Board Highlights

The school year is off to a strong start, and the Board of Education meeting on Sept. 16 featured important updates and decisions shaping the months ahead. In this edition, you’ll find:

• Reflections on the start of the year, Hispanic Heritage Month recognition, and our annual new hire video.
  

• An update on the superintendent search process and what’s next.

• A presentation from the Core Instruction leadership team on their priorities for the year.

• The board’s adoption of the final 2025-26 budget.

• A change to the board's meeting schedule for the coming weeks.
  
  

Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Schools Patrick Robinson, who served as acting superintendent from August through Sept. 15, reflected on the successful start of the 2025-26 school year. He highlighted efforts to welcome students and families, support new leaders, and increase collaboration through site visits and curriculum nights.Interim Superintendent Griff Powell also joined the table to introduce key topics for the evening.

The overview celebrated the launch of District 97’s new Identity and Heritage Calendar and recognized Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 - Oct. 15), with activities and learning opportunities taking place across schools, and concluded with the introduction of new staff through our annual video welcoming new hires (see below).

During the Sept. 16 meeting, the District 97 Board of Education shared an update on the search for the district’s next superintendent. The update came just as co-interim superintendents Dr. Griff Powell and Dr. Patricia Wernet began their service with the district on Sept. 15, leading District 97 through the 2025-26 school year. We are grateful for their leadership and partnership during this important transition.

A request for proposals (RFP) has been sent out, with submissions due by Oct. 3. The board has already received interest from several firms and is beginning early conversations about district values, priorities, and how to design a robust, inclusive community engagement process that will guide the search. The board plans to discuss the proposals and interested firms during a special board meeting on Oct. 7. Once a firm is selected, it will provide guidance to help the board move forward.

The board emphasized its commitment to being proactive and thoughtful, while also recognizing the urgency of this work. The goal is to partner with a firm that not only aligns with the district’s needs but also ensures that students, staff, families, and community members have meaningful opportunities to be heard. We anticipate sharing another update in October.

You can view the board’s discussion on the topic here ↗.

Transformation Goal 2: We Design for All

At the Sept. 16 meeting, the district’s Core Instruction Team shared their goals for the 2025-26 school year. Their work centers on ensuring that every student has access to high-quality teaching, engaging lessons, and the support they need to thrive.

This year, the team will be:

• Strengthening classroom instruction by providing high-quality professional learning for teachers and evidence-based resources to boost student learning and engagement.

• We are continuing to build strong literacy foundations in grades K–5 by implementing Amplify Core Knowledge Language Arts and Amplify Caminos.

• Holmes and Longfellow elementary schools will pilot two resources (Amplify Desmos Math and The Math Learning Center Bridges in Mathematic), and one will be recommended to the board of education for district-wide use next year.

• At the middle school level, the English Language Arts department is preparing to review new resources to pilot next school year, while the Social Science department is introducing Discovery Education Social Studies Techbook to help students build their literacy, critical thinking, and inquiry skills.
  
  

• Expanding Student Services to help students achieve their learning and language goals, track their progress, actively participate in meetings, and follow IEP and 504 plans—providing a clear roadmap for success in partnership with families.
  
  

• Building safe and welcoming classrooms by exploring the Responsive Classroom approach, selecting a new social-emotional learning screener, and creating a new advisory program in our middle schools.
  

• Improving how we track student learning with new tools like the Renaissance Assessment Suite, which will give teachers better information to guide instruction and provide families with clearer updates on student progress.
  
  

The district’s Core Instruction team is led by:

• Patrick Robinson, Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Schools

• Dr. Luis De Leó, Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Schools

• Dr. Tawanda Lawrence, Senior Director of Teaching and Learning

• Donna Middleton, Senior Director of Student Services

• Michele Capio, Director of Student Wellness

• Emilie Creehan, Director of Teaching and Learning

• Tracy Hamm, Director of Student Services

Transformation Goal 3: We Align Resources

At its Sept. 16 meeting, the Board of Education voted to adopt the final budget for Fiscal Year 2026. The district continues to take a thoughtful, proactive approach to financial planning—maintaining strong reserves while investing in students, staff, and schools.

Key Takeaways from the FY26 Budget:

• As shared in August, the district closed the 2024-25 fiscal year with a surplus for the eighth consecutive year, increasing fund balance reserves to 155 days of operating expenses—near the upper end of the board’s target range.
  
  

• For 2025-26, the district projects $130.4 million in revenue and $129.2 million in expenses, resulting in a planned surplus that will support both capital investments and reserves.
  
  

• Since August, the financial picture has improved slightly, with higher-than-expected corporate personal property tax revenue and modest reductions in some expense lines. As a result, the projected non-capital surplus has increased from $4.9 million to $5.2 million.
  
  

Transformation Goal 4: We Learn Everywhere

At the Sept. 16 meeting, the board heard a proposal for this year’s eighth-grade field trip. After reviewing two options, students at Brooks and Julian middle schools voted to travel to Nashville, Tennessee, from March 14–16, 2026.

The trip—organized by WorldStrides—will give students opportunities to explore college and career pathways, including visits to Fisk University, Music Row, and Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park.

In line with the district’s equity policy, financial assistance will be available for students who need it, with support from Oak Park Township. The district also plans to continue engaging students and families after the trip to learn about their experiences and gather feedback to help shape future field trip plans. The board is expected to vote on the proposal at its Sept. 30 meeting.