We all have a role to play. Safe firearm storage is a critical step in reducing the risk of accidental harm, especially involving children. If you own firearms, I urge you to store them securely and responsibly, using gun safes, lockboxes, or trigger locks to ensure they are inaccessible to children and others who should not have access. This simple act could save lives. For further resources, please review this safe storage fact sheet, which offers practical tips for gun safety in the home. Together, we can create a safer environment for our children. Let’s continue to work together as a community to protect and nurture our students. Thank you for your ongoing partnership with District 57. In the spirit of education, Dr. Mary Gorr ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Dr. Mary Gorr District 57 Superintendent of Schools Email: mgorr@d57.org Website: https://www.d57.org/ Location: 701 West Gregory Street, Mount Prospect, IL, USA Phone: 847-394-7300 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dist57/ Twitter: @dist57 ​ ​ ​

Thursday, Sep 05 2024

Introducing the 'I Love U Guys' Safety Protocol in O...

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ August 30, 2024 ​ Dear District 57 Families, I hope this message finds you well. As September is National Preparedness Month, I want to share an important update regarding the safety of our students and staff.  New this year, we have implemented the "I Love U Guys" Standard Response Protocol (SRP) across all our schools. This program provides clear and standardized responses to various situations, such as lockdowns or evacuations, ensuring that everyone knows how to react quickly and effectively in an emergency. ​ ​ ​ ​ Click for "I Love U Guys" SRP ​ ​ ​ ​ We have also created a new webpage dedicated to the district’s safety efforts. Here you can find information about our “I Love U Guys” Standard Response Protocol crisis plan, reunification sites, building security, prevention efforts, and your role as a parent/guardian in the event of a school emergency. I encourage you to read this webpage thoroughly so that in the event of an emergency this information is not new to you. Communication with families remains a priority during any emergency. We will use ParentSquare to keep you informed through calls, emails, and texts. Please ensure your contact information is up to date. If you have any changes to your contact information, reach out to your school’s Main Office staff to request the change. Your child’s safety is our top priority, and we appreciate your support as we work together to maintain a secure learning environment. Thank you for your trust and cooperation. In the spirit of education, Dr. Mary Gorr Superintendent, District 57 ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Dr. Mary Gorr District 57 Superintendent of Schools Email: mgorr@d57.org Website: https://www.d57.org/ Location: 701 West Gregory Street, Mount Prospect, IL, USA Phone: 847-394-7300 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dist57/ Twitter: @dist57 ​ ​ ​

Friday, Aug 30 2024

District 57 launches phone survey, announces town ha...

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ August 27, 2024 ​ Dear District 57 Families, As you've likely heard, Monday evening we began a phone survey throughout the district as part of our referendum education program this year. This survey is important, gathering your feedback on the Nov. 5 referendum seeking voter approval to solve our significant challenges with meeting the state’s full-day kindergarten mandate, build a new Lincoln Middle School, and increase safety and security at our schools. You will receive phone calls from (224) 562-0041 and to take the survey you simply need to answer the call and participate until the end. You are also welcome to call (224) 562-0041 at any time to participate at your convenience by Saturday, August 31st. In addition to the phone survey, we are hosting five town hall meetings in September and October to help provide you with more information and answer any questions you have about the Nov. 5 referendum. The meeting on October 7 will be a virtual Zoom webinar and registration is required (see below). The other meetings will be in person and will include tours of Westbrook School for Young Learners and Lincoln Middle School. We hope you will attend one of these sessions: IN-PERSON TOWN HALLS & TOURS  6:30-8 pm Wednesday, Sept. 11 – Lincoln Middle School, 700 W. Lincoln St.  6:30-8 pm Tuesday, Sept. 17 – Westbrook School for Young Learners, 103 Busse Road.  6:30-8 pm Thursday, Sept. 26 – Westbrook School for Young Learners, 103 Busse Road.  10-11:30 am Saturday, Oct. 5 – Lincoln Middle School, 700 W. Lincoln St. VIRTUAL INFORMATIONAL SESSION  12 pm Monday, Oct. 7 – Register HERE. Thank you for participating in the survey and our community engagement process that led to the consensus referendum plan. We look forward to discussing this plan further with you over the next few months. In the spirit of education, Dr. Mary Gorr District 57 Superintendent of Schools ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Dr. Mary Gorr District 57 Superintendent of Schools Email: mgorr@d57.org Website: https://www.d57.org/ Location: 701 West Gregory Street, Mount Prospect, IL, USA Phone: 847-394-7300 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dist57/ Twitter: @dist57 ​ ​ ​

Tuesday, Aug 27 2024

D57 Superintendent's Message: Welcome Back & Distric...

