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Building bond issues, tax hikes on ballot in November
In addition to the usual tax and bond propositions on the ballot in local school districts for the upcoming Nov. 4 General Election, a school-related advisory referendum is on the ballot statewide. It asks: “Shall the Illinois Constitution be amended to require that each school district receive additional revenue, based on their number of students, from an additional 3% tax on income greater than $1 million?”
The Illinois Department of Revenue has said such a tax hike would bring in about $1 billion in additional revenue. The statewide resolution would not have the force of law.
At least seven school districts have placed building bond issues on the ballot for Nov. 4. And at least two other districts are asking voters to increase limiting rates under so-called tax caps.
Building bond issues are on the ballot this fall in at least the following districts:
• Champaign CUSD 4, $149 million bond issue to finance one new high school and renovate another. The school district would levy additional property taxes to repay the bonds.
• Monticello CUSD 25, estimated $35 million bond issue to build a new high school) and convert the existing school into a districtwide elementary ($5 million).
• Round Lake Area Unit District 116, $29 million bond issue for a high school expansion and upgrades. The projects could eliminate the need for mobile classrooms, which now are in use. Round Lake High would receive 30 new classrooms, including four STEM laboratories for science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Plans also call for a new gymnasium and new student commons areas.
• Westmont Community Unit School District 201, to borrow $26 million to repair, improve and equip its school buildings.
• New Trier High School Dist. 203, to issue $89 million in bonds to renovate, alter, repair, equip and replace portions of the District’s buildings at the Winnetka Campus.
• Batavia CUSD 101, to issue $15 million in bonds to improvements to the athletic fields at Batavia High School.
• Hoover- Schrum SD 157, Proposition to issue $22.9 million in bonds to build and equip a new school to replace the Schrum Middle School.
Voters are being asked to increase limiting rates under tax caps in at least the following two school districts:
• Pennoyer SD 79, Norridge, to raise taxes and help close a growing deficit in the school’s operating fund. Pennoyer is seeking voter approval to increase the tax rate by a proposed 39 cents above the limiting tax rate under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL). If voters support the referendum, the tax increase would supply Pennoyer with about $520,000 in additional annual revenue.
• Westchester School District 92.5, toincrease the limiting rate under the PTELL by an additional 0.55% above the limiting rate. The tax increase would supply Westchester with about $2.1 million in additional revenue.
Results of referendums will be reported in a future Newsbulletin.
New law extends moratorium on virtual charter schools to 2016
A new state law (Public Act 98-1059) extends the moratorium on virtual charter schools. The legislation, signed Aug. 26 by Gov. Pat Quinn and sponsored by Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia, extends the moratorium on the establishment of charter schools with virtual-schooling components through December 31, 2016, but exempts Chicago.
Supporters and the Illinois State Charter School Commission said this will give Illinois more time to create rules about how these schools should be regulated in Illinois.
Following a seven-month research period, the commission determined “more rules and regulations can be promulgated to guide the creation of virtual charter schools in Illinois and the review of their proposal,” said Jeanne Nowaczewski, executive director of the study commission.
The original bill sought to extend the moratorium on virtual charter schools through 2017 and was approved by a committee in March. But it was scaled back after it was pointed out that the commission had called for the moratorium to run only through 2016.
Currently, there is just one virtual charter school operating in the state. Chicago Virtual Charter School serves 594 students in grades K-12. The latest state report card indicates that the school’s students taking the ISAT were slightly above the state average in reading and slightly below the state average in math. The percentage of high school students meeting or exceeding standards on the PSAE were slightly below the state average in reading, and substantially below in math.
The commission also recommended that local school districts should not be authorized to consider unsolicited applications for virtual charter schools. Instead, it said that districts and the state commission should be able to issue a Request for Proposals for virtual schools. Among the commission’s other recommendations is a state-funded virtual charter school that would be open to students statewide.
In 2013, an Illinois Virtual Charter School at Fox River Valley sought to educate students online, drawing students from 18 school districts from Algonquin to Plainfield. That proposal was rejected by each of the school boards that would have been affected. They cited concerns about curricular standards, support for students, funding, teacher quality, and accountability.
Wheaton Warrenville CUSD 200 Superintendent Jeff Schuler, who was part of the task force that helped develop the recommendations, said it is a must that local school boards get input on any virtual charter school proposal.
“A virtual school is not geographically limited like a brick-and-mortar school,” Schuler said.
The study commission recommended an extended moratorium because it said “the overall record of academic performance of virtual schools across the country is weak and there are important aspects of virtual schooling that do not align with aspects of the state’s charter school law.”
Schuler said a big problem with the now-defunct Fox Valley virtual charter school proposal was that the company did not engage the local community in the process.
“Yet, it was going to draw local funds,” he said. It was clear from the outset, he added, that the backers were going to appeal the local decision with the charter commission. The company initially appealed to state education officials and later dropped the effort.
Legislators had tasked the state’s charter school commission with researching the costs and outcomes of virtual schooling, among other things. But Schuler said the report produced more questions than answers.
“The work that the charter commission and the task force did was really to uncover a lot of study that still needs to be done in order to really look at virtual charter schools and what set of parameters and rules they need to operate under,” he said. “We need to get (those) answered before any new virtual charter schools get approved.”
