La Grange District 102

January 2026 District Newsletter

If you are anything like me, there is a bittersweet feeling that comes with the end of the holiday season and the start of the new year. I love the lights, the time with family, as well as the general break from the day-to-day routine of the school year.  But I also really like getting back into that routine.  My children would disagree - the break ended too soon, and they were shocked that I remembered they needed an earlier bedtime.   

One of the things that I wrote on the whiteboard in my office just before the break was “Update the Community on progress toward the goals of our Strategic Plan.”  It seems fitting that as we launch into a new calendar year and a new semester in our school year, we take stock of how much we are accomplishing in D102, while also identifying and maintaining a laser focus on the goals we have yet to achieve.  I am so proud of the work that our staff does every day - in our classrooms, intervention spaces, team meetings, and even informally when passing in the hallways.  Their commitment to creating opportunities for learning, laughing, and belonging is remarkable.  Here is a glimpse of what we have in store and what the District can look forward to as we start 2026.

Goal 1 - Instructional Programming: Achievement and Growth

The new district-wide ELA curriculum has now been fully implemented, and teachers and students report that it has raised the rigor and expectations in language arts.  While there are still some growing pains, we are very pleased to see how the new curriculum is meeting the needs of students and staff across the District. I look forward to the study and renewal of both the science and social studies curricula in the future. The curriculum department and all of the staff definitely embrace our vision: High Expectations and Continuous Improvement for All.

Goal 2 - Equity: Access Opportunity and Belonging

The expansion of TD opportunities for all K-2 students is very exciting, and open enrollment in LA+ coursework for students in grades 6-8 has opened doors for so many students to a more challenging and enriched course of study.  We are committed to reviewing and revising these program changes to ensure that we create as many opportunities as possible for students to find the right pace and level of support they need to be successful.

Goal 3 - Investment in Staff

All D102 teacher-leaders completed Professional Learning Community (PLC) training and are working with all other teachers to embed research-based collaborative strategies to improve student learning and build staff trust. I am also looking forward to a successful and fruitful discussion with the leadership of the Education Association (EA) as we work to finalize a new contract.

Goal 4 - Community Engagement

This newsletter is filled with information about the ways that D102 is making and strengthening connections with the community.  I would strongly recommend you attend our NEW parent education series focused on Technology.  I have thoroughly enjoyed our burgeoning partnership with Hold the Phone (HTP) and look forward to hearing from the expert speakers we have lined up this spring.

Goal 5 - Finance

Earlier this week, you received our quarterly financial newsletter.  One of our goals is to increase financial transparency and communication. The newsletter does a great job highlighting the success of our investment in competitive grant writing over the past year.  Ms. Dominiak has been an amazing addition to the staff, and her prosperous grant writing work speaks for itself. We will continue to expand communication and will remain focused on maintaining a budget that allows the District to build a reserve fund while meeting the academic and structural needs of the District.

Goal 6 - Future Ready Facilities

Thanks again to the generous support of our community, we are ready to launch the bidding process on the first phase of our referendum-funded Renew D102 projects. Over the next summer, Cossitt, Forest Road, and Barnsdale will undergo extensive renovation and additional work (Ogden and Congress Park are slated for summer 2027).  All playgrounds will be renovated and/or replaced this summer. We will break ground on the new wing at Park to accommodate 6-8 grade students for the fall of 2027 - which is also the year in which we expand hands-on science learning by opening a STEM lab in each school.  So much to look forward to!

I wish you all a Happy New Year and a successful 2026!

In partnership with Hold the Phone, D102 is proud to announce the 2026 Tech Education Series, launching after the new year!

About the Series

January 28 at 7:00 PM - Visit from Emily Cherkin, The Screentime Consultant
We’re excited to kick off the series by welcoming nationally recognized author and speaker Emily Cherkin, who will inspire our community with practical ways to stay tech-intentional in an ever-changing digital world. Parents—mark your calendars!

February 25 at 6:30 PM — Screening of Screenagers: Elementary School Edition
Join us at Park Auditorium for a showing of this newest installment in the Screenagers documentary series. This film builds on the original by exploring the impact of technology on younger children. Families are encouraged to attend together. Learn more about the film here.

Spring 2026 — Visit from Lisa Honold, Director of the Center for Online Safety
Lisa Honold will spend several days in our schools engaging students in grades 3–6 on topics such as online reputation, privacy habits, and healthy screen-time practices. She will also lead interactive sessions with 7th and 8th graders at Park. Date to be announced at a later date. 

Hold the Phone will then host a Parent Night featuring Lisa, where she will recap her student presentations and offer guidance on how families can reinforce these principles at home. Stay tuned for the confirmed date and additional event details.

If you have questions or would like to support any of these events, please contact Hold the Phone at info@parentsforholdthephone.org

January is Board of Education Recognition Month! We proudly thank our Board of Education members for their dedication, leadership, and service to our students, staff, and community. Their commitment to student success and thoughtful decision-making helps guide our district forward every day. #WeAreD102

Between February 2- February 13, second, third, and fourth-grade students will participate in the administration of the Naglieri General Ability Tests. The purpose of the assessment is to identify student potential and Verbal, Non-verbal, and Quantitative reasoning.  This assessment is one component of data collection to identify students who may benefit from placement in the Talent Development Enrichment programming for grades 3-5. Though the assessment is primarily utilized for placement in the Talent Development programming, it is also useful information for the classroom teacher to understand student strength areas.

