Dear Staff and Families,

As we begin a new calendar year, I want to take a moment to thank you for your continued partnership, trust, and commitment to the students of Kankakee School District 111. January often brings a sense of renewal, a chance to reflect on where we are, clarify where we are going, and recommit ourselves to doing what is best for children, even when the work is complex or difficult. To ensure everyone is abreast of the work ahead, I am using this newsletter to reorient us.

Over the past year, our district has engaged in careful analysis and long-range planning to ensure we are stewarding our resources responsibly while maintaining equitable access to high-quality learning environments. To support this work, the Board of Education approved a comprehensive Boundary, Enrollment, and Capacity Study conducted by MGT Consulting Group. This study examines enrollment trends, building utilization, and facility capacity across the district, using both current data and future projections. The purpose of these studies is to help us understand where our students reside, how enrollment is shifting, and how well our existing buildings align with those realities, now and in the years ahead.

This work is not about quick fixes. It is about thoughtful, data-informed decision-making that prioritizes student learning, fiscal responsibility, and long-term sustainability. The study will also include multiple scenarios and opportunities for community engagement, ensuring transparency and shared understanding as we move forward.

As part of our broader facilities review, the administration has recommended the closure of Edison Primary School at the conclusion of the 2025–2026 school year. This recommendation was not made lightly. Edison faces significant infrastructure and repair needs that are cost prohibitive at this time. When considered alongside declining enrollment and underutilized space in other buildings, continuing to operate Edison would divert limited resources away from students and programs across the district.The Board has begun the formal process required by Illinois School Code, which includes multiple public hearings to ensure community voice and transparency before any final decision is made.

Although public hearings were still held on January 7th and 8th regarding my recommendation to close Edison at the conclusion of this school year, we were required to relocate staff and students immediately following an engineering assessment that revealed more serious safety concerns, which were shared on December 29, 2025. The safety of our staff and students is paramount, and the additional analysis indicated that the infrastructure of the 1958 building addition was no longer safe.

I am incredibly grateful to the staff and volunteers who assisted in relocating staff; this was a massive undertaking and could not have been accomplished without the dedication of so many incredibly dedicated and thoughtful individuals.

I know that conversations about boundaries, buildings, and long-term planning are deeply personal. Schools are more than structures; they hold memories, relationships, and a sense of belonging that runs deep within our community. As we continue this work, my commitment to you is to lead with honesty, compassion, and respect by communicating clearly, listening carefully, and remaining anchored in what matters most: providing safe, supportive, and thriving learning environments for every student we serve.

At the same time, we are intentionally looking ahead. Through our five-year strategic planning process, we are inviting our community to help shape a shared vision for the future of Kankakee School District 111. This strategic planning work is about alignment and purpose, ensuring that our instructional priorities, equity commitments, and use of resources reflect not only who we are today, but who we aspire to become. Strategic planning allows us to move forward with clarity, even in moments of complexity, and to ensure that hope is paired with thoughtful action.

Your engagement, questions, and care strengthen our district and remind us that meaningful progress is never the work of one voice alone. Together, we will continue to plan responsibly, lead courageously, and hold fast to the belief that Hope Starts Here in our decisions, in our classrooms, and in the futures we are building for our students.

With gratitude and resolve,

Superintendent