INTRODUCTION

If the first 25 years of Naperville Community Unit School District 203 were defined by steady growth, the second 25 years were defined by stability, refinement, and the evolution to a more digital, multicultural world.

Many of the same themes were repeated throughout the 50 years of the District’s history: Parents who wanted students to receive a rigorous education, educators who envisioned improvements so students could compete in a complex global society, concerns about serving a more diverse community, and challenges of aging school buildings.

On top of that were new concerns: students’ social and emotional wellbeing, keeping up with the deluge of technology, addressing crowding in some schools and a long-term projected deficit in the budget. Despite these issues, the District was attractive to parents because of its high levels of student achievement. To cement this focus on engaged student learning, the system adopted a new mission statement in 1998 that was referenced continuously during this period and is still in use today: “To educate students to be self-directed learners, collaborative workers, complex thinkers, quality producers, and community contributors.”

The galloping growth of the 70s and 80s, when the population doubled every 10 years, slowed by the year 2000. In the year 2000, the census registered 128,351 Naperville residents and 20 years later, in 2020, the census counted 149,540.

About half of Naperville was served by District 203, and the schools’ demographics mirrored its community. Over the span of 25 years, the community was becoming more diverse. In 2000, Naperville was 9% Hispanic, 8% Asian, and 3% Black. Twenty years later, those percentages grew more than 50%: 15% Hispanic, 13% Asian, and 5% Black.

College and career readiness was a concern for schools in the late 1990s. How well did the schools perform in the long term? To assess how Naperville 203 was preparing students for college and careers, the District mailed out thousands of surveys to 1989 and 1990 graduates. About 30% returned completed surveys. Results showed that 70.6% of graduates were working, 21.5% were in school, 0.8 had internships, 1.8% were “homemaking” and 2.8% were unemployed. Additionally, 32% attended Illinois state colleges, 18% attended College of DuPage and 23% attended other colleges.

To improve communication with parents, a new phone system was installed to provide Board of Education members with voicemail.

1998

Naperville 203 was chosen to be part of a national effort to pilot public school reform. The Standard Bearer Project was not only a framework for improvement that defined the District for years to come, but a distinct honor. The District was the only one in the state selected for the project. Put simply, the goal was to improve the quality of academic experiences provided to students, the quality of the work students were doing, and the content of their work. In other words, school officials said, the goal is to become “as selfcritical as possible, as meaningful as possible.” Once this process was completed, the District went on to be recognized as a StandardBearer School District and served as an example to other districts seeking the same distinction.

The School Board approved a Diversity Plan that was intended to recruit more diverse employees, enlist the participation of minority parents and students, and examine the curriculum for bias and racism. The plan also addressed staff training and communication. A year later, consultants assessed the results of that plan and met with community groups such as Citizens United To Preserve Quality Education and the Diversified Parents Association, as well as the District’s Diversity Committee.

Other Highlights

• Test scores showed that the District improved in almost every area in reading, writing, science, social science and mathematics. Especially noteworthy was a turnaround in a five-year decline in reading, and a significant increase in sixth- and 10th-grade reading and fourth-grade science. Eleventh-grade students saw significantly decreased scores in science.

• The Board approved a $3.5 million addition and renovation to Lincoln Junior High. It included a multi-purpose gymnasium area allowing space for practices and events. The addition also included locker rooms, a kitchen, teacher work area and four classrooms. The addition was planned for completion by the 1999-2000 school year.

• In satisfaction surveys, school staff and parents gave the District high marks. The surveys were conducted annually and presented to the Board of Education. In 1998, 43% of parents at all levels declared themselves “satisfied” and 30% “very satisfied” with Naperville 203. By combining “somewhat satisfied,” “satisfied,” and “very satisfied,” as well as total parent reaction at all three levels, the report reflected satisfaction in the 90th percentile in most areas.

• School staff ranked the quality of their own school’s instructional programs as very high. About 96% ranked their school programs as “above average” or “high.” The survey was given to staff in the spring and results were analyzed and presented in June.

• Naperville 203 received Gold Medal recognition by Expansion Management Magazine, a publication for expansion and relocation information. Naperville 203 received the highest score of 148 out of 150 possible points, tying with only four school systems nationwide. Criteria included academic scores, per-pupil spending and graduation rate levels.

• In 1998 teachers often shared a couple of phones to call parents during a free hour or after school. Board members suggested that it was time there was a phone in every teacher’s classroom. “There’s only one phone you can count on for privacy,” said Jane Stewart, a Maplebrook fourthgrade teacher. “There’s been so much push for technology in our District,” Stewart said. “Phones are technology, too.”

1999

When the Columbine school shooting shocked the nation in 1999, Naperville 203, like school districts across the country, began to tighten security. After that, all doors were locked except the front door and volunteer greeters were deployed at the schools to check visitors in and out of the buildings.

