District Updates
Marlas Lunch
Butler School District 53 has partnered with Marlas Lunch as the new food service provider for the 2024-2025 school year. Families and staff need to create an account on the Marlas Lunch online portal to select and order lunches in advance. Orders must be placed by Wednesday at noon each week for the following week(s) lunch. Marlas Lunch customer service is available for technical support, any questions, comments, or suggestions. They can be contacted at marlaslunchinfo@gmail.com or (224) 269-0068.
Final FY2025 Budget
A public hearing for the 2024-2025 Legal Budget, presented at the August Finance Committee meeting, was held on September 9th. The budget was posted online and is available in hard copy at the district office. Following the hearing, the board unanimously approved the budget of $17,641,000 in operating revenue and $16,482,629 in operating expenditures.
District Reviews and Policy Updates
At the September 9th Policy: Committee of the Whole meeting, the board adopted policy updates recommended by PRESS Plus from the Illinois Association of School Boards. PRESS Plus offers tailored policy updates for school boards, with memos crafted by IASB’s Office of General Counsel and the PRESS Advisory Board, which includes experts in law and education. Butler 53 is implementing these recommendations to stay aligned with current legislation and district-specific needs. The past memo from PRESS consisted of, but not limited to, policy updates around legislation and Title IX Grievance Procedure, prohibited harassment, and bullying related policy. The updated policies will be linked as applicable, to the handbooks after the manuals have been updated accordingly.
Capital Improvements Project
The Infrastructure Committee convened on September 5th to review the progress of Capital Improvement Project Phases 1, 2, and 3, with special attention to the Phase 3 summer work. The project was successfully completed within budget and focused on Life Safety, security, and the “Wow” factor. Additionally, a mandated Needs Assessment will be conducted, providing valuable insights for future planning.
The ILC (Instructional Learning Classrooms) on the lower level of Brook Forest Elementary School, now officially named "The Cove," have undergone a complete renovation. The special education staff and support teams are now leveraging this enhanced space to its fullest potential.
District Staffing New Hires
Welcome Spanish FMLA replacement teacher Lee Lundal to BJH. A list of all new staff are highlighted here: https://fb.watch/uw8uB89Vbh/
School and Student Services Department Updates
Brook Forest Elementary
Principal Andrea Prola updated the Board on recent and upcoming events at Brook Forest Elementary:
- New School Year:
- Brook Forest is excited to start the school year with new learning spaces and opportunities for students.
- NWEA MAP Testing:
- Grades 1-5 will have MAP testing on September 10-11th; Kindergarten will test at the end of the month.
- Curriculum Night:
- Scheduled for September 12th from 5:30-8:25 PM for parents and guardians.
- Drills:
- Lock down drill with Oak Brook Police on September 12th. Other drills (fire, bus evacuation, severe weather) will also be practiced throughout the month.
- SIP Day:
- On September 20th, students will attend school from 8:45-11:50 AM.
- Social Emotional Learning:
- Students will create team charters in guidance classes, which will be displayed to showcase teamwork and problem-solving.
- Picture Day:
- September 30th; more details to come.
- School Theme:
- This year’s theme is a cruise ship, starting with India, to integrate geography and cultural events into learning.
Butler Junior High
Principal John Hamilton updated the Board on recent and upcoming events at Butler Junior High:
- New School Year:
- Butler Junior High is excited to start the 2024-25 school year.
- Cross Country:
- The team has been training since mid-August and has competed in its first meet. Upcoming home meets are on September 10th, 12th, 26th, and October 3rd.
- Curriculum Night:
- Scheduled for September 19th from 6:30 to 8:00 PM, with a cyber safety presentation by Jeff Bean from 6:00 to 6:30 PM.
- NWEA MAP Testing:
- Fall testing will occur on September 24th and 25th.
- Safety Drills:
- Lockdown, fire, severe weather, and bus evacuation drills will be conducted in September and early October.
- Character Counts:
- Advisory discussions this month will focus on trustworthiness as part of the Character Counts program.
Student Services Department
The Butler School District 53 Student Services September Board Report highlights a positive start to the school year, marked by the introduction of new learning spaces and a commitment to student growth. This month will feature staff introductions to parents, teachers, and the community, with detailed schedules for services being distributed soon.
A significant focus is on the Instructional Learning Classrooms (ILC) at Butler Junior High and Brook Forest Elementary. These classrooms are designed to enhance students' academic, life, vocational, and social-emotional skills, with four students currently enrolled in each ILC program.
Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) Training will commence this week, aimed at improving de-escalation techniques and addressing social-emotional needs. This training is mandatory for all Student Services staff. Additionally, an online suggestion box has been set up to gather feedback from all stakeholders, with responses to be reviewed and acted upon as needed. The department is looking forward to a productive and impactful year.
Student Learning and Staff Innovation
The September 2024 Board of Education Meeting Update highlights key advancements for the 2024-2025 school year. The District 53 Mentoring Process has successfully launched, with positive feedback from the New Teacher Orientation and a completed Mentoring Handbook.
Educational technology improvements include the introduction of AI-powered assessment tools, with initial training for staff already conducted. Plans for further training and an AI use policy are underway.
Integration of VR and AR into the curriculum is progressing, with staff training scheduled. The District literacy team is aligning English Language Arts with the 2024 State Literacy Plan, with ongoing review meetings.
Professional development in August covered curriculum alignment, crisis management, and other key areas. Core competencies, including social-emotional learning, are being implemented, with additional articulation sessions planned for grades 5 and 6.
PTO Updates
The Butler 53 PTO is busy planning events for the final months of the school year. Upcoming events include the following:
Brook Forest Elementary
- Welcome Back Social: Thanks to everyone who joined us on the blacktop.
- PTO-Sponsored Clubs: Details on after-school clubs for Golf, Spanish, Art, and Chess will be available soon.
Butler Junior High
- Ice Cream Social: Thank you to all families who attended and enjoyed treats from Kona Ice.
- Improv Club: Runs Mondays from 3:15-4:15 PM, Sept. 9-Nov 11. Aims to boost public speaking, creativity, and storytelling skills. Contact Eleni Dimitrou for more information.
District-Wide Events
- Book Forest Book Fair: End of September. Held in the gym during school hours; students can buy books selected by teachers. Flyers will be in students' backpacks.
- Father-Son Bowling: Sept 27, 6:30-9:00 PM at Suburbanite Bowl. More details to follow.
- 1st PTO General Meeting: Oct 4 in the evening.
- Mother-Son Event: Oct 20 at Wonderverse. Details coming soon.
Spiritwear
- Order by Sept 15: Show your school spirit with options for students, parents, and staff.
- Webstores: Brook Forest Dolphin Webstore and Butler Junior High/Band/Choir Viking Webstore.
Upcoming Board of Education Meetings
Due to a holiday, October's Monday meeting will be the third Monday of the month.
- Education: Committee of the Whole Meeting - October 21, 2024 at 4:30PM
- Regular Board of Education Meeting - October 21, 2024 at 6:30PM