The Communicator
District 47 Newsletter - Spring/Summer 2019
IN THIS ISSUE
Superintendent's Message
Spring Highlights
Important Dates
Strategic Plan Update
Changes for the 2019-20 School Year
In the News
Financial Update
Operations Update
Board of Education Update
Connect with Us!
FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT
As the 2018/19 school year is coming to a close, I would like to provide a brief review of the strategic plan’s first year and what the focus of year 2 will bring.
Last year, we created and adopted the District’s strategic plan. This year, 10 strategic plan action teams met on a regular basis to begin to carry out the plan and to discuss their particular goal strategy. One thing that came to light through these discussions is that, as a school district, we are functioning as a system of schools rather than as a unified school system. While we have wonderful, hard-working teachers, staff, and administrators, we found that many of our schools and teams are working independently and, in some cases, in isolation. While this may not seem like a problem when the focus is at the building level, a lack of cohesiveness in our processes and procedures can impact the implementation, success, and/or evaluation of new district-wide initiatives, needed interventions for students, staffing levels, and professional development.
We have determined we are in need of a framework and shared data system to help us make informed and consistent data-driven decisions across the District. A shared data system will help guide decisions regarding what level of intervention and instruction we provide for students, how we staff buildings based on need, what professional development is appropriate and most beneficial for staff, and how to best engage our parents and the community.
Next year we will be working toward establishing a Multi-Tier System of Supports (MTSS) framework for the District. MTSS is a systemic, continuous improvement framework in which data-based problem-solving and decision-making is practiced across all levels of the educational system for supporting students. Rather than adding something more to our plates, incorporating MTSS will help us ensure we have the right things on our plates, so that we spend our time and energy wisely and on focus on those things that are most important.
I invite you to review the progress of our 10 action teams in the Strategic Plan Update section of this newsletter. Here you will see how our teams intend to use the MTSS framework next year to accomplish their objectives.
I look forward to this journey as a school district. With standard processes and procedures and the right “tools” in our “tool belts,” our talented, dedicated teachers, staff, and administrators will be better equipped than ever to continue fulfilling our mission of empowering all students.
Sincerely,
Dr. Kathy Hinz
Superintendent
SPRING 2019 HIGHLIGHTS
Student Art Show
Poetry Slam by Mr. Merke's Sixth Grade Bernotas Vikings (May 22, 2019)
New U.S. Flags Donated by Crystal Lake VFW
Lundahl Wins Regional Scholastic Bowl in Marengo
Eighth Graders Teach Digital Citizenship to Elementary Students Through Project B3
Hannah Beardsley B3 student leaders visited Canterbury, Husmann and Coventry
Bernotas B3 student leaders visited West, South and North
Lundahl B3 student leaders visited Indian Prairie, Glacier Ridge and Woods Creek
D47 Educators Named "Teacher of the Month" by Star 105.5 FM and Home State Bank
Coventry Fourth Grader Wins Sodexo Future Chefs Competition
Creativity Abounds in District 47
Lundahl Student Wins Meemic Art Contest
Coventry Students Win Douglas Automotive Art Contest
Glacier Ridge Student Wins Raue Center T-Shirt Design Contest
Fifth Grade Fly Up Day
Glacier Ridge Fifth Grader Wins CL Police Department National Night Out Design Contest
Middle School Students Win 2019 Law Day Essay Contest
James Durcan, eighth grader at Bernotas, and Caden Alexander, eighth grader at Hannah Beardsley Middle School, were recently named winners of the McHenry County Bar Association’s 2019 Law Day essay contest.The annual essay contest is open to all sixth, seventh and eighth graders in McHenry County. To learn more, click here.
Hannah Beardsley IESA State Track Champ
Comcast Cares Day at Canterbury Elementary School
On Saturday, May 4, 2019, approximately 100-120 volunteers “made change happen” at Canterbury for Comcast Cares Day, the nation’s largest single-day corporate volunteer event. This is the fourth year in a row Comcast NBCUniversal and the Canterbury school community have come together to work on outdoor revitalization projects at Canterbury. This year’s Comcast Cares Day event was led by Canterbury Community Council member and Canterbury parent Michelle Archambeau in collaboration with Comcast Cares team leads Christopher Peck and Joan Sage.
