District 211 Students Perfect on ACT

At its November 20, 2008 meeting, the Board of Education honored five District 211 students for achieving a 36, the highest possible composite score, on the ACT examination. Conant High School student Jared Bauman, Fremd High School students Michelle Lundholm and Sahana Rao, Schaumburg High School student Amanda Rooney, and Palatine High School student James Silveira were recognized as five of only 51 students in Illinois to receive a 36 on the ACT during the 2007-2008 school year.

The ACT, which is taken by nearly 60 percent of America's college-bound students as well as all junior students in Illinois as part of the Prairie State Achievement Examination, is comprised of tests in English, mathematics, reading, and science reasoning. Each test is scored on a scale of 1-36, and a student's score is the average of the four tests.

click picture to enlarge
From left to right: Amanda Rooney, James Silveira,
Jared Bauman, Sahana Rao, Michelle Lundholm.

Below is a history of High School District 211's ACT scores of 36:

*-once as part of PSAE, once on national test date

Explore Text

(Incoming Freshman Placement Test)

As part of the high school registration process, incoming freshman students will take the Explore Tests on Saturday, December 6, 2008. It is important that students give their best efforts on these exams because the results will help 8th grade teachers, junior high school counselors, and high school counselors better understand students’ academic abilities. The scores from these tests will assure that students are placed in the correct classes for their freshman year of high school. It is High School District 211’s goal to make sure students take classes in which they can be challenged as well as be successful.

For additional information about the Explore Tests, please use the links below for the high school that you will attend for the 2009-2010 school year.

(these links will go to the pdf files for the brochures)
James B. Conant High School
William Fremd High School
Hoffman Estates High School
Palatine High School
Schaumburg High School

Enhancement of Incoming Freshman Summer School Initiative

At its November 20, 2008 meeting, the Board of Education approved waiving tuition and transportation fees for the Incoming Freshman Academy English and Incoming Freshman Academy Mathematics three-week summer school programs, beginning in 2009.

Background Information

At the September 23, 2004 meeting, the Board was presented information regarding the development of a six-week required summer program that was titled the Incoming Freshman Academy. The goal of the Academy was to improve skills in reading, writing, and mathematics. Students were selected for the program based on their scores on the Explore test that is given as the incoming freshman placement examination on the first Saturday in December each year. Students whose placement scores indicate they are at-risk of not meeting the reading and mathematics state standards, as measure by the Prairie State Achievement Examination (PSAE), were required to attend this program.

Based upon the positive data and academic growth shown by students in the Incoming Freshman Academy, the Board approved two additional six-week required summer school programs for freshman and sophomore students for the Summer of 2006 – the Sophomore Academy and the English as a Second Language Summer Academy. Then, at its December 7, 2006 meeting, the Board also approved two three-week required summer school programs: Sophomore Academy English and Sophomore Academy Mathematics. The goal of each was to improve skill development for students not predicted to meet state standards in the respective disciplines.

In 2008, 810 incoming freshman students were invited to attend the three-week Incoming Freshman Academy Reading program and 57 were invited to attend the three-week Incoming Freshman Mathematics program; only 516, or 64% of the students, attended the reading program and 26, or 46%, attended the mathematics program. Since a high percentage of District 211 invited students are not taking advantage of the summer school three-week academy programs, the Board of Education approved waiving the tuition and transportation fees for the Incoming Freshman Academy English and Incoming Freshman Academy Mathematics three-week summer school programs beginning in 2009 as a possible incentive to increase student participation.

It is anticipated that the number of students who would qualify for the Summer Reading or Mathematics Invitational programs in 2009 would be similar to the 2008 totals. Therefore, based upon the 2008 numbers, the total projected increase for the program costs would be $59,525.

This modification of the existing programs completes an installation of a required summer program for every incoming freshman who is significantly deficient in academic skills defined as essential to success in all high school course curricula.

Additional information on the Incoming Freshman Summer School Initiative is available at: http://www.d211.org/pdf/Enhancement_Incoming_Freshmen_Summer_School_Initiative.pdf

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District 211 Students Perfect on ACT

At its November 20, 2008 meeting, the Board of Education honored five District 211 students for achieving a 36, the highest possible composite score, on the ACT examination. Conant High School student Jared Bauman, Fremd High School students Michelle Lundholm and Sahana Rao, Schaumburg High School student Amanda Rooney, and Palatine High School student James Silveira were recognized as five of only 51 students in Illinois to receive a 36 on the ACT during the 2007-2008 school year.

