Dr. Mike Oberhaus, Superintendent

Welcome to the Rock Island-Milan School District!  As we approach the 2012-13 year!

The best part about being a superintendent is when I get to visit classrooms. In our classrooms I witness students actively engaged in learning. Their imagination and creativity are evident in the work they complete. Teachers utilize multiple skills to direct the many activities occurring within the learning environment. They are passionate and dedicated to assist each student be successful and accomplish our mission to develop high achieving world citizens.

Building on strengths is what we are doing as a school district. Last year the school district worked on implementing two practices that will benefit students in the long run: Transitioning to more rigorous and relevant standards through the Common Core Standards and strongly emphasizing student achievement through data driven instruction. Living our core beliefs, team members continually look to find better ways to deliver lessons and differentiate to meet student needs. We are using student assessment data and teacher input to drive instructional improvements to enhance student success. Working together as a team (staff members, students, and parents), we can provide high expectations and develop dreams for each child.

As the 2012-13 year approaches we anxiously await the return of students and staff while planning for continual improvement. Some new practices being implemented include providing parents with feedback on student academic performance more frequently. At the High School, a new daily schedule structure will include an enrichment period at the start of each day. Also, high school team members will begin implementing a rigorous curriculum to prepare each student to be college/career ready. Recently the Board of Education approved the high school to be a part of the iJAG program,  a year-long, credit bearing class that provides tools for job attainment, employment skills, academic support, leadership development, and post-secondary transition opportunities.

The Rock Island-Milan School District is going strong and steady. Enrollments are increasing and the number of students graduating continues to climb. In spite of continued loss of state and federal funding, the District will continue to look for opportunities to provide quality programs for student and strive to enhance experiences and skills of every child. We will help each child reach their dream. It will take the entire community for each child to be successful. The Rock Island and Milan communities have shown time and again that they are willing to support the children.

These are your schools. We invite you to visit to see the good work happening each day in every building. Please consider volunteering in a school, mentoring a child, or being actively engaged in your child’s education.

Thank you for being a part of Excellence Every Day in the Rock Island-Milan School District!