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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:
Terra Costa Howard President |
John Kenwood Vice President |
Erica Nelson Secretary |
Kevin Cosgrove |
John Vivoda |
Steven Vondrak|
Robert Solak
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Following is a summary of the Board of Education meeting held on January 12, 2009. D41 began audio recording Board of Education meetings starting with the August 11, 2008 meeting. Henceforward, the MP3 files will be posted on www.d41.org Minutes are posted once approved.
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NEW HADLEY SPEECH TEAM COMPETES WITH STYLE
This is the first year the Hadley PTA has sponsored a speech team, and volunteer coaches Sherry and Kevin Spengel brought members of the team to demonstrate some of their events. The team includes students in grades 6, 7 and 8, most of whom aspire to participate in the speech (forensics) team once they reach Glenbard West High School. The Hadley team has competed with success in six events at the state level this year, earning 12 first places, 5 second places and 1 third place. |
NEXT MEETING
The next Board of Education meeting is set for Monday, Feb. 2, 7:30 p.m. at Hadley Junior High, 240 Hawthorne Blvd. The public is welcome to attend.
Please note: The Master Facility Plan forum that had been scheduled for Jan. 26 has been cancelled. The next MFP forum is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 23. Please watch upcoming issues of E-News for more information.
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HADLEY NEW HORIZONS RECOMMENDATIONS PRESENTED
The Hadley New Horizons (HNH) steering committee presented its draft recommendations to the Board of Education (BOE), which will take action on endorsing them at its Feb. 2 meeting. The recommendations grew out of 18 months of work by a number of study groups focused on improving the Hadley experience from the academic, social and emotional perspectives for students, parents and staff. About 75 participants worked on the recommendations, including staff members, administrators and parents. Dr. Ron Williamson, a middle-level education expert, facilitated the work. The recommendations are based on research about the best in middle-level education and work together to:
-Help Hadley align with its new Mission and Beliefs statement, which is based on what is important for middle-level learners.
- Provide more rigor and focus in the fundamentals. Compared to today, next year students would have 15 minutes more Math each day, more opportunities for structured help with Math and Reading, an uninterrupted Literacy block, and many fewer reasons to be pulled from class for extra-curricular activities.
- Add a range of choice classes rooted in student interests and aligned with the curriculum. Next year, the existing Exploratory program would be continued with minor adjustments, with a range of new opportunities available to students. Band and Orchestra would be scheduled courses so that instrumental music students would no longer be pulled out of other classes for music instruction.
- Create a flexible schedule. Next year's schedule would be created from 15-minute scheduling blocks, and with classes of 45, 60 or 90 minutes. Exploratory classes will be on an alternating A/B schedule which allows more choice for students. For example, a student would have a given Exploratory course M-W-F in week one, and T-TH in week two, and another Exploratory course on T-TH in week one and M-W-F in week two.
The BOE praised the caliber of the work and the commitment of the HNH participants. It also expressed excitement about the academic improvements and the expansion of choice classes for students. It had numerous questions about the concepts of houses and looping, and noted that parents had expressed a range of concerns about these unfamiliar concepts. Superintendent Dr. Ann Riebock noted that the district plans a number of opportunities for parents to learn more about how these concepts would function and what they could mean for students before an implementation recommendation would come forth. The administration is seeking BOE approval on Feb. 2 to continue studying houses and looping, and to begin implementation plans for the Exploratory and scheduling recommendations.
For more information, please visit www.d41 and click on the Hadley New Horizon icon. Or, click here to download:
HNH Recommendation Summary
HNH Board Presentation of Jan 12, 2009
Hadley Now and in the Future (4 pages)
Timeline and process of HNH work
SUMMER CAPITAL PROJECTS DISCUSSED
The BOE reviewed 23 bids for a variety of summer projects, including electrical, mechanical and paving work at multiple sites, a new boiler at Hadley and a stormwater detention project at Benjamin Franklin. The projects are included in the district's long-range capital improvement and age & obsolescence plan that has been developed by the administration and reviewed by the BOE over the last year. The administration is recommending that the BOE accept the lowest bids: Amber Mechanical Contractors for $640,300 and Chicagoland Paving Contractors for $670,999. The BOE will take action on the bids at its Feb. 2 meeting.
EVERYDAY MATH MATERIALS ADOPTED
Everyday Math, a standards-based instructional program, is being piloted by the district and will be implemented K-5 next year. The program materials were presented to the BOE last month and have been on public display at Central Services through mid-January. The BOE approved adoption of the materials which include a number of types of student and classroom resources and materials and an online component. The estimated total cost is $286,841.34.
BOARD RETREAT SUMMARY
BOE President Terra Costa Howard summarized the BOE discussion at its recent day-long retreat held at district offices on Saturday, Jan. 10. Among the topics addressed were the district's Long-Range Plan, School Improvement Plans, Hadley New Horizons and the district's financial health including Board member perspectives on its levy, reserves and financial approach to the future. The BOE also discussed the school year calendar and how to better align all the components-instructional days, Institute and SIP Days, testing, vacations-with student learning.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Numerous parents spoke about their concerns about the school year calendar, stating that there are too many days off for students, too many 3 and 4-day weeks and too few instructional days and that this affects student learning. Superintendent Riebock noted that a calendar committee has been established and will focus on improving the calendar for 2009-2010. Also of concern was the number and frequency of substitutes in the classroom. Other residents spoke about Hadley New Horizons. In general, they were positive about the process and the recommendations around Exploratory and scheduling, but had concerns and reservations about the concepts of houses, looping and mentoring. Dr. Riebock acknowledged that more opportunities were needed for parents to learn about these concepts before any implementation plans would be created.
CANDIDATE FILINGS NOW ACCEPTED
Four seats on the seven-member D41 Board of Education will be on the ballot in the April 7, 2009 election. Board candidates may file their papers at the District 41 office during regular business hours (8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) between now and Monday, Jan. 26. District offices will remain open until 5 p.m. on the 26th. For more information, please contact the District 41 Election Official, Maureen Stecker, at 630-534-7236 or mstecker@d41.org
About the Glen Ellyn School District Board of Education
Board members are unpaid volunteers, each representing the whole district. The board is accountable to the public and makes decisions as a unit based on what is best for the whole district. 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 during which the board conducts its business, and ample time is always set aside for public participation.
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Please direct your questions or comments to our Communications Director, Julie Worthen at jworthen@d41.org. |
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