SD81engage Fall 2020 NEWSLETTER

SD81engage News from our Learning Community FALL 2020

Introducing Schematics for the New Washington School

IN THIS ISSUE:

Washington School See Schematics of Washington School

S

pring of 2021 will bring new beginnings with the anticipated groundbreaking of the new Washington School. The community voted in favor of building a facility that provides a 21st Century learning experience for approximately 300 fourth and fifth grade students that is equitable to John F. Kennedy School, home of the learning community’s preschool, kindergarten through third graders, and Parents as Teachers program (Birth through three years old), and Lincoln Middle School, for sixth through eighth graders.

Architects began in April of 2020 working with teams representative of the learning community to design a school that would provide a bridge between Kennedy and Lincoln’s 21st century learning centers. It was clear from those conversations that the new Washington School would have to be child-centered, with opportunities to collaborate and have the flexibility to engage students in a variety of different ways as they work on how to be a good citizen and problem solver. (Continue reading on the next page or open your smartphone camera to scan the

above barcode to see DLA Architects’ presentation to the Board of

Education.)

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(Open smartphone camera and hold over the above barcode for presentation on Washington School)

Leading SD81 Forward Messages from Dr. Boryszewski and the Board of Education Regarding Plans for the New School and Bringing Students Back for In-person Instruction

FALL 2020

The New Washington School, continued SITE PLAN

The new site will improve safety for students during arrival and dismissal with new traffic patterns along the building’s perimeter. The new design will alleviate congestion and traffic around Lawrence and Michigan.

The new facility will offer an abundance of transparency and natural light through windows on the two-story building. Sound engineers work closely with DLA Architects, Ltd. to ensure that students can hear efficiently despite Washington’s location in the path of airplane landings.

The new school will be built adjacent to the existing building without interruption to learning.

EXTERIOR PLANS

Pictured to the left is the south side of the building, which will greatly improve the aesthetics along Lawerence Avenue. The north side rendering is pictured on page one, featuring the building’s main entrance. Building entrances will have secured vestibules. The exterior of the new school will be colorful and bright, reflective of the atmosphere inside. Additional landscaping will be added to buffer the noise of Lawrence Avenue.

SCHILLER PARK HISTORICAL SOCIETY

District 81 has had the pleasure of working with the Schiller Park Historical Society member June Ouland with a District 81 Historical Society over the past several years, hosting members of the family at the Historical Society Open House last winter.

Historical Society, Grace Park Condominium residents, and the Autumn Leaves club to the District’s student musicals, Halloween parade, and other school events where they could interact with students. Seeing these two generations come together sparked an idea; provide space for the Historical Society in the new Washington School so students can have authentic and valuable learning experiences while offering the Historical Society a brand new space to connect with the community and display their treasured artifacts. This innovative partnership is sure to benefit the community.

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FALL 2020

INTERIOR PLANS

Preliminary renderings of the facility promise features that reflect the unique needs of the intermediate grades and encourage the play and exploration that is connected to learning.

• The two-story building will have plenty of open spaces, with learning taking place in

“neighborhoods”, with students moving around in flexible instruction areas that offer a variety of learning modalities. This concept allows for problem-based learning, collaboration among students and flexibility for students to work in large or small groups, or even individually. Students will have homerooms where they will store their belongings but will not be in the same classroom all day.

• Use of daylight, color and nature drove the design. Research has consistently shown that

light enhances mood, behavior, academic performance, and productivity.

• Reading Rooms, the important instructional model seen across the entire district, will

have their own designated spaces featuring bright, natural light and space for small group instruction. Reading instruction was previously taught in the basement of Washington School with no natural light, or delivered from mobile carts.

• The art room will be an open space with transparency and light to encourage creativity.

• The band and music room will provide students with more room and practice space.

Band lessons were previously delivered from a former custodian’s closet.

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FALL 2020

Leading Our Learning Community Forward

A MESSAGE FROM BOARD PRESIDENT, MARYANN DESECKI

A MESSAGE FROM OUR SUPERINTENDENT, DR. KIMBERLY BORYSZEWSKI Financing Washington School: The Board of Education and I are thrilled to share Washington schematics with you. The District was able to capitalize on the current bond market conditions, structuring the bonds to be paid off 4 years earlier than anticipated (23 years instead of 27), resulting in an interest savings of roughly $4.3 million. After

Board Members from Left to Right: Front: Laura Lukasik, Tina Ewanio, Dr. Kimberly Boryszewski (Superintendent), Ana Ultreras, Back: Maryann Desescki, Andrea Del Zotti, Allison Downs, Enas Saada

the finalized bond issuance this past August, the District reimbursed the educational fund for the

These past several months have been difficult for

three properties purchased for the new

all of us because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Washington facility site as well as all expenses

I know that the entire district has been working

previously paid out for the project. Once DLA

extremely hard with remote learning and we are

Architects, Ltd. finalizes their conceptual drawings

confident that because so much careful planning

to specifications, District 81 will go out to bid. I

has gone into the hybrid learning model, our

look forward to sharing updates with you as we

students will make a successful and safe return to

build the new school for our students.

their school buildings. It is amazing we were able to make progress toward the new Washington

Return to In-Person Learning: With careful

School project despite all of the recent

planning and constant review of data regarding

challenges. The entire Board of Education is

COVID-19, we have begun bringing back groups

excited to share this information with you and

of students for in-person learning. Our hybrid

begin to see our vision for providing equity across

learning plan involves a mix of remote and in-

District 81 fulfilled.

person learning, with protocols in place for deep cleaning and sanitation of our facilities. Limited bus routes are offered for families who do not have other means of transportation. I am grateful

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for my administrative team, faculty & staff, Board of Education and our SD81 families for having the dedication and perseverance needed to support our students. An encouraging phrase I repeat often is “We Can Do Hard Things.” I sincerely

School District 81 9760 Soreng Ave. 60176-2105

believe that we can and will do hard things on

behalf of our children!

Permit No. 198

Schiller Park, IL

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