Township High School District 211

Township High School District 211
G.A. McElroy Administration Center, the district's headquarters
Address
1750 S Roselle Rd
United States
District information
TypePublic secondary
MottoExtraordinary Opportunities. Innovative Teaching. Exceptional Learning.
Grades9-12[1]
Established1914[2]
SuperintendentDr. Lisa A. Small[3][4]
AccreditationNorth Central Association of Colleges and Schools[1]
Schools5[1]
Budget$263 million (2017-2018)[5]
Students and staff
Students11,857[5]
Teachers810[5]
Student–teacher ratio17.8:1[a][5]
Athletic conferenceMid-Suburban League
Other information
Websitewww.adc.d211.org

Township High School District 211 is a school district located in Cook County, Illinois, and is the largest high school district in Illinois. District 211 serves the communities of Hoffman Estates, Inverness, Palatine, and Schaumburg, and portions of Arlington Heights, Elk Grove, Hanover Park, Roselle, Rolling Meadows, Streamwood, and South Barrington in the northwest suburbs of Chicago.[1][5]

Schools

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High schools

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School Town Picture Team Name Colors IHSA Classes (2/3/4) Reference
Conant High School Hoffman Estates Cougars       AA/3A/4A [6]
Fremd High School Palatine Vikings     AA/3A/4A [7]
Hoffman Estates High School Hoffman Estates Hawks     AA/3A/4A [8]
Palatine High School Palatine Pirates     AA/3A/4A [9]
Schaumburg High School Schaumburg Saxons     AA/3A/4A [10]

Alternative Schools

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  • District 211 North Campus
  • Higgins Education Center

Academics

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Each school is accredited by the North Central Association and has earned full recognition status by the Illinois Superintendent of Public Instruction. All five high schools have received the United States Department of Education’s Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award, while Palatine and Fremd High Schools have each been recognized twice.

Palatine High School was one of only 10 schools nationally to be named a “New American High School” by the U.S. Department of Education in 2000. Three schools – Palatine, William Fremd, and Schaumburg High Schools – were named among the “Top 99” high schools in the country by U.S. News & World Report.[1]

D211 carries a curriculum of more than 390 courses, a six-week summer school, and Advanced Placement opportunities in 34 subjects. The District also offers 66 dual credit courses with local colleges, including Harper College, Triton College, and College of DuPage, as well as with the University of Illinois.[1]

History

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High School District 211 was named among the elite school districts in Illinois by Expansion Management magazine, a publication for corporate re-location, in 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, and again in 2007.

On November 2, 2015, The New York Times reported that the federal government determined that District 211 violated anti-discrimination laws because "it did not allow a transgender student who identifies as a girl and participates on a girls’ sports team to change and shower in the girls’ locker room without restrictions." The New York Times added that the student in question "identifies as female but was born male."[11]

Board of education

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The District 211 Board of Education meeting on May 13, 2021

Township High School District 211 is governed by a seven-member Board of Education.[12][13] Board members are elected to four year terms[14] in non-partisan,[15] at-large elections[16] with three seats up for election in odd years after presidential election years (most recently in 2021)[14] and four seats up for election in odd years after midterm election years (most recently in 2023).[17] As of June 2023, the membership of the Board of Education is:[18][19]

  • Anna Klimkowicz (board president)
  • Steven Rosenblum (board vice president)
  • Kimberly Cavill (board secretary)
  • Curtis Bradley
  • Michelle Barron
  • Peter Dombrowski
  • Timothy Mc Gowan


2023 Election

In the April 4th, 2023 race, the seats of all four incumbents, Peter Dombrowski, Steven Rosenblum, Mark Cramer, and Kim Cavill were up for reelection. There were 11 names on the ballot. Incumbents Rosenblum and Cavill were supported by the local union along with newcomers candidates Michelle Barron, a mental health expert, and Jane Russell. They were also supported by a Political action committee known as Palatine Supports Public School. The committee was created by a local democrat organization.

The conservative candidates, Mark Cramer and Peter Dombrowski, were support by C4KE, another Political action committee. They were joined by newcomers Susan Saam, and Barbara Valez.

There were two independent candidates who self funded their own campaigns, one was Meenal Dewan, and the other was 19-year-old author Aiden Branss.

The winners of the election were Peter Dombrowski, Kim Cavill, Steven Rosenblum, and Michelle Barron.

