D115 & D67 School Board Meeting Recaps (November 2025)

Below are copies of our latest board meeting recap emails. As always, you can subscribe to receive these straight to your inbox here.

📢 D115 Board Recap – November 11, 2025

Dear Local neighbor,

This week’s District 115 Board meeting came at an important moment, as the district prepares to vote on the maximum allowable tax levy.

With taxes set to increase, it is more important than ever for families to understand the full academic picture behind the district’s public reporting.

There is good news to recognize.

Lake Forest High School earned its fourth consecutive “Exemplary” rating, and student growth in English Language Arts was strong. These are meaningful accomplishments that reflect the hard work of students and staff.

At the same time, as outlined in Parents Care’s analysis Lake Forest High School Illinois Report Card 2025: How We Really Measure Up, the State’s designations and data shifts require careful interpretation.

A few key points to keep in mind as the board considers the levy:

• “Exemplary” is not an academic rating. It is driven mainly by attendance, graduation rates, and chronic absenteeism. It does not measure whether LFHS students are outperforming their peers academically.

• Statewide proficiency rates increased this year because the State lowered cut scores in ELA and math, raising scores on paper while making this year’s data an “apples-to-oranges” comparison.

• Raw academic data tells a more complex story. ACT averages, historical trends, and comparisons to neighboring high-performing districts show that while LFHS students continue to perform well overall, long-term ELA and math achievement has flattened, and subgroup gaps have widened.

None of this takes away from the real progress the community should celebrate.

It simply underscores why transparent, consistent, multi-year academic reporting is essential — especially when taxpayers are being asked to fund a maximum levy increase.

Parents Care will continue advocating for clear, stable metrics so families can see genuine year-to-year trends without needing to interpret shifting definitions of “proficiency” or “success.”

👉 Please forward this to friends and neighbors. Better schools begin with full community engagement.

⚡ D115 School Board Meetings: Top Watchpoints

For those who skim — here’s what matters most

💰 Tax Levy Adoption (Important)The board approved the tentative 2025 tax levy, with the final vote scheduled for December. Administrators noted that the levy can still be adjusted before county deadlines. Workshops will continue leading up to the December vote.

➡️ Oversight concern: The district appears positioned to seek the maximum levy, pending final discussion. With local taxpayers funding nearly all district revenues, transparent communication about the levy, reserves, long-term projections, and referendum costs is essential.

📊 Academic Results and Report Card

LFHS celebrated strong ELA growth and an “Exemplary” designation. However, the district noted this year’s results cannot be compared year-to-year because of new state benchmarks.

➡️ Oversight concern: Families need clear, consistent academic reporting to understand true long-term performance. “Exemplary” is not an academic measure, and growth in one subject does not tell the whole story. Publishing raw ACT averages, multi-year ACT trends, and subgroup data would provide a full and honest picture.

📚 Strategic Advisory Council FeedbackCommunity feedback highlighted the need for:

• More clarity around career pathways

• Better communication of academic goals

• Balance between high achievement expectations and student wellness

• Streamlined dashboards that clearly show progress

  
  

➡️ Oversight concern: Community members praised the focus on academics but expressed confusion about how goals, dashboards, and performance indicators fit together. A clearer, more accessible public reporting structure is still needed.

💵 Beyond the Budget Videos

Episode 2 was released, and Episode 3 on the tax levy will be published in December.

These polished productions cost tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars but provide little substantive transparency. Instead of spending heavily on camera crews and scripted messaging, the district should simply publish clear, accessible financial updates via email — including details on new tax levies, spending votes, and long-term projections.

Instead of spending heavily on camera crews and scripted messaging, the district should simply publish clear, accessible financial updates via email — including details on new tax levies, spending votes, and long-term projections.

Parents Care recently uncovered through FOIA that Dr. Montgomery’s own salary was split into two accounts to conceal its full amount from the public. That practice underscores why glossy videos are no substitute for straightforward, line-item reporting.

➡️ Oversight concern: Fiscal communication should be direct, documented, and public — not staged. Taxpayers deserve clarity, not choreography.

Good to Know!

A few key items from the board meeting we think families should know:

🌟 Student Spotlight

Congratulations to Gavin Stakes, this month’s District 115 Student Spotlight winner, nominated by two staff members and praised for leadership, resilience, character, and academic engagement.

🎖️ Veterans Day at LFHS

A deeply meaningful Veterans Day assembly was held in partnership with American Legion Post 264, featuring a Lake Forest College football coach and former Navy SEAL as the keynote speaker. Multiple students were honored for their artwork and contributions.

