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School Board News Bulletin
August 2001

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Wide-open race for Governor's office may hold key to school funding

Fire safety program aims high

$1.2 billion needed to equitably fund schools: Study

Miss B — one of a kind; Beloved educator gave 62 years of service to Toluca schools

'School: The Story of American Public Education' premieres on PBS September 3

Reading program challenges students

NEWS HEADLINES

NEWS FROM IASB

Conference housing exchange available online

IASB fall division dinner meetings for 2001

LEGISLATIVE NEWS

New law requires boards to adopt policy on bullying

DEVELOPMENTS IN SCHOOL LAW

FEDERAL UPDATE

School leaders urged to call about special education funding bill

THE NATIONAL SCENE

New teachers in Hartford paid more than veterans

Public schools to see greater diversity

Schools prohibited from recommending Ritalin

RESEARCH REPORTS

Biology, not environment, blamed for reading problems

Drug use by older students increases slightly

NEWS FROM SCHOOL DISTRICTS

Naperville ordinance to fine truants

RECENT MAILINGS FROM IASB

Governor George H. Ryan announced August 7 that he would not seek reelection, throwing the gubernatorial race wide open to a host of candidates. Educators say the outcome of the race could be of crucial importance to the future of school funding.

Ryan is the first Illinois governor to decline to seek a second term since 1952. Ryan's announced departure creates a vacuum in power and influence, and sets the stage for a 17-month campaign. "Although all the announced candidates mention education as their first priority, the governor's decision to leave the scene early does create uncertainty for schools," explained Kent Redfield, director of legislative studies at the University of Illinois at Springfield.

Education lobbyists note that Ryan has kept his key campaign pledge - to devote 51 percent of all new state revenue to education - every year since he became governor. The result has been a $1.4 billion increase in spending for education. Thus, a key question for schools now is whether Ryan can continue to keep that pledge as governor in the 2002 legislative session, and whether his successor will be as committed to improving public education.

A board appointed last year by Governor Ryan is to come up with recommendations for long-term school funding reforms by next summer (see "Many millions of dollars needed to equitably fund schools: Study," on page 2). To create momentum for potential legislative action in 2003, board members reportedly want candidates for governor and the General Assembly to support whatever may be proposed.

The first declared Republican candidate for governor was Sen. Patrick J. O'Malley of Palos Park. But the day after the governor declared he would not be a candidate, Attorney General Jim Ryan declared that he would run for the job, saying education would be a top priority. "I can tell you that as governor I will build the strongest children's agenda in Illinois history and lead a crusade for excellence in education," he stated.

Others may join in the race on the Republican side, including Lieutenant Governor Corrine Wood, and possibly State Treasurer Judy Barr Topinka. Wood reportedly has some degree of support from Governor Ryan.

Meanwhile, several Democrats have already declared their candidacies, including two people well known in education circles: former Chicago Schools' CEO Paul Vallas, and former state superintendent of schools and state comptroller Michael Bakalis.

Other Democrats running or rumored to be running for governor include: state Representative Lou Lang of Skokie, former state comptroller and attorney general Roland Burris, Cook County state's attorney Dick Devine, former state treasurer Pat Quinn, former Justice Department official John Schmidt and U.S. Rep. Rod Blagojevich of Chicago.

As for Governor Ryan, he can retain the $3.1 million now in his campaign fund or become a "king-maker" by using the fund to help other candidates for governor.

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Children are most at risk to become fire casualties. In fact, attendance at a burn camp, an Illinois summer camp for school-aged kids who have been hospitalized for their burns, increased from 85 children last year to 92 this summer.

In response, the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance (IFSA) and the Chicago Sun-Times will team up to offer a burn prevention program to students and families throughout the state.

Schools will receive information about this project in September, and school leaders are encouraged to join this team effort to educate students on the importance of fire safety. For more information, call the IFSA at 800/634-0911.

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Illinois would need to spend up to $500 million more each year to fund public schools equitably, according to a new study funded by the state Education Funding Advisory Board. Furthermore, state government would have to spend another $700 million beyond that annually to help districts effectively teach disadvantaged students.

Illinois now expends more than $6 billion in general state revenues on elementary and secondary education. But the $1.2 billion proposed annual increase is roughly six times the amount of new money provided for Fiscal Year 2002.

Exact costs of implementing the study proposals will depend on decisions the board makes on various policy issues, according to John Augenblick, president of the Denver firm that conducted the $154,000 study.

