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20 resolutions to be voted on in Delegate Assembly
The resolutions committee of the Illinois Association of School Boards has recommended the adoption of seven of 20 resolutions submitted by local school districts, to be decided at the annual Delegate Assembly.
The resolutions committee, chaired by Association Vice President Carolyne D. Brooks, met Aug. 5 to review the proposals of member districts.
Every year, IASB’s 21 divisions vote to choose a resolutions committee chairman, each of whom will serve on the Statewide 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.
Member district delegates will meet at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 19, at the 2011 Joint Annual Conference. Resolutions adopted there will set policy and lobbying positions for IASB.
A Report to the Membership summarizing the resolutions, and the committee’s recommendations was mailed to member districts in late September. The report is also online at https://www.iasb.com/pdf/reporttomembership2011.pdf.
The resolutions that received a “do adopt” recommendation this year:
Categorical Reductions, Prospective Only, submitted by West Aurora SD 129. BE IT RESOLVED that the Illinois Association of SchoolBoards shall support legislation requiring that any reductionsin line item funds for categorical payments whichare subject to reimbursement by the State (e.g. transportationor special education) shall be prospective only and shall not affect such line item costs incurred by a school district prior to such reduction but not yet claimed or approved for reimbursement.
PTELL — Debt Service Extension Base, submitted by CHSD 17 (Lake Villa). BE IT RESOLVED that the Illinois Association of SchoolBoards shall support legislation (currently House Bill1341) to modify the Debt Service Extension Base (DSEB)formula established by the Property Tax ExtensionLimitation Law (PTELL) to allow the limited number ofschool districts that do not have DSEB to have one establishedfor them creating more equity among districtsaffected by the PTELL and equal opportunity in school funding.
EAV Adjustments — Timely Notification, submitted by Consolidated SD 158. BE IT RESOLVED that the Illinois Association of SchoolBoards shall support legislation to require timely notificationbetween county assessors of substantial adjustmentsto assessed values for a taxing district that has assessedproperty in multiple counties.
Legislative Pay Accountability, submitted by IASB Board of Directors. BE IT RESOLVED that the Illinois Association of School Boards shall support legislation that requires the Illinois General Assembly to include the salary and benefits of each individual legislator on the Illinois General Assembly website. Benefits include all stipends, bonuses, per diems and other compensation for serving in the General Assembly.
Amended Existing Position Statement 1.09, No Child Left Behind, submitted by Woodland CUSD 5. The Illinois Association of School Boards … believes that the federal government has no constitutional [proposed wording in italics added] authority to sanction local school districts …. Therefore, the IASB shall work with the National School Boards Association and other coalitions to urge Congress and the Illinois General Assembly to … remove the provisions for local school district sanctions per Section 103 of Public Law 96-88 (20 USC 3401)which created the U.S. Department of Education [proposed wording in italics added]. (Position Adopted 2003; Amended 2005, 2008)
Amended Existing Position Statement 2.16, State Aid Payments, submitted by Wheaton Warrenville CUSD 200. BE IT RESOLVED that the Illinois Association of SchoolBoards shall support legislation that requires the State ofIllinois to make general state aid payments to school districts,on a monthly basis, during the entitlement year inwhich they are appropriated. Furthermore, the IllinoisAssociation of School Boards shall support legislation thatrequires the State of Illinois to pay interest at the currentlegal rate on any payments which are late. [proposed wording in italics added]
Position Statement 5.05, Prevailing Wage Act, submitted by Hinsdale THSD 86. BE IT RESOLVED that the Illinois Association of SchoolBoards shall work to repeal legislation that regulateswages of laborers, mechanics and other workersemployed by school districts and those under contract forwork being done in school districts or amend thePrevailing Wage Act to exempt school districts from itsscope. [proposed wording in italics added] (Amended 1982, 1990; Reaffirmed 1985, 1988,1996, 2009)
For more information, phone ext. 1132.
Two resolutions could be heard this year ‘on appeal’ if Delegate Assembly OKs it
Two school district sponsors are appealing the resolutions committee decisions on proposals that were denied recommendation.
Wheaton Warrenville CUSD 200 proposed to amend the IASB Position Statement 7.01 on district reorganization. The district sought to add a provision that would promote unit districts as the preferred school district structure.
Lincoln Elementary SD 156 , Calumet City, proposed that school board members receive monetary compensation for serving on a local school board.
Each submitting district delegate will have five minutes on the assembly floor to present a case as to why their resolution should be considered. If a majority of delegates vote in favor of hearing the resolution, the resolution will be presented, debated, and voted upon. If, in the second vote, a majority of delegates vote in favor of either resolution, IASB’s Position Statements would be changed to include the new positions.
Each member district of IASB may send a delegate to conference to vote on resolutions. Registration to participate as an official delegate will begin at 7:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 18 and 19 at the legislative booth, located in the Grand Ballroom foyer of the Hyatt Regency East Tower.
Delegates can also register at the desk outside the Regency Ballroom in the Hyatt Regency West Tower before the Delegate Assembly convenes at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 19.
Past President helped change governance model
IASB Past President Stanton E. Morgan, of Champaign, died Oct. 8, 2011, at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana. He was 77.
