| | November 2, 2006 |
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Glen Ellyn School District 41 Mission: It is the mission of District 41 to advocate for students enabling each one to optimize his/her potential within a culture of continuous improvement.
Board Members: John Vivoda President | John Marcheschi Vice President | Debbie Hoffman Secretary | Kevin Cosgrove | Terra Costa Howard | John Kenwood | Carol McElvain | Following is a summary of the Board of Education (BOE) meetings held on October 16 & 30, 2006. Minutes are posted on www.d41.org once approved.
| October was the first month of the new Board meeting format in which there are two regular meetings each month, one of which focused on providing deeper understanding of issues related to student learning and district functioning. Following are the upcoming BOE meeting dates through June: Nov. 13, 27; Dec. 18; Jan. 8, 22; Feb. 12, 26; March 5, 19; April 2, 16; May 7, 21; and June 11, 25.
STATE LEARNING STANDARDS
The Oct. 16 meeting featured a presentation on the Illinois Learning Standards. Assistant Superintendent for Teaching, Learning and Accountability Karen Carlson explained that the standards, which were adopted in 1997, help ensure consistency among schools statewide, provide meaningful criteria against which to measure student progress, ease transitions for students who move among schools and define foundational knowledge around which teachers frame their instruction. As an example, Carlson showed how a geometry standard was fleshed out at a given grade level with performance descriptors and detailed essential understandings. The standards are not a state curriculum, but define essential knowledge and skills, with instructional methods and materials the responsibility of the local schools. The standards cover eight core areas: English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Science, Physical Development and Health, Fine Arts, Foreign Language, and Social/Emotional Learning. | PUBLIC MEETING ON BOUNDARIES
Thursday, November 30
7:30 p.m.
Hadley Junior High
240 Hawthorne Blvd., Glen Ellyn
The Boundary Advisory Committee, a group of parent volunteers representing the four elementary schools, has been asked to review D41 school attendance area boundaries to see if adjustments would create a more equitable learning environment in the face of district-wide crowding. On Nov. 30, boundary adjustment scenarios will be presented for resident review and feedback. The committee will take the input gathered at the meeting (and throughout the process) into account as it frames the recommendation it will present to the Board of Education meeting on Monday, Dec. 18 at 7:30 p.m. The committee could recommend no change, moderate change or significant change.
Please note: The committee is reviewing school attendance area boundaries. The overall D41 boundaries will not change. All addresses now within D41 will remain within D41, although the school assignment may change. You may send questions, comments or concerns to the committee at: boundaries@d41.org. |
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BOUNDARY COMMITTEE WORK ON TRACK
At the Oct. 30 meeting, Superintendent Dr. Ann Riebock reported on the Boundary Advisory Committee’s work. The committee, comprised of parents representing each of the four elementary schools, is charged with creating a boundary recommendation for the Board’s review. It has studied detailed descriptions of the schools provided by the principals, reviewed demographic data and enrollment projections out to 2013, and discussed how the projections should accommodate the unexpectedly high kindergarten enrollment at Benjamin Franklin, and the unexpectedly low kindergarten enrollment at Churchill. In addition, a sub-group of the committee toured the four elementary schools and the Central Services Office to get a first-hand look at the space issues unique to each building. The overall D41 boundaries, which comprise parts of five towns, are not under discussion. The committee meets in public each Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Central Services.
LONG-RANGE PLAN TO GUIDE FUTURE WORK
The Long-Range Plan defines what D41 plans to achieve and is supported by short-term action plans that provide a roadmap for how and when these goals will be accomplished, explained Superintendent Dr. Ann Riebock. Aligned with D41’s Strategic Focus, the plan supports D41’s commitment to exceptional learning, fiscal responsibility, and strong stakeholder relationships, fleshing out those commitments to create a vision of what D41 will look like in five years. The process for developing the plan has relied on teamwork, collaboration and unity of purpose among the district leadership and stakeholders, noted Riebock, who said that there was also great value in the perspectives and refinements contributed by groups such as PTA Council and the Teams For Excellence. The plan, which is a living document, is subject to adjustment over time.
TAX LEVY and other FINANCIAL MATTERS
The Board talked about the timetable for the 2006 tax levy (which occurs in 2007 for the 2006 fiscal year), which will determine how much an individual pays to D41 through property taxes. The tax levy will be discussed at the BOE meetings on Nov. 13 and 27, with the Truth in Taxation public hearing (followed by adoption of the levy) set for Dec. 18. The tax levy is a request for funds; the law requires the levy to be submitted in December, before the district has established its budget and before the figures on which the tax rate is based are available from the County Clerk and the Assessor’s Office. This means the district is estimating what its levy should be. If its estimate is too low, it cannot adjust its levy upward and will lose money that it is entitled to. If its estimate is too high, the County Clerk will adjust the levy to the correct level in the spring once the total value of property in the district is known. The Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL, also known as the Tax Cap), says school districts may receive what they received the previous year plus a small increase for inflation (3.4% for this tax levy). Property taxes on new construction provide additional dollars beyond the capped amount for the first year a property is on the tax rolls, raising the base from which taxes are calculated for the next year. In other matters, the Finance Committee has reviewed project recommendations for life safety, roofs and other capital improvement plans, and the BOE will discuss these at its November meetings. The long-range capital improvement plan allows the district to plan for routine maintenance, to anticipate replacement of large systems or facility components, and to budget for ongoing improvements in order to maximize the utility and longevity of the buildings.
NOVEMBER MEETINGS
Meetings are set for Nov. 13 and 27 at 7:30 p.m in Central Services, 793 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn at 7:30 p.m. Other special meetings may be called and their agendas will be posted on www.d41.org at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting.
INTERESTED IN RUNNING FOR THE D41 BOARD OF EDUCATION?
With the terms of Board Members Debbie Hoffman, John Marcheschi and Carol McElvain expiring in April, three Board seats are up for election. Candidates may begin collecting signatures on Nov. 7. The deadline for filing nominating petitions is Jan. 29. Those interested in running may pick up an information packet at Central Services from 8-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. More information is available at www.dupageelections.com
About the Glen Ellyn District 41 Board of Education
Board members are unpaid, elected volunteers, each representing the District as a whole. The board is accountable to the public and makes decisions as a unit based on what is best for student learning. The board hires the superintendent, sets instructional policy, approves the budget and ongoing expenditures and is ultimately responsible for the performance of the district. Board meetings are working sessions held in public with time allotted for public participation.
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Please direct your questions or comments to our Communications Director, Julie Worthen at jworthen@d41.org. We ask that you do not reply directly to this email. Thank you! | |
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