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School Board News Bulletin
January, 2006

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This publication is also available as a PDF file

ARTICLES

Delegates support constitutional convention

Lower reading scores underscore NCLB pressure

Attendance up 7.7% at joint annual conference

Governor pushes new rules on 'junk food' sales in schools

Belleville chief takes IASA executive post

Teachers, Kansas board battling over evolution

Fed suit over NCLB funding rejected; appeal due

Friend of court brief helps win ruling for individualized education programs

Bohl, Small, Sturm take IASB duties in policy department

Decatur strike over; other notices still pending statewide

Ryan pleads guilty; sentenced to 8 years

Hearts for Hurricane Relief' will raise funds for Gulf schools

Committees named as Association board reorganizes for coming year

NEWS FROM ISBE

Dropout rate continues to fall with student mobility rate

ISBE Web site provides scaled-down school profiles

NEWS FROM IASB

Webinars scheduled for schoolboardnet training

Constitution, Position Statements are mailed

NEWS HEADLINES

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Delegates support constitutional convention
Increased school funds rationale behind push for state ballot issue

The Illinois Association of School Boards member districts have resolved to push for a statewide constitutional convention in order to obtain long-sought school funding reform. More than 300 local school board representatives adopted a resolution to pursue that goal in a vote taken at this year's Joint Annual Conference.

"We're not going to solve school funding problems in Illinois unless we put it in the hands of voters," said Mike Kelly, a member of the Plainfield CCSD 202 Board of Education.

Kelly spoke in support of a resolution submitted by Indian Prairie CUSD 204, Naperville, which called upon IASB to actively promote a constitutional convention when the option goes before voters in 2008, as required by the 1970 Illinois Constitution. The question of whether to convene a constitutional convention must go before Illinois voters at least every 20 years, according to terms of the 1970 Constitution. The last such vote was taken in 1988, and the next one will be in 2008 unless state lawmakers set an earlier date.

The rationale behind the adopted resolution states that school funding is in dire need of reform. It suggests that a constitutional convention represents the best opportunity to make majority funding of education at the state level a requirement, rather than a mere goal, as the courts have interpreted provisions under the present state constitution.

The rationale adds that a constitutional convention presents the opportunity to have decisions on important policy questions made by a body not motivated to evaluate its actions by the effect thereof on re-election chances, without consideration for caucus loyalty or deference to the other influences that deprive the legislature of the courage to do what's right.

The decision to push for a constitutional convention was one of the key actions taken by school board representatives at the policy-setting delegate assembly on Nov. 19. The delegate assembly is part of the Joint Annual Conference of the Illinois Association of School Boards, Illinois Association of School Administrators, and Illinois Association of School Business Officials.

The conference also provided training to school board members through more than 115 expert-led panel presentations on school governance and education.

School board delegates in a close vote also decided to urge Congress to change a provision in federal law regarding military recruitment in schools. The aim is to replace an "opt-out" provision with an "opt-in" provision for parental consent required on forms used to prevent military recruiters from gaining access to student information from schools. The vote count was 178 to127, with a simple majority needed for passage.

"All we're doing is giving the military the same access to student information as we would a college," said one supporter of the proposal.

School board delegates also adopted several other new IASB position statements, including resolutions that would:

• Support legislation to exempt school district employees from overtime and salary requirements imposed by regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The resolution was submitted by East Peoria CHSD 309.
• Oppose efforts to amend state law to make it easier for some areas to detach from school districts and form new districts without a vote of the entire territory affected. The resolution was sponsored by Unit District 46, Elgin.
• Support a change in the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 to permit alternate tests and other appropriate measures of achievement for students with disabilities.
• Urge lawmakers to strictly comply with the State Mandates Act by labeling mandates and refusing to adopt new state legislation containing unfunded mandates.
• Support proposed legislation to limit the amount of interest paid on property tax refunds arising from tax appeals to the percentage established under tax caps, and to allow such refunds to be credited toward future tax payments.

