District 15 Board of Education News

The District 15 Board of Education meeting was held on Wednesday, March 8, 2023. The full meeting agenda as well as the minutes from its February 8, 2023 meeting, can be found on the BoardDocs website. A livestream of the meeting can be viewed on our Youtube channel.

Hunting Ridge’s January Student of the Month winners led the pledge of allegiance at the March 8 Board of Education meeting. One student was selected by teachers and peers from each of the 33 classes. Congratulations to HR students for demonstrating perseverance and many thanks to the following student for leading the pledge:

• Kiaan S.

• Noemi E.

• Ayana C.

• Ira P.

• Haley M.

At District 15’s annual 6th Grade 2-Ball competition, 124 boys and 128 girls competed at this much-loved event held at Falcon Park in February. The event has large school and small school divisions based on enrollment. After rounds of fierce competition, 2-Ball ended with ties for our Boys Small School Division AND our Girls Large School Division! Here are the winning teams from each division and their point totals:

Girls Small School Division

• Olivia N. and Kyla H. from Pleasant Hill - 87 points

Boys Small School Division

• Nate S. and Joey H. from Pleasant Hill - 101 points

• Reid M. and Cam S. from Pleasant Hill - 101 points

Girls Large School Division

• Haley M. and Taylor M. from Hunting Ridge - 80 points

• Marcella and Skylar from Stuart R. Paddock - 80 points

Boys Large School Division

• Collin and Kiaan from Hunting Ridge - 121 points

Not only were Collin and Kiaan the first-place winners in the Boys Large School Division, they also broke the District 15 record with 121 points! Congratulations to all participants and for the dedicated staff that keep this district tradition alive!

Two District 15 students were recently selected to have their artwork displayed at the North Cook Intermediate Service Center (NISC)/Regional Office of Education’s Student Art Display and Reception. The artwork was selected using the Illinois Art Standards in alignment with the themes of Peace, Hope, and/or Positivity. We are proud of Stefany G., a 4th grader at Stuart R. Paddock, and Andre A., a 4th grader at Marion Jordan who now have their work proudly displayed. Following their teachers nominating their artwork for consideration, these two artists were selected among eight other students in the North Cook area. District 15 is so proud of these talented students and thankful for teachers, Dave Kerkemeyer and Andre Zielinski, for supporting them and helping them flourish during art class.

Congratulations to five of our multilingual students from Willow Bend and their teacher, Ewa Pitcher, for writing poems that earned recognition from the Illinois Association of Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages organization! Joy and pride abounded at the ceremony on February 24, 2023, as well as at our March Board meeting. Congratulations to the following students:

• Maria S.

• Kira C.

• Veronika L.

• Nikol O.

• Yaroslava V.

For the last several years, District 15’s one-five Foundation has offered an annual mini-grant program open to all staff members in District 15 to apply for.

Over its lifetime, the one-five Foundation has donated more than $2 million to District 15 to enhance classroom learning opportunities. This year, there were fifteen mini-grants awarded across twelve District 15 schools:

• Joanna Rzepka - Implementations of Social-Emotional and Trauma-Informed Strategies: Calming Corner and Flexible Seating

• Tammy Martin - Special Education: Achieving Technological Equality

• Sharon Fink - Yoga and Wellness Club

• Carol Coutts-Siepka - VEX for the Win!

• Laura Robinson - Classics Done The Visual Way

• Alessandra Kennedy - Classroom Transformations

• Jenny Kendall - Delightful Decodable Detectives

• Allison Bruhn - Extra! Extra! Read All about it!

• Kate Marrs - Recess Reading @ Stuart R. Paddock

• Katie Burns-Wojtalewicz - Sundling Goes Pro With The GoPro Hero 11 Creator Edition

• Jacquelyn Erickson - Dual Lingo

• Faith Fiorito - LEAP - Materials Allowing Flexible Learning

• Lauren Christ & Sheri Beattie - Communicate to Learn!

• Katie Nawrot, Annice Coughlan, & Heather Klikas - Early Childhood Special Education Core Curriculum Manipulatives

• Elizabeth Letellier & Jackie Kravitz - A Voice For All

Thank you to the one-five Foundation for all they do to support our students, staff, and families here in District 15. To make a donation, buy a 50/50 Raffle ticket, or to learn more about becoming a Trustee, please visit www.one-five.org.

