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CCSD66 Notes

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Chicago Tribune Editorial

Today the second installment of the series of editorials on school funding in Illinois was published. Today’s installment examines the background of the Educational Funding Advisory Board (EFAB) that was established several years ago to answer the question. “What would it cost to provide just an adequate education to the average Illinois child – one with no special disabilities?” Several years later only 19 of the 874 Illinois school districts meet the EFAB recommended amount of $6405 per student. Currently, the state requires districts to only spend $5334 per student. The article goes on to explain the gross discrepancy of spending between school districts. This is a fantastic opportunity to gain a better understanding of the complex world on school funding in Illinois. Link to this editorial at www.chicagotribune.com/edfund

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Funding Bills Filed

It is still early in the new legislative session and some bills with great potential for school finance have been introduced for consideration. HB 309 introduced by Representative Elizabeth Coulson and co-sponsored by Representative Roger Eddy and Representative Sandra Pihos of Glen Ellyn to increase the amount of funds available to reimburse school district for personnel costs associated with special education students. This formula has not been updated since 1985 and does not begin to cover the additional costs borne by districts to educate those children with special needs. This reimbursement level is currently set at $8000 per certified teacher and was set in 1985 when $8000 equaled about 1/3 of a teachers’ salary. Twenty-two years later that figure is obviously not adequate.

Representative Roger Eddy has also filed HB 424 that calls for a “shortfall levy” to cover excess costs for special education services and transportation that are not covered by state reimbursement. This bill would allow districts to add a “shortfall relief levy” to cover mandated expenses not covered by state reimbursement. District would include in their annual audit a figure representing the difference from the actual cost of providing special education services less the actual state reimbursement. This levy would not be subject to the tax cap nor create any new discretionary funds for districts. Proponents of this bill state that this method would be cheaper for local taxpayers than selling bonds to cover these mandated expenditures. This solution could allow the legislature to move forward in solving the funding crisis without adding burden to the state’s structural deficit. Naturally there will be political attacks about this option.

The noteworthy element of these bills is that they exist at all, considering the Governor’s rigid opposition to new taxes. If the legislative leaders can come to an agreement there may be a slim chance of movement in the area of finance this year which will not require the support of the Governor. Wait and see… Click on the link on the left to review these bills at the General Assembly Website.

Educational Funding – New Development

The quest for further understanding and repair of the Illinois system of school finance continues. On Sunday, January 28, 2007 the Chicago Tribune has a lengthy editorial about school finance in Illinois. This editorial is the first of a series of three that will be published this week. The goal of this series is to heighten interest and knowledge about the many issues that surround school funding in Illinois. This should prove to be a most educational series for Illinois taxpayers trying to educate themselves about this issue. Check out installment number two in Wednesday’s Tribune.

Thursday, January 25, 2007

NCLB Reauthorization

President Bush made his annual State of the Union address this week. One of the issues he addressed was the re-authorization of his No Child Left Behind (NCLB) bill which was passed in 2002. In his speech, he proposed to strengthen NCLB by instituting higher standards to hold schools accountable for improving student learning. He also wishes to re-structure failing schools by promoting tutoring and vouchers for private schools. He wishes to increase “academic rigor” in science and mathematics by creating a competitiveness initiative. This added emphasis comes at a time when the NCLB is falling under increasing scrutiny from the general public. The Bush administration is under fire for its foreign policy and needs a successful domestic program to hold up as a positive achievement.

It is almost certain that NCLB will be extended in some form but many individuals and groups have asked Congress to halt some effects of NCLB as being harmful to public education and students. These concerns include a narrowing of the curriculum, an over-emphasis on testing, the use of sanctions to punish local schools, and unresasonable expectations for disabled students. The law’s simplistic approach to educational reform has made it difficult to chart educational progress. While the premise that all children can learn and should meet standards is laudatory and a goal of every school system, the devil is in the details and rules that surround NCLB have made it for the most part ineffective in raising student achievement.

The government asserts that NCLB has increased student achievement although there is little or no empirical evidence to confirm those assertions. Common indicators such as high school drop out rates, college admission test scores and NAEP scores have remained static. The government also claims that funding has increased to support the efforts of NCLB. The truth is, at least in our area, funding has dropped each year since the inception of NCLB. Polls indicate that there is no high level of public support for NCLB as it currently is constituted. It appears that there will be no success for NCLB until
we move past the test and punish philosophy of NCLB. Could it be that the real purpose of NCLB is to drive public schools out of business and create a private school system of vouchers that would greatly reduce the cost for Uncle Sam of a free and appropriate public education and at the same time destroy the opportunities for children throughout the country? Read more about this on the web at: http://www.cnn.com/2007/EDUCATION/01/24/bush.education.ap/index.html

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Illinois State Board of Education Budget Request for FY 2008

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) adopted and published its FY 2008 budget on January 18th and recommended it to the Governor and General Assembly. This budget reflects an increase of $801 million over the FY 2007 budget. It recommends an increase of $299 million in General State Aid, a $338 million increase in Mandated Categoricals and an increase of $209 million in Special Education Personnel Reimbursement. This emphasis is supported by smaller requests in the Early Childhood and Professional Development, as well as increased staffing at ISBE. ISBE has shrunk over the past four years to under 500 employees and now an additional 60 employees are requested.

There are several interesting points about this proposed budget. The first point is that since the Governor controls ISBE, he is strongly endorsing an increase in the Foundation Funding level which would increase by $355 per student but still leave the foundation level below that recommended a few years ago by the EFAB Report. I think the increase in special education funding demonstrates that the Governor has accepted that the 20-year old reimbursement formula needs revision.