2021 election

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In the April 6, 2021 race, the seats of board members Robert LeFevre, Ed Yung, and Anna Klimkowicz were up for election. Nine candidates ran for the three seats; Klimkowicz ran for reelection, while LeFevre and Yung did not. Curtis Bradley, Klimkowicz, and Timothy Mc Gowan—the winners of the election—ran as a slate. Jessica Hinkle, Kristen Steel, Robi Vollkommer, and Denise Wilson—the next highest vote-getters—were all supported by board member Mark Cramer. The four generally emphasized the importance of in-person learning over remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for fiscal discipline within the district. Roxanne Wittkamp received the least votes; she was the only candidate not to coordinate with another.[18] Amy Nelson announced on March 18, 2021 that she was suspending her campaign due to an employment conflict; although she was out of the race, she announced that it was too late to have her name removed from the ballot. Despite imploring supporters to not vote for her,[20] she received 3,453 votes.

Following the 2020 protests over the murder of George Floyd[21] and the district's subsequent establishment of an equity team, equity concerns played a notable role in the race. In particular, Bradley and Mc Gowan, who are both black, made social justice a central issue of their campaigns.[22] Their ultimate election to the board was described by The Daily Herald as a success for equity voices in the district[22] and was featured in The Herald's analysis of the impact of George Floyd's murder on the Chicago suburbs.[21] Bradley told The Herald that he thought the voters' acknowledgement of equity issues within the district was partially responsible for his election;[22] Mc Gowan said that he saw his ascendance to the board as a direct response to the previous summer's protests.[21]

Prior to his run for the board, Mc Gowan was an activist who led Palatine's first Black Lives Matter demonstration[23] in June 2020 and openly supported equitable changes to professional development, employment, and curriculum within the district.[24] After Palatine High School teacher Jeanne Hedgepeth[25] made a Facebook post that was critical of the Black Lives Matter movement and compared the term "white privilege" to a racial slur, Mc Gowan described the post as "unacceptable" coming from a teacher and called for her termination. Hedgepeth was placed under investigation for her remarks[24][26] and was later terminated. Three weeks before the election, Hedgepeth sued Mc Gowan for defamation, alleging that he had made false statements about her on Facebook that had led to her firing. Mc Gowan's attorney disputed Hedgepeth's allegation, suggesting that the lawsuit's proximity to the election might be for political purposes.[25]

Township High School District 211 Board of Education election, 2021[27][18]
Candidate Votes %
Curtis Bradley 9,046 16.66
Denise K. Wilson 3,992 7.35
Robi Vollkommer 5,101 9.40
Kristen M. Steel 5,733 10.56
Jessica J. Hinkle 7,767 14.31
Roxanne Wittkamp 2,061 3.80
Amy K. Nelson 3,453 6.36
Anna Klimkowicz (incumbent) 8,915 16.42
Timothy Mc Gowan 8,220 15.14
Total votes 54,288 100.00

After the election, on April 29, 2021, the board selected its officers: Klimkowicz was selected as president, Steven Rosenblum was selected as vice president, and Kimberly Cavill was selected as secretary.[18]

2019 election

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Township High School District 211 Board of Education election, 2019[28]
Candidate Votes %
Steven Rosenblum 10,387 18.10
Peter R. Dombrowski 11,361 19.80
Will Hinshaw 8,789 15.32
Mark J. Cramer 9,375 16.34
Matthew Saternus 6,110 10.65
Kimberly Cavill 11,357 19.79
Total votes 57,379 100.0

2017 election

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Township High School District 211 Board of Education election, 2017[29]
Candidate Votes %
Ralph T. Bonatz 7,412 14.82
Katherine Jee Young David 8,045 16.09
Robert J. LeFevre Jr. 8,843 17.69
Jean Forrest 7,340 14.68
Anna Klimkowicz 10,093 20.19
Edward M. Yung 8,267 16.53
Total votes 50,000 100.00

2015 election

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Township High School District 211 Board of Education election, 2015[30]
Candidate Votes %
Peter R. Dombrowski 6,089 14.37
Richard Gerber 5,375 12.68
Will Hinshaw 5,569 13.14
Roman G. Golash 2,443 5.76
Mucia A. Burke 6,890 16.26
Lauanna Recker 6,168 14.55
Robert D. Lithgow 4,775 11.27
Edward M. Yung 5,075 11.97
Total votes 42,384 100.00