Celebrating 2019 Retirees and Quarter Century Club Members
Below are this year's retirees and Quarter Century Club (QCC) members who attended the District recognition event on May 23, 2019. We appreciate their years of service and dedication to our students!
Retirees: Laura Bauman, Donna Bauer, Sherri Baxter, Colleen Beldin, Mark Cherry, Laura Francis, Vicki Kosin, Teresa Jacobsen, Sarah Johnston, Maureen Kilhoffer, Libby Leman, Mary Lichtenberger, LuAnn Napoleoni, Nancy Piel, Lori Plump, Annette Rafferty, Penny Reese, Joy Stanich, Janet Taylor, Beth Theiss, Pam White, Tina Wilbrandt, Alice Wojcik, and Nancy Vitacco
QCC members: Donna Bauer, Shari Chakoian, Penny Fleming, John Krol, Jordan Klinsky, William Schmidt, Suzanne Juarez, Shannon Martin, and Marla Norgard
The 6Cs of Education Video Series
Lisa Melendez Recognized with INSPRA's Distinguished Service Award
On May 10, District 47's special education business specialist Lisa Melendez was recognized with a Distinguished Service Award by the Illinois Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association (INSPRA). The annual event recognizes Individuals around the state for their support of public education and their local school districts. Click here to learn more.
2019 Parent Leadership Academy
Angela Arce, Maria de Carmen Aviles, Gabriela Dantes, Nori Gonzalez, Alexandra Granda, Hilda Herrera, Alejandra Leon, Erika Lopez, Lucy Lopez, Lorena Ocana, Ciro Perez, Sandra Romo, Marlen Salas, Maribel Tellez, Abigail Tirado, and Claudette Valencia
IMPORTANT DATES
June 2019
6/17 - Board of Education meeting, 7pm, CORE Center
August 2019
8/1 - D47 school offices open
8/5 - Transportation Open House “Meet the Bus” event for incoming kindergarteners (TJA bus garage, 1204 S. McHenry Ave., Crystal Lake)
8/13 - Teacher assignment and bus route information available on ParentVue
8/21 - First day of school for students in grades 1-8; Early Release Day
8/22 - First day of school for kindergarten
8/26 - First day of school for Wehde Early Childhood Education
September 2019
9/4 - Wehde Parent Night
9/5 - Parent Night (middle schools)
9/12 - Parent Night (K-5 schools)
9/25 - Early Release Day
*Meet the Teacher and new family orientation dates vary by school. Please visit school websites for details.
Click link for access to the complete 2019-20 school calendar.
Transportation Open House
A-F: 9am - 10am
G-L: 10am-11am
M-R: 11am-noon
S-Z: noon-1pm
CORE Center and New Family Registration Summer Hours
New family registration will be held this summer at the District 47 CORE Center, 300 Commerce Drive in Crystal Lake. The CORE Center’s summer office and registration hours are listed below. To register your child, please call 815.788.5000 to schedule an appointment. All families are encouraged to register as early as possible as this helps with appropriate staffing and class size. For registration forms and required documents, visit the Registration page of the District website.
June 3 - June 27, 2019
CORE Center hours
Monday through Friday: 7:30 am to 4:00 pm
Registration hours
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday: 7:45 am to 3:00 pm
The CORE Center is closed Friday, June 28, 2019.
July 1 - July 25, 2019
CORE Center hours
Monday through Thursday: 7:30 am to 3:00 pm
Registration hours
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday: 7:45 am to 2:00 pm
The CORE Center is closed Thursday, July 4, 2019 for Independence Day and is also closed on Fridays in July (7/5, 7/12, 7/19 and 7/26).
July 29 - August 15, 2019
CORE Center hours
Monday through Friday: 7:30 am to 4:00 pm
Registration hours
Mondays: 7:45 am to 3:00 pm
Tuesdays and Thursdays (7/30-8/15): 7:45 am to 5:15 pm
August 19 - August 23, 2019
CORE Center hours
Monday through Friday: 7:30 am to 4:00 pm
Registration hours
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday: 7:45 am to 3:00 pm
Free Summer Lunch Program for Crystal Lake Youth
For the fourth year in a row, Crystal Lake youth 18 years and younger are invited to enjoy a free lunch this summer. The summer lunch program is sponsored by the Northern Illinois Food Bank, run by volunteers, and supported by various organizations, including the Crystal Lake Park District, Vineyard Church, the Crystal Lake Public Library and the Sage YMCA. Lunches will be served weekdays from 11:30 a.m. to 12::30 p.m. at Ladd Park, 556 Devonshire Lane in Crystal Lake. The program kicks off on Thursday, June 6 and runs through Friday, August 16. Due to the holiday, meals will not be provided on July 4, 2019. In case of rain, lunches will be served at Vineyard Church, 7105 Virginia Road in Crystal Lake (next to the CVS). No registration is required.
