Superintendent's Reports -- Teacher Recognition -- Alessandra Kennedy and Andrea Rodino: Scott Thompson, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools, presented the District's "Above and Beyond Award" to Alessandra Kennedy and Andrea Rodino. Mrs. Kennedy, a fifth-grade teacher at Thomas Jefferson School, was recognized last spring as a finalist for the Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching, and was recently featured as the Daily Herald's "Top Teacher." Mrs. Rodino, a physical education teacher at Frank C. Whiteley School, recently used the CPR training she received through the District to save a 4-year-old boy's life.

Superintendent's Reports -- Student Recognition -- Math Kangaroo: Meg Schnoor, Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, introduced the Board to eight District 15 students who received top-20 national rankings in Math Kangaroo, a popular international mathematics competition for students in Grades 1-12.

Superintendent's Reports -- Presentation -- District Facilities Plan Committee Recommendation: Dr. Thompson introduced District Facilities Plan Committee members Eric Friedman, Jeff Jorian, and Kevin O'Brien, who delivered a presentation summarizing the group's work. The committee met three times -- March 30, April 14, and May 21 -- and its work focused on the following three objectives:

1. Life Safety Report Recap: The committee's first objective was to review and comment on the content and implications of the 2015 Life Safety Report prepared by STR Partners.This thorough and comprehensive analysis of the facility needs of each of the District's buildings identified $156 million in projects. (The study's cost calculations are based upon current costs, which are projected to escalate approximately 4 percent each successive year.)

  

Administrators have determined the District can reduce that overall total to about $119 million, as it includes $20 million of projects categorized as recommendations, $6.2 million of projects related to non-instructional facilities, and $4.3 million of projects the District can complete in-house. Also, the report that the District is required to file this summer must include a 10 percent architectural fee and a 10 percent contingency calculation in its cost estimates for each project. They further reduced the overall total by an additional $6.5 million by reducing those calculations to 7.5 percent, which is a more accurate reflection of contingency costs and is also the fee charged by STR Partners.  

  

The committee considered this information, but it did not review the study's findings item by item, nor did it review the basis for the cost estimates or the available means for funding the required improvements. It did, however, note that the study did not include potential costs related to the projects it identified, such as temporary cooling and portable classrooms. It also noted that other capital improvements related to security, playground equipment, etc., may be required, but are not included in the study.

  

2. Committee Strategy Development: The committee's second objective was to review factors impacting how and when required improvements can be made. In doing so, it relied upon professional consultants for guidance on the amount of work that can be accomplished simultaneously, and it deferred to school administration for input on spending priorities, general school conditions, and the ability of the District to operate during capital projects.   

  

At the conclusion of the presentation, Dr. Thompson recommended that the Board authorize the Administration to request that STR Partners begin work on the drawings and documents necessary to meet the suggested bid schedule for work to be completed in the summer of 2016. The Board agreed with this recommendation, and with Dr. Thompson's subsequent recommendation that it adopt the District Facilities Plan Committee's recommendations. The Board charged the administration with the work of evaluating the future usage of buildings and determining the viability of spending more money on some of the District's oldest buildings.

Superintendent's Reports -- Presentation -- FY2016 Tentative Budget: Michael Adamczyk, chief school business official, presented a tentative FY2016 budget that outlines approximately $151 million in operating fund revenues and $153.7 million of operating fund expenditures resulting in an estimated $2.7 million deficit. That shortfall is projected to reduce the District's June 30, 2016, fund balance to approximately $52.4 million, or 34.1 percent of the District's budget.

Mr. Adamczyk explained that the budget includes $3.35 million of capital projects funding, and $1.5 million of expenditures related to the District's new math curriculum adoption. He also noted that the District currently has approximately 19 unfilled teaching positions for next year, four of which are new to the budget. Due to enrollment changes that typically occur over the summer, the District will not be able to finalize its certified staff count -- and that number's impact on the budget -- until September. Final staffing levels for program assistants also will not be known until mid-October, when the District has a clearer picture of how many students qualify for its reading intervention programs.

Mr. Adamczyk also noted that the budget proposal assumes state funding will remain flat, although two appropriation bills introduced in the General Assembly would maintain categorical funding levels and increase the general state aide proration level from 89 percent to 92 percent.

The Board approved a Notice of Publication of Public Hearing on the Adoption of the FY2016 Tentative Budget as part of its consent calendar. The public hearing will be held at the beginning of the next regular Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, August 12. The tentative budget, which has been posted to the District's website, will be presented to the Board for adoption during its regular meeting on Wednesday, September 19.

ED-RED Council/Legislation: It was reported that the General Assembly is still in session but is only convening about once a week, as most work on legislation is currently going on behind closed doors. As noted in the proposed budget presentation, two appropriation bills have been introduced by the General Assembly -- one would maintain categorical funding levels, and the other would increase the general state aide proration level from 89 percent to 92 percent. However, Gov. Bruce Rauner will not discuss the state's budget for 2016 until an agreement is reached on his turnaround agenda, which includes a property tax freeze. If a budget is not approved by July 14, state employees will not be paid on July 15.

District Fifteen Educational Foundation: It was reported that the Foundation awarded 10 mini-grants totaling $16,000 to District 15 teachers this spring, and $600 in Keep Music Strong scholarships funded by Dr. Gerry Aylward to four graduating eighth graders.

Citizens Address the Board: No citizens chose to address the Board.

Approval of Superintendent's Contract 2015-2019: The Board approved a new four-year contract for Dr. Thompson. The new contract runs through the 2018-19 school year, and it includes goals for Dr. Thompson related to student performance and academic improvement. Those goals include:

• Developing plans for the creation of academies throughout the District,
• Updating and maintaining all curricula to ensure students are receiving the best instruction,
• Investigating the feasibility of implementing a full-day kindergarten program,
• Exploring ways to increase preschool participation for at-risk students, and
• Enhancing the extracurricular opportunities that are available to students.