🏫 Community Events & Engagement

• Strong turnout at the joint Board Coffee (approx. 20 attendees)

• FAN speaker Jeff Selingo drew more than 100 families

• Grateful Market service project packed 125+ bags

• Multiple upcoming student performances, concerts, and holiday events

⚡ D115 School Board Full Meeting Notes

Go in-depth and see oversight concerns

Student Council ReportStudents highlighted homecoming events, ACT workshop experiences, student feedback channels, and concerns about mixed digital/paper diagnostic testing.

President’s Report (John Noble)

• Celebrated Veterans Day and the ceremony hosted at LFHS

• Praised staff and administrators for earning the Exemplary designation

• Previewed upcoming financial outlook work related to referendum construction

• Announced “Portrait of a Learner” refresh set for March 2026

• Thanked the communications team and emphasized responsiveness to community requests

Superintendent’s Report (Dr. Montgomery & Team)

• Academic Data: Presented State Report Card results, recent growth metrics, ACT concordance comparisons between last year’s juniors and this year’s seniors, and noted upcoming State changes to the accountability formula.

• Attendance & Climate: Addressed chronic absenteeism concerns and low student participation in the climate survey.

• Assessments: Announced additional academic reporting planned for December, February, and April.

• Student & Community Engagement: Shared updates on the ACT prep workshop with over 70 attendees, the Veterans Day assembly, and the Grateful Market volunteer initiative.

• Strategic Advisory Council: Provided an overview of SAC feedback and recent discussion topics.

• Communications & PR: Highlighted new Beyond the Budget videos and referenced a recent FAN event.

• Events & Calendar: Reviewed upcoming student activities and noted the Thanksgiving break schedule.

True North Cooperative Update

• Second reading on updated Articles of Agreement coming

• District confirming commitment to remain

• January 2026 transition planned

• Governance shifting to superintendent-led monthly meetings

Tax Levy

• Tentative levy approved

• Final vote scheduled for December meeting

• Levy can be adjusted until county deadlines

• Finance & Ops Committee will review projections beforehand

Additional Approvals

• Architectural services for Phase 2 referendum planning

• Waving first reading of policy 4:30 (Revenue & Investments)

• Consent agenda items approved (1–9)

• RMA lobby project paused for redesign and board feedback

FOIA Updates

Multiple FOIAs completed, including three of four filed by Parents Care.

📅 Key Dates

• Nov 20–22 – Fall Play (Freshman/Sophomore)

• Nov 24 – Alumni Panel

• Nov 26–28 – Thanksgiving Break

• Dec 7 – Orchestra & Band Concert + Spaghetti Dinner

• Dec 11 – Finance & Ops Committee + Regular Board Meeting (7 PM, West Campus)

⚡LF Schools D115 Watchpoints Wrap-Up

1. 📈 Academic TransparencyWill the December assessment presentation include ACT averages, subgroup data, and multi-year trends that accurately reflect academic performance?

2. 💵 Tax Levy ClarityWill the district clearly explain why the tentative levy appears to be set at the maximum and what steps are being taken to explore financial planning that demonstrates fiscal responsibility and student-facing budgets?

3. 🎥 Fiscal CommunicationWill financial updates continue to rely on high-cost videos or shift toward direct, accessible reporting?

⚡Closing

There is much to be proud of at Lake Forest High School — strong student growth, impressive staff commitment, and vibrant community engagement. Parents Care believes deeply in celebrating what is working while also ensuring families receive the full academic and financial picture needed to understand long-term progress.

Your engagement is already making a difference. The district is hearing repeated calls for clearer metrics, more transparent reporting, and consistent academic standards. When our community stays informed and asks thoughtful questions, our schools become stronger for every student.

👉 Please forward this email to friends and neighbors. Oversight only works when everyone is paying attention — and real change starts with all of us.

Lake Forest D67 Board Meeting Recap

November 13, 2025Dear Local neighbor,

The November 13 District 67 Board meeting offered a lot for our community to be proud of: heartfelt student presentations, strong academic improvements in both ELA and math, and initiatives that show how committed our teachers and students are to growth. These are real achievements worth celebrating.

At the same time, some of the district’s most consequential decisions, including the tentative tax levy, continue to be communicated almost entirely through board meetings that receive only about 40 to 60 views on YouTube.

With over 3,500 families reading these Parents Care updates, it is clear our community wants accessible, straightforward information on taxes, academics, and district priorities.

And while several academic indicators were encouraging, shifting state benchmarks again this year make comparisons harder to interpret. Families need transparent, consistent year-to-year reporting. Meanwhile, the district continues to invest in polished Beyond the Budget videos instead of providing direct, plain-language explanations of levy decisions and financial planning.

A constructive path forward? With a shift in mindset and some creative problem-solving, Lake Forest Schools could easily provide simple, cost-effective communication: straightforward emails that report academic progress, financial updates, and levy implications in clear terms—without high production costs. This approach would strengthen trust, improve transparency, and ensure all families—not just the few who watch board meetings—can stay informed about what matters most.

