Community, school and Bloomingdale village representatives met Tuesday night in the Elementary School District 13 offices to begin implementing the recently adopted Character Counts! program, which is designed to emphasize building character in pupils.
The program was adopted by the district’s board in April. The Character Counts! coalition comprises local police, fire and Park District representatives, as well as government officials, parents and representatives from District 13 and Lake Park High School District 108.
District 13 Supt. Jerome Gordon said the district’s commitment will consist of training teachers and including the program in its disciplinary policies.
He suggested the district would want to join the national organization of Character Counts! Dues would be $300 a year, and Bloomingdale officials agreed to have the village pay the first year’s fee.
The program will start at Westfield Junior High School this fall and later be expanded to elementary schools, officials said.
