Dunlap Dispatch Winter 2026

The Dunlap School Board takes pleasure in having a role in the information contained in the latest edition of the Dunlap Dispatch. We have a lot of things to be proud of and our Administration, Teachers, & Staff continue to work hard to demonstrate the benefit you receive from being in the District. As costs continue to rise over time, we are placing additional emphasis on providing the best return for your investment in the community. The students at Dunlap continue to exceed benchmarks and the great educational product produced is evident in our sustained property value.

We truly appreciate your continued engagement.

Sincerely,

The Dunlap School Board of Education

Tom Feldman

Andrew Tyra

Mick Hall

Theresa Holshouser

Tim Wagenbach

Nicolas Yemm

Youssef Boudjarane

The top-ranked U.S. public schools in U.S. News & World Report’s "2025–2026 Best High Schools" list are those where students excelled beyond expectations on state assessments in math, reading, and science, achieved qualifying scores on a range of college-level exams, and graduated at consistently high rates.

DHS scored a 94.69/100 and placed 951st in national rankings, making DHS among the top 5.3% of high schools in the country! In Illinois, DHS ranked 41st (top 5.7%), and was ranked #1 in the Peoria Metro Area. What a truly fantastic feat and something to be proud of as we start another school year!

We are proud to announce the nominees for the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Those Who Excel Awards from Dunlap Community Unit School District #323! These outstanding educators were nominated by their peers in recognition of their exceptional dedication, professionalism, and contributions to our schools and community.

Congratulations to our 2025 ISBE Those Who Excel Nominees:

• Katie Cazalet – Administrator

• Amelia Miller – Administrator

• Hannah Dutton – Student Support Personnel

• Shae Wrage – Student Support Personnel

• Sarah Charles – Teacher

• Annie Manard – Teacher

• Lisa Uptmor – Teacher

Winners will be selected later this winter and recognized at a special banquet in the spring. We are incredibly proud of these nominees and the excellence they represent across our district.

Notice a district employee going above and beyond? Want to see that individual get recognized for their hard work and dedication to the district? Nominate the employee for the Dunlap Shine Award by clicking here.

Below are the individuals that received this recognition during the First Semester!

Dr. Andrews was selected as Administrator of the Year from the Association of Illinois School Library Educators (AISLE) for "his dedication, foresight, and unwavering support of our library program. His efforts at the administrative level make a difference for our students every day.”

Our Strategic Plan, adopted on July 19, 2023, serves as a roadmap for preparing every student to succeed each day. Guided by our mission and vision, the plan focuses on five key goals:

• Facilities: Develop a Master Facilities Plan aligned with enrollment trends, community needs, and academic and athletic goals.

• Academics & Achievement: Create opportunities for all students to explore college and career pathways through data-driven curriculum and program development.

• Finance: Maintain fiscal stability while structuring new bonds to support district growth and competitiveness.

• Communication: Strengthen transparency and stakeholder engagement through improved access to district information and consistent technology systems.

• Safety: Prioritize physical, social, and emotional wellness while enhancing safety resources for students and staff.

Rooted in our core values of integrity, respect, teamwork, and inclusion, the Strategic Plan reflects Dunlap’s ongoing commitment to excellence in learning, leadership, and community.

As our district continues to grow, so do our needs for new and improved facilities. This is a particularly exciting time as we are in the midst of two new major construction projects: The Dunlap #323 Fieldhouse, and new Wilder-Waite Grade School.

The new fieldhouse is a 55,000 square foot building that houses a 6-lane, 200m track, four basketball/volleyball/tennis courts, a dance room, a golf simulator room, restrooms, conference room, concession stand, two batting cages, and storage space. This facility will undoubtedly enhance our student-athletes' training experience and performance, and will be a space that can benefit the entire community. Estes Construction is currently overseeing the erection of the steel frame of the main portion of the building as pictured. Once this phase is complete and the sheeting is added, work can begin on the smaller section of the building that houses the restrooms, conference room, concessions, dance room, and golf simulation room.

