District 97 Observer Report 1-14-14

Oak Park School District 97                                       www.op97.org

January 14, 2014

Administration Building

Peggy Kell, Observer

District 97 Board members in attendance: Graham Brisben, Amy Felton, Jim Gates, Jim O’Connor, Bob Spatz, Peter Traczyk, Denise Sacks

The meeting was called to order at 7:06 pm.

Special Reports

Oak Park Ed. Foundation – Deb Abramson, Executive Director, and Molly Galo, Board President from the Oak Park Ed. Foundation gave an update on their work for the year.  They reviewed a variety of programs, provided info on the number of scholarships given, and explained their continued work on the strategic plan.  There are fee-based programs, holiday programs, engineering programs, and there will be a call to the community for new program ideas.  This is the 25th anniversary of the organization, and April 12 is the annual Bill Staszak fundraising dinner.  They thanked the Board and Administration for all their help in supplying rooms and encouragement.  Vex Robotics will be branching out into the high school in the future.

Common Core Roll-out- Administrators Susie Hackmiller and Lisa Schwartz gave an update on the rollout of Common Core Standards in the district.  The standards were set in 2010 with the idea that these standards would help with equity across the nation, come in line with international benchmarks, be clear and coherent while also aligning with college and career ready standards.

Curriculum Resources were based on Illinois Learning Standards.  2011-12 started with an overview of professional development with staff.  2012-13 began professional development and setting up an English/Language Arts Calendar.  2013-14 continued professional development, started developing a math curriculum guide, and fully implemented the E/LA and math standards. 

A new report card was rolled out this year to align with the standards.

How is the E/LA instruction different?  It uses textbooks as a resource, more informational texts, performance- based assessments, and common assessments for all standards at each grade level.

The math shift has a focus with fewer standards and a deeper understanding of them.

Dr. Roberts acknowledged they are struggling to provide resources, time, and collaboration to get this done.  He also acknowledged they may have rolled out math a little too quickly.  Gradual release might have worked better.

Board questions: What kind of resources is available for teachers?  Online? Book Rooms?  Rigorous standards are important, but teachers are working harder to get this done.  Could we reach out to other districts on their challenges/successes? Should we survey teachers on implementation now and then maybe in June?  Middle School may have an International Baccalaureate Common Core report card in the future.

Common Core should have fewer but more essential standards to teach.  There is concern that the students develop keyboard skills to finish all the extended writing pieces, that vocabulary development must be an important component, but may take awhile to get all students up to pace of learning, Special area teachers are being asked to include things they may not be trained to do right now.   There needs to be more collaboration between teachers, and teachers will get better the more they teach CC.  The Collective Bargaining Contract governs collaboration time.  Ed. Council is part of the review process for implementation of CC. 

Public Comment –There was one positive comment on including second language learning in the early grades in the district.

Action Items – Policies were adopted that were previously discussed in December, out of state field trips approved, PTO enhancement of playgrounds, Board procedures and protocols, and a resolution declining to build the D97 administration facility adjacent to Village Hall.

Committee/Work Group Reports – Board members reported on a variety of committee work.

Classroom Temperature Control plan is to study three rooms per building (23 classrooms, $1.49 million) on a variety of building levels and orientation to the sun.  This could then give the Board a better understanding of what air conditioning work should be done at each building. It was suggested that digital controls also be placed in other classrooms for a better comparison of temperatures. Bids would be put out for this work at the end of the month.  Whittier ADA work would be paid from the Madison Street TIF money (not yet received).  Hopefully the Village should release the $1.2 million of TIF funds by the end of month.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 pm. 

Respectfully,

Peggy Kell