School Days
by Tricia DespresWith the bell set to ring on the start of the 2010/2011 school year, Naperville school administrators say they are looking forward to renew their focus to provide an unsurpassed quality of education for their students. And while state budget problems in Springfield undoubtedly continue to challenge school officials, for teachers and students alike in Districts 203 and 204, the beginning of a new school year seems to be the ideal time to focus on a brand-new beginning.
“I think the 2009/2010 school year will be remembered as the year finance gained a whole new importance,” says Indian Prairie School District 204 Superintendent Kathy Birkett. “We experienced large budget cuts that caused reductions for the 2010/2011 year. We had to make some very tough decisions and now it’s time to implement those decisions. We are very fortunate that we come from an area that is very supportive of its schools. Many times during the past year, we have come to the community for ideas, and they have been very creative. All in all, I think we are starting off the upcoming school year in a good place.”
“We are not as dependent on state funding as other school districts in the state,” adds Naperville Unit District 203 Superintendent Mark Mitrovich. “We have recognized the ongoing need to become less dependent on the state as a result of the current instability in funding at that level. If the state’s financial condition improves, that will only serve to benefit us further. The one thing we should all remember is that everyone in this district has made very good decisions to get us in this position.”
District 203 receives nine percent of its funding from the state, compared to 17 percent for District 204; both districts have been affected by budget cuts in different ways. Naperville Magazine recently spoke at length to both superintendents regarding their thoughts on the upcoming school year, the challenges that lie ahead, and to what they are most looking forward when their schools’ doors open this month.
Naperville Community Unit School District 203
Once the 2009/2010 school year ended, work kicked into high gear for everyone involved in the various building projects taking place in District 203. Most notably, the multimillion-dollar renovation to Naperville Central High School and the completion of the brand new Ann Reid Early Childhood Center are sources of great pride for District 203 administrators, and undoubtedly will become the great highlights for the district during the upcoming year.
“The Ann Reid Early Childhood Center is set to open in the fall, and the completion of the Naperville Central south addition looks to be on schedule,” says Mitrovich. “The contractors have been very aggressive over the summer months, working a six-day work week. The plan is to have the new south addition of Naperville Central completely ready to house students by August 25, along with the existing three-story academic wing and the commons area, including the old music department. Everything is looking really good right now.”
Other thoughts on the mind of Mitrovich include how to better prepare District 203 students for the future.
“I think we have been successful, but have a lot more to do in terms of preparing our students for the 21st century,” explains Mitrovich. “We currently are taking a look at all aspects of our technology program. We recently hired a new chief information officer [Roger Brunelle]. It’s good to have someone come in with a critical eye to look at ways in which we can better improve. I’m also looking forward to the replacement of the outdated school information system, with hopes to have an entirely new system in place by the fall of 2011. It will become a robust data system and parent portal where parents at any point in the school year will be able to see where their children are academically. This sort of technology can really go far in terms of freeing up the teachers a bit.”
Mitrovich also feels fortunate to have been able to retain staff going into the upcoming school year. “Retaining the high-quality staff we have here in this district is our immediate priority,” explains Mitrovich. “There is definitely a positive impact that comes from providing a stable environment to our kids. It’s comforting for them to know their teachers are staying, which is very important to kids these days. We also are spending a lot of time looking at where individual students are in their class. Within any class are 20 to 30 kids who all have unique needs and skills. We want to make sure we are addressing those need in the best possible way.”
Indian Prairie School District 204
While Indian Prairie School District 204 undoubtedly has been affected by the financial turmoil in Springfield (administrators were forced to cut 21.4 million dollars from its budget since January), Dr. Birkett says the district overall finds itself in “a very good place” as it embarks on the 2010/2011 school year.
In fact, the bright spots are many. District 204 currently has 138 teachers with National Board Certification, making Indian Prairie second-only to Chicago Public Schools in the number of National Board Certified teachers on staff.
“It takes a huge commitment to earn this certification,” explains Dr. Birkett. “These teachers are dedicated to their own professional development, and their students’.”
Last year’s completed construction and opening of Metea Valley High School was a true highlight for the district. Indian Prairie students also continue to experience high achievement scores—92.4 percent of students meet or exceed ISAT standards, significantly higher than the state average of 79.8 percent.
District 204 schools also will continue their Professional Development Wednesdays, which began last year. Thanks to a later start time, teachers at each school meet together to focus on school-wide curriculum, instruction, and assessment to achieve higher levels of learning for all students.
“I think we will continue to see the results of the hard work that happens at these important meetings,” says Birkett. “It’s a program that continues to grow, and it helps us ensure our students continue to receive the best-quality education.”
Through it all, Birkett says it’s been of vital importance to maintain total transparency and open the lines of communication with everyone involved.
“Communication within the community is so important,” says Birkett. “Having those bridges between the towns we serve has been essential. We are fortunate to come from an area that is so very supportive of its schools. I also have come to rely on and value my peers in the education system. Especially now, it’s been wonderful to come and work to get through this together.”
