Volume 23, No.8 | Monday, March 2, 2020

News from the February 25, 2020 meeting

New Bus Fees Help Offset New Costs

Faced with a 38 percent increase in the bus service costs, the Board of Education approved a new bus fee for every rider starting next school year. The 2020-21 individual fee will be the same as this year but applied to all riders with a tiered discount for multiple siblings. The board is also phasing in the full fee over two years to help families adjust. Under the current structure, only 245 of 980 registered riders pay the $325 fee, which is charged to those who live less than 1.5 miles from school and do not have a hazardous crossing on their route to school. This year, the district will spend $817,000 on general education busing, while collecting just under $80,000 in rider fees.   Next year’s cost for the same service is projected to jump to $1.1 million, an annual increase of $306,000. It was determined that all riders need to help offset the increase to prevent cuts elsewhere in the budget.   The fee in 2020-21 will be $325 for the first rider in a family. New next year will be a discount for families with multiple children. The fee for a second rider of the family will be $253, and a third rider will be $181, with no fees for a fourth rider. In 2021-22, the fee will increase to $464 for the first rider, $361 for the second rider, and $258 for the third, with no fees for a fourth rider.   If no phase-in was provided by the Board of Education, the first-year fees would have been $450 for the first rider, $350 for the second, and $250 for the third. However, the Board decided to subsidize the first year in order to reduce the burden on families. The fee will help defray the contract increase while the district is still covering about $800,000. The bus fee for typically developing peers in the Young Explorers program is increasing by 32% for this door-to-door service offered to our youngest riders. This fee will also be phased in over a two-year period. The first year will be $676 per rider. In 2021-22, the fee will increase to $747.    Currently, District 28 is the only Northfield Township district that does not charge all bus riders a transportation fee. Other township elementary districts’ bus fees range from $385 to $685 per rider, per year.

Math Review Focuses on Curricula, Time Assistant Superintendent Dr. Kris Raitzer said the math committee is making progress on a thorough review of new curriculum resources.   The math committee has been divided into an elementary group and a junior high group to evaluate different publishers of math resources. The groups have met several times to carefully evaluate the resources for alignment with state learning standards at every grade. The materials are also being evaluated for how they offer differentiation for students with varying skill levels and abilities. Assessments and resources for home-school connections are also considered. Some teachers are also visiting classrooms in districts that are using the curricula and will pilot lessons to get a broader perspective.   Following the selection of curriculum, planning will begin for professional development in spring, over the summer and throughout next year. Elementary Parent Meetings Set Parents are invited to review potential new math resources selected by the math committee. The district is especially seeking feedback on the parent-home resources offered by each publisher. Parents will also have the opportunity to review the curriculum resources, provide feedback and ask questions. Information will also be shared via school newsletters with parents who are unable to attend the meetings. Greenbriar School: 10 a.m. March 10, immediately following the PTO meeting.  Meadowbrook School: 10:30 a.m. March 11, immediately following the PTO meeting. Westmoor School:  5 p.m. March 11, immediately following the PTO meeting. Northbrook Junior High: 6:30 p.m. March 31

Adding Math Minutes = Complex Equation

As a new math curriculum takes shape for next year, one of the biggest challenges is adding math instructional time to the junior high master schedule.   After a thorough study and review of the state learning standards, it has been decided that Northbrook Junior High students need more than 40 minutes per day of math instructional time. Single acceleration and double acceleration course pathways provide additional rationale for adding time. An instructional model that focuses on student-centered learning rather than lecture-style instruction also requires more time. While teacher-centered lecture instruction is efficient in covering content, a student-centered approach results in a greater depth of understanding and retention of concepts, said Superintendent Dr. Larry Hewitt.    A survey of 21 area districts shows that the NBJH’s 40-minutes of math per day is in the lower tier of districts in daily math minutes. Eight of the surveyed districts have 40 to 47 minutes of daily math instruction while 13 districts have 54 to 80 minutes. When reviewing English Language Arts minutes, about half the districts have equal minutes for math and ELA while others double ELA minutes as compared to math. Only one district had 20 minutes more of math than ELA. NBJH and 12 other jr. high schools have 70 to 94 minutes of daily English Language Arts as compared to nine districts that have 60 minutes of daily ELA instruction.  A school’s master schedule is impacted in many ways. Dr. Hewitt outlined 12 considerations when adjusting the schedule. The 12 components are highly interconnected, meaning when one is changed, several other areas are impacted. View the presentation . “The perfect master schedule does not exist, and each one is unique, having both benefits and drawbacks,” Dr. Hewitt said. A consultant helped to develop several different schedule examples to review with staff. View schedule examples   The administrative team will continue to work with the staff to develop alternatives. They will report on their progress at the March 19 board meeting.

