District 57 welcomes students back with changes at schools

Mount Prospect School District 57 welcomed nearly 2,200 students back to school at Fairview Elementary, Lions Park Elementary, Lincoln Middle School and Westbrook School for Young Learners. The students returned to several enhancements in and around the buildings, thanks to work that was completed over the summer.

This included an expanded parking lot at Westbrook. Crews worked over the summer to improve safety and address traffic congestion on school grounds and Busse Road. They doubled the number of parking spaces and added an extra walking lane that connects to a wider concrete walk in front of the building. The district plans to finish an entrance/exit on Central Road once it receives permitting from the Illinois Department of Transportation.

In addition, the district made security improvements at the schools based on the findings of last year's security audit and addressed a drainage issue at Lincoln. Additional Internet access points were installed at Fairview and Lincoln, to enable more students to take advantage of online learning at the same time. Similar technology work is scheduled to be completed at Lions Park and Westbrook next summer. These projects are part of District 57's multiyear effort to "re-envision the role of technology in the classroom," according to Elaine Aumiller, Ed.D., superintendent of schools.

The district also prepared for the new school year by focusing on professional development. For example, teachers learned new ways to introduce science and math concepts, and they explored creative approaches to promoting phonics and word development for younger students.

"I'm thankful to District 57 staff for making professional learning a priority in the summer months," Aumiller says.

She adds that all four schools got off to a great start last week. "It was wonderful to see the students' smiling faces, and we all look forward to a year full of opportunities to learn and grow."

District 57 serves approximately 2,200 prekindergarten through eighth-grade students in the community of Mount Prospect, preparing them to learn and succeed in a changing world.

• Submit 'Your News' at www.dailyherald.com/share.