Public Participation
Members of the community spoke on a range of issues including what they described as the unfair denial of full-time status for the Lake Forest High School chapter of the Young Americans for Freedom and the importance of allowing families to choose whether or not students will wear masks in school in the fall. Also mentioned were health concerns about masks; a plea that the Board push back against state-mandated COVID-19 mitigation efforts; strong leadership demonstrated by the Board, Board President Jenny Zinser, and new superintendent Dr. Matthew Montgomery; and a call for community unity.
President’s Report
Board President Jenny Zinser welcomed Superintendent Dr. Matthew Montgomery, who assumed leadership of Districts 115 and 67 on July 1 and has moved to Lake Forest with his wife and four children. She also welcomed new LFHS Principal Dr. Erin Lenart, who also began July 1 and has moved to Lake Forest along with her husband.
Ms. Zinser shared details of a meeting she and community members had with Illinois State Sen. Julie Morrison, whose District 29 includes Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, and Knollwood. The focus of the meeting, she said, was to establish a better understanding of what state COVID-19 mandates and/or guidance the District could expect and when those decisions would be made. Sen. Morrison indicated she would speak to Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Ms. Zinser said, adding that she expected to hear soon from Sen. Morrison and would share information as it becomes available.
Ms. Zinser also thanked LFHS administrators and staff, Board members, and parents for their role in creating “a very special and memorable graduation ceremony for the Class of 2021” in June. “As both a Board member and a parent of a graduate I truly appreciate the time, energy, creativity, and tremendous effort that was invested on behalf of our seniors,” she said. “I know the Class of 2021 felt it missed out on many of the special moments that generally make up senior year. But their graduation ceremony was not one of them.”
Superintendent’s Report
In his first meeting as superintendent, Dr. Montgomery, thanked the community for its support as he begins his new role and he and his family settle into their new home. His report featured an update from LFHS Principal, his Entry Plan (the first of what he says will be ongoing communication on the topic), and COVID-19 risk-mitigation news.
Principal’s Report: Dr. Lenart, in her first District 115 Board meeting, thanked the community for a warm welcome. As she begins her new role, she said parent/student town halls on the safe return to school are planned (with the first one at 6:30 p.m. on August 11) as is weekly communication with the community that will enable parent feedback. She said LFHS is “deep into Summer School,” athletic camps are underway, and planning is ongoing for a full return to in-person learning in the fall, “All In Every Day.” The 2021-22 school year begins August 16 for staff; students return August 18.
Entry Plan: Dr. Montgomery shared a roadmap of how he will work with District and community stakeholders to get a “temperature read” on District goals. “As a new leader,” he said, “it is not my job to come with the answers but rather to come with the questions and then together we decide where we want to go on a joint journey, arm in arm.” On his roadmap are highlights including three Board retreats, the first of which was July 14; one-on-one meetings with Board members; meetings with civic leaders; meetings with every staff member; classroom visits; and a November “Gratitude Tour” for Districts 115 and 67. “This,” he said, “is just the beginning.”
Risk Mitigation Update: With a decision still pending on the District’s mask policy for the fall, Dr. Montgomery shared what’s known following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s July 9 Updated Guidance, which the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) adopted. That guidance calls for masks to be worn indoors by all individuals (age 2 and older) who are not fully vaccinated and recommends schools maintain at least 3 feet of physical distance between students within classrooms. Dr. Montgomery also wrote to Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, urging a return to “local control regarding COVID-19 risk mitigation protocols in our schools, based on local data and stakeholder input.” At the meeting he said he did not know if the letter will have an impact “but I felt from my personal perspective … local control matters and we should be working, or the Governor should be working, to allow us to make the decisions that are best for our unique needs.” He said the District was weighing the guidelines and local COVID-19 data ahead of his recommendation to the Board. “My commitment is that we are going to examine the local data, work together as a collaborative team, and make the decisions that hopefully meet the needs of all of the folks that we serve.”
Education Committee
Committee Chair Dewey Winebrenner said he would be meeting with Dr. Montgomery and preparing the committee’s calendar for the upcoming year.
Finance and Operations Committee
Committee Chair John Noble said the committee met June 15 and July 7, with the 2021-22 tentative budget (which the Board approved the resolution to display later in the meeting) discussed at the July meeting.
Policy Committee
Sally Davis, the committee chair, said the District 115 and 67 Joint Policy Committees met on July 8. Second readings of policies they discussed were approved by the Board later in the July 12 Board meeting.
ED-RED Legislative Update
John Noble, legislative liaison, said there would be an ad-hoc meeting later in July with ED-RED regarding mandates.
TrueNorth Educational Cooperative 804 Update
John Venson said the next meeting will be in August.
Action Items
Approved Approval of Action on LFEA Grievance
Upcoming Meeting
Monday, Sept. 13, 2021 - 7 p.m.
