District 15 Board of Education News

The District 15 Board of Education meeting was held on Wednesday, May 10, 2023. The full meeting agenda as well as the minutes from its April 12, 2023 meeting, can be found on the BoardDocs website. A livestream of the meeting can be viewed on our Youtube channel.

Prior to the Board of Education meeting, the District hosted a Retirement celebration for its retirees. Together, the 41 retiring staff members have a combined total of 908 years of service! In addition, 24 of them have been with the District for 20 or more years, 9 of them dedicated 30 or more years, and 4 of them dedicated more than 35 years to District 15! We are so grateful for their service to District 15’s students, staff, and families and wish them well as they begin their next chapter!

Kimball Hill students lead the Pledge of Allegiance at the Board meeting. The students selected to represent KH demonstrate leadership skills and commitment to their school. These students participate in Kimball Hill’s video club and provide their entire school community with timely and important information. Thank you, Cougars!

The Northwest Suburban PTA Council had 88 students from District 15 participate in the Reflections PTA Art Program this year sponsored by the National PTA. Six District 15 students won honorable mentions or distinguished artist awards at the Illinois PTA level. We were proud to learn that one District 15 student‘s photography project has advanced to the National PTA level!

District 15 is honored to recognize the following students for their accomplishments:

• Adhya P., Pleasant Hill - Illinois PTA State Honorable Mention

• Zuzu K., Walter R. Sundling - Illinois PTA State Honorable Mention

• Juliana M., Winston Campus Elementary - Illinois PTA State Honorable Mention

• Hudson G., Marion Jordan - Illinois PTA State Award of Artistic Distinction

• Emma S., Winston Campus Junior High - Illinois PTA State Award of Artistic Distinction

• Olive H., Winston Campus Elementary - Project Advanced to be Judged at the National PTA Level

Maria P., an amazing student at Conyers Learning Academy (CLA), received the 2023 Infinitec North Technology Achievement Award, honoring students who excel in their use of Assistive Technology. Maria is a 7th grader in the Multiple Needs Program at CLA who is a whiz at using her device to communicate throughout the day.

Recently, the entire CLA school came out to celebrate Maria with a parade! That night, Maria, her family, her educational team, and administrators joined her at the Infinitec Award Ceremony to celebrate Maria for receiving this honor. District 15 is incredibly proud of Maria for all of her accomplishments.

Molly Carney, Instructional Coach at Carl Sandburg Junior High School, was selected as the May Staff Member of the Month as part of our Above and Beyond recognition following a nomination by Principal Erika Johansen and Assistant Principal Tamara Byrne. It was shared that Molly goes above and beyond every single day for staff and students at CSJH. She is a dedicated team member and actively seeks ways to support all members of the Sandburg community. Carl Sandburg is so grateful that Molly is "One of Us!"

District 15 is honored to recognize such an amazing staff member and grateful for her willingness to go Above and Beyond!

Each year the Illinois PTA receives nominations from local PTA units recognizing the outstanding contributions of their volunteers, teachers, and administrators to the PTA mission. This year, our very own Dr. David Morris, Principal at Pleasant Hill Elementary School, was selected as the 2023 Illinois PTA Outstanding Administrator of the Year! Dr. Morris is a wonderful leader and partner in bringing the very best to Pleasant Hill School.

District 15 would like to recognize the accomplishment of 15 of our Spanish bilingual teachers who participated in a cohort with National Louis University to earn their reading specialist degree. This particular program was one of the first in the state to focus on literacy instruction for emerging bilingual students.

Utilizing feedback from our teachers, NLU faculty modified their curriculum, communication, and support structures to be more responsive to the needs and experiences of bilingual students. The faculty also used our teachers’ feedback to design courses in Spanish literacy development, biliteracy, and translanguaging practices. As a result of this program, our teachers’ knowledge of research based instructional practices and assessments has grown exponentially, and the number of tools and strategies at their disposal to help striving readers has multiplied.

Over 70 District 15 students received 1,423 hours of 1:1 tutoring targeting literacy support. We are already seeing the impact on our student data and are confident this program is helping us to position our learners for a bright and literate future!

National Board certification provides teachers, social workers, psychologists, speech and language pathologists, as well as occupational and physical therapists an advanced level of knowledge, skills, and training toward excellence in their field. For this reason, National Board Certification is recognized as the “gold standard” for professional educators and has a direct impact on the quality of services received by our students. We were proud to recognize our staff who achieved or renewed their National Board Certification!

