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School Board News Bulletin
September 1998

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School violence "hype" distorts reality

IASB to launch extensive survey of board members and superintendents

Year 2000 bug threatens school districts

Disadvantaged children can get health insurance

COMPASS sets course for easier account access for ISDLAF+ members

State task force submits anti-violence proposals

Nominate boards for arts award

IGAP reading scores jump

Modest gains reported in ACT test scores

ISBE announces celebration in honor of the retirement of Darrell Elliott

RESEARCH REPORTS

Opinion divided on private school vouchers

Teachers favor more parent involvement

Bus crash statistics released

TOOLS FOR SCHOOLS

Population projections, parliamentary help now on Web

Gun violence prevention video free to schools

THE NATIONAL SCENE

Utah charter law challenged

Number of U.S. children surpasses baby boom

WORKSHOPS & MEETINGS

Board secretaries election workshops scheduled

National conference on technology set for Nashville

NEWS FROM IASB

Legal requirements for minutes explained

Nominating Committee Report

FEDERAL UPDATE

E-rate applications are being processed as feds consider changes

Federal IDEA regulations delayed

Digital divide "alarming"

NSBA publishes advocacy booklet

Recent mailings from IASB

Classified Ads

There were actually fewer school shooting deaths across the nation this past school year than five years ago, but the horrific nature of the most recent shootings and the heavy media coverage gives the public the idea that school violence is on the rise.

The result, according to a new study, could be "counterproductive new laws and an excess focus on violence in schools while the society ignores the bigger problem of children being killed outside of schools." That finding comes from School House Hype: School Shootings and Real Risks Kids Face in America, published by the Justice Policy Institute.

Media coverage of the dramatic killings in 1997-98 "has created a misperception that schools are dangerous," said Vincent Schiraldi, the director of the Justice Policy Institute. "In fact, schools are still the safest place in America for kids."

For more information contact: Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice, Washington, DC; 202/678-9282; or visit their website at http://www.cjcj.org.

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IASB to launch extensive survey of board members and superintendents

Members of Illinois school boards and their superintendents will soon be asked to take part in an extensive study of how they feel about their work.

According to Executive Director Wayne Sampson, the Illinois Association of School Boards plans to mail a package of questionnaires to the superintendent of each member district. The superintendent will be asked to distribute a questionnaire to each board member. To assure anonymity of respondents and speed compilation of findings, survey responses will be gathered at Western Illinois University, where they will be tabulated by computer.

Board member responses are being sought to help the Association staff ascertain:

* who serves on Illinois school boards?

* how well are they served by IASB programs, services and publications?

* how do they view their roles as board members and what might be done to make board service more satisfying?

The primary purpose of the survey is to assess the needs and concerns of board members and help IASB staff structure programs and services. A separate questionnaire will ask superintendents for information about their districts and for their views of IASB programs.

Sampson expects the questionnaires to represent a rather extensive exercise for respondents.

"There are just a lot of things we need to know," he said. "All we can do is ask our members to please bear with us and promise them that their responses will be completely anonymous."

It has been six years since IASB last conducted such an extensive study of its membership.

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Year 2000 bug threatens school districts

What if every electronic system in your district suddenly stopped working or started producing inaccurate data, including everything from financial programs to student data systems and building fire alarm systems? It could happen thanks to the Year 2000 (Y2K) bug, a widespread computer programming defect with potentially disastrous side-effects.

The Year 2000 threat has arisen because older electronic systems and computer programs used a two-digit year (98) instead of a four-digit year (1998). Such systems read the digits "00" in a date as meaning the year 1900 instead of the year 2000.

Risk management experts say many Illinois school districts face Y2K problems. One potential business consequence is that terminated employees may continue to be paid because checks are produced if today's date is prior to the employee's termination date. The district also might be unable to enroll or withdraw students, and the attendance register used to determine state funding could fail—all because completing such tasks depends upon entering the current date. Building or infrastructure failures could occur as well, including: security systems, telephones, lighting, heating, bell ringing, fire alarms, smoke detectors and sprinklers.

What should your district be doing? Experts recommend the following:

1. Establish a Y2K program team to develop a written action plan to analyze the district's hardware, software and infrastructure for possible problems and to outline solutions for the most critical systems.

