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A Board meeting was held on Tuesday, March 20, 2012, in the Resource Center of Carleton Washburne School. It was preceded by a Work Session at 5:30 P.M., and a Public Hearing at 7:15 P.M.
Notes from the Special meeting follow in green:
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. ROLL CALL
William Meuer was absent
III. PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
IV. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
A. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
1. Financial Philosophy
a) Ending Fund Balances - Historical Perspective
Chief Financial Officer Dr. Susan Pingitore laid the groundwork for the work the Board will be doing as it reviews the District's financial philosophy, including:
- An overview of District fund balances - The Winnetka Public Schools are in good financial condition due to strong community support. The schools are funded predominately by local property taxes with more than 96% of the budget coming from local sources, in particular property taxes.
- Fund balance guidelines - Per the Illinois Association of School Business Officials (Illinois ASBO), it is prudent for districts to maintain fund balances in order to preserve cash flow, enhance credit ratings, and manage unforeseen expenses. Click here to read its recommendation.
- Confirmed capital expenditures - These include elevator and boiler repairs at Hubbard Woods School, window replacement at The Skokie School and Carleton Washburne School, and chimney and tile repairs at Crow Island School. The next life-safety audit will take place in 2013, and the District may be obligated to do additional work based on those findings.
- Potential unknown costs - These include funding the priorities in the Strategic Plan now being developed, the uncertainty of state funding for the State's existing obligations, and the distinct possibility that the State may transer the obligation for funding teacher pensions and possibly retired teacher health insurance to local school districts. Based on last year's certified salaries, if the State were to make the District responsible for 6 percent of the cost of TRS pensions, the total annual cost would more be more than $1 million; per year; while an 8 percent rate would be approximately $1.3 million additional cost to the District.
The Board tentatively agreed that one priority should be avoiding a referendum for as long as possible. It requested additional information about education cost-per-pupil, comparisons with similar districts, and the potential impact on enrollment tied to real estate market fluctuations.
b) Compensation
The Board was presented with historical information on salary increases and options for developing a consistent compensation philosophy. It was noted that if increases are to be based in part on student performance, the evaluation system must be clearly articulated. Merit pay, multi-year administrator contracts, and up-coming collective bargaining were all discussed.
c) Student Fees
District 36 fees were presented along with comparisons with other New Trier feeder districts. Dr. Pingitore requested direction from the Board regarding a number of fees, including music, materials, transportation, and transactions, once the District moves to an online payment system.
2) The Skokie School Principal Search Update
April Jordan was introduced as the new principal of The Skokie School. Dr. Hagerman commented on her strong curricular knowledge and collaborative attitude. She will be working with Thomas Eber and Alison Hawley on transition activities prior to her official start on July 1, 2012.
V. PUBLIC COMMENT
Jeff Hoch addressed the Board.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
Notes from the Public Hearing - Dismissals follow in green:
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. ROLL CALL
William Meuer was absent.
III. WELCOME BY BOARD PRESIDENT
A motion was made that the School Board to enter into a Public Hearing on the question of dismissals.
IV. PUBLIC HEARING ON THE QUESTION OF DISMISSALS
Drs. Hagerman, Pingitore, and Cheever reviewed the student enrollment declines and associated staffing implications. At the Board's request, staffing and enrollment trends have been reviewed over the past few meetings. Enrollment has been declining over the past few years, while certified staffing has remained relatively constant and classified staffing has increased. Based on these findings, two types of staff reductions were recommended for the next school year:
annual adjustments (changes based on the number of students and class sections at each school) and benchmark adjustments (changes designed to align overall staff levels with the District's total current enrollment).
Click here to review the highlights of the January and February meetings when more detailed information was presented.
Dr. Hagerman reviewed 50 years of District enrollment data, the percentage of students on IEPs, and staffing comparisons with New Trier Township feeder schools. He noted that District 36 has more classroom aides than any other feeder district, that the proposed changes would not affect specific services stipulated by IEPs, and that all special education needs will be met.
He then addressed the Board, staff, and parents, commenting on the struggles faced as a staff and community over the past few weeks. And, as a result of the number of changes and new initiatives implemented this year, a major recent staff discipline issue, and the amount of misinformation that has been circulated around these reductions, and the affect this process is having on relationships across the District, he asked the Board to consider an amended recommendation, focused on annual reductions and equity issues that will align staffing across all five schools. He went on to say, "This decision was not taken lightly and will occur in conjunction with a hiring freeze. We will continue making every attempt to find additional efficiencies across the District. And although the process will slow down, it is clear that it will need to continue into next year and beyond."
The Board agreed it is important to be responsive to community concerns and that data is not the only basis for decisions. Board members thanked Dr. Hagerman for his leadership.
V. PUBLIC COMMENT
Kris Clendendin, Penny Lanphier, Jo Gilley, Marie DeLean, John Shea, Robert Daniels, Frank Kastelic, Elizabeth Parkinson, Jim ODonnell, and Shawn Farley addressed the Board.
VI. ADJOURNMENT OF PUBLIC HEARING
Notes from the Regular meeting follow in green:
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. ROLL CALL
William Meuer was absent.
