[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6375636,"mediaKeyId","2141029-f2c01667d2f5d2a3d6ea958f8fbc5e58","parentId",2141029,"title","Central CUSD 301 proposes academically advanced pathway for grades 4–8, plans phased rollout beginning next school year","audioSeconds",941,"startMs",5951000,"endMs",6892000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2141029-f2c01667d2f5d2a3d6ea958f8fbc5e58&start=5951&end=6892","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2141029-f2c01667d2f5d2a3d6ea958f8fbc5e58/thumbnail_5951000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6375636/Illinois/Central-CUSD-301-proposes-academically-advanced-pathway-for-grades-48-plans-phased-rollout-beginning-next-school-year","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6375636-7ea2f464655934304bf54d3d98a88cd2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770493628&Signature=VzAnTQ0GuVJ~oD6ch0ua8QgVK9nb7d-YTtL9A~EGB66z3VFiGj7N7FFTjm8ynuvliRHEQ0xn-YUcDl8a~CYoASQwnYKPD4WgGCGZUFeA0P0Nk0ykKSHT~EECteU6VTHlA-As28Dn1uRcAKuHUDKkT17~4OmZfJw-73-LqjClEhgF78vUHWc-xhZ2uFXsjNbBcr9xGLgQWuozbj7dtHWa6h8pvrymc9pI0AhNi9h6qvkd8eu4lv1-l8RYR6W1g-N752CeUcL3rFJGxMlxEL32cP8SA6XLsu5Ljyiwc8nJOsp~INQ1txrL-wavJ393tVujwNIgL73iJlWtR-pW0nu~mw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Central CUSD 301","date","2025-01-22T02:38:52Z","article","Central CUSD 301 curriculum staff presented a proposal for an academically advanced learning pathway for students in grades 4 through 8 and described a four-year phased rollout that would begin next school year with programs for 4th and 5th graders.

\"I'm gonna talk tonight about, our academically accelerated learning pathway program,\" Director Birkmeyer told the board during an information item. The proposal is designed to provide deeper, problem‑based learning and acceleration options — including grade‑level and single‑subject acceleration, compacted math pathways already in place for middle school, and a long‑term goal of algebra readiness by 8th grade.

Staff recommended starting year 1 with two academically advanced classrooms for 4th and 5th grades, with the program housed at Prairie View (PV). Students selected for the program would attend PV full time; the district said it would provide transportation for eligible students. Instructional design described by staff emphasized maintaining core grade‑level standards while enabling deeper study: staff proposed roughly 120 minutes for advanced ELA and 60 minutes for advanced math in daily schedules, with cross‑curricular, project‑based learning and a plan to hire specialized teachers to develop curriculum in partnership with district curriculum staff.

Eligibility criteria described by staff include high performance on local and national screeners and cognitive testing: district staff said they would use universal screeners (reading and math), MAP growth, and a CogAT score requirement (full battery thresholds discussed in the presentation). For early‑entrance and grade‑acceleration decisions staff referenced use of the WISC and achievement tests with composite cutoffs around the 130 range for some single‑student acceleration paths; compacted‑math screening uses percentile thresholds (staff discussed a 93–95th percentile band for program selection based on current district data).

Director Birkmeyer said the district plans a staged rollout: begin 4th–5th grade the first year, add 6th grade the next year with honors at the middle‑school level, then add 7th and ultimately 8th grade honors and capstone courses such as English 1 honors and Math 1 honors by the fourth year. The district would keep its existing compacted math sequence in place and provide this pathway as an additional option for high‑ability students.

Public commenters and some board members urged careful attention to fairness, appeals and communication: candidate PK Parekh, speaking during public comment, recommended forming a formal advisory group of parents and teachers and consulting outside expertise such as the Northwestern Center for Talent Development to align district practice with state law and best practices. Board members asked about appeals processes and how the district would handle families who narrowly miss eligibility thresholds; staff said the district plans to document selection criteria and to include an appeal pathway and clear communications aimed at reducing confusion.

Staff said curriculum planning, hiring and professional development would occur over the spring and summer before launch; the district estimated it could bring recommended program details and any required policy changes back to the board for action in February or March to meet timelines for hiring and registration.

If the board approves the plan, staff said the first classes would run at Prairie View in the 2026–27 school year, with expansion to middle‑school honors and high‑school aligned coursework in later years.

