Superintendent Search Firm
Two representatives from School Exec Connect gave a presentation at the February 18 Board meeting, during which they outlined their firm’s methods for conducting a search for the best candidate to fill the superintendent vacancy in July 2011. Board members were provided with a brochure outlining the process that includes involving the community, conducting a survey, forming a focus group, selecting and interviewing final candidates, and site visits. The two representatives were interviewed extensively by the Board following the presentation. Two other search firms were scheduled to give presentations and be interviewed during the March 1 Committee of the Whole Board meeting.

Update from Three District Committees
During the January 21 meeting, a brief summary of work accomplished to date by the three District committees was given by co-facilitators of each committee. Co-facilitators of the Community Relations Committee reported that five ad hoc committees were created: Communication vehicles, volunteerism, service projects, school finance education, and business partnerships. This committee’s main goal is to enhance the partnership between the District and the Avoca community. Co-facilitators of the Diversity Committee reported they were considering ideas, including creating a diversity center and a book club focused on authors of different cultural backgrounds, starting a sister school in the city, Skyping with people from other countries, and examining hiring practices within the District. The committee’s main goal is to initiate activities that enhance and expand the benefits of diversity and to promote an understanding and appreciation of a world community. Co-facilitators of the Extra-curricular Committee listed the committee’s three main goals: Encourage the right match of extracurricular offerings to students’ interests; achieve a better balance of extracurricular activities between the two schools; and give specific recommendations to the Board to accomplish the first two goals in a budget-conscious manner. Student and parent surveys were scheduled to be conducted in February and the collected data analyzed in March. The three committees will provide another update on their activities in a few months.

NSBA Avoca Site Visit Set for April
At the February 18 Board meeting, it was reported that Avoca was selected last fall by the National School Boards Association (NSBA) to be one of four school districts in North America for this year’s NSBA site visit program. It was estimated that approximately 100 educators will visit the Avoca schools on April 8 and 9 as special guests of the NSBA. The District had solicited $30,500 to date from seven private sponsors to cover the cost of the event, with the biggest expense being a dinner and entertainment provided by an improvisation group from Second City to be held at the DoubleTree Hotel in Skokie. Donations from sponsors will also be used to provide each visitor to the District with a “welcome bag” containing a variety of items to make the visit to Avoca memorable. 

Avoca West Sculpture Donation
Superintendent Dr. Porto reported at the January 21 meeting that Avoca West Elementary School was being offered an outdoor sculpture, at no cost to the District, from a nationally-renowned local artist, who is also an Avoca West parent. The sculpture is a temporary piece of artwork that would last approximately 20 years. In order to obtain approval of the donation, the Board was provided with a photo of the sculpture, the artist’s biography, and an aerial view indicating two preferred locations for the sculpture in front of the school. After some discussion, it was the consensus of the Board to accept the donation and have it installed in May at a location north of the front entrance. The PTC will donate a pedestal for the sculpture.

PTAB Process Reviewed
An attorney from the District’s law firm, Robbins, Schwartz, Nicholas, Lifton & Taylor, Ltd., provided a brief summary and status report on recent pending Property Tax Appeal Board (PTAB) challenges at the January 21 Board meeting. He anticipated an increase in future PTAB claims due to confusion about the change in the way properties are now being assessed. Although assessments will drop, tax bills will go up. It was also reported that school districts are now being allowed to go to the circuit court to challenge PTAB claims. A list of recent property tax appeals was reviewed to demonstrate the amount of money that would have been lost if those appeals had remained unchallenged.

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:
> 3/1, 4:30 p.m. – Committee of the Whole
> 3/18, 5:30 p.m. – Board Finance Committee
> 4/22, 6:30 p.m. – Board of Education
> 4/22, 5:30 p.m. – Board Finance Committee
> 4/5, 5:30 p.m. – Committee of the Whole 3/18, 6:30 p.m. – Board of Education