Superintendent News
Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95
A Message from Dr. Kelley Gallt
July 27, 2020
Tonight I will be hosting my third Town Hall presentation to the community about possible learning models for the 2020-21 school year. Earlier this summer I presented on the Remote Learning Model (eLearning) and on the Full Capacity Model (Face-to-Face*). Tonight I will speak to two possible versions for the Hybrid/Blended Learning Model. Links for viewing the presentation, submitting virtual questions, or signing up to attend the presentation in person can be found in the article below. Additional information, including Snapshot plans for the Hybrid and eLearning models, can be found on the 2020-21 School Year page on our website.
I would also like to remind all parents that the learning selection choice for fall learning (through Home Access) is still open. We ask that you complete your selection by noon on July 29th so that we can provide the Board of Education with initial selection choice data; however, you may change your selection until midnight on July 30th.
On July 29th, the Board of Education will hold a special meeting to discuss our plans for the fall. You are encouraged to watch the Board meeting, if possible. When a final decision has been made for how we will return to learning in the fall, all district parents will be notified via School Messenger.
Finally, I would like to thank you for your engagement and support as we navigate these difficult times together. Uncertainty is not easy for any of us, but by working together we will get through this pandemic to the best of our abilities.
*As mentioned in a previous communication, the Full Capacity (Face-to-Face) Learning Plan will not be an option for the start of the school year due to social distancing recommendations from Lake County Health Department and the Illinois Department of Health. Therefore, the options for the start of the school year will be a Hybrid plan or an eLearning plan.
Town Hall Presentation - Hybrid/Blended Learning
The following meetings and presentations pertain to the Hybrid/Blended learning plan that has two different options: Option 1 is a half-day daily attendance model, and Option 2 is a full-day intermittent blocked attendance model. Both models involve partial in-person learning and partial remote learning. Both Hybrid models allow for staggered in-person start dates which could be applied across different grade levels. It also remains an option to apply different Hybrid models to different grade levels.
Town Hall Presentation - July 27th at 7:00 p.m.
- In-person attendance will be limited and an advance reservation is required through this link. Please limit attendance to one person per family. The presentation will take place at the LZHS Performing Arts Center, 300 Church Street. Written questions will be accepted during the presentation. Masks and social distancing will be required. If you are sick or if you have any of the symptoms for COVID-19, please do not attend the in-person presentation. Temperatures will be taken at the door, anyone with a temperature of 100.4 or higher will not be admitted.
- Virtual viewing will be available through Livestream on our website. Questions will also be accepted from the virtual viewing audience. Instructions for submitting questions will be given at the start of the presentation.
Board of Education Special Meeting - July 29th at 6:15 p.m.
- Virtual viewing will be available through Livestream on our website.
Board of Education Meeting
- Presented and discussed on July 21st, click here to watch the recording on our website.
First Day of School - New Date
In addition, our calendar has also changed to include November 3rd as a non-student attendance day in accordance with a recent Illinois law.
Click this link to see the district snapshot calendar for 2020-21 or visit the district website and click on District-> District Calendar. Please note the calendar may be subject to additional changes going forward.
iPad Pickups to Begin
Parents of students in Grades K-8 will be receiving a communication from their school principal regarding iPad pickups, which will take place during the week of August 4th. Please watch for this communication and future instructions to schedule a pickup time and more. iPads are an important instructional tool for all of our learning models for the coming year.
District-wide Residency Event
Thank you for your understanding!
Free/Reduced Lunch and NEW Fee Waiver Application
District 95 is implementing a new fee waiver process for all District 95 students in accordance with Board policy. Approval of fee waivers are now separate from any approval received for the Free and Reduced lunch application process. Families may qualify for a waiver of approved fees through two options:
- Direct Certification (as provided by the State of Illinois) – The names of students qualifying for Direct Certification due to SNAP/TANF or are “categorically eligible” (homeless, migrant or runaway) are provided to the District by the State of Illinois. The District will notify, in writing, all families who have been pre‐approved through eligible Direct Certification. Students qualifying for Direct Certification due to Medicaid status are not eligible for an automatic fee waiver and are required to complete the income based fee waiver application.
- Approved Income-Based Fee Waiver Application - Determination of qualified applications will be based on Federal Income Guidelines for the National School Lunch Program. A student shall be eligible for a waiver of approved fees when the student currently lives in a household that meets the same income guidelines with the same limits based on household size that are used for the federal free meals program. A student shall be eligible for a second category of a 75% fee reduction when a student currently lives in a household that meets the same income guidelines, with the same limits based on household size, that are used for the federal reduced meals program.
This waiver applies only to the CURRENT year fees for registration fees, Mobile Learning Initiative fees, PE Uniforms, Behind the Wheel, sports, extracurricular fees, and grade 12 yearbooks.
Fee waiver Income Verification and Free/Reduced Lunch Application forms and further instructions will be available on the district website later this week under Departments -> Business & Operations.
Please Welcome...New District 95 Administrators
- Dr. Carie Cohen is the new Director of Student Services for the secondary level (middle and high school). Prior to going into administration, she was a special education teacher and most recently was a Coordinator of Special Services in Hawthorn, District 73. Dr. Cohen taught Special Education Master’s Course Work at National Louis University, and also served as one of their University Supervisors at the High School Level. Dr. Cohen has four sons ranging from elementary to high school ages.
- Mrs. Erin DeLuga is the new Principal for Lake Zurich High School. Since 2016, Mrs. DeLuga served as the principal of York High School, District 205. Prior to that, she served for five years as the Assistant Principal of Instruction at Wheeling High School, District 214. Mrs. DeLuga also served as the English/Fine Arts Division Chair at Prospect High School for several years prior to becoming the Assistant Principal.
- Mr. Mike Mauro has been hired as Assistant Principal for May Whitney Elementary School. Mr. Mauro attended District 95 schools and currently lives in the Lake Zurich community. He comes to District 95 after having served as an Assistant Principal in Palatine District 15 for the last several years.
- Dr. Lauren McArdle is serving as the new Assistant Superintendent of Student Services for District 95. Prior to joining the administrative team here, Dr. McArdle served as a school psychologist at the high school level, as a Director of Clinical Services for a system of therapeutic day school serving students ages K-22 with significant special education needs, and as Assistant Director of Special Education at Evanston Township High School District 202. Dr. McArdle is a community member and a parent of two young children.
- Mrs. Angela Stallion has joined the District 95 administration as Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, following thirty years of service in the field of education. Her career began at Minooka Elementary, where she started the first state Pre-K program under the At-Risk Grant. Before joining LZ95, Ms. Stallion taught kindergarten and third grade in Coal City CUSD #1. After sixteen years in the classroom Mrs. Stallion assumed the principalship in Channahon District 17 for nine years and then accepted the position of principal in Hinsdale District 181. Before joining District 95 she also served as principal in Naperville District 203.
- Mrs. Susie Wagner joins District 95 as the Director of Innovation following 18 years of service in Hinsdale District 181 and St. Charles District 303. Her career began as a first-grade teacher at Oak School in Hinsdale. She served as an instructional coach and TOSA (Teacher on Special Assignment) for Curriculum and Instruction. Most recently she served as the Associate Director of Instruction in the St. Charles School District 303 where she focused on instructional technology and designing STEAM Labs.