Wilmette Public Schools

Engage, Empower, Inspire

I hope you all have enjoyed the early weeks of summer and were able to safely celebrate the holiday weekend with friends and loved ones. Today our neighbors in Highland Park experienced a terrible tragedy while celebrating the 4th of July. We have been in contact with members of our learning community who live in Highland Park and have pledged our unequivocal support as we continue to stay strong and stay together in the face of tragedy.

We were deeply saddened to hear the news of the shooting today at a Texas elementary school and the tremendous loss to the Uvalde community. I want to assure you that the safety of our students is our top priority and that our schools have a comprehensive safety plan in place that is reviewed and updated annually in partnership with the Wilmette Police Department.  

Spearheaded by student councils and other student-led groups across all six schools, District 39 recently completed its "Read for Refugees" initiative. This project, which centered on helping those displaced during the Ukrainian crisis, continues D39’s rich tradition of giving back to those in need.

District 39 has been awarded a grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation as part of its K-12 Solar Schools program, which fosters the teaching of science, math, technology, and the environment through the use of solar panels to create energy.

During this evening’s special meeting, the District 39 Board of Education voted to approve the D39 Reduced Mitigations Plan. Per Board directive, this plan will be implemented tomorrow, Wednesday, February 23, ​in all District 39 schools.

With our landscape changing on a seemingly daily basis, we wanted to share a couple of brief updates as we prepare for the upcoming Special Meeting of the Board of Education, which will be held on Tuesday, February 22 at 7 pm at Wilmette Junior High School. 

On Feb. 14, we gathered for our Board of Education Committee of the Whole meeting, where our proposed D39 Reduced Mitigation Plan was a primary item for Board review and discussion. An in-depth presentation of the proposed plan was provided, followed by discussion by the D39 Board of Education and public comment from parents and community members. We are now moving into a review and feedback period wherein the Board is actively seeking input from all stakeholders on the proposed Plan.

I want to start by expressing my gratitude for your partnership and support of District 39, our schools and, most importantly, our students and staff. While the last two years have certainly presented plenty of challenges, the collective spirit of our learning community has allowed us to continue to provide a first-class education to our students.

We are proud of the ways in which we have continued to collectively navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, including the recent surge, to provide our students with invaluable in-person instruction. We thank you for your partnership in support of these efforts. The purpose of this letter is to update you on court rulings that took place in Sangamon County. 

As we continue to navigate cold weather season, we want to share some important information regarding District 39 protocols and procedures for dealing with inclement weather and school closure considerations. Although we hope to avoid the cancelation of classes, the safety of our students and staff is always our top priority.

Wilmette District 39 has been awarded the highest possible rating, an Aaa, from Moody’s Investors Service. The Aaa bond rating for General Obligation Debt Certificates (GOLT) is at the top of Moody’s rating scale and reflects the District’s commitment to financial responsibility, stability and long-term planning.

Registration for the six District 39 schools is now open for the 2022-23 academic year. Families with returning students should visit the PowerSchool parent portal. For families new to D39, please visit www.wilmette39.org/enroll for instructions on the registration process.