Lyons Elementary District 103

Board Meeting Report

6/28/10

Below is a synopsis of Lyons Elementary District 103’s most recent board meeting.  These are not official minutes, but an overview of the work the board of education completed.

Superintendent’s Report

Fourth of July Parade – District 103 will have their “Little Red Schoolhouse” float in Lyons’ annual Fourth of July Parade on July 4^th.  Board members and Dr. Warner will be with the float.

ROE Gone – The Regional Office of Education is officially disbanded as of the end of this month.  Many of the services will be transferred to West 40 Service Center.

Board Goal Meeting Reminder – Dr. Warner reminded the board that they will be meeting at 6 PM on Wednesday, June 30 to develop goals for next year.

Educational Foundation Update – Dr. Warner met with Jan Bernard, Jim Schiffer, Greg Frana, and Mark Rodgers to continue discussions on developing an Educational Foundation.  Mark Rodgers is a former District 103 school board member and initiated the formation of a foundation when he was on the board about 10 years ago.  Mr. Rogers is currently with PNC Bank and has served on a variety of boards in the past.

Discussion Topics

1. End of Year Report – Dr. Warner gave an overview of the year’s events and accomplishments to the board.  A copy of his presentation is available on the district’s website at  www.sd103.com/images/stories/pdf/FY10 End of Year Report.pdf.
2. Staff and Student Survey Results – During the month of May all students and staff members were asked to complete an anonymous survey to find out how to improve District 103.  Dr. Warner reviewed some of the results, although some of the data has yet to be extracted from Survey Monkey (the website that hosted the surveys).  Dr. Warner said that they will be disaggregating the survey results by school and then reviewing the data with each principal.

Action Item

Transfer interest from Working Cash Fund – Mr. Schiffer discussed how interested is accrued in the Working Cash fund and why it is important to transfer the accumulated interest to another fund on a regular basis.  The board approved moving $69,371 from the Working Cash fund to the Education fund.

The next regular board meeting will be on Monday, July19^th at the Admin Building at 7:00 PM.

The next Committee of the Whole meeting will be on Monday, August 9th at the Admin Building at 7:00 PM.

Space Foundation Summer Workshop Delivers Fun and Learning  

“Fun, fun, fun!” is the way Payton Grossi, a student at George Washington Middle School in District 103, described her experience in the Space Foundation’s Kinesthetic Astronomy workshop which was held at Lyons Township High School North. The Space Foundation, one of the nation’s top providers of space-related educational programs, delivered the week-long workshop for teachers and students in the suburban Chicago Lyons Township Consortium, June 14-18. The Consortium includes eight districts: Hinsdale Community Consolidated School District 181, LaGrange Highlands School District 106, LaGrange School District 102, LaGrange School District 105 South, Lyons Elementary School District 103, Lyons Township High School District 204, and Western Springs District 101.

Twenty-four teachers and students were engaged in hands-on science activities related to astronomy, a key curricular concept taught at the middle school level.  The workshop featured space-related curriculum based on national standards and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) principles. The workshop was taught in a “two classrooms” concept - teachers and students were taught similar content in rooms adjacent to each other and then brought together several times a day for key hands-on activities and design challenges.

For example, on Tuesday teams of teachers and students designed a Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO).   The LRO was designed to deliver its payload (a marble) accurately to its target.   Later that day teachers and students held Styrofoam balls representing the moon in a dark room with a bright light representing the sun in the center.  Space Foundation instructors Bryan DeBates and Melissa Peterson showed the participants how to demonstrate the phases of the moon, solar eclipses, and lunar eclipses right in the classroom. 

Peter Finucane with Payton Grossi looking on, tries to land their LRO accurately.

Lyons Elementary District 103

Board Meeting Report

6/14/10

Below is a synopsis of Lyons Elementary District 103’s most recent board meeting.  These are not official minutes, but an overview of the work the board of education completed.

Superintendent’s Report

End of the Year – Dr. Warner thanked all the staff members for such a good school year.  He noted how hard everyone worked to make this year a good one.  Dr. Warner said they are already working on preparations for next school year.