A copy of the final report of the charter commission is available online at: http://www.isbe.state.il.us/scsc/pdf/vsag-final-report.pdf.
New school-related laws signed on topics from property taxes to policies on bullying
In recent months the governor signed into law a number of education-related measures on topics ranging from property taxes to bullying. Senate Bill 2778 ( Biss, D-Evanston) provides that applications for judgment and order of sale for taxes and special assessments on delinquent property in Cook County must be made within 90 days after the second installment due date for tax year 2016 and thereafter.
Signed as Public Act 98-1101 on Aug. 26, the new law sets forth a schedule for tax years 2013, 2014 and 2015 to reach the 90-day requirement for the 2016 taxable year.
“This will align Cook County with the rest of the state in terms of the timeline required for the order of sale for taxes on delinquent properties,” said Deanna Sullivan, IASB government relations director. “Ideally it will allow these funds to be distributed to schools in a more expedited manner.”
The governor also approved two legislative proposals on school bullying. Public Act 98-0669 was enacted in late June and set forth a comprehensive set of requirements for a school’s “policy on bullying.” The criteria in the new law includes:
• providing contact numbers and email addresses for prompt and anonymous reporting on bullying;
• procedures to inform parents of incidents and availability of services including restorative measures;
• procedures for prompt investigation of bullying, involving appropriate school support personnel, notifying the principal or administrators and providing parents information about the investigation;
• interventions that can be taken to address bullying;
• a statement prohibiting retaliation for reporting acts of bullying;
• appropriate remedial actions for persons falsely accused;
• engaging school stakeholders such as students and parents or guardians;
• posting the policy via the district website and student handbook; and
• a policy evaluation process to assess outcomes and effectiveness of policy, which must also be made available.
House Bill 4207 (Fine, D-Glenview) creates a definition of “cyber-bullying” and requires district policies to include a process for investigating such offenses. The legislation is now Public Act 98-0801; effective Jan. 1, 2015.
In addition to bullying a couple of legislative initiatives addressing school safety are now law. House Bill 5716 ( Brauer, R-Springfield) was signed by the governor on Jun. 23 and encourages districts to make emergency and crisis response plans available electronically to first responders, administrators and teachers when those plans are updated. The bill is now Public Act 98-0661.
House Bill 4616 ( Cavaletto, R-Salem) allows schools boards to use remaining funds on hand in the Fire Prevention and Safety Fund for required safety inspections. The bill was signed into law as P.A. 98-1066 and became effective immediately on Aug. 26.
Coins, history video to mark 50 years at IASA event Oct. 8-10
The Illinois Association of School Administrators’ 50th Annual Conference will be held Oct. 8-10 in Springfield. The event annually draws more than 650 school administrators to Springfield. Attendees include school superintendents, assistant superintendents, state agency staff and college professors of educational administration.
“In addition to the planning, we’ve got a commemorative coin that we put together, and we’ve even got a short video to show the history of IASA’s fifty illustrious years,” said the organization’s Executive Director Brent Clark.
This annual event is an opportunity to establish new contacts, network with colleagues, and meet the IASA staff and board of directors. General sessions and breakout panels provide up-to-date information on topics relevant to superintendents and other administrators. The superintendents’ organization also has invited both gubernatorial candidates to appear.
The theme for the 2014 IASA conference is “Quality Counts.” Speakers will include Hall Davidson, senior director of Global Learning Initiatives, Discovery Education; author and business consultant Jon Gordon; Suhail Farooqui, CEO of K12 Insight, a company that specializes in survey design and deployment in public schools; and Rafe Esquith, an award-winning teacher at Hobart Boulevard Elementary School in Los Angeles, whose class was featured in the 2005 PBS documentary The Hobart Shakespeareans.
State Superintendent Chris Koch and key Illinois State Board of Education staff will present a session on major issues facing school administrators this fall and into the near future. ISBE experts will discuss finance, licensure, assessments, and the NCLB Waiver, as well as taking questions on a variety of topics.
The exhibit hall, which is open on one day, Thursday, Oct. 9, will give attendees access to more than 60 vendors, providing an opportunity to get a quick look at the latest products and services available to Illinois school districts.
IASB Executive Director Roger Eddy had this to say about the 50th anniversary at IASA: “I commend the Illinois Association of School Administrators for the tremendous success it has achieved in providing support, resources and advocacy to school leaders for the past fifty years. Today IASA remains a tremendous ally, with the Illinois Association of School Boards and the rest of the Illinois School Management Alliance, in standing up for Illinois public schools.”
Information about the IASA conference is available on the organization’s website at: http://www.iasaedu.org/domain/22 .
Phillips retires from leadership after 50 years in schooling
Howard Phillips, a 23-year member of the Greenfield CUSD 10 school board and longtime IASB resolutions committee chair for the Two Rivers division, is retiring from the school board after 50 years in education.
A teacher in Greenfield from 1960 to 1986, Phillips then worked in school and regional administration. He was elected to the Greenfield board in 1991 and will finish as its president. For a decade, he led lively discussions on the resolutions committee, often asking direct questions, listening to members’ responses and sharing an acute knowledge of school law.
