District 289 discusses strategic planning goals and accomplishments

Jennifer Sommer
Posted 5/24/18

MENDOTA – Mendota Elementary School District 289 held their monthly meeting on May 17. School safety, strategic planning, and technology needs were discussed.

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District 289 discusses strategic planning goals and accomplishments

Posted

MENDOTA – Mendota Elementary School District 289 held their monthly meeting on May 17. School safety, strategic planning, and technology needs were discussed.

Superintendent Kristen School told the board she has recently participated in four webinars addressing what school districts learn after a school shooting or similar incident. "I feel this is an area I need to learn more about," she said.

School has been discussing the district's strategy with the administrative team. Lockdown procedures will be addressed with staff at a teacher's institute day this fall. The training will be aided by the Mendota Police Department, School said.

School then presented an update on the strategic plan and progress toward the district's goals. The four areas discussed included student growth, finance and facilities, safety and welfare, and community relations.

Student growth: The administrative team is evaluating new student assessment formats. Two technology committee meetings have been held to review and discuss the district's needs.

Finance and facilities: School and Beth Wackerlin, curriculum director, have attended evidence-based funding workshops and shared the information with the administrative team. A district-wide building needs list also is being compiled and the end of the year budget will be reviewed at next month's board of education meeting.

The district received a Healthy Communities grant for $33,000. The funds will be used for a jump start program set for Aug. 6-17. A portion will also offer at risk students opportunities for family engagement. Wackerlin noted they will be identifying those students who will be served by the grant and parents will receive a letter in the mail within the next few weeks.

Safety and welfare: The district made numerous lunch menu changes after switching to Arbor Management. Information on security updates at entrances of each building was presented to the board last month. The topic was tabled with more investigation on solutions needing to be done.

Community relations: The board implemented a Pause for Applause to acknowledge those doing good works within the district. The district will also be unveiling a new website very soon.

Action Items

The board approved the purchase of 105 Dell desktop computers to replace and update three labs. Cost to the district will be $54,180.

Arbor Management's renewal contract was approved with a 2.5 percent increase. Arbor Management began providing food service to the district in January.

A life safety amendment was approved and the replacement of the bell/PA system at Northbrook will be completed by Ficek Electric for $13,433.

Health insurance renewal from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois was approved with a 2.99 percent average cost of the overall plan increase. Life insurance and dental insurance plans were also renewed with a zero percent increase.

Finally, resignations were accepted from Erin Brodko, 5th grade teacher at Northbrook and Samantha Carlson, parent educator. Trish Schmidt, 6th grade social studies teacher will be retiring at the conclusion of the school year. Bill Hall will take over her class. Other newly hired teachers include Kaitlyn Thanepohn as 6th grade language arts teacher at Northbrook, Kaylee Siuda as K/1 special education teacher at Blackstone, and Stacie O’Brien as Title 1 teacher at Lincoln. Lindsey Zidow was hired as a part-time school psychologist for 120 days at a daily rate of $250 plus TRS.

The next board of education meeting will be held on Thursday, June 21 at 6:30 p.m. in the District 289 Education Center.