Goals & Progress 2025-2026

Math Specialists continue to support students through intervention and enrichment, by either pushing into classrooms during the math block or pulling students out for targeted instruction. To strengthen their ability to coach teachers in high-quality math practices, the Specialists participated in one full-day training session and one full-day coaching lab this fall. They also continue this work during their monthly Math Specialist meetings.

The Math Leadership Team - comprising K–8 teachers, instructional coaches, specialists, and administrators - convened in mid-November to determine whether to initiate a full curriculum review, a process that involves evaluating and piloting math instructional materials for potential District-wide adoption. Following thoughtful discussion, the Team reached clear consensus at each level. At the elementary level, 80 percent of members expressed strong support for continuing with our current math curriculum resource, Eureka^2, citing its alignment with instructional priorities and positive impact on student learning. In contrast, the middle school team expressed overwhelming interest in piloting a new resource, Amplify Desmos Math, to explore how it may better support student learning and engagement. As a result, the District will officially launch a targeted middle school  curriculum review in mid-January. This process will include a structured evaluation process, classroom piloting, and opportunities for educator and student feedback as we determine the best path forward for math instruction at Gemini.

During the first half of the school year, the Director of Multilingual Services provided professional development to staff that focused on improving differentiation practices for newcomer/multilingual students and refining co-planning/co-teaching practices at Apollo, Gemini, Mark Twain, and Nelson. The Director will meet with Melzer and Washington staff during the second half of the year.

During the first half of the school year, school leadership sent regular monthly attendance updates for all families. Additionally, teachers and Principals have reached out directly to parents of students who are absent more than two times in a single week, as well as to students who are frequently tardy. Our student attendance remains comparable to this time last year.

The EDI Committee comprising administrators, teachers, support staff, and related services staff met on September 18. The group participated in some professional development and work time building out EDI activities for the District's second trimester essential curriculum maps.  The Committee will meet for the second time on January 22, during which time the group will participate in professional development and continue to work on the tasks outlined in the three-year EDI plan.

Oakton College pulled out of its agreement to teach English classes at the FRC this year due to budget cuts.

From October 12 - 26, the District 63 community was surveyed on FRC services and programming needs. The survey asked about the likelihood of participation in the various FRC programs and services, what barriers might prevent them from participating, and what other options they would like to see offered. Results were positive re the likelihood of participation, and 93 percent of respondents reported that they would recommend the FRC to anyone seeking the services and programs it provides.

Instructional Technology Coaches (ITCs) provided District-wide professional development (PD) on digital citizenship in September. In October and December, the ITCs provided professional development on AI integration.

The Digital Citizenship Framework (DCF) has been implemented into elementary social emotional learning (SEL) time throughout the first half of the year, and the library essential curriculum maps. In the middle school, core DCF lessons continue to be taught in social studies with mini-lessons taking place during advisory time.

All new 2025-26 certified staff completed a virtual onboarding training.

STEAM clubs will begin in January at all elementary schools; Gemini is hosting two robotics clubs.

The District Technology Committee completed a final draft of District AI Guidelines, which will be reviewed by the administrative team. ITCs continue to provide teacher training on AI implementation.

Most of our elementary and Early Learning Center staff have been trained on using our data warehouse and entering data to facilitate student progress reviews. Staff at our remaining elementary school will be trained in January, while staff at Gemini will be trained next fall. Training videos and job aides are also being finalized and will be made available to staff in the new year.

The District Cybersecurity Specialist has implemented an incident response plan. Cybersecurity audits and assessments are ongoing.

For fiscal year 2024-25 (FY25), the District was at the ISBE Recognition level. The budget adopted by the Board last September ensures that the District will maintain at least a Review designation.

The five-year financial projections were presented at the April 2025 Board meeting and highlighted two scenarios. Under scenario #1, the District would continue under the same staffing levels. Under scenario #2, the District would let attrition run its course and eliminate certain position to start aligning revenues with expenditures. This second scenario is the path we are taking, generating cost savings of about $1.5 million over two years: $800,000 in fiscal year 2025-26 (FY26) and the balance in fiscal year 2026-27 (FY27). 

Last summer, we updated the STIL Program's sensory room as well as the music and art rooms at Washington. This process is ongoing and over the next year, we will finalize a priority list for all learning spaces across all schools. 

The update of the Washington learning spaces was done efficiently and effectively. Projects were completed on time and within budget under a general contractor construction model. As we prioritize learning space updates across all schools over the next year, we will make a recommendation on the appropriate construction model to use (general contractor, construction manager, or design-build). The final decision on which model to use will depend on the complexity of the improvements.

Wold Architects will be filing the next set of Life Safety Reports with ISBE this month.

These Life Safety Reports will become the District's priority list of remaining life safety infrastructure projects (priority levels B and C).

Last summer, the District updated the most critical (priority A) life safety projects across all schools. All were completed on time and within budget. The execution of priority B and C life safety projects (see B. above) is anticipated to begin in the summer of 2026 across all schools. 

The District continues to maintain regular and extensive communication with families and staff. This fall, staff received final training on ParentSquare; it is well accepted and used extensively. We did explore upgrades to our digital signs, but such a change comes at significant cost.

Communications supported a wide variety of school and District priorities over the summer and into the fall - from back-to-school events and information to the summer print newsletter (see below) and extensive staff training on ParentSquare.

Our summer print newsletter featured parents, teachers, and students sharing how District 63 inspired them - and the Superintendent's column focused on how the District maintains its facilities. Each staff newsletter features either a new staff member - or one who has been with the District for many years - sharing their own experience here.

Our first and second PTO President Leadership Councils of the school year took place on October 8 and January 7. Apollo launched its first PTO; Communications has been providing support for staff and the new President.

FRC programming continues to leverage District communications.

Our local partners list has been updated. 

Niles Mayor George Alpogianis visited Nelson on September 16; the Director of Communications and Superintendent attended several legislator-related functions, generally through ED RED and local Chambers of Commerce. The Director of Communications & Community Relations continues to chair the Niles Chamber Legislative Committee.

Stay interviews with 20 teachers from across the District during the second half of the school year.

A second D63 in 63 Seconds video has been completed.

Marketing has continued for open positions using student perspectives on why individuals should work in District 63.

Preparations have begun for the East Maine Custodial Maintenance Association (EMCMA) negotiations scheduled for 2026.