1235 Oak Street Winnetka, IL 60093 phone 847-446-9400 fax 847-446-9408 www.winnetka36.org DATE: December 16, 2014 WINNETKA PUBLIC SCHOOLS SCHOOL BOARD PUBLIC HEARING ON THE TAX LEVY AND REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES TIME: PLACE: 7:00 p.m. Hubbard Woods Auditorium PRESENT: School Board: Ms. Dana Crumley Mr. Matt Hulsizer Mr. Jon Kaplan Mr. William Meuer Ms. Betsy Owens Mr. Tom Shannon (via conference call at 7:35 p.m.) Ms. Kendra Wallace PRESENT: Administration: Ms. Trisha Kocanda, Superintendent Dr. Susan Pingitore, Chief Financial Officer/CSBO Ms. Beth Martin, Director of Student Services Ms. Maureen Miller, Director of Technology Ms. Alison Hawley, Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment Dr. Maureen Hager, Interim Director of Human Resources Ms. Susan Hugebeck, Principal, Greeley School Dr. Julie Pfeffer, Principal, Crow Island School Dr. Daniel Ryan, Principal, Hubbard Woods School Ms. Kelly Tess, Principal, The Skokie School Dr. Cathy Rosen, Principal, Carleton Washburne School Mr. Max Weinberg, Assistant Principal, The Skokie School and Carleton Washburne School
MEETING CONVENED BY THE BOARD PRESIDENT I. CALL TO ORDER Board President, Ms. Kendra Wallace, called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m., in the Hubbard Woods School Resource Center. Mr. Kaplan moved and Mr. Meuer seconded that the School Board enter into a Public Hearing on the Tax Levy. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 Abstain: 0 Absent: 2 II. ROLL CALL Ms. Linda Wehrheim took the roll call as follows: Present: Absent: Mr. Meuer, Ms. Owens, Ms. Wallace, Mr. Shannon (via conference call) and Mr. Kaplan. Ms. Crumley and Mr. Hulsizer III. PUBLIC COMMENT IV. PUBLIC HEARING ON THE TAX LEVY Chief Financial Officer/Chief School Business Official, Dr. Susan Pingitore, identified the essential considerations for the 2014 tax levy included: asking taxpayers for only what is necessary to support the educational programs and facilities; addressing the $4 million surplus in the ending fund balance, and continuing to provide tax relief. The School Board reduced taxes in 2013 by 1.58% via abatement. This represented a distribution of $2 million back to the community. The Board was asked to consider two abatement options. Both options result in a permanent rollback of the tax levy of either $4 million (Option A), or $3 million (Option B). State Funding was an additional factor that was factored into the options presented. Option A did not account for any state funding adjustments; while Option B did account for up to $1 million in state funding adjustments. This was a consideration as the estimated impact of Senate Bill 16 would be a reduction of approximately $850,000 in state funds. The Administrative recommendation is that the Board approve Option B.
The Board discussed the implications of the decision to abate on future School Boards. IV. MOTION TO ADJOURN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND BEGIN THE REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING Mr. Kaplan moved and Mr. Meuer seconded that the School Board adjourn the Public Hearing and enter into the Regularly Scheduled Board meeting. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 Abstain: 0 Absent: 2 V. WELCOME BY BOUARD PRESIDENT Board President, Ms. Kendra Wallace, welcomed the visitors to the School Board meeting and thanked them for attending, especially at this busy time of year. Ms. Wallace reported on the Work Session, held at 5:15 p.m., discussing the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College & Careers (PARCC) Assessment. VI. PUBLIC COMMENT Mr. Ted Wynnychenko addressed the Board. VII. COMMUNICATIONS & FOIA Board Secretary, Ms. Betsy Owens, reported on the press coverage, communications and FOIA requests received since the last Board meeting. The Board packet includes a summary of FOIA requests received and responded to as well as communications received and responded to on behalf of the School Board. VIII. SUPERINTENDENT S REPORT Superintendent, Ms. Trisha Kocanda, provided an update on some of the exciting activities that have been occurring in the buildings. Ms. Kocanda noted that on the personnel report, the Board will be asked to recognize the effective leadership that interim Principal Kelly Tess has brought to The Skokie School this school year by removing the interim title and appointing her as the Principal of The Skokie School.
