District 30 Board Brief
November 2026 - Board of Education Meeting Summary
Dear District 30 Community,
An official celebration of public education starts on Monday, as we honor American Education Week and the schools that serve as invaluable resources across the country. But already this fall, District 30 has had so much to celebrate!
We announced in recent weeks that Wescott, Willowbrook and Maple Schools each earned an Exemplary rating on the 2025-26 Illinois School Report Card, the highest designation a school can receive. This recognition comes in large part from our students’ extraordinary achievements on standardized assessments and steady growth. In this month’s Board Brief, you can learn more about our state Report Card performance, as well as data from the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR).
Additionally, all three schools were named among the best in Illinois by U.S. News & World Report, ranking among the top 4% in the state.
But these incredible honors and scores are just part of the story. Our students can only succeed with the dedication of the adults who invest in them. As we look ahead to American Education Week, we thank our dedicated teachers and every person in District 30 who contributes to the growth and achievement of our students: our Board of Education, administration, instructional assistants, custodians, lunch workers, PTOs, crossing guards, and so many others. Each person plays a key role in encouraging students to become confident, lifelong learners who embody kindness and make a difference in the world.
At this month’s Board meeting, we extended our thanks to our Board of Education in advance of School Board Members Day, which is held each year on November 15 as part of American Education Week. We are grateful to these seven elected officials, who volunteer their personal time and share their expertise as parents and professionals in service to the District 30 community. Next week, we will also thank our staff with gifts, breakfasts at each school, and recognition for their dedication to our learners.
I invite you to scroll and explore additional highlights from our meeting, and we in District 30 thank you for your essential partnership in supporting our learners.
Sincerely,
Dr. Emily K. Tammaru
Superintendent of Schools
The Board must approve an estimated tax levy as part of the annual levy process. The estimated 2026 levy was approved at $35,963,000 for capped funds. The Board will finalize the levy after a public hearing at the Thursday, December 17 meeting.
Under the tax cap, the district’s capped funds can increase only by CPI (2.7% this year) plus new growth/construction added to the tax rolls. Because new growth isn’t known until next year, the levy is intentionally set higher than what the district expects to receive. The actual 2026 capped funds extension is expected to be approximately 3-4% higher than 2025.
Additionally, $3,434,800 will be levied in 2026 for debt service, which is set by the district’s existing bond repayment schedules.
Dr. Tammaru and Director of Teaching and Learning Ms. Katherine Kelly presented an analysis of how District 30 students performed on two annual assessments: the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) that evaluates skills in English language arts and math, and the Illinois Science Assessment (ISA).
They highlighted notable achievements, including that District 30 students showed an overall proficiency rate of 88.7% in math, 91.1% in ELA, and 86.8% in science. These results place District 30 among the top three of the 12 comparable school districts in each subject area. Additionally, student growth exceeded the statewide median of 50%.
"This is a true result of the hard work of everyone in District 30, and everyone connected to serving our schools can own this accomplishment," Dr. Tammaru said.
Click here or below to explore the full report.
Director of Educational Technology, Dr. Andrew Kohl, shared a report on technology supported learning in our schools.
His report included a history of District 30's One-to-One iPad Program, details on our Digital Citizenship curriculum for elementary students, developments and next steps in AI, as well as details on four laws that shape how District 30 handles student data privacy and internet safety.
Click here or below to read the full report.
Superintendent's report
Dr. Tammaru gave two updates on matters before the Village of Northbrook.
Proposed TIF timeline delayed - The Village has delayed its timeline for the proposed tax increment financing (TIF) district. The Joint Review Board (JRB) meeting set for October was canceled. As of Thursday’s Board meeting, the Village had not provided a new timeline.
District response to proposed development at 1657 Shermer Road - District 30 has sent the Village a letter raising concerns about the mixed-use development proposed for the former W.W. Grainger property, and about the project’s fiscal impact study. The property is part of the proposed TIF district.
The developer, Habitat Development Company, filed a formal application that differs significantly from the concept the Village Board reviewed in May. The new version would have a much larger impact on District 30 schools:
- Three-bedroom units have tripled, from 15 to 45.
- Two-bedroom units have increased, and one-bedroom units have dropped by 56.
- The developer now projects that 34 students would enroll in District 30. That is in addition to the students expected from the already-approved development at 1825 Shermer Road.
The letter points out that the fiscal impact study doesn’t account for current conditions and space at Wescott. With both developments, Wescott would need an addition and renovation, including two new classrooms and a larger cafeteria and library. Our architect’s preliminary estimate is $8.3 million. Per-pupil revenue, whether it comes from property taxes or statutory TIF payments, does not pay for construction.
Click here or below to read the full letter, including the steps District 30 has asked the Village to take to reduce these impacts.
Superintendent's report
The Board appointed the 2027 Summer School Principal team. Returning to these roles for the 2027 session will be Wescott Technology Integration Specialist Anna Davis as Principal and Maple Math Teacher Sarah Arends as Assistant Principal.
Additionally, the Board approved two leaves of absence.
Our Board of Education
The Board of Education consists of seven members elected from the general public to serve the entire Northbrook/Glenview School District 30 community. The Board provides governance for the district by hiring and evaluating the superintendent and approving a budget, policies, and goals that align with the district's strategic plan. Board Members are:
- President - Ammar Rizki
- Vice President - Jeff Zuercher
- Zivit Blonder
- Adan Galvan
- Pamela Manicioto
- Patrick Wang
- Dr. Stephanie Yohannan
Northbrook/Glenview District 30
Northbrook/Glenview District 30 exists to create an inclusive community that inspires learning, fosters resiliency, and cares deeply for every child. We honor childhood and foster intellectual, physical and social-emotional growth. District 30 serves more than 1,200 students in pre-K through 8th grade across Willowbrook, Wescott and Maple Schools.
We prohibit harassment and discrimination of all forms within our district and follow all policies and procedures to ensure a safe environment for all.
Email: communications@district30.org
Website: district30.org
Location: 2374 Shermer Road, Northbrook, IL, USA
Phone: 847-498-4190
