💙 Superintendent’s Message: A New Mental Health Supp...

December 5, 2025 Dear District 57 Families, In District 57, the well-being of our students, staff, and families is at the center of our mission. When someone in your family needs help—whether for mental health, substance use, or support navigating community resources—it can be hard to know where to begin. To make that process easier, we are pleased to introduce Care Solace, a new complimentary and confidential service available to all D57 families. Care Solace acts as your central hub of care, helping you find the right providers and support at the right time. Their multilingual Care Companion team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to help you search for care options, schedule appointments, and follow up to ensure the match is a good fit. They work with over 660,000 providers nationwide and can identify services that accept all insurance types, including Medicaid, Medicare, and sliding-scale options. Care Solace can also help connect families with essential community resources such as food access, housing supports, and affordable medical or dental care. You can access Care Solace in three easy ways: Call 888-515-0595 at any time for live, multilingual support. Search on your own at www.caresolace.com/d57. Contact your school’s social worker/counselor, psychologist, nurse, or administrator, who can make a referral for you. No matter what your family is experiencing, help is available—and you do not have to navigate it alone. We believe this new partnership will strengthen our commitment to creating a caring, connected, and resilient community for every D57 student and family. Thank you for being such an important part of our District 57 community. We are here for you, and we are grateful to offer this new resource to support your family’s well-being. Warm regards, Dr. Mary Gorr   Dr. Mary Gorr District 57 Superintendent of Schools 📧 Email:mgorr@d57.org 🌐 Website:www.d57.org 📍 Address: 701 W. Gregory Street, Mount Prospect, IL 60056 📞 Phone: (847) 394-7300 📘 Facebook:facebook.com/dist57 📸 Instagram:@mpdist57

Friday, Dec 05 2025

✨ Superintendent’s Message: Inclement Weather Guidel...

December 2, 2025 Dear District 57 Staff and Families, With winter weather upon us, we want to ensure that all families are aware of District 57’s emergency closing procedures and plans for inclement weather. This year, our approach differs slightly from past years due to the major construction projects underway at Lincoln Middle School and the Westbrook School for Young Learners. To keep these construction projects on schedule, we must maintain firm control of the academic calendar. For this reason, we did not administer our usual community survey on e-Learning vs. snow days. Instead: New for This Year: If any of our inclement weather thresholds are met, District 57 will implement an e-Learning day. This approach will remain in place throughout the 2027-2028 School Year. You can always find the most up-to-date details on our Emergency School Information page: 🔗 https://www.d57.org/EmergencySchoolInformation.aspx. Please read below for more details.   E-Learning Days When weather conditions require a school closure, all students will shift to an e-Learning day. This ensures continuity of learning without extending the school year—an important factor given the construction timeline. Families are encouraged to review the district’s e-Learning Informational Document, which outlines expectations, schedules, attendance procedures, and teacher communication. If a closure triggers an e-Learning day, your child’s principal will follow up with school-specific details, including times, learning platforms, and any grade-level adjustments.   How We Make Weather-Related Decisions District 57 continues to follow careful protocols when determining school closures: Temperature Guidelines: Schools will close (and move to e-learning) if sustained wind chills are forecasted at -30°F or colder, or if actual temperatures are sustained at -15°F or colder during student travel times (5:30–9:00 a.m. and 2:30–5:30 p.m.). Snow/Ice Conditions: We will assess road and sidewalk conditions, our ability to plow, and the readiness of local municipalities and transportation services. We also coordinate with neighboring districts and rely on National Weather Service forecasts. A decision to close school will be communicated by 5:30 a.m. the day of the closing—or earlier the night before if conditions are certain. Families will be notified via phone, email, our website, social media, and the Emergency Closing Center.   Your child’s safety is always our top priority. Even on days when schools remain open, parents may choose to keep their child home if travel conditions near them are unsafe. Thank you for your continued partnership and flexibility as we navigate winter weather and exciting construction progress across our district. Warm regards, Dr. Mary Gorr   Dr. Mary Gorr District 57 Superintendent of Schools 📧 Email:mgorr@d57.org 🌐 Website:www.d57.org 📍 Address: 701 W. Gregory Street, Mount Prospect, IL 60056 📞 Phone: (847) 394-7300 📘 Facebook:facebook.com/dist57 📸 Instagram:@mpdist57

Tuesday, Dec 02 2025

✨ Superintendent’s Message: Celebrations, Updates, a...