Already, officials felt that there was adequate safety awareness at the PreK-5 level (DARE and Safety Town) and there were police liaisons in the high schools. But they believed there was a void at the junior high schools. When the Naperville Police Department received a $650,000 federal grant, they earmarked the monies for police liaisons for the junior high schools.

That year, news in Naperville was also centered on another tragedy. Marilyn Lemak, who was accused of killing her three children in their Naperville home two years before, was convicted of their murder in December of 2001. It was a murder that rocked the community and made international news in 1999 and again in 2001 when Lemak was convicted of the murders.

In January 1999 Mayor George Pradel declared Naperville “a world-class city.” The city’s developments lent credibility to the mayor’s statement. Ground was broken on a $22 million warehouse distribution center for Sears Shop at Home, Crate & Barrel opened its distribution center, and North Central College completed restoration of the historic Old Main building.

Northern Illinois University announced a satellite campus on Diehl Road, Barnes & Noble bookstore was opened, and Naperville’s first synagogue was built. The new development was in response to the rapid increase in population, and in fact, it had grown 50% in a decade.

Other Highlights

• Naperville 203 released figures in December 1999 showing an anticipated $7.3 million education fund deficit by 2001 and an $18.4 million deficit by 2002.

2000

Growth showed in the schools, too. Elementary enrollment in Naperville 203 was showing signs of slowing down, but high school growth had exceeded projections and was expected to top out at 3,100 students at each school.

A quick fix for the crowding, suggested by students, was to release half of the buildings a minute earlier for easier passing periods. A longer-term fix would be to lease or buy mobile units. This enrollment bubble was not expected to last long but principals said the schools were already at maximum capacity and that every space was being used, although not always for what it was intended.

There was more change coming in the year 2000. The Board of Education initially rejected its 2000-01 budget, later passing it with the stipulation that there be $3 million in cuts.

The Future Direction Committee was holding community forums and sending out surveys. They wanted to hear from taxpayers to determine if current educational programs and services were sufficient, if some should be modified or deleted, and if evolving needs were yet to be met. In other words, should there be cuts, and where, or should there be a referendum to raise taxes?

“For the most part, the community seemed to support quality education,” said Nina Menis, who chaired the group’s communications subcommittee. Parents said education quality should be maintained and teachers should keep their jobs. Some wanted fiscal integrity, some wanted a referendum. The administration looked at doubling fees to keep expenses down.

With Superintendent Dr. Donald Weber retiring at the end of June 2000, the District asked community members what they wanted in a new superintendent. They said they wanted a new leader who is collaborative but decisive with exceptional organizational, communication and fiscal management skills, and who has a proven track record at a high-performing suburban school district.

Other Highlights

• On Jan. 1, 2000, after months of fears of Y2K, the computer bug missed the party. As the clock struck midnight and thousands of Naperville residents rang in the celebration of double zeros, nothing happened.

• A USA Today story featured Naperville 203’s physical education program, which promoted a healthy and fit lifestyle for children. Following that article, Naperville 203 joined with P.E.4LIFE Institute to develop similar ground-breaking programs in other schools. Led by Phil Lawler, the “new P.E.” which began 10 years earlier in District 203 focused on health, wellness and lifestyle management instead of a sports-based curriculum. It was a landmark program that was a model for the rest of the country.

2001

Enrollment across the District stabilizes. In the fall, elementary schools stand to lose 162 students as fifth-graders move up through the system. Junior high schools will pick up 156 of those students. Class sizes will be reduced and the hope is that there won’t have to be a decrease in the number of teachers, and if there is, it could be accomplished through retirements or resignations.

At the same time, a U.S. Census report released in March of 2001 showed that Naperville’s population grew to 128,358, making it the fourth largest city in the state. Not only did it confirm the city’s rapid growth, but showed the community was becoming more diverse. The Hispanic population in Naperville had tripled since the last census count. The figures showed Hispanics totaled 3.2% or 4,160 in Naperville in 2000, up from 1.8% or 1,527 in 1990. There was also a steady increase in the area’s Asian population. Asians made up 9.6% of Naperville residents in 2000.

Naperville 203 continued to struggle with overcoming the deficit, but it wanted to get more creative. A committee was formed to study corporate sponsorships and figure out how much revenue the District could earn.

Already, the District had signed a five-year agreement in 1999 with American Bottling Co. to sell only beverages such as Royal Crown, Diet Rite, Snapple, and Gatorade instead of products by Pepsi or Coke. They were supposed to earn roughly $500,000 from the contract, but it brought in appreciably less.

At one point residents packed into the Naperville Municipal Center to hear administrators sketch out a plan for budget reductions. One proposed financial cut that drew particular ire was to reduce the number of classes a high school student could take, from six to five, plus P.E.. The cutback, while saving $900,000 over the next two years, could have significant effects on students, said parents and high schoolers. But the meeting turned into a forum where parents pleaded with the Board of Education not to make cuts and instead go to a referendum.