The committee, created in the IASB Constitution, reviews all proposed resolutions and recommends, either “Do Adopt” or “Do Not Adopt.” The resolution and recommendation then go to the Delegate Assembly for a vote, which establishes the association’s position statements.
Phillips’ service to the committee, along with that of other long-time leaders who recently retired – Mike Kelly of Plainfield and Jack Cantlin of Serena – will be missed. The reverse is true as well. “I’m going to miss that part of it the most,” Phillips said.
“It is arguably the most important group within our association, as it helps set the direction and guiding principles as presented by local school boards,” added Ben Schwarm, IASB deputy executive director.
Phillips cites resolution work in 2006 and 2007 – calling for flashing strobe lights on school buses.
“We worked through that safety measure on the committee, then took it to the General Assembly and got the job done,” Phillips said.
During his term on the Greenfield board, Phillips helped oversee strides in academics, staff stability, smooth negotiations and a “conservative but solvent” financial picture.
“We have maintained an excellent school,” Phillips said. “I’m proud of the academic progress in Greenfield. I’m proud of hiring good staff and good administrators.”
Among those was Kevin Bowman, now superintendent of Greenfield CUSD10. Phillips taught Bowman at Greenfield, and the two served together on the board.
“I’ve been fortunate that I’ve always been able to work with him,” Bowman said. “Dr. Phillips is constantly working to improve the board of education in his role as president. Board meetings are organized, on time and efficient. All members get an equal chance to express views on all topics. He knows the community, he loves school and he loves being a board member.”
Resolutions committee members also appreciate Phillips’ ability to allow all voices to be heard.
“Howard Phillips and some of the other more vocal members began to encourage changes that would streamline the process while still encouraging audience participation,” recalls IASB Board of Directors president Karen Fisher. “It was apparent just how important this work was, and how dedicated each member is.”
“We’re a lucky community,” Bowman said. “Greenfield will miss his strong, dependable leadership.”
Training for board secretaries offered Friday, Saturday at Conference
School leaders are being encouraged to join with peers from other school districts around the state to take advantage of the training offered to enhance the professional skills of the person who performs the duties of the board secretary.
School board secretary training will be offered this year on Friday and Saturday Nov. 21-22, at the Swissotel, Chicago.
In addition to programming designed specifically for district secretaries/administrative assistants, the benefits of attending this training also include networking with other board secretaries from across the state, and the opportunity to attend all of the general sessions, other panel sessions, the bookstore and the exhibit hall during the Conference.
The secretaries’ program requires only paid conference registration. There is no additional charge, and no additional registration is required.
Here is a brief look at the secretaries’ program for the 2014 Joint Annual Conference:
Opening Session: Friday, November 21, 2014, 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. - The program will kick off with the annual presentation of the Holly Jack Outstanding Service Award.
This will be followed by a discussion of the changes to the Election Code and how those changes affect district secretaries.
Keynote: Friday, 10:15 a.m.-noon, The Latest Innovation is YOU! Organizers say this interactive session, presented by Julie Perrine, founder and CEO of All Things Admin, will help participants to become the best they can be by enhancing their capacity for innovation.
For more information about the secretaries’ program at the Joint Annual Conference, see the event brochure online at:
https://www.iasb.com/jac14/pdfs/bdsecretaryprogram2014.pdf .
Teacher strike ends at Highland district after six days
Teachers in Highland CUSD 5 have ended their strike on Sep. 18 after it lasted a total of six school days. The contract expired on Aug. 31 following five months’ worth of negotiations, including sessions with a federal mediator.
The teacher organization authorized an intent-to-strike declaration on Aug. 20 and went on strike on Sep. 11, sending approximately 175 teachers to the picket lines.
Superintendent Michael Sutton said the agreement will now give the district three years to work on their funding problems. “I think they came to a fair agreement; there were concessions on both sides,” Sutton said. The district of nearly 3,000 students anticipates finishing this coming fiscal year with a $1.4 million deficit in its education fund, which is used to pay teachers’ salaries.
In other developments, Waukegan CUSD 60 teachers went on strike Oct. 2 after negotiations broke down, idling about 1,700 students and 1,200 teachers.
School board election materials now available online
In past years the responsibility of school board elections fell on local school officials. Recent legislation, however, made sweeping changes in school election procedures, significantly reducing the board secretary’s election duties and removing all election responsibilities from the board president. Those responsibilities will now be handled by the county clerk or board of election commissioners.
Specifics about the do’s and don’ts of these important election changes are spelled out in a new document, 2015 School Election Procedures, which is online at: https://www.iasb.com/elections/ElectionFAQ2014.pdf .
Those changes aside, IASB has updated other important election-related materials to assist candidates and school districts. This material is available online at: https://www.iasb.com/elections/. Included are the following publications or documents:
• 2015 Election Calendar
• Before You Turn in Those Petitions
• Resource List for Candidates
• Sample News Release
• Some Rules for Staying on the Ballot
• Your School Board and You
• Where Does the Lottery Money Go?
• Understanding School Finance
• Playing Fair With the Children of Illinois
Two other helpful tools are also available by order. The Effective School Board Member provides an overview of what a school board member needs to know, including powers and duties, do’s and don’ts, the structure of school governance, finance, board-administrator-staff relations, board meeting procedures, a code of ethics, and other information. The cost is $2 and is available through IASB’s Online Bookstore, https://www.iasb.com/shop/.
