Highlights of the meeting include:
District 64 students met ambitious growth targets this year - More District 64 students in grades 2-8 reached their projected growth targets for learning this year, and are meeting or surpassing the ambitious goals set for student growth District-wide by the 2020 Vision Strategic Plan. District 64 monitored student growth by comparing performance from fall 2016 to spring 2017 on the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessments. The District has established a target for the year 2020 of having 70% of students meeting their projected growth in Reading and 75% in Math. See the presentation here. A more extensive student learning update with data from other assessments and comparison measures will be shared in the fall.
Study underway on impact to schools of proposed zoning change - The District is studying how a proposed zoning change for the Mr. K Garden and Material Center site (1440 W. Higgins Rd.) from commercial to residential would impact schools. The District is working with Teska Associates, Inc. to analyze both the proposed residential use of townhomes as well as a commercial development that would be appropriate for the site conditions. The study will identify the impact on District finances as well as facilities. Data collected from this study will be used as part of a larger District 64 boundary study to be conducted as part of the 2020 Vision Strategic Plan.
Current year budget amended to reflect additional revenues - The District amended the current 2016-17 budget to reflect new revenues received from $9.25 million in debt certificates issued earlier this spring, and related costs of the issuance. The debt certificates do not increase local property tax bills. They are part of a funding framework approved to finance Health Life Safety, critical infrastructure and capital projects at the schools over the next five years. No other changes were made to the budget.
Tentative budget adopted for 2017-18; public hearing set for August 28 - The Board adopted a tentative budget for the new fiscal year, which may be viewed on the Financial Data - Current webpage. The tentative budget currently stands at $74,962,723 in Operating Fund revenues for 2017-18, with tentative budgeted expenditures at $75,097,626. However, the budget will continue to be refined and revised as new information becomes available through the summer and as actual enrollment is known when the new school year opens in August. A public hearing will be held at 6:45 p.m. on Monday, August 28 (see meeting details). The budget in its final form will be officially adopted on September 25, 2017. The Board previously reviewed the tentative budget in detail at the June 12 Committee-of-the-Whole meeting.
Greener approach to lawn care approved - The Board concurred with the District's recommendation to adopt a greener approach to its lawn care. The District will shift to organic fertilizer and conduct spot spraying only as needed using non 2,4-D products. In addition, the treatment will be expanded to all 45 acres of lawns now under the District's direct care; the Park District separately maintains about 22 acres for District 64. District 64 also will conduct a trial of aeration and overseeding this fall to develop healthier turf. In a related item, the Board deferred action on whether to purchase more efficient mowing and other grounds equipment to explore whether it could be included in an updated intergovernmental cooperative agreement with the Park District now being drafted.
Prevailing wage adopted with further study ahead - As required by law, the Board adopted a schedule of prevailing wages, but requested that the cost impact of utilizing this wage schedule be estimated as each new construction project is introduced this year. The Board also asked for further study of how a local prevailing wage schedule unique to District 64 could be developed for consideration next year.
District 64 leads successful effort to have GreatSchools.org ratings amended throughout Illinois - District 64 announced that the GreatSchools website has agreed to drop outdated growth data from 2014 as a "Student Progress" factor in its school and district ratings state-wide. Its ratings going forward for Illinois will be based only on student "Test Scores." District 64 has urged the website to update its ratings as swiftly as possible.
Congratulations to the ELF 2017 Ethical Leadership Award winners - The Board of Education and Superintendent Laurie Heinz had an opportunity to personally congratulate the recipients during the June 26, 2017 meeting. Members of Mrs. Snow's family also were on hand. Read more about the winners and see photos here.