D41 Board Highlights

Following is a summary of the Board of Education meeting held on August 16, 2010. An MP3 recording of the meeting is available on www.d41.org Minutes are posted once approved.

The meeting was preceded by a public hearing on the district's 2010-2011 budget, and another public hearing on the CASE 2010-2011 budget.

BOARD APPROVES 2010-2011 BUDGET
Following a public hearing, the Board of Education (BOE) adopted the budget for fiscal year 2010-2011. There were no public comments submitted during the hearing or during the preceding period of public display. The document outlines $44,352,577 in expenditures and $45,560,633 in revenues and incorporates spending reductions that were proposed in March, 2009-these include a reduction in administrative positions, reduced or deferred capital projects, and other economy measures. The budget adoption is the culmination of financial planning that is conducted throughout the year and provides an overview of spending aligned to the district's long-range plan. The district receives 87% of its funding from local property taxes; the remainder comes from state, federal and other local sources. One of the largest employers in the area, the district spends 70% of its money on salaries and benefits; other key expenditure categories are materials and supplies, maintenance and improvements to buildings and grounds, curricular and professional development materials and purchased services. To view the budget, see pages 71-86 of the board packet.

UPCOMING MEETINGS
The next regular meetings are Sept. 7 and Sept. 20 at 7:30 p.m. at the Central Services Office. The Sept. 20 meeting will be preceded by a short reception for new staff members, and for the recipients of Partnership for Educational Progress (PEP) grants.

BOARD APPROVES 2010-2011 CASE BUDGET
Following a public hearing, the BOE approved the Cooperative Association for Special Education (CASE) budget for fiscal year 2010-2011 of $20,406,261. District 41 is a member of CASE along with districts 15, 16, 44, 87, 89 and 93. CASE membership allows districts to provide more special education services than they could alone. Some CASE programs are housed in D41, and some D41 students attend CASE programs that are housed in other districts. D41 is the second year of its rotation as the fiscal agent for CASE. In that capacity it is asked to affirm actions taken by the CASE Board of Directors, which is composed of the superintendents of the member districts. Unlike school districts, CASE is not a taxing body; it receives its funds from the state and federal government and directly from member districts. Most of its costs are flow-through expenses for which member districts are billed. To view the CASE buget, see pages 87-106 of the board packet.

REGISTRATION UPDATE
School starts Aug. 25; the district has been taking registration all summer and has hosted two walk-in registration dates at the schools. At this time, overall kindergarten registration is less than expected and the district has made staffing adjustments to accommodate this lower kindergarten number: Benjamin Franklin, Churchill and Forest Glen have three sections of kindergarten, and Lincoln has five sections.

PREPARING FOR CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS
The BOE discussed a $5,000 proposal to help lead the BOE, administration, and the Glen Ellyn Teachers Association (GEEA) leadership through a process to prepare for interest-based bargaining that will begin in 2011 (the GEEA agreement goes through June 30, 2012). The proposal includes a number of facilitated sessions in which the participants will develop a shared vision for the district, including how the district will move forward as a labor-management organization. The BOE discussed the value of the work, how it might be scheduled, and requested more information on the process.

FGM ARCHITECT CONTRACT RENEWAL DISCUSSED
School districts are required to employ an architect of record to perform ongoing tasks related to life-safety and other facilities work. FGM Architects has been D41's architect of record for some years, and the BOE reviewed the administrative recommendation to continue that relationship. The administration anticipates approximately $75,000 in architectural fees in the coming year related to creating bid documents, engineering services, stormwater evaluations, roof inspections, portable inspections, permitting work and other professional tasks. The BOE plans to take action on the recommendation at its Sept. 7 meeting. The BOE Policy Committee will review the district's process for acquiring professional services in general.

DISCUSSION OF CSO ADULT LEARNING SPACE
The BOE discussed a recommendation to reconfigure a portion of the second floor of the Central Services Office to create a space that can accommodate up to 20 adults for training and development purposes. Meeting space is scarce within the district, and the board room is the only place where larger groups can meet. The 29-ft. by 16-ft. space will also house a professional library. The project includes construction of partitions, technology and furniture and is estimated to cost $17,500. The BOE expects to take action on the matter at its Sept. 7 meeting.

DISCUSSION OF ENHANCED PARKING AT FOREST GLEN
The BOE discussed an administrative recommendation to install permeable pavers on a portion of the Forest Glen site that is currently used for overflow parking. The area is adjacent to the Main St. driveway. The pavers will be similar to those used in the parking lot at the Morton Arboretum, and allow rainwater to penetrate yet still provide a firm parking surface. The administration is recommending acceptance of the lowest quoted price of $24,930 from Olive Grove Landscaping. The BOE expects to take action on the recommendation at its Sept. 7 meeting.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
A parent asked when the results from the satisfaction surveys would be shared, and urged that the district and schools follow-through on the data. Superintendent Dr. Ann Riebock said that an overview would be presented at the Sept. 7 BOE meeting, and that each school would develop a process for using and sharing its results.

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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