​​ ​​ ​​ August 23, 2024 ​ Dear District 57 Families, I hope this message finds you well and recharged after what I trust was a wonderful summer break. It has been absolutely fantastic to see our students in grades 1-8 back in the classrooms, their energy and enthusiasm truly bringing our school halls to life again! I’ve missed their smiles and laughter, and it’s so heartwarming to see our schools bustling with learning and excitement once more. ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ I’m writing to share some important updates with you. As you may know, we have scheduled a series of Town Hall informational meetings for our District 57 community. These meetings are a great opportunity for us to come together and discuss the upcoming referendum, a significant topic that will shape the future of education in our community. For more information on District 57's Referendum 2024, visit our webpage here. VIRTUAL INFORMATIONAL SESSION 12 pm Monday, Oct. 7 – Register HERE. IN-PERSON TOWN HALLS & TOURS 6:30-8 pm Wednesday, Sept. 11 – Lincoln Middle School, 700 W. Lincoln St. 6:30-8 pm Tuesday, Sept. 17 – Westbrook School for Young Learners, 103 Busse Road. 6:30-8 pm Thursday, Sept. 26 – Westbrook School for Young Learners, 103 Busse Road. 10-11:30 am Saturday, Oct. 5 – Lincoln Middle School, 700 W. Lincoln St. During these sessions, we’ll dive into what the referendum will fund and how it will impact taxpayers, answer your questions, and take you on a tour of the facilities. To ensure taxpayers have a clear understanding of the referendum's tax impact on their household, we're providing a Tax Calculator. This tool will allow you to understand the estimated tax impact tailored to your property. Please share these Town Hall meetings and the Tax Calculator with your neighbors, especially those without students currently in District 57. Our goal is to provide as much information as possible so taxpayers can make informed decisions at the ballot box. ​​ ​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​ ​​Referendum 2024 Town Halls​​ ​​Referendum Tax Calculator​​ ​​ Thank you for your continued support of our schools and our students. Together, we can ensure that District 57 continues to be a place where we inspire every student, every day to reach their full potential. In the spirit of education, Dr. Mary Gorr Superintendent, District 57 ​​ ​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​ ​​ Dr. Mary Gorr District 57 Superintendent of Schools Email: mgorr@d57.org Website: https://www.d57.org/ Location: 701 West Gregory Street, Mount Prospect, IL, USA Phone: 847-394-7300 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dist57/ Twitter: @dist57 ​​ ​

Friday, Aug 23 2024

District 57 Seeks November Referendum to Fulfill Sta...

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ August 16, 2024 ​ Dear District 57 families,  The District 57 Board of Education voted last night to move forward with a referendum seeking voter approval to solve our significant challenges with meeting the state’s full-day kindergarten mandate, improving learning environments, and increasing safety and security at our schools. Our community has come together over the past several months to develop a fiscally responsible plan to address these challenges. This plan would expand Westbrook Elementary School to make space for full-day kindergarten and build a new Lincoln Middle School. The district worked with our Citizens Finance Advisory Committee to reduce the cost of the plan by $12.1 million using our fund balance and other district funds.  ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ The final consensus $85 million plan will appear on the community’s ballots for approval in the upcoming November 5th election. If approved, the referendum will: Fulfill the State’s Mandate for Full-Day Kindergarten Improve Learning Environments for All Students Increase Safety and Security      ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ The referendum would allow the district to fulfill the state’s mandate that we offer full-day kindergarten by 2027. These new classrooms would be located in the Westbrook Elementary School addition. Full-day kindergarten would increase academic and social-emotional learning for early learners and potentially provide childcare savings for parents. The referendum would improve learning environments throughout the district, benefiting all students. This includes new larger, modernized classrooms and science labs at Lincoln with improved technology and furniture to accommodate today’s and tomorrow’s learning and instruction. It includes dedicated and more private student resource & support spaces for specialized instruction and related student services, including special education, nursing, speech therapy, reading & math support, and ELL. It also includes dedicated innovative spaces with hands-on learning opportunities including modernized media centers, STEM labs, design and tech experiences, and maker spaces. The referendum would also further increase safety and security. This means safer and more secure environments for students and teachers including fire sprinklers and tornado shelters at Westbrook and Lincoln. This includes safer, updated, and more accessible schools through investments in infrastructure and mechanicals, including roofs, exterior shell, walls, flooding mitigation, bathroom upgrades, HVAC replacements, and elevators at Lincoln and Westbrook. The referendum would also eliminate the use of mobile classrooms at Westbrook by providing dedicated spaces for art and music. ​ ​ ​ ​ Our kids deserve the same quality educational opportunities available to students in neighboring districts. The community’s plan for our schools would provide our early learners with a more comprehensive kindergarten experience, which has proven to improve their academic success throughout their entire lives. And it would improve learning environments throughout the district, increasing student achievement and meeting the needs of all students now and into the future. We have created a webpage dedicated to Referendum 2024. Visit these pages to learn more about the referendum, tax impacts, the projects it will fund, upcoming dates for Town Hall meetings, and more. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ District 57 Referendum 2024 ​ ​ ​ ​ We look forward to discussing this plan further with you over the next several months. Sincerely, Dr. Mary Gorr District 57 Superintendent of Schools ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Dr. Mary Gorr District 57 Superintendent of Schools Email: mgorr@d57.org Website: https://www.d57.org/ Location: 701 West Gregory Street, Mount Prospect, IL, USA Phone: 847-394-7300 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dist57/ Twitter: @dist57 ​ ​ ​

