Kane County Reporter

Central Community Unit School District 301, which serves Kane and DeKalb counties in Illinois, highlighted recent activities and initiatives in a series of social media posts on October 21, 2025.

In a post published at 12:01 p.m., the district shared, “The Anxious Generation” Erica Snyder & Lindsay Melvin discuss Jonathan Haidt’s book and explore how schools and families can help kids rediscover a play-based childhood. SPOTIFY: https://t.co/CtL0MKVZKk ARCHIVES: https://t.co/i7RTFRPuhE #WeAreCentral https://t.co/RVkwToJT8M. The post referenced a discussion about the book "The Anxious Generation" by Jonathan Haidt and addressed strategies for schools and families to support children in regaining play-centered experiences.

Later that day, at 3:01 p.m., the district posted about an event at Howard B. Thomas Grade School (HBT), stating, " Reading Buddies with a Tail! HBT students spent time reading to some very special guests — therapy dogs! The library was full of smiles, snuggles, and stories as our young readers practiced their skills with their new furry friends. #WeAreCentral https://t.co/TlPdhoRnfu". This initiative aimed to encourage reading skills among students by pairing them with therapy dogs in the school library.

At 5:00 p.m., the district provided updates on athletic events, posting, "LUNCHTIME LINEUP: On today's menu, a big day of @IHSA_il boys soccer as the Rockets begin the state tournament march. Plus, one final regular season home volleyball match on Rocket Hill. TICKETS https://t.co/z4vR8Rg6S5 PROGRAM https://t.co/rHrhpHhOnf #WeAreCentral https://t.co/XRrhn6RW9r". The announcement included information about the start of the boys soccer state tournament and the final regular season home volleyball match.

Central Community Unit School District 301 encompasses several schools, including Central High School, Central Middle School, Country Trails Elementary School, Howard B. Thomas Grade School, Lily Lake Grade School, Prairie Knolls Middle School, and Prairie View Grade School (source). According to the Illinois State Board of Education, the district employs 280 teachers with an average salary of $58,199, and maintains low teacher absenteeism rates (source). The student body is composed of 65.3 percent White, 2.1 percent Black, 16.5 percent Hispanic, and 12.2 percent Asian students (source). In 2020, the district spent $19,244 per student, totaling $84,903,337 (source).