August 14, 2014 at 7:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Description:  As an extension of the work completed by the Strategic Planning Team during the 2013-14 school year and in an effort to align school-level with district-level initiatives, the entire Administrative Team is participating in Professional Learning Communities (PLC) training this summer.  We intend to use the PLC model to support aligned improvement efforts across the district.  The Board will receive a presentation regarding common terms and expectations for PLCs at the Aug. 14 meeting.

Description:  The Administrative Leadership Team is creating a draft of the District Dashboard and Action Plan for the Board's review.  This will be shared with the Board at the Aug. 14 meeting and feedback is welcomed.

Description:  In an effort to publicize our Strategic Plan, I will be working with the Communications Committee to develop a Community Night on Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 7:00 p.m.  I envision the evening to consist of an overview of the five goals of the Strategic Plan, the process used to create the plan, and breakout sessions with detailed information about various data points and trends. 

Description:  The new school year will begin with two (2) institute days scheduled for August 25th and August 26th. A copy of the schedule of events for those two (2) days is attached. Board of Education members are welcome to join us for activities on the morning of August 25.

Description:  The tentative budget was posted to the District website on August 7, 2014.  A copy is also included in this Board Book.  In preparation for the annual budget hearing in September, I will schedule a Finance Committee meeting prior to the September 11th Board meeting. This will provide an opportunity to address any Board questions about the tentative budget.

Description:  The City of Darien and the Darien Committee for Intergovernmental Coordination is organizing a 2014 Town Hall meeting on Thursday, September 25, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. at Chuck's  Southern Comfort Cafe.  They are looking for Presidents of local Boards of Education to serve on a panel for the forum and District 66 will also host an informational table.  Additional details are forthcoming from the City of Darien.  

Description:  On Saturday, September 13, 2014, the TEAM 66 Education Foundation is hosting Center Cass Community Day at the Center Cass District #66 Campus from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.  This event will be in conjunction with the 2nd Annual Lakeview 5K.  

The day is open to the public and surrounding community.  This is an opportunity for parents, students, residents, businesses and village officials to come together to meet each other and learn about all that we have to offer to everyone within our neighborhoods. 

The event will include informational tables hosted by various non profit and government groups serving our community, school tours and information and many fun activities for members of community of all ages.  As we continue to plan the events of the day our website, www.TEAM66ef.org, will be updated with more details. 
 
TEAM 66 Education Foundation was founded in 2013 by a group of caring and committed citizens with a vision to enhance community support and to expand resources that enrich teaching, inspire learning, and maximize opportunities for all students at Lakeview Jr. High, Prairieview and Elizabeth
Ide Elementary Schools. The goals of the foundation are to support our teachers through funding innovative teaching grants that will implement new strategies and approaches in teaching, impacting students immediately in the classroom.

Description:  Center Cass School District 66 is very fortunate to have an active and dedicated PTO that helps to support the schools.  The leadership teams of the various groups for the 2014-15 school year are listed below.

Elizabeth Ide School
President - Pam Hines
Vice-President - TBD
Secretary - Jeanne Rerucha
Treasurer - Kara Parker

Prairieview School
President - Michelle Brown
Vice President - Kristy McGinley
Secretary - Sandy Rizzo
Treasurer - Husai Kelliher

Lakeview JHS
President - Suzie Alfini
Vice-President - Stacie Arnold
Secretary - Susan Peloso
Treasurer - Melody Jankowski

Description:  Auditors from Knutte and Associates were here for two (2) days in August to gather information and conduct their annual on-site visit. No issues have been noted and we hope to have the final audit report prior to October 1.

Description:  Attached are the Financial Reports for your review.

Description:  Congratulations to three of our teaching assistants who have been hired as full-time teachers in other districts over the summer.  While we will miss them as part of the Center Cass 66 community, we are excited for their accomplishments!

We also welcome Jessica Everaert who will be our new 6th grade Science Teacher at Lakeview!

