TEACHER CONTRACT APPROVED: The Glen Ellyn School District 41 Board of Education has unanimously approved a teachers' contract designed to foster continuous improvement, promote collaboration and involve teachers more centrally in district decisions. The union has also ratified the contract. The four-year contract ties teacher salaries to inflation, adds days to the teachers' work year and provides new stipend opportunities for teachers willing to work outside the classroom on district goals and initiatives. It provides processes to increase teacher participation and support their professional development. Also, over the course of the contract, a percentage of health insurance costs will shift from the district to teachers. "This is the most creative and professional contract I have seen in my 30 years in the district," said teachers union President Ed Klingberg. Raises are tied to the Consumer Price Increase (CPI) with a 2.4% increase on the base salary in year one, a 1.9% on the base in year two. Raises in years three and four will be the CPI or 5% on the base, whichever is less.
NEXT STEPS ... One day
will be added to the teachers' work year in 2004 with a total of four
additional days by 2008. These days will provide opportunities for professional
development and district-wide training. Students will attend the same
number of days as they do now. Also, teachers will be elected by their
peers to several new decision-making bodies concerned with continuous
improvement; teaching, learning and accountability; professional development;
and school improvement—activities requiring extensive time commitment
and a leadership role among staff. Teacher representatives will be paid
a stipend and be held accountable for their work, which will be done outside
the instructional day.
LINCOLN PRINCIPAL HIRED: Laura Campbell has been hired as the
new principal of Abraham Lincoln School, replacing Dr. Chris Dransoff,
who will be the principal at Hadley Junior High. Laura is currently the
principal of Michael Collins Elementary School in Schaumburg Community
Consolidated District 54. She has a BA in elementary education from the
University of Illinois and an MA in school administration from Northwestern
University in Evanston.
DISTRICT GIFTED SPECIALIST HIRED: Charles Accardi has been hired as the new District Gifted Specialist, one of the three district-wide specialist roles designed to work with teachers to increase instructional capacity and expertise throughout the district. Charles was most recently principal of Anne M. Jeans Elementary School in Burr Ridge Community School District 180.
PLANS IN PLACE TO ACCOMMODATE INCREASED KINDERGARTEN ENROLLMENT: At this point in the registration process, it appears that another section of kindergarten may be needed at Churchill and the board approved hiring a half-time kindergarten teacher, if the projected increase materializes. Churchill has one extra classroom this year, due to the addition of a four-classroom portable unit. Kindergarten numbers at Franklin are also showing an increase at this time, and the district will continue to monitor the situation at both schools, said Superintendent Dr. Jack Barshinger.
NEW PHONE SYSTEM WILL IMPROVE SERVICE, ACCOMMODATE
FUTURE NEEDS: The 2004 Technology
Audit identified a new phone system as a top priority and the board
approved a contract with Sentinel Technologies for a new district-wide
phone system with the following features:
• VOIP (Voice-Over Internet Provider) which will allow employees
to access voice messages through their email
• Enhanced E911 compliance, which allows emergency services to pinpoint
the location of any 911 call
• 1000-phone capacity, up from the 400-phone capacity the current
system has. This capacity will accommodate call loads at all the buildings
and leave room for expansion.
The new system is simple to use and requires little new wiring since D41’s
existing wiring and cabling is sufficient to accommodate the system. The
current system is five years old and was installed as a three-year bridge
solution pending new technologies. The five-year lease costs $84,785 annually,
and includes equipment, installation and staff training. A one-year service
agreement at $32,455 will also be purchased, with an option to renew.
NEXT STEPS ... The system will be installed in phases with installation expected to be completed by the end of October.
INFANT WELFARE DONATES $5,000: The board gratefully accepted a generous $5,000 from the Glen Ellyn Infant Welfare society. The funds will be used to provide eligible students with school supplies.
BUDGET ON PUBLIC DISPLAY; PUBLIC HEARING SET: The fiscal year 2004-2005 draft budget is on display at each D41 building, the Glen Ellyn Public Library and is posted on www.d41.org. The $33.5 million document is a balanced budget that provides resources to continue the district’s focus on continuous improvement, hire additional staff, implement the new Spanish curriculum and provide professional development opportunities for staff. More than 90% of D41’s revenues come from local property taxes, and more than 70% of expenditures go for salaries and benefits. A public hearing will be held preceding the regular board meeting at 7:15 p.m. on Monday, July 19 in the board room at the Central Services building.
BUDGET HEARING: The public hearing on the 2005-2005 Budget is set for July 19 at 7:15 p.m. in the Central Services Board Room. The budget will be on public display at Central Services and at the Glen Ellyn Public Library starting June 17. The “Budget in Brief,” is posted on www.d41.org.
NEXT MEETING: The next regular board
meeting is set for Monday, July 19 at 7:30 p.m. in the board room. The
public is welcome. GETV Channel 17 videotapes the meetings for broadcast
the following Monday at 8 p.m. Listening Post, an opportunity for the
public to talk informally with board members, will be held from 7-7:15
before the budget hearing. There is no obligation to stay for the meeting.
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