ACROSS THE BOARD

Recommendations during Committee meetings go to the full Board for consideration, with final action taken during future Regular or Special meetings. This issue of Across the Board provides an overview of the following regular committee meetings from November 27:

• Learning and Teaching
• Business Services

Meeting memos, presentations and other documents in BoardDocs

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Background

Each November, the Learning and Teaching team presents the Student Achievement Report (SAR) to the Board and the community. The report analyzes student achievement for the 2022-2023 school year, highlights curriculum and instruction work occurring this school year, tracks the District's progress toward the 2025 goals and interim benchmarks, and outlines recommendations for continuous improvement.

Discussion

The SAR included data, analysis and next steps in the areas of graduation, foundations of learning, proficiency scores in ELA, math and science, college and career readiness indicators, the impacts of the pandemic and on-track indicators. Action steps are listed in part below and align with District's Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) model and the District's Strategic Priorities of Effective Collaboration, Instructional Coherence, and Culture of Dignity.

District 303 Graduates | Information included Class of 2023 graduation statistics and postsecondary enrollment for the classes of 2014-2022, such as:

• Graduation rate: 92%
• Avg. SAT superscore: 1099

Foundations of Learning | Information included Climate and Culture survey results, attendance, chronic absenteeism and chronic truancy data, such as:

• Students continue to report high levels of belonging and positive student teacher relationships
• 2022 average daily attendance at 93% districtwide
• Slight decline at elementary and middle, stable at high schools

Foundations of Learning Action Steps:

• Committee to explore root causes of chronic absenteeism and truancy within District 303 and to develop a comprehensive plan to support students and families
• Monitor attendance data within the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) system so that school-based teams can proactively respond to students and parents
  

ELA Proficiency | Information included statistics on state accountability measures (IAR/SAT), such as:

• Four elementary schools (Grade 4) had 70% or more meet or exceed grade-level standards
• Five elementary schools (Grade 5) had 70% or more meet or exceed grade-level standards
• Class of 2026 (Grade 9) proficiency increased 6%
• Class of 2028 (Grade 7) proficiency increased 12%
• Class of 2031 (Grade 4) proficiency increased 18%
  

ELA Action Steps:

• Utilize the Curriculum, Assessment, and Instruction (CAI) process, ensure complex, rigorous text is included in all content areas
• Develop structures for cross-river collaboration, including monthly meetings with department chairs to support and troubleshoot issues as they arise
• Continue professional learning focused on, among other areas, understanding expectations of the digital SAT, supporting the ongoing implementation of grade-level texts and implementation of the core phonics resource

Math Proficiency | Information included performance data in math on the state accountability measures in Grades 3-8 and 11, as well as Algebra I and II enrollment and performance, such as:

• Class of 2029 (Grade 6) proficiency highest since transition to common core standards
• Class of 2028 (Grade 7) increased proficiency levels in math by 16%
• Class of 2026 (Grade 9) increased proficiency levels in math by 13%

Math Action Steps:

• Engage with Chapin Hall (University of Chicago) to analyze K-12 math data to identify root cause of declining scores
• Monthly meetings between department chairs, building leadership, and L&T to monitor progress and address needs/concerns
• Support schools in implementing an acceleration model to support student learning and math achievement

Science Proficiency | Information included performance data on the Illinois Science Assessment (ISA) for students in grades 5, 8, and 11, such as:

• High student proficiency at 73% across all grade levels
• Grade 8 students exhibiting the highest proficiency levels

Science Action Steps:

• Review middle school curriculum to gain a deep understanding of what is producing positive results and how it can be replicated at all levels
• Review current high school course offerings and pathways to ensure comprehensive academic supports that prepare students for postsecondary success

College and Career Readiness Indicators | Information included data on students' transitions between levels, access to and achievement in advanced classes, and earning early college credit, such as:

• Vast majority of Class of 2025 are on track to graduate within four years
• Increase in student AP exam performance
• More students in the Class of 2029 (Grade 6) enrolled in advanced math and ELA courses
  

Action Steps:

• Establish AP committee to develop a mission, vision, and guiding principles
• Utilize AP potential scores during the course selection process to enhance access to AP coursework to support early college credit and advanced-level participation
• Ensure each student not on track for graduation has a proactive plan with monitoring

Recommendation: This agenda item was for discussion purposes only.

• Updates on Success Indicators
• Multilingual Learners Report

The next Learning and Teaching meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 18 at 5:30 p.m.

