Lake County Gazette

The Gurnee Village Board heard a report from Woodland School District 50 Superintendent Robert Machak on the partnership between city and school officials.

Machak's presentation was a step in the growing relationship between the village and the largest school district in the area, as Mayor Thomas Hood attended a school board meeting earlier in the year and trustees often go to school district events. Machak noted that while he has worked in other positions in the district before, this is his first experience as superintendent, and he said he is grateful for the partnership and support of the board.

"This is our vision statement: 'Together, inspiring tomorrow’s creators, thinkers and leaders,'" he told the board during the March 20 meeting, adding that "part of our mission statement talks about doing all these great things for kids under the parameters of a nurturing community. And when I think about the kind of community that I want for our kids at Woodland, it's not just the teaching and learning that goes on in our four schools, which I think is exceptional. But this village is really an extension of our classrooms and the opportunities that our children have been given and that our staff have been given are just amazing."

Machak noted that one of the difficulties for a district which covers 33 square miles and has students from seven different zip codes is that despite the great diversity that brings to their schools, it presents challenges with weather emergencies, creating targeted programs and curricula for student groups, as well as incorporating that diversity into daily routines. Many student clubs and organizations have reached out within the community, such as the Gurnee Exchange Club, Lake county regional office of education, Rotary Club and the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center, he noted.

"I can tell you, as someone who's been around a while... the partnerships that that people in the village have sought out and then have been open to me pursuing with them have been nothing short of incredible. And again, I remain really grateful for that," Machak said.

Another key partnership of note is the one between the district and the city is with its School Resource Officer, Det. Kelly Hanson of the Gurnee Police Department. Hanson works with the Woodland community schools, and Machak said he was very grateful for the partnership and how it has allowed students to feel safe by having a police presence in the buildings, and by building relationships with first responders and law enforcement.