Highlights
   Packets
   Podcast 

Board Highlights are timely recaps of School Board meetings. They are emailed to staff, parents, and interested community members before the official minutes are approved and posted. 

 

Links to pertinent memos and presentations from the Board packet are highlighted in green. Board packets are posted the day before regularly scheduled Board meetings.

 

Meeting podcasts, packets, and Board information can be accessed using the links on the left. 


Work Session
Kurt A. Schneider, NSSED Superintendent, Trisha Kocanda, Superintendent,
and Beth Martin, Director of Student Services, continued the discussion on integrated service delivery and special education (a follow-up from the November 2017 Work Session) .
The conversation centered on local information and program modifications that have been made this school year to implement best practices for special education service delivery in District 36. Topics of discussion included efficiency in staffing and scheduling in order to best serve all students. Next steps will include a presentation to the Board regarding plans for continuation of integrated service delivery for the 2018-2019 school year.

Brad Goldstein, Chief Financial Officer, presented information regarding the 2017 Final Levy. The Levy is a request for property tax income, representing over 90% of the District's annual revenue. Later in the meeting, the District gained Board approval of an aggregate levy increase of 1.08%, which is less than the inflation rate of 2.1%.

Regular Meeti ng 

Kristen Hertel, Board President, wished all in attendance a wonderful holiday season and Happy New Year. She thanked the Winnetka school community and fellow Board Members for their efforts on behalf of the District's children in 2017. She also thanked the Future Ready D36 Core Team members for their ongoing work and collaboration.  

Trisha Kocanda, Superintendent,  shared highlights from 2017, such as the launch of Extended Day Kindergarten and Future Ready D36, the District's first Educational Master Facility Plan in 20 years. She also noted examples of how the District has lived out its Shared Vision in 2017. Additionally, she thanked The Winnetka Public Schools Foundation, PTO volunteers, and the entire Winnetka community for their commitment to excellence in our schools.

Joshua Swanner Named Principal of Greeley School
Mr. Joshua Swanner was named Principal of Greeley School. Mr. Swanner has been serving as the interim Principal at Greeley since the beginning of the school year.  This change in title reflects the District's confidence in Mr. Swanner's leadership, and a commitment to support the continuity and consistency that his skills bring to the Greeley School community. Mr. Swanner joined District 36 in 2010. He was a teacher at Carleton Washburne School for five years before assuming the Assistant Principal role at The Skokie School and then becoming Interim Principal at Greeley in August 2017.


Presentations


Bonnie Sanborn, DLR Group, and Future Ready D36 36 Core Team members shared insight gleaned from over 25 site visits to future-ready schools (from elementary to higher education) and workplace environments in the Chicagoland area as well as California, Minnesota, and Virginia. Themes that were common during the tours included a variety of workspaces to foster student agency and project-based work; modern safety features; energy efficiency; flexible-use spaces; abundant natural light and access to the outdoors; integrated technology; and elements that support collaborative learning. Following winter break, a survey regarding key values will be shared with the Winnetka community. The Future Ready D36 Core Team will incorporate data from the survey into their planning. It is anticipated that initial concepts will be presented for community review in March.

Informational Memos


This monthly update highlights progress toward the Reaching All Learners goals in the District's Strategic Plan.  A Districtwide Hour of Code event was hosted for the community, and Reading specialists trained classroom associates on reading interventions to support and challenge students. Another highlight is the District partnership with the 50 Action 50 organization in an effort to help communities, parents, and educators promote STEAM and entrepreneurship to school-aged girls.


The District Calendar Committee proposed a calendar that aligns with Illinois School Code, District contractual agreements, and New Trier High School winter and spring breaks. The Board is expected to approve the calendar at the January 30, 2018, School Board Meeting.

The District, in partnership with New Trier Township High School 203, The Winnetka Park District and the Winnetka-Northfield Public Library District, engaged TJ Design Strategies, Inc., a firm that specializes in TIF District analysis, to conduct a review of the proposed TIF District.  The consultant's report was shared with the School Board along with an update of the December 12, 2017, Village Board meeting.

During the fall of 2017, the District had two emergency repairs to the piping at Carleton Washburne School due to leaks from the ceiling.  This piping is original dual-temperature piping which is approximately 50 years old. Upon further investigation, the issue is determined to be pervasive and requires summer work in 20 classrooms.  The estimated cost is approximately $200,000.  The repairs will also require a move in the summer Adventures in Learning.


The Policy Subcommittee reviewed a number of School Board policies. The policies were approved later in the meeting.

Other Business

Committee/Board Liaison Reports:
  1. Winnetka Public Schools Foundation (December 4, 2017)
  2. North Suburban Special Education District Cooperative (December 6, 2017)
The Consent Agenda and the following Action Items were approved:
  1. Approval of the 2017 Tax Levy
  2. School Board Policies
  3. Intra-District Transfer
  4. Crow Island PTO Gift-Screen and Projector
  5. Crow Island PTO Gift-Percussion Play Equipment
     
     
The Complete Board Packet for the December 19, 2017, School Board Meeting, containing all Memos and Presentations is here.
Upcoming Regular Meeting Dates

January 30, 2018
February 27, 2018
March 20, 2018

April 24, 2018
May 22, 2018
June 6, 2018
Regular meetings are open to the public and will be held at Carleton Washburne School through June 2018. Regular meetings begin at 7:15 p.m. Work sessions are also open to the public and may be scheduled at the discretion of the Board. Discussion topics and times for work sessions will be posted on the District website 24 hours in advance.
The Winnetka Public Schools community empowers every student to flourish in an innovative, experiential environment. We support and challenge all learners to actively engage in continual growth and achievement to make a meaningful difference in the world.  
Please note: Unsubscribing from this email will unsubscribe from  all Winnetka school emails.