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School Board News Bulletin
May 1999

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COLUMBINE HIGH SCHOOL VIOLENCE SHOCKS NATION

CONFUSED ABOUT ELECTRIC CHOICE? DON’T MISS OUT ON YOUR CHANCE TO CHOOSE

AT&T, TECHNOLOGY GROUPS HONOR TEACHER

REFERENDUM RESULTS

CONGRESS APPROVES ED-FLEX

How Business Can Support Leadership Training for School Board Members

NEWS FROM IASB

IASB to help plan electric purchasing pool

Cole Award entries invited

School administrators, boards have referendum hopes with new "how to" book

LEGISLATIVE ACTION

House considers early retirement option extension

RESEARCH REPORTS

Praise can work wonders in building student achievement

Teens’ long hours on job can harm grades

Study shows impact of early intervention

House unanimously backs new special ed formula

THE NATIONAL SCENE

Board members recount their hardest lessons

Illinois principal elected to national office

Difficulty seen balancing "zero tolerance" with common sense

TOOLS FOR SCHOOLS

1999 supplement to School Code published

Guide to building & equipment grants issued

School accident-prevention handbook available

School Safety Center lists violence warning signs

Literacy statistics listed online

WORKSHOPS & MEETINGS

Seminar centers on teacher quality

Safe Schools initiative workshops scheduled

CLASSIFIED ADS

Officials at the Jefferson County, Colorado, school district thought they were prepared for any kind of emergency. All the anti-violence measures in place, however, were not enough to prevent two students from going on a murderous rampage at Columbine High School April 20, killing 13 students and one teacher.

About two dozen people were injured, several critically. The murderers, leaders of a group of outcasts known as the "Trench Coat Mafia," reportedly had plotted the crime for more than a year.

One result of the tragedy here in Illinois has been an increase in the number of "copycat" threats and bomb scares in schools, creating a rash of school closings and disruptions to classroom schedules. A Springfield High School student was arrested May 10 on felony disorderly conduct charges for his alleged involvement in the latest such bomb scare. That same day more than 40 percent of students at Glenbrook South High School in Glenview stayed home because of rumors of a bomb threat.

Also increasing was the number of phone calls placed to the Illinois State Police school violence hotline. The hotline received 90 calls in the two days immediately following the Colorado shootings, surpassing the total for its first six months of operation.

The Colorado violence also prompted Illinois lawmakers to move a package of school violence bills on the fast track towards adoption, including a bill to provide grants to support violence prevention efforts in schools. Another bill would stiffen the penalties for gun-related crimes.

Such incidents remain rare

Despite the alarming nature of the Littleton tragedy, and the saturation news coverage that followed, experts say schools remain among the safest places in America for children. What is more, the rate of school violence is not rising. Consider these findings, released last September in School House Hype: School Shootings and Real Risks Kids Face in America, a study published by the Justice Policy Institute:

* A child has roughly a one in a million chance of dying violently at school.

* The number of children killed at school by guns each year is approximately half the number of all Americans killed annually by lightning strikes.

* Forty people were killed at schools throughout all of last year, while an average of eight children were killed every day by gunfire in non-school settings.

For more information visit the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice's website at http://www.cjcj.org.

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CONFUSED ABOUT ELECTRIC CHOICE?

DON'T MISS OUT ON YOUR CHANCE TO CHOOSE

If you are served by one of Illinois' investor-owned electric utilities, by now you should have received information from your utility about enrolling to participate in electric choice this October. There is also a good chance that after reading it you are frustrated and confused about what to do and what opportunities will be available. The following is a summary of the enrollment information and of the customer choice process:

The Customer Choice and Rate Relief Law identifies the following four commercial customer groups:

* 4 Megawatt -- Customers with at least a 4 megawatt average demand (Typically industrial customers)

* 9.5 Megawatts at 10 or More Sites -- Customers with a total demand of 9.5 megawatts at 10 or more sites (per utility service territory)

* Common Ownership -- Customers with more than one electric account

* General Lottery -- Customers with a single electric account

The first two groups are automatically eligible, while the remaining two groups, Common Ownership and General Lottery, will use a random selection process to determine eligibility. Typically, school districts are classified as either Common Ownership or General Lottery. Common Ownership customers will be able to "shop around" at least 1/3 of their electric load, while only 1/3 of the customers in the General Lottery will be selected.

