Important Community News!
Winnetka Caucus: Survey Data Summary
Peter Eck, Executive Chair of the Winnetka Caucus Council’s D36 Schools Committee, shared data from the annual survey conducted by the Caucus. Mr. Eck focused on six key findings and affiliated recommendations, such as increased communication on the tenets of Progressive Education to the community.
Literacy Curriculum Review Update
An update regarding the work of the Literacy Leadership Committee and current literacy pilot was provided. Over the summer the Literacy Leadership Committee finalized the details of the District pilot plan including the timeline and feedback tool for pilot participants. During September and early October, the 59 staff members who volunteered to pilot literacy programs and materials participated in training funded by the WPSF. Many of the pilot classrooms are currently engaged in the pilot unit of study. Note that many of the student learning outcomes and standards are the same, the pilot programs and materials offer a different way for students to engage in learning.
Regular Board Meeting
Emily Rose, President, gave a special welcome to the community partners who were in attendance from the Winnetka Public Schools Foundation and the Education Committee from the Winnetka Caucus. She expressed her thankfulness to live in a community that volunteers significant time to the public schools. Additionally, she wished everyone a restful and enjoyable Thanksgiving break.
Reports on the following Committees were shared by participating Board Members:
Facility Subcommittee Meeting
Crow Island Stewardship
Special Work Session Meeting
TrueNorth Cooperative 504 Leadership Council
Winnetka Public School Foundation
Finance Subcommittee Meeting
Special Meeting
Policy Subcommittee
Dr. Kelly Tess, Superintendent, recognized the School Board in light of School Board appreciation month, Dr. Tess thanked the School Board members for their investment in the work of our schools. Additionally she noted the importance of gratitude in the midst of the Thanksgiving season.
LAST CALL! The Superintendent’s Survey is now open through November 18. Please take the survey to provide the administration with important information to better support communication.
Painting our Portrait:
Monthly, one of the five District schools will share a video to showcase an initiative that helps support attributes outlined in our Portrait of a Graduate.
Principal Swanner shared an activity to spread kindness throughout Greeley School, led entirely by 4th grade students. In the Spring of 2023, Greeley students identified a desire to improve respect shown between peers in the biannual Panorama survey. At the same time, all Greeley students took part in an activity to determine updated school values based on our district’s work with RULER:
Respect
Inclusion
Safety
Excitement (about coming to school)
In late October this year, Greeley 4th graders puts these values into practice by inviting all students to take part in a kindness campaign. As part of this initiative, students created mailboxes to deliver thoughtful messages from their peers to be written and shared across the school. As one student emphasized, “Kindness does not make others feel good, but it makes you feel good, too.”
Presentation
Brad Goldstein, Chief Financial Officer, presented information on the 2023 Tentative Levy. The Levy is a request for property tax income, representing over 90% of the District’s annual revenue. A public hearing to discuss the proposed tax increase, and the School Board approval of the levy will be held at the December 19, 20223 Board Meeting. The District is seeking an aggregate levy increase of 7.98%. The increase includes 5% for CPI, and an additional 2.98% to ensure the capture of new property growth. The 2023 Tentative Levy was approved later in the evening. To access FAQs on the 2023 Tentative Levy, please visit this link.
Informational Items
The current status of construction was shared by the District’s partner, Bulley & Andrews.
November 1 Staff Institute Day Summary
The District hosted the Fall institute day on November 1, 2023. Included in the summary are activities that all Winnetka staff members participated in. The administration will be working collaboratively with the shared leadership team of Winnetka staff in December to review all staff feedback to analyze immediate next steps and begin planning for the next institute day to be held on February 16, 2024.
2024/2025 Kindergarten & New Student Pre-Registration
The District opened pre-registration for kindergarten students (as well as any students that will be new to the District in the upcoming school year) on November 13, 2023. The Board, at its meeting October 24, 2023, approved a $40 discount in student fees, per student, in order to incentivize parents to complete this process by January 12, 2024. The District’s website has been updated to provide families of incoming kindergarten students with information about the Kindergarten Program, curriculum, and policy update that details methods to communicate with the District on student admission to school if their child falls outside the bounds of age specifications. Additionally, the 2nd Preschool/Family Information Night has been scheduled for January 10, 2024 and will be held from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. at Greeley School.
General Obligation Bond Resolution
The School Board agreed to proceed with assigning the funds left over from the 2007 referendum funding (~$2.5 million) for future capital projects. These funds are a result of two factors; loss and cost, which is funding through the levy process by Cook County to ensure the District has funding to offset debt service payment in the event of non-payment of taxes by individuals, as well as interest earnings on these funds over the years. The resolution is for up to $2.9 million which represents the remaining referendum authority.
These funds would be paid off within 30-days after the sale of the bonds with the funds on hand in the Debt Service Fund. These funds would then be moved to the Capital Project funds and be utilized to address any capital needs not funded by the referendum or the $10 million already allocated from fund balance for these projects. These projects have already been identified in the long-term maintenance plan.
Nonjudicial Settlement Agreement with Winnetka Public Schools Foundation
The Board was asked by the Winnetka Public School Foundation (WPSF) to bring a Nonjudicial Settlement Agreement (NJSA) for approval.
The WPSF has been working with estate attorneys for the last 2 years to gain access to the Mary Keegan Science Fund, which is one of several funds held by WPSF. Because the District will receive all Foundation funds if the Foundation ceases to exist, the District is mentioned in the NJSA. The amendment to the agreement allows for greater ease of access to funds for the purpose of supporting innovative instructional efforts within the Winnetka Public Schools by way of the WPSF.
The Consent Agenda and Following Action Items Were Approved:
2023 Tentative Levy
Nonjudicial Settlement Agreement Mary Keegan Science Fund Created Under The Estate Of Charlotte L. Carlson
Resolution providing for the issue of not to exceed $2,900,000 Taxable General Obligation School Building Bonds of the District for the purpose of paying certain costs of those capital projects approved by referendum at the November 8, 2022, general election and authorizing the proposed sale of said bonds to the purchaser thereof.
To view the entire Board Packet from the November 2023 Meeting, click here.