Waterloo Community Unit School District 5

The Illinois Comprehensive Literacy Plan focuses on improving student achievement through lifelong literacy skills. It serves as a roadmap to enhance core literacy instruction efforts statewide, ensuring students receive developmentally appropriate and evidence-based literacy instruction. The plan addresses the urgent need to improve reading proficiency, given that a significant percentage of fourth-grade students fall below basic and proficient reading levels, a trend that persists through higher grades. It aims to equip educators and leaders with the necessary tools and resources to create equitable conditions for high-quality literacy instruction.

The presentation provides an overview of Illinois's Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plan, the research-based quality framework, and the Illinois Empower system of support. It emphasizes a shift from measuring schools solely on student proficiency to a more comprehensive accountability system that includes academic achievement, student growth, English learner proficiency, and school quality. The goal is to provide a factual overview of new accountability and support systems, aligning with the vision of the whole child and promoting continuous improvement.

The strategic plan of Harvard Community Unit District 50 focuses on enhancing professional development opportunities for staff through the "Choose Your Own Adventure" (CYOA) program. Key areas include building capacity, fostering teacher leadership, and engaging students. The plan leverages the Ed Leaders Network (ELN) platform to streamline access to live and recorded sessions, promote collaboration, and track professional development hours. The ultimate goal is to empower teachers to deliver high-quality instruction and create a supportive learning environment.

The Waterloo CUSD5 Restraint, Time Out, Isolated Time Out Reduction Plan 2022-2025 outlines strategies to reduce and eventually eliminate the use of physical restraint, time out, and isolated time out. Key actions include adopting positive behavioral interventions and supports, providing professional development to staff, utilizing crisis intervention techniques, and implementing debriefing meetings. The plan emphasizes cultural change, consistent training methods, and individualized plans for students, with a focus on data collection, parental involvement, and ongoing modification to meet goals and legal requirements.

The meeting was convened, and an executive session was called to discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees or legal counsel, including hearing testimony on complaints. The board then closed the executive session and adjourned the meeting.