K-5 Dual Language Transition

There are several ways the Task Force will gather input from those outside the group. Each subcommittee has outreach methods designed to capture the voices of students, families, and staff.

Family Engagement Committee:

• Explore opportunities to combine Red Oak and Oak Terrace events at Oak Terrace, with student surveys to gather feedback
• Consider combining activities (e.g., Chess Club) at Oak Terrace with student surveys
• Develop surveys and questionnaires to gather family input on participation in the dual language program during and after consolidation
• Plan family engagement sessions, including school tours for students and families to experience Oak Terrace learning and play spaces

Student Success Committee:

• Survey staff to assess language stamina and needs for potentially staffing K-2 in the 80/20 instruction model

• Review current professional development opportunities and survey staff to identify needs for the 2027 school year

Facilities and Operations Committee:

• Identify needs for redesigning the outdoor play space, with surveys for students, staff, and families

To make the best use of everyone’s time, the task force is working in subcommittees. With 60 participants, it’s difficult to move work forward as one large group. Breaking into three subcommittees allows us to focus more effectively on specific areas. The full task force will come back together in April to share recommendations before the final report is presented to the board in May. In the meantime, we will find other ways to keep the full task force updated on progress and key discussions over the next few months.

When we assessed the language needs of the Task Force, we learned that most Spanish-speaking members are bilingual. One participant requested a Spanish translation, and we provided translated documents. An interpreter was also on-site at the first session, although no one ultimately required that support. If you require an interpreter or additional translated materials for future meetings, please contact Ben Finfer at bfinfer@nssd112.org.

Oak Terrace currently has 27 general education classrooms. This number does not include small group rooms for reading and math intervention, offices, or spaces for art, music, PE, and special education resource. The school is currently organized by grade level as follows:

Current Oak Terrace:

• Early Childhood: 15 sections (am/pm and 1 full-day; 8 classrooms)
• Kindergarten: 3 sections
• 1st Grade: 2 sections
• 2nd Grade: 2 sections
• 3rd Grade: 2 sections
• 4th Grade: 3 sections
• 5th Grade: 3 sections

Projected for 2027-2028 (Subject to Change):

• Kindergarten: 3-4 sections
• 1st Grade: 3-4 sections
• 2nd Grade: 4 sections
• 3rd Grade: 4 sections
• 4th Grade: 4 sections
• 5th Grade: 4 sections

The early childhood program will transition back to Green Bay at the end of the 2026-2027 school year, which will change traffic patterns since there will no longer be a mid-day drop-off and pick-up. As part of this transition, we will review traffic flow and drop-off/pick-up logistics while also considering how best to use outdoor space. Any safety concerns will be addressed during this process. We have already begun meeting with Principals Schwind and Maxwell, along with Associate Principal Montalbano, to plan for the transition of students, staff, and families into Oak Terrace and to determine the most effective use of the campus.

Due to safety and security concerns, we cannot publicly share plans for people to take home and review. The architect assigned to work on Oak Terrace will be present at future subcommittee meetings, where she will review the current floor plans and later reveal design ideas based on the gap analysis she will conduct and our feedback.

Task force members are not being asked to complete the gap analysis independently. That work is being led by Wight & Company, the district’s architect, with Leanne Meyer-Smith conducting the audit and comparing Oak Terrace to the recently renovated schools. Because Wight managed those renovations and guided the furniture selection process, Leanne brings the expertise needed to identify gaps and develop options. Subcommittee members will still play an important role by providing input and perspective on the analysis, but the heavy lifting will be handled by Leanne as the expert.

Neither Ravinia nor Indian Trail had HVAC and were not ADA-compliant. They also needed roofs and windows. The cost of each project is below:

• Ravinia’s total cost = $41.1 million-included a small addition to account for the servery, classroom additions to accommodate CORE, and an increase from 2 to 3 sections per grade
• Indian Trail’s total cost = $24.2 million
• Ravinia’s playground cost = $407,024.71
• Indian Trail’s playground wasn’t renovated

Fifteen staff members, including classroom teachers, serve on the Task Force, with representation on each subcommittee. Across our recent renovation projects, we’ve introduced new furniture that promotes collaborative learning, flexible seating, storage, and technology to support inclusion. Members of the Facilities and Operations Subcommittee will soon visit our renovated schools to see firsthand how these features enhance learning environments.

