D41 Board Highlights

Following is a summary of the Board of Education meeting held on February 13, 2012. An MP3 recording of the meeting is available on www.d41.org Minutes are posted once approved.

AT HADLEY, ALL TEACHERS TEACH WRITING
Hadley hosted the Board of Education (BOE) meeting. Hadley literacy specialist Kayla
Wheeler and Building Leadership Team co-chair Stephanie Sostarics (who teaches 6th grade science) joined Principal Dr. Chris Dransoff to talk about how the school is delivering writing instruction throughout the students' day. They also explained how the school is working with Glenbard West High School to make sure Hadley students graduate with the writing and note-taking skills, and with the writing stamina needed for the rigorous high school experience. Hadley has set forth three big-picture goals: doing whatever it takes for all students to learn, focusing on a safe and supportive school climate, and incorporating writing in all departments. Feedback from parents, from Glenbard West, and from the ISAT tests all pointed to the need for more effective writing instruction, specifically improving students' extended response writing and organization. By building a common writing terminology, consistent evaluative rubrics and other tools, and increasing the expectations for quantity and quality of writing, the school is helping teachers incorporate writing in all subjects so that students make connections among subject areas and express their ideas with clarity and power. Writing instruction also incorporates the Six Traits of Writing: ideas, fluency, conventions, word choice, voice and organization. Dr. Dransoff said that the school was accumulating baseline data on student writing this year so it can build improvement efforts on good writing based on sound ideas and strong organization. The partnership with Glenbard West continues to be important, with both schools committed to making sure Hadley students succeed when they reach high school.

UPCOMING MEETINGS
The next regular meetings are Monday, Feb. 27, 7:30 p.m. at the Central Services Office; and Monday, Mar. 12, 7:30 p.m. at Churchill School.

CLASS SIZE TARGETS APPROVED
The BOE approved the following targets, or guidelines, for class sizes: grades K-2, 20-22; grade 3, 23-25; grades 4-5, 25-27; and grades 6-8, 26-28. It also endorsed the administration's plan to make an early decision to staff for lower class sizes under certain circumstances. For more information, read the discussion from the Jan. 23 BOE meeting.

NEW SOUND SYSTEM FOR HADLEY PODS
The BOE approved the low bid from Muzak of $27,096 for a sound system for the Hadley pods and installation of sound dampening devices for $5,000. The matter was previously discussed at the BOE meetings of Sept. 12, Oct. 11 and Jan. 23, and at Finance Committee on Aug. 22.

SUPERINTENDENT AND BOARD REPORTS
Superintendent Dr. Ann Riebock reminded BOE members about required BOE member training on the Open Meetings Act. BOE members reported on their attendance at various committee and other meetings: the Learning Leadership Team, which developed a presentation for the Learner Characteristics and reviewed teacher feedback on the New Common Core standards; a school law conference that covered FOIA, education reform, and other important topics; the Legislative Network of DuPage (LEND); and Abraham Lincoln's Science Night.

INSTRUCTIONAL SOFTWARE TO BOOST PERFORMANCE DISCUSSED
The BOE discussed the administrative recommendation to purchase an instructional software program that has a track record of boosting student growth and has wide applications at all grade levels. The administration also thinks the Odyssey curriculum from Compass Learning could be an effective and cost-conscious alternative to its summer school program. Odyssey, a standards-aligned program, is used by many districts nationwide for remedial interventions, reinforcement and enrichment. Directly aligned to the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) test that students take twice yearly, it automatically and immediately creates individual learning paths for students based on their MAP results; teachers also have the option to create customized learning paths for their students. Preceding the meeting, representatives of Compass Learning demonstrated the software, explaining how the lively and interactive content was created and how the software coaches students through learning barriers to mastery of the material. Students can access the software from school or home, and the district is looking into ways to provide off-hours access to students without a computer or home Internet connection. The software could be an effective alternative to the district's summer school for struggling students, an expensive undertaking which has not produced the hoped-for improvement in academic performance. The administration recommends the purchase of Compass Learning Odyssey program in the total amount of $158,604 less a 5% discount for a total of $150,674. There is an annual maintenance agreement of $15,600. The BOE expects to take action on the matter at its Feb. 27 meeting.

REQUEST TO BID SCHOOL INTERIOR PAINTING
The main capital project proposed for this summer is the Hadley parking lot renovation and storm water project which is currently out for bid; once those bids are in, the administration will have a better idea of the funds available for other summer projects that are on its long-range capital improvement plan. One project the administration put forth for BOE review is a request to go out for bid for complete interior painting at Benjamin Franklin, Churchill and Forest Glen at an estimated cost of $210,000 for all three schools combined. Last summer, Abraham Lincoln's interior was repainted. Each school will have its own color scheme designed to unify the building, define spaces, identify common elements and create focal learning areas. The BOE expects to take action on the matter at its Feb. 27 meeting.

PROPOSED SCHOOL CALENDAR
The district Calendar Committee is proposing a 2012-2013 school calendar that is similar to this year's, but creates more unbroken five-day weeks for continuity of instruction, makes the Wednesday before Thanksgiving a non-attendance day, and restores the Presidents' Day holiday. If the calendar is approved, the first day of school for students will be Aug. 22, and the last day for students will be May 31 with a noon dismissal. Each year a calendar committee convenes in order to develop a recommendation to the Board of Education. The committee works to establish a school-year calendar that supports continuity of instruction, appropriate professional development and the importance of School Improvement Work. The committee also strives to align with Glenbard District 87 to the extent possible, given the differences in districts. The BOE expects to take action on the matter at the Feb. 27 meeting.

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.

Please direct your questions or comments to our Communications Director, Julie Worthen at jworthen@d41.org.

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