Schools

12 New Science Labs Among Recommendations for D109 Improvements

The board heard this week from the Superintendent's Task Force for Middle Level Education.

District 109’s middle schools could be getting some major upgrades and curriculum changes, particularly in its science instruction, if the board accepts a number of recommendations made by the Superintendent’s Task Force for Middle Level Education.

The task force, which included input from more than 140 community members, was an outgrowth of the conversations Superintendent Michael Lubelfeld had with community members last summer.

Lubelfeld gave a presentation to the board Monday night that included a recommendation for 12 new “next generation” science labs and four new creative learning labs where science, technology, engineering and math, as well as communication media arts can be taught, according to the district website’s recap of the meeting.

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You can view the full presentation here.

Other recommendations included “innovation Fridays” where staff are able to have more flexible, fun instruction; moving band, orchestra and possibly chorus into the school day; and offering French and Spanish in 6th grade with a requirement that at least 15 students enroll in a language for it to be offered.

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If approved by the board, some recommendations would start in the next school year with others beginning the following year.

Lubelfed stressed that no new bond issues or referendum will be needed to make any improvements because money has been set aside over the last decade in the capital projects fund.

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