As we transition from fall into winter, our Maintenance Department is sharing updates on major district initiatives and seasonal preparations.

Following the March 10 tornado and record-breaking hail that impacted Kankakee County, our district continues recovery efforts. More than 15,000 roof patches have been completed, with additional repairs ongoing.

This summer, we completed partial roof replacements at Kankakee High School and Kennedy Middle School, along with a full roof replacement at the former Aroma Park School, now Garden of Prayer. Gymnasium floors at both Kennedy and the High School were also completely replaced. 

Remaining roof replacements are scheduled to begin next summer, with some projects potentially extending into the 2027–2028 school year.

We are grateful to the community members and staff who stepped up to support families and neighbors through donations of food, water, clothing, and essential supplies.

Our district continues working with MGT and a dedicated committee to evaluate enrollment, school boundaries, and building capacity. A proposal presented to the Board of Education would organize the district into four K–5 elementary schools, one 6–8 middle school, and one 9–12 high school. This work will help guide decisions about how we best utilize our facilities to support students and staff.

As colder temperatures approach, our boilers are on and our team is monitoring building temperatures, making adjustments as needed to keep schools comfortable for students and staff. As always, dressing in layers is a good idea as Midwest temperatures fluctuate!

Last June, we said goodbye to Mr. Harold Terrell after more than 40 years of dedicated service. We thank him for his commitment to our district.

Kendell White has stepped into his new role, working alongside Maintenance Secretary Tara Kanoski and the department leadership. Behind the scenes, our team includes seven maintenance workers, 43 custodians, and three groundskeepers who work hard every day to keep our schools clean, safe, and welcoming.

Thank you for your patience, cooperation, and continued support. We look forward to sharing another update this spring!

Wishing everyone a safe, healthy, and enjoyable winter season!

Our 1:1 Student Device Initiative ensures that every student from Kindergarten through high school is equipped with a device dedicated to their academic growth, collaboration, and exploration.

 

By providing consistent, reliable access to digital tools inside the classroom, we are empowering our students to engage with modern educational resources and take ownership of their learning journeys.

Access for Grades K–12: Every student K- 12 grade levels receives a school-issued device designed to support digital instruction.

Our 1:1 Device Initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to preparing students for a rapidly evolving, technology-driven world. By putting the right tools in their hands from their very first steps in elementary school through high school graduation, we are fostering critical thinking, creativity, and digital citizenship every step of the way.

 

We are excited to highlight Javier Rosas, who started in February as our Software Specialist and finished kicking off his first full school year in the role!

 

Since stepping into this position, Javier has hit the ground running. Behind the scenes, he has been working tirelessly to prepare our digital landscape for a smooth, successful school year. From setting up and testing essential software products to building seamless data integrations across our district platforms, his work ensures that our tools work effortlessly for teachers, students, and administrators.

 

A key part of Javier’s success has been his collaborative approach. He has been working closely with departments across the district to streamline systems, resolve technical challenges, and ensure everyone has the software tools they need to be successful in their roles.

 

Join us in giving Javier a huge thank you for his dedication, technical expertise, and collaborative spirit as we continue into this new school year together.

Kankakee School District 111’s Special Education Department is continuing to strengthen the systems and supports that help us meet the individual needs of our students. This year, we are transitioning to PCG EasyIEP, a new system designed to support the development, management, and monitoring of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). This transition will help us streamline documentation, improve access to student information, and strengthen collaboration among special education staff, service providers, administrators, and families. As staff becomes familiar with the new system, our focus remains on providing the support and training needed to make this transition successful.

In addition to implementing our new IEP system, the department is working to strengthen districtwide processes, improve communication, and ensure that students’ IEP goals, services, accommodations, and specially designed instruction align with their individual needs. We are also emphasizing collaboration among building teams and the use of student data to monitor progress and guide instructional decisions. Through these efforts, we remain committed to ensuring that every student receives the services and support needed to access learning, make meaningful progress, and reach their full potential.

As we enter the colder months and approach the holiday season, we know families have a lot going on. Seasonal illnesses, busy schedules, family celebrations, and holiday travel can make this time of year challenging. Even during this busy season, regular school attendance is essential to your child's success.

At Kankakee School District, we want every student to have the opportunity to learn, grow, build relationships, and feel connected to their school community. Being at school consistently helps students keep up with instruction, develop friendships, and build routines that support their academic and social-emotional well-being.

Our district's average daily attendance is approximately 90%, and 34% of our students (1,386 students) missed 10% or more of the school year.

In a typical 180-day school year, missing just two days per month adds up to approximately 18 days of missed instruction, nearly a month of school!

Chronic absenteeism means missing 10% or more of the school year for any reason, including excused and unexcused absences. Frequent absences can impact academic achievement, reading development, and students' connections to their school community.

We understand that attendance challenges can involve transportation, health concerns, family responsibilities, anxiety, or other barriers. You do not have to navigate these challenges alone.

Our schools and Student Support Services team are here to help. If your child is struggling with regular attendance, please reach out to their school or Student Support Services. You do not have to wait until attendance becomes a bigger concern to ask for help. Early communication helps us work together to find solutions.

As we head into the holiday season, let's work together to ensure our students are present, connected, and ready to learn whenever school is in session.

Thank you for your continued partnership. At Kankakee School District, Hope Starts Here—and showing up every day is one way we help that hope grow!