The ACT, which is taken by nearly 60 percent of America's college-bound students as well as all junior students in Illinois as part of the Prairie State Achievement Examination, is comprised of tests in English, mathematics, reading, and science reasoning. Each test is scored on a scale of 1-36, and a student's score is the average of the four tests.

click picture to enlarge
From left to right: Amanda Rooney, James Silveira,
Jared Bauman, Sahana Rao, Michelle Lundholm.

Below is a history of High School District 211's ACT scores of 36:

*-once as part of PSAE, once on national test date

High School District 211 represented among I.S.B.E. 2008 "Those Who Excel" award recipients

Township High School District 211 will be well-represented among the recipients in the Illinois State Board of Education’s 2008 "Those Who Excel" education awards program. The State Board annually sponsors the "Those Who Excel" awards to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to the state’s public and non-public schools.

High School District 211 award-winners are (listed alphabetically):

• Schaumburg High School (retired) Mathematics Teacher/Department Chair R. James Breunlin (classroom teacher category)
• Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services & Special Programs Daniel Cates (school administrator category)
• James B. Conant High School Parent Sharon Cruse (community volunteer category)
• Palatine High School Social Studies Teacher Asa Gordon (early career educator category)
• Palatine High School Psychologist Robert Ingraham (student support personnel category)
• Hoffman Estates High School Building & Grounds Manager Douglas Schippel (educational service personnel category)
• Youth Hunger Opposition in Palatine/YHOP (team category); William Fremd High School graduate Kellie Kinsella

Award recipients were honored by the Illinois State Board of Education at the Those Who Excel awards banquet on Saturday, October 18, 2008, in Peoria, Ill., and by the High School District 211 Board of Education at its November 20, 2008 meeting.

click picture to enlarge
From left to right seated: R. James Breunlin,
Sharon Cruse, Daniel Cates.
Standing: Father of Kellie Kinsella (Kevin Kinsella),
Robert Ingraham, Douglas Schippel and Asa Gordon.

District 211 PSAE Appeal

High School District 211 Superintendent Roger Thornton and Superintendent-Elect Nancy Robb delivered the District's appeal of its Prairie State Achievement Examination scores to Illinois State Superintendent Chris Koch on Tuesday, September 30, 2008.

Go to APPEAL OF PSAE RESULTS page

Adoption of 2008 Tax Levy & Tax Abatement

Following a public hearing at its December 12 meeting, the Board of Education approved the proposed 2008 tax levy as presented. The 2008 tax levy is $188,227,285, excluding the Debt Service Fund, and it reflects an increase of 4.6% over the 2007 tax levy.

The Board also adopted a resolution to authorize and direct the County Clerk to abate a portion of the taxes levied for the year 2008 ($5.0 million) to pay debt service on $50,470,000 of school bonds (series 2006).

In an effort to preserve the maximum operating levy as limited by the Property Tax Extension Limitation Act, a debt service abatement lessens the overall tax increase while maximizing the aggregate extension per the Tax Cap. Utilizing reserve in the Working Cash Fund, last year’s $9.0 million transfer from Working Cash to the Debt Service Fund provided for three consecutive property tax abatements of #3.0 million to levy year 2007, 2008, and 2009.

Since the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for 2007 established a higher property tax extension limitation per the Tax Cap (4.1%, plus new property) and Working Cash Fund balances remain healthy, the Board approved the increased abatement amount for 2008 from $3.0 million to $5.0 million. The additional $2.0 million of abatement will not adversely affect the future balance of the Working Cash Fund and will again decrease the net impact of the overall levy to taxpayers. This results in a net levy extension increase of 3.3% for 2008.

Additional information on the 2008 tax levy is available at: http://www.d211.org/pdf/proposed_08_levy.pdf.

More info       

Morning Work Sessions (Student Late Start Days)

The Board of Education has provided schools with opportunities to hold morning work sessions (late start school days for students) on multiple dates throughout the past three school years. The vision that has guided these work sessions has stemmed from the three questions that must be addressed if District 211 is to achieve its educational mission:

1.) What should our students know?
2.) How will we be able to tell if they know it?
3.) What will we do if they do not know it?