For school boards interested in cultivating their next generation of local leaders, the Illinois Association of School Boards has a packet of pamphlets – Recruiting School Board Candidates – to support the ongoing process of identifying, recruiting and mentoring future school board candidates, whether at the next election or during an appointment process. These packets are available free of charge to member districts and can be ordered by contacting Tammy Call at 217/528-9688, ext. 1108, or at tcall@iasb.com.
Candidates for local school boards will be invited in 2015 to attend IASB Candidates’ Briefings, which will be held in conjunction with the annual spring division dinner meetings. And beginning in May, IASB will mail New Board Member packets for those who are elected in April.
School leaders are encouraged to call their IASB field services director for additional help or information.
Superior school design winners chosen in awards competition
Twenty-one winning school designs will be on display at the 2014 Joint Annual Conference, including those earning awards in the Invitational Exhibition of Educational Environments, sponsored by IASB Service Associates.
The awards were made by a blind jury pool of architects and superintendents on Sep. 18 at IASB offices in Springfield. This year’s jury chose three Award of Distinction winners, six Awards of Merit and five Honorable Mentions. Awards will be presented to the winning school districts and their architects Friday, Nov. 21, at the Joint Annual Conference. All 21 projects entered in the competition will be displayed throughout the three-day conference.
The 2014 winners are:
AWARD OF DISTINCTION
• BLDD Architects – Reinvention of Eisenhower High School – Decatur PSD 61
• DLA Architects, Ltd. – Science, Corridor & Administrative Addition at Shepard High School – Palos Heights CHSD 218
• Perkins+Will – Deer Path Middle School, Learning Center Renovation (Cube) – Lake Forest SD 67
AWARD OF MERIT
• DLA Architects, Ltd. – Homewood-Flossmoor CHS North Building Renovation/ Fieldhouse Addition – Homewood-Flossmoor CHSD 233
• Fanning Howey – Prairie Trail School – Gurnee SD 56
• FGM Architects, Inc. – Hadley Jr. High School Library Media Center – Glen Ellyn SD 41
• Perkins+Will – William Jones College Preparatory High School – Chicago SD 299
• STR + Nia Collaborative (STR Partners) – Sarah E. Goode STEM Academy – Chicago SD 299
• Wight & Company – Pierce Downer Elementary School – Downers Grove GSD 58
HONORABLE MENTION
• BLDLD Architects, Inc. – Roanoke-Benson HS Connection – Roanoke-Benson CUSD 60
• FGM Architects, Inc. – Ellis Elementary School Addition & Renovation – Harmony SD 175
• SPM Architects, Inc. – Reavis High School – Library Renovation – Reavis HSD 220
• STR Partners – Calumet Middle School – Calumet PSD 132
• Wight & Company – UNO Soccer Academy High School – UNO Charter School Network
Criteria for award submissions included: program/challenge met, how the facility meets 21st century education environmental needs; design; unique energy efficiency or green features; and safety (including passive security design and traffic patterns). To be eligible to win this year, construction projects had to be completed in time for occupancy with the start of school this fall.
At the conclusion of this year’s conference, all of the projects on display will be added to the School Design Data File. A service developed by IASB for its Service Associates organization, it is available for use by IASB member school districts and their architectural firms. The file currently consists of a detailed computer database on nearly 500 design projects involving Illinois public schools. A description of the 2013 winners can be viewed at: https://www.iasb.com/jac13/eee.cfm.
School officials and architects may use this design file service by calling the IASB Communications Department, at ext. 1131, or email a query to jnelson@iasb.com.
Major school election law revisions prompt IASB attorneys to answer frequently asked questions
Despite major election law changes governing school election procedures, the board secretary still receives petitions to place referenda on the ballot. (10 ILCS 5/28-6).
This remains true despite the recent legislation greatly reducing the board secretary’s election responsibilities and relieving the board president of any election responsibilities.
But the school board secretary is still the school board’s “local election official.” (105 ILCS 5/9-2(d); 10 ILCS 5/1-3).
Answers to frequently asked questions concerning election procedures can be found online at: https://www.iasb.com/elections/ElectionFAQ2014.pdf.
School leaders need to be sure to check their school board policies, as well.
Sponsors provide vital financial support to IASB division dinners
This year’s round of Illinois Association of School Boards’ fall division dinner meetings are sponsored by the following organizations:
• NaviGate Prepared – Legacy Sponsor
• WCSIT*ISDA– Legacy Sponsor
• Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Inc. – Millennium Sponsor
• First Midstate Inc. – Century Sponsor
• OpTerra Energy Services – Century Sponsor
• Kings Financial Consulting, Inc. – Decade Sponsor
• 4QTRS Holdings – Division Meetings Sponsor
• Jostens– Division Meetings Sponsor
• Larson & Darby Group – Division Meetings Sponsor
• Legat Architects, Inc. – Division Meetings Sponsor
• Wight & Company – Division Meetings Sponsor
The sponsorship program provides opportunities for individuals and organizations to provide financial sponsorship to support and enhance all of these division dinner meeting purposes: board member professional development, networking, peer recognition, association governance and learning about resources available from IASB.
