Superintendent reports countywide partnerships; students named March athletes of the month

Superintendent Doctor Mendoza told the Round Lake Area Board of Education that the Lake County Regional Office of Education will fully fund School Links accounts for all students in grades 6–8, a district savings of about $9,000 for the upcoming year and a change that will keep career-cluster exploration available to middle-school students.

“District 116 remains a national leader in school implementation with 81 percent of students engaging in career cluster exploration and 71 percent of students in grades 6 through 12 having set a defined career goal,” Doctor Mendoza said, reporting on district participation in the countywide Navigate Lake County initiative.

Mendoza also said the Dolly Parton Imagination Library initiative went live for all Lake County ZIP codes and that Round Lake CUSD 116 will communicate registration details to birth-to-5 families and, where needed, allow schools to receive books on families’ behalf.

The board recognized two freshmen as March athletes of the month. Coach Hugo Tales presented female athlete Annalie Deanda Castillo, a freshman on the girls soccer team who recorded a hat trick and two assists in her first high-school game and has strong academic marks. Head baseball coach Mike Mistalski recognized Daniel Russ, a junior and team captain who batted .600 in March and earned high statewide statistical rankings for the month.

The superintendent concluded his report by announcing Heather Bennett’s selection for the Fretwell Outstanding Educator Award from the Boy Scouts of America’s Northeast Illinois Council.