Since the Governor basically calls all of the shots at ISBE, I wonder if this is not what he will present in his budget address to the legislature on March 7th. The question for all of us is how will he pay for it? There is no way to fund this proposal without additional revenue for the state. Will the Governor finally relent and raise taxes in Illinois which has the nation’s lowest income tax? Will he sell the Illinois Lottery or the Illinois Tollway? There is no way to continue the smoke and mirrors that have marked budgets for the past two years. The state is on the verge of a financial nightmare.

If there is good news in this announcement it must be that public education continues to be a priority of the Governor and that it will continue to receive more than other areas in the proposed budget.

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

School Buses

Many people have noted that the school buses parked at Prairieview School have been moved. Buses returned to their renovated parking area near the Darien Public Works garage on January 12th. To best respond to emergencies, we continue to keep two spare buses and a special education bus parked at Prairieview so that we can respond quickly to breakdowns and other incidents.

Saturday, January 20, 2007

IBB Training

In preparation for the negotiation of a new contract with the Center Cass Education Association (CCEA) members of the negotiating teams for the CCEA and Board of Education spent two days training together in the concepts and process of Interest Based Bargaining (IBB). This training was provided jointly by the Illinois Education Association and the District’s attorney. IBB is based on the Harvard University, Program on Negotiations process. This negotiation philosophy puts an emphasis on dual problem solving by both parties to resolve issues as described in the book Getting to Yes by Fisher, Ury and Patton. Members of the negotiating teams were most receptive to the principals and process of IBB and are anxious to begin applying this process in the development of a new contract.

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Legislative Session

The new legislative session is off with a bang as we discussed several weeks ago. There has been a great deal of talk about school funding from many areas. Mayor Daley has been quoted in the newspapers advocating for increased school funding. He has been allied with Senator James Meeks from the Southside of Chicago who previously was an advocate for HB750 that was discussed two years ago. The Metropolitan Mayors and Managers Group that represents over 270 municipalities has also advocated for an increase in school funding. Speaker Madigan also notes the need for increased funding and referred to the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago report several times during his opening address last week. This report titled “Facing Facts” notes that Illinois is currently $106 billion in debt or roughly $8,800 per person for the twelve million residents of Illinois. This report is available at their website. Senate President Emil Jones also sees a need to increase educational funding. Governor Blagojevich also talks of increasing educational funding as well as access to healthcare. This could be the sequel to “The Perfect Storm.”

While everyone agrees that the state is in financial crisis there is no consensus as how to solve this problem. It is evident that the issue extends far beyond school funding and will impact all areas from pensions to Medicaid payments. While the other players might support a tax increase Governor Blagojevich is adamant that there be no tax increase. It is obvious that the solution to this crisis will involve innovative and creative solutions as well as new revenues. How do we get the three leaders on the same page to solve this problem? Given the political makeup of the legislative with its democratic majority, it is likely that a solution to this crisis will come later rather than sooner. The future of the state and our children are at stake.

Solo Contest

This Saturday, January 20th brings the 31st Annual District 66 Instrumental Solo Contest to Prairieview School. Beginning at 8:00 a.m. over 350 students from Center Cass Schools and Gower District 62 will be competing for the coveted “outstanding soloist” of the day award. Students in grades 5-8 prepare a memorized solo, at their own performance level, on their instrument and perform it for an adjudicator during the day. Students who earn a “perfect” score are invited to return in the afternoon to compete in a playoff with all of the “perfect” soloists. The winners are awarded a scholarship for a music camp or private lessons. The contest is open to the public. Stop by and hear our talented young musicians perform!

Thursday, January 11, 2007

Internet Safety

One of the greatest challenges faced by our communities is protecting our children while using the internet. At District 66, we use the I-SAFE Program for children grades 1-8 and have held several parent seminars to help educate parents to the elements required to protect children using these resources.

Recently we had the opportunity to use a new program to bring this message to our junior high students in a new format. Corporal Wayne Howlett, DuPage County Sheriff Neighborhood Liaison presented an Internet Safety Program to 7th and 8th graders at Lakeview Junior High School. This program focused on information about My Space, text messaging and bullying. While much of this information has been covered in the I-SAFE Program this program presented by uniformed police officers made a great impact on our children. Ask your child about this presentation.

On February 20, 2007 Corporal Howlett will be presenting a parent component of this program at 7:00 p.m. at Prairieview School. Parents are invited to take part in this presentation. Members of the District Technology Department and Administration will take part in this program. See you there.

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Strategic Planning Session

Invitations have been mailed to residents inviting their participation in the Strategic Planning Session scheduled for February 3, 2007. We will be meeting at Prairieview School, 699 Plainfield Road beginning with a continental breakfast at 8:00 a.m. and concluding after lunch at 1:30 p.m. During this session we will be reviewing data collected over the past several months about our school district and using this data to develop strategic goals for the next few years. If you did not receive an invitation and would like to participate please call Joanne Blaze (783-5155) to register. We would be happy to include you.

Monday, January 08, 2007

School Funding

As we enter the new legislative session this week it appears that we will have many discussions on the funding of public education. Last week’s news carried interesting stories about Mayor Daley’s and Senator Meeks’s press conference. Stay tuned!

Link to Chicago Tribune story: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/content/education/chi-0701050286jan05,0,5119875.story?coll=chi-education-hed

From the Sun-Times:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/education/197968,010407daley.article