March 12, 2015 at 7:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Description:  The Superintendent will provide the Board with draft updates of the Strategic Plan goals and Superintendent Performance goals.  Based on Board input, a full report will be provided to the Board in April.

Description:  At this point the Superintendent is prepared to recommend the Board of Education approve the alignment of the daily schedules for both Ide Elementary School and Prairieview Elementary School beginning with the 2015-16 school year.

A summary report is attached for the Board's review.  The final recommendation will be brought back to the Board in April for their consideration.

Description:  Common assessments, both formative and summative, are an integral part of the professional learning communities model.  Teachers in each of our schools are currently working to develop a shared vision about the role common assessments have on instructional practices and student achievement.  Principal Scott Lazar will provide a brief overview on common assessments to the Board.

Description:  As the District moves forward with an increased focus on using data derived from a variety of sources, there is a need to invest in a data warehouse system.  The purpose of a data warehouse is provide staff with a single source to collect and deeply analyze student achievement data from a variety of assessments, thereby giving them the ability to make necessary adjustments to instructional practices for individual and groups of students.  A data warehouse will enable teachers to determine the extent to which students are mastering the identified priority standards for each grade level.

Description:  None this month

Description:  Attached are the Financial Reports for your review.

Description:  The Staffing Plan for 2015-16 is presented for the Board's approval.  The plan is essentially the same as 2014-15, with the possibility of adding a second instructional coach still to be determined.  For planning purposes, enrollment and staffing projections for the 2016-17 school year are also provided.

Recommendation:  The Superintendent recommends the Board approve the 2015-16 staffing plan as presented.

Description:  Resignations
Ashley Caliendo - BACC

Retirement
None

Transfers  
None

New Hires  
None

FMLA
Joy DeFors:  leave began 12/1/14 - expected return 3/11/15 - Amy Burrows Sub
Gina Hendron:  leave began 12/10/14 - expected return 3/24/15 - Lauren Kurey sub
Joanna Bergmann (pending) 3/23/15 - 

Positions Open: 
Speech Pathologist (1.0 FTE)
IMC Specialist  (1.0 FTE)
School Psychologist (0.6 FTE)
Instructional Coach (1.0 FTE)
Substitute Bus Driver
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 August 13, 2013 closed session minutes.

Description:  This past winter the District interviewed three different vendors to provide photography and yearbook services.  It is recommended that the Board approve Lifetouch as the photography and yearbook vendor for the 2015-16 school year. 

Description:  The following donation requests were made to the PTO by the Elizabeth Ide staff for purchase of materials aligned to the Common Core.   

2nd Grade - $507.99
The Intervention Team - $494.20
Visual Arts - $124.60 and $499.19
IMC - $135.84

The PTO graciously approved these requests.

Description:  Attached is a SASED Resolution for the dismissal of non-certified staff and non-renewal of first through third year probationary administrator.  The SASED Board of Control has already taken action on these issues and we will affirm their action as an administrative agent.

I recommend that the Board of Education approve the SASED dismissal resolutions as presented.

Description:  Recommendation:  The Superintendent recommends that Consent Agenda Items A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, and I be approved as presented.

Description:  This is an opportunity for Committee Chairs and individual Board members to update the entire Board on any pertinent committee activities. 

Description:  As a follow up to the previous Committee of the Whole meeting, a sample Working Cash Abatement Resolution is provided for the Board's review.  This type of resolution is a vehicle by which the Board may accomplish their goal of appropriating Working Cash funds to targeted projects that impact student learning.  If acceptable, the Superintendent will bring a Working Cash Abatement Resolution back to the Board in April for the purpose of transferring $305,000 from the Working Cash Fund to the Education Fund for the purchase of student devices in time for the 2015-16 school year.

Description:  In response to the Board's desire to revise policies related to the District's fund balances, revisions to Board Policy 4:10 and 4:20 are presented for the Board's review.  Both sets of policy revisions have been vetted by the school district's attorney.

Description:  The Gifted Task Force is prepared to report their recommendations to the Board of Education on March 19.  The superintendent recommends that the Gifted Task Force report be the only item on the agenda that evening to provide time for appropriate discussion.

Description:  Per the Board discussion at the February 2015 Committee of the Whole meeting, it is being recommended that that student fees structure remain the same for the 2015-16 school year, with the understanding that the Board will conduct a full review of all student fees during the 2015-16 school year.  A historical breakdown of student fees is attached as a reference.

Recommendation:  The Superintendent recommends that the Board approve the same 2014-15 student registration fee structure for the upcoming 2015-16 school year.

Description:  Based on Board discussion at the meeting, it is recommended that the Board approve the new Center Cass 66 logo as presented.

Description:  As a service to member districts, SASED bids transportation contracts for students with special needs that require out of district services.  Attached are the bid documents and recommendation for SASED transportation services.

Recommendation:  The Superintendent recommends that the District contract with Septran for the transportation of students requiring special education services outside the District as presented.

Description:  Based on the use of three Emergency Days so far in 2014-15, there has been discussion about whether or not the date of 8th grade Graduation will also shift accordingly.  Prior to last year the District has not moved the date of graduation, however in 2013-14 the date was moved due to the number of  Emergency Days used.  Since shifting the date of 8th Grade Graduation last year, there has been a desire to not do so in the future.  While it is prudent to wait until the April Board meeting to officially set the last day of school for all students, it is requested that the Board give a formal directive with respect to setting the date for 8th Grade Graduation.  A copy of the revised 2014-15 calendar that includes the Emergency Days (Jan. 7, 8, and Feb. 2) used so far this year is attached

Recommendation:  The Superintendent recommends that the Board of Education provide a formal directive with respect to setting the last day of school and whether or not 8th Grade Graduation will shift accordingly. 

Description:  The Board may 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 negotiating matters 5ILCS120/2(c)(2).

Superintendent Evaluation/Performance Goals
Collective Bargaining process with CCEA