2013 election

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Township High School District 211 Board of Education election, 2013[31]
Candidate Votes %
Robert J. LeFevre, Jr. 5,352 19.04
Anna Klimkowicz 7,060 25.12
Roman G. Golash 4,265 15.17
Mike Scharringhausen 6,642 23.63
Edward M. Yung 4,790 17.04
Total votes 28,109 100.00

2011 election

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Township High School District 211 Board of Education election, 2011[32]
Candidate Votes %
George P. Brandt 9,436 17.34
Charles Fritz 6,731 12.37
Roman G. Golash 5,973 10.98
Richard Gerber 9,212 16.93
Bill Robertson 8,985 16.51
M. Bryan Neal 6,438 11.83
Mucia A. Burke 7,635 14.03
Total votes 54,410 100.00

2009 election

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Township High School District 211 Board of Education election, 2009[33]
Candidate Votes %
Anna Klimkowicz 13,431 34.11
Robert J. LeFevre Jr. 13,440 34.13
Edward M. Yung 12,503 31.75
Total votes 39,374 100.00

2007 election

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Township High School District 211 Board of Education election, 2007[34]
Candidate Votes %
George P. Brandt 7,064 13.39
Debra Strauss 7,645 14.49
Susan H. Kenley-Rupnow 7,789 14.76
Lynn Davis 7,457 14.13
Charles Fritz 6,598 12.51
Claudia Bailey 4,683 8.88
John M. Cason 4,902 9.29
Patricia S. Schueneman (Pattie) 6,622 12.55
Total votes 52,760 100.00

2005 election

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Township High School District 211 Board of Education election, 2005[35]
Candidate Votes %
Steve J. Marcis 9,274 10.76
Robert J. LeFevre, Jr. 13,039 15.13
Conrad L. Pritscher 7,858 9.12
Mark J. Koller 7,065 8.20
Bill Lloyd 10,305 11.95
Anna Klimkowicz 13,494 15.65
Claudia Bailey 9,864 11.44
William Gruzynski 6,291 7.30
Gerald D. Chapman 9,018 10.46
Total votes 86,208 100.00

2003 election

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Township High School District 211 Board of Education election, 2003[36]
Candidate Votes %
Robert J. LeFevre Jr. 4,300 10.48
Lynn Davis 4,640 11.31
Martha E. Swierczewski 6,525 15.90
Debra Strauss 5,374 13.10
Bill Lloyd 3,760 9.16
Daniel L. Yokas 3,915 9.54
Charles Fritz 4,816 11.74
Michael B. Morris 3,958 9.65
Donald K. "Don" Laxton 3,748 9.13
Total votes 41,036 100.00

2001 election

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Township High School District 211 Board of Education election, 2001[37]
Candidate Votes %
Thomas J. Anderson 5,676 14.15
Susan J. Farmer 7,117 17.74
Donald K. Laxton 3,306 8.24
Anna Klimkowicz 5,566 13.87
Dora Wolf 4,954 12.35
Roger A. Mussell 1,680 4.19
Robert J. LeFevre, Jr. 3,103 7.73
Paulette C. McDowell 4,972 12.39
James R. Clegg 3,751 9.35
Total votes 40,125 100.00

