Administration
Communications
- September 13, 2021
- July 29, 2021
- July 16, 2021
- May 26, 2021
- April 15, 2021
- March 16, 2021
- February 22, 2021
- February 11, 2021
- January 28, 2021
- January 14, 2021
- August 20, 2020
- July 17, 2020
- June 23, 2020
September 13, 2021
September 13, 2021 |
Update from Minooka 201 Quarantine Learning Plan |
Minooka 201 Students and Families, Our focus this school year has been to maximize the in-person instructional time we have with our students. The schools look fantastic with the bulletin boards and posters all around once more, and nothing makes the schools feel better than when students are in the classrooms. We are really proud of the start of the 2021-2022 school year, but the number of cases and quarantines and new guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education have led us to review our plans and make adjustments. To help meet the learning needs of our quarantined students, on Wednesday, September 15th we will be implementing an updated Quarantine Learning Plan (attached) that will reincorporate synchronous learning during the school day. This plan was developed in collaboration with our administration and staff. Specific schedules will be communicated by the schools and teachers on when synchronous learning will occur during the school day. Please note that this remote learning option is only available for students on quarantine. If none of the students in a classroom are on quarantine the teacher will focus only on in-person instruction. Sincerely, Kristopher P. Monn, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools Minooka CCSD 201 Twitter @Minooka201, #201Inspires Facebook @Minooka CCSD 201 Minooka 201 Quarantine Learning Plan
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July 29, 2021
July 29, 2021 |
Update from Minooka 201 |
Minooka CCSD 201 Families and Staff, Earlier this week the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released revised guidance for schools which were then quickly adopted by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). Less than a day before we had just received updated guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) in conjunction with IDPH on how to implement the July 9th CDC school recommendations. As we have seen before, the information is changing quickly and often multiple times within a week. School districts have been told that ISBE expects to release new information regarding the implementation of the latest CDC/IDPH guidance soon. Once we receive information from ISBE our teams will review and finalize the details of our 2021-22 School Year plans, with the understanding that they will be subject to change and adaptable to the evolving health situations within our District and include multiple layered health mitigations to prevent transmission in our schools. We continue to closely monitor the situation in our communities using local, state and CDC data as well as maintain communication with our local health departments. As our safety plan is revised based on ISBE guidance we will send our school community updates to the district's return to school plans. Sincerely, Kristopher P. Monn, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools Minooka CCSD 201 Follow us: Twitter @Minooka201, #201Inspires Facebook @Minooka CCSD 201
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July 16, 2021
July 16, 2021
Minooka CCSD 201 Parents, Students, and Staff: The CDC released updated guidance for schools on July 9, 2021 regarding masks for students and staff. That guidance was subsequently adopted by ISBE / IDPH, and Minooka CCSD 201 will be using this guidance for the 2021 - 2022 school year. The information below outlines the district’s approach to masks in schools, beginning immediately. The CDC guidance emphasizes implementing layered prevention strategies (e.g., using multiple prevention strategies together consistently) to protect people who are not fully vaccinated, including students, teachers, staff, and other members of their households. The district’s prevention strategies will continue to include social distancing to the extent possible, increased ventilation, daily cleaning and sanitization, reporting and tracing cases of COVID-19 amongst students and staff, and exclusion of persons symptomatic from all district buildings. District administration will closely monitor possible exposure and transmission of COVID-19 in our schools, responding with additional measures if needed. Metrics and mitigation measures will be published on the district website and shared with parents and staff. Masking CDC Recommendation: The CDC recommends that masks be worn indoors by all individuals (age 2 and older) who are not fully vaccinated. Their guidance states that consistent and correct mask use by people who are not fully vaccinated is especially important indoors and in crowded settings, when physical distancing cannot be maintained. ** Bus Travel Requirements: While traveling on a Minooka 201 bus masks are required as conveyed in the CDC order. The order includes that all bus occupants, students and adults, shall be required to wear a mask while traveling on a school bus. District Implementation:
It is important to note that the topic of masks in schools is only one component of our comprehensive safety plan which is under development pending additional information from the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Illinois State Board of Education and local health officials. The plan will be published on our district website and shared with families and staff once finalized.
