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October Board of Education Recap
Board Meeting Highlights:
- Presentations and Discussion Items:
- The Board of Education recognized our Principals in honor of Principal Recognition Day. We appreciate Dr. April Miller, Mr. Nino Alvarez, Ms. Shaton Wolverton, Ms. Lisa Schaffer, Ms. Samantha Eiseman, and Ms. Erin Kranz for their commitment to the Winkelman and Field students, staff, and families as they work to implement the mission of District 31.
- The Board of Education recognized community partner CATCH. Community Action Together for Children’s Health (CATCH) mission is to empower families to foster resilience and prioritize mental health and emotional wellness in their children through educational programming, access to resources, and peer support. District 31 has partnered with CATCH to provide Fidget Kits for all 3rd and 6th-grade students for this school year. For the last two years, CATCH provided Mental Health Coping Kits to Field and Winkelman to offer children an assortment of tangible items and a list of strategies they can turn to and discover what works for them.. District 31 also partners with CATCH for “My Red Said,” a public awareness campaign designed to encourage conversations about mental health.
- Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Meg Knapik presented the Fall 2024 Data Review.
- Director of Finance and Operations Nicole Schramm reviewed the Financial Reports. In addition, she shared the 2024-2025 Public Disclosure of IMRF Compensation as well as the Post Issuance of Tax Compliance notification and report. These items are available on the District 31 website in Board Docs.
- The Board of Education reviewed the Superintendent's Report.
- The Board of Education reviewed the IASB resolution proposals. After a discussion, the board directed IASB representative Meghan McMillin to vote according to the IASB recommendations at the delegate meeting at the Joint Annual Conference in November, with the exception of resolution #9 related to Faith’s Law. In that instance, the Board would vote for this resolution to be reconsidered by IASB.
- The Board of Education reviewed the assumptions and parameters for the 2025-2026 school calendar. The calendar committee will use these assumptions to create a school calendar for the board to review in November and approve in December.
- The Board of Education made the following approvals:
- The Board of Education approved the Intergovernmental Agreement with Glenbrook 225.
- The Board of Education approved the consent agenda.
The Board of Education meets monthly, usually on the last Thursday of the month, at 7 p.m. in the Field Middle School Learning Center. We welcome any member of our community to attend in person or virtually via our live stream. Agendas, minutes, and the link to the live stream can be found here. The District 31 Board of Education is composed of seven elected representatives from the District 31 attendance area. Each is elected for a four-year term. Meet the members of the District 31 Board of Education here.
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November Board of Education Meeting
The next regular Board of Education meeting is Thursday, November 21, 2024, in the Field Learning Center at 7 p.m. The agenda is posted two days prior to the meeting here. The Finance Committee Meeting will take place in a separate meeting, just prior to the Public Hearing, at 6 p.m.
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Keeping our Schools Healthy
Cold and flu season is in full swing! The following link from the Mayo Clinic provides helpful information to help determine (by symptom) if your child may be suffering from COVID-19 versus the Flu, versus Allergies, versus a Cold: COVID-19, Cold, Allergies, and the Flu: What are the differences? If you are sick, STAY HOME!
Please adhere to the illness prevention guidelines below. We appreciate your support in helping keep our school community and our homes as healthy as possible.
Tips for Staying Healthy:
- Frequent hand washing is the BEST way to prevent and combat the spread of germs. Wash hands often with soap and water or hand sanitizer. (Tip: for young children, suggest singing the "Happy Birthday" song when washing hands to get rid of germs, approximately 15 seconds).
- Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or turn your head and use an elbow if a tissue is unavailable.
- Do not share drinks, food, or unwashed utensils. Make sure all family members wash their hands before unloading the dishwasher and setting the table.
- Get plenty of rest, eat healthy food, and eat nutritious snacks. Drink lots of water!
- Avoid being around people who are sick, and stay home when you are sick.
- Disinfect surfaces that are prone to germs (student desks, lockers, door knobs, keyboards, telephones, faucet handles, toothbrushes, etc.).