COPS Grant – District 103 is working with the Lyons Police Department to submit a grant application to the federal COPS program.  Board president David DeLeshe, who is a member of the Lyons police department, is working with Tom Sheehy, Director of Buildings and Grounds for District 103.  The COPS grant provides matching funds to local organizations to beef up their security.  District 103 will be applying for funds to complete the process to standardize all inside and outside keys and to purchase a card reader system for some outside doors.  The grant, if awarded, will match local expenditures dollar for dollar, which would provide District 103 with a 50% savings on the cost of these two important safety items.

Fourth of July Parade – The Village of Lyons, after taking a year off, will once again be sponsoring a Fourth of July parade.  The village invited District 103 to submit its Little Red Schoolhouse as an entry in the parade.  Board members and Dr. Warner will be with the float as it goes through the community.  Board member Deanna Huxhold has been invited to help make announcements during the parade  The parade will be held on Saturday, July 3^rd.

Educational Foundation – Dr. Warner updated the board on discussions regarding the formation of an educational foundation.  Dr. Vladika, Miss. Bernard, Mr. Schiffer, Dr. Warner and Mr. Frana discussed startup costs for form the foundation, the need for bylaws and vision statement, and potential board members for the foundation.  Dr. Warner said that the District 103 board may be asked to provide a loan to provide initial start-up funding for the educational foundation.

Discussion Topics

1. Morton High School Joint Board Meeting – Mrs. Schaeffer, after receiving the letter from the new superintendent of Morton High School, suggested that we invite their board to meet with our board.  Dr. Warner was asked to discuss this with the new Morton superintendent Dr. Mike Kuzniewski.
2. Medical Procedures – The board discussed an incident in the Robinson lunchroom in which the lunch staff failed to notified the principal, health aide, or call 911 after they dislodged a piece of food choking a student.  Dr. Warner assured the board that the principal Mr. Molina met with the aides the next day to reinforce proper procedures to be used in the future.
3. Focus Group Results – During the month of May, Dr. Warner and Dr. Vladika conducted 8 focus group meetings.  Over 130 parents, community members, and staff participated in the focus group discussions.  Each group was asked to respond to the following two questions: What do you most value about District 103 and this school? and, What do Quality schools do that you think District 103 schools should be doing more of?

Each group was asked to rank their ideas using dots.  Dr. Warner then assigned a ranking to each group, giving the ideas with the most dots a rank of #1, the second most number of dots #2, etc.  Dr. Warner also categorized each comment and sorted the list according to the comments.

Dr. Warner noted that issues such as curriculum, good staff, and extracurricular programs came up often.  The board will reflect on the findings before setting goals for next year.

4. Meeting to set goals for 2010-11 – The board agreed to meet on Wednesday, June 30^th at 6 PM to create goals for next school year.
5. Baker-Tilly Audit Information – The District 103 auditors, Baker Tilly asked that information be provided to the board regarding their procedures and the board’s role in the audit.  Board members were asked to contact Mr. Schiffer or Baker-Tilly if they had any questions.
6. Budget Timeline – Mr. Schiffer presented a timeline for the creation of the 2010-11 school budget.  He recommended that the board adopt the budget at its September 27^th meeting.
7. Energy Management Contract – Mr. Schiffer reviewed the energy contract the board authorized him to sign.  The contract is for electricity for the next three years.
8. PTAB Savings – Mr. Schiffer reviewed a document which showed the PTAB (Property Tax Appeals Board) requests and the reduction amounts finally negotiated by our attorney since 1999.  The chart showed that without legal intervention on behalf of our attorney, District 103 would have had to refund about $1.8 million more than it has in the last 11 years.
9. Review of May Finances – Mr. Schiffer reviewed the current financial status of the district.  He pointed out that the state continues to owe District 103 over $1.2 million.  He also stated that if the fall property tax bills are due any later than the first week of January, the district will probably need to obtain a line-of-credit loan in order to meet its payroll and bills in January.

The next regular board meeting will be on Monday, June 28^th at the Admin Building at 7:00 PM.

The next Committee of the Whole meeting will be on Monday, August 9th  at the Admin Building at 7:00 PM.

Lyons Elementary District 103

Board Meeting Report

5/24/10

Below is a synopsis of Lyons Elementary District 103’s most recent board meeting.  These are not official minutes, but an overview of the work the board of education completed.