Delegates also chose IASB officers for the coming year:

• President: Marie Slater, Wheaton Warrenville CUSD 200
• Vice President: Mark C. Metzger, Indian Prairie CUSD 204
• Treasurer: Joseph Alesandrini, Pekin CHSD 303

In other conference action, Barbara Somogyi, President of the school board at CCSD 59, Arlington Heights, was honored by the Illinois State Board of Education with the 2005 Thomas Lay Burroughs Award for the State's Outstanding School Board President. The award presentation was made Sunday during third General Session of the Joint Annual Conference.

"We salute Barbara Somogyi for the work, passion and dedication she has shown on behalf of her school district and the students served there," ISBE president Jesse Ruiz said in presenting the award. "Her selfless dedication is to be admired."

Somogyi has a long tenure of service to CCSD 59. She has served as a school board member for 27 years and has served as Board President for the last three years, plus six additional prior years.

She also represents the North Cook division as a director on the Illinois Association of School Boards.

Somogyi accepted the award as a "visual reminder" of those who inspired her and her district to "strive for excellence to put what's best for children above all."

Named after former State Board chairman Thomas Lay Burroughs, the award has been presented annually since 1991. Award criteria are:

• leadership on behalf of improved student learning and educational excellence;
• leadership on behalf of equal educational opportunities; and
• leadership in resolving a crisis or major difficulty.

Another award was presented at the closing session, as the Illinois Association of School Administrators named Thomas Leahy of Quincy Public SD 172 as Superintendent of the Year. Leahy, who has been superintendent in Quincy since 2003, began his career in 1973 at Aviston Elementary School.

For more information about the conference, visit the IASB Web site at www.iasb.com.

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Lower reading scores underscore NCLB pressure

Students in Illinois elementary schools have not seen their reading scores go up in the past five years, on average, on state tests. This news comes amid stepped-up efforts under the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) to boost kids' reading skills.

Largely as a result of this reading score stagnation, more Illinois schools were labeled as failures in 2005 than in 2004 as they failed to satisfy NCLB's ever-rising demands.

The state's school report cards released in November showed little or no improvements in literacy overall, particularly among white students. But most minority group students posted slight gains in reading.

White students have also made little improvement in math scores on state tests over the past five years. Yet most other grade-school student groups—blacks, Hispanics, Asians—have made big gains in math since 2000.

The gains recorded by low-income and minority students are being attributed by some experts to pressures brought by NCLB, because the law threatens to punish low-performing, high-poverty schools that do not make adequate progress.

But most affluent schools face no such threat of federal sanctions if their students fail to improve. NCLB sanctions apply only to schools that qualify for Title I monies from the federal government.

Overall, about 49 percent of schools testing 3rd graders have seen declines in average reading scores since 2000; 57 percent of schools testing 5th graders have seen drops, and 65 percent of schools testing 8th graders have seen drops.

Illinois State Achievement Test (ISAT) results show improvements from last year, however, including:

• third grade student reading scores increased or held steady across all student groups;
• fourth grade students showed marked gains in science across all student groups;
• fifth grade math scores were up across all student groups; and
• eighth grade reading scores increased significantly over all student groups.

In addition, analysis of the Prairie State Achievement Examination (PSAE) results showed significant gains in reading among Hispanic, black and low-income students.

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Attendance up 7.7% at joint annual conference
11,500 attend sessions, workshops and exhibits

Representatives from 750 Illinois public school districts attended this year's Joint Annual Conference of the Illinois Association of School Boards, Illinois Association of School Administrators and the Illinois Association of School Business Officials, held Nov. 18-20 in Chicago.

This year's attendance exceeded 11,500 members and guests, which represented a 7.7 percent increase over last year's Conference turnout. The event, held annually on the weekend before Thanksgiving, is one of the largest statewide education conferences in the nation.

Attendance increased among board members, 3,711; administrators, 1,582; guests, 4,635; and IASB service associates, 25. Also registering this year were 1,469 exhibitors, 24 IASB directors, 18 school attorneys, 14 state board representatives, and 43 others.

As in most years, a wide variety of subjects and activities were abundant for those who attended the three General Sessions, five Chicago school tours, eight pre-conference workshops, 117 panels, and 218 exhibit booths of school products, services and vendors.

