DPS61 Board of Education Highlights for November 10th

November 11, 2026 – The Decatur Public Schools Board of Education held its regular meeting on November 10th, 2026.

Alyssa Patrick, Director of Communications & Public Relations for DPS61, provided the following notes: 

Key Highlights

• Illinois School Report Card
  • Dr. Nicole Couri Malson, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, shared an update on school designations and metrics which were released in the 2026 Illinois School Report Card:
        Decatur Public Schools is committed to helping every student grow and succeed. Our work is centered on creating schools that are healthy, safe, welcoming, supportive, and challenging— places where your child can learn and thrive. This year, we are releasing our annual school report card, and we want to share it with you honestly. The report card shows where our students are doing well and where we need to work harder. Everything we do is guided by Roadmap2030, our strategic plan, which focuses on five goals: improving student achievement, creating effective learning environments, promoting a positive workplace experience, increasing family and community engagement, and ensuring fiscal stewardship. Each of our schools has an improvement plan aligned to these goals.
        We are proud of the progress we’ve made together. Our graduation rate increased 6% from 79% to 85%. Our teacher retention rate rose from 84% to 86%, which means more of our wonderful teachers are choosing to stay with us. And chronic absenteeism dropped by 3 points from 46% to 43%—we’re moving in the right direction, and we want to keep going.
        This year, our schools are focused on three important goals: increasing reading and math proficiency by 5%, raising our overall attendance rate by 3.5%, and reducing chronic absenteeism by another 5%. We know these are bold goals, but they are necessary to help more students reach grade level. Every school has a plan to get there, and we are tracking our progress every step of the way.
        We can’t do this without you. Please take a moment to review the report card, ask questions about your school’s improvement plan, and stay connected with us. Together, we will make sure every student has the opportunity to succeed.

• Roadmap 2030 Update
  • Roadmap 2030 is moving forward in Phase IV. The Roadmap Committee will meet again on November 12^th to continue refining scenarios for school reconfiguration. While no one scenario has been selected, the committee is examining an educational model that separates schools into concentrated grade bands. Separating students into a preK center, K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9^th Grade Academy and 10-12 could allow each school to serve one stage of students’ academic journeys. These grade bands allow teachers to share scheduled collaboration time, within the school day, to strengthen instruction. This model also allows resources to be concentrated to each grade band’s needs and stage of learning. DPS61 will continue to update the Roadmap webpage with more information.
  • Roadmap Community Forums will take place December 7th, 2026 at 10:30am and 6:30pm; and January 25th, 2027 at 10:30am and 6:30pm. A flyer (with dates, times and locations) is attached.
• Tentative Estimated Tax Levy 2026
  • Tom Osbourne, Chief Operating Officer for DPS61, shared his 2026 Tax Levy Proposal. The levy is the district’s formal request for property-tax revenue. Mr. Osbourne is presenting a 4.48% levy for 2026. This is lower than the 4.61% levy rate approved in 2025. This means families, with a home worth $150,000 last year, will pay about $110 less in property taxes to DPS61 this year.
  • The Board is expected to vote on the proposed Tax Levy on December 15th, 2026.
• SEIU Security Officer Contract Ratified
  • DPS61 Board of Education unanimously approved a ratified contract with the Service Employees International Union Local No. 73 (Security Officers). The four-year contract will run from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2030. The collective bargaining agreement includes some operational and employee changes. The agreement also includes a 4.73% raise in the first year, 4.51% raise in the second year, 4.32% raise in the third year and 4.14% raise in the fourth year. The collective bargaining agreement was ratified by the Security Officers’ Union on October 26h, 2026.

Reminders for Parents

There will be a District-Wide Half Day on Wednesday November 11th. Please check with your student’s school regarding dismissal time. There will be no school for all students November 23rd- 27th for Thanksgiving break. District offices will be open November 23^rd and 24th.

Looking Ahead

The Annual Turkey Tournament at Stephen Decatur Middle School will take place November 24th, 25th with games beginning at 6:00pm. The Tournament will resume the 27th and 28^th with games beginning at 1:00pm. Tickets are $10 per session, cash only.

DPS61 will honor our Board of Education on School Board Member Day November 15th.

The Board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 15th at 6:30pm. BOE meetings can be streamed here.