Blog Archives

April 16, 2018

4/23/2018

Present: Board President Greg Robitaille, Vice President Lori Goldstein; Board Members: Cathleen Albrecht, Carol Ducommun, Keith Dronen, Marc Glucksman, Patrick O’Donoghue.

Administrators: Superintendent Paul Sally; Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Christopher Johnson; Secretary Superintendent Lou Anne Kelly; Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Peter Tragos; Assistant Superintendent for Student Services Timothy Hayes; Principal (Winnetka) Denise Dubravec; Principal (Northfield) Paul Waechtler.
Absent: None

CITIZEN’S COMMENTS: A parent urged the board to take a look at New Trier Athletics with the goal of serving more athletes. Specifically, a student’s inability to try out for more than one sport. Why, if a student is cut from a spring sport, can’t they join the track team mid-way through the season? Why is there such a large gap between the organization and professionalism of interscholastic sport teams and intramurals at NT?

Information Items

Advisor Study Program (Hayes)
Hanover Research was hired to study NT’s Adviser system in 2015. The Adviser system was last overhauled in 1965. The goal was to highlight strengths and determine areas for further review and improvement. Hanover Research reviewed other schools that used an adviser system, surveyed stakeholders, and using the information from these surveys, questions were used in focus groups with students, parents and staff.
$5.9 million is spent yearly on the Adviser system. 162 Advisers.
Areas for Targeted for Improvement and Next Steps

The time commitment that is demanded by an advisor is significantly over the 25 minutes M-F and an additional 40 minutes of in-service training, which has an impact on faculty interest in the program. The Adviser Chairs will continue to look at the way an adviser's time is being used, by minimizing administrative tasks and maximizing work supporting student development.
Autonomy to address individual and group needs. Most parents reported that the level of communication with the adviser was appropriate, but many others would like to see more frequent communication. Adviser Chairs are working to revise these expectations by the 2018-2019 school year.
Gender-Specific Advising is under review. There are mixed reviews on the present gender structure. Some respondents felt that gender-specific advisories provide opportunity for frank discussions and positive role modeling; others felt that the present gender structure increases the potential for the marginalization of students and does not reflect daily life. Referring this question to the upcoming Strategic Plan.

Discussion: Board members praised the Adviser system through examples and highlighted how the advisor system plays a major part in school safety. The present adviser system has a long list of goals, perhaps too many?

PowerSchool Update: (Stephanie Helfand, Chief Technology Officer)
Power School is the new Student Information System that has been implemented this year. Presently, it is being used for Special Education/ IEPs, Student Demographics, Course Selection and Registration, and Adviser Portal. The system will also enable the district to check residency with expediency. The information system has met or exceeded goals. Total project implementation is expected to be $260,000.

Strategic Planning Update: (Sally)
After an interview process, Dr. Linda Hanson has been chosen to facilitate the Strategic Plan. There will be a more thorough update in June. The process will start in August, and the plan will be presented at the December 2018 Bof E meeting. There will be a core committee of parents, staff, and administrators. Long term facilities plan (building upgrades) will be incorporated.

Facilities Steering Committee Update: (Johnson)
Summer 2018 Projects include: Northfield Campus--A restroom/concession building, outdoor bleachers, six new tennis courts and resurfacing of existing courts (tennis court construction made possible by a $1,264,521 donation from a private foundation), resurfacing the west parking lot, and replacement of the asphalt track. Winnetka Campus--Rehabbing second floor offices and a restroom. Project is $411,00 over budget presently, but confident that it will end up much closer to budget, since there will be no design changes.
2019 and Beyond: Ongoing assessments of mechanical systems, roofs, and energy usage at both campuses. Energy use study will be presented at the June 2018 B of E Meeting.

Campus Security Updates: Summer 2018-Additional security at Winnetka vestibules, additional coverings and shatter-proof film on windows.

Treasurers and Budget Reports: (Johnson) Is on target. And expected.

Public Hearing --Reduction in Force: (Tragos)
Recommending faculty reductions for the 2018-19 school year. Reductions are the result in changes in assignment which resulted in overstaffing. Example-staff returning from leaves, sabbaticals, or assignments outside of their department. School Code requires a public hearing whenever the number of honorable dismissals exceeds 5 employees. This year they are dismissing eight teachers.

