Community Connections 5th Edition by Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205

IN THIS EDITION EDUCATE

COMMUNITY

CONNECTIONS

5TH EDITION

02 The Fine Art of Music - How a teacher has

created a space for students to connect and celebrate each other through music 03 Fine Arts Week 2023 - Begins March 4, 2023 03 York Album Project: At This Hour

ENGAGE 04 York Alumni Association - Celebrating

Generations of Dukes 05 Save the Date: 2023 State of the District 05 Excellent Educators: On the D205 Journey

MESSAGE FROM SUPERINTENDENT DR. KEISHA CAMPBELL

ne of our key areas of priority in our Strategic Plan, as it pertains to communications for the 2023-2024 school year, is to Identify and consistently promote District successes aligned with the Journey of Excellence. With each issue of this Community Connections Newsletter we strive to bring you into our classrooms and hallways. We hope that our articles help you feel more informed and connected to the work that is happening in our schools - and that you are able to learn something new with each article. Each year, as we prepare and present the annual budget, we are always focused on building a budget that is strategically structured to ensure student success and also follows a fiscally responsible approach to budgeting. Because of this, and strong leadership from our Board of Education, the District has been able to maintain a prestigious AA+ rating from S&P. We are proud of this achievement as it is a testament to our fiscal responsibility in ensuring that every dollar is invested wisely to support the educational needs of students. Music education is something that is valued by our staff, students, families and the entire District 205 community. The benefits of music education have been consistently reported and proven. A student’s exposure to music begins in elementary school and can be a part of their entire journey - and beyond. We know that there are so many components to music and we are so proud to have such an amazing team of teachers in The Visual and Performing Arts Division at York and throughout all of our schools. We look forward

to bringing you more articles about each area of visual and performing arts in District 205 in future editions. We have a saying in District 205, “Once a Duke, always a Duke.” No one can tell you the power of that sentence better than our York High School Alumni Association. This outstanding team of volunteers is laser focused on their mission to serve and support the high school, its students and its alumni and we are so grateful for their steadfast support! We invite all Duke Alum to be a part of the Alumni Association and encourage you to sign up to receive the newsletters. Last, but certainly not least, I am excited to share with you that we are officially bringing back the State of the District event this year. We invite the community to join us on November 1 at 7PM in the York High School Commons. We look forward to the opportunity to come together, celebrate the many achievements of our students and staff, take a look at data that will soon be released from the State, and share how we will continue to tailor our work and focus to ensure that we are aligned to maximize student growth for each student as they move through their journey of excellence in D205. I hope to see you there, but if you are not able to attend, we will be sharing information on how you can join us through our YouTube livestream. We have so much to be proud of here in District 205!

of Excellence

EMPOWER 06 Budgeting for Educational Excellence: The

D205 Budget for the 2023-2024 school year 07 Referendum Update: Update on summer

projects completed and in-progress 08 The Back Story on Growth and Achievement

Spring session for the Little Dukes Preschool at York High School begins Tuesday, January 30, 2024. Preschool meets on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays through May 10th from 8:45-11:15am and the cost for 14 weeks is $325 ($225 after $100 deposit). For more information, scan the QR Code or visit:

Dr. Keisha Campbell

https://qrco.de/LittleDukes

EDU

THE FINE ART OF MUSIC

Scan the QR code with your phone to watch interviews with the teacher and students

A community of students and teachers that come together to connect and explore new pathways through a shared joy and passion for music. By Tonya Daniels

s you enter the Academic wing of York High School, head right, and follow the amazing musical sounds, you will find yourself in an area that has grown to be a sacred place for so many students. It is in this area that any inhibitions they may feel melt away as they step out of their comfort zones to discover talents they didn’t know they had, and connect with their classmates and teachers through the universal language of music. Multiple studies have shown that music education can contribute to improved creativity and confidence, mental and emotional health and stability, and increased student performance. This may be one of the many reasons that anyone can tell you how important arts programs are to District 205 families and students. The Visual and Performing Arts Division at York offers classes that include various bands, orchestras, choirs and dance. In addition to the performance-based classes, students have the opportunity to expand their music education through classes that teach them not only how to play and read music, but also how to write and produce it. Chris Gemkow has been one of the many amazing music teachers at York for the past 17 years. Starting his career as an English teacher turned special education teacher and eventually finding his passion in music education, Mr. Gemkow was beaming with pride as he spoke about his classes, students and getting to do what he loves everyday. Mr. Gemkow has multiple levels of music production classes, which teach students how to write and record music, as well as how to use all of the software and equipment needed to do so. When reflecting on the impact of the classes he said, “The center of all of the music production classes is helping the students 2 Community Connections Newsletter 5TH EDITION

