Glen Ellyn School District 41 Glen Ellyn School District 41
 

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
Following is a summary of the Board of Education meeting held on March 16, 2009.   An MP3 recording of the meeting is available on www.d41.org   Minutes are posted once approved.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN PRESENTS READING STRATEGY
Benjamin Franklin hosted the Board of Education (BOE) meeting. Principal Kirk Samples explained that improving reading is a key Benjamin Franklin goal, and one of a number of ways the school is working on it is by partnering with volunteer tutors from the Glenbard West High School (GBWHS) Key Club. "Partnership for Reading Success" is a program in which about 30 students in grades 3-5 who can benefit from improvement are matched with honors-level high school tutors. The new program, which takes place toward the end of Franklin's school day but after GBWHS dismissal, has been underway for about six weeks; elementary and high school students alike were enthusiastic as they told the BOE about the experience. Franklin specialists Heather Wilson and Stacy Slater explained the research behind the program, the tutoring process, the link between reading fluency and comprehension, and the data collection process that helps the teachers, tutors and students monitor progress. Kudos were given to GBWHS for its role in the program, especially to GBWHS teacher Mark Staron who has accompanied the tutors to each of the twice weekly sessions. The BOE gave special thanks to the 20 participating tutors for volunteering their time and talent. 		UPCOMING MEETINGS
The next regular Board of Education meeting is set for Monday, April 6, at 7:30 p.m. at Central Services. The meeting will be preceded at 6:00 p.m. by a committee of the whole meeting on the budget. The public is always welcome and encouraged to attend Board meetings.
MASTER FACILITY PLAN RECOMMENDATION
The Master Facility Plan Steering Committee, which has been working since October, presented its recommendation to the BOE. The 20-member steering committee included community members, parents, BOE members and administrators working to craft a long-range direction that aligns district facilities with the district's educational vision. In its work, the committee reviewed detailed reports on school conditions, researched best practices in school facilities, visited other districts to see their solutions to space issues, and established guiding principles for facility improvements. MFP Committee members David Kennedy and Jim Piszczek presented the recommendation and rationale, which addresses both bricks and mortar and how school space is used:

· In the long-term, the district's 32 portable classrooms should be eliminated and all children should be housed within the school buildings. Portables can isolate children, erode instructional time as children travel to and from services, and cause safety and security issues. Furthermore, over time, portable costs can approach or even exceed those of permanent space.

· In the long-term, adequate and equitable small-group and resource spaces should be created and/or relocated. Some of this type of space exists, but is usually remote from the classroom. Providing sufficient small-group spaces and better integrating them into the general instruction classroom vicinity makes these crucial spaces more convenient, more flexible, more conducive to collaborative teaching and better able to support dynamic learning and instructional strategies.

· In the short- and mid-term, the BOE should determine which of the many pressing matters identified by the school site committees can be reasonably addressed, and implement an action plan for doing so.

Among the supporting documents provided to the BOE were two concept diagrams that illustrated how these recommendations could be implemented. One of these depicted enlarging the existing schools, and the other depicted building an elementary school at Spalding as well as modifying the existing schools. It also urged the BOE to continue its practice of involving the community as plans are further developed. The committee characterized its recommendation as a general direction. Although the recommendation was not specific enough to enable cost estimates, the recommendation emphasized the need for the solution to be consistent with community values and fiscally responsible.


2009-2010 CALENDAR APPROVED
The BOE approved the 2009-2010 district calendar. The key dates are as follows:
· Aug. 26: First student attendance day
· Nov. 4, 5: Parent Teacher Conferences
· Nov. 26, 27: Thanksgiving Break
· Dec. 21-Jan 1: Winter Break
· Mar. 29-Ap. 2: Spring Break
· June 9: Tentative last day (noon dismissal) for student attendance if all emergency days are used

The district will apply for a five-year waiver that would allow full-day SIP Days; however, it's unlikely this waiver would be received before January, so the current calendar shows the traditional half-day SIP Days: and a recommendation to utilize full day school improvement days will be made at a later time.


BENJAMIN FRANKLIN PLAYGROUND, HADLEY BOILER DISCUSSED
Benjamin Franklin has two playground areas, and the Board of Education discussed replacement of the older of the two in conjunction with the underground stormwater detention and parking lot expansion project that will take place this summer. The stormwater project requires demolition of this playground, and the administration recommends accepting the low bid of $66,376 from George's Landscaping of Joliet, which includes equipment and installation. In addition the BOE discussed asbestos abatement related to the boiler replacement this summer at Hadley. The administration recommends acceptance of the low bid of $43,700 by LVI Environmental Services. The BOE plans to take action on these matters at its April 6 meeting.


EMERGENCY FLOOD REMEDIATION PROJECT AT CENTRAL SERVICES OFFICE
A flooding problem has developed at the District Central Services Office, 793 N. Main St. In recent years, the lower level has flooded numerous times, with water coming in through the foundation, electrical chases and window sills. Some of those instances were rain-related, others not. A recent flood was followed by days of constant pumping and forced the relocation of the employees housed on that level to Churchill or elsewhere in the CSO building. The administration roughly estimates that the remediation steps outlined by a structural engineering firm will cost something less than $100,000. The work will include installing and redirecting drains, installing exterior perimeter drain tile and sump pumps, cleaning and disinfecting the affected area, and replacing flooring and other damaged elements that may be discovered. With the advice of district legal counsel, the BOE agreed that circumstances merit lifting the requirement for the usual time-consuming public bid process. In order to minimize future flood damage and workplace disruption, the BOE approved the administration's request for emergency funds and directed the administration to quickly solicit comparative quotes from reputable contractors so that the work can begin as soon as possible.
 


SOFTWARE PURCHASES APPROVED
The BOE approved purchasing software for the standards-based report card that the district is planning to implement, and for upgrading the library software used to manage collections and book check-outs. Excelsior Pinnacle is a web-based, electronic, standards-based gradebook program and reporting tool that would cost a maximum of $28,338; this includes training, installation, two servers and a per pupil fee. Cost would likely be less as this software will not be fully implemented next year. The district has used Follett library management software for eight years; an upgrade of the current obsolete version would cost $21,500 with $4,050 per year for annual maintenance.



SUPERINTENDENT CONTRACT
The BOE approved a four-year contract extension for Superintendent Dr. Ann Riebock, consistent with the BOE policy and the evaluation timeline the BOE had established. The action was taken on March 17, at a continuation of the March 16 meeting. The contract calls for a base salary of $231,276.00. Dr. Riebock joined District 41 on July 1, 2006.



PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
A parent made a number of comments referencing Special Education, including asking for clarification of the BOE role in student placement, urging it to further its Special Education partnerships, asking about the Special Education program evaluation and noting that the Master Facility Plan recommendation does not specifically identify Special Education space needs.




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.
Glen Ellyn School District 41