For more information about division meeting sponsorship opportunities, contact Cathy Talbert, associate executive director for field services and policy services, at 217/528-9688 or 630/629-3776, ext. 1234 or email ctalbert@iasb.com.
Member district resolutions to set policy via 2014 assembly
The resolutions committee of the Illinois Association of School Boards has recommended adoption of nine of 12 new resolutions and all four of the amended position statements submitted by local school districts, to be decided at the annual Delegate Assembly on Nov. 22.
The resolutions committee, chaired by IASB Vice President Phil Pritzker, met Aug. 1 in Lisle to review the proposals put forward this year. In order to be considered, resolutions must generally be submitted to the committee at least 150 days before the annual meeting of the Delegate Assembly, although so-called late resolutions can be considered by a vote of the resolutions committee or when approved by 75 percent of delegates gathered at the Delegate Assembly, provided procedural requirements have first been met.
“The committee did a tremendous job of sorting through many tough, complex issues and pushing to the forefront the most valuable proposals,” said Ben Schwarm, IASB’s deputy executive director.
Schwarm said this was also the final year of service on the committee for Howard Phillips, long-time resolutions chair for the Two Rivers Division and senior spokesman at resolutions committee meetings, who is stepping down from his local board. [See accompanying story on Phillips and his 50-years career as an educator and school board leader.]
Each year, IASB’s 21 divisions vote to choose their resolutions committee chairman, and those 21 individuals chosen comprise the resolutions committee. The committee is empowered to recommend the approval or disapproval of proposed resolutions, and to determine which resolutions are presented to the Assembly.
Committee decisions may be appealed, but appeals must be submitted by member districts in writing to the committee at least eight days before the assembly’s meeting.
This year, according to IASB governmental relations staff, representatives of sponsoring school districts appeared before the resolutions committee to testify on eight of the resolutions. After hearing the testimony, the committee recommended adoption of nine new resolutions establishing new position statements, and all four of the resolutions introduced to amend existing position statement. Three new resolutions were recommended “do not adopt.”
The new resolutions supported by the committee involve the following topics:
• special education student transportation cost limitation and equalization,
• use of the school facility tax in purchasing or leasing technology,
• limiting extensions of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) expiration dates,
• establishing IASB guidelines on student discipline practices,
• making an Open Meetings Act exception for discussion of building safety and security,
• non-unit district agreements to share student data,
• student data sharing agreements between districts for the creation of longitudinal data systems,
• increasing the timeline to fill a school board vacancy from 45 days to 60 days
• banning individual school board members from also holding another public office having taxing authority.
Amended position statements supported by the committee deal with: priority rankings for school construction grants, state authorized charter school funding, the need for transparency in any school funding reform process, and IASB support for local control of public schools.
Along with those resolutions that received a “Do Adopt” recommendation from the Committee, several proposals were recommended “Do Not Adopt.” These address such issues as a sales tax holiday for healthy foods to promote child health awareness, truancy/home schooling, and concealed carry of firearms by school staff. The recommendation on the resolution supporting school staff to carry concealed firearms has been appealed by the submitting district (Tremont CUSD 702) and it will be considered on the Delegate Assembly floor at the Joint Annual Conference.
In addition to the new resolutions, delegates will also vote on eight re-affirmations of existing IASB positions. Such reaffirmations are intended to place renewed emphasis for action on these issues.
All of the issues will be presented to district representatives for a vote at the Delegate Assembly. The opportunity for floor debate on some resolutions is possible, but it is hard to predict which resolutions will draw the most debate, staff members said.
A summary of the entire list of resolutions is included in the IASB Report to the Membership that was mailed to member districts and superintendents in September. The resolutions are also accompanied by the rationale for the proposals and the resolutions committee recommendation of adopt or do not adopt and its rationale.
The report also includes a list of the resolutions committee members, Delegate Assembly agenda, business, rules, current IASB positions, proposed deletions, resolutions procedures, and nominating report for IASB officer election.
Member district delegates will meet on Saturday, Nov. 22, at the 2014 Joint Annual Conference in the Hyatt Regency Chicago, in Grand Ballroom Level E/F of the Hyatt.
The 2014 Report to the Membership document, which contains the full text of all resolutions plus the rationale of the sponsors and of the resolutions committee, is available online at: https://www.iasb.com/pdf/reporttomembership2014.pdf.
Emergency response system provided via new IASB sponsor NaviGate Prepared™
Demonstration projects are under way in several districts to pilot a school security service from a new IASB-sponsored program, NaviGate Prepared™. This service provides an emergency response system that uses advanced, cloud-based technology to give first responders instant access to critical information.
The service digitizes emergency plans, floor plans, and other data into a format that allows sharing with law enforcement and first responders before, during and after a crisis. With instant access to NaviGate Prepared™, dispatchers and first responders can view and share emergency operations plans, locate critical access points, tap into a school’s live security camera feeds, and utilize reunification plans and other crucial information quickly and easily.
The entire service was designed with schools in mind, providing eyes-on access to emergency protocol and facility information. School officials and emergency responders can use the up-to-date information to train, improve, and take action when needed.