Many innovative programs and practices now in place had a genesis in these work sessions. While each school has specific educational needs, the universal focus for all schools, and all faculty, on specific educational objectives would guide morning work sessions. These include:

1.) Necessity of Literacy;
2.) Data provides real-time basis from which teaching can be accelerated;
3.) Removing roadblocks to learning; and
4.) Implementation of Literacy Practices

At its September 25, 2008 meeting, the Board authorized the Superintendent to approve morning work sessions, each 90 minutes in length, on Tuesdays, October 28, 2008; November 18, 2008; December 9, 2008; February 3 and 17, 2009; March 10, 2009; April 7, 2009; and May 19, 2009. On these days, classes at Fremd, Hoffman Estates, and Schaumburg High Schools will begin at 9:10 a.m., while classes at Conant and Palatine High Schools will start at 9:55 a.m.

For additional information on morning work sessions for staff, please visit: http://www.d211.org/pdf/Work_Session_Summary.pdf.

District 211 schools to host annual Open Houses

Township High School District 211 schools are preparing to host annual Open Houses. William Fremd, James B. Conant, Hoffman Estates, Palatine, and Schaumburg High Schools will hold Open Houses on Wednesday, September 17, 2008. Parents are invited to follow shortened versions of their students’ schedules (10- to 14- minute segments) as well as take part in other special activities and events. The District’s two alternative high schools, District 211 Academy-North and District 211 Academy-South, also will host open houses on September 17.

Conant High School’s (700 E. Cougar Trail in Hoffman Estates) Open House runs from 7:00 until 9:00 p.m. Highlights include a book fair presented by the English department as well as department displays and demonstrations that will be featured in Room 127. Topics teachers will discuss with parents include course objectives, class expectations, curricular materials, and how parents can help their child at home. Parent questions also are welcome. Conant High School varsity poms will be on hand to assist as guides for parents.

Fremd High School’s (1000 S. Quentin Road in Palatine) Open House will be held from 7:00 until 9:00 p.m. Teachers will share class expectations and curricular materials with parents. Members of student council, pom pons, Vikettes, and cheerleader squads will serve as guides to assist parents in locating classrooms. Featured in the school cafeteria will be performances by members of the Fremd Choral Ensemble, while the Fremd Orchestra String Ensemble will perform in the media center. Parents also will be encouraged to visit the English Department Book Fair located in Room 118. Members of the Fremd Music Association and Booster Club will be represented.

Hoffman Estates High School’s (1100 W. Higgins Road in Hoffman Estates) Open House will be from 7:00 until 9:00 p.m. Parents will have an opportunity to meet their child’s teachers, receive a brief overview of course curriculum, and learn about student expectations and how parents can help at home. In addition, parents can make an appointment for an individual teacher conference, as well as meet their child’s counselor.

Open House at Palatine High School (1111 N. Rohlwing Road in Palatine) will be from 7:00 until 9:30 p.m. For those wishing to arrive early, the PHS marching band will give a brief concert in the auditorium, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Among the topics teachers will discuss are course objectives, class expectations, and curricular materials. Teachers also will encourage questions and provide insight into how parents can assist their children at home. Members of the PHS spirit squads will serve as student guides, refreshments will be served in both the school cafeteria and media center, and V.I.P. booster club members will be on hand selling school spirit merchandise.

Schaumburg High School’s (1100 W. Schaumburg Road in Schaumburg) Open House runs from 7:00 until 9:30 p.m. Cheerleaders, flags, and pom-pon squads will assist parents in finding classrooms. The topics teachers will be prepared to discuss with parents are course objectives, class expectations, student achievement, curricular materials, and how parents can help their children at home. Parent questions also are welcome. V.I.P. booster club members will be taking memberships and selling school merchandise while Band Boosters, and the Schaumburg Township Library will have informational tables in the school cafeteria. Orchestra students, directed by Susan Carlson, will be playing in the cafeteria during lunch hour periods, and refreshments will be served all evening in the cafeteria.

District 211 Academy-North’s (335 E. Illinois Avenue in Palatine) Open House will be from 5:00 until 7:30 p.m. Parents will be able to tour the facility, discuss program expectations, and ask questions of teachers and the program administrator. Within classrooms, teachers will review student progress and highlight student work. Staff will be available to supervise young children to allow parents to meet with teachers. Refreshments will be served.