2019-20 Early Childhood Registration
STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE
ACTION TEAM 1 / STRATEGY 1: Align and adjust curriculum and assessment to reflect rigor, relevance, and the 6 Cs - critical thinking, collaboration, character, citizenship, creativity, and communication
- To ensure curriculum is aligned to learning standards, implemented with fidelity and facilitates deep learning through the lens of the 6 Cs
To utilize common assessments to view data and make decisions from the student and classroom to district level
Develop a specific system for identifying students (criteria - local and nationally normed data) - ELA/Math/SEL
Provide professional development to create differentiated instruction in the classroom
Provide time for teachers to work/collaborate in teams to differentiate instruction
Create a menu of interventions for all teachers
ACTION TEAM 3 / STRATEGY 3: Assess and support the social and emotional needs of all students
Respond to students' social-emotional skills and needs through common identifying tools and supports in each building
Ensure there are additional, layered / tiered supports for students with significant needs
ACTION TEAM 4 / STRATEGY 4: Assess and support pre-kindergarten through grade 2 early learners who are delayed in their readiness
Form a preK through 3rd grade team to align assessment systems, form common goals and develop a structure for interventions
Provide training to literacy, dual language, and early childhood coaches on OTISS (Observational Tool for Instructional Supports and Systems)
Continue collecting data on effective instructional practices in preK through 2nd grade classrooms
Inventory preK through 2nd intervention materials
Determine professional development needs for interventions and supports
ACTION TEAM 5 / STRATEGY 5: To provide time, tools, and clear expectations to ensure effective staff collaboration
Create universal, district-wide definitions for "collaboration" and "time"
Evidence from teams that provide predictability with balanced participation consisting of clear communication and accountability by all team members
Create a guide for standard meeting protocols
ACTION TEAM 6 / STRATEGY 6: Provide time, tools, devices, and clear expectations to integrate technology into teaching and learning
Provide adequate electronic devices necessary for assessments
Establish staff resources for administering assessments and accessing reports
Continue to utilize iCoaches and instructional coaches for support with core instructional strategies that utilize technology
ACTION TEAM 7 / STRATEGY 7: To develop an aligned data system for making informed decisions, monitoring progress, and reporting results
Finalize running record guidelines for K-5
Continue calibrating written response for grades 3-5, adding K-2 next year
Define assessment categories (screening, progress monitoring, diagnostic, outcomes) and purpose by grade level or non-classroom
Review 2018-19 5 Essentials survey data; compare against Strategy 8 survey data and identify gaps
Redefine D47 Parent University - three times a year, once at each middle school
Work towards clear and consistent communication guidelines across all schools
ACTION TEAM 9 / STRATEGY 9: Ensure equity in allocating fiscal and program resources across the District to address variances in individual school needs
- Provide ongoing assessment and monitoring of student needs on annual basis
- Use data to inform fiscal and program resource allocation, including staff
- Create guidelines for data use to aid in allocation process
ACTION TEAM 10 / STRATEGY 10: Address facility needs in a timely manner to ensure an optimal teaching and learning environment
Assess facility needs
Assess security needs
Prioritize security recommendations and provide report to Operations Committee
CHANGES FOR THE 2019-20 SCHOOL YEAR
Visitor and Volunteer Procedures
In a continued effort to ensure safety and security in our schools, District 47 will be upgrading its visitor management system called Raptor starting with the 2019-20 school year. This will offer several benefits:
For volunteers: The Raptor upgrade will help streamline and standardize the volunteer process across all District 47 schools. Parents or guardians who wish to volunteer will be required to complete a brief online application and undergo a background check. Once the background check is complete and the application has been approved, parents will receive a confirmation email.
For visitors: The Raptor upgrade will eliminate the need for parents/guardians to have to present their ID at every District 47 school they visit as the new system will now link data across the district. After the initial scan at any D47 school, parents and guardians may visit any school in the district and obtain their temporary badge by simply providing their name at the main office check-in.