Superintendent’s Report

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Grants – Dr. Warner announced that he was pleased that Robinson School once again received a Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Grant from ISBE for next year.  Costello will also be receiving the grant, too.  These grants provide nutritious snacks to our students and gives them an opportunity to try fruits and vegetables that they haven’t eaten before.  Thanks to Susan Hanson at Robinson School for her initial work to apply for the grant.

Step Up for Others Award Ceremony – Our second annual Step Up for Others award was a huge success.  Participants and guests were entertained before the awards ceremony began by the Morton High School Mariachi Band, led by Mr. Brian Toms.  Dr. Warner was the Master of Ceremonies for the evening.  The Step Up for Others Awards were given to 44 students, staff, and community members.  The awards were given to individuals who help prevent bullying, assist others in need, and promote a safe school.  Many parents and relatives came to applaud the award winners.  Congratulations to all who Step Up for Others!

American Cancer Society Mini-Relay – Last week the students in District 103 participated in the American Cancer Society’s Mini-Relay for Life.  Mr. Al Molina, principal of Robinson School, helped District 103 coordinate with the American Cancer Society, which provided speakers to the schools to talk about the need to raise money for cancer research.  Thanks to the generosity of our students, parents, and staff District 103 raised $12,400!   Dr. Warner said he was proud of the students and hope that they will someday live in a world without cancer.

End of the Year – Dr. Warner thanked all the staff members and parents for such a good school year.  The year flew by quickly because everything went very smoothly.  All of the schools have some fun end-of-year events in the next week – you can check the website’s calendar for a list of all the things going on in each school.

Focus Groups – The focus group meetings the board requested have been progressing well.  The focus groups have been held for the staff and at Edison, GWMS, Lincoln, and Robinson schools.  Home School’s is Tuesday night and Costello School’s is Wednesday night.  The results of all the feedback is being collected and synthesized for the board to review at an upcoming board meeting.  The board will then use the results as they create their goals for next year.

Graduation – Dr. Warner reminded the board that 8^th grade graduation ceremonies will be held at 6:30 PM on Thursday, June 3^rd.  All board members are encouraged to attend.

New Board Member 

Mrs. Kathleen Fuentes was sworn in as the newest member of the board of education.  Mrs. Fuentes replaces Mrs. Petrucci, who resigned in April and will serve out the remainder of Mrs. Petrucci’s term, which goes through April, 2011.  Mrs. Fuentes is a resident of Stickney and has two children attending Home School.  Mrs. Fuentes works as an assistant bookkeeper with HCR Manorcare.  Board president David DeLeshe welcomed Mrs. Fuentes and said that he looks forward to working with her.

Norm Miller Award

Each year District 103 awards a non-certified staff member the Norm Miller Award.  Norm Miller was a former board member.  To honor Norm, District 103 staff nominates someone who is an asset to the district.  This year, the staff at Home School nominated Dorothy Ptacek.  Dorothy is a clerical aide at Home School who cheerfully performs here job and helps all those around her to do their job.  We are proud to have Dorothy as a District 103 staff member.  

Discussion Topics

Educational Foundation – The board has authorized Dr. Warner to form a committee to look into forming an Educational Foundation for the benefit of the students.  Dr. Warner will work with Mr. Schiffer, Dr. Vladika, and Mr. Frana to work on the idea initially.  Dr. Warner has contacted former board member Mark Rodgers about joining the committee – he is interested in being a part of it.  Other interested community members should contact Dr. Warner.

Action Items

Paper bid - The board of education accepted the lowest responsible bid from XPEDX for copy paper for the upcoming school year.

Milk bid – The board of education accepted the only bid submitted for milk from Cloverleaf Dairy.  The cost to purchase milk next year will remain $.30 per half-pint for 2% milk.

Breakfast and Lunch Fees – The board of education approved to keep the cost of milk, breakfast, and lunch the same next year.

Exempt Employee Salaries – The board approved salaries for all non-union employees including administrators, secretaries, district office staff, tech staff, before/after care.

Superintendent’s Contract – The board approved a two-year contract for Dr. Warner, which goes through the 2011-12 school year. Dr. Warner intends to retire at that time.  Dr. Warner has been an educator since 1975 and will have completed six years as superintendent in the Lyons Elementary District 103 by the end of his contract.

The next regular board meeting will be on Monday, June 28^th at the Admin Building at 7:00 PM.

The next Committee of the Whole meeting will be on Monday, June 14^th  at the Admin Building at 7:00 PM.