Gower 62 Community Newsletter

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Fall colors have started to appear, serving as an excellent reminder that 'change is inevitable'. In Gower, we see change as an opportunity for growth, and we do not take it for granted. We have a front-row seat to the many changes in our students' lives and play an active role as they learn, develop, and grow. In fact, individual student growth is how we measure our success.

Recently, our schools shared information about what 'Children at their Best!' might look like on the academic front. Individual 3rd - 8th grade student reports from the Illinois Assessment of Readiness were recently posted in the PowerSchool Parent Portal along with Fall NWEA/MAP reports; a separate assessment used from grades 1-8 as a way to benchmark current student performance and measure growth in the winter and again in the spring. It is a lot of information. I have always encouraged parents to keep a healthy perspective on 'balance' in the overall student experience. As much as I found the data reports for my own children informative, I was cautious not to put too much stock in those 'snapshots' of performance. Answers to questions such as, 'How did your day go?' or 'What was your favorite part of school today?' always meant more to me than norm-referenced scores and/or percentile rankings. But again, balance.

I encourage parents to review these student performance reports if you haven't already, and to reach out to your child's teacher with any questions. I also encourage you to keep asking those important, 'Tell me about your day' questions and to reach out to us the moment you get an answer that just doesn't sit right with you. As the 1st Trimester ends in a few weeks, be sure to review those report cards ahead of Parent-Teacher conferences on Nov. 23rd. Our conferences have always been well attended and provide an opportunity to discuss ongoing changes, growth, and development in your child's learning and overall experience in Gower. To say, "Children at their Best!" is one thing. To bring it to life requires ongoing effort and collaboration.

If you are interested in a district-wide perspective on student performance, please visit our Academic Performance webpage. The Beginning-of-Year Student Performance Data presentation discussed at last night's Board meeting is on this page, and you will see that our students are performing remarkably well. The annual IL School Report Cards for schools are expected to be published by the Illinois State Board of Education on Oct. 30th and will be linked to our Academic Performance webpage accordingly.

Thank you for your ongoing support of our school district. As always, if you have any questions or would like to discuss any other Gower Community topic further, please reach out to me directly at vsimon@gower62.com.

With gratitude,

Dr. Victor Simon
Superintendent of Schools

Recording Secretary to the Board of Education, Shaina Alegria, 630.286.4929

Click here for the monthly Superintendent Reports and here for our meeting agendas.

Board Salutes

The Board recognized Gower alumnus Cooper Johnson for earning the rank of Eagle Scout.

The Board also honored Gower West Principal Meg Hoff, Gower Middle Principal Tracy Murphy, Assistant Principal Natalie Miles, and Assistant Principal Julie Schiffler in recognition of Principal Appreciation Week.

The final Board Salute recognized the Gower Middle School Boys Baseball Team for becoming the IESA 3A Regional Champions. Following the recognition, the Board approved Resolution No. 27-02 formally acknowledging the inaugural team and its accomplishment.

Public Comment

No public comments were received.

Superintendent's Report

Dr. Simon's Superintendent's Report included updates on Beginning of the Year and Fall Data as well as the Principal Evaluation Model for 2026-2027. A full copy of the report is available here.

Teaching, Learning & Student Support

The Board received the first reading and posting of the following policies:

• 7:160 Student Appearance

• 7:170 Vandalism

• 7:200 Suspension Procedures

• 8:20 Community Use of District Facilities

The Board also received an informational report regarding the District's current social-emotional screening practices and Illinois' upcoming universal mental health screening requirements. Administration shared that a multidisciplinary team is reviewing screening tools, procedures, privacy requirements, and implementation considerations in preparation for the state's 2027-2028 mandate.

Gower West Principal Meg Hoff and Assistant Principal Natalie Miles presented the school's 2026-2027 School Improvement Goals, highlighting priorities and initiatives designed to support student achievement and continuous improvement through the Plan-Do-Check-Act framework.

District Operations

The Board reviewed monthly financial reports, enrollment and attendance data, correspondence received since the September meeting, and recent Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.

Dr. Simon also presented a follow-up report regarding district transportation. The update included completion of a Serious Safety Hazard Review, considerations for transportation routing, and future evaluations of transportation eligibility and fee structures. Administration recommended maintaining current transportation practices while improving communication procedures for route changes. As part of its ongoing self-evaluation process, the Board reviewed the "Engaging the Community" section of the Board Charter and Social Contract.

Board members also received updates from the Gower Foundation, PTO, and IASB, including the success of the book fair and The Gower Foundation Gala.

