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Summer 2022 LeadershipMatters

Keep Kids Fed Act What Schools Need to Know

Members On The Move Who’s Moving, Who’s Brand New, Who’s Retiring

Meet the FY 2023 Board of Directors

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IASA speaks to Tara Thomas, AASA Policy Analyst, about the Keep Kids Fed Act and the implications the new law has on school districts. KEEP KIDS FED ACT

New IASABoard of Directors for FY2023 O F F I C E R S

Meet the New IASA Board of Directors for FY 2023

2023 IL Superintendent of the Year Application Now Available Webinars From IL Energy Consortium Powered by Future Green

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Secretary and Starved Rock Dr. Steven Wrobleski Superintendent La Salle-Peru Twp HSD #120

Treasurer and Illini Barbara Thompson

Past President Dr. Jeff Stawick Superintendent CCSD #146

Superintendent Fisher CUSD #1

President-Elect Dr. Roger L. Alvey Superintendent Illini Bluffs CUSD #327

President Dr. Kevin Blankenship Superintendent Scott-Morgan CUSD #2 & Winchester CUSD #1

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Cook North Dr. Judith A. Hackett Superintendent NW Suburban Sp. Ed. Org.

Central IL Valley Dr. Chad Wagner Superintendent Elmwood CUSD #322

Abe Lincoln Tip Reedy Superintendent Williamsville CUSD #15 LISTED CHANGES WILL BE EFFECTIVE START OF 2022–2023 SCHOOL YEAR Members On The Move Blackhawk Dr. Jay Morrow Superintendent United TWP HSD #30

Congratulations ISAL and ASA Graduates

10 DuPage Dr. John Corbett Superintendent Wood Dale SD #7

Cook South Dr. Anthony M. Scarsella Who’s moving, who’s brand new, who’s retiring? Here’s an easy way to keep track of who’s where! Superintendent Palos CCSD #118 Cook West Dr. Kevin Skinkis Superintendent Riverside-Brookfield Twp HSD #208

Corn Belt Gary R. Tipsord Superintendent LeRoy CUSD #2

IASA Legal Corner

0 LM Summer 2022 Known New Superintendents 00

Known Transferring Superintendents

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New Pathways at Rich Twp HSD #227

Click on each square to see a list of names for the upcoming school year.

Members On The Move 16

Elevating Education

Known Retiring Superintendents

Known Superintendent Vacancies

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Please know that every attempt has been made to achieve accuracy on these lists. If we have not yet learned of your new role or that of a fellow superintendent,

please send the information to Misti Murphy at mmurphy@iasaedu.org, and we will include it in next month’s issue of Leadership Matters.

Volume 10, Issue 6 Summer 2022 LeadershipMatters 22122 Jason Nevel Director of Social Media and Publications jnevel@iasaedu.org

See IASA’s Job Bank to post or apply for educational positions in Illinois.

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2648 Beechler Court Springfield, IL 62703-7305 217.753.2213 800 Woodfield Road, Ste. F109 Schaumburg, IL 60173-4717 847.466.5075

Marjorie Gladish Graphic Designer mgladish@iasaedu.org

1200 West Main Street Marion, IL 62959-1138 618.364.0501

www.iasaedu.org

Scan here with your phone’s QR code reader to get the IASA APP— Don’t have a QR reader? Go to or and search for IllinoisASA.

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Message From the Executive Director NewFiscal Year Brings Changes to School Districts and to IASA

Dr. Brent Clark

He will provide one-on-one mentoring, assistance and training for new and early-career superintendents in the Kaskaskia, Abe Lincoln and Illini regions. In our Professional Development Department, we said goodbye to Melissa Arney on June 30. Ms. Arney played a pivotal role behind the scenes in making sure IASA professional development opportunities run smoothly. Ms. Arney has been replaced by Mariah Kendall. Personnel wasn’t the only change in FY 2022 at IASA. Our website, iasaedu.org, underwent a significant makeover. We also added more free legal workshops that are intended to deepen educators’ knowledge and understanding of pertinent legal matters. Professional development opportunities continued to expand. We added a “Finding Your Way Around IWAS” workshop for new superintendents, and a Budget Amendment/Cash Flow Analysis workshop. In late May, we launched Level Up Leadership, a new cohort for assistant superintendents and central office administrators that begins in September. Networking opportunities also continued to grow with Supt2Supt virtual sessions. To close, I hope you have found the supports and services IASA has offered valuable over the past 12 months. Please reach out anytime if you need assistance. We are here to help you.

