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CCSD66 Notes

Monday, April 30, 2007

Spartan Bands on Tour

The annual Spartan Band Tour begins on Friday, May 4th when members of the Lakeview Junior High Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble and Marching Band travel to St. Louis to compete in the Music in Parks band competition. Students will compete in Concert, Jazz and Marching Band divisions. Bands from the Midwestern region will be in attendance at this contest. On Sunday, May 6th the band will marching the renowned Valley of the Flowers Parade in Florissant, Missouri before returning home to Downers Grove. The bands are under the direction of Mr. Thomas Tedeschi and Mr. Brian Ohlsen.

Elizabeth Ide Pride – Walk-a-thon

In their continuing efforts to replace the 35 year old playground at Ide School, the Ide PTO has been working very hard to raise funds to purchase and install a new facility for district students. This past Saturday, the PTO held a fund raising event at the Lakeview Campus that included raffles, a walk-a – thon, visits by the Darien Police K-9 Unit and Darien Woodridge Fire Department. There were activities for everyone! Thanks to the many PTO volunteers and the many Ide teachers that were in attendance to walk with their students for this important project. Thanks to the PTO and many community members who have contributed time and funds to this project!

Friday, April 27, 2007

Teacher Appreciation Week

In conjunction with National Teacher Day on May 8 th , the week of May 6th has been designated Teacher Appreciation Week. During this week our school administrators and PTO will honor our teaching staff for the wonderful work they do in working with the students of our community.

The nicest gift a teacher can receive is a personal note from a child or parent expressing appreciation for that teacher’s work and dedication. Consider giving this great gift to your child’s teacher by sending your personal expression of appreciation to the teacher.

Monday, April 23, 2007

Funding Wars Continue

Rumors continue to abound in this budget season in Springfield. There is growing consensus that the Governor’s GRT plan is DOA at least in his proposed form. HB 750 is also floundering. In this environment several compromise plans are beginning to evolve.

One such compromise could involve a much smaller GRT component, a land based casino for Chicago and a minimal income tax increase of perhaps 1% instead of 2%. Such a plan could potentially generate funds to achieve the goals of HB 750 without expanding the sales tax increase as originally proposed. Obviously this compromise could enrage many people including: The Governor, GRT advocates, gambling opponents, and anti-tax people everywhere. Things will continue to heat up as we move closer to the normal legislature adjournment day.

State Superintendent Appointed

After an interim period that began in November of 2006 with the departure of former State Superintendent Randy Dunn to Kentucky, the Illinois State Board of Education has removed the “interim” label from the title of State Superintendent Christopher Koch and appointed him Superintendent. Dr. Koch has been with ISBE for almost 10 years and most recently served as Assistant Superintendent for Special Education. He is a steady performer and great communicator. While there is no doubt that he is the candidate of Governor Blagojevich, he has appeared to establish positive relationships with legislators as judged by his recent appearances at the budget hearings for ISBE. We look forward to working with Dr. Koch!

Friday, April 20, 2007

Education Roundtable School Funding Priorities

The Illinois Education Roundtable is an organization representing 19 school leadership associations and organizations that represent over 6000 school board members, over 7000 school leaders and over 230,000 teachers and other school employees. The goal of the Education Roundtable is to provide a unifying voice for the advocacy of public education in Illinois.

In the turmoil surrounding Governor Blagojevich’s GRT proposal and the competing funding proposal contained in HB 750, there is a great chance that a status quo response to the needs of Illinois children will be the compromise that emerges from the firestorm over school funding.

To focus this discussion in a positive manner the Education Roundtable has identified four critical funding priorities for 2007:

Special Education Personnel Reimbursement

Reimbursement for special education teachers has remained at $8000 annually for certified teachers and $2800 for non-certified personnel since 1985. The recommendation is to raise this to 1/3 of the average Illinois teacher salary.

Foundation Level

In 2005 the Educational Funding Advisory Board (EFAB) established a minimum “adequacy” level of funding for schools based on examples of schools where 2/3 of the students met or exceeded standards. The EFAB recommendation was $6405 per student and yet the 2007 level is only $5334. The recommendation is to convene EFAB annually to update the recommended funding level and sustain this plan for a long term solution.

Mandated Categorical Funding

Inadequate appropriations for mandated programs such as special education services and transportation result in the pro-ration of funding commitments from the state which requires districts to use more local resources to comply with these legislated mandates. The recommendation is to appropriate sufficient funds to fully fund current categorical levels for 2008.

School Construction

There are still 22 Illinois school districts waiting for the state to fund entitlements from 2002. Most of these district have completed their construction programs and are currently using local funds to pay off the debt incurred since the state has not provide the money promised. Three DuPage districts are waiting for these funds. The recommendation is the state fund at least $1.5 billion in construction funds to clear this backlog and establish a long term plan to fund school construction in Illinois.

It is hoped that all stakeholders can unite and form a consensus to deal with the priorities established. For more information about this proposal contact Dr. Michael Jacoby, Chair of the Illinois Education Roundtable at
mjacoby@niu.edu.

Fox Hollow Forest Preserve

Many people are probably unaware that we have a forest preserve area right in our school district. Fox Hollow is about 44 acres and located between 75th Street and Plainfield Road just east of Lemont Road. This area is a wonderful area that contains a lake, wetlands, prairie and animal habitat. There is a great opportunity to integrate this area into our school curriculum and offer students the opportunity to experience this area. The DuPage County Forest Preserve Commission is currently attempting to negotiate the purchase of additional property adjacent to Fox Hollow that would allow for better access to this local treasure and provide parking for visitors. It currently is very difficult to access since there is no parking.

