Elmhurst District 205 Community Connections Newsletter - 3rd Edition

Message From the Superintendent

At the start of this school year we were excited to cut the ribbon on the new Lincoln Elementary School and we are so excited to share the latest updates with you on the progress of Field Elementary School. We are grateful to the community for your investment in our students that makes it possible for us to provide another modernized, high-quality learning space for the Field community. The thoughtful features, safety features and so many other elements that were included in the design of this school are nothing short of spectacular. I can’t wait to cut the ribbon and welcome this new building with you!

Welcome to the third edition of the Community Connections Newsletter! We hope that you are enjoying the articles and that each edition has brought you more insight into the amazing work happening in District 205.

This newsletter is extra special as we welcome York High School student Eden George as one of our writers. Eden is such an amazing student. I had the honor of working with her on her story about the Invite to Teach program while she interviewed me and Jackson Elementary teacher, Ms. Susan Latoria, who happened to be my Invite to Teach teacher when I was in the program as a York student.

Invite to Teach is just one of the career pathways that are offered to York High School students. While that happens to be taught as part of the curriculum in York, there are many career pathways that other students are interested in that we are not able to offer at York. Our community partnership with the Technology Center of DuPage allows us to offer extended programming that enhances student learning by providing access to so many additional paths for our students to explore their passion and purpose.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Financial stewardship and transparency are essential elements to the success of any organization. I am proud of our finance team for constantly setting their standards higher and higher, and never simply settling for good. The recognition and celebration of their great work by The Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) with the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting is well deserved and a true representation of the dedication that District 205 has to always being prudent stewards of taxpayer dollars and ensuring that all financial decisions are backed by thorough data analysis.

Finally, we are excited to share our new Quarterly Round-up section to the Newsletter. This section provides an opportunity for us to share a little more insight and information with you about some actions that were taken by the Board of Education in the previous quarter. We would love to hear your questions and things that you might want to learn more about in our next Quarterly Round-up. You can share your ideas by sending an email to communications@elmhurst205.com.

Thank you for taking a moment to read this third edition of the Community Connections Newsletter. Don’t forget to scan the QR codes to watch a video of the interviews and learn more about the programs.

The Invite to Your Future Teaching D205 how to teach

By: Eden George, York High School Senior

Behind every new lesson taught to a child in District 205, is a person so full of passion and light that they can’t help but reflect their devotion onto the rest of the population. A particular program called, Invite to Teach, is offered at York High School and is preparing high school kids for their future while highlighting the importance of passion. This course allows aspiring educators to be fully immersed in teacher life. The students go through the prerequisites within York and finally move onto running a live district 205 classroom.

Students in the district are given privileges such as the Invite to Teach program and should be taking advantage of it. Opportunities within the district are provided and kept alive by the community’s leaders and the students who participate. One leader in particular, Dr. Keisha Campbell, District 205’s Superintendent and York’s own Invite to Teach Alumni works hard so her students will continue to be empowered to pursue their goals after they part ways with District 205. Campbell reminisces on her dreams being solidified by the doors York opened for her and how they continue to create opportunities for Elmhurst students.

“One of our objectives… is for students to have the opportunity to pursue their passions and to really explore different opportunities and I think Invite to Teach is one program that allows us to further live into that.” Campbell said. “That really will guide the decisions that they make after graduating from York High School.”

An excitement for education exists in seemingly every classroom within the district, and Jackson Elementary is home to Susan Latoria, the third grade teacher whose class Dr. Campbell student taught in when she was finding her way, exploring her lifelong passion of pursuing education. Latoria speaks on

what she notices within her student teachers nowadays and fond memories of Dr. Campbell.

“So I think young people in general nowadays are searching and trying to figure out who they want to be,” Latoria said. “Having seen what Dr. Campbell started out at, going into teaching, becoming a principal, now a superintendent, just shows how in this profession it’s not just necessarily one stop, there are many opportunities if you were to go into teaching, so it’s a neat story.”

A York senior, Madison Peck, is an aspiring educator herself and is currently taking Invite to Teach while student teaching at Lincoln Elementary.

“I’ve known I wanted to be a teacher since about seventh grade, which is kind of wild to think about,”... Peck said. “Being able to go into a classroom every single day and actually spend time with these kids and get to know them is really solidifying that dream for me in the sense of, I know that I’m not going to get to college and suddenly regret every decision that I’ve made.”

Transitioning directly from York onto her path within education, Dr. Campbell recognizes how Invite to Teach prepared her for college.