Morgan served on the Bismarck-Henning CUSD 1 Board of Education from 1979 to 1999, serving terms as vice president and president. He also served as a director or officer of the Illinois Association of School Boards for 12 years, including two years as association president in 1994 and 1995.
He noted in 2003 that one of the most important developments during his presidency was changing the board’s governance model, which also became the basis for training school board members in policy governance that is still used today.
Also during his tenure state legislation was adopted that created the district waiver process, in which IASB played a major advocacy role, and “tax caps” were enacted for the collar counties around Chicago.
Morgan was very active in community events and organizations throughout his life. For many years, he was a sports statistician and timer at Bismarck and was a timer for the Illinois State Wrestling Championships. He served a term as president of the Workers Comp Property Casualty Board in Chicago and for 15 years as president of the Vermilion Farm Service and then served on the Illini F S board for one year. He was a member of the Bismarck Lions Club for 30 years and the North Fork River Maintenance Board for 10 years.
More recently, Morgan was a member of the Champaign County Park Foundation Board, the Illini Quarterback Club and board, the Illini Courtsiders Club and board and was a member of the Illini Rebounders Club. He worked as a porter at Worden Martin from 2002 until recently.
He served in the Army for two years and was a member of the Old Guard stationed in Fort Meyer, Va. This unit was responsible for guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, placing flags at Arlington National Cemetery and marching in parades for dignitaries. He recalled the honor of marching in a parade for Queen Elizabeth and serving as one of the Honor Guards for President Eisenhower.
After years of dairy farming in McLean, Illinois, the family moved to Rossville and at one point was farming 4,000 acres of corn and soybeans.
Contributions may be made to the Savoy United Methodist Church, the Mills Cancer Center at Carle or a charitable organization of the donor’s choice.
Those Who Excel awards honor eight board members for their contributions
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) honored eight school board members for their outstanding service to schools at the 37th annual Those Who Excel/Teacher of the Year banquet on Oct. 22 in Bloomington.
There are several levels of recognition in the annual awards program, including the top-level Excel award, as well as the Award of Merit and the Award of Recognition.
Receiving the Award of Excellence were William Dussling, Township High School District 214, Arlington Heights.
Dussling received the top-level award for his contributions to students. Under his leadership, the board developed quantitative, measurable, multi-year instructional goals that focus the school community on raising student achievement levels. Also, under his leadership, several new programs were initiated, including a Mandarin Chinese language program at four high schools and the rebranding of another to a high school with a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) focus.
An ardent supporter of public education and, specifically, District 214, Dussling is well known throughout the school community. He showcases District 214’s students and staff by making appearances at local, state, regional, and national events, according to a district spokesperson. In fact, he has represented the school board by attending over 175 events and activities annually. He is knowledgeable on the issue of school finances and authored a white paper on Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts, which was adopted by the school board and communicated to members of the state legislature and several lobbying organizations.
Dussling his shown his commitment to his own personal growth and development by attending every IASB Convention since 1998, the year he was first elected to the District 214 school board. He has also attended 14 IASB divisional meetings, and many NSBA conferences. He also is committed to sharing his experiences and the experiences of District 214 with school board members across the state and nation.
Also receiving the Award of Excellence was Anthony Quagliano, Consolidated District 158, Algonquin. He won for helping to ensure that District 158 continued to raise academic achievement in a time of declining revenue.
Three school board members won the Award of Merit, including: Daniel Romito, Ridgewood High School District 234, Norridge; Beverley Scroggins, Granite City CUSD 9; and Scott Lay, McLean County Unit District 5, Normal.
Receiving the Award of Recognition were board members Raymond Imig, CCSD 62, Des Plaines; Marc Tepper, Kildeer Countyside CCSD 96, Buffalo Grove; and Monica Laurent, Edwardsville CUSD 7.
“I am pleased to have the opportunity to publicly recognize these individuals who work tirelessly to help all students reach their full potential,” said State Superintendent of Education Christopher A. Koch.
Candidates are nominated by their local school districts or members of their communities. The nomination includes a brief biography of the nominee, his or her philosophy of education, professional development, community involvement and views on the state’s most pressing educational needs. Letters of recommendation are also required.
A committee of peers chooses the award winners. The committee represents statewide education organizations and former award winners.
The categories for recognition are:
• Classroom teacher
• School administrator
• Student support personnel
• Educational service personnel
• School board member and/or community volunteer
• Teams—which recognizes groups of teachers and/or administrators; citizen committees; civic organizations; parent organizations; school boards; booster clubs and others that have a significant impact on teaching and learning in a school or district.
• Early career educator
There were 198 winners chosen this year, including 44 recipients of the Award of Excellence, 71 recipients of the Award of Merit, and 82 recipients of the Award of Recognition. A complete list of award recipients can be found online at: http://www.isbe.net/pdf/those_who_excel11-12.pdf .
‘NASBE’ national award goes to Ruiz for outstanding public service
Jesse Ruiz, the Chicago District 299 board representative to the IASB Board of Directors and former president of the Illinois State Board of Education, was recently awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE).
The award is given annually to a past or present state board of education member in recognition of outstanding service to public education.
The group cited the fact that Ruiz has been at the forefront of many issues, including equity in education for underserved students.