November 19, 2025 Dear District 57 Staff and Families, Last night, our Board of Education gathered for a meeting full of celebrations, updates, and important district business. Below are the highlights from the meeting. If you’d like to dig deeper, you’ll find helpful links throughout, and you can also watch the full meeting recording here. Thank you for taking a moment to stay connected with what’s happening in District 57!   🎉 School Board Members Day Last night, we celebrated School Board Members Day (which falls on November 15 each year) with heartfelt student-made cards, a special message from our Superintendent Advisory Council, and thank-you messages from across the district. Our Board members give countless hours in service of our students, staff, and schools, and we are deeply grateful for their commitment to our community. Our thanks to District 57 Board of Education President Corrin Bennett-Kill, Vice President Jennifer Ciok (resigned), and Board Members Ray Doerner, Kimberly Fay, Eileen Kowalczyk, Chris Lettow, and Pamela Nelson for their leadership and dedication to our schools. You can watch this segment from the Board meeting here.   Student Board Members Report Our Student Board Members, Safeena S. and Michelle G., shared what life is like at Lincoln during construction and premiered a video they will share with students districtwide. In it, they introduce themselves and highlight how students can share ideas to help make District 57 even better. So proud of our student leaders! You can watch their report here.   Cross Country State Qualifiers Coaches Kelly Bailey and Steve Shaffer honored our 2025 Boys’ and Girls’ Cross Country State Qualifiers. The boys’ team finished 20th in state, and the girls’ team earned an outstanding 4th place finish. We also celebrated three All-State runners: Julia Adamczyk (13th), Alex Koulentes (7th), and Amelia Kronforst (6th), each placing in the top 25. You can watch this special moment here.   🧠 Westbrook Portrait of a Graduate Spotlight Principal Marty Heffner shared how Westbrook is growing the Portrait of a Graduate skill of Critical Thinking in our youngest learners. He premiered a delightful video created by Westbrook student journalists, who toured the school interviewing staff and peers about what it means to be a critical thinker. I hope you take a moment to watch—our early learners continue to make us so proud!   Native American Heritage Month We opened the meeting by honoring Native American Heritage Month, a time to recognize the cultures, history, and enduring contributions of Native Americans. The land we now call Mount Prospect once belonged to the Potawatomi people, and we continue to honor their legacy and the heritage of Native communities across our nation. Throughout November, our classrooms explored Native American culture through lessons, stories, and activities that deepen students’ understanding of the First Peoples of this land.   Tentative 2025 Tax Levy Assistant Superintendent Dr. Jason Kaiz presented the Tentative 2025 Tax Levy. Each year, the Board must set a levy to fund school operations. For 2025, the estimated levy for capped funds is $32,483,000, with Cook County expected to add at least $7,692,560 for the Debt Service Fund. The proposed increase is 4.96%, which falls below the Truth in Taxation Act’s 5% threshold, meaning no public hearing is required. The Board will vote on the final levy on December 16. You can review the presentation here.   📊 Fall Benchmarking and State Assessment Update Assistant Superintendent Dr. Kristin Vonder Haar shared highlights from the 2025 Illinois School Report Card and fall benchmarking data. District 57 continues to outperform state averages in English Language Arts, Math, and Science, with two schools—Westbrook and Lions Park—earning Exemplary designations and Fairview and Lincoln rated Commendable. Growth percentiles remain strong, and while progress for multilingual learners continues to improve, it remains a key focus area. Fall benchmarking data show students performing well above national averages overall, with ongoing emphasis on early reading and closing achievement gaps. You can explore the presentation here.   Cook County Property Tax Delay I provided an update on Cook County’s significant delay in issuing second-installment property tax bills, which were not released until November 14 and are due December 15. This delay created a cash flow challenge for District 57, as we were not eligible for the County’s Bridge Loan Program. To ensure we could meet our $6 million bond payment due November 28, the Board approved the temporary use of Tax Anticipation Warrants. These will be repaid as soon as tax revenues are received. You can watch this segment here.   🏗️ Building Brighter Futures Construction Update Dr. Kaiz also shared exciting construction updates for the Building Brighter Futures construction projects, including new aerial photos of the Lincoln site and a video of the maintenance building demolition. Our Student Board Members have contributed a construction update video - see below! Watch the full segment here.   🎨 Vote in the District 214 Art Expo Our talented Lincoln Middle School artists are once again competing in the District 214 Art Expo, and community voting is open now through November 21. Last year, Lincoln earned the Top-Voted School award—and we’d love to see our Lions repeat! You can view the artwork and vote here. Let’s cheer on our incredible student artists!   As we look ahead to the holiday break, I hope each of you finds time to rest, recharge, and enjoy moments with family and friends. I am deeply grateful for our students, staff, and families who make District 57 such a wonderful community. Sincerely, Dr. Mary Gorr   Dr. Mary Gorr District 57 Superintendent of Schools 📧 Email:mgorr@d57.org 🌐 Website:www.d57.org 📍 Address: 701 W. Gregory Street, Mount Prospect, IL 60056 📞 Phone: (847) 394-7300 📘 Facebook:facebook.com/dist57 📸 Instagram:@mpdist57