With a wave of retirements and transfers set in, many schools have new leadership to begin Fiscal Year 2023. At least 61 superintendents retired June 30 and at least 26 others transfered and are now leading a new school district. I want to thank all of the retirees for decades of service to public education. Each of you helped elevate your districts and will leave behind a legacy of leadership and dedication to students. I also want to wish superintendents transferring districts the best of luck on the newest chapter in your leadership journey. Similarly to many school districts across the state, IASA ended Fiscal Year 2022 with a different look than it had at the beginning. Over the last 12 months, IASA said goodbye to three staff members and welcomed four new people to our team. On December 31, Diane Hendren retired from the role of Director of Governmental Relations after 17 years of advocating for public education and IASA members. Ms. Hendren provided IASA with credibility, knowledge and experience at the Illinois statehouse. To fill her shoes, we welcomed Madeline McCune and Emily Warnecke to the team. Ms. McCune and Mrs. Warnecke guided IASA through the spring legislative session and created a Bill Tracker/Analysis Tool that makes it easier for members to follow important legislation. We also said goodbye to Dr. Bill Phillips, who joined IASA in 2012 as a Field Services Director. Dr. Victor Zimmerman , superintendent of Monticello CUSD #25 for 15 years before retiring June 30, has stepped into the role.

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SEPT. 28-30, 2022 Leading with Passion, Purpose and Perspective

Annual Conference 58th

BOS Center and the President Abraham Lincoln—Springfield, A DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel

Registration and Housing Open in August!

Featured Keynotes:

Chris Singleton Chris is a former professional basebal l player for the Chicago Cubs and an inspirational speaker who has been featured on ESPN E:60, Sports I l lustrated magazine and USA Today. Singleton’s mother, Sharonda Coleman Singleton, was murdered along with eight other victims at Mother Emanual AME Church in South Carol ina on June 17, 2015 by a white supremacist. Singleton inspired his city and the nation by forgiving the man who murdered his mother and stating that, “Love is stronger than hate.” Singleton inspires audiences through his personal experiences of adversity.

Damon West Damon West is a col lege professor, national ly known keynote speaker and best-sel l ing author of The Coffee Bean: A Simple Lesson to Create Positive Change . In col lege, West was a Division I , starting quarterback unti l he suffered a career-ending injury. To cope with the disappointment, he turned to hard drugs. In 2009, West was sentenced to 65 years in prison for robberies he committed to support his habit. Whi le incarcerated, he had a spiritual awakening. Today, West l ives a l ife of recovery and

Plus:

Ignite, Breakout Sessions, Academies, Women in Leadership, New Superintendents’ Strand, Exhibits, Receptions and More!

inspires audiences with his story of redemption, grit and determination.

Take Advantage of Excellent Marketing Opportunities

School Service Members:

Click Here to Reserve a Booth or Sponsor an Event, Meal or Speaker

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New IASABoard of Directors for FY2023

A new fiscal year ushers in changes to the IASA Board of Directors—the primary decision-making body of IASA, consisting of members of the 21 IASA regions and an at-large representative. IASA is also divided into three Super Regions: Northcentral, Northeastern and Southern. Each consists of seven IASA regions from which the board rotationally elects the IASA president. On July 1, the IASA Board of Directors welcomed five new faces, as well as some changes to the five officer positions. Here is a look at the FY 2023 officers: ● President: Dr. Kevin Blankenship, Scott-Morgan CUSD #2 and Winchester CUSD #1. ● President-Elect: Dr. Roger Alvey, Illini Bluffs CUSD #327, Central Illinois Valley Region. ● Past President: Dr. Jeff Stawick, CCSD #146. ● Treasurer: Barb Thompson, Fisher CUSD #1, Illini Region. ● Secretary: Dr. Steven Wrobleski, La Salle-Peru Twp HSD #120, Starved Rock.

● Richard Towers, Egyptian, replaces Jeff Fetcho (term expires June 30, 2025). ● Robert Gold, Lake, Replaces Julie Schmidt (term expires, June 30, 2024). ● Dr. John Palan, Three Rivers, replaces Dr. Scott Goselin (term expires, June 30, 2025). ● D. Todd Fox, Western, replaces Dr. Michelle Lee (Term expires June 30, 2023). Lastly, we want to say thank you and goodbye to the following school leaders for their service on the IASA Board of Directors. Their vision and passion helped move IASA forward. ● Dr. Victor Zimmerman, Past President (Board member since 2016) ● Jeff Fetcho, Egyptian (Board member since 2017) ● Julie Schmidt, Lake (Board member since 2017) ● Dr. Scott Goselin, Three Rivers (Board member since 2016) ● Dr. Michelle Lee, Western (Board member since 2020)

In addition, five IASA regions will have new representatives on the board.

● Dr. Chad Wagner, Central Illinois Valley, replaces Dr. Roger Alvey, who will serve as IASA President-Elect, (term expires June 30, 2025).

