MISSION STATEMENT

Community Unit School District 300's primary mission is to help students reach their potential

as self-directed learners and responsible citizens. 

This webpage is organized in the following order:

• Calendar and Bell Times
• Grades and Transcripts
• Miscellaneous (school supply lists, etc.)
• Registration, Boundaries, and High School Course Selection
• Transportation
• Weather and Closings

CALENDAR AND BELL TIMES

Question 1.  Is it an excused absence if my child misses school due to a religious holiday?

Answer 1.  Yes.  The parent should notify the school in advance, by phone or in writing, that the child will be absent from school for religious reasons.

Q2.  How can I see the District calendar for the 2010-2011 school year?  How about 2011-2012?

A2.  Click here to see the D300 Calendar for 2010-2011.  Click here for the 2011-2012 Calendar.

Q3.  What are the bell times (start and end of the school day) for my child's school?

A3:   Click here for the 2010-2011 bell times, listed by school.

Q4.  Other high school schedule questions: What time are the "blocks" in high school block scheduling?  How does the schedule work during high school final exams?

A4.    The answers to all of these questions are available on the school websites, as follows:

• Click here for Dundee-Crown's complete bell schedule
• Click here for Hampshire High School's complete bell schedule
• Click here for Jacobs High School's complete bell schedule

Q5:  What time is early dismissal for middle and elementary schools?

A5:   This can vary.  Please call your school directly. Or you may call the Associate Superintendent's office, at 847.551.8310.

GRADES AND TRANSCRIPTS

Q6: How can I view my child's grades online? 

A6: This is possible through the Parent Portal.  To sign up or get more information, please click here for the Parent Portal webpage.  

The Parent Portal is a confidential and secure Website where parents and legal guardians can get current information about their children's school attendance and grades.  The portal pulls information directly from Infinite Campus, which is the District-wide student information system designed to manage every aspect of student data.

Parents and legal guardians of elementary, middle and high school students can all access the portal. However, at this time, elementary school parents see less detail than the middle and high school parents due to lack of grade-book use.

Q7:   I signed up for Parent Portal but haven't received my access / log-in information.

A7:  Please email portal@d300.org with any problems or questions regarding the Parent Portal.

Q8:  How do I go about obtaining my high school transcripts? 

A8:  Call the high school you last attended.  For graduates of Irving Crown High School and Dundee High School, please call Dundee-Crown.   

• Dundee-Crown High School phone: 224.484.5000
• Jacobs High School phone: 847.658.2500
• Hampshire High School phone: 847.792.3500

MISCELLANEOUS

Q9.  How do I go about getting my child's school supply list?

A9.  You can either call the school or visit the school.  The list is also likely to be on the school's website.

REGISTRATION & BOUNDARIES

Q10.  What school will my child attend?

A10. Attendance Boundary Maps are available by clicking here.  Alternatively, you may enter your street address to the School Assignment Database to see which school(s) are assigned to your address. 

Q11.  How do I go about getting my child transferred to a different school within D300?

 A11.  Transfers are approved on a very limited basis according to Board Policy.  For more information, please call the Associate Superintendent's Office at 847.551.8310.

 However, if the transfer is part of No Child Left Behind "school of choice," your contact is the D300 Title Programs Office, at  847.551.8313. Click here for more details about NCLB School of Choice. 

Q12.  I am enrolling my child in D300 schools for the first time.  How do I get started? 

A12:  Click here to visit the FAMILIES NEW TO D300 webpage, which should answer most if not all of your questions.  Additional questions may be directed to the D300 Front Desk, at 847.426.1300. 

Q13. My child already attends D300 schools.  Do I need to register again every year?

A13.  Yes, all D300 students must re-register every summer.  For more information, click here. 

Q14.  What are the fees to attend D300 schools?  How do I go about paying these?

A14.  Click here to see the 2010-2011 Fee Schedule.  To pay your fees online as a convenience, click here.

Q15.  How do I enroll my child in preschool?

A15.  Five D300 schools offer preschool programming.  Some of these programs are restricted to special needs or high poverty students and require screening.  There are also tuition-based general openings at deLacey, Gilberts Elementary, and Gary D. Wright Elementary on a first-come, first-served basis.  For more information, please call the deLacey Family Education Center at 847-426-1450.  (The deLacey Center is the only D300 school to solely house preschool students.)

 Q16:  What are the course options for my high school student?

A16:  Please visit the Course Selection webpage.

TRANSPORTATION

Q17:  What is my child's bus route?

A17:  Parents can now look up information about their child's assigned bus route. To do so, click on the link below, click "parent login" then enter your child's last name in the username field and student ID number for their password. Questions? Please call Durham School Services at 847.658.3262.
Bus Assignment Database

Q18:  I have a question or concern about bus transportation for my child.  Who handles this -- the school, the District, or the bus company?

A18:   First, start by directing your busing questions or concerns to Durham School Services, the transportation service provider in D300.   Many of your common questions can be answered by clicking here on the Transportation webpage.   

• For route numbers beginning with the number 1, call theCarpentersville facility: 847.426.1975
• For route numbers beginning with the number 2, or those with an animal name, call the Algonquin (Bunker Hill) facility: 847.658.3262
• For route numbers beginning with the number 3, call the Hampshire facility: 847.683.9360

If your visit to the Transportation webpage and your call to the busing facility are not satisfactory, your next step is to contact your school administrator.  If this does not resolve the situation, you may contact the Associate Superintendent's Office.  Please do not do so until Durham has had a chance to fully address your questions/concerns. 

WEATHER & CLOSINGS

Q19.  How cold does it have to be in order to keep kids inside for recess? 

A19.  At the elementary level, students are kept inside if the temperature (including windchill) is below 10 degrees Fahrenheit.  At the secondary level, teacher/coaches use discretion in making decisions on outside activities in cold weather.

Q20:  How cold does it have to be for the D300 Superintendent to close school for the day?

A20:  Winters in Northern Illinois are usually very cold, windy and snowy.  School will not necessarily be closed on cold, snowy days.  Decisions to close school for weather are made on a case-by-case basis.  The decision to close school is not based only on temperature or wind chill.  Other major factors include:

• Road conditions
• Salt supply
• Bus fleet availability
• The timing of snowfall relative to the transportation schedule
• General safety

The Superintendent usually makes the decision on whether to close school between 4 and 5 a.m.  The decision is made after he closely consults weather forecasts, superintendents of nearby school districts, and the D300 Supervisor of Facilities for an up-to-the-minute assessment of road conditions.

According to the 2010-2011 D300 Parent/Guardian Handbook, "If all District schools are closed due to a weather or other emergency, all extracurricular activities will be cancelled.  High school interscholastic sport activities and practices will be cancelled.  Exceptions to this rule shall be made by 12:00 noon by the superintendent / designee." 

Q21.  How will I know when school is closed due to weather?

A21.  Schools will be in session according to the District calendar unless there is an emergency or severe weather condition.  EVERYONE MAY ASSUME THAT D300 SCHOOLS ARE IN SESSION UNLESS WE ANNOUNCE A CLOSING.  In other words, we do not announce that schools are open -- only that they are closed.

In the case of a school closing due to severe weather, the D300 will attempt to provide this information through as many of these channels as possible AROUND OR AFTER 6 A.M.:

• The D300 Rapid Communication System (RCS)
• The D300 website, www.d300.org
• The District's main phone line, 847.426.1300
• www.emergencyclosings.com
• Local news media (radio, newspapers, and TV)