Panel sessions included topics in governance/leadership, student achievement, finance and funding, community relations, facilities/transportation/ technology, current issues, school law, governmental relations, best practices, and special topics for newer board members. The three-day Conference drew more than 8,200 people to panel events, for an average attendance of 70 persons per panel.

The hot topic this year was governance and leadership, with 19 different panels showcasing a wide variety of subjects. Three of the panels – "Twenty Questions Boards Must Ask," "Learning How to Assess and Improve," and "Board Self Evaluation" – drew 570 of the 1,713 guests attending these topics.

School law was an equally popular topic, with 14 panels drawing a combined 1,208 visitors. The three largest panels – "Superintendent Employment Contract," "What Every Board Member Needs to Know about Pension Legislation" and "Business Issues Facing Board Members" – collectively welcomed 470 guests.

A staple of the Conference panel tracks is school finance. Two of this year's 17 panels – "Balanced Budget Act" and "Costing Salary Schedules" – combined to attract 280 of the 1,186 people attending finance and funding panels.

Two of the six governmental relations panels drew the largest attendance of the entire Conference. The "2005 Pension Reform Bill" and "Legislative Issues Impacting Schools" panels reported attendance of 300 and 200, respectively.

The 2005 Conference also offered 12 panels on No Child Left Behind; eight panels on facilities/transportation/technology; 12 panels for newer board members; 11 panels on current issues; six panels on community relations; and 12 panels on best practices.

A total of 694 Conference-goers arrived early to attend Friday's pre-conference workshops. Six 5-hour workshops focused on school board leadership (102 attended), school law and finance (110), monitoring district performance (82), study circles (82), finance elections (61), and board presidency (75). Two other half-day workshops featured consultants who specialize in board policy (98) and parliamentary procedure (84).

Returning from 2004 was the popular board secretary's seminar. This all-day event on Saturday attracted 169 participants, comprised largely of district employees, including many superintendents' secretaries. Organizers said the workshop was created to assist many new board secretaries with their increasing workload and responsibilities.

In addition, the Conference hosted IASB's annual Delegate Assembly.

Among the guest speakers at this year's Conference were Joan E. Schmidt, president of the National School Board Association, and general session speakers, Erik Wahl, Jennifer James, and Vickie Sanderson.

Awards were presented for the state's outstanding school board president, superintendent of the year, school building designs, and workmen's compensation cost reduction efforts.

Another popular event was the IASB Comiskey Room, where Association benefits and services were explained and demonstrated.

Next year's Conference will be held Nov. 17-19, in Chicago.

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Governor pushes new rules on 'junk food' sales in schools

Gov. Rod Blagojevich asked the state board of education on Nov. 28 to bar the sale of soda and other "junk food" in the state's elementary and middle schools. Two years ago, Blagojevich and the Illinois House Republican leader proposed such a ban, but the legislation failed.

In a letter to the board, Blagojevich said schools should help students form good eating habits. "We agree with the governor, particularly at a time when obesity is an increasingly serious problem in America, and high-sugar, low-nutrition vending machine foods are contributing to an increase in diseases like diabetes," said Ben Schwarm, a lobbyist with the Illinois Statewide School Management Alliance.

"If schools have made junk food more easily accessible for students it is because vending machines have become more and more important to the schools as a revenue source," Schwarm said. "Under-funded schools have found it difficult to turn down lucrative offers from soft-drink manufacturers for the right to sell their products in schools," he added.

The Illinois State Board of Education is expected to consider the issue at its December meeting. If approved, the ban would be instituted for the 2006-07 school year—the same time that Blagojevich is running for re-election on issues such as affordable health insurance for children.

Though the junk food ban would expand on a theme of keeping children healthy, its impact on school districts is not clear.

Blagojevich's approach is scaled back from a failed legislative proposal he embraced in 2003 along with House Minority Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego). High schools, where junk food is most readily available and an important source of revenue, wouldn't be covered. The proposed junk-food prohibition for all schools drew only 28 votes in the Illinois House in March 2004, well short of the 60 votes needed for passage.

