The District 58 Board of Education held its regular business meeting on Monday, Feb. 12, 2018. View the agenda and presentation links. Meeting audio will be posted here when available.
Highlights from the meeting include:
Lester School Addition
The Board voted to award construction bids and approve a bond sale to fund the Lester addition project as well as several additional facility projects at other schools. Their approval on these two important measures paves the way for Lester construction to begin this spring, with completion in time for the 2018-19 school year.
“We are thrilled that the Lester project will move forward this spring,” said Superintendent Dr. Kari Cremascoli. “This project will add the space necessary to meet the needs of all Lester students. I am proud of the District staff who worked hard to address Lester’s space limitations while remaining fiscally responsible.”
Curriculum Workshop Preview
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction Justin Sisul shared that the Feb. 26 Curriculum Workshop will review winter MAP data trends and spring PARCC testing preparations. In addition, teachers and administrators will lead short roundtable presentations on student learning in different curricular areas, progress reporting and parent-teacher communication. The workshop will conclude with an extended Reception of Visitors.
View the Curriculum Workshop Preview presentation.
Superintendent’s Report
Superintendent Dr. Kari Cremascoli provided the Board information on last week’s parent-teacher conferences, Board member PTA visits, the upcoming Curriculum Workshop, the PARCC assessment, the draft 2018-19 school calendar, upcoming Education Foundation events and the District’s Vision 58 strategic planning efforts.
Dr. Cremascoli said that more than 2,000 people took the Vision 58 survey and about 600 people attended a forum or focus group.
“I want to thank everyone who participated in Vision 58. I am confident we will end up with a plan that really reflects what our community wants to move our District forward,” she said.
Business Report
Assistant Superintendent for Business/Chief School Business Official David Bein provided the Business Report to the Board. Key highlights include:
- The December consumer price index (CPI) was 2.1. Barring legislative action, this means the District may increase revenues by up to 2.1 percent in 2018.
- The State’s Every Student Succeeds Act requires school districts to begin reporting district-wide expenditure data at the school level next school year. The Business Office is working hard to implement this new practice.
- The Board will be asked to approve 14 construction bid packages for the proposed Lester project this evening. Bein reminded the Board that the 14 bid packages are not inclusive of all associated Lester project costs. The project also includes several other expenditures, such as architect fees, testing fees, permitting and others. The total cost of the project is $2.24 million.
- Business Secretary Sheila Pollock-Bowlin will retire next month. Bein thanked Pollock-Bowlin for over 20 years of service as a “dedicated, diligent, steady presence in the Business Office.”
Board Committee Reports
Policy Committee: Member Greg Harris reported that the committee met Jan. 16 and agreed to revise Policies #1150 and #8244 to omit the second Reception of Visitors from the agenda. This revision will give visitors the opportunity to comment on non-agenda items earlier in the meeting. The Board tested this new practice this fall, and it received positive feedback. The Board moved to approve the first reading on the revised Policies #1150 and #8244 and place them on the March board agenda for final approval.
Legislative Committee: Member Beth Taylor reported that the committee met Jan. 31 to prepare for the Feb. 9 Legislative Breakfast. Unfortunately, the Breakfast was canceled due to inclement weather. The Committee will aim to reschedule the event, if an agreeable date can be arranged.
Meet & Confer Strategic Plan Committee: Member Elizabeth Sigale shared that this committee’s planning team met today with HYA, the strategic plan facilitators. HYA summarized the community’s feedback and brainstormed with the planning team to determine big ideas that will help shape the Strategic Plan. HYA hopes to present a draft Strategic Plan at the March Board meeting.
District 58’s Financial Advisory Committee has not met since the last Board meeting.
Whittier Spotlight
Whittier Student Council Members Charleigh, Ethan, Corin and Miles shared that Whittier has hosted several Spirit Days and supported many local charities this year, including the American Red Cross, Ronald McDonald House and Bernie’s Book Bank. Adam Hill, Whittier’s PTA co-president, reported that the PTA culminated its three-year playground renovation project this summer and is working to rebuild its operating budget.
Principal Michael Krugman shared that Whittier has enhanced its school communications and received positive feedback regarding this improvement. The school has also launched new innovative activities, such as the EXPLORE! program.
During the meeting, the Board also:
- Recognized students who participated in the Science Fair.
- Approved minutes from the Jan. 8 Regular Meeting.
- Approved all items on the Consent Agenda as presented in the packet materials. This included the appointment of Kevin Barto to the director of buildings and grounds position.
- Approved a resolution to loan $2 million from the working cash fund to the transportation fund.
- Approved student fees for the 2018-19 school year and reviewed fee structures at surrounding districts for comparison purposes.
Upcoming Events:
- Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 7 a.m.: Policy Committee Meeting at the ASC
- Monday, Feb. 26 at 6:15 p.m.: Staff Meet & Greet with the Board at Henry Puffer
- Monday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m.: Curriculum Workshop at Henry Puffer
- Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 7 a.m.: Legislative Committee Meeting at the ASC
- Thursday, March 1 at 7 a.m.: Meet & Confer Strategic Plan Committee Meeting at Longfellow
- Monday, March 12 at 7 p.m.: Regular Board Meeting at Downers Grove Village Hall
District 58 Board of Education members are: Doug Purcell, president; Elizabeth Sigale, vice president; Greg Harris, Darren Hughes, John Miller, Jill Samonte and Beth Taylor, with Dr. Kari Cremascoli, superintendent; and Melissa Jerves, board secretary.