When the decision was made to expand the fieldhouse project, the current entrance to DHS off of Cedar Hills Road became no longer viable. This provided the opportunity to improve our campus and reduce many of the traffic problems by adding a new entrance with an additional entry lane. The new entrance has been a big improvement and has greatly reduced the cars backed up onto our state and county roads.

The planning process for the new Wilder-Waite building is nearly complete! Ratio Architects and district personnel have been busy meeting and planning our new 81,600 square foot building. Bids for the precast portion of the building have already been accepted, with construction scheduled to begin in March of 2026. Below are floor plans of the first and second floor that are pretty close (90%) to what the final plans will look like.

Academics and achievement, two pillars supporting the purpose of our district, are comprised of two goals, ensuring the district is focusing on a targeted area expressed through the stakeholder feedback survey and being responsive to the district's needs and not just focusing on static indicators of success that are identified at the start of the strategic planning process and remain the same throughout the duration of the multiyear plan.

Dunlap CUSD #323 has worked diligently to create frameworks to outline targeted efforts to help students, starting in sixth grade, have exposure to and conversations around future career opportunities. Understanding the educational background, skillsets, earning potential, and advancement opportunities available within a pathway are all essential in making sure students make the most informed choice.

Illinois has developed the PaCE Framework--(Postsecondary and Career Expectations) to help ensure districts have a universal starting place for conversations around how best to set students up for success. While DHS finalized the framework two years ago, the middle school framework was developed at the end of the 2024-25 school year in anticipation for the current school year--when districts were required to have this completed. This outline will help to ensure that students are exposed to and supported in the same opportunities at both of our middle schools.

Throughout the strategic planning process, conversations were thick around increasing certified technical education (CTE) offerings. CTE includes courses offered wtihin the academic course catalog, such as the Business, Family and Consumer ScienceThrough the district's long-standing partnership with Illinois Community College and the Peoria Educatoinal Region for Employment and Career Training (PERFECT), Dunlap High School has offered dual-credit college courses and work-based learning pathways:

• Health Occupations,
• Emergency Medical Services,
• Fire Science,
• Welding, and
• Construction.

Understanding the trends within the labor market, the demand for trades-based careers in the coming years, along with the desire of the community to increase students' exposure to these pathways, the district will continue to explore ways in which it can increase opportunities for students. Be it by entering into parterships with other districts, local industries, or procuring prefatory curriculum aligned with trades programs, opportunities will continue to be reviewed and proposed to the board for adoption. Progress toward this goal is being montiored by the Curriculum Department and Dunlap High School Administration.

The Curriculum Department created its third department plan at the end of the 2024-25 school year. The plan will organize efforts for the 2026, 2027, and 2028 school years. The plan was developed by means of a comprehensive feedback survey that requested feedback in 10 targeted areas:

• Policies & Procedures,
• Professional Development,
• Communication,
• Classroom Management,
• Curricular Resources,
• District Climate & Culture,
• Library Services,
• Evaluations,
• Professional Learning Communities, and
• Technology.

The different components of the feedback survey are directly related to teaching and learning and either empower educators or serve students directly, all, however, ultimately having an impact on the classroom environment and increasing learning opportunities for our students. Feedback from the 190 respondents was organized into themes for each topic and then evaluated with Elementary, Middle, and High School Curriculum Councils, respectively. Each group then worked to draft the "success criteria" that came as a result of the feedback that was directly related to the Curriculum Department or could be supported by it.

Success indicators for each level--elementary, middle, and high--are currently all placed in the current school year. Progress will be made toward as many of the indicators as possible, reviewed toward the end of the year, and placed on the remaining two school years based on a prioritization process. Being able to look at each year and determine how funds and the limited time available during school improvement afternoons or district institute days allows the Curriculum Department (as well as Special Education and Student Services Departments) to be response to staff and students' needs and leverage resources appropriately.

Draft versions of the plan are available for review below. Working copies that have timelines and participants delegated are still being finalized.

Dunlap Community Unit School District #323 continues to demonstrate strong progress toward its strategic finance goal of managing district resources responsibly while maintaining long-term fiscal stability.

