Volume 21, No. 3 | Oct. 31, 2017
News From the October Board Meeting
Public, Staff Provide Direction to Navigate 28 Strategic Planning Team
Strategic planning, Navigate 28, is taking shape after several events kicking off the effort in October.
The Strategic Planning Team, a committee of 30 representatives, met for a daylong “Data Retreat” on Oct. 6.

The team reviewed perception data from community, staff and student surveys, along with district data on culture and the learning environment; student growth and achievement; and finances and facilities.

The work resulted in a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats analysis, which was opened for public feedback during staff and community forums held Oct. 23 and Oct. 26.
Did you miss the forums?
You have an opportunity to respond to the team's SWOT analysis by reviewing the presentations from the forums and responding to the team's Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats analysis.
Student Growth Measured Through Many Lenses
There are many different ways to measure a child’s academic growth, and the most useful assessments are the ones teachers can use the next day, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Kris Raitzer said. So, classroom assessments developed by our teachers are the most accurate and useful data on student achievement.

Standardized assessments are common assessments across the district and state. Some are nationally normed as well. The district uses these assessments to measure student growth across the district, including:

Board Briefs
Property Tax Levy Will Reflect 2.1% Inflation Rate
The 2017 Estimated Property Tax Levy is 4.99% higher than 2016, but the actual amount of property tax revenues the district will receive will be calculated based on the December 2016 Consumer Price Index of 2.1%.

State law prohibits school districts from increasing property tax requests by more than the CPI or 5%, whichever is less. This is the first time the CPI has been above 2% in five years. The CPI is a measure of price changes in consumer goods and services set by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The only other increases in the levy must come from new property development. The District must over-estimate the levy increase in order to capture all potential new property. The township assessor determines the actual amount paid to the district after all property is assessed. Property taxes represent 85 percent of total district revenues.

The district will hold a hearing on the proposed $34.8 million levy at the board’s Dec. 12 meeting.

Life Safety Survey Identifies $201,500 in Building Repairs
Every ten years the Illinois School Code requires school districts to have the buildings inspected to ensure they meet all life-safety codes. District 28 is funding the repairs through its regular budget. Door repairs, ventilation improvements, adjustments to railing heights and lengths, etc., are the type of items identified.

The ten-year review was conducted by the district’s architectural firm and then reviewed by staff and the Buildings and Grounds Committee.

The board approved the list of repairs. Staff will develop a timeline for completing the projects..
 
Audit Shows District Finances Sound, Transparent
Annually, the District is required to conduct an independent audit of the financial activities in accordance with generally accepted governmental auditing standards. Susan Jones of Miller Cooper and Co., Ltd. presented an overview of the annual audit report, which was completed Oct. 18. She noted excellent cooperation and transparency from district staff.
The auditors found the District to be financially sound. Factors that may impact the District’s future include:
the new state funding formula, pension reform, increased health care costs, reduced investment interest earnings, delayed state grant funding and salary expenses outpacing revenues.
Greenbriar Oak Tree
Needs Replacement
Despite seeking assistance from an arborist, the oak tree at the front of Greenbriar School is dying and will have to be replaced. The process of removal and replacement most likely will take place next spring.
District Happenings
Pink Out for Breast Cancer
NBJH Student Council sold pink t-shirts for a Pink-Out Oct. 27 to raise breast cancer awareness and raise funds for research. The successful campaign netted $1,300 that was donated to Making Strides of North Shore. To celebrate, the school staged an all-school photo...on a very cold and windy day! Check out the video either on the District Facebook Page, or by clicking here
First Grade Teacher by Day, Pirate by Night
Loren Myers (WM) has been singing and dancing practically since she was the age of her first-grade students at Westmoor School.

Now they can see her on stage as a member of the chorus in a local production of “Pirates of Penzance.” And, just maybe she will inspire one of her students the way she was inspired at their age.

Growing up in San Diego, she’s been in too many productions to count, she says, but one thing she does remember is the first time she went to the theater.

“Some kids, it takes just one show for them to watch and to be in love with the arts. I saw my friend in a community theater production, and I told my mom I really, really wanted to do it and asked if I could do the next one,” Ms. Myers said in a soft-spoken voice that masks her classically trained opera talent. Read the full story
Important Dates
  • Veterans Day Observance -- Members of the Wind Ensemble will perform in a Veterans Day Observance at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 11 in the Northbrook Junior High gymnasium. The American Legion Post #791 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars invite all to the service. Featured speaker is LTC. James Ossey, a 30-year Army veteran.  
  • Music Parents Club Greenery Pickup - 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 14-16 at the Village Green.
  • Junior High Parent Teacher Conferences - Nov. 20-21 (No School districtwide)
  • Board of Education Meeting - 7 p.m. Nov. 21 at District Office, 1475 Maple Ave.
  • Thanksgiving Recess - Nov. 22-Nov. 24
#TLC28
District 28’s official hashtag! You can search the hashtag on Twitter or Facebook to monitor posts from teachers, administrators and the district accounts. This hashtag helps us tell the story of Teaching, Learning and Caring in District 28.