The funding advisory board, appointed more than a year ago by Governor George Ryan, has set a goal to develop recommendations for long-term school funding reforms by next summer.

Many school districts in the state-including most downstate districts and many in the Chicago area-would like to see overall state funding sources increased and the reliance upon property taxes decreased.

Under the current funding system children tend to benefit educationally the most in districts with rich tax bases, while they often struggle in poorer areas.

The chairman of the funding advisory board, former state superintendent Robert Leininger, said the board's recommendations will in all probability include tax rate increases, tax restructuring and school consolidation. The board also is likely to suggest revising the school funding formula to take regional cost-of-living differences and property tax caps into account, Leininger said.

Source: Illinois State Journal-Register, "$500 million needed to even out schools," August 8, 2001.

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On February 7, 2001, education and children lost a friend and teacher who, in my opinion, was one of kind.

I met Marion Brandt late in her career, in 1981, when I became superintendent of Toluca C.U. District 2. "Miss B," as she was commonly known, had already retired after teaching for 35 years. She extended that career by another 27 years, working as library aide at Toluca's junior-senior high school and when it later became Fieldcrest Middle School West.

Miss B herself had read every book in the library and she developed her own quizzes to determine when or if students had read them in order to complete their book reports. She also tutored students with endless patience, showing a caring touch for each and every student.

Only two days before her death - at age 82 - she was at the library, preparing for the school spelling bee.

"We always knew she would want to be with the kids until the end," middle school principal and long-time friend Ken Baker said. "And literally, she was."

One former student of the 1950s who was interviewed by the local newspaper recalled Miss B as a strict teacher, but one who also knew how to play.

"She always went out to recess with us," Pauline Fecht told the Minonk News-Dispatch. They played Red Rover, softball, kickball or tag. "She knew all the jump rope limericks," twirling the rope for the children.

Miss B was also known and will be remembered for many activities she engaged in outside of the classroom. Like riding the team bus to basketball and baseball games. She rarely missed a game, home or away, often serving as statistician. Her dedication was noted in 1998, when she was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches' Association Hall of Fame as a "Friend of Basketball."

She also wrote poetry, and would fashion custom-made verses for special occasions, from basketball games to funerals, always choosing comforting and caring words. And as an accomplished pianist, Miss B played "Pomp and Circumstance" for the junior and senior high graduations, attending about 75 such events in all.

In fact, the last time I saw Miss B was at the piano, at the final Toluca High School graduation.

She was also a Grand Marshal in the Toluca Labor Day parade; she volunteered at the local nursing home; served on the town's coalmine preservation committee; and contributed to its 100-year anniversary book.

All of this dedication was single-minded; Marion Brandt was never married and had no immediate family when she died.

A cousin, Dorothy Grubb, of Streator, recalled that Miss B would attend an annual family reunion in Streator. But the matronly woman would never eat, and was shy, almost reserved.

"If you wanted to talk to her, you would have to go to her," Grubb said. "But she kept track of everyone and everything around her. She knew all the children and who belonged to whom."

A lifetime of photos and memories were displayed at Marion Brandt's funeral on February 12. An estimated 300 people attended services held at the Toluca school gymnasium. They represented three generations of students and former students, some of who recited poems of their own about the special woman who knew them all.

"She was an institution, a fixture here for so long," added Fieldcrest board member Cindy Bernardi. "It won't be the same without her."

I agree wholeheartedly. Miss B, you may be gone, but you will never be forgotten; you'll always be remembered.

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Here is the answer for all who wonder "when does the PBS series about public schools run?" This new public TV show is scheduled to begin September 3 and 4 (but check your local listings).

The series, which was ten years in the making, will depict "the history of one of our nation's oldest and most embattled institutions - public education."

For teachers, PBS offers a Curriculum Guide written by the AACTE (American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education) that examines the key themes, scholarly perspectives, and topical questions for each of the four episodes.

For more information, visit the PBS series' Web site at: http://www.pbs.org/publicschool/.

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Illiteracy is a major national challenge. Nearly half of all students can't read or function on grade level and only one in 10 reading below grade level in first grade ever catches up.

Helping kids catch up is the goal of the 100 Book Challenge, an independent reading program that involves 60,000 children nationwide. By providing interesting books, intensive skill development and ongoing assessment, the program draws together those who can influence reading competence: students, teachers and parents.