Wednesday, Nov 19 2025

🎃 Superintendent’s Message: Celebrating Our Schools ...

  October 31, 2025 Dear District 57 Families, Our students and staff had a wonderful, well-deserved day celebrating Halloween with festive parades and classroom parties—it’s always such a joy to see the creativity and excitement this time of year brings. In this message, I’ll share two important updates for our District 57 community: information to provide clarity around immigration enforcement, and highlights from this year’s Illinois Report Card results.   District 57 Guidelines for ICE Encounters District 57 strives to create a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment for all students and families. Our district’s vision of inspiring every student, every day to reach their full potential is at the heart of all of our work. Recently, some community members have expressed concern about the district's ability to fully pursue this vision given the increased immigration enforcement in our area. The following information is intended to address these concerns and provide clarity for our community. The Illinois State Board of Education has provided guidance and resources for public schools and families related to immigration policies, which can be accessed through this link. You may also visit our website for additional information and resources.   I want to reassure all parents that our district has clear guidelines to protect our students' safety, privacy, and well-being should immigration officials come to our schools. Agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or Customs and Border Protection (CBP) are not permitted to enter our school buildings without a valid warrant signed by a judge. We will always carefully review and manage any situation that may arise, guided by legal counsel, to ensure the rights of our students and families are upheld. As the U.S. Supreme Court established in Plyler v. Doe, every child has the right to a free public education, regardless of their background or immigration status. District 57 does not request or collect information about a student’s or their family’s immigration status. Student information is safeguarded by federal and state privacy laws, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Illinois School Student Records Act (ISSRA). These laws prohibit sharing student records with law enforcement or immigration authorities without proper legal documentation or parental/guardian consent.  Your child’s safety and well-being are always our top priorities. Please do not hesitate to contact your child’s principal with any questions or concerns. Immigration Enforcement Resource   🎉 2024-2025 IL Report Card I’m delighted to share some wonderful news: Our schools have been recognized for their outstanding efforts and achievements in the most recent Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Report Card. Here are the designations for our schools: Westbrook School — Exemplary Lions Park School — Exemplary Fairview School — Commendable Lincoln Middle School — Commendable 2024-2025 Illinois Report Card What do these designations mean? Exemplary means a school is performing in the top 10 % of all schools statewide and has no underperforming student groups. Commendable means the school has no underperforming student groups, maintains a graduation rate above 67% (for high schools), and while it may not be in the top 10% statewide, it is meeting or exceeding expectations in many important areas. How are these designations determined? The Report Card is built on a wide range of metrics that capture not only academic proficiency (such as reading, writing, and math), but also student growth, science proficiency, English learner progress, and student success and school-quality indicators like chronic absenteeism, school climate, and attendance. Each school receives points for each indicator (some weighted more heavily than others), and then those points are combined into an overall index. That index, along with a review of subgroup performance (for example, by race/ethnicity, English learners, students with disabilities) and whether any groups are underperforming, determines the school’s designation. Why does this matter? These recognitions reflect the many ways our students, staff, families, and community partners work together to create a supportive, engaging, and rigorous learning environment. When a school has “no underperforming student groups,” it means we are seeing success across all segments of our student population. That is something to celebrate! And for our Exemplary schools to rank in the top 10 % statewide is an achievement of which we can be very proud. What's next? While we celebrate, we also continue the important work of continuous improvement. Our goal is to ensure that every student in every school experiences growth, support, and opportunity. We’ll keep leveraging our data, deepening collaboration between staff and families, and remaining focused on initiatives that strengthen teaching, learning, and student well-being.   On behalf of myself and the entire District 57 team: thank you. Thank you to our students for your curiosity and perseverance, to our staff for your dedication and care, and to our families and community for your partnership and support. Together, we shine. As we head into the Halloween evening, I wish everyone a fun and safe night of celebrating. Please also know that District 57 remains a place where all families are welcomed and supported. Stay safe, and thank you for being part of our caring community. Warmly, Dr. Mary Gorr   Dr. Mary Gorr District 57 Superintendent of Schools 📧 Email:mgorr@d57.org 🌐 Website:www.d57.org 📍 Address: 701 W. Gregory Street, Mount Prospect, IL 60056 📞 Phone: (847) 394-7300 📘 Facebook:facebook.com/dist57 📸 Instagram:@mpdist57

