Naperville D203 board may vote this month on school hours, block schedule
Originally, the Innovative School Experience was to start this fall but officials pushed back the timeline to the start of the 2026-27 school year in the wake of pushback, especially from parents who said they needed time to adjust their home and work schedules and from teachers who say they will need to create different lesson plans.
At Monday's school board meeting, Superintendent Dan Bridges said he would like the board to take action on the proposal later this month and direct the administration on the next steps to be taken.
Board member Melissa Kelley Black countered that the board is still receiving complaints about the proposals and she's concerned the district doesn't have support from those the plan would affect. She'd prefer to give it more time, she said.
'It doesn't sound like the community or staff are ready for this so I guess the question is what is the hurry,' she said. 'Our trust with the community, with the staff, with morale, we've taken a hit with this.'
One of the major shifts is the start and end times of the school day for elementary, middle and high school students.
Elementary hours, which now run from 8:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., would switch to 7:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. under the proposal.
Middle school would change from an 8 a.m. start to an 8:50 start time. It would also end 50 minutes later at 3:40 p.m.
The high school day would start later and be shorter. Instead of 7:45 a.m. to 3:10 p.m., the day would run from 8:20 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. under the proposal.
District officials want to alter the times so students arrive at school as close as possible to their start times. Currently bus logistics have forced students to arrive at high school as much as an hour before classes start and at middle school a half hour before classes start.
Research also supports later start times for the well-being of adolescents, officials said.
As for the new block schedule for middle and high schools, officials say it will allow students to delve deeper into topics and get more intervention if needed. More time will be devoted to math at the middle school level.
Critics of the plan said changing start and end times to the school days affects all families and their work schedules. Some parents have to leave for work before middle school students would leave for school, prompting the district to explore before-school child care options. Parents also asked if the later release time would allow their children to participate in extracurricular activities, sports or allow time for evening activities.
Questions have been raised about the block schedule as well, with some wondering whether students could stay engaged during longer class periods or if they would have trouble concentrating.
Parent Dan Alamillo said he was concerned the district was addressing the issues raised by finding quick fixes that don't deal with the larger problems.
'Since the proposal was rolled out, we've heard parents, teachers, staffers and students raise concerns about its designs and impacts,' he said. 'The administration has reacted by trying to put Band-Aids on some of the issues that have been raised.'
The district needs to collaborate with the community on the proposal, he said.
'Instead of playing catch-up and trying to piecemeal solutions as you go, the administration should get more minds in the room to work these kinds of problems,' Alamillo said. 'No one is going to be upset if you bring in stakeholders and take the necessary time to ensure whatever changes are needed get done right.'
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Chicago Tribune
26-07-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Eavesdropping complaint filed against Naperville D203 school board member
A Naperville District 203 School Board member censured in January for her conduct is now the subject of an eavesdropping complaint submitted to the Naperville Police Department and the DuPage County state's attorney office, according to documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request. In a letter sent to the state's attorney office from the district's legal counsel, district officials allege board member Melissa Kelley Black made a recording of a budget advisory committee meeting without getting the consent of those in attendance, as required by state law. No response to the complaint has been issued or charges filed as of this past week, according to the state's attorney's office. The recording came to light at a June 2 school board meeting at which budgetary issues were being discussed, documents show. During the discussion, Kelley Black said she had attended a May 14 meeting of the Citizens Finance Committee, a group made up of five Naperville community members, two district administrators and two board members, at which concerns were raised about district finances, including whether there would be a need to cut positions or to seek a tax referendum. As part of her comments, she mentioned that she had recorded the committee meeting. Because the committee is not a public body, its meetings are not covered by the Illinois Open Meetings Act, according to the letter from the district's attorneys. Participants would have to give permission to be recorded under state law. Kelley Black said during the June 2 meeting that her recording device was 'right in front of us,' which was also noted in the district lawyer's letter to State's Attorney Robert Berlin. In an interview with the Naperville Sun, she said she did not want to get into the details of the recording because it is the subject of a legal complaint, but stressed that she believes it is her duty as a school board member to ask difficult questions, especially on the budget, and to ensure district money is spent wisely. She said she welcomes a third-party investigation, and is certain she will be cleared of any wrongdoing. 