February 9, 2015 Board Briefs

Board Briefs
District 109 Board of Education Meeting | February 9, 2015
Recognition: Caruso Teacher Kim Goldberg, NBCT
Caruso 8th grade social studies teacher Kim Goldberg achieved the high and impressive status of becoming a
National Board Certified Teacher. NBCT status is an achievement that requires proof of the highest level of
content knowledge; self reflection, review and analysis; and proven, documented teaching ability. It is the
profession’s mark of accomplished teaching and is:
• Built upon National Board Standards and the Five Core Propositions
• Rigorous and performance-based
• Based on multiple measures
• Peer-reviewed
• Voluntary
• Valid and reliable
Research shows that the students of Board-certified teachers learn more than students in other classrooms – and
we are thankful in District 109 that Mrs. Goldberg and 11 other teachers in the District have chosen this route.
Forty-four other teachers currently are pursuing NBCT (the largest cohort from one District outside of Chicago
Public Schools).
Teacher Presentation – Shepard Middle School
“Chromebook EdCamp and Passion Time”
Shepard 8th grade teachers Dawn Saarva, Todd Hyde, Dave Komie and
Samantha Brown gave a presentation that shared Shepard students’
experiences at Chromebook EdCamp and with Genius Hour. Dawn
Saarva said that the focus of these two initiatives is on allowing
students to have choice, and to encourage them be leaders. Students
applied to lead sessions for Chromebook EdCamp, and offered a range
of topics to their peers. A Shepard student who presented at EdCamp shared her experiences teaching peers.
“Passion Time” allows students an hour a week to pursue learning and activities that they are passionate about.
Samantha Brown showed the schedule that staff developed for Passion Time days. One student shared that he is
creating a website about Northwestern University; other students work on videos, blogs, etc. Shepard holds
Passion Time for one hour every week.
Superintendent’s Report
Superintendent Mike Lubelfeld presented highlights of the meetings major presentations on the middle school
changes and full-day kindergarten. He emphasized that contrary to rumors, general music in the middle schools is
not being disbanded. He also described Vision 20/20, a long-range blueprint for improving public education in
Illinois. It came from a coalition of the Illinois Association of School Administrators, the Illinois Principals
Association, the Illinois Association of School Business Officials,
the Illinois Association of School Boards, the Superintendents’
Commission for the Study of Demographics and Diversity, and the
Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools.
Opening Community Participation
In the first community participation period, which is an opportunity for community members to address agenda
items, Michael Brown, parent, said that he applauds the work of the administration and members of the middle
school facilitation team for the students. He said their work on behalf of students in arts programs is critical to the
future of students who pursue fine arts in high school and in their careers. He also shared that Charisma placed 2nd
in a recent statewide competition.
Items Presented for Information
(Note: Most information items are presented at one board meeting, and then, after having an opportunity for
review, the Board acts upon them at the next month’s meeting.)
Middle School Facilitation Committee Recommendations.
The facilitation committee, including middle school and
District administrators, and teachers and staff from all grades
and subject areas, reviewed changes in place this school year,
and made their recommendations for further changes in the
middle school schedule and structure.
• STEM: The Board will review bids for renovation of
more science labs at the March 9 Board meeting.
• Social/Emotional: Staff will continue to review Rachel’s
Challenge, and are working on developing innovation
time this year. Next year, sixth graders will take a fourweek “transition to middle school” course; eighth graders will have a 2-week program focusing on transition
to high school.
• Gifted/Tracking: The schools are implementing more rigorous curricula in science to match the new
facilities. World Language will further align to Deerfield High School programs.
• Fine Arts: The major recommendation is to integrate band and orchestra into the school day. Looking ahead,
the hope is to integrate chorus in the day as well and to revise the general music program. The committee
recommends a review of fine arts facilities.
• Schedule Changes/Exploratory: The committee recommends that students still have four CORE and three
Encore classes, but that electives change to semester courses (two electives each semester). Students in
band/orchestra will take two electives a year, so that they will take all four electives over the course of sixth
and seventh grades. Eighth grade students will have choice in electives. The schedule recommendation is an
“A/B Plan.”
• Board members asked about whether students in band/orchestra who also have to take general music might
miss out on STEM and CMA opportunities, and expressed concern about band/orchestra students losing out
in areas where the District has made a large commitment. Dr. Lubelfeld expressed that there is no perfect
answer, but these recommendations support two important wishes expressed by the members of the
Superintendent’s Task Force on Middle Level Education, and in surveys: that band/orchestra be brought into
the school day and that eighth graders have choice.
• World Language: The committee reinforced their commitment to a minimum class size of 15. The
department will implement a more rigorous curriculum and integrate technology.
FOIA: The District responded to one Freedom of Information Act request.
Five-Year Financial Projections: Assistant Superintendent for Finance & Operations Greg Himebaugh
highlighted a few key areas:
• The District is spending down reserves in the education fund looking ahead to 2020.
• As of 2019-20, there will be no further debt to pay off in the debt service fund.
• Assumes stable staffing, but declining enrollment, so fewer students per staff (down to a ration of 10-1).
• Mr. Himebaugh believes there is a 5-7 year period of declining enrollment (like our peer districts).
• The projections show two years of deficits.