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Belleville chief takes IASA executive post

Brent Clark, superintendent of schools at Belleville THSD 201, was named the new executive director of the Illinois Association of School Administrators Saturday during the IASB/IASA/IASBO Annual Conference in Chicago.

Clark will succeed Walt Warfield, who retires as IASA's executive director at the end of June 2006. Warfield has been executive director of IASA for 13 years.

In his first official speech to IASA members since his appointment, Clark pointed to the enormous challenges that face education and IASA because of the changing ranks of Illinois superintendents, 116 of whom were new to the job this year and the nearly 400 who will retire in the next two to three years.

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Teachers, Kansas board battling over evolution
State science standards at stake in legal debate

The National Academy of Sciences and the National Science Teachers Association announced on Oct. 27 the organizations have forbidden Kansas from using science education materials developed by the two organizations.

The forbidden materials include the academy's National Science Education Standards, which are the foundation for science curricula in virtually every state, and the science teachers' Pathway to Science Standards, which help explain the academy guidelines for everyday use. Both are protected by copyright.

The organizations' prohibition results from a review of the latest draft of the Kansas Department of Education's new science education standards, adopted in November. The review concludes the standards overemphasize uncertainties about evolution.

From 1997 until 2002 the state science standards used in Illinois schools reflected similar doubts about evolution as are now evident in Kansas. Although the former Illinois standards did not directly dispute evolution, state officials removed any mention of the controversial word from state teaching standards.

Debate can be costly and divisive

Debate over the teaching of evolution can be expensive and counterproductive. Such is clearly the case in one community in Pennsylvania, where the school board majority in the Dover school district has already spent thousands of dollars to defend a curriculum that has been condemned as unscientific by leading academics in the field, and by the district's own science teachers.

School boards on both sides of the evolution debate have run into legal trouble. Although most cases involve lawsuits against boards that have tried to undermine the teaching of evolution, a California district wound up in hot water recently for refusing to adopt curriculum changes.

The Dover, Pennsylvania, board policy, being challenged in court by 11 parents, warns students that evolution is a theory, "not a fact." It mandates that students hear about alternative ideas, such as "intelligent design." Intelligent design — the newest evolution critique — argues, among other things, that living beings are made up of such an array of complex, inter-related components that they must have been designed by an intelligent creator.

Scientists say it's appropriate to draw a strict line between religion and science and between beliefs like intelligent design and strictly naturalistic theories like evolution. "For school boards, the debate is a no-win situation," says Kerry Clegg, President of the California School Boards Association, who holds a doctorate in molecular and developmental biology and has no doubts about validity of the theory of evolution.

"Both sides are taking the issue to court."

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Fed suit over NCLB funding rejected; appeal due
IASB group joins others to lobby for federal help

A federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit that challenged whether the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) was adequately funded.

The National Education Association (NEA) had argued in its suit that states should not have to meet the federal law's requirements because the federal government has not provided adequate funding to enable schools to meet the law's demands.

Chief U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman of eastern Michigan disagreed, stating that the government has "appropriated significant funding" and therefore has the authority to require states to set educational standards in exchange.

Reg Weaver, president of the NEA, which is the nation's largest teacher organization, said his group would appeal.

The lawsuit accused Congress of shortchanging school districts and states to the tune of $27 billion over the past four years. To meet NCLB requirements, therefore, schools have had to dip into state and local money, which the suit contends is illegal under NCLB.

A delegation of IASB school board members and Association staff will join hundreds of others from across the nation to lobby federal officials on NCLB and other topics in Washington, D.C. from Feb. 5 to 7. The event marks the 33rd Annual Federal Relations Network legislative conference. Sponsored by NSBA, the conference will focus on:

• Increasing the federal investment in education to help improve student achievement.
• Securing changes to the No Child Left Behind Act.
• Addressing new and pending school legislation.

Participants — who will include IASB President Marie Slater, Vice-President Mark C. Metzger, and Past President Ray Zimmerman— will spend a full day meeting with their senators and representatives on Feb. 7. They will present NSBA's legislative agenda for 2005 — and use their influence as constituents to shape the federal education agenda.

