Dist. 211 board presented with five-year ‘vision’

A presentation made during Palatine-Schaumburg District 211’s board meeting Tuesday proposed offering future students more career-focused courses and increased access to technology, among other opportunities.

The report — titled the “five-year instructional vision” – was presented by Daniel Cates, associate superintendent for administrative services. It summarized instructional changes that have been made since the last five-year presentation in 2007 and revealed the direction the district hopes to take regarding instruction through 2016.

“All of us know that our community has very high expectations for us and what we do in our program,” Superintendent Nancy Robb said before the presentation. “I believe they expect that their sons and daughters should be able to reach their potential, that they want them to be really ready for this global economy.”

Cates divided the “vision” into four sections, speaking first about the type of skills future students would need to succeed.

He said the curriculum should include courses that align with job market trends and should require students to read and write more nonfiction, become financially literate and grow aware of the global environment.

Some courses currently under development include building construction, a pharmacy program and entrepreneurship.

Providing “techno-opportunity” was another goal presented. Cates said within the next five years he hopes for fewer textbooks, an increase in online courses and materials, and easy direct access to technology for every student and teacher.

Building stronger interdependent relationships – such as those between the high schools and elementary districts or between teachers who teach the same courses – was also emphasized in the presentation.

Cates highlighted the importance of “responding to social realism” too, particularly in response to the rising enrollment of non-English-speaking and financially challenged students.

He said the district will need to meet the demands of those students and continue growing an appreciation for diversity. He also noted all students will need guidance with other social realities, such as how to responsibly use social media.

All of the board members seemed pleased with the proposal.

Before the presentation, Robb noted that since the 2007 five-year plan — which called for “increased rigor” — there has been a decrease in the percentage of students enrolled in general level classes, from 25 percent to 14 percent this year.

She also mentioned an increase of students enrolled in Advanced Placement classes, from 29 percent in 2007 to 43 percent this year.