Kristopher P. Monn, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools Minooka CCSD 201 Follow us: Twitter @Minooka201, #201Inspires Facebook @Minooka CCSD 201 |
May 26, 2021
Minooka 201 to return to full days for 21-22 |
Minooka CCSD 201 Students, Parents and Families, Congratulations to everyone on finishing the most challenging year of school that we have ever experienced. We continue to be inspired by the resilience, perseverance and spirit of our students as they conclude their classes and enter the summer for a well deserved break. This school year was made possible by the incredible efforts and partnership of everyone working together - students, parents, teachers and staff. Thank you all for coming together on behalf of our students. Pending IDPH and ISBE recommendations and guidance, Minooka CCSD 201 is returning to full day in person learning for the 2021-2022 school year. Remote learning will only be offered to students who meet the IDPH medical criteria related to COVID-19 or are required to quarantine. Further, the remote instruction will be offered through an alternative online platform, such as Edgenuity, or through asynchronous activities. Families that wish to apply for remote learning for the 2021-2022 School Year should complete the forms below and return them to their school office by June 15, 2021. Best wishes on the final days of this challenging year. We look forward to welcoming all of our students back for a new school year in August! Sincerely, Kristopher P. Monn, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools Minooka CCSD 201 Follow us: Twitter @Minooka201, #201Inspires Facebook @Minooka CCSD 201
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April 15, 2021
April 15, 2021
Minooka CCSD Students and Families,
We have all worked hard to get us to this week of extended school days! It was wonderful to finally see our kindergarten students having lunch in our school and experiencing their excitement as they and all of our in-person students got to interact with their peers during lunch before returning for more time in our classrooms. We thank everyone involved - students, parents, nurses, custodians, support staff and especially our teachers - for all of the efforts put into this school year.
Now that we have gotten back to the extended school days, we have decided to make one last calendar adjustment to eliminate the scheduled 5 hour School Improvement Days on April 23rd and May 14th. Instead of giving families yet another schedule adjustment that requires midday pickups, we are replacing that time by making Friday, April 30th as our final Instruction Planning Day with no student attendance on that day.
Our final day of the school year - May 28th - is still scheduled to be a 5 hour day. Details on that day's schedules and activities will be forthcoming from your school administration/
- Friday, April 23rd - Regular, Full day of Student Attendance
- Friday, April 30th - No Student Attendance - Instruction Planning Day
- Friday, May 14th - Regular, Full day of Student Attendance
- Friday, May 28th - 5 hour early release day
Stay safe everyone,
Kristopher P. Monn, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Minooka CCSD 201
Follow us:
Twitter @Minooka201, #201Inspires
Facebook @Minooka CCSD 201
March 16, 2021
Minooka CCSD 201 Students and Families,
Last week the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board of Education issued revised guidelines for schools to consider in their reopening plans. Foremost among the new changes were lowering the distancing recommendation to 3-6ft in most situations, lifting the 50 person limit on large spaces during school hours so long as distancing can be maintained (still 50 on buses), and eliminating the need for fully vaccinated individuals to need to quarantine if they come into close contact with a positive or symptomatic individual. They've also removed runny nose/congestion, stomach ache/abdominal pain and nausea from the list of symptoms that would require someone to quarantine. Things are moving in a positive direction.
At last night's Board of Education meeting we were pleased to present possible schedule changes to the Board of Education that would allow us to increase the amount of in-person instruction beyond the four-hour days and get us much closer to the length of the traditional school day. After much discussion, the Board came to a consensus to lengthen the in-person school day, including lunch service at school, beginning on April 12, 2021:
- MIS - 7:35 to 1:45
- MJHS - 7:40 - 1:50
- Elementary - 8:30 -2:50
- MPC - Maintain current schedule
Schools will receive building-specific information from your administration on the details of how this will be implemented and the changes to the daily routines that will occur. We will be running one final survey for families to indicate if they wish to be in-person or remote this week. Expect a follow-up communication with instructions later this afternoon that asks for everyone to make their selection by Friday, March 19th. We will also be making the next three Thursday afternoons (3/18, 3/25, 4/8) asynchronous to give staff more time to plan for the increased in-person instruction.
Like before, we encourage anyone that can transport your children to and from school to please do so to lower the number of students on our buses and help prevent further quarantine situations. Our schools have continued to make modifications to our car rider drop-off and pick-up to help lessen the amount of time for those parents to spend in line.
Thank you for your continued support of our schools and for your patience. We are thrilled to make this big step back towards a normal school day. Stay safe everyone!