2. Update the district's crisis plan so your district is prepared for power failures and other "outside" failures.

3. Conduct an employee Y2K awareness campaign.

4. Purchase only Y2K-compliant hardware and software.

5. Use four-digit years in all date entries, even those for the current year.

6. In the last six months of 1999, all financial and other important records should be printed in "hard-copy" so there is a paper trail if an important system fails.

7. Make arrangements with computer consultants to be available to help after January 1, 2000, in case of unforeseen problems.

For more information about the Y2K problems confronting public-sector organizations, visit the Y2K awareness Web site provided by Public Technology Incorporated and three local government organizations: http://www.pti.org/membership/y2k/.

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Disadvantaged children can get health insurance

Illinois is moving to implement a new federally financed program to make health insurance possible for uninsured children. Included are roughly 300,000 Illinois children or about one in ten children statewide. Illinois' rendition of the federally funded Children's Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) is called KidCare.

Children under age 19 whose family income is less than 185 percent of poverty and who are not enrolled in a health insurance plan are eligible for the KidCare program. For example, a working parent with two uninsured kids who earns $24,000 a year would be able to enroll his or her children in the program. The benefits are essentially the same as medical services and coverage under Medicaid.

To get information on how to enroll children in KidCare call 800/252-8635. For more information about this topic and other issues call Voices for Illinois Children at 312/456-0600 or visit their web site: http://www.voices 4kids.org.

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COMPASS sets course for easier account access for ISDLAF+ members

A new Internet-based online system, Cadre Online Management Priority Access Secured System—called COMPASS—enables participants in Cadre-administered Liquid Asset Funds to review accounts and access historical data 24 hours a day at no extra charge.

COMPASS enhances Cadre's well-known excellence in service and customer interaction. Once access is established with an online access code and password, Liquid Asset Fund participants can look at historical rates and fund information, check account balances, view daily and monthly statements, and review transaction history and wiring instructions.

William T. Sullivan, Jr., Chairman and CEO of Cadre Financial Services, expressed enthusiasm about the new system. "Cadre is built on a foundation of providing the customer the best service and information available. COMPASS is a logical next step for us in this ongoing pursuit. This system will give Liquid Asset Fund participants even more flexibility in accessing account information enabling us to further strengthen our partnership with school and municipal administrators in their quest to manage short-term assets most efficiently."

The system has been developed using SSL technology that encrypts all data and transmits it securely between your PC and Cadre's computer. This way, your account information is never exposed on the Internet and you can interact on-line with safety and confidence.

To activate COMPASS access for yourself or for other authorized persons within your organization, please call Cadre toll-free at 1-800/221-4524, ext. 215 or 231. They will provide you with a COMPASS Internet service authorization form to complete and return by mail. Upon receipt, they will verify your account authorization, and call you back with the Personal ID(s) and PIN Number(s) for you to log on to COMPASS.

For more complete information about the ISDLAF+ program, including an Information Statement, contact your local representative or call John Patti, Vice President, Cadre Securities, Inc., at 1-888/ISDLAFP. Read the Statement carefully before investing. Fixed income investment products and services are offered by Cadre Financial Services, Inc., member NASD & SIPC. Investment advisory and cash management products and services are offered by Cadre Financial Services, Inc., a registered investment advisor.

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State task force submits anti-violence proposals

A list of proposals to curb school violence was unveiled recently by a bipartisan state task force. Task force proposals include requiring adults to place locks on all guns, and making adults criminally liable for failing to store guns safely away from children.

One recommendation has already been implemented: to operate a statewide toll-free hotline for students to call to anonymously report threats of violence or weapons violations on school grounds. The Illinois State Police reportedly will begin operating this hotline in a few weeks.

The nonpartisan task force, headed by Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan, held public hearings in July and August and is expected to make final recommendations to the General Assembly soon.

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Nominate boards for arts award

The Illinois Alliance for Arts Education has announced that nominations are now being accepted for the 11th annual Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education (Kennedy Center) and National School Boards Association (NSBA) award, which recognizes a local school board for outstanding support of the arts in education.

The award is presented annually to a school board that has demonstrated support for and commitment to high-quality arts education in its school district, community, state or special jurisdiction.

One school board per state is nominated for the national award and the final selection is made by a panel of arts educators and other educators including representatives of the Kennedy Center and NSBA.

The award panelists reportedly will look favorably upon those school districts that have worked to fully integrate the arts in their schools.

