District Updates
Board Approved SAVVAS Social Studies Curriculum for Grades 2-5
The Board approved a contract for SAVVAS Social Studies curriculum for grades 2-5 at Brook Forest Elementary. Administrators and teachers invested a significant amount of time researching and identifying outstanding curriculums that align with students’ skill levels. After reviewing other offerings such as McGraw-Hill Education, Young Citizens, Social Studies School Service, and TCI, the District ultimately determined SAVVAS had the best curriculum offering.
Board Approves Timeline for District’s Strategic Plan
The Board of Education approved the Butler School District 53 strategic plan timeline. The timeline is broken into quarters, with the first quarter starting in July.
The timeline includes the following goals for Quarter 1 (July-September 2024):
- Assess Mentoring Program: Audit current state of mentoring practices in D53
- Enhance Community Partnerships: Host Open House Events to showcase building improvements
- Improve Employee Retention: Complete cost-benefit analysis of retention bonuses and signing bonuses
- Standardize Onboarding Process: Coordinate the new staff onboarding process
- Share Effective Messaging: Enhance weekly parent communication from the front office with parents and faculty
- Share Clear Communications: Develop a schedule of communication that is consistent and reliable with the various stakeholder groups
Goals for Quarter 2 (October-December) include:
- Elevate Communication Practices: Launch new district website
- Design Mentoring Program: Provide clear guidelines on how a mentoring program operates and expectations of both mentors and mentees
- Create Teacher Growth Plans: Equip teachers with individualized growth plans for continued personal and professional achievement
- Expand Professional Development: Implement cohesive professional development opportunities aligned to district goals
- Provide SEL Training: Create and train all staff in an early warning system to identify at-risk students. Pilot district-wide SEL (social-emotional) curriculum resources
- Update Curriculum Review Cycle: Complete K-8 needs assessment for resources and professional development
In Quarter 3, the District’s Strategic Plan Timeline outlines the following goals:
- Plan Community Outreach: Execute a quarterly mailed piece to all residents within District 53
- Implement SEL Best Practices: Implement district-wide screening tool to identify SEL goals for each school
- Provide Technology Integration: Provide professional learning to teachers on technology integration
- Implement Programs for All Students: Implement a digital Special Education Parent Guidebook
- Establish Service Models: Establish a continuum of service models, focused on inclusive teaching practices
- Implement Child Find: Implement a district-wide process to improve the referral or request for evaluation as it applies to Child Find
- Provide MTSS: Provide training to staff on the Multi-tiered System of Support Academic and Behavioral strategies for student needs
- Strengthen Mental Health: Strengthen knowledge and skills to eliminate opportunity and achievement gaps due to mental health concerns
Finally, Quarter 4 outlines the following goals:
- Introduce Professional Learning Communities: Provide guidelines for the development of Professional Learning Communities
- Host Community Partnerships: Host an inaugural roundtable event with invited individuals to learn more about the success of students at our district
- Pilot AI-Powered Assessments: Pilot AI-Powered formative assessment tools in Google and other assessment tools
- Support Student Support Team: Implement a consistent Student Support Team (SST) model district-wide
- Implement Community Building: Implement student-centered community building activities to support SEL Standards
- Integrate Virtual Reality: Integrate virtual reality experiences in STEAM for all grade levels
While the actual completion dates of these goals may vary, the District is excited to have a clear vision for achieving the goals that will support its talented staff and further support students and families.
Board Approves Three Additional Hires for 2024-25 School Year
The District made three additional hires for the upcoming 2024-25 school year. The District will welcome John Little as a Social Studies teacher, Nour Sayes as an English Language Learner teacher, and Rachel Seifert as a Certified School Nurse.
School and Student Services Department Updates
Brook Forest Elementary
Students and Brook Forest Elementary have a jam-packed final four weeks of the school year. Notable events include:
- May 15
- Grade 1: Afternoon with Chicks — 2:30-3:10 P.M.
- Grade 4-5: Spring Band & Choir Concert — 7:00-8:00 P.M.
- All-School Art Show — 4:00-7:00 P.M.
May 16
- Grade 3: Field Trip to Naper Settlement
May 17
- Grade 5: Colonial Fair — 1:00-3:00 P.M.
May 21
- Kindergarten Orientation — 5:00-6:00 P.M.
May 22
- Grade 3: Ellis Island 1:00-3:25 P.M.
May 23
- All school Olympic Day
- Recognition Assembly — 2:45 P.M.
May 24
- Grade 5: Breakfast in the Gym — 7:45 A.M.
- Grade 5: D.A.R.E. Ceremony — 10:00-11:50 A.M.
- All school early dismissal at 11:50AM
May 28
- All School: Nutrition Fair — 2:15-3:20 P.M.
May 29
- All School: Chicago Dog’s Baseball Game in Rosemont, IL — 10:00-1:00 P.M.
June 3
- Kindergarten: Field Trip to Brookfield Zoo
June 4
- Grade 5: Field Trip to Springfield
June 6
- Kindergarten Graduation: 10:00 A.M.
- Grade 1: Music in Motion — 2:00-2:30 P.M.
Brook Forest Elementary’s last day of school will be June 7. Students are invited to participate in Exploremore Day following dismissal.
Butler Junior High
As the end of the school year approaches, Butler Junior High and its students took the opportunity to reflect on some of the recent events and accomplishments:
- The swim team competed at the SDEAA Conference Swim Meet at Downers Grove South High School on April 30. Butler Junior High finished in fourth place overall, and the girls took home the third place trophy.
