Glenbrook Transition Center finds new home in downtown Northbrook

On the second floor of the Village Green Center in downtown Northbrook, Glenbrook High School District 225 Director of Special Education Jennifer Pearson opens the door to a cozy office space.

 

She walks toward the back of the room to open the blinds, allowing sunlight to pour into the space that overlooks Shermer Road. This action is almost metaphoric based on the nature of her business.

 

Pearson and her team work with transition-aged students with disabilities (18-21 years old) on becoming active members of their community. Their windows to adulthood, so-to-speak, are opening.

 

"We looked at dozens of places before coming across this location, which best meets the needs of our students," Pearson said. "The office spaces are within the students' home community, and in close proximity to public transportation, a bustling dining and shopping district, banking and village services. These are all critical entities for preparing students to be contributing members of their community."

 

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Regular Board Meeting
Sept. 9, 7 p.m. @GBS

Regular Board Meeting
Sept. 30, 7 p.m. @GBS

Special Board Meeting
Oct. 7, 7 p.m. @GBS
   
Meeting Highlights - August 26, 2013 

Board continues discussion of goals for 2013-14

Each year, the Glenbrook High School District 225 administration works with the Board of Education to develop District Initiatives and set organizational goals for the coming school year.

  

At the meeting Monday night, the Board of Education reviewed a refined draft based on feedback from previous meeting discussions. The goals are divided into targeted categories that include curriculum and instruction, human resources, business, public relations and communications, technology, and student wellness.

 

The administration pared down the original list to the one below, based on Board feedback from the previous discussions:

  • Implement new human resources software (Skyward)

  • Develop a long-range cost containment plan for health insurance

  • Conduct a study of enrollment and building capacities

  • Increase student engagement

  • Implement new teacher evaluation instrument(Senate Bill 7, PERA, etc.)

  • Expand hiring software package

  • Improve communications

  • Improve student wellness

  • Enhance assistance technology efforts for special education students

The Board and administration will continue to finalize the initiatives, goals, tasks, responsible staff members and timelines in the coming month.

 

District complies with legislation requiring additional insurance

New legislation requires that Illinois schools carry additional catastrophic accident insurance for student athletes, starting with the 2013-14 school year.  This law is intended to cover family medical expenses that exceed the amount covered by routine medical health insurance.

 

Rather than isolate student athletes, the district has determined it is more efficient to provide all students with catastrophic insurance. The cost is $2.20 per student for a total annual cost of $10,725.

 

Board conducts special meeting October 7

The Board will reschedule the regular meeting on October 14 to October 7 to accommodate the Columbus Day holiday. Even though school is in session October 14, the state prohibits elected Boards from conducting business on that date. Instead, the Board will meet for a special meeting on October 7 for the purposes of training.

 

Consent agenda:

 Regular actions such as appointments, resignations, FOIA, vendor bills, minutes, gifts, etc. are approved during the consent agenda. To view supporting documentation (when available) and the official meeting minutes, please visit the Board of Education section of our website.  Please note, official minutes are available after Board approval the following meeting.