February 24, 2026
Elmhurst District 205
Board of Education Meeting Highlights
High School Illinois Music Education Association Awards
The Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 Board of Education recognized student musicians and composers who earned selection to Illinois Music Education Association All-State ensembles and composition categories. These students were chosen through a highly competitive, audition-based process that reflects exceptional musicianship, creativity, and artistic achievement. Several students also earned top honors at the state level, including first chair placement and first-place awards in multiple composition categories. The Board commended the students for their accomplishments and recognized the District 205 music staff for their continued dedication to high-quality music education.
Sandburg Middle School Spotlight
Sandburg Middle School Principal Joshua Louis shared a presentation with the Board of Education highlighting items taking place at the school. During his update, Louis referenced the idea of “being in someone’s cloud,” a concept he discussed as part of Sandburg’s work with students and staff. His presentation provided the Board with insight into the school’s culture and day-to-day experiences.
Jefferson Elementary School
Jefferson Elementary School Principal Lori Sweeney and Emily Quinn Amor, Instructional Coach, shared a presentation about how they are investing in the next generation of educators at Jefferson while celebrating veteran staff and maintaining and strengthening education for students.
Reports and Presentations
Monitoring Progress & Taking Action: Academic Assessment Results & Instructional Materials Recommendation
District leaders shared a presentation reviewing districtwide academic assessment data, including national and local measures such as NWEA MAP for grades K–8 and PreACT and Practice ACT results for grades 9–11. The presentation highlighted how data is used to guide instructional decisions and shared action steps being taken in response to student needs. Leaders also outlined recommendations for instructional materials to be used at York High School in Advanced Placement courses and a World Language course beginning in the 2026–27 school year, in alignment with Board policy. The Board was informed of the public review process for instructional materials and upcoming presentations tied to future data updates and adoption decisions.
Financial and Operational Effectiveness
The Board of Education received the 2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, which presents the results of the District’s independent audit conducted by Wipfli and was scheduled to be presented. However, the District did not receive the final report in enough time for the Board and community to review prior to presenting. Therefore, in order to provide Board members and the general public with adequate time to review the contents of the report in advance of hearing from the auditing firm, this presentation will be rescheduled for the March 24th Regular Board Meeting.
Superintendent's Communication & Communications Highlight
5Essentials Survey Update
The annual 5Essentials Survey opened for families on February 2, 2026! District 205 families, staff, and students are invited to share their experiences on the key elements that shape each school’s culture and learning environment. This feedback is important and directly informs our ongoing improvement efforts.
At this time, none of our schools have reached the minimum parent participation threshold required for reporting results. We need your help. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey using the link shared on our website or in your email. Your voice matters, and your input helps us continue strengthening our schools for all students.
Summer Programming Update
We’re gearing up for an exciting summer of learning, exploration, and growth! On February 9, 2026 we sent nearly 300 invitations for Extended School Year (ESY) to eligible students receiving special education services. Summer Acceleration invitations were sent on Tuesday, February 10, to nearly 700 students in kindergarten through 7th grade. These students were selected based on a combination of MAP and IAR scores, SBR report card grades, and intervention enrollment status. We can’t wait to support their continued learning!
And the fun doesn’t stop there! On Friday, February 20, nearly 400 students were offered a seat in the York Academic Summer School program as a result of the course enrollment request process. On Monday, February 23 at 8:00 a.m., registration opened for all Academic Exploratory and Fine Arts courses. And on Tuesday, March 3, at 8:00 a.m., registration will open for all Athletic Camps and for any remaining seats in York Academic Summer School credit-bearing courses. We’re thrilled to welcome students into these engaging programs and look forward to a summer full of discovery, creativity, and connection!
Middle School Solo & Ensemble Festival
On Saturday, February 21, the D205 4th-8th grade instrumental music team hosted our annual Middle School Solo & Ensemble Festival at Bryan Middle School. 392 middle school band and orchestra students from Bryan, Churchville, and Sandburg had the opportunity to perform a prepared solo on their instrument and receive both written and verbal feedback from a professional musician or music educator who also plays their instrument. Over the next few weeks, D205 band and orchestra teachers will discuss this feedback individually with each of their students and use it to inform instruction and practice.
Next Parent Education Series Event
The D205 Parent Education series has had a successful start. With the generous support of Foundation 205 we have had presentations from Emily Kircher-Morris, Embracing Neurodiversity (Nov, 2025) and Dr. Laura Koehler, Understanding Anxiety: Strategies to Support Your Child (Jan, 2026).
We are now excited to share that our next presenter in the series will be Karilyn M. Orr from the Office of the Illinois Attorney General, Investigations and Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. Karilyn will speak about the ICAC program, CyberTipline, screen time impact on youth mental health, predatory risks, issues related to AI, sextortion scams targeting children/teens, and share recommendations and resources for parents. The presentation will be on April 7th at Bryan Middle School.
Registration is Open!
Registration for new and returning students is open now! We encourage all families to complete the registration process as soon as possible. You will not be charged any fees at this time. This form provides us with the necessary information to ensure we plan for all students we will welcome next August.
To register, you can visit our District webpage or your student’s school webpage. For your convenience, we have added a quick link to the top of each page for both New and Returning student registration.
If you need assistance during the registration process, we have created helpful registration tutorials that can be found on the District Youtube page and on the registration page, which can be found by clicking the Registration Icon on the District homepage.
COMMUNICATIONS HIGHLIGHT: