District 23 plans community events to share details and seek input about Building a Better D23

Prospect Heights School District 23 will host a series of community information events in the coming weeks to share details about Building a Better D23. The District is exploring fiscally responsible ways to address high-priority capital facility needs and further strengthen educational opportunities, and is seeking community input on potential solutions.

Five community information events will be held in Prospect Heights at Eisenhower School (1 N. Schoenbeck Rd.) and Anne Sullivan School (700 N. Schoenbeck Rd.) so all residents can have the opportunity to participate:

-Thursday, Sept. 29, 6 p.m., Eisenhower School

-Thursday, Oct. 6, 10 a.m., Eisenhower School

-Thursday, Oct. 6, 6 p.m., Eisenhower School

-Tuesday, Oct. 18, 6 p.m., Anne Sullivan School & Remote Webinar

-Thursday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m., Eisenhower School

The Building a Better D23 project seeks to support students, families and the community by creating solutions around four areas of need: improving safety and security, repairing and maintaining facilities, supporting community needs, and expanding early learning programming by potentially providing full-day kindergarten and early childhood education for all students who live in D23 boundaries (due to space and budget constraints, the District is currently unable to serve 35% of pre-K/kindergarten students).

"Through this process, we are investigating fiscally responsible ways to protect and improve your schools, better serve the community and meet important unmet educational goals," says superintendent Don Angelaccio, Ed.D. "As we focus on continuous improvement and creating opportunities for all students to grow, we look forward to sharing our ideas with residents and gathering their feedback. We hope everyone will plan to come out to one of the five sessions. In addition, we would greatly appreciate the community's participation in a public opinion survey that will be mailed in November."

Angelaccio adds that a Citizen Task Force has been exploring the District's challenges, potential solutions and funding options. In December, following the District's outreach efforts and after the completion of the public opinion survey, the Task Force will recommend to the superintendent whether a tax referendum should be placed on the April 2023 ballot to seek funding for educational, safety and security, maintenance, and community needs. The Board will make the final decision on a potential referendum in January 2023.

District 23 serves approximately 1,480 prekindergarten through eighth-grade students in the communities of Prospect Heights, Arlington Heights and Wheeling, Ill., creating opportunities that inspire all students to grow as learners, individuals and citizens. Students attend Eisenhower Elementary, Betsy Ross Elementary, Anne Sullivan Elementary and MacArthur Middle School.