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New IASABoard of D

GoodbyeMessage from Dr. Jeff Stawick, Past President Dr. Jeff Stawick Past President, IASA Board of Directors

Ridin’ the Storm Out. That song played as I walked to the stage of the IASA Annual Conference in September. As I look back on FY 2022, the words still seem fitting. Superintendents rode out a surge in COVID-19 cases that pushed thousands of students and teachers across the state into quarantine to start the school year. We rode out COVID-19 testing problems, vaccine mandates and fights over masks. We grabbed the handlebars tightly and made sure our districts did not veer off the roadway when local political battles emerged. FY 2022 was a year where superintendents had to ride the storm out. But it wasn’t always cloudy. Schools across the state innovated with technology. Districts created clinics and improved healthcare in their communities. Social-emotional support systems for students, and staff, were amplified. Teaching and learning strategies were revamped. And, without question, many superintendents across our state became even stronger leaders. This past year tested our patience and resolve. It wasn’t easy, but we rode it out. Looking ahead, the forecast isn’t sunny skies everyday. We have serious work to do. What I have always appreciated

about IASA is the Association makes sure superintendents don’t face the challenges ahead alone. We have the opportunity to network with peers in our region, at professional development events and virtually. I encourage you to take advantage of those opportunities. The superintendency can be a lonely job—but only if you let it be. Serving as IASA President this past year has afforded me even more opportunities to connect with superintendents across Illinois. I am deeply humbled by this experience. Our state is filled with talented school leaders, and it has been an honor to represent superintendents across IASA’s 21 regions. Hopefully, the heavy lightning and thunder are behind us, and superintendents can focus their time and energy on what we do best—strengthening educational programs, narrowing achievement gaps, improving culture, addressing equity issues, setting goals, leading staff, overseeing finances and moving a school district forward. I know I’m ready to continue that ride. After the experience of the last few years, superintendents can navigate any storm we face.

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Directors for FY2023

WelcomeMessage from Dr. Kevin Blankenship, President Dr. Kevin Blankenship President, IASA Board of Directors

chaotic environment than what we have experienced the past two school years. With that, I want to share a little bit more about myself. I am originally from southern Illinois. I received my bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Chief School Business Official Certification from the University of Illinois Springfield and Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. My wife, Julie, and I have two daughters. I have been an educator for 28 years and am proud to be one of a handful of superintendents in Illinois who is also a certified police officer. My two districts, Scott-Morgan CUSD #2 and Winchester CUSD #1, have a combined enrollment of about 800 students. The districts have enjoyed an athletic cooperative (West Central Cougars) for nearly 20 years for all IHSA sports and activities and expanded this cooperative to the junior high sports in 2020. The districts continue to discuss sharing more services and expanding opportunities for our students. To close, superintendents have a unique opportunity to be a force of positive change next school year. I hope you embrace that challenge and lead your districts forward. Have a great summer, and I look forward to seeing each of you at the IASA Annual Conference in Springfield, September 28–30.

As the dual superintendent of Scott-Morgan CUSD #2 and Winchester CUSD #1, my peers always kid me about what it’s like serving two Boards of Education and two communities. I won’t lie and say it’s always smooth sailing, but the truth is I feel incredibly honored and privileged to work alongside people who care deeply about public education. Eleven years ago, I pursued my first superintendency because I wanted to impact change on a larger scale than what I could as a teacher or principal. I now have the opportunity to facilitate positive change in two communities, with twice the number of students and staff members. It’s a great honor, and I feel incredibly fortunate to be trusted with that responsibility. That’s one of the main reasons why I became more involved with IASA. The association has always been a positive force in public education—whether through governmental advocacy, professional development opportunities, Vision 20/20, networking and all of the various supports it provides school administrators. In Fiscal Year 2019, I was elected in the Two Rivers Region to the IASA Board of Directors. Serving on the Board has deepened my understanding and appreciation of the talented leaders we have in this state as well as the important role IASA plays in elevating our profession. As your new IASA President, I hope to carry on that tradition and continue to support my peers—hopefully in a less

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New IASABoard of D

O F F I

C E R S

Treasurer and Illini Barbara Thompson

Secretary and Starved Rock Dr. Steven Wrobleski Superintendent La Salle-Peru Twp HSD #120

President-Elect Dr. Roger Alvey Superintendent Illini Bluffs CUSD #327

President Dr. Kevin Blankenship Superintendent Scott-Morgan CUSD #2 & Winchester CUSD #1

Past President Dr. Jeff Stawick Superintendent CCSD #146

Superintendent Fisher CUSD #1

Abe Lincoln Tip Reedy Superintendent Williamsville CUSD #15

Cook North Dr. Judith Hackett Superintendent NW Suburban Sp. Ed. Org.

