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Dr. Bresenhance outlines testing schedule, enrollment outreach and district responses to tax‑collection disruptions
Summary
District superintendent Dr. Bresenhance delivered a monthly update covering communications partnerships, kindergarten enrollment outreach, a new mass‑communications task force, winter benchmarking and state testing plans, and the district’s work to manage property‑tax collection impacts.
Dr. Bresenhance gave the board a wide‑ranging monthly update at the Community Consolidated School District 59 board meeting on Jan. 14, 2026, touching on communications partnerships, student assessment timelines, professional learning and district finance concerns.
The superintendent said the district has been partnering with a Harper High School baseball team and a Rupley classroom for volunteer activities and urged families with upcoming kindergarten students to attend information nights scheduled Feb. 23, 24 and 25. Dr. Bresenhance also reported that a task force led by Rachel Jobbski has started work on a proposed new mass communications platform; staff aim to bring a board recommendation before year‑end with a possible rollout in the fall.
On assessment and accountability, Dr. Bresenhance said District 59 is participating in a roughly 100‑district English learning consortium intended to improve cross‑district comparisons and that winter benchmarking is concluding for makeups this week. He told the board that winter benchmarking results will be presented at the February board meeting and reminded members that statewide testing (IAR) is scheduled for March and April.
Professional learning also featured in the update: district staff returned Jan. 5 for an institute day, with follow‑up PLT sessions Jan. 7, and the superintendent highlighted plans for a content‑area professional learning day on Feb. 4 and the district’s final institute day on March 17.
Financial and operational items drew sustained attention. Dr. Bresenhance noted Cook County property‑tax collection delays have had broad effects on local districts; he summarized the collective impact as substantial and described the district as currently able to manage without issuing tax anticipation warrants. On transportation, the board was reminded that the current Safeway contract expires June 30 and that the district will accept bids for a new vendor to start July 1.
Looking ahead, the superintendent said the district will bring its three‑year e‑learning plan renewal to the board for public hearing in May and approval in June; the plan is required to operate e‑learning on declared emergency days. Summer school planning is underway, with the Holmes/Forest View cluster under consideration and an extended school‑year program for students with special needs shifting from Rupley to Juliette Lowe because of playground construction.
Dr. Bresenhance also described continuing human resources work on the annual resource allocation process, mentor support for new teachers and expanded training for ESPs, plus a forthcoming compliance audit in March for the district’s Google Workspace instance.
The update closed with a note that the youth safety and wellness committee will convene Jan. 28 to review bullying investigations, threat assessments and safety reports; the board committee will review findings later in the year.
