Publications & Sites 
D-70 staff, students enjoy improvements
Libertyville Wednesday, 8/22/12 Second-grade teacher Mindy Ovaska hugs one of her former students, third-grader Danny Bermingham, as students file into the gym for the welcoming assembly Aug. 22 at Butterfield School in Libertyville. | Brian O'Mahoney~for Sun-Times Media
Article Extras
Updated: October 29, 2012 1:58AM
LIBERTYVILLE — The new school year started smoothly at Libertyville District 70 schools, with several major projects completed and new educational programs under way.
“It’s been an absolutely exceptional start to the school year,” said District 70 Superintendent Guy Schumacher. “We have a lot of maintenance and construction work that’s been done.”
The installation of new air conditioning units in all of the classrooms at Adler Park School and Copeland Manor School has been well-received by teachers and students.
“We’ve received very positive comments from the staff, parents and students,” said Adler Park School Principal Jon Bogie. “There’s a noticeable difference in the whole building.”
Another major enhancement at Adler Park School is completion of the new bus turnaround near the rear of the school.
The bus turnaround project is something the school district has been planning since last year. School officials were glad to complete the project before the start of the school year to help alleviate congestion, particularly with the state’s road construction work on Milwaukee Avenue.
Buses will be able to enter at the traffic signal near Adler Park, loop around behind the school and exit at the traffic light.
“It just really enhances the overall look of the school and also provides for a safer drop-off and pick-up for students,” said Bogie.
The district also started some new programs this year, including a tuition-based kindergarten program at Adler and Butterfield schools.
Forty students are in the full-day kindergarten program, including students from all four district elementary schools. One classroom for 20 students from Adler and Copeland Manor is at Adler school and another classroom for 20 students from Rockland and Butterfield is at Butterfield school.
Butterfield School Principal Candice Kehoe said the district offers half-day kindergarten at each of the schools, but many parents wanted a full-day option.
Schumacher said the district also has added a new special education classroom at Butterfield, expanded gifted program offerings at each of the schools, and has new before- and after-school programming provided by Champions.
