District presents 'Win Time' and unified middle-school schedule to address learning needs

Huntley Community School District 158 administrators presented a recommended change to middle-school schedules that would create a 30-minute, grade-level block called "Win Time" for targeted intervention, enrichment and executive-function coaching.

The presentation, delivered to the Board committee, said the proposal keeps the district's double literacy block, preserves band, choir and orchestra during the school day, and balances core course minutes so all schools use a single, unified schedule.

"It is not meant to be a study hall. It's not meant to be free time," the district presenter said, describing Win Time as "intentional, data-driven instructional time" aligned to the district's MTSS structures.

Administrators outlined the process that produced the recommendation: a two-year task force of teachers, support staff and administrators, surveys of students and teachers, and scenario modeling for different student types, including those with IEPs, EL students, gifted learners and students in music programs.

Board members pressed administrators on logistics—how students will access Win Time supports, whether the block risks stigmatizing students who need help, and how the district will motivate participation without adding grades. Administrators said teachers would collaborate across teams, Win Time assignments would be flexible and timed (often in four- to six-week cycles), and staff would design activities so all students have purposeful options.

The district proposed building out grade-level schedules this spring with a smaller teacher group, piloting refinements in fall, and finalizing implementation plans for 2027 with monitoring and adjustments.

The committee requested additional detail on rooming/logistics and teacher workload during the spring development phase; administrators said they will return with more developed grade-level plans.