Four schools now three in Mundelein D75

As students enjoy the last few weeks of summer break, teachers, administrators and others in Mundelein District 75 have been hard at work.

The district will be among the first in Lake County to open when it welcomes students on Tuesday, Aug. 16, and it also is embarking on a realignment that will make this school year different for many students, faculty members and parents.

With the closing of Lincoln School at the end of last year, third, fourth and fifth graders all will be attending Mechanics Grove School.

“It's like moving to a new house,” said Katie Fiore, a third-grade teacher, who also is making the move. “You're unpacking everything the belongs to you.”

Activity has been steady since July 18, when the three remaining schools were open to teachers.

“We have had tremendous parent support just to get Mechanics Grove and Washington (school) squared away,” said Superintendent Cynthia Heidorn.

Kathleen Miller, the former Lincoln principal, is assuming the same position at Mechanics Grove. Dana Smith, who had held that position, became the district's director of educational support services.

“There's great energy in the air as excitement comes together to start something new,” Miller said.

“I've had an army of parents come in to unpack our science room and our book room. It's really been a community effort.”

The number of students attending Mechanics Grove is expected to increase from about 430 to about 525. Students who would have been starting second grade at Lincoln will remain at Washington School another year.

“I think overall, everyone is excited to start a new year with the new dynamic,” Fiore said.

Closing Lincoln was among two major moves made by the district to save money. The other was the layoff in Spring 2010 of the equivalent of 44 teachers and other staff.

That allowed the district to maintain art, music and physical education without cuts and this year to restore libraries.

The best features of Lincoln will be brought to Mechanics Grove where technology, science, engineering and math will be the focus.

“I want to inspire children to find science as something they would be interested in as a career,” Miller said.

Students will be able to meet and greet during a back to school social from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 14, at Mechanics Grove that will feature music and other activities.

The highlight will be the unveiling of hundreds of squares of plywood painted last spring by more than 700 Lincoln and Mechanics Grove students and assembled into two large murals.

And when school does get started the following Tuesday, it will be a five-hour day, rather than the traditional two-hour introduction.

Heidorn said that decision was made in advance of possible state legislation that didn't materialize. Rather than trying to undue the parent notification, opening day hours were left intact.

“Our board was happy with that,” she said. “They thought we should get started.”