Glen Ellyn School District 41 Mission: To be an advocate for children and to provide the highest quality educational programs and services.
Board Members: John Vivoda President | Willie DiFabio Vice President | Debbie Hoffman Secretary
John Marcheschi | Carol McElvain | John Ruckstaetter | Walter Snodell
Following is a summary of the Board of Education meeting held on October 18, 2004
Board meetings are preceded by the half-hour "Listening Post", during which board members are on hand to listen to residents' comments.
FACILITIES RECOMMENDATION DUE NOV. 15 D41 houses nearly 10% of its students in portable classrooms or in park district facilities. Starting with the Blue Ribbon Committee in 2002, and continuing through numerous public workshops, the D41 community, board and administration have been working to find a solution to crowding that will create an excellent learning environment for students, create a professional environment for staff and be a solution that the community will support. In September, a Task Force began working with FGM Architects to conduct an in-depth study of solution options that were identified during the public workshops. FGM Architects gave a brief update to the Board on four options which range in cost from $3.2 million to $24 million: adding more portable classrooms, building a K-6 school, building a K-5 school or building a 5-6 grade center. While these options add space for more students, they do not address the fact that many services are currently being delivered in hallways, closets and other inadequate spaces. FGM estimates that it will take an additional $5.3 million to provide adequate space for specialists, special education, counseling and other services, regardless of whether new space is added. More information is posted on www.d41.org. The Task Force will bring a recommendation to the Board at the Nov. 15 Board meeting. |
 The Board of Education John Vivoda, President Willie DiFabio, Vice President Debbie Hoffman, Secretary John Marcheschi Carol McElvain John Ruckstaetter Walter Snodell |
DEMOGRAPHIC STUDY INDICATES INCREASE OF 273-467 STUDENTS BY 2011
The Board discussed an overview of a new demographic study estimating that the district could see enrollment climb by as much four hundred students to total 4,017 by 2011, with the most likely range being between a total of 3,600 and 3,800. Just as important, diversity is expected to increase significantly, a development that affects space needs for programs such as bilingual classes and targeted instruction.
The district contracted for the study because enrollment growth has been greater and more enduring than previous projections predicted. Conducted by the Center for Governmental Studies at Northern Illinois University, the study was more comprehensive than earlier studies and attributes enrollment growth to the following: housing capacity, retention of more young families as the economy improves, intergenerational turnover in which empty nesters sell to young families, transfers from private schools, and changes in the socioeconomic composition of the district.
The demographers used data from numerous sources, including planning information from the five municipalities that feed D41: Carol Stream, Glendale Heights, Glen Ellyn, Lombard and Wheaton. Among the findings were:
• Trends in D41 are at odds with what one might expect if the only thing looked at was census data. The demographers explained that although census data suggest that there is a decline in school-age children through 2009, this is not supported by any other data they could find…in fact the reverse. Census data is more accurate for large areas; within the confines of D41, other factors offered strong evidence of continued and steady enrollment growth through 2011.
• Despite extensive teardown activity, there is no evidence to show that the teardown phenomenon is generating more students. However, the demographers noted that in the long-term, larger homes may encourage larger families to move into the district.
• The impact of birth rates among ethnic groups varies and is part of what is fueling higher levels of diversity in the district. Typically, Hispanic families start having children younger and have more children than Caucasian families.
• The study looked at vacant parcels and possible subdivisions of existing lots and concluded that new development does not appear to be a significant source of new students.
Enrollment projections are educated guesses which are part science and part art and are most reliable in the short term. Projections beyond five years out are based on students who are not even born and many things can alter trends over time, such as birth rate, the economy, and even acts of nature. In sum, the demographic study offers context and data to help the community understand its enrollment, but its use as a predictor must be qualified by the recognition that unanticipated circumstances can very quickly change trends.
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NEXT STEPS ...
The Board will review the detailed report and may hold another meeting with NIU to further explore the report’s implications. Once the board has reviewed the complete report, it will be posted on www.d41.org. The Facilities Task Force and FGM Architects will review the data and incorporate it into the recommendation they will provide the Board on Nov. 15.
ISATS AND ILLINOIS REPORT CARDS
School Report Cards are normally sent out at the end of October, but Illinois is running late with its Illinois Standards Achievement Tests (ISATs). There have been numerous data and clerical irregularities state wide and Illinois has extended the timeline in order to try to resolve them so that the report cards are accurate.
LEARNING LEADERSHIP TEAM ESSENTIAL TO D41 SUCCESS
The Board recognized the members of last year’s Learning Leadership Team (LLT) for their outstanding leadership in developing a collaborative process that is now an essential part of the teachers’ contract. D41 now has several such collaborative teams based on the LLT model..
The result of input from five stakeholder groups (parents, teachers, support staff, administrators and Board members), D41’s new Strategic Focus was adopted by the Board. Based on the Vision Statement: “Exceptional Learning in a Respectful and Supportive Environment,” it outlines the values, objectives, culture and priorities with which all D41 actions should align. The Focus confirms the district’s commitment to the values of public education and focuses attention on learning and continuous improvement. The plan is posted on www.d41.org.
NEXT MEETING
The next regular board meeting is set for Monday, Nov. 15 at 7:30 p.m. in the board room. The public is welcome. GETV Channel 17 videotapes the meetings for broadcast the following Monday at 8 p.m. Listening Post, an opportunity for the public to talk informally with board members, will be held from 7-7:30 before the meeting. There is no obligation to stay for the meeting.
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