08-20-2025

D128 Parents and Guardians:

I am truly honored to introduce myself as the Superintendent of Community High School District 128. Returning to my suburban Chicago roots and joining such a remarkable district feels like coming home. District 128’s reputation for outstanding student achievement, exceptional and dedicated staff members, and award-winning arts, athletics and co-curricular programs is well known—but what really stands out to me is the genuine care and commitment this community shows for each student.

After many years in public education—working not only as a teacher, but also as a school and district leader—I have learned that the heart of education is simple: it’s all about the students. Every decision we make and every step we take should be focused on helping each student grow, excel, and feel supported as they navigate their unique path.

One of the things that excites me most about District 128 is the focus on developing students who are daring—students who are willing to dream big, take on challenges, and learn from every experience. Preparing students to be ready for college, careers, and life in their communities means more than just academics; it means nurturing confidence, resilience, and a sense of purpose.

What makes this district truly special is the strength of its community—families, local organizations, and leaders are deeply invested in the success of our students. That support creates an environment where every young adult feels valued and empowered to pursue their passions.

I also want to recognize the incredibly talented and dedicated staff and our thoughtful and engaged Board of Education. Together, they have built a culture of trust, equity, and high expectations. It is a privilege to join such a committed team that puts students at the center and supports them as individuals.

As your superintendent, I promise to be present, listen openly, and work collaboratively. I look forward to meeting you and working side by side to continue building on the great foundation at Community High School District 128.

I am excited to be part of this community and eager for all that we will accomplish together.

Have a great day!

Marc Schaffer, Ed.D.

Superintendent

The D128 Board of Education will hold its regular monthly meeting on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the VHHS Library. Watch for the meeting posting on Friday that will include agendas, related items and a link to the live stream.

Community High School District 128's new Superintendent, Marc Schaffer, invites the school community to join him for a series of Back-to-School Listening Sessions.

What is a Listening Session?

A listening session is your chance to share thoughts, concerns, and ideas about District 128 in an open, informal setting. No script, no agenda--just a conversation with Dr. Schaffer.

Upcoming Sessions:

Monday, Aug. 25 | 5:30–6:30 p.m.

Vernon Hills High School Library Classroom

(before the D128 Board of Education Meeting)

Thursday, Aug. 28 | 9:00–10:00 a.m.

Cook Park Library (Cook Memorial), Libertyville

Monday, Sept. 8 | 4:00–5:00 p.m.

Libertyville High School Studio Theatre

(before Board Committee Meetings)

Light refreshments will be provided. We hope to see you there.

On Aug. 19, US News and World Report released it 2025-2026 Best High School Rankings. D128 is once again proud to be ranked among the best high schools in the state and nation. VHHS is ranked 11th and LHS 21st among Illinois high schools.

Libertyville High School and Vernon Hills High School will host their open houses on Aug. 28, 2025, from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Transition Pathways will hold its open house on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, from 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

NOTE: Students will attend school on a late start schedule the day after the open house. First period classes begin at 10:00 a.m. that day.

D128 Late Start Schedule for Friday, Aug. 29, 2025

We are excited to begin another school year and to work alongside parents, guardians, and families in helping every student live out our DARING vision. Our commitment is to keep you connected to your student’s learning—both in the classroom and through the many opportunities that support their post-secondary goals—so that together, we can encourage and celebrate their growth all year long.

As you discuss the exciting possibilities ahead with your student, we invite you to note the important dates and events below and explore the linked school resources.

Explore the following resources to engage with our curriculum and programmatic opportunities.

• D128 Curriculum Guide–lists all the courses available to D128 students and outlines the major topics covered so students and families can make informed decisions when registering for courses each year. Be sure to click on which school your student(s) attend in the corner.

• D128 Career Pathways (guide)--helps students connect career interests to specific classes and extracurricular activities.

• Seal of Biliteracy–the State of Illinois awards the Seal of Biliteracy to all students who demonstrate fluency in a world language other than English. The seal is noted on the students’ transcripts.

• Lake County Tech Campus–explore the many fantastic opportunities and courses students can take at Lake County Tech Campus.

• College and Career Pathway Endorsements: Computer Programming and Early Childhood Education–students can earn official career endorsements in these programs that appear on their transcripts.

• Course Syllabi in PowerSchool–each D128 teacher is in the process of posting their course syllabi in PowerSchool for parents, students, and families to access and review. Parents and families can be informed about the major topics and learning activities students will participate in as part of the course. To access course syllabi, log into PowerSchool, select your student’s name, click on class pages and then select syllabus. If you have any difficulty finding the syllabus, please contact the teacher directly.

• Curriculum Complaint and Opt-Out Process--District, state and federal policies afford parents the right to request their child be excused from certain lessons or units of study. If you would like to submit such a request, please contact your child’s teacher or the subject area Department Chair to discuss your specific curriculum concern and request the opt-out form.

We are excited to share that we will continue to support students on their DARING Journey, a four-year set of activities designed to help students explore careers, plan for postsecondary education, and develop financial aid literacy. These activities will take place throughout the year to support all students on their individual paths to post-high school success. See more information about the DARING Journey.

To support the DARING Journey, students will use our college and career readiness platform, SchooLinks! All of the SchooLinks features are designed with students in mind to help them become career, college, and life-ready. As a guardian, you can join your students in their career and college exploration process and discuss their future with them.

SchooLinks allows you to:

• View the results of your student’s career interest, strength, and mindset assessments to learn more about their interests and what careers might be right for them

• Complete your own research on colleges, careers, and more to help you have informed conversations with your students. This has replaced the Naviance and SCOIR systems.

• See what colleges and careers your student has favorited and set as goals

• Check your personalized dashboard for upcoming events, as well as important reminders and to-dos for your student

• Compare college costs and explore expected financial aid, scholarships, and out-of-pocket expenses

Students can access it through their ClassLink account. Most students have already been introduced to SchooLinks through DARING Day, a class meeting, or an asynchronous presentation.

• Connect a parent/guardian account

• View the parent/guardian onboarding webinar

Are you curious about:

• Career exploration

• High school and post-high school planning

• Dual credit (early college credit)

• State-level awards in careers

• Connecting with our high schools to provide career exploration to our students

If so, visit the new D128 College and Career Readiness web page.

Learn About How D128 Supports Health and Wellbeing

The health, safety, and wellbeing of our students is our number one priority, and we have several school-based health professionals on staff to support our students. Every student belongs to a Learning Support Team (LST), which is a group of staff dedicated to supporting the student throughout their high school experience. The LST includes the student's school counselor, social worker, and Team Leader. Additional staff, including school nurses, school psychologists, and other related services professionals, work closely with the LST to support students. If you have questions about who your student's LST includes, visit LHS LST or VHHS LST.

D128 has multiple nurses and health services professionals on staff, as well, who serve the needs of our students across the district. Please visit the health services websites (LHS Nurses and VHHS Nurses) for information about health requirements and more.

Report a Concern

A student’s right to feel safe in school is paramount. If you have information about bullying, discrimination, harassment, or any other safety concerns, please report this information to school staff immediately. Please visit our website for more information about reporting any concerns you may have.

As you may know, D128 has been engaged in the process of developing a new web presence for the District and its schools. The new website provides a modern, equitable, and user-friendly website experience for all students, families, staff, and community members. To learn more about the restructuring and provide your feedback, please visit the website.