Safety Laws

Since the Illinois General Assembly can’t pass a budget that can be implemented does not mean that they have been inactive. As a matter of fact they have focused on ‘Safety” this session and passed five bills to improve the safety of school buses. These include:

PA 95-0105 becomes effective on January 1, 2008. This bill allows the owner of a car accused of school bus stop arm violation to identify the driver of the vehicle or face a suspension of vehicle registration for three months.

PA 95-0176 becomes effective on January 1, 2008. This bill requires school buses to display a phone number on the rear of the vehicle to be used to report erratic driving. Districts must have a policy in place to investigative such allegations and report any actions taken.

PA 95-0260 becomes effective January 1, 2008. Requires district to have policies in place requiring the bus driver to walk the bus at the end of the day to be sure no children remain on the bus. Center Cass School District has required that buses be walked after every bus run for several years.

PA 95-0319 becomes effective January 1, 2008. Now allows the strobe light to be used anytime the bus is in service carrying a passenger.

PA 95-0352 allows both visual and audio recording to be made on a school bus. Notice must be posted and provided to parents and students. Recordings remain confidential and can only be used by school and law enforcement officials for disciplinary actions.

For more information regarding these new laws feel free to contact Pam Mazurek, Transportation Director at pmazurek@ccsd66.org.

Teacher Institute Day

No classes will be held today as teachers work on a variety of tasks to support instruction. Most teachers will be involved in training to refresh our knowledge of how the ISAT Writing Test works. This test was once a part of the regular ISAT testing plan but was dropped a few years ago since Writing is no longer considered a CORE academic subject. In 2007, this test was brought back into the normal testing cycle and results from about the state, including ours, were not at the level that they had previously been. As we reviewed this situation, we became aware that many of our veteran teachers who had been trained in the ISAT Writing program had retired and many of the newer teachers had not had the training in this program. Therefore, we have decided to provide training for all classroom teachers in the ISAT Writing process. That training will take place during our Institute
Day on October 29, 2007.

Other teachers will be working on developing Curriculum Guides to provide parents with an outline of the concepts and topics covered in each class by grade level. We intend to have curriculum guides available in the areas of Reading, Language Arts and Social Studies at each grade level by the end of the school year.

A small group of teachers will be visiting other schools to observe classes and get ideas to improve our own course offerings or delivery systems. Institute Day is always a busy day for teachers and administrators as they use this time to support improvement in instruction and programs for OUR students.

What is the Future of NCLB?

Despite recent changes to NCLB by ISBE almost one of every four Illinois schools is not making AYP (Adequate Yearly Process) as defined by NCLB. Center Cass schools met AYP requirements again this year due to the hard work of our teachers and great test performance by our students. This accomplishment becomes harder each year as the required passing rate is raised until it reaches 100% in 2014.

This year 876 Illinois schools were labeled as “failing”. This figure is up significantly from 2006. What does the future bring? It now appears that NCLB will remain in some form for many years to come. The title is very appealing for politicians and will not be changed. Congress was to re-authorize NCLB this year or in 2008, but now that looks doubtful as elections approach and no one will want to address this volatile issue. Many think that no changes will be made until the master architect of NCLB, President Bush has entered retirement.

I hope that at sometime Congress will realize that it is unreasonable to label a school as failing in 2014 if just one child does not meet standards. The total reliance on test scores as a measure of student achievement coupled with the questionable belief that all children learn the same things at the same rate has doomed this program. Hopefully, some day politicians will salvage the one positive aspect of NCLB – the belief those schools should work with every child to realize their learning potential. In the meantime, we all will continue to attempt to elude the “failure” label.

Fall Sports Season Ends

The Fall Athletic Season has come to an end. Lakeview teams did well in this year’s competition. Athletes will be honored at the Sport Banquet on Thursday evening, October 25th at Lakeview Junior High School.

Fall Teams

Boys Football - finished 2nd in the Conference play

Girls Cross-Country – finished 1st in the Conference with an undefeated record 8-0

Boys Cross-Country – finished 4th in the Conference

Girls Varsity Volleyball – finished 6th in the Conference

Girls JV Volleyball – finished 3rd in the Conference

Cheerleading Team provided enthusiasm and pep at football games

Congratulations to all athletes and coaches! Good job Spartans!

Surveys Available Soon

A priority goal for the 2007-2008 school year is to access the status of student deportment in our schools and plan any needed action to correct any problems that are discovered. To begin that process staff members, students and parents will be asked to complete a survey regarding the deportment of our students. Surveys will be available on-line at www.ccsd66.org. Watch for your invitation to participate and share your input on this important topic.

