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MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
June 11, 2012
Contact: Holly Goldin
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
847-512-6038
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Lawsuit Update: Taxpayers United of America Files Appeal With Illinois Supreme Court
(Wilmette, IL...) District 39 has received notice that Taxpayers United of America (TUA) has filed a petition for leave to appeal with the Illinois Supreme Court challenging the order dismissing TUA’s appeal to the First District Appellate Court for wont of prosecution. A copy of the petition for leave to appeal can be found here. The Illinois Supreme Court allowed the petition as noted here.
District 39 has 14 days to respond to this filing. The Supreme Court will then decide whether to accept the appeal.
Commenting on this latest development, Karen Donnan, President of the District 39 Board of Education said, “We are certainly disappointed that TUA was again unwilling to abide by the decision of the Appellate Court. This petition to the Illinois Supreme Court will cause the District to spend additional dollars in legal fees that should be used for the education of children in our community. This case has been a drain on District resources for more than a year. To date, District 39 has spent almost $48,000 in defense of this lawsuit. The Circuit and Appellate Courts have decided in favor of District 39 at every step. I sincerely hope this concludes quickly so District 39 can focus its resources and attention where it belongs, on our students.”
The original lawsuit, filed by TUA and Wilmette resident Herbert Sorock in May of 2011, challenged the ballot language used by District 39 in its successful April 5, 2011 referendum. It was dismissed with prejudice on June 23, 2011 with Circuit Court Judge Rita Novak rejecting all of the plaintiff’s allegations. Judge Novak had earlier dismissed the individual members of District 39’s Board of Education from the case on May 23, 2011. On July 6, 2011, TUA and Herbert Sorock filed an appeal of Judge Novak’s decisions and later filed two motions. One motion sought to place the appeal on an accelerated docket and was denied by the Appellate Court. The other motion, which the Court granted, was unopposed by District 39. It sought to consolidate the appeal of the case against District 39 with a similar appeal in the case against Oak Park School District 97. The appeal also challenged the dismissal of the individual board members.
Herbert Sorock is not participating in the current petition before the Illinois Supreme Court. A complete history of the legal filings and court decisions can be found here.
 Click here to download a PDF of this press release. (125 kB)
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MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
April 16, 2012
Contact: Holly Goldin
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
847-512-6038
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LAWSUIT UPDATE:
APPELLATE COURT DISMISSES SOROCK/TUA APPEAL CHALLENGING APRIL 2011 REFERENDUM
(Wilmette, IL...) The appeal of the lawsuit brought against District 39 by Herbert Sorock and Taxpayer's United of America (TUA) has been dismissed by the First District Appellate Court for want of prosecution. The Court's order can be found here. This ends the litigation initiated by Sorock and TUA in May of 2011 challenging the ballot language used by the District in its successful April 5, 2011 referendum.
The original lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice on June 23, 2011, with Circuit Court Judge Rita Novak rejecting all of the plaintiffs' allegations. Judge Novak had dismissed the individual members of District 39's Board of Education from the case earlier on May 23, 2011. On July 6, 2011, Sorock and TUA filed an appeal of Judge Novak's decisions and later filed two motions. One motion sought to place the appeal on an accelerated docket and was denied by the Appellate Court. The other motion, which the Court granted, was unopposed by District 39. It sought to consolidate the appeal of the case against District 39 with a similar appeal in the case against Oak Park School District 97. The appeal also challenged the dismissal of the individual board members.
Despite the initial filing of the appeal with a request that it be decided by the Court on an expedited basis, Sorock and TUA sought extensions of time to file their initial brief and ultimately did not diligently pursue the appeal. The Appellate Court finally dismissed the appeal against District 39 for Sorock's and TUA's failure to file their brief and move the appeal forward. The Court's order also dismissed the case against District 97.
Karen Donnan, President of the District 39 Board of Education, commented, "We are pleased that this lawsuit is finally behind us. District 39 prevailed on all of the issues at the Circuit Court and we were confident that the judgments of the lower court would stand. The decision by Herbert Sorock and TUA to appeal meant the District had to spend additional dollars on legal fees. We did not object to the motion consolidating our case with the appeal in the similar case in Oak Park District 97, believing that combining our two cases would serve to move the appeals forward in an efficient and expedited manner. At the end of the day, however, the District has spent more than $45,000 in defense of this lawsuit. Fortunately, we can now put all our financial resources where they belong, toward the education of the children in our community."
Click here to download a PDF of this press release (130 kB)
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MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
January 19, 2012
Contact: Holly Goldin
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
847-512-6038
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Children who live within the boundaries of District 39 and will turn five on or before September 1, 2012, can register for kindergarten beginning on February 1, 2012. District 39 serves portions of Wilmette, Glenview and Winnetka. Packets for registration are available at each elementary school. Each of the four elementary schools in District 39 will hold Kindergarten Parent Orientation on Tuesday, April 17, 2012 from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Each school will hold a lottery on April 23, 2012 to determine morning and afternoon kindergarten placements. Letters will be mailed on April 27, 2012 to all registrants.
