[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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",[32,76,88],{"_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",6161542,"mediaKeyId","5441681-7cf3ac0ba9e79d1683bbfd49f80a53cd","parentId",5441681,"title","Western Avenue, Parker Present School Improvement Plans Targeting Safety and Academic Proficiency","audioSeconds",1076,"startMs",1745000,"endMs",2821000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5441681-7cf3ac0ba9e79d1683bbfd49f80a53cd&start=1745&end=2821","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5441681-7cf3ac0ba9e79d1683bbfd49f80a53cd/thumbnail_1745000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6161542/Illinois/Western-Avenue-Parker-Present-School-Improvement-Plans-Targeting-Safety-and-Academic-Proficiency","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6161542-bc07b104540f8a148516ff0705df053d/orig.mp4?Expires=1773738179&Signature=gm2SBXAoAvRG538Mq3QWfbQLCJYYbuqvjbblQjAxWBeOeScP7DJErpZtNBk47xw0OtOuchhHg19P5PMYJ0KW5tULyJZ9Kthgx5VNMUgMZwCD~gH5e8PkZDbhq9fKvafMwYKuMp4jq1XeHY1BFuBX1Rc-ReCitTkkUOBh7P5KpgbISGo--pvnSw027SA7SnTXK-CJwxB2r9GgFsOWPfEzfKHtMBQk1JzoAbnTQ2e711coF9uRKuQejPgHpIFA6V01mvvFgUdYX1o1ZGYZi1KnVp3gBlsAA652~BVLtZUP-7L9tOvpSztNN9jVg41Ip9iBZazc65lWnhfinQxLaCqIHw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Flossmoor SD 161","date","2025-07-22T23:29:57.61Z","article","Leaders from Western Avenue Elementary and Parker Junior High presented school improvement plans to the Flossmoor School District 161 Board of Education on June 21, outlining targets for school safety and academic proficiency and the actions they will take to reach those goals.

Western Avenue Principal Mario Ford said the school's plan centers on improving culture and climate from \"weak to neutral\" on the 5Essentials safety indicator by embedding Capturing Kids' Hearts (CKH) strategies and restorative practices across classrooms and common areas. \"The goal is safety,\" Ford said. \"All these things reflect back on safety and how can we create a safe environment.\" The Western Avenue plan also sets academic targets for IAR proficiency, with an ELA target (from 53% to 63%) and a math target (from 41% to 51%) for 2025–26, to be measured by the Illinois Assessment of Readiness.

Western Avenue staff emphasized consistent instructional blocks, common proficiency scales, regular \"data talks\" with students and parents, teacher professional development and peer observation as primary levers to reach goals.

Parker Junior High Principal Ursula Paris presented Parker's plan, which sets targets to raise IAR meeting/exceeding proficiency in ELA from 51% to 60% and in math from 21% to 29%. Parker also reported gains in eighth‑grade science (from an earlier baseline to 61% meeting proficiency) and set a science goal to increase that rate to 65%. Two eighth‑grade science teachers described instructional changes that contributed to last year's gains, particularly increased practice with claim‑evidence‑reasoning and more opportunities for students to analyze data during labs. One teacher summarized the importance of exposing students to data analysis: \"One of our most important things that we see in the eighth grade is that when we give them labs or any assignment that may have a data set or a group of numbers, at the beginning of the year, they often struggle with that.\"

Board members asked about measurement timelines and safeguards if quarterly safety surveys show little or no improvement; Western Avenue leaders said they currently had no fully formed \"backup plan\" but would use quarterly survey data to inform subsequent interventions. Board members also asked about replicating effective eighth‑grade practices across other grades and schools; principals said upcoming institute days and professional learning communities will provide time for teacher collaboration and sharing of proven strategies.

Both schools flagged a need for ongoing parent communication about standards‑based grading and student data talks so families understand proficiency scales and can support students' growth.