In both the Common Ownership and General Lottery categories, your utility will randomly draw from the account numbers that you submitted. In the Common Ownership Lottery, your utility will draw to determine which accounts you have available to shop and stop when they reach at least 1/3 of your total usage. In instances when a building has several electric accounts and not every one is drawn, the entire site is eligible. In other words, sites are not divided in this process. The General Lottery drawing determines which customers are eligible.

On the enrollment form you should have received from your utility, indicate if you are registering under Common Ownership or General Lottery. List the individual electric account numbers and service addresses. In the space asking for a SIC code, a school district would enter an "82." Mail the form to your electric provider. If you can't locate your form or never received it, all utilities will be mailing a second round of enrollment forms in May. In July you will be informed via mail from your electric utility as to which accounts have been selected.

In order to participate in an energy-purchasing consortium, your district must first enroll with your local electric provider (investor-owned utilities only, municipals and co-ops are not participating at this time). The deadline for enrollment is June 15. Enrolling in this process does not commit you to anything. It simply provides more options for you to potentially save energy dollars. At the end of the year 2000, all commercial customers are automatically eligible.

If you have questions about electric choice or you have not received enrollment information, regardless of whom your electric provider is, contact Greg Webb at CILCO, 309-677-5295 or email at gwebb@cilco.com.

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AT&T, TECHNOLOGY GROUPS HONOR TEACHER

Illinois Computing Educators, Tech 2000, and AT&T have announced that Donna Dintelman, a teacher in Belle Valley District 119, Belleville is the winner of the latest ICE/AT&T Technology Educator of the Year award.

Dintelman's students at Belle Valley North Elementary School access classroom technology on a daily basis to track their progress in class and to create presentations. She also provides Grade Quick and Power Point computer program workshops, sponsored by District 119, for her fellow teachers.

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REFERENDUM RESULTS

Examination of the results of the April 13 referenda show voters approved 11 of 24 questions to raise school district tax rates, a 46 percent approval rate.

Specifically, voters approved school district tax proposals on 9 of 20 education fund questions, and 2 of 3 operations and maintenance fund questions. The lone transportation fund tax question went down to defeat.

As usual, school bond issues fared better, with voters approving 44 of 62 such proposals, or 71 percent. All 62 bond questions were for building bonds; no working cash bond proposals were on the ballot.

The school districts ringing in successful education fund tax increase proposals were: Tri City C.U. District 1, Buffalo, which also passed a bond issue; Chicago Ridge District 127.5, which also passed an operations and maintenance fund proposal; Rantoul Township High School District 193; Millstadt C.C. District 160; Troy C.C. District 30C; Laraway District 70C, Joliet; Fairmont District 89, Lockport; Joliet District 86; and Crete-Monee District 201U.

The two districts with successful operations and maintenance fund tax increase proposals were Chicago Ridge District 127.5, and Tri Valley C.U. District 3, Downs.

Voters said yes to building bond issues in: Lovington C.U. District 303; Tri City C.U. District 1, Buffalo; Al Wood C.U. District 225, Woodhull; Sherrard C.U. District 200; Skokie District 69; Chicago Ridge District 127.5; Berkeley District 87; Oak Park Elementary District 97; Central C.U. District 4, Clifton; Tri Valley C.U. District 3, Downs; Wheaton Warrenville C.U. District 200; Woodlawn C.U. District 4; Bethel District 82; Summersville District 79; Urbana District 116; Chrisman C.U. District 6, Paris Union District 95, Paris; Aviston District 21; Albers District 63; Brownstown C.U. District 201; Gillespie C.U. District 7; and Central City District 133, Centralia.

