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: John Vivoda President | John Marcheschi Vice President | Debbie Hoffman Secretary
Kevin Cosgrove | Terra Costa Howard | John Kenwood | Carol McElvain
Following is a summary of the Board of Education (BOE) meeting held on June 26, 2006. Minutes are posted on www.d41.org once approved.
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NEXT STEPS The BOE may adopt the budget any time on or before Sept. 30. The budget is a plan, not a mandate to spend, and may be amended as the year progresses. |
REPORTS ON CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT, SCIENCE, WATCHD.O.G.S.
The BOE heard reports on the Continuous Improvement Team (CIT), the inquiry-based Science curriculum implemented this year, and WatchD.O.G.S., a District program aimed at fostering participation of fathers and father-figures in the schools.
The CIT Co-Chairs (Continuous Improvement Director Dinah Bryant and teacher Sue Schoff) explained how CIT provides a framework for collaborative, systemic improvement throughout the District and uses data to assess needs and recommend changes that will promote continuous improvement in support of the District’s Vision and Mission. CIT has been instrumental in moving curricular improvements forward and in developing a District Scorecard to measure and communicate progress. See the report
Assistant Superintendent for Teaching, Learning and Accountability Dr. John Correll reviewed an assessment of the new inquiry-based Science curriculum. Consistent with the District’s commitment to continuous improvement through data, the teacher committee that developed the curriculum followed up to evaluate how well the inquiry approach helped children understand and apply scientific methods and principles. This analysis of instructional method was in addition to the usual classroom subject-matter assessments. The curriculum differs from the traditional textbook-based approach because it uses custom-developed kits for each unit that include experiments and activities aligned to state standards for what children should know and be able to do. Overall response from teachers and students has been extremely positive, but areas for improvement include work with prediction, observation and inference, and analysis and integration of data. Also, many teachers said they would benefit from more training in the inquiry method of instruction.
Director of Grants and Programs Lillie Abbott reviewed the changes that were implemented this year in the WatchD.O.G.S. (Dads Of Great Students) program in response to last year’s survey of parents and staff. WatchD.O.G.S. was piloted in 2003-4 at Forest Glen and launched district-wide in 2004-5, involving more than 1000 participants at a cost of $22,850. In 2005-6, the district reduced program costs to $4,195. It put processes in place to improve program flexibility, consistency and to respond to teacher and parent input. Also, it developed a code of conduct for the participants. A survey at the end of the school year showed that the changes were well-received. The program has generated high participation at the elementary level, but has been less successful at engaging At-Risk and English Language Learning (ELL) families, and Hadley families.
NEXT STEPS
Beginning in fall of 2006, the District will begin using the Scorecard to monitor progress and CIT will update the content regularly. The District will address areas for improvement in Science instruction and fine-tune the ways in which it assesses curricular and instructional programs. The District will work to make the WatchD.O.G.S. program more accessible to At-Risk and ELL families and more engaging to Hadley families, and will continue to work on consistent program management across all five schools.
SHANNON CROSS NAMED LINCOLN PRINCIPAL
The BOE has approved Shannon Cross as Principal of Abraham Lincoln Elementary School. Cross is currently Assistant Principal at Lincoln and will replace Laurie Campbell, who will be the District’s Director of Human Resources. The BOE also accepted the resignations of Assistant Superintendent for Finance, Facilities and Operations Kris Monn who leaves to take a similar position in Oswego District 308, and Hadley Assistant Principal Ryan Anderson, who leaves to become a principal in Elgin Unit District 46. Nancy Mogk has been hired as Administrative Assistant in the Central Services office.
NEXT STEPS
Replacements for Monn and Anderson have not been named. Assistant Business Manager Phyllis Hanna will assume Monn’s former role as District Treasurer, an unpaid appointment required by state law.
OTHER MATTERS
The BOE approved changing the November, 2006 School Improvement Day (SIP Day) to Nov. 17. The BOE approved an agreement to allow Sportlink, Inc. to offer sports physicals onsite at Hadley as a convenience for students wishing to participate in extra curricular sports. Parents who choose this option would pay Sportlink directly. The BOE also deferred completion of a project to install an ADA lift at Abraham Lincoln School. While not required for ADA compliance, the lift would enhance access to the west wing of the building for disabled students. Faced with possible unanticipated health insurance costs, the BOE felt that deferring this approximately $183,000 project would provide an additional cushion, should it be needed. Once the BOE receives firm health costs, it can decide whether to proceed with or cancel the project.
GOODBYES
In Superintendent Dr. Jack Barshinger’s last BOE meeting before he leaves D41 to become Superintendent in Batavia, Board President John Vivoda remarked on the improvements in the District, specifically in Special Education, staff evaluation processes and management of overcrowding. He told Barshinger, “You’ve left us much better than you found us. Thank you.” Vivoda also thanked Dr. John Correll, Michael Fustin and Kris Monn, who are also leaving D41 for other positions. A number of parents and staff members in the audience thanked Barshinger for his accessibility, collaborative methods, openness, positive attitude, hard work and commitment to systemic improvement.
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