Blackhawk Dr. Jay Morrow Superintendent United TWP HSD #30

Central IL Valley Dr. Chad Wagner Superintendent Elmwood CUSD #322

DuPage Dr. John Corbett Superintendent Wood Dale SD #7

Corn Belt Gary Tipsord

Cook West Dr. Kevin Skinkis Superintendent Riverside-Brookfield Twp HSD #208

Cook South Dr. Anthony Scarsella

Superintendent LeRoy CUSD #2

Superintendent Palos CCSD #118

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Directors for FY2023

Lake Robert Gold Superintendent Big Hollow SD #38

Kaskaskia Dr. Scott Doerr Superintendent Nokomis CUSD #22

Kishwaukee Brent O’Daniell, Superintendent Genoa-Kingston CUSD #424

Egyptian Richard Towers Superintendent Christopher USD #99

Northwest Timothy Schurman Superintendent Chadwick-Milledgeville CUSD #399

Three Rivers Dr. John Palan Superintendent Grant Park CUSD #6

Shawnee Dr. Lori James-Gross Superintendent Unity Point CCSD #140

Southwestern Matthew Stines Superintendent Grant CCSD #110

Two Rivers Dr. Kelle Bunch Superintendent Liberty CUSD #2

Wabash Valley Julie Kraemer Superintendent Hutsonville CUSD #1

Western D. Todd Fox Superintendent Southeastern CUSD #337

At-Large Dr. Kimako Patterson Superintendent Prairie-Hills ESD #144

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IASA School for Advanced Leadership Cohort VI Celebrates Graduation

G r o Twenty-six superintendents graduated from the IASA School for Advanced Leadership on June 17, earning the unique distinction of being called an ISAL Fellow. The mission of ISAL is to provide experiences that build exemplary leadership, knowledge and skill sets essential for ensuring successful student achievement at the local level. As part of the academy, each superintendent develops a personal and professional growth plan, as well as a district plan for student achievement that includes conducting a comprehensive needs assessment. Each of the ISAL participants are assigned a veteran superintendent as a coach. Since its inception in 2010, 150 Illinois superintendents have been named an ISAL Fellow. w P ♦

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ISAL COHORT VI 10 LM Summer 2022

IASA Aspiring Superintendent Academy Cohort VII Completed

simulations, reflection time and the creation of meaningful artifacts that reflect the current expectations of the job of superintendent. Mock interviews with professional search firms are also held to help the aspiring leaders land that first job. Since the program launched in July 2016, 242 principals, assistant superintendents and other central office school administrators have attended the academy.

Thirty-seven educators graduated from the IASA Aspiring Superintendent Academy on July 1. The four-day academy is intended for school leaders wondering if becoming a superintendent is the right choice for them. Participants engage in active learning experiences and gain insights from respected practitioners about how to be an effective leader. The fast-paced program features numerous

ASACOHORTVII 11 LM Summer 2022

Q A Q U E S T I O N S

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A N S W E R S

Keep Kids Fed Act What Schools Need to Know

Q IASAspokewithTaraThomas, AASAPolicyAnalyst, to learnmoreabout theKeepKids FedAct. Thisarticle isa condensedandeditedversionof the interviewwithThomason the IASAPodcast. Clickhere to listen to thepodcast.

One of the biggest takeaways, if I had to had to choose, is the increase in reimbursements. That is one of the biggest things coming out of this bill. It’s going to be critical for schools because we know that school districts across the country are facing significantly increased costs—not just for food, but also for supplies that are necessary to serve the meals. What is thebiggest takeaway fromthe KeepKids Fedkids fact,whichPresident Bidensigned into lawon June25?

Q

I get to represent the organization’s advocacy priorities on Capitol Hill. I focus on school nutrition, higher education and early education. In addition to that, I lead our survey work. I’m going to use this moment to plug the surveys and encourage administrators to fill those out because that information is critical to our work on Capitol Hill. Canyousaya littlebit about yourself in your rolewithAASA?

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From the beginning, AASA has partnered with numerous organizations in DC at a national level to push Congress to extend these waivers. We’re still facing critical challenges across the country, and we still need these waivers from the beginning. Honestly, Democrats were very supportive in March after it wasn’t included in the Fiscal Year 22 package. What we were hearing from Republicans in both the House and the Senate was that they understood the need for increased reimbursement for flexibilities because of the supply chain. However, they could not get on board with the seamless summer option. They thought that this was just an effort to extend universal free school meals. The way we got to this was because we eventually got this compromise, where there wasn’t the extension of the universal school meals, but we had the extension of all of the other flexibilities that schools still need. The other takeaway, honestly, is what was not included in the bill. The bill does not extend what was essentially universal school meals. The seamless summer option waiver that was available for the past two years that allowed schools to serve all students at no charge and receive that free reimbursement rate was not extended. As a result, moving forward, schools are going to have to return to that free and reduced-price lunch model. Howdid this legislation come together? Q Tobe clear, it looks likewe’regoingback to three categoriesagain–free lunches, reducedpriceand full-price lunches? Q A