Local school boards may nominate themselves for the award, but the deadline for nominations is no later than Tuesday, December 1. Each application will require an endorsement letter from the Illinois Association of School Boards to be eligible for consideration.

For further information or to obtain application forms, contact Nadine Saitlin, Executive Director, Illinois Alliance for Arts Education, phone 312/750-0589 or fax 312/750-9113 or send e-mail to iaae@artsmart.org.

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IGAP reading scores jump

Preliminary results from the 1998 Illinois Goals Assessment Program (IGAP) show sizable increases in reading test scores in three of the four grades tested. The Illinois State Board of Education reports that student scores in mathematics, writing and science were generally stable in all grades tested, but increased in social science at all levels.

Reading scores among 3rd graders remained at 246. But reading scores rose by 19 points among 6th graders, from 229 to 248; and by 10 points among 8th graders, from 227 to 237; and by 20 points among 10th graders, from 208 to 228. IGAP uses a 500-point scale for all tests except writing, which uses a 32-point scale.

The rebound in Illinois reading test scores follows a five-year decline. From 1993 through 1997, reading achievement slipped eight points among 3rd graders; 38 points among 6th and 8th graders; and a staggering 42 points among 10th graders.

State Superintendent of Education Joseph A. Spagnolo hailed the sudden improvement as evidence the statewide focus on teaching reading has been a success. He credited the Illinois Right to Read Initiative, among other recent efforts, with making a difference.

The improved reading test scores came in the wake of allegations of flaws in IGAP test scoring. The allegations were registered in July by two university staffers who contributed to the design of the original IGAP reading exam.

State officials believe reading declines have been genuine, but they concede scoring techniques adopted in 1993 may have exaggerated the severity of the declines.

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Modest gains reported in ACT test scores

While the national average composite score on the ACT—the entrance exam taken by 60 percent of college freshmen—remained unchanged at 21.0 in 1998, Illinois high school seniors raised their composite score from 21.2 to 21.4.

Illinois student scores topped the national average for the eighth consecutive year, with fully 69 percent of Illinois high school seniors taking the exam this year. The number of Illinois students taking the test increased more than 3 percent, rising from 86,802 to 89,452.

The statewide average composite score ranked Illinois 22nd among the 50 states, which compares favorably to, say, Michigan, which ranked 30th. Illinois and Michigan may be good states to compare because they have similar demographics and they test roughly the same percentage of graduates (68 percent in Michigan, compared to 69 percent in Illinois).

For more information contact: Kelley Hayden of the ACT, phone 319/337-1028.

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ISBE announces celebration in honor of the retirement of Darrell Elliott

Come join the celebration to honor ISBE's friend and colleague, Darrell Elliott, otherwise known as Mr. State Aid. Darrell will be retiring in December, 1998 and his friends are arranging a dinner and entertainment to ensure that he knows how much he will be missed.

When: November 15, 1998

Drinks at 4:00 Dinner at 5:00

Where: The Northfield Center
3210 Northfield
Springfield, Illinois

Dinner will include Prime Rib, Tossed Salad, California Mix Vegetable, Baked Potato and Cheese Cake for the price of $25 per ticket. A Cash Bar will also be made available.

If you have questions, you can call during the day at: 217/782-5274 or during the evening at 217/787-8406. The last date to order tickets will be November 6.

In addition, if you or your organization would like to present Darrell with an award, plaque, etc. or if you have an anecdotal story to add to a "roast," please contact Beth Roughley or Jan Reische at 217/782-5256.

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RESEARCH REPORTS

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Opinion divided on private school vouchers

Americans continue to oppose allowing students and parents to choose a private school to attend at public expense, with 44 percent in favor and 50 percent opposed, according to the 30th Annual Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll of the Public's Attitudes Toward the Public Schools.

The public is evenly divided on vouchers to pay all of the tuition at non-public schools, with 48 percent in favor and 46 percent opposed. Yet the public supports a voucher for partial tuition, with 52 percent in favor and 41 percent opposed.

Meanwhile, the public chooses "fighting, gangs and violence" as the largest problem facing the local public schools in 1998, mentioned by 15 percent of respondents, followed closely by "lack of discipline," mentioned by 14 percent.

The poll is to be published in the September 1998 issue of Phi Delta Kappan. The minimum order for reprints is 25 copies for $10, with additional copies at 25 cents each. Contact: PDK, P.O. Box 789, Bloomington, IN 47402; phone 800/766-1156.

