Dist. 211 begins public input meetings

Though ambitious in its intent to reflect the will of the district's residents, Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211's planned series of community engagement meetings took a first step Monday that satisfied the expectations of organizers and attendees alike.

The eight meetings - two each on four different topics - are designed to solicit public input for the new five-year strategic plan to be approved by the school board this fall.

"I came because I wanted to have a voice," said Lisa Oswald of Palatine.

Feeling like she'd never had such an opportunity to provide feedback to the school district her children attend, Oswald said she thought the two-hour meeting went very well and intends to return for each topic.

Monday's meeting was to provide some background on the current state of the district and solicit input on what attendees were most surprised or concerned about, as well as what skills they thought a graduate in 2021 should have.

The meeting will be repeated from 7 to 9 p.m. today at Schaumburg High School, 1100 W. Schaumburg Road.

Speaking in small groups, the audience of nearly 200 people expressed pride and concern about various aspects of the district introduced by Superintendent Dan Cates.

The rising number of homeless students and on the free and reduced lunch program was a common area of concern. The handling of the district's increasing diversity was both a point of pride and a concern that it continue to be well addressed.

In describing the graduate of the future, almost every group touched on being technology-savvy without sacrificing the communication and life skills that go beyond using computers.

Facilitating team co-chair Linda Reedy said she thought the meeting format worked well and that future topics like academic programming, student involvement and wellness, and finances and facilities will seek even more specific input.