District 205 Board Meeting October 8, 2008

1. District 205 Board Meeting October 8, 2008

2. Roll CallPledge of AllegiancePlease make certain that your cell phones are silent.Thank you

3. Approval of Minutes • Open Session of the Public Hearing on • September 17, 2008 • Regular Meeting and Executive Session on • September 17, 2008

4. Approval of District 205 Bills

5. Approval of Resignations

6. Approval of Leave of Absence

7. Approval of Employment

8. Communications COMMUNITY AWARENESS • Mr. Jerry B. Doss

9. Communications Education Summit 2008 Thornridge High School • Keynote Speaker Mr. Reginald Weaver • Attended by over 150 parents, faculty and clergy from the entire District 205 community. • New District 205 Honor Band performed under the direction of Mr. David Eanes. • District 205 Students Against Violence Everywhere students gave two 45 minute seminars on violence prevention in school.

10. Communications Thornwood High School Hosts Illinois House of Representatives Hearing on Education Funding Reform • Hearing was attended by over 300 faculty and community members. • State Representatives Will Davis, David Miller and Al Riley were in attendance. • Steve Gress, Mayor Don De Graff and other local superintendents testified about the need for public education funding reform in the State of Illinois.

11. Communications Illinois State Treasure Alexi Giannoulias Opportunity Knocks Free Workshop • Location: Riverdale Resource Center • Date: Friday, October 10, 2008 • Time: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. To register please contact Debbie Meyers-Martin at (312) 814-1252.

12. Communications South Suburban PADS 2008-2009 Emergency Overnight Shelter Sites PADS offers free emergency, overnight shelter nightly from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. between October 1, 2008 and April 30, 2009.

13. Communications Lifesource Donation Annual TTHS Blood Drive THANK YOU LIFESOURCE!

14. Communications 2008 Fall Parent Teacher Conference September 18th and 19th

15. Communications Columbus Day Monday, October 13, 2008 NO SCHOOL • October 17th Grade/Progress Reports • October 25th National College Fair Navy Pier • October 25th PSAE Retake Day 1-October 28th PSAE Retake Day 2

16. Communications Congratulations Coach William “Bill” Mosel Chicago Bears Coach of the Week • The program honors outstanding Illinois high school coaches who develop players’ football skills and knowledge, character, leadership, discipline, and teamwork abilities. • Other criteria considered include unique coaching methodology, community or off-field components, school and community support, volunteerism, and, most importantly, contributions to players’ long-term success on and off the field. • Coaches are nominated by a panel of local prep authorities, and the winning “Coach of the Week” is selected each week.

17. Public Participation We now open the Public Participation section of our agenda. At this time, members of the community are invited to address the Board. We ask that you state your name and town, limit your total time to three minutes, and talk only about items on the current Board Agenda. In addition, if your comments are of a critical nature about specific people, the Board requests that you present your comments during the personnel portion of the “executive session.”

18. UNFINISHED BUSINESS • Presentation of Parental Involvement Policy 2nd reading Dr. Buckner (30-day review, tabled)

19. UNFINISHED BUSINESS • Presentation of Title I Parent Involvement Policy, 2nd reading Mr. Truesdale (30-day review, tabled)

20. NEW BUSINESS • Public Hearing Regarding the Issuance of $50 Million in Working Cash Bonds Mr. Gress

21. BOND ISSUE HEARING COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD OF EDUCATION COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC

22. NEW BUSINESS • Recommended Approval of Designation Letter for Board Secretary Representative Dr. Buckner (Approval needed)

23. NEW BUSINESS • Appointment of SCOPE representative (previously Sharon Voliva) Dr. Buckner (Approval needed)

24. NEW BUSINESS • Recommended Approval of Annual Thornwood Cheerleading Competition. Mrs. Williams (Approval needed)

25. NEW BUSINESS • Recommended Approval of Annual Thornton Cheerleading Competition. Dr. Lyke (Approval needed)

26. NEW BUSINESS • State (ISBE) Report Card (PSAE) Mr. Truesdale, Dr. Dague and Principals

27. Thornwood Thornridge Thornton P.S.A.E. Score PresentationDistrict 205

28. An increase in the percentage of students who met or exceeded in Mathematics • An increase in the percentage of students who met or exceeded in Reading Going from Good to Great!!