This is one of the features that Wight and Co., our architect, is currently exploring

In 2019, when Oak Terrace had a larger student population, pickup and drop-off procedures and parking capacity were different. Buses used Prairie Avenue for student pickup and drop-off, which limited available parking. When the preschool moved to Oak Terrace in 2023, the main entrance was relocated to meet ADA accessibility requirements, and buses began using that new entrance instead. This change opened up space for 18 cars to park along Prairie Avenue throughout the day. In addition, angled parking spaces were added in the lot to support the new one-way traffic flow, improving overall efficiency and safety.

In terms of the budget, we’ve set aside funds for the anticipated facility needs. This is outlined in the recently shared long-range capital plan with our Board of Education, as well as an additional $400,000 for the playgrounds. Since the design and estimates have not been conducted yet, the money set aside is only an estimate and may change. The timeline is tentative since design plans have not been created yet, but we estimate that the playground improvement may occur this upcoming summer and any building improvements may occur the following summer.

Since 2018, when we initiated the long-range plan in the district, we have already invested more than $7 million at Oak Terrace School. It also boasts a new roof and updated site work. There are fewer needs at Oak Terrace than at the schools that have undergone extensive renovation.

Oak Terrace was opened in 2000 at a cost of $15 million. In 2018, when we estimated the building's construction value at the time (to understand the value of our potential Phase I construction projects), it was estimated that a project of that scope and magnitude would cost $46 million.  Oak Terrace was constructed to be ADA-compliant, features new HVAC systems, and includes small group rooms.

Drop-off and pick-up at Oak Terrace is organized, and safety is of the utmost importance. The buses and cars follow a pattern that ensures that all know where to go for student arrival and dismissal. A Chicago Tribune article details the school’s construction in 2000, when it was built to serve 600 students. When the two schools merge, Oak Terrace will continue to operate under this building capacity.

We’re not at that stage yet, but the vast majority of the school is remaining with only light renovations because it was opened in 2000.

Architect Leanne Meyer Smith doesn’t have that ready for our review yet.

Yes, Architect Leanne Meyer Smith is looking at this, for example, in the old main office.

Architect Leanne Meyer Smith is looking at these factors, for example, in the old main office, to create more flexible spaces.

Linked is a document from ISBE regarding the construction of Oak Terrace in 2000. The school was constructed to accommodate 600 students in 2000 and will remain under that capacity when the two school populations merge.

At Oak Terrace, Architect Leanne Meyer Smith mentioned that the younger grades are located on the first floor. They would remain there since many of those classrooms already have toilet rooms. The upper grades are currently located upstairs and will remain there. This is consistent with our elementary schools that have multiple levels.

The majority of the school will remain, with only minor renovations required. Oak Terrace is the newest of our schools, having been opened in 2000. As mentioned during the tour, potential changes will occur at the old front of the main building, exterior play areas, and possibly the MPR, to include better storage options, a servery, a mother’s room, and light renovations to the library. None of the changes would require students to relocate from the building. It’s estimated at this time that the majority of the work will be done during breaks when students are not present.

The architect is responsible for reviewing the outdoor playspace as part of the Facilities and Operations Committee. As a reminder, Oak Terrace has historically operated as a 4-5 section elementary school. Fewer students than that are expected when Red Oak joins Oak Terrace at the start of the 2027-28 school year. When the building opened in 2000, it was built for 600 students. Director of Safety and Security, Solvei Jurmu, reviews all of our morning and afternoon traffic flow. Oak Terrace is aligned with what she has seen at all of the schools. Typically, traffic is heavy for about 10 minutes and then dissipates quickly at drop-off and dismissal.

The final deliverable is a report to the Board of Education. The facilitators of each subcommittee will draft it. Each subcommittee will review the draft. Subcommittee members will not need to sign off on the report, as it will simply be a document that archives the outcomes of the goals and tasks assigned to each subcommittee. The draft will be started in March and will be reviewed by the Task Force in April. The outline will include all the tasks and goals of each subcommittee outlined in the presentation shared during the first Task Force meeting. Access the first Task Force meeting presentation.

The Task Force, composed of 60 people, was created to function independently within subcommittees. Two meetings were planned to initiate and culminate the work among the entire task force. To view what’s occurring within the subcommittees, please visit the general Task Force resource hub for all agendas, resources, and information.