“After having this wonderful experience I also was then able to go onto Illinois State University and major in elementary education

and again just allowed me to further pursue and to grow and to learn and to develop as an educator which then led me right into my career.”

York High Schools Invite to Teach Director, Laurie Crist, notes how the course truly goes hand in hand with college readiness.

“Invites really great because its dual credit with COD so they actually get six college credit hours if you’re doing the class which is really fantastic along with all the contact they get in the classroom but for students who don’t have access to a program like this, I think it’s going to be much more challenging.”

She touches on the success rate of Invite to Teach and its origin story.

“I have 18 {students} this year that will finish the program in May, and 24 enrolled for next year,” Crist said. “I’m not sure the total number of students who have finished the program but it’s around 160 since I started here 8 years ago. I know the program has been running for around 20 years.”

Scan this QR code to watch a video of the interviews and hear more about the Invite to Teach program.

Though this course is majority seniors, juniors can participate too. Students go through a series of prep courses and eventually will schedule an interview with Laurie Crist to either confirm or deny their entry. Students

will also need to have a set mode of transportation to their classrooms each day, and York provides a parking spot for all admitted student teachers.

Invite to Teach not only provides high schoolers different opportunities outside of the typical classroom environment, but allows them to see what they are doing matters, to see what they are doing is actively making a difference. Peck speaks of the moment when a student finally understands a new concept.

“You can see their eyes, they just light up immediately-it makes you so happy to know that you’ve connected with that kid and you’ve been able to like help them with something that they might’ve been struggling with for a very long time

and now instead of struggling they are flying. They’re soaring.”

Latoria adds onto the effects the York student teachers have on her third graders.

“When those York students come into our room, it’s a breath of fresh air.”

As kids grow older and their time with district 205 comes to a close, the flicker of determination instilled by the community never leaves them. Latoria understands the impact that Invite to Teach has on every age group.

“It’s a win win win,” Latoria said. “The kids win. I win. Our Invite to Teach students win.”

About The Author: Eden George is a Senior Journalism and Broadcast Communications student at York

Clearing the Path to Success

Expanding opportunities with community partnerships

By: Tonya Daniels

The new Elmhurst School District 205

(D205) Strategic Plan framework, the Journey of Excellence, outlines the mission, values and vision for the District. The Vision states that all students will be college, career, and life ready. An Imperative component in fulfilling that vision is being able to assure that the correct paths are available to their students. District 205 understands that each student is unique and that their journey should be just as unique as they are. While some students plan to attend a four-year university, others plan to attend a two-year college and enter the workforce and others might plan to head straight into the workforce. No matter what their journey looks like, D205 works hard to be sure that, while they are attending York High School, students are consistently engaged in a diverse offering of learning experiences and pathways to assist in identifying and exploring their passion and purpose.

One stop on their journey, should they choose it, is offered through a partnership with the Technology Center of DuPage (TCD). While there are a plethora of programs that are offered directly at York High School - most of which you will hear about in subsequent Newsletters - some students are interested

in exploring pathways that York is not able to offer at the school. For instance, each year there are students that are interested in career paths such as becoming a firefighter, EMT training, cosmetology, welding, nursing and others. Thanks to an extremely valuable community partnership, these pathways are made available to students through the TCD.

In 1974 multiple school districts came together with a mission to meet students’ needs through offering specialized programming in career pathways that are not fully covered through the pathways classes in their schools. Beginning with a partnership of eight school districts in DuPage County, the program expanded into 15 school districts in the mid 1980s, when D205 joined the program. There are now 14 partner districts with a total of 24 high schools throughout DuPage County and Lyons Township that actively participate in the program.

“Through the TCD program students are provided a unique opportunity to explore career pathways in the trades, as well as culinary arts, health science and medical programs, public safety and

Scan this QR code to learn more about the TCD program.

criminal justice, emergency medical technician positions and fire science,” said Mike Zimmerman, the Area Director of the DuPage Area Occupational Educational System and the Technology Center of DuPage. “Students not only gain exposure to a possible career pathway that they might not have been able to easily access otherwise, but this program provides them with rigorous, hands-on training, and an opportunity to explore a field that they have some interest in but are not sure if it would be something they would enjoy - all while gaining up to 50 transferable, dualcredits with College of DuPage.”

Courses are offered in conjunction with the standard school year. Students are provided bus transportation to and from TCD as a part of their normal school day. Taught by industry professionals, some programs span a two-year timeframe but most are one-year. Upon successful completion of many of these programs students are able to test to receive state-accredited industry certifications, potentially saving them hundreds of dollars, or even up to $35,000 in some areas, that they would have to pay if they were to register and attend these courses on their own after high school.

