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A Board meeting was held on Tuesday, February 20, 2012, in the Resource Center of Carleton Washburne School. It was preceded by an Executive Session Meeting at 5:00 P.M., and a Work Session at 5:30 P.M.
Notes from the Special meeting follow in green:
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. ROLL CALL
All present.
III. PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
IV. MOTION TO MOVE TO EXECUTIVE SESSION
A motion was made that the School Board adjourn the public session of the meeting to
enter into an Executive Session to consider the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of a specific employees of District 36 or legal counsel for
District 36 (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1)).
V. RETURN TO WORK SESSION
VI. MOTION TO RETURN TO OPEN SESSION
VII. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
A. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
1. Special Board Meeting - Self-Evaluation and Board Ethics Training
The Board will complete training for the Open Meetings Act online, and schedule a formal self-evaluation discussion in June.
2. Budget/Staffing Discussions
Dr. Hagerman opened the discussion by noting that District enrollment is declining, and staffing must be adjusted accordingly. The administrative team has been grappling with this difficult topic for several months.
Dr. Cheever presented historical enrollment and staffing trends (2004-present). Enrollment has decreased 15.5% since 2006-2007, with an additional decrease of 84 students projected for next fall. The 2006-2007 school year was selected as the benchmark comparison year because that marked the beginning of a more rapid decline in enrollment.
During this six-year time period there was a .51% reduction in certified staff FTE (full time equivalent), but an 8.42% increase in associate FTE. She noted that programmatic changes (including providing special education push-in support in general education classrooms) were one reason for the associate staffing increase. Classroom staffing is adjusted annually to reflect the actual number of general education classes in each building.
Dr. Pingitore began her fiscal analysis by noting that the District's commitment to transparency, fiscal accountability, and an excellent educational program. While enrollment decreased 15.5%, the per-student cost of salaries and benefits increased from $9,804 to $13,852, an increase of 27.8%. If staffing levels had been reduced to mirror enrollment, this figure would be $10,831.
Personnel adjustments are recommended to maintain the District's strong educational program while aligning staffing with declining enrollment. These adjustments are recommended to be phased in over three years and include:
- Analyzing staffing from a District perspective (not just at a building level)
- Continued annual adjustments (changes based on the number of students and class sections)
- Benchmark adjustments (changes designed to align overall staff levels with current enrollment)
- District Office reorganization
- Aligning student/staff ratios to all positions (including special education and specials such as fine arts, world language, kinetic wellness, etc.).
Changes recommended for the 2012-2013 school year, include benchmark and annual adjustments, and a reorganization of the associate workday to include safety and lunch duty, are anticipated to yield a savings of $1,173,000.
The Board and administrative team acknowledged that making changes of this nature is difficult, but necessary as the District works to align resources with the strategic plan now being developed, and begins to grapple with the possible shift of obligations from the state to local school districts because of the fiscal crisis in Illinois.
3. Strategic Planning Process Update
Dr. Hagerman reviewed the work that has been completed to date. Twenty of the 25 scheduled focus groups have been completed; this phase of data collection will be completed on March 13. Survey development is underway; this work will not be finalized until after the final focus group.
He noted that in addition to participating in all-staff focus groups throughout the month of February, certified staff devoted half of the recent Institute Day to discussing, and further defining, progressive practices, as defined by Carleton Washburne. This work will continue when Sam Chaltain presents to staff this spring, and during Summer Staff Institute. Dr. Hagerman thanked everyone who made that day a success, especially the tech team, administrative team, and the Board for its attendance and participation.
Mr. Shannon presented an overview of the survey vendor selection process, as well as the survey sub-committee recommendation--Northern Illinois University Public Opinion Laboratory.
VIII. PUBLIC COMMENT
None
IX. ADJOURNMENT
Notes from the Regular meeting follow in green:
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. ROLL CALL
All present.
III. WELCOME BY BOARD PRESIDENT
IV. PUBLIC COMMENT
Kristen Senior addressed the Board.
V. COMMUNICATIONS & FOIA
Three Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests were received and promptly responded to:
- The agreement between the District and Arbor Management, and the June 2011 Operating Statement Analysis from Arbor Management
- The Administrator's ERB Summary for Carleton Washburne School
- The District's current cost-per-copy agreement with Xerox
The Board responded to three communications from community members, all on the proposed changes to World Language program.
VI. CONSENT AGENDA
Approved as presented.
VII. SUPERINTENDENT REPORT
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
1. Recap of Work Session
2. School Improvement Plan Updates
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Trisha Kocanda presented a mid-year progress report on the School Improvement Plans. This is the first year the District has established common goals for all schools; each has a mathematics, literacy, and communications goal. Overall, the schools are on target in meeting their goals. An end-of-year report will be presented to the Board in May.
Ms. Moritz commented that she has heard many positive comments on school communications this year. Mr. Shannon expressed concern about the quality of math instruction, pointing out that math survey respondents expressed negative comments that students may be receiving fewer instructional minutes than reported to the state. Dr. Hagerman pointed out the positive comments by Dr. Nancy Smith on the mathematics audit she conducted. Ms. Kocanda noted that math instruction is integrated into other subjects, and added that a thorough analysis of instructional time for all subjects will be conducted next year.
3. Sixth Grade Band/Orchestra Options for 2012-2013
In response to community feedback at the January Board meeting, the Board requested that the administration develop additional options for sixth grade band and orchestra students in order to increase choice and access to fine arts courses. Ms. Kocanda presented the eight options developed in response to this request, with the administration's recommendation that the Board implement options A, B, and C:
Option A:
Allow students to select two of the following five choices for sixth grade related studies classes:
- Art/Music/Drama strand
- Daily Band class
- Daily Orchestra class
- Daily French class*
- Daily Spanish class*
*3-year commitment
Option B:
Continue to offer an Art Club before the school day. Create 10, three-day "courses" for a total of 30 sessions (equivalent to half of the trimester offering).
