A Board meeting was held on Tuesday, November 15, 2011, in the Resource Center of Carleton Washburne School. Notes from the meeting follow in green:
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. ROLL CALL
All present.
III. PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
IV. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
A. Information Items
1. Elementary Strings Program
Trisha Kocanda, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, provided a comparison of the District's current Suzuki program elementary and music programs throughout New Trier Township.
There are concerns about the way the current program is funded. Although the program is taught by certified teachers during the school day, costs are covered primarily by the $950 fee that families pay for each child in the program.
The administration has recommended that the District cover the cost of the program, and that programmatic changes be made, including:
- Beginning instruction in first grade rather than kindergarten, due to historically low enrollment and scheduling difficulties
- Increasing small-group lesson size from three to five students, to allow for greater participation (anticipated due to the change in fee structure)
- Structuring the program as a blend of traditional and Suzuki elements to allow for greater scheduling flexibility
The Board will vote on these recommended changes in December and schedule a policy discussion about all student fees.
2. Strategic Planning Overview
Dr. Hagerman and Technology Director Matt Fuller provided an overview of the proposed strategic planning process, including a literature review and a description of process and organization.
Dr. Hagerman, as well as various Board members, stressed that while this is a fresh start on the process, much good, hard work was previously done, and that work will provide a launching pad for the current process. The Board discussed which stakeholder groups should be included in focus groups, how to translate input into outcomes and goal statements, and survey options. Dr. Hagerman and the administrative team will use the input from this Board meeting to create a more formal, detailed proposal to bring back to the Board.
3. Policy Review
Dr. Hagerman, Board President Dana Crumley, and Vice President Jon Kaplan recently met with consultant Andrea Dolgin from the Illinois Association of School Boards, who thoroughly revised the School Board policy book so it contains the most current, relevant legal language. Ms. Crumley and Mr. Kaplan will review the draft and make recommendations on which policies may require additional customization.
V. PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
7:00 P.M. Meeting
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. ROLL CALL
All present.
III. WELCOME BY BOARD PRESIDENT
IV. PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
V. COMMUNICATIONS & FOIA REQUESTS
A Freedom of Information Act request was made and promptly filled for information on transportation contracts and invoices.
School Board Secretary Beth Filip Moritz read a letter from community member Connie Henry.
Ms. Filip also noted the receipt of thank you notes to the School Board from Linda Wehrheim, Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent; to School Board member Matt Hulsizer from the administrative team; and to the School Board from Susan Pershing, retired Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent.
VI. CONSENT AGENDA
Approved as presented.
VII. SUPERINTENDENT REPORT
A. Recap of Work Session
B. Kindergarten and Junior Kindergarten
The District has refined the process for proving residency prior to enrollment to conform with school code and plans to centralize this activity at the District Office next year. Kindergarten registration will continue to take place at the elementary buildings. Registration for 2012 Kindergarten will be held on December 2, 2011.
The District will hold a formal and well-publicized enrollment process for Junior Kindergarten in January. The program previously has drawn participants only by word of mouth. The first section for this District-wide program will be held at Greeley, with the potential to open a second section at another school.
C. Student Transfers
Per a Board request, Mark Ditthardt, Director of Pupil Services, summarized the number of students in grades K-7 who transferred out of the District during or at the conclusion of the 2010-2011 school year. Of the 55 students who transferred, 34 moved out of District, 21 transferred to local private schools, and one opted for home schooling. Mr. Ditthardt will continue to track this information.
D. Discussion of Tax Levy
Dr. Susan Pingitore, Chief Financial Officer, presented the 2011 tax levy. Dr. Pingitore recommended that the 2011 tax levy increase by 4.997 percent from $33,254,336 to $34,916,000.
She also recommended that the District use the "loss and cost" option available to Cook County school districts. This safety net allows school districts to capture additional revenue in the unlikely event that the levy is not high enough.
Although a Truth in Taxation hearing is not required because the levy is less than 5 percent, it has been Dr. Pingitore's past practice, and her current recommendation, to hold a hearing so that the public is fully aware of, and educated about, the levy. The levy public hearing will be held December 13, 2011. The levy must be filed with the county by the end of the month.
School Board member Matt Hulsizer questioned the necessity of a 5 percent levy when enrollment is decreasing. Dr. Hagerman responded that enrollment decreases are spread across grades and buildings so that the number of classes in the District may not be reduced. Dr. Pingitore added that it is important for the District to capture all the revenue it is entitled to (CPI plus new construction) because levies build on one another. If the District does not receive its full amount, what is lost cannot be recovered in future years. This is essential because of tax-cap limitations such as the one two years ago, when the levy was limited to .01 percent.
E. District Calendar: 2012-2013
Ms. Kocanda reviewed the 2012-2013 New Trier High School calendar and asked for the School Board's input in developing District 36's calendar for next school year. Members requested that Ms. Kocanda present a recommended calendar that is sensitive to families' needs, aligns with New Trier's calendar, and avoids holding parent-teacher conferences at the same time as New Trier.
F. The Skokie School Principal Search
Dr. Maureen Cheever, Director of Human Resources, reviewed the timeline and process for replacing Mr. Thomas Eber, who is retiring as principal at the end of the 2011-2012 school year. Parent focus groups are being held December 14, 2011. This is a nationwide search, with the position anticipated to be filled by early spring.
G. Winnetka Public Schools Foundation Funded Projects 2011-2012
WPSF is providing roughly $160,000 in grants and support this year. Although some grants are for individual teacher research or programs at various schools, the work and knowledge supported by the grants is shared across the District, to benefit all students and staff.
VIII. BOARD GOAL UPDATES
Dr. Hagerman and administrators reviewed the progress made on Board goals over the past several months.
IX. PERSONNEL REPORT
A. Informational Items
1. IMRF Policy Dr. Pingitore discussed penalties that will be imposed by the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund if current retirement incentives remain unchanged after December 31, 2011. Dr. Hagerman pointed out that there are three different classes of employee, with inconsistent retirement incentives. The School Board agreed to have the attorneys draft a policy that will avoid penalties and bring greater parity to the different types of employees.
2. Sabbatical Request
The School Board reviewed a request from a teacher, requesting a leave during the 2012-2013 school year, and will vote on it at the December meeting.
B. Action Items
1. Appointments, Non-Certified Staff
2. Change of Status - Certified Staff
3. Resignation - Certified Staff
4. Retirement - Certified Staff
5. Retirement - Custodial Staff
Approved as presented.
XI. OTHER BUSINESS
1. NSSED Follow-Up Discussion
Dr. Hagerman anticipates that the District will see a reduction in fees when NSSED begins to charge elementary school districts and high school districts the same fees. Historically, elementary districts paid more due to programming differences that have been eliminated.
2. Other
December packets will be distributed to the Board electronically to save time and paper.
XII. PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
XIII. ADJOURNMENT
