Each day, District 58 strives to provide the best possible educational experience for each child and provide all students with every chance to be successful. The strategic planning process addressed a variety of topics, including finances, facilities and technology, all of which are in support of the District’s child-centered focus. Much of the feedback gained from the survey and workshop was in support of the District’s current approach.
Based on the Steering Committee’s analysis of the feedback, four priorities emerged that will guide the District’s decision-making. Future goals, including those that will be brought to the Board of Education for approval in September 2011, will target these areas.
1) Student Learning (Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment)
Stakeholders support District 58’s inquiry- and problem-based approach to student learning. This has been a focus area with recent curriculum adoptions, including Language Arts and Social Studies. It will continue to be a priority with future curriculum adoptions, including the Math adoption in 2012-13.
Stakeholders support the fact that critical thinking skills vital to success in today’s global society, including how to access, interpret, apply, and analyze information, are a key part of the District 58 instructional program. Stakeholders support the continuation of efforts to differentiate instruction for students with a variety of learning styles and needs, and to provide collaboration opportunities for staff and students.
Targets: Not surprisingly, given the sheer volume of material that must be covered, there is a desire for more educational time.With new Common Core Standards ratcheting up expectations for students, especially in the younger grades, this is an area the District will examine more closely from several angles. The District also will look at changes to the middle school schedule.
2) Student Well-Being/Social-Emotional Learning
Survey and workshop participants shared that they support District 58’s teaching of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) skills in a safe, comfortable, child-focused environment, and they encourage continued efforts in this area.
Targets: Schools are piloting various activities and ideas related to Social-Emotional Learning, and the District will continue to provide students with opportunities to cooperate and collaborate in safe, nurturing environments where they feel a strong sense of connection. The District’s SEL Committee will continue to provide leadership at the schools and promote the use of common language for social-emotional competencies. District 58 will maintain its focus on developing self-disciplined, self-knowing, empathetic students who have strong interpersonal communication skills.
3) Technology for Teaching and Learning
Stakeholders support District 58’s vision for technology as a tool for learning and enhancing instruction, and appreciate the high level of support provided to staff and students. They would like to see more instructional technology in the District’s schools.
Targets: During the past few years, a great deal of work has been done behind the scenes, an example being that all of the District’s schools now have fiber connections. Staff will continue to focus on enhancing the infrastructure that facilitates technology use by students and staff. It is also vital that District 58 continue to balance the need to empower students to use technology as a tool for learning with the need to give them opportunities to hone social-emotional and collaborative skills. A district-wide Technology Committee will be formed; its first goal will be to develop a common vision for technology in District 58 classrooms.
4) Facilities, Finance, Operations and Maintenance
The community overwhelmingly supports District 58’s neighborhood school model. It was known that anecdotally, residents use their neighborhood school to identify “where they live.” This was borne out by the survey, which named the neighborhood schools as a top strength of District 58, and by the feedback from workshop participants, who expressed strong support for the model. Stakeholders find the schools to be welcoming, positive environments. Also shared was a desire for buildings and grounds crews to continue proactive efforts towards sustainability and energy efficiency, and for the District to continue budgeting to maintain fiscal integrity.
Targets: Stakeholders would like to see the District conduct a comprehensive evaluation of current facilities in relation to student learning and create a long-term facilities plan, including the identification of funding mechanisms to fulfill that plan. A desire also was expressed that District 58 facilities be competitive with the facilities found in other districts. The ultimate goal with regard to the District’s facilities is to ensure that the students’ physical environments support and enhance their learning.