- At the SDEAA Conference Track Meet, Butler Junior High students earned all-conference honors in the 1600 meter run, high jump, the 4X200 meter relay, and the 4X400 meter relay.
- Students completed numerous tests this spring, including MAP and Illinois Assessment of Readiness Testing. In addition 8th graders also completed the Illinois Science Assessment.
Looking forward, the 8th grade class of 2024 will be recognized at a special assembly on May 21 at 8:30 A.M. in the Butler Junior High School Gymnasium. They’ll graduate at 5:00 P.M. on Thursday, May 30 in the same place.
Butler Junior High’s last day of school for the 2023-24 school year will be June 7. The afternoon will feature Viking Day festivities, including games and fun outdoor activities.
Student Services Department
The Student Services Department continues to focus on professional development with the goal of empowering paraprofessionals to support all aspects of students’ continued growth and development. Recent paraprofessional training at Brook Forest Elementary included strategies for supporting students' executive functioning skills.
Butler Junior High’s team of paraprofessionals received training on how to deliver accommodations for spring testing and supporting 8th grade students as they prepare for their final exams.
Looking forward, the Butler Junior High and Brook Forest Elementary Student Services teams have been hard at work planning for the 2024-25 school year. Teams are reviewing the special education student caseloads to ensure the proper staff-to-student ratio and workload per case manager. Additionally, Case Manager schedules are being updated based on student needs, allowing teachers to service small groups of students in the least restrictive environment. Finally, Case Managers are working diligently to provide Butler School District students with the most supportive and inclusive educational experience.
Board Updates
Infrastructure Committee Report
John Baar reported that construction progress at both schools is moving forward. The basement space is on track to be a brand new space. The basement will include additional offices and flex spaces for students and teachers.
Additionally, a significant amount of mechanical work is being done behind the scenes at both schools. At Butler, builders are ready to install the elevator, and the school’s boiler system is being updated with state-of-the-art equipment, including digital controls.
Phase III, already underway, is set to commence in full upon students leaving for the summer months.
Finance Committee Report
Craig Donnelly reported that the District’s finances remain in good shape heading into the end of the school year. April represents the low-point for the District’s fund balances, as it’s the last month before the district receives new tax receipts.
To date, the District’s expenses and revenues are tracking in alignment with what was predicted and budgeted for, with no major variances. Additionally, due to the continuing high-interest-rate environment, the District will continue to earn income from its passive investments in CDs and money markets.
Moving forward, the District will see the next annual budget in the fall. That budget will need to account for a slight shortfall, as the Illinois state corporate replacement tax will not be as healthy as in years prior.
Finally, the District will be retaining the services of Jim White, CPA and Managing Partner of J.S. White & Associates. The District has received exceptional services from White in the past and will extend the engagement through the fiscal year ending June 2027.
Board Approvals and Service Updates
Update to Technological Service Provider Contracts
The Board approved a new contract for Heliox Group. Heliox has provided the District with consistent on-site IT teams, acting at the District’s IT director, providing essential assistance with the rollout of the Otus system, and much more.
Heliox has partnered with the District since 2019. As the scope of their work has increased, they have absorbed all costs. The Board approved a new 10% increase for the Heliox contract.
Consolidate District Plan
The Board approved the District’s consolidated plan for the 2024-25 school year. This is the District’s fifth year approving the plan, and it’s required for all public school districts to complete prior to submitting any grant proposals.
The District made slight modifications to the plan this year to account for its new strategic plan and ensure the two are aligned.
District to Migrate to a Voice-Over-Internet Phone System
The Board approved a migration to a cloud-based Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) system as recommended by the technology department. The VoIP will give users (teachers, staff, and administrators) more control, simplify the systems without sacrificing features, and integrate into the District’s current internet services.
Financially, the migration to the VoIP system is expected to be essentially cost neutral. The District will collaborate with its technology department, Cordogan Clark (the District’s architect), to determine whether it’s necessary to retain a limited hard-wired telecoms system for use in the event of emergencies.
PTO Updates
The Butler 53 PTO has been busy in preparation for graduations and the end of the school year. Lots of exciting events are on the way, including:
Brook Forest Elementary:
- Bike Rodeo Safety Event: May 16 — Students will join Officer Yager and the OB Police Department to learn how to be safe while riding their bikes in the neighborhoods.
Butler Junior High:
- Viking Day: June 7 — The PTO is happy to help support this event and organize a special lunch and Kona Ice for 6th and 7th graders’ last day of school.
The PTO has also introduced its Make a Difference Awards. This new initiative seeks to recognize teachers and staff who have gone above and beyond to enrich the lives of District students. The PTO thanks the D53 families and students for the many nominations that we received.
Make a Difference honorees at BFE:
- Mr. Andrew Griffith
- Mrs. Danielle LaBarre
- Mr. Jim Locigno
- Mr. Adam Nicholson
Make a Difference honorees at BJH:
- Ms. Ashley McCann
- Mrs. Jill Vonnahme
Finally, PTO members will be voting in the new D53 PTO Team for the 2024-25 school year on May 17 at 9:00 A.M. For more information, check your school communications for the Zoom link.
Upcoming Board of Education Meetings
Regular Board of Education Meeting: June 10, 2024 — 6:30 P.M.