Programs, services focus of third Engage200 session

Programs and services will be the focus Wednesday night when Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200 holds its third Engage200 meeting.

The community engagement session - one of six the district is holding to collect public input to help shape its future - will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. at Monroe Middle School, 1855 Manchester Road, Wheaton.

A presentation about programs and services will be made before attendees break into groups to discuss what they think about the information.

Participants will have a chance to share feedback and suggest ways the district can improve its programs and services by filling out work sheets that later will be analyzed by the facilitating team for Engage200.

Faith Dahlquist, assistant superintendent for educational services, said the presentation will be split into three main topics. She will outline the services offered to the district's increasing population of English language learners - up from 30 students in grades three through eight in 2005 to 724 students in the same grades in 2013.

Special education programs and their costs will be discussed by Joanne Panopoulos, assistant superintendent for student services.

Robert Rammer, assistant superintendent for operations, will provide information about the district's co-curricular offerings, including sports and clubs, at the elementary, middle school and high school level.

"We're going to be asking for input into what improvements can be made in these three areas and what information (attendees) still want more of," Dahlquist said.

Anyone who lives in District 200, including those who don't have children in school, is invited. Refreshments, free child care and translation assistance will be provided. Parking will be available at the DuPage County Fairgrounds.

Videos from the session and verbatim summaries of suggestions collected during the small group gatherings will be available for viewing at cusd200.org.