Board Action

The Board approved:

• The October Consent Agenda

• Monthly payroll and bills

• First reading and posting of Board policies

• Updates to Board policies regarding employment, homework, and student rights and responsibilities

• Personnel recommendations

• Approval to bid the School Bus Lease

• Approval of the FY27 School Maintenance Project Grant

• Delegate direction for the IASB Joint Annual Conference

• Illinois Department of Transportation Serious Safety Hazard Finding Submission

• Resolution No. 27-03: Board Charter and Social Contract

• Resolution No. 27-04 authorizing and approving the Gower Middle School Principal Contract for Julie Schiffler (July 1, 2027 - June 30, 2028)

Looking Ahead

Families and community members are invited to participate in several upcoming events:

• October 22: Multicultural Night, Gower Middle School, 6:00-7:30 p.m.

• October 23: Principal Appreciation Day

• October 30: Early Dismissal Day

• November 2: No School

• November 3: No School - Election Day

• November 18: Superintendent Chat, 5:30 p.m.

• November 18: Board of Education Meeting, 7:00 p.m.

• November 20: Early Dismissal Day

• November 23: Parent-Teacher Conferences - No School

• November 24: Practice eLearning Day/Institute Day

• November 25-27: Thanksgiving Break - No School

The Board did not enter closed session and adjourned the meeting at 9:03 p.m. The next regularly scheduled Board of Education meeting will be held on November 18, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in the Gower School District Board Room at Gower West. Community members are encouraged to attend and stay engaged with the work of the Board and the District.

At last night's Board of Education meeting, the Board unanimously approved Gower Middle School Assistant Principal, Mrs. Julie Schiffler, as the school's next principal. Her husband and very proud mother joined her to celebrate this career milestone. The Board members expressed excitement about offering her the role, beginning July 1, 2027, and look forward to continued success at Gower Middle School. Mrs. Jen Lapacek, Gower Middle School Social Studies Teacher and Union Co-President, submitted a vote of confidence letter to the Board of Education and shared, "I’m writing on behalf of GEA membership and the Gower Middle Teachers to express our vote of confidence in the naming of Julie Schiffler as our next principal of Gower Middle. The staff overwhelmingly supports this decision and believes Julie is the perfect person to lead our school next. We believe Julie will be a wonderful principal for our school and community."

The Board of Education is proud to recognize Cooper Johnson, Gower Class of 2025, for earning the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout. The Eagle Scout Award is the highest achievement attainable in the Scouts program and represents years of dedication to leadership, service, character development, and civic responsibility. Since its inception, only approximately 2% to 4% of Scouts have earned this distinguished rank, making it a truly remarkable accomplishment. Congrats Cooper!

The Illinois Principals Association (IPA) encourages all communities in Illinois to celebrate Principal Appreciation Week October 19-23, 2026, and Principal Appreciation Day on Friday, October 23th. This state-endorsed recognition was first approved by the Governor of Illinois in 1990 and is celebrated annually. The IPA also joins the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), and the American Federation of School Administrators (AFSA) to recognition October as National Principals Month.

Principal Appreciation Day provides learning communities an opportunity to publicly recognize the work, commitment and importance of principals, assistant principals, and deans throughout the state. We invite all teachers, students, parents, and community members to perform some act of appreciation on Friday, October 23th to acknowledge the leadership of building administrators in Illinois' public and private schools.

A special 'THANK YOU' to Principals Murphy and Hoff and Assistant Principals Schiffler and Miles!

The Inaugural IESA Gower Middle School Baseball Team capped off an outstanding season with a 4-3 record and an unforgettable postseason run, culminating in a Regional Championship title.

The Gladiators opened the playoffs in dominant fashion with an 8-0 victory over Eisenhower. Liam Piech led the way, delivering a remarkable performance on the mound by pitching a perfect game and recording 11 strikeouts. In the regional semifinals, Gower faced the tournament's No. 1 seed, Lisle. The Gladiators showed tremendous determination and resilience, battling through extra innings to win 7-6 and earn a spot in the championship game.

The championship matchup against LaGrange Highlands once again showcased the team's talent and teamwork. Gower earned a decisive 9-1 victory, clinching the Regional Championship and completing an impressive playoff run.

Congratulations to all of our players and coaches on an exceptional season. The Gladiators' hard work, perseverance, teamwork, and sportsmanship were evident throughout the year, and we are incredibly proud of how they represented Gower on and off the field. Their Regional Championship is a well-deserved reward for a season filled with dedication and determination.

Open Invite! Supt. Chat.

Join Dr. Simon for a chat about "all things Gower" and to learn more about topics important to YOU! The next Supt Chat will be held on November 18 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the Gower School District Board Room, located at the south end of the Gower West campus, Door #B22. All are welcome. Please use the following link to complete a Topics of Interest and Questions Form to help guide the conversation (SURVEY LINK). No RSVP required.