January 30, 2015
 Our Vision: Ignite Passion. Inspire Excellence. Imagine Possibilities.

MESSAGE FROM BOARD PRESIDENT JOHN KENWOOD

on behalf of the Board of Education

 


Dear District Community,

As we begin the new year, I would like to share a few key facility accomplishments for 2014, and some key facility programs we are discussing for 2015. I am also asking for your participation in providing us input. 


In 2014, we have been working on the Board's long-standing goal of removing portable classrooms in our district and replacing them with new classrooms. We have recently replaced eight of the portables with new classrooms at Abraham Lincoln and Benjamin Franklin and will replace nine more in 2015 at Churchill and Forest Glen. The Board used $7 million of its cash reserves and borrowed $7 million, which will be funded out of our capital development budget. The new classrooms provide a safe and great learning environment for the kids and teachers.

You may have heard that the Board is considering full-day kindergarten as one of our priorities for 2015. We are in the process of exploring facility options in order to provide full-day kindergarten for our families.

In addition to the conversation around full-day kindergarten and facilities plans to possibly make it happen, the Board is also considering plans to remove the 10 portable classrooms at Hadley Junior High and add 10 new classrooms to the building.

I want to make sure the community is fully aware of these discussions as they impact all of our district families and the community at-large. Your input is important to us and will shape the Board discussions moving forward. The Board has been discussing these plans for some time, but a key decision will be forthcoming over the next 30 days. I would encourage you to attend the Listening Sessions and the upcoming Board meetings that are outlined below. You can also view some facilities presentations on our website.

This past Monday, the Board heard a presentation from district administration. The district presented three facilities options that would remove all portable classrooms in our district, assist in right-sizing our schools, and provide the space needed to offer full-day kindergarten:
  • Modifications/additions to existing buildings
  • A New K-5 Building on District 41 property
  • A New Early Learning Center for Pre-K and Kindergarten on District 41 property
The Board is providing additional opportunities to learn more about the community's desire for full-day kindergarten in our district, during the community listening sessions. I hope you will consider attending one of the following:

Saturday, January 31, 10:30 a.m., Hadley Junior High, Library Media Center
Wednesday, February 4, 7 p.m., Hadley Junior High, Library Media Center

CLICK HERE to sign up.

At the Board of Education meeting on Monday, February 9, Superintendent Gordon and his team will make facilities recommendations to the Board and we will discuss what the plans would mean for our community. If the Board is in favor with moving forward with these plans, we will take formal action at a future meeting.

Please feel free to contact me, or any of the Board members with your questions, comments and/or concerns.

Thank you in advance for engaging with us on this important topic.

John Kenwood
President
Glen Ellyn School District 41


 


 


 
Please direct your questions or comments about E-News to District 41 Chief Communications Officer Erika Krehbiel, ekrehbiel@d41.org. We ask that you do not reply directly to this email because such replies are not received and so cannot be answered. Thank you!