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Friend of court brief helps win ruling for individualized education programs

The U.S. Supreme Court issued a favorable decision for school districts on Nov. 14 in an extremely significant special education case. IASB filed a friend-of-the-court brief in support of the Maryland school district that prevailed in the case, Schaffer v. Weast.

The case dealt with the authority of schools to set and pursue "individualized education programs," and the court ruled that schools retain that authority unless parents who challenge such a plan can prove that it is inadequate.

"This ruling ... is important because districts across the nation deal with thousands of similar situations," stated Anne L. Bryant, executive director of the National School Board Association. "This decision will help limit the cost of special education hearings."

Special education advocates sharply criticized the court's decision: "Parents have a difficult time challenging an [individual education plan] that a parent feels is not right for their child." said parent Jocelyn Schaffer, who filed the lawsuit in the case on behalf of her son.

Below is an excerpt from the Court's summary of its ruling.

To ensure disabled children a "free appropriate public education," 20 U.S.C. A. §1400(d)(1)(A), the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA or Act) requires school districts to create an "individualized education program" (IEP) for each disabled child, §1414(d), and authorizes parents challenging their child's IEP to request an "impartial due process hearing," §1415(f), but does not specify which party bears the burden of persuasion at that hearing …

Held: The burden of persuasion in an administrative hearing challenging an IEP is properly placed upon the party seeking relief, whether that is the disabled child or the school district.

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Bohl, Small, Sturm take IASB duties in policy department

Bobbie Sturm recently accepted an offer to move from temporary status to become a full-time staff member of IASB, effective Oct. 1. Sturm had been employed as a temp secretary in the Policy Department for nearly a year.

Also new to the Association is Kimberly A. Small, a full-time consultant in the Policy Department, working out of the Lombard office. Kimberly holds a degree from the William Mitchell College of Law in Minnesota. Formerly she was Senior Assistant Public Defender, and supervisor of the juvenile division, at the DuPage County Public Defender's Office.

In addition, IASB's Policy Services Department recently welcomed Nancy Bohl as their new Springfield-based policy consultant. Nancy comes to IASB after seven and one-half years on staff at the Illinois Press Foundation, where she was Foundation Director. Prior to that, she was a supervisor of student teachers in Ohio.

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Decatur strike over; other notices still pending statewide

As of press time, a total of 26 school districts had received intent-to-strike notices in Illinois this year, but only four strikes have occurred. Twenty-three school districts have settled on a labor contract.

Already settled this year are the strikes in: Mendota District 289; Farmington Central District 265; and Chicago Ridge District 127.5; and Decatur C.U. District 61.

Meanwhile, contract settlements were recently obtained without a strike in: Trico District 176, Campbell Hill; Nippersink District 2; Winnebago CUSD 323; and Beach Park District 3.

The list of school districts currently facing intent-to-strike notices includes:

• Palatine, THSD 211, bargaining unit size: 1,186 IFT/AFT teachers and support staff. Notice filed: November 16
• Neoga CUSD 3, bargaining unit size: 59 IEA/NEA certified staff. Notice filed: November 15
• Champaign District 4, bargaining unit size: 800 IFT/AFT full and part-time staff. Notice filed: October 14

Source: Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA) Web site at: http://www.iasaedu.org/publications/bargsumry.htm .

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Ryan pleads guilty; sentenced to 8 years

Thomas Ryan, former superintendent of Sauk Village CCSD 168, pleaded guilty to theft charges in November and was sentenced to eight years in prison. The plea-bargained sentence was handed down just days after Ryan had agreed to resign and nullify his contract.

He was jailed on felony charges, including theft of more than $100,000, intimidation of witnesses and bribery. More than $700,000 in cash was found in his home.

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'Hearts for Hurricane Relief' will raise funds for Gulf schools

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Committees named as Association board reorganizes for coming year

The IASB Board of Directors gathered for its organizational meeting on Nov. 20 during the Joint Annual Conference in Chicago and elected four of its members to the nine-member Executive Committee. Elected were: Lowell Beggs, Roger Edgecombe, Roger Pfister and Barbara Somogyi.