Voters approved other building bond issues in: Somonauk District 432; Batavia District 101; Crystal Lake District 47; Millburn C. C. District 24, Wadsworth; Antioch C.C. District 34; Grayslake District 46; Township High School District 113, Highland Park; Rochelle C.C. District 231; Morrison C.U. District 6 (voters approved two separate bond questions); Highland C.U. District 5; Earlville C.U. District 9; Mendota Township High School District 280; Morris District 54; Homer C.C. District 33C, Lockport; Milne-Kelvin Grove District 91, Lockport; Ludwig-Walsh District 92, Lockport; Summit Hill District 161, Frankfort; Peotone C.U. District 207U; Valley View C.U. District 365, Romeoville; Calhoun C.U. District 40, Hardin; Neoga C.U. District 3; and Beecher City District 20.

In other voting April 13, DeKalb County voters, and Livingston County voters approved tax caps (PTELL), but Madison County voters rejected caps. Meanwhile collar county voters approved two school district proposals to substantially increase tax extensions permitted under existing county-wide tax caps. One extension increase was approved in Crystal Lake C.C. District 47, in McHenry County, the other in Will County. A tax extension limitation was adopted in Bethel District 82 in Jefferson County.

Voters approved a proposal to elect board members at large in Chenoa District 9, but defeated similar proposals in four other districts around the state.

Voters also OK'd two advisory questions: supporting proposed building projects in Kirby District 140, Tinley Park; and backing a proposal to hold public hearings on new attendance units in Posen-Robbins Elementary District 143.5.

Referendum results of February 23

Voters approved the lone school district tax increase proposal on the February 23 ballot, in Woodland Community Consolidated District 50, Gages Lake.

The only bond proposal on the consolidated primary ballot also won approval, a building bond question in Carbondale Community High School District 165.

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CONGRESS APPROVES ED-FLEX

The Congress has passed and sent to the President a bill to give schools greater flexibility in spending federal education funds (see "Federal legislation would cut schools' red tape" in the April 23 Newsbulletin, p. 3).

Mr. Clinton has promised to sign the bill, known as Ed-Flex. The bill covers some $11 billion in federal K-12 programs, but does not apply to federal laws on disabled students and civil rights.

The bill requires states to adopt plans showing how they would use the waivers to improve student achievement. States must also agree to waive similar regulations.

For more information, contact NSBA's Dan Fuller at 703/838-6763.

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How Business Can Support Leadership Training for School Board Members

Businesses, law firms, and individuals may support leadership training for school board members by making tax deductible, charitable contributions to the Illinois Association of School Boards. These contributions, no matter their size, allow IASB to provide additional training opportunities and resources for local school board members.

IASB is organized exclusively for tax-exempt purposes. Its status as a charitable corporation allows donors to receive a tax deduction for their contributions.

Please contact IASB if you, your business or law firm wish to make a tax deductible, charitable contribution. Depending upon IASB needs at the time of your contribution, the donation will be used for such purposes as workshops, speakers, receptions, scholarships, dinners, research, publications and/or special projects. Your support will be recognized in printed materials, display signs, donor representation at events, public announcements and introductions from the podium, or printed acknowledgment in publications.

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RESEARCH REPORTS

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Praise can work wonders in building student achievement

Well-earned praise may be a valuable tool to inspire students to do their schoolwork, according to a story in Education Week on a study by a group of researchers from North Carolina University.

The study of more than 1,000 students asked what kinds of rewards they preferred to get for doing their schoolwork. The biggest response was praise, with 59 percent saying parental accolades made a difference. About 8 percent wanted more free time and 8 percent wanted money or special food. Few wanted stickers, certificates or other nominal rewards.

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Teens' long hours on job can harm grades

Teenagers who work more than 20 hours per week are less likely to do well in school—but more likely to use drugs, a study shows. Teens who work moderate hours are more likely to go to college, however, the study showed.