• The District is funding the new Training Center with $12.5 million in existing fund balances, reflecting a commitment to investing in priority projects without creating additional taxpayer burden.
• Moody’s reaffirmed the District’s Aa2 rating in November 2025, underscoring consistent financial health and prudent fiscal management over several years.
• Additionally, even with the issuance of $44 million in new debt to construct the new Wilder-Waite school, the District will maintain the same percentage of Long-Term Debt Margin Remaining rating within its Financial Profile score, which remains at the highest designation of recognition. Importantly, this new debt will not increase the tax rate, further demonstrating Dunlap’s commitment to sustaining financial stability while advancing district goals.

Over the past two years, the district has taken significant steps toward strengthening communication systems and reducing variability across schools. This work began last year with defining what a “robust website” should include and bringing together elementary, middle, and high school teams to align on consistent functions, formatting, and expectations. Building on these efforts, the district updated all school and district websites to follow a uniform structure with clear navigation and level-appropriate content. The building principal or designee now maintains each site to ensure accuracy and relevance, supported by an annual website maintenance checklist that will be reviewed collaboratively to preserve consistency. In addition, most elementary schools have implemented a real-time calendar that automatically updates as events change, providing families with timely, reliable access to school activities.

This year, the district also advanced communication within athletics through the rollout of SNAP Mobile, a unified app now used across all high school sports. The platform supports one-way and two-way communication, replacing tools such as Remind101, group texts, Team Snap, and Game Changer that previously varied by team. Over the summer, the district launched the new SNAP athletic website, which syncs seamlessly with the mobile app to ensure consistent, up-to-date information—whether accessed online or from a device. Collectively, these upgrades enhance user experience, promote transparency, and provide families and community members with a reliable, uniform source of information. Together, they demonstrate substantial progress toward the district’s Communication goal: building a comprehensive system that allows stakeholders to efficiently access relevant information through a robust, unified website while reducing variability in academic and extracurricular communication tools across the middle and high school levels.

The Student Services Department has made a focused commitment to enhancing communication by deepening our understanding of community resources and strengthening community-based partnerships. Through intentional networking and purposeful connections, our team has collaborated closely with organizations such as:

• Carle Health
• Trillium Place Young Minds
• OSF
• Peoria City/County Health Department
• IRIS
• Community Resource Center
• City of Peoria Police Department (and Co-Responders)
• Peoria County Sheriff’s Office
• Peoria County Coroner’s Office
• Dunlap Fire Protection District
• Toys for Tots
• Midwest Food Bank

At Dunlap Community Unit School District #323, the safety and well-being of our students are our highest priorities. I want to share with you the comprehensive safety procedures and protocols we have in place to create a secure and supportive learning environment for every child. Our district employs a wide range of initiatives and resources, that include, but are not limited to:

• Safe2HelpIL: A confidential tipline encouraging students, families, and staff to “Seek Help Before Harm.” It empowers our community to report concerns safely and proactively and supports our promotion of “See Something, Say Something.” This reminds everyone to be vigilant and report any unusual or concerning behaviors to keep our schools safe.

• Standard Response Protocol (SRP): A clear set of actions—Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, Shelter, and Hold—to guide students and staff during emergencies. These are rehearsed through a series of drills throughout the course of the school year.

• Standard Reunification Method (SRM): A systematic approach to safely reuniting students with families after emergencies, practiced through district training with the I Love You Guys Foundation.

• Cardiac Response Plan: Almost 200 CPR trained staff and over 35 AED machines across the district ensure rapid response to cardiac emergencies, supporting our designation as a Project ADAM Heart Safe School.

• Nursing Staff, Counselors, & Social Workers: Dedicated professionals provide health services, counseling, and social-emotional support to meet students’ physical and mental health needs.

• School Resource Officers (SROs): Our SROs contracted through the Peoria County Sheriff’s Department maintain a safe campus environment and collaborate closely with school leaders.

• Safety Site Assessments: The Regional Office of Education conducted safety site assessments using CPTED principles for school safety to identify strengths and areas for growth in our safety measures across all campuses.

