LM Oct 2019

Continued Support of EBF Would… Galatia CUSD #1 plans to continue to look for new ways to provide additional supports for students. The district plans to continue to provide instructional coaching for staff, professional development and potentially add new staff.

Enrollment: 443 FY18: $65,172 Type: preK–12 FY19: $73,294 How EBF has made a difference Additional funding from the state has transformed teaching and learning in Galatia CUSD #1. Evidence-Based Funding allowed the district to hire an additional part-time agricultural instructor and an extra elementary teacher, dropping elementary classroom sizes from nearly 40 students to 20 in the affected grade. “Once we lowered class sizes, it became so much more manageable for everyone,” Superintendent Shain Crank said. “Our teachers can now devote more time to individual students and help them succeed.” Galatia CUSD #1 also used EBF dollars to hire two extra paraprofessionals, providing students with another level of support. In addition, EBF made it possible to hire a consultant to provide in-house professional development to teachers. The consultant, coupled with the additional staff, helped push Galatia CUSD #1’s school designation from the Illinois State Board of Education from Underperforming to Commendable at the junior high level and increased the overall scores of Galatia CUSD#1 on the Illinois Assessment of Readiness. “For a small community with about 450 kids that is a great accomplishment,” Crank said. “The students are what we are all here for, and to see the kids benefit from better instruction and smaller class size has been tremendous to watch.” We are recruiting students of color and low-income students and getting them excited about taking classes they previously thought were only for other kids. “With over 40 percent low income, and 30 percent students of color, we need to continue to raise the bar and give opportunities for our students,” Wakeley said. Galatia CUSD #1 FY20: $95,250

Momence CUSD #1

Enrollment: 1,101 FY18: $392,447 FY20: $165,566 Type: preK–12 FY19: $216,274 How EBF has made a difference Prior to the passage of the Evidence-Based Funding Model, fund balances dwindled, staff was reduced and programs were cut in Momence CUSD #1. The district also became a mainstay on the state financial watch list. “Just like so many districts throughout the state, we went through some tough times,” said Superintendent Shannon Anderson. “What we have been able to accomplish in these last couple of years reinforces the belief that EBF would make an impact. We noticed it almost immediately.” For Momence Schools, the tide is turning. The district passed a balanced budget the past two years and is no longer deficit spending. In addition, the district has begun to add back programs that are making a significant impact on students. Momence CUSD #1 restored its high school agriculture program to full time, as well as its Family and Consumer Science Program. Furthermore, the district provided another level of support for students by reinstating a junior high guidance counselor. Two interventionists were also added—one in math and one in English at the junior high and high schools. Two social workers also came on board. “The social workers are extremely helpful in assisting our students in the social-emotional learning aspect of educating our students,” Anderson said. Continued Support of EBF Would … With the continuation of EBF, Momence is looking to continue the momentum with the reinstatement of a high school English position, which was cut in 2016, as well as a new math curriculum at the junior high. The district would also be able to continue developing its EL program by hiring additional staff and providing more resources and professional development opportunities for staff.

For Momence Schools, the tide is turning. The district passed a balanced budget the past two years and is no longer deficit spending.

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LM October 2019