Dr. Heinz shared District updates from the past month. Dr. Heinz has participated in interviews, hiring, and weekly meetings with the District’s new lobbyist. Dr. Heinz has also conducted Assistant Principal Interviews, finalized the five areas of strategic planning focus, and met with the Superintendent Communication Council and Parents as Partners group. In addition, there were various departmental updates including:

• District 15 partnered with the Police Departments and the NWSC PTA to host a Parent University titled A Parent’s Role in Crisis Situations. Watch the livestream here.

• High Five Fridays continue at our schools!

• Ed Services shared that the Health Services Coordinator position was filled. District 15 has partnered with Harper Nursing School candidates to do clinical rotations in our schools from late March to early May 2023.

• The Human Resources Department is focused on staffing for 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 and has been working with universities to recruit new graduates for the 2023-2024 school year.

• The Multilingual Department shared that ACCESS testing is complete and shared a reminder that the kindergarten dual language program applications are due on March 17! The Department also received an Immigrant Education grant from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).

• Student Services has had a heavy focus on staff hiring and training and is currently hosting a book study of, “A Place Called Home” by David Ambroz which overviews David’s experience with homelessness as a child.

• The Department of Teaching and Learning shared that 170 students participated in Illinois Grade School Music Association annual solo and ensemble competition. Thirteen students earned a perfect score and many, many others obtained near perfect scores as well!

Additional departmental updates can be viewed in BoardDocs.

Dr. Heinz shared bittersweet news for Plum Grove Junior High and Frank C. Whiteley. Dr. Wilson (Principal at PGJH) was approved to be the new Assistant Director of Human Resources effective July 1, 2023. Faith Rivera (Principal at Frank C. Whiteley) will be moving to Plum Grove to take over as Principal and Theresa Drogos (Assistant Principal at Frank C. Whiteley) will be taking over as Principal of Frank C. Whiteley effective July 1, 2023. We are excited to see each of these administrators thrive in their new roles.

In addition, Dr. Meg Schnoor, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services, was named the new Superintendent of NSSEO effective July 1, 2023. We are thrilled for Dr. Schnoor and wish her all the best in her first Superintendency!

The Board received a construction update on Phase 1 work. The project timelines outlined within Moving 15 Forward have been met. Walter R. Sundling’s bid came in under budget and was approved by the Board of Education. The facility team, construction team, architects, and Dr. Heinz met with the Phase 1 schools, which are Plum Grove Junior High, Thomas Jefferson, and Walter R. Sundling, to review site plans and iron out upcoming construction details. Tentative construction fencing and groundbreaking at these schools have been established and will be shared with staff and families soon. The target is for this prep work to begin over Spring Break.

Design work for Phase 2 projects include Jane Addams, Winston Campus, Frank C. Whiteley, Lincoln School, and Pleasant Hill continues as teams meet with principals and head custodians. Phase 2 projects are intended to go out to bid in June 2023.

Phase 3 and 4 schools include Gray M. Sanborn, Kimball Hill, Willow Bend, Central Road, Hunting Ridge, Lake Louise, Marion Jordan, and Virginia Lake and are scheduled for the Fall of 2023.

Additional details will be shared in our Moving 15 Forward newsletter being sent out before spring break.

*At the Board of Education meeting on April 12, the District will provide a comprehensive update on the Moving 15 Forward construction plan in partnership with our architect and construction teams.

Ares Dalianis, Franczek, P.C., provided the Board with an update on the Arlington Park/Bears redevelopment and its potential impact on District 15. Dalianis shared there is potential for approximately 325-350 incoming students based on the current concept plans for new development provided by the Bears. The overview included a discussion of the mega project concept for the stadium district and the Village of Arlington Heights creating a TIF district for the balance of the 326-acre site, as well as the significant negative impact this would have on District 15. The mega project bill (SB 1350) remains with the Senate Assignments Committee. The TIF reform bill (SB 1391) is assigned to the Executive Committee. Dalianis served as a content matter expert at a virtual Senate Committee meeting hearing this week on the TIF reform bill. He focused his testimony on the increase in tax rates caused by TIF districts, the significant amount of revenue raised by TIF districts in Cook County and Statewide, and ideas for reform included in SB 1391.