Board Briefs | District 109 Board of Education Meeting | February 9, 2015
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Update on Full-Day Kindergarten: Dr. Lubelfeld presented an
update on the consideration of whether the District moves to fullday kindergarten in 2015-2016, and whether it is a free or feebased program. He shared benefits of full-day kindergarten, and
painted a picture of what a full day would look like. He laid out
the assumptions on which the calculations of costs and financial
impacts are based. One of the assumptions is that in three to four
years, there likely will be a need to build one classroom on to
each building. The Board members reiterated their support for
offering full-day kindergarten next year. Board Member Kluge
shared his support of a temporary tuition in order to ensure the program is sustained. Board President Steve
Schwartz agreed with Mr. Kluge, based on the declining reserves and possible deficits shown in five-year
projections. Board Member Ron Worth asked about the policy of providing fee tuition. Mr. Himebaugh explained
that the District would use their process of fee waivers to determine free tuition for full-day kindergarten; he said
that while the Board has not authorized a sliding scale policy, the District does allow flexible payment plans.
Board Member Sari Montgomery said that she would love to offer free, full-day kindergarten, but she is
concerned about the financial implications, including a likely cost shift of pensions by the state to local school
districts. The additional cost is not in the budget in this point, so she would support a temporary fee. Board
members Dr. Worth and Nick Begley also expressed support of offering full-day kindergarten at a fee. Dr.
Lubelfeld will bring forth a recommendation for action at the March 9, 2015 meeting.
Job Description – Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources: This change in title (from Executive
Director for Human Resources) reflects the change of requiring a superintendent’s endorsement, as well as
changes in legislation that impact the duties of the position.
Action Items
The Board approved:
• Minutes of the regular meeting on January 26, 2015.
• The consent agenda, including personnel (resignation and retirements, leaves of absence, employment of
staff); and bills for payment.
• Job Description of the Executive Director of Technology.
• Vision 20/20 Resolution.
Committee Reports
Policy: The Policy committee will meet on February 19 to discuss District fees.
EDC: The committee met to discuss administrative contracts on March 9.
Finance: Met to discuss projections on February 9.
Facility Development Committee: Met February 9 to discuss middle school science labs; they will meet again
March 4, when bid results for science labs will be reviewed. The FDC will bring to the Board a request for
approval of about $50,000 for replacing a portion of the roof on the District Center.
Board Briefs | District 109 Board of Education Meeting | February 9, 2015
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Closing Community Participation
In this opportunity for community participation, community members can address the Board on any subject.
(Opening community participation is limited to items published on the agenda.) The following community
members commented:
• Sarah Mason, senior at Deerfield High School, believes that general music education and art should be
required in middle school. They give a break in the day to use a different part of your brain, and those
experiences shape the student as a person.
• Sari Mellman, parent of a child at Wilmot and a preschooler and baby, asked about the number of families
who are in enrichment. She supports full-day kindergarten. She asked about offering a lower fee over a longer
period of time. She is concerned about the financial hardship, but does not want to see an increase in taxes.
She feels that $3,000 is a steep cost.
• Liz Hafner, incoming kindergarten parent, expressed that she also would like to see a lower fee spread over a
longer period. She asked about the curriculum in the half-day program compared to a full-day program and
whether students in the half-day option would be disadvantaged.
• Lisa Schick, parent of current and future District 109 students, asked about taking money out of the reserves
and then replenishing the reserves by charging the full-day kindergarten fee over a longer period of time. She
also brought a request from her children asking if they could take fewer tests; she expressed that they are
taking standardized tests more frequently. She also referred to a previous discussion about CMA labs in
libraries in the elementary schools and wondered about the future of books in libraries.
• Dana Atlas, parent of a kindergarten student and future District 109 student, said she felt that there would be
an influx of families who need financial assistance, and asked how it would be funded. Steve Schwartz said
that it would come from operating funds. She expressed concern about families who would have to make the
financial choice to forego full-day kindergarten because of finances. She asked about the idea of a
kindergarten center.
• Ken Ashman, parent of middle school students, asked about reaching out to corporate partners to support fullday programs financially. He expressed concern about the equity of charging a fee temporarily, especially if
there proves to be no need for construction.
• Julie Gold, parent of current and future District 109 students, supports full-day kindergarten, and said that she
hopes that play-based and social-emotional learning will be incorporated.
• Melissa Zabel, parent of a current and future South Park students, is a proponent of full-day kindergarten and
understands that a fee is likely necessary but hopes that it is a reasonable fee. She does not want to see an
increase in taxes.
• Patricia Reese, parent and Caucus member, said that general music is different than band and orchestra. She
encouraged the schools to think outside of the box with the use of the STEM and CMA labs and open them up
before and after school. She said that the proposed costs of full day are a bargain compared to other local
options. She encouraged the Board and administration to look at a sliding scale. She wondered if there is a
need for construction of new classrooms if enrollment is going down. She said that she is not a proponent of
Rachel’s Challenge and is encouraged that there may be other options. She asked about the move to a more
rigorous world language curriculum and the use of technology in world language.
• Donna Osborn, parent of current and former District 109 students, expressed concerns about the families that
don’t qualify for assistance but still have financial stresses. She believes that full-day kindergarten is good for
kids. She does not want to see increased taxes. She likes to see that the middle schools will offer choice.
Board/Superintendent/Other
Katie Bittner asked about making up the snow day; Dr. Lubelfeld explained that we have used one emergency
day, so that the last day of school currently is June 12, 2015, assuming no more emergency days are used.
The complete minutes for this meeting will be posted after they are approved by the Board at the next meeting, on
Monday, March 9, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. at the District Center.
There also will be a regular meeting on Monday, March 23, 2015.
Board Briefs | District 109 Board of Education Meeting | February 9, 2015
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