Wilmette Public Schools District 39 Mikaelian Education Center 615 Locust Road Wilmette, IL 60091 847-256-2450 www.wilmette39.org

Below are highlights from the District 39 Board of Education meeting on March 19, 2012.

The materials from this meeting can be found here.

Announcements

• Dr. Lechner introduced Romona School principal Heather Glowacki who presented the 2^nd and 3^rd graders that took 1^st place in the state chess tournament.
• Dr. Lechner introduced Dr. Dave Palzet who highlighted academic and athletic achievements of some WJHS students.
• Mrs. Horowitz presented an update on the Mandarin Chinese program. Approximately 50 incoming 5^th grade students indicated Mandarin as their first choice, so there is enough interest to offer two sections of Mandarin next year. With a larger than normal enrollment in 5^th grade for next year, the District needed to add two sections of World Language in any case. We are proceeding with planning and have recently visited five Mandarin classrooms in area middle schools and junior highs in addition to New Trier.   We’re assembling information for curriculum development. The Mandarin position is being advertised and we’ve enlisted the support of New Trier. We are optimistic that we will be able to staff and launch a program for Fall 2012.

Information items

• Dr. Lechner presented the administration’s recommendation to the Board that student transportation be outsourcedto North Shore Transit. His key points follow.
  • Outsourcing was considered at the suggestion of an independent group of parents prior to the referendum.
  • Difficulty in staffing and maintaining drivers has been an ongoing problem. The District has operated a “bare-bones” system for over two years.
  • The District’s aging bus fleet requires maintenance or costly replacement.
  • Only one company was able to meet all District requirements and submit a bid – North Shore Transit.
  • Safety is a primary concern. North Shore provides a robust safety-training program that far exceeds the District’s resources available for training.
  • We expect the routes and bus procedures to continue as they are now.
  • Parents will still have access to a D39 bus coordinator to assist with bus matters. They will also have access to a coordinator from North Shore Transit with longer hours of availability than we currently provide.
  • We will begin to develop a transition plan to assure a seamless and safe transfer of services.
  • Dr. LeRoy reviewed the analysis that was performed leading to this recommendation. The report to the Board included comparison of costs and details of staffing implications. Overall, the District will save more than $800,000 over three years.
• Dr. Thrasher presented a report on English Language Learners in District 39.
• Dr. Clauson presented First Read Revised Board Policy 2:100 Conflict of Interest.
• Dr. Lechner introduced the report recommending approval of bids for science facilities and renovation of WJHS. This has been a multi-year process with input from the community, science teachers, and staff. These bids present a cost effective solution to a longstanding problem. The current science labs out outdated, some being more than 50 years old. The project will address the safety and curricular needs for science at WJHS. It includes the addition of three new science classrooms and renovation of three existing science classrooms.

Board Action

• Approved the Transportation Bid from North Shore Transit.
• Approved the School Year 2012-2013 Student Fee Schedule.
• Approved the Release of Part-Time and Selected First, Second and Third Year Teachers; Release of Full-Time Fourth-Year, Non-Tenured Teachers.
• Approved Second and Final Reading of Revised Section 4 Business and Non-Instructional Operations Policies; Deletion of Selected Section 4 Business and Non-Instructional Operations Policies; Second and Final Reading of Revised Section 7 Student Policy
• Approved as First Reading Revised Board Policy 2:100 Conflict of Interest
• Approved WJHS Science Facility and Renovation Bid