An Update from Supt. Smith

Notable Dates and Events

• Calendar Reminders

News and Announcements

• November 3 Bond Referendum: Informational Webpage Now Live
• Perry Elementary Named Model PLC School
• Opportunity for 11th Graders: National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test

District Highlights

• Excitement of New School Year Highlighted in Photos, Video!
• Summer Internships Provide Students With Career Experience

Student Recognitions

• Top 10 Finish Secured at SkillsUSA National Event
• Dundee-Crown Senior Nominated for NFL Latino Heritage Youth Leader Award
• District 300 Student Earns First Place Medal at Illinois Summer Games

D300 Community Recognition

• Project Backpack Provides District 300 Families With School Resources

School Highlights

• Dundee-Crown Charging Station Helps Brew Student Confidence
• Lake in the Hills Elementary Launches New ‘Leopard Leaps’ Program

Board of Education

• Next Board of Education Meeting Scheduled for September 8

Conclusion

District 300 would like to remind families of the following notable dates and events:

Friday, September 4, through Saturday, September 19:

• Fine arts events – Information about band and orchestra enrollment nights is available, as are details about marching band events. To learn more, please visit the District 300 calendar webpage, scroll down, and select “Fine Arts Calendar.”

Monday, September 7:

• Labor Day – No student attendance; offices and schools closed.

Wednesday, September 30:

• Late Start – For all K-12 students; September 30 will be a non-attendance day for preschool students.

View additional calendar information on the district's website.

On Tuesday, November 3, District 300 voters will make an important decision about the future of our schools.

A bond referendum will appear on the general election ballot. It will ask voters to decide whether District 300 can issue bonds – that is, borrow money – to fund improvements to schools and facilities across the district.

Voters, not the school board or the district, will make the final decision.

If approved, the referendum would help fund more than 20 projects across 18 schools, including classroom additions and renovations, safety and security improvements, updates to aging facilities, and a new Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center.

The proposed projects address three primary challenges:

• Growing enrollment – District enrollment is projected to increase by more than 4,000 students over the next 10 years, while nearly one-third of schools are already at or near capacity.
  
  
• Aging schools and infrastructure – Many District 300 schools are 50 to 70 years old and require repairs and updates.
  
  
• Changing education – Today's instruction increasingly incorporates collaboration, movement, hands-on learning, and technology, creating different needs for learning spaces than when many district schools were built.

To help voters learn more, District 300 has launched a dedicated referendum webpage at www.d300.org/Bond. Resources include:

• A school-by-school list of proposed projects
  
  
• Answers to frequently asked questions about the referendum and proposed projects
  
  
• A tax calculator to estimate the potential financial impact for an individual property

Election Day is November 3, with polls open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Early voting begins Thursday, September 24.

Those with questions may email Bond@d300.org.

Additional information will be added to the bond referendum webpage as it becomes available.

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about this important decision facing our community.

Congratulations to Perry Elementary School, which recently achieved Model PLC at Work status, a distinction bestowed by Solution Tree that recognizes sustained success in raising student achievement!

Model PLC schools have exhibited a dedication to PLCs – or Professional Learning Communities – which are groups of educators who collaborate to enhance their teaching strategies so all students can reach their highest potential. In addition, educators at these schools have demonstrated a lasting commitment to student success through data-driven instruction and by adapting their structure and culture to support academic excellence for all.

The District 300 Board of Education recognized Perry Elementary during its meeting on August 25 during which a video highlighting the school’s achievement was played.

“We have been able to get some of the highest growth in the district,” says Principal Katherine Keafer in the video. “I’m very proud of our staff and students for doing that, and that’s because of the PLC process.”

On behalf of District 300, congratulations to Perry Elementary School for achieving Model PLC at Work distinction!

Registration is now open for all 11th graders interested in taking the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT) this fall.

This optional test serves as the qualifying exam for the National Merit Scholarship Program, which recognizes and awards scholarships to high-performing students nationwide. Scholarships can range from a one-time award of $2,500 to a yearly award of $10,000.

If a student qualifies for a scholarship, they will be notified in the spring. In addition to scholarship eligibility, the test provides valuable feedback on college readiness.

• Registration for the NMSQT will be open through 4 p.m. Friday, October 2, via each high school’s online webstore at https://store.d300.org.
  
  
• The cost is $18, with fee waivers automatically applied for eligible students.
  
  
• The NMSQT will be administered during the school day on Wednesday, October 21.

District 300 encourages families to register early and take advantage of this opportunity for their college-bound juniors. Any questions regarding the NMSQT can be directed to the main office at your student’s respective high school.

District 300 is thrilled to share the photos above from the first week of class!

In addition, this “Mic'd Up” video captures the remarkable energy I experience while interacting with students and staff during the opening days of a new school year.