The board did not take an action vote on the program at this meeting; the item was presented as information with a plan to return with any recommendations for board action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025-1-21 301 BOE Live Stream","oneSentenceSummary","District staff presented an academically advanced learning pathway for grades 4–8, proposing a phased rollout beginning with 4th and 5th grades, eligibility criteria (high-percentile screeners and cognitive testing), and a plan to house initial classrooms at Prairie View (PV).","taxTitle","Central CUSD 301, School Boards, Illinois","taxId",55347,"location","Illinois","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6375641,"Central CUSD 301 board censures president, refers possible removal after dispute over handling of former member's resignation and student-record matter",3873,470000,4343000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2141029-f2c01667d2f5d2a3d6ea958f8fbc5e58&start=470&end=4343","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2141029-f2c01667d2f5d2a3d6ea958f8fbc5e58/thumbnail_470000.jpg","/articles/6375641/Illinois/Central-CUSD-301-board-censures-president-refers-possible-removal-after-dispute-over-handling-of-former-members-resignation-and-student-record-matter","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6375641-557377a8019319b57c7abcb995be917f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770493628&Signature=UgLPz09TVxD1w7R4WNzsHChGeVofMxtSN9TneJStzsE55prxU0vi3SfwZMRFh61RL0o4rTD-pXBP8Zzpx74rBP4aTTfpCxUndqVlSf-HR-vfKW4s9sySw-gzOPTRmTU9tvNpac84jtvD8YMJMvt9-FEOAkGpJD0Rjtv6nu6-6argQ1Nz~807tZV0nljTsckm8uECMLRUrpBWejMDLrErinJoqVTfpzfFd-CGbmLLvkSjLGb-kakw-T3CgbZS73RnqWOYdBt2-51HGsvFiARFhInxO4PGeSQJ-V4kHYd0kwLI6eHhN6ccr6ftvtObAf~K0KRDpptb0e4qTomiI9bqfw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Central CUSD 301 Board of Education voted in open session to censure Board President Jeff Gorman and referred a recommendation to remove him to the Regional Office of Education after public comment and lengthy board debate about a meeting with former board member Fred Vogt and an alleged student-records disclosure.

The vote followed public testimony from Fred Vogt, who said he was summoned to a May meeting with Gorman and Superintendent Dr. Mongan and that he resigned after feeling pressured. “I was bullied and backed into a corner,” Vogt told the board during public comment, adding that he had been “told that I shouldn't be responding to the emails that I was receiving from the community” and that he “resigned under duress.”

Board member Jay Afif introduced materials and a memo he said documented communications surrounding the meeting and Vogt's resignation. Afif told colleagues he found it “shocking and appalling that a board member was approached by our colleague and asked to resign without ever consulting the rest of us.” Afif said his memo aimed to ensure that board-level matters receive notice and a chance to be handled with due process.

Superintendent Dr. Mongan and others told the board they had consulted legal counsel about handling the matter and that, based on counsel's guidance and investigation, they did not believe parent notification was required under federal or state student-privacy rules. “They did not feel like we had to notify the parent,” Dr. Mongan said when explaining the district's FERPA and Illinois student‑records assessment.

Jeff Gorman, who acknowledged he met with Vogt and said Vogt asked that the meeting remain private, defended his handling of the meeting and said he adhered to legal guidance. “I adhere to the established ISB protocols while respecting another board member's right to privacy,” Gorman said, adding that his actions were taken within his role.

Board members debated whether keeping the meeting confidential at Vogt's request relieved the president of a duty to inform the full board about an alleged student-records issue. Some members said legal advice to keep the matter confidential left room for discretion, while others said a board-level issue should have been shared with the full board. Union and community speakers at the meeting said they wanted stronger transparency and accountability from the board.

After public comment and extended discussion in which several board members described differences in recollection and emphasis on process, the board approved a censure motion against Gorman and then approved a motion to refer the matter to the Regional Office of Education for consideration of removal. The referral means the ROE will decide whether to pursue removal under its authority; the board's referral does not itself remove Gorman.

The dispute occurred amid broader public criticism of board transparency and governance practices that surfaced repeatedly in public comment; speakers urged more community engagement and clearer policies on how board members and district leaders communicate outside regular meetings.

Next steps: the Regional Office of Education will review the board's referral and decide whether to open a removal process. The district also indicated it would continue following legal guidance on student‑privacy matters as it responds to questions raised at the meeting.

(See “Votes at a glance” for motions taken at the meeting.)

Votes at a glance

- Motion to censure Board President Jeff Gorman — Approved (board voted to censure; transcript shows the motion carried in open session). Referenced materials and debate are in the meeting packet and public record.

- Motion to refer recommendation to remove Board President Jeff Gorman to the Regional Office of Education — Approved (board voted to refer the matter to the ROE; the ROE has discretion whether to act).","The Central CUSD 301 Board of Education voted to censure board President Jeff Gorman and to refer a recommendation to remove him to the Regional Office of Education after debate about a meeting with former board member Fred Vogt and whether a possible student-records concern was properly shared with the full board.","actionData","errors"]

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Central CUSD 301 proposes academically advanced pathway for grades 4–8, plans phased rollout beginning next school year

Central CUSD 301 board censures president, refers possible removal after dispute over handling of former member's resignation and student-record matter