29. Reading 2007 31.4% 2008 37.0%5.6% Gain DISTRICT 205

30. Math 2007 21.6% 2008 39.1%17.5% Gain DISTRICT 205

31. Reading 2007 33.5% 2008 38.6% 5.1% Gain Thornwood High School

32. Mathematics 2007 24.3% 2008 40.1% 15.8% Gain Thornwood High School

33. Reading 2007 31.5% 2008 35.5% 4.0% Gain ThornRidge High School

34. Mathematics 2007 20.7% 2008 36.0% 15.3% Gain Thornridge High School

35. Reading 2007 29.2% 2008 36.0% 6.8% Gain thornton township High School

36. Mathematics 2007 19.1% 2008 40.9% 21.8% Gain Thornton township High School

37. State goal for this year is 70% • District 205 goal for this year is 100% We will not settle for less than 100% of our students meeting or exceeding on the P.S.A.E. in 2009. Good, but not great!!!

38. Safe and Secure Learning Environment • Relevant and Rigorous Curriculum • Interim Assessments • District-wide PSAE Preparation Activities • Classroom Instruction Feedback through Drop-Ins and Evaluations • Princeton Review-ACT Prep Program • Appropriate and Research-Based Professional Development for Teachers • Afterschool Tutorial Programs • Continued Support from Parents and Community Members How will we get there?

39. NEW BUSINESS • District School Report Card (District Improvement Plan) Mr. Truesdale, Dr. Dague and Principals

40. Quarter 1District Improvement Plan Update

41. Reading Progress Update • Summer Boost Program • Students identified in need of support were invited to attend Summer Boost Program for English/Reading • New Reading Courses • Based on a model used at Lincoln-Way High School • Provides strategies for reading process as well as types of reading • Taught by staff from all content areas • Literacy Coaches • Newly created position to support reading program across all content areas • Provides training and support for teachers in the freshman reading courses • Provides coaching and strategies to teachers • Participates in development of reading program evaluation to improve the program each year • Collaborates with English AIL and Superintendent to develop strategies and materials for Parent Academy

42. Math Progress Update • Summer Boost Program • Students identified in need of support were invited to attend Summer Boost Program for Math • Double Dose Course • Per the DIP Yearlong Algebra on the block was reformatted as double period class. Each algebra unit is paired with instruction on requisite skills. The current format is Algebra class for one period and support for one period. • Numeracy Coach • Newly created position to support math across the district in all three schools • Provides coaching and strategies to teachers (27 math teachers are non-tenured) • Continues to supports articulation with feeder schools • Participates in development of math program evaluation to improve the program each year • Collaborates with math AIL and Superintendent to develop strategies and materials for Parent Academy

43. Reading and Math Data Sources • Interim Assessment Data • Pre and Post Tests • Grade Distributions • Summer Program Results • Parent Involvement Activities

44. Special Education Progress Update • Resource room developed at each of the three high schools • IEPs evaluated with regard to impact of moving to new bell schedule; Staff is being trained on EZ-IEP • Co-teaching coordinators : • Newly created position to provide support to co-teaching team • Identify and facilitate professional development for co-teaching teams • Develop and implement a system for evaluating the effectiveness of the co-teaching model • Improvement of continuum of services: Instructional classes implemented

45. Special Education Data Sources • Interim Assessment Data • Pre and Post Tests • Grade Distributions • Summer Program Results • Parent Involvement Activities • Student use of Special Ed. Resource Rooms

46. Safe and Supportive Learning Environment Progress Update • Attendance Centers • Handling of daily attendance issues has shifted away from Deans’ Office to newly created Attendance Centers to allow Deans more time to focus on discipline issues • Attendance centers are operational at all three buildings • Freshman Academy Support Teachers (FAST) • Work with an identified group of freshmen to provide support for improved attendance and academic progress • Support freshman deans and counselors • Improvements in building security • Security personnel are more extensively trained than in previous years • Improved procedures for visitors to all three buildings

47. Safe and Supportive Learning Environment Data Sources • Student Attendance data • Student Discipline data • Expulsions • Professional Development relative to Creating Positive Relationships (“CPR”) training • Parent Involvement Activities

48. Chicago Metro History Fair • Theme “The Individual in Chicago/Illinois History: Actions, Legacies” • Sponsored by Chicago Metro History Education Center • Students in all three schools participating • Incorporates Illinois Learning Standards in Social Sciences and Language Arts • Prizes include monetary awards and scholarships • DePaul University, Loyola University, Roosevelt University

49. Voter Registration Drive • Led by teachers, students & parents in all three schools • Students appointed Deputy Registrars • Many will be paid Election Judges November 4th • Nearly 300 registrations were completed • Mock election in all three schools October 21st • In cooperation with League of Women Voters and United States Hispanic Leadership Institute

50. Illinois Senator Emil Jones Visit • Thornton High School student Andrea Rogers wrote to Senator Jones • Senator Jones scheduled to visit Thornton • October 28th from 11 a.m. until 12 p.m. • Thornton is working with Senator Jones’ office to finalize the agenda for his visit