Option C:
Continue to offer Drama Club after school. Increase the duration from 10 weeks
to 15-20 weeks, depending on student interest.
4. 2011 ERB Results
Dr. Cathy Rosen, principal of Carleton Washburne School, presented results for the December 2011 Educational Records Bureau's (ERB) CTP 4 standardized test, which is administered to eighth graders by New Trier. The high school uses the information for placement, and it offers District 36 insight into the performance of Carleton Washburne School students.
Washburne students performed significantly higher on all test areas than the national population, and equal to or higher than New Trier township as a whole. This year's performance is consistent with data from the previous two years. Dr. Rosen also presented 2011-2012 data showing that as freshman, a higher-than-average percentage of Carleton Washburne School students are taking level 3 and level 4 classes, and the majority of current freshman from Washburne are earning grades in the A-to-B range.
Mr. Hulsizer commented that the ERB results should be presented to parents and others in a clear and more comprehensive way, and that District students are doing extremely well at New Trier.
5. Student Fee Overview and Adventures in Learning
Dr. Pingitore presented an overview of the 2011-2012 fees assessed for activities, Adventures in Learning, after-school sports, the before-/after-school program On Deck!, bus use, Carleton Washburne School athletics, and elementary school lunch supervision. The March Board meeting will include an in-depth discussion of the fee structure in conjunction with the Board goal of articulating fiscal philosophy.
Terry Atkinson, Director of the District summer school program Adventures in Learning, gave an overview of the 2011 program, which included a total of 563 participants and 88 staff members. The net income gain for the program was $8,176. For 2012, staff salaries will remain the same, while program fees will increase from $525 to $545 for residents and $575 to $595 for non-residents to eliminate the need to charge materials fees. The financial projection for the 2012 program is a net gain of $8,375.
6. Update on Junior Kindergarten Registration
The administration recommended moving forward with the Junior Kindergarten program for 2012-2013 with an enrollment of 15 students. Previously, the Board approved a break-even point for the program with an enrollment of 18 students. A new analysis has led to a revised accounting that shows the program will remain cost-neutral with an enrollment of 15 students.
7. Skokie Principal Search Update
The search has been narrowed to two final candidates; Dr. Hagerman hopes to have an announcement of the final selection prior to the March Board meeting.
8. Crow Island Parking
On February 13, 2012, Dr. Pingitore and Crow Island Principal Dr. Julie Pfeffer were scheduled to present a parking plan to the Village zoning board. Due to resident feedback, a decision was made to hold further neighborhood meetings and gather additional information before presenting a parking plan.
9. District Office Open House
On February 22, 2012, the District Office held a well-attended open house to showcase the newly remodeled, more efficient space.
10. Teacher's Institute Day
At the February 17, 2012, Institute Day, the afternoon session for certified staff focused on identifying and prioritizing progressive practice. Dr. Hagerman gave kudos to Technology Director Matt Fuller, tech staff member Laura Fenwick, and the rest of the tech team for the interactive activities that provided the foundation for the session. Board President Dana Crumley commented on how outstanding the session was, noting that the teachers were deeply engaged and focused on sharing ideas. She also acknowledged and thanked Dr. Hagerman and Ms. Kocanda for their excellent facilitation of the afternoon's activities.
VIII. PERSONNEL REPORT
A. ACTION ITEMS
1. Recommendations for Employment, Classified Staff
2. Change of Status, Certified Staff
3. Resignation, Classified Staff
Approved as presented.
IX. COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE BOARD--CONFIDENTIAL
A. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
1. The Board has been given a letter regarding student suspension.
2. Executive memo from Superintendent re: evaluation.
X. BOARD GOAL UPDATES
Dr. Hagerman and Ms. Kocanda presented a brief overview of progress made on Board goals.
XI. ACTION ITEMS
A. Approval of 2012-2013 School Calendar
Approved as presented.
B. Parent Transfer Request
Approved as presented.
C. Approval of Superintendent Evaluation
Approved as presented.
D. Approval of Winnetka Public School Nursery Fence
Approved as presented.
E. Approval of Agreement with NIU Public Opinion Lab
Approved as presented.
F. Approve modifying the original Junior Kindergarten recommendation
Approved as presented.
G. Approval of summer 2012 Adventures in Learning Gees
Approved as presented.
H. Approve modifying the original World Language & Elective Program Recommendation
Ms. Crumley commented that the Board has received and considered a great deal of community input on this issue. Mr. Shannon commented that the original recommendation was extremely thoughtful and well done, and he thanked Ms. Kocanda for the deep creative thinking that went into creating additional options. Dr. Hagerman noted the options the administration recommended earlier in the meeting will be offered based on adequate student interest and enrollment.
Approved as presented.
I. Approve modifying the Board Goal document to incorporate under Goal Area: Board Goal, Supporting Objective 5 Accountability, Responsiveness and Transparancy, as amended
Approved as amended.
XII. OTHER BUSINESS
1. Caucus Schools Committee Update
At the Caucus' request, the Board met with the Caucus Schools Committee on February 27, 2012, to review the alignment between past Caucus platforms and current Board goals.
2. ED-RED Legislative Dinner
Board members attended and heard Charlotte Danielson speak on assessing effective teacher practices.
XIII. PUBLIC COMMENT
Nancy Riddle addressed the Board.
XIV. ADJOURNMENT
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