'I am disappointed they so carelessly throw around accusations,' she said. At the June 2 school board meeting, Superintendent Dan Bridges made note of the fact that she had recorded what committee members had said, documents show. 'Did you get permission from everybody who attended or did you just violate the Eavesdropping Act in Illinois?' he asked. Later he said, 'I will be following up on the statement about recordings.' A list of members of the Citizens Finance Committee was provided to the Naperville Police Department by the district's attorneys. Police Chief Jason Arres responded via email that an 'investigation will begin promptly.' Bridges also contacted the committee members to let them know about the recording, and stressed that Kelley Black's action was not condoned by the school district or by board policies, according to documents received through the FOIA request. One member, whose name was redacted from the FOIA request, responded that they were 'somewhat shocked' that Kelley Black would record the meeting without their consent. Kelley Black, in an email sent to the Naperville Sun, said she believes Bridges deliberately ignored the budget questions she raised at the June 2 meeting by seizing on her comment about the recording. 'After requesting clarification from Superintendent Bridges regarding his comments about potential staff reductions, student service cuts and a possible referendum, I raised concerns about inconsistent financial messaging and the board's limited access to key financial documentation. This information is essential particularly as we continue voting on major capital projects and other long-term commitments. 'Rather than addressing these concerns collaboratively, the superintendent responded with public accusations and initiated a complaint without authorization from the board. I believe this response has generated unnecessary conflict and distraction at a time when unity and professional dialogue are especially important.' According to the district's communications department, the Citizens Finance Committee serves as an advisory group for the review of key financial matters, such as the budget, levy and audit. It meets two to three times a year in closed forums designed to encourage open dialogue. The committee does not have any decision-making authority, the district said. 'Due to the ongoing investigation into this matter, we are unable to comment further on the specifics of the incident at this time,' Lisa Xagas, assistant superintendent for strategy and engagement, said in an email. During a recent board meeting, Kelley Black said she believed the district was trying to indimidate her by having police officers come to her house to question her on the issue, especially right before the school board's self-evaluation session. 'There's something wrong that an elected official giving back to their community has to endure that,' Kelley Black said at the July 14 school board meeting. 'This just isn't good governance in my opinion. I think an outside evaluation would correct it and then we can all stop arguing and work together.' Kelley Black also questioned whether the district's lawyers, who represent the school board, should be involved in the matter. Legal counsel should advise the board as a collective body, not the private interests of an administrator or individual board members, she said. 'Our community entrusts us with the responsibility of using district funds, and we must ensure that every expenditure, especially for legal counsel, is aligned with the board-approved purposes and complies with our ethical obligations,' she said. At the meeting where she raised questions about the complaint, board President Charles Cush stressed that Bridges had openly stated that he planned to follow up on the fact that Kelley Black had said she recorded the meeting. 'There is a third party already investigating this, and they will handle it,' Cush said. Board Vice President Kristine Gericke added that she believes it is her responsibility to alert authorities when she believes a law has been broken. 'I heard an admission of what I reasonably thought was breaking a law,' she said. '…I also believe it's important for the community to understand that we do take our responsibilities very seriously, and that to me was common sense to report that we felt a law was broken.' In an email back to Kelley Black, Cush accused her of trying to distract from the issue at hand. 'Your attempt to attack and threaten the superintendent for performing his duties as the administrative head of the District is clearly an attempt to divert attention from your misconduct,' he wrote. 'The District will continue to cooperate in having a review of your admissions on recording private discussions without consent. In the meantime, the Board meeting will proceed as scheduled and the Board will continue to conduct the business of the District.' The board has had previous conflicts with Kelley Black, and in January voted to censure her for unprofessional and damaging actions, citing her disclosure of private student information, spread of false information and release of collective bargaining information. Kelley Black, who was elected to the board in April 2023, denied the allegations. She has said she is a proponent of transparency, wants to ensure fiscal responsibility and ran for school board because of her love of education. Board members said at the time that they had tried to resolve issues with her over her conduct for about a year and a half before acting to censure her. According to recent documents, the school board is still trying to resolve those issues. The board wrote to Kelley Black in April notifying her that she was in violation of a censure resolution. 'Member Kelley Black continues to disrupt Board meetings, both open and closed sessions, with frequent unwarranted criticism and attacks on the Superintendent and his administrative team,' according to a June letter from Cush to the DuPage County Regional Office of Education. The letter states that the criticism and attacks are generally performative and Kelley Black willfully refuses to read the information provided to her by the administrative team. 'Tragically, the Board has had to divert significant resources including public funds purposed for its educational mission to address Member Kelley Black's willful refusal to perform her duties,' according to Cush's letter, which was prepared with the help of the district's attorney. Kelley Black said she was unaware of the letter and worries that decisions are being made by individual board members and not as a collective body. 'I have never once received a complaint from a parent or a staff member,' Kelley Black said.
