Oswego Community Unit School District 308 Board of Education met June 22.
Here is the minutes provided by the board:
The Board of Education of Community Unit School District 308, Kendall, Kane and Will Counties, Illinois, met in the Community Room at Oswego East High School.
Note for file: All roll call votes are shown in alphabetical order in these minutes; however, during the Board Meeting votes are called out in accordance with Board Policy 2:220
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 12:01 p.m. by Mrs. Lauri Doyle 1.1 Roll Call:
Upon Roll Call the following members answered present:
Lauri Doyle, Ruth Kroner, Toni Morgan, Heather Moyer
Members Absent (at roll call):
Matt Bauman, Brent Lightfoot, Alison Swanson
Mrs. Swanson arrived at 12:02 p.m. and Mr. Lightfoot arrived at 12:07 p.m.
1.2 Pledge of Allegiance
Pledge of Allegiance was led by Board President Lauri Doyle
2. Work Session
Dr. Sparlin started off the meeting by formally introducing Faith Dahlquist, our new Associate Superintendent for Educational Services. Mrs. Dahlquist told the board members a little bit about herself and her experiences before joining 308.
Dr. Sparlin acknowledged Dr. Smith for her last appearance before the Board of Education, with her retirement starting July 1st.
2.1 Review 2016 Board of Education Agreements
At this time, the board members reviewed the Board Agreements, dating back to a workshop with the collaboration of the Illinois Association of School Boards in July of 2016.
A change was requested to item 2.b – When asking questions about upcoming agenda items, all e-mails should be directed to the superintendent.
The board members agreed to be more diligent about enforcing item 12.e – to limit discussion on an informational item to 10 minutes, checking in with the board president after said time.
The discussed changes will be made and shared with the board members and cabinet members. 2.2 Role of Board of Education Advisory Committees
Dr. Sparlin informed the board members of some changes with the Advisory Committees.
Finance and Operations will be combined with Facilities and Planning – Ruth Kroner and Brent Lightfoot will serve as the Board Co-Chairs
Policy and Development will be combined with Legislative – Matt Bauman and Alison Swanson will serve as the Board Co-Chairs
Teaching and Learning – Toni Morgan and Heather Moyer will serve as the Board Co-Chairs
The board members discussed some changes regarding reporting out to the board members with the preliminary draft minutes within 7 days after a meeting. The co-chairs will still provide a synopsis to the public at the board meeting as to what discussion took place, only shorter in length. It would serve the purpose of the board members being informed about what happens in the advisory committees in a timely manner.
The committee administrator, together with the board co-chairs will decide how often the meetings take place as well as the agenda items to be discussed.
2.3 Year over Year Calendar
The board members discussed the calendar for board meeting agenda items that repeat on a yearly basis. The suggestion was made for the 2020-21 Administrator contracts to be presented at the February 10th meeting instead of February 24th.
The approval of the following items need to take place 45 days before the end of the school year.
Resolution Authorizing Dismissal and Non-Reemployment of Probationary Part-Time Teachers and Teachers hired under a Temporary Contract
Written Notice of Proposed Reclassification of Principals & Assistant Principals
Written Notice of Non-renewal or Honorable Dismissal for Certified Staff
Next, the board members discussed for the Superintendent’s performance review to take place in May and June. This will need to be changed in the contract that will be coming for approval in July.
The board members asked for the running google document that lists upcoming agenda items to be shared with board members.
2.4 Discussion on High School Grading Practices
The board members received a memo from Dr. Jamie Max, Director of High School Education, regarding the Standardized Grading Practices at the High School Level.
Dr. Sparlin stated that in some areas the work is complete and in others it’s ongoing. The Curriculum Council is comprised of all high school department chairs, as well as the principal and assistant principal overseeing curriculum and instruction at each high school.
Mr. Lightfoot commented that there is a discrepancy between OE and OH as far as fewer students completing the Spanish course as well as having lower grades. That signals a problem with either the teachers, curriculum or resources. Students in either building should get the same or very similar education and grades.
The 2019-20 school year will institute updated grading standardization to ensure that consistency exists across all high school Spanish courses.
Mrs. Dahlquist stated that the work is ongoing to ensure that there is consistency and to have the same support services available for students between both high schools.
Mrs. Dahlquist and the Curriculum Council will give direct reports to the Board regarding the progress that’s being made towards rectifying the issue.
Dr. Sparlin stated that in regards to PLC’s the district is moving in the right direction but that he is not satisfied where we are at. That one reason why PLC ‘s are listed under the 2019-20 priorities.
2.5 Discussion of 2019-20 DRAFT District Priorities
The board members were provided with the end of year review of the Board of Education Priorities from the 2018-19 school year.
Mrs. Doyle suggested to have a quick overview of the draft priorities for the 2019-20 school year with discussion/comments and changes following.
