Schools

Wheaton Engage200 Session Draws Hundreds

More than 400 people turned out for Wheaton-Warrenville Community Unit School District 200's session on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014, in Wheaton, Ill., to discuss the district's future.

Hundreds of people turned out at Monroe Middle School on Wednesday for the first of Wheaton-Warrenville Community Unit School District 200’s six Engage200 sessions to plan for the district’s future, the Daily Herald reports.


Engage 200 is an effort to draw district taxpayers into the planning, and with the Daily Herald reporting that more than 400 people gathered for the session, it appears that process is off to a good start.


Attendees were seated at dozens of tables and were asked to list the greatest surprises and their chief priorities after hearing Superintendent Brian Harris present them with a summation of the district’s status. They also were asked to tank a list of topics that might be considered in the coming Engage200 meetings, according to the Daily Herald.

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The chief surprises, as reported by the Daily Herald, include:

  • The increase, from 16 percent in 2002 to 25 percent today, in the number of students who free or reduced-price lunches.

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  • That 32 percent of today’s students are ethnic minorities.


  • The Daily Herald listed the greatests concerns mentioned as:

    • Student performance and breaking a six-year cycle seen in ACT scores of flat student achievement.

    • Increasing technology.

  • District finances.

  • Transparency.


  • According to the Daily Herald, the Engage200 facilitating team will review the information gleaned from Wednesday’s session at least twice before the next public engagement session. The team will use that information to set priorities for the next session on Feb. 19, 2014.



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