Dear District 58 Families, Staff and Community Members:
I hope this letter finds you well, and it’s hard to believe the 2019-2020 school year has officially concluded. On behalf of the Board of Education, I would like to thank you for your partnership with District 58.
Staff and families have worked tirelessly throughout this school year in the face of unprecedented challenges. While we could never have imagined that the District would be forced to close its schools for on-site instruction, everyone pulled together and made remote learning a reality. Despite facing a global pandemic, we stuck together and persevered through adversity.
In addition to the global pandemic, our nation, state and local community are confronting the evils of racism. We are here to support and listen to our African-American students and students of color. The District will also continue its work on equity as this is a crucial component of ending injustice. We stand committed to providing, supporting and nurturing an environment that is fully inclusive regardless of race, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation or income. There is a great deal of work to be done in this area and we do not have all of the answers. However, we will continue to listen and provide opportunities for everyone to be heard and respected. Never doubt that a committed group of people can change the world for the better.
This past school year, the District made significant strides implementing the Strategic Plan. New curriculum was adopted, communications were improved, and facility improvement recommendations were brought forward. The District Leadership Team will continue to monitor the progress in all three areas of our plan as we head into the upcoming school year and beyond.
Moving forward, the District will work with the Remote Learning Task Force, District Leadership Team and the Board of Education to plan for all learning scenarios this fall. We will continue to share information throughout the summer as more guidance is made available.
On a personal note, I could not be more grateful to have the opportunity to serve as your Superintendent. Along with the Board of Education and staff, we are fully committed to providing the best educational experience for the students of District 58. Thank you for allowing us the privilege of working with your student(s), and we look forward to next year.
Sincerely,
Dr. Kevin B. Russell
Superintendent of Schools