Priority 1 – The Board of Education will develop a 5 year strategic plan Priority 2 – Focus on district wide instructional goals to increase student growth
a. Comprehensive plan for Special Education
b. Standardized Grading Practices
c. Plan the district’s PLC’s
d. Implement timeline for the curriculum development plan
e. Adhere to ESSA requirements
Priority 3 – Prioritize District budgets to meet the needs of students while maintaining fiscal solvency
Priority 4 – Engage students in opportunities leading to College, Career and Community Readiness
a. Develop a guide that identifies the opportunities for students
b. Broaden the range of trade programs, internships etc.
c. Define and create career and college pathways that transition special education students at all ability levels to the community as they age out
Priority 5 – Advance Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts
a. Continue to provide professional development to support DEI
b. Provide a platform for student voice around DEI issues
Priority 6 – Expand Focus on Social Emotional Learning
a. Continue becoming a Trauma Informed District
b. Implement appropriate Restorative Strategies K-12
Priority 7 – Implementation of Comprehensive District Wide Safety and Security Plan
a. Conduct ongoing training of all district staff
b. Extend implementation of ALICE practices and strategies
c. Develop a Standard Response Protocol in collaboration with local law enforcement
At this time, the board members asked to add the following:
Technology
Specific Learning Goals (Measurement)
Dr. Smith stated that under priority 2 e (accountability of ESSA student growth) there is a set of goals outlined by the State that 90% of students meet and exceed by 2032. There is also a specific measure provided for each year.
Professional Development
Building Climate
The following changes and additions were suggested:
Make student growth priority 1 and the 5-year strategic plan priority 2.
Priority 4, 5 and 6 could become part of priority 1 – Focus on district wide instructional multi-tiered systems of support to increase student growth in academics and social/emotional learning.
Academics –
o Vertical Alignment
o Common Assessments and grading practices
o Improving reading and math by meeting ESSA goals
o Complete a comprehensive plan for special education, complying with legal requirements o Engage students in Pathways leading to College, Career and Community Readiness
A. Develop a guide identifying opportunities for all students to participate in defined college and career pathways
B. Broaden the range of internships, work experiences, certification programs and other career pathways
C. Social Emotional –
o Continue becoming a Trauma Informed District
o Promote Restorative Strategies K-12
o Continue to provide professional development to support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion o Provide a platform for student voice around DEI efforts
D. Professional Development –
o Formalize a 3 year professional development program that will support a district wide
approach to differentiation
o Strengthen the district’s Professional Learning Community Implementation
o Adhere to accountability of Every Student Succeeds (ESSA) student growth requirements o Review Standardized Grading practices
o Finalize a 5 year instructional technology implementation plan
Finance –
o Increase fund balance – work toward better financial health
o Annual review of outstanding debt for potential savings
o Keep legislators informed of SD308 financial challenges and – encourage legislators to write
legislation to fund SD308 initiatives
o Increase revenue–Director of Development
o Determine values that guide financial decisions
Infrastructure –
o Technology – 5 year plan
o BuildingMaintenance
o SchoolSafety
o Implementation of Comprehensive District Wide Safety and Security Plan o Extend implementation of ALICE practices
The board members discussed adding saving money as a priority and Dr. Smith suggested to add that as a core value to the Strategic Plan instead.
2.6 Strategic Planning Process
Faith Dahlquist provided the board with an overview of the process to create a Strategic Plan. Step 1 – Establish why we want a strategic plan; What are the goals of the process and product?
Step 2 – Determine timeline and groups to involve
Step 3 – Build strategic plan
Step 4 – Build a dashboard/monitoring tool
Step 5 – Build detailed plans to accomplish the strategic plan
Step 6 – Align Board goals/priorities and school improvement plans to the strategic plan
Mrs. Dahlquist explained that it’s important to be purposeful about why we are going through the process of creating the strategic plan.
The timeline to create the plan within a year would include presentation of a working template to the Board in October, update on progress to the Board in January, present finalized one page strategic plan to Board for review and final feedback. In May the dashboard is built and the monitoring report calendar. In June the dashboard and annual report calendar will be finalized with the Board.
The Vision for 2025 will be published in July.
Dr. Sparlin commented that there would a high cost attached to outsourcing this project and that he feels it can be handled in house.
Mr. Lightfoot asked what went right and what could be improved this time over the last strategic plan. Dr. Sparlin felt that the last plan missed the progress monitoring tool.
The Board members agreed to move forward with the proposed framework.
3. Public Comment
3.1 Opportunity for the Public to address the Board of Education
There was no public comment
4. Adjournment
4.1 Adjourn
A motion was made by Mrs. Ruth Kroner, second by Mr. Brent Lightfoot, to adjourn.
All were in favor unanimously to adjourn.
Final Resolution: Motion Carried 6-0
Aye: Mrs. Lauri Doyle, Mrs. Ruth Kroner, Mr. Brent Lightfoot, Ms. Toni Morgan, Mrs. Heather Moyer, Mrs. Alison Swanson
Meeting Adjourned at 3:01 p.m.
https://www.sd308.org/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=9932&dataid=54642&FileName=6.22.19%20Board%20Workshop%20Minutes.doc.pdf
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