The National Research Council and the Institute of Medicine are asking Congress to limit the number of hours those ages 16 to 17 may work during the school year.

The report said new laws should not impact school-to-work programs or students who must work to help support their families.

Source: Education Daily, as reported in It Starts on the Frontline, NSPRA, March 1999.

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Study shows impact of early intervention

Intervening in students' lives in elementary school makes a big difference in steering them away from violence and other high-risk activities, according to a 12-year study by University of Washington researchers.

The research, involving students at 18 elementary schools in high-crime Seattle neighborhoods, also finds that children's academic performance and school attendance improves following intervention between grades 1 and 6.

The results were seen when adults sought to foster an interest in school, build self-esteem, and teach social skills, the study reports. By age 18 students who got such attention were 19 percent less likely to commit a violent act, 38 percent less likely to drink heavily, and 13 percent less likely to engage in sexual intercourse.

For information on the study, reported this spring in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, contact David Hawkins at 206/543-7655 or jdh@u.washington.edu.

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House unanimously backs new special ed formula

A bill to provide a new special education funding formula, H.B. 558 (sponsored by Rep. Larry Woolard, D-Marion), was recently approved on the Illinois House floor by a vote of 116-0. The bill replaces the guidelines for reimbursement of extraordinary services and private tuition.

The new formula is tied to the foundation level for state aid. It would cost roughly $61 million annually and would furnish an added 35 percent of the foundation level for each special education student. According to the State Board of Education, this new formula would provide additional funds for all school districts and special education cooperatives.

For more information, contact Gordon Riffel, ISBE, at 217/782-3371.

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NEWS FROM IASB

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IASB to help plan electric purchasing pool

IASB has joined forces with the Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA) and the Illinois Association of School Business Officials (IASBO) to create an Electricity Purchasing Pool for members districts. The recent deregulation in Illinois will allow electricity purchasers to realize savings, if they choose, by purchasing electricity from providers other than their own regional provider.

IASB, IASA and IASBO have determined that a pool of school districts will maximize the savings, and therefore these school management organizations have begun jointly to explore the organization of such a pool. A survey of districts conducted earlier by IASBO and IASB found that savings are readily obtainable, and there is a great deal of interest in forming a pool.

The Associations will be employing consultants to work on the development of the purchasing pool. The issues are complex and will require a great deal of knowledge and experience with the electric companies and the deregulation law, rules and regulations.

IASB recently sent a fax to school districts to announce the Association's plan to help form an electricity purchasing pool to benefit Illinois school districts.

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Cole Award entries invited

Does your local newspaper cover local school board issues in an exemplary way? If so, you may want to give the beat reporter some positive reinforcement by encouraging him or her to enter articles in the 1999 Robert M. Cole Awards competition.

These annual newspaper awards, sponsored by IASB and administered by the Illinois Press Association, are named for IASB's first executive director. Entries will be judged July 22 as part of the IPA's annual newspaper awards, with presentations in the fall. The deadline for entry is June 18. For more information contact the Illinois Press Association, 2815 Old Jacksonville Road, Ste. 101, Springfield, IL 62704; phone 217/241-1300.

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School administrators, boards have referendum hopes with new "how to" book

School administrators and boards of education, worried about their next referendum, can get much-needed advice from a new book, Winning the Referendum Battle in Education, offered by the Illinois Association of School Boards.

The book, written by Joseph J. Graves, Jr., a communications expert, is a case history about the planning and tactics of a successful referendum campaign in Elementary District 41, Glen Ellyn.

Graves pointed out that only one in three educational referendums statewide has been successful in the past five years in Illinois, with a higher ratio of failure in the six Chicago collar counties, including a prior referendum in District 41.

The book is available for $20 (IASB member price $17) plus $4 handling and shipping. Ordering information: Tammy Call, Illinois Association of School Boards, 2921 Baker Drive, Springfield, IL 62703-5929; Phone: 217/528-9688, Fax: 217/528-2831, E-mail: tcall@iasb.com.

