Back to school: What Pekin area parents, students can expect this year
Depending on the district, the new school year is either underway or just around the corner in the Pekin area. After a three-month educational hiatus, here's what parents need to know for this year.
Pekin
Pekin Public Schools
Classes for this district’s 10 primary, intermediate and junior high schools begin Wednesday. According to district superintendent Leonard Ealey, a building renovation project is underway at Broadmoor Junior High School. He expects the HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) upgrade will make the school more energy efficient and improve the learning environment.
Larger changes could be coming to the school district, however.
“In the fall of 2023, District 108 will begin a comprehensive strategic planning process that includes all stakeholders in Pekin,” Ealey said. “This will set a vision and the direction of the school district for the next 3-5 years.”
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Pekin Community High School
Teachers at Pekin Community High School will report on Monday. Dragon Day for freshmen will be Tuesday and classes will start on Wednesday.
Superintendent Danielle Owens said that returning students and staff will see significant renovations to the school’s front entry, offices, common area, weight room, Hawkins Gym, baseball field and roofs.
Owens also said there are 11 new teachers as well as several other paraprofessionals and various positions this school year.
East Peoria
East Peoria Elementary School
Classes began last week for East Peoria Elementary schools. District superintendent Tony Ingold said that the district has new hires in various teaching and support staff positions.
Notable personnel changes include new principals at Lincoln School, Armstrong School, and Central Junior High School, along with new assistant principals at Central and at Shute School.
There's also been a change in curriculum this year.
“We are changing our local reading assessment from NWEA MAP (Northwest Evaluation Association Measures of Academic Progress to I-Ready (Curriculum Associates), Ingold said. “We transitioned fully from MAP math to I-Ready math last year. Based on the results we decided to transition to the reading assessment for this school year.”
East Peoria Community High School
East Peoria Community High School turns 100 in September, and the school will host a 100th anniversary celebration Sept. 24.
“This will be a great event where the public can tour the building, see memorabilia from the past 100 years and participate in dedicating a time capsule for the next 100 years,” said District 309 superintendent Marjorie Greuter.
As for the school year, Greuter said the district added several new teachers and a new Communications Coordinator.
Greuter added that the is expanding its Co-op program to serve more students and place more of them in off-campus jobs. Life Skills students planted a garden in one of the school’s courtyards last year, and it is currently producing vegetables for use in the school cafeteria.
This article originally appeared on Pekin Daily Times: Here's what parents, students can expect as school resumes in Pekin
