District 181 Advisory Learning Committee to Include Parents, Staff, Board

Community Consolidated School District 181 Superintendent Dr. Don White has announced the members of the District’s newly formed Superintendent’s Advisory Learning Committee. White says the 26-member group, comprised of parents, teachers, administrators, and Board members, will be collaboratively engaged in providing input and feedback in the areas of curriculum, assessment, instruction, and student services.

White remarks that meeting with the committee member selection team was among his top priorities after joining District 181. “On my first visit to the District after being hired, I convened the selection team to discuss the committee’s organization and the process for selecting the parent and community member applicants. It was my goal to ensure the selection was done in a fair and transparent manner. All of the 28 applicants were considered.” The selection team included White, Board members Mridu Garg and Glenn Yaeger, Principals Eric Chisausky and Melinda McMahon, and administrators Dr. Kevin Russell and Dr. Kurt Schneider. The committee is slated to include White, Garg, Yaeger, Schneider, an instructional assistant, an elementary principal, a middle school principal, nine parents, and nine teachers. The parent and teacher members will represent each of the District’s nine schools and key demographics, including various grade levels and student learning needs. “It was also important that the members have demonstrated an interest and ability to move forward in a positive direction, while focusing on issues and not people,” White remarked. Further, the parents have a current student in the District or had a student in the District within the last 3-5 years.

White notes that the committee will begin meeting in August and will initially focus on clarifying their role and developing norms to guide their processes. Throughout the coming school year, meeting agendas may include opportunities to provide input and perspective on various aspects of student learning, including curriculum revisions, educational policies and practices, innovation, professional development, and continuous improvement. They may also discuss and review research of current issues and best practices, engage in benchmarking with similar districts, and will support two-way communication with the Board of Education, school leadership teams, and the community.

“The Superintendent’s Advisory Learning Committee can be an exceptional opportunity to bring constituents together as a collaborative and student-centered team committed to helping our District grow in a positive and productive way,” White notes. “I look forward to working with the committee as we strive to do what’s best for the children and community we serve.”

Further information on the Superintendent’s Learning Advisory Committee and other District committees can be found online: www.d181.org > Resources > Committees.