Dear District 57 Families,
I hope you and your families are enjoying all the colors of the season.
Last night our Board of Education met in an open session in Fairview’s multi-purpose room. We had a large turnout with many attending to hear Lincoln Cross Country Coaches Steve Shaffer and Kelly Bailey celebrate Lincoln Middle School runners from this year’s season. Great job, Lincoln Cross Country!
We were also thrilled to spotlight SOARBucks, a special program at Lincoln Middle School where students in our SOAR Classroom run a weekly coffee delivery business for the Lincoln Staff. Next week, we will be sharing a video about their great work, which blends authentic learning and communication with fun and much-appreciated energy boosts for staff! Below, you see one of our amazing Lincoln students, Emme, delivering Mr. Ruggiero’s coffee order alongside SLP, Mrs. Hirsh.
Below are some relevant highlights from the Board meeting. You can view the meeting in its entirety here.
Strategic Plan: The District is currently in the process of developing a new strategic plan. This strategic plan will identify and formalize the District’s goals for the next five years, strategize actions to achieve these goals, and identify various other critical elements needed to execute the District’s vision. As part of this process, I presented a strategic plan timeline to the Board. This timeline included an upcoming community survey you can expect to see in your email inbox and your mailbox in the coming weeks. Your feedback is crucial to developing a strategic plan that considers all voices. Our goal is to collect your thoughts on what we are doing well, where we can improve, and where we can focus our resources over the next few years. Please be on the lookout for these survey opportunities.
Equity Audit: The District is nearing the completion of the first three phases of an equity audit. Our final focus group sessions will be held on Oct. 25. Phase 4 will be the next phase of the Equity Audit where auditors will conduct a thorough analysis of all data collected. Once complete, the auditors will present their findings to the Board of Education in June of 2023. Thank you to all of the District 57 families, students, and staff who have participated in focus groups and/or completed a survey to contribute their voice to this process.
5-Year Facilities Plan: The Board reviewed the District’s 5-year facilities plan that was developed in conjunction with Green Associates, Inc. The plan for the current fiscal year (FY23) includes security enhancements at all facilities, upgraded controls at Lions Park and Fairview for AC/heating units, plumbing needs at Fairview, Lions Park, and Lincoln, and new intercoms at both Fairview and Westbrook. The FY24 budget includes playground enhancements at Fairview and Lions Park. The FY25/26 budgets include funds for new roofs and other items at the end of their life.
Finally, if you aren’t already connected with D57 on social media, I encourage you to do so. We highlight important District information there, as well as many of the incredible events, students, and staff at each of our four schools. Links to our social media pages can be found here: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.
Thank you for taking the time to stay informed. Enjoy your weekend!
In the spirit of education,
Dr. Mary Gorr
Superintendent of Schools
Mount Prospect District 57
