District Restructuring
January 30, 2009
January 20, 2009
Dear Parents, Staff and Community Members:
I hope that you all had a joyous and blessed holiday season. The Cahokia School District has started the second semester of classes and the students are gearing up for the Illinois State Assessment Test during the first two weeks of March.
As I’m sure you are aware, the Elementary schools in Cahokia have been making Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for the past couple of years. Our students’ Math scores are well above the Illinois state average. Our Middle School Students have improved but have not met AYP for the past 5 years. Cahokia High School students continue to struggle as well. Many school districts across the nation are having similar difficulties. Although we have tried to make various changes at both the Middle and High School levels, the district and our students cannot continue to be left behind. NOW is the time for drastic measures to improve student achievement in grades 7 – 12.
The Cahokia School District has found some success by creating the Cahokia School of Choice through decreased discipline referrals, more student-teacher interaction, and increased parental involvement. Smaller Learning Communities are being developed throughout the nation and showing promising results in increasing student achievement. Since the Middle and High School have not achieved AYP for five consecutive school years, the district is required to develop a Restructuring Plan to take effect in the 2009-2010 school year.
Next school year, the Cahokia School District will be eliminating the Wirth Middle School program; instead all elementary schools (Penniman, E. Morris, Maplewood, Huffman, Centerville, and Lalumier) will be Kindergarten through grade 8 attendance centers. In addition, a new K – 8 school of choice will be created in a portion of the Wirth Middle School building called the Wirth School of Choice. Jerome Early Childhood Center and the K-12 Cahokia School of Choice will remain the same. The Estelle Sauget Academic Center will house students in grades 7 through 12 and will have vocational options for their high school students.
In addition, the Cahokia High School Annex will be closed due to Health, Life, Safety concerns and demolished. Architectural estimates are that the Annex would cost more to renovate than to build a new building costing several million dollars. Although the building is safe for occupation now, the building is rapidly deteriorating. The new Freshman Academy will be located at the current Oliver Parks campus with its own Principal. The Cahokia High School main campus will be open for grades 10-12. A new magnet high school will be developed called Cahokia High School East campus housing students in grades 10-12 at a portion of the current Wirth building that focuses on college preparation, as well as, computer technology.
In this manner, the Cahokia School District will have all Smaller Learning Communities with 500 or less students. Each school will have their own Principal with Assistant Principals only at schools that have approximately 425 or more students. Our students deserve the best and can achieve at higher levels! We need to provide them with the proper attention, resources, instruction, and materials.
In order to achieve these measures, an addition will be built to the existing Cahokia School of Choice and Maplewood Schools to provide 4 additional classrooms and an appropriate sized all purpose room for physical education and cafeteria spaces. The Wirth School of Choice will be separated from the CHS East campus by a glass wall and double doors. The CHS East campus will have a separate entrance most likely on the North side of the building. The following school year, additions of 4 classrooms are planned for E. Morris, Penniman, and Huffman. The HVAC projects at Jerome and E. Morris will be completed this summer, as will the new roof and tuck pointing at the CHS main building. New floor tile will be completed at Lalumier Elementary this school year and continuing repairs and renovations will be on-going at all buildings.
Several opportunities will be offered for parents and community members that want to learn more about the Restructuring Plan and progress. Information only meetings will be held on February 9, February 10, and February12 at the Estelle Sauget gym at 6:00 pm. We have tried to plan opportunities on more than one night so you can attend the night that fits your schedule.
An informational meeting and registration for the Wirth School of Choice will be held at
6:00 pm in the Estelle Sauget gym on February 23, 2009. Parents and guardians will have their first chance to register their children for this K-8 school of choice. Enrollment will be completed on a first come, first serve basis. After this meeting you may register your child for the Wirth School of Choice by seeing the receptionist at the Board of Education building anytime that week.
A special meeting will be held for all students enrolling in the 6th grade for next school year on Thursday, March 12th at 6:00 pm in the Estelle Sauget gym. Parents will be able to begin registering their students that evening. Due to space constraints, your child may not be able to attend his/her home school for 6th grade unless you register early.
A special meeting will be held on Monday, March 16, 2009 at 6:00 pm in the **Oliver Parks gym for students enrolling in the 7th and 8th grades for next school year. Parents will be able to begin registering their children that evening. Due to space constraints, your child may not be able to attend his/her home school for 7th and 8th grade unless you register early. (**Please note this meeting takes place at Oliver Parks gym.)
The Cahokia School District administration and Board members have tried to incorporate many of the comments on the Parent surveys that were returned last Spring and this Fall into the Restructuring Plan. We have researched the most successful school practices across the nation to provide guidance. We want all children to learn to their fullest potential in a safe and healthy environment conducive to learning! I hope that you will join with us to make this an easy transition for all children.
Sincerely,
Jana L. Bechtoldt
Superintendent
