The meeting was held in the Old Board Room and called to order at 6:00 p.m.

The Pledge of Allegiance was said.

THE BOARD HEARD SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS FROM THE ADMINISTRATION REGARDING:

Construction/Renovation of School Buildings

Donna Baio, McGugan Principal

Andrea Anderson, McGugan Assistant Principal

Kathleen McCord, Asst. Superintendent

Dr. Paziotopoulos, Superintendent

 

Financial Status/Income v. Expenditures

Robert Kolb, Asst. Superintendent

Discussion and analysis occurred regarding possible referendums for

1) the construction of a new building and the expansion of existing buildings, and

2) seeking more revenue for our education programs.

 

Dr. Paziotopoulos discussed the following issues:

• Maintaining existing educational services/programs

• The need to draw a correlation between referendums and enhanced student performance

• ISAT test scores

• Student mobility statistics

• A proposed new upper grade center to house 6th grade students with 7th and 8th graders, allowing the staff to more effectively meet the needs of students

• Expanding the number of gymnasium teaching stations at Kolmar, Hannum, and the upper grade center

• Foreign language expansion opportunities

• Enhancement of the infra and supra structure of Oak Lawn and Hometown communities by completing our final phase of construction, thus making all District 123 school buildings models for the 21st century.

 

Ms. Andrea Anderson and Mrs. Donna Baio outlined a Proposal for Expanded Educational Services and Programs. In support of the middle school concept, information was cited from the report published by the Carnegie Corporation of New York in 1989, entitled Turning Points: Preparing American Youth for the 21st Century. The proposed shift in educational services and structure is being fueled, in part, by the new federal legislation, No child Left Behind, that was signed into law on January 8, 2002, and the State of Illinois grade level benchmarks.

 

Some of the proposed educational services presented for board consideration were:

• Full day Kindergarten program -- optional to parents

• Before and after-school care at neighborhood schools

• Daily hot lunch programs

• Daily physical education

• Elementary assistant principals

• Expanded community use of school buildings

• K-5 instructional program enhancements, i.e., comprehensive reading intervention programs

• New upper grade center facility (grades 6, 7, 8)

(The last time District 123 established a district-wide grade level reconfiguration was in 1985 when McGugan Junior High School opened its doors to 7th and 8th grade students.)

 

Mr. Kolb presented a financial status report that outlined the following issues:

 

• Tax Cap/CPI Index

• Annual deficits

• Annual collective bargaining increases

• Use of Working Cash Fund to balance deficits

• FY 02-03 budget implications

• Special Education costs

Mr. Boyle polled the board and the consensus of the members was to proceed forward with the referendum plans.

The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m. 

The next regular meeting of the Board of Education, will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, August 26, 2002 at the Administration Center, 4201 West 93rd Street, Oak Lawn, Illinois.

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Last updated 09/18/02