Meeting Video and Agenda Attachments

Pledge of Allegiance -- Plum Grove Junior High: (Video Clip: 00:00-02:50) Kerry Wilson, Ed.D., Plum Grove Junior High Principal, introduced a group of Plum Grove students to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. The students were chosen for this honor because they promote a positive climate at the school through good choices, leadership, continued effort, and caring deeply about others.

Recognition -- PTA/PTSA Presidents: (Video Clip: 02:58-07:00) The Board recognized Jeanette Harris, president of the Northwest Suburban Council (NWSC) of PTA/PTSA - Illinois PTA District 37, and the following PTA/PTSA officers for their work on behalf of District 15:

• Kris Ahlgrim, NWSC of PTA/PTSA First Vice President of Programs
• Jen Zelazny, NWSC of PTA/PTSA Second Vice President of Legislation
• Stacey Piper, NWSC of PTA/PTSA Secretary
• Julie Reiser, NWSC of PTA/PTSA Treasurer
• Shannon Puleo and Gena Lewis, Central Road School PTA Co-Presidents
• Melissa Schlesinger, Frank C. Whiteley School PTA President
• Darlene Grimme and Betsy Gharagozlou, Gray M. Sanborn School PTA Co-Presidents
• Jodi Catherall, Hunting Ridge School PTA President
• Cheryl Michelotti, Jane Addams School PTA President
• Nora Ganatos and Christi Nunuz, Kimball Hill School PTA Co-Presidents
• Vicki Filipponio, Lake Louise School PTA President
• Stephanie Kiesler and Elsa Hall, Lincoln School PTA Co-Presidents
• Jenny Fumarolo, Marion Jordan School PTA President
• Brian Lucas and Sherri Border, Pleasant Hill School PTA Co-Presidents
• Colleen Myers, Stuart R. Paddock School PTA President
• Amy Etnyre and Sarah Winter, Thomas Jefferson School PTA Co-Presidents
• Rachael Butters, Virginia Lake School President
• Stephanie Boucher, Willow Bend School PTA President
• Heather Sawicki, Winston Campus Elementary PTA President
• Karen Steffler and Sherree Auge, John G. Conyers Learning Academy PTA Co-Presidents
• Melissa Werner and Jen Knutsen, Carl Sandburg Junior High PTSA Co-Presidents
• David Daugerdas, Plum Grove Junior High PTSA President
• Kris Ahlgrim and Gretchen Elzer, Walter R. Sundling Junior High PTA Co-Presidents
• Barb Williams, Winston Campus Junior High PTA President

Above and Beyond Award Recognition -- Van Le: (Video Clip: 07:00-09:55) Scott Thompson, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools, presented the District's "Above and Beyond Award" to Van Le, District 15 Custodial Supervisor. Mr. Le was recently awarded the "Manager of Distinction Award" from Facility Cleaning Decisions Magazine, and will be featured in the magazine's October edition.

Student Enrollment Update: (Video Clip: 09:55-34:49) Matthew Barbini, Ed.D., Deputy Superintendent of Schools, reported that the District's enrollment has decreased by 105 students compared to this time last year. As of September 30, 2016, the District had 11,945 students enrolled in Grades K-8, 123 students attending special education preschool classes at John G. Conyers Learning Academy, and 471 students in preschool classrooms throughout the District that are served through the District's partnership with ECDEC. That's a total enrollment of 12,539 students in preschool through eighth grade. Last year, that total stood at 12,644 students.

During his report, Dr. Barbini also outlined general education class sizes in relation to Board targets. Kindergarten has an average of 21.6 students (target 20), primary classes - 24.1 (target 24), intermediate classes - 25.9 (target 26), and junior high classes - 26.4 (target 28). Although class size averages are generally on target, a total of five elementary classes (four of them gifted sections) have 30 or more students. Dr. Barbini noted that, when buildings are confronted by large class sizes at a grade level, the building's administration works in conjunction with staff to provide additional assistance to those classrooms, frequently in the form of additional program assistant hours or additional resource teaching time.

Dr. Barbini concluded his report by noting that the District's 2016-17 Student Assignment Plan allocated 881.61 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) staff to meet the needs these students, which represents a 1.58 FTE increase in staffing over the 2015-16 school year.

Superintendent's Report -- Board Annual Goals -- Completed Form: (Video Clip: 34:49-40:10) Dr. Thompson reported that the Board's Annual Goals that were adopted at the September meeting have been updated with the Cabinet's addition of plans to ensure they are accomplished. Those plans include timelines, specific action items, and evaluation tools, and they assign responsibility for each component of the goals. He presented the completed plans to the Board for its evaluation.

Superintendent's Report -- Referendum Update: (Video Clip: 40:10-46:36) Dr. Thompson reported that referendum presentations have occurred and will continue to be held at schools and with homeowner associations, partisan political groups, and the League of Women Voters. He said these sessions have afforded residents and parents with opportunities to obtain more information, ask questions, and make comments regarding the proposal. He concluded his report by addressing the main themes that have emerged from the sessions.

2017 Levy: (Video Clip: 49:16-51:21) The Board directed the Administration to develop and recommend options for the District's proposed 2017 property tax levy for the Board to consider at its next regular meeting on November 9. Dr. Thompson noted that more than one Board member had suggested the District consider reducing its 2017 property tax levy, and he suggested that, because the first year of District's 10-year contract with the Classroom Teachers' Council has resulted in a decrease in CTC salaries from last school year, the District may be in a position to levy fewer dollars than it otherwise is legally entitled to levy.

Citizens Address the Board: (Video Clip: 53:07-1:16:18) Three residents addressed the Board regarding the School Building Bond Referendum.

Next Regular Board of Education Meeting: Wednesday, November 9, 2016, at 7 p.m. at Walter R. Sundling Junior High, 1100 N. Smith Street, Palatine.