Superintendent: Round Lake CUSD 116 highlights postsecondary programs, mentoring pilot and $13,600 in foundation grants

The Round Lake Area School District Superintendent's report on March 10 highlighted the district's continuing recognition for governance and several program-level initiatives intended to support postsecondary success and student opportunity.

Superintendent Dr. Mendoza told the board the Illinois Association of School Boards named Round Lake Area School District one of 46 districts to earn the 2024 School Board Governance Recognition designation; the district has received the recognition on each cycle since 2016. She said the designation acknowledges boards that engage in activities and behaviors supporting local school governance and quality public education.

Dr. Mendoza described a February 27 presentation by the district's postsecondary-success team to the Lake County Workforce Development Board about emerging CTE programming. Highlights she named included an Empower Youth Essential Employability Skills pilot, a Law Enforcement and School Safety internship pilot with Lake County Tech Campus, and multiple school-based enterprises at district schools (listed in the agenda packet as Round Lake Design, Panther Poor, Arf Arf Treats, Coor Creations, Wildcat Workshop and the Panther Plant Emporium).

The superintendent announced a pilot mentoring program with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago that pairs Round Lake High School students with Indian Hill Elementary students beginning fall 2025. The program aims to create about 20 "big-little" partnerships and will be coordinated by a site lead from Big Brothers Big Sisters; student selection is to be driven by the schools.

Dr. Mendoza also reported the District Education Foundation awarded its second round of grants for the year totaling $13,600. Awardees and amounts listed in the board packet were:

- Jose Luke Catalan, Round Lake High School — $1,500 (guitar club) - Erin Pedersen and Marjorie Baker — $2,000 (Demonstration to Exploration, John T. McGee Middle School) - Andre Rivera, Javier Diaz and Caitlin Nelson, Round Lake (Band) — $2,000 (Rock Band Part 2) - Laura Reidick, Lacey Henley and Carolyn Corcoran, McGee — $4,400 (Empowering entrepreneurs/school-based enterprises) - Megan Rasmussen, Round Lake High School — $2,000 (summer mystery book giveaway) - Scott Kobelka, Ellis — $500 (I-Ready Personal Pathways) - Julia McCann, Ellis — $1,200 (3D pen expansion)

Dr. Mendoza called out Jessica "Jess" Krone for leadership on the district's postsecondary-success efforts and said administrators look forward to continued growth and stakeholder support across Lake County.

Why it matters: The report outlines programs that aim to expand career and technical education pathways, increase work-readiness for students and build cross-district partnerships. The mentoring pilot and foundation grants are concrete, near-term supports for students; the CTE discussions reflect ongoing county-level collaboration.

What's next: The mentoring pilot is scheduled to identify participants this month with the goal of finalizing pairings by April; staff will share further updates and implementation details with the board as planning continues.