National Board Certified New or Renewed:

• Margaret Hindman, Lake Louise - Speech and Language Pathologist

• Jennifer Joseph, Marion Jordan - Speech and Language Pathologist

• Michael Marcucci, WCE/WCJH/CR - Speech and Language Pathologist

• Haley McCabe, Conyers Learning Academy - Speech and Language Pathologist

• Elizabeth Blazejak, Walter R. Sundling Junior High - Teacher

• Cynthia Fletcher, Thomas Jefferson - Teacher

• Debbie Goode, Gray M. Sanborn - Teacher

• Anthony Leva, Walter R. Sundling Junior High - Teacher

• Lynn Piper, Plum Grove Junior High - Teacher

• Robert Taylor, Central Road - Teacher

• Rena Jimenez, Winston Campus Junior High - Psychologist

• Joanna Rzepka, Carl Sandburg Junior High - Psychologist

• Alyssa Crile, Plum Grove Junior High - Psychologist

• Patricia Raleigh, CLA/GMS - Occupational Therapist

• Kristine Westmoreland, CLA/FCW - Occupational Therapist

• Angela Martinez, Conyers Learning Academy - Occupational Therapist

• Melissa Forde, Marion Jordan - Occupational Therapist

• Carissa Holt, Conyers Learning Academy - Occupational Therapist

• Mckenna Donegon, Conyers Learning Academy - Occupational Therapist

• Cory Anderson, Thomas Jefferson - Occupational Therapist

Members of the District 15 facility team, Dr. Heinz, CSBO McCluskey, Architects from both Wold and Arcon, and members of the Nicholas and Associates construction management team, provided the Board with an update that focused on Phase 2 projects at Jane Addams, Winston Campus, Frank C. Whiteley, Lincoln School, and Pleasant Hill and also shared plans for Phase 3 projects scheduled at Gray M. Sanborn, Kimball Hill, Willow Bend, and Hunting Ridge.

Dr. Thomas Edgar, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching & Learning, and Robyn Cook, Director of Teaching & Learning presented the Board with an update on the Strategic Plan currently under development. A diverse group of stakeholders, many of whom are District 15 teachers, worked to help develop the plan, which currently focuses on four key priorities that include:

1. Success and Belonging;

2. Staff Engagement and Retention;

3. Community and Family Engagement; and

4. Moving 15 Forward and Master Facility Planning

Each priority identified two to four AIMS and Corresponding Goals to drive the achievement of each priority.

At our June 14, 2023 meeting of the Board, we will present the plan in its final draft format, including the tracking and accountability system used to monitor outcomes linked to the District’s actions plans.

View the draft strategic plan here.

ED-RED Committee

Board Member Annerino shared the committee legislative session is coming to an end. ED-RED is still working on training requirements and funding for districts receiving new student arrivals.

one-five Foundation

Board Member Taylor shared that the last day to purchase Staff Tributes is May 12 and reminded everyone of the one-five Family Fun Run/Walk on May 20.

Finance Committee

Board Members Hunt and Wang met on April 24 to discuss the non-referendum funding plan for Moving 15 Forward. They reviewed the advantages and disadvantages of alternate bonds versus debt certificates. Alternate bonds are repaid from operating funds, same as debt certificates, but require additional public processes and a back-up tax levy that is abated annually. The committee agreed to pursue alternate bonds given the possible interest savings over the life of the bonds. The committee also discussed authorizing the non-referendum DSEB bonds which will be issued in 2025 and 2026. The next bond sale is scheduled for November of 2023, consisting of the remaining $43M of referendum approved bonds and $36M of alternate bonds.

They also met with PMA investment services and due to interest rates being at a historic high, the district will be earning more. There will likely be another delay in tax bills for Cook County so that means the district has less money coming in to invest.

Equity Committee

Board Members Khan and Ader shared that they met with Robyn Cook and Dr. Heinz to discuss the draft strategic plan and how it connects to the equity work of the Board.

Board Policy 8:090 Parent Organizations Second Reading

The Board engaged in a second reading of Policy 8:090 and discussed the three versions found within the policy. Version 1 would remove the terminology “Booster Club”. Version 2 would include the language to include Parent Teacher Organizations (PTO) in addition to a Parent Teacher Association (PTA). Version 3 would add an exhibit to the current policy to list any organization desired (ie. Band Boosters) by school. The Board approved Version 3 for Policy 8:090.

View the policy in BoardDocs.

Board Policy PRESS 111 First Reading and Discussion

The Board engaged in a first reading of Policy 111.

• 10.1 Approval of Assistant Director of Finance - approved

• 10.2 Approval of Benefits and Payroll Manager - approved

• 10.3 Teaching and Learning, Educational Services, and Student Services FTE - approved

• 10.4 Approval of Personnel Report: Administration, Certified, and Non-Certified - approved

• 10.5 Approval of Board Policy 8:090 Parent Organizations - approved

• 10.6 Resolution - Authorize the Notice of Publication of Public Hearing on the Adoption of the FY24 Tentative Budget - approved

• 10.7 Bid Award #23C-203VL – 2023 Virginia Lake Parking Lot Improvements - approved

• 10.8 Bid Award #23C-204PH - 2023 Pleasant Hill Parking Lot Improvements - approved

• 10.9 Bid Award #23-014 Milk - approved

• 10.10 Bid Award #23-015 Fresh Produce - approved

• 10.11 Bid Award #23-016 Cafeteria Packaging - approved

• 10.12 Bid Award #23-012 Playground Wood Chips - approved

• 10.13 Bid Award #23-013 Waste Disposal & Recycling Service - approved

• 10.14 Approval of The Purchasing Cooperative (TPC) Membership Agreement - approved

• 10.15 Approval of Arlington Park Redevelopment Settlement (Tentative) - approved