August 5, 2004

President Laurel DiPrima called the special meeting of the Board of Education of August 5, 2004, to order at 7:30 p.m. Board members present: John Abrams, Rich Benson, Rosemary Grier, Cindy Koerner, Joe Leane, and Sue Ramstedt.

• Held a public hearing on the waiver or modification of school codes relating to school holidays (Casimir Pulaski’s birthday), physical education for grades one through five, and substitute teachers.
• Approved the submission of the three waivers to the Illinois State Board of Education.

August 19, 2004

President Laurel DiPrima called the business meeting of the Board of Education of August 19, 2004, to,order at 7:30 p.m. Board members present: John Abrams, Rich Benson, Rosemary Grier, Cindy Koerner, and Sue Ramstedt. Absent: Joe Leane. Approved the minutes of the July 15 and August 5, 2004, meetings.

Items of Public Interest

• Walk-in registration was held in our school buildings on August 10. New staff orientation was August 16 - 18. Teacher institutes are August 19 and 20.
• School resumes on Monday, August 23, with students attending school for a half day. Junior high school students will be dismissed at 11:30 a.m. First through fifth grade students will be dismissed at noon.
• Back-to-School Nights are September 1 at Lions Park at 7:00 p.m., September 7 at Fairview at 6:30 p.m., and September 9 at Lincoln Junior High at 6:30 p.m.
• September 16 is a non-attendance day for students and staff.
• The District 57 Education Foundation is sponsoring its sixth annual golf outing on September 25 at Mount Prospect Golf Course.

Other Reports

Legislative: An update was provided with regard to SB705 relating to school funding reform and HB629 which extends the time frame for canvassing of election results from seven to 21 days.

IASB: An update was provided on the Resolution Committee’s discussion of the resolution District 57 submitted which would change “Take your Child to Work” to a day when students are not in school.

NSSEO: Negotiations for a new teacher contract are underway.

Education Foundation: A report on the golf outing and solicitation of grants was presented.

Building Representatives: A brief summary of school and PTA activities was presented.

Questions and Statements from the Floor
A member of the audience requested clarification of the lease of Westbrook School to NSSEO and improvements made at the school. Another member of the audience requested clarification on what ECDEC stands for (Early Childhood Development Enrichment Center); the ESY program; and improvement of test scores and needs of special education students.

Priority Items

• Heard a report on SummerQuest 2004 and the Voyager summer program.
• Adopted policy items in compliance with the Children’s Mental Health Act of 2003. The policies relate to Instruction: Student Social and Emotional Development and Students: Support Services.
• Heard a report on and approved the Early Childhood Development Enrichment Center (ECDEC) program. The District has obtained a grant that will provide a complete instructional program for District 57 at-risk pre-school students, who have not been identified as having a specific learning disability. The District currently does not offer services to these at-risk pre-school students. ECDEC will fund the entire program and District 57 has no responsibility to continue the program should funding no longer be available.
• Approved the extension of the superintendent’s contract through the 2008-09 school year.

Action Items*

1. Approved the bills and financial statements.*
2. Adopted the District Goals for the 2004-05 school year.*
3. Adopted the Transition Assessment Plan.*
4. Adopted the Social Studies Pilot.*
5. Adopted resolution #040819 changing check signatures and petty cashiers.*
6. Approved the personnel report.*

Superintendent’s Report

Dr. Brown’s report included information on preliminary enrollment figures, new staff orientation, opening day institute activities, active membership in the Illinois Association of School Boards, the facilities walk-through by board members, and the submission of letters to the legislators soliciting a long-term solution to school funding.

New Business

The following new business was discussed:

An Evening with State Legislators on October 20, 2004.
Enrollment figures for the 2004-05 school year.
Highlights of the building walk-through by board members on August 17, 2004.
Referendum follow-up as it relates to district goals, financial projections, and budget deficit reduction efforts.
The Mount Prospect Historical Society’s fundraising efforts for the Central School Project and possible participation by District 57.