Mid-year Update Charts Strategic Plan Progress Dr. Hewitt provided a mid-year overview of the many projects in progress under each of five goals of the strategic plan, Navigate 28: Goal 1: Student Growth & Achievement includes work on implementing the new Amplify curricular resource for Literacy Studio/ELA; math curriculum review; implementing the newly revised social studies curriculum; and year 2 of Learning First instructional technology plan.  Goal 2: Learning Environment includes improving/enhancing the junior high STEM lab; developing an instructional support model known as Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS); and creating a philosophy and vision statement for the district’s diversity, equity and inclusion practices. Goal 3: Work Environment includes implementing professional learning in the areas of ELA, technology and math. Goal 4: Family & Community Connections includes enhancing communication and information sharing; and continuing parent programming. Goal 5: Resources includes enhancing safety & security, improving cybersecurity and developing a four-year capital improvement plan.   The mid-year report is posted on the Navigate 28 Strategic Plan webpage for 2019-20 Initiatives under each goal.

Communication Efforts Aim to Improve Partnerships

In an effort to clarify information for parents and the community, Dr. Hewitt detailed the communication efforts underway to share board and administration decision-making with parents and the community at large.   The district began live-streaming Board of Education meetings in September and will continue to do so. The response has been strong, with viewers of 100 to over 500 per meeting.   In addition, the background materials for each board meeting are posted on the Board of Education Meeting Documents webpage and the Board Briefs have been expanded to provide more in-depth coverage of all major topics of discussion and action.   A Communications Advisory Committee (CAC) consisting of volunteer parents has met three times this year and will meet one more time this spring to provide input and feedback on communication initiatives. Based on priorities identified by the CAC, a series of videos were published last week that explore the philosophy, instruction and assessment of English Language Arts in elementary grades. Additional videos profiling the junior high literacy curriculum are nearing completion. The videos reside on a webpage called Literacy Studio under ‘Programs’ and will be shared with community and parents through the principals’ e-news and social media channels.   The district has held two math parent forums and is planning another opportunity for parents to review the work of the math committee and provide feedback on the curriculum resources being considered for adoption. "While the district’s efforts have been robust, we are committed to continuously seeking out additional opportunities to enhance our communication" Dr.Hewitt said. Send any additional comments or suggestions regarding communications to Communications Director Terry Ryan.

In Brief

'State of 28' Takes Long View of District

New initiatives are benefitting students as the district strives for continuous improvement; our student population is growing more diverse, and the district’s fund balances are being used to improve school buildings. Those are some of the highlights from Superintendent Larry Hewitt’s annual report.   Dr. Hewitt’s State of 28 annual report offers a long view on trends for programs, data on demographics and finances as well as future impacts – both positive and negative -- on the district.   With 95% of the district revenues generated locally, the district is insulated from one-time shortfalls in federal and state funding, but long term changes such as shifting teacher pension costs from the state to local districts would impact finances. Looking to the future, safety and security will continue to be a priority.   New development in the village and its impact on Meadowbrook enrollment, possible changes in state and federal funding, and a growing nationwide teacher shortage are challenges for the future. View the complete report here .

**March Board Meeting Rescheduled to March 19** Due to the primary election on March 17, the Board of Education will meet at 7 p.m Thursday, March 19. The meeting will be held at the District office, in the HOH Community Room.

District Monitors COVID-19 in Partnership with Region The school districts in Northfield Township (elementary districts 27, 28, 30, 31, 34 and Township High School District 225) are working together -- and with our regional office of education and our municipalities -- to follow developments regarding the Coronavirus, or COVID-19. This collaboration will help us be aware of our local conditions, share resources and expertise, and be prepared should an outbreak occur. Read more

Want to Know More?

Livestream/archive video The Board of Education meetings are now live-steamed on the District 28's YouTube Channel. The live streams are also archived there for later viewing. March Meeting Attention: The March Board meeting has been moved to Thursday, March 19 due to the Primary Election.

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