D41 Board Highlights

Following is a summary of the Board of Education meeting held on August 8, 2011. An MP3 recording of the meeting is available on www.d41.org Minutes are posted once approved.

SUMMER WORK UNDERWAY
Superintendent Dr. Ann Riebock noted that the summer work pace continues to be busy, with groups working on curricular alignment to the Common Core, bully-prevention, wellness and performance evaluation, to name a few. Summer capital projects are underway and on schedule: the ancillary parking at Forest Glen is complete, and the Hadley courtyard renovation, the comprehensive interior painting of Abraham Lincoln, façade work at Benjamin Franklin, and general maintenance work is expected to be ready for the start of school.

UPCOMING MEETINGS
The next regular meetings are Aug. 22 and Sept. 12, 7:30 p.m. at the Central Services Office. The Sept. 12 meeting will be preceded at 7 p.m. by a short reception for new staff. A BOE workshop is set for Sept. 7, 5-9 p.m. at the Central Services Office.

BUDGET HEARING AND ADOPTION
The meeting was preceded by the annual public hearing on the tentative budget. There was no public comment. The tentative 2011-2012 budget has been posted on the district Web site and has been available for public inspection at the Central Services Office since June 21. The final budget expenditures are $45,358,092 which is an increase over last year of 2.27%. The final figure is less than the tentative budget total of $45,572,249. The budget is a spending plan which may be amended over the course of the year. The Board of Education (BOE) adopted the proposed 2011-2012 budget following a presentation by Assistant Superintendent Bob Ciserella putting the budget and the district's financial planning in context with the uncertainties of state funding. Mr. Ciserella noted that the final budget reflects the loss of state funding for some programs. In addition, state payments are late and more reductions are expected. In light of that, the budget shows a 30% reduction of state funding in addition to the outright state funding cuts. The largest budgeted expense is compensation, with other large expenditures being capital projects such as the Hadley courtyard renovation, technology upgrades and replacement of security cameras. The budget also reflects anticipated savings gained from joining a health benefits cooperative, changing bus transportation and food service providers, and other economy measures.

TELEPHONE SERVICE CHANGE RECOMMENDED
The BOE discussed the administrative recommendation to approve a three-year contract for telephone service with Call One. The annual cost of $47,797.20 represents annual savings of $41,379.91 (the current AT&T annual cost is $89,160). The transition from AT&T to Call One will not require any new equipment or lines and Call One will maintain the same level of phone and internet service. The BOE expects to take action on the matter at its Aug. 22 meeting.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
A resident expressed views on the upcoming teacher agreement negotiations, his belief that compensation should be in line with current economic realities, and requested to be part of the negotiation team.

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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