Special Presentation - District Improvement Plan - Administrative Team
Kathleen McCord, Superintendent, Susan Haddick, Assistant Superintendent, and the following principals presented various components of the District Improvement Plan:

Andrea Anderson, OLHMS
Lori Gloodt, Sward
Lyle Neal, Covington
Paul Enderle, OLHMS (Associate)
Anna Schultz, Kolmar
Linda Jaques, Hometown

Special Presentation - Reading Series - Grades 2-5
Susan Haddick, Assistant Superintendent, presented an overview of the reading pilot for grades 2-5. She noted that the selected reading series addresses five essential components of reading instruction: comprehension, phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, and fluency.

Since the program selection process ended in a tie vote (14-14), the administration made the recommendation to adopt the Harcourt Trophies reading series for grades 2-5. It was noted that Harcourt is the K-5 counterpart to the Holt reading series that was selected for grades 6-8 at OLHMS. The next steps will be to plan professional development for all teachers of reading in grades 2-8 and to convene a literacy task force during the summer of 2006.

Public Participation
Two teachers addressed the board regarding the dismissal process, Denise Kalina and Marina Siampos.

THE BOARD HEARD FROM THE ADMINISTRATION REGARDING:

• Buildings and Grounds report
• Hometown resident water problem - backyard flooding
• Paul Andersen noted that the City of Hometown has been very helpful over the years with various issues impacting the district.
• Brandt bids/ planning for construction
• Family Health & Fun Fair - final cost analysis- net revenue of $1,886.52
• ISAT
• Summer School brochure
• Crisis Plan update
• Introduction of Lauri Calabrese, new Assistant Superintendent for Business and Operations
• Program updates for 2006-2007
  • ESL Student and Staff Projections --The population of students with English as a second language needs is growing throughout the district. Support programs will be redesigned to meet these student needs.
  • Science Center -- The program will continue without any substantive changes for next year. Students will be clustered into groups of approximately 24 in order to make class sizes equitable at the Science Center. This will allow for some cost savings while protecting the program.
  • Library/Media program -- A media specialist and a full-time library aide will share responsibilities at two buildings next year at the K-5 level. When the media specialist is at one building, the aide will be assigned to the other.
• Alliance Legislative Report highlights
• IASB Board Policy Revision update - first draft has been completed
• Good News letters

Board Comments
Ted Maras expressed his concerns about the dismissal process.

THE BOARD TOOK THE FOLLOWING ACTION:

• Approved the minutes of February 27, 2006
• Approved the closed session minutes of February 27, 2006
• Approved the resignation of teachers Erin Emmons, Marcy Joslyn, Christine Lundy, Kathleen Martin, Heather McKeon, and Marina Siampos at the conclusion of the 2005-2006 school year
• Approved a parental leave for Lisa Short for the 2006-2007 school year
• Approved employment of certified personnel, 2006-2007 Lauri Calabrese, Assistant Superintendent for Business and Operations
• Adopted a resolution authorizing notice of non-renewal of employment (first, second, or third year probationary teachers)
• Adopted a resolution authorizing notice of non-renewal of employment (fourth year probationary teacher)
• Adopted a resolution honorably dismissing educational support personnel
• Adopted the Holt reading series for Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School
• Approved the use of land for recreational equipment to be installed at Unity Park by the Hometown Recreation Commission
• Approved the Oak Lawn Baseball lease of district fields from April 1 to Labor Day, 2006
• Rejected Construction Solutions as the lowest qualified bidder for the general work and finishes bid for Brandt School
• Approved bid from Doherty Construction for general work and finishes work at Brandt School in the amount of $1,187,000
• Approved bid from Central States Automatic Sprinklers for fire protection work at Brandt School in the amount of $85,800
• Approved bid from Correct Construction for mechanical work at Brandt School in the amount of $910,000
• Approved bid from Reichelt Plumbing for plumbing work at Brandt School in the amount of $447,680
• Approved bid from Public Electric Construction Company for electrical work at Brandt School in the amount of $799,996
• Approved the lease of available classrooms with the A.E.R.O. Special Education Cooperative for the 2006-2007 school year (Kolmar-2, McGugan-4)
• Approved the list of bills as presented, the Fund Reconciliation Report, the summary financial reports, and the payroll in the amount of $2,218,222.57

The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m.

The next regular meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Monday, April 24, 2006, at the Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School, 5345 W. 99th Street, Oak Lawn, Illinois.