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Teachers favor more parent involvement

More than 80 percent of American teachers want greater parental involvement in education, which means they are far more receptive to the whole idea than they were a decade ago. That finding comes from the latest annual teacher survey conducted by Louis Harris and Associates and sponsored by Met Life.

About 70 percent of teachers see value in parents doing volunteer work at schools, and even more want to give parents a voice in some school affairs. Despite their desire for increased parental involvement, however, most teachers feel parents should not be consulted on curriculum changes or homework policies. The study sampled opinions of more than 1,000 teachers nationwide.

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Bus crash statistics released

An average of 35 school-age children, including nine bus riders and 26 pedestrians, die in school bus-related traffic accidents every year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Traffic Safety Fact 1996 reports that since 1986, 283 school-age pedestrians have died in school bus-related crashes. Sixty-three percent were killed by school buses, 5 percent by vehicles functioning as school buses and 33 percent by other vehicles. These statistics should be kept in mind when planning for School Bus Safety Week, October 18-24.

In related news, the NHTSA calls large school buses one of the safest forms of transportation. Large buses are more massive than most vehicles they collide with and, therefore, are better able to absorb crash energy.

The agency is conducting the first comprehensive review of school bus safety since the 1970s. The $2 million, two-year review will examine all school bus crash data and agency crash testing and will consider all possible safety upgrades.

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TOOLS FOR SCHOOLS

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Population projections, parliamentary help now on Web

Illinois population projections are now available on the Internet at either of the following sites:

Illinois Dept. of Commerce and Community Affairs

http://www.commerce.state.il. us/dcca/menus/pdpr/pop_proj.htm

Illinois State University

http://www.socialresearch.ilstu.edu/cadus/pjintro.htm

A cautionary note: Projections on the Internet may vary from the projections in the print version due to the complexity of the database and rounding errors.

Meanwhile, to solve parliamentary procedure problems there is a Question and Answer Forum on the Official Roberts Rules of Order web site: http://www.roberts rules.com.

Source: IASB Resource Center.

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Gun violence prevention video free to schools

Every day 16 children are killed in gun-related homicides, suicides and unintentional shootings. For each young person who dies of a firearm injury, ten more are seriously injured.

Thus, the National Emergency Medicine Association is making its gun violence prevention video program, In A Flash, free to schools and school-based youth programs across the country. Since its release last year, over 3,200 schools and youth organizations across the country have shown and used In A Flash in their violence prevention programs. The video and its teacher's resource guide have received outstanding reviews from teachers and students.

The program is designed to help middle/high school age students learn about the pressures, decisions and results of using guns to resolve issues and to provide alternatives that will deter violence. The program introduces scenarios where kids are most likely to feel they need a gun, shows the probable results of choosing gun violence, and deals with the often crippling effects—pain, disfigurement, permanent disability.

It is available FREE to schools ($19.95 + $4 shipping & handling to others).

Call or write The National Emergency Medicine Association, 306 W. Joppa Road, Baltimore, MD 21204; 410/494-0300; email: info@nemahealth.org; website: http://www.nemahealth.org.

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Workshops & Meetings

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Board secretaries election workshops scheduled

The state will be conducting a series of workshops for school board local election officials throughout Illinois in preparation for the 1999 elections. The workshops will be held from November 5 through 24, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Each session will be conducted by staff members from the State Board of Elections to discuss the procedures involved in preparing for the April 13 consolidated election. There is no fee and pre-registration is not required. Below is a workshop schedule showing dates and locations.

Thurs., Nov. 5-—Township Hall, 359 Merrill Court (off Winchester Rd.), Libertyville

Mon., Nov. 9—City Hall, Council Chambers, 2 S. Main St., Princeton

Tues., Nov. 1—Farm Bureau Bldg., 210 W. Spring St., Freeport

Thurs., Nov. 12—Kane Co. Judicial Ctr., 37 W. 777 - Rt. 38 (1/4 mi. west of Randall Rd.), St. Charles

Mon., Nov. 16—County Bd. Room, Co. Office Bldg., 2nd Floor, 302 N. Chicago St., Joliet

Mon., Nov. 16—Lincoln Land Comm. College, Logan Hall Auditorium, Shepherd Rd., Springfield