“I am very proud to have served with Jesse Ruiz. When it came time to make a tough decision, Jesse always focused on what was best for students, no matter how difficult that may have been,” said State Superintendent of Education Christopher A. Koch. “When you have a leader that cares that much for kids, it helps put your job into focus and makes it that much easier to make tough choices and challenge adults to put students first.”
Ruiz served on the state board from 2004 to 2011, when he left to serve as vice chairman of the Chicago District 299 Board of Education. During his tenure as state board chairman, he worked on reducing the dropout rate and increasing the graduation rate, and changing the legal dropout age from 16 to 17.
Under Ruiz’s leadership, NASBE noted, the state board raised awareness of technical and trade programs that are available for students who are not considering a traditional college program.
Ruiz was appointed in 2011 to the U.S. Department of Education’s equity and excellence commission. El Valor honored him for his work in 2007 with its Education Excellence Award, and in 2005 he was given the Education Award by the secretary of education. In addition, he was named one of the nation’s most influential Hispanics in the October 2010 issue of Hispanic Business magazine.
Board members nationwide to lobby members of Congress
School board members will have the opportunity to join their peers from across the country at the National School Boards Association’s Annual Federal Relations Network (FRN) Conference in Washington, D.C., Feb. 5-7, 2012.
During the legislative conference, participants will learn in-depth about federal issues affecting schools, hear from education experts and political pundits, and lobby their own members of Congress.
Lobbyists say significant policy decisions and billions of dollars are at stake for education in 2012, including the continuing discussion on reauthorizing or fundamentally amending the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). The event, meanwhile, is a rare opportunity for local school board members to influence decisions on such issues.
“School leaders will not want to miss it,” said IASB Director of Governmental Relations Susan Hilton. “Interested leaders should stop by the legislative booth at Conference to discuss this event and participation in our federal advocacy program.”
Nearly 400 board members earn Master Board Member awards, recognition
IASB handed out 397 Master Board Member Awards at division dinner meetings this fall to board members from throughout Illinois. Many board members received awards for reaching Level I (53 award recipients) and/or Level II (52 recipients), both awards that precede the MBM status.
A total of 35 individual board members achieved Master Board Member status for the first time this past year, and 257 were recognized for maintaining their MBM status.
The Association strives to recognize and honor school board members for the time and effort they devote to self-improvement and leadership activities in various IASB and/or NSBA activities within and beyond their local districts.
Each of these activities is assigned from 5 to 30 Master Board Member credits, depending upon the time commitment involved. Credits are cumulative and individuals are recognized at different milestones as they acquire these points.
Individuals receiving the Level I designation have accumulated at least 60 credits. Those receiving the Level II designation have 130 credits or more. Individuals reaching the 200-credit level receive the Master Board Member designation. Thereafter, the MBM designation is maintained by accumulating at least 55 additional credits each year.
Board members that desire Master Board Member status monitor their own participation data on IASB’s Members-Only website, http://members.iasb.com.
The pertinent forms and individual database information can be found on the Members-Only site under the tab, “Your IASB Involvement” at the top of the home page.
Forms are available for each school year going back to 1999-2000 and are provided in portable document format.
More information about the Master Board Member program can be found at https://www.iasb.com/training/mbm.cfm .
‘Continuous learning’ makes seven more LeaderShop Academy Fellows
Seven board members became School Board LeaderShop Academy Fellows in 2011. This honor was recognized at division dinner meetings this fall and brings to 16 the number of living school board members who have achieved Fellow status since the program began in 2005.
The School Board LeaderShop Academy promotes and recognizes board members’ continuous learning and professional development. Some programs are offered every other year to accommodate board turnover following the biennial election. Other programs are offered every year.
Eugene Wroblewski , former board president of Argo CHSD 217, was the first Academy Fellow in 2005. Wroblewski died in 2008.
The seven board members honored as Fellows this year are: Terri Golwitzer, Bradley SD 61; Dee Molinare, Summit Hill SD 161, Frankfort; Richard Reyes, St. George CCSD 258, Bourbonnais; Sharon Thiesen, St. George CCSD 258, Bourbonnais; Mark Verstraete, Bradford CUSD 1; Bruce Klein, Lexington CUSD 7; and Karen Fisher, Ottawa THSD 140.
They join current Fellows: Sean Doyle, Summit Hill SD 161, Frankfort; Dale Hansen, Grant Park CUSD 6; Susan Argentine, Marquardt SD 15, Glendale Heights; Robert Brown, Winfield SD 34; Jean Randazzo, Marquardt SD 15, Glendale Heights; Carol Rahim, Fairview SD 72, Skokie; Barbara Somogyi, Comm. Cons. SD 59, Arlington Heights; Michael Smith, West Harvey-Dixmoor SD 147, Harvey; and Vicki LePere, Millstadt CCSD 160.
Fisher and Hansen also serve on the IASB Board of Directors. Fisher is director of the Starved Rock Division and is a candidate for vice president. Hansen is director of the Three Rivers Division and currently is serving as interim treasurer.
As board members work their way through the School Board LeaderShop curriculum, they earn and maintain membership in the Academy. The rules for earning and maintaining membership are as follows:
1. Admission to Academy membership requires completion of three School Board LeaderShop programs:
a. At least two of these must be from the core curriculum and one of those must be the district governance overview
b. The third program may be either a core or an elective offering
2. Academy membership is maintained by completing at least one additional program (either core or elective) over a two-year period.
