Good News
Principal Arwen Pokorny Lyp from Hinsdale South and Principal Bill Walsh from Hinsdale Central shared information about some of the events and activities the buildings have organized to help kick off the start of the school year.
You can access South's schedule for the first day of school by visiting
https://bit.ly/37BT6KI. You can also access details about Central's Back to School Bash, Sophomore Social, and Freshmen and New Student Experience/First Day of School by visiting
https://bit.ly/3saUiOH.
2021-22 Opening School Plan
The administration presented the board with the district's plan for the opening of the 2021-22 school year. Below is the information that was included in the presentation.
- Remain committed to the health and safety of students and employees.
- Maximize consistent in-person instruction based on the guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
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Updated sports safety guidance issued by IDPH on Aug. 10.
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Revised public health guidance for schools issued by IDPH and ISBE on Aug. 9.
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Updated FAQ featuring guidance for P-12 schools issued by IDPH and ISBE on Aug. 9
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Executive order about face coverings and other mitigation strategies issued by Governor Pritzker on Aug. 4.
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Interim guidance on testing for COVID-19 issued by IDPH on June 10.
- Public health crisis - the COVID-19 pandemic is an evolving health crisis that we will continue to navigate using the guidance from the CDC, IDPH and the DuPage County Health Department (DCHD).
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Levels of community transmission.
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Delta variant.
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Layered mitigation strategies.
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Fully vaccinated and physical distancing.
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Close contact.
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Quarantine and Test to Stay option.
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Outbreak.
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Diagnostic and screening testing system - PCR test and rapid antigen test.
- Overview and mission.
- Information about the test - results available quickly, highly accurate, no cost, etc.
- Details about SHIELD's lab system.
- Information about the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test.
- Information about the accuracy of the PCR test and its ability to screen for and identify variants.
- Details about the availability of free rapid antigen tests.
- The importance of performing frequent testing.
- Benefits of saliva tests.
- Information about the process used for collecting and testing samples.
- Responsibilities of IDPH/SHIELD and school districts.
- Options for implementing a weekly screening testing program.
- Breakdown of responsibilities when a third party operations partner is involved.
- Glossary of key terms.
- Opening School Year Plan - Overview
- Return to in-person instruction on a full-time basis for all students.
- Continue to promote opportunities for students, staff and families to get vaccinated.
- Maintain layered mitigation strategies, including universal masking for everyone regardless of their vaccination status.
- Continue to enforce updated guidance from the CDC, IDPH, ISBE and DCHD.
- Continue to provide additional supports for students based on SEL and academic needs from the previous and current school year.
- Continue to provide layered PPE for appropriate staff.
- Resume the traditional bell schedule for instruction and lunch.
- Remote learning option from last year is no longer available.
- Students and staff should stay home when sick.
- Opening School Year Plan - SHIELD Illinois
- Partner with SHIELD Illinois to provide students and staff with access to a robust COVID-19 diagnostic and screening testing system.
- Any student or employee may give consent to participate in the program.
- Any unvaccinated student or employee who is involved in or is leading a district-sponsored extracurricular activity or sport must take part in the screening program in order to participate in that activity or sport.
- Close contact students can access the Test to Stay option if it is approved by DCHD.
- Students deemed to be part of an outbreak protocol can access the testing system to remain in school.
- Currently awaiting final protocols from IDPH and SHIELD.
- Opening School Year Plan - Operations
- Ventilation - Unit vents set at 30% outside air until temperatures fall; filters and air handlers will be replaced closer to the start of school to minimize construction dust; similar to last year, unit vents and air handlers will be set to run from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Lunch program - selection of pre-packaged options that students can pay for with cash or through their PushCoin account; initially streamlined for efficiency and health precautions.
- Events and activities - If community transmission level in DuPage County is high, there will be no districtwide staff gathering for institute day, curriculum nights will be virtual and parent-teacher conferences will be conducted via phone.
