Visions Newsletter

March 4, 2021

Every March, School District 54 celebrates Happiness Month. At each of our buildings, happiness teams are implementing activities for staff, students and families to spread happiness, create a positive school environment and help us all develop long-term optimism.

Now more than ever, District 54 is focused on the principals of positive psychology to help us achieve our mission of ensuring the success and well-being of our students and staff.

Follow our hashtag #54Happiness as we spotlight activities at our schools and Rafferty Administration Center throughout Happiness Month in March or click here for a look at ways our students and staff have been celebrating this year.

Brief from the March 4, 2021 Board Meeting

Discussion – Staffing Plan for 2021-22 School Year:

The first step in creating the District 54 annual staffing plan is projecting enrollment. To estimate next year's enrollment District 54 considers the difference between this year's eighth-grade class and next year's kindergarten class, and also considers the number of students who transfer into and out of our district at other grade levels, which is much harder to predict. In addition, enrollment numbers have fluctuated this year with some families opting for alternative schooling options due to the pandemic.

The projected enrollment in kindergarten through eighth grade for the 2021-22 school year is 14,669 students, which is 330 students lower than last year's projection. Due to that decrease in enrollment, and in order to be fiscally conservative, District 54 is recommending a reduction in positions across the district.

The focus was on reductions furthest from the classroom, including administrative and coaching positions, as well as support positions at the Rafferty Administration Center. However, the district is also recommending a reduction of some teaching and support positions due to decreasing enrollment.

The district will continue monitor enrollment data throughout the spring and summer. If enrollment changes prior to the start of the school year in August, District 54 will shift teaching resources or add positions to maintain a consistent class average across grade levels at our 28 schools. Additional flexibility may be required to support students who need a virtual instruction option as well.

More detailed information on the 2021-22 staffing plan can be accessed at 2021-2022 District 54 Staffing Plan. For more information from tonight's board meeting, click here.

Open Enrollment Applications due March 5

District 54 residents can take advantage of the opportunity for open enrollment in District 54. Instead of attending their neighborhood school, students who live in District 54 and are registered to attend District 54 schools can apply to attend one of our schools that offer unique learning opportunities.

For families new to District 54 or have an incoming kindergartner and are interested in applying to an Open Enrollment school:

1. Determine your neighborhood school. If you are unsure of your neighborhood school, visit the District 54 School Boundaries page.
2. Register your child at your neighborhood school. For more information on the registration process and a link to the online registration portal, visit the District 54 Registration page.
3. Submit an application (one for each student) to the Open Enrollment program you are interested in by Friday, March 5. Applications for each program are available on the Open Enrollment website. If your neighborhood school is an Open Enrollment school, you still need to submit an application to be accepted into the program. 

If you are a current District 54 family and would like to apply for your current student to attend an Open Enrollment school, you just need to submit an application.