Fremont Focus

We are pleased to share an update on the progress of our strategic goal of a Safe, Healthy & Connected Culture, reflecting our ongoing commitment to providing a safe and secure learning environment for all students and staff.

• Bus Safety:

• expanded school bus safety training for students

• enhanced school bus loading & unloading zones

• updated our two-way radios and upgraded the internal camera system

• District-Wide Emergency Protocols:

• adopted the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) in coordination with first responders

• updated emergency go-backpacks and emergency response kits

• Staff Preparedness:

• expanded training in CPR, AEDs, and Stop the Bleed

• established a new cardiac emergency response plan and team in each building

• Technology:

• strengthened systems to protect our users, including user security measures, advanced monitoring, and network resilience

Physical Building Security

We continue to add targeted security improvements at each of our school buildings. These include projects such as exterior security gates, card reader access, signage, and cameras.

For more information, please review the presentation from our November 17 Board of Education meeting.

Please read the following newsletter for detailed information, but here is a summary of key dates for quick access:

• Wed., November 19 - Early Release Schedule (MS dismissed at 2:13 p.m.; ES/IS dismissed at 3:08 p.m.)
• Wed., November 19 - PTO Meeting, 6:00 p.m. (Middle School Media Center)
• Mon., November 24 - Parent/Teacher Conferences (Students Not In Attendance)
• November 25-28 - Thanksgiving Break (Students Not In Attendance)
• Wed., December 3 - Early Release Schedule (MS dismissed at 2:13 p.m.; ES/IS dismissed at 3:08 p.m.)

If your child will be absent from school because of illness, doctor's appointments, or for any other reason, please report it to the school office by 9:00 a.m. on the day of the absence by completing the form linked within the above graphic or by calling the attendance line for the appropriate school.

Fremont School District 79 is a recipient of the Top Workplaces 2025 honor as announced by the Chicago Tribune. This is the second time in three years that FSD79 has earned the honor, having been similarly recognized in 2023.

Fremont is the only school district in the Midsize Workplaces category to be named to the Top Workplaces list this year.

The Top Workplaces list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage LLC.

Fremont Elementary and Middle Schools were honored to hold their annual Veterans Day assemblies last week. Thank you to our middle school guest speaker US Navy Chief Steven Reedus, all of our veterans who attended, and our student speakers and performers for making it a meaningful celebration of our troops.

On November 13, members of our Student Services Department participated in a virtual Parent University session on how the District supports families of students with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). If you missed the session, you can watch it below.

Presentation Slidedeck

FSD79 is honored to be highlighted in the most recent version of the Lake County Regional Office of Education (ROE) newsletter. The summary highlighted the District's efforts related to our Strategic Plan.

To view the newsletter, please click here.

In an effort to connect the FSD79 Board of Education and the community, the District offers a summary of monthly, regular Board meetings. To view a recap of the November 17 meeting, please click here.

This month's recognition was held for staff members Lisa Schippel, Melissa Serowka, Susan Wittenkeller, and Nick Wyatt of Fremont Intermediate School. The evening's Pledge of Allegiance was led by Lincoln Early Learning Center students.

Fremont's Board of Education approved the 2026-2027 K-8 school calendar at its November 17 meeting. The first day of classes for K-8 students will be August 20, 2026, while the final day of classes (without emergency days) is scheduled for June 3, 2027. The calendar reflects the feedback of our families and staff from our recent survey.

The 2026-2027 Lincoln Early Learning Center calendar is being developed in collaboration with partner districts and will be shared at a future date.

This past Saturday, November 15, was School Board Members Day. We thank our FSD79 board members for the extraordinary hard work and dedication that each of these volunteers put forth. Their commitment and tireless efforts to support our schools are deeply appreciated.

FSD79 and Mundelein High School District 120 officials have been advocating for the Village of Mundelein to revisit its impact fee ordinance, which it enacted this past April. The ordinance is leading developers to offer significantly less in impact fees than in previous agreements prior to the new ordinance.

The impact fee proposal in the annexation agreement for Pulte Homes' Walnut Ridge development reveals a massive disparity as compared to the 2020 agreement with Pulte for its Sheldon Woods development, which established impact fees commensurate with capital needs. Five years later, the districts face significantly higher needs, yet the proposed Walnut Ridge fees are drastically diminished:

• District 79: Fees are approximately 50% of the 2020 Sheldon Woods rate. This represents a shortfall of $466,000.

• District 120: Fees are approximately 20% of the 2020 Sheldon Woods rate. This represents a shortfall of $822,845.

This reduction represents a combined shortfall exceeding $1.2 million across the districts. This significant surrender of essential capital funding—solely due to the new ordinance—will directly and negatively impact the ability to meet the infrastructure needs of incoming students from this development. Current taxpayers will be left to account for this cost, which the school districts are advocating against.

FSD79 offers local groups and organizations the opportunity to advertise their upcoming events in the Virtual Backpack. To submit your group's event for consideration, please submit a PDF flyer to publicrelations@fsd79.org. Check back regularly for upcoming offerings.

• Stand Up Mundelein Parent Meeting

• Mundelein HS Jr. Mustangs Feeder Boys Basketball

• Stevenson HS Dance 1 Class for Incoming Freshmen

• Girl Scout Troop 48080

• YMCA Camp MacLean Winter Camp

• Ela Soccer Club
• Tutor Time at Fremont Public Library
• Bradley Counseling Center Partnering With Parents Workshop
• Community Resources for Individuals with a Disability
• Mundelein HS Boosters & Foundation
• Stevenson HS Community Education (PREP) Programs

The next edition of the Fremont Focus will be distributed on Wednesday, December 3. This will be in addition to the weekly e-newsletters sent on Fridays from principals at the school level.

Address: 28855 North Fremont Center Road, Mundelein, IL

Phone: (847) 566-0169

Website: fsd79.org

Facebook: facebook.com/FremontSchoolDistrict79

Instagram: @FSD79

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/fremont-school-district-79

YouTube: youtube.com/FSD79