Sincerely,
Kristopher P. Monn, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Minooka CCSD 201
Follow us:
Twitter @Minooka201, #201Inspires
Facebook @Minooka CCSD 201
February 22, 2021
Minooka CCSD 201 Students and Families,
At last night's Board of Education meeting we were pleased to announce that through both new and temporary staffing increases we have secured enough drivers to be able to meet our target date of March 1st for our return to 5 days a week of in-person instruction for our hybrid students. All students that have selected in-person learning will attend school Monday through Friday for four hours a day. We will monitor the schools over the next month to ensure that the safety mitigations we have in place continue to prevent any viral spread within our buildings.
Families can expect follow up communication later this week from their schools on any building specific information as well as updated transportation information.
As always, we thank you all for your patience and your partnership over the past year, and we will look forward to your patience going forward. The increased number of students on our buses and in our schools will inevitably lead to more quarantines and lots of contact tracing by our staff. Please help us keep the kids in school by keeping your students home if they have or are exhibiting any symptoms.
We are excited to take this next step, and it will not be our last. We will get through this together.
Kristopher P. Monn, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Minooka CCSD 201
Follow us:
Twitter @Minooka201, #201Inspires
Facebook @Minooka CCSD 201
February 11, 2021
Minooka 201 Students, Parents and Families,
As you are aware, our staff have been working hard to prepare our district and buildings for our in-person students to be able to return to in-person instruction for five days each week no later than March 1st. The key variables in getting us ready for that were our facilities (classroom setup and HVAC equipment), increased vaccinations of district staff and adequate staffing in our transportation department. We do not yet have a firm date for this return for reasons we will describe in this communication. To keep our community informed, below is a brief update on each of those areas.
Facilities:
- Most furniture has been returned to classrooms to allow for the increased number of students. Remaining issues are minor adjustments due to a change in in-person/remote numbers within classrooms.
- Installation of the GPS air purification equipment has already begun. Delivery of the remaining equipment is expected today (2/11) and our Buildings and Grounds Department expects substantial completion by the end of next week.
Vaccines:
- By the end of today we will have gotten the first dose to approximately 300 of our staff that want the COVID-19 vaccine. At the current pace from Grundy County and the surrounding areas all interested staff should be able to receive a first dose by March 1st, though changes in availability could extend this date. We are very grateful to our local health departments and the volunteers that dedicated their time to help disseminate the vaccines in our communities.
That brings us to the trouble variable that is not yet solved - Transportation:
- As a Community Consolidated School District, Minooka 201 is legally required to provide transportation to all K-8 students that live outside of 1.5 miles from their attendance center. Our district like many other transportation providers saw a decrease in staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we have not had any influx of new bus drivers since.
- While we have remained able to transport all students during the A/B split due to the decreased number of students, the current limit of no more than 50 people on a bus (49 students plus 1 driver) with double the amount of students has left us short of the necessary number of drivers.
- We have also contacted every third party transportation provider in the region to contract the outstanding routes, and none of them have any available staff.
- We will immediately be offering sign on bonuses for incoming drivers, especially those with an existing CDL. Drivers that need a CDL require weeks of training before they can take the required state tests. If new drivers have a CDL, they can begin driving a bus within days, not weeks.
- To do everything we can to attract drivers with CDL's, new drivers will get $1,000 if they drive for the remainder of this school year, and those with existing CDL's will receive an additional $1,000 for joining our team.
My last two communications have included a plea for parents to consider driving their students to school if they are able. The number of kids on our buses coupled with a shortage of drivers is the last barrier to Minooka 201 getting our schools open five days a week. We again ask you to consider personal transportation wherever able, including neighborhood carpools. No family will lose access to transportation going forward by driving their student(s) now. If we can partner to lower the number of students while we continue to ramp up staffing, more routes can be added in the future as drivers join our team. If any family would consider switching to personal transportation, please contact your school office.
As always, thank you for your patience and your partnership. We will get through this together!
Kristopher P. Monn, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Minooka CCSD 201
Follow us:
Twitter @Minooka201, #201Inspires
Facebook @Minooka CCSD 201
January 28, 2021
Minooka CCSD 201 Students and Families,
All along this COVID-19 journey, we have reiterated the goal of getting our students back into the classrooms as much as possible. Our hybrid plan has allowed us to begin in-person instruction safely while more data was obtained and our region could finally begin a vaccination program to help move us towards herd immunity in the future.
