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Superintendent
Dear Community Member,
As was presented in the February, 2008 publication of Educational Leadership and was written more than 400 years ago by Francis Bacon, “Reading maketh a full man; discussion a ready man; and writing an exact man.” Each stage in the literacy cycle involves thinking about a system in a different way, and all the stages are joined; it’s not enough just to read about an interesting idea, or to discuss it informally, or to write about it without preparation. Rather, to teach students to think in a consistent and deliberate way, we have to practice thinking in concert with a full range of literacy skills – probably in the order that Bacon himself prescribed.
The District 140 goal extends beyond providing our students with knowledge. We want our students to think, to problem solve and most importantly become life long learners. In keeping with these ideas and purpose, we have made significant changes to our curriculum as well as the academic environment. It is our belief that our new social studies curriculum, beginning with the 2008-2009 school term, is far more interactive than the curriculums of the past. In addition, we are in the process of providing Promethean Boards (Interactive White Boards) to all of our elementary school classrooms. At the same time we are enhancing all of our technology labs with updated computers as well as updating our teachers’ computers. Each of these efforts is intended to fully engage students in the learning process as well as keep teachers excited about the most important profession of all.
Please be reminded of our new bell schedule beginning with the 2008-2009 school term.
Elementary Schools will begin at 8:00 a.m. and end at 2:30 p.m. while our Middle Schools will begin at 8:40 and end at 3:10. This change puts all of our elementary schools on the same schedule and allows for enhanced staff development opportunities.
Our Board of Education expects to appoint a new Board member at the July, 2008 Board of Education meeting. This appointment follows the resignation of Daniel Stolinski. Dan was a long time Board member who served our community passionately. We thank Dan for his service to students. He will be missed.
I am pleased to report that, due to the fiscal responsibility of our Board of Education and administration, along with the efforts of all our staff to provide educational services as efficiently as possible, we can continue to report healthy fund balances. Our District is academically among the top schools in a wide geographic area. We expect it to be several years (approximately 2013) before we will again need to ask our tax payers for an increased tax rate.
As always, please remember that you as parents are key to your child’s academic success. Talk with your children and encourage your child to read over the summer. Stay involved in all facets of their education. With your assistance, we will continue to make great strides and be the best we can be.
Sincerely,
Michael J. Byrne, Ed.D.
Superintendent
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