Tues., Nov. 17—Bresnan Meeting Ctr., 706 Kenwood Rd., Champaign

Wed., Nov. 18—County Board Rm., Woodford Co., 113 E. Court St., Eureka

Wed., Nov. 18—Farm Bureau Bldg., 900 Hillsboro Ave. (on U.S. 157, park behind building), Edwardsville

Thurs., Nov. 1—VFW Building, 1200 E. Jefferson St., Macomb

Mon., Nov. 23—Rend Lake College, Theater, Route 1, Ina

Tues., Nov. 24—County Office Bldg., Co. Bd. Meeting Rm., 3rd Floor, 101 N. 4th St. (4th St. & Jefferson Ave.), Effingham

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National conference on technology set for Nashville

Time is running out to plan to attend the 12th Annual Technology + Learning Conference. This year's Conference is to be held at the Nashville Convention Center, Thursday, October 29 through Saturday, October 31, 1998.

Who should attend? Sponsors say anyone in your district who has anything to do with planning, purchasing, managing, and implementing education technology will benefit. This includes technology coordinators, superintendents, district administrators, principals, teachers, media specialists, and school board members.

Information is available from NSBA's Technology + Learning fax-on-demand number, 888/267-5394. Or contact NSBA by phone at 800/950-6722 or visit their web site: http://www.nsba.org/itte.

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THE NATIONAL SCENE

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Utah charter law challenged

The Utah School Boards Association (USBA) has filed suit challenging the constitutionality of the state's new charter schools law.

"We do not want to do away with charter schools. We want to know if the way they have been set up is legal or not," says USBA Executive Director Winston Gleave. USBA charges that the state constitution—not the state agency—gives local school boards control over all local schools in Utah.

Earlier last month, a Utah state board of education committee granted initial approval to two charter schools—a performing arts school near St. George and a school for hearing-impaired children in Salt Lake Valley.

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Number of U.S. children surpasses baby boom

The U.S. population of children recently climbed beyond the crest of the baby boom years. The generation of children younger than 18 has grown from 69.5 million in mid-1997 to 70.2 million today, according to the Census Bureau, surpassing the previous high of 69.9 million set in 1966.

Even as their numbers rise, however, children have declined markedly as a percentage of the population, from 36 percent in 1960 to 26 percent in 1996. Unlike the baby boom, the current growth in the number of children is being fueled at least as much by immigration as by birthrates in the United States.

Source: Information Legislative Service, Pennsylvania School Boards Association, August 21, 1998.

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NEWS FROM IASB

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Legal requirements for minutes explained

School board secretaries who are uncertain as to the legal requirements for the minutes of school board meetings should get a copy of an analysis available through IASB.

Contrary to long-standing rules of parliamentary practice, a 1995 amendment to the Illinois Open Meetings Act requires "a summary of discussion on all matters proposed, deliberated, or decided...." What this means, particularly in the context of a closed meeting, is the subject of a paper authored by two attorneys who specialize in school and municipal law.

It's easy to get a copy of "The Illinois Open Meetings Act and Closed Meeting Minutes," by Mathias W. Delort and Heidi A. Katz, both with the firm of Robbins, Schwartz, Nicholas, Lifton & Taylor, Ltd. Just call IASB and request it. Or you can Fax your request to Tammy at 217/528-9688, ext. 1108 or use Internet email to tcall@iasb.com.

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Nominating committee slates IASB officers

New IASB officers will be elected by the Delegate Assembly at its annual meeting Saturday, November 22 at 10:30 a.m. at the Annual Conference. The slate of officers presented by the nominating committee (see committee report below) includes: E. Jerald Eiffert, Mt. Zion C.U. District 3, for President; Dennis McConville, Dimmick C.C. District 175, for Vice President; and for directors-at-large Nancy Flouret, Township H.S. District 113, Highland Park ; David Kniker, Kewanee C.U. District 229; Milt H. Koppenhoefer, Metamora C.C. District 1; and Michelle Elaine Skinlo, Mattoon C.U. District 2.

The nominating committee completed its work at a meeting in Oak Brook in August.