The District 39 elementary schools are:
| Central School |
910 Central Ave. |
847-251-3252 |
| Harper School |
1101 Dartmouth St. |
847-251-6754 |
| McKenzie School |
649 Prairie Ave. |
847-251-2295 |
| Romona School |
600 Romona Rd. |
847-256-0211 |
A map of the District's boundaries and the attendance area of each school can be found on the District's web site at www.wilmette39.org.
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 Melanie Goffen Horowitz
Administrator for Curriculum and Instruction
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Mikaelian Education Center
615 Locust Road; Wilmette, IL 60091
v 847-512-6002 f 847-256-2959
www.wilmette39.org
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January 19, 2012
Dear Parents:
Wilmette Public Schools will have an early release day on Friday, January 27, 2012 for K-8th grade students. Early release days are used for staff development, collaborative planning, implementation of district and school initiatives, conference/report card preparation, and/or committee work. Please be sure to mark your calendar.
To assist parents who have childcare needs on January 27, we are happy to report that the Wilmette Park District, in collaboration with District 39, will provide transportation to the Community Recreation Center for an afternoon full of fun. Children will have Domino's Pizza for lunch and participate in recreational activities in the afternoon.
Kindergarteners may also participate in a special activity before lunch. D39 Kindergarten is in session for morning kindergarteners only on January 27, but afternoon kindergarteners are welcome to join at the CRC at 10:30 a.m. Please note that transportation is not available for PM kindergarteners. Pick-up is promptly at 3:15 p.m. at the CRC.
The registration deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20 for the Jan. 27 program. If you've not yet registered your child and would like to take advantage of this program, please access the Park District website information at www.wilmettepark.org or register in person at the Park District.
At this time, the Park District is not offering a program for junior high students. If you have any questions regarding this program, please contact the Wilmette Park District at 847-256-9686.
Sincerely,
Melanie Goffen Horowitz
Administrator for Curriculum and Instruction
Early Dismissal Times for Jan. 27, 2012
A.M. Kindergarten students will attend from 8:55 A.M. to 10:20 A.M.
No school for P.M. Kindergarten students.
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Grades 1-4
Grades 5 & 6
Grades 7 & 8
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12:15 P.M.
11:45 A.M.
10:55 A.M.
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**No Connecting Kids Preschool for A.M., P.M., or full day students on 1/27/2012.**
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MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
January 5, 2012
Contact: Holly Goldin
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
847-512-6038
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Department of Public Health Adopts Changes to Immunization Requirement
Beginning with the 2012-13 school year, any child entering sixth grade must provide proof of receiving one dose of Tdap, defined as Tetanus, Diphtheria and Acellular Pertussis vaccine. In addition, next school year students entering grades 7-12 who have not already received the Tdap must also have one Tdap dose and provide proof to the schools of having this vaccine. The Tdap is not to be confused with the DTaP, DT, or Td vaccines. This change is part of the 77 Illinois Administrative Code 665.240(a). These new rules have been adopted and became effective September 27, 2011. Illinois Department of Public Health provided flexibility in implementing the new regulation since the law became effective after the start of the 2011-‐2012 school year; school districts were allowed to postpone the enforcement of this change until the 2012-‐13 school year.
TDAP FAQ (97 kB)
TDAP Parent Notice 2012-01-25 (100 kB)
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MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
December 13, 2011
Contact: Holly Goldin
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
847-512-6038
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Becky Littmann Named Central Principal
(Wilmette, IL...) District 39 Superintendent Dr. Raymond Lechner announced that Becky Littmann has been named the permanent principal for Central School. Ms. Littman has been serving as the school's interim principal since July 2010.
Ms. Littmann joined District 39 in 1998 as a fifth grade teacher at Highcrest. She became Assistant Principal at McKenzie in 2004 and added to her responsibilities in 2007 when she became assistant principal at Central. Previously, she held several teaching positions in Michigan and South Carolina.
Dr. Lechner noted Ms. Littmann's strong qualifications. "We are so pleased to have Becky at the helm of Central School. Her experience in District 39 has been truly outstanding. For three years, she has capably supported two principals, gaining a good deal of important experience. She consistently demonstrates compassionate leadership and a sincere commitment to the children, their families, and the staff. I look forward to her continued contributions to District 39 and the Central School community."
Ms. Littmann holds a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Michigan and a master's of education in administration and supervision from Loyola University of Chicago.
Central School is one of four elementary schools in District 39. It serves students from kindergarten through fourth grade. The others are, Harper, McKenzie, and Romona. District 39 also includes Highcrest Middle School (grades 5-6) and Wilmette Junior High School (grades 7-8).