discover their ability as a songwriter or producer and how to discover their voice as an artist and continue to make progress with their skills with recording, producing, and developing legitimate professional work that they can take with them.” Because of their exposure to these classes, some students have gone on to study songwriting, music production, or audio engineering. “The best thing I can do is just open the doors,” he shared. “If I do nothing else - just letting them into the room and say hey this is possible. People can do this for a living. There are sound editors for movies, there’s an incredible array of audio/video jobs that are available for people who are experts in those fields and they just continue to grow. Kids are being exposed to things that they see every day and realizing that they can do that, and it is empowering.” Students that are enrolled in music production have access to 23 digital audio workstations that are all fully equipped with the required technology and professional software to create music. When asked to describe what students can expect in his classes, Mr. Gemkow shared that “by the end of the semester hopefully what they know is how to use all of the audio equipment and have been introduced to the idea of composition and that writing a song is accessible to anybody now that we can sit down at a computer and have access to advanced recording technology.”

Rock and Roll! “This is like a re-access point to music education for those who might not have connected with band or orchestra or choir, or maybe they did and they are also interested in making music of their own,” said Mr. Gemkow. Student, Devin Smego, a Junior at York started taking Mr. Gemkow’s music production class as a freshman and fell in love with the course. “I started playing guitar and trying to write music prior to coming to York,” he shared. “This class helped me take the next step and helped me develop as a songwriter. Mr. Gemkow gives constructive criticism that helps me make the song better than something that I ever thought it could be.” “Nothing beats it,” said John Frahm, Senior at York. “ You don’t meet a lot of people that you are so comfortable bringing these really raw emotions to, much less an adult. The fact that he is able to be there and people feel comfortable to just show him how they feel without feeling judged at all because he just does a great job with that.”

“This class helped me take the next step

and helped me develop as a songwriter”

In addition to the music production classes he also teaches various levels of guitar and piano classes, leads multiple music clubs, helps to organize the annual Fine Arts Week and developed the York Album Project. He even teaches a class about the Evolution of

Students looking to expand their music knowledge, whether through writing and production, or performance, have the opportunity to also take advantage of recording spaces, music labs and 12 individual private studios that are all fully equipped with the computers, recording and editing software, and multiple instruments. Understanding the value in the experiences and spaces he has at his fingertips, John Frahm spoke about his experience. “We are so incredibly privileged here at York. Not just with Mr. Gemkow, but also with the equipment we have.” He continued, “They do a great job of providing us with all of the tools we need to make the music that we want…It’s an honor.” 2

C AT E IMAGES OF FINE ARTS WEEK PERFORMANCES, 2023

Fine Arts Week

ine Arts Week takes place at York High School every March. Throughout the year a committee of 10-15 people work to coordinate and plan for

the annual event that brings around 60-70 performers in the Student York Live performance, plus the speech team presentations, the York Dance company, the percussion ensemble, plus multiple other student performance groups that are either performing or work the back lines behind the scenes in the light booth, or working on sound engineering. Students have a chance to see their peers perform throughout the school day. There is this elevated level of excitement in the air as an event, presentation or performance is

fine arts week 2024 is march 4-8 happening almost every period. York student Devin Smego shared how much the week means to the students, “There is a big sense

of community with the arts at York. The District and teachers are so helpful and supportive of students that are involved in Fine Arts Week and they are so supportive of the arts. Nice that there is such a large community of kids that can bond over music with Mr. Gemkow who creates this giant resource for kids looking for a creative outlook to thrive in.”

York Album Project

tarting in 2014 as a project in Mr. Gemkow’s Masters program and turning into an annual project that the students look forward to, The York Album Project brings together students that write, record and release their original music album each year Musicians at York collaborate on an album of all original music. It is the culmination of everything that happens in all of the classes leading up to it. “They create so many opportunities for us to

talk and explore our own ideas as a group or a class,” said John Frahm. “You see year by year that each album project, each show, none of them are the same. It is always new ideas, new people. It is always fresh. The albums stream on Spotify or Apple Music. You can scan the QR code check out the 2023 album, ‘At This Hour,’ which was the 11th album released.

