CHSD 155 superintendent reports attendance uptick, positive ISBE audit feedback

Superintendent Dr. Lesinski told the CHSD 155 Board of Education that the district’s new attendance policy and focused professional development contributed to a modest improvement in districtwide attendance.

"We saw a 1.18% increase in positive attendance, moving from 93.29% to 94.47% district wide," Lesinski said, attributing the gain to two teacher institute days and a new attendance policy implemented with deans and staff support. He said staff engaged in professional learning across divisions and that the sessions included student panels and targeted mental-health alignment training coordinated by assistant superintendent Rachel Kesey.

Lesinski also reported that representatives from the Illinois State Board of Education conducted a routine audit of the district’s English learner programming in January; he said the preliminary feedback was "largely positive" and that the district will release full details after its internal review. He welcomed Eric Chandler, approved as the next administrative dean at Crystal Lake South High School, and highlighted recent community-facing events including a high school kickoff for the class of 2030 and an industry partner breakfast attended by more than 250 people.

Lesinski said he will present strategic-plan progress at a committee-of-the-whole session before next month’s board meeting. The superintendent’s report concluded with committee updates: HR reviewed co-op sports programming, technology structure and evaluation software; operations reviewed recent bid results.