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Superintendent reports new construction, family engagement push and snow-response as schools reopen
Summary
At the Jan. 6 Springfield School District 186 board meeting Superintendent Gil highlighted progress on construction and career-technical spaces at multiple schools, announced family engagement and mentoring efforts, described operational work after recent snow, and offered condolences to a staff member’s family.
Superintendent Gil told the Springfield School District 186 Board of Education on Jan. 6 that district construction and facilities work is advancing and that schools will reopen on Jan. 7 after the weekend snow.
Gil described a new construction trades shop that received tools, lumber and wiring so students can practice framing, plumbing and electrical work. He credited staff members and community partners who prepared the space and noted a new set of classrooms and storage were moved into place for the semester.
The superintendent also showcased a widely shared classroom video from Ridgely Elementary in which a teacher’s grandmother knitted scarves to match students’ drawings; Gil said the clip received millions of views and called it a ‘‘feel-good’’ moment for the district.
On family engagement, Gil and Terrence Jordan urged families to complete a Panorama family survey that opened Dec. 16 and was scheduled to close the week of Jan. 6; Jordan said the survey takes about 10 minutes and that the district uses the results to make near-term adjustments. Jordan said the district is seeking roughly a 20% response rate from families.
Gil announced a Real Men Read midpoint check-in event on Jan. 9 for volunteer mentors to pick up books and complete a program survey; he said the mentoring program places more than 100 men in classroom reading roles across elementary grades. He also described a district career fair on Jan. 9 offering on-site fingerprinting, application help and interviews for prospective employees.
Addressing recent weather, Gil said buildings and parking lots were cleared and that principals checked facilities; he thanked maintenance and construction crews and said bus contractor First Student was confident routes would be served, though some buses might run behind schedule. Gil encouraged families to dress students warmly and to contact family engagement liaisons or principals if students need coats or supplies.
He closed by announcing the district is supporting the family of an employee who lost a son to community violence and asked for a moment of silence.
The superintendent’s report included photos of the Springfield High School construction site, new classrooms and a competition gym; Gil compared the new work to recent projects at other district high schools and noted the inclusion of a storm-shelter gym, a two-story commons and new classroom whiteboard and lighting upgrades.
No formal board action was taken on these items during the report.