The program claims to bring the most reading enhancement "right away" to any classroom, summer program, or community action project-although it may take two to three years for students to catch up to grade level. The estimated cost to join the program in an average school of ten classrooms is $3,100 per classroom. For information visit http://www.100bookchallenge.com or phone 215/568-7144 or write the program at 2000 Hamilton Street, Suite 206, Philadelphia, PA 19130.

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... Fifty-two high school students in Illinois earned perfect scores on the ACT college entrance exam last school year, more than double the number of top scores earned the previous year. The jump is attributed in large part to a new state requirement for all high school juniors to take the exam at the time they take the Illinois Prairie State Achievement Examination, or PSAE. Previously, only about 60 percent of 11th-graders took the ACT. Meanwhile, average scores on the ACT are expected to drop. "We expect that scores may drop some because we will have a lot of kids taking the test who might not have otherwise taken it," said Kim Knauer, spokeswoman for the Illinois State Board of Education. (July 27, Chicago Tribune) ... Academic deficiencies, financial woes and low enrollments have forced four Ohio charter schools to close this summer, state officials say. Charter schools are publicly financed, privately run schools that operate free of most state regulations. (August 7, The Associated Press)

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NEWS FROM IASB

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Unfortunately there are a limited number of Chicago hotel rooms available at Joint Annual Conference rates each year, and most of these rooms are already reserved. That is particularly unfortunate because conference rates are less than half those charged the general public, and some districts inevitably end up paying full price.

Meanwhile, because they must book rooms very early, some school district leaders find themselves with unneeded rooms that they must cancel just before the Conference. When such rooms are canceled, they do not go back into the block of rooms available at the reduced rate; instead, they are made available to the general public at the hotel's regular rates.

So in order to bring together districts seeking conference-rate rooms with districts that have excess rooms, IASB has set up a Bulletin Board on the Internet for the exchange of rooms between school districts. To access the exchange, ask your district superintendent for the Web address or call IASB at ext. 1115. (The location of the Exchange is not protected, but the Web address is being revealed only on a "need to know" basis.)

Once you find the site, follow the on-screen directions to locate excess conference-rate rooms or to make such rooms available to other districts that need them.

Please note that the hotel cannot bill a new district for rooms exchanged between districts in this manner. The school district with excess rooms will continue to be liable for charges until the new occupant district pays the account in full with credit card or cash at checkout. Be sure the new occupant(s) understand this. In addition, ask the new occupants to immediately send your district a check equal to the original deposit you have paid to the hotel for each exchanged room. The original deposit will remain with the new occupant of an exchanged room.

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Fall division meetings of the Illinois Association of School Boards are scheduled as follows:

• September 6Northwest DivisionPride of Oregon
• September 1Wabash Valley DivisionRobinson High School
• September 13Starved Rock DivisionSeneca High School
• September 19Southwestern DivisionO'Fallon THSD 203
• September 25 Illini DivisionSt. Joseph CCSD 169
• September 25Two Rivers DivisionBeardstown CUSD 15
• October 1Shawnee DivisionHerrin CUSD 4
• October 2Abe Lincoln DivisionIlliopolis CUSD 12
• October 2Egyptian DivisionMt. Vernon District 80
• October 2Corn Belt DivisionPontiac CCSD 429
• October 3Kishwaukee DivisionRiverwalk, Geneva
• October 3Central Ill. Valley DivisionPekin District 108
• October 11DuPage, West Cook,
• Three Rivers DivisionsCarlisle, Lombard
• October 11Lake County DivisionMundelein High School
• October 11Western DivisionLewistown CUSD 97
• October 16Blackhawk DivisionKewanee CUSD 229
• October 24Kaskaskia DivisionGermantown District 60
• October 30South Cook DivisionHoliday Inn, Tinley Park

NOTE: No meeting is yet scheduled for the North Cook Division.

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LEGISLATIVE NEWS

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Legislation signed August 7, H.B. 646 (Rep. Patricia Lindner, R-Aurora), requires every school board to adopt provisions in student discipline policy to control bullying. While each board is free to define bullying, the new policy provisions must include procedures for notifying parents or legal guardians and for launching appropriate early intervention.

The law requires each board to consult with its parent-teacher advisory committee and other community organizations in preparing the mandated new policy wording.

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DEVELOPMENTS IN SCHOOL LAW

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Milford Central Schools, in New York, have a very common board policy, a policy allowing community use of school facilities. The policy immersed Milford in years of litigation culminating in a U.S. Supreme Court decision.1 After this case, resolving which groups get to use school facilities is decomposed into "all or none."