Friday, Aug 16 2024

(Message sent to D57 Families 8/14/24): Exciting Tim...

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ August 14, 2024 ​ I hope this email finds you well and that you've had a wonderful, restful summer. As we gear up for another fantastic school year, I wanted to touch base with some important information to ensure a smooth start. We’re just eight days away from welcoming our students back to school. Students in grades 1-8 will start on Thursday, August 22, our kindergarten students on Monday, August 26, and our youngest learners in early childhood will join us on Thursday, August 29. We can’t wait for the energy and enthusiasm your children will bring to our classrooms! ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Facilities Update ​ Last Thursday, our Board of Education members conducted their annual facilities walk-through to review various summer facilities projects and verify the conditions of the schools as we head into the new school year. We are incredibly fortunate to have such talented and dedicated Facility Supervisors and Maintenance Staff who work tirelessly to keep our facilities clean, safe, and welcoming - our facilities are officially ready for the start of the school year! A special shoutout goes to Mr. Reyna, the superstar Facility Supervisor at Fairview, who will be retiring at the end of August. Mr. Reyna’s service, kindness, and expertise have been invaluable to our district, and we will miss him dearly. Please join me in wishing him all the best in his well-deserved retirement. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Communication from Principals ​ By now, you should have received communication from your child’s principal with more specific information about the start of the school year. If you haven’t, please reach out to your school office as soon as possible to ensure you're in the loop. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Back-to-School Nights ​ We are excited to see you at our upcoming Back-to-School Nights. These events are a great opportunity to visit your child’s classrooms and learn more about what to expect this year. Mark your calendars! Lincoln Middle School: Monday, August 26 @ 6 PM Fairview Elementary School: Tuesday, August 27 @ 6:30 PM Lions Park Elementary School: Wednesday, August 28 @ 6 PM Westbrook School for Young Learners: Wednesday, September 4 @ 6 PM (Pre-K & K) & 7 PM (1st grade) ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Welcome to Our New Staff ​ I am thrilled to introduce our new educators and staff joining us this school year! We are fortunate to have such talented individuals joining the District 57 family. Click the button below for a video presentation showcasing our new staff members, their positions, and the schools they’ll be working at. This list continues to grow as we near the start of school, but I wanted to share the bulk of our new staff as soon as possible. Please take a moment to watch and join me in giving them a warm welcome! ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ New D57 Staff Video! ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ParentSquare Launch ​ We are so excited to have launched ParentSquare, our new communication platform! ParentSquare will allow us to communicate more efficiently and effectively between school and home, with the added benefit of robust translation capabilities to ensure all families have access to information in the language of their choice. If you haven’t signed up for ParentSquare yet, below are the steps to get registered. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ I wanted to draw your attention to a specific section of ParentSquare that will be incredibly helpful. On the main page of your school’s ParentSquare site, you’ll find the school calendar to the right. Just below the school calendar is the Links section where you can submit an absence for your child and access the D57 calendar. I encourage you to review the 2024-2025 D57 calendar so you’re aware of non-attendance days, both full days and half days. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Full-Day Kindergarten & Facilities Update ​ As you are aware, our district has been hard at work researching funding options and engaging with the community to understand how best to address the state-mandated transition to full-day kindergarten by the 2027-2028 school year and the facilities challenges at Westbrook School for Young Learners and Lincoln Middle School. I’ve included a graphic that outlines all the public engagement efforts to date. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ This Thursday, the Board of Education will be voting on whether or not to add a referendum question to the November ballot. We strongly encourage you to attend this important meeting on Thursday, August 15 @ 7 PM. If you missed it, you can watch the presentation from the August 8 Board Meeting here, where the district’s accounting firm explained the funding request. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ We’re Hiring! ​ As we prepare for the upcoming school year, we're excited about the progress we've made and the incredible team we're building. However, we still have a few key positions open and would love your help in finding the right candidates to join our dedicated staff. If you or someone you know is interested, please reach out to Karen Schwartzwald, Director of Human Resources, at kschwartzwald@d57.org or (847) 394-7300 ext. 1010. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Enjoy the Last Days of Summer! ​ I hope you take these last few days to enjoy quality time with your family. I look forward to seeing everyone back in school soon! Warmest regards, Dr. Mary Gorr Superintendent, District 57 ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Dr. Mary Gorr District 57 Superintendent of Schools Email: mgorr@d57.org Website: https://www.d57.org/ Location: 701 West Gregory Street, Mount Prospect, IL, USA Phone: 847-394-7300 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dist57/ Twitter: @dist57 ​ ​ ​

