District 30 Board Brief
October 12, 2023 - Board of Education Meeting Summary
The October 26 Board of Education meeting included news that should make everyone in District 30 proud: Wescott, Willowbrook and Maple were all named as exemplary schools on the Illinois Report Card. This places our schools among the top 10 percent in the state, supported by data from the Illinois Assessment for Readiness (IAR).
You will also see in the highlights below that Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment data shows District 30 students performing among the top 5 percent in the nation, affirming the wonderful learning happening in our schools. Read on to learn more about the exceptional story these numbers tell, as well as other key items that include recognizing our outstanding Maple Student Council members!
Even in high-achieving schools like ours, there is always room to grow. Throughout this school year, we have been gathering feedback from stakeholders, including a staff survey being conducted right now. The next opportunity to share your ideas and input is coming November 29 at noon or 6 p.m. during our second "Conversations with the Community." Registration is recommended and you can click below to do so.
Thank you,
Dr. Emily Tammaru
Superintendent of Schools
Recognizing Maple Student Council
In addition, the Board and Dr. Tammaru thanked Staff Co-Sponsors Samantha Allen and Lynn Reimer for providing this outstanding opportunity to our students.
District 30 designated as exemplary!
Superintendent Dr. Emily Tammaru and Dr. Melissa Hirsch, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, presented the 2022-2023 School Report Card(s). They shared the Summative Designations of each of our schools, with Wescott, Willowbrook and Maple all earning an exemplary rating – the top designation a school can earn. Dr. Tammaru shared that this designation places District 30 schools among the top 10 percent in the state.
She detailed that the Illinois Report Card is based on the Illinois Assessment for Readiness (IAR) and factors in student achievement and growth as part of the ratings system.
Data from MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) testing was also shared during the presentation, with District 30 students scoring among the top 5 percent of students in the nation. Although MAP data is not a basis for the Illinois Report Card, it is a summative assessment like IAR and more than 2 million students across the nation take MAP testing each spring and fall.
Dr. Hirsch explained that MAP is one of the key data points used in District 30 to set students goals; it is an intuitive assessment that aligns to a student’s individual knowledge and adjusts based on their answers.
School Improvement Plans reviewed
Our school principal team shared a report on District 30's School Improvement Plan (SIP), which is alinged to the Board of Education Goals. They shared that District 30 is building a new SIP process that allows for intentional focus on strategic priorities, built on a continuous improvement model. Each principal and assistant principal highlighted one Board Goal that drives the plan, and several action steps their school will take to support that goal.
2024-25 school calendar approved
The Board approved the 2024-25 School Calendar that sets the first day for staff on Thursday, August 19, 2024. The first day for students is Wednesday, August 21. The last day of school is set for Thursday, June 5, 2025, which could be as late as Thursday, June 12, with five emergency days.
District 30 continues to closely align our calendar with comparable districts, including our students' destination District 225. Students will not attend school on Election Day November 5, 2024, as the state requires this to be a school holiday.
Winter and Spring Breaks will remain aligned across Northfield Township.
Summer school 2024 fee approved
The Board of Education approved summer school fees of $195 per course for in-district families and $230 per course for out-of-district families. District 30's 2023 summer school program will run for five weeks. The program will continue at Maple School with tentative dates from June 10 through July 12.
Superintendent's report
Strategic plan preparations
Dr. Tammaru shared findings after meeting with four companies that specialize in school strategic planning, in advance of District 30's spring strategic planning process. The Board of Education will take action on the selection of a company at the November 14 meeting.
Stakeholder feedback is critical in shaping the priorities for the strategic plan, which will guide District 30 for the next five years. Please watch District 30 communications for upcoming opportunities to share your input.
The Board of Education is ultimately responsible for approving the strategic plan, which will occur after thorough stakeholder development and involvement.
Board reports
TrueNorth Update
Board Vice President Mr. Ammar Rizki reported on the last TrueNorth meeting that included a tour of upgrades to the organization's facilities. He reported that the new spaces offer more flexibility and support for students with varying needs. Mr. Rizki added that the meeting also highlighted TrueNorth's professional learning innovation team, which includes collaboration with District 30 staff.
Character Counts! Proclamation
The Board of Education formally approved a proclamation recognizing October 16-22 as “Character Counts! Week” and called on our community to embrace the Six Pillars of Character Counts!: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship. The Board also thanked the District 30 Community for contributing to our annual Food Drive that benefits the Northfield Township Food Pantry, which over 5,600 items with donation boxes in our schools and the "Stuff the Bus" event during that week.
Click below to see District 30 students "Stuff the Bus" as part of the Character Counts! Food Drive.
Personnel report
The Board approved three leaves of absence; the anticipated retirement of Wescott teacher Jessica Thiergart at the end of the 2027-28 school year; and the hiring of Wescott Instructional Assistant Kathleen O'Hara, as well as the following Maple Coaches for this school year: Michael Boarini; Sady Castillo; Eric DeMattia; Ricardo Dominguez; Antwon Johnson; and Mark Streeter.
Next District 30 School Board Meeting
You are welcome to join us at our next Board Meeting. Key topics will include:
- Recognition of our Board for School Board Members Day
Summer curriculum reports on Science for grades 6-8 and DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion)
Tuesday, Nov 14, 2023, 07:00 PM
Maple School, Shermer Road, Northbrook, IL, USA
Our Board of Education
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
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