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ENG

ONCE A DUKE, ALWAYS A DUKE The york community high school alumni association By Lisa Fanelli

or over one-hundred years, generations of high school students here in Elmhurst and some surrounding communities have lived the York experience. The joy, the pain, the wins, the losses, the drama, the uncertainty, the fun—all the ups and downs of those high school years—shared experiences over decades of ever-changing history, have created memories to be shared. It was this sentiment that led a group to begin the process of forming the York High School Alumni Association, back in 2016. While a few attempts were made to form such a group, in the 1920s and later, in the 1950s, neither stood the test of time. With the very special York Centennial approaching in 2018, it seemed like it was the right time to try again. Spearheaded by members of the District 205 Communications Department and Foundation 205, a group of alumni volunteers were recruited and The York Community High School Alumni Association (YCHSAA) was born. All of these parties, as well as the York High administration, collaborated to host a very successful Centennial Celebration that was held in September 2018 that included food trucks, live music, an appearance by the Dukes marching band, and a chance for alumni of all ages and their families to gather together and honor the legacy that is York. A set of historical posters by decade were also created for the occasion that are now displayed at York for students and visitors to see. Founding members of YCHSAA were also integral in the development and execution of the York Distinguished Alumni Program that has honored fiftyone accomplished alumni since 2013. The mission of YCHSAA is to serve and support the high school, its students and its alumni. YCHSAA has assisted York students with funds to attend annual Journalism conferences, and provided support for the Duke the Halls holiday program that provides gift cards and items for financially challenged students and their families. Representatives from the organization attend York sporting events, including Homecoming, and are available to assist reunion committees with their events and even attend upon request to sell alumni merchandise.

join and assist in meaningful To learn more, visit: ways. The group meets www.elmhurst205.org/alumni monthly, typically on the third Tuesday of the month, alternating afternoon and evening meetings. All members and their ideas are welcome! Fundraising efforts consist mainly of event sponsorships, donations and the sale of unique alumni merchandise, including tee shirts that proudly state, “Once a Duke, Always a Duke!” They also offer a lovely unique Elmhurst Historical Landmark coverlet that displays Elmhurst landmarks and celebrates our hometown. Please visit the YCHSAA website at elmhurst205.org and choose the alumni tab. This will navigate you to more options and information on the organization and reunions, membership sign up, and merchandise purchase. Elmhurst is filled with generations of families that attended York, as well as newcomers that grow to love the community and the Duke experience. Please join and support the York Alumni Association to ensure that this important alumni umbrella organization thrives and continues to have an impact. You can follow YCHSAA on Facebook and contact them at YCHSAA members at June 2023 alumni mixer alumni@elmhurst205.org.

YCHSAA also hosts social events for alumni. It is here that the beauty of the organization truly shines, with York Alumni from the 1960s through the 2010s gathered in one place, catching up with old friends and meeting new ones. The next social event will be “Green-Out Wednesday” to be held Wednesday, November 22. This event, purposely held the evening before Thanksgiving, offers the chance for locals as well as alums in town for the holiday to meet up with old friends. Membership in YCHSAA is free and is open to all alumni or individuals with a close tie to York, such as former staff, teachers or coaches. Members receive an alumni newsletter with updates and information on all things alumni and York. While YCHSAA is growing with current membership at over 2000, the pandemic years slowed it a bit, and the organization is in need of volunteers to Community Connections Newsletter 5TH EDITION

YCSAA officers pictured left to right with York students-Debbie Linhart ’67 Vice President, Jim Driscoll ’76 Treasurer, Kathy Wilson ‘65 President. Lisa Fanelli ’79, Secretary, not pictured Kristen Yasz-Samuelson ’05, Membership 4

GAGE

EXCELLENT EDUCATORS

ON THE D205 JOURNEY OF EXCELLENCE Meet Tom Tuzak! Tom is an Educational Assistant at York High School and exemplifies excellence in District 205! Educational Assistants are an integral part of the program of support for students with disabilities in District 205. These paraprofessional staff ensure that students have a great experience during the day and that transitions for students are smooth. As educational assistants, they have unique insights into how our students function during the day and allow our student programs to function at their highest levels. Scan this QR code to watch a short interview with Tom and hear what he thinks is the best part of being an Educational Assistant in District 205.

