School Board Members Day
School board members continue to work to ensure that the opportunities offered by the district are equitable for all and that our students have the resources to achieve their dreams. Our BOE members volunteer their time to support our students, staff and the D76 community with their dedicated public service, thoughtful decision making and child-centered leadership. We would like to take this opportunity to recognize our D76 Board of Education-thank you for your dedication, support, service and leadership.
DIAMOND AWARD RECIPIENT
Congratulations to Deanna Fischer who was recently nominated and presented with the Diamond Award at our November 1st Board of Education meeting.
Teaching and Learning
This month students in Kindergarten through 5th grade received their first Standards-Based Report Card (SBRC) for Literacy and Math. Standards based grading is the practice of measuring student proficiency against defined standards and learning targets. Because standards based grading closely ties academic performance to learning standards, it allows for a more accurate and specific report of student academic performance. While traditional grading may include such behaviors as student motivation, extra credit, participation, organization and other non-academic behaviors, standards based reporting is designed to report student progress toward achieving an academic standard while separating out all other non academic behaviors. The goal of standards based reporting is to provide clear feedback to teachers, students and parents as to the academic performance of the student.
D76 is in a time of transition to SBRC for grades Kindergarten through 5th grade. Literacy and Math grades will be using the new 1-4 SBRC grading system this year, while the grades for other subjects will remain the same.
For information about our grading system and to view sample report cards, please visit our Report Cards page on our district website. If you have any questions about your child’s report card, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher for assistance.
Finance
2022 Tentative Tax Levy
At the November 15th Meeting, the Board of Education approved the 2022 Tentative Tax Levy. The proposed 2022 tax levy is $16,211,500 (exclusive of Bond and Interest). The increase is based on 5.0% for existing property (the 2021 CPI capped maximum amount under PTELL) and an additional 15% to capture new construction and remodeling. While D76 does not reasonably expect to get this much in property tax revenue, due to the Tax Cap Law in place, we must request a levy sufficient to capture all potential new property growth or risk losing this revenue. This process is referred to as “balloon levying.” The main reason for this is that the two main factors for calculating the tax rate, Equalized Assessed Valuation (EAV) and new property growth, are unknown at the time the levy is developed.
Many homeowners may have seen an increase in their tax bills. In theory, property tax increases are limited to a 5% or CPI increase, whichever is lower, from one tax year to the next. However, individual tax bills may increase more than 5% or the CPI due to one or more of the following reasons: A home addition was constructed, property was under assessed or reassessed, homeowner’s exemption changed, commercial and industrial property tax assessment appeals shift the tax burden to Residents.
As state and federal funding for education shrinks and property tax appeals are on the rise, D76 is aware of the extra burden individuals face. D76 makes every effort to responsibly use the dollars of our community taxpayers. As part of our D76 goals and action plan, programs are constantly evaluated for their effectiveness, staffing plans are reviewed annually and department budgets are carefully monitored and redeveloped from a “zero” base every year. The leadership team examines grant opportunities to help fund programs, equipment purchases and facility improvements.
Please visit our website (www.dist76.org) for detailed budget and tax levy information.
Instructional Technology & Communications
The November Parent University, presenter Deputy Francis Foy, provided an in-depth and informative virtual presentation on the theme of Social Media Awareness for Families. Throughout the presentation families obtained knowledge on the topics of cyberbullying, online safety, red flags, sharing information, your digital footprint and best practices. Deputy Foy shared a variety of supportive resources that are available on our Parent University website.
STUDENT services
As we are in full swing of the school year, homework is an integral part of the educational process. The Student Services Department has developed the following tips and tricks to create a positive experience for the family and the student.
Start with a conversation about what actions and behaviors are expected:
- Calm Body
- Listening Ears
- Calm Voice
- Follow the schedule
- Set what a break looks like
Then, set a schedule for the student after school
- Include a break and snack after they get home
- Schedule a specific amount of time for the assignments
- Add movement breaks in the schedule
Recognize each environment that supports homework completion may look different and include:
- A consistent schedule with predictable activities and expectations
- A designated space with school supplies
- A schedule of the activities for the evening/weekend including each homework assignment
- An area with minimal distractions
UPCOMING EVENTS
- December 5, 2022: Late Start for Students
- December 13, 2022: Board of Education Meeting
- December 14, 2022: Parent University: Building Positive Relationships with Your Child
- December 23 - January 6, 2023: Winter Break
- January 9, 2023: School Resumes/Late Start for Students