I can’t give specific numbers yet because we don’t know. The reimbursement rates are adjusted to reflect inflation basically on the Consumer Price Index, so it will increase either way. What the Keep Kids Fed Act does is it will take those reimbursement rates and then add 40 cents to every lunch reimbursement rate and then 15 cents to every breakfast reimbursement rate. When you’re thinking about in comparison to what schools are going to receive next year to what they received before the pandemic—it will absolutely be more. However, when you think about what schools are going to receive next school year in comparison to during the pandemic—it will, unfortunately, be less. Thisquestionmight be tough toanswer becauseyoudon’t knowtheexact rates. Areschool districtsgoing tobe able tobreakevenwith the revised reimbursement rates, orwill theybe operatingmeal programsat a loss? I can’t answer that exactly because every district is different. Some districts get a slightly different reimbursement rate depending on what percentage of your students qualify. We’ve been saying that the reimbursement rates aren’t enough to serve these healthy meals, so I think it’s going to be challenging to break even. Doweknowwhat the reimbursement done for two years. We know it’s going to be really challenging, but it’s going to be important to have as many families as possible fill those out. We are a little worried that some students are going to fall through the cracks because some families have never filled these forms out. At the last minute there was opposition for this provision from Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, and they had to take it out in order to get it passed before the expiration date of the waivers on June 30. This means that school districts are going to have to return to collecting those free and reduced- price lunch forms, which a lot of them haven’t

rates for next school yearwill be? Q

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Yeah, we are. What was really disappointing to a lot of advocates on Capitol Hill was the original version of the Keep Kids Fed Act actually included a provision that, for the next school year, kids who qualified normally for reduced price lunch would actually receive free lunch. We thought that this was a really critical thing to provide support to those families who are kind of on the cusp. As we know, it’s not just schools that are dealing with these increased costs. It’s families and everyone across the country.

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KidsFed ... cont’d.

It’s only for this summer and for this school year. The bill was very clear that USDA’s authority to issue these waivers for the summer will expire in September of 2022 and their authority to issue the waivers for the school year will end in June of 2023. We may be looking at the very same problem when we need extensions of these waivers once again. We’re going to have to cross when we get there. Is the lawonly ineffect for the2022–23 school year or could it beextended beyond that? Does theKeepKids FedActmakeany changes for districts that qualify for the CommunityEligibilityProvision? No, it does not. USDA has separately, outside of the bill, extended the deadline for districts that want to participate in the Community Eligibility Provision. A lot of districts have now experienced how much easier it is just to serve all meals to all kids at no cost, so I think there’s going to be more interest in this option. Any recommendations for superintendents onhowto communicatewhat this lawdoes tostudentsand families? I think all superintendents know when it comes to communications with families to not get too into the details. What I really want families and parents to understand is that these decisions are completely outside of superintendent’s control. I think if a superintendent had the option they would be feeding all kids at no cost, right? My recommendation in the in the communications would be to explain that this is not their decision. When in doubt, blame Congress. Since the podcast was recorded, the USDA issued or extended six waivers for Summer 2022. Click here to read a blog post from AASA about what this development means for schools. USDAExtendsNumerousWaivers RECENT UPDATE:

We have to wait on the USDA to officially issue these waivers, but we’re really confident that they’re going to do so and do so quickly. The most important waiver is the meal-pattern requirement waiver, which will be in effect for the entire school year of 22-23. This means that a school will not be penalized for not being able to meet those certain requirements due to the supply chain. For example, if a school isn’t able to provide three different subgroups of vegetables or they do not have a whole wheat tortilla that week, they’re not going to be held fiscally responsible for that. They’ll still be able to receive that reimbursement rate and not be penalized for something that’s completely out of their control. What flexibilitieswill school districts have if theyencounter supply chain issues? Will school districts still be required to meet specific nutrition requirements? They’re going to be expected to meet the nutrition requirements as best as they can. At the end of the day, if they can’t meet them they’re not going to have their reimbursement kept from them. Howdoes the lawimpact summer meal programs? Honestly, it has the most impact on the summer feeding program. The bill extended the USDA’s authority to issue all waivers for the summer food service program and for the seamless summer option. That includes area eligibility, which allows schools to essentially serve all sites. Usually with area eligibility, you’d only be able to have meal sites in places where you meet that 50 percent or more threshold of low- income students. Right now with the waiver, you can basically serve all sites. We’re still waiting on the non-congregate waiver and then the parent pickup and guardian pickup, so schools can continue with that delivery model, which we’ve seen has been really critical in navigating labor shortages. Basically, all of these kinds of creative things that we’ve seen schools do over the past few years they’ll be able to continue to do that for the summer.

