D41 Home | Board Agendas, Highlights and Minutes

Glen Ellyn School District 41 Mission: Ignite passion. Inspire excellence. Imagine possibilities.

Board Members: John Vivoda President | John Marcheschi Vice President | Debbie Hoffman Secretary
Kevin Cosgrove | Terra Costa Howard | John Kenwood | Carol McElvain
Following is a summary of the Board of Education (BOE) meeting held on November 13 & 27, 2006. Minutes are posted on www.d41.org once approved.
TENTATIVE TAX LEVY APPROVED
The BOE approved the tentative Tax levy for 2006 pending final adoption at the Dec. 18 meeting. The Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL, also referred to as the Tax Cap), says school districts may levy the dollars they received the previous year plus a small increase for inflation—Consumer Price Index (3.4% for this year’s tax levy) or 5%, whichever is less. Property taxes on new construction provide additional dollars beyond the capped amount for the first year a property is on the tax rolls and raise the base from which taxes are calculated for the next year. The law requires the levy to be submitted in December, before the district has established its budget and before the figures on which the tax rate is based are available from the County Clerk and the Assessor’s Office. The County Clerk calculates the legal rate in the spring; if the clerk finds that the district’s levy is too high, the clerk will adjust it to the correct level; if the levy is too low, the clerk will not adjust the levy upward. To make sure of receiving the entire legal tax rate, the district’s tentative levy of $36.7 million represents an increase of 9.5% over last year’s extension; D41 actually expects to receive an increase of approximately 5.23%. The increase that individual taxpayers will pay varies depending on such things as how much their property has appreciated that year, if they’ve made improvements to their property and other factors. D41 receives most of its funding from local property taxes and very little from state or federal sources. The percentage of state and federal funds varies from district to district.

Next steps
The BOE will vote on the levy after the Truth in Taxation public hearing at 7:00 p.m., Dec. 18 preceding the regular BOE meeting. The County Clerk will adjust the levy to the legal rate in the spring, once the total EAV is known. The Truth in Taxation public hearing notice will be published in the Glen Ellyn News and The Daily Herald, the tentative levy will be posted on www.d41.org and made available at the Central Services office, 793 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn, IL.

INTERESTED IN RUNNING FOR THE D41 BOARD OF EDUCATION?
With the terms of Board Members Debbie Hoffman, John Marcheschi and Carol McElvain expiring in April, three Board seats are up for election on April 17, 2007. The deadline for circulating nominating petitions is Jan. 29. Those interested in running may pick up an information packet at Central Services from 8-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. More information is available at www.dupageelections.com

About the D41 Board of Education Board members are unpaid, elected volunteers, each representing the District as a whole. The board is accountable to the public and makes decisions as a unit based on what is best for student learning. The board hires the superintendent, sets instructional policy, approves the budget and ongoing expenditures and is ultimately responsible for the performance of the district. Board meetings are working sessions held in public with time allotted for public participation.
SUMMER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS APPROVED
The BOE approved an estimated $1.2 million plan for maintenance and improvement projects to be completed over the summer. Among the proposed projects are electrical work, the addition of storage space, new gym flooring, disability-access, and other improvements. Included in the plan is about $81,500 of work identified in the 10-year Life Safety Survey conducted recently by FGM Architects in compliance with state law.

Next steps
The district will go out to bid on most of the projects, and incorporate the costs into the FY 2007-2008 budget that will be proposed for adoption in late spring.

FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS GUIDE PLANNING
PMA Financial Network, Inc. provided a report on its preliminary five-year projections to assist the district in long-range planning. Among the findings that PMA presented are that if today’s trends continue, the district will find itself gradually using its cash balances to maintain its current levels of staffing, programs and employee benefits. PMA calculates that cash balances will decline from about $6 million in 2007 to $1.6 million by 2012. PMA pointed out that, in general, the Tax Cap limits district revenue increases to the CPI (3.4% for the 2006 levy year) or 5%, whichever is lower. However, district expenditures are expected to increase at a faster rate than the CPI. Rising costs of utilities, of the district’s contribution toward employee health insurance, and of increasing unfunded mandates (which require the district to provide programming but do not provide the money to do so) all may outpace the CPI. Increasing enrollment also factors into predictions. PMA noted that most of the districts for which it provides projections show a similar trend.

Next steps
PMA will continue to provide information used in long-range financial planning.
HIGH ACHIEVING STUDENTS
In a preliminary conversation meant to begin defining "high achieving students," the Board discussed its hopes and beliefs, how those ideas would reflect the district's Vision (Exceptional Learning in a Respectful and Supportive Environment) and how they might help guide the district's work. It also discussed the relationship of instruction to achievement, what the leadership role is in fostering high achievement, and how high achievement can be identified. Examples of high achieving students are those with the ability to be creative, who are motivated, and can utilize high-level thinking skills.

Next steps
The Continuous Improvement Team will continue the discussion of what high achievement looks like and incorporate the ideas into a strategic approach to teaching and learning for the BOE's review.


SEARCH FOR ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT
In a focus group format, the BOE discussed qualities, qualifications and characteristics it feels are important in candidates for the position of Assistant Superintendent for Finance, Facilities and Operations, a position that is currently being filled on an interim basis. Focus groups have also been conducted with staff and community members.

Next steps
Perspectives from the focus groups will be incorporated into the search process being conducted by Director of Human Resources Laurie Campbell. The position is posted on www.d41.org.
NEXT MEETING
A special BOE meeting is set for Dec. 12 in which the BOE will continue its work on effective governance. The next regular meeting will be Dec. 18, 7:30 p.m. in Central Services, 793 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn at 7:30 p.m. The meeting will be preceded at 7 p.m. by the Truth in Taxation public hearing. Other special meetings may be called and their agendas will be posted on www.d41.org at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting.




D41 Home | Board Agendas, Highlights and Minutes