Each year between 10 and 20 York High School students participate in the TCD program. Some of the most popular pathways that York students participate in include the medical assisting, fire science, emergency medical technician, cosmetology, medical terminology and healthcare, welding and nursing assistant. Students participating in the nursing program are able to finish with 40 hours of clinical time in a nursing home, which they attend outside of school hours in coordination with the program and seven hours of college credits with the College of DuPage. With the completion of the class they are also eligible to sit for the state Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) test. With their CNA license, students can then apply directly into a four-year nursing program, cutting years, and costs, off of their college journey as most accredited four-year programs require a student to gain their CNA prior to even being able to apply for

entrance into a nursing program.

“It is incredible to think about the powerful impact that a program like this has on the future of students,” said Dr. Keisha Campbell, Superintendent of Elmhurst School District 205. “By offering programs like this, students are provided a rare opportunity to explore different career paths to help them confidently enter trade school or college with a declared major that they are passionate and excited for - allowing them to continue on their journey after York High School truly feeling like they are college, career and life ready.”

The TCD program is also fulfilling a need in communities all over. There has been a nationwide shortage in many of these industries - many of which are imperative for public health and safety throughout cities and businesses. Firefighters, nurses and many of the other programs offered through this program are actively recruiting to fill a striking number of vacancies.

The Emergency Medical Technician and Fire Science programs are taught in part by Lieutenant Roger Bayne Jr. of the Addison Fire Department who shared how important these programs are to the industry. “Within the last five years there has been a significant decline in applicants,” he shared. “In 1997 we would receive more than 2,000 applicants for just two open positions, and the last time we tested for openings in Addison there were 9 open positions and we only received 20 applications.”

Students that participate in the EMT and Fire Science programs are not just introduced to the industry, they are provided a unique opportunity to be fully submerged in the field, taking part in ride-alongs and even putting their practice to the test when needed to assist on a call, in addition to the rigorous coursework. These programs often are the catalyst for many students to continue on to pursue other areas in the medical industry and receive their medical license or become a doctor. Students complete the required ride-time, giving them up to 12 hours of hands-on experience, which often also doubles as inperson interviews, accelerating their entry into the job force.

Ten York students were named to the TCD A*Team for the first semester of the 2022-2023 school year. Students with outstanding achievement in their respective programs at TCD, receiving an “A” in the first semester, are named to the A*Team.

Congratulations to the York High

School TCD A*Team!

Sharon Hernandez - Medical Assisting, Yoselin Lopez - Medical Assisting, Jason Meyers - Fire Science, Walter Pasek - Emergency, Medical Technician, Lesly Ramos - Cosmetology, Andrea Roman - Medical Terminology & Healthcare Careers, Jason SchmuhlWelding Technology, Daneyris Tapia - Nursing Assistant, Training Program, Dareylis Tapia - Nursing Assistant Training Program, and Maya Zurkowski - Cosmetology

Purpose behind the exposure provided through these pathway programs is to have multiple entry and exit opportunities so that a student has the flexibility to experience an industry to see if it is a good fit for them - giving them a broad experience, while also receiving college credit and aiding in their future success.

School Registration Information

Registration for the 2023-2024 School Year opens on March 20, 2023

New student registration takes place directly at the school that serves your address. To determine the school that serves your address, visit our website to use our interactive boundary map.

NEW this year, returning students can access their registration through their PowerSchool parent portal. Students will need to certify residency when entering elementary school or middle school and when entering high school. This will need to be done in-person at your school.

For more information about enrollment, please contact your local school through the end of the school year. If assistance is needed, contact the D205 District Office at 630-834-4530.

For more information on registration, including a new enrollment checklist to help you through the process, you can visit www.elmhurst205.org and click on the Student Registration box at the bottom of the home page.

Q:How has the current state of inflation affected District 205’s tax levy?

A:District 205 has not been immune to the impacts of inflation. All schools are facing issues with labor shortages, and rising costs and State and Federal revenues for District 205 are flat, creating a negative financial impact to the District.

It is important to point out that the tax levy is merely a request to the counties. Regardless of the amount the District levies, the counties will only extend the increase allowable under the tax cap. Additionally, under the tax cap, an increase in property value would not increase the tax funds to the District. Property values only impact the tax rate for the homeowner and would not provide additional property tax revenues to the District. The amount that is allocated to the District is capped at the lesser of either CPI or 5% of tax revenue. Only new construction provides additional revenues to the District beyond the tax cap.

