Good News
Principal Walsh introduced student liaison Heather Raslan from Hinsdale Central, who provided the board with the following information and updates from her report.
- Details about some of the school's recent and upcoming events and activities, including a Fall Sports Food Drive, virtual bingo events, administration of the SAT, parent-teacher conferences, a scavenger hunt, and a Halloween pumpkin carving event and costume competition.
- Details about accomplishments by some of Central's teams, including the boys and girls golf teams winning their respective Regional tournaments, and the girls tennis team capturing the conference title.
- Student feedback about the transition to the hybrid model.
Principal Pokorny Lyp introduced student liaison Carson Kotecki from Hinsdale South, who provided the board with the following information and updates from his report.
- Details about several of the school's recent events and activities, including the resumption of in-person instruction, the Online College Financial Aid Night, the Virtual Student Variety Show and the Buzz-By Spirit Event.
- Details about recent accomplishments by some of South's students, including eight seniors being recognized by the National Merit Scholar Corporation for their outstanding performance on the 2019 PSAT, student-athletes Billy Gneiser, Charlie Gneiser and Dana Euske qualifying for Sectionals in golf, and the first group of Breakfast Club winners for the 2020-21 school year being honored for their academic or extracurricular achievements, contributions to the community or school spirit/pride.
Math Pathways Presentation
The Math Pathways Team presented the board with its recommendation that the district move to an integrated math pathway starting in the fall of 2022. Below is the information the team shared during the meeting.
- The structure of the curriculum-building process - the strategic plan, the Math Pathways Team (department chairs, teachers and administrators), the development team (department chairs and teachers) and the writing team (department chairs, content teachers, special education teachers and, if appropriate, feeder schools).
- The purpose and mission of the Math Pathways Team, as well as a brief overview of the team's work.
- The names of the people who serve on the Math Pathways Team, as well as the classes they have taught or currently teach.
- Benefits of moving to an integrated pathway.
- An opportunity to rethink the curriculum.
- Increased ability to develop problem solvers.
- Greater depth in content to increase understanding.
- Reduced redundancies in curriculum.
- Less emphasis on memorizing facts and algorithms and a greater emphasis on meaning and connections.
- Time to encourage students to develop mathematical identities.
- Thoughts and feedback shared by members of the district's math department, as well as the directors of counseling and special education.
- Details about how the integrated pathway aligns with the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics and promotes coherence (ability to think across grades and link major topics within grades).
- Qualities and characteristics of an integrated math model.
- Details about how the program goals of the Math Pathways Team are linked to Goals 1, 2 and 3 of the district's strategic plan.
- The analysis of the traditional and integrated pathways that was completed by the team, including the role the feeder schools played in the process. The team shared that five of the district's feeder schools support the move, one is neutral and one does not support it. However, the team also stated that, while it valued the expertise and opinions shared by the feeders, the pathways were evaluated though the lens of the strategic plan goals and what is best for District 86 students.
- Reasons why the team is recommending the move to an integrated math pathway.
- Integrated curriculum will best support our mission and goals, and enable us to provide the learning experience we want for our students.
- Ability to foster a strong connection between and understanding of key ideas.
- Ability to help students develop skill proficiency and teach them how to effectively investigate, critique and apply knowledge.
- Answers to a few frequently asked questions about the proposed move to an integrated math pathway.
- Will Advanced Placement courses continue to be offered?
- Do colleges and universities recognize an integrated curriculum?
- What courses will be offered?
- Details about several critical items/issues, including:
- Levels and core courses.
- Block courses.
- Options for fourth year.
- Options for students who took algebra or geometry in eighth grade.
- Sample student schedules.
- The timeline for implementing the proposed integrated pathway.
- Details about the work the math teachers will be focused on during the 2020-21 school year.
- Resources that the development and writing teams can use to construct the district’s math curriculum over the next two to three years.
- Details about what the proposed pathway and fourth-year courses can provide, including:
- A vision for how students can pursue mathematics education in our district.
- An entry point into high school that supports individual learning needs.
- Opportunities for students to accelerate through the pathway should they be interested in doing so.
- An honors option that will enable students to pursue mathematics at greater depth.
- High expectations for all students.
- An opportunity for systemic change.
- Students having the chance to take more ownership of their learning.
- Access to a curriculum that is more relevant for our learners.
- Time and opportunity for students to choose a path in high school based on career aspirations.
- Each student being seen as an individual and receiving help in achieving their personal ambitions.
The board is scheduled to vote on the recommendation from the Math Pathways Team during its meeting on Oct. 29. In the meantime, you can access the presentation that was given during this meeting by visiting
https://bit.ly/2HcRmO8.
Committee Reports
Members of the Insurance Committee provided the board with a report from their meeting on Oct. 7. During this meeting, the committee finalized the benefits renewal for 2021. Below are the issues that were discussed in conjunction with this topic.
- Potential decrements related to prescription drugs.
- Premium equivalent rates for 2021.
- Changing the HSA provider.
