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 May 18, 2009.   An MP3 recording of the meeting is available on www.d41.org   Minutes are posted once approved.
BOARD ORIENTATION
As part of their orientation activities, Board of Education (BOE) members discussed practical and logistical matters of BOE service. Among the topics were membership in various BOE committees, communication and confidentiality, and the upcoming BOE retreat, set for June 22 and June 29, from 5-9 p.m. at the Central Services Office.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
On Monday, June 1, the regular BOE meeting will be preceded at 7:15 p.m. by a public hearing on the 2008-2009 amended budget. The meeting will be held at the Central Services Office, 793 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn. The public is always welcome to attend Board meetings.
STUDENTS TELL ABOUT UPCOMING REID'S RIDE
Student volunteers for Reid's Ride for Research presented information about the event and the organization, Reid's Lemon-AID. Wearing their bright yellow Reid's Ride t-shirts, the group thanked the BOE and requested support for the organization's mission of raising funds for brain tumor research at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Many District 41 students and parents volunteer with the organization, which was started by a District 41 student who was diagnosed with, and has recovered from, a brain tumor. Last year, Reid's Ride raised $45,000 and the group hopes to top that this year. The bicycle ride and related activities are set for Saturday, June 13, 8-10 a.m. in downtown Glen Ellyn.


ART AND MUSIC RECOMMENDATIONS
The BOE heard presentations from the elementary art teachers and the elementary music teachers regarding revised K-5 curricula and recommendations for materials. Each elementary school has one art and one music teacher, and students have each of these subjects weekly. The teachers explained how they incorporate the state and national learning standards into their instruction and the value of fine arts to the intellectual and creative development of children. They also emphasized how they inter-weave literacy, social studies and other academic content into art and music instruction so that the students are continuously making connections to what they are learning in the general classroom. Both recommendations include a request for classroom document cameras. Lincoln art teacher Marji Gates has been piloting one and said it has enhanced instructional effectiveness, allowing students to closely observe demonstrations of technique and materials. As part of the recommendation process, the proposals have been reviewed by the district's Learning Leadership and Continuous Improvement teams. The materials will be on public display at the Central Services Office for the coming month. The music recommendation includes a CD, and the Macmillan/McGaw Hill "Spotlight on Music Series," which consists of two books and a teacher manual. The art recommendation includes "Elements and Principles of Design." The BOE is expected to take action on the recommendations at the June 15 meeting.
SUPPLEMENTAL PAY RECOMMENDATIONS
District 41 has a number of leadership positions that require a regular and substantial time commitment outside of school hours. Stipends for these supplemental pay positions are based on the number of student contact hours and extent of leadership required. Most supplemental pay positions are at Hadley, examples being intramural sports coaching and club leadership. Positions come to the BOE for approval after consideration by the Supplemental Pay Committee. The BOE is considering several new supplemental pay positions. Lego-Robotics Club will be an opportunity for students to discover science and technology and participate in a competition using Lego robots. Members of the Animal Helpers Club would work with animals and undertake related activities at the West Suburban Humane Society. The Performing Arts Club proposal is a little more complex. Its purpose is to provide interested Hadley students access to a range of performing experiences. The proposed structure is that in years one and two, the club will focus on a rotation of performances that are modest in scale, like improvisation, one-act plays and musical groups. Every third year, the club will mount a larger theatrical production, with a commensurate increase in stipend. The BOE is expected to take action on the recommendations at the June 1 meeting.



FIRST STUDENT CONTRACT RENEWAL
The BOE reviewed the administration's recommendation for a one-year contract extension for bus transportation services with First Student (formerly Laidlaw, Inc.) at an overall increase of 2.5%. This includes regular daily routes as well as special services such as field trip and summer school transportation. The administration noted that there are few bus companies operating in the area, and that the district saves 15-20% by coordinating its routes with District 87's and other area districts that also use First Student. The BOE is expected to take action on the recommendation at the June 1 meeting.



SWITCH EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT APPROVED
The BOE approved replacing aging switch equipment, which it had discussed at a previous meeting. The switch equipment is a key piece of technology infrastructure, providing network connections within the district. The new equipment will improve bandwidth, meet current and anticipated technology needs and is expected to last 10 years. The administration recommends a five-year lease with a one dollar buyout provision. The lease will be with American Capital for HP Procurve switch equipment through AAVEX Technology. Total five-year cost for lease, installation and removal of old equipment is $437,146.00.




PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
A resident asked about the timeline for the Special Education program review that is currently underway.



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