Friday, Oct 31 2025

Celebrating Our Principals on Principal Appreciation...

  October 24, 2025 Dear District 57 Families and Staff, Today, we’re proud to celebrate Principal Appreciation Day — a special opportunity to recognize the incredible leaders who guide our schools each and every day. Our four principals exemplify dedication, compassion, and vision in all they do: Marty Heffner – Westbrook School for Young Learners Dan Ophus – Fairview Elementary School Katie Kelly – Lions Park Elementary School Eric Larson – Lincoln Middle School From creating welcoming school cultures to supporting students and staff with care and commitment, our principals make a lasting impact on the District 57 community. Their leadership helps our schools thrive and ensures every student has the opportunity to grow, learn, and shine. 🌟 Please take a moment today to thank your principal — a quick note, email, or kind word goes a long way in showing appreciation for all they do! You can also see our social media posts today as we highlight each principal throughout the day. With gratitude, Dr. Mary Gorr   Dr. Mary Gorr District 57 Superintendent of Schools 📧 Email:mgorr@d57.org 🌐 Website:www.d57.org 📍 Address: 701 W. Gregory Street, Mount Prospect, IL 60056 📞 Phone: (847) 394-7300 📘 Facebook:facebook.com/dist57 📸 Instagram:@mpdist57

Friday, Oct 24 2025

✨ Superintendent’s Update: New Student Board Members...