- Changing the dental coverages.
- Adding voluntary program enhancements under the PerkSpots program.
Below are the changes the committee unanimously approved following its discussion.
- Increase the premium equivalent rates year-over-year for plans as follows: PPO (unchanged), HSA (2.4%) and HMO (8.0%).
- Decrease the dental annual benefit to $1,500. Increase the children orthodontics max to $1,500 and add coverage for posterior composite fillings.
- Switch the HSA provider from BMO Harris to HSA Bank.
The board approved these changes following the report from the Insurance Committee.
Members of the Policy Committee provided the board with a report from their meeting on Oct. 15. During this meeting, the committee reviewed potential policy changes that are specific to the district or were included in the latest update from PRESS. Below is additional information about the policies that were discussed.
- Josh Stephenson, who is the district's chief financial officer, talked about revisions to policy 4:90 (Student Activity Funds) that were drafted with the assistance of the district's legal counsel. The revisions are aimed at aligning the policy with the district's current practices, and accommodating the expanding needs associated with managing student activity funds.
- Keith Bockwoldt, who is the district's chief information officer, joined the committee for a discussion about a new policy - 7:345 (Use of Educational Technologies; Student Data Privacy and Security). He also participated in a conversation about proposed changes to policy 7:340 (Student Records), which are related to the implementation of the Student Online Personal Protection Act (SOPPA). SOPPA addresses how school districts handle online student data.
- The committee reviewed recommended revisions to policy 7:190 (Student Behavior) that were submitted by Brad Verthein, who is the district's assistant superintendent for student services. The revisions address ISBE's adoption of permanent rules governing the use of isolated time out, time out and physical restraint.
In addition to receiving the reports, the board voted to release the draft minutes from these meetings as part of the consent agenda.
First Reading of Policies
The board conducted a first reading of several policies during the meeting, including:
Additional information about these policies can be accessed by clicking on the links above. All four policies will be presented to the board for a second reading and approval on Oct. 29.
Consent Agenda
The board approved the consent agenda as presented. The consent agenda includes personnel, stipends, board bills and meeting minutes. Please visit
https://bit.ly/314ieqq to access the consent agenda items beginning under number eight.
Approve Settlement Agreement
The board approved a settlement agreement with a former student to resolve pending litigation in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
Board President’s Report
Board President Kevin Camden gave his thoughts on the district's return to school plan. He shared that while he understands the desire by some families to increase the number of students who are on campus for in-person instruction, he believes the district is doing what is prudent at this time to keep people healthy and safe.
Superintendent’s Report
Superintendent Tammy Prentiss provided the following information and updates about the district's return to school plan.
- She reiterated that when the community is in a moderate level of transmission, the DuPage County Health Department (DCHD) recommends "some-to-no mixing of groups of students and teachers throughout/across school days."
- She shared that some of the COVID-19 metrics for the county have risen to a substantial level of transmission over the past couple of weeks.
- She mentioned that the district has had three positive cases since resuming in-person instruction.
- She talked about the data that DCHD has added to its dashboard over the past few months, including the positive cases among youth age groups.
- She shared that the district is committed to getting 50% of our student population back on campus for in-person instruction. However, she believes it is important for people to understand the differences that exist between high school and K-8 districts when comparing return to school plans.
- She mentioned that temporary walls are being built in the cafeteria and library at Hinsdale Central that will help the school meet its instructional and operational needs when more students are brought on campus.
- She shared that 20% of the district's student population chose to continue learning from home on a full-time basis. She also shared that there are 193 students in the district who are coming to school on a daily basis for instruction, interventions and support.
- She recognized the students and staff who have been on campus for their efforts to follow the health and safety protocols and procedures that are in place in the buildings.
- She shared that she will be meeting with several student groups next month to get their thoughts and opinions about the district's plans going forward.
- She mentioned that the Recovery-Revitalization-Restore Committee will be meeting on Oct. 19 to discuss a variety of topics, including the plan for final exams for first semester.
- She shared that the next update will be given during the board of education meeting on Oct. 29.
Superintendent Prentiss also asked the board for direction on requests the district has been getting from outside groups that are interested in renting our facilities. The board recommended that the topic be brought to the Finance Committee for review and discussion.
Professional Development Agreement for the Transition Center
The administration presented the board with information about a proposed professional development agreement for the Transition Center. Through the agreement, Jennifer Abrams, who is the author of “Having Hard Conversations,” would help staff members from the Transition Center enhance their ability to engage in complex discussions with students and their families and maintain a healthy learning environment. The board is scheduled to vote on this agreement during its meeting on Oct. 29.
Bond Sale Review
Josh Stephenson presented the board with details about the third and final bond sale that was completed on Oct. 7. You can access the report about the sale by visiting
https://bit.ly/33WwFP3.
Operational Calendar and Future Agenda Items
The board reviewed and discussed its operational calendar for the year and possible agenda items for future meetings. You can access additional information about this agenda item by visiting
https://bit.ly/2H0UI71.