Newly renamed District 211 Academy-South (1544 Brandy Parkway in Streamwood) will host its Open House from 6:30 until 8:30 p.m. Visitors will be able to meet the program administrator and teachers, tour the facility, and discuss the program with staff. Parents will follow a student’s schedule and learn about program expectations. A presentation will be made addressing Positive Peer Culture and the behavior management system. Refreshments will be served.

High School District 211 represented among I.S.B.E. 2008 "Those Who Excel" award recipients

Township High School District 211 will be well-represented among the recipients in the Illinois State Board of Education’s 2008 "Those Who Excel" education awards program. The State Board annually sponsors the "Those Who Excel" awards to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to the state’s public and non-public schools.

High School District 211 award-winners are (listed alphabetically):

• Schaumburg High School (retired) Mathematics Teacher/Department Chair R. James Breunlin (classroom teacher category)
• Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services & Special Programs Daniel Cates (school administrator category)
• James B. Conant High School Parent Sharon Cruse (community volunteer category)
• Palatine High School Social Studies Teacher Asa Gordon (early career educator category)
• Palatine High School Psychologist Robert Ingraham (student support personnel category)
• Hoffman Estates High School Building & Grounds Manager Douglas Schippel (educational service personnel category)
• Youth Hunger Opposition in Palatine/YHOP (team category); William Fremd High School graduate Kellie Kinsella

Award recipients were honored by the Illinois State Board of Education at the Those Who Excel awards banquet on Saturday, October 18, 2008, in Peoria, Ill., and by the High School District 211 Board of Education at its November 20, 2008 meeting.

click picture to enlarge
From left to right seated: R. James Breunlin,
Sharon Cruse, Daniel Cates.
Standing: Father of Kellie Kinsella (Kevin Kinsella),
Robert Ingraham, Douglas Schippel and Asa Gordon.

Motorola Foundation grant to help fund District 211 engineering program equipment

Once in a great while a program becomes available that is more than just an educational opportunity. It also is a chance to present a valuable vocational option for students who are typically underrepresented in an important career area. Such is the case with Project Lead the Way. This series of courses provides a combination of engineering concepts and experiences, as well as significant career investigations, for students who are interested in exploring engineering in its many facets.

Project Lead the Way is an established program that is supported by major Colleges of Engineering, including those at Purdue University and the University of Illinois. Starting with a general concepts course, and moving towards courses aimed at investigating specific areas of engineering such as bio-engineering and aeronautical engineering, the program provides a basic understanding of the work done by engineers in the 21st century. An investigation of the program as it has been offered in other states reveals that not only does this provide access to vocational exploration for the general high school population, but that young women and minority students, currently underrepresented in the engineering vocation, also have gained insight into this esteemed career area.

Because this program attempts to reflect true experiences in engineering, it is highly-dependent on technology and specialized equipment. One such piece of equipment is a three-dimensional printer that can produce physical objects from drawings developed by students on computers. These 3-D printers are very expensive pieces of equipment and provide an experience that cannot be duplicated elsewhere for students.

“Recognizing that the need of students involved in the District’s Project Lead the Way program fit perfectly with the mission of the Motorola Foundation, namely to fund projects that educate and attract students to careers in mathematics, science, and engineering, our committee presented a grant application for purchase of a 3-D printer,” said Susan Farmer, District 211 Foundation chair. “With the help of the Motorola Foundation, this grant will provide outstanding opportunities for District 211 students who are interested in engineering.” The District 211 Foundation and the faculty and students of the District’s Applied Technology Department are most pleased that the Motorola Foundation has chosen to fund this grant proposal, providing approximately $35,000 for the purchase of a 3-D printer for use by students in several of District 211 schools.

“Previously, students solved design problems through the use of 2-dimensional design software,” commented Mark Hibner, District chair for applied technology. “Now, students can take solving design problems to a whole new level by evaluating the form, fit, and function of parts that were made using a 3-D printer. This gives students in engineering classes the opportunity to take an idea and make it into a reality. That is the true essence of engineering. I appreciate the work of both the District 211 Foundation and the Motorola Foundation in supporting this exciting opportunity for our students.”

For additional information please refer to www.motorola.com/giving