Board of Education

The Rock Island-Milan Board of Education began their regular board meeting by recognizing the State of Illinois Spotlight Schools: Audubon, Frances Willard, Longfellow, Ridgewood and Thomas Jefferson as 2008 Illinois Spotlight Schools. To be a State of Illinois Spotlight School, each school must:

• Have made AYP for the last two years
• At least half of the students are from low-income families
• At least 60% of students must have met or exceeded standard in reading and math in 2008
• At least 50% of the students must have met or exceeded standars in both reading and math in the two previous years (2007 & 2006).

Board members will be traveling to the schools to present the certificates in the near future. Superintendent Loy commended the schools for their excellent vision and hard work.

Building Excellence Update
Ben Hott, Rock Island Milan School District Construction Project Manager, updated the board about the Building Excellent construction projects. Read the report at the construction blog >>

Personnel
Board members granted tenure status to 24 full-time administrators and teachers who have completed their probationary period after 4 years of service. The board did not renew contracts of 12 teachers in the district: 6 first year teachers, 2 teachers completing a partial year of service and 4 part-time contracts. Some may have the option of being called back at the beginning of the school year.

Other items:

• Superintendent Loy reported that the Stimulus Package Funding is still not definite for the school district. The $2.9 million coming over the next two years is earmarked for Title 1 and Special Education, however the shovel-ready project money has shifted to the state level. The district has submitted project list to state representative, state board and governor’s office to cover all bases. In this years budget – revenue streams are coming in slowly. Corporate replacement taxes are 19% down from last year and the district is currently behind ½ million in corporate replacement taxes. Mr. Loy expects the situation to get worse as it continues.
• Board Member Dave Rockwell attended the Sustainable Schools Symposium in Joliet last week and represented the School District in a presentation given by Neighborhood Partners member Ed Hanna. Mr. Hanna put together a very good presentation and it reflected the school district’s process over the last 6 years very well.
• The board continued to review policy updates and revisions. Many of the policies are either replacements for or updates to the current policies that reflect legislative changes or administrative rules. The administration will continue to further review of student extra-curricular activity and visitors/conduct on school property policies before making recommendations to the board.
• The board approved the purchase of an upgrade to the Student Information System. The upgrade will allow for the use of an online grade book for secondary and high school level teachers that will give access to student’s grade and class progress. A Professional Development plan is being put together in order to train staff on how to use the system.

Next Board of Education meeting Tuesday, April 14.

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