  October 17, 2025 Dear District 57 Families, Eight weeks into the school year, our students are fully immersed in learning, building meaningful relationships, and exploring new interests. It’s such a joy to walk the halls during this vibrant time of year! With parent-teacher conferences just around the corner, this is a wonderful opportunity to see your child’s day up close. These meetings offer valuable insights into both academic progress and social-emotional growth. I encourage you to take full advantage of this time—whether in person or virtually—to support your child’s learning journey. Below are the highlights from last night’s Board of Education meeting. You can watch the full board meeting by clicking here.   🇺🇸 Thank You, Girl Scout Junior Troop 47459 A big thank-you to Girl Scout Junior Troop 47459 for helping us begin the Board of Education meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance. We appreciate their leadership, enthusiasm, and commitment to community service — what a wonderful way to start the evening! 💚   🎉 Welcoming Our New Student Board Members! Last night, we officially welcomed our newest Student Board Members — Safeena S. and Penelope P-A., both seventh graders at Lincoln Middle School! The application process was highly competitive, and we were so impressed by the thoughtful, passionate students who applied. Safeena and Penelope will join our returning eighth-grade Student Board Members, Michelle G. and Josh S. serving as representatives of student voice across District 57, from Westbrook to Lincoln Middle School. We can’t wait to see what this dynamic team accomplishes together this year! 💡 Board Member Vacancy Last night, Jennifer Ciok announced she will be stepping down from her role as Vice President of the District 57 Board of Education to begin an exciting new chapter as Director of Government Relations for the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB). While we will miss her thoughtful leadership, we are so proud to see her continue advocating for students and public education at the state and federal levels. Since joining the Board in April 2021, Jennifer has made a lasting impact through her work on the Strategic Plan Task Force, the creation of our Portrait of a Graduate, and her strong advocacy for student voice in leadership and decision-making. She also played an important role in major district milestones such as the Lincoln Middle School groundbreaking and Westbrook addition planning. We are deeply thankful for Jennifer’s service, dedication, and care for our students and community, and we wish her every success in her new role with IASB. 💛 Applications are now being accepted to fill the Board Member vacancy. Learn more by clicking here. The deadline to submit your application is October 31, 2025. Apply to Open Board Member Seat   📈 Enrollment Projections Dr. Charles Kofron presented the 2025 Enrollment Projection Report, offering an in-depth look at current and future student enrollment across District 57 schools. The data show that District 57’s enrollment is expected to remain stable over the next several years, with only small shifts at certain grade levels. This stability helps the district plan ahead for staffing, space needs, and resources at each school. Key highlights include: Overall enrollment is projected to stay consistent, with slight variations from year to year. Westbrook is expected to see steady numbers in early childhood and primary grades. Fairview and Lions Park may experience minor changes depending on class sizes moving up from Westbrook. Lincoln Middle School enrollment will remain strong, reflecting consistent resident population trends. Birth rates and local housing data suggest no major increases or declines in the near future. These projections help District 57 make informed decisions to ensure our schools remain well-staffed, well-resourced, and ready to support every student’s success. 🌟 You can watch this segment of the board meeting by clicking here and see the full presentation here: Enrollment Projection Presentation   📊 District 57 2025 Financial Audit Illinois law requires every school district to complete an annual financial audit. This year, Miller, Cooper & Co., Ltd. conducted the audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. We’re proud to share that the audit resulted in no findings — meaning the district’s financial records were found to be accurate, transparent, and fully compliant with all accounting standards. This clean audit is a testament to the exceptional work of Dr. Jason Kaiz, Superintendent for Finance & Operations, and the District 57 Business Office, whose diligence and attention to detail ensure our district’s finances remain strong and well-managed. The audit was presented to the Board of Education last night, and the board officially approved the FY25 audit. Families can read the full audit here and watch this segment of the board meeting here.   🌟 Spotlight on Adaptability At last night’s meeting, we shared our latest District 57 Spotlight Series Video, highlighting one of our Portrait of a Graduate skills: Adaptability. Our Portrait of a Graduate outlines the five key skills and mindsets we hope every student develops by the time they complete eighth grade — adaptable, critical thinker, empathetic, resilient, and collaborative. Take a few minutes to see how our Lions Park students are growing into adaptable learners who embrace change and rise to new challenges! 🎬   🏗️ Building Brighter Futures: Lincoln Middle School Construction Update Our Lincoln Middle School construction project is moving right along, and our Student Board Members, Michelle G. and Josh S., got a front-row seat to the action. They interviewed the site superintendent to learn more about the construction process, what a site superintendent does, and the latest updates for October. Watch the short video below to see the behind-the-scenes work and get an inside look at how this exciting project is shaping our new school.   Thank you for staying engaged in our schools and for supporting your child’s learning and growth. I am grateful for our incredible students, families, and staff who make District 57 such a special community. Warmly, Dr. Mary Gorr   Dr. Mary Gorr District 57 Superintendent of Schools 📧 Email:mgorr@d57.org 🌐 Website:www.d57.org 📍 Address: 701 W. Gregory Street, Mount Prospect, IL 60056 📞 Phone: (847) 394-7300 📘 Facebook:facebook.com/dist57 📸 Instagram:@mpdist57

Friday, Oct 17 2025

🍂 Superintendent’s Message: October is Bullying Prev...

