(Report of December 18, 2008, Board of Education Meeting)

2008 Tax Levy Approved
Following a public hearing immediately prior to the regularly scheduled December 18 Board meeting, the Board formally approved an operating tax levy of $9,952,501 for the 2008 levy year.  The proposed levy represents a 7.9% increase over the previous year’s levy.                                                              

2009-2010 District Calendar Approved
The Board officially approved the 2009-2010 District calendar at the December Board meeting.  Highlights include:  First day of student attendance (a half day) is Monday, August 24; the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is a holiday; winter break is December 21, 2009, through January 3, 2010; no student attendance on General Primary Election Day on February 2, 2010; spring break is March 29 through April 4, 2010; no student and staff attendance on Labor Day (September 7), Yom Kippur (September 28), Columbus Day (October 12), Martin Luther King Day (January 18), Presidents’ Day (February 15), and Memorial Day (May 31); and, barring any emergency closings, the last day of student attendance is Friday, June 4, 2010.  The District obtained a waiver/modification of the Veterans’ Day holiday on Wednesday, November 11, making it a student attendance day for the second year in a row.  The intent is to make the holiday more meaningful to students by inviting local veterans to come to our schools for special ceremonies and activities.  The 2009-2010 District calendar is now available for public viewing on the Board of Education’s Web page under Documents at http://avoca37.org/boe/.

Employment Matters
The Board approved the employment of Robert Orsi on a part-time hourly basis for a four-month period immediately following his retirement at the end of December as the Director of Transportation/ Buildings and Grounds.  Mr. Orsi will continue to be responsible for buildings and grounds matters until a Buildings and Grounds Supervisor is hired in the spring.  The Board also approved the employment of Phyllis Tsevis as a long-term, seventh grade substitute math teacher starting February 23 through the end of the school year.

2008-2009 District Goals Reviewed
Superintendent Dr. Joseph Porto provided a brief update on progress toward the successful completion of five official District Goals for 2008-2009, including:  Goal 1) Pass a referendum to balance the budget; Goal 2) Review, refine and improve surveys and other measurement tools that assess Avoca’s progress toward greatness; Goal 3) Create a specific curriculum review process corresponding to Avoca’s instructional needs; Goal 4) Establish a Community Outreach Committee that will research and implement activities that enhance the partnership between the School District and the Avoca community; and Goal 5) Establish a District Diversity Committee that will research and initiate activities that celebrate, enhance and expand the benefits of diversity at Avoca, and promote an understanding and appreciation of a world community.  Dr. Porto reported the action plans for all five goals are currently on schedule. 
 
Upcoming Board Meeting Dates
Regular Board meetings are open to the public and are held in the Community Room at Marie Murphy School during the school year.  The public is invited to share input during the two visitors’ comments portions of the meeting.  Regular Board meetings normally begin at 6:30 p.m. on the second to the last Thursday of the month.  Committee of the Whole meetings usually take place at 5:30 p.m. on the first Monday of the month in the Marie Murphy School Library.  To confirm the times and locations of these meetings, please contact the superintendent’s secretary at 847-251-3587.  All School Board and Committee of the Whole meetings are videotaped, and the tapes may be checked out by the public through the Marie Murphy School Library (847-251-3617).  Upcoming meeting dates include:
·         1/22, 5:30 p.m. – Board Finance Committee
·         1/22, 6:30 p.m. – Board of Education
·         2/2, 5:30 p.m. – Committee of the Whole
·         2/19, 5:30 p.m. – Board Finance Committee
·         2/19, 6:30 p.m. – Board of Education