Superintendent Updates
March 31, 2023
Dear District 115 Parents and Guardians:
I hope the last week has allowed you and your students time to relax, rejuvenate, and reset. I know our family has valued the time together following a busy winter. A few reminders as we prepare to return to school:
1.) School Safety
Following the tragic events in Nashville last week, we have received a few questions about safety and security in our buildings. Our hearts are with all of the families affected by this tragedy, with the entire Covenant school community, and the City of Nashville as they grieve. As I have said before, there is nothing more important than the safety and security of our students and staff. Please note the following:
All District 115 campuses are closed to unauthorized visitors during school hours, during extracurricular events, and school activities.
We continue to conduct drills with staff and students on rapid response and, as always, we partner closely with the Lake Forest Police and Fire Departments on proactive planning.
Student Resource Officers (SROs) who are members of the LFPD are present in and around Lake Forest High School on a daily basis and are trained in juvenile law, officer and youth interactions, and school threat response.
As always, we have social workers and psychologists on hand at LFHS to meet with your students. Parents and students are invited to reach out at any time to access these resources.
Please encourage your students to report anything unusual to a trusted adult. If they see something they need to say something.
Please find resources below for discussing the recent tragedy with your students, if needed:
In the spirit of continuous improvement, we recently contracted an independent third party to conduct a District 115 safety and security audit of our buildings and grounds and are reviewing those results and next steps with the Board.
2.) Tuesday, April 4, is Election Day!
We hope you will familiarize yourself with the proposed District 115 bond referendum and take the time to vote. Early voting will remain open at Lake Forest City Hall through April 1 (Monday Through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM; Saturday, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM). Polls will open at 6:00 AM on Tuesday and remain open until 7:00 PM. Here is the referendum question as it will appear on the ballot:
Shall the Board of Education of Lake Forest Community High School District Number 115, Lake County, Illinois, alter, repair, renovate and equip the existing Lake Forest High School facilities, including constructing security improvements and installing access controls, replacing portions of roofs, plumbing and electrical systems, renovating science labs, classrooms and other instructional spaces, updating instructional technology, improving heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, increasing accessibility under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and improving and equipping sites, and issue bonds of said School District to the amount of $105,700,000 for the purpose of paying the costs thereof?
More information, including a tax calculator, answers to frequently asked questions, and videos describing the proposed infrastructure improvements for Lake Forest High School may be found here.
3.) SAT Suite of Assessments - Wednesday, April 12, 2023
This year, per the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) guidelines, we will continue the administration of the SAT Suite of Assessments. This is comprised of:
The SAT for all LFHS juniors (This is a State of Illinois graduation requirement)
The PSAT10 for all LFHS sophomores
The PSAT9 for all LFHS freshmen
April 12 is a day of non-attendance for seniors, except those who did not sit for the SAT last school year. Identified seniors, who did not take the SAT in April 2022 will be notified individually regarding their testing location.
It is important for all families within our Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, and Knollwood school communities to realize that the SAT is one of the primary indicators used to determine our school rating on the Illinois State Report Card each school year. Therefore, when our students do their best on the SAT, it not only helps them as they apply to universities, but also reflects positively on our entire school.
For more information about the SAT suite of assessments and “day of” testing instructions, please visit our LFHS Assessments webpage.
4.) If You Have Students at DPM - Deerpath Community Park Improvement Project is Underway!
The City of Lake Forest began construction on the Deerpath Community Park Improvement Project, located at the Lake Forest Recreation Center behind Deer Path Middle School, during Spring Break. The project involves installing synthetic turf athletic fields and additional amenities for the community park. The majority of construction activities will be confined to the project site, which includes Deerpath Community Park fields and tennis courts behind DPM. The contractor will work to limit activity during pickup and drop-off times at the school. Following Spring Break, you will see construction fences and signage regarding traffic flow. Drivers are asked to follow all directional signage. Please note that the fields behind DPM will not be used by our students during construction. Outdoor activities will be diverted to other DPM outdoor spaces. We appreciate your patience. More information about the Deerpath Community Park Improvement Project may be found at http://www.cityoflakeforest.com/DeerpathPark.
Please feel free to reach out to me with questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Matthew L. Montgomery, Ph.D.
Superintendent