Feeder school districts

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Notes

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  1. ^ The teacher ratio is calculated by taking the ratio of the total student enrollment in the fall to the number of full-time equivalent teachers in the district, excluding special education teachers. Discrepancies may therefore arise between the ratio yielded by simply dividing the number of students by the number of teachers.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Profile 2015" (PDF). Retrieved October 11, 2015.
  2. ^ "About Us | History". Township High School District 211. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  3. ^ "Illinois Coronavirus Updates: New Closure Order in Chicago, County Reports First Case". NBC Chicago. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  4. ^ "Administration / Superintendent & Cabinet". Township High School District 211. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d e "2019 District Report Card" (PDF). Illinois State Board of Education. 2019. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  6. ^ "Hoffman Estates (Conant)". Illinois High School Association (IHSA). April 1, 2010. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  7. ^ "Palatine (Fremd)". Illinois High School Association (IHSA). April 1, 2010. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  8. ^ "Hoffman Estates (H.S.)". Illinois High School Association (IHSA). April 1, 2010. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  9. ^ "Palatine (H.S.)". Illinois High School Association (IHSA). April 1, 2010. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  10. ^ "Schaumburg (H.S.)". Illinois High School Association (IHSA). April 1, 2010. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  11. ^ Smith, Mitch; Davey, Monica (November 2, 2015). "Illinois District Violated Transgender Student's Rights, U.S. Says". The New York Times.
  12. ^ Peterson, Eric (March 19, 2021). "Divided District 211 board rejects changes to current in-person schedule". Daily Herald. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  13. ^ "BoardDocs® Policy: BAA School District Governance". go.boarddocs.com. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  14. ^ a b "Anna Klimkowicz: 2021 candidate for Palatine-Schaumburg Townships High School District 211 Board". Daily Herald. March 5, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  15. ^ Peterson, Eric (March 30, 2021). "Party support appearing in District 211, other local races". Daily Herald. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  16. ^ "BoardDocs® Policy: BBAA Board Member Authority". go.boarddocs.com. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  17. ^ Peterson, Eric (December 19, 2018). "District 211 board president Burke won't seek re-election; here's who is running". Daily Herald. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  18. ^ a b c d Peterson, Eric (April 30, 2021). "Klimkowicz becomes new District 211 board president". Daily Herald. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  19. ^ "Board Members / Board Members Home". http. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  20. ^ report, Daily Herald (March 18, 2021). "Nelson ends campaign for District 211 board". Daily Herald. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  21. ^ a b c Krishnamurthy, Madhu (May 25, 2021). "How George Floyd's death has changed the suburbs". Daily Herald. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  22. ^ a b c Peterson, Eric (April 7, 2021). "'It's a huge statement': Social equity voices succeed in District 211 race". Daily Herald. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  23. ^ "Suburban Teacher Under Investigation for Controversial Facebook Posts About Protests". NBC Chicago. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  24. ^ a b "Illinois teacher's social media post sparks outrage, internal investigation". MyStateline.com. June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  25. ^ a b Cullotta, Karen Ann. "Former Palatine High School teacher files defamation suit against suburban Black Lives Matter leader who's running for school board". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  26. ^ "Suburban Teacher Under Investigation for Controversial Facebook Posts About Protests". NBC Chicago. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  27. ^ "Cook County Clerk's Office Suburban Cook County Election Results April 06, 2021 Consolidated General Election School B.M., Township HS 211, 4yr Township & Precinct Results". results421.cookcountyclerkil.gov. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  28. ^ "Cook County Clerk's Office Suburban Cook County Election Results April 02, 2019 Consolidated General Election School B.M., Township HS 211, 4yr Township & Precinct Results". results419.cookcountyclerkil.gov. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  29. ^ "Cook County Clerk's Office Suburban Cook County Election Results April 04, 2017 Consolidated General Election School B.M., Township HS 211, 4yr Township & Precinct Results". results417.cookcountyclerkil.gov. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  30. ^ "Cook County Clerk's Office Suburban Cook County Election Results April 07, 2015 Consolidated General Election Board Member, Township HS Dist 211, 4yr Township & Precinct Results". results415.cookcountyclerkil.gov. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  31. ^ "Cook County Clerk's Office Suburban Cook County Election Results April 09, 2013 Consolidated General Election School Board Member, Township HS 211, 4yr Township & Precinct Results". results413.cookcountyclerkil.gov. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  32. ^ "Cook County Clerk's Office Suburban Cook County Election Results April 05, 2011 Consolidated General Election HS Member Bd. Of Ed. Township 211 - 4yr. Township & Precinct Results". results.cookcountyclerkil.gov. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  33. ^ "Cook County Clerk's Office Suburban Cook County Election Results April 07, 2009 Consolidated General Election HS Member Bd. Of Ed. Township 211 - 4yr. Township & Precinct Results". results.cookcountyclerkil.gov. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  34. ^ "Suburban Cook County Election Results". results.cookcountyclerkil.gov. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  35. ^ "SUMMARY REPORT: COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS CONSOLIDATED ELECTION TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2005" (PDF). Cook County Clerk's Office. April 19, 2005. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  36. ^ "Suburban Cook County Election Results". results.cookcountyclerkil.gov. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  37. ^ "SUBURBAN COOK COUNTY RESULTS". results.cookcountyclerkil.gov. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
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42°4′51.6″N 88°4′44.2″W / 42.081000°N 88.078944°W / 42.081000; -88.078944