Wednesday, Aug 14 2024

D57 Superintendent Message

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ August 9, 2024 ​ Dear District 57 Families, I hope you're all enjoying these last few weeks of summer, making memories, and soaking up the sunshine. Be on the lookout early next week for my Back-to-School message which will include lots of helpful information to kick off the new school year.  Today, I want to share a quick update from last night's Special Meeting of the Board of Education. As you know, the district has been exploring funding options to address the state-mandated transition to full-day kindergarten and the facilities challenges we face at both Westbrook and Lincoln. A recent District 57 survey showed that our community supports a referendum request to fund an addition to Westbrook and the construction of a new Lincoln Middle School. However, we were asked to explore ways to reduce the overall request which was initially estimated at ~$97.1 million. In response, our Citizens Finance Advisory Committee (CFAC) met with the district’s accounting firm to review how we could contribute to the capital projects and reduce the total amount requested by utilizing existing & future operating funds, and bonds. Last night, the Board heard a detailed presentation from Bob Lewis, the district accountant from PMA, summarizing CFAC’s efforts, the bond options available, and CFAC’s recommendation to the Board. You can view the PMA presentation in its entirety here. The Citizens Finance Advisory Committee (CFAC) recommends using $12.1 million in available funds and bonds to reduce the total amount needed from $97.1 million to $85 million.  The Board of Education will decide whether to move forward with this plan at the next Board of Education Meeting on Thursday, August 15 at 7 pm. If approved, the district will place a referendum question on the November ballot.  Thank you for staying informed on this important topic. ​ ​ ​ ​ As a reminder, you can find more details about recent community engagement events—including presentations, reports, and survey results—on the Community Engagement page of our website. Have a wonderful weekend! Dr. Mary Gorr ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Dr. Mary Gorr District 57 Superintendent of Schools Email: mgorr@d57.org Website: https://www.d57.org/ Location: 701 West Gregory Street, Mount Prospect, IL, USA Phone: 847-394-7300 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dist57/ Twitter: @dist57 ​ ​ ​