  October 10, 2025 Dear District 57 Families, October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and across District 57 we’re taking time to highlight the programs and resources that help us maintain safe, caring, and inclusive learning environments for all students. Thank you for being active partners in this important work.   💬 See Something, Say Something The safety and security of our students and staff are always our highest priorities. If you ever have concerns about bullying, threats, or unsafe behavior, please reach out directly to a principal, assistant principal, or trusted staff member. When that’s not possible, you can use our Anonymous See Something, Say Something Form to report concerns to our school administration. All personal information is optional and confidential. 🔗 Submit a Report Here   🧭 Bullying Prevention Webpage Our Bullying Prevention webpage shares district policies, definitions, and prevention strategies aligned with Illinois State Board of Education guidance. Preventing bullying, intimidation, and harassment is a key goal in ensuring that every child feels safe, supported, and ready to learn.   🧩 Second Step Bullying Prevention Program As we’ve done for the past three years, all District 57 staff are teaching the Second Step Bullying Prevention Unit this month. This program helps students: Understand what bullying looks like Learn strategies for responding safely and respectfully Build empathy, kindness, and inclusion Through these lessons, we’re continuing to strengthen our culture of respect and belonging.   🤝 Safe2Help Illinois We also want to remind families about Safe2Help Illinois, a 24/7 resource for students or families who need support or want to report safety concerns. 📞 Call: 844-4-SAFEIL 💬 Text: SAFE2 (72332) ✉️ Email: HELP@Safe2HelpIL.com 🌐 Visit: Safe2HelpIL.com Trained professionals are available to listen, provide resources, and connect with school officials when needed.   Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting safe, welcoming school communities where every student can learn and thrive. Wishing you a pleasant fall weekend with family and friends. We look forward to welcoming students back to school on Wednesday, October 15. Sincerely, Dr. Mary Gorr   Dr. Mary Gorr District 57 Superintendent of Schools 📧 Email:mgorr@d57.org 🌐 Website:www.d57.org 📍 Address: 701 W. Gregory Street, Mount Prospect, IL 60056 📞 Phone: (847) 394-7300 📘 Facebook:facebook.com/dist57 📸 Instagram:@mpdist57

Friday, Oct 10 2025

🍂 Superintendent’s Message: Celebrating Staff, Stude...

  September 26, 2025 Dear District 57 Families, I hope this message finds you well and that you’re enjoying the changing season and this beautiful fall weather. As a district, we are proud to honor National Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrating the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities. Our teachers have access to a variety of incredible resources to bring this celebration into their classrooms, helping students learn, appreciate, and connect with the diverse stories that shape our world. Last night, the Board of Education held its September 25 Special Meeting – Business Meeting and Public Hearing (Budget). To watch the meeting in full, please visit this link. Below are some highlights from the evening.   Celebrating Tenure 🎉 We were thrilled to recognize this year’s newly tenured staff: Cindy Larson, LRC Director at Fairview Elementary, who has been with District 57 for seven years, and Grace Brunzell, 1st-grade teacher at Westbrook School, who has been with the district for four years. This milestone reflects their dedication to students and their commitment to our schools—CONGRATULATIONS to both!   Board Approves 2025–26 School Budget The Board held its annual Public Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2026 budget and voted unanimously to approve it. Dr. Jason Kaiz, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations, shared that total revenues are projected at $37.7 million and total expenditures at $35.6 million. The budget sets aside $2 million for building improvements and anticipates a surplus of $113,155. This plan reflects careful financial planning to ensure stability while moving forward with important initiatives. 👉 To watch this presentation, click here. 👉 To view the presentation documents, click here.   Building Brighter Futures – Construction Updates 🏫 Dr. Kaiz also shared updates on construction at Lincoln Middle School and Westbrook School for Young Learners, including approvals for bid packages and management fees totaling $70 million—with about $51.7 million for Lincoln and $12.5 million for Westbrook. He also previewed an exciting new video showing a preliminary rendering of the future Lincoln interior. Families are reminded that the Lincoln groundbreaking ceremony will be held on September 30 at 3:15 PM, an exciting milestone for our community. 👉 To watch this presentation, click here.   Student Board Members Our 8th-grade student representatives, Michelle G. and Josh S., shared their student perspective on two items: the Lincoln Middle School false lockdown alarm and the interview process for the two seventh-grade Student Board Member open positions that are currently being filled. As always, we continue to be so impressed with our students’ professionalism, candor, and commitment. Great job, Lincoln Lions! 👉 To watch this presentation, click here.   Thank you for staying engaged with District 57. Together, we continue to build strong schools, safe learning environments, and a supportive community where all students can thrive. Wishing you a wonderful weekend! 🍂 Warmly, Dr. Mary Gorr   Dr. Mary Gorr District 57 Superintendent of Schools 📧 Email:mgorr@d57.org 🌐 Website:www.d57.org 📍 Address: 701 W. Gregory Street, Mount Prospect, IL 60056 📞 Phone: (847) 394-7300 📘 Facebook:facebook.com/dist57 📸 Instagram:@mpdist57