Chicago Tribune
22-04-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Naperville D203 board tables plan to adjust student schedules to get more feedback
The Naperville District 203 School Board Monday tabled a vote on the Innovative School Experience after board members could not agree on making the major changes to students' day without additional community input. Some board members said they were not comfortable with endorsing the shifts to the school day unless they had a firm commitment from the community. While stressing they weren't asking to abandon the concept or start over, the concensus was they should pause and allow time for more data to be collected. The Innovative School Experience proposed by district administration calls for several changes that proved unpopular with some parents, teachers and students. Among them were the recommendations that 15 minutes be added to the elementary school day, more math instruction minutes be added to middle school day and a flexible block format with an anchor day be implemented for middle and high school students. The block format allows for longer classes during the day so students can delve deeper into topics or receive more intervention and teachers can use differentiated instruction strategies, district officials said. The anchor day is a chance for students to attend all of their classes once a week, but for a shorter period of time. As part of the schedule changes, the start and end times would be adjusted across the board, with elementary-aged students starting their school day first and middle school students starting and ending their day last among the different grade levels. On Monday, administrators asked the board to approve three facets of the plan that would affirm the new learning structures, create a committee to review school start and end times, and launch the changes in the 2026-27 school year. The committee would make its recommendation to the board in June. After a lengthy discussion, the board was divided over they could support the recommendations, especially the new learning structures, without first exhausting all avenues of feedback. Attempting to modify the wording in the recommendation failed to move forward. 'If we push this to a vote, we are going to be very divided, and I think it creates the wrong image on where the board is in response to the Innovative School Experience,' said board member Donna Wandke, who had tried to clarify the language in the recommendation to assuage all concerned board members. Superintendent Dan Bridges said the district needs clarity to move forward and asked to work with district staff on its recommendation for the board to consider in the future. As a result, the board voted unanimously to table the recommendation. Board member Charles Cush said the ideas behind the Innovative School Experience will benefit the students, but 'you cannot have benefits without understanding costs.' 'There is not a question in my mind that the intent behind (the Innovative School Experience) in terms of what we are trying to do, what we are trying to accomplish, is noble and good and makes a lot of sense,' Cush said. 'But it has to be at the right cost. 'It just feels to me like we are dragging the community kicking and screaming into this without actually getting support and feedback,' he said. There are too many unanswered questions, Cush said. 'We have never done anything in this community as an island,' he said. 'It has always taken the support of the community and the support of the fantastic teaching staff that we have implementing these plans in our schools. Anything short of that, to me, doesn't make any sense.' The original plan was to have the proposal approved by the board in February for implementation in August. After pushback from parents, staff and students, the district delayed the start to the 2026-27 school year. Cush said because of this timeline, he believed there was extra time to gather more feedback from parents and staff. 'Honestly, if we put out a survey and we get two responses, we tried,' Wandke said. 'I don't feel like we tried.' Bridges noted that the changes will be subject to the collective bargaining agreements with the various unions in the district. Board members acknowledged the research that went into coming up with ways to improve the school experience, reducing achievement gaps and addressing the schedule so students aren't arriving to school long before their day starts. And officials mentioned there have been several avenues of feedback already sought, including focus groups, staff meetings, video messages, written and verbal comments, and discussions between principals and parent groups at the building levels. Board President Kristine Gericke said the bumps in the rollout have to be separated from the ideas that will be implemented. 'In order for the thoughts to stop swirling in my head, I had to ask myself what is my why?' Gericke said. 'It continues, for me, to be to focus on what is best for our kids. What do they need to succeed in this world? What do they need to succeed in whatever career path they choose? 'The kids are at the center of this,' she said.