The Board of Directors also met in Oak Brook. Actions taken included:

* evaluation of the Executive Director;

* approval of the May 15-16, 1998 meeting minutes;

* receipt of the President's Report, Executive Committee Minutes of July 31, 1998, the Executive Director's Report, membership report, and Nominating Committee Report;

* review of the monitoring reports for Ends, Executive Limitations, Governance Process and Board-Staff Relationship policies;

* accepted preliminary report of a clean audit from Auditors McGladrey and Pullen;

* appointed IASB Vice President Jerry Eiffert as a Regent on the ISDA Property-Casualty Insurance Trust;

* approved granting of the 1998 Harold P. Seamon Award for Distinguished Service for Public Education to Dr. Benjamin Hubbard.

Nominating Committee Report

The IASB Constitution provides for the Nominating Committee to slate candidates for the offices of President, Vice President and Directors at Large. The report of the Nominating Committee must be distributed to the membership no later than 45 days prior to the Annual Meeting. The Nominating Committee met to interview candidates and will present the following slate for election to the Delegate Assembly at their Annual Meeting on Saturday, November 21, 1998.

For the Office of President (1 year term): E. Jerald Eiffert

Jerry has been a member of the Mt. Zion CUSD 3 Board of Education since 1985, where he has served as vice president and president. He has served for the past three years as IASB Vice President and Chairman of the Resolutions Committee. Other activities include serving as Legislative Chairman of the Abe Lincoln Division (1989-91); Resolutions Committee (1989-91); Director, Abe Lincoln Division (1991-96); Annual Conference Co-Chairman (1994); Nominating Committee (1993-94); IASB Delegate (1986-92); Credentials Committee (1992-94); and Credentials Committee Chairman (1993-95). He has also served as a member of the Credentials Committee at the NSBA Annual Conference, and as a voting delegate for the past three years. He has participated in NSBA Leadership and Federal Relations Network Conferences since 1996.

For the Office of Vice President (1 year term): Dennis Joseph McConville

Dennis has served the Dimmick CCSD 175 Board of Education since 1985 and the Ophir SD 280 Board of Education from 1979 to 1983. He was the Dimmick Board Secretary from 1989-91, Board President from 1991-1995, and has served as the Vice President since 1997. He has served as a member of the IASB Board of Directors since 1992 and Chaired the Starved Rock Division from 1986 through 1992. Additionally, he has been the voting delegate to the IASB Annual Meeting, served on the IASB Goals and Policies Committee (1992-94) and the Nominating Committee (1994-96). He was a member of the Illinois State Board Task Force on Parent Involvement and Student Achievement (1996-98), was an alternate Delegate to the NSBA Annual Conference (1998), and served on the IASB Executive Committee (1996-98).

For the Offices of Director at Large (1 year term): Nancy Flouret

Nancy has been a member of the Township High School District 113 Board of Education since 1987 where she has served as president and vice president. She also served as a member of the Deerfield Public School District 109 Board of Education from 1981-87. She has been an active participant in the Lake Division of IASB, and has served on numerous IASB committees. She is nominated for her first term as Director at Large.

For the Offices of Director at Large (1 year term): David F. Kniker

David has served the Kewanee CUSD 229 Board of Education since 1987, and has been Vice President since 1994. David has served two terms as a Director at Large (1996-98), and has been the Resolutions Chairman in the Blackhawk Division (1994-96). He recently represented IASB as a member of the Illinois State Board of Education "Internet On-Line Advisory Team."

For the Offices of Director at Large (1 year term): Milton H. Koppenhoefer

Milt first joined the Metamora CCSD 1 Board of Education in 1985, and has served as Secretary to the Board since 1993. He is completing his first term as a Director at Large. He has been an active participant in the meetings and programs of the Central Illinois Valley Division.

For the Offices of Director at Large (1 year term): Michelle Elaine Skinlo

Michelle is a member of the Mattoon CUSD 2 Board of Education since her election in 1991. She served as President from 1992 to 1996, and Board Secretary from 1991-93 and again from 1994-95. She has been the Legislative Chairman of the Illini Division (1995-97) and was Division Chairman in 1998.

Calendar of events

Mon., Sept. 28 Two Rivers Division Mtg., Barry H.S.

Mon., Sept. 28 South Cook Division Mtg., Prairie Hills ESD 14

Tues., Sept. 29 Abe Lincoln Division Mtg., Lanphier H.S., Springfield

Tues., Sept. 29 Northwest Division Mtg., White Pines Inn, Mt. Morris

Wed., Sept. 30 Kaskaskia Division Mtg., Germantown S.D. 60, Germantown

Thurs., Oct. 1 Southwestern Division Mtg., Freeburg H.S

Thurs., Oct. 1 Western Division Mtg., Carthage H.S.

