COVID Update

This week marked an uptick in the number of Highlands students who tested positive for COVID. We have had 11 new positive cases this week- one in 2nd grade, nine in 5th grade, and one in 6th grade. The good news is that all of these cases were contracted outside of school and that there has been no transmission between students while at school. We have been utilizing our test-to-stay protocol, which has identified six of the positive cases. Our at-school mitigation efforts (distancing, mask-wearing, etc.) are proving to be effective, so we will continue to diligently execute our plan.

In response, we will be taking some additional measures in 5th grade until we know there are no more lingering cases. These additional efforts include:

• Providing extra lunch tables so that 5th-grade students will be at least six feet apart when unmasked at lunch. 
• Starting our saliva-based surveillance testing earlier than anticipated with those studens who opted in. Ninety-one 5th graders and 66 2nd graders will test next week. We will start surveillance testing with all grade levels the week of November 1.
• Suspending all small group work in 5th grade and having students remain seated at their desks.
• Canceling 5th & 6th-grade intramurals for next week.

Our COVID data dashboard will continue to reflect our up-to-date numbers and can be accessed using the link below.

We will continue to send a message to parents whenever there is a positive case in their child's grade level.

We believe our plan to find the right balance between protecting our students and keeping them at school continues to prove effective, so we are going to stay the course. We are ready and willing to adjust our plan at any point if it becomes necessary. 

Please continue to partner with us in only sending asymptomatic students and being mindful of activities outside of school where distancing is difficult.

We had over 975 students join us for school today. They are having a great year, and we will spare no effort or expense to make sure that continues.

Student Vaccine Update

We are currently collaborating with other local schools to provide a vaccine clinic for our 5-11 year-old students in the near future. We will provide more information as soon as it is available.

Highlands Student Highlight

Abrielle's teacher wrote...

Abrielle works very hard on her academics as well as her relationships with teachers and her peers. Abrielle takes her reading goals seriously and always asks for ways she can improve. She shows empathy to other students that may not be having a good day and genuinely shows care and concerns by comforting her peers. She actively seeks out ways to help her teachers, loves to help, and creates a positive classroom community. 

Wow! Keep up the great work, Abrielle. No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.

The District 106 Board of Education convened for its Regular Business Meeting at 7 p.m. on October 19. A summary of its business is included below. To access the agenda and all reports submitted to the Board, or to listen to an audio recording of the meeting, use the links below.

Superintendent's Report

Updates were provided on COVID cases and mitigations, SHIELD COVID testing, NeatBar usage, Student Intervention Specialists, the TTO, the Parent Advisory Committee, and the student dress code. For more details on any of these items, use the link below.

Building Utilization Discussion

We continued the conversation about our ability to accommodate future enrollment increases. Updates included:

• Dr. Kasarda is going to produce an updated enrollment projection report given the unexpected increases over the past two years.
• Next steps and a timeline if we move forward with a building project.

For more details, use the link below.

School Improvement Plans

Ali Beiermeister, Laura Magruder, and Mike Papierski presented the 2021-22 School Improvement Plans (SIP) for both schools. As part of the SIP process, teachers have been reviewing student assessment data of various types and using it to inform their instruction. In addition, AIMSweb and MAP assessment data from the fall of 2021 was presented. The impact of the last 18 months can be seen in our student assessment data, but we are aligning our resources, daily practices, and school improvement efforts to help students make maximum growth this year, both academically and socially.

For more details, use the link below.

Summer Project Review and Future Project Update

Kent Hoefling provided a summary of the work that was done during the summer of 2021 and an overview of the capital improvement projects scheduled for the summer of 2022.

For more details, use the link below.

Staffing and Enrollment Update

Catie Hannigan and the building principals presented an update on our current student enrollment and staffing levels as compared to previous years. Since June of 2021, we experienced an increase of 30 students at the elementary school and 52 students at the middle school.

For more details, use the link below.

Triple I Conference Delegate Topics

The D106 Board selected Board member Katy Fatalleh to represent them at the Illinois Association of School Board (IASB) Delegate Assembly. At the November Board meeting, the Board will discuss the topics up for consideration and will agree upon a D106 position for each item. The delegate meeting determines how the IASB will lobby on school-related legislation.

For more details, use the link below.

2021 Tentative Tax Levy Report

Katie Hannigan presented information on the tax levy process and the tentative levy calculations for D106. The final levy will be brought to the Board for approval at the November 16 BoE meeting.

For more details, use the link below.

Action Items

Action items included selecting Katy Fattaleh as the D106 IASB delegate and approving the snow removal bid.

Consent Agenda

Consent agenda items included approving previous meeting minutes, financial business, a personnel report, and FOIA report.