The four will serve on the committee for one year, along with four elective officers of the Association designated by virtue of their leadership posts: President Marie Slater, Vice President Mark C. Metzger, Past President Ray Zimmerman, and Treasurer Joe Alesandrini.

A ninth, non-voting, member serves on this committee, as stipulated by Article VII, Section 2 of the IASB Constitution, namely the Executive Director, Michael Johnson.

The charge of the committee is to provide general supervision over Association affairs, and to implement policies or determine policy changes in the interim between meetings of the Board.

But all actions of the Executive Committee are "subject to ratification by the Board."

In meetings held at the Joint Annual Conference in Chicago on November 17 and 20, the IASB Board voted to endorse the candidacy of Christy Coleman as NSBA's Central Region Director. Coleman is a former president of IASB (2002-2004). The last IASB Board member elected to NSBA's Board was Barbara Wheeler (IASB President, 1988-1990), in 1995.

Other Board action at the 2005 Conference included:

• Approval for the purchase of additional property adjacent to IASB's Springfield office, should the property become available;
• Appointment of the Association's Nominating Committee: Ray Zimmerman –Chair; plus Lowell Beggs, Roger Pfister, Carol Farnum and Deborah McCleary – Members; as well as Joanne Zendol and John Metzger – Alternates.
• Appointment of NSBA Conference Delegate/Alternates: Marie Slater, Mark Metzger, Ray Zimmerman and Tariq Butt – Delegates; Michelle Skinlo and Barbara Somogyi – Alternates.
• Appointment of Fred Blue and Cheryl Jackson to co-chair the Conference Committee in 2006; and
• Appointment of Joe Alesandrini as IASB Liaison to the Illinois High School Association (IHSA).

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NEWS FROM IASB

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Webinars scheduled for schoolboardnet training

IASB is inviting members to visit with training experts by phone while linked up online at il.schoolboard.net for a series of online "webinars." The webinars will cover use of schoolboardnet, IASB's online communications service.

The demonstration is available any Thursday from Jan. 5 to Feb. 23, starting at 2 p.m. Each session lasts only about 20 minutes.

Participants will get free 90-day access to e-tools, the service's expanded, fee-based service.

Contact either IASB office at 217.528.9688 or 630.629.3776. For technical assistance contact Janice Kidd, jkidd@ iasb.com. For password assistance contact Loretta Cotten, lcotten@ iasb.com. To schedule an in-district demonstration contact Kimberly A. Small, ksmall@ iasb.com.

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Constitution, Position Statements are mailed

Upcoming mailings from IASB will included the 2006 IASB Constitution and Position Statements booklet. But what is it, and what does it mean?

Both the IASB Constitution and the position statements are products of the IASB Delegate Assembly (for details on action at this year's Delegate Assembly, see top story on p. 1). IASB operates within the framework of its Constitution, and lobbies on behalf of its position statements, which reflect the beliefs, aspirations and aims of IASB and its member school boards.

Position statements are those resolutions adopted by the IASB Delegate Assembly, which provide major policies for the Association and establish an official stance on legislation and related matters of public policy.

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NEWS FROM ISBE

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Dropout rate continues to fall with student mobility rate

This year's School Report Card data shows that the state's school dropout rate has continued to decline. In 1996, the dropout rate was 6.5 percent. In 2005, the dropout rate has declined to 4 percent.

Dropouts include students in grades 9-12 whose names have been removed from the district roster for any reason other than death, extended illness, graduation/completion of studies, transfer or expulsion.

The mobility rate has also continued to decline. In 1996 it stood at 18.8 percent and for 2005 it has fallen to 16.1 percent. It is the sum of the students transferred out of a school and students transferred in, divided by the average daily enrollment, multiplied by 100.

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ISBE Web site provides scaled-down school profiles

The 2005 state, school and district report cards include a scaled-down, parent-friendly profile for each school.

The new school profiles are available for every Illinois school, providing key data such as attendance and graduation rates, composite student test scores (ISAT and PSAE), composite teacher information such as education level and average salaries, school district finances, Adequate Yearly Progress, school news, and parent and family involvement.

The Federal No Child Left Behind Act requires states to issue School and District Report Cards each year, including many demographic, data, and assessment details.

