Dear Beach Park Learning Community,
Monday, at the Board of Education regular meeting, the Board approved the presented staffing plan for the 2025-2026 school year in a 5-1 vote. Staffing plans are always difficult decisions to make and develop. All schools are small family communities and the relationships built between staff, between staff and families, and between staff and students are close knit, personal and student centered.
As superintendent, I make recommendations to our Board of Education grounded in what is best for OUR students first and foremost. I also make recommendations based on a ten-thousand foot view instead of based on individual classrooms, or individual schools. I also use research, experience, and student centered ideals to make the best decisions possible for ALL students, because ALL means ALL when it comes to education and student learning.
I would like to take the opportunity to share some specifics pertaining to the staffing plan so everyone has the same facts, the same information, and the same explanation directly from the District and not second and third hand sources.
No BPD3 staff will be laid off due to changes in staffing, based on the plan itself.
All staff members impacted by the staffing plan were given the opportunity to meet with the superintendent one on one and provide input on their top 3 choices of open positions within the District they are certified to do; all of these staff members will receive their number one choice for open position placement.
We are relocating all gifted programming 3rd-5th grade to Newport Elementary School. This move will create two additional new teaching positions within the District and allow staff to meet the needs of this group more effectively. The decision was made due to concerns about gifted programming during our strategic planning process. The move aims to address overcrowding in other elementary schools while providing better programming and learning opportunities to our students. Parents of current and newly identified gifted students will receive a personal phone call to discuss the change and available options for the gifted students and their families.
Kenneth Murphy will move from 3 classes at each grade level to 2 classes at each grade level based on student enrollment with the exception of third grade; All class sizes will be below the max number of students following the language in the current teacher contract; Enrollment will be revisited throughout the summer, and another section at any grade level could be opened before school starts should the numbers indicate the need for it.
If another section needs to be reopened, any staff member that had to move to a different position within the District will have the opportunity to move back to their original position at Kenneth Murphy if they desire to.
The reduced kindergarten position will be reallocated to a dual language kindergarten position due to increased interest in dual language programming. The future goal of the District is to maintain dual language programming in both Howe Elementary and Kenneth Murphy, rolling up one grade level at a time at Kenneth Murphy like we did at Howe when dual language programming began.
At Howe Elementary School, one general education 5th grade teacher will move to a different position per a voluntary transfer request in order to allow for the dual language programming to roll up to 5th grade, opening a new dual language 5th grade position.
Howe Elementary will reduce down by one EL Resource teacher, but this position will be reallocated to the middle school where the needs have increased exponentially for EL support.
Oak Crest Elementary School will reduce down by 2 teachers in special education based on enrollment and programming and caseload.
Newport Elementary will reduce down to one fifth grade teacher due to enrollment numbers, however, due to a voluntary transfer request, the staff member will be reallocated to a different grade level.
Beach Park Middle School will increase by 4 EL Resource teachers to include content area EL staff in order to meet the increasing needs of EL students at BPMS. The middle school will also increase by one special education teacher in order to continue implementing more inclusionary practices as well as adding a second health clerk to meet the increasing needs and the enrollment numbers at BPMS.
Across the District, we will reduce the number of TA’s by 4. This is due to the elimination of a specific TA job title, however, this TA job title will be absorbed into different TA positions, again with all TA’s maintaining positions in the District.
Change is difficult. Losing beloved staff members at specific buildings is difficult. Losing beloved teachers at buildings is difficult for our students and families. One of the key tenants of PLC’s is they are ALL our students. Our Vision is BPD3 is dedicated to the success of EVERYONE by creating pathways of learning. Our Strategic Plan Priority Areas as a District include the District being Proactive and Accountable. This staffing plan aligns with our District's Strategic Plan, our Vision, and our Mission: We empower OUR students to learn, lead, and succeed as a connected community.
As Superintendent, I have spent a great deal of time reflecting how to better involve OUR entire learning community in the development of possible staffing plans in the future.
As we move forward, I know District communication is also a priority area within our Strategic Plan, and this will be my focus. While I am not perfect, I am reflective and always growing in my role as superintendent, but please know my service and dedication to our students and staff will never waiver, as they are the reason I want to lead here in Beach Park. I believe to my core that being transparent and empowering all members of OUR learning community to have a voice will be paramount in truly creating the learning partnership needed for our District to move towards all schools being recognized as Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence, and all schools being rated .excellent in designation by the Illinois State Board of Education.
Thank you for your support, dedication, and passion for our Students, our Staff, and our District.
In partnership,
Dr. Denise Wilcox
Superintendent