As an example, to help provide a little context as to how the tax extension could impact homeowners, the District 205 portion of the bill for a $500K House with no new construction (Only Existing Property) on average, could increase by 4.81%, which equals $344.24 annually.

Elmhurst District 205 has the lowest tax rate and the second lowest cost operating expense per pupil compared to all other comparable districts and will always continue to focus on being prudent stewards of taxpayer dollars through thorough data-driven financial decisions.

RTERLY ROUND UP

Q:Nowthat District 205 has entered phase 3 of the Strategic Planning Process (SPP), what are some specific examples of actions that are being taken to drive student success?

A:As District 205 entered into Phase 3 of the SPP, it was important to do a thorough analysis of all data that might be utilized to support implementation. ECRA Group was engaged to examine how D205 compared to other Illinois districts during the 2018-2019 and 2021-2022 school years. While the analysis showed that D205 is performing as good or better than 90% of all districts in the state (Top 10% of Illinois based on 2022 IAR and SAT combined) - an increase of +2 (math) and +9 (ELA) from the pre-pandemic reports in 2019- It was also used to identify key focus areas for the District. For example, some of the areas identified, among many others, were math proficiency; which showed that in 2022 was 4.5% below the 2019 proficiency level, high school 4-Year Graduation Rate; Which showed that in 2022 was 2.7% below the 2019 proficiency level, and attendance; which showed that in 2022 was 2.1% below the 2019 proficiency level.

During the February 8, 2023 Committee of the Whole meeting, the administration shared a presentation that included more details related to the objectives, strategies and indicators that will be monitored for each of the four Strategic Priorities; Student Success, Learning Environment, Financial and Operational Effectiveness and Community Engagement. You can scan this QR code to view that presentation and see more details about Phase 3 of the Strategic Planning Process.

The District also shared plans for the launch of a strategic dashboard in the coming months, which would be located on the District’s website. The dashboard will share detailed updates on progress monitoring of objectives and strategies for each priority area as well as updates on indicator metrics, definitions and additional information for each.

Field of DREAMS Update on the construction progress of the new Field Elementary School

By: Tonya Daniels

Construction is well underway on the 81,924 square foot, two-level modernized Field Elementary School. Demolition of the old building took place in June 2022. Almost 100 years old, the previous building was just over 58,000 square feet - after many additions and upgrades over the years.

Students and staff will quickly notice and benefit from the numerous features of their new school. One of the new features that we know will spark creativity and excitement highlights the flexibility of use in the spaces. Imagine students working in art class on a beautiful summer day and at the touch of a button the wall begins to rise like a garage door and the classroom doubles in size, providing an outdoor space for students to work.

When designing the new building, it was important that there were areas included that would provide the ability to deepen community and relationships among the students and staff. This special feature was achieved through the addition of a breakout room for small group sessions and shared collaboration in each neighborhood. Additionally, there will be learning stairs that serve as the central hub of the school, open on all sides and topped off with a spacious skylight that provides an enormous amount of natural light.

When asked what one of her favorite details of the new building was, Principal Heidi Thomas said, “I’m excited about the use of the space to meet kids’ needs creatively. What we

will now be able to offer our students, especially our special education students, in areas like as sensory and self management is extraordinary.”

Following the completion of the new school, students will have fully usable greenspace outside to play. “Since I have been here, the greenspace has often been flooded and unusable for students to pay.” shared Thomas. “I’m excited to see students, including all of the children in the community, playing and enjoying this new space.”

Safety and security was also top-ofmind when planning. The gym will now double as a FEMA certified storm shelter to keep students safe in the event of severe weather. The entrance to the school will also now be a secure entrance.

As you move through each of the spaces, you will be struck by the natural light that shines through the two skylights and ample windows surrounding the school. Adorned with artwork in multiple areas, combining students’ work with a muralist, the designs and colors are sure to keep students busy with the addition of sensory exercises such as spotting various morsels in the artwork such as hidden butterflies. Additionally, in considering the aesthetics, no stone was left unturned when it came

to the importance of honoring the history of Field in the new school. You will see pieces of the old building, creatively placed in three different areas.

Other features of the new building include a real cooking kitchen, which will now allow for the school’s food to be cooked on-site when previously all of the food was prepared at York and had to be brought over. Kindergarten classrooms with bathrooms located right in the rooms and lockers moved inside of classrooms to allow for a plethora of space in the hallways for students to flow easily from space to space.

Benefits are not only for the students and staff. It was important that the Field neighborhood was also able to celebrate and appreciate what the new school will provide. With new underground work that will rechannel water to avoid flooding, and a parking lot designed specifically to allow for a smooth drop-off and pick-up to take place in the parking lot instead of on the neighborhood streets, morning and afternoon gridlock in the area will now be a thing of the past.

