Minutes from the November 3, 2011 Meeting

Please click here for the Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting on November 3, 2011

Board Brief for Nov. 17, 2011

Recognition:

The Board presented an Above and Beyond Award to Anthony Satoh, who designed, created and donated the Dragon mascot costume to Dooley School.

The Board presented an Ambassador for Excellence Award to Robbin Doering,  who received the OfficeMax A Day Made Better recognition for her work as a fifth-/sixth-grade teacher at MacArthur.

The Board also presented Ambassador for Excellence Awards to the many District 54 individuals who received the Illinois State Board of Education’s Those Who Excel Award this fall:

• Erin Knoll, literacy director
• Gail Mehlan, Fox teacher
• Meg Kwak, Blackwell psychologist
• Alissa Rendall, Muir teacher
• Kathy Pritscher, former PTA Council president
• Jolanda McGinn, MacArthur instructional assistant
• Frost PBIS Team

Public Comment: No one asked to speak.

Consent Agenda:

• Minutes of the regular and closed-session meetings on Nov. 3, 2011
• Checks dated Nov. 4, 2011
• Leaves and employment of personnel
• Monthly update of revenues and expenditures for October 2011
• The Treasurer’s Report on Cash and Investments for September 2011
• A resolution electing exemption from certain provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and the Mental Health Parity Act of 2008

Superintendent’s Report: Superintendent Ed Rafferty shared that it has been a great American Education Week this year. On Monday, District 54 recognized the 17 schools that met the District 54 goal of 90 percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards in reading and math. He asked the audience to join him in recognizing the School Board as Tuesday was National School Board Day. Wednesday the district recognized the many partners who support District 54. On Thursday, schools celebrated the week by inviting parents to visit their children’s schools.

Report of the President of the Board of Education: President Teresa Huber reported that the board room will be renovated in next couple of months. She also mentioned the photographs in the stairway at the District Office, which were taken by Frost students.

District Citizens’ Advisory Committee Report: Board Member Barbara Hengels reported that Assistant Superintendent Ric King explained District 54′s finances. DCAC also learned that the Food Pantry at Mead Junior High opened this month and many schools are hosting food drives to stock the shelves. The Community Closet is also experimenting with a new donation bin, which is in the parking lot between the Rauch Center and District Office. Please drop any adult clothes or other household items in that bin. The Community Closet will be compensated for the donations and will use the money to purchase new clothing for students in need. A complete list of items that can be accepted can be found online at http://sd54.org/closet.

PTA Report: PTA Council President Lisa Guagenti thanked the School Board for supporting PTA. She invited everyone to Keller Junior High School from 7 to 9 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 21, for a gallery of Reflections artwork submitted by District 54 students. The annual auction will be March 16 at the Meridian.

New Business:

• The Board approved revisions to the following board policies:
• GCPC – Recognition of Retiring Personnel
• IFA – Curriculum Research
• IFB – Curriculum Initiatives
• IGAC – Teaching About Religion

Announcements:

• Board Member Mary Kay Prusnick visited Fox and Blackwell to present books to teachers with 1,000 books in their classrooms. She also attended state Rep. Michelle Mussman’s Town Hall meeting this week.
• Board Vice President Charlotte Kegarise and Board Member Barbara Hengels said the celebration of the schools who reached the 90/90 goal was so uplifting.

Adjournment: The Board adjourned at 8:02 p.m. to closed session for employment/appointment matters and collective negotiating matters.

Minutes from the October 27, 2011 Special Board Meeting

Please click here for the Minutes of the Special Board Meeting on October 27, 2011

Minutes from the October 20, 2011 Meeting

Please click here to view the Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting on October 20, 2011

Board Brief for Nov. 3, 2011

Discussion – Update on the K-2 Literacy Plan and Assessment Package

Literacy Director Erin Knoll and Assistant Superintendent Nick Myers shared that during the 2009-10 school year, a Primary Literacy Focus Group was developed with teachers and administrators from schools across District 54. Its charge was to evaluate instructional practices and assessment tools and to develop a comprehensive plan to improve student reading and writing in kindergarten through second grade. The work of the group was directly related to the Board Goal of having students who have attended District 54 schools for at least one year reading at grade level upon entering third grade.

A great strength to the K-2 Literacy Plan and Assessment Package is that for the first time, our district can consistently monitor primary literacy growth using nationally normed and statistically valid assessment tools. While District 54 is only in the second year of implementing the plan, positive data trends have already emerged. Teachers Jaclyn McSheffrey at Stevenson and Jenny
Abraham at Collins shared how they are implementing the K-2 plan in their classes.

Link Literacy Coach Ann Smith explained that assessments are now used to consistently identify the specific literacy learning needs of each student in our kindergarten through second-grade classrooms. Students falling below proficiency targets on these assessments are provided intervention supports to move them toward grade-level proficiency.

Public Comment: No one asked to speak.

Freedom of Information Act Requests: There have been three requests since the last board meeting related to 2011 transportation bids and school-based staff members.

Consent Agenda:

• Minutes of the regular and closed-session meetings on Oct. 20, 2011
• Minutes of the special open and closed-session meetings on Oct. 27, 2011
• Resignations, leaves and employment of personnel
• Checks dated Oct. 21, 2011
• Blue Cross Blue Shield self-funded medical, self-funded HMO and Blue Advantage HMOI insurance rates for calendar year 2012
• Delta Dental, Blue Cross HMO – Dental and Vision Service Program insurance rates for calendar year 2012
• Workplace Solutions as the provider of the district’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• The purchase of technology equipment with licensing and support for a Juniper security appliance
• A proclamation for American Education Week – Nov. 13-19

New Business:

• The School Board approved a resolution estimating the 2011 tax levy will be $154,939,769, exclusive of debt service. A public hearing will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 1, 2011, at the District Office. Click here for more information.
• The Board appointed an additional representative to serve on the District Citizens’ Advisory Committee (DCAC) for the 2011-12 school year.
• The Board approved revisions to Policy IGBG – Home and Hospital Bound Instruction.
• The Board had the first reading of revisions to the following board policies:
• BDDK – Distribution of Agenda, Minutes and Board Briefs
• GCPC – Recognition of Retiring Personnel
• IFA – Curriculum Research
• IFB – Curriculum Initiatives
• IGAC – Teaching About Religion

Announcements:

• Board Vice President Charlotte Kegarise enjoyed the reaction of the students when she visited Armstrong to present a book to a teacher with 1,000 books in her classroom.
• Board Member Barbara Hengels visited Collins to honor four teachers with 1,000 books in their classrooms.

Adjournment: The Board adjourned at 7:52 p.m. to closed session for employment/appointment matters and collective negotiating matters.