District officials said Naperville 203 needed to reduce a growing budget deficit that could top $9.5 million by the end of the 2001-02 school year.

To obtain further input on its financial issues, the Board of Education, in May, created a citizens advisory committee, called the Education for the 21st Century Committee. In October, the committee made its decision.

They said if the School Board wants to pursue a referendum in March, they need to act fast and move to put it on the ballot.

They recommended a proposal for an increase ranging from 50 to 65 cents. “If there’s a need -- and I believe there’s a need -- you have to ask people to support it,” committee member Suzyn Price told Board of Education members at the time. The Board of Education agreed and voted 6-0 to put the measure on the ballot.

Board Members Dean Reschke and Suzyn Price at a District awards event.

But a lingering concern was that a contract with teachers was not yet decided. Politically, people wondered if this would be a turn-off to voters, who felt that the monies would go straight into the pockets of teachers. Eventually, the Board of Education passed a new three-year contract that gave teachers an average salary increase of nearly 6% each year.

Naperville resident Jim Ondyak and Nina Menis chaired the 21st Century Committee. Here, Ondyak talks to residents about the results of the committee.

If voters approved, a tax-rate increase of 50 cents would cost the owner of a house valued at $300,000 an extra $482 each year. A 65-cent increase would cost about $627. The Board of Education would land in the middle, at 53 cents.

Within days of the Board of Education agreeing in concept to the referendum, members of the community began to outline the next step. Fifty community members led by the 21st Century Committee Chairs Nina Menis and Jim Ondyak gathered at the District’s Education Center for an informational meeting.

Within weeks, the working group swelled to about 150. Parent chairs headed committees such as fundraising, marketing, outreach, get-out-thevote, and others. The group, now called “Proud to Be 203” raised more than $100,000 to bring their message to voters.

They noted that while achievement was high, its finances needed some bolstering. Teacher salaries remained in the middle of similar unit districts in the area. The District’s operating cost per student was about $300 lower than the state average and the District’s instructional cost per student was slightly above the state average. Finally, the District’s property taxes, even with the increase, would still be lower than what residents living in similar houses pay in surrounding communities.

Other Highlights

• Global learners: Naperville 203 students topped the world in science and placed sixth in math, according to results from the Third International Mathematics and Science Study.

• Average ACT scores in Naperville 203 came in at 24.9 on the 2001 State School Report Card, with more than 89% of students meeting or exceeding state learning standards.

• December 2001: Naperville 203 ratified a three-year deal with teachers that provided average annual salary increases of about 5.3%.

• Board of Education members authorized seeking construction bids to expand the learning centers at two of the District’s oldest and smallest elementary schools -- Ellsworth and Naper. The combined costs of the projects were $1.125 million. The learning centers were about half the size of other learning centers. One-third of the cost would come from a state construction grant.

• The year 2001 will likely be remembered most for the terrorist attacks on the United States. Extra security was put in place in the schools, offcampus activities at the high schools were canceled, and televisions were tuned in for students at North and Central in lecture halls and auditoriums. “They had a lot of questions,” said North teacher Elaine Diveley in the Naperville Sun’s Sept. 12, 2001 issue. Soon after the attacks, community members planned a memorial to honor U.S. Navy Cmdr. Dan Shanower, a 1979 Naperville Central graduate who was in the Pentagon when the third of four hijacked jets struck the building. The memorial, located next to the Naperville Municipal Center, was dedicated on Sept. 11, 2003.

During the referendum campaign, Proud to Be 203 amassed an army of hundreds to canvass frequent voters in the 203 community and to register new voters. The group held presentations at every school, enlisted realtors, took out full-page ads in the Naperville Sun newspaper, held letter-writing campaigns, and created a paid video for NCTV-17.

On March 19, District 203 asked voters to approve a tax-increase request of 53-cents per $100 of equalized assessed valuation. A total of 15,986 votes were cast in favor of the tax-increase proposal; 13,711 were cast against it. The referendum was approved with 54% voting yes and 46% voting no.

The tax-increase proposal was expected to cost the owner of a $300,000 home an additional $511 annually and generate about $15.7 million annually.

An army of volunteers worked on the referendum including marching in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

However, with a deficit on the books, money lagging from the state, and referendum money not yet flowing in, the District had a cash flow problem. In April, it borrowed

$9.8 million in tax anticipation warrants and would pay it back when it received its first property tax installment after June. Officials said residents would see an increase on their property tax bills from the referendum when the tax bills came out in June. The money would generate about $15 million more a year once fully implemented. As promised, it would be used to maintain programs and return the District to financial stability by the end of the 2005-06 school year.