3. Upon the completion of seven core and five elective programs, members will be recognized as Academy Fellows.
4. The Member Emeritus designation is for those board members who retire from or leave their boards while maintaining a Fellowship designation.
Academy members are recognized for their commitment to continuous learning in various ways. Upon admission to the Academy, members receive a LeaderShop Academy pen. LeaderShop Fellows receive a plaque recognizing their achievement and are invited to serve in advisory and/or mentoring positions around effective governance issues. The names of Members Emeritus are listed on a permanent honor roll displayed at IASB and they are offered a lifelong subscription to IASB publications.
Survey gathers ideas on improving school and district efficiency to aid student learning
Have any ideas for how public schools and districts can be more efficient? With the expectation of continued budgetary challenges for P-12 education in Illinois, the “Classrooms First Commission,” chaired by Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon, is collecting innovative and practical ideas for improving school and district efficiency while preserving and enhancing classroom learning opportunities for students.
Suggestions may address individual schools, districts, multiple districts, regions or the state as a whole. Suggestions can be entered one at a time, with no limit to how many surveys may be completed.
The more survey responses the commission receives, the more informed its recommendations will be. Access the survey at http://www.ltgov.il.gov to submit ideas.
Rice gives IPA panel basic facts about board governance, how to share key data
Patrick Rice, field services director for IASB and a former district principal, recently provided school building administrators with some essential facts about the principal’s role in understanding and reporting to the school board. The workshop at the 40th annual Illinois Principals Association conference in Peoria on Oct. 18 was designed to assist participants in learning about the role and duties, and governance role, of their school board.
More than 800 building administrators attended the conference. Attendees participated in workshops and small group sessions designed to inform them of the latest trends and issues in education.
Rice cited a 2000 study by Deborah Land entitled, “Local School Boards Under Review: Their Role and Effectiveness in Relation to Students’ Academic Achievement,” on how ineffective districts often suffer role confusion between administrators and board members.
“Principals have to understand the governance protocol of their district and how to keep their communications with board members in the appropriate context,” said Rice. “As [administrators for] the district, principals often have to submit school improvement plans and other reports requested by the superintendent to the board in order for the board to monitor student performance and ensure alignment with district goals.”
The workshop provided principals with strategies on how to communicate data in simple, effective ways, and how to distinguish between monitoring and management data.
Rice said the primary task of the school board, after employing a superintendent, is to develop the district ends. Ends represent the district’s purpose, direction, priorities, and expected outcomes. Board work includes establishing the mission, vision and goals for the district.
“Due to the fact that education is often not the school board members’ area of acumen, principals must understand how to communicate data in a user-friendly manner,” Rice told the principals. “More importantly, because the role of the school board is to provide governance rather than being involved in the administrative aspects of the schools, principals must distinguish between sharing monitoring data versus management data with the board,” he said.
Summing up, he said boards that have open access to management data may perceive it is their role to be involved in day-to-day school operations, which leads to role confusion.
Lawmakers, others share school reform ideas at 13 division meetings
School reform legislation, better known as SB 7, was a “culmination of a bipartisan effort” to address contentious issues such as seniority, tenure, dismissals and strikes while retaining teacher rights, according to State Senator Susan Garrett (D-29, Lake Forest).
Garrett spoke about her proposed shared services legislation (SB 2134) as well as education reform with 170 registered school board members and superintendents at the North Cook division dinner meeting on Sep. 21 in Des Plaines. North Cook was one of 13 divisions that focused on education reform at their fall meetings.
Garrett said taxpayers in her area continue to ask why their taxes have gone up when their property values have gone down. Her “sharing services” proposal would “provide a way for schools to take visible steps in sharing services and reducing costs.”
She suggests a one-sheet form to be submitted annually by districts to show how they have combined services with another district to save money. The reports would be available for the public on district websites and through the Illinois State Board of Education “to allow everyone to see where cost savings can be realized.”
Garrett said her intent is that other governmental bodies will pick up on this model to “reduce governmental redundancies.”
Ed reform panel
Following Garrett’s presentation, a panel of six addressed questions regarding school reform law and SB7. The panel included: Ben Schwarm, associate executive director, IASB; State Representatives David Harris (R-66, Arlington Heights), Rosemary Mulligan (R-65, Des Plaines), and Elaine Nekritz (D-57, Northbrook); and attorneys J. Todd Faulkner and Andrew A. Malahowski, both of Franczek Radalet, P.C. The panel was moderated by Erika Lindley of ED-RED, an advocacy organization that monitors education policy for its members.
When asked what the legislature’s role should be in school consolidation, all seemed to agree that it’s difficult to gauge the political will to follow through on the proposals put forward earlier this year.
“There’s no will up here to consolidate,” Mulligan said, adding it would be hard to pass legislation on consolidation to impact the entire state.
“Our districts are educating children well,” Nekritz added. “This issue won’t be driving legislators up here.”
However, Harris and Faulkner both alluded to recurring efforts to force consolidation of school districts that have been around since 1899. “Where it makes sense,” Harris said, “local constituents are making those decisions. The legislature should be asking if it makes sense to have single school districts, how large is too large and how small is too small.”