Now that education staff have been moved up into Phase 1B of the vaccination program, we have an opportunity to make some adjustments to our plan to increase the amount of in-person learning we can deliver in our buildings. At this month's Board of Education meeting, the Board directed the administration to implement a return to 5 days per week of in-person instruction that maintains the current four hour schedule no later than March 1, 2021. If the conditions are right to make this move prior to March 1st we will consider doing so. We continue to have the long-term goal of getting back to full school days before the end of the school year, but this first step will more than double the amount of in-person time we are able to offer our families.
Over the next few weeks, we will begin returning some furniture into our classrooms to prepare for the increased number of students. One of the major changes to this direction is that we know we will not be able to maintain 6ft distancing between students in many of our classrooms. Facemasks will remain mandatory for the entire time students and staff are in our buildings and buses, and new air purification equipment will be installed and deployed throughout our buildings to further reduce the chance of spread in our buildings.
We will also be adjusting our bus routes when we implement this change to account for the increased number of students and the lack of bus drivers our region is experiencing during this pandemic. Increased students on our buses will make it very difficult to socially distance while on the bus, so we again ask that all families that have the capability of providing their own transportation to and from school do so to help us limit the numbers and potential quarantines from close contact on our buses.
To allow for our schools and transportation department to plan appropriately for this next phase of our Return to School Plan, we are asking that all families again log in to PowerSchool and choose between in-person learning as described above or remaining in a full remote instruction. Please make your selection no later than Wednesday, February 3rd. Follow up communication will provide instructions on how to make this selection.
We will get through this together everyone. Stay safe, and stay strong.
Kristopher P. Monn, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Minooka CCSD 201
Follow us:
Twitter @Minooka201, #201Inspires
Facebook @Minooka CCSD 201
January 14, 2021
Minooka 201 Students and Families,
All of our staff at Minooka CCSD 201 are excited to welcome back our in-person learners to our Hybrid Learning Model on January 19, 2021! As always, we appreciate the partnership and collaboration with our families and communities as we have had to adapt and adjust to the fluid health metrics we have seen this school year.
As we prepare for our students to return next week, we want to remind all of our students and families that we all need to continue to do our part to help keep in-person instruction possible in a safe learning environment. Please continue to follow the recommended health mitigations and slow the spread of COVID-19 in our communities and schools:
- Use of Face Coverings - required while in our buildings
- Maintain Social Distancing - our classrooms and buildings have taken steps to allow for 6 ft of distance wherever possible
- Stay home if any COVID-19 symptoms exist - Parents must continue to certify that their students are symptom-free each morning before sending them to school and/or the school bus.
Later today our families should expect a communication from our Minooka 201 Health Services Staff with more detailed information about monitoring symptoms.
Finally, we would like to remind families to consider personally transporting your students whenever possible to help our buses spread out the students as much as possible. Many of our quarantine situations in the fall were because of close contacts not at school but on the school bus. All students eligible for transportation will continue to have access, but the more students that can get to and from school in smaller groups will aid our efforts going forward.
As before, we are extremely grateful for the continued efforts of everyone in our community that have helped us navigate through this school year. Our schools are ready to see our students once more. Welcome back Minooka 201!
Sincerely,
Kristopher P. Monn, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Minooka CCSD 201
Follow us:
Twitter @Minooka201, #201Inspires
Facebook @Minooka CCSD 201
August 20, 2020
Students, Parents and Families of Minooka CCSD 201,
Today the Board of Education held an emergency meeting at 1 PM to discuss recent changes and clarifications to the guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) regarding the required procedures involved with reopening school for in person instruction. At that meeting it was announced that Minooka CCSD 201 will begin the 2020-2021 School Year with Remote Instruction for all students through the first quarter of our school year. The most recent interpretation of the required protocols have made it completely unsustainable and untenable for our schools to safely open and remain effectively staffed. Monday August 24th and Tuesday August 25th will be Remote Instruction Planning Days, with the first day of Remote Learning for students on Wednesday, August 26th.
It cannot be overstated how disappointing this decision is for our Minooka 201 team to make to our families. The amount of time, effort and planning that our schools and departments have gone through over the past months makes this decision all the more devastating for our teams. We have established new safety protocols and procedures, procured additional cleaning equipment, increased cleaning schedules and had hundreds of staff collaborating on how to make in person instruction safe and effective.