MRSA

Several parents have expressed concern regarding cases of MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) recently reported in Naperville. The following letter was sent home today to parents regarding this issue as well as a letter prepared by the DuPage County Health Department.

Center Cass School District 66
Downers Grove, IL

October 22, 2007

Dear Parents:

Many of you may be aware that there have been several recent reports near our community of staph infection called MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus). As a precautionary measure, the DuPage County Health Department has issued a letter to parents and students regarding this situation which is attached to this message.

Generally, staph infections are mild skin infections that can progress to more serious infections if not treated appropriately and in a timely fashion. MRSA is not an air borne disease and thus direct contact with an infected skin lesion or with an item contaminated by drainage from a skin lesion is usually the method of infection. As a result, the single best way to prevent the spread of MRSA is through good hygiene such as the following:

Ø Keep hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and water or using an alcohol-based

sanitizer.
Ø Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed.
Ø Avoid contact with other people’s wounds or bandages.
Ø Avoid sharing personal items such as towels and clothing.
Ø Shower after physical activities.
Ø Properly clean and disinfect sporting equipment and gear.

In all Center Cass schools, faculties and students have been educated about staph infections. Each District school is thoroughly cleaned each night, washrooms and locker rooms are cleaned and sanitized each evening. Lunchroom tables and floors are cleaned and sanitized after each meal. We have also begun to clean student desktops and classroom counter tops on an accelerated schedule. We have had no reports of any MRSA type infections in our schools.

If you are concerned that your child might have a staph infection, please immediately see your doctor and contact our school nurse and administration. Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to talk with our School Nurse, Jan Heckman, or your building administrator.

Sincerely,

L. Jay Tiede

L. Jay Tiede, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

DuPage County Health Department

Wheaton, IL

October 19, 2007

Dear School and Child Care Center Parents, Students, and Staff:

You may have heard or seen the recent media coverage concerning MRSA or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in school aged children. We would like to take this opportunity to provide you with some information about MRSA and most importantly, how to help prevent and control the spread of these infections.

Staphylococcus aureus, often referred to simply as "staph," is a bacterium that is commonly carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people. Approximately 30% of the population is colonized (when bacteria are present, but not causing an infection) in the nose with staph bacteria. Sometimes, staph can cause an infection. Most infections caused by staph are skin infections, such as pimples or boils. Staph skin infections can be red, painful, swollen, or have pus or other drainage. While approximately 30% of the population is colonized with staph, approximately 1% is colonized with MRSA, a type of staph that is resistant to antibiotics called beta-lactams. Most staph and MRSA infections are treatable with alternative antibiotics. Individuals who believe they may have a staph infection or MRSA infection should contact their physician for evaluation and appropriate treatment.

Practicing good hygiene is one of the most important things that everyone can do to control and prevent the spread of staph and other infections:

Keep your hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed.
Avoid contact with other people’s wounds or bandages.
Avoid sharing personal items such as towels, razors, and water bottles.

Students participating in contact sports or other activities that lead to close skin to skin contact should take additional precautions related to skin infections and hygiene:

Do not share towels, clothing or uniforms.
Do not store wet, dirty clothing in lockers.
Avoid sharing personal equipment.
Keep equipment clean. Follow coach’s directions about cleaning the equipment.
Keep cuts, abrasions and wounds covered with clean, dry bandages. Athletes with draining wounds or infections should not be allowed to participate in practices or games until the wound has stopped draining.
Report any cuts, abrasions or wounds to the coach and school nurse.

For more information about MRSA and how to prevent it: www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/ar_mrsa_ca.html

If you or your physician have any further questions, please contact the DuPage County Health Department at 630-682-7979, ext. 7553.

Sincerely,

THE DUPAGE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Rashmi Chugh, M.D., M.P.H. Maureen McHugh
Medical Officer Executive Director

Legislative Update

In a year with impending crisis’s everywhere, the Illinois General Assembly has found time to pass its hallmark legislation of the session, a bill requiring (not allowing) a moment of silence during the school day. The fact that a law was already in place to allow this activity not withstanding, doesn’t seem to be a terribly important issue considering that we have no state budget, an impending mass transit crisis and skyrocketing taxes in Cook and DuPage Counties, as well as the City of Chicago. This action will enhance Illinois’s status as the laughing stock of the mid-west!

