News from the D28 September Board Meeting & District News

Volume 23, No.3 | September 30, 2019

News from the September 24, 2019 meeting

Building Projects Funded with Reserves, Not Debt

2019-20 Budget Provides New Classroom Resources, Technology

The Board of Education approved a $43.3 million spending budget for the 2019-20 school year with student programs at the forefront and building improvements being financed with existing fund reserves.

Total spending adds up to $43.3 million, which is approximately $1.3 million over projected revenues excluding contingency funds.

The deficit is the amount used from reserves to finance projects that were completed this summer, including the Meadowbrook School renovation project and secure entrance enhancements at all schools.

All of the Meadowbrook classrooms received new carpeting and cabinetry and were re-painted over the summer. Much of the project costs are in the 2019-20 budget and were paid for with fund reserves.

Using reserves for capital projects is like paying for home improvements with a savings account instead of financing with a loan. Other capital projects planned for next summer include renovation at the junior high for a larger STEM lab/classroom, tuckpointing and building control software upgrades.

Read the full story.

Inquiry Paves the Path

to Social Studies

The new social studies curriculum is intended to weave inquiry and literacy skills with course content in civics, geography, economics and history in a way that engages students to think critically and consider multiple perspectives.

Four teachers, Ronit Shapiro, Technology Coach; David Krauter, third-grade teacher; Laura Scott, fourth-grade teacher, and Katrina Streips, seventh-grade social studies teacher, joined Assistant Superintendent Dr. Kris Raitzer to discuss the social studies curriculum changes being implemented this year at the Board of Education meeting. Click to view their slide presentation.

Read the full story on our website

Ms. Streips, a 7th-grade social studies teacher, created a display of the many questions students will tackle this year. The new inquiry-based curriculum is supported with new classroom resources and a multi-media tech book by Discovery Learning for grades 6-8.

Survey Shows D28 Schools Organized for Improvement

The 5Essentials Survey is a learning conditions survey developed by the University of Chicago. The state requires all schools to conduct either the 5Essentials Survey or another state-approved climate and culture survey annually.

Results show District 28 schools scored as well-organized or organized, the two highest designations, and each building scored at or above the benchmark score in all five Essentials. According to the research, schools that are at or above the benchmark on three or more of the five Essentials are ten times more likely to show substantial gains in student learning over time than schools that are below the benchmark.

The survey was taken between November 2018 and January 2019 by students in grades four through eight, teachers and staff and parents. The 5Essentials Survey identifies five components, or Essentials, found to be critical for school and student success: Effective Leaders, Collaborative Teachers, Involved Families, Supportive Environment and Ambitious Instruction.

Each school principal provided an overview of celebrations and areas for improvement for the Board of Education.

Read the full story on our website.

In Brief....

District Continues to Monitor Bus Service

The district is continuing to experience bus route delays as the bus contractor, First Student, struggles to get enough bus drivers to staff the routes.

Jessica Donato, the chief school business official, reported to the Board of Education that prior to the start of school, the bus company gave no indication there would be such an extent of challenges.

As of September 24th, of the 22 routes that run in the district, there are six routes that continue to be delayed. She said the root cause of the issue is the lack of qualified bus drivers, both locally and nationally. Since that time, additional drivers have been added and delayed routes are down to two.

The bus company reported that it has hired recruiters, increased the hourly wage from $18 to $21, increased the minimum daily hours from four hours to five hours, and is paying driver candidates for training. The company is also offering sign-on and referral bonuses.

Training involves a 17-hour behind-the-wheel course and a two-week waiting period for background checks and to receive state certification. The bus company reported they hope to be fully staffed by October 1.

In the meantime, the district monitors the status of routes daily and shares information with the schools and parents. School staff members are riding along with new drivers and substitute drivers to help them navigate unfamiliar routes.

Issues are being logged at each school, and appropriate penalties will be assessed based on the contract, Mrs. Donato said.

Township Educators Coordinate Resources

Administrators within Northfield Township hold monthly meetings to coordinate resources and work with the high school on a variety of issues.

“We are working together on data related to the PSAT 8/9 and course placements for eighth-grade students,” Dr. Larry Hewitt, superintendent, reported. While the College Board does not recommend test prep, it is important for students to know test-taking strategies. Assistant Superintendent Kris Raitzer said they are also making sure that students’ knowledge of content covered in their math courses is fresh so they are prepared for the test.

“Instruction that happens on a daily basis is the most important aspect,” Dr. Raitzer said.

This year the staff is much more aware of the content of the PSAT 8/9, she said. A visiting member of the College Board also created a video for parents about the exam. Dr. Scott Meek, NBJH principal, holds a parent night in late October, and the high school is sending out letters with testing times and an FAQ.

District 225 shared their 2020-21 calendar, which the elementary districts will work off of to shape their school year calendars.

Specialty Firm to Review Safety and Security

A firm that specializes in safety and security audits of schools has been approved to review the physical, operational and technical security components of the district’s four buildings.

The buildings will be assessed against industry best practices and include security policies and procedures, training, and emergency preparedness. Each school building and property perimeter will receive a detailed inspection. A technical survey will assess areas such as access control, video surveillance, and intercom communications.

Guidepost Solutions LLC was selected for the work after a review and evaluation of three firms was conducted.

Pulaski Day is Banked for Third Snow Day

After having to call off school for four days due to inclement weather in the 2018-19 school year, Dr. Hewitt proposed that if the district faces the same situation this year, the district will hold school on Pulaski Day, which is Monday, March 2, 2020.

The school year is tentatively scheduled to end on Wednesday, June 3rd. The district could use two emergency days to end on Friday, June 5, before Pulaski Day would become a student attendance day. The district utilized Pulaski Day last year, and Dr. Hewitt wanted to make families aware of the fallback plan for the coming winter season. Summer School is scheduled to start on Tuesday, June 9, which will allow time to prepare buildings and set up classrooms.

Want to Know More?

Livestream/archive video

The Board of Education meetings are now live-steamed on the District 28's YouTube Channel.

Tune in at 7 p.m. Oct. 22 for the next board meeting, or view the first streamed meeting of Sept 24. (Due to technical issues, the video begins about 8 minutes after the meeting started. We hope to do better next time!)

#28Empowers #Innovate28

District 28’s official hashtags! You can search the hashtag on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram to monitor posts from teachers, administrators and the district accounts. These hashtags help us tell the story of Teaching, Learning and Caring in District 28 and the innovative teaching and learning around Learning First.