D41 Board Highlights

Following is a summary of the Board of Education meeting held on August 10, 2009. An MP3 recording of the meeting is available on www.d41.org Minutes are posted once approved.

BOARD CONSIDERS SCHOOL EXPANSION MATTERS
At its Aug. 10 special meeting, the Board of Education (BOE) discussed the Master Facility Plan (MFP) status and next steps; the two- or three-room addition proposed for Hadley that would be funded in large part by American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA, or stimulus) funds; and other matters in preparation for deeper discussion at upcoming regular meetings.

MFP: The BOE reviewed the Master Facility Plan recommendation with an eye toward determining next steps. Click here to read the 2009 MFP Recommendation. The recommendation, developed by a stakeholder committee, advises that the district eliminate the 32 portable classrooms; bring all children under permanent roof; and create the type of spaces needed for effective teaching, including large-group, small-group and flexible spaces. The recommendation proposes two ways this could be accomplished: Concept A, which is to enlarge and substantially renovate the existing schools, including replacing some portions of the buildings; or Concept B, which is to build an elementary school at the vacant Spalding site, with more moderate renovations of the existing schools. Both concepts are complex, would take place over a period of years, and could require some use of "swing space" to maintain uninterrupted instruction during heavy construction. Both would require passing a referendum. The BOE has not chosen a design option or decided whether it would authorize a facility referendum in the future.

District architect FGM, Inc. provided a comprehensive proposal for detailed design work including working with stakeholders to further develop the concepts; creating site, floor, and stormwater management plans; and providing structural engineering systems descriptions and civil engineering documentation. The proposal also includes the services of an independent cost-estimator. While having this information in advance of a referendum is not required, such detail gives voters a clear picture of the proposal and brings the project to a "shovel ready" stage. This level of design work for both options combined would cost $507,900; it would cost considerably less for one option alone, or part of one option (for example, comprehensive design work for a new elementary school would be $118,120). The BOE requested more information from the administration on the impact of such an expenditure on the overall budget.

Next Steps: The BOE anticipates continuing Master Facility Plan discussion in September.

Hadley addition: The BOE reviewed plans for an addition to Hadley for special education space. The district has been identified for approximately $800,000 in ARRA (stimulus) funds for special education; once applied for and received from the federal government, the funds will be administered by the Cooperative Association for Special Education (CASE). As designed, the proposed addition would be located on the west end of the north side of Hadley. Estimates are from $1,072,869 to $1,343,497 to build a 3,135 sq. ft. to 4,590 sq. ft. addition respectively, depending on whether two or three rooms were added. These estimates include all associated costs except additional utility costs related to the increased space. A three-room addition would meet the space requirements of all the self-contained special education programs at Hadley: the Emotional Disabilities Program (ED), the Guided Instructional Program (GIP), and the Modified Instructional Program (MIP). The space now occupied by these programs would be used for general education needs. The designs provided by FGM, Inc. include classrooms of about 900 sq. ft., bathroom facilities, a "time-out" room, and an office. The plans also incorporate stormwater detention which is needed regardless of whether the classrooms are added. The BOE discussed the alignment of the addition to the long-range facility needs of the district, whether an addition could be designed that did not require funds beyond those from ARRA, and possible sources for those additional funds, such as money the district has received from developer donations over the years. It asked the administration to provide information on what the budgetary trade-offs would be if it authorized the addition.

Next Steps: The administration is asking for BOE approval to go out for bid. The BOE will discuss the matter further at its Aug. 24 meeting and expects to take action at a September meeting. Further BOE action would be required on bid acceptance.

UPCOMING MEETINGS
The next regular meeting of the BOE will be Aug. 24 at the Central Services Office. The meeting will begin immediately following the conclusion of two public hearings. The first, at 7:15 p.m., will be on the D41 2009-2010 budget; the second, at 7:20 p.m., will be on the CASE budget. The next BOE meetings will be Sept. 8 and Sept. 21, both at 7:30 p.m. at the Central Services Office. The public is welcome to attend.

FINANCIAL PLANNING FOR DIFFICULT TIMES
Between now and 2013, the district expects to reduce spending due to declining revenues, and the administration has asked the BOE to provide direction on spending down any of the district's reserves. Planned deficit spending--intentionally spending down some predetermined amount of reserve dollars--could be a strategy to help the district preserve educational quality during hard times. Superintendent Dr. Ann Riebock told the BOE that the administration will develop a plan for achieving economies in alignment with the Long-Range Plan, work that began with the proposed budget for 2009-2010 that is scheduled for a public hearing and BOE action on Aug. 24.

Next Steps: The discussion will continue at a future BOE Finance Committee meeting which will be an open meeting.

BOE COMMUNICATION
The BOE discussed its communication among individual members, with the public as a whole, and with individual members of the public. As part of that, BOE members talked about an online community message board where individuals post opinions on a variety of matters, including D41. At issue is whether such postings by BOE members could be construed as a violation of the Open Meetings Act (which says that if more than two BOE members discuss BOE business, it constitutes a meeting that requires 48-hours public notice) and how individual viewpoints about D41 posted by BOE members affect the BOE as a whole.

COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION MATTERS
This year it is District 41's turn to be the fiscal agent for the Cooperative Association for Special Education (CASE), of which it is a part. In this role, the D41 BOE will affirm actions taken by the CASE Board of Directors concerning personnel or financial matters. CASE Director Georgia Peceniak was there to thank the BOE and answer any questions. CASE was established to help its member districts provide a wider range of special education services than each could acting alone.

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.

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