- Get a new toothbrush after recovery from a contagious illness.
- Keep current on your vaccines.
Contact your physician with any questions or concerns regarding your child's health, and please notify the school health office if your child has tested positive for a contagious illness. Thank you in advance for your consideration of others, adhering to the school guidelines and reinforcing healthy behaviors at home. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your school health office.
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District 31 Emergency Closing Information
During the school year, there may be times when one or both schools may be closed. In most cases, school closures are the result of weather-related conditions. The Northfield Township Superintendents have developed guidelines pertaining to these closures. The safety of all children is our top priority when making a decision to close or alter the school day. District 31 recognizes that conditions may vary for individual families; therefore, if school is open and you feel it is unsafe to send your child to school, please contact the school office and the student will be given an excused absence. Parents and students should assume that classes are in session at the normal time unless otherwise notified.
In the event of extreme weather or cold, students will participate in a traditional "snow day" (no remote learning), and the day will be made up at the end of the school year. However, if multiple school closings occur over the school year, it is up to the discretion of the Superintendent to transition from "snow days" to remote learning days. In the event that we have reached a threshold to consider remote learning days over "snow days," notification will be sent to families, and additional information concerning remote learning will be sent out from each school.
During periods of inclement weather or in emergency situations, our first priority is the safety and welfare of our students and staff. At the same time, the closing of school can be burdensome to families due to childcare and work schedules. We consider canceling school to be an exception, and we place a strong emphasis on keeping our schools open. Some of the primary factors that are considered when making a decision include:
- The safety and well-being of students and staff
- The severity of the weather (extreme cold, flooding, etc.)
- Timing of the weather events
- The ability of buses and cars to travel safely
- The operable condition of our buildings
The Superintendent of Schools determines when and if conditions at one or more of the schools warrant the cancellation of school. This decision is normally made in collaboration with the District administration, other area superintendents, local village departments, the bus service provider, and the Illinois Department of Transportation. West Northfield School District 31 works collaboratively with Glenbrook District 225 and our Northfield Township Districts 27, 28, 30, 34, and True North on school closings. Because we have many families whose students are enrolled within District 225 and District 31, we seek to be consistent in creating the least amount of disruption to our families. This may not always occur, but please be assured it is a priority in our deliberations.
In the event of a school closing or other emergency, parents can expect to receive an automated phone call and email. Please be sure your contact information is accurate and complete within our Skyward system. School closure decisions will normally be made before 6 a.m. on the day of closure. This allows weather conditions to be monitored overnight to avoid unnecessary closures. Closure decisions will only be made the night before if conditions are known with a high degree of certainty and warrant closure. Parents should establish contingency plans for possible closures throughout the school year, regardless of the season.
To read more about Emergency closing information, click here
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Family Engagement Committee
The Family Engagement Committee held its last meeting on October 28. This year, the Committee will be overseeing the Family Engagement Strategic Plan and working on implementation of the plan for the 2024-2025 school year.
The Committee meets once a month on Mondays at 7:15 p.m. If you are interested in joining the Parent Engagement Committee, please reach out to Hayley Garard at hgarard@district31.net.
Upcoming Family Engagement Committee Meeting Dates
- Monday, November 25 at 7:15 p.m.
- Monday. January 27 at 7:15 p.m.
- Monday, February 24 at 7:15 p.m.
- Monday, April 28 at 7:15 p.m.
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Department of Curriculum and Instruction News
The Department of Curriculum and Instruction continues to remain grateful for the ongoing dedication of all District 31 educators who are committed to supporting the growth of each and every student.
This year, we are engaging in a curriculum review cycle for K - 8 mathematics and PreK - 8 grade Social Emotional Learning (SEL). This year we are in the “Develop” phase of our District 31 Curriculum Review Cycle process, which is comprised of three stages:
- Phase 1: Research/Study: What is the current reality?
- Phase 2: Recommend: What should be done to improve the current reality?
- Phase 3: Prepare: How do we prepare for improvements?
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