For additional information: Joseph J. Graves, Jr., 364 Lorraine, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137.

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THE NATIONAL SCENE

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Board members recount their hardest lessons

Experienced board members from across the nation were asked to identify the most difficult lesson or fact they had to learn about board service. Here is what they said most often:

* Acknowledging publicly that you have no authority as an individual board member; that only the board as a whole can make district policies and decisions.

* Determining what your function is on the board and how to accomplish it effectively.

* That no matter what you think you know about board service as a rookie, you still have a lot to learn.

* Recognizing the difference between setting policy (the board's job) and administering the schools (the superintendent's job).

* That you must represent all the students. Your decisions must be made in the interest of the total school system and not just special groups or interests.

* Learning how to respond to the complaints and concerns of citizens, administrators and staff.

* That change comes slowly.

* That you can't solve everyone's problems by yourself.

* That you must think deeply and sometimes accept a reality that is contrary to your own beliefs.

* That effective board service means being able to hold the minority viewpoint when voting; then openly supporting the majority vote of the board in your community.

* Discovering how the schools are funded.

* That the primary focus of all board decisions must be student achievement.

Source: Becoming a Better Board Member, NSBA, 1996.

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Illinois principal elected to national office

Ronald Ganschinietz, a school principal at Collinsville High School, Collinsville C.U. District 10, is one of 12 principals nationwide elected to the Board of Directors of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). Ganschinietz was elected last month at NASSP's 83rd annual convention in New Orleans, Louisiana, and will hold the post for one year.

NASSP boasts more than 42,000 middle level and high school principals and assistant principals among its membership.

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Difficulty seen balancing "zero tolerance" with common sense

Although supporters say these policies make students feel safer, critics say they often lock schools into an "all or nothing" approach to discipline. Zero tolerance districts are not permitted to distinguish between the juvenile offender who undermines schooling itself and the decent youth who makes a typical adolescent mistake.

Fully 87 percent of the nation's schools have adopted zero tolerance policies for alcohol and drugs, commonly resulting in compulsory suspension, regardless of the seriousness of the infraction. Meanwhile, 91 percent have adopted such policies for bringing a weapon to school.

Source: Dennis Cauchon, "Schools struggling to balance ‘zero tolerance,' common sense," USA Today, April 13, 1999.

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TOOLS FOR SCHOOLS

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1999 supplement to School Code published

Lexis Law Publishing recently announced the publication of the 1999 update to The School Code of Illinois. Published in May, this update, could prove an important resource for education professionals and education law practitioners who need to stay abreast of school law.

The update includes the most recent changes in legislation, and is condensed into a single supplementary pamphlet that will adhere to the inside back cover of The School Code of Illinois volume published by IASB. As with the main volume, the supplement is comprehensively indexed. It also contains a table of sections affected, so you can tell at a glance whether a given statute has been affected by recent legislation.

The retail price of the 1999 Supplement is $10, and discounted pricing can be arranged for bulk purchases. To order, just call the Lexis Law customer service department toll-free at 800/562-1197 and request item # 23971-10, under sales source code CBO. Or fax your order toll-free at 800/643-1280. According to Lexis Law, you may return your purchase within 45 days without obligation if not completely satisfied.

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Guide to building & equipment grants issued

School districts seeking building, equipment or renovation grants from private foundations face greater challenges than most other grant seekers. These grants tend to be more expensive and therefor require ironclad justification and planning.

That is where the Directory of Building and Equipment Grants comes in handy. Containing 800 foundation profiles, it identifies verified areas of support for each foundation, as well as geographic restrictions, grant range, and previous awards. The directory lists foundations in a state-by-state format, with a subject index.

