Amy: An Advocate For Strong Public Schools + Strong Communities
Leadership • Experience • Respect • Neighborly • Fiscally Responsible
Hello D127 Community!
During the past eight years, I feel fortunate to live in a community and work on a board that has steadfastly provided solutions and support for D127 students. This includes a new strategic plan that focuses on student success and well-being, as well as engagement opportunities for families and residents and effective financial stewardship that prioritizes learning.
The ideas and needs that come forward from families are diverse. I believe in listening for understanding and ensuring our community stakeholders, parents, teachers, and students feel welcome even during times of challenging decisions.
You'll see me at meetings, games, plays, concerts and community events — plus lots of parades, including Homecomings (this photo was from one such event).
ACHIEVEMENTS + GOALS
Welcome to #GetREAL
Welcome to #GetREAL
Welcome to #GetREAL
Since being part of the strategic planning process with community stakeholders several years ago, I have supported "Real, Engaging, Authentic, Learning" throughout our decision-making process. This includes strengthening incubator opportunities, project-based learning, STEAM classwork, and blended courses. Students and parents together have an assortment of choices that guide students for graduations requirements but also pathway programs that they can try to gauge their interest for the next steps after high school.
More Than a Score
Welcome to #GetREAL
Welcome to #GetREAL
The idea that a student is "more than a score" is not new, yet for years even local headlines focused exclusively on scores and AP tests. While I support advanced placement classes, there are many rich opportunities at the schools to highlight. This includes expansion of dual credit courses, immersive career and technical education options, and internship opportunities. To me, each student has an opportunity to be an honors student in how they approach their work, and they benefit greatly by the opportunities available to them. A test score should not be a barrier.
Academic Supports
Welcome to #GetREAL
Academic Supports
When students arrive at D127, they may need a little extra help. A few years ago, a team of teachers reimagined our resource programs through the AIM initiative — basically filling in gaps so students could achieve the next level of math or reading. I supported this initiative with our board, and it has since been expanded each year. Having support mechanisms already in place was a game-changer during remote learning. I hope to continue to support expanding this program. As the daughter of a clinical psychologist and a speech pathologist, I also have a keen interest in special education and ensuring overall well-being of our students.
Good Governance
Fiscal Responsibility
Academic Supports
I have served as Vice President of the Board for two terms and Secretary for one term since being elected in 2017. I take board work very seriously. I prepare for meetings, I honor board member ethics, and I abide by the open meetings act. I help support our board members and onboarding new members in their roles. I aim to approach board members, students, teachers, parents, and community stakeholders with respect. I encourage and invite public attendance in meetings (I attended board meetings for many years before running for office), and I try to ensure that if a parent or community member brings a concern to our attention, they feel welcome.
I am also an Illinois Association of School Board Master Board Member, Level II. I am fully aware of the time commitment required of board work. In eight years I have a solid attendance record.
Policy Work
Fiscal Responsibility
Fiscal Responsibility
I am the Chair of Policy, Program, and Personnel Committee. To follow best practices, the Committee regularly reviews policies, as well as legislative and legal updates.
I have supported and advocated for several changes to policies, including:
- Changing start times to align closer to the recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
- Revising the student code, with community stakeholder input.
- Approving and holding then-required hearings for remote learning a year before the pandemic.
- Revising language about student dress, placing more decisions with parents.
- Layering and strengthening controls for data privacy with third-party vendors.
- Ensuring improved access to reading material that reflects the needs and experiences of our students.
I will continue to look to policy as a way we review and monitor work in the district.
Fiscal Responsibility
Fiscal Responsibility
Fiscal Responsibility
D127 has a AA++ Bond Rating and for the past 10 years the financial team has earned state recognition from the Illinois State Board of Education of fiscal responsibility.
I have supported the Evidence-Based Funding Formula as one step to identify and bring funding to our schools and local property tax relief. In the past several years during my service, we have been awarded grants allowing the board to approve abating 10.8+ million to property tax owners. This equates to approximately $674 for a $250,000 home.
Currently, D127 relies heavily on property taxes to fund its budget based on how Illinois structures funding of schools, though we collect less property taxes per student on average compared to the high school average in Lake County. Still, this continues to be a concern based on the inequities of public school funding in Illinois. Several of your school officials and current board members — including me — have supported and advocated changes to help our public schools and taxpayers. I will continue to do this while a school board member.
Board Service and More
My goals to run for re-election are grounded in good governance and public policy, and broadening academic opportunities and supports for all students. Plus, I love the schools. I have been cheering on our community’s kids at theater and music events and athletic competitions since before our children were in high school. Some of my favorite events during the year include graduation at both high schools, observing the full range of technical and science hand-on opportunities, listening to concerts, seeing a great game, and mock interview days during Personal Finance class. (Did you ever say, “I wish I had that class in high school?” Me, too.)
I've said it before, and my mission is the same: When students graduate from Grayslake Central and Grayslake North, I want them to feel they have the wind at their back for what they choose are their next pursuits: four-year college, trade school, community college, or military service. National headlines focus on what can't be done in public schools, but our D127 students and teachers show what can be done each day. They practice and hone new skills, discover different ways to communicate, focus on academics, and bring new ideas forward. From internships to pathway programs to courses like Public Service Practicum, students learn project management and team building skills that will take them to a number of career choices later. We have students building small engines, business plans, and learning AI.
Some areas that have been enhanced that I have supported the past eight years include adding more blended and project-based learning options, plus increasing honors and dual enrollment courses as well as offering more supports for students who need (or ask!) for help. We have also expanded the opportunities and reach at the tech campus.
When I speak with families and students, I know that high school experiences are not one-size fits all, and the district’s recent strategic plan — A Portrait of a Learner — reflects this. This strategic plan came from incredible community input in 2018 and 2019 and refresh in 2024. It is why people will see #D127GetsReal — Real Authentic Engaging Learning. From this work, the board continues to align its goals and monitor, and we discuss these updates regularly during our board meetings.
I have also advocated changes in how Illinois funds its public schools, starting with the Evidence-Based Funding Formula. With this plan, we have qualified for grants to allow us to abate 10.8+ million to taxpayers the past six years.
Overall, my role as a board member is to take a broader view. The administration focuses on the operations of the district, and the board focuses on vision and direction in its governance role. As a board member, I monitor and rely on evidence-based practices to help guide our decision-making. When I also identify barriers, I ask questions and find out if there are areas we can improve while practicing good stewardship of our financial resources.
A FOCUS ON OPPORTUNITIES
I am continually impressed by our students, teachers, families, and community welcoming students to activities and trying new things. I see students come to board meetings with awards for a sport or an activity they tried only in high school because it sounded interesting or because a friend encouraged them. This is how new ideas spark and friends are made. This is very much a part of the fabric of our Grayslake, Haineville, Lake Villa, Third Lake, and Round Lake communities. Go Knights! Go Rams!
Thank you for your support and vote April 1
Copyright © 2024 Amy Knutson Strack for D127 All Rights Reserved. Paid for by Amy Knutson Strack. This is a nonpartisan election. No funds accepted by political action groups or organizations.
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