Board Highlights

District leaders had planned to provide an additional safety update in light of recent public comment and community discussion regarding immigration enforcement and school safety preparedness. That conversation is now scheduled to take place at the March 24 board meeting, as part of the district’s ongoing commitment to listening, sharing information, and supporting families.

At its March 10 meeting, the board received an update from Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Natacia Campbell Tominov on the district’s staffing plan for the 2026–27 school year.

District 97 is currently planning a Reduction in Force (RIF) to align staffing with projected student enrollment, course offerings, and program needs across the district. While the district has not conducted a RIF in many years, this process is common in school districts when enrollment and programming changes affect staffing needs.

Each year, the district reviews enrollment trends, course offerings, and scheduling needs to ensure schools are staffed appropriately. This year’s review highlighted several factors affecting staffing for next year, including enrollment patterns, shifts in middle school course enrollment, and scheduling changes.

In some areas—particularly at the middle school level—current enrollment patterns have resulted in courses with very small numbers of students. These adjustments are intended to better align staffing and course offerings with student enrollment and program needs across the district.

Aligning staffing also supports the district’s long-term financial sustainability,

For most students and families, classroom experiences will remain consistent next year.

• Class sizes are projected to remain similar to recent years.
• Required academic programs and student supports will continue.
• Changes focus on staffing efficiency and equitable resource alignment—not reducing student services.

Based on current projections:

• Up to 27 full-time positions may be reduced districtwide as part of aligning staffing with enrollment and program needs.

• Many of these reductions are expected to occur through normal attrition, such as retirements or resignations.

• Approximately 3 to 15 staff members may receive RIF notifications, depending on final enrollment and staffing needs.

A RIF follows a clearly defined process under Illinois law and applicable collective bargaining agreements. Teachers are placed into groups based on performance evaluation ratings and seniority, and that information is used to determine which staff might be subject to a RIF.

If positions become available later, qualified staff who were honorably dismissed may be recalled.

The Board of Education is expected to consider action on the proposed staffing plan at its March 24 meeting. Affected staff will receive official written notification in April, and staffing placements will be finalized in May.

The district has also prepared a Staffing Plan FAQ with additional information about how staffing decisions are made and how the RIF process works under Illinois law.