AGENDA
BOARD OF EDUCATION
COMMUNITY CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT 46
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2006
MIDDLE SCHOOL
7:30 p.m.

• Jill absent

D. Establishment of Quorum
E. Pledge of Allegiance
F. Approval of Agenda

• Approved

G. Public Comment

• Macjie (sp?)
  • Concerned about Woodview
  • Improve for better safety
  • Improve facilities for faculty
  • Improve playground
  • High turn over of older families without kids and new families moving in with children [Again, the taxes are too high and is a major cause of these older families having to move. This was also mentioned at the last board meeting. The following was from a school funding candidate forum this spring:
    

    Before the questioning of the candidates started, Michael Knight, who is a financial planner spoke about a couple who retiring at age 65. When he looked over their finances, he told them they would need a $225 K annuity in addition to the current retirement funds just to pay for their property taxes. This couple could not retire in Lake County because of this.

    and from 31st State Senate Candidate and Warren Township Supervisor Sue Simpson:

    Sr. Citizen Center next door to her township offices. Each year Blue Cards go out several seniors will come by and tell her they are leaving Warren Township because they can no longer afford to live here because of the taxes

    ]

  • Common sense that we need to build onto Woodview with all the development
  • Woodview district has always supported the district during referendums and would like the district to invest in their school [Interesting, because they vote to give the district more money, they want the best for their kids instead of what is best for all kids in the district.]
• S. Adam
  • Meeting minutes go home in backpack
  • Would like more description with agendas instead of just facilities
  • need to talk about redistricting because many parents don’t know it will affect them
  • (Cheryl – it’s just a summary and a Newsletter not actual minutes.)

H. Consent Agenda

1. Approval of Minutes
2. Approval of Treasurer’s Report/Accounts Payable
3. Approval of Personnel Report
• Approved (6-0)

I. Superintendent/Board Reports

• Mark
  • Oct 20th is Principal appreciation day
• Karen
  • Thanked Dan for his work
  • Thanked John for Madrona tour
• Kristen
  • None
• Keith
  • Heritage fair was fun
  • Kids had a lot of information and good food
  • Thanked them for putting it on
• Sue
  • Heritage Fair was great
  • Thanked John Lubrich as well
• Cheryl
  • Nothing new, everybody has stated it already
• Ellen
  • Parents concerned about safety of school in light of recent shootings
  • Met with John Lubrich today about safety
  • John will be attending other safety training issues
  • Sharyn Elman (Candidate for 62^nd State Representative)- Flyers in district, taking on Prairieview Stop light on as a project. This is not an endorsement.
  • Boundary line flyer – Had Cheryl and Ellen’s name on the flyer. Making it clear they are still looking at options and no decisions have been made.

J. New Business:

1. Discussion Items
   A. Introduction of Vince Murray, Middle School Dean of Students
   • Marcus Smith made introduction (Presentation)
   • Looking for someone who could teach them academically, socially and emotionally; found that in Mr. Murray.
   • 8^th grade lang. arts for last 5 years, Athletic Director and many committees.

