Glen Ellyn School District 41 Mission: Ignite passion. Inspire excellence. Imagine possibilities.
Board Members: John Vivoda President | John Marcheschi Vice President | Debbie Hoffman Secretary
Kevin Cosgrove | Terra Costa Howard | John Kenwood | Carol McElvain
Following is a summary of the Board of Education (BOE) meeting held on December 19, 2005. Minutes are posted on www.d41.org once approved.
| NO MARCH REFERENDUM: The BOE unanimously agreed that a new school is needed to solve the district’s overcrowding, but was split on the question of when to go to the public for approval; a motion to move toward a March 6, 2006 referendum to fund a new school failed on a five-two vote. The BOE is planning for a November referendum, stating the current plan to build a 900-student school on the existing Hadley Junior High campus is their best solution to overcrowding, a situation that enrollment projections show will get worse. Currently, there are 26 portable classrooms installed district-wide. Among the referendum timing considerations discussed by the BOE were the impact of: • the referendum date on the occupancy date of a new school • being on the ballot with two other referenda (Glenbard District 87 and the Park District, both of which are going to referendum in March) • results of a community survey which showed a price-sensitive constituency • time and cost to properly prepare and inform the public • changing economic factors such as construction costs and interest rates • the appropriateness of spending more money on design plans before the project has been approved by voters The BOE also discussed ways to provide the most precise cost information possible to voters. Elizabeth Hennessey of Williams Blair presented five-year cost projections developed in concert with information from the county and township assessors. Stressing the variability of contributing factors, she explained that using a 6.5% appreciation factor, the cost to the owner of a house worth $600,000 in the first year of a tax hike would pay $78 in the first year and more in successive years, averaging $156 per year over the first five years. She said that projections going out beyond five years would be unreliable. In a letter to the BOE, resident Steven Vondrak requested that the district use a repayment plan that keeps the payments the same each year as well as provide full disclosure of the repayment terms once a decision to go to referendum has been made. Click here for the Williams Blair presentation. |
NEXT STEPS
The BOE stressed its desire to keep the focus on the business of teaching and learning in spite of the time and effort needed to solve the facilities issues and said it intends to make a decision on whether to go for referendum in November well in advance of the deadline for filing a ballot question. It also requested a more detailed program plan from the administration.
TEACHER KIM KRUPICKA EARNS NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION:Hadley gifted teacher Kim Krupicka is the third D41 teacher to earn the prestigious National Board Certification. Hadley Technical Arts teacher Frank Tomaszkiewicz earned certification in 2002 and Hadley teacher Lynn Bruno earned certification in 2004. The National Board Certification program was begun in 1993 and means that a teacher has been judged by peers as one who is accomplished, makes sound professional judgments about student learning, acts effectively on those judgments and demonstrates a high level of knowledge and skills. The rigorous application process involves preparing and presenting a portfolio of evidence of effective teaching including videotaped lessons. District 41 continues to place a high priority and value on professional development for its staff and encourages other teachers to begin the road to national certification. The BOE discussed how the district could encourage more of its teachers to pursue certification.
ENROLLMENT /PORTABLE STATUS:
The monthly enrollment update shows a total of 3573 students, down from the 3606 that the district ended with last year but slightly up from last month. Typically, enrollment climbs throughout the year and the updated demographic study shows a continued upward trend with between 3850 and 4044 students expected by 2012. The district installed 14 portables over the summer for a total of 26 portable classrooms. The installation provided capacity to accommodate current students and expected growth at least through next year with the hope that by the time the portable capacity was exceeded, a new building would be in place. Superintendent Dr. Jack Barshinger said that number of sections per grade is determined the preceding spring using the best information available at the time.
COMMUNITY SURVEY SHOWS VARYING SUPPORT FOR BUILDING PROPOSAL:
A survey of about 401 community members showed overall weak support for a referendum, although there may be sufficient support for D41’s building plans if the price tag for homeowners is under $100; preliminary projections show that the cost for most homeowners would be less than that in the first year of a tax hike but could rise, depending on the financing plan selected. The district received above average ratings for student learning and facility quality. The BOE noted that although the district is financially healthy and well-managed, the survey showed that community members as well as parents are concerned about the district’s financial management and that there is some confusion in the public between District 41 and District 87. Click here to view the survey.
TAX LEVY APPROVED:
The BOE approved the Tax levy following the public hearing. The levy is for 2005 and will be reflected in the 2006 property tax bills. The law requires the levy to be submitted in December, before the district has established its budget and before the figures on which the tax rate is based are available from the County Clerk and the Assessor’s Office; that means the district is estimating what its levy should be. If its estimate is too low, it cannot adjust its levy upward and will lose money that it is entitled to. If its estimate is too high, the County Clerk will adjust the levy to the correct level once the figures are in. To make sure the district receives its legal tax rate, the tentative levy of $34.1 million represents an increase of 15% over last year’s extension; D41 actually expects to receive an increase of approximately 5.42%. In addition, the district expects to receive $2.5 million in taxes for its bond and interest fund, dollars which are not included in the levy request. The increase that individual taxpayers will pay varies depending on such things as how much their property has appreciated that year, if they’ve made improvements to their property and other factors. Resident Mary Ellen Walksler expressed ethical concerns over the district’s five-year implementation of the 2001 tax rate referendum, stating that the information provided by the district differed from the actual tax impact. She asked when the BOE would decide to return money to the taxpayers. Click here for the Tax Levy presentation
Next steps
The County Clerk will adjust the levy to the legal rate in the spring, once the actual Equalized Assessed Valuation (EAV) is known.
BUDGET AMENDED:
$1.7 million originally budgeted in the Operations and Maintenance for possible land acquisition will be removed from the budget. The action is taken because the district is no longer considering acquiring additional parcels for a possible new school.
Next steps
A public hearing on the amended budget will be held on Jan. 23 at 7 p.m.
NEXT MEETING: The next regular BOE meeting is set for Monday, January 23 at 7:30 p.m. at Central Services, 793 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn. Special meetings have been set for Saturday, January 7 at 8 a.m. and Monday, January 30 at 6:30 p.m.
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