A. SUPERINTENDENT ENTRY PLAN Superintendent Kocanda, reported that she has had the opportunity to meet with all stakeholder groups and will be returning to the Board at the January 27, 2015, School Board meeting to provide a report on the major themes and prioritized goals that emerged. B. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS Superintendent Kocanda provided a summary of the key points from the informational memos that were included in the Board packet on the following topics: 1. Annual Benchmark Data Report Analysis This report includes a thorough analysis of the math and reading component of the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT). The focus of this analysis is on trend/multi-year data in order to monitor performance over time. The written report and comparative data is available in the Board Packet and located on the District website. Within the report a comparative analysis of the performance trend of the students in District 36 with that of students in other select, high performing K-8 public schools in the Chicago area is provided. Additionally charts reflecting the progress of single cohorts as they pass through subsequent grade levels in the testing range are also shown. Overall results are similar to what has been typically reported showing improved performance as students move through the grade levels. Cohort performance data ranging from a single year over five year analysis shows that the District is typically at the far end of the spectrum, which indicates, from a growth standpoint, students are experiencing greater growth from year to year. 2. Revised 6-8 Math Materials Timeline The Township districts are working together on the selection process for 6-8 math materials. The pilot group, which has expanded to include all township schools excluding Wilmette (as they completed their selection last year) met on December 1, 2014, to review and confirm the sets of materials to be reviewed for vetting. Joint training on the Connected Math Program 3 (CMP3) occurred on December 15, 2014. Selected 6-8 teachers will pilot this material over a three-week period in January. A second set of materials will be selected to pilot in February. The timeline has been revised to incorporate these recent developments.
3. Preliminary Social Emotional Program Proposal A preliminary description and cost analysis for a potential new District program designed to provide services for students with significant social/emotional needs was shared. With this Program in place, the District could offer additional programs onsite before considering a more restrictive placement out-of-district. A two-tiered implementation plan was suggested. Tier 1 would be initiated at The Skokie School and Carleton Washburne School providing a new program at The Skokie School for 5 th and 6 th grade students, and a program revision at Washburne for 7 th and 8 th grade students. The Board discussed the criteria for inclusion in the social emotional programming. The Board expressed interest and support for this program and asked Ms. Martin to bring back a feasibility analysis and full proposal for consideration. 4. North Suburban Special Education District (NSSED) Member Withdrawal Update Deerfield Public Schools District 109 and North Shore School District 112 have indicated that they will be withdrawing from NSSED on June 30, 2016. The new fee structure (in effect for 1 year) was approved at the December 10, 2014, meeting. A meeting of the superintendents is scheduled for early January to review NSSED program services and finances in light of these withdrawals. 5. Performance Evaluation Reform Act (PERA) Update In response to the Performance Evaluation Reform Act (PERA), School Districts are required to include student growth measures on teacher evaluations by the 2016-2017 school year. Dr. Hager highlighted in her report (included in the Board packet) the work of the teacher evaluation committee to-date, emerging themes, and next steps. 6. Staffing & Enrollment Quarterly Update Since the last update in September, enrollment has increased by four students, and staffing has increased by.75 FTE. The increase in staffing includes adding a.5 FTE social work position at Crow Island School and a.25 FTE special education teaching position at Carleton
Washburne School. The rationale for these recommendations is included in the memorandum provided in the Board Packet. 7. Substitute Teacher Compensation As it has become increasingly difficult for school districts to secure substitutes, and the District has been unable to secure 100% of its substitute requests, an analysis of the problem and potential solutions was conducted. An administrative recommendation was provided to address this issue that includes increasing the base substitute rate to $105 per day (from $100 per day); decreasing the number of days for mid-term assignments prior to achieving long-term sub status, and amending the long term pay rate per the new salary structure. 8. New Board Member Orientation Plan The New Board Member Orientation Plan, developed in 2012, has been updated and is available on the Board Resources page of the District Website. The Board suggested that an opportunity for new Board members to meet with teacher representatives, as part of the orientation schedule, would be beneficial. C. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS (presentation) 1. District Assessment Audit: Phase 1 Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, Ms. Alison Hawley, presented preliminary results from Phase One of the District's Assessment Audit, which focused on the amount of time students spend engaged in State, District, and grade-level assessments. Highquality assessment practices are intended to inform instruction without overtaking valuable instructional time. Data collected from the assessment audit conducted include, by grade level, the type, source, frequency, duration and total time of the assessment (in minutes). This information, as well as a summary of the preliminary findings, is included in the written report provided in the Board Packet. Overall it was determined that 3% of the school year is spent administering assessments. The assessment schedule reflects that the majority of the assessments occur during March May. Of these 12 weeks of school time, 9 weeks are spent on some type of assessment.