Mon., Oct. 5 Shawnee Division Mtg., Trico Elementary, Campbell Hill

Tues., Oct. 6 Egyptian Division Mtg., Bethel S.D. 82, Mt. Vernon

Tues., Oct. 6 Corn Belt Division Mtg., Cissna Park H.S.

Tues., Oct. 6 Three Rivers Division Mtg., DiNolfo's Banquet, Mokena

Wed., Oct. 7 Central Ill. Valley Division Mtg., Pekin H.S.

Thurs., Oct. 8 Illini Division Mtg., East Prairie School, Tuscola

Mon.-Tues., Oct. 12-13 School Board Institute, Motorola University, Schaumburg

Tues., Oct. 13 Wabash Valley Division Mtg., Teutopolis Jr. H.S.

Wed., Oct. 21 DuPage Division Mtg., Glenn Westlake Middle School, Lombard

Wed., Oct. 28 Kishwaukee Division Mtg., Kaneland S.D., Elburn

Thurs., Oct. 29 Blackhawk Division Mtg., Geneseo C.U.S.D. 228

Thurs., Oct. 29 Lake Division Mtg., Holiday Inn, Mundelein

Thurs., Oct. 29 Cook Co. Divisions (Jt. Mtg.), Marriott, Oakbrook

Thurs.-Fri., Oct. 5-6 School Board Institute, Motorola University, Schaumburg

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NEWS FROM IASB

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E-rate applications are being processed as feds consider changes

Despite threats to destroy or overhaul the e-rate program, Congress left for its August recess without making any changes, and school districts should soon find out how much of a discount they can expect.

The Schools and Libraries Corporation (SLC) plans to send "funding commitment letters" to applicants by early fall outlining the level of discounts and services covered. All applicants will receive the e-rate discount for phone lines and other telecommunications services and Internet access. But only the neediest will get help for internal connections.

For information on e-rate legislation, contact Dan Fuller, NSBA's federal networks advocate, phone 703/838-6763.

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Federal IDEA regulations delayed

Local school officials began the new academic year without guidance on new federal special education requirements as the U.S. Department of Education continued its delay in issuing final regulations for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

The central area of debate on the final regulations is the section outlining how schools can discipline students with disabilities. In a recent letter to chief state school officers, states were told to abide by the requirements of IDEA and any previous rules consistent with the law.

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Digital divide "alarming"

A study recently released by the U.S. Commerce Department finds that whites are much more likely to have access to computers than African-Americans or Hispanics.

Overall, home computer ownership increased from 24 percent to 37 percent since 1994, according to the report, Falling Through the Net II. Forty-one percent of whites own a home computer, compared to 19 percent of blacks and 19 percent of Hispanics.

Vice President Al Gore called the "digital divide" outlined in the report "alarming" and publicized the findings to shore up support on Capitol Hill for the e-rate. For information, contact: Commerce Department, phone 202/482-7002; or visit the web site at http://www.ntia.doc.gov.

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NSBA publishes advocacy booklet

NSBA has recently published a booklet to help school leaders make a difference in federal campaigns, beginning with separating congressional rhetoric from reality. Rhetoric vs. Reality: An Advocacy Action Plan is designed for use "as both a call to action and campaign resource to highlight education priorities…throughout the campaign season."

The booklet includes voting records of all members of Congress on key education issues, strategies to maximize grassroots advocacy efforts, sample letters and editorials, and important phone numbers.

For more information, contact Dan Fuller, NSBA federal networks advocate, phone 703/838-6763.

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Recent mailings from IASB

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Not all IASB mailings are sent to all school board members. For speed or economy, some mailings are sent only to the board president or district superintendent. Here is a list of such items mailed recently. For more information about any item, contact your board president or district superintendent or get in touch with IASB.

September 4: State Superintendent's Breakfast invitation (Conference event announcement), to district superintendents.

September 11, 14: IASB Resolutions Committee Report on the agenda for the upcoming delegate assembly, mailed to district superintendents.

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Classified ads

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FREE: Parallel bars and side horse. Both in good condition. Must be willing to pick up. Call Bruce Lane, Gower School District 62, Burr Ridge, Illinois; phone 630/986-5383.

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Illinois Association of School Boards

2921 Baker Drive
Springfield, Illinois 62703