   B. Continued Facilities Discussion

   • Ellen
     • Closing the Gap
     • Needed some curriculum changes when she got here
     • Woodview
       • New multipurpose room
       • 4 classes
       • 4 rooms for small group class instruction from current multipurpose room
       • Net 3 class rooms[Increase capacity of 75 students]
       • This was done a couple of years ago
       • Would want to go to RFP and may change how this would be done at this time
     • Avon
       • Multipurpose room on main level
       • Increase size on 3 ground floor classes
       • 3 additional classes on ground floor
       • Net increase 6 full size class rooms[Increase capacity of 150 students. This may be less since 3 of the classes may be in use at reduced capacity.]
       • Elevator would be added
     • Early Childhood
       • reviewed previous slides
       • Reviewed reasons for having a one location Pre-K
       • Classes 6-8 (8 goal)
       • Would have to be attached to Frederick or Prairieview
     • Madrona
       • Current just under $31 Million
       • $4 million to add additional 400 student capacity
       • 16 Classrooms
     • Boundaries – moved to next meeting
     • Decision Points
       • Woodview and Avon
       • Pre-K
       • Bond Abatement
   • Sue – Should we put this off since we are not getting boundary answers?
   • Keith – Don’t see a reason to wait on Woodview/Avon, but could wait for Madrona. Urge a vote on these 2
   • Karen – Agree with Keith.
   • Mark – Agree with Keith. Ready to go for all 4 right now. Doesn’t want to take walkers and start busing them now. Can wait on the other 2 topics.
   • Sue – What is the percentage of students who are bused at Woodview?
   • Cheryl – Ready to move forward on Woodview/Avon. Ready for the other 2 as well,
   • Ellen – Can we get the paperwork started ahead of time to be prepared in case the vote is Yes. If no, then will tear up paperwork.
   • Kristen – Would like to go ahead and vote on 1999 bond abatement next meeting
   • [Even though the board has asked to see whether boundary changes could alleviate the needs for additions to Woodview and Avon the questions have not been answered and a vote is being urged anyway. If you look at this logically, the additions to Avon and Woodview will cost must more than the addition to Madrona while only adding at most an additional 225 student capacity. The addition at Madrona would add 400 additional student capacity. Sue asked a great question in that how many students are currently bused at Woodview. This can be answered by looking at the boundaries. Other questions that can be answered with this in-depth look at the population are:
     • What is the maximum number of walkers at Woodview?
     • Will that number exceed the capacity without the addition (currently only 1 mobile is being used for classes)?
     • Do the mobiles have to be replaced or can they be used for storage and staff?
     • What is the maximum student population for Avon with the possible Rollins Road construction?
     • What will the Madrona student population be when relief is provided to the Middle School and Frederick?
     • Where is the Pre-K population actually located?
     • Would shifting more students to Madrona allow the Pre-k program to be totally housed in another of the schools?

     These and many other questions cannot be fully answered without looking at the boundary question. With Madrona opening next year, why is there such a rush to build on to existing schools right now? The board should step back and take the time to review all the data first. They can add on to Avon and Woodview later if it is necessary in a few years. There should be no rush to spend all the money now if that will not be what best servers the district in a few years. This decision needs to be right. Rushing the decision now may leave students and taxpayers paying for an incorrect decision later.

     For more background information on facilities and population studies view the notes from the past 4 meetings:

     • Board Notes 06/12/2006
     • Board Notes 7/10/2006
     • Board Notes 09/05/2006
     • Board Notes 09/18/2006

     ]

   C. Tax Abatement Discussion

   • Sue
     • Was interested in talking to D127
     • D127 informed Village of Grayslake that it will take each proposal on its own
     • Was apprehensive at first because it looked more like a TIF
     • Would meet with D127 if a proposal is presented
     • Knows schools are struggling financially and this would be like giving money away
     • Understands this is short term and open to doing this for like 3 to 5 years
   • Ellen – Village Board not happy about the decision
   • Keith
     • Many issues for companies to choose a location
     • No plan for quick permitting
     • Would shift tax burden to the public
   • Cheryl – Do we agree with just taking this on a case by case basis?
   • Mark – Dissents, it does us no good. D127 has more of a vested interest than we do.
   • Keith – Would agree with Mark if Central Range was the only land. There are other areas in the Village that could attract business.
   • Sue – This is for all District boundaries.
   • Ellen – Will verify whether this is only Central Range or all of Grayslake with village.
   • Sue – The 120 bypass could change some of this
   • Ellen – Would you like to have the village come present? Yes

   D. Monthly Enrollment Update

   • Net change +31
   • +133 from last October
   • 5^th – 30.7 average
   • 8^th – 30 average
   • Pre-K 83

   E. Agenda Items for October 16, 2006

   • Woodview/Avon
   • 1999 Bond Abatement
   • Carl Baxmeyer – Showing us only what we can do with the system he has not an actual boundary study.
   • Dan – Financial report

   F. Future Agenda Items

   • ISAT – Hopefully first Nov. Meeting
   • Keith – How is band and chorus going this year?
   • Vision
   • Pre-K
   • Madrona
2. Action Items:
   A. Addition of 1 FTE ESL/Bilingual Teacher
   • Keith – Is this something we need by law? Yes
   • Approved (6-0)

K. Public Comment

• Ahmed
  • Woodview/Avon
  • Grateful for those who recognize the need
  • No reason not to update them to where they need to be today if we have the money
• Macjie – Wanted to ask the board where their mind is tonight on Woodview/Avon. Cheryl – Board cannot answer.
• Adam – What is the extra 400 capacity come from? Ellen – original design.

L. Closed Session – Open Meetings Act 83-378
M. Adjournment

The District web site address is www.d46.org.