Schwarm said consolidation means talking with parents about their children and where they live. While legislators heard from board members on SB 7, a new push for consolidation means “you’ll hear from parents.”
In response to other questions, attorney Malahowski cautioned school board members and superintendents to pay close attention to SB 1831, which accelerates payments for IMRF employees who receive an increase of more than 6 percent in their salary. “Instead of paying over 30 years,” he said, “the payment is over three years.”
To avoid the acceleration, districts will need to make sure any policies to reward non-certified staff in the years close to retirement are formally adopted and in writing before Jan. 1, 2012, and the language must include employees hired after that date. Payments for overtime and overload work will not lead to acceleration, he said, nor will payments made before the first of the year.
Televised coverage from the North Cook event is available on the Illinois Channel. It is broadcast on cable access channels throughout the state.
Acclaimed author, soldier, scholar to sign best-selling book at Conference
Joint Annual Conference keynote speaker Wes Moore, who appeared on a recent cover of Time Magazine, will be among the authors signing their books in the conference bookstore this year. Moore was featured on “The New Greatest Generation” issue of the weekly magazine as one of five heroic veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq who have since created constructive projects back home.
Moore – a Rhodes Scholar, White House fellow, best-selling author, youth advocate, and business leader – will be signing his book, The Other Wes Moore on Friday, Nov. 18, beginning at 5 p.m., immediately following his general session presentation, in the bookstore. The book attempts to answer a question about how the influence of just a select few individuals can alter the path of an entire life.
The book tells the story of a generation of boys trying to find their way in a hostile world. It has been adopted as common reading text in over a dozen universities and schools across the country.
Moore was not always on the path to achievement. Raised in a single-parent household in Baltimore, he was drawn toward trouble as a child, enough so that his mother eventually enrolled him in a Pennsylvania military school. This act helped to change the course of her son’s life.
It is no surprise, then, that Moore addresses this very issue of choice in his compelling keynote talks as well as in his New York Times bestseller. In his book he tells the fascinating story of another Wes Moore – a man who shared his name and much of his personal history. About the same age and raised in the same neighborhood by a single mother, this “other Wes Moore” pursued a sadly different path: he now serves a life sentence without parole on a murder conviction. Compelled by their similar upbringings, Moore penned his book in an effort to discover how small choices make big differences in life.
Bringing this message to the 2011 Joint Annual Conference podium, Moore will present the argument that it is support systems – dedicated networks of families, mentors, teachers, friends, colleagues – that have the most profound and lasting impact on one’s life.
Preceding Moore in a featured signing at the bookstore on Friday from 1 to 3 p.m. will be Tim Pletkovich, editor of the book Civil War Fathers: Sons of the Civil War in WWII. It is the story of eight American families whose fathers fought in the Civil War and whose sons fought in World War II. It developed from an interview project involving middle-school students in Peoria SD 150. The book offers a glimpse of the heart of Middle America during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It sketches the profound changes in the nation from the Civil War to World War II.
Here is the scheduled list of book signings at the conference bookstore:
Friday, Nov. 18
Noon — Maureen Hughes, The Countess and The Mob
1 p.m. — Tim Pletkovich, editor, Civil War Fathers: Sons of the Civil War in WWII
3 p.m. — Phil Boyle, Preserving the Public in Public Schools
5 p.m. — Wes Moore, First General Session Speaker, The Other Wes Moore
Saturday, Nov. 19
9:30 a.m. — Howard Bultinck and Lynn Bush, 99 Ways to Lead and Succeed
9:30 a.m. — Tim Pletkovich, editor, Civil War Fathers: Sons of the Civil War in WWII
9:30 a.m. — Michale Callahan, Too Politically Sensitive
1 p.m. — Jim Fritts, Essentials of Illinois School Finance, Fifth Edition; and editor, Good School Maintenance, Fourth Edition
1 p.m. — Michale Callahan, Too Politically Sensitive
3 p.m. — Donna McCaw, Leaunda Hemphill, Jill Joline Myers, Responding toCyberbullying: An Action Tool for School Leaders
3:15 p.m. — Howard Bultinck and Lynn Bush, 99 Ways to Lead and Succeed
EEE school design award projects to be on display near bookstore at Conference
Winning school designs will be on display at the 2011 Joint Annual Conference, including those earning awards in the Exhibition of Educational Environments, sponsored by IASB Service Associates.
The awards were made by a blind jury pool of architects and superintendents on Sep. 15 at IASB offices in Springfield. This year’s jury chose two Awards of Distinction (the top winner), two Awards of Merit, and two Honorable Mentions.
Winners will be announced at the first general session of the Joint Annual Conference and displayed in a new location at the Conference, Columbus Hall just around the corner from the Bookstore in the Hyatt East Tower, Ballroom Level.
All 26 projects entered in the competition will be displayed throughout the conference.
Criteria include suitability for stated program requirements, functional relationships, aesthetics, grade level or departmental organization, flexibility, expansibility, compatibility with external environment, uses of new technology, barrier-free accessibility, energy efficiency, environmental controls, site adaptation, vehicular and pedestrian circulation, activity area groupings, security and building orientation, among others. To be eligible to win, 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 IASB’s 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 more than 400 design projects involving Illinois public schools.
School officials and architects may use this service by calling the IASB at ext. 1105, or by emailing jnelson@iasb.com.
