Below are highlights from the District 39 Board of Education meeting on May 20, 2013

The materials from this meeting can be found here.

Information Items

• Dr. Lechner announced that the PTO/As from all six schools together raised $42,500 to go toward needed technology in the new WJHS science facility. This will help provide laptops and SmartBoards in every classroom. This builds on last month’s donation from the D39 Educational Foundation of $55,000 to support innovation in the new facility.

• Dr. Lechner highlighted the District’s annual Reflections event honoring retirees and staff reaching career milestones of 5, 15, and 25 years of service. This year’s Reflections had record attendance, with over 200 staff turning out to help honor their colleagues.

• Dr. Lechner noted some of the enriching student activities happening in the K-4 buildings.
  • Central’s Mileage Club began three years ago to help students to develop lifetime fitness habits. It is an optional fitness activity where students walk/run on the playground during lunch-recess, getting credit for each ¼ mile lap completed. 
  • Romona hosted its WELL garden open house for students and parents. Activities included creating animal tracks, digging for worms, making bird feeders, tasting different types of honey, and sampling a variety of produce that will be grown in the garden this summer.
  • McKenzie recently had its third grade Heritage Day, the culminating celebration of students’ study of immigration and its role in local history. Families viewed students’ heritage projects, heard a storyteller telling tales from different lands, and learned dances from various cultures. Third graders ended the event by presenting a music program for the parents.
  • Harper will hold it's annual Fun Fair this week. Student Council representatives run the games that other Harper students play. Instead of earning prizes, proceeds from the event benefit Connections for the Homeless in Evanston. Earlier this month, Harper School was honored with a Community Service Award from Connections.  Harper works through Connections as one venue to teach students social responsibility.

• Dr. Lechner introduced the CRC report, which is presented each May to the Board of Education. The CRC is the driving force for D39’s Strategic Plan. They set the vision a few years ago as they launched CONNECTED. Each subsequent year they have completed deeper research supporting the CONNECTED Strategic Plan. The final product is a meaningful tool as the District sets goals for the 2013-14 school year. CRC President Keith Fishe presented this year’s report, Technology and Learning Environments.

• Dr. Lechner introduced the report on a Proposed Highcrest iPad Pilot, noting that this is one recommendation from the CRC report that the District is already planning to pursue. The CRC worked with Technology Director Adam Denenberg to prepare for a launch in the fall. Tonight is the first part of this report, with the remaining information coming at the June meeting. Mr. Denenberg presented the report.

• Dr. Lechner introduced the budget report. Over the past few months the Board has reviewed individual parts of the budget. The entire budget was reviewed at this meeting. The Board’s approval of the tentative budget allows the District to put the draft budget on public display until August when a public hearing is held before final budget approval. Dr. LeRoy presented the Fiscal Year 2014 District 39 Tentative Budget.

• Dr. Lechner introduced the Wilmette Community Special Education Agreement (WCSEA) tentative budget. Wilmette Public School District 39 and Avoca School District 37 are joint partners in the WCSEA, and District 39 continues to serve as the fiscal agent. The Illinois State Board of Education requires WCSEA to keep separate budget records and to follow the same Illinois State budget guidelines. The tentative WCSEA budget was presented at this meeting. The Board’s approval of the tentative budget allows the District to put the draft budget on public display until August when a public hearing is held before final budget approval. Dr. LeRoy presented the Fiscal Year 2014 WCSEA Tentative Budget.

Board Action

• Approved the Personnel Report.
• Adopted the FY 2014 District 39 Tentative Budget and Approved a Public Budget Hearing.
• Adopted the FY2014 WCSEA Tentative Budget and Approved a Public Budget Hearing.
• Approved the Administrators’ 2013-2014 Contractual Salary with Aggregate Increases Indexed to Consumer Price Index.