Dear Parents and Taxpayers,

This publication is the second edition of what the McHenry Elementary School District 15 Board of Education plans to mail to all taxpayers every Spring/Summer. It is designed to inform the community of significant progress and actions that have been made during the past school year. Since the successful passage of the March 2006 school referendum, the Board of Education made a number of key decisions that have improved the education for all students.


The District 15 Board of Education is proud to announce that three District 15 schools have received 2007 academic awards from the Illinois State Board of Education.

Landmark School has earned the Academic Excellence Award, while McHenry Middle School and Hilltop School have earned the Academic Improvement Award. Both McHenry Middle School and Hilltop School are now two-time winners of the Academic Improvement Award. Congratulations to all the parents, teachers, staff, and students who have
worked hard to warrant recognition from the Illinois State Board of Education.

These three schools are excellent examples of the quality education that
all of our schools provide to our students. If you wish to learn more
about the specific criteria for these awards, please visit www.isbe.net.


In January 2007, the Board of Education approved a Strategic Plan which will serve as the blueprint for years to come (see January 2007 Superintendent’s Update to peruse the document at www.d15.org). The items listed below are all actions that have been taken this year per the Strategic Plan:

♦ New elementary reading materials were purchased this Spring
♦ More students have been enrolled in challenging middle school algebra classes
♦ A new elementary technology class has been implemented
♦ Two new middle school exploratory classes (music and problembased learning) have been offered to students
♦ Additional classroom teachers were hired to ease overcrowding
♦ Additional special education and bilingual teachers were hired
♦ A police resource officer for the middle schools was hired to enhance safety and security
♦ Additional technology staff were hired to maintain hardware and software, as well as to update all school district websites
♦ Progress has been made in developing a new technology link to grades, progress, and attendance records that will be available to parents in the near future
♦ Bond payments were deferred so that monies are set aside for future building additions/expansions when needed
♦ An enrollment study was conducted to inform building needs
♦ A five year financial projection has been developed
♦ An energy study/evaluation was completed for all buildings


As a taxpayer, I hope you can see that the school district has made a number of positive decisions that have improved the quality of education for our students, while remaining fiscally responsible to our citizens. McHenry Elementary School District 15’s tax rate continues to be in the lower range for McHenry County school districts. In terms of financial health, our school district has received the highest financial rating from the State of Illinois for the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 school years. To access the 2007/2008 school year budget, visit our website at www.d15.org.


Board of Education meetings are typically held on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. The public is always welcome to attend these meetings. In addition, past minutes of Board of Education meetings are posted on our website, as well as specific dates and locations. Board of Education members may be reached at info@d15.org.

Finally, thank you for supporting our schools in McHenry Elementary School District 15. Have a safe and happy summer.

R. Alan Hoffman
Superintendent