D41 Board Highlights

Following is a summary of the Board of Education meeting held on June 7, 2010. An MP3 recording of the meeting is available on www.d41.org Minutes are posted once approved.

BOARD MEMBER KAHLER RESIGNS
Board member Jack Kahler has resigned because he and his family are moving out of the District. Mr. Kahler has just finished his first year of a four-year term. The Board of Education (BOE) regretfully accepted his resignation, thanking him for his dedication. The BOE will appoint an interim BOE member to serve until the next BOE election on April 5, 2011. That seat will then be put on the ballot for a two-year term, which will put it on track with its original four-year term. Interested residents of the District may apply by submitting an application form to the BOE by June 25. The BOE will review the applications and make a selection at a special meeting on June 29 at 6 p.m. An applicant may be asked to attend the meeting for an interview.

UPCOMING MEETINGS
The next regular meeting is June 21 directly following a 7:15 p.m. public hearing for the District's application for waivers regarding its teacher evaluation system. A special meeting will be held June 29 at 6 p.m. for the purpose of appointing an interim BOE member. There is no meeting scheduled for July.

FRANKLIN COURTYARD PROJECT RECOGNIZED
The BOE recognized the Benjamin Franklin Courtyard renovation, accomplished with extraordinary volunteerism and a $10,594 grant from the Home Depot Foundation. Franklin parent Brittany King, who works for Home Depot, applied for the grant. Parents and staff members joined scores of volunteers from Home Depot to install decking, plant shrubs and grass and build retaining walls. The courtyard is now an inviting outdoor learning space.

COMMITTEE REVIEWS DISTRICT DISCIPLINE
The Parent Teacher Advisory Committee (PTAC) reported on its work this year. As required by state law, this committee reviewed discipline policies and implementation. The 16-member group of parents, teachers and administrators recommended revising the discipline matrix contained in the Handbook, updating discipline-policy language in a number of areas, and establishing a bullying task force. It also suggested that the PTAC meet quarterly starting in the fall.

TEAMS FOR EXCELLENCE REPORTS PROGRESS
Hadley teacher and Glen Ellyn Education Association Co-President Karen Dymit and Continuous Improvement Director Dinah Bryant, 2009-2010 co-chairs of the Continuous Improvement Team (CIT), summarized the Teams For Excellence (TFE) work over the course of the year. A theme of the summary was the increasingly effective use of data to assess progress and make adjustments. Each team has a specific function; together they help make sure that district work is aligned to the Vision, Mission, Beliefs, to the Long-Range Plan, and is conducted using continuous improvement principles and processes. CIT looks at the big picture and overall alignment, particularly with respect to the work of the Learning Leadership Team (LLT); LLT focuses on curriculum and instruction; the Professional Development Team (PDT) works on meeting professional development needs throughout the organization; and each Building Leadership Team (BLT) develops and monitors its School Improvement Plan. Below are some highlights of TFE work this year:
· Developed a District Scorecard to monitor District progress on key dimensions.
· Conducted satisfaction surveys for students, staff, parents, community members and alumni.
· Collected and analyzed data to identify trends in student achievement and satisfaction with curricular implementations and professional development.
· Created a year-long professional development plan that meets the range of needs within the District.
· Continued using pilots and field tests to make sure initiatives succeed.
· Improved use of technology in training and in collecting feedback.
· Implemented collaborative approaches to student learning at all schools featuring data collection and monitoring.
· Built stronger connections between BLTs and entire staff at each school.

DISCUSSION OF ADDITIONAL FIFTH GRADE SECTIONS
The BOE discussed an administrative recommendation to add one fifth grade section at Churchill and one at Lincoln based on student achievement criteria. This would bring these class sizes below the target range that guides staffing decisions. While the incoming fifth graders at those two schools have shown improvement on standardized tests, there is still an achievement gap compared with the grade-level results of the District as a whole. Superintendent Dr. Ann Riebock explained that class size alone has not been shown to directly improve learning; however, because there is such diversity of needs within these two fifth grades, smaller classes mean teachers will be better able to individualize instruction. The recommendation is one piece of a larger plan to strengthen learning, including summer school for struggling students, focused instruction through Targeted Learning Time and Response to Intervention, and more teacher training on how to meet diverse learning needs. The 2010-2011 tentative budget includes contingency funds for these two positions. If approved, the additional sections would be for one year, with review of their impact at the end of the next school year. The BOE expects to take action on the matter at its regular meeting of June 21.

APPROVAL OF COPIER PAPER, FURNITURE, UPDATE BIDS
The BOE approved the following matters that it discussed at its May 17 meeting:
Copier paper bid: The BOE accepted the low bid from Unisource for $29.25 per case. Based on delivery of 1824 cases over 12 months, the total cost will be $53,352.
School Furniture bid: The BOE accepted the bid from Frank Cooney Co., for a total of $45,894.60 for chairs, bookcases, tables, desks and other items to replace those that are no longer serviceable, and to equip the three-room addition to Hadley.
Exploratory classroom update bid: The BOE accepted the bid from AJ's Custom Cabinetry for $10,985 to reconfigure the Art Technology room consistent with curricular needs.

About the Glen Ellyn School District Board of Education
Board members are unpaid volunteers, each representing the whole district. The board is accountable to the public and makes decisions as a unit based on what is best for the whole district. 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 during which the board conducts its business, and ample time is always set aside for public participation.

Please direct your questions or comments to our Communications Director, Julie Worthen at jworthen@d41.org.

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