Chicago Tribune
09-04-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Naperville D203 board may vote this month on school hours, block schedule
The Naperville District 203 School Board is likely to vote April 21 on an administration request to adjust school day hours and move towards a block schedule format for middle and high schools, despite opposition from some parents, teachers and students. Originally, the Innovative School Experience was to start this fall but officials pushed back the timeline to the start of the 2026-27 school year in the wake of pushback, especially from parents who said they needed time to adjust their home and work schedules and from teachers who say they will need to create different lesson plans. At Monday's school board meeting, Superintendent Dan Bridges said he would like the board to take action on the proposal later this month and direct the administration on the next steps to be taken. Board member Melissa Kelley Black countered that the board is still receiving complaints about the proposals and she's concerned the district doesn't have support from those the plan would affect. She'd prefer to give it more time, she said. 'It doesn't sound like the community or staff are ready for this so I guess the question is what is the hurry,' she said. 'Our trust with the community, with the staff, with morale, we've taken a hit with this.' One of the major shifts is the start and end times of the school day for elementary, middle and high school students. Elementary hours, which now run from 8:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., would switch to 7:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. under the proposal. Middle school would change from an 8 a.m. start to an 8:50 start time. It would also end 50 minutes later at 3:40 p.m. The high school day would start later and be shorter. Instead of 7:45 a.m. to 3:10 p.m., the day would run from 8:20 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. under the proposal. District officials want to alter the times so students arrive at school as close as possible to their start times. Currently bus logistics have forced students to arrive at high school as much as an hour before classes start and at middle school a half hour before classes start. Research also supports later start times for the well-being of adolescents, officials said. As for the new block schedule for middle and high schools, officials say it will allow students to delve deeper into topics and get more intervention if needed. More time will be devoted to math at the middle school level. Critics of the plan said changing start and end times to the school days affects all families and their work schedules. Some parents have to leave for work before middle school students would leave for school, prompting the district to explore before-school child care options. Parents also asked if the later release time would allow their children to participate in extracurricular activities, sports or allow time for evening activities. Questions have been raised about the block schedule as well, with some wondering whether students could stay engaged during longer class periods or if they would have trouble concentrating. Parent Dan Alamillo said he was concerned the district was addressing the issues raised by finding quick fixes that don't deal with the larger problems. 'Since the proposal was rolled out, we've heard parents, teachers, staffers and students raise concerns about its designs and impacts,' he said. 'The administration has reacted by trying to put Band-Aids on some of the issues that have been raised.' The district needs to collaborate with the community on the proposal, he said. 'Instead of playing catch-up and trying to piecemeal solutions as you go, the administration should get more minds in the room to work these kinds of problems,' Alamillo said. 'No one is going to be upset if you bring in stakeholders and take the necessary time to ensure whatever changes are needed get done right.'