Milford's policy lists seven purposes for which its building could be used by community groups after school hours. Among the stated purposes were "for instruction in any branch of education, learning or the arts," and "for social, civic and recreational meetings and entertainment events, and other uses pertaining to the welfare of the community, provided that such uses shall be nonexclusive and shall be opened to the general public."

In 1996 several residents, on behalf of the local Good News Club, requested to use the school's facilities. They wanted to meet at the school "to have a fun time of singing songs, hearing a Bible lesson and memorizing scripture sponsored." Milford denied the request because the proposed use was the equivalent of religious worship.

Milford's position was compelling. The First Amendment to the Constitution prohibits the state, including public schools, from establishing religion. The club's meetings were quintessentially religious -- not merely a discussion of secular matters from a religious perspective. The school board asserted that if it allowed the club to conduct religious instruction on campus, it would violate the Establishment Clause.

However, the club's position was also grounded on the First Amendment - the Free Speech Clause. A school building is not a traditional or public forum in which a fellow with a bullhorn can pontificate without fear of government censure. On the other extreme, Milford could have refused to let any community group use its facilities. Instead, Milford opened its facilities for certain uses; thus it created a limited public forum. If a group otherwise qualifies to use the school facilities, could school officials still deny it permission based on its message, viewpoint, or philosophy?

The Supreme Court found that Milford engaged in viewpoint discrimination in violation of the Free Speech Clause. Having opened its facilities for public use, Milford could not deny access to a group on the basis of the group's message or viewpoint. Milford banned the club, not because it was lacking in educational purpose, but because the education it provided was religious. While a board may restrict its schools for the discussion of certain topics, it may not through those restrictions discriminate on the basis of viewpoint. The exclusion of the club's activities was impermissible viewpoint discrimination.

The school board's interest in not endorsing religion did not outweigh the club's free speech right - the circumstances did not support the board's theory that young children might perceive the school's endorsement. Said the court: "We decline to employ Establishment Clause jurisprudence using a modified heckler's veto, in which a group's religious activity can be proscribed on the basis of what the youngest members of the audience might misperceive." 2

School officials are left with this admittedly over-simplified rule to guide them when deciding which groups may use school facilities: "all or none."3 Working backwards, school officials may refuse to permit any non-school or community group to use its facilities. Practically speaking, this is very difficult. Community support may be sacrificed if school facilities are not available for use by non-school groups.

The other option is to let all groups use school facilities under viewpoint-neutral guidelines. Under this option, school officials may impose reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions on the use (e.g., only after school hours, on certain days, or when a custodian is available). In addition, school officials may limit the use to the discussion of certain topics (e.g., educational, civic, or recreational). However, these restrictions may not be fashioned or interpreted in such a way as to exclude groups because of their message, purpose, or goal. For example, these restrictions are all prohibited: "educational purposes, other than religious education," "cultural purposes, provided gay artists are not discussed," "civic purposes, limited to traditional values," and "uses consistent with the public interest, provided the school board approves of the public interest being promoted."4

Other viewpoint-neutral guidelines for managing community use of school facilities can be placed in administrative procedures. These guidelines can ensure that the district does not lose control over its facilities. School officials retain authority to prohibit meetings that would "materially and substantially interfere with the orderly conduct of educational activities within the school."5 Other advisable rules include requiring groups to indemnify and hold harmless the district for any loss arising out of its use of school facilities as well as to supply proof of insurance verifying that the group maintains adequate insurance coverage against personal injury and/or property loss. And, of course, board policies containing conduct requirements for all individuals on school property are applicable to groups that are using school facilities. Absent a non-discriminatory reason, these rules and policies must be applied "all or none."

The federal Equal Access Act, not discussed in this article, governs student access to school facilities. 20 U.S.C. § 4071 et seq. This law prohibits a secondary school from denying fair opportunity or "equal access" to students who wish to conduct a meeting within a limited open forum on the basis of the religious, political, philosophical, or other content of the speech at such a meeting.

1. Good News Club v Milford Central School, 121 S.Ct. 2093 (June 11, 2001).
2. The Ninth Circuit followed this reasoning in a case involving a school with children kindergarten through third grade. Culbertson v Oakridge School Dist. No. 76, No. 990-35165 (9th Cir., 2001)
3. Of course, a board should discuss the implications of any access to school facilities policy with its attorney.
4. A board risks violating the principle of neutrality if it prohibits single-sex organizations, even if they discriminate against homosexuals, from using school facilities. According to another Supreme Court decision, the viewpoints of groups that discriminate against homosexuals are entitled to First Amendment protection. Boy Scouts of America v. Dale, 120 S.Ct. 2293 (2000). This does not mean that districts must "sponsor" such groups - for liability reasons alone, sponsorship should be restricted to school functions that are supervised by school staff.
5. Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School Dist., 89 S.Ct. 733 (1969).