These plans were presented for discussion; no board vote was required at the meeting. Staff said they will continue to refine the plans, implement the targeted professional development during institute days, and present subsequent schools' plans at future meetings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board Of Education Meeting 07-21-2025","oneSentenceSummary","Principals and teacher teams from Western Avenue and Parker junior high presented school improvement plans that emphasize school safety, restorative practices, standards‑based instruction and explicit proficiency targets on the Illinois Assessment of Readiness and state science tests.","taxTitle","Flossmoor SD 161, School Boards, Illinois","taxId",53605,"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},6161547,"District Outlines Residency-Verification Process; Board Debates Costs and Limits of Enforcement",4181,241000,4422000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5441681-7cf3ac0ba9e79d1683bbfd49f80a53cd&start=241&end=4422","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5441681-7cf3ac0ba9e79d1683bbfd49f80a53cd/thumbnail_241000.jpg","/articles/6161547/Illinois/District-Outlines-Residency-Verification-Process-Board-Debates-Costs-and-Limits-of-Enforcement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6161547-2278ddb18639708a54611a02711cfa21/orig.mp4?Expires=1773738179&Signature=dPrmOR4Eap49Q5AZvhd26iBe8fml5OrE-rCSQNbaFL10T2XDCbPo1dzhqUrC-1ISabUAPWGmE3NoHvrOAYhsTDcmVRsat~pSIRVjz2GTQUvBUir8ntlTB1AHH06YBfmdV0BFnib-g4fqCckIR93t2SeEqSaLGxDcpMTeWJ68iXWHG8iu46A7WXhfUauQpTXTm1w0Z4-qJRVzGG1HiDn4NF97oxJPGe1ppHEYrqM-GnLt23nsHRETJ5MEPOobs257M7RAXmlDeCt8oAIKbmVOgmpvraF6Bhw8ty6shT5FKDsdoKQp1cYk3fBoOapvuGp6TfgeS85vx8fWJ4hlgqaj7w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District staff reviewed Flossmoor School District 161's residency verification and fraud-investigation procedures during the June 21 Board of Education meeting and answered questions about fees, enforcement costs and detection limits.

The presentation explained two primary registration pathways: families who live within the district (rent or own) and students who live with a District 161 resident; each pathway requires specified documents. Administrators said the McKinney‑Vento Act procedures are used for registering homeless students.

Dana (district registration staff) described the fraud-investigation steps and the standard the district uses to open an investigation: \"The real threshold for residency investigation is where does the child sleep at night,\" she said. Investigations use photo and video evidence captured on multiple days and typically involve a private investigative firm; district staff estimated investigative, hearing‑officer and attorney costs at roughly $8,000 to $10,000 per investigation.

A public commenter, Crystal Cliet, had asked earlier in the meeting whether charging a nonresident fee would deter out-of-district enrollment and whether the district was spending money on verification without a fee that would offset those costs. She asked, \"does it really balance out our budget?\" The district told the board that while the board can set whatever fee it chooses, the practical challenge is collection and the administrative work of pursuing unpaid fees.

Board members pressed staff on how many cases the district handles annually. The administration said it typically opens four to eight investigations per year but cautioned that each case can take six to 12 weeks because of required surveillance and due process timelines. Staff also said the district runs all families through the CLEAR database annually and flags duplicates for additional review.

Board members discussed potential escalations, including sending unpaid residency charges to collections or pursuing larger legal actions against landlords or repeat offenders. Administrators warned those approaches are resource‑intensive and may not yield meaningful recovery for individual cases; a collections action may result only in a letter or default judgment unless the district pursues wage garnishment or more active litigation.

Absent new board direction, the administration said it will continue the current residency verification approach, use CLEAR checks for all families, and consult other districts as requested. Board members asked administration to do one additional round of research into regional practices and return with recommendations if further changes are warranted.