All of these images are a wonderful reminder of what makes District 300 such a special place to learn and grow. Enjoy!

Nearly 100 District 300 students gained work-related skills this summer through area internships!

Geared toward incoming juniors and seniors, participating students were able to acquire experience in business, communications, engineering, healthcare, government, and other fields.

In total, these students earned $89,100 through their internships, and they acquired more than 5,900 hours of career development experience.

Thank you to the Alignment Collaborative for Education, the Northern Kane County Education for Employment Region 110 office, and the participating internship sites for their collaboration in making this program possible.

To learn more about interning through District 300, please contact the following business teachers:

• For inquiries related to Dundee-Crown High School, please email Ms. Michelle Buhrow at michelle.buhrow@d300.org.
  
  
• For inquiries related to Hampshire High School, please email Mr. Robert Beringer at robert.beringer@d300.org.
  
  
• And for inquiries related to Jacobs High School, please email Mr. Dustin Smith at dustin.smith@d300.org.

Over the summer, students representing Hampshire and Jacobs high schools competed at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, with one team earning a Top 10 finish!

Placing seventh out of 43 teams in the Welding Fabrication category were Aric Abbott, Madison Bilek, and Lou Jensen, who used their fabrication skills to build a complex project based on blueprints.

Strong showings were also had by the following students:

• In the Robotics and Automation category, Quinn Hanson and Jerome Palanca placed 12th out of 19 teams.
  
  
• In the Computer Programming category, Kyle Gilligan finished 19th out of 33 competitors.
  
  
• In the CNC 2-Axis Turning category, Cash Gohde placed 22nd out of 29 competitors.

Congratulations to all of the students who competed at the SkillsUSA national event!

Congratulations to Dundee-Crown High School senior Alejandro Gonzalez, who has been nominated for the NFL Latino Heritage Youth Leader Award!

Alejandro will be honored during the Chicago Bears game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday, September 28, in conjunction with the NFL's celebration of Latino heritage. His award nomination represents the Chicago Bears team.

“We are incredibly proud of Alejandro and the way he represents Dundee-Crown High School,” commented Dundee-Crown head football coach Michael Steinhaus. “His character, leadership, commitment to serving others, and dedication to our football program make him truly deserving of this recognition. He is an outstanding representative of our school, our community, and the Dundee-Crown football family.”

Congratulations to District 300 student Aliyah "Ting" Baron for earning a first place medal in the 25-meter non-motorized wheelchair competition at the 2026 Special Olympics Illinois Summer Games!

Honors also go to the following district participants:

• Steven Monsen (second place in softball throw)
• Mason Hager (third place in standing long jump)
• David Heitman (sixth place in 100-meter run)

The Special Olympics Illinois Summer Games took place in June at Illinois State University.

Prior to the start of the new school year, District 300 partnered with Elgin Community College (ECC) for Project Backpack, a community-based initiative that provides families with backpacks, school supplies, and other resources.

More than 300 students from District 300 attended the annual event and received supply-filled backpacks.

We appreciate the opportunity to strengthen our partnership with ECC and thank the college for leading the Project Backpack program!

Dundee-Crown High School has officially launched Charging Station – its student-run beverage stand – for this school year!

Open twice a day to staff, Charging Station serves up fresh coffees, ice refreshers, hot chocolate, and green teas. Beyond the delicious drinks, the hands-on initiative gives participating students valuable experience interacting with customers and handling money.

Students decorate the beverage sleeves and promote the program through school flyers. The program also features mobile delivery and a punch-card incentive.

Charging Station is being led by Cross Category Resource teacher Mrs. Debbie Lesch, with assistance from her students and paraprofessional Ms. Claudia Alvarado.

Lake in the Hills Elementary School recently hosted its first assembly of the new school year!

Topics discussed included assembly expectations, attendance incentives, and a new "Leopard Leaps” program, where students will be focused on initiatives such as leading by example, understanding others, and actively listening.

The next Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 8, at District 300 Central Office, 2550 Harnish Drive, in Algonquin.

Meetings are called to order at 6 p.m., with board members immediately entering closed session; meetings then reconvene in open session at 6:30 p.m.

In-person seating for meetings is on a first-come, first-served basis. For your awareness, meetings are also streamed live on the District 300 YouTube channel beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Guidelines for public participation at board meetings are available on the district website.

District residents and members of the public can contact the board any time by emailing Board@d300.org. Any email sent to this address will reach all board members simultaneously.

To view more information about the Board of Education, including future meeting dates, agendas, past board videos, and more, please visit www.d300.org/BoardofEducation.

What a fantastic start to the 2026-27 school year! Thank you to our students, staff, families, and community members for their continued support of District 300.

As a reminder, you can find our communication guidelines for parents and guardians on the district website.

Look for my next Superintendent Update on Friday, September 18.

Have a great weekend!