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