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Northcentral Super Region
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LMMay 2019 Special Edition
Enrollment: 879
FY18: $650,611
Type: 9–12
FY19: $420,122
Launching a new STEM program was supposed to be a three-
year plan, but EBM jumpstarted the process, Superintendent
Matt Seaton said.
The district is investing the dollars into a new STEM lab and
employing math and science teachers to design and oversee
the project.
“They’re going to develop the classroom design as they
go through this year,” Seaton said. “We feel like it’s a
teacher’s dream.”
The new lab will be equipped with robotic equipment,
computers, flexible furniture and 21st century work stations,
among other things. But even more than the state-of-the-art
space, Seaton said, the new program will provide students
with job skills needed for a new labor market.
Streator is primarily a blue-collar community that sends as
many students into the trades and vocational programs as it
does to four-year universities.
“This was the next step for our math and science program,”
Seaton said. “We’re providing exposure to students in
advanced areas of science and math that interest them.”
Streator Twp HSD #40
After the passage of the new formula, Everett said, Sterling
CUSD #5 identified key priorities to address with the new
dollars. Those included:
• Improve student and staff safety and security.
• Increase supports for students struggling with social-
emotional learning.
• Increase supports for struggling learners, with an
emphasis on special education, math and class sizes.
• Improve the alignment of the curriculum, instructional
practices and assessment system.
Last year, the district hired three elementary teachers, two
6–12 teachers, three special education teachers and a
math interventionist. In addition, the district hired four social
workers to improve social-emotional supports for students.
“Our education assessment data was telling us a story
that our students were not meeting our standards,” Everett
said. “We have been really focused on addressing these
priorities, and it’s already starting to make a difference.”
The district has also made safety upgrades the past few
years that were, in part, funded by EBF, Everett said. That
includes bringing in a school resource officer, updating
security cameras, hiring two security guards and making
entrances safer.
Moving forward, Everett noted, the district also plans to
use EBF to help hire a district-wide director of curriculum
and instruction.
“The support we received
from our state leaders
and legislators, to formally
approve and fund the EBF, is
so appreciated,” Everett sad.
“This support has improved
our building climates and
student outcomes, and we
have data showing that. At
the end of the day though,
as plainly as I can say it, our
students have been the real
winners of Illinois’ Evidence-
Based Funding Model.”
EBF has had an immediate impact. Purchasing new curriculum
was a large expense, and it allowed us to move quickly and
provide professional development to support teachers.
—Jennifer Gill, Springfield SD #186