The cost of the fifth edition is $59.50 per copy plus $6 for shipping and handling. To order it from the publisher, write: Research Grant Guides, Inc., Dept. 3A, P.O. Box 1214, Loxahatchee, Florida 33470; phone 561/795-6129; fax 661/795-7794; e-mail: rggfl@aol.com; or visit the website at http://www.researchgrant com.

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School accident-prevention handbook available

More children between ages one and 14 die from accidents than from all the leading diseases combined. Thus, with accident prevention a high priority in school districts and communities, a new book designed to enable schools to check the effectiveness of their safety programs could be a big help. Produced in cooperation with the National Safety Council, the handbook includes nine helpful, easy-to-use checklists on school safety. The cost of the School Safety Handbook is $13, plus $4 shipping and handling. To purchase, contact ASBO International Publications Orders at 703/478-0405.

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School Safety Center lists violence warning signs

Although school gun violence remains quite rare, the Littleton incident reminds us that every such incident exacts a horrendous toll. To help head off future violence, the National School Safety Center in Atlanta has compiled a list of warning signs for potential violence, based on analysis of school-associated violent deaths from 1992 to the present.

Signs of the dangerous student include: (1) Has a history of tantrums or angry outbursts; (2) Resorts to name-calling, cursing or abusive language; (3) Habitually makes violent threats when angry; (4) Has previously brought a weapon to school; (5) Has serious disciplinary problems at school and in the community; (6) Has a background of drug, alcohol or other substance abuse or dependency; (7) Is on the fringe of his or her peer group with few or no close friends; (8) Is preoccupied with weapons or incendiary devices; (9) Has been truant, suspended or expelled from school; (10) Abuses animals.

Source: USA Ed.Net Briefs, April 26, 1999, based on a report from Cox News Service, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, April 22, 1999, A15. For more information visit the National School Safety Center Web site at http://www.nssc1.org/home.htm.

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Literacy statistics listed online

Are you curious about the rate of literacy in your county or municipality? Then check out the following Web site, which lists local area literacy rates throughout Illinois, and the entire United States: http://www.casas.org/lit.litcode/.

Source: Illinois Literacy, Office of Illinois Secretary of State, Spring 1999.

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LEGISLATIVE ACTION

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House considers early retirement option extension

A House committee recently approved S.B. 55 (sponsored by Sen. Kathleen Parker, R-Northfield), sending the bill to the full House for consideration in early May. The bill would extend the "sunset" expiration of the Early Retirement Option until June 20, 2005 (it is due to expire next year). The bill would eliminate the requirement that local districts pay up to 100% of the salary of a TRS member who retires with 34 years of creditable service.

However, the bill was amended in committee with a provision initiated by the Chicago teachers' union to allow for the Chicago school district to be able to use an ERO-type plan. Though the amendment seems to be non-controversial, S.B. 55 will now have to go back to the Senate after approval by the House. The Senate would have until the end of session (scheduled adjournment is May 21) to take final action on S.B. 55.

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LEGISLATIVE ACTION

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Seminar centers on teacher quality

The issue of teacher quality—and how to strengthen teacher professional development—is the topic of a June 24-26 seminar in Chicago sponsored by the Council of Urban Boards of Education (CUBE).

For information, call 703/838-6705, or visit the NSBA Web site: www.nsba.org.

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Safe Schools initiative workshops scheduled

Upcoming workshops in the ISBE's Safe Schools initiative include "Aggression Replacement," "Dealing with School Bullies," "Crisis Preparedness," and "Discipline with Dignity." To check on scheduled times and locales, visit the ISBE homepage at http://www.isbe.state.il.us; or phone 618/395-8626.

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CLASSIFIED ADS

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FOR SALE: Best offer by July 1, 1999. Dukane Intercom System; 50-speaker capacity (can call each speaker separately with call back capability or all call); AM/FM stereo radio; added 20 relays; speakers not included. Contact: Dan Mattern at Whiteside District 115, phone 618/233-7917, ext. 311.

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IASB ARCHIVES HOME

Illinois Association of School Boards

2921 Baker Drive
Springfield, Illinois 62703