- First Student transportation - face coverings required (district will provide extra face coverings for each route that can be given to students who do not have one); no restrictions on capacity.
- T-Mobile hotspots - District utilized a grant to secure 226 devices with unlimited internet for any student in financial need.
- Communications - Buildings will send students information about the safety protocols and expectations for the year on Aug. 24.
- Opening School Year Plan - SEL
- Surveyed students who were remote all of last year.
- Making phone calls to those who expressed the most concerns.
- Providing students who were remote with a chance to tour the buildings and discuss their concerns (Central on Aug. 18 and South on Aug. 23)
- During the first month, will meet on an individual basis with students who express elevated anxiety.
- Opening School Year Plan - Academics
- Utilize early MAP testing in English and math to assess/identify learning gaps.
- Course team collaboration on late arrival days will be focused on student assessment and curriculum enrichment.
- Core subject interventionists in English, math, science and social studies will be used to address identified student needs.
- Expand the Excel (intervention) programs - used American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding to increase the number of academic, SEL and support staff in each building; will increase accessibility/flexibility (space and time) during the school day; will assign core content interventionists to work with Excel program students.
- Summer remediation for students who received an NG (No Grade) last year (total of 153 students in 334 courses) - 54 students (36% of the total) completed the credit recovery in 134 courses (40% of the total) over the summer; 82 of the students (53% of the total) plan to complete the credit recovery in 97 courses (29% of the total) during first semester (Excel program, study hall, working independently, etc.); 17 students (11% of the total) did not attempt or start remediation in 103 courses (31% of the total with an average of six courses per student) over the summer and will be enrolled in Excel programs on both campuses for intensive academic and clinical interventionist support.
- Data dashboard for the 2021-22 school year
- DuPage County is currently in a high level of community transmission. The schools will continue to notify students, staff and families when there is a positive case in their building.
- Vaccinations in DuPage County - 54% of people ages 12 to 17 are fully vaccinated; 60% of the county's eligible population (ages 12 or older) has received at least one dose.
- The health services departments for Hinsdale Central, Hinsdale South and the Transition Center are continuing to collect proof of vaccination for our students.
- Continue to monitor guidance (e.g., vaccination, face coverings, lunch, social distancing, quarantining, etc.) from DuPage County Health Department, IDPH and ISBE.
- R3 Committee meetings following the release of updated guidance.
- Begin rollout of the SHIELD testing program Sept. 8.
- Communicate operational expectations to students and parents/guardians.
- Continue to provide the community and board with updates.
After the presentation, community members had the chance to ask the board and administration questions about the plan. When the Q&A session concluded, the board approved the following items:
Board - New Business
During the portion of the meeting that was dedicated to new business, the board discussed the next steps for its community engagement plan. These next steps include:
- Members Held and Waters hosting an informal sit-down/coffee in late September or early October at a location in a feeder district that is outside of the attendance area where they live. The idea is to have them meet and connect with people they do not know, but who are part of the greater District 86 community. The board will also use the response and input they receive from this session to help plan future ones. Held and Waters will work with the administration to organize and publicize the event.
- Board President Walker doing initial outreach to the board presidents from the feeder districts to gauge their interest in forming a D86 Feeder Boards Advisory Council. If there is interest, the next step may be to formally present the idea to each of the feeder district boards during one of their meetings.
- The board revisiting the town hall concept at a later date.
Committee Reports
Members of the Finance Committee provided the board with a report from their meeting on July 21. During this meeting, the committee:
- Reviewed the proposed agreement with Power Ad and determined that it should be brought to the board for review and approval during its meetings in August. Key takeaways from the agreement included:
- Exclusivity for advertisers would be determined on a case-by-case basis.
- The pricing structure for sponsorships would be proposed by Power Ad and approved by the district.
- There would be a carve out of existing sponsorship relationships with the Hinsdale Central Booster Club and the Hinsdale South Athletic Club so they can continue to manage those spaces and relationships outside of the agreement.
