Wilmette Public Schools District 39 Mikaelian Education Center 615 Locust Road Wilmette, IL 60091 847-256-2450 www.wilmette39.org

April 24, 2012

Below are highlights* from the District 39 Board of Education meeting on April 23, 2012.

The materials from this meeting can be found here.

REORGANIZATIONAL MEETING

• The Board elected Karen Donnan as president and John Flanagin as vice president for one-year terms.
• The Board approved its meeting dates for the 2012-13 year.

REGULAR MEETING

Announcements

• Dr. Lechner invited Dr. Palzet and some WJHS students and staff to talk about science awards recently earned by students.
  • Teachers Debbie Clark and Elizabeth Ryan worked with students on the You be the Chemist challenge, an academic competition focusedimportant chemistry concepts, discoveries, and chemical safety. Students study for a chemistry exam and the top four students go to a regional competition. Wilmette Junior High has won the regional competition two years in a row! This year, one WJHS student placed fourth in the state competition.
  • Teachers Steve Galligan and Pete Ower worked with students on a national competition sponsored by Toshiba. Two teams of WJHS students participated. The challenge was to explore what some type of technology would be like in the future. Two WJHS teams were among only seven honorable mentions from Illinois.
• Dr. Lechner reminded parents that this is the time to register students for next year. Early registration helps with class section planning. Dr. Thrasher reminded parents to contact the District if there are any questions about the login-in information they received.
• Dr. Lechner announced that with Cassie Black leaving the District, Cindy Anderson will be the new Assistant Principal (Grade Level Administrator) for Highcrest. She will be a great addition to HMS. Dr. Palzet introduced Cindy.

Information items

• Dr. Lechner introduced the Student Transportation Update. With the approval of the North Shore Transit bid, we are developing a plan to assure a seamless transition. Dr. LeRoy provided an outline of the transition plan. She introduced key managers from North Shore Transit management who spoke to the Board.
• Dr. Lechner introduced the presentation Model of Education: Linking Assessment to Instruction. He reviewed the presentation from January that provided an update of the D39 Model of Education that was presented to the public during the referendum and explains how the District leverages resources. We get the most out of every dollar we spend, while delivering an outstanding education. This presentation takes a deeper dive into our Model of Education. Dr. Thrasher and Ms. Horowitz gave a detailed report on how teachers use data when making decisions about instruction. We believe that student assessment needs to be directly linked to planning and teaching. The use of data is one of the keys to high student achievement in our model of education.
• Dr. LeRoy presented Fiscal Year 2013 Capital Improvements Projects for the Board's approval.
• Dr. Clauson presented Enrollment Projections noting that with the exception of Kindergarten and 1^st grade, all grade levels reflect current enrollments moving to the next grade level.
• Dr. Lechner introduced the topic of school finance. This is a first look at our fiscal 2013 tentative budget, notably the Debt Service and Life Safety Funds. In 2011 we issued $5.2M in bonds for life safety projects, which are nearly completed. The projected fund balance is $223,000, which will be applied toward the Romona Auditorium project. After the Romona Auditorium project is complete, we will have officially “closed the books” on our 10 year life safety plan.
  • Dr. LeRoy presented Fiscal 2013 Non-Operating Funds Tentative Budget: Debt Service and Life Safety Funds.
• Dr. Lechner noted that last month the Board approved a construction project at WJHS to improve science facilities. In addition to that project, there are other needed construction projects that require funding. In keeping with past practice, D39 identifies and finances these projects when room comes available in our debt structure. This keeps spending flat and within the budget projections made before and after the referendum. At the same time we have an opportunity to restructure bonds, which will provide a small savings to taxpayers.
  • Dr. LeRoy presented the following two resolutions for Board approval.
    • Resolution Authorizing An Installment Purchase Agreement And The Issue Of Not To Exceed $8,500,000 General Obligation (Limited Tax) Debt Certificates, Series 2012, For Improvements And Additions To District Facilities.
    • Resolution Providing For The Issue Of Not To Exceed $1,100,000 General Obligation Limited Tax Refunding Bonds, Series 2012, For Refunding Purposes.
• Dr. Lechner explained that the State of Illinois released some new school construction grant funds. We are applying for this grant, which requires BOE approval.
  • Dr. LeRoy presented Authorization Of The School Maintenance Grant Program Application.

Board Action

• Approved Honorable Dismissal Of Educational Support Personnel And Non-Reemployment Of Part-Time/Partial-Year Support Personnel Employees.
• Approved Second And Final Reading Of Revised Policy 2:100 Conflict Of Interest.
• Approved Fiscal Year 2013 Capital Improvement Projects.
• Approved Resolutions Authorizing Intervention in Two Pending Property Tax Assessment Appeals.
• Approved the Authorization of the School Maintenance Grant Program Application
• Approved the Resolution Authorizing an Installment Purchase Agreement and the Issue of Not to Exceed $8,500,000 General Obligation Debt Certificates.
• Approval of Resolution Providing for the Issue of Not to Exceed $1,100,000 General Obligation Limited Tax Refunding Bonds, Series 2012, for Refunding Purposes

* These highlights provide a summary of the board meeting and are not formal minutes from the meeting. Once approved, minutes from the meeting will be posted in the Minutes section.