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Homewood SD 153 superintendent highlights institute days, special-education supports and updates acceleration process
Summary
Superintendent reported on institute days and staff development, monthly parent meetings for special education, clarifications to the accelerated-program application after committee review, and a surprise classroom visit by Chicago Bears linebacker DeMarco Jackson.
The superintendent told the Homewood SD 153 Board on Jan. 12 that the district is emphasizing staff development and family engagement as part of its academic strategy and special-education supports.
The superintendent described four annual institute days, noting that full-day institute sessions allow vertical articulation—teachers from different grade levels and buildings to meet together—and said staff value that extended collaboration. He said the district will present a 2026–27 school calendar for board approval next month.
On curriculum and instructional tools, a board member reported that the Finance & Planning committee discussed the use of IXL and community concerns that the online program be used as reinforcement rather than as the primary teaching method or a punitive tool; the district said it will continue to guide staff on balanced use and better inform parents about how IXL is used in classrooms.
During audience participation, parent Jenny Farley urged simplification and clarity for the accelerated‑program application that opens Feb. 1, saying the form had been a "black box" for families. The superintendent said the educational progress committee discussed the issue, staff updated the form to specify that the process is annual, and described a two-step pathway: teacher recommendation windows and a later parent-initiated request period. The superintendent said the updated information and recordings are available on the district website.
The superintendent also noted the district is running winter NWEA benchmark testing (August, January and end‑of‑year cycles) to track student progress and that the district has introduced monthly parent meetings on special‑education topics; upcoming sessions will cover speech‑language services and prior sessions on occupational therapy have been posted on demand.
In a community-engagement highlight, the superintendent described an unannounced visit today by Chicago Bears player DeMarco Jackson to a fifth‑grade classroom at Churchill that had written letters to the team; the district posted video from the visit on its Facebook page.
The meeting closed after routine votes and personnel actions.