JOIN THE D205 JOURNEY OF EXCELLENCE! We are regularly hiring for administrative, teaching, support staff, and other positions in each of our buildings. There is currently a high need for applicants in the following areas: • Special Education Teachers • Educational Assistants • Lunch/Recess Supervisors • Custodians • Substitute Nurses Interested people should apply online at https:// qrco.de/D205Jobs, or by scanning this QR code.

EMPO prestigious aa+ rating by S&P

Budgeting for Educational Excellence

S&P’s AA+ rating is a symbol of financial stability and strength, indicating that Elmhurst School District 205 is highly creditworthy and poses minimal risk to investors. Such a prestigious rating is not easily achieved and requires a consistent and disciplined approach to budget management. The district’s ability to maintain this rating is a reflection of our responsible handling of finances and prudent decisionmaking.

Adapting to Economic Fluctuations

the district 205 budget for the 2023-2024 school year

Elmhurst School District 205 remains adaptable to economic fluctuations, such as the variations in replacement taxes, interest income and Federal revenues. The District experienced drastic rates of replacement taxes due to Illinois corporate income taxes. However, projections indicate that these rates are expected to stabilize, resulting in a 28.8% reduction in this line item according to estimates from the Illinois Department of Revenues. Similarly, the District is budgeting a continued increase in interest income due to the rising interest rates and an increase in Federal revenues due to ESSER funds.

n September 19, 2023 the Elmhurst School District 205 Board of Education approved the operating budget for the 2023-2024 school year. District 205 continues to shine as a beacon of educational excellence, driven not only by a commitment to ensuring student success but also by a fiscally responsible approach to budgeting, leading to the prestigious AA+ rating by Standard & Poor’s (S&P). With careful financial planning and resource management, the district has been able to achieve remarkable outcomes, as evidenced by prudent utilization of reserves and strategic investments in educational initiatives. The district stands tall as a testament to fiscal responsibility, ensuring that every dollar is invested wisely to support the educational needs of students.

Typically, a school district’s budget is primarily made up of salary and benefits - often around 80% as historically seen in District 205’s. However, due to the larger transfers of $4 million for summer capital, $7 million for additional scope, $1.4 million for tech leases, and .33 for debt certificates, the percentages reflect higher than normal percentages in other areas for the 2023-2024 school year.

Continued Strategic Investments in Student Success District 205’s budget for the 2023-2024 academic year reflects the district’s unwavering commitment to academic excellence. The district has made significant investments in high-quality instruction, professional learning opportunities, modernized technology, and facility enhancements. From launching Estrellita for K-3 Spanish Literacy Development to implementing Wit & Wisdom for Grade 6 ELA and Illustrative Mathematics for Algebra, the district is committed to providing students with a comprehensive and robust education while also ensuring over 100 custom designed relevant professional learning opportunities for all stakeholders.

Financial Prudence and Responsible Reserves Utilization

Financial and Operational Effectiveness remains elevated as District 205 continues to invest in the community and their students through a $4 million investment in summer capital maintenance projects. Additionally, $7 million was invested to provide increased capacity in schools in addition to the celebrations of significant upgrades at Jefferson, Jackson, and the new Lincoln which opened last summer.

In the 2022-2023 school year, Elmhurst School District 205 exhibited our financial acumen by judiciously managing reserves. Navigating a highly unstable market, District 205 approached the 2022-2023 school year cautiously, in an effort to minimize risk throughout the year, originally budgeting $10.7 million in reserves. As a result of the positive budget variances and fiscal prudence in expenditures, District 205 was only required to utilize $4.8 million in reserves - a mere 45% of the original budgeted amount. This impressive feat highlights our ability to plan ahead, allocate resources judiciously, and navigate unforeseen challenges without heavily relying on reserves to efficiently meet our educational goal of delivering a high quality learning experience for students.

STRONG community satisfaction

92% 96%

District 205 Parents satisfied with the education their child is receiving

District 205 Parents likely to recommend their school

In 2022 the City of Elmhurst commissioned the Center for governmental Studies at Northern Illinois University to conduct a mail survey of residents. The results of the survey showed that the number one response to “what do you like most about living in the City of Elmhurst” was the schools. Additionally, in the parent portion of the recent 5Essentials survey, 92% of parents shared that they are somewhat or very satisfied with the education their child is receiving at their school and 96% were somewhat or very likely to recommend their school to a parent looking for a school for their child!