Parents and guardians can access the profiles, larger school report cards, and a link to the Interactive Illinois Report Card, through the state board Web site: http://www.isbe.net/.

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NEWS HEADLINES

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Antioch (November 5, Arlington Heights Daily Herald) The Antioch-Lake Villa HSD 117 board tentatively agreed to have all students in athletics or extra-curricular activities randomly drug tested throughout the school year via hair samples.

Arlington Heights (November 4, Arlington Heights Daily Herald) The High School District 214 Board approved a 12-year extension of a tax increment financing (TIF) district in central Arlington Heights.

Belleville (November 8, Belleville News-Democrat) Belleville District 118, O'Fallon District 90 and Freeburg District 70 all scored high on the annual school report cards compiled by the state.

Chicago (December 2, Chicago Tribune) As the first move in a major project to revitalize city high schools, Chicago District 299 launched a new method for parents to rate the city's high schools: a one-page "scorecard" that will rate and rank schools in such categories as student outcomes and academic progress.

Elgin (November 8, Arlington Heights Daily Herald) Elgin District U-46 officials approved a new preschool program targeting four-year-olds who speak little English and come from poverty backgrounds.

Geneva (November 30, Chicago Tribune) City police agreed to ride school buses to observe motorists who ignore bus warning signals indicating that pupils are exiting or boarding. Unmarked squad cars will accompany the buses and issue traffic citations.

Minooka (November 8, Joliet Herald News) The school board in fast-growing CHSD 111 gave its support to Joliet's proposed transition fees for developers of new homes.

New Lenox (November 4, Joliet Herald News) Pleased with energy savings gained last summer after instituting a temporary four-day work week, District 122 officials announced plans to implement the same schedule this coming summer.

North Chicago (November 08, Arlington Heights Daily Herald) A U.S. Department of Education agreement is reached to keep the maximum amount of federal money flowing to financially troubled District 187 through 2010. Some dispute the announcement, however, suggesting that citizens should get congressional promises.

Oak Park (November 9, Chicago Tribune) While school actions are found to be equitable on student discipline, an external review urged improving communications and sensitivity to diversity issues.

Olney (November 16, Olney Daily Mail) The number of parent-teacher conferences has increased by 14 percent over last year, but they are too seldom attended by parents of struggling students, according to a West Richland CUSD 2 principal.

Olympia Fields (November 16, Chicago Tribune) The school board in Rich THSD 227 considered offering incentives to new teachers willing to live within the district.

Palatine (November 8, Arlington Heights Daily Herald) Palatine-Schaumburg HSD 211 urged teachers to reconsider a tentative contract rejected just days earlier, saying it is the district's best offer.

Park Ridge (November 7, Chicago Tribune) Budget cuts implemented by Park Ridge-Niles District 64 may not be enough, officials said, as the district continues to struggle with costs rising faster than revenue.

Streator (November 29, The Times, Ottawa) Woodland CUSD 5 officials begin to consider purchasing a $1 million wind turbine similar to the one at Bureau Valley High School, based on a suggestion from a Woodland physics class.

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS

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January 1, 2006 – New Year's Day

January 4 – Kaskaskia Division Winter Governing Meeting, Vandalia, 6 p.m.

January 5 – Shawnee Division Winter Governing Meeting, Bennie's Italian Foods, Marion, 6:30 p.m. Dinner

January 11 – Professional Advancement Seminar: Seeking the Superintendency - Current Superintendents Only, Crowne Plaza, Springfield, 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.

January 16 – Martin Luther King, Jr's Birthday

January 21 – School Board Leadership Workshop, Holiday Inn, Tinley Park, 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

January 21 – School Board Leadership Workshop, Touch Of Nature, Carbondale, 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

January 28 – School Board Leadership Workshop, NIU Naperville, 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

January 28 – School Board Leadership Workshop, Holiday Inn Select, Decatur, 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

January 30 – Three Rivers Division Winter Dinner Meeting, Renaissance Center, Joliet, 6:00 p.m.

For more information about coming events, see the IASB Web site at www.iasb.com/calendar/

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