The 16th annual Shape of Addison town hall meeting was held on Wednesday, Jan. 25 at the Addison Village Hall, sponsored by Itasca Bank & Trust Co. and moderated by the bank’s chairman of the board, Jack Mensching.
The meeting provided an opportunity for community members to dialogue with all six taxing bodies in Addison. Board presidents and administrators/representatives from the Village of Addison, the Addison Township, the Addison Public Library, the Addison Park District, the Addison Police Department, the Addison Fire Protection District, Addison School District 4 and District 88 shared updates and answered questions from community members.
Presenters were Village of Addison Mayor Rich Veenstra, Addison Fire Protection District Chief Scott Walker, DuPage High School District 88 Vice-President Dan Olsen, Addison School District 4 President Dave Williams, Addison Park District Treasurer Dean Stathopoulos, Addison Public Library President Maria Sinkule, and Addison Township Supervisor Dennis Reboletti.
More than 40 audience questions were submitted, ranging from what will be each agency’s expected property tax levy, the concerns with traffic flow issues at the Walmart and Sam’s Club stores on Rohlwing Road, and the Addison Public Library’s policy on introducing new reading materials for patrons. Other questions centered on programs and amenities at the Addison Park District, the voter-approved referendum establishing a mental health board within Addison Township, and student behavior policies and procedures within Addison School District 4 and DuPage High School District 88.
District 88 sees bright future
District 88 Board of Education Vice President Dan Olson and District 88 Superintendent Dr. Jean Barbanente attended the meeting. During their portion of the discussion, District 88 discussed the following topics:
• The district’s continued commitment to making sure each student is college ready, career ready, culturally ready and future ready;
• The district’s continued focus to provide rigorous – yet flexible and individualized – programming to meet the needs of all students and to have each student pursue a viable college and career integrated pathway;
• Academic opportunities for students, including Advanced Placement/college-level and dual-credit classes, externally credentialed and dual-credit career pathways, robust internships and paid apprenticeships and enhanced programming to ensure students who speak multiple languages develop that asset to the fullest;
• Opportunities for local companies and organizations to collaborate with District 88 and support students through a variety of initiatives such as career and college pathways, serving as a vocational site, advertising on a printed banner and more;
• Student/district successes so far during the 2022-23 school year and highlights of the 2022 Illinois Report Card;
• Financial and facility updates;
• Safety and security updates;
• Welcoming new staff members and current staff members who are transitioning to new positions;
• The district’s efforts to provide open and transparent communication through its website, electronic newsletter and social media.
The recorded meeting is now available online at www.AddisonAdvantage.org and YouTube/VillageAddison.