The support and flexibility that this provides our community partners for programs such as the Park District’s Recstation - A program that was previously capped due to space can

now be increased - offering added value to our community partners, but also our families in the Field area that may have wanted to take advantage of it and were not able to because of the limited space.

While touring the construction site, Superintendent Dr. Keisha Campbell shared that, “It feels very spacious. I appreciate the flexibility to best meet the students’ needs because of the community and collaborative orientation that is a standard part of our modernized facilities.” She went on to say “I’m excited about the flexibility that the new spaces provide for our community partners such as the Park District. They have had to keep their Rec Station program at a small number of students due to the constraints of the old building.

They will now be able to expand it, offering these services to more families. I am grateful to our community for their commitment and investment in our public schools.”

LEED Silver is being pursued for the new building and completion is on track for the start of the 2023-24 school year. Upon the completion of the 2018 referendum projects, all District 205 schools will benefit from various types of upgrades.

Reporting Excellence

Elmhurst District 205 Awarded Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting

By: Tonya Daniels

The Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) has awarded Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 the Certificate of Excellence (COE) in Financial Reporting. ASBO International’s COE recognizes districts that have met the program’s high standards for financial reporting and transparency. The school district earned the Certificate of Excellence for its Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for the fiscal year ending 2021.

“The COE’s mission is to promote and recognize excellence in financial reporting. The Annual Comprehensive Financial Report informs stakeholders about the financial and economic state of the district, making it an important communications tool for building trust and engaging with the school community,” shared David Lewis, ASBO International Executive Director.

Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 demonstrated its commitment to

financial transparency by choosing to participate in the COE program - a review process that is not legally required. Applicants submit their ACFR for review by a team of financial professionals who provide feedback to improve fiscal transparency and associated financial documents. District 205’s continuing participation in the COE program can help to strengthen the District’s financial position by adding additional transparency indicators for future bond rating processes.

“This award reflects District 205’s priority to sound financial management, reporting, and communication,” said Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations, Christopher Whelton. “We are very proud of this accomplishment and will continue to provide the community with this level of transparency.”

In addition to receiving the Certificate of Excellence from ASBO, District 205 has maintained a strong credit rating of AA+ from Standard & Poor’s and Aa1 from Moody’s.

“Our ability to maintain this strong rating is due to many factors,” shared Whelton. “We continue to maintain a high standard of accountability and transparency with district finances, a strong cash position and do not require any short-term borrowing to meet our obligations. We also maintain the required 180 days cash on hand as required by the Illinois State Board of Education.”

The ability for a company to maintain a high credit rating is important to not only help facilitate an efficient capital marketplace, but it also provides transparent third-party information that’s standardized for industry consistency. A credit rating is a reflection of forwardlooking opinions about the ability and willingness of debt issuers, like District 205, to meet their financial obligations on time and in full. A credit rating is important because they provide a common and transparent global language for investors and others as they consider the credit risk of an organization and reflect both the likelihood of default and any financial loss that would be suffered in the event of default.

The Back Story

What’s In A Name - Bridges Transition Center

By: Dr. Kevin Rubenstein

Elmhurst School District 205 provides a full continuum of special education and related services including Transition Services for students with disabilities ages 1822. Transition Services have been described as a bridge between the certainty of high school and the uncertainty of the adult world. The District purchased and renovated the property formerly known as The Abbey (located at 407 West St. Charles Road), in 2020 and the students and staff from the Transition

BOARD OF EDUCATION

Members serving our community

boardofeducation@elmhurst205.org

Program chose the name, Bridges Transition Center, as the moniker for their updated facility.

“We wanted a name that was reflective of what was happening during this critical time in the lives of our students,” said Dr. Skip Kumm, Assistant Director for Special Education Services.

Any bridge requires both a solid span and a secure foundation at either end. In the case of Transition services, one end is our high school services at York and the other end is adult services or the world of work. Kumm noted, “The name is reflective of what our Transition programming is all about - providing a strong and supported bridge between high school and the world around them.”

KARA CAFORIO, PRESIDENT Committee: Policy Committee

BETH HOSLER Committee: Policy Committee

ATHENA ARVANITIS Committee: Finance

JIM COLLINS Committee: Finance Committee Chair

COURTENAE TRAUTMANN, SECRETARY Committee: Policy Chair, D205 Safety Committee

CHRISTOPHER KOCINSKI, VICE PRESIDENT

KAREN STUEFEN Committee: Finance Committee, D205 Tech Committee