No formal policy changes or new enforcement programs were adopted at the meeting.","District staff described the residency verification process, including use of the McKinney‑Vento Act for homeless students, a private investigative firm for suspected fraud and the CLEAR database. Board members discussed the financial and practical limits of pursuing residency fraud cases.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6161552,"Board Approves $130,000 City Year Partnership After Community Raises Questions About Corps Members' Qualifications",1297,187000,1484000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5441681-7cf3ac0ba9e79d1683bbfd49f80a53cd&start=187&end=1484","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5441681-7cf3ac0ba9e79d1683bbfd49f80a53cd/thumbnail_187000.jpg","/articles/6161552/Illinois/Board-Approves-130000-City-Year-Partnership-After-Community-Raises-Questions-About-Corps-Members-Qualifications","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6161552-9a3c46fa99c79eb273c28d589a2d201c/orig.mp4?Expires=1773738179&Signature=mO5VedtRMSJJkq-t5PrkFV6OkV-I54B2g0XZCfViQBpZJ1RX80f75TTuAii3s~ZOFtcmRtw-Q0wdA8ZsKhiCCxI-nh-QxafB-g8wLOi8Rwi9V8hWGcEjJJrAoIxKAVLMlqB34eXs36gjdSctjNdydnM~2yqddwB4ohY8jJLwVWRISDIpIlGl8j83mK27Dci9nSnoPApn-ofGmE0Xcv7O~9i3uv~7cwZZT7MEU1nf2NhEFunzEajcVQWVfjxzGWs8GEvWheEt6bTzvuCgeqanEnjW1ljDgtEidMPbkht9R9Y-fzFAlLJRhNFsU7L5e39iKGXxjx19nSv29Tha2aTZ6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Flossmoor School District 161 Board of Education voted to approve a City Year partnership for the 2025–26 school year at a cost of $130,000 during its June 21 meeting.

City Year is an AmeriCorps program that places young adults in schools to support attendance, tutoring and in-class assistance. The board approved the agreement by roll call at the June 21 meeting after the administration recommended the partnership.

The vote followed public comment raising questions about corps members' qualifications and residency-related budget impacts. A community member who identified herself on the agenda as \"Miss Trop\" told the board she was concerned about the ages of the City Year participants and their preparation to support Parker students in advanced coursework: \"My concern is some of them might have not graduated college. Do they have the... enough skills to teach the Parker students advanced math, advanced reading, advanced science?\" The question cited the meeting minutes' reference that participants are age 18 to 24.

At the same meeting other residents asked about district costs related to nonresident students and whether fees or verification processes adequately deterred out-of-district enrollment. Those residency and fee questions were discussed separately later in the meeting (see related article).

The board recorded the motion to approve the City Year Partnership Agreement and passed it by roll call. The motion text presented at the meeting was: \"Approve the City Year Partnership Agreement for the 2025–26 school year at a cost of $130,000.\" The transcript does not record a named mover or seconder for the motion. Several board members voted \"yes\" on the roll call; two board members named in the roll call are Nelson and McNair.

City Year partnerships typically place corps members as full‑time tutors, mentors or classroom partners; the agreement's staffing and supervision details were in the packet submitted to the board. The administration and board said the district will implement the partnership as approved and incorporate program staff into existing supervision and curriculum supports.

For context, City Year corps members often are young adults who serve in schools after a year of AmeriCorps training; the board did not alter program staffing requirements at the meeting. Residents who asked questions asked the board to clarify corps member training, supervision and the program's role in addressing longstanding achievement gaps.

The board approved the City Year agreement as part of its action items. The district will release contract details and program supervision plans to participating schools and families ahead of the 2025–26 school year.","The Flossmoor School District 161 Board of Education approved a $130,000 City Year partnership for the 2025–26 school year. Community members raised concerns about the age and training of City Year corps members and asked how the program would affect student learning and district spending.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Western Avenue, Parker Present School Improvement Plans Targeting Safety and Academic Proficiency

District Outlines Residency-Verification Process; Board Debates Costs and Limits of Enforcement

Board Approves $130,000 City Year Partnership After Community Raises Questions About Corps Members' Qualifications