Employers may need better handle on 403 (b) fees on employee retirement funds
Recent news stories, such as one that appeared in The New York Times on June 3, 2011, titled “Revealing Excessive 401(k) Fees,” have suggested some employers are being charged fees that are too high on their retirement investment programs for employees.
Thus school districts offering 403(b) plans — the public sector’s version of 401(k) plans — may wish to take steps to ensure the fees are reasonable and that their plans are in compliance with relevant laws and regulations. To start with, employers may want to check the written material on their 403(b) plans in order to get a better handle on such fees.
A new IASB-sponsored program could be another useful resource in this regard because it offers a free review of existing 403 (b) programs, according to MPS LORIA Financial Planners, LLC.
The firm says its service includes:
• A review of the existing program
• Transparency and accountability
• On-going monitoring of investments
• Guidance and education to participants
More information about this sponsored program is available online at: https://www.iasb.com/sponsored/403b.cfm or http://www.mpsloria.com. The firm can also be reached at 630/887-4404 (ask for Julie or Kelley) or by emailing info@mpsloria.com .
Gallery of Conference photos to feature prints for viewing, ordering
Members and guests attending the 2011 Joint Annual Conference will have access to a special online link where hundreds of images taken at this year’s conference will be posted for viewing.
From pre-conference workshops on Friday morning to the final general session on Sunday, participants will be able to view all of the conference activities on a secured third-party website.
As an added service to IASB members, those who wish will also be able to order their own prints. They will be available in any size, from wallets to 11 by 14 inches and can be ordered in any quantity or size.
There is no fee for this member service; however, a password is needed to log into the site. The website is: http://momentshare.com/levyphoto/ .
The user name is: iasb11; the password is: Chicago (I need to double-check Bob about this).
Please note: this site will not be active until the photos are processed and posted. IASB will announce the availability of the gallery as soon as it becomes available, along with instructions on how to access, view or order the photos.
New Berlin CUSD 16 board secretary wins 2011 Holly Jack Award
Dottie Crews, who has served 27 years as the administrative district secretary in New Berlin CUSD 16, Loami, is the recipient of the third annual award for school district secretaries. She will be honored Friday, Nov. 18, at the Joint Annual Conference in Chicago.
Crews was chosen to receive The Holly Jack Outstanding Service Award from among 25 nominees. She has been the administrative assistant to three superintendents and served as the high school secretary prior to working in the central office. Community Unit School District 16 is a unit district with approximately 820 students in grades pre-kindergarten through 12.
The award was created to honor the memory of Holly Jack, a long-time employee of the Illinois Association of School Boards, who served as a field services administrative assistant and was instrumental in promoting and developing the secretaries’ program that is offered at the Joint Annual Conference. The purpose of the award is to both honor Holly’s contribution and memory and to recognize the extraordinary work and valuable service provided by secretaries who serve and assist their local boards of education.
A selection committee composed of individuals representing board members, school business officials, district administrative assistants, and IASB administrative assistants reviewed the nominating materials and made the selection on Oct. 11.
“Dottie is professional, supportive and kind to all. Amid the ever changing and growing demographics of our district, she has been a stable force that has served students, staff, board members, community and administration with respect. She always gives one hundred percent,” said Valerie Carr, District 16 superintendent.
“Her great sense of humor, wisdom, excellent secretarial skills, and her genuine care for all those she has served have been a gift to the district. She exhibits the characteristics outlined in the Holly Jack Award every day. She is one in a million.”
Nominations were made by district superintendents and school board presidents. The judges considered the following criteria: performance, initiative, innovation, staff development, self-improvement, passion for public education, and dedication. Letters of support were also accepted.
Carr and District 16 past board president Richard Behl noted some of Crew’s specific accomplishments, including her work as the district’s contact with a local bank that hosts an Angel Tree for children in the district who would otherwise not have gifts during the holiday season. Carr also mentioned the tireless work Crews put in during the construction of a new elementary school, assuring that all necessary meetings with architects and various contractors were scheduled as needed.
The award presentation will be made during the opening session of the secretaries’ program at 9:30 a.m., Friday, Nov. 18, 2011, in the Grand Ballroom, Ballroom Level, Swissotel.
Handouts, survey and planner among tools offered online to aid 2011 Conference goers
There are three online tools available to make attendance at the 2011 Joint Annual Conference easier and more satisfying.
Handouts and copies of PowerPoint presentations from many of the panel sessions to be held at the 2011 Joint Annual Conference will posted on the Members-Onlywebsite, http://members.iasb.com .
Handouts made available to IASB prior to Nov. 4 will be posted on Friday, Nov. 11. Remaining handouts will be posted as they are received after the conference.
A post-conference survey of attendees will also be posted on the members-only website. One purpose of this survey is to get a “big picture” overview of conference attendees’ perceptions.
Board members, superintendents and secretaries also can build a personal planner using the online calendar builder now available on the members-only site. The calendar shows all conference events by day and type, listing them in chronological order.
Participants can check each event they want to attend, including multiple events for the same time slot. When the selection process is completed, the calendar can be downloaded, printed and brought to conference.
All three online tools are available by clicking on the Annual Conference tab at the top of the members-only website. Access is free and available to superintendents, board members and secretaries of member districts.