Only one teacher applied to be on the Facilities and Operations Subcommittee, and they were selected. The Student Success Subcommittee is for staff to engage with administrators on current instructional practices, curriculum, resources, and professional development. This aligns with how other teaching and learning-focused committees operate within our organization. Honest, transparent, and vulnerable conversations happen in these types of settings, which is necessary among our internal teams.

Creating a new playground and soliciting students' feedback and insights will generate excitement. Students will help us select the equipment for the playground. The playground will serve as a bridge between the two schools, as our goal is to have it completed this summer, allowing it to be used during both formal and informal transition activities. The playground will be a place where student and parent meet-ups can occur before the blending of the two schools at the start of the 2027-28 school year. Additionally, the co-principal model will also facilitate the integration and collaboration of students and staff. The relationships between staff, families, and students will continue in a new location.

Yes. Wight is looking into storage, a servery, a wellness room (also known as a mother’s room), an open-concept library, and also renovating the old front office area. 

The Facilities Subcommittee members are asked to provide insights and feedback based on their experiences at Red Oak and Oak Terrace, from a parent and staff’s perspective (or professional expertise, if applicable). We also seek suggestions for the redesign of the outdoor playspace at Oak Terrace, the former front office area, the lounge/workroom, and other areas.

The Family Engagement Subcommittee members are asked to provide insights, feedback, and suggestions for activities that help transition students and families into Oak Terrace in a thoughtful manner, from both staff and parent perspectives, drawing on their previous experiences. The committee is planning family engagement sessions that include tours of the school for students and families to visit the Oak Terrace learning and play spaces. We want to lean on staff and parents’ experiences regarding the timing of these events and the kinds of activities that we may want to include, which will be fun, helpful, and unifying for families and students. The committee is also tasked with developing an onboarding mechanism to communicate and support new families (kindergarten and beyond) throughout the phased consolidation. Their past experiences and perhaps willingness to volunteer to support new families will help to shape this initiative.

Our consistent time together has started to build trust, and open communication combined with steady progress on the goals set by the subcommittees is helping move that forward. Academic growth is an ongoing journey, and the dual language WIG plays a role in that work. The Student Success Subcommittee is already making progress as it examines how to support the three pillars of dual language education.

Wight and Co. is completing the gap analysis between Oak Terrace and the other renovated elementary schools and will then synthesize the work. This process is underway and will be shared by 3/12.

Yes, at times it is used for P.E. It was designed as a multi-purpose room for various functions, including an extra space for P.E.

The budget for Oak Terrace is outlined in the recently shared long-range capital plan, which was made publicly available to our Board of Education. This amount is a placeholder, as the architects have not yet designed or estimated the costs of the proposed project. We are currently seeking input and feedback on the priority areas that will be improved at Oak Terrace.

The referendum provided for $114.4 million, and the district pledged that any additional funds would be taken from reserves. The referendum bonds have been spent on Ravinia, Indian Trail, Sherwood, Braeside, Wayne Thomas, and all schools (for safety and security). The balance of the costs for Braeside, Wayne Thomas, and Oak Terrace is covered from our reserves. This was accounted for in the 5-year capital plan that was presented to the board in October 2025. 

To discuss parity, we must first understand that all our buildings were constructed at different times and with varying enrollments. When these buildings were constructed provides perspective on laws that later were implemented that changed education (ie. ADA, IDEA, etc,). Below, you will find an image comparing the year each school was first built with the U.S. Presidents of that time. This helps to conceptualize when our schools were first constructed and why the renovations were necessary, given the significant changes that have occurred throughout history. It’s essential to recognize that the age of our buildings influences the necessary renovations, including those for ADA compliance, HVAC upgrades, and small group rooms for interventions and special education. These were all aspects that Oak Terrace had already implemented since its opening in 2000.

Total square footage for each elementary school is listed in the following table:

Architect Leanne Meyer Smith from Wight & Co. is currently conducting the gap analysis, which will take a few months to complete. As she mentioned during the tour at Oak Terrace, there are several aspects that we changed at the other schools that we will not need to align at Oak Terrace because they are already in place or in a good state. The following are some of those aspects:

• ADA accessibility and HVAC
• Roofing and Windows
• Color and Flooring
• Lighting - this is an area we are considering to provide for dimming features and energy efficiency at Oak Terrace
• Small group rooms
• Updated technology 
• Serving and dining - this is an area that she is diving deeper into at Oak Terrace because there isn’t a room set aside for a servery
• Furniture - this is another area that she is diving deeper into 

The purpose of touring Indian Trail and Ravinia in the future is to show you what other schools have that they did not have previously (or needed attention), as a result of the renovations they have undergone. She will point out aspects like:

• New furniture 
• Servery
• ADA playground - only currently at Braeside and Ravinia
• New paint, lighting, and flooring

Below is the total square footage at each K-5 elementary school.