Voting Items
Tentative 2018 Amended Budget: Unanimously Approved
Resolution for Honorable Dismissal: Unanimously Approved

Board Officer Elections
Greg Robitaille was nominated as President
Kathy Albrecht was nominated as Vice President
Lou Anne Kelly was nominated as Secretary of the Board of Education 5/1 to 6/30
Lindsey Ruston was nominated as Secretary of the Board of Education 7/1 to 4/15/19
Unanimously Approved
Resolution to Appointment District Treasurer
Chris Johnson was appointed as District Treasurer.
Unanimously approved

Consent Agenda

Bill List for March 1-31, 2018; Personnel Report (Appointments, Changes of Status, Resignations, Retirements, and Stipends, Administrators Stipends for the Director of Business Services, Director of Communications, Director of Human Resources, Assistant Principal for Student Services, Assistant Principal-Northfield Campus); Notice to Remedy, Ratification of Change Order #32, Board Policy, 2nd Reading, Bid Package #2-Summer 2018 Construction Items approved unanimously.

Meeting Length: 2 hrs 12 minutes. Observer: Siobhan Hill
Next Meeting: May 21, 2019

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March 19, 2018

4/6/2018

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Student Walkout (Robitaille, Dubravec, Waechtler) Students on both campus participated in the national student-led Walkout to protest gun violence. All noted it was a safe environment for all students. Board President Robitaille commended staff for balancing the interests of students with a diverse range of views on the issue.

Presentation from Student Leaders of CTA (Commit To Action): CTA is NT’s Gay/Straight Alliance. Their goal to to create a safe discussion space for student-led activism and bring awareness to faculty and students about LGBTQ+ issues.
Accomplishments: Changing Stalls in locker rooms.
Gender neutral bathrooms in the new wing.
LGBTQ+ graduation-friendly attire.
Staff Lunch and Learn
Ongoing objectives: Providing more ways for participation in Day of Silence and equipping staff with materials to better explain DOS.
LGBTQ+ inclusive sex ed
Adding Day of Dialogue. .

New Administrators: Asst. Superintendent for Special Education(New Position): Dr. Joanne Panopoulos; Assistant Principal: Mike Lee (currently Science Dept. Chair at NT); Director of Curriculum and Instruction: Chimille Dillard

Safety & Security Presentation (Sally): Available on the School Website
Prevention: NT believes the most important thing a school can do to provide a safe environment is to provide support for students through connections. These connections are made through academics, sports and clubs. The adviser system is the foundation for this support.
Daily Procedures and Physical Security Measures: Formalized building hours have been instituted. Visitor check-in will improve. Not recommended: Metal detectors, students wearing Ids, and arming teachers.
Emergency Procedures Already in Place: Security Resource Officers (SROs) are a coordination between the Winnetka and Northfield Police Depts; there is an armed officer on both campuses who is specially trained in all areas of school safety. Lockdown protocol will be assessed. Staff will continue to refine threat assessment procedures.

Board Policy--1st Readings

Policy 4-160 Safety and Security-Updates to this policy reflect the need to use security cameras. Does NT have the authority for live monitoring for weekend and evening security personnel? NT also wants to expand the time they can save from the security feeds, from 90 day to 365 days.
Policy 6-40 Curriculum Development-This policy will eliminate the Board approval of textbooks. Textbooks are viewed as instructional material, not curriculum. A reference to policy 6-240 (Complaints about Curriculum, Instructional Materials and Programs) was added to provide clarity about the procedure for complaints concerning curriculum. This led to a larger discussion of Board approval of courses in general. The Board requested a primer for curriculum design and standards.

Treasurer’s and Financial Reports (Johnson): Yearly budget on target.

Voting Items
Student Fees: Recommendations for 2018-19 school year fees proposed and approved, including a 2% increase in general and activity fees, a 4% increase to the transportation fee, and a 5% increase to the parking fee
Consent Agenda: Bill List for February 1-28, 2018; Personnel Report (Appointments, Changes of Status, Resignations, Retirements, and Stipends); Construction Change Order #31; IHSA Renewal; Health Life Safety Amendments which include the purchase of the bleachers and curtains. Items approved unanimously.
Items Pulled from Consent Agenda, but ultimately approved unanimously: Bid Package #1--Summer Construction--Track replacement will cost $627,000; Capital Expenditures FY 2019

Meeting Length: 2 hrs 12 minutes. Observer: Siobhan Hill
Next Meeting: April 16, 2019

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District 203

April 16, 2018

March 19, 2018

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