Dashboard

   Finances

   Strategic Planning

Board Highlights are timely recaps of School Board meetings. They are emailed to staff, parents, and interested community members before the official minutes are approved and posted. 

 

Links to pertinent memos and presentations from the Board packet are highlighted in green. Board packets are posted the day before regularly scheduled Board meetings.

 

Meeting podcasts, packets, and Board information can be accessed using the links on the left. 


Budget Hearing

CFO, Greg Kurr,presented the 2015-2016 Budget, reflecting $45,055,991 in revenues and $44,135,352 in expenditures. The budget timelines, assumptions, and individual funds were reviewed. The Budget provides for various curricular initiatives in the areas of math, science, and reading; as well as, technology upgrades and strategic planning for STEAM and Kindergarten programs. In excess of $500,000 was also included for school building improvements, much of which was completed this summer.


Regular Meeting

Board President, Kendra Wallace, called the meeting to order. She noted that the academic year is off to a great start and thanked teachers for their hard work on behalf of students and the Winnetka community.

Superintendent, Trisha Kocanda, shared noteworthy facts and figures from the first month of school and mentioned that national education leader, Dr. Jim Knight, provided a professional learning experience for staff. She also recognized a number of classroom activities and projects.  


Presentations

Director of Student Services, Beth Martin, and Kindergarten teachers Liz Barlock, Katarina Jaksic, Missy Parks, and Lynn White, presented an overview of the Kindergarten program in District 36, focusing on the philosophical framework of the program and how this framework supports all learners.

Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment, Alison Hawley, presented the 2015 STAR data and discussed how the District will use this information to monitor growth and achievement. She noted that there is a timeline in place to address STAR patterns, which is incorporated into individual School Improvement Plans. These plans will be presented at the October 20th meeting.

Kate Hughes, Communications & Community Relations Coordinator, presented the District communication plan for 2015-2016, including goals, communication platforms, and initiatives (such as the launch of a redesigned District website this fall).


Informational Memos

On August 25, 2015, the District hosted staff in preparation of a new year.  The themes for the day were related to innovation, professional learning, and teacher collaboration.

Schools are prioritizing and developing action plans to support innovative projects developed at the June 2015 Summer Institute.

On September 16, 2015, preliminary state results were released for PARCC. Results for the District are expected later this fall. The State of Illinois has announced that there will be a reduction in the number of testing units to be administered in spring 2016.

Deerfield School District 109 is requesting to withdraw from North Suburban Special Education District (NSSED), with an anticipated date of June 30, 2016. The District 36 School Board will vote on the topic at the October 20, 2015 meeting.

During the 2014-2015 school year, 106 students transferred out of the District (seven to local private schools) while 101 (20 from local private schools) transferred into the District.

1,726 students are enrolled for the current year. Enrollment is down 2.7% from September 2014 to September 2015 (approximately 50 students). Staffing has decreased by 1.1 FTE this year.

The Policy Subcommittee Board Members brought forth, for a first read, over 40 School Board policies recommended for update.

The Administration has recommended the use of a three-year capital lease to finance an equipment upgrade of the District's Network.


Action Items

The Consent Agenda and the following items were approved:

  1. 2015-2016 Budget
  2. Capital Lease-Network Equipment
  3. Personnel Action

Upcoming Regular Meeting Dates
October 20, 2015
November 17, 2015
December 15, 2015
January 26, 2016
February 23, 2016

March 15, 2016
April 19, 2016
May 17, 2016
June 8, 2016

Regular meetings are open to the public and will be held in The Skokie School Resource Center. Regular meetings begin at 7:15 P.M. Work sessions are also open to the public and may be scheduled at the discretion of the Board. Discussion topics and times for work sessions will be posted on the District website 24 hours in advance.
Please note: Unsubscribing from this email will unsubscribe from all Winnetka school emails.