More than 175 school districts throughout the nation recently implemented this school safety system in preparation for the 2014-15 school year, according to the Ohio-based company that developed the service, Lauren Innovations. These new implementations include five school systems in Illinois, namely:
• Grayslake CHSD 127,
• Fisher CUSD 1,
• Cuba CUSD 3,
• Robinson CUSD 2, and
• Quincy SD 172
To express an interest in becoming a “lighthouse district” to pilot the service, phone IASB’s Carrie Cloyd at 217/528-9679, ext. 1143. Or to get more details on the NaviGate Prepared™ program, phone Tom Jones at 740/963-3141.
NaviGate Prepared™ is designated under the federal SAFETY Act as an anti-terrorism-level technology by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. For more information, visit www.NaviGatePrepared.com .
Chicago schools tour to explore five sites Nov. 21
School leaders are invited to attend the 43rd annual Chicago Schools Tour, sponsored by IASB and Chicago Public Schools.
The event is one of the pre-conference activities and will take place on Friday, Nov. 21, from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The focus is on covering a variety of neighborhood schools that make the connection between education, community and student success. “The five tours offered include a wide range of options,” according to tours coordinator Cynthia Woods, IASB director of advocacy.
Tours will explore the following five Chicago public schools:
Manuel Perez Elementary School (pre K-8; fine and performing arts magnet cluster school; and neighborhood school):Want to see first-hand how the arts can influence student learning? Serving as a model for innovative learning, Manuel Perez Elementary has developed unique, cutting edge programs creating a multi-cultural learning experience through the use of arts, music and language. Website: www.perezelementaryschool.org.
Blair Early Childhood Center (early childhood, serving ages 3 to 6): Want to experience how a high-quality early childhood program can include students with multiple disabilities? Capitalizing on specialized teacher training, this blended early childhood education center provides a dynamic learning environment for a range of diverse students. Website: www.blairearlychildhood.org.
Back of the Yards College Preparatory High School (new wall-to-wall IB high school, grades 9-12):Want to visit a new state-of-the-art high school that integrates international-mindedness and global perspectives? Innovative curriculum and modern design are showcased throughout this new high school. The school offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum wall-to-wall, creating the opportunity for every student to access IB through a flexible framework that promotes intercultural respect and understanding. Website: www.boycp.org.
Christian Fenger Academy High School (grades 9-12 neighborhood school): Want to walk the halls, visit the classrooms and meet the inspirational school leader of the 2014 nationally acclaimed docu-series Chicagoland? This successful turnaround school has seen its graduation rate increase 64 percent, and attendance rise by 10 percent, to become one of the city’s top schools for growth in college enrollment since 2009. Boasting more than 35 extracurricular activities, Fenger Academy has significantly lowered dropout rates and misconduct with community-based programs. Website: www.fengerhighschool.org.
Sarah E. Goode STEM Academy (grades 9-11 magnet high school): Want to immerse yourself in total STEM learning? Opening its doors for the 2012-2013 school year, Sarah E. Goode STEM Academy quickly emerged as a leader of Early College STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics] Schools. The Early College STEM initiative connects high school, college, and career opportunities through partnerships. Website: www.goodestemacademy.org.
District leaders can choose what tours they would like to take. The $95 per person fee for this event includes a buffet-style breakfast. All tour participants must be paid registrants for the Joint Annual Conference or guests of paid annual conference registrants.
Space is limited to 220 reservations. Registration for the school tours can be made by mail or online and must include the reservation form with check or credit card information covering registration fees. Telephone reservations will not be accepted.
Tour ribbons for registration received by Oct. 24 will be mailed to the district superintendent on Nov. 7. Tour ribbons for registrations received after Oct. 24 may be picked up at 8 a.m., Friday, Nov. 21, at the registration table in front of the Crystal A Ballroom, West Tower, Hyatt Regency Chicago.
Information about the Chicago Schools Tour is available by emailing Cynthia Woods, at cwoods@iasb.com, or by calling 630/629-3776, ext. 1228; or from Bridget Trojan at btrojan@iasb.com, ext. 1236.
A link to the brochure about the tour includes more details as well as the mail-in form for registration: https://www.iasb.com/jac14/tourbrochure.pdf. Online tour registration is available at: https://www.iasb.com/jac14/tour_reg.cfm.
To register for the conference, visit:https://www.iasb.com/jac14/registration.cfm .
Building a schedule planner makes conference going easier
The Joint Annual Conference is still six weeks away; however, participants have two tools to begin planning how they will spend their time at the three-day event.
A Conference Preview has been posted online that outlines the entire schedule of activities, starting with pre-conference workshops on Friday morning and ending with the final general session on Sunday. The Preview includes dates, times, titles, and descriptions of all courses and panel sessions, workshops, and special events such as the Carousel of Panels and board secretaries’ training.
The Preview is available on the IASB public website at:
http://iasb.mys1cloud.com/conferencepreview2014.pdf .
In addition to the Preview, IASB members will also be able to use online tools to build a personal conference calendar. This online tool will be posted Oct. 15 on IASB’s Members-Only website at http://members.iasb.com. Once logged in, users should click on the annual conference tab across the top.