Friday, Aug 09 2024

D57 Superintendent Message - July 19th 2024

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ July 19th, 2024 ​ Good afternoon, District 57 Families! I hope you're all enjoying a fantastic summer! I wanted to extend a warm invitation to join us at the Mount Prospect Block Party on Saturday, July 27, from 11 AM to 4 PM. Don’t miss the joint booth hosted by the Mount Prospect Chamber of Commerce and District 57 – it's a perfect chance to connect with our community and learn about what’s happening in our district. This email includes important updates from last night’s Board of Education meeting. Please take a moment to review the details below. You can watch the meeting in its entirety here. Community Engagement Firm Update With strong community support, our district recently moved into Phase 2 of our Community Engagement efforts to pursue a community-driven plan for our schools that would address the state-mandated transition to Full-Day Kindergarten and the district's facilities challenges. Last night, Collin Corbett of EOSullivan presented the Phase 2 Community Engagement Report summarizing the results of these recent efforts. You can watch his presentation in full here. Through in-person presentations, online surveys, and a scientific phone survey, we were able to construct a "menu" of potential projects and funding levels for the community to weigh in on. Highlights from EOSullivan's report include: 83% of those polled rated District 57 favorably, placing us in the top 3 of EOSullivan’s rated districts! Strong support for all projects, with Full-Day Kindergarten and Classroom Improvements as top priorities. Favorable reactions to all three infrastructure solutions, with New School + Expansion ranked highest. Support for additional funding, with a preference for the High Funding Level despite cost concerns. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ So what are our next steps? ​ Given the community’s support, the Board of Education recommends moving forward with a new Lincoln Middle School and an expansion of Westbrook Elementary School. This plan will emphasize Full-Day Kindergarten, Classroom Improvements, and enhanced Student Resources, Supports, and Safety & Security, aiming for the November election to present this to the community. We appreciate your continued involvement and support as we work together to ensure the best possible future for our schools. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Enrollment Projection Report ​ Last night, Dr. Charles Kofron presented on his recent District 57 enrollment study. You can watch his presentation in its entirety here. Here are some takeaways from his report. An increase in births for kindergarten cohorts from 2018-19 to 2021-22, though the COVID-19 pandemic impacted 2020-21 enrollments. Kindergarten enrollments rose between 2020 and 2021 but declined from 2021-22 to 2023-24, reflecting birth rate trends. Births for the 2024-25 cohort remain steady, with expected enrollments between 132 and 162 students, while a decline in births for the 2025-26 cohort indicates lower enrollments. Kindergarten enrollments for 2028-29 are projected to range between 115 and 141 students, partly due to COVID-19's lingering effects. In Fairview, we observed more births and enrollments compared to Lions Park, with significant fluctuations. Lions Park showed steadier trends, though both hit new lows in 2023-24. Births and enrollments are projected to decline further for the 2027-28 and 2028-29 cohorts. To help us better understand and plan for future needs, we will be maintaining birth and enrollment data, extending our cohort projection model to include grades 1-8, and incorporate population and housing data into our analysis. We are committed to continuing our efforts to provide accurate and comprehensive data to guide our district's future planning. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ 10-Year Facility Plan Assessment ​ Last night Dr. Jason Kaiz, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations, reported on the 10-Year Facility Plan Assessment developed in conjunction with STR, the district’s architecture firm. You can watch his presentation in full here. Over the past six months, STR has worked closely with district administrators, facility supervisors, engineers, and architects, conducting thorough inspections of all facilities and gathering data on past and current projects. This assessment has been compiled into a detailed long-term facility plan, including estimated costs for most items. Some items are still in the planning phase and will have costs determined as we continue to develop our approach. You can view a draft of the report here and see assessment photos here. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Spring 2024 Academic and SEL Data Presentation ​ Dr. Kristin Vonder Haar, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching & Learning and Sara Tyburski, Director of Student Services gave an in-depth presentation on our spring academic and social-emotional learning data. You can watch their presentation in its entirety here. Highlights include: Positive achievement and growth percentiles for all grades in reading and math, with kindergarten scores improving significantly in first grade. Various social-emotional learning support programs at each school, with a new rewards program launching at Lincoln Middle School in 2024-2025. Improved tracking of bullying allegations through PowerSchool to better address repeat offenses. Collaboration with District 214 to enhance outcomes, with a new tool, Redefining Ready!, helping determine if our students are college, career, and life ready. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Thank you for taking the time to stay informed on district and school matters. It’s a busy and exciting time to be in the District 57 family! I wish you all the best in these final weeks of summer. Warm regards, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Dr. Mary Gorr District 57 Superintendent of Schools Email: mgorr@d57.org Website: https://www.d57.org/ Location: 701 West Gregory Street, Mount Prospect, IL, USA Phone: 847-394-7300 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dist57/ Twitter: @dist57 ​ ​ ​ To pick up a draggable item, press the space bar. While dragging, use the arrow keys to move the item. Press space again to drop the item in its new position, or press escape to cancel.

Thursday, Jul 25 2024