After the Illinois Department of Public Health released its Frequently Asked Questions on August 12th our district like many others had some severe concerns with the requirements they mandated. We continued to have conversations and dialogue with local health officials to discuss our plans and procedures and believed we could safely open and function within that framework. This week we have received updated answers from our local officials that have made it clear that they would defer to all of the IDPH guidance, and that is the reason we have come to this decision today. Here are some of the areas that would make the continued operation of schools unmanageable:
- Quarantining for Symptoms - Our planning and protocols had assumed that any student or staff member that exhibited any symptom would be sent home and need to quarantine. The new guidance requires not only the individual to quarantine, but also the entire household. We would be pulling asymptomatic students and staff members throughout the day and sending them home for 14 days or until they provided a negative COVID test or provided a doctor's note explaining that the symptom was not COVID related. The number of students we would be removing each day could be staggering, and if staff are being sent home we would not be able to safely staff our buildings.
- Definition of "close contact" - Prior to this new guidance, a "close contact" of a positive case was anyone that was within 6 feet of the individual for more than 15 minutes at a time. Our discussion within the past week had included this in our planning. The new requirements indicate that a "close contact" is anyone that was within 6 feet or less for more than 15 minutes cumulatively throughout any 24 hour period going back 48 hours from the positive test (asymptomatic) or onset of symptoms (symptomatic). That is an unrealistic requirement within our schools and could be dozens of individuals in our hallways and classrooms.
- Definition of "outbreak" - The new guidance defines an "outbreak" in a school as being two cases within 14 days within the epidemiological center, which in most cases is the classroom. However this could expand to a school bus or the entire building if the students are exposed to more than one room. In the event of an outbreak the Local Health Department could shut down the entire building.
As stated above, these requirements do not make it possible for our school buildings to be able to effectively manage the tracing and isolation requirements and still effectively instruct our students in person. Each school will be communicating with families to outline the remote instruction routines and resources that the students will be engaging with. This was not how we wanted to start the year, but our staff have always risen to the occasion and will provide the students with a robust remote learning experience.
Finally, we understand that the timing of this decision will cause some families issues with securing daycare for their students. We do have an ongoing partnership with the Greater Joliet YMCA to provide families with a daycare option in our schools. Click here for more information.
We will reevaluate our learning option throughout August and September to assess whether in person learning can resume in the second quarter. As before, please email any questions to BacktoSchool@min201.org and the appropriate staff member will respond.
Sincerely,
Kristopher P. Monn, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Minooka CCSD 201
Follow us:
Twitter @Minooka201, #201Inspires
Facebook @Minooka CCSD 201
July 17, 2020
Minooka CCSD 201 Students and Families,
Over the past weeks we have developed a Framework to Return to School for 2020-2021 during the ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic that was shared with our staff and Board of Education this week. Based on the results of last month's parent survey that indicated 43% of respondents would prefer a full time Remote Instruction option, we have developed a hybrid model that allows families to choose either:
- In-person instruction in our school buildings using social distancing measures and face masks while in the building
- Full time Remote Instruction
First, we want to stress that this is our current framework and future data and planning can and will make further adjustments as necessary. Our framework for In-Person Instruction allows all students that wish to return to school to do so using safety protocols issued by the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Department of Public Health. Our initial framework included early release days with lunches served in the classrooms, but after continued feedback from staff and ongoing dialogue over safety protocols, we have modified our framework to remove the student lunch component while in our buildings.
In Person Instruction during Phase 4 of the COVID-19 Restore Illinois plan:
- Each day will be a 4 hour attendance day with 1 hour of remote instruction after the students return home.
- Lunches will be handed to students as they leave the building or school bus to eat off site.
- Social distancing will be used as much as possible:
- All families must self-certify that the students are symptom free prior to sending them to the school or school bus.
- Facemasks will be required in all buildings and on all buses at all times when not drinking.
- Student movement throughout the buildings will be limited when possible.
- Student desks will be spread out as much as possible. It is not likely that all desks will be 6 ft apart, but all learning spaces will have desks facing the same direction and all unnecessary furniture removed to allow for as much distance as possible.
- Shared and larger spaces will be avoided to the extent possible.
- Increased cleaning of restrooms and surfaces will be employed.
For families that do not wish to send their students back into our facilities, a Full Time Remote Instruction option will be available:
- Remote Instruction will focus on the core subjects - limited access to fine arts, PE will be available.
- Students must log 5 hours of instruction/activity each day.
- Lessons will be delivered by Minooka 201 teachers using both via live interactive lessons and through online platforms.
- Grading will mirror that of traditional In-Person Instruction, with graded assignments, feedback and report cards issued.
