March 2010
March 2010
Please note, if you’re signed up to receive communications through Hinsdale South, Central and the District, you will receive the Board Briefs three times, as we distribute to all lists.
Following discussion related to special education programming within the District, the Board of Education has decided to explore continuing education opportunities collectively to further understand how the District is meeting the needs of special education students. To help facilitate this process, the Administration will prepare relevant reports and identify third-party experts to meet with the Board.
Student Enrollment and Certified Staffing Report
Superintendent Wahl informed the Board of Education that the March enrollment tally of 4,570 students from Hinsdale Central and Hinsdale South high schools is consistent with the projected enrollment of 4,572 and does not indicate the need for any adjustment in the allocation of full-time certified employees (FTE) for the 2010-2011 school year.
An increase in enrollment of 32 students at the South campus will offset a slight reduction of 35 students at the Central campus and result in the maintenance of appropriate class size averages at both campuses (24.9 at Central, 22.8 at South).
At the February 22 Board of Education meeting, the Hinsdale Township High School District 86 Board of Education was updated on the current Financial Planning Program (FPP) and its short- and long-term implications for the District’s financial status. As a result of this update, District Administration reported that revenue enhancement/expenditure containment measures equivalent to 0.55 percent of operating expenditures for the FY 2011 budget, which equates to $300,938, must be realized in order to balance the budget for next year. To that end, Superintendent Wahl reviewed with the Board of Education cost containment measures in purchase services, as well as the revenue enhancements needed in order to achieve this balanced budget.
In this review, Superintendent Wahl indicated that the revenue enhancements and cost containment measures exceed the estimated fund balance reduction amount of $300,938 in order to achieve a balanced budget for next year. Wahl specifically suggested that the additional funds realized from these cost containment and revenue enhancement measures be allocated to support new technology initiatives related to student access to computers in common areas and the installation of LCD AV equipment for each English classroom at both campuses. By utilizing these funds for next year, very important student and instructional initiatives can be achieved for the betterment of delivery of instruction, as well as improve student access to computers.
During the meeting, District 86 Director of Technology Tim Hohman and Assistant Superintendent Claudia Geocaris reported that the instructional technology maintenance and capital budget for 2010-2011 of $664,498 will be used to ensure that the technology equipment that is available to staff and students is up-to-date, based on replacement recommendations made by the Board of Education Technology Committee. As a result of this report, the Board requested an opportunity to have a teacher demonstration on how advance technology is supporting classroom learning.
As previewed at the District 86 Board of Education meeting on February 22, Business Manager Jeff Eagan has presented Resolution 09-13 to the Board, authorizing the District to loan $900,000 from its Working Cash Fund to its Transportation Fund. This action will provide the District with the necessary funds to support costs associated with student transportation for the remainder of the school year, and is necessary due to a delay in receiving the District’s anticipated quarterly reimbursements from the State of Illinois.
Once the District receives the anticipated funding from the State, as well as its disbursement of early property tax revenues in June, the Board will take action on a second resolution to facilitate repayment of the funds from the Transportation Fund back to the Working Cash Fund.
The Board voted to adopt Resolution 09-13.
During the Committee of the Whole meeting, the Board of Education was presented with a list of recommended facility updates, including Life Safety and ongoing maintenance projects, to be completed during Summer 2010. It was reported that the total cost of the summer projects for both buildings will not exceed $1.6 million, which will be included in the FY 2011 budget and consistent with the FPP parameters presented on February 22nd. The list of projects was approved and now the projects will be taken out to bid in order to be ready to begin work once school concludes in June.
The Policy Committee presented to the Board two policies for first reading, including the replacement of current Board policy 2:250 regarding the Board’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) policy and a new recommended policy, 7:135 regarding school visitation and observation of special education students.
The Board will vote on these policy changes during its next Regular Action Meeting scheduled for March 22, 2010.
Additionally, during the March 22 Board meeting, the committee anticipates submitting to the Board for first reading a policy recommendation regarding advertising and sponsorship opportunities within the District, as well as School Board meeting procedures.
Assistant Superintendent Claudia Geocaris submitted to the Board a proposed three-year calendar, which includes 181 student attendance days as required by state law, and four additional institute days for faculty and staff for each school year through 2013.
The Board will vote to approve the proposed calendar during its scheduled March 22 Regular Action Meeting.