May 13 Board Brief

May 13 Board Brief

Dear District 30 Family,

I hope that this email finds you well! Thank you for your continued support and partnership as we finish up this year and prepare for next year. We held our last Board Meeting of the school year last night, and relevant items include:

Recognitions                                                                                                                           

Our amazing PTOs were celebrated, and our PTO Co-Presidents were thanked for another outstanding year of support. Thank you to Maple PTO’s Christie Hartbarger and Sonia Rizki, Wescott PTO’s Ankur Singal and Norbert Barszczewski, and Willowbrook PTO’s Tricia Brown and Danielle Pollack.

Deep appreciation was expressed to the co-presidents for proving normalcy and positivity throughout this unusual year. Our Board shared gratitude for their efforts, from the balloons that kicked off our year to the signs on the lawns of our schools for Teacher Appreciation Week. Thank you, PTOs!

Personnel Report

The Board officially hired Ellen Leving as a Speech Language Pathologist for Wescott and Willowbrook and Alyssa Crile as a School Psychology Intern at Maple. Please help welcome these individuals into our District 30 Family!

The Board also accepted resignations from two individuals.

Custodial Service Bid Approved

The Board reviewed the six bids received for Custodial Services and approved ABM Industry Groups, LLC as our lowest responsible bidder. ABM has served District 30 well and will continue providing services moving forward.

Updated Storm Sewer Easement Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the Northbrook Park District Approved

In support of the Elementary Capacity Project, the Board approved an updated IGA with the Northbrook Park District to support a required new underground detention system that will address stormwater runoff. This system will have an underground pipe leading to a newly installed stormwater structure before tying into a Village system. While underground, the pipe and stormwater structure are on Wescott Park property and, therefore, require an IGA to codify the existence and maintenance responsibility of the pipe/stormwater structure.

Updated Northfield Township Technology Consortium Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) Approved

The district participates in an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with other Northbrook community partners to secure wholesale pricing for internet access bandwidth. Since its establishment, Glenbrook High School District 225 has managed the day-to-day operations of the network, which provides internet services to each of the community partners via a fiber-optic connection supplied by commercial vendors and the Village of Northbrook. The IGA is an excellent example of how our governmental agencies share services to reduce costs and is being updated to keep it current with the addition of the Northbrook Park District, Northbrook Public Library, and the Village of Glenview.

Maple School Report

Mr. Kurtz and Mrs. Holzkopf reflected on the year with pride for all that our staff, students, and parents have accomplished together! Our students learned and remained engaged throughout the year, and they partnered with the staff who spread positive messages of support and explored their “why” at Maple School. It is not surprising that inspiring students, connecting, care, and passion were all highlighted in Maple’s purpose. Maple’s focus on student behavior interventions aligned with Ross Greene’s work, and the development of collective efficacy across Maple was also highlighted. Maple’s theme, We Are One Herd, was on full display!

First Reading of New & Revised Board Policies

District 30 revises Board Policies twice a year. Revisions and additions occur due to new legislation and the need to ensure that our policies support and align with our practices. We completed the first reading of the following Board Policies revisions: 

400 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES; 405.01 to Fiscal and Business Management from BUDGET - Planning; 405.02 BUDGET - Preliminary Adoption Procedures; 405.03 BUDGET - Final Adoption Procedures; 405.04 BUDGET - Transfer of Funds; 405.08 BUDGET - Tax Levy; 410 Payment Procedures; 410.01 Revenues & Investments; 410.04  FISCAL MANAGEMENT - REVENUE - Investments; 410.06 to Activity and Fiduciary Funds from FISCAL MANAGEMENT - REVENUE - Sources; 410.10 FISCAL MANAGEMENT - REVENUE - Borrowing; 415.02 Purchases and Contracts from FISCAL MANAGEMENT - EXPENDITURES - Purchases; 415.06 FISCAL MANAGEMENT - EXPENDITURES - Vendor Relationships; 415.07 FISCAL MANAGEMENT - EXPENDITURES - Bidding Requirements; New Policy: 416 Environmental Quality of Buildings and Grounds; 420.04 FISCAL MANAGEMENT - ACCOUNTING AND REPORTING - Inventories; 430.01 to Waiver of Student Fees from STUDENT FEE WAIVERS; 435 Transportation; 435.01 Free Transportation; 440.01 to Free Food Service from FOOD SERVICES - Free Milk and Free Lunch Program; 465.04 to Convicted Child Sex Offender, and Notifications from SAFETY PROGRAM - Convicted Child Sex Offender, and Notifications; 465.07 to Safety from SAFETY PROGRAM - PHYSICAL FITNESS FACILITY MEDICAL EMERGENCY ACT; 465.06 SAFETY PROGRAM - Fire Prevention; 465.08 to Facility Management and Building Programs from SAFETY PROGRAM - Green Cleaning Policy; 480 to Pandemic Preparedness; Management; and Recovery from SAFETY PROGRAM - Pandemic Preparedness; Management; and Recovery; 645.02 to Access to Electronic Networks from INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES - Acceptable Use of District's Electronic Network; New Policy: 734.5 Use of Educational Technologies; Student Data Privacy and Security

Phased Operations Update

The Board and I expressed sincere appreciation for our staff’s commitment, students’ engagement, and parents’ partnership. The fact that everyone continues to give more during this time was recognized and celebrated. Teachers were also thanked in advance for all of their help with preparing for next year, including preparing to return fifth-grade to Willowbrook and Wescott and relocating rooms across all three buildings to prepare for a more normal operations next year. 

The Board was briefed on the continued collaboration of our township, including several COVID-19 vaccination clinics for students over 12. District 30’s District Office staff will volunteer at the Northbrook clinic on May 18, which will be held at the former Grainger property.

The 2021-22 School Year

The Board reviewed our team’s progress on preparation and planning for the fall of 2021. The Board reflected on plans for full in-person learning with required mitigation measures in place, along with the resumption of athletics and activities. Two additional teachers were added to the staffing plan to ensure small elementary class sizes to meet three feet distance requirements, should they be required, and to assist with our emergence from this global pandemic.

Student Learning Status Form Responses

Results of our recent Student Learning Status Form that were gathered from our families were reviewed. Over 99% of students are expecting to return to daily in-person instruction next year. Throughout the summer, we will remain in touch with our family members who indicated the need for a remote option due to medical needs. 

Elementary Capacity Project Update

The Board reviewed Wescott School’s construction progress that included the pouring of slabs for the gym and classroom addition, and wall construction has begun. Dr. Wegley noted that the project remains on schedule.

The Board also celebrated the additional classroom capacity’s impact on ensuring a return to daily in-person instruction for all students in the fall, with Willowbrook serving pre-K through 5th-grade, Wescott serving K through 5th-grade, and Maple returning to serving only grades 6 through 8.

Board Reports

Mrs. Blonder’s highlights from the last Character Counts meeting included local vaccination efforts, the Library’s Summer Reading Program, and the planned reverse July 4 parade in Glenview. Mrs. Artz reviewed NSSED’s last meeting, including its’ rebranding work to TrueNorth Educational Cooperative 804 and its updated budget that reflects staff, administrative, and rate reductions. 

I will wrap up this update with a sincere thank you to all of the members of the District 30 Family, who continue to support each other throughout this school year. We look forward to ending this year successfully, and we are already excited about all that our next school year will bring!

Let me know if you have any questions, and feel free to join us at our next Board Meeting on June 17, 2021, at Maple School.

Enjoy the weekend!

Sincerely,

Dr. Brian K. Wegley
Superintendent