Next steps include analyzing the amount of time teachers devote to classroom assessments; addressing redundancies, discrepancies, and gaps in the assessment plan; and revising next year's Assessment Calendar. The Board discussed that an appropriate balance (3%) of instructional delivery and assessments may exist, but that continued work needs to be done to answer the remaining three essential questions which includes relevance, efficiency, and impact of the assessment given. Discussion on whether excluding STAR testing, a 25 minute winter and spring assessment from the spring schedule was held. The administration had recommended that the District forego the spring STAR assessment due to PARCC testing. VI. CONSENT AGENDA Ms. Owens moved and Mr. Kaplan seconded that the School Board approve the consent agenda, which includes the following: A. Payroll and Invoices for the period November 21, 2014, through December 16, 2014, as follows: B. Board Meeting Minutes: Payroll $1,220,514.76 Invoices $ 522,851.17 Total $1,743,365.93 Financial Subcommittee Meeting Minutes, November 4, 2014 Regular Meeting Minutes, November 18, 2014 C. Personnel Report as revised 1. Employment, Certified Staff 2. Employment, Classified Staff 3. Resignation, Classified Staff 4. Change of Status, Certified Staff Yes: No: Abstain: Absent Ms. Owens, Mr. Meuer, Ms. Wallace, Mr. Shannon and Mr. Kaplan. Ms. Crumley and Mr. Hulsizer.
VIII. STRATEGIC PLAN GOAL UPDATES Superintendent Kocanda reported on curriculum department updates related to the math materials pilot and kinetic wellness curriculum review. Updates and evidence of completion can be viewed from the following link http://web.winnetka36.org/strategicplan2012-2017/ IX. COMMUNICATIONS/BOARD BUSINESS X. ACTION ITEMS A. Adoption of Proposed 2014 Property Tax Levy Mr. Meuer moved and Mr. Kaplan seconded that the School Board approve the 2014 Tax Levy Option B and file with the County Clerk the Certificate of Tax Levy as submitted and all accompanying resolutions including: Tax Levy Resolution Resolution Levying the Special Tax Rate for Working Cash Purposes Resolution to Reduce Funds Resolution Directing County Clerk to Apply for Loss and Cost Yes: No: Abstain: Absent Mr. Kaplan, Mr. Shannon, Ms. Wallace, Mr. Meuer, and Ms. Owens. Ms. Crumley and Mr. Hulsizer. B. Resolution to Dismiss Educational Support Personnel Employee For Reasons Other Than Reduction-In-Force Mr. Kaplan moved and Ms. Owens seconded that the School Board approve the Resolution to Dismiss Louis Wasserman For Reasons Other Than Reduction-In- Force. Yes: No: Ms. Wallace, Mr. Shannon, Ms. Owens, Mr. Kaplan and Mr. Meuer.
Abstain: Absent Ms. Crumley and Mr. Hulsizer. C. Substitute Teacher Compensation Mr. Kaplan moved and Ms. Owens seconded that the School Board approve the amended Starting Hourly Pay Rates & Benefits FY 2014-2015 document effective January 5, 2015. Yes: No: Abstain: Absent Mr. Kaplan, Mr. Meuer, Ms. Owens, Ms. Wallace, and Mr. Shannon. Ms. Crumley and Mr. Hulsizer. D. Employ Legal Counsel Mr. Kaplan moved and Mr. Meuer seconded that the School Board employ Teri E. Engler, Cynthia M. Baasten, and Alan T. Sraga, Engler, Baasten & Sraga, as legal counsel. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 Abstain: 0 Absent: 2 XI. OTHER BUSINESS The Board will host a staff winter holiday party on February 5, 2015. The Financial Subcommittee will meet prior to the Regular Meeting on January 27, 2015, to discuss the set aside. A Board Work Session on differentiation will be held from 10:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 24, 2015. XII. PUBLIC COMMENT [1] XIII. ADJOURNMENT
At 8:36 p.m., Mr. Kaplan moved and Mr. Shannon seconded that the School Board adjourn the meeting. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 Absent: 2 Abstain: 0