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2023 Illinois Superintendent Of The Year Application

Click Here to Apply

Applying for Illinois Superintendent of the Year has never been easier! IASA has designed its own online application and is no longer using the AASA portal. Any superintendent can apply for Illinois

Superintendent of the Year. Illinois Selection Criteria Each candidate is judged on the following criteria: —How is your district elevating student success in the areas of academics, high school preparedness, college and career readiness and social-emotional support? —How is your district improving the quality of teaching and learning? —How has your leadership pushed your district forward? —How involved are you with IASA?

Student Success

Teacher Success District Success Involvement with IASA

Memberships, PD activities, Awards

—What professional organizations are you involved with, have you led or participated in professional development or received any other honors/awards?

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LISTED CHANGES WILL BE EFFECTIVE START OF 2022–2023 SCHOOL YEAR Members On The Move

Who’s moving, who’s brand new, who’s retiring? Here’s an easy way to keep track of who’s where!

Known New Superintendents 80

Known Transferring Superintendents

26

Click on each square to see a list of names for the upcoming school year.

Known Retiring Superintendents

Known Superintendent Vacancies

61

4

Please know that every attempt has been

made to achieve accuracy on these lists. Also note the lists do not include superintendents who pursued other career opportunities or individuals who are returning to the superintendency after a hiatus.

See IASA’s Job Bank to post or apply for educational positions in Illinois.

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Two FreeWebinars On HowSchools Can Electrify Bus Fleets

School districts across the country have a unique opportunity to decrease energy costs, decrease energy consumption and meet the emissions goals of their community by electrifying school bus fleets. To answer all your questions about costs, potential savings, funding opportunities, maintenance and more, the Illinois Energy Consortium Powered by Future Green scheduled two webinars for June 28 and July 12.

June 28 Webinar Watch Recording

Tuesday, July 12, 10–11 a.m. Click here to register

Electric School Buses as Green Energy Assets In this webinar, learn how to electrify your school bus fleet for the same cost as diesel buses, save the environment and earn revenue for your district! Topics covered: • The bus as an energy storage device • Making the finances work • Electric bus options • Fast Charging & Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) • Infrastructure planning & prep • Getting money for buses & chargers View slidedeck from webinar.

Electric School Bus Funding & Funding Models Tons of private, state and federal money is set aside for school districts to electrify their fleets. We know where the money is and how to get it. Tune in and let us show you! Topics covered: • Total cost of ownership calculations • Clean School Bus Rebate Program application assistance • Future Green Financing & Power Purchase Agreements • Working with a 3rd party provider • The guaranteed energy savings approach • Full Fleet Electrification • Electrification & charging programs

The following resource information will be made available to everyone who signs up for the webinars: • Infrastructure Improvement & Renewable Energy Development. • State and Federal Funding Opportunities for Schools.

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You are invited! Summer Webinar Series

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LegalCorner

Chad Watkins IASA Associate Director/General Counsel

To help school leaders navigate these uncertain times, IASA has partnered with leading law firms throughout Illinois to provide districts with critical guidance during the 2022–23 school year. In every issue of Leadership Matters, the IASA Legal Corner will showcase an article written by attorneys who specialize in legal matters related to education. It is our hope you find the content insightful, timely and helpful in addressing the critical matters you face.

This month, Franczek P.C. writes about the ruling in favor of a football coach who prayed on field after games. The authors are Jennifer Smith and Nicki Bazer. As a reminder, the articles are provided for informational purposes only, and you are advised to contact your district counsel for legal advice. Click on the link below to access the article.

Supreme Court rules in favor of football coachwho prayed on field after games

On Monday June 27, the Supreme Court issued their ruling in the case Kennedy v. Bremerton School District. (We previously reported on this case here, here, and here.) In a 6-3 decision penned by Justice Neil Gorsuch, the conservative majority held that the school district violated a coach’s First Amendment free exercise and free speech rights by disciplining the coach for praying at the 50-yard line immediately after games.

Considered a key test of the separation between church and state, the Kennedy case highlights the tensions among the First Amendment’s protections of free speech and religious expression and its prohibition against the establishment of religion by state actors, including public schools. This decision also marks the Court’s second... (continue reading)...