Resignations
Tanya Haarth - Teacher Assistant - Elizabeth Ide
Ashley Austin - Teacher Assistant - Elizabeth Ide
Angela Simoncelli - Teacher Assistant - Prairieview
Christopher Beranek - Teacher Assistant - Prairieview
Mary Margaret Marley - Teacher Assistant - Lakeview JHS

Retirement
None

Transfers
None

New Hires
Jessica Everaert - Science Teacher - Lakeview JHS
Kendall Sims - Teaching Assistant - Lakeview JHS
Patricia Anderson - Teaching Assistant - Lakeview JHS

Re-Employment
Kristen Ninni - Curriculum Director

Positions Open:
Teaching Assistants
BACC Assistant
Substitute Teachers

Description:  As per Policy 2:220, after 18-months have passed since being made, the audio recording of a closed meeting is destroyed with Board approval.  Approval is requested to destroy recording of January, 8, 2013.

Description:  Public Act 96-434 (effective 8/13/2009) and Public Act 95-707 require that the attached report be presented at a regular Board meeting, submitted to the DuPage Regional Office of Education and published on the District website.

Description:  I recommend that Consent Agenda Items A, B, C, D, and E be approved.

Description:  A draft of the job description will be presented at the meeting.  It is anticipated that a final job description will be brought to the Board for action at the September meeting.

Description:  A draft of the job description will be presented at the meeting.  It is anticipated that a final job description will be brought to the Board for action at the September meeting.

Description:  Based on the outline of proposed Board Committees presented during the Superintendent's Report this evening, the Board will want an opportunity to sign up for committees and then to assign tasks/projects to the various committees.  Board Membership and frequency of meetings will also be discussed.  This conversation might also become a component of the Aug. 18 Committee of the Whole meeting.

Description:  Ms. Wyse is requesting to take a one-year Sabbatical Leave for educationally related travel during the 2015-16 school year.  A letter detailing her request is included.  Pending Board discussion, this will be brought for Board action at the Sept. 2014 meeting.

Description:  Center Cass School District 66 serves as the administrative agent for SASED, our special education co-op.  In June, the Board of Education reviewed the SASED budget and established August 12, 2014 as the time for a public hearing on this budget. The budget has been on public display for over 30-days as required by law. We will conduct a public hearing on this budget and then request approval of this budget.  The SASED budget must be approved and filed by the end of August.

Recommendation:  The Superintendent recommends that the Board approve the FY 15 SASED Budget as presented.

Description: 
Recommendation:  The Superintendent recommends that the Board approve the CCESP Collective Bargaining Agreement as presented.

Description:  The pay rates for our various substitute categories has not been updated in several years and in light of the recent teaching assistant negotiations, I am proposing a modest increase to the following rates. The new rates have already been accounted for in the FY 15 budget.

Each of the following categories has been challenging to find substitutes in recent years and these pay increases, combined with the positive working climate in each of our schools, should assist the District hire the highest quality substitutes when needed.

Substitute Teacher - From $90 per day and $95 after 20 days (current) increased to $95 per day and $100 after 20 days (proposed beginning 2014-15) 

Substitute Teacher Aide - From $66.50 per day (current) increased to $80 per day (proposed beginning 2014-15) 

Substitute Custodians - From $10.00 per hour (current) increased to $10.50 per hour (proposed beginning 2014-15) 

Substitute Bus Driver - From $14.00 per hour (current) increased to $14.50 per hour (proposed beginning 2014-15) 

Recommendation:  The Superintendent recommends that the Board approve the updated substitute pay rates as presented.

Description:  As a follow up to two other grants that were approved last month, we have one more TEAM 66 teacher grant for the Board's acceptance.  Team 66 Education Foundation has approved a grant in the amount of $2484.00 to Elaine Riadi, Intervention Teacher, to host Literacy Nights at Elizabeth Ide Elementary School.  In order for a grant request to be submitted, approval was required from the building principal and superintendent.  Additionally, this request is aligned with one of the Strategic Plan goal areas.

A total of five grants were originally submitted to the superintendent in May, 2014.  One grant was sent back at that point due to extraordinary costs the District would incur that were not covered by the grant request.  The other four grants were forwarded to TEAM 66 and the attached requests were approved through a "blind" review process conducted by TEAM 66.

Recommendation:  The Superintendent recommends that the Board approve the restricted funds donated by TEAM 66 for the sole purpose of fulfilling the Teacher Grant as presented.

Description:  The Superintendent recommends that the Board enter into executive session for the purpose of the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body 5ILCS120/2 (c) (1) and collective negotiation matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives, or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees 5ILCS120/2 (c) (2).

Description:  Based on discussion at tonight's meeting, the Board will want to set the agenda for the previously scheduled Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday, Aug. 18, 2014.