Consultant shares superintendent search input from D58 community 

On December 12, representatives from School Exec Connect, which the District 58 Board of Education hired to assist with its search for a new superintendent, presented to the Board the results of recent focus groups and a community-wide survey.    

The consultant conducted eight focus groups with a total of 75 attendees, including parents, teachers, support staff, administrators, the Education Foundation Board of Directors and the School Board. The groups shared top strengths of District 58, as well as areas of challenge.

In addition, nearly 700 parents, staff and community members participated in the online survey, which was made available on the District 58 website and individual school websites. Participants were asked to indicate the leadership characteristics that are most important in a superintendent for District 58, and what his or her priorities should be.

The consultants will use the findings from the focus groups and the survey as they conduct interviews and screen candidates. The firm will recommend approximately a half-dozen candidates to the board, which will conduct first-round interviews in January and choose three finalists.

The Board of Education plans to take action on a new superintendent's contract on March 12, and he or she will assume duties July 1.

D58 Education Foundation gives away nearly $40,000 in grants to schools 

The Education Foundation gave away $40,000 in grants to District 58 schools this year -- nearly double the amount it gave away two years ago, and $5,000 more than it gave away last year.

"It was truly a pleasure to be able to increase the funding amount this year and see the money put to such good use," said Education Foundation President Jay Stocki.

Staff were encouraged to apply for grants to enhance curriculum or technology innovations and staff development. The committee received a total of 31 requests.

"It was wonderful to see so many quality requests again this year," said grants committee chair Laura Crawford.

Purchases funded this year included AnyBook Readers, SMART boards, iPad 2s and leveled readers.  

The full list of grants is available for viewing at www.dg58.org. 

For more information on the Education Foundation or any of its programs, visit http://www.dg58ef.com.  

Click here to listen to a full streaming audio recording of the Board of Education meeting!  

This is an abridged version of the Board Briefs report that is posted on the Board of Education page at www.dg58.org. 

Flag salute

Student council officers from O'Neill Middle School -- co-presidents Kayla O'Sullivan and Tiffany Leung, as well as secretary Jaclyn Heiniger and treasurer Alyssa Pyburn -- led the audience in the flag salute, and shared information about the organization's programs and projects. These include visiting the Aurora location of Feed my Starving Children to assemble packages for children in Haiti and donating playground equipment and school supplies to Washington School in Maywood. O'Neill PTA president Gail Dunlap also shared how that organization supports the school.  

Spotlight on our Schools--Music Programs

District 58 music teachers shared information about the District's popular band, orchestra and choir programs. These optional offerings are in addition to the general music classes in which all students participate at the elementary and middle school levels. The district's goal is to provide every student with a comprehensive musical development experience and inspire a lifelong appreciation for the arts.

Students have the opportunity to begin participating in orchestra in fourth grade, choir in fifth grade, and/or band in fifth grade. They can choose more than one. Current enrollment in band is 458 and orchestra participation is 400. The elementary school choirs feature 50-95 students at each school, and the middle school choirs feature 95 students at each school.

By participating in orchestra, choir and/or band, students learn not only to sing or play a musical instrument, individually and as part of a group, they also further their learning about music history, as well as the culture and the people behind the music they are making. Music also fosters creativity, supports the concepts they are learning in other subjects such as mathematics and social studies, and nurtures social-emotional growth.

Performance opportunities exist at all levels, increasing as students reach the higher grades. Beginning in sixth grade, students can participate in the district's solo festivals, during which they receive high-quality, constructive feedback from high-level music teachers from outside the district.

Several audition-only ensembles also exist within the district, including the Downers Grove Children's Choir for elementary students, and jazz band, chamber choir, chamber strings and/or the school musical for middle school students. This year, middle school orchestra students, along with some elementary orchestra students, had the very unique opportunity to rehearse and perform onstage at Downers Grove North with internationally reknowned troupe Barrage.  

Superintendent's report

Superintendent Paul Zaander reported that he and Controller Jim Popernik had received an update and timeline from Wight and Co., which is conducting the district's comprehensive facilities study. The firm has visited every District 58 building, including Longfellow and the ASC, and will present a draft of their report in early January to Zaander, Popernik and Buildings and Grounds Director Rick Bubula. At the end of January, Wight and Co. will meet with the advisory group that was formed to provide guidance on the project, and the firm plans to present its final report and recommendations to the Board of Education in February.

Monthly Business Report

Controller James Popernik reported that there have been no surprises nearly halfway through the 2011-12 fiscal year, and the mid-year budget report in January should be positive.

Committee Reports

Policy Committee The board approved for first reading draft Policy #5150.2 regarding student athlete concussions and head injuries, and placed it on the January 9, 2012 board agenda for final approval.

Legislative Committee Committee Chair Sallie Lupescu reported that the committee has begun planning the 2012 Legislative Breakfast.  

DURING THE MEETING, THE BOARD ALSO:

• Approved the Monthly Revenues and Expenditures by Function report for the month ending November 25, 2011, and approved the payment of bills and payroll in the amount of $7,379,732.75
• Accepted the FY 2010-11 audit report as prepared by Miller Cooper & Co., Ltd. A representative from the firm gave the district a clean, unqualified opinion, and complimented staff on the district's good, prudent financial management.
• Awarded the bid to replace windows in two classrooms at Fairmount School to the low bidder meeting specifications, Replacement Window Systems, Inc. (RWS), for the cost of $30,471. Water has been infiltrating into these rooms.
• Adopted a resolution for an intergovernmental agreement between the Village of Downers Grove and the Board of Education of Downers Grove Grade School District 58 regarding the maintenance and repair of school vehicles. This agreement provides District 58 the option to use the Village's services, but does not require it.
• Adopted the 2011 certificate of levy in the amount of $47,790,000.00
• Accepted the Herrick School Improvement E-Plan for submission to the Illinois State Board of Education