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Board Meeting Highlights - May 18, 2015

Below are highlights from the District 39 Board of Education meeting on May 18, 2015.

Board Committee Reports

Facilities Development

Kimberly Alcantara reported– Discussion covered work for next year including interior classroom doors at WJHS and space availability for pilot of on site enrichment program. Next meeting is June 11.

Insurance advisory

Mark Steen reported– Premium increase for medical insurance will be 5.4%. 

Educational Foundation

John Flanagin reported. There was a good turn out for Rack*it bike tour and the Distinguished Citizen event was a big success. Annual meeting is May 27.

WCSEA

Tracy Kearney reported – Tentative WCSEA budget was adopted. Next meeting is November 16.

School Finance 

John Flanagin reported – Discussion included costs related to kindergarten enrichment and the self-insurance program for iPads. State funding was discussed; 75% of the state’s commitment has been received, but it is uncertain when the remaining payment will come.  Next meeting is June 8th.

Legislative Update

Kimberly Alcantara reported. The State Supreme Court has found Illinois’ pension reform bill unconstitutional. Illinois State Board of Education is discussing alternatives for apportioning General State Aid (GSA). There is a proposed formula that will be voted on June 17 that could reduce GSA to D39 by $500,000. In addition, there is a bill currently in the house would freeze property tax extensions for all taxing bodies in Illinois. 

Announcements from the Superintendent 

• Student Recognition
  • Jeff Yasamoto provided an update on another successful year for D39 chess teams. Last fall, the 3rd, 5th, and 6th grade teams all took first place in the All-Grade State Championships. In spring, at the Illinois K-8 State Championships, D39’s K-1 and 2-3rd grade teams both placed in the top 10 and the 6-8th grade team took 1st place.
  • Teacher Allison Eakley introduced Science Olympiad students. This was the second year for the Science Olympiad program, sponsored by the D39 Educational Foundation. In regional competition, the Varsity team took 3rd place and earned medals in 15 of 23 events.  At State competition, they took 9th out of 49 teams, earning medals in 6 events. 
  • Teacher Anne Jacobs presented the Math Counts Team. In regional competition WJHS students earned 2nd place out of 31 teams. Seventh grader Jesse Yang was the overall winner of the competition, placing 1st as an individual. At the State level WJHS placed 10th as a team. 
• New District 39 Administrators

  Several new administrators were introduced:

  Three new assistant principals were announced:

  • Aaron Dubnow will be the new 5th grade assistant principal at HMS. He is currently an 8th grade science teacher at WJHS. He has been an active track coach, serving in D39 for 7 years.
  • Chimille Dillard will become the 6th grade assistant principal at HMS. Chimille has spent 15 years at Homewood Flossmoor High School where she taught science and served as department chair.
  • Eric Resis will be the new 8th grade assistant principal at WJHS. Eric has been President of the WEA. He has served in D39 since 2001, currently working as a 6th grade teacher.

• PARCC testing has been completed. Results are expected in early fall. ISBE has already indicated that among expected revisions is the likelihood of reducing PARCC to a single testing window next spring.
• Notifications continue to parents about the June 12th bus registration deadline. Parents need to register by this date in order to avoid a late fee. 
• D39 continues to monitor available space for Kindergarten Enrichment in D39. A future pilot of an optional kindergarten enrichment program is under consideration.

Information items 

• CRC report – CRC president Julie Andrianopoli, vice president Amanda Doblin, and member Matthew Pietrafetta presented this year’s report, Cultivating Growth Minded, Resilient Students. The Superintendent’s response will be presented in August.
• Mr. Denenberg – K-4 Keyboarding Materials – An updated keyboarding program, Typing Club, has been selected. Implementation will happen in 2015-16.
• Ms. Buscemi – Fiscal Year 2016 District 39 Tentative Budget – As required by law, the Board approves the tentative budget and schedules a public hearing, which will take place on Monday, August 24, 2015.
• Dr. Palzet – 5-8 Scheduling Committee – The initial work of the committee was presented. 

Board Action

The Consent Agenda was approved including the following:

• Personnel Report dated May 18, 2015
• Fiscal Year 2016 District 39 Tentative Budget and Public Hearing
• Fiscal Year 2016 WCSEA Tentative Budget and Public Hearing
• 2015-16 Administrators Contracts
• WEA Letter of Agreement

The next meeting of the District 39 Board of Education will be on 

Monday, June 22, 2015 at 7:00 PM at the Mikaelian Education Center.

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