At the November 6 Business Services meeting, a statement was made that the District is issuing up to $25 million in long-term debt this year to balance the budget. That statement is not accurate. The fiscal year 2024 budget that the Board approved in September 2023 is balanced, and both the Board and administration are invested in the goal of maintaining a balanced budget moving forward.

The issuance of up to $25 million in long-term debt this year is exclusively to address facility construction and maintenance projects across the District over the next several years. This includes funding for projects at Lincoln and the Haines Center, which are undergoing some renovations next summer so they can be repurposed to house different programs.

None of the funds generated by this issuance of debt will be used for operating expenditures, for cash flow purposes, or to balance the District's annual operating budget.

On November 13, the Board approved returning Davis and Richmond schools to K-5 buildings next year. The approved plan, known as Scenario B, calls for the Dual Language program to be housed at Richmond. This will be made possible with the use of 6 mobile classrooms and a plan to build a 6-classroom addition at Richmond to make it a 27-classroom school. The mobile classrooms would be temporary until an addition to the school is constructed and operable. The plan and cost breakdown is included on the Scenario B analysis document found on pages 3 and 4.

Meeting memos, presentations and other documents in BoardDocs

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Background

The District has been partnering with RSP & Associates since August 2022, when it was hired to conduct an enrollment and facility capacity study. RSP presented its initial enrollment projections in February 2023, and in conjunction with the current school boundary updates, they were contracted to update the enrollment study for the 2023-24 school year.

Recommendation: This agenda item is for discussion only.

Additional Information

On November 28 and 29, RSP led community sessions at the District to share the boundary scenarios it had created based on guiding principles established by the Board. A survey asking for feedback on those scenarios is now open through December 10.

Background

Miller Cooper, the District’s independent audit firm, has been working on the audit for fiscal year 2023 since June 2023. The audit traditionally includes several weeks of field work in the District, a thorough review of District financial statements and supporting documentation, and a review of controls and procedures.

Discussion

Auditors presented an Unmodified Opinion (clean opinion), which is the best result available.

Recommendation: District 303 Administration recommends the Board take action to approve the fiscal year 2023 audit as presented.

Discussion items included notice of a public hearing to adopt the 2023 aggregate tax levy and a resolution to adopt the levy.

Discussion

In accordance with the Truth in Taxation Act, the Board must estimate the tax levy increase, as well as publish a notice and hold a public hearing if the estimated tax levy increase is above a certain amount. The timeline is as follows:

• November 13: Resolution to estimate the levy.
• December 11: Adopt the 2023 tax levy.
• December 26: File the levy with the County Clerk.

Tax Levy Estimate

The proposed aggregate levy was officially estimated on November 13 and is scheduled to be adopted on December 11. Exclusive of debt service, public building commission leases and election costs, the estimate necessary to be raised by taxation for the year 2023 upon the taxable property in the District is $188,700,000. This represents a 6.76% increase over the previous year; however, DuPage and Kane Counties will reduce this request to the allowable level, as defined in Illinois statute, prior to extending the property taxes to the community.

Tax Levy Frequently Asked Questions

Will my taxes increase by 6.76%? No, there is not a one-to-one correlation between the requested tax levy increase and the increase to property tax bills.

What is a tax levy? A tax levy is a request made by a taxing body

Does the school district set the tax rate? No, the school district’s tax levy is submitted to and calculated by the county to determine the tax rate.

Have more questions? Visit the tax levy FAQ web page

Background

District 303 offers several programs to students within its educational services, including advanced learning and language acquisition programs. The Board has previously asked for program costs and their associated impact on the budget.

Discussion

Administration has provided a cost analysis from the 2022-23 school year. Discussion will continue through March 2024 as administration works to develop a standard cost metric for evaluating the financial implications of existing and proposed programs.

Recommendation: This agenda item is for discussion. There are no recommendations at this time.

Background

In addition to its school and building sites, District 303 owns nine parcels of vacant land within its boundaries. These parcels are largely unimproved and may be available for future improvement or sale. In March, at the request of the Board, Administration presented appraisals for seven of the vacant parcels.

Discussion

Two of the parcels of vacant land exist next to Cranston Meadows Park, at the corner of Falcons Trail and Cloverfield Drive. Due to their location, the St. Charles Park District has expressed interest in leasing, and eventually purchasing, the parcels from District 303.

Recommendation: Administration recommends that the Board authorize Administration to negotiate a lease agreement with the St. Charles Park District for the two vacant parcels next to Cranston Meadows Park and present the lease agreement at a future Board meeting for approval.