• Behavior and Risk Assessment Processes & Handle with Care Alerts: These systems identify and support students facing behavioral or trauma-related challenges, ensuring timely and compassionate interventions.

• Raptor Alert & Emergency Notification Systems: Real-time communication tools that notify staff promptly during emergencies and provide an avenue to account for all individuals.

• Door Alerts & Dual Entryways: Security measures include alarms on propped doors and dual entry points in all buildings to control access and enhance safety.

• Door and Window Numbering: In an emergency, seconds matter. Doors and exterior windows have been labeled across all schools to help first responders navigate to the location of an emergency quickly.

• Camera Surveillance: Enhancements and replacements of cameras across the district provides opportunities for administrators and law enforcement to conduct investigations and maintain surveillance of school grounds. A replacement plan is in place to continuously improve our current cameras.

• Indoor 911 Mapping: In conjunction with Western Illinois University, our schools have been mapped to increase location services and response time by 911.

• Undesignated Medications: Our schools maintain a supply of life-saving medications such as EpiPens for severe allergic reactions, Albuterol inhalers for respiratory emergencies, and Narcan for opioid overdoses. These medications, combined with staff training, ensure we are equipped to respond to urgent medical needs quickly and effectively

• PREPaRE Crisis Intervention Response Protocols: Developed by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). These protocols equip our staff to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from crisis events, ensuring comprehensive mental health intervention, care and safety for our entire school community.

• HAPARA: Hapara provides teachers and administrators with valuable information regarding student Chromebook usage and provides notification to staff when unsafe behavior occurs.

We are committed to continuous improvement and welcome your partnership in maintaining a safe and nurturing environment. For more information, please visit our School Safety Webpage.

Dunlap Community Unit School District #323 is committed to fostering strong, collaborative relationships with community partners who actively support the District’s mission and vision. To formally recognize these partnerships, the District established the Soaring Together Community Partnership Award. This recognition will honor individuals or organizations whose contributions significantly enhance the educational environment, safety, and well-being of our students and staff.

INAUGURAL RECOGNITION
The inaugural Soaring Together Community Partnership Award was presented to Chief Brandon Lanier and the Dunlap Fire Protection District for their exceptional and proactive support of Dunlap Schools. Their partnership exemplifies the spirit of collaboration and community commitment the award is intended to celebrate.

NOTABLE CONTRIBUTIONS
Chief Lanier and the Dunlap Fire Protection District have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the safety and preparedness of our schools through:

• Responding to 35 medical emergencies during the 2024–2025 school year.
  
  

• Playing a pivotal role in establishing the Cardiac Emergency Response Plan and partnering with the District’s in-house CPR trainers to train nearly 200 staff members in CPR.

• Promoting learning and student engagement through field trip opportunities for students across the district and involvement with the fire science club at Dunlap High School.
  
  

• Supporting summer professional learning for staff in fire science and safety.
  
  

• Providing the Dunlap Fire House conference room as a venue for professional development sessions.
  
  

• Engaging in ongoing safety planning efforts, including:
  
  

• Attending and certifying building fire drills,
  
  

• Collaboratively planning for emergency and crisis situations, and
  
  

• Reviewing building maps and response procedures.
  
  

Chief Lanier and the Dunlap Fire Protection District have consistently gone above and beyond in their service to Dunlap Schools. Their efforts directly contribute to a safer, more prepared, and more resilient learning environment. The Soaring Together Community Partnership Award will stand as a symbol of appreciation for their extraordinary partnership and will become an ongoing opportunity for our district to honor community partners who share this commitment to excellence.

Our SROs, Officer Medina and Officer Rial, labeled exterior windows across all buildings. These numbers help first responders quickly and accurately identify locations in any emergency, making our schools even safer for students and staff.

Congratulations to Deputy Medina, recipient of tonight’s Eagle “Tallon” Award at the Board of Education meeting for his rapid response to a recent medical emergency in our district! His dedication, service, and commitment to supporting our students, staff, and community exemplify what it means to be an Eagle.