To find out more about this local preserve visit the website of the DuPage Forest Preserve Commission at
www.dupageforest.com. To encourage the acquisition of additional land to complete Fox Hollow contact our local commissioner, Wallace Brown at wbrown@dupageforest.com.

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Vote

Today is Election Day. I urge everyone to vote! This is our chance as citizens to make our wishes known by supporting candidates that we feel will best represent us. The men and women elected today will impact our local governments such as villages, cities, school districts, park districts and library districts for the next several years. In this uncertain fiscal climate there are many important decisions to be made that will impact how these various government entities provide service to their stakeholders. Be sure that you exercise your right to vote today!

Monday, April 16, 2007

Correction!

In an unsigned campaign flyer distributed throughout our community this past weekend (4/14-15), urging voters to reject the Darien-Woodridge Fire District request for increased taxes on April 17th an error was made regarding Center Cass School District 66. The flyer indicates that Center Cass School District 66 is a customer of the Westmont Vehicle Repair Facility operated by the Fire District. Center Cass School District 66 is not a customer of this repair facility and has not used this service, although there would be no reason not to do so should we need repairs to our bus fleet. It is a shame that people do not check their facts before publishing incorrect and misleading information.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Important Dates

Although we have several weeks of school remaining, many parents have inquired about important dates as they relate to the end of the school year. Here is a list of important dates as we near the end of the school year so that you can check and re-check your personal calendars:

May 9th Prairieview Concert
May 10th Lakeview Concert
May 28th Memorial Day – No School
May 31st 8th Grade Class Trip
June 4th 8th Grade Dance
June 5th Graduation Ceremony – Lakeview 7:30 p.m.
June 6th Last full day of classes
June 7th Last day of School – Report Cards Issued
June 11th Summer School Begins

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Inaugural Seven Bridges Season Starters Trail and Road Races

Sunday, May 6, 2007

8:00 a.m. – 10 Mile Run & 5K Run/Walk
11:05 a.m. – 1 Mile Children’s Fun Run


The Woodridge Area Chamber of Commerce and the Woodridge Public Education Foundation of Woodridge School District 68 are teaming up to sponsor a 10 mile run, 5K run/walk and a 1 mile Children’s Fun Run. For information about registering for this event please go to:
www.sevenbridgesseasonstarters.org. This would be great even for the entire family and benefit a worthy cause.

Monday, April 09, 2007

Gross Receipts Tax Hearing

The public is invited to a hearing regarding Governor Blagojevich’s GRT plan. This hearing will be held at the Esplanade Conference Center, Forum C, Second Floor, 2111 Butterfield Road, Downers Grove, on Monday April 16th at 7:00 p.m. This hearing is being conducted by State Representatives Sandra Pihos, Patti Bellock, Bob Biggins and Jim Durkin. Prior to opening the floor for questions and comments, Representatives will provide information about the Gross Receipts Tax plan. All members of the community are invited to attend. For more information contact Representative Pihos’s office at 630-858-8855 or community@sandrapihos.com

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Spring Sports Season 2007

The spring athletic season is beginning! We are fortunate to be able to offer the following interscholastic sports for our students; Girls Softball, Boys and Girls Soccer and Boy Volleyball. Games begin next week! Schedules are available on the Lakeview website or in the school office. Come out and enjoy the spring season!

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

School Funding 2007 continued

In this season of political maneuvering, many competing plans for funding public education keep evolving and changing hoping to attract more support. HB 750 was approved by The House Elementary and Secondary Education Appropriations Committee on March 29, 2007 and sent to the full House. No immediate action is expected on this bill. This bill now contains a comprehensive tax reform plan that would bring in an additional $9 billion in new revenues that includes over $3 billion for schools. The following components are found in this bill: Property Tax Relief, Funding for Higher Education, Income Tax Increases, Tuition Tax Credits, Corporate Tax Credits, Family Tax Credits, Sales Tax on Services, Increased Funding for Early Childhood Education, Increases in Special Education Reimbursements, Increases to Foundation Level Support and Additional Requirements for how school expenditures are directed.

Governor Blagojevich continues to oppose this plan due to the tax increases contained in the plan. The Chicago Tribune reports that the Governor has embarked on a bus tour of several cities in Illinois to promote his Gross Receipts Tax (GRT). The Governor says that he is anxious for a fight to save the “middle class” and is happy to lead the charge to make business pay their fair share of taxes in Illinois. The Governor’s GRT plan has been modified to increase the taxes on services that will generate an additional $1 billion.
Senate President Emil Jones has said that HB 750 will not be discussed in the Senate as long as the GRT is being discussed.

The General Assembly is on their spring break until April 18th. This would be a great time to contact your local representatives about these issues.

HPV Vaccination Update

On March 12, 2007 I discussed some of the concerns and issues that had arisen around the possible requirement for girls to be vaccinated for HPV before entering the 5th grade. One of the many concerns raised was the cost of the inoculation and the resistance of insurance companies to pay for this vaccination. Last week SB 937 was passed in the Senate. This bill would require health insurance plans to cover the cost of this vaccination and also requires the Department of Public Health to establish a program to pay for the vaccination of girls under the age of 18 that have no insurance. The bill also changes the grade level from 5th to 6th grade to have the inoculation. Read more about this bill at: www.ilga.gov