You can learn more about the Naglieri General Ability Test at https://naglierigiftedtests.com/test-prep. The questions on the three tests measure a student’s general ability to understand relationships among pictures (the verbal test), diagrams (the nonverbal test), and numbers (the quantitative test), and can be solved regardless of what language a student speaks or what a student has been previously taught in school. 

Assessment reports will be sent home in May.

In a continued effort to identify students for placement in accelerated math courses, all students in Math 6/ Accelerated Math 6/Math 7 will be completing the Iowa Algebraic Aptitude Test (IAAT)  between January 20 and January 30. This assessment aims to “use a standardized measure to indicate mathematics aptitude to assist in placement decisions”(Schoen & Ansley, 2006). IAAT and MAP data results will be reviewed to determine placement in accelerated math for students for the 2026-2027 school year.

Placement considerations:

The assessment has four sections: Pre-Algebraic Number Skills and Concepts, Interpreting Mathematical Information, Representing Relationships, and Using Symbols. Each section includes 15 items to be completed in 10 minutes. The total assessment time is 40 minutes and will be completed in one test session during students’ regularly scheduled math class.

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Melendez at melendezsa@dist102.k12.il.us.

Since the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year, many Illinois school districts in Cook County faced the challenge of managing operational finances with the absence of 2024 property tax revenue distributions. The property tax distribution delay has been cited because of technical issues with the Cook County Treasurer’s Office (CCTO) computer system. This same problem was the reason for the late submission of the tax bills to Cook County property owners.

However, there is a positive recent update for Cook County school districts. During late December 2025, the CCTO released 20% of the 2024 property taxes billed to school districts. The amount that D102 received specifically was slightly over $14M, which is roughly 60% of our expected fall tax revenue distribution. While this shows promising progress, there is still some uncertainty as to when the remaining tax distributions will be received. Efforts and action taken by numerous Cook County school districts and advocacy groups for CCTO accountability should be applauded in assisting with the advancement of property tax distributions to the school districts.

D102 had to borrow $13M in tax anticipation warrants (TAWs) to finance operations during the delay. Those funds will be due for repayment in February 2026. It is our hope that the district will receive the additional tax distribution revenue before that date.

D102 is filled with passionate and dedicated educators who make a difference every day. Let’s show our appreciation by nominating an educator who deserves the spotlight! 📢

STEM EXPO offers students from Kindergarten to 6th grade the opportunity to explore a science topic of their choice. We encourage you to use your creative and inventive skills to create a project at home and share what you learned with other students, families, and teachers at EXPO. Projects range in complexity from simple observations to full experiments, inventions, or technology projects. 

As your Family Liaisons, we seek to facilitate communication between families, district staff, other families and community partners to better meet the social and academic needs of our students’ families. Our deliberate community-building approach is designed to forge partnerships throughout District 102. We are eager to collectively enact strategies that realize and develop our strengths as a whole.

As your Family Liaisons, we're here to support you and connect you with helpful resources throughout the year. Whether you're looking for food assistance, housing support, mental health services, or enrichment opportunities for your children, we've gathered a variety of community resources in one easy-to-access document.

This guide will be updated throughout the year as new opportunities and services become available. We encourage you to bookmark it and check back often!

👉 Click here to explore community resources.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions or need help navigating these supports. We’re here for you!

Welcome, parents and family members of the D102 community! This is your dedicated space to discover the sports and activities available for your young scholars within the community of La Grange, La Grange Park, and Brookfield.

Here, you'll find an array of flyers highlighting engaging programs tailored to every age and interest. Whether your child is a sports enthusiast, an aspiring artist, or simply eager to explore new adventures, there's something here to captivate their curiosity and nurture their passions.

From youth sports leagues to creative arts workshops, from educational clubs to community events, we're committed to providing enriching opportunities for your child to learn, grow, and connect with their peers. Our aim is to foster a sense of belonging and camaraderie within our diverse community while promoting physical activity, creativity, and personal development.

The Caring Place: After-School Tutoring at First Baptist Church (Tuesdays & Thursdays)

• Earth Day Resources

  • Dream Green Resources

• Mental Health Awareness Month

• September 2025 - What's Poppin?

• Banned Together Screening & Panel Discussion

Referral GPS - Connecting People to Treatment:  We are committed to creating a culture of well-being for students, staff,  parents, and the community. In an effort to continuously support this commitment, the district has entered an agreement with ReferralGPS. 

ReferralGPS is a web-based service focused on assisting our students,  staff, and community in finding local mental-health and substance use-related treatment. The service compliments the districts existing systems of support as a tool for student service teams and families to connect with treatment. Along with a searchable database of treatment options, ReferralGPS provides Care Navigation to assist families in triage, appointment setting, and follow-up care. 

School families may access ReferralGPS in two ways: 

1) Visit this link at https://referralgps.com/find-help/dist102 to search for treatment resources or connect with a Care  Navigator anonymously. 

2) Contact Student Services (social workers, psychologists,  counselors) to seek out treatment options. 

ReferralGPS takes into account all types of private and public insurance including PPO, HMO, Medicaid, Medicare, and families who are uninsured or underinsured. The platform also filters by age, gender, zip code, and special requests. 

ReferralGPS is available for use by district students, staff, and families at no cost. All information entered on the ReferralGPS tool is completely confidential and securely stored. 

If you are interested in seeking counseling-related services at this time,  please consider visiting https://referralgps.com/find-help/dist102 or reaching out to the Student Services team.