Please forward this to friends and neighbors. Better schools begin with full community engagement.

D67 School Board Meetings: Top Watchpoints

For those who skim — here’s what matters most

2025 State Report Card Results

District leaders announced that all District 67 schools earned an Exemplary rating. Under the newly adjusted state cut scores, ELA proficiency increased and math proficiency also rose, while science proficiency declined due to the state raising benchmark expectations. The district also highlighted substantial improvements in percentile ranking and peer-district comparisons.

Oversight watchpoint:

The state’s Exemplary designation reflects attendance, graduation-style indicators, and overall summative metrics. It does not directly measure how students perform year to year in terms of academic rigor compared with peer districts. And because the state changed the cut scores again this year, comparisons to past performance are inconsistent.

Families need a clear academic picture that does not shift with state definitions. Parents Care urges the district to publish raw MAP scores each fall, winter, and spring, alongside the annual State Report Card, so that families can see stable, comparable trends over time. MAP data, unlike shifting state benchmarks, would give the community a reliable view of real academic growth and subgroup performance.

Tentative Tax Levy Approved

The Board President, Mark Remus, stressed that the levy is determined by district needs based on 1, 5, and 10-year projections. He emphasized balancing financial stewardship with maintaining strong instructional quality.

Oversight watchpoint: Families deserve clear explanations of how levy decisions impact classrooms. The district continues to produce high-cost Beyond the Budget videos instead of providing straightforward written reporting. Transparent communication should come through accessible updates, not PR spending.

Public Comment: iPads in K to 4

'Lake Forest parent Ryan Evans spoke on behalf of more than 100 parents who signed a petition opposing tablet use in grades K to 4. He shared parents concerns about developmental impacts, over-reliance on screens, and curriculum dependence on tablets. He called for a parent survey and more transparency around the district’s rationale for continuing device use.

Oversight watchpoint: The district should publicly respond to parent concerns with clear evidence and an explanation of the instructional purpose. When a petition reaches 100 signatures, it merits a substantive response.

D67 School Board Full Meeting Notes

Student Spotlight

Everett Elementary introduced a robust presentation on its social-emotional learning work and the Everett Garden initiative. Staff detailed professional development in emotional intelligence, executive functioning, and brain development. Students shared personal stories about how the sensory and pollinator garden supports calm, confidence, curiosity, and citizenship. A video showed students tending plants and participating in the garden as an outdoor classroom.

Parents Care recognizes the value of these hands-on, community-supported initiatives that strengthen SEL and applied learning.

President’s Report

President Remus discussed the tentative tax levy, emphasizing long-term planning, fiscal responsibility, and the board’s commitment to ensuring the levy reflects district needs rather than maximizing revenue. He described an extensive review of near-term and long-range costs before arriving at the proposed levy.

Superintendent’s Report

Dr. Montgomery and Dr. Fitz Simmons reviewed the newly released State Report Card:

• All District 67 schools earned an Exemplary rating.

• ELA proficiency rose under the new cut scores and the district moved from the 93rd to the 96th percentile statewide.

• Math proficiency rose from 96th to 98th percentile statewide, with particularly strong gains at Deer Path.

• Science proficiency fell to 73.4 percent under significantly raised state cut scores, which the district is already addressing through curriculum work and teacher support.

• Fifth grade performance was highlighted as a major improvement area following targeted staffing and scheduling adjustments.

• Fall MAP results for the current year are posted online in a separate report and show promising early trends.

  
  

The Superintendent also reviewed community events, food drives, the Beyond the Budget videos, the FAN speaker event, the Sheridan spirit competition, and upcoming concerts and grant supported programs.

FOIA Updates

The district reported two completed FOIA requests this month.

Action Items

The board voted on:

• Adoption of the 2025 tentative tax levy

• Approval of architectural services for the Deer Path Middle School cafeteria project

• Approval of policy 430 (revenue and investment)

• Consent agenda items

• All action items passed.

Key Dates

• Nov 14: Final day of AP food drive

• Nov 17 to 20: Visiting author Bruce Hale in all District 67 schools

• Nov 26 to 28: Thanksgiving Break

• Dec 4: Fifth grade band, orchestra, and choir concert at DPM

• Dec 16: Next regular board meeting, including Finance Committee

Closing

Parents Care is encouraged by the strong academic improvements shared at this meeting and the dedication of teachers and students across the district. At the same time, families expect open, plain-language communication about major decisions, such as the tax levy, and consistent reporting on student learning.

Our district can be both academically strong and transparently accountable. By continuing to ask thoughtful questions and working together as an informed community, we can help ensure that every decision, every dollar, and every initiative delivers real value to our students.

The difference is already showing, thanks to engaged residents like you.

Please forward this email to friends and neighbors. Oversight only works when everyone is paying attention — and real change starts with all of us.