The site requires a one-time registration that uses the member’s seven-digit Member ID number and their last name. This number appears on the mailing label of all materials sent to IASB members, and begins with “2.”
After completing this step, members need to set up an account with an email address and a chosen password. For assistance with access,
contact IASB’s Communications department at ext. 1131 or send an email to communications@iasb. com .
For help with navigating the site, there is a navigation guide on the Members-Only home page. Questions about the online planner, panel handouts or conference evaluation survey should be directed to ext. 1105 or 1131.
Governance Recognition Award goes to four local boards for modeling excellent behavior
Four school boards were recently recognized as recipients of IASB’s first annual “Governance Recognition Award.”
The award is designed to acknowledge school boards that have engaged in activities and modeled behaviors leading to excellence in local school governance in support of quality public education.
“It is great to be recognized for what we are doing. Last year we received high marks in the Illinois Policy Institute’s Transparency Project,” said Katie Bailey, president of the Evanston/Skokie SD 65 Board of Education, which was one of the four winners.
“This award gives us a chance to celebrate the work our board is doing and gives us the opportunity to be recognized in this region and across the state as an example of good board governance. This is all very rewarding,” she added.
Other award-winning boards were: Harlem SD 122, Machesney Park; Wheaton Warrenville CUSD 200; and Lake Villa CCSD 41.
The application for recognition asked school boards to explain how they are meeting IASB’s six Foundational Principles of Effective Governance in the areas of adopting and communicating their mission, vision and goals, in having and implementing a superintendent evaluation process, for conducting regular policy reviews and maintaining an updated policy manual.
The new recognition program acknowledges school boards that learn and practice effective governance behaviors as identified in the Association’s governance principles, through participation in and support for board development programs and events.
The primary focus of this new program is on full board development and participation rather than individual board member efforts, according to Angie Peifer, IASB Associate Executive Director for Board Development and Targeting Achievement through Governance.
“Effective school boards understand that excellence in local school board governance requires full board commitment to obtaining the knowledge, skills and abilities critical to good governance,” she said. “It is that commitment that provides the opportunity for the board to practice and model continuous improvement and life-long learning for the staff, students and community.
“In return, the board becomes better prepared to make a difference, to provide leadership for district improvement and to leave a lasting legacy for the district, the community and, most importantly, its students,” Peifer added.
Other areas cited in the application are stakeholder participation in important issues ranging from the development of a strategic plan to the citizens’ budget committee, participation in state and local conferences sponsored by IASB, and school board member orientation procedures.
For more information about the School Board Governance Recognition program, contact Judy Williams at ext. 1103.
Alton (Oct. 6, Alton Telegraph) Two classmates and a custodian responded to save a boy’s life at Mark Twain School in Alton Sep. 27. Blake Landry, 6, a first-grader was eating chicken nuggets beside his classmates, Cadee Gaunt and Annalee Bean, when he suddenly grabbed his throat and made choking sounds. “We started yelling for help,” said Cadee, 7. Custodian Antonio Clanton Sr. also responded and successfully used the Heimlich maneuver. Clanton said he was trained on the maneuver years ago but this was the first time he had ever used it.
Carpentersville (Oct. 12, Elgin Courier News) An intergovernmental agreement in August 2010 to form the School Wind Consortium Agency has been unable to garner interest from bond market investors. The consortium of three districts is now reviewing a 20-year purchase agreement of renewable energy with Chicago-based Invenergy LLC. Additional turbines would take about a year to install and would be operational no later than Dec. 31, 2012. The project would still qualify for federal grants, covering about a third of the cost of constructing the turbines. The participating districts, in addition to Community Unit School District 300, Carpentersville, include Keeneyville Elementary District 20, and Prospect Heights District 23. District 300 schools have more than a 90 percent share in the potential savings — about $6.3 million out of a $7 million total, according to Dave Ulm, the district’s energy coordinator.
Chicago (Oct. 3, Chicago Tribune) A two-year study of charter schools in Chicago indicates that while some charter districts suffer from some of the same funding challenges as traditional public schools, most charters are on sound financial footing. A report released Oct. 4 by the budget watchdog Civic Federation is the first of its kind to look at the financial health of Chicago’s charter schools, the quasi-independent but publicly funded schools that operate within the city’s public school system. Nine of the 28 schools surveyed showed declining or negative budget balances in the 2007 and 2008 fiscal years, and others were hampered by high payroll costs, a worrisome trend that raises questions about the schools’ sustainability, said Civic Federation President Laurence Msall. Some large charter networks are able to overcome various financial hurdles with private fundraising, experts say, but many smaller ones struggle year after year to make ends meet.
Chicago (Oct. 3, Chicago Sun-Times) Chicago District 299 CEO Jean-Claude Brizard told the Chicago teachers union on Sep. 30 he will allow the organization to pick the next 25 schools to join a pilot project for offering longer school days. Brizard invited CTU President Karen Lewis to pick 25 more schools and work on guidelines on how they would add 90 minutes to the school day. The additional 25 schools would start piloting a longer day in January, with teachers being compensated a lump sum payment equal to a 2 percent raise and each school receiving $75,000 in discretionary funds. “We want to work with you, the teachers, to make sure that we are extracting all the value we can out of each additional minute,” Brizard wrote.
