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 March 5, 7, 12 and 19, 2007. Minutes are posted on www.d41.org once approved.
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DISCUSSION ON POST-REFERENDUM FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY
If the April bond referendum passes, the district will sell $40 million in bonds to fund construction. Interest will accruefrom the sale of those bonds, since the money will not be spent all at once. The BOE discussed what it would do withinterest earnings, as well as what would happen if the district should find that it had unspent funds at the conclusion ofthe project. The current BOE cannot legally bind a future BOE to a course of action, but the BOE talked about ways tomake it clear that it wants to maintain transparency and accountability. It also discussed how to operate as responsiblefinancial stewards of the project. Among the ways it could do this is by following a construction management strategy,reporting regularly to the community about the project’s progress and expenditures, and by creating an advisory commit-tee. Future BOE decisions on what to do with interest earnings or any residual funds due to the project coming in underbudget would be made after discussion or action in public.
NO SIP DAY ATTENDANCE FOR PRE-K, ECSE, KINDERGARTEN NEXT YEAR
There are eight School Improvement Days (SIP Days) each year; these are early dismissal days on which staffmembers devote the afternoon to a variety of activities supporting improved school performance. For D41’s half-dayprograms, attendance on SIP Days has been a confusing affair of alternating attendance and modified bus schedules. Next year, Pre-Kindergarten At Risk, Early Childhood Special Education and Kindergarten students will notattend school on SIP Days. Teachers of half-day programs have double the number of students as teachers of full-day programs. They will be able to use the additional time for parent conferences, collaboration time and, in thecase of Pre-K At Risk, related activities such as home visits, program planning, staffings and grant writing thatthey used to do on Fridays when the program was four days a week instead of the current five.
Next steps
The above plan will be field-tested in 2007-2008. Stakeholders will be surveyed to determine thevalue of the altered approach to SIP Day student attendance for the half-day programs.
There are eight School Improvement Days (SIP Days) each year; these are early dismissal days on which staffmembers devote the afternoon to a variety of activities supporting improved school performance. For D41’s half-dayprograms, attendance on SIP Days has been a confusing affair of alternating attendance and modified bus schedules. Next year, Pre-Kindergarten At Risk, Early Childhood Special Education and Kindergarten students will notattend school on SIP Days. Teachers of half-day programs have double the number of students as teachers of full-day programs. They will be able to use the additional time for parent conferences, collaboration time and, in thecase of Pre-K At Risk, related activities such as home visits, program planning, staffings and grant writing thatthey used to do on Fridays when the program was four days a week instead of the current five.
Next steps
The above plan will be field-tested in 2007-2008. Stakeholders will be surveyed to determine thevalue of the altered approach to SIP Day student attendance for the half-day programs.
BOE SUPPORTS JOINT INITIATIVE WITH GLENBARD ASSOCIATED DISTRICTS
The BOE passed a resolution in support of the district’s participation in a collaborative initiative that will help allthe Glenbard Associated Districts align their educational efforts. Students in Marquardt 15, Queen Bee 16, GlenEllyn 41, Lombard 44, Community Consolidated 89 and Community Consolidated 93 all graduate to Glenbard HighSchool District 87, so it makes sense for all seven districts to work together. On March 7, the seven Boards met todiscuss the opportunities and challenges that working together would involve and the goals of the initiative: devel-op a framework for articulation and decisions regarding curriculum, define learning expectations for each subject;develop common processes around transition to high school, and review opportunities for alignment.
The BOE passed a resolution in support of the district’s participation in a collaborative initiative that will help allthe Glenbard Associated Districts align their educational efforts. Students in Marquardt 15, Queen Bee 16, GlenEllyn 41, Lombard 44, Community Consolidated 89 and Community Consolidated 93 all graduate to Glenbard HighSchool District 87, so it makes sense for all seven districts to work together. On March 7, the seven Boards met todiscuss the opportunities and challenges that working together would involve and the goals of the initiative: devel-op a framework for articulation and decisions regarding curriculum, define learning expectations for each subject;develop common processes around transition to high school, and review opportunities for alignment.
TECHNOLOGY SUPPORTS STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS
In an overview of district technology operations and initiatives, Technology Director David Zolnier explained how the dis-trict uses technology to support the long-range plan, to improve data collection and management, and to support stu-dent learning and organizational efficiency.
In an overview of district technology operations and initiatives, Technology Director David Zolnier explained how the dis-trict uses technology to support the long-range plan, to improve data collection and management, and to support stu-dent learning and organizational efficiency.
REPORT ON TRIP TO 5-8 SCHOOL IN LAKE FOREST
BOE members Terra Costa Howard and John Kenwood reported on the visit to Deer Path Middle School, an 1100-studentschool in Lake Forest. Deer Path is organized similarly to what D41 is proposing—a 5-6 wing and a 7-8 wing connectedby shared core spaces. BOE members explained that the small team of D41 stakeholders went to learn from Lake For-est, and that the school illustrated many examples of age-appropriate programs and instruction.
BOE members Terra Costa Howard and John Kenwood reported on the visit to Deer Path Middle School, an 1100-studentschool in Lake Forest. Deer Path is organized similarly to what D41 is proposing—a 5-6 wing and a 7-8 wing connectedby shared core spaces. BOE members explained that the small team of D41 stakeholders went to learn from Lake For-est, and that the school illustrated many examples of age-appropriate programs and instruction.
CANDIDATES ATTEND BOE WORKSHOP
Candidates for the District 41 Board of Education (Erica Nelson, Jane Schwartz, Robert Solak and Steven Vondrak) metwith sitting BOE members to discuss roles and responsibilities, aspirations and motivations, and to discuss BOE service.Debbie Hoffman, Carol McElvain and John Marcheschi are concluding their terms and none is seeking re-election.
Candidates for the District 41 Board of Education (Erica Nelson, Jane Schwartz, Robert Solak and Steven Vondrak) metwith sitting BOE members to discuss roles and responsibilities, aspirations and motivations, and to discuss BOE service.Debbie Hoffman, Carol McElvain and John Marcheschi are concluding their terms and none is seeking re-election.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Members of the public requested more information regarding referendum plans, asked about the status of the 2007demographic study, and reported on the progress of the PTA Community Outreach Committee.
Members of the public requested more information regarding referendum plans, asked about the status of the 2007demographic study, and reported on the progress of the PTA Community Outreach Committee.
NEXT MEETING
The next regular BOE meetings are set for April 16 and May 14 (rescheduled from May 7), 7:30 p.m. Meeting are heldin Central Services, 793 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Other special meetings may be scheduled.
Please remember to vote on April 17
The next regular BOE meetings are set for April 16 and May 14 (rescheduled from May 7), 7:30 p.m. Meeting are heldin Central Services, 793 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Other special meetings may be scheduled.
Please remember to vote on April 17
•Board of Education elections: 4 candidates for 3 open seatsErica Nelson, Jane Schwartz, Robert Solak, Steven Vondrak(In the February Board Highlights, Robert Solak’s name was misspelled. D41 regrets the error.)
• D41 $40 million bond referendum to expand, renovate and restructure our schools.
For more information, visit www.d41.org/referendum
For more information, visit www.d41.org/referendum
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