No. The building was opened in 2000, and unless the architect has concerns, we will not need to invest more money in the exterior or building envelope, with the exception of the playground and outdoor space. We replaced the roof at Oak Terrace. Solar panels will soon be installed on the roof, and the main office will be renovated and relocated to the rear of the building to ensure ADA accessibility.

Technology was recently enhanced in the classrooms. The lighting in the classrooms is being reviewed to ensure consistency with other renovated schools. The library is also being reviewed for potential adoption of an open-concept design, similar to the one in the renovated schools.  A fresh coat of paint will also enhance the environment.

The building was constructed in 2000 for 600 students. Currently, younger grades are located on the first floor. They would remain there since many of those classrooms already have toilet rooms within the rooms. The upper grades are currently located upstairs and will remain there. This is consistent with our elementary schools that have multiple levels.

Yes. Oak Terrace was built for 600 students, and there will be fewer than that attending the school when Red Oak joins the student population at Oak Terrace in 2027-28.

The art and music rooms are adequately sized. There are no separate dedicated science rooms, as science is taught in the general education classrooms for elementary schools. Special education resource rooms, by their nature, will have fewer students in the room as compared to a general education classroom. Special education resource rooms will be sized for the planned number of students.

The building was constructed in 2000. The building has a newer HVAC system. The windows are in good condition. Wight & Company will be reviewing all other systems, but no major upgrades are expected at this time.

No. There are no structural concerns.

• The goals of the Task Force are outlined in this presentation. The Facilities and Operations Subcommittee's goals are as follows: The subcommittee will provide insights, feedback, and suggestions for consideration regarding the redesign of the outdoor playspace at Oak Terrace, the old front office area, the lounge/workroom, and other areas. The changes that are built into the District’s plan are as follows: 
  • Identify needs for the redesign of the outdoor playspace for renovation
  • Input for redesign of the front area of the school (old office) and potentially the lounge/workroom
  • Review the furniture needs at Oak Terrace in line with the renovated K-5 schools. 
  • Conduct a gap analysis between the renovated K-5 buildings and Oak Terrace.
     
• Optional changes may be considered, such as artwork, quotes, or murals, that can be placed on the walls to capture messages or themes specific to dual language, Oak Terrace, and Red Oak, as well as the broader community. For example, at Wayne Thomas, we honor military children and families on one of the walls as people enter the building, featuring the military branch seals. At Ravinia, a history wall is being installed that captures over 100 years of notable alumni, community members, and other significant moments that have influenced the school.  At Edgewood and Northwood, there are beautiful murals of eagles and huskies in the library that captures their mascots.

Yes, that playground will stay in place. It was just installed at the start of this school year.

Like with all buildings that have closed, we have saved key artifacts and moved them to other locations. For example, the clock that hung outside Lincoln School now hangs outside Ravinia. The We All Live Here mural at Red Oak will move to Oak Terrace and will be installed on an exterior wall adjacent to the one that currently has a mural. Any other movable artifacts or displays will be reviewed and considered as students transition.

In the Family Engagement Subcommittee, one of the activities will be to develop a branding and identity campaign that celebrates the unified K–5 Dual Language program at Oak Terrace.

Oak Terrace has a regulation-sized soccer field. They also have a large field in front of the building, which is currently used for gym classes, a raised garden, and multiple preschool play spaces, including a playground. Additionally, there are two playgrounds located on the east side of the building, as well as a large blacktop area that will be reviewed for renovation. The large black top area can be renovated for improved usage and may also be utilized as additional green space. We are collaborating with Margaret Chaidez from Play Illinois and Patty King from Wight and Co. to design outdoor spaces based on feedback from staff, parents, and students. This is an inclusive process of feedback capture through various means, including future parent engagement meetings that will be part of the Family Engagement Subcommittee events, staff meetings at each school, and student feedback via lunchroom activities.

Indoor recess is typically held in elementary schools in several spaces, including the gym, multipurpose room, and classrooms. There is room at Oak Terrace for indoor recess to occur; the scheduling and placement of children in spaces are dependent on the administrative team developing a schedule that focuses on the number of indoor recess supervisors and available spaces.