- All Remote Students eligible for additional services (Special Education, ELL Services, Speech, etc) will retain full access to those services during Remote Instruction.
- Families selecting Remote Instruction must commit for the entire academic period (quarter, trimester for Kindergarten). Switching from Remote Instruction to In Person Instruction in the middle of the quarter will not be allowed.
A visual comparison of these options can be found in our Minooka CCSD 201 Return to School Summary . There are still many details being worked out in our schools and departments. Many parents are sending in excellent questions that our teams still need time to work through. All of our schools will be complying with the Starting the School Year Joint Guidance issued on June 23, 2020 by the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Department of Public Health. A great many of the questions on protocols when an individual is diagnosed or seems symptomatic can be found in this document. On Monday, July 20th we will be sending out communication for how families can indicate their preference for instruction for the start of the 2020-2021 school year. We would ask that families make their selection by Friday, July 24th.
We all understand the difficulties of both keeping our students and staff safe and still supporting their educational and social well being. We believe this Framework offers our families a balanced choice for the type of instructional model that is best for their students as we remain in Phase 4 of our recovery plan. It is also important to note that should Illinois move our region back to Phase 3 due to an increased threat of the COVID-19 virus in our area, Minooka CCSD 201 would revert back to full Remote Instruction for all students until such time as our local metrics improve. In the event that we can move to Phase 5 - Full Reopening, we would expect to transition back to full time In-Person Instruction.
We appreciate your patience and support as we all continue to work on behalf of the students, families and communities that make up Minooka CCSD 201. Stay safe everyone. We will get through this together.
Kristopher P. Monn, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Minooka CCSD 201
Follow us:
Twitter @Minooka201, #201Inspires
Facebook @Minooka CCSD 201
June 23, 2020
Greetings Minooka 201 Students, Families and Community,
We wanted to send a brief message to our families to update everyone on the plans for the 2020-2021 school year and when additional information will be available.
As Illinois prepares to enter Phase 4 of the reopening plan, we expect final Phase 4 guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education to be released later this week to provide clarity on what schools should look like in the fall. During the ISBE meeting last week it was stated that schools would be expected to use personal protective equipment (face coverings) and use social distancing measures. Such measures would limit the number of students we could have in our buildings and classrooms, and that means we have been exploring options for traditional in-person instruction, remote instruction and a hybrid model that would blend the two. Last week the Governor signed the education omnibus bill into law, which among other changes created a new category of attendance day called a Blended Remote Learning Day, where portions of our students attend school while others learn through remote instruction.
Over the next month we will be bringing in staff, teachers and other stakeholders to help develop and finalize plans and answers for the 2020-2021 school year. To gather initial feedback from our community on our options for the fall, we have developed a brief poll for families to share their thoughts - Minooka CCSD 201 Poll - Reopening for 2020-2021 School Year. As our plan becomes clearer we will provide additional opportunities for our parents and families to provide input and feedback. Families should expect further information to be released in early July.
The last quarter of the 2019-2020 school year was an incredibly new and emotional time for everyone in our district. We have learned many things about collaboration, partnerships and community support during this time. The 2020-2021 school year will look different than previous years, and we will continue to collaborate and partner with our communities and families to support our students. We will get through this - together. Stay safe everyone.
Kristopher P. Monn, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Minooka CCSD 201
Follow us:
Twitter @Minooka201, #201Inspires
Facebook @Minooka CCSD 201
2018 Strategic Planning
2018 Strategic Planning – Inspire learners to be responsible, confident and successful!
The Board of Education recently adopted their Strategic Plan after undertaking a stakeholder driven Strategic Planning Process using Mr. Perry Soldwedel from the Consortium for Educational Change (CEC) as facilitator. This process ran from April through early June 2018 before being formally adopted in July 2018. The Strategic Planning Team developed our Mission, Vision, Core Values and Strategic Goals. Action Plans for the Strategic Goals will be developed during the 2018-19 school year. If you have questions regarding this process please contact Dr. Kris Monn, Superintendent of Schools.
Minooka CCSD 201 Mission Statement – Inspire learners to be responsible, confident and successful.
Minooka CCSD 201 Core Values:
- Collaboration
- Engagement
- Equity
- Innovation
- Perseverance
- Respect
- Safety
Minooka CCSD 201 Vision Statement:
Personal success and well-being will be evidenced when learners are:
- Responsible and accountable for their own learning and demonstrate readiness for the next level of learning.
