Volume 26, No. 1 | Wednesday, July 27, 2022

News from the July 26, 2022 meeting

Opening Plan Focuses on Learning Experience

When school opens on August 17, classrooms will look more like they did in 2020 with tables, rugs and collaboration space; lunch will return to normal practices; and physical distancing requirements for P.E. and recess will be dropped.

 

Superintendent Dr. Jason Pearson said the 2022-23 Draft Opening Plan follows health and safety protocols recommended by state and local public health agencies while trying to return to typical learning environments as much as possible. He noted this is still a draft plan because the district is expecting updated state and local health guidance to be issued before the start of school.

 

The district plans to offer optional at-home testing for students and staff, face masks will be recommended but not required in times of high community transmission, and close contacts who are asymptomatic may test to stay in school.

 

All schools will continue to follow prevention strategies that remain important in protecting students, staff and community members including:

  • enhanced ventilation and filtration;
  • handwashing and respiratory etiquette;
  • cleaning and disinfecting;
  • encouraging students and staff to stay up to date on vaccinations;
  • having students and staff stay home when sick and get tested;
  • isolation for positive cases;
  • quarantine for close contacts who cannot test; and
  • contact tracing when possible in coordination with IDPH and CCDPH guidance.

 

“The focus will be on providing as many uninterrupted typical learning experiences as possible while still keeping students and staff safe,” Dr. Pearson said. “COVID is something that is going to be around for a while and we need to find our new norm with COVID in our schools and community.”  

 

The 2022-23 Opening Plan, which was developed with input from the staff COVID Mitigation Committee, administration and board members, will be finalized for the first day of school and sent to all parents on Aug. 11.

Enrollment Growth, New Science Materials Part of Budget

The 2022-23 District 28 tentative budget accommodates growing enrollment at Meadowbrook School, an additional teacher for the Young Explorers Early Childhood program, new science curriculum materials, increased insurance and transportation costs and HVAC units for Meadowbrook and Greenbriar.

 

Local property taxes comprise 86% of the district’s total revenues. Tax receipts are projected to increase by 1.6% due to a combination of new property, the consumer price index that corresponds to tax receipt collections and taxpayer refunds.  

Chief School Business Official Jessica Donato presented an overview of the budget at a special Committee of the Whole meeting.

 

The budget projection assumes break-even revenues and expenses with the exception of $781,500 in contingency funds, which are not typically spent, and capital projects of $715,000 to replace HVAC units at Meadowbrook and Greenbriar. The district does not have long-term debt and instead pays for capital projects from its reserves.

 

 The board will approve the final budget at its September 27 meeting.

New Staff 2022-23

The Board of Education approved the following educators for the 2022-23 school year:

 

Caroline Hickey – Classroom Teacher, Young Explorers Program

Caroline Hickey joins the Young Explorers Program with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois - Champaign-Urbana and an English as a Second Language (ESL) Endorsement, also from the University of Illinois - Champaign-Urbana. She completed student teaching at Southside Elementary School in Champaign.


See a directory of new staff for 2022-23

Back to School

Important Dates

  • Aug. 5 - K-5 Class Placements Emailed at 3:30 p.m.
  • Aug. 11 - NBJH Schedule and Supply Pickup
  • Aug. 15 - Meadowbrook Kindergarten Meet the Teacher
  • Aug. 16 - Meet the Teacher at Greenbriar, Meadowbrook Gr. 1-5 and Westmoor
  • Aug. 17 - First Day of School


Visit our Back to School webpage for details, health forms and supply lists.

District Happenings

Sign Up Today for Blood Drive Sept. 10

Help District 28 Blood Drive by signing up to be a donor. The drive will be held from 9 a.m to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10 at Greenbriar School. Read how important blood donations can be from those who know: two District 28 colleagues and their battles with cancer.

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 23

The Board of Education is holding in-person meetings at Northbrook Junior High in the library. The meeting will follow 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 23.

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