The information below summarizes highlights from the District 38 Board of Education (BOE) meetings. Agendas are posted 48 hours in advance of meetings to the website and Board packets before each meeting and Board minutes once approved. Regular meetings are recorded and posted to the school website within 48 hours for viewing.

NOTE: Due to Phase 4 space restrictions in a single space, in-person participation for a BOE meeting is limited to the Board of Education Members and Administration. The BOE will be conducting virtual meetings via Zoom. Information to virtually attend a meeting or to provide public comment during the meeting is posted on each meeting agenda on our website under Meeting Documents 48 hours prior to the meeting.
Kenilworth School District 38 Board Briefs

Highlights from the Regular Meeting on March 15, 2021
 
Staffing Plan: The Board held a hearing on the 2021-2022 Staffing Plan. The plan was approved with a Board vote of 6 Ayes, 1 Nay, and 0 absent. 

Each spring, the administrative team reviews the staffing needs for the upcoming school year and recommends a staffing plan to the Board of Education. The primary consideration in developing a staffing plan is the maintenance of a sound and balanced educational program that keeps the students’ best interests at the forefront and is consistent with the functions and responsibilities of the school system.

The approved staffing plan:

  • Continues to offer small class sizes.
  • Expands the Junior Kindergarten program.
  • Allows students with IEPs to receive the same allocation of resources as their plans provide from Student Services teachers. 
  • Continues to offer student interventions at all grade levels.
  • Allows Junior High students to receive more personalized and differentiated instruction and intervention directly from their primary subject teachers, daily, during specific time periods.
  • Continues to offer World Language at all grade levels, including a French and Spanish course in grades JK-4, and the option to study French, Spanish, or Latin as a core academic subject in grades 5-8.
  • Continues to offer General Music in grades JK-3.
  • Continues to provide Band, Choir, and Orchestra in grades 4-8 based on student selection.
  • Continues to offer Practical Arts and Industrial Arts.
  • Provides more equitable workloads and planning time for teachers throughout the schoolhouse.

Part of this year’s process includes Reduction in Force which results in Honorable Dismissals. Individuals were determined by the School Code, which involves a seniority list that is reviewed and approved by the KEA based on years of service, qualifications, and other factors. If we see a significant increase in enrollment or students with IEP needs, and there is a reason to restaff, these individuals will be given the first opportunity to fill the positions for which they are qualified.  
 
While the administration and the Board do not make these decisions lightly, this staffing plan better aligns the District’s staffing with its student population while continuing to offer the high-quality education The Joseph Sears School is known for.
New Hire: The BOE voted to approve incoming Superintendent Kate Donegan’s recommendation to hire Mr. Nathan McBride, as Director of Technology and Innovation for the 2021-22 school year.

Mr. Nathan McBride currently serves as the Director of Innovation and Instructional Technology in Skokie School District 73.5, a position he has held for the last four years. In his current position, Nate has had several experiences that align with the initiatives of the school district. Nate was key during a significant construction project where he managed all aspects of technology, safety, and the learning environment including furniture review, purchase, and implementation. He chaired the District Equity Leadership Team, the Learning Environment Strategic Plan committee, Mentor Teacher committee, and led several professional developments. He was also instrumental in leading a PreK-8 STEAM curriculum adoption and implementation.

Prior to his administrative post, Nate taught both social studies and STEM in addition to being a technology integration specialist. He sponsored the Fairview South Robotics Team to two national competition appearances. He is Project Lead the Way trained and brings a wealth of classroom experience. 

Nate's background in teaching, technology, and leadership makes him an ideal candidate to lead the technology department.
2021-2022 School Calendar: The Board approved the proposed 2021-2022 school calendar. as well as a starting date for the 2022-2023 school year. The calendar coordinates with the NTHS calendar while also allowing for an extended summer in 2022 to accommodate planned building construction. The students’ first day of school will be August 18 in 2021 and September 8 in 2022.
Master Facilities Plan (MFP) Update: Master Facilities Plan (MFP) Update: The Board approved the budget presented by Frederick Quinn Corporation (FQC), the project Construction Management Company, which outlined expenses related to demolition and buildout of the Junior Kindergarten classrooms and Junior Kindergarten/Kindergarten(JK/K) hub area taking place this summer.

The Board also approved the contract with DLA Architects upon legal review.

DLA Architects shared renderings of the JK classrooms and JK/K hub. You can see the design renderings and details regarding the demolition and construction that will begin this summer by visiting the Vision Sears page on the school website.

The Building and Finance Committee’s primary focus is the implementation of the Master Facilities Plan. The Board and Administration are committed to including stakeholder feedback throughout the implementation of the MFP. Members of the community are welcome to attend the Regular BOE meetings and the Building and Finance Committee Meetings.
Policy Review Update: The Policy Committee began in August with a comprehensive review of our Board policies with the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB). In December, the Policy Committee met with a representative from IASB to finalize our draft policy manual. The Policy Committee reviewed every policy to determine which policies to adopt as presented, those that required editing or required unique language for the District, and those policies the Committee recommended not to adopt. The Board approved the adoption of the draft policy manual as presented on February 8, 2021.

There are policies that the Committee determined still require a broader discussion and potential changes to the language before consideration for adoption. The following is a list of those policies. The Policy Committee presented them for a first read at the March 15, 2021, Board of Education meeting. They will be considered for adoption at the April 19 Regular Board Meeting. You can review the suggested changes in the board packet.

1. 5:10 – Equal Employment Opportunity and Minority Recruitment
2. 5:20 – Workplace Harassment Prohibited
3. 5:330 – Sick Days, Vacation, Holidays, and Leaves
4. 5:186 – Private Professional Services
5. 7:310 – Restrictions on Publications; Elementary Schools
6. 7:325 – Student Fundraising Activities

The Board adopted a revision to policy 6:60 – Curriculum Content. This policy has a change due to an update to the Illinois School Code that mandates that the Pledge of Allegiance be recited daily in public schools.
Calendar Review:

  • March 29, 2021, through April 9, 2021; Spring Break
  • April 15, 2021; BOE Building and Finance Committee Meeting
  • April 19, 2021; Regular Board meeting
  • May 3, 2021; Regular Board meeting (moved from May 17, 2021)
  • May 6, 2021; BOE Building and Finance Committee Meeting
  • June 3, 2021; BOE Building and Finance Committee Meeting
  • June 21, 2021; Regular Board meeting
Please direct your questions or comments to the Kenilworth School District No. 38 by sending an email to listen@kenilworth38.org. All messages are sent to the Board of Education members, Superintendent, and the Board of Education Secretary, and are subject to the Freedom of Information Act. Thank you!
Kenilworth School District No. 38 Board of Education
Responsibility, Kindness, Honesty, Respect