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District 25 previews refreshed strategic plan and proposes student advisory council
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Summary
Superintendent Brian Kaye and a volunteer team presented a refresh of Arlington Heights SD 25's strategic plan at the April 21 board meeting, outlining five goals, a new 'portrait of a learner,' and a pilot Superintendent Student Advisory Council (SSAC) proposed to begin with an August orientation and board ambassador presentations starting Sept. 29.
Superintendent Brian Kaye and members of a volunteer strategic-plan refresh team presented recommended updates to Arlington Heights School District 25's strategic plan at the April 21 board meeting, with the board expected to vote on the refresh in May.
The presentation summarized a yearlong, three-phase process of establishing clarity, collaborating with stakeholders, and soliciting community feedback. Andrea Lusso, the district's director of student learning, said the team grounded its work in data and community voice and described a process designed to "be thoughtful, inclusive, and grounded in both data and community voice." A student presenter, Graham, described the new "portrait of a learner"—competencies such as thinking skills, communication, teamwork, responsibility and adaptability—that will guide expectations for students across District 25.
Why it matters: the refresh keeps the district's existing five goal areas—student learning; school climate and belonging; high-quality staff; family and community partnerships; and fiscal stewardship—but clarifies priorities and sets measurable implementation steps. The district plans to assign an administrator as a goal champion for each area and to report regular progress updates to the board and community.
Highlights from the proposal include a greater emphasis on making the plan visible in schools and communications (branding), clear measures and accountability for each goal, and strategies to ensure the plan informs day-to-day decisions. Lusso said the team "moved step by step, listening carefully, learning from one another, and building shared understanding along the way."
Student voice proposal: Kaye proposed a one-year pilot of a Superintendent Student Advisory Council the district would staff with student ambassadors. Under the recommendation, elementary schools would provide two fifth-grade representatives each; the two middle schools (South and Thomas) would supply two students per grade (six per middle school across grades). The proposed timeline calls for an orientation on Aug. 4 and for the first board ambassadors to attend the Sept. 29 meeting. Kaye described the SSAC as distinct from a standing student board member and said the model is intended to rotate representation so many students gain experience.
Board members welcomed the idea while raising logistical questions: how students would be selected, whether ambassadors would remain for entire meetings or present briefly, and how the district would collect interest during the short remaining school year. Kaye said the district would start with parent outreach and interest surveys and could complete interviews and selections over the summer.
Next steps: the board will receive the refresh again at its May meeting and is scheduled to vote on adoption of the refreshed plan at that time. If approved, the district will finalize SSAC selection procedures, orientation materials and a communication plan for families.
