LEARNER CHARACTERISTICS, 5-YEAR PLAN, CURRICULUM REVIEW CYCLE
The Board of Education (BOE) discussed three foundational elements that will support the district’s vision (Exceptional Learning in a Respectful and Supportive Environment).

1. “Learner Characteristics”. Defining these characteristics (habits, attitudes and skills that describe strong learners) is an essential step.

2. The District’s draft 5-year plan. This plan documents the strategies which will keep the focus on improvement in three areas: student learning, financial health and responsibility, and communication. 

3. The curriculum review cycle. This cycle outlines how the district will ensure that instruction and learning materials in all curricular areas are aligned to state learning standards, reflect best practices in instruction and assessment, and are up to date.

The Learner Characteristics have been developed through discussion by the BOE and the D41 Continuous Improvement Team (CIT) and are seen as essential underpinnings to academic and lifelong success. The habits and attitudes include being a curious learner, creative thinker, resilient, adaptive to changing contexts, collaborative, open to diverse views and experiences, respectful, compassionate, optimistic, nurturing, seeker of challenges, engaged and enthusiastic learner and future oriented. Among the skills are to be someone who: solves complex problems, makes connections between present and future opportunities, thinks critically and reflectively, communicates effectively using multiple methods to multiple audiences, mediates peacefully, pursues a healthy lifestyle and advocates for oneself.  The BOE adopted these on Feb. 26.

The draft 5-year plan has its roots in the 2003 visioning process that the district conducted with stakeholders. It is a living document defining what the district plans to achieve, expressing the district’s best thinking on behalf of children. There are 2-year action plans associated with every aspect of this plan. The plan is based on the district’s mission to improve student learning in a culture of continuous improvement. The approach to improving student achievement starts with defining high achievement and assessing the current program and services to make sure they are based on best practices and are consistently delivered. The financial component of the plan ensures the district has the resources in the long term to deliver on its mission, provide for facility needs and fund needed programs. The communication component addresses the need to systematically engage the public, to create a framework for facilities discussions, to provide information to stakeholders and to make sure that stakeholder voices are heard. 

In order to make sure that every curricular area is kept current, the curriculum review cycle was developed by the Learning Leadership Team to provide a framework and timeline for curricular work that begins with assessing the current state, reviewing research, comparing alignment to state standards and identifying funding needed for curricular revisions. After curricular improvements are developed, the new material will be field tested, which may lead to modifications of curricular content, materials or instructional practices. Once a new or modified curriculum is launched, evaluation will be ongoing. This will include reviewing student achievement data, teacher and parent feedback and other indicators of curricular effectiveness. Teacher training is also an essential aspect of the review cycle. Currently, Literacy, Math, Foreign Language, Report Cards and Social Emotional Learning are in some stage of the cycle. Next year, Elementary Art and Music, Science, Social Science, Physical Education and Technology will enter into the cycle.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Members of the public had a number of comments and questions: a request that the BOE look into creating policy on vendor donations to the school district regarding issues that will affect them financially, a request for information on how technology has impacted students and if it provides value for the investment, a request for information on proposed square footage contained in the referendum proposal, and a question on the status of the 2007 demographic study.

NEXT MEETING
A regular BOE workshop session is is set for Monday, Mar. 5, 7:30 p.m. A special joint meeting of the Glenbard Associate Districts (15, 16, 41, 44, 87, 89 and 93) will be held on Wednesday, Mar. 7, 7 p.m. in the Marquardt District 15 Offices, 1860 Glen Ellyn Rd., Glendale Heights. On Monday, Mar. 12, a special BOE meeting will be a board candidate workshop at 6 p.m. in Central Services. The next regular BOE meeting is set for Mar. 19, 7:30 p.m. Meetings will be held in Central Services, 793 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 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.

Please remember to vote on April 17

• Board of Education elections: 4 candidates for 3 open seats (Erica Nelson, Jane Schwartz, Robert Solac, Steven Vondrak)

• D41 $40 million bond referendum to expand, renovate and restructure our schools. For more information, visit www.d41.org/referendum

The League of Women Voters will host a candidate forum on Sunday, March 18 at Hadley Junior High. D41 candidates will speak at noon. For more info, call 630-881-1490 or visit  www.lwv@glenellyn.com.