PowerSchool

PowerSchool will be unavailable Monday, March 23 through Wednesday, March 25 for regular maintenance and upgrading.

Board of Education Meeting

The Board of Education will hold their next Regular Meeting on Tuesday, April 21, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. at Blythe Park Elementary School.

The Education Committee will meet on Tuesday, April 21, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. at Blythe Park Elementary School.

The Finance Committee will meet on Tuesday, April 21, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. at Blythe Park Elementary School.

BULLETIN From The BOARD

The Board of Education held its regular meeting for the month of March on Tuesday, March 17, 2009 in the gymnasium at Hollywood Elementary School.

The Board approved the items listed under the Consent Agenda as follows:

• Minutes of the Building Committee Meeting of February 17, 2009, the Regular Business Meeting of February 17, 2009, and the Closed Session of the Regular Business Meeting of February 17, 20009.
• Payment of general invoices, Schedule A-685.
• Authorized issuance of Reduction in Force (RIF) notices to probationary and 2^nd year special education paraprofessionals effective at the close of the 2008-09 school year.  Approved 14 designated holiday dates for the 2009-10 school year for all 52-week employees (District Office staff and maintenance/custodial staff).
• Approved an administrative recommendation to double promote a Hauser Jr. High student at the end of the 2008-09 school year.
• Approved submission of ISBE application for building and sprinkler system permits for 2009 summer and life safety work.

Central School principal Dr. Janice Limperis reported that after meeting with the before and after school study group and hearing several presentations from various service providers, a decision was made to contract with the PAV YMCA in Berwyn, IL to provide both before and after school programs beginning in the fall of 2009.  A program will definitely be available at Hollywood School and potentially each of the other elementary schools, depending on enrollment.  The YMCA will be using District 96 facilities but will provide the programming and staff.

Board members Nancy Jensen and Hareena Wakely, along with Supt. Jon Lamberson, recently completed a page by page review of all district policies with the assistance of a representative from the Illinois Association of School Boards.  A draft copy of the updated manual is available on the district’s website for parent and community review and comment.  Adoption of the final document is expected in June 2009.

Kindergarten teacher and administrative intern Mindy Keller reported on the progress of the newly implemented kindergarten transition program known as K.I.T.E. (Kindergarteners Improving Toward Excellence).  Overall, the program has proven to be very successful for the 30+ students enrolled in the program as evidenced by scores on assessments administered at the start of the program and at the end of the first two trimesters.  It is anticipated that the program will continue for the 2009-10 school year.

Ames principal Colleen Lieggi reported on the proposed 1 to 1 Laptop Initiative for possible implementation in 2009-10.  The program would be designed to provide all 5^th graders with a laptop computer for use 24/7 through 8^th grade at Hauser Junior High.  The committee has been working on developing a vision for the program and has conducted site visits at three area middle schools where this program is currently operational.  The next step in the process is to hire a “project manager” who would be responsible for developing curriculum, professional development, parent/teacher/student communication, and infrastructure maintenance components for the program.  The program initiative will continue to be discussed by the administration and the Board before a final decision is reached.

The Board discussed student fees for 2009-10.  Supt. Lamberson noted that he is not recommending any increase in fees for next year.  However, several PTA/Os have expressed an interest in shifting some of the “standard” items (Kleenex, hand wipes, plastic bags, etc.) on the school supply lists to the school fee list so that these items could be purchased in bulk by the district and made available to the classroom teachers as needed.  If implemented, it could mean a slight ($3-$7) increase.  Formal action on the 2009-10 school fees is expected at the April 21st meeting.

Reports from the Superintendent and Staff:

1. Enrollment as of February 28, 2009, was 1,456 students.
2. The March kindergarten registration for fall 2009 enrolled 159 students.  The current plan calls for two sections each (a.m. and p.m.) at Ames and Blythe Park, three sections at Central, and one at Hollywood.  The existing class size policy limits sections to 20 students for a maximum enrollment of 160 in 8 sections.  At the April meeting, the Board will give consideration to authorizing a policy override to 23 students per class increasing total capacity to 184 if necessary or adding a 9^th section and keeping the cap at 20.
3. The newly redesigned District 96 website was shared with those present and is on available online.  Parent and community comments are welcome.
4. Principals Colleen Lieggi and Bob Chleboun presented a highlight from the book entitled  6 Habits of Highly Effective Teams that was part of a professional development experience earlier in the year.
5. Supt. Lamberson reported that District 96 received the 2009 “Bright Red Apple” award for academic excellence based on academic performance, pupil/teacher ratio, expenditure per pupil, educational level of teachers, and average teacher salary.
6. Supt. Lamberson and the Board extended congratulations to the students and staff at Blythe Park and Central Schools for having received the 2008 Academic Excellence Award from the Illinois State Board of Education.  This distinction is given to schools that sustain very high performance levels on state assessments – 90% of students must meet or exceed state standards in both reading and math – for at least three years.