Friday, Sep 26 2025

Superintendent’s Message: Important Safety Updates f...

  Friday, September 12, 2025 Dear District 57 Families, The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our top priority. In this message, I want to share three important updates: information about today’s emergency notification system test, a detailed follow-up on the false lockdown at Lincoln Middle School, and a reminder of our district’s procedures regarding immigration enforcement.   Emergency Notifications System Test – Today at 4:00 PM This afternoon at 4:00 p.m., District 57 will test our emergency notifications system. Families will receive a test message through phone, text, and email. These tests are essential to ensuring that, in the event of a real emergency, we can reach you quickly and reliably. Please take a moment to confirm that your contact information in PowerSchool is up to date. If you do not receive the emergency test notification today, please complete this form, so we have accurate contact information.   Update on Lincoln Middle School False Lockdown On September 4, the Westbrook panic alarm was pressed during a planned lockdown, which mistakenly triggered a prerecorded lockdown announcement at Lincoln. This was immediately confirmed by the District Technology Team and the Mount Prospect Police Department (MPPD) who were onsite at Westbrook. Because the panic alarm was not pressed at Lincoln, MPPD did not dispatch officers to Lincoln. Lincoln Principal Eric Larson and designated staff worked quickly to release classrooms and reassure staff and students that there was no danger.  The District Technology Team determined that the Lincoln lockdown announcement was inadvertently added to the Westbrook panic alarm during routine summer systems maintenance. This has been corrected. We have also been thoroughly reviewing the data obtained from Lincoln Staff regarding their experiences, including any issues in their ability to hear the lockdown announcement over the intercom. To address this, we are: Auditing phones and speakers throughout the building, which is expected to be completed by the end of next week. Adding an additional component of notification using walkie-talkies for PE, Recess, and Lunchrooms within our district-wide lockdown procedures. Adding new speakers in common spaces such as the cafeteria and hallways. Installation is scheduled to begin later this month. Updating the prerecorded lockdown announcement to include a leading tone and repeat several times over a two-minute period. This update is already complete. Reviewing and strengthening lockdown procedures in collaboration with the MPPD, with a particular focus on non-classroom spaces such as lunch, recess, and PE. This work is ongoing. To read a full account of the incident to be shared with the Board of Education at the September 25 meeting, click here. Our Lincoln Staff has already debriefed with students, and our Mental Health Team remains available to anyone needing support. We know this incident was unsettling, and we are grateful for the calm and cooperation shown by our students, staff, and families. Please know that we are taking this very seriously and are committed to learning from the experience so our systems and procedures are stronger moving forward.   District Procedures Regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Finally, I want to reaffirm our district’s clear procedures regarding immigration enforcement. Agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or Customs and Border Protection (CBP) are not permitted to enter our schools without a valid warrant signed by a judge. Student privacy and safety are protected by federal and state laws, and District 57 does not collect information on students’ or families’ immigration status. Student information is safeguarded by federal and state privacy laws, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Illinois School Student Records Act (ISSRA). These laws prohibit sharing student records with law enforcement or immigration authorities without proper legal documentation or parental/guardian consent. Additional guidance and resources from the Illinois State Board of Education can be found here.   Every child has the right to a free public education, and our schools are committed to being safe and welcoming places for all families in our community. Thank you for your continued trust and partnership as we work together to ensure the safety and well-being of every student in District 57. In the spirit of education, Dr. Mary Gorr   Dr. Mary Gorr District 57 Superintendent of Schools 📧 Email:mgorr@d57.org 🌐 Website:www.d57.org 📍 Address: 701 W. Gregory Street, Mount Prospect, IL 60056 📞 Phone: (847) 394-7300 📘 Facebook:facebook.com/dist57 📸 Instagram:@mpdist57