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Students Will Move Forward Post-Pandemic If We GiveThem New Pathways And Opportunities

By Dr. Johnnie Thomas Superintendent, Rich Twp HSD #227

As we hopefully begin to emerge from the pandemic, we’re only starting to appreciate its full impact on our children’s lives, learning and futures. The pandemic took the lives of hundreds of thousands of family members. It led to a troubling rise in mental health issues, a so-called second pandemic. And during periods of remote and hybrid instruction, academic progress for many students stalled, particularly for those who were already struggling. Unfortunately, many students disengaged from learning entirely during this period. In Chicago Public Schools,

for example, data shows that attendance dropped precipitously, especially among Black students. A quarter of the district’s lowest-income students stopped attending class all together. District leaders and educators won’t solve these problems by focusing solely on making up lost academic time. In fact, if piling on more academic work comes at the expense of content that is meaningful and exciting, the approach could further disengage students. That’s why my district is reimagining high schools with a strong focus on helping students become leaders in their own learning and

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student teams identify a challenge—often a problem that has meaning to them or their community—and then brainstorm, design and develop a solution. At the end of the year, the teams pitch real investors for funding. While some may win seed money, many more won’t. But that’s the point: The goal is for every student to develop an entrepreneurial skillset, identify their passions and learn to persevere in the face of setbacks. Students also have a chance to work closely with entrepreneurs and business owners, who play a vital role in demystifying the business world. This is critical, as most of our students didn’t know anyone who had started a small business, run a corporation or invented a product—much less envisioned themselves doing it. The mentors not only provide industry expertise, but also coach students in time management, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity and interpersonal communication. According to Julia Freeland Fisher of the Christensen Institute, our schools have historically failed to help minority students make the kind of connections that can lead to social mobility. She says, “schools fail to pursue instructional models that could connect authentically what happens inside classrooms with the wide range of industries in the real world.” That’s a problem we’re solving in Rich Township now. Investing in students through youth entrepreneurship is helping our district achieve what other districts might take for granted—access to role models and hands-on learning opportunities. These experiences are helping our students become active participants and leaders in their own learning and futures. That’s especially important for many traditionally underserved students who desperately need opportunities to discover what motivates them. In Rich Township, our students are striving for continuous improvement and for ways to rebound from perceived failures. This mindset is not only the key to learning and economic mobility, but will be the cornerstone to thriving post-pandemic and building a successful life.

the learning of others—a pathway to future success and economic mobility. In 2017, I became superintendent of Rich Township, where, today, 95 percent of students are Black or Latino and over 89 percent come from economically disadvantaged homes. My career to that point had afforded me some wonderful opportunities to learn, lead and inspire others, but I had not yet worked with students from environments like the one in which I was raised. Before coming to Rich Township, I spent five years in Community High School District #155, a northwest suburban school district with an abundance of resources. Over three- quarters of students there are white and just 23 percent come from a low-income background. Students there were encouraged to create and collaborate, and challenged to become leaders and innovators. In Rich Township, however, the prevailing culture was one of trying to get students to focus academically and get more right answers on tests. The difference between these two districts could not have been starker. Students at 155 were being trained to be leaders; Rich Township students were being trained to be managed. Why did one district prepare students to be leaders and the other district prepare students to be followers? I immediately saw my most important job was to address the different way we teach students in these different ZIP codes. So, we redesigned the high school experience, allowing incoming freshmen to learn about career pathways that would guide their coursework for the next four years. As part of this redesign, we created a “super school” with two campuses—Fine Arts and Communications (including business) and STEM. At both campuses, we introduced experiential learning approaches that allow students to work together to learn important knowledge and skills while exploring their passions and solving real-world challenges. For example, we created an advanced manufacturing lab where students work with peers in the business program to develop products and then take them to market. We also began using Uncharted Learning’s INCubatoredu, the same youth entrepreneurship program we provided to students in district 155, so that our Fine Arts and Communications students can get firsthand experience as problem identifiers and problem solvers. In the program,

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Education Elevat g We continue our series highlighting tremendous educators across Illinois who have given their time and energy to ele- vating the superintendency and public education as a whole. Each month, we will feature two educators who are going the extra mile and truly making a difference beyond their school districts and local communities. While we are aware of many of the contributions administrators are making, we are open to any suggestions for someone to feature next month. To make a recommendation, contact Jason Nevel, IASA Director of Social Media and Publications, at jnevel@iasaedu.org or by calling 217–753–2213.

TimFarquer Williamsfield Schools

Dr. Laurie Heinz Palatine CCSD#15

Who: Tim Farquer, Superintendent What: Helping school districts electrify bus fleets and install solar panels on site; Leader in transition to Open Education Resources. Where: Williamsfield Schools, Western Region When: Superintendent of Williamsfield Schools for nine years.

Who: Dr. Laurie Heinz, Superintendent

What: Strategic Planning— setting direction; Launched Culturally and Linguistically Responsive (CLR) Teaching initiative; Intervention supports for students; Moving 15 Forward initiative.

