The Weekly Update #4
December 19, 2024
Dr. Kevin Myers, Superintendent, Districts 75 and 120
When we talk about Mundy Pride, it’s typically in the context of a great game by one of our teams, an amazing show by our performing artists or a well-deserved academic honor.
But we’re also very proud of those day-to-day efforts that help make those student achievements possible. Mundy Pride is built on the consistent dedication of teachers, coaches and administrators over time. It’s the result of support from our families, community members and business partners who all come together to create incredible opportunities for our students.
In our June district newsletter, we highlight the results of these efforts. In this space, I’d like to give credit to those who pave the way for student success.
Our community provides a great deal of support for our music program. Our music directors, student musicians and their families all deserve credit for being named one of the Best Communities in Music Education by the NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Foundation for the second year in a row.
We have an amazing staff. In May, five of our staff members were nominated for Educator of the Year Awards by the Lake County Regional Office of Education. They included MHS Teacher and EL Coordinator Autumn Graef, D120 Director of Security Fred Kliora, MHS Associate Principal of Operations Mike Souza, MHS Instructional Coach / English teacher Samantha Balbarin and MHS Counselor / Attendance Interventionist Vanessa Prorok.
We have awesome community volunteers. In April, we celebrated those volunteers and community partners who make it possible for our MHS students to have what we call “experiential education” through internships and mentoring opportunities.
MHS excels in its academic programs. Our school was named to the College Board’s 2024 Advanced Placement Program (AP) School Honor Roll, earning a Silver distinction.
Thanks to our community for coming together to support our facilities referendum in November. In April, we broke ground on a major facilities improvement project that will create an environment where students can thrive.
We’re very fortunate to have support from folks who are talented, dedicated and passionate about our students. They’re the driving force behind “Mundy Pride.”
As I step into retirement, I’d like to welcome Dr. Corey Tafoya as your incoming superintendent. Corey will fit in well with the School Board, staff and District 120 community. He joins a team here that is second-to-none, and is well-prepared to lead us into a bright future at MHS.
Classroom addition work begins in June
The initial work on the renovation of Mundelein High School is off to a good start.
Savings on the cost of structural steel helped to keep the MHS facilities project below budget during the first phase of construction in May. Work will continue on-schedule in June as district officials prepare to begin construction of additional classrooms on the school’s west side.
The project’s first phase began in March with the ongoing renovation of the former MHS Annex building. On May 12, the Board of Education awarded $1.6 million in bids for construction services to build additional classrooms on the school’s west side. Structural steel came in approximately $230,000 under budget, representing a notable savings in that category. This and other factors resulted in a total savings of approximately $620,000 below the budgeted amount for this phase. More information on the facilities project is available on the District 120 website.
Current work is being financed with the District’s capital project funds; no referendum dollars are expected to be spent until the project’s second phase.
New superintendent begins in July
School Boards from both Mundelein School Districts 75 and 120 in February named Dr. Corey Tafoya as the next superintendent to lead within its shared services model.
Tafoya, currently the Superintendent of Harvard Community Unit School District 50, will take over the leadership of retiring Mundelein Superintendent Dr. Kevin Myers beginning on July 1.
The decision to hire Tafoya was finalized in a unanimous vote Tuesday evening during a special joint meeting of school boards from the two districts.
“We’re thrilled,” said Mundelein High School District 120 Board President Peter Rastrelli. “The more we got to know him, the more we realized he was the one. There’s something very approachable and very outcome-focused with him, but with a balanced approach.”
Tafoya has served as District 50 superintendent since July 2017. Prior to that he was assistant superintendent at Community High School District 155 in Crystal Lake for three years. He served as the Woodstock High School principal from 2005 to 2014.
Tafoya, who is bilingual (Spanish), said he was excited to find a pair of school districts that reflected his own values.
Mundelein’s shared services model helps save on administrative costs
The shared services model used by Mundelein School Districts 75 and 120 has proven itself beneficial in many ways. It provides continuity and collaboration among staff from both districts, efficiencies in materials, supplies and skilled labor, and cost savings in administrative compensation.
In fact, a comparison of other Lake County districts shows just how Mundelein schools benefit from a deep administrative team at a much more efficient cost.