Future Meeting Dates

March 30, 2009 Building Committee, 4:30 p.m., Hauser Jr. High LRC
April 21, 2009 Education Committee, 5:00 p.m., Blythe Park School
April 21, 2009 Finance Committee, 6:30 p.m., Blythe Park School
April 21, 2009 Regular Business Meeting, 7:30 p.m., Blythe Park School

Classroom Web Pages

You can visit your child’s classroom webpage by clicking on the teacher’s name in the Staff Directory on the school’s home page.

PowerSchool

PowerSchool can be accessed from Hauser Jr. High’s home page.

BULLETIN From The BOARD

The Board of Education held its regular meeting for the month of February on Tuesday, February 17, 2009 in the multi-purpose room at Ames Elementary School.

The Board approved the items listed under the Consent Agenda as follows:

• Minutes of the Education Committee Meeting of January 20, 2009, the Regular Business Meeting of January 20, 2009, and the Closed Session of the Regular Business Meeting of January 20, 2009.

• Payment of general invoices, Schedule A-674.

• Maternity leave request from Central School 1^st grade teacher Erin Feldman beginning April 20, 2009 under the provisions of FMLA.

The Board adopted the official school calendar for the 2009-10 school year. The first day of school for students will be Tuesday, August 25, 2009; winter break will begin on Monday, December 21, and end on Friday, January 1, 2010. Students will return to class on Monday, January 4. Spring break is scheduled for the week of March 29 through April 2. The last day of school for students (excluding snow/emergency days) will be Wednesday, June 2, 2010.

Blythe Park principal, Robert Chleboun, reviewed with the Board the current residency validation process used in District 96. Supt. Lamberson reported that he is planning to meet with representatives from a company that provides electronic residency validation services and will report his findings to the Board in the near future.

The Board authorized the administration to work with the district’s architect, Mark Miller from Concept 3 Architects to prepare specifications and seek bids for summer life safety work as noted in the 10-year life safety plan approved by the ISBE in 2007. Work will include tuckpointing at Hauser as well as district-wide hardscape renovations. Because of the anticipated work at Hauser, summer school will be held at Ames School.

Information Items from the Superintendent and Staff:

a. The student enrollment report, as of January 31, 2009, shows an enrollment of 1,456 students.

b. Supt. Lamberson noted that overall staffing levels should remain the stable for 2009-10.

c. Hauser Junior High principal Leslie Berman reported that five 7^th and 8^th grade students in the gifted program will have an opportunity to participate in “Civic Weekend” project co-sponsored by Northwestern University and the West Suburban Consortium for Academic Excellence in early May.

d. Technology director Vern Bettis, principals Vicki DeVylder and Dr. Janice Limperis gave a brief report on the “leadership” component of an administrative professional development project facilitated by Dr. Lamberson. The focus of the project came from the study of the book entitled “School Leadership that Works” which details 21 specific characteristics that are evident in highly effective schools. Follow-up reports will be shared at future Board meetings.

e. Supt. Lamberson reported that he, along with Board members Nancy Jensen and Hareena Wakely, have completed the initial review of the district’s policies with a consultant from the Illinois Association of School Boards, bringing all policies up to date with current legislation and the School Code of Illinois.

The updated policy book will be available at the March 17, 2009 meeting for Board review and public input. The draft document will also be available online for the next several months. Adoption of the revised policy book is anticipated in June, 2009.

f. Administrative intern Mindy Keller and Central School principal Dr. Janice Limperis reported on the results of the two planning surveys that were distributed last month to parents regarding enrollment for 2009-10. Ten area preschools were given the surveys as well as the elementary school parents and asked for information regarding their plans for kindergarten for 2009-10 and whether or not they knew of any neighbors who might have a kindergarten age student. The second survey asked parents of students already enrolled in District 96 schools if they are planning to return in the fall. The results of the kindergarten survey show that 130 children are expected to register for kindergarten for the fall of 2009. A total of 597 (62%) responses were received from the elementary school survey. Only 2 surveys indicated that they will not be returning to District 96 in the fall.

g. Dr. Limperis reported on the first meeting of the before and after school program study group. They are in the process of contacting several before and after school care providers to try to expand the availability of a program at each of the elementary schools for 2009-10. The committee will hear presentations and bring a recommendation to the administration for consideration and possible implementation in the fall.

h. Supt. Lamberson gave an update on the progress/status of the 2008-09 District Goals that were adopted by the Board on October 21, 2008. He noted that progress is being made in all areas including the 1 to 1 5^th grade laptop initiative.

 

Future Meeting Dates:

March 17, 2009, Finance Committee, Hollywood School, 6:00 p.m.

March 17, 2009, Regular Business Meeting, Hollywood School

REEF – Lincoln Luncheon-POSTPONED

The Lincoln Luncheon has been postponed. Please call Lisa Anderson-Shaw, 312-636-8762, if you have any questions.

Please join the Riverside Elementary Education Foundation (REEF) at their Spring Luncheon Event held at the Union League Club, Chicago on Friday, April 17, 2009 featuring Dr. Orville Vernon Burton as he discusses his book, The Age of Lincoln.

Dr. Burton’s book will be available for sale and signing at this event.

For more information or to make a reservation to attend this exciting event please see the attached PDF.

Please call Lisa Anderson-Shaw if you have any questions about this event at 312-636-8762.

REEF Lincoln Event 41709