Friday, Sep 12 2025

D57 Superintendent Message

  September 5, 2025 Dear District 57 Families, I want to take a moment to provide more information about the false lockdown that occurred at Lincoln Middle School yesterday. We know this was a frightening and unsettling experience for many students, staff, and families, and I want to acknowledge the stress and concern it may have caused. Below you’ll find a debrief of what happened, where we encountered challenges, and the steps we are taking moving forward. Thank you for taking the time to carefully read this important update. What Happened All D57 schools are equipped with panic buttons. When panic buttons are activated, the Mount Prospect Police Department (MPPD) is notified, and a pre-recorded announcement plays at the school.  Yesterday morning, Westbrook School held a planned lockdown drill during the district's annual Safety Week. As part of their drill, the panic button was tested. When the panic button was pushed at Westbrook, it mistakenly triggered a prerecorded lockdown announcement at Lincoln Middle School.  Lincoln students and staff went into lockdown. Within minutes, the MPPD and District 57 were able to verify that no panic button had been activated at Lincoln, and the announcement was the result of a technical error. Lincoln Principal Eric Larson was present at Lincoln at the time and was in constant communication with the MPPD and District officials, verifying no threat at the school.  Shortly thereafter, Lincoln Administration and several designated staff quickly moved to unlock classroom doors and inform students and staff that the lockdown was over.  Our Mental Health Team was made available for students or staff who were upset, and families of impacted students were contacted directly. After the incident, students returned to class, and Lincoln’s Mental Health Team have remained available for anyone needing additional help. Please note, MPPD are only dispatched if the panic button at the school is activated. Because the panic button was not pressed, no MPPD were dispatched to the school as there was no emergency.  I am proud of the Lincoln Team for their professionalism and responsiveness.  What We Learned This incident helped us identify some issues we are addressing: The technical error that connected Westbrook’s announcement system to Lincoln has been identified and fixed. We have completed tests of the panic alarms at Westbrook, Lions Park, and Fairview and have verified they are functioning properly.  Some areas of Lincoln—including hallways, bathrooms, cafeteria, and outdoor spaces—did not clearly hear the announcement. We are currently investigating solutions for improving these limitations to ensure everyone can be appropriately alerted.  Moving Forward Staff Support: We have gathered feedback from the Lincoln Team about the incident and will meet on Monday after school to debrief, review protocols, and strengthen preparations. Student Support: During Advisory Classes on Monday, Lincoln Students will participate in a circle activity with their teachers to process the event together and provide feedback. Many classes have already debriefed, and support will remain available as needed. Students will not be required to share if they don’t feel comfortable.  Refining Procedures: We will continue to review and improve our Standard Response Protocols (SRP). Families can learn more about SRP on our Keeping Our Schools Safe webpage. In collaboration with the Mount Prospect Police Department, we will use stakeholder feedback to identify and source improvements to our procedures that further improve safety in our schools. See Something, Say Something Our students' and staff's safety and security are always our top priority. If you ever have concerns, please reach out directly to a principal, assistant principal, or trusted staff member. You may also use our confidential District 57 School Safety Reporting Form to share any suspicious activity, sensitive topics, or other student-related issues with school administrators. We recognize that yesterday’s incident was unsettling, and we deeply appreciate the calm, care, and cooperation shown by our students, staff, and families. Together with MPPD, we remain fully committed to learning from this experience and strengthening the safety of our schools. Emergency Notifications System Test Next Friday at 4 PM The district will test our emergency notifications system next Friday, September 12 at 4:00 p.m. Having the most accurate contact information is critical to ensuring communication during emergencies. More information will be provided next week.  Thank you for your continued trust and partnership. Warmly, Dr. Mary Gorr Superintendent of Schools   Dr. Mary Gorr District 57 Superintendent of Schools 📧 Email:mgorr@d57.org 🌐 Website:www.d57.org 📍 Address: 701 W. Gregory Street, Mount Prospect, IL 60056 📞 Phone: (847) 394-7300 📘 Facebook:facebook.com/dist57 📸 Instagram:@mpdist57

Friday, Sep 05 2025