“The bottom line is the cost of administrators for both districts is substantially less than any other comparable school district in Lake County,” said Kevin Myers, Superintendent for Districts 75 and 120. “Yet we get the benefit of both our districts working together. That’s significant.”
When making such comparisons, it’s important to note that not all districts throughout Lake County look the same. Some are elementary districts, some are high school districts and some are unit districts (K-12). When comparing with unit districts, the two Mundelein districts are combined.
While Mundelein has more administrators (15) than all but two high school districts, District 120 only pays for 8.25 (55 percent) of those administrators, putting it among the lowest in the county. The same holds true for elementary districts. In District 75, the total number of administrators is on the high end, but lower than all but one other district when considering that it pays for just 6.75 (45 percent) of the cost for those administrators.
Board News & Notes
The District 120 Board of Education values communication and transparency. We will be publishing “District 120 News & Notes” after our regular Board of Education meetings and if/as other opportunities arise in order to keep our community informed and connected. News & Notes will focus on actions taken and highlights from administration presentations.
Shared Services Report
During a joint meeting of the District 75 and District 120 School Boards, administrative teams from both districts presented an update on Shared Service programs and strategies. The presentations highlighted the areas of teaching and learning, student services, finance and operations, technology, human resources, public relations and schools. They also reported on the efficiencies and effectiveness of the strategies within a shared services model.
Intergovernmental Agreement with Regional Office of Education - Board Approved
The Board entered into an agreement with the Regional Office Education in the creation of alternative programming for 9th through 12th graders both in general education and special education. The Alternative Learning Opportunities Program will support students who are not on track to graduate due to academic, attendance, social-emotional or behavioral needs. The ROE will provide future opportunities for support.
MHS again recognized with “Best Communities for Music Education” award
For the second straight year, Mundelein High School was recognized as one of the “Best Communities for Music Education (BCME)” in the nation. This unique and prestigious award is given by the NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Foundation.
“We are so proud of our music staff, students and community supporters - they’re in an elite class,” said MHS Principal Alexandria Rios Taylor. “To receive this award for a second straight year proves that our program has sustained success.”
The award, a signature program of NAMM, recognizes and celebrates schools and districts for their support and commitment to music education and efforts to assure access to music for all students as part of a well-rounded education.
“These districts and schools demonstrate that access to music learning helps students thrive, in school and in life, and we celebrate their dedication to creating inclusive learning environments,” said Julia Rubio, Executive Director of The NAMM Foundation.
The program is led by MHS Band Directors Andy Sturgeon and Jerry Shelato, Choral Director Cory Thompson and Fine Arts Department Chair Rich Stiles.
Senior named National Merit Scholar
Mariana Van Eycke is one of a select group of distinguished high school seniors from across the nation to have won corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarship Awards. Van Eycke is receiving the National Merit Motorola Solutions Scholarship. She will attend the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to study computer science and bioengineering.
Vita Energy wins at INCubator Pitch Night
Congratulations to the winners of Monday night’s Incubator Pitch Night at MHS! Newly graduated students Mihika Odak, Nicho Osorio, Logan Ramirez and Rian Xu pitched their product, Vita Energy, a nutritional dissolvable strip for student athletes.
Congrats, too, to the other two teams who competed. And many thanks to the coaches, mentors and Board of Advisors. A special thank you goes out to our Business INCubator donor Angela Trillhaase and the Honors Business INCubator teacher, Michelle Sherwin-Petrucci.
Five MHS staff members nominated for Lake County Educator of the Year Award
We have many talented, passionate and dedicated staff in MHS District 120, and on May 7, five of them were recognized as nominees at the Lake County Educator of the Year Ceremony.
They included MHS teacher and EL coordinator Autumn Graef, D120 Director of Security Fred Kliora, MHS Associate Principal of Operations Mike Souza, MHS instructional coach / English teacher Samantha Balbarin, MHS Social Worker Lisa Sarti and MHS counselor / attendance interventionist Vanessa Prorok (not pictured).
Thursday, Aug. 7 - Freshman Orientation (8:40 am - 1:50 pm)
Monday, Aug.11 - Teacher Institute Day
Tuesday, Aug. 12 - Teacher Institute Day
Wednesday, Aug. 13 - First Day of School
Thursday, Aug. 28 - Open House
Monday, Sept. 1 - Labor Day - No School
* See our website for details on these and other important dates
