November 18 Board Brief

November 18 Board Brief

Dear District 30 Family,

The Board of Education meeting also included the following relevant items:

Special Recognition

In honor of School Board Members Recognition Day, Mrs. Artz, Mrs. Blonder, Mr. Karchmar, Mr. Levin, Mr. Rizki, Dr. Yohannan, and Mr. Zuercher were recognized. The positive impact of the Board of Education through their effective governance and care makes it into classrooms every day!

Personnel Report                                                                                                                          

The Board approved the transfer of Kathleen Kalble (Instructional Assistant) from Maple to Wescott. The Board was also informed about three leave requests that will occur during this school year. 

FY 2021 Financial Audit Approved

The Board officially accepted the 2021 fiscal year audit prepared by the District's auditors, Miller, Cooper & Co., Ltd. District 30 received the auditor’s highest level of assurance with an unmodified “clean” opinion.

2021 Estimated Tax Levy Approved

The Board is required to approve an estimated tax levy as part of the annual levy process.  The estimated 2021 levy was approved at $31,236,000 for capped funds and $3,436,800 for non-capped funds. The Board will finalize it after a public hearing and presentation at the Tuesday, December 16 meeting. 

As a general reminder, districts under the tax cap can raise their property tax collection by CPI (Consumer Price Index) plus any new growth/construction not previously on the local tax roll. The annual levy (what is requested) is routinely set artificially high because even though the CPI factor of 1.4% is known, the new growth/construction in a district is unknown. 

Mr. Falk highlighted that the Village of Glenview Announces Plan to Conclude the Glen TIF at the end of the 2021 year and the impact on this year’s levy process. This year’s levy is the one opportunity District 30 and all other taxing bodies have to capture the new growth from the Glen development that has remained under the TIF from its inception until now. Therefore, District 30 and several other taxing bodies are setting this year’s tentative levy artificially high. District 30 has set its tentative levy at 30% to ensure the capturing of the new property and any other unknown new property within District 30’s boundaries. 

Once new growth is determined in the spring, the actual 2021 extension (what is received) will be finalized and is estimated to be in the area of 14% (1.4% for CPI + 12.6% for new growth) higher than the 2020 extension. 

Mr. Falk also addressed the District’s future budgeting plans of the additional revenue resulting from the retirement of The Glen TIF, which includes retiring existing debt certificates, generating building maintenance funds, and considering options for reducing the impact of existing bonds on taxpayers. The funds will also stabilize the deficit budget and help maintain the quality of educational programs.  

Willowbrook Playground Purchase Approved

The Board of Education approved the Willowbrook Playground purchase. Willowbrook’s new playground equipment will be installed this summer, and it completes our Elementary Capacity Project.

ARP-LEA American Rescue Plan (ESSER III) Approved

As required, the Board of Education formally approved the ARP-LEA American Rescue Plan (ESSER III) that detailed how these funds will be used. The ESSER III plan will be posted on our website in the Business Documents section.

The Village of Northbrook’s Climate Action Plan Acknowledged

The Board of Education acknowledged the Village of Northbrook's Climate Action Plan as a non-binding reference on items that align with District 30’s strategic plan when financially possible and responsible.

Strategic Planning Update

The administrative team provided a progress update on the 2020-21 Strategic Plan in support of the District 30 Board Goals:

Goal 1: Increase District 30’s capacity to systemically collaborate within grade-level teams to execute the cycle of continuous instructional improvement.

Goal 2: Thoughtfully respond to the impact of COVID-19 on the District 30 Family.

School Operations Update

The Board of Education was provided an update on school operations. As we wrap up American Education Week, we thank our teachers for their commitment and hard work, our students for their engagement, and our parents for their continued partnership. 

The Board reviewed local COVID-19 Metrics that remain in the high/substantial range and are rising. Recent 5-11 Northfield Township Vaccination Clinics were celebrated along with our continued efforts to generate normalcy while implementing mitigation strategies. The administration informed the Board:

  • Student vaccination information will be gathered to update SHIELD testing and verify who qualifies to remain in school with a close contact without symptoms.
  • Domestic and international travel will align with CCDPH guidance, allow unvaccinated students to return to school, and provide a negative COVID-19 test 3 to 5 days after returning.
  • Snow day planning includes protecting our June 14 last day of school by implementing an eProfessional Development Day on the first weather-related school building closure, followed by eLearning Days on any subsequent weather-related school building closure.

Maple’s Blue Ribbon Reflections

The Board of Education reflected on the exciting November 5 Washington D.C. ceremony attended by Mr. Kurtz, Ms. Reimer, and Dr. Wegley. They also highlighted the outstanding November 12 celebration at Maple that included dignitaries and reflected on the educational excellence at Maple School and across all of District 30!

Illinois School Report Cards Released

The State of Illinois released this year’s annual school report cards on Friday, October 30, 2020. The COVID-19 global pandemic restrained this year’s results. District and School Report Cards are posted on our website. If you would like printed copies, contact your school office or Dr. Melissa Hirsch, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, at (847) 498-4190.

Board Reports

Mrs. Artz reflected on the last TrueNorth Leadership Council Meeting that included updates for upcoming strategic planning and guaranteed priority placement. Mrs. Blonder shared highlights from our last Character Counts meeting and gave an update on the successful food drive and the Character Counts’ poster and video contest that is underway. Submissions for those are due December 1. 

The next Board Meeting will be on December 16, 2021. Thank you all for your continued partnership as we all continue to commit to our students! Have a great weekend!

Sincerely,

Dr. Brian K. Wegley
Superintendent