The calendar will show all conference events by day and type, listing them in chronological order. Selection is done by checking a box for each desired event. The calendar does allow users to select multiple events at conflicting times.
The Members-Only website is available free to any IASB member district superintendent, board member or secretary. Access to the site requires registration, using a seven-digit Member ID number and last name. Member ID numbers appear on mailing labels of all materials sent to IASB members, and begin with the number “2.”
After signing in by member ID number, users are asked to set up an account, using their choice of e-mail address and password. Registration is only required once.
Questions about the online conference planner or the Members-Only website can be directed to ext. 1105 or 1131.
This year’s event will be the 82 nd Joint Annual Conference of the Illinois Association of School Boards, Illinois Association of School Administrators and Illinois Association of School Business Officials. More than 11,000 members and guests are expected to attend.
More information about the conference, including registration, housing, and other features of the 2014 conference can be found online at: https://www.iasb.com/jac14/.
New IASB course on bullying prevention launched online
A new bullying prevention course is up and running on IASB’s Online Learning Center. The new course, “Bullying Prevention: the Board’s Role,” was launched in mid-September and focuses on pertinent law concerning bullying prevention as it applies to schools.
This course describes the school board’s legal responsibility concerning the prevention of, and appropriate responses to, student-on-student bullying and harassment. Fact scenarios developed by the IASB legal staff guide participants through the key aspects of their duties in an evolving area of school law.
Successful completion of this online course will earn 5 Master Board Member points and will count as one School Board LeaderShop elective course.
The cost of the online course is just $50 for IASB members and $100 for non-members.
A group of LeaderShop Academy Fellows piloted the course and the reviews were excellent. One board member who participated said the online learning experience was “terrific” because of the immediate feedback it provided, and the amount of information provided.
“Board members have said they like the overall presentation and most feel it is user friendly. They also enjoy receiving feedback on their responses,” said Dean Langdon, IASB associate executive director of board development.
For this course, an average learner can expect to spend 1-3 hours moving through the content and assignments that follow. Participants may choose to spend 10 to 15 minutes at a time viewing individual scenarios at separate sittings. This means that they will have control over how much or how little time they spend in the learning activities.
The OLC itself has a more up-to-date look, and is easier to use after an extensive overhaul, Langdon noted. Course descriptions, instructions and registration for any of the seven IASB online courses are available at:
https://www.iasb.com/training/onlinelearning.cfm .
The addition of this elective course, “Bullying Prevention: The Board’s Role,” makes for eight training courses online. The others are:
• School District Labor Relations: What Illinois Law Requires [elective]
• Introduction to Parliamentary Procedure [elective]
• Superintendent Evaluation [elective]
• Media Relations [elective]
• Open Meetings Act Training for School Board Members
• Professional Development Leadership Training (PDLT) and Performance Evaluation Reform Act (PERA) Training for School Board Members
• Performance Evaluation Reform Act (PERA) Training for School Board Members
For more information or to get answers to questions about IASB’s LeaderShop Online Learning Center, email: onlinelearning@iasb.com.
School districts encouraged to ‘ StandUp’ in thanking local school board members
Local school districts throughout Illinois are being encouraged to “Stand Up 4 Public Schools” in mid-November by thanking local board members on School Board Members Day.
Nov. 15 will mark the sixth consecutive year of School Board Members Day in Illinois. The annual statewide day of recognition was created in 2008 by legislative action designating a special day of observance to recognize the dedicated community service school board members provide.
As in past years, IASB has provided a package of materials to help districts and communities honor and thank their school board members who serve without compensation. The 2014 Illinois School Board Members Day materials include logos, a press release, letter, sample marquee and PSA messages, as well as an honorary certificate that can be personalized and presented to board members at a board meeting or recognition ceremony.
School districts are welcome to use any of IASB’s School Board Members Day resources without additional permission from IASB because they were created specifically for school districts to use as they see fit. The materials are available for download on the IASB members-only website, https://members.iasb.com/resources.cfm, under the Member Resources tab.
The 2014 School Board Members Day theme capitalizes on IASB’s statewide campaign, “Stand Up 4 Public Schools.” The importance of school board members to the success of the public education system cannot be separated, making the shared message an ideal theme to recognize board members for their contributions on behalf of grassroots democracy and the education of children.
For more information, contact Heath Hendren at 217/528-9688, ext. 1109, or hhendren@iasb.com. Information about the observance is available online at: https://www.iasb.com/sbmd.cfm.
Eureka (Sep. 18, The Pantagraph, Bloomington) Eureka High School students practiced cardiopulmonary resuscitation on CPR manikins on the school auditorium stage as the song “ Stayin’ Alive” played in the background on Sep. 17. A new state law requires cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator (AED) training for students at all Illinois high schools beginning this fall.
Girard (Sep. 16, The State Journal-Register, Springfield) North Mac CUSD 34 officials spent their day on Sep. 16 installing carbon monoxide detectors and testing a water heater, to make sure they don’t have a repeat of a Sep. 15 emergency that sent more than 140 students and adults to the hospital. Superintendent Marica Cullen said carbon monoxide levels at North Mac Intermediate School were at zero following repairs to a hot water heater flue designed to vent the odorless gas. Cullen said tests proved the water heater flue was the cause of the leak. Three people were admitted to a local hospital, but all had been released by that evening.