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LEGISLATIVE NEWS

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The National School Boards Association (NSBA) has begun a campaign to push Congress to fund special education costs at the level promised in federal law. When the special education law was enacted in 1975, the federal government pledged to fund 40 percent of the cost of educating children with disabilities. Congress has never paid more than 15 percent of that cost.

NSBA is asking school leaders to "please contact members of Congress and urge them to vote for a final ESEA bill that contains progressive increases in special education funding of $2.5 billion for each of the next six years. Include an example of the special education costs your school district currently incurs."

For more information, visit the NSBA website at: http://www.nsba.org and click on "Advocacy" in the left-hand column. Source: Illinois Statewide School Management Alliance, Alliance Legislative Report 92-26, July 23, 2001.

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THE NATIONAL SCENE

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To recruit qualified teachers, school officials in Hartford, Connecticut, are making the best salary offers they can-and sometimes that leads to new recruits being hired at salaries higher than long-time district employees.

The issue is not limited to Hartford. Across the nation, school officials and policymakers are experimenting with teacher compensation in an effort to recruit or retain enough qualified teachers. Ideas being tried include sign-up bonuses, extra pay to serve in high-needs schools, and alternative financial help, such as low-cost mortgages to help teachers buy a home.

Source: School Board News, National School Boards Association, July 17, 2001.

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The 2000 census data indicates that the United States is undergoing a fundamental cultural transformation-the nation is becoming more diverse and older. Both the "graying" of America and the diversification of public schools will have a tremendous impact on public education for the next 20 years, according to the Cross City Campaign for Urban School Reform.

By 2010 Illinois, for example, is projected to have a youth population that is more than 40 percent minority. Illinois schools will be challenged to serve a population that is increasingly diverse both racially and culturally.

Source: Flash Facts, Cross City Campaign for Urban School Reform, June 2001.

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A new law in Connecticut forbids school officials from recommending that Ritalin or other drugs be given to children with behavioral problems. The measure does permit school medical staff to recommend that a child see a physician. Connecticut is the first state in the nation to pass such a law.

Source: Reuters, "Connecticut Ritalin Law Targets Schools, Not Docs," July 25, 2001.

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RESEARCH REPORTS

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Children who have trouble reading may suffer from too much brain symmetry, new research suggests. The study in the August issue of Child Development shows that 6th-grade students with more symmetrical brains performed worse on reading tests regardless of their parents' income level.

Source: Reuters, July 20, 2001, based on article published in Child Development, August 2001.

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More than two in five high school seniors used an illegal drug in the 2000-2001 academic year, the first time that rate has risen in four years, according to a national survey released July 19.

While rates of illegal drug use largely stabilized this year among students 12 and older, alcohol and tobacco use dropped to the lowest level in 13 years. So said the survey by the National Parents' Resource Institute for Drug Education (PRIDE).

Source: Reuters, "Drug Use Rises Among Older U.S. School Kids," July 20, 2001.

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NEWS FROM SCHOOL DISTRICTS

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Students who skip school in Naperville could draw fines totaling hundreds of dollars for themselves and their parents under an ordinance approved recently by the city council.

School leaders from Naperville C.U. District 203 and Indian Prairie District 204 called the measure a proactive one that gives them more options to go after truants. Naperville police also endorsed the move.

The ordinance allows parents to be fined $100 for a student's first truancy and up to $500 for repeat violations. Meanwhile, students may be fined $50 for a first offense, and as much as $300 for subsequent violations.

Source: Chicago Tribune, "Naperville ordinance fines truants," July 19, 2001.

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RECENT MAILINGS FROM IASB

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IASB regularly sends informational materials to all member districts. Here is a list of such items mailed to representatives in your district in the past month. For more information about any item, contact your board president or district superintendent or get in touch with IASB.

2001 Conference announcement, 6/4 to district superintendents.

2001 Digest of Bills Passed, 7/12 to board presidents and district superintendents.

New board member workshops, 7/16 to board presidents and superintendents.

Conference housing exchange letter, 7/19 to superintendents.

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IASB ARCHIVES HOME

Illinois Association of School Boards

2921 Baker Drive
Springfield, Illinois 62703