Warren Township board orders study of "looping" student‑services model, backs more multilingual and family‑liaison staff

Warren Township High School District 121 trustees at a regular meeting directed Superintendent Danny (last name not specified) to study a "looping" student‑services model that would assign counselors, social workers and deans to a graduating class and move that team with the students between the district's two campuses to improve continuity of care.

The board framed the investigation as a response to persistent academic disparities and social‑emotional concerns, especially among freshmen and multilingual and homeless students. "It's time to do something different," Board member Tony (last name not specified) said during discussion. The board asked the superintendent to report back after campus visits and recommended models are reviewed.

The move grows from months of staff and committee work on student supports, Superintendent Danny told trustees when he opened the discussion. He said staff would visit districts that use two‑campus looping models, including Lyons Township and Lake Park, and return with observations and recommendations. "What we've asked in Dr. Danny's goals is to investigate that, which may ultimately lead to a variation of this," a board member said during remarks that directed the work to the superintendent.

Why it matters: Trustees said students lose continuity when they change campuses between sophomore and junior years, which can weaken relationships with adults who oversee social‑emotional and academic supports. Board members cited recurring data showing persistent failure rates and freshmen‑on‑track shortfalls as reasons to consider structural change rather than only adding positions.

Board discussion and proposed staffing changes

Trustees also discussed several staff additions to support multilingual families and outreach. Staff proposed increasing the district's single bilingual secretary, Priscilla (last name not specified), from one position to two so a bilingual staffer is stationed at each campus. Dr. Sandy Moran (multilingual services lead) would be supported by a new assistant to take clerical, data‑entry and scheduling duties so Moran can focus on program work, the superintendent said.

Administrators proposed a parent/family liaison role to proactively reach preregistering, multilingual, transfer or at‑risk families and connect them with counselors, translators and school services. The liaison would operate as a first point of contact and could coordinate with the homeless liaison, Janice Zimmerman, and other student‑support staff. "They could be organizing transfer students, they could leak resourceful events to both campuses," the superintendent said when describing the liaison function.

Homelessness, transportation and local coordination

Superintendent Danny reported meetings with Alan, identified as director of PADS (a local homeless services organization), and county homeless liaisons. He told trustees a state statute allows districts to use transportation funds that cover homeless students' travel to help with housing costs in some cases; he described that as a shared cost with home districts and as a way to reduce the financial burden on families. The superintendent said transportation can be very expensive; at one point he said the cost "is over a $152,100 dollars a day for that transportation" (as spoken in the meeting).

Janice Zimmerman, the district's homeless liaison and social worker, was identified by staff as the point person for families who qualify for support; she receives referrals from registrars when families' addresses change or other indicators appear.

Interventions, data and DEI work

Board members and staff reviewed first‑semester failure and intervention data and noted disparities by race. The superintendent presented intervention reach data showing which students were assigned to intervention courses. He said roughly 70–75% of students placed in intervention courses pass by year end, leaving about 25% still failing after placement.

Trustees asked staff to examine whether opt‑outs from interventions are skewing reach data and to track who declines interventions, because refusal may affect outcomes. A DEI committee subgroup working with an Indianapolis‑based federally funded office is examining root causes and classroom practices; trustees flagged professional development on respectful, affirming classroom environments and stronger teacher capacity to identify student needs as likely priorities.

Board comments and student voice

Several trustees stressed the urgency of change. "We keep talking about data month after month — at what point do we say it's time for something different?" Board member John (last name not specified) said. Board member Susan (last name not specified) added that if a system change proves effective, the district must weigh structural change against adding more positions.

Students and staff also spoke in favor of continuity. Samuel Payne, a senior at Warren Township, told the board he supports consistent adult relationships as he and peers navigate programs across both campuses: "I think having consistent role models or people in your life as you age, especially in these very formative years of high school, is important," Payne said.

Next steps and budget context

The superintendent will proceed with planned site visits and return to the board with findings. Trustees signaled they expect reports on second‑semester intervention outcomes and recommended that staff monitor placement and opt‑out data. The board also discussed the personnel impacts of retirement replacements in human resources and executive assistant roles, asking staff to return with proposed job descriptions and overlap plans to preserve institutional knowledge.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of agenda: Motion by Carlson, second by Anderson. Outcome: approved (6–0). - Consent agenda (personnel recommendations per Exhibit A nos. 58–60, Exhibit B athletics and volunteer personnel nos. B‑17 and B‑18; payment of bills dated 01/21/2025 in the amount of $4,949,085.15; regular meeting minutes of 01/07/2025): Motion by Carlson, second by Anderson. Outcome: approved (6–0). - FBLA trip to Anaheim, Calif., June 27–July 3, 2025: Motion by Carlson, second by Anderson. Outcome: approved (6–0). - Resolution to prepare the budget for 2025–26 school year: Motion by Carlson, second by Pope. Outcome: approved (6–0). - Close inactive student activity accounts: Motion by Carlson, second by Pope. Outcome: approved (6–0). - Board scholarships, distribution of $8,000 in Board of Education scholarships: Motion by Carlson, second by Pope. Outcome: approved (6–0). - Resolution naming assistant superintendent of business services and operations as local school board authorized representative for submission of financial reports in the Illinois Web Application System (IWAS): Motion by Carlson, second by Anderson. Outcome: approved (6–0). - Adjournment: Motion by Carlson, second by Anderson. Outcome: approved (6–0).

The board did not take final action on changes to district policies at this meeting; policy revisions were presented as a first reading. The superintendent will return with recommendations after staff visits and further data review.

Ending

Trustees emphasized that the investigation is a board directive and asked staff to focus the review on continuity, family engagement and measurable outcomes. The superintendent said staff will provide follow‑up reports and semester comparisons so trustees can assess whether proposed changes improve freshmen‑on‑track and other outcome measures.