District 15 has partnered with District 211 and District 214 to hire Cozen O’Connor, the lobbying team representing the school districts during the discussion of the proposed mega project legislation and related issues.

View the Arlington Park/Bears redevelopment presentation here.

Laura Swanlund, Director of Comprehensive Mental Health & Related Services, and Dr. Meghan Meyer, School Psychologist Coordinator & Trauma Informed Coordinator, presented information on District 15’s mental health awareness program. The team presented an overview of the behavioral and mental health needs of students post-pandemic. They also shared the district’s current mental health awareness program, how the District supports students, and the outcomes of the programs we provide.

View the Educational Services and Related Services mental health awareness program presentation here.

Dr. Ann Scully, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services, Dr. Meg Schnoor, Assistant Superintendent for Educational Services, and Renee Urbanski, Assistant Superintendent of Multilingual Programs presented information and rationale for the 2023-2024 staffing recommendations to support the needs of their staff and programs.

View the 2023-2023 staffing recommendations memo here.

Dr. Heinz shared that during a March meeting in odd-numbered years, the Board establishes a date for its organizational meeting to be held sometime after the election authority canvasses the vote, but within 40 days after the consolidated election. District 15’s Board will hold its reorganizational meeting during its regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, May 10.

As Lisa Nuss, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, has shared previously, we are experiencing a significant reduction in available substitutes as a result of a nationwide shortage. Such shortages impact the district’s ability to cover classrooms each day and has created a negative impact on the ability to provide professional development to staff or run curriculum committee meetings. Therefore, the administration recommended adjustments to substitute compensation to make District 15 more competitive with surrounding districts. The Board of Education approved the following adjustments to substitute compensation:

• Teacher: General Substitute from $125 to $135/day

• Teacher: Retired D15 Teacher will be paid at a higher rate of $165/day

• Special Education Program Assistant from $95 to $105/day

At the December 13, 2022, Board of Education meeting, the district brought forth a proposal to authorize an emergency transportation agreement with an external bus company to cover unfulfilled bus routes. The previous agreement went through the end of March. The agreement approved at the March 8, 2023 Board meeting will go from April 8 to June 2, 2023.

ED-RED Committee

Board Member Annerino shared that the legislature has been in session and there were various topics of discussion including Full-Day Kindergarten, a mandate review, a grant for schools to support newly arriving immigrant students, a bill regarding 10 year dismissal hearings, a bill amending the open meetings act, and the recent TIF reform bill.

one-five Foundation

Board Member Taylor reminded everyone to get their one-five Foundation’s 50/50 raffle before the drawing next Friday, March 17! He also encouraged everyone to save the date for the Foundation’s Fun Run on May 20. The website is now live and people may begin getting their tickets at www.one-five.org. Taylor also shared that the one-five will be doing staff tributes during teacher appreciation week in May.

Finance Committee

Board Members Hunt and Wang shared there are no new updates at this time.

Equity Committee

Board Members Khan and Ader shared they will be meeting with Dr. Heinz and the team to review the first draft of the strategic plan prior to it coming to the Board.

Board Policy PRESS 8:090 First Reading

The Board engaged in a first read of Policy 8:090.

View the policy in BoardDocs.

• 9.1 Approval of Personnel Report: Administration, Certified, and Non-Certified - approved

• 9.2 Approval of Resolution Awarding and Assigning Trade Contracts for 2023 Addition and Renovations at Walter R. Sundling Junior High School - approved

• 9.3 Bid Award #23-009 Orff Musical Instruments - approved

• 9.4 Bid Award #23-007 Gasoline & Diesel Fuel - approved

• 9.5 Resolution Authorizing the Emergency Expenditure of Funds and the Approval of an Emergency Transportation Agreement for Unassigned School Bus Routes - approved

• 9.6 2023-24 Staffing Recommendations for Special Education Teachers and Related Services and Multilingual Instructional Coach - approved

• 9.7 Increase to Substitute Pay Rate - approved