III. WELCOME BY BOARD PRESIDENT
IV. PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
V. COMMUNICATIONS & FOIA
Ms. Crumly noted that the Board received and read 100 pages of communications this week, including FOIA requests, and she thanked all correspondents. Ms. Filip noted that any communication to the Board must be received at least 24 hours prior to a Board meeting in order to be considered at that meeting, or it will be held until the next Board meeting.
The Board responded to communications received regarding parking at Crow Island School and the proposed changes to the World Language Program.
Three Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests were received and promptly responded to, for the following:
- A copy of the current contract and rates for providers of related services (occupational therapy, physical therapy, etc.)
- Information related to the use of school facilities by community organizations
- Information related to scores on the ISAT and ERB.
VI. CONSENT AGENDA
Approved as presented.
VII. SUPERINTENDENT REPORT
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
1. Recap of Work Session and Public Hearing
In addition to Dr. Hagerman's recap, Tom Shannon reviewed the progress on Strategic Planning over the past month, noting that all 25 focus groups have been completed. Information from the groups has been collected and collated, and the survey sub-committee is incorporating identified priorities into the four online surveys that will be opened in April to community members, parents, staff, and students. The subcommittee hopes to present a preliminary review of survey results at the May 22, 2012, Board meeting.
2. Administrator Evaluation Update
Dr. Hagerman reviewed the process that was followed to conduct the administrator evaluations, which were completed on time by March 1, 2012. Although State paperwork deadlines necessitate that the evaluation process begin in the fall and conclude in March, the process of setting and reviewing goals is ongoing, and administrators already have begun setting tentative goals for the 2012-2013 school year.
3. Assessment Review Findings and Recommendations
IIn August 2011, the District RtI committee began a comprehensive review of the District's assessment tools, with the goal of answering this question: "Does our current assessment system provide us with a greater benefit than a computerized adaptive assessment system?" Teacher on Special Assignment, Terri Atkinson; Crow Island School Principal, Dr. Julie Pfeffer; and Director of Pupil Services, Mark Ditthardt; summarized the committee's review of three computer adaptive tests: NWEA-MAP, Scantron--Performance Series, and STAR Enterprise. The assessments all were similar in diagnostic features, but STAR Enterprise has unique progress-monitoring benefits, is the only one linked to current Illinois State Standards and the Common Core Standards, and costs significantly less. As a result, the subcommittee made the following recommendations:
- For grades K-2: No change to current assessment other than omitting the YEA math assessment at the end of the year.
- Grades 3-8: Replace current math and reading assessments with STAR Enterprise Assessment System multiple times throughout the year.
4. Mid-Year Financial Review
Chief Financial Officer, Dr. Susan Pingitore, presented the Cash and Investment Summary Report and year-to-date revenue and expenditure reports as of January 31, 2012. The District remains in strong financial condition, with $44,494,927.45 invested. Nearly $9 million of the investments are attributable to proceeds from the 2007 and 2008 bond issues. This year's revenues are ahead of last year's, with 49.17% of budgeted revenues received, compared to 47.56% at the same time last year. Expenses are running ahead of last year's at 52.72% compared to 51.16%.
VIII. PERSONNEL REPORT
A. ACTION ITEMS
1. Resignations, Certified Staff
2. Change of Status, Certified Staff
3. Unpaid Leave of Absence, Certified Staff
4. Honorable Dismissal, Part-Time Classified Staff
5. Honorable Dismissal, Full-Time Classified Staff
6. Honorable Dismissal, Certified Staff
7. Honorable Dismissal and Reduction, Certified Staff
Items 1-3 were approved as submitted. Items 4-7 were approved as amended per Dr. Hagerman's recommendation at the conclusion of the Public Hearing. In reference to one of the public comments, Ms. Crumley noted that science facilitators are not being dismissed.
IX. COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE BOARD
A. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
1. The Board has been given a letter regarding student suspension.
X. BOARD GOAL UPDATES
Dr. Hagerman and Ms. Kocanda presented a brief overview of progress made on Board goals.
XI. ACTION ITEMS
No action was taken.
XI. OTHER BUSINESS
Ms. Crumley made a statement about last week's Board action to dismiss teacher David Wartik. She noted that in contrast to the perception of many community members, the Board action was not in response to the Evanston police investigation. Instead, it was in response to actions taken by Mr. Wartik that permanently destroyed evidence the District required as part of its own investigation into whether any wrongdoing was committed in District schools. The Board recognizes that Mr. Wartik is a gifted educator and shares in the community's sadness about his dismissal. Ms. Crumley noted, however, that it is the responsibility of the Board to take appropriate action even when that action is unpopular. She thanked Dr. Hagerman for his leadership, as well as for his, and the entire Board's, commitment to doing the right thing.
Ms. Whitcomb noted that the A.C. Nielsen Tennis Center will be undergoing construction beginning in July and into the fall, which may create traffic issues around Carleton Washburne School.
XIII. PUBLIC COMMENT
Robert Daniels addressed the Board.
XIV. ADJOURNMENT
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