3/19/21 Enews From CCSD93

Dear Friend of CCSD93,

Messages From

Superintendent Hill:

As you know, each year in December we give a Satisfaction Survey to CCSD93's parents, students, and staff members. Respondents answer questions and provide 10-scale ratings across a wide range of categories encompassed in the educational experience. The resulting data is examined district-wide and at the school level and compared with previous years. This helps us understand what is working well within the district and better target where to focus efforts for improvement to provide the very best education to the children of our community.

I’ve previously shared this year’s elementary student and middle school student results. Today, I share our parent data. This year we adjusted the survey to add or reword questions to reflect the remote learning experience, which had been the mode of learning for most of our students for most of the year at the time the survey was taken. An all-time high of 1,235 parents took the survey, accounting for more ⅓ of our students. With a confidence level of 99% and a margin of error of 3%, the data should very accurately reflect the feelings of our parents. Here’s a look at the overall parent data.

While results across the board remain firmly within the high end of “good” and into the “excellent” rating categories, as defined within the survey and displayed in the scale in the image above, we have observed decline in several areas as compared to last year. Parent ratings for their child's principal and communications/involvement remained relatively stable; computer technology, teachers, Board of Education, our central administrative team, and curriculum and training experienced dips; and overall satisfaction experienced a notable decline from last year’s all-time high.

These results reflect the reality that this year has been difficult on many of our parents, and we are aware that attitudes may have shifted further in the months since this survey. As we have adjusted to safely educate students, the resulting schedule changes have far-reaching ramifications for many of our families. Without question learning entirely remotely or in person for only a portion of the day is less ideal than a traditional full day of in-person learning. That most categories experienced only a moderate dip is a testament to the resiliency of our community and the commitment our educators have for our students.

As we have worked to increase in-person learning opportunities, these results magnify the need to return to fully in-person instruction. This is a goal we have been striving for, and we continue to be committed to finding a path to, for the start of the 2021-22 school year.

Principals and school Building Leadership Teams (BLTs) will utilize their school's data to develop action plans and yearly School Improvement Plans, and our administrators use all of the data to inform decisions. We remain grateful for each parent, student, and staff member for taking the time to give us feedback.

Notes & Reminders on Post Spring Break Learning Schedules

As I shared with you last week, students across the district will experience an updated schedule that significantly increases in-person learning time for all elementary and middle school Hybrid Learning students after spring break beginning on April 8. The main obstacle to a full return remains the ability to safely offer lunch at the required six feet of distance.

As some nearby districts have been able to offer more complete returns, it is critical to note that two key differences exist from district to district that greatly impact this ability: the available space a given district has and the percentage of students who are attending in person. Our schools have very few open classrooms, and we have a relatively high percentage of students attending in person, with roughly 70% district wide and individual schools higher than 80%. From conversations with several area superintendents, in general those that are able to accommodate lunch can be characterized as having either a substantially lower percentage of students attending in person or significantly more available space. Those with similar circumstances as CCSD93 are those also unable to offer lunch at this time.

As a reminder, the following are the updates to the schedule that will be occurring after spring break.

An Update to CCSD93's Dual Language Program Beginning With 2021-22 Kindergarteners

CCSD93’s Dual Language Committee, consisting of Dual Language parents and teachers, as well as CCSD93 administrators, has met multiple times this year to collaboratively establish a path for the program moving forward. As shared previously, the group has already determined that the program will be housed at Stratford Middle School when its first cohort of students reach 6th grade in the 2021-22 school year.

The Committee has also worked to make improvements to the program at the elementary level. To address previously identified areas of improvement, the Committee has determined that moving forward, starting with 2021-22 kindergarten Dual Language students, Elsie Johnson Elementary School and Cloverdale Elementary School will each offer multiple Dual Language classrooms. Roy DeShane Elementary School will no longer add Dual Language classrooms.

By having multiple classrooms in each grade level at both Elsie Johnson and Cloverdale, CCSD93 can more efficiently and effectively deliver Dual Language education to students in the program. Visit this website for more information, what has already been shared with Cloverdale, Elsie Johnson and Roy DeShane families.