East St. Louis (Oct. 3, St. Louis Post-Dispatch) The state announced Sep. 30 it had appointed Arthur Culver to lead East St. Louis SD 189, effective Oct. 3. The ISBE took over the district in May after the schools failed for nine straight years to meet NCLB standards. As superintendent of Champaign CUSD 4, Culber spent nine years addressing inequities between black and white students in academic performance, discipline and student services. As a result of reducing the disparities, a federal consent decree that stemmed from a federal lawsuit was lifted during his tenure in 2009. Culver also is credited with restoring financial stability to Champaign schools.
Quincy (Oct. 11, Herald-Whig) Quincy SD 172 is working on procedural changes in the aftermath of a recent alleged locker-room hazing incident involving members of the freshman football team. The board met in closed session on Oct. 10 to discuss “student discipline” and emerged without taking action. Superintendent Lonny Lemon briefly told parents at the meeting, however, that he’s been “given the charge to work on an education plan for our students in extracurriculars.” The plan is still in development, but it reportedly could involve requiring students in extracurricular activities to receive some anti-bullying and sensitivity training. Lemon declined to say what the plan would or would not entail. He said it’s unclear if he will present the proposal as an “administrative policy and procedure,” which he can implement on his own, or as a possible change to a formal board policy.
Rockford (Oct. 3, Register Star) Rockford high school students can retake core classes for free under an updated administrative procedure announced Oct. 3. Interim Superintendent Robert Willis and his team want to give students who fail a core course another chance. The Education Committee heard the update at its latest meeting, and Assistant Superintendent Ehren Jarrett said district officials are still discussing options for students to retake courses, perhaps through a computer-based model, a before- or after-school class, or another way that’s different from the way the student initially took — and failed — the class. The second-chance rule applies to classes required for graduation, and the offer would be extended first to seniors.
Budget hearings begin
ISBE kicked off a series of five statewide public budget hearings on Oct. 19 in Springfield to help its Finance and Audit Committee prepare the education budget to be submitted to the General Assembly and governor. “We know that local school districts have already made difficult decisions in the past couple years as they address declining state and local revenue as well as an unknown future,” said Committee Chairman James Baumann. The last of five hearings will be held Nov. 29 in Chicago. For details, see http://www.isbe.net/news/2011/oct17b.htm .
Charters get $1.6 million
Nine Illinois charter schools have been awarded $1.6 million in federal funds to be used toward planning, program design and initial implementation, as well as for sharing best practices, ISBE announced Oct. 17. These new and proposed Illinois charter schools represent a third of the 26 national charters awarded $4.7 million in grants. Charter developers applied to the U.S. Department of Education’s charter schools program. More information about the grants is available online at http://www.isbe.net/news/2011/oct17a.htm .
Reorganization studies
ISBE is now accepting agreements for the FY 2012 School District Reorganization Feasibility Studies. A tool to help school districts investigate reorganization options, the feasibility studies are funded on a “first come-first served” basis. Grants range between $4,000 and $8,000. For information, contact Michelle Heninger, School Business Services, at 217-785-8779. Procedures, funding allotment and sample forms are available at http://www.isbe.net/sfms/html/feasibility.htm.
Cyberharassment explored
When bullying intersects with technology, students can suffer real-world scars from events that happen in the cyber world. School board members and administrators need to understand the policies and legalities of dealing with cyberbullies. The November/December issue of The Illinois School Board Journal explores cyberharassment issues as well as offering information on using new technology in classrooms, mandatory training for school board members and reasons to conduct better screening for volunteers in schools.
IASB Constitution mailing
Upcoming IASB mailings following the Joint Annual Conference will include the 2011 IASB Constitution and Position Statements booklet. Both the IASB Constitution and the Association’s official position statements are products of the IASB Delegate Assembly, which meets annually at the conference. IASB operates within the framework of its Constitution, and lobbies on behalf of its position statements, which reflect the beliefs, aspirations and aims of the association as established by its member school boards.
Mandatory training charted
As described in the October Newsbulletin, and other IASB publications, recent legislation in Illinois enacted in SB 7, now PA-08, has provided for mandatory school board member training. For information about training requirements, who must receive training, timelines, and IASB professional development opportunities designed to enable board members to meet the statutory requirements, please see the new chart online on the IASB website at: http://iasb.com/training/mandatoryboardtraining.pdf .
November 18-20 – IASB/IASA/IASBO Joint Annual Conference, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Chicago
November 18 – Illinois Council of School Attorneys’ 25th Annual Seminar on School Law, For school attorneys only, advance registration & fee required, Hyatt Regency Chicago
November 18 – Chicago Schools Tour, Breakfast 8 a.m. Tour 8:45 a.m., advance registration & fee required, Hyatt Regency Chicago
November 20 – IASB Board of Directors’ Meeting, Hyatt Regency Chicago
December 1 – Abe Lincoln Division Winter Governing Committee Meeting, POSTPONED
December 6 – Blackhawk Division Winter Governing Committee Meeting, The Cellar, Geneseo
December 7 – Central IL Valley Division Winter Governing Committee Meeting, Jonah’s Seafood House, East Peoria
December 8 – Two Rivers Division Winter Governing Committee Meeting, Lonzerotti’s, Jacksonville
For more current information, see www.iasb.com/calendar/