More information about the new Raptor volunteer and visitor management process will be sent to parents via email and posted on school websites in August.
School Supplies
At the February 19, 2019 District 47 Board of Education meeting, the Board approved a motion for the District to purchase designated school supply items for the 2019-2020 school year to help offset the cost for parents.
The idea to subsidize the cost of school supplies came about as District 47 was granted additional funding from the state this year through the new Illinois education funding formula. The formula is based on a school’s adequacy target, which pertains to the cost of educating students, and factors in a community’s ability to financially support its schools. Through competitive bid pricing and bulk discounts, the District will provide a variety of items across all grade levels. School supply lists will be available in June and will be posted on school websites and the District’s mobile app. The school supply lists will show the items that will be provided by the District as well as the remaining items needed for purchase by the families so that parents can see what is being supplied by the District. Over the summer, school supply lists will also be available at local retailers.
Elementary Physical Education Requirements
A change in Illinois School Code requires elementary students in grades K-5 to engage in physical education for a minimum of three days a week. District 47 supports this change and plans to incorporate brain breaks and physical movement in the classroom to meet this requirement. Many elementary teachers are familiar with this concept and already incorporate brain and movement breaks for their students into the school day. Over the summer, District 47 physical education (PE) teachers will help develop a curriculum, aligning brain/movement breaks with PE learning standards. These activities will be shared with staff for use during the 2019/20 school year.
Coventry Elementary School Renovation
Coventry parents and staff were informed about the upcoming changes last fall and parent/neighbor informational meetings were held this spring. Detailed plans for the renovation are currently being drafted by the District’s architect. Besides functional improvements and a new look-and-feel, the Coventry renovation will include new playgrounds, lockers, and furniture. The expected date of completion for the renovation is August 2020. For more information about this exciting project, visit the D47 website.
New District 47 Leadership
Principal, Bernotas Middle School
Kellie Marks has served as an assistant principal at Bernotas since 2016. Prior to joining District 47, she was a sixth grade classroom teacher for 14 years in McHenry School District 15. During that time she taught language arts and math, served as a student council advisor, and took an active role on many school and district committees. After graduating from Cary-Grove High School, Marks attended the United States Air Force Academy for two years. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in education from Illinois State University and her master’s degree in educational leadership from Aurora University.
Principal, Wehde Early Childhood Center
Assistant Director of Special Education
Assistant Principal, Lundahl Middle School
Angela Carvell comes to District 47 with seven years of middle school teaching experience -- three years at Yorkville D115 and most recently at McHenry District 15. She received her bachelor's degree in education from Northern Illinois University and her master's degree in educational leadership from Aurora University.
Assistant Principal, Hannah Beardsley Middle School
Maggie Fitzgerald has been with District 47 as an instructional coach for the past two years. Prior to that, she taught middle school for 10 years at Marquardt District 15 in Glendale Heights, Illinois. She received her bachelor's degree in education from Northern Illinois University and her master's degree in educational leadership from Concordia University Chicago.
Assistant Principal, Bernotas Middle School
Evan Kozlowski returns to District 47 after serving as a health/physical education teacher, driver education teacher and coach at McHenry School District 156 for the past 13 years. While in McHenry, he took on the role of instructional leader and worked to develop the PE department into a state-recognized Blue Ribbon program in 2018. Prior to that (2005-2007), he taught 7th and 8th grade physical education at Bernotas Middle School. Kozlowski has a bachelor's degree in physical education and school health education and a master's degree in educational administration from Northern Illinois University.
Assistant Principal, Woods Creek
Jason Brogan has served as an elementary and middle school educator in District 47 since 2007. Most recently, he taught 4th/5th grade multiage at Woods Creek Elementary School. Prior to that, he was a 4th and 5th grade teacher at Indian Prairie Elementary School and was a language arts and social studies teacher at Bernotas Middle School. In addition, Brogan served as an English language arts/social studies facilitator at District 47's CORE Center. Brogan holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education and master's degrees in literacy education and educational administration from Northern Illinois University. He will begin pursuing his doctoral degree in literacy from Judson University in 2021. In addition to his career in education, Brogan is a certified firefighter and EMT, and has served part-time as a member of the Rutland-Dundee Fire Protection District for the past nine years.