In terms of funding, it now appears that there is a very high probability that there will be no BIMP until perhaps December or even January. There is no hint as to what the Senate will do with regard to any action to override the Governor’s budget vetoes. I would not hold my breath that any action to override the Governor’s vetoes will take place. The impending transit mess and county and municipal meltdowns has taken education funding from the forefront. What will most likely happen is that no action on the overrides will take place. State education funds will be disbursed at 2007 rates until a BIMP is passed sometime after the first of the year. When the January session begins there may be action to override budget vetoes and pass supplemental funding bills, due to the fact that a super majority of votes will no longer be needed. In the meantime, schools, park districts and other public entities will continue to lose investment dollars for funds that have been promised but not delivered and some may have to borrow money, an additional cost to pay their bills. It is a shame that the Executive and Legislative branches of our government can not work together to carry out their elected duties for the citizens of Illinois.

Strategic Planning Update

During the 2006-2007 school year, Center Cass School District 66 conducted a strategic planning process to develop goals for future years. This process began in September 2006 and concluded in June 2007 when final goals were adopted by the Board of Education. This process included community surveys, staff surveys, student surveys, focus groups and a day long strategic planning day. From this process four major goals were developed for attention during the 2007-2008 school year. These goals have recently been updated at the conclusion of the first quarter and are found on the district web page at www.ccsd66.org under Strategic Planning. Please review our progress in achieving these goals.

Budget Update

After another week of posturing there is still no state budget. The House of Representatives approved a series of overrides on items vetoed by Governor Blagojevich but the Senate last week only restored a small fraction (about $7 million) of the funds cut by the Governor. A bill to restore funding for special education costs for about 250 school districts passed in the House and was defeated in the Senate mainly due to a last minute amendment that added funds for other pensions for state workers. This bill would have brought Center Cass District 66 about $30,000 to help fund special education programs. It will be interesting to see what, if any, action the Senate will take with regard to overriding the Governor’s vetoes. Many Senators are calling for the opportunity to override these vetoes but have been blocked by the inaction of Senate President Emil Jones, a close ally of the Governor. Depending on which calendar you examine the Senate has until either October 17th or October 25th to act on the budget overrides. Despite a great deal of Republican noise, there is still no Budget Implementation Plan (BIMP) which means that the $400 increase in the foundation level funding has not reached the local school districts who could use it. In the meantime, both the House and Senate are not in session this week heading home to their local districts.

In other news today, the Chicago Tribune featured an editorial criticizing not only Governor Blagojevich but also Mayor Richard Daley and Cook County Board President Todd Stroger for their handling of the current fiscal crisis.

Another Good Book

This must be the season for good inspirational books. Yesterday I read How Starbucks Saved My Life by Michael Gates Gill. This is an inspiring tale of a man who literally had everything and loss it. Michael Gill had a big house in the suburbs, a loving family and an important job at the J. Walter Thompson advertising firm. At sixty years of age he had lost it all and soon his marriage ended. He was also diagnosed with a slow growing brain tumor at the same time. He had no money, no medical insurance and no job prospects.

One day Gill sat in a Manhattan Starbucks mulling over his misfortune when a twenty-eight year old Starbucks manager offered him a job. With no real prospects Gill took the job and transformed himself from a coffee drinking customer in a Brooks Brothers suit to serving coffee is a green uniform. Working in the city with a much younger, less educated team of African Americans, Michael became a humbler, nicer more contented person. This is a story of personal growth and finding happiness. It is also a great primer in the corporate culture of Starbucks and the tremendous impact it has had on American life. Give it a read!

Weekend Activities

Market Day pickup is this Saturday from 11:00 a.m. until noon at Lakeview Junior High School. This is a wonderful PTO fundraiser and a great way to get quality food products with no hassle and support your local schools. Volunteers are always welcome to work the sale and no experience is necessary. Volunteers are needed about 9:30 a.m. to help unload the truck and organize the product for the sale. Come out and meet your neighbors!

Our Lakeview Cross Country Team has three runners entered in the state meet this Saturday. They will be running at Illinois State University in Normal, IL. Go Spartans!

