Volume 25, No. 1 | Wednesday August 4, 2021
News from the July 27, 2021 meeting
Face Masks, Voluntary Testing Part of Opening Plan
The district leaders and staff are busy preparing to open the school doors to all K-8 students on August 19 and Young Explorers on August 23. While the school year promises to be closer to a ‘normal’ environment, the top priority is the health and safety of students and staff.

Superintendent Dr. Larry Hewitt outlined the protocols and practices that will be in place to start the school year with the caveat that changes may happen at any time depending on several factors.

“Nothing is set in stone,” Dr. Hewitt said. The plan is based on the guidance approved by the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Department of Public Health that was updated July 27.

The opening plan will include vigilant monitoring of health metrics and flexible and responsive mitigation strategies. Remote learning will only be offered for temporary circumstances such as quarantine for close contact or if a child is COVID positive. Dr. Hewitt provided an overview of practices and protocols to the board. 

The opening plan currently includes the following highlights:

  • Face masks will be required for all students and staff regardless of vaccination status while indoors. Masks are not required outdoors unless 6-foot distancing cannot be maintained.

  • The voluntary SHIELD Illinois Salvia Test program will be available to all students and staff. The purpose of the program is to closely monitor cases of COVID-19 to prevent an outbreak. The test was developed by the University of Illinois and is being provided free to the district through the Illinois Department of Public Health. The district is exploring the state’s Test-to-Stay option for unvaccinated individuals who are considered close contacts as an option to remain in school rather than quarantining, as long as testing occurs on days one, three, five, and seven from the date of exposure and the test results are negative. However, it is not allowed as an option if Cook County is in the “substantial transmission” category.

  • Social distancing indoors is reduced from 6 feet to a minimum of 3 feet whenever possible with face masks. Six feet will be maintained when students have masks removed for eating.

  • Daily Health Certification will continue for all students and staff using the same system as last year (CrisisGo) for in-person students.

  • Travel restrictions vary depending on vaccination status. Unvaccinated individuals who return from states with an ‘orange’ status or from international travel will be required to quarantine and provide a negative PCR test. Vaccinated individuals who are asymptomatic are only required to quarantine after international travel.

For additional details, please review the complete 2021-22 Opening Plan, which was updated Aug. 1, and is also hosted on the district website.

The district is compiling a list of questions from parents regarding the new school year. Please use this link to submit your question(s): Parent FAQ
Superintendent Search Process Begins
 
The Board of Education hired a search firm with local roots to conduct a superintendent search to replace Dr. Larry Hewitt when he retires June 30, 2022.

The Board interviewed three firms at a special meeting July 21 and voted to approve an agreement with School Exec Connect at the July 27 meeting. The consultants who will lead the search are Dr. Linda Yonke, a retired superintendent from New Trier High School who lives in Northbrook, and Dr. Devon Horton, superintendent of Evanston/Skokie District 65.

Board Member Jennifer Gallinson reported that their references commented in detail about the excellent community involvement that was part of the search process. Their community felt heard and there was alignment between the community and the board, she said.

The process will begin late summer/early fall with an organizational meeting with the board followed by community engagement including a survey of staff and community as well as focus groups. The consultants will use this feedback to develop a superintendent profile, then they will recruit a candidate pool and select a slate of candidates for the board to interview late fall/early winter.

This firm has recently worked with a variety of districts including Deerfield District 109, Elmhurst District 205, Barrington District 220 and Park Ridge-Niles District 64.
Finance
2021-22 Tentative Budget Reflects Stable Finances
The 2021-22 tentative budget reflects a stable financial picture with revenues covering expenses for the coming school year.
 
This year’s revenues received a $577,735 boost from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund as well as slightly higher tax receipts due to a combination of new property development and a 2.3% Consumer Price Index, which determines the total increase in property taxes the district can collect.
 
The tentative district budget approved by the Board of Education calls for spending on a new district-wide science curriculum and additional grammar and math supports. Transportation costs are also increasing as outlined in the District’s contract, plus added special education transportation costs and an increase in bus routes.
 
Capital projects are also part of the spending plan, including security upgrades at all four schools and roofing repairs at Northbrook Junior High and Greenbriar School that are being completed this summer.
 
Employee health insurance costs are decreasing slightly. Salary increases for certified staff is based on the current salary schedule while support staff and administrator salary increases are projected at 2.5%. The certified salary schedule is developed based on 19 comparable districts with each salary cell at the median or higher.

The tentative $45 million budget has an ending balance of $36,207. The final budget will be reviewed and approved by the Board of Education at the Sept. 21 regular meeting.
New Staff 2021-22
Elizabeth Immer, Meadowbrook Science Lab
Elizabeth Immer will be the new science lab teacher at Meadowbrook School. She most recently worked as a science specialist at Rowe Elementary School in Chicago. She has a master’s degree from Dominican University and a bachelor’s degree from DePaul University. Elizabeth has also recently served as a teacher leader for the Science Leadership Initiative for the Museum of Science and Industry.

Megan Roberts, Greenbriar Kindergarten Teacher
Megan Roberts is the new Kindergarten teacher at Greenbriar. She has a bachelor’s degree in history from Lawrence University and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Dominican University. She has taught preschool for six years and kindergarten for five years, most recently as a remote kindergarten teacher in District 30.
District Happenings
Learning Continues With Summer Programs

A new Getting Ready Camp helped about 65 students build their confidence in literacy and math skills during a 12-day program in preparation for the start of the school year.

The Getting Ready Camp began mid-July for incoming 1st-grade through 6th-grade students who had received additional literacy and math support last year. Incoming 6th-graders participated in a Math Mindset program while 1st-grade through 5th-grade students worked on both literacy and math skills. 

The camp was one of three learning opportunities District 28 students had this summer. The district’s traditional enrichment summer school was open to all students, though there was limited capacity this year due to COVID mitigation measures. A total of 437 students participated in 98 different courses centered around mindfulness, fine arts, gardening, technology, literacy, sports and more. Extended School Year was offered to 54 students by invitation to provide additional academic support in June through July 4. 

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Kris Raitzer said the new Getting Ready Camp will be evaluated, and she expects to continue offering and possibly expanding it next year.

Above, Mrs. Rench leads a class during Getting Ready Camp.
Want to Know More?
Livestream/Archive Video
The Board of Education meetings are live-streamed on the District 28's YouTube Channel. The live streams are also archived for later viewing.

Next Meeting is August 24
The Board of Education is holding in-person meetings at Northbrook Junior High. The meeting will be held following health and safety protocols. The meetings will continue to be live-streamed on the District 28 YouTube channel. The next regular meeting of the Board of Education is scheduled for 7 p.m. on August 24.