Where: Palatine CCSD #15, Cook North. Second largest elementary district in Illinois serving close to 12,000 uniquely diverse students. When: Superintendent of Palatine CCSD #15 for four years. Former superintendent of Park Ridge- Niles SD #64. Why: Throughout her 30-plus years as an educator, Dr. Laurie Heinz’s north star has always been focused around making sure every student has what he or she needs to learn and grow. When she became Palatine CCSD #15’s first-ever female superintendent four years ago, Dr. Heinz began developing a new strategic plan that aligned to that mission. The mission focuses on students, staff, facilities and results. “We are doing away with a one-size fits all approach to instruction,” Dr. Heinz said. “When we looked

Why: Tim Farquer recognizes that restoring power to the town of Williamsfield, and its approximately 650 residents, isn’t the highest priority for Ameren Illinois when a large storm hits Knox County and the surrounding region. “Ameren, understandably so, wants to restore power to as many customers as possible. They’re not going to get to us right away,” Farquer said. “Our goal is to have a little independence from the grid and work in conjunction so, if the grid goes down, we still have power.” That motivation is one of the drivers in Farquer becoming a leader in helping school districts electrify their bus fleets and install solar panels at schools. It crystallized for him several years ago with the Volkswagen, and later Edwards Coal Plant, settlements, which provided an opportunity to apply for large amounts of money that could be used for environmental causes, such as on-site solar panel installation and school bus electrification.

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Education Elevat g Heinz ... cont’d. “We started doing research on how we could create our own micro-grid and be part of a virtual power plant that aggregates energy and supplies it to the grid when most in need,” Farquer said. “All of that helps generate savings for our district and potentially creates revenue, Farquer ... cont’d.

at student data, it was clear that certain student groups were not achieving grade-level learning standards. We simply could not continue to instruct utilizing dated instructional approaches and expect to close achievement gaps. Our instruction framework is much more responsive to a diverse cultural and academic student body. Beyond our instructional framework, we have worked hard to revamp its curriculum in key areas such as math, literacy and science. Next up, an overhaul of the social studies curriculum.” With federal COVID-relief dollars, Palatine CCSD #15 hired for the first time math interventionists—a move that is already helping produce better outcomes for our students. Palatine CCSD #15 also launched its Culturally and Linguistically Responsive (CLR) Teaching initiative to better serve a diverse population of students where validating and affirming home culture plays a central role. “It really was foundational,” Dr. Heinz said. “All of our classrooms use this mindset and methodologies to make sure that we are providing rigorous instruction to make sure all kids learn, regardless of income and race.” However, one of the biggest initiatives underway is Moving Forward 15—a holistic plan that will focus on three key areas of improvement: 1. Repair and restoration of facilities. 2. Updating learning spaces and libraries. 3. Improving feeder patterns so students attend a neighborhood or near neighborhood school. Palatine CCSD #15’s Board of Education will vote in August whether or not to put the question to voters in the November election. “It is our belief that this plan will boldly move the district forward. We are committed to the needs of all of our learners and providing staff with modern teaching environments to do so,” Dr. Heinz said. “We’ve been busy in D15, but the work is important, and this staff is dedicated to doing what’s right for our students and for the communities in which we serve.”

which ultimately benefits our local taxpayers.” Farquer helped launch the Bus 2 Grid Initiative, which later partnered with the Future Green Energy Consortium. Electrifying bus fleets can save districts money long term, cut down on emissions from diesel engines and create an electrical charging infrastructure in the community. “We estimate we can save $90,000 in fuel alone,” Farquer said. “We’re also eliminating all the emissions and providing a healthier ride for kids. It’s just a win-win.” As part of the pursuit of green energy, Williamsfield Schools has also created numerous learning opportunities for students in a burgeoning industry. In addition, Farquer was at the forefront in the transition to Open Education Resources (OER)—any type of educational materials that are in the public domain. Beginning in 2013, Williamsfield worked to replace a set of traditional textbooks by adapting and localizing OER, creating a more engaging classroom experience for students and generating savings that the schools reinvested to develop a cutting edge STEM program that would have otherwise been impossible with traditional materials. In 2015, former Education Sec. Arne Duncan traveled to Williamsfield Schools to announce the hiring of the first ever open education adviser in K-12 schools. “It’s about expanding availability. Our kids should have access to the same materials and advanced technology as kids in Chicago, Peoria, Schaumburg or wherever,” Farquer said.

ISDLAF+MonthlyUpdate Click here to view the most current ISDLAF+ rates, economic indicators and general economic news brief. To obtain additional information regarding this IASA sponsored service, contact Fenil J. Patel, Senior Vice President, Investment Services/ISDLAF+ at 630–657–6437, or email: fpatel@ pmanetwork.com. Website: www.pmanetwork.com.

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