Normal (Sep. 11, Pantagraph, Bloomington) McLean County Unit District 5’s certified administrators and food service workers will receive an annual 2 percent pay increase. The category includes principals, assistant and associate principals, assistant superintendents and directors of elementary, secondary and special education. Despite the pay increase, the district will see a 6 percent savings of $285,907 in administrators’ total compensation (salary and health insurance) from the previous year. The savings stem from retirements, new replacements brought in at lower salaries and the elimination of two assistant superintendent positions after the administrators holding those posts resigned to become superintendents for other school districts.
Springfield (Aug. 7, The State Journal-Register) The Springfield school district’s two balanced-calendar schools are now in their third week of early dismissal on Wednesdays, a change the school board approved in March as a way to allow time for additional teacher collaboration and development. Parents at one school said that picking up their children at 2 p.m. rather than 3 p.m. has caused a few headaches but is a plus overall. As part of the school calendar shake-up to incorporate Wednesday early dismissals, the number of attendance days was increased from 171 to 175, dropping the number of institute days and cutting the number of parent-teacher conferences from two to one.
Statewide (Aug. 19, The Daily Herald) Concussion classes are now required for high school sports coaches to learn how best to reduce head injuries among young athletes. Under a new law signed in August, the Illinois High School Association is to create an online class that coaches of every sport will have to take and renew every two years. It should be ready this football season. Fears about the long-term affect of concussions on football players in particular have dogged the National Football League and trickled down to youth levels.
Urbana (Aug. 27, News-Gazette) The Urbana school district is mulling participation in an enterprise zone program to provide additional incentives for new development and revenue growth. “Tax-based growth is important for our future as a school district,” school board President John Dimit said. “So it is wise for the school board members to give this some serious thought.” An enterprise zone is an area designated by a government body to stimulate economic growth and neighborhood revitalization. The city has had an enterprise zone since July 1985. The boundaries have expanded over the years, and the current zone encompasses about 3 square miles.
Language literacy
A new state initiative aims to recognize student mastery in two or more languages. Illinois is among the first states to allow districts to award a “State Seal of Biliteracy” to students who demonstrate proficiency in one or more languages, in addition to English. The seal would be placed on a student’s academic transcript and diploma. The seal would provide evidence of language literacy achievements to future employers and college admissions offices. The program is optional for districts.
General State Aid finalized
The fiscal year 2015 General State Aid (GSA) entitlement calculations for all school districts have been finalized, with a proration of 89.1 percent. The final proration percentage will be proportionally applied equally over the remaining 20 payments of state aid to school districts, from September 2014 through June 2015. The $6,119 GSA foundation level established by the legislature was used in the GSA calculation. Computations and claim information for school districts can be found in the General State Aid Inquiry at http://webprod1isbe.net/gsainquiry/default.aspx .
Referenda deadline nears
The deadline for public bodies such as school boards to adopt a resolution placing a public policy question, including a school finance referendum, on the Feb. 24, 2015, primary election ballot is Monday, Dec. 8, 2014 [10 ILCS 5/28-2(c)]. For details, go online to:
Annual school calendar
IASB posted its Annual School Calendar of legal dates and deadlines for 2014-2015 online at the end of August. IASB’s calendar includes a PDF version that can easily be downloaded at: https://www.iasb.com/pdf/cal_1415.pdf .
Superintendent changes
A total of 113 Illinois school districts experienced superintendent changes during the 2013-14 fiscal year, according to the IASB executive searches department. Of these, 99 districts hired new superintendents, including 61 first-timers, and 14 employed retired superintendents as interim or acting superintendents.
Social media launch
In conjunction with its “Stand Up 4 Public Schools” campaign, IASB has launched the Association’s first Facebook and Twitter pages. To find the pages on Facebook, search Illinois Association of School Boards, and on Twitter @ILschoolboards. Meanwhile participants can “like” and follow both pages, and share them with colleagues and public education advocates, and follow IASB during the Conference for live updates from Chicago.
Finance book delayed
Due to uncertainty regarding school funding reforms in the legislature, IASB has delayed issuing an updated edition of its top-selling book, Essentials of Illinois School Finance, last published in a sixth edition in October 2012. IASB will announce the publication date as soon as funding reform proposals have been decided. The Association continues to sell the sixth edition in its online bookstore.
October 9 – BoardBook Webinar, online
October 16 – DuPage Division Dinner Meeting, Lisle
October 21 – Kaskaskia Division Dinner Meeting, Ramsey
October 22 –North Cook Division Dinner Meeting , Des Plaines
October 23 – Two Rivers Division Dinner Meeting , Virginia
October 29 – South Cook Division Dinner Meeting , Orland Park
October 30 – Lake Division Dinner Meeting, Round Lake
November 20 – IASB Board of Directors’ Meeting, Chicago
November 21 – Chicago Schools Tour, Chicago
November 21-23 – IASB/IASA/IASBO Joint Annual Conference , Chicago
November 21 – Illinois Council of School Attorneys’ Annual Seminar on School Law , for school attorneys only, Chicago
November 23 – IASBBoard of Directors’ Meeting, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Chicago
For more current information, see www.iasb.com/calendar/