(Report of February 19 and March 19, 2009, Board of Education Meetings)

 February Employment Matters
The Board approved the following employment matters at the February 19 Board meeting:  Transfer of 6^th grade humanities teacher Carrie Stotz to the Marie Murphy School library/media specialist position for the 2009-2010 school year; retirement notice from Marie Murphy School inclusion assistant Melba (Tweed) Kline at the close of the current school year; employment of Carlos A. Tellez as Marie Murphy School Spanish teacher for the 2009-2010 school year; and a request for a child-rearing leave of absence from third grade teacher Stefanie Rick through the close of the current school year.

March Employment Matters
The Board approved the following employment matters at the March 19 Board meeting:  Resignation of Marie Murphy School creative technology teacher Kristine Toenjes, effective immediately; employment of long-term substitute teachers Barbara Pietroski (grades one through five Spanish) and Laura Barbanente (third grade) through the end of the current school year; requests for child-rearing leaves of absence from third grade teacher Brady Cassell and Avoca West Elementary School reading specialist Ellie Kaiser for the 2009-2010 school year; and a notice of intent to retire from Avoca West Elementary School nurse Shirley Harrigan, effective as of the close of the 2009-2010 school year.

New K-9 Math Curriculum Approved
During the February 19 meeting, Principal Dr. Reed and five members of the Math Adoption Committee were on hand to present various aspects of the proposed new K-5 grade math curriculum.  The presentation covered the following: Math study process; math mission and belief statements; internal textbook analysis; township survey; outcomes overview for grades K-5; examples from Scott Foresman’s “Investigations in Number, Data, and Space” and “enVisionMath” for grades K-5; 5^th to 6^th grade transition using McDougal Littell series; outcomes overview for grades 6-8; examples from McDougal Littell series and Glencoe McGraw Hill for 8^th grade Pre Algebra; transition from 7^th to 8^th grade; technology components; ISAT preparation; budget overview and summary; and implementation plan for May 2009 through May 2010.  At the March 19 Board meeting, the Board officially approved the new math curriculum proposal and authorized the purchase of the materials and related services for a total amount not to exceed $165,000.

Transfer of Ownership of Lutheran General Children’s Day Care
During the February 19 Board meeting, it was reported that Advocate Lutheran General Hospital was transferring ownership of Lutheran General Children’s Day Care to Kids Hope United; a private, not-for-profit organization.  The transfer was to be completed in May and will affect the children’s day care program at the Avoca Center and the before- and after-school program at Avoca West Elementary School.  Advocate Lutheran General Hospital indicated that Kids Hope United has an excellent reputation and that all substantive features of the two programs will remain the same under the new ownership.  Lutheran General also requested that District #37 honor the current lease agreement until it expires in 2010.  The Board approved this request at the March 19 Board meeting.

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:
·         4/30, 5:30 p.m. – Board Finance Committee
·         4/30, 6:30 p.m. – Board of Education – Special
·         5/21, 5:30 p.m. – Board Finance Committee
·         5/21, 6:30 p.m. – Board of Education
·         6/1. 5:30 p.m. – Committee of the Whole
·         6/18, 5:30 p.m. – Board Finance Committee
·         6/18, 6:30 p.m. – Board of Education