Click here to download a PDF of this Press Release (113 kB)
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Melanie Goffen Horowitz
Administrator for Curriculum and Instruction
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Mikaelian Education Center
615 Locust Road, Wilmette, IL 60091
v 847-512-6002 f 847-256-2959
www.wilmette39.org
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October 20, 2011
Dear Parents:
Wilmette Public Schools will have four early release days this year, on Monday, October 31, 2011, Friday, January 27, 2012, and Friday, March 23, 2012 for grades K–8, and Thursday, April 19, 2012 for grades K–4. Early release days are used for staff development, collaborative planning, implementation of district and school initiatives, conference/report card preparation, and/or committee work. Please be sure to mark your calendars with these dates.
To assist parents who have childcare needs on October 31, we are happy to report that the Wilmette Park District, in collaboration with District 39, will provide transportation to the Community Recreation Center for an afternoon full of fun. Children will have Domino's Pizza for lunch and participate in recreational activities in the afternoon.
Kindergarteners may also participate in a special activity before lunch. D39 Kindergarten is in session for morning kindergarteners only on October 31st, but afternoon kindergarteners are welcome to join at the CRC at 10:30 a.m. Please note that transportation is not available for PM kindergarteners. Pick-up is promptly at 3:15 p.m. at the CRC.
The registration deadline is 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24th for the Oct. 31st program. If you’ve not yet registered your child and would like to take advantage of this program, please access the Park District website information at www.wilmettepark.org, or register in person at the Park District.
At this time, the Park District is not offering a program for junior high students. If you have any questions regarding this program, please contact the Wilmette Park District at 847-256-9686.
Sincerely,
Melanie Goffen Horowitz
Administrator for Curriculum and Instruction
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Early Dismissal Times for Oct. 31, 2011
A.M. Kindergarten students will attend from 8:55 A.M. to 10:20 A.M.
No school for P.M. Kindergarten students.
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Grades 1–4
Grades 5 & 6
Grades 7 & 8 |
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12:15 P.M.
11:45 A.M.
10:55 A.M. |
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**No Connecting Kids Preschool for A.M., P.M.,
or full day students on 10/31/2011.**
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Dear District 39 Families,
 I am pleased to announce that the District 39 Educational Foundation will bestow its fourth Distinguished Citizen Award on Tuesday, May 3, 2011. This year’s recipient is District 39 volunteer and Wilmette resident, performer and entrepreneur, Carole Dibo. Selflessly sharing her nationally recognized talents with our District 39 community for the past twenty-two years, Carole has made an indelible mark and is most deserving of this honor.
Those who know Carole know she gravitated toward the performing arts early on. After acting school, she launched a successful career acting in the Washington, D.C. area for many years. Eventually, Carole landed in Wilmette, choosing this community because of its excellent school system and its proximity to the city.
In Wilmette, Carole – a devoted mother of three – focused her boundless energy on family, while Carole – the thespian – funneled her creative energy towards District 39 schools. Her impact was felt at McKenzie (founder of the McClub’s Drama Program), at Highcrest (creator and eight year producer of the legendary Variety Show), and at WJHS (initiator and two year producer of its Variety Show). Carole was clearly instrumental in bringing performing arts opportunities to so many District 39 children. As a result, hundreds can recall the thrill of taking a bow, hearing the applause, and feeling the camaraderie of an ensemble. Beyond this contribution, Carole also found time to serve as the McKenzie PTA President-Elect and President and to sit on the Executive Board at Highcrest during its premier year.
Through the years, Carole successfully maintained her acting career. Yet, when word surfaced in 2006 that the Wilmette Theatre was destined to become a furniture store, Carole left the business and, with her husband and business partners, purchased the historic theatre. It was lovingly restored and has since become the community hot spot for live productions, feature films and special interest movies. With an eye to the future, Carole further expanded the performing arts mission of the space to include: The Actors Training Center (ATC), which enrolls more than 200 Chicagoland students; the ATC Repertory Company, staging ten productions per year with the most committed youth actors; and the Wilmette Theatre Education Project, a non-profit.
I welcome everyone in the community to attend the cocktail reception and award presentation on May 3rd at the Michigan Shores Club from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Because Carole has touched so many District 39 students through the years, the Foundation is inviting junior high and high school students to attend the event with their parents. Tickets are available in advance by calling 847-853-3939 or by ordering online at www.d39foundation.org. The cost of tickets is $65 for adults, $25 for students. Proceeds of the event benefit the District 39 Educational Foundation.
I look forward to a special evening and hope to see many of you there!
Your partner in education,
Raymond E. Lechner, Ph.D.
Superintendent
Wilmette Public Schools District 39
Click here to download this letter as a PDF (100.11 kB)
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