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Board approves targeted improvement plans for Orchard Place and North Elementary
Summary
CCSD 62 board voted unanimously to approve multi‑year targeted school improvement plans required by the Illinois State Board of Education for Orchard Place and North Elementary; principals outlined priorities for students with disabilities, curriculum alignment, attendance and family supports.
The CCSD 62 Board of Education approved targeted school improvement plans for Orchard Place Elementary and North Elementary at the board meeting, a requirement the schools must meet to receive state funding and to comply with Illinois State Board of Education guidance for schools with underperforming student subgroups.
"As required by the Illinois State Board of Education, schools with underperforming student subgroups must participate in a multi year targeted school improvement plan," said Dr. Nicusseparo, who introduced the two principals. The board moved and seconded approval and recorded a roll‑call vote with all members present voting in favor.
Orchard Place Principal Jennifer Bautista told the board Orchard Place serves a cohort of students who require higher levels of specialized instruction; for roughly 70% of students receiving those services, Orchard Place is their serving school rather than their home school. The school outlined three priority areas for 2025–26: (1) a guaranteed and viable curriculum for students with disabilities, (2) work to identify contributors to chronic absenteeism and create family support plans, and (3) improved data systems and routines to inform instructional decision‑making. Bautista described curriculum changes, staff coaching and an inclusion strategy intended to increase students accessing general education settings.
North Elementary Principal Carolyn Aller described a three‑priority plan that mirrors Orchard Place in focusing on a guaranteed and viable curriculum, professional development on inclusive practices and family supports. North described scheduling changes that provide daily common planning time for general education, multilingual and special education staff, new reading curriculum rollout, and plans to engage Empower Ed for co‑planning and coaching.
The board packet included full action plans; administrators said approval was required so the district could submit the plans to ISBE and receive related funding. Board members thanked the principals for work on curriculum alignment, attendance interventions and family outreach.
Motion and vote: a motion to approve the Orchard Place and North Elementary targeted school improvement plans was made, seconded and passed on a roll call (Duckman, Garrett, Erin, Maslow, Morley, Doug Otto: all "Aye").