- Finalized the following recommendations about advertising and revenue from sponsorship agreements:
- Review and expand policy 8:25 (Advertising and Distributing Materials in Schools Provided by Non-School Related Entities) to provide detailed guidelines on allowable advertising content.
- Allow 10% of the district-generated revenue from sponsorship agreements (exempting naming rights) to flow through from Central to the Booster Club and from South to the Athletic Club.
- Finalized its charter and operational calendar.
Members of the Human Resources Committee provided the board with a report from their meeting on Aug. 3. During this meeting, the committee discussed:
- The annual certified staffing process.
- Documentation to support hiring decisions.
- Results of the 2020-21 non-union professional development/longevity bonus plan.
Members of the Parent-Teacher Advisory Committee (PTAC) provided the board with a report from their meeting on July 19. During this meeting, the committee performed its inaugural data review and discussed the academic health of the district. You can access information about the data sets that were used and the key takeaways from the meeting by visiting
https://bit.ly/2VNEFAk.
In addition to receiving the reports mentioned above, the board voted to release the draft minutes from these meetings as part of the consent agenda.
Consent Agenda
The board approved the consent agenda as presented. The consent agenda includes personnel, stipends, board bills and meeting minutes. Please visit https://bit.ly/3ABSaT4 to access the consent agenda items beginning under number seven.
Approve Agreement with Anew Collective Consulting, LLC and Saxman Consulting, LLC
The board approved an agreement with Anew Collective Consulting, LLC and Saxman Consulting, LLC to support the work that is being done to advance the district's equity statement. You can access the agreement by visiting
https://bit.ly/3rqLfZv.
Board President's Report
There was no board president's report for this meeting.
Superintendent’s Report
Superintendent Tammy Prentiss talked about the construction that has been taking place at the buildings this summer, and the work that is being done to ensure that they will be ready for the return of students and staff. She also mentioned that she is looking forward to sharing details about the first day of school during the next board meeting, especially since they are scheduled to take place on the same day.
Approve Revisions to the Calendar for the 2021-22 School Year
The board approved revisions to the calendar for the 2021-22 school year that will enable the district to accommodate the DuPage Regional Office of Education's countywide institute day on March 4, 2022. The changes include:
- Shifting the district's second semester institute day from Feb. 25 to March 4.
- Shifting parent-teacher conferences for second semester from Feb. 24 to March 3.
- Shifting the Feb. 28 late arrival day to Feb. 21.
Treasury and Financial Reports
Per its regular cadence of reporting, the administration provided the board with the treasury and financial reports for June 2021. You can access the treasury report by visiting
https://bit.ly/3s9yinj and the financial reports by visiting
https://bit.ly/3CJXzJq.
Agreement with Power Ad
The board reviewed and discussed a proposed agreement with Power Ad to develop a framework that will help the district manage sponsorship and advertising opportunities moving forward. The impetus for this agreement is the discussion the Finance Committee has been having about the revenue sharing of sponsorship and advertising funds that will be generated by the addition of new video scoreboards at Hinsdale Central and Hinsdale South.
The agreement is scheduled to be brought back to the board for approval during its meeting on Aug. 26.
Operational Calendar and Future Agenda Items
The board reviewed and discuss its operational calendar for the year. It also talked about possible agenda items for future meetings, including:
- The creation of a task force that would study the issue of course offerings and scheduling conflicts and help the district identify potential solutions. The board decided to table this discussion until October, which is when it will receive its next update on the status/progress of district's curriculum alignment work.
- The future of G-level courses in the district. The board expressed interest in seeing data related to the district's AR/G-level courses, more specifically what has been the impact of eliminating them at Hinsdale South and keeping some of them at Hinsdale Central. A discussion about this topic is scheduled to take place in September.
- A presentation from Anew Collective Consulting, LLC and Saxman Consulting, LLC about the work being done this year to help advance the district's equity statement. There was no date set for this presentation.
