Glen Ellyn School District 41 Glen Ellyn School District 41
 

Glen Ellyn School District 41 Mission: Ignite passion. Inspire excellence. Imagine possibilities.

Board Members: Steven Vondrak President | Robert Solak Vice President | Erica Nelson Secretary | Terra Costa Howard | Drew Ellis | John Kenwood | Dan Smith Jr.

Following is a summary of the Board of Education meeting held on March 7, 2011.   An MP3 recording of the meeting is available on www.d41.org   Minutes are posted once approved.

ANTI-BULLYING TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATION "creating a culture of care"
Proposing a mix of strategies and approaches, the Anti-Bullying Task Force presented recommendations to the Board of Education (BOE) that are based on best practices, address the bullied, the bystanders and the bullies, and promote a culture of care within the district and the community. Meeting regularly from October through February, the task force was organized into four study groups:
· Definition and Response, which developed adult and kid-friendly definitions of bullying. It also created a matrix of escalating behaviors and appropriate responses designed to stop bullying.
· Research and Review, which studied the research and literature to identify best practices that the district should consider as it develops bully-prevention strategies.
· School Climate, which focused on ways the district can foster and support a culture of care within its schools.
· Community Education and Engagement, which focused on outreach to create community awareness of the problem and partnerships to end bullying.

Superintendent Dr. Ann Riebock and the BOE praised the group for its hard work and the quality of its recommendations. Dr. Riebock noted that some work is already underway in the district that is aligned with the direction outlined by the task force, and that district will now begin creating action plans consistent with the recommendations. Among the specific next steps is updating Board Policy related to bullying, and review of the recommendation by the Parent Teacher Advisory Committee to see how the recommended disciplinary responses to bullying will fit into the district discipline matrix. Click here for the Powerpoint presentation. Click here for the full Task Force Recommendation.

UPCOMING MEETINGS
A Board workshop on the Master Facility Plan will be held Monday, March 14, 6:30-9 p.m. at CSO. The next regular BOE meeting is Monday, March 21, 7:30 p.m. at CSO. The April 4 BOE meeting will be held at Forest Glen School, 7:30 p.m.
LONG-RANGE TECHNOLOGY PLAN SUPPORTS 21ST CENTURY LEARNING
Technology Director Mike Wood provided a detailed picture of the long-range technology plan, including the district's refresh cycle for hardware such as computers and printers, planned software acquisition and support, professional development strategies, and a vision for technology that supports the district's educational and operational goals. Most important, the plan shows how the district will leverage technology for organizational efficiencies and to support student learning, especially 21st Century knowledge and skills. Over the last decade, district technology has evolved from a few hundred computers and four servers to a robust technology infrastructure with powerful data systems, a ten-fold increase in classroom bandwidth, more than 1500 computers and laptops, remote access, 32 servers and much more. Some specific improvements planned for the near future are continued installation of classroom Smartboards, and purchase of Netbooks to put more technology learning tools into students' hands. Mr. Wood explained how the plan balances a conservative approach with the need to stay current with advances, and incorporates processes to ensure that devices and software perform as intended and are rugged enough to withstand heavy educational use. In the future, the district expects to find economies and efficiencies with "cloud", or Web-based, technology. The plan goes out to 2014; Mr. Wood noted that the pace of technology innovation makes envisioning the future a challenge, and the plan must be periodically revised to provide up-to-date direction that is consistent with the goals of the district. 


2011-2012 CALENDAR ADOPTED       
The BOE adopted the 2011-2012 school calendar that it had discussed at its Feb. 21 meeting. Overall, the proposed calendar is very similar to this year's. The first day of school will be Aug. 24, and the last day of school is tentatively June 6; if no emergency days are needed, the last day will be May 30.   



SUMMER CAPITAL PROJECTS       
The BOE approved accepting the bid from Lite Construction Inc. for $663,237 for a variety of capital improvement projects. It had discussed the matter at its Feb. 21 meeting




HADLEY COURTYARD PROJECT       
The BOE approved going out for bid on a plan to transform Hadley's courtyard into a viable learning space that could be used in alignment with the curriculum and would be a long-term asset to Hadley students through the years. It had discussed the matter at its Feb. 21 meeting




SUPERINTENDENT AND BOARD REPORTS       
The Superintendent and BOE members regularly report on BOE committees and provide overviews of meetings and workshops they attend, and provide other updates. Dr. Riebock said that she would like to attend the highly-regarded Model Schools Conference this summer in Nashville along with the principals and selected administrators at a total cost of about $20,000, all inclusive. Dr. Riebock said the conference focuses on transitioning to the new Common Core learning standards and helping to define next generation literacy skills; this information will be very useful to the leadership team as it begins the renewal work of the Long-Range Plan and the implementation shifts necessary to teach the Common Core. The BOE said it supported the conference expenditure and noted that the amount did not exceed the budget for such expenses. BOE members reported on a number of matters: the Learning Leadership Team work in analyzing ISAT results and integrating the Learner Characteristics; the building PTA meetings; and the Partnership for Educational Progress meeting. Board Vice President Bob Solak reported on the Finance Committee, and noted that the BOE workshop on the Master Facility Plan is set for March 14, 6:30-9 p.m. at the CSO. 





BENJAMIN FRANKLIN LEAD ABATEMENT PROJECT DISCUSSED         
The BOE reviewed a lead abatement project proposed for Benjamin Franklin associated with renovation of the deteriorated Bryant Avenue entrance, which will be replicated and replaced to maintain its historic esthetic. The administration recommends accepting the low bid of $10,945 from Valor Technologies. The BOE expects to take action on the matter at its March 21 meeting.




NEW STAGE PROPOSED FOR ABRAHAM LINCOLN       
The retractable stage in Abraham Lincoln's old gym is significantly deteriorated. The administration is recommending approval of a $20,950 quote from Paddock Industries for a similar retractable stage. The BOE expects to take action on the matter at its March 21 meeting.




 FOREST GLEN PARKING LOT DISCUSSED
The BOE approved going out for bid for a project to install permeable pavers in an area just south of Forest Glen's Main St. driveway to create an appropriate overflow parking area that can accommodate about seven vehicles. Currently, vehicles using this space are parking on dirt or mud.





About the Glen Ellyn School District Board of Education
Board members are unpaid volunteers, each representing the whole district. The board is accountable to the public and makes decisions as a unit based on what is best for the whole district. The board hires the superintendent, sets instructional policy, approves the budget and ongoing expenditures, and is ultimately responsible for the performance of the district. Board meetings are working sessions held in public during which the board conducts its business, and ample time is always set aside for public participation.  
Please direct your questions or comments to our Communications Director, Julie Worthen at jworthen@d41.org.
Glen Ellyn School District 41