District 66 Adopts 2007-2008 Budget

At the September 25, 2007 Board of Education meeting, the Board adopted the District’s budget for the 2007-2008 school year. During this year we anticipate receiving a total of $12,951,613 in all funds. These funds breakdown as follows:

Education Fund = $9,507,990
Operations and Maintenance Fund = $1,407,623
Bond and Interest Fund = $865,000
Transportation Fund = $674,000
IMRF/Social Security Fund = $326,500
Working Cash Fund = $170,500

The Education Fund is the largest District fund and the majority of revenues go into this fund. Revenues come from three main sources: local, state and federal. Among local resources placed in the Education Fund for the 2007-2008 school year include:

Real estate taxes = $6,941,000
Interest on investments = $300,000
Lunch program receipts = $187,250
Textbook fees = $95,000
Donations and other sources = $480,000

Revenues from the State of Illinois placed in the Education Fund include:

General State Aid = $429,000
Special Education reimbursement = $431,735
Bilingual Grant = $ 12,186
School Improvement Block Grant = $45,000
Reading Improvement Block Grant = $49,302
Medicaid reimbursements = $85,000
Replacement tax = $85,000
Other State Grants and reimbursements = $40,000

Revenues from the Federal government placed in the Education Fund include:
Title I/Low Income = $87,785
Title II/Teacher Quality = $24,069
Title IV/Drug Free = $3,014
Title V/Innovative Programs = $1,638
Lunch Program = $26,000
Federal Special Education Flow Through = $149,500
Other Federal Grants and reimbursements = $35,511

The following summarizes the breakdown of revenue sources in the Education Fund of the 2007-2008 school year budget:
84% of all revenues are from local sources
12 % of all revenues are from state sources
4% of all revenues are from federal sources

At a future date, I will review the other operating funds.

Busy Days in Springfield

I spent a couple of days in Springfield this week watching democracy in action. I went to the Capital to advocate for increased special education funding and to encourage the adoption of a state budget. Yesterday, I spent the day with LEND (Legislative Educational Network of DuPage) lobbyist Peg Agnos and lobbyists from EDRed, and the Education Alliance and IEA. There was significant action taken yesterday as the House overrode the Governor’s amendatory veto of NB 664 which would have drastically changed the property tax formula for Cook County. You may remember that Governor Blagojevich in has infinite wisdom greatly expanded the scope of this bill which was developed to be transitory and made it permanent which would have caused great harm to taxing bodies in Cook County. With the override in the House, the pressure is now on Senate President Emil Jones and the Senate which now will have to take action to override the veto and join the House or Cook County will lose any change for tax relief this session. This causes a dilemma for Jones since he has been on record as opposing any overrides of the Governor’s vetoes.

We were also successful in moving a bill to increase special education funding among 200 plus districts that would have lost money under a new formula put into place in 2004. This loss amounts to over $3 million in DuPage County alone. The bill sponsored by Representative Dan Bradley passed from both the Elementary and Secondary Education committee and the House Appropriations committee yesterday. It was interesting to observe how members of both parties are so vocal in their criticism and hostility to the Governor. It is obvious that the strain of finding ways to conduct legislative business in a time when no one has any trust in the Governor is causing stress on the process. It will be interesting to watch and see if the Senate will open any debate on overriding any of the Governor’s vetoes. Stay tuned!

Veto Session Begins Today

The veto session begins today (although the spring session has not officially ended) with a rare Committee of the Whole meeting in the House beginning at noon to hear testimony about HB 3688 and the amendatory vetoes applied by Governor Blagojevich. It should make for interesting listening. Audio and Video links are available at www.ilga.gov

The Taxpayers of Illinois Federation have come out in opposition to Governor Blagojevich’s veto of HB 677 in which he expanded the scope of the original bill and made it permanent. They favor a phase out of the provisions of the 7% solution especially now that the Governor’s actions have created more inequity in taxation and do not provide relief for other Illinois communities facing higher property tax rates than Cook County.

Watch for action this week on a capital spending bill. Apparently the Governor has attracted some Republican support for his plan for a capital bill. There is no doubt that such a bill is desperately needed but concerns have been expressed about funding such a plan on additional gaming expansion. There is the risk of losing over $6 billion in federal funds, the mass transit crisis, and school construction funding that all play into this picture. Isn’t it interesting the gaming industry is now the largest source of political campaign donations in Illinois?

Stay tuned this could be an interesting week in Springfield!

A Good Book

I read a great book last week that I would commend to your attention. The book is titled American Band by Kristen Laine. This is a fascinating chronicle of the Concord High School Minutemen Marching Band and their path to the state marching band championship in 2004. This is a Midwestern story set in Elkhart, Indiana not too far from Chicago. Ms. Laine’s powerful narrative paints a vivid story about young men and women coming of age in the new millennium. You experience their thoughts and fears as they strive for perfection on the marching field and in life. It is also the story of Max Jones, a legionary Indiana music educator who has influenced thousands of students over his long career. Max Jones is now on the staff at Purdue University where he directs the world renowned Purdue Marching Band. This is a truly heart warming story about a school, its young people and a supportive community. American Band could be the premier “coming to age” story of the 21st century. Give it a try.