J. Sterling Morton High School District 201

The scheduled regular meeting was cancelled.

The Morton High School District 201 newsletter covers key district activities and student achievements, including national honors for students at the FCCLA leadership conference and participation in the National History Day competition. It also highlights athletic accomplishments at the New Balance Nationals, the hosting of an annual job fair, and the introduction of a summer teaching program for Golden Apple scholars. Furthermore, the report notes student recognitions made during a recent regular board meeting regarding professional licensing and state-level sports qualifications.

The meeting agenda encompassed several administrative and operational items, including student disciplinary matters, personnel appointments, and litigation reports. Key discussion topics featured collective bargaining deliberations, real property acquisition considerations, and various financial approvals, such as payroll and outstanding bills. Additionally, the board addressed travel and expense reimbursements, facility use requests, various service contracts, and the procurement of supplies through competitive bidding or quoting processes. The agenda also included recognition of donations, the disposal of district property, and the review of intergovernmental cooperation agreements.

This document outlines a Skill-Based Learning and Gradebook initiative aimed at enhancing student critical thinking, reasoning, and independence by focusing on skill assessment over content memorization. The plan details a grading structure, allocating 90% to common assessments and 10% to formative assessments. It outlines a five-year implementation strategy for teachers to develop culturally relevant lessons and connect curriculum to real-world skills, with a target of full adoption across all courses by 2027.

The board meeting included a closed session to discuss student disciplinary cases, personnel matters, collective negotiations, and real estate. The board held a public hearing regarding the 2021-2022 amended budget. Key action items included the approval of payroll, payment of bills, student discipline measures, and staff and student travel. The board also approved several facility use requests, various service contracts, bidding for capital projects, acceptance of donations, and professional association subscriptions. Additionally, the board approved the 2021-2022 amended budget and reviewed various informational reports from district leadership.