Please Adhere to Guidance if Traveling for Spring Break

If you plan to take a trip during spring break, CCSD93 strongly recommends following the CDC’s guidance for traveling, as depicted below.

Please Continue to Practice Safety

While DuPage County's COVID-19 data continues to trend in the right direction, please continue to stay vigilant in practicing the three W's of wearing a mask, watching your distance, and washing your hands frequently to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and contributing to conditions conducive to in-person learning.

Please review the following for more updates from CCSD93, and enjoy the weekend's spring weather!

Sincerely,

Dr. David H. Hill

Superintendent of Schools

CCSD93

Join Us for CCSD93 Preschool Registration 3/23

Parents of students who will be three or four years of age on September 1, 2021 are invited to attend CCSD93’s virtual Preschool Registration for the 2021-22 school year at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 23 at www.ccsd93.com/preschool.

Visit the website today for an informational video about attending preschool at the award-winning Early Childhood Center and even more about the program. At 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 23, an online pre-registration form will be activated on the website. Families should only complete this form if they intend to register for CCSD93’s preschool program. Form submissions will be time stamped and processed on a first-come, first-serve basis. CCSD93 will follow up with those who make submissions in the days following March 23, and families are not necessarily guaranteed a slot by submitting the form.

Please note, the Early Childhood Center is reaching out to families of current students and tuition students who were enrolled for the 2020-21 school year prior to COVID-19 measures causing CCSD93 to suspend tuition enrollment for the school year.

CCSD93 to Host Virtual Band Concerts 3/24

CCSD93 is excited to announce the premiere of our Virtual Band Concerts next week on Wednesday, March 24.

You’re invited to join Jay Stream students at 6:00 p.m. by connecting through this link, and then join Stratford students at 6:30 p.m. by connecting here. The middle school students will be joined by 5th graders from their feeder schools! Please note, the links won't be live until the event times.

Join us March 24!

You're Invited to GBN Indian Student Association Production 3/19 & 3/20

On March 19 and 20, Glenbard North’s Indian Student Association will proudly present its 2021 India Night Show: How to India. The performance will showcase the diversity of the Indian subcontinent through the forms of dance, song, fashion, and acting. It's one of the largest and most spectacular cultural shows in the state of Illinois, and it features many former CCSD93 students! So grab some popcorn, dosas, and samosas, and support many former CCSD93 students by joining the Indian Student Association for an unforgettable How to India experience.

Purchase your tickets here, and view the trailer below for more!

3/25 Board of Education Meeting Preview

CCSD93’s next Board of Education meeting will be held at Stratford Middle School (251 Butterfield Drive, Bloomingdale, IL 60108) at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 25. Before the meeting, at 6:45 p.m., the Board will hold a Board Listening Post, which is a time when community members are welcome to stop in and speak face-to-face with a Board member. All community members are invited to attend the meeting. The following are among the agenda items.

Stratford Middle School staff will present information on the school’s Pride Club, including a video featuring the Club’s students.
The Board will review the Board of Education meeting presentation topics for 2021-22.
The Board will review the following 13 Board Policies for first reading:
737 - Use of Educational Technologies: Student Data Privacy and Security
237 - Board Self-Evaluation
257 - Interdistrict Relationships
270.12 - Voting Method
236 - Board Member Media Communications
252 - Board/Staff Communications
262 - Petitions to the Board
265 - Consultants to the Board
335 - Administrative Work Year
345 - Administrative Procedures
350 - Policy Implementation
350.01 - Development of Administrative Rules
351 - Administration in Absence of Policy
Superintendent Hill will review the progress of the Board Goals.
There will be a report from the March 23 Finance Committee meeting.
The Board will vote on the approval of the Apple lease agreement for MacBooks and iPads for the 2021-22 school year.
The Board will vote on the approval of an extension of the landscaping contract with Twin Oaks Landscaping.

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