Background

Multiple large, priority capital projects are planned for summer 2024. This includes reopening Fox Ridge as an elementary school, relocating Learning and Teaching staff and offices and the Transition program to Lincoln, and relocating early childhood to Haines; as well as various projects at other sites across the District.

Discussion

Within the past month, several projects have been put out to bid for Haines and Lincoln, including abatement projects for both sites, and the complete renovation package for Haines. Administration anticipates bringing a bid recommendation to the Board during the December 21 Business Services meeting. Coming up, Administration will put out for bid the complete renovation package for Lincoln, as well as bids for roofing work that are anticipated next summer.

As bids are awarded and final costs become known, Administration will have a better understanding of how the construction dollars will align with its 5-year Capital Improvement Plan and report that information to the Board.

Recommendation: This agenda item is for discussion only. There is no recommendation at this time.

Additional Information

The Haines and Lincoln projects are going through the traditional biding process that goes through an architect to procure services for various projects. On occasion, the District awards bids through cooperative purchasing agreements.

Administration informed the Board that it anticipates exploring more cooperative purchasing agreements when applicable and cost effective. These agreements are contracts that are bid out by public agencies with the intent that they can be utilized by other public entities. Contracts vary in scope, from furniture to paper goods to construction services for major renovations. Due to volume discounted pricing, there can be cost advantages to this process, along with more vendor and service options.

Background

The existing Norton Creek Elementary School playground is original to the building and over 20 years old. The entire playground needs to be replaced and should incorporate inclusive features to serve the school population.

Discussion

The Facilities Department and Norton Creek staff engaged in conversations with Play Illinois, LLC regarding the replacement of the playground, with much of the equipment and features to support students with physical or cognitive impairments. This is especially imperative at this location as Norton Creek houses the RISE program. Staff solicited a proposal from Play Illinois, LLC, as an agent of BCI Burke Company, LLC, through the OMNIA Cooperative Purchasing agreement. This contract includes 15% off the equipment price and various other set line-item pricing for the install and other services.

Recommendation: District 303 Administration recommends that the Board approves award of the Norton Creek Playground Replacement through OMNIA in the amount of $256,727.66 to Play Illinois, LLC.

Background

The current layout and furniture in the faculty lounge at Wredling Middle School is inefficient and aged, resulting in little use. It is desired to update the space to encourage collaboration and interactions between teachers.

Discussion

Staff from Wredling and the Facilities team engaged in conversations with Interiors For Business, Inc. (IFB) on this project. Staff solicited a proposal from IFB for furniture and casework for the lounge. This vendor utilizes contract pricing from multiple co-operative purchasing agreements, taking advantage of competitively bid unit pricing for public entities. To save on costs, the Facilities team will be painting and replacing the floors internally with the staff rather than have done by the vendor.

Recommendation: District 303 Administration recommends that the Board approves the Wredling Faculty Lounge Furniture Replacement in the amount of $49,206.12 through Interiors For Business, Inc.

Background

Various construction projects are out for bid as part of the repurposing of Lincoln, Fox Ridge and Haines next summer. Fox Ridge will reopen as an elementary school, Learning and Teaching and the Transitions Program will move to Lincoln, and the early childhood program will be housed in Haines.

This is the final early bid project for Haines before the larger bid for the building is awarded.

Discussion

10 new Unit Ventilators with Condensing Units will be installed at Haines next summer to provide heating and cooling to classrooms within the E-Wing. These units were identified as a package that needs to be procured earlier than the rest of the improvements due to the anticipated lead times. A proposal was solicited from Thermosystems through OMNIA Partners, Public Sector.

Recommendation: District 303 Administration recommends that the Board approves award of the Haines Unit Ventilators with Condensing Units through OMNIA in the amount of $186,589.00 to Thermosystems.

Administration continually monitors the actual revenues and expenditures for Mid Valley and

District 303 throughout the fiscal year, and reports them to the Board on a monthly basis.

• Mid Valley: Revenue is trending close to last year, with expenses slightly ahead compared to this time last year. There are no areas of concern at this time.
• District 303: Revenue is trending close to last year and reflects the first categorical payment for this fiscal year. Expenditures are also trending very close to the prior year. There are no areas of concern at this time.

Recommendations: Administration recommends that the Board accepts the Mid Valley and CUSD

303 Financial Reports as presented.

The next regular Business Services meeting is scheduled for Thursday, December 21 at 5:30 PM.