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: Steven Vondrak President | Robert Solak Vice President | Erica Nelson Secretary | Terra Costa Howard | Drew Ellis | Jack Kahler | Dan Smith Jr.

Following is a summary of the Board of Education meeting held on March 1, 2010.   An MP3 recording of the meeting is available on www.d41.org   Minutes are posted once approved.
ADMINISTRATION PROPOSES $2.9M IN BUDGET REDUCTIONS; prepares for state cuts
District 41 is in sound financial shape, but must adjust to the current realities of stagnating revenues, rising costs, and unstable state education funding. The Board of Education (BOE) reviewed a financial reduction plan that will help the District keep focused on educational priorities and maintain financial stability during difficult economic times. Superintendent Dr. Ann Riebock and Assistant Superintendent of Finance, Facilities and Operations Bob Ciserella outlined approximately $2.9M in proposed reductions for Fiscal Year 2010-2011; these reductions are expected to keep the District in the black until 2013-2014. Further reductions and efficiencies will be developed to maintain a balanced budget beyond that date. Most of the savings come from personnel reductions (mainly not filling positions that will be open due to retirement or resignation); scaling back or delaying capital projects; and setting aside less money for contingencies.

The current plan builds on the more than $1 million in reductions that were shared with the BOE in November. Dr. Riebock stressed that these decisions are being made in light of the District's Vision, Mission and Values, and its Long-Range Plan.

Most of the District's money comes from property taxes--for next year, these revenues will be virtually flat due to the 0.1% Consumer Price Index; unless reductions are made, the District's expenses will rise about 5%. Also, the state of Illinois is in a budget crisis; under normal circumstances, the district would receive $3.6M from the state next year, but is expecting to receive significantly less, if anything. (At this point, the state owes District 41 more than $700,000 for FY 2009-2010.)

District 41 receives 87% of its money from local property taxes, and 8% of its money from the state in the form of general state aid, and grants intended for specific programs like Special Education, Bilingual, or Pre-Kindergarten at Risk. The District's reduction plan includes several scenarios from full state funding to no state funding. The District expects no reductions to the 2% it receives in Federal funds. Dr. Riebock said that the proposed reductions will allow the District to maintain programming even if the state cut half or even more of its funds to the district. If the state eliminates education funding, she said the administration would probably request BOE permission to use reserves to preserve programs for one year, in the hopes that state funding will be restored, rather than dismantle programs that are meeting important learning needs.

Click here for the complete budget reduction proposal, and click here for a summary. Questions and comments about finances may be emailed to finances@d41.org. You will receive a reply, usually within 24 hours. 


UPCOMING MEETINGS
The next regular meetings are Mar. 15 and Ap. 5, at 7:30 p.m. at the Central Services Office. The public is welcome to attend. Both meetings will be preceded at 6 p.m. by the Finance Committee meeting, which is an open meeting. The BOE plans to conduct its self-evaluation on Mar. 22, at 5:30 p.m., also at the Central Services Office. The self-evaluation will begin in open session, and then go into closed session for the work with an Illinois Association of School Board facilitator, who provides this service as part of the District's membership. Conducting a self-evaluation is one of the BOE's goals.  
CASE MATTERS
This year, District 41 is taking its rotation as the fiscal agent for the Cooperative for Special Education (CASE), of which it is a member. As such, the BOE takes action on matters approved at the CASE Board meeting, and it approved the CASE February payroll, accounts payable and treasurer's report.




ELECTRIC SERVICES DISCUSSED 
The BOE discussed the recommendation for an electricity vendor. The administration received five  bids, and recommends accepting the low bid from Illinois Energy Consortium for $0.060600 per kWh. The BOE expects to take action on the matter at its Mar. 15 meeting.





SOCIAL STUDIES RECOMMENDATION APPROVED
The BOE approved the recommendation for the K-5 Social Studies curriculum and materials in the amount of $115,086. The recommended materials are Social Studies Alive from the Teachers Curriculum Institute (TCI). The BOE previously discussed the adoption at its Feb. 1 meeting.    




FINANCE COMMITTEE TO REPORT ON LAND ACQUISITION
The BOE approved a motion from Vice President Bob Solak to charge the BOE's Finance Committee with studying facility options and land acquisition. The motion, which Mr. Solak said evolved from earlier motions by BOE member Jack Kahler, instructs the committee to provide a report with short-and long-term recommendations to the BOE in January of 2011. The committee will build on the work of last year's Master Facility Committee and specifically focus on the pros and cons of acquiring a large parcel of land (the BOE as a whole may discuss opportunities to purchase small parcels without going through the Finance Committee).

The decision to put the matter in the Finance Committee came after debate over the course of several meetings on where such discussions belong. Some BOE members felt the BOE shouldn't be discussing land and facilities at a time when finances should take priority; other members felt that these topics are an integral part of planning for the future, are appropriate for discussion by the whole BOE, and that the BOE can focus on more than one thing at a time. Board President Steve Vondrak said that the BOE already has effective processes in place for managing its deliberations, regardless of topic.

Finance Committee meetings are usually held at 6 p.m. preceding the regular BOE meeting. The committee meetings are open to the public and agendas, minutes and audiotapes of the meetings are posted.


 

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Hadley teacher Sue Schoff asked the BOE to provide its input on the state's budget woes to Governor Quinn through a Web site the governor has set up for the purpose. Former BOE member John Kenwood urged the BOE not to delegate facility and land acquisition discussion to the Finance Committee because it would take the matter out of the public discussion.





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