Most liked feature about living in City of Elmhurst

6 Community Connections Newsletter 5TH EDITION

OWER the importance of strong leadership & support services

With the exciting completion of our second brand new elementary school, the 2023-2024 school year will again reflect all eight elementary schools in full operation, as opposed to the seven in the previous school year. Recognizing the pivotal role of strong leadership and support services, the district has also increased staff in vital areas such as special education, instructional leadership, and custodial services. The district has added three additional elementary assistant principals to promote instructional leadership, deepen staff development and elevate student outcomes. Their investment in Special Education staff such as Resource and Self Contained, Social Workers and Psychologists ensure that the growing diverse needs of students will continue to be met. Safety of staff and students continues to be an important focus for District 205. Following a review and analysis of feedback from parents and students, the District has added two campus supervisor positions to improve supervision at York High School. Through data analysis, research and listening to feedback from the community, the District also realized a need to modify an existing administrative position to ensure that literacy related programming, support for English Learner needs, and Dual Language programming was elevated to ensure that the students in these areas are receiving a high quality education designed to ensure their success and continued growth. As such, the previous position of Director of Literacy and Language Pathways was split into two roles, creating the Assistant Director of Language Pathways and Programs and the Director of Literacy. With these important investments in staff, the total number of full-time employees is now 1,191.07. These strategic additions are geared towards supporting student development and nurturing well-rounded leadership teams at every level of the District.

Referendum Updates Scan the QR code below to watch a video update on the referendum projects completed over the summer. To date, nearly every school has received updates or additions thanks to the District 205 community!

Non-Operating Funds The non-operating fund for Debt Service and Capital Projects includes the fully issued bonds from the $168.5 million referendum. These successful bond issues have contributed to the continued fiscal strength of the District. Property taxes are received through the Debt Service fund and are then utilized to pay down debts as our capital projects funds receive transfers and interest, as well as allow us to pay for the construction projects going forward - such as the strategic enhancements that were in progress throughout this summer at all three middle schools, Fischer, and the York auditorium, in addition to the new Field Elementary school that they had the pleasure of opening in August.

Conclusion Elmhurst School District 205’s budget exemplifies the district’s unwavering commitment to providing an outstanding education for its students. With the prestigious AA+ rating from S&P as a testament to its fiscal responsibility, the district continues to make prudent financial decisions while strategically investing in educational initiatives. As Elmhurst 205 positions itself for the future, it remains dedicated to fostering academic excellence, supporting student success, and maintaining financial stability, providing a high return on investment for all District 205 stakeholders.

To view the 2023 - 2024 Elmhurst School District 205 budget, visit: www.elmhurst205.org/departments/finance-operations 7 7

POSTAGE INFO PERMIT # 197

current resident

www.elmhurst205.org | info@elmhurst205.org | (630) 834-4530 | 162 S. York Street Elmhurst, IL 60126

BOARD OF EDUCATION Members serving our community boardofeducation@elmhurst205.org

COURTENAE TRAUTMANN, SECRETARY Committees: Policy - Chair Safety

KARA CAFORIO Committees: Finance LEND

ATHENA ARVANITIS PRESIDENT Committees: Parent-Teacher Advisory/ Behavioral Interventions - Chair

JIM COLLINS Committee: Finance - Chair

BETH HOSLER VICE PRESIDENT Committees: Policy, IASB Representative SASED Gov Board

KELLY ASSEFF Committees: Parent-Teacher Advisory/ Behavioral Interventions Finance

DR. KELLY HENRY Committees: Parent-Teacher Advisory/ Behavioral Interventions Policy

THE BACK STORY on growth and achievement By Kevin Rubenstein

Parents and families who attended schools in the early 2000s may remember the federal education law known as No Child Left Behind. It ushered in an era of accountability for schools focused on student achievement - a moment in time benchmark for every school to meet. The intent was to shine a spotlight on schools that needed additional support. However, as time went on, education professionals and lawmakers recognized the fact that schools needed to be measured against more than just a single assessment including how students were growing over time in a school system. When the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was passed in late 2015, it required the use of growth measures. Student growth now plays a crucial role in determining the success of our school programs. Schools that are helping students who might start further behind other students, but grow further are rewarded. “Focusing on student growth data provides school teams with the opportunity to identify students who would benefit from intervention and enrichment. Through this data driven approach, we are elevating more students into higher achievement levels across the district.,” said Katie Lyons, Executive Director of Elementary Education for the District. “It’s an exciting time in the district as district and school teams work collaboratively to ensure that all students are set up for success through aligned, curricular programming and supports.”