- Provided with supports and opportunities to develop skills, attitudes, and behaviors that lead to strong character, well-being, citizenship, and future workplace success.
- Committed to extend their learning beyond the classroom by connecting, creating, communicating, collaborating, and problem solving.
- Guided by effective educators who engage and challenge learners through innovative, real world applications and see collaboration as fundamental to teaching and learning.
- Supported by families and a community who are actively engaged as advocates for individual and collective educational excellence.
- Provided with appropriate and equitable resources necessary to reach their potential.
Strategic Plan Long-Range Goals and Aligned Strategies
Long-Range Goal | Aligned Strategies for Improvement |
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Demonstrate continuous improvement in student growth and achievement.
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· Further the district’s curriculum vision by assuring program and curriculum consistency and coherence.
· Utilize best instructional practices and technology to extend learning opportunities within and beyond the classroom.
· Personalize learning to enable each student to be responsible and accountable for their learning results.
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Cultivate a safe, engaging, authentic learning environment that promotes student confidence and growth.
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· Improve the district’s MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) to close achievement gaps and provide a coherent continuum of supports responsive to the needs of all learners
· Develop and implement tools and strategies for assessing and addressing student social and emotional knowledge, skills, and behaviors.
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Support a positive and productive working environment in which student-focused staff are engaged, collaborative, innovative and accountable.
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· Maintain and improve meaningful and collaborative relationships between the schools to make transitions (elementary to intermediate, to middle, and to high) for students seamless and successful.
· Construct and utilize a PK-8 data indicator system to enhance data analysis, progress monitoring, and reporting.
· Promote a district-wide culture focused on staff competencies and expectations that fosters collaboration, collective responsibility, satisfaction, and shared accountability. |
Strengthen family and community engagement, communication, and collaboration to support student success.
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· Identify and implement effective tools and strategies to improve family and community communication, engagement, input, and satisfaction. |
Ensure stakeholder trust and confidence through effective and efficient operations and stewardship of facility and financial resources. | · Proactively manage and forecast district resources in an open, transparent, and responsible manner.
· Ensure effective operations of district systems through continuous improvement principles.
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Strategic Planning Process, April – June 2018:
All documents used have been posted to this webpage for all stakeholders to review and follow.
Summary Documents
Current Strategic Plan, adopted Fall 2014
2018 Strategic Planning Roster
Orientation Meeting, April 3, 2018
Agenda for Orientation Retreat Minooka CCSD 201
Minooka Elementary Orientation Participant Handout
Data Retreat, April 6, 2018
The result of the April 6th Data Retreat is a draft analysis of the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT Analysis) our school district faces. The Strategic Planning Team will use the SWOT Analysis throughout the Vision Retreat and the Planning Retreat to help shape how our District gets from “where we are” to “where we want to be.”
DRAFT SWOT ANALYSIS – MINOOKA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT 201
Findings from the Minooka Elementary School District 201 Data Retreat
The following materials were used by the Strategic Planning Team during the Data Retreat:
Table Assignments – Data Retreat
Minooka 201 5Essentials Results
Data Retreat – Finance and Facilities
Data Retreat – Learning Environment
Data Retreat – Academic Presentation
Visioning Retreat, April 25, 2018
On April 25, 2018 the Strategic Planning Team met to review the results of the SWOT Analysis and begin to develop a vision for “Where we want our District to be.” Table teams reviewed four distinct learning environments to gather ideas and philosophies that were used for each group to collaboratively develop key words and phrases for our mission, vision and values. The resulting product will be posted and shared out after the Team meets again on May 16, 2018 for the Action Planning Retreat.
The following documents were used by the Strategic Planning Team at the Visioning Retreat:
Minooka Elementary Agenda Vision Retreat
Minooka VISION RETREAT Participant Handout
Table Assignments – Vision Retreat
Modern Learners 10 Principles for Schools of Modern Learning
Findings of the Minooka Elementary 201 Vision Retreat
Setting Direction Retreat, May 16, 2018
Agenda – Setting Direction Retreat 18-05-16
Direction Setting – Table, Article Assignments
Article – Key Performance Indicators
Dr. Kris Monn
Superintendent
email: kmonn@min201.org
Mrs. Lori Shanholtzer
Administrative Assistant
email: lshanholtzer@min201.org
305 W. Church Street, Minooka, IL 60447
Phone: 815-467-6121 Ext. #1
Fax: 815-467-9544
Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.