Assistant Principal, North Elementary School
Youth Mental Health First Aid Training Coming Soon to McHenry County Schools
In August, representatives from McHenry County public and private middle and high schools will have an opportunity to attend a Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training program, thanks to funding by the county’s Mental Health Board. The five-day training will be provided by certified national trainers and facilitated by the Crystal Lake chapter of the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI), which is committed to partnering with schools to address the mental health needs of area youth.
The YMHFA program is designed to teach adults who regularly interact with young people how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including ADHD), and eating disorders. The training will be geared to middle and high school district administrators, special education staff, social workers and psychologists. While the initial focus will be on middle and high schools, the training will eventually expand to include elementary schools.
Meet Peachjar - District 47's New Electronic Flyer System
D47 IN THE NEWS
May 2019
Daily Herald: Youth Mental Health First Aid Training
NW Herald: Property Tax Extensions
CL Patch: Bernotas Principal (Kellie Marks)
CL Patch: Meemic Art Contest (LMS)
NW Herald: Kellie Marks - RBMS Principal
NW Herald: Law Day essay contest
CL Patch: Law Day essay contest
April 2019
NW Herald: Youth Mental Health First Aid Training
CL Patch: Youth Mental Health First Aid Training
NW Herald: Bernotas students and Ackman Road project
NW Herald: Glacier Ridge Artsonia winner
CL Patch: Glacier Ridge Artsonia winner
NW Herald: Future Chefs Winner
March 2019
NW Herald: St. Baldrick’s Event at RBMS
NW Herald: Middle School Schedule Change
NW Herald: Geography State Bee
NW Herald: St. Baldrick’s events
February 2019
CL Patch: Bernotas Alumni Bowling Night
CL Patch: Wehde Early Childhood Names New Principal
Daily Herald: Parent Leadership Academy
Reflejos: Parent Leadership Academy
NW Herald: 2019-2020 Kindergarten Registration
FINANCIAL UPDATE
The State of Illinois continues to fund education through evidence-based funding, a formula that was put into place by Senate Bill 1 in August 2017. This formula is intended to create equitable school funding across the state. The new funding formula created an adequacy target for each school district by applying research-based elements to unique district demographics, such as percentage of low-income, special education and ELL students. The formula also takes into account a community’s capacity to fund its schools. School districts were placed in one of four tiers scaled by farthest from the adequacy target (Tier 1/greatest need) to at or above the target (Tier 4/least need). Based on the Illinois State Board of Education’s 2019 fiscal year evidence-based funding formula, District 47 is at 75 percent of the adequacy target and falls in the Tier 2 category. As such, the District has received additional funding from the state the past two years to move towards the adequacy target. Additional state funding is prioritized starting with districts in greatest need that fall in the Tier 1 category.
As financial resources are limited, unfunded mandates placed upon school districts by the state continue to be a challenge as is funding ongoing building maintenance and improvement projects along with providing resources to fulfill the District’s mission to “empower all students.” District 47 relies on local taxpayer support. Local property tax support accounted for 76 percent of the District’s budgeted revenue for the 2019 fiscal year. The community is the backbone that supports the District, especially during continued financial uncertainty at the state level. The most current tax levy (2018), which will be collected in calendar year 2019, reflects a tax rate decrease of $0.31, which is due to the District making the last payment on two bonds. Any current debt is structured to be paid from the operating funds and will not be included as a debt service tax levy.
The District is in the third year of continued work to complete capital projects across all facilities as part of a five-year plan. In the summer of 2019, the District will begin a large renovation project at Coventry Elementary ($18.4 million budgeted) that will take one year to complete. Debt certificates have been previously sold to help in the financing with this project as well as a second phase of debt certificates to be sold in the summer of 2019.
For additional financial information, such as budget and annual financial statements, visit the District 47 website at www.d47.org.
OPERATIONS UPDATE
In addition to the renovation work beginning at Coventry Elementary School over the summer, the District will continue to enhance the learning environment at many D47 schools through Health/Life Safety projects and other facility improvements, including:
Relocating, replacing and adding interior doors
Tuckpointing